Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 157

157. Not Important

The next day, Unhyun left Deungbong County with Dokgo-rang.

He didn’t forget to thank the owner of Nanhyang Tea House and leave payment for the Yongjeong tea intended for the reclining Buddha.

Unhyun decided to travel as safely as possible to the Martial Arts Alliance in Hangzhou, sticking to major cities and main roads.

This was because he was carrying the Grand Restoration Pill, a treasure of immense value.

It wasn’t until Unhyun arrived in Hefei, Anhui Province, that he heard the shocking news about the Namgung Clan.

“What? The Namgung Clan?”

Unhyun was surprised, and an old man nearby clicked his tongue.

“Tsk tsk, where has this man been? Doesn’t he even know this news yet?”

It was shocking enough that the Namgung Clan had been defeated in a mere skirmish, but it was even more astonishing that the head of the family, Lightning Sword Namgung Jincheon, had died.

And the opponent was none other than the Dark Heaven Demon Emperor!

“Then what about the Namgung Clan now…?”

“Don’t even mention it. It’s a complete house of mourning. They’ve essentially closed their doors to the outside world.”

“A closed door (封門)?”

The old man nodded.

“Yes, it’s practically the same as closing the door. Although they haven’t officially done it.”

The old man shook his head and gulped down the strong liquor.

“Who would have known that the head of the Namgung Clan, who seemed to fear nothing, would pass away like that? Even I used to do work for the clan when I was younger. If I hadn’t injured my knee…”

“Thank you, Elder.”

Unhyun quickly bowed and stood up, cutting off the old man’s descent into self-pity.

Not forgetting to order a bottle of medicinal wine as a token of gratitude, Unhyun left the inn with Dokgo-rang.

Step, step.

Unhyun’s expression was serious as he walked towards the post station with Dokgo-rang.

‘He killed the head of the Namgung Clan.’

He knew that the Dark Heaven Demon Emperor possessed great martial prowess, but he never expected him to kill the head of the Namgung Clan.

Now, the Demon Emperor’s name was shaking the entire martial arts world.

But why did he appear at the Shaolin Temple?

‘Was he targeting the Shaolin Temple after the Namgung Clan?’

But if that were the case, it didn’t make sense that he only brought one subordinate.

Unhyun didn’t even consider the possibility that he had come to find him.

Just as Unhyun’s expression was hardening as he recalled the Demon Emperor’s overwhelming martial power…

“No, I did pay!”

A clear, young woman’s voice broke Unhyun’s train of thought.

Unhyun turned his head towards the sound.

A cute young lady, barely out of her teens, was raising her voice.

The exotic white silk clothes and the pipa [a four-stringed Chinese musical instrument] on her back were particularly eye-catching.

‘A musician from out of town?’

Unhyun looked at the young lady with interest.

‘A pipa, it’s been a while since I’ve seen one.’

Not many people play the pipa.

Even fewer know how to play it properly.

“Oh, this young lady really doesn’t understand.”

The coachman slapped his chest in frustration.

“Look, I don’t know who you gave the money to, but I didn’t receive it! So why should I give you a ride?”

The cute young lady in white tilted her head.

After pondering the coachman’s words, she said in a firm tone.

“Because I’m going to Hangzhou.”

“Huh?”

The coachman’s face contorted at the absurd answer.

But the young lady was adamant.

“I’m going to Hangzhou. So I have to take this carriage.”

The coachman shook his head as if she was beyond reasoning with.

“Anyway, no! I can’t give you a ride! If you want to ride, pay up!”

The young lady was just as frustrated.

She was about to say something when…

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Unhyun interjected.

“Who are you?”

The coachman looked at Unhyun suspiciously.

Unhyun bowed lightly.

“I am Unhyun, a secretary of the Martial Arts Alliance.”

“The, the Martial Arts Alliance?”

The coachman’s expression changed.

To ordinary people, the Martial Arts Alliance was a powerful organization.

Even though Unhyun was dressed as a scholar, the coachman couldn’t help but shrink back.

