Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 141

141. Even If He Doesn’t Know Me

Clang.

“Ugh!”

Ko Jin-cheol groaned.

As Woon-hyun thrust his sword, Ko Jin-cheol’s sword was deflected far away.

Fortunately, he didn’t drop his sword, but Ko Jin-cheol felt a great shock in his hand.

Swish.

Woon-hyun sheathed his sword.

He stared straight into the eyes of the young disciples who were looking at him.

“The reason you don’t understand the meaning isn’t because there is no meaning, but because your skills aren’t up to par.”

Woon-hyun said with a dignified attitude.

“Also, it’s because your sword is merely a technique [術 – sul, a skill or art] and not the Way [道 – do, a path or principle].”

Woon-hyun’s attitude was firm as he spoke.

“If the sword remains only a technique, then that sword cannot be the pride or the path [道] of a martial artist. But if your sword is your own Way [道] and way of life, how can you not care about the path your sword takes?”

It is easy to say the Way of the Sword.

It is also not difficult to use words like swordsmanship or martial arts.

However, none of the young disciples had ever thought about the meaning in this way.

Therefore, Woon-hyun’s words left a great impression on their minds.

‘Way of life.’

Ko Jin-cheol repeated Woon-hyun’s words.

Joining the Mo-yong Clan as a disciple effectively meant living with the sword for the rest of your life.

Yet, had he ever thought about it as seriously as Woon-hyun?

Ko Jin-cheol couldn’t open his mouth.

The same was true for the other young disciples.

“Now, then…”

Woon-hyun smiled and took a step back.

“Shall we continue?”

For a moment, Ko Jin-cheol wondered what he meant.

But soon, he realized that he meant to continue the training that had been interrupted.

“I understand.”

Ko Jin-cheol nodded.

And that day, the young disciples of the Mo-yong Clan had to practice the basic sword forms of the Mo-yong Clan until the sun went down.

This was because Woon-hyun’s sharp criticisms flew in without fail after each stance.

“Good habits are best learned early.”

Woon-hyun never let anything go.

“And bad habits must be caught in the early stages.”

To be accepted as a formal disciple of the Mo-yong Clan meant that they were by no means beginners.

But who would dare to object when a master called them beginners?

In the end, the young disciples of the Mo-yong Clan had to experience the longest basic sword forms of their lives.

Moh-yong Sang-ah, who had initially watched with interest, eventually squatted down and yawned, resting her chin on her hands as if bored.

That’s how the day was coming to an end.

***

“Hah, hah, hah.”

The training hall was filled with the sound of rough breathing.

The sun had already set, but the rising heat was not easily subsiding.

“Da, damn it.”

Thud.

As someone sat down on the floor, several others followed suit.

Ko Jin-cheol was sweating profusely, but he was still standing, supporting himself on his knees.

“Do we have to do this every day?”

Ko Jin-cheol muttered the words Woon-hyun had said as he left.

Unlike his first impression, Woon-hyun was extremely persistent.

Whether it was his personality or whether all masters were like that, Woon-hyun didn’t seem to know when to end the training.

If the sun hadn’t set, they would still be training.

‘It was a good thing I apologized first.’

Strangely enough, Ko Jin-cheol had such a thought.

If he had earned the resentment of such a persistent person, he would probably not be able to die in peace.

Moreover, the other person was an incredible master.

“Hoo.”

Ko Jin-cheol gasped for breath, thinking thoughts that Woon-hyun would have found very unfair if he had heard them.

“Shit, I can’t do it.”

Someone said in an irritated voice.

“To make us do this every day, he’s obviously trying to mess with us.”

Ko Jin-cheol frowned.

How could they think that after seeing Woon-hyun’s sincere eyes?

“That’s not it.”

Ko Jin-cheol was about to say something when another disciple suddenly spoke up.

“We’re not the only ones who suffered. Does it make sense for a master of that level to waste a day just to mess with us?”

That was an accurate point.

If it was just to mess with them, there would be no reason to personally guide their training.

Woon-hyun even corrected each and every person’s posture.

“And think about it. Jin-cheol’s sword was completely blocked earlier.”

The disciple continued, quite seriously.

“As disciples of the clan, we will also have to fight someone someday, but what if we encounter such an opponent when we go out?”

“What do you mean, what if? We should run without looking back.”

The disciples laughed at someone’s muttered answer.

“Yeah, that’s fine too.”

The disciple who brought it up said with a smile.

“So, there are two options. Either we stay put according to our skills, or we do this again tomorrow.”

The laughter of the disciples subsided.

The Jianghu [江湖 – jiang hu, the martial arts world] is ruthless.

The saying that you have to stay put according to your skills, although it was a ridiculous expression, was a truth without an ounce of falsehood.

“I’ll do it.”

Ko Jin-cheol said.

The eyes of the young disciples turned to Ko Jin-cheol.

“Hoo-ooh.”

Ko Jin-cheol took a deep breath and straightened his back.

Looking back at his companions, Ko Jin-cheol said in a firm voice.

“A master is teaching us directly. I’ll never have this opportunity again in my life. So, I’m going to do this again tomorrow.”

Ko Jin-cheol’s eyes were filled with unwavering determination.

“Damn it.”

A colleague next to him scratched his head.

He frowned and said in a blunt voice.

“If Jin-cheol does it, I have to do it too.”

Ko Jin-cheol chuckled.

It was not ridicule, but an expression of trust towards his colleague.

“What about you?”

When Ko Jin-cheol asked, another disciple next to him gave a bitter smile.

