Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 147

147. What? The Daehwan Dan [a legendary elixir]?

Creak.

The door of the hut opened with a creaking sound.

The person who emerged was an old, shabby, small monk.

“A guest, you say?”

The old monk, wearing a dirty robe, inquired.

The young Won-kwang respectfully clasped his hands before the short, wrinkled monk.

“Won-kwang greets the former Great Patriarch.”

‘Huh?’

Yun-hyun couldn’t suppress his surprise.

The title of Patriarch is reserved for a Seon [Zen] master who founded a sect or inherited its orthodox lineage.

In essence, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him the heart and soul of that sect.

But this shabby and decrepit monk is the ‘former Great Patriarch’?

He doesn’t exude the unique aura of a high-ranking monk, and his face is covered in age spots. It’s no wonder Yun-hyun was taken aback.

“Won-kwang? Is that you?”

The old monk, Wabul, frowned.

He didn’t seem to recognize him.

Then, he made a guttural sound as if clearing phlegm.

“Kaak, spit!”

The old monk spat on the ground and looked up at Yun-hyun and Dokgo-rang.

“Okay. You’re Won-kwang, and who are they?”

Won-kwang answered politely.

“He is a guest from the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance].”

“Murim Alliance?”

The old monk Wabul’s expression immediately soured.

When Won-kwang politely offered the letter, Wabul snatched it roughly and unfolded it.

Rustle.

“I will be on my way now.”

Won-kwang, having completed his task, said with clasped hands.

However, Wabul didn’t even acknowledge him.

Won-kwang didn’t expect a send-off or greeting and quietly left the hut.

‘Uh…’

Yun-hyun suddenly felt uneasy.

Perhaps it was because Won-kwang’s departure seemed like a hasty escape.

“Hmm.”

Rustle.

Yun-hyun turned his head at the sound from behind.

Wabul was carelessly folding the letter and looking at Yun-hyun.

“Are you Yun-hyun?”

“Ah, yes.”

Yun-hyun realized he hadn’t properly greeted him.

“I am Yun-hyun. And…”

But Yun-hyun’s greeting was cut short.

“You look quite decent for a robber.”

“What?”

Yun-hyun was startled by Wabul’s words.

“A robber? Why would I…”

Yun-hyun’s protest was natural.

But Wabul sneered.

“Then what else would you call someone who barges in and demands the Daehwan Dan?”

“Dae, Daehwan Dan?”

Yun-hyun was flustered.

He had heard of the Daehwan Dan of Shaolin.

Isn’t that the legendary panacea that revives the dying and grants tremendous inner strength to martial artists?

But suddenly the Daehwan Dan? Yun-hyun couldn’t understand at all.

“No, why would I…”

“Why? Didn’t you even know what was written in this letter?”

Yun-hyun was speechless.

Wabul said bluntly.

“Buryoung told me to send the Daehwan Dan to you, whom I’ve never even met before.”

‘Ah. So that’s why…’

Yun-hyun finally understood the situation.

That’s why the head of the Disciplinary院 [Disciplinary Hall] had a bad expression when they first met, and why Wabul was speaking so rudely.

Who would be happy if someone suddenly appeared and asked for the Daehwan Dan?

“What’s that bloody sword-looking guy?”

Yun-hyun was inwardly amused by the colorful description of Dokgo-rang.

But before Dokgo-rang could say anything strange, he quickly replied.

“He’s my acquaintance. He came here with me…”

“Tsk.”

Wabul lost interest before Yun-hyun could finish.

Wabul clicked his tongue and looked down at the letter.

“That cheeky guy. The only disciple I have keeps asking for this and that. Anyone would think I owed him. Tsk, tsk.”

Yun-hyun, startled, thought he was being addressed, but breathed a sigh of relief.

But soon another question arose.

“Disciple?”

“Yes. Buryoung, that guy.”

Yun-hyun was surprised.

Is the master of the divine monk Buryoung this Wabul in front of him?

This small and shabby old monk who doesn’t seem to possess any extraordinary aura?

But Wabul didn’t care that Yun-hyun was surprised.

“I’ll tell the sect leader about it first, so you guys stay in that room for the time being.”

“Stay?”

It was a natural question for Yun-hyun.

He was already embarrassed about being told to receive the Daehwan Dan, but why suddenly stay in the room?

However, Wabul frowned.

“Did you think you could get the Daehwan Dan so easily? There is a procedure and process, so of course you have to wait.”

Wabul chuckled at Yun-hyun’s flustered appearance.

“Well, if you’re lucky, it won’t take more than a year, so don’t worry too much.”

“A year?”

Yun-hyun was dumbfounded.

Doesn’t that mean it might take more than a year if things go wrong?

“I said it won’t take that long!”

Wabul frowned.

“Anyway, keep that in mind and get some rest early today. You must be tired from the long journey.”

With those words, Wabul turned to leave.

Before Yun-hyun could say anything, the old Wabul was entering the room.

“Tsk, to have such a hard time in my old age because I have a bad disciple.”

Wabul grumbled and disappeared into the room.

Creak, bang.

The shabby door closed.

Yun-hyun was quite embarrassed by the sudden turn of events, but Wabul’s door remained shut.

“Heo.”

Yun-hyun sighed.

But there was no one to explain, and only the setting sunlight gently fell on Yun-hyun’s shoulders.

***

The room that Wabul mentioned was, as expected from the hut’s appearance, in very poor condition.

In fact, Yun-hyun had initially mistaken it for some kind of warehouse.

Yun-hyun cleaned the room with Dokgo-rang and found a bed buried in junk.

The only good thing was that there were two beds.

Dokgo-rang offered to stay under the eaves, but Yun-hyun couldn’t allow it.