“Y-yes?”

The coachman asked, and the cute young lady also looked at Unhyun.

Unhyun smiled gently.

“It seems like there’s been a misunderstanding. If it’s alright with you, may I help?”

The coachman couldn’t understand why Unhyun was suddenly intervening.

But he couldn’t possibly have the courage to refuse someone from the Martial Arts Alliance.

Besides, the aura of Dokgo-rang standing behind him was quite intimidating.

“Y-yes, please do.”

As the coachman agreed, Unhyun turned to the cute young lady.

“Did you perhaps come from the Northern Sea?”

At Unhyun’s words, the cute young lady’s expression brightened for a moment.

But soon, a look of wariness appeared in her large eyes.

“Why do you ask?”

Unhyun smiled.

He thought he recognized the style of clothing, and it was clear that she was from the Northern Sea.

She was causing unnecessary trouble because she wasn’t familiar with the language or customs here, just like the Young Palace Lord’s group.

That was why Unhyun couldn’t just pass by.

“More importantly, do you remember who you gave the money to?”

“Of course, I do.”

The cute young lady said with a confident expression.

“I have a good memory.”

It wasn’t very believable, but she looked very cute.

Unhyun smiled without realizing it.

***

Clop, clop.

The carriage was slowly swaying with the monotonous sound of hooves.

There were a total of five carriages going to Hangzhou.

Unhyun was riding in one of them with Dokgo-rang.

“Um, thank you.”

The young lady from the Northern Sea said hesitantly.

“It’s alright. It was nothing, so don’t worry about it.”

The whole story was simple.

In the crowded post station, she had paid the coachman of a carriage going to a different destination.

Then, she tried to board the carriage going to Hangzhou, so it was only natural that trouble arose.

The problem was neatly resolved by receiving the money back from the coachman who was looking for the missing passenger.

It was truly a minor misunderstanding.

“Woong, but if I receive help, I have to pay back.”

‘Pay back?’

Unhyun smiled wryly at her awkward way of speaking, when suddenly the young lady held out a silver coin.

“Please take it.”

It was an action that could be felt as an insult.

To put a price on someone’s pure kindness.

But Unhyun sighed softly.

‘The Young Palace Lord’s group was like that too.’

Unhyun smiled gently and said.

“You don’t necessarily have to give money just because you received help.”

“Yes?”

The young lady tilted her head with sparkling eyes.

“But isn’t it insulting if I don’t give it?”

“It’s a little different here. It’s polite to respond to pure goodwill with sincere gratitude.”

“Is that so?”

She seemed a little doubtful, but she put away the silver coin for now.

Then she muttered quietly.

“…But there’s no pure goodwill here.”

Unhyun smiled wryly.

Perhaps she was right.

“Um, but you said you’re going to Hangzhou too, right?”

The young lady asked again.

The word ‘uncle’ was very irritating, but Unhyun nodded.

“Yes. And I’m not an uncle.”

The young lady frowned.

“…Then are you also an older brother?”

She meant to ask if he was flirting with her like other men, but Unhyun didn’t understand.

“No. My name is Unhyun.”

The young lady flinched.

She looked at Unhyun with surprised eyes and suddenly let out a sigh of relief.

“Ah, I can say my name here, right? I was surprised.”

That was the language of the Northern Sea.

She went back to the main topic and asked Unhyun.

“Um, has the Young Palace Lord of the Northern Sea come to the Martial Arts Alliance in Hangzhou?”

She continued in a chattering, clear voice.

“My sister said she was going to attend the Martial Arts Alliance’s Dragon and Phoenix Gathering.”

“Sister?”

This time, Unhyun was surprised.

“Are you saying that the Young Palace Lord is your sister? The one who was with Bingseol and Binghon?”

“Aha!”

The young lady clapped her hands.

“That’s right. You met my sister!”

She asked with a bright expression.

“Where is my sister now? I came a long way to see her.”

The Northern Sea is a distant land.

Her words that she came a long way were by no means an exaggeration.