“I have to. This is all I can do.”

Ko Jin-cheol laughed.

“Me too.”

“I’ll do it too.”

“Damn it, I can’t be the only one left out when everyone else is doing it.”

Listening to the voices coming from here and there, Ko Jin-cheol smiled.

“Hoo.”

Suddenly, another colleague next to him sighed as if the ground was sinking.

“They say you’re buying trouble, this is exactly what it looks like.”

“I know.”

Ko Jin-cheol agreed with those words.

“It really is.”

Ko Jin-cheol muttered as if he couldn’t help it.

But his eyes were shining brighter than ever.

***

The next day in the afternoon, Woon-hyun, who was now moving towards the training hall as if it were a habit, discovered a person standing in front of him.

With a sharp impression and intense eyes, he was standing in the middle as if blocking the way, watching Woon-hyun.

Woon-hyun couldn’t turn back and had no choice but to greet him.

“Greetings, Lone Blade Dogo-rang.”

Woon-hyun bowed politely.

He was young to be called a hero, but that was the only title Woon-hyun knew to respect a martial artist.

Lone Blade Dogo-rang stared at Woon-hyun as if glaring and said.

“Nice to meet you, Master Woon.”

Woon-hyun was a little surprised.

This was because he had not yet formally introduced himself to Dogo-rang.

“How did you…”

“I heard it from Mo-yong Jin.”

Woon-hyun remembered that Dogo-rang had been on familiar terms with Mo-yong Jin since the Cheoljeong Mountain incident.

Dogo-rang put his hands together and bowed politely.

“I’ll greet you again. I am Dogo-rang.”

“I am Woon-hyun. Nice to meet you.”

The two bowed to each other.

‘I heard he was quite rude, but he’s more polite than I expected.’

Woon-hyun naturally knew about Dogo-rang.

A wandering warrior who roams alone without a clan or sect, challenging others to duels.

Most of the rumors about him, called the Lone Blade, were rude and provocative.

However, Woon-hyun saw in his sword a desire for a higher realm.

A fierce desire that was upright and without any excuses or compromises.

That was what Dogo-rang’s sword had.

“I heard that you are not unrelated to the Sword Master (劍主 – geomju, a master of swords).”

Woon-hyun, who had been lost in thought, was startled by Dogo-rang’s sudden words.

Woon-hyun hesitated for a moment.

But it didn’t last long.

“…That’s right.”

Woon-hyun readily admitted.

If he had already heard it from Mo-yong Jin, it would be useless to pretend not to know.

Above all, he didn’t want to lie in front of Dogo-rang’s intense eyes.

“I see.”

Dogo-rang said quietly.

Was it Woon-hyun’s imagination that a moment of intense energy seemed to flash in his deep eyes?

And then there was silence.

Dogo-rang stared at Woon-hyun without a word, and Woon-hyun had nothing to say.

Woon-hyun, who had been having an awkward staring contest, finally bowed his head first.

“Well, then, I’ll be on my way…”

Step.

“In the past.”

Dogo-rang’s voice grabbed Woon-hyun’s steps as he tried to pass by.

Woon-hyun stopped and looked back at Dogo-rang.

Dogo-rang was still standing there, not even turning his head, and continued to speak.

“I thought I was the only one in the world.”

Ssk.

Dogo-rang turned his head.

“But he.”

Looking at Woon-hyun with those deep eyes, Dogo-rang said.

“He knew my sword better than I did, and he understood me better than anyone else. He even knew myself that I didn’t know.”

Dogo-rang’s eyes were shining intensely.

In front of those eyes, he couldn’t say a word of clumsy excuses.

“He is the only person in this world who knows me.”

A close friend who truly understands oneself is called a confidant (知己 – jigi, a soulmate or someone who understands you deeply).

A person who is hard to meet even if you live your whole life, and therefore the most precious person, is a confidant (知己).

“He is also the only person in the world who has given me teachings without any compensation.”

Looking straight at Woon-hyun, Dogo-rang said.

“Therefore, even if he doesn’t know me, I will regard him as my teacher, and even if he says he has nothing to do with me, I will definitely repay his kindness.”

It was a firm declaration.

Woon-hyun was flustered.

He had never imagined that the Lone Blade Dogo-rang would come out like this.

Sreuk.

Dogo-rang bowed to Woon-hyun.

It was just that, but Dogo-rang’s bow was heavier than any grand ceremony.

Step.

And Dogo-rang moved his steps.

Step, step.

Watching Dogo-rang’s receding figure, Woon-hyun couldn’t hide his complicated expression.

Dogo-rang’s sincerity was overwhelming.

Besides Righteous Unity Il Chung-hyun, who else had ever conveyed such passionate sincerity to Woon-hyun?

It would be a lie if Woon-hyun’s heart didn’t waver.

But Woon-hyun did not reveal that he was the Azure Dragon Sword Master who sent the letter.

It wasn’t just because he was flustered.

Because he already had a mind to hide himself, he couldn’t reveal it even in front of Dogo-rang’s sincerity.

“Hoo.”

Woon-hyun sighed.

He wondered if he had to hide this much even though he hadn’t committed a crime, and he also thought that if he had known this would happen, he should have revealed his name in the letter from the beginning.

Once again, Woon-hyun let out a long sigh.

His mind was complicated.

But the fact that the letter he sent had such a great meaning to Dogo-rang made him feel proud on the one hand.

After looking back once again at the place where Dogo-rang had disappeared, Woon-hyun moved his steps towards the training hall.

His mind was still complicated.

But somehow, his steps seemed lighter.