“Don’t ever call me your servant again.”

Yun-hyun said to Dokgo-rang with a serious expression.

Dokgo-rang’s cold expression didn’t change, but Yun-hyun could sense his displeasure.

“How could you be my servant? If you say such a thing, I will not allow you to accompany me.”

“I am not a Great Warrior.”

“Anyway.”

Yun-hyun’s attitude was firm.

After a moment of silence, Dokgo-rang nodded silently and said.

“Understood, my lord.”

‘Ugh.’

Yun-hyun staggered for a moment at the unexpected new title.

My lord, this had a destructive power comparable to calling himself a servant.

“My lord is also not allowed.”

Dokgo-rang frowned at Yun-hyun’s words.

Considering he usually doesn’t show any change in expression, it was a significant reaction.

“But…”

“Please just call me Daein [Master] like before. I will call you Dokgo Je (弟) [younger brother], Great Warrior.”

Dokgo Je means Dokgo the younger brother.

It was embarrassing to call a full-fledged adult a younger brother, so he chose a somewhat formal title.

But Dokgo-rang shook his head.

“Impossible. How can I be called a brother by you?”

“Are you going to make me a person who doesn’t know manners?”

Although Yun-hyun is older, Dokgo-rang is a master of Sword Energy Emission [a high level of martial arts skill].

His reputation in the Jianghu [martial arts world] cannot be ignored, so it was natural for Yun-hyun to respect him.

But that was not the case for Dokgo-rang.

“How can we discuss general etiquette in a relationship between a lord and his subject?”

‘Ugh.’

Yun-hyun was speechless.

In the end, Yun-hyun made his last stand.

“Anyway, this is as far as I can concede. If you don’t accept it…”

“I.”

Dokgo-rang’s voice cut off Yun-hyun’s words.

“I will always follow your will.”

Yun-hyun smiled bitterly at those words.

He always follows his will, but he didn’t think it was something a person who had been stubborn until just now would say.

But Dokgo-rang’s words are not wrong either.

His sincerity in repaying Yun-hyun’s kindness must be genuine.

“…I’ll tell you more about it later.”

After sighing, Yun-hyun smiled brightly.

“I’m glad to meet you in person like this. Dokgo Je.”

That was practically a confession.

It was Yun-hyun himself who admitted to being the Azure Dragon Sword Lord who sent the letter.

Dokgo-rang’s eyes shone intensely.

“…Me too. Yun Daein.”

Dokgo-rang said in a slightly trembling voice.

However, Dokgo-rang’s eyes, with a faint smile, were telling his sincerity more clearly than anything else.

Yun-hyun smiled.

Although it was a confusing day, Yun-hyun’s heart was now filled with warmth.

***

The next day at dawn, Yun-hyun woke up to Wabul’s rough voice.

“Are you still sleeping?”

Yun-hyun quickly opened his eyes.

It was still dark, so the sun hadn’t risen yet.

Above all, Yun-hyun tends to wake up early in the morning, so that means it’s not even dawn yet.

“No. I’m awake.”

Yun-hyun said hastily as he got up.

To receive the Daehwan Dan safely, he must not offend Wabul.

“If you’re awake, come out quickly. You’re the only one who hasn’t woken up yet.”

At Wabul’s voice, Yun-hyun turned to the bed next to him.

Dokgo-rang, who he thought was sleeping, was nowhere to be seen.

Judging from the fact that the bed was well-made, he seemed to have already left.

Or he didn’t sleep at all.

“Yes, I understand.”

Yun-hyun answered and quickly tidied up his bedding and put on his clothes.

Creak.

As he left the room, sure enough, it was not yet dawn.

Dokgo-rang was standing a little away with his usual cold expression.

He seemed to be guarding the surroundings.

Yun-hyun first gave Wabul a morning greeting.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yeah.”

The small Wabul said indifferently.

“Shall I get the morning offering [meal]?”

Yun-hyun asked, just in case, even though it was still early.

“Tsk. I’ll take care of my own meal, so you don’t have to worry about it. First, do some cleaning.”

The area around the hut was not very dirty.

But Yun-hyun nodded.

“And when you’re done cleaning, go down and buy some tea.”

“Tea?”

Yun-hyun tilted his head.

“Yeah. I’ll be able to get the tea money from that hateful disciple of mine later.”

“No. I’ll buy it.”

“Really? Then do as you please.”

Wabul shrugged his shoulders and went back into the room.

Thud.

The door closed and Yun-hyun finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Did you sleep well? Daein.”

Yun-hyun turned his head at Dokgo-rang’s voice.

“Ah, did you sleep well? Dokgo Je.”

Yun-hyun, who was speaking with a smile, suddenly realized that he hadn’t even washed his face.

“I guess you woke up early? I haven’t even washed my face yet…”

Yun-hyun said, awkwardly touching his hair.

But Dokgo-rang didn’t seem to care about that.

“Shall I go?”

Yun-hyun wondered what he meant, but realized he was talking about ‘tea’.

“No, it’s okay. I have to do that much. It’s something the Seon Master ordered me to do…”

Yun-hyun said with a smile.

“If I can get the Daehwan Dan for that much, wouldn’t it be a good deal? Hahaha.”

Yun-hyun laughed, but Dokgo-rang’s expression didn’t change much.

“Ahem, then I…”

Yun-hyun cleared his throat and quickly turned around to wash his face.

The dawn breeze, before the sun had risen, was quite chilly, but it was not unfamiliar to Yun-hyun.

Even during his days as a scholar, during his days in the imperial palace, and even now as a clerk in the Murim Alliance.

Waking up early in the morning was Yun-hyun’s daily routine.