‘No, why did this young lady come all that way alone…’

Unhyun was dumbfounded.

But first, he had to answer her question.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know where the Young Palace Lord is right now.”

“Is that so?”

The young lady’s expression became gloomy.

Then, as if she suddenly remembered something, she asked again.

“You said you were a secretary of the Martial Arts Alliance, right? Is a secretary an important person?”

Unhyun gave an awkward smile.

“It’s a position that does important work, but it’s not generally considered very important.”

That was too complicated for the young lady from the Northern Sea.

Seeing her frowning expression, Unhyun quickly said again.

“Not important.”

It was a bitter story even after saying it.

But the young lady nodded as if she finally understood.

“Then it’ll be a little difficult. If you were an important person, the Seolyeongdae would be attached to you.”

Unhyun didn’t understand her mumbling.

First of all, he had never heard of the word ‘Seolyeongdae’.

“Um, but you are…”

“Not a young lady, but a Young Palace Lord.”

“Yes?”

“I’m also a Young Palace Lord.”

She placed her hand on her plump chest with a confident expression.

“I am the Twelfth Palace Lord of the Northern Ice Palace. My sister is the Third Palace Lord.”

The young lady said to Unhyun as if she was bestowing a favor.

“You can just call me Young Palace Lord.”

Unhyun was momentarily stunned.

He wondered why there were so many Young Palace Lords in the Northern Sea, and whether it would be confusing if everyone was a Young Palace Lord.

But this cute Young Palace Lord had a very proud expression, so he couldn’t ignore her kindness.

Thinking that she was like a cute little animal, Unhyun smiled.

“I see. But why did the Young Palace Lord come alone?”

The Young Palace Lord, that is, the Twelfth Palace Lord, had guards named Bingseol and Binghon.

So why did this small, cute Young Palace Lord come all the way to this distant place alone?

“I can’t say that.”

The Young Palace Lord’s complexion suddenly darkened.

But she soon said cheerfully.

“But it’s okay. I have this… Ah, I’m sorry, it has a name, but I can’t give it to you. Because I have this pipa.”

It was a somewhat difficult statement, but Unhyun understood.

‘She means the pipa has a name, but she can’t tell me.’

Unhyun’s attention turned to the pipa she was holding.

Looking at it up close, it was ancient and extraordinary at a glance.

Unlike the commonly used Tang pipa, the number of strings and the shape were also slightly different.

“I’m pretty good. I’m second best in the Ice Palace.”

“Who’s the best?”

Unhyun asked without thinking, and instantly regretted it.

He wondered if he had hurt her pride.

But the Young Palace Lord had a bright expression instead.

“Of course, it’s my sister. My sister’s pipa is the best in the world!”

‘The Young Palace Lord?’

That was quite unexpected for Unhyun.

“But I’ve never seen the Young Palace Lord play the pipa?”

“That’s probably true.”

The Twelfth Palace Lord stroked the pipa and said quietly.

“This pipa was my sister’s. She gave it to me when she left for this place.”

She said with shining eyes.

“So I have to meet my sister.”

There was a firm determination in her eyes.

Unhyun nodded with a serious expression.

“Oh, should I play a song for you as thanks?”

The Young Palace Lord said with sparkling eyes.

Her grammar was clumsy, but her sparkling eyes conveyed her desire to do it.

Since he wanted to listen anyway, Unhyun smiled and nodded.

“I’m honored.”

The Young Palace Lord smiled at his polite words.

“Ahem.”

She held the pipa with a serious expression and took a stance.

She put one hand into her sleeve and took it out, and three silver plectrums shone at the tips of her fingers.

Tting.

A clear tone began to ring inside the carriage.

Ttiriring, ttiriring.

The pipa’s melody was clear and beautiful.

As she had already promised, her skill was also excellent.

Not only was the melody beautiful, but her pipa had something that soothed people’s hearts.

Even the people in the other carriages were listening to the sound of the pipa when…

Thump.

Suddenly, the carriage shook violently.