Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 158

158. She’s Like a Snowflake

Heeheeing.

“Whoa, whoa there!”

A horse’s whinny and a flustered coachman’s voice were heard.

The other carriages traveling with them also came to a halt.

Doh Go-rang immediately leaned out of the carriage to assess the situation.

“It seems there’s been an accident.”

Doh Go-rang’s calm words prompted Yun-hyun to look out the window and ask,

“An accident?”

“Yes.”

Doh Go-rang said quietly,

“It’s a band of robbers.”

‘Again?’

Yun-hyun sighed and frowned.

Then, without realizing it, he glanced at the Young Palace Lord.

Just like before, when he was with the Young Palace Lord’s group, bandits always seemed to appear; the same thing was happening again.

“Why? Why are you looking at me?”

The Twelfth Palace Lord asked, blinking her large eyes.

“No, it’s nothing.”

Yun-hyun said with a wry smile,

“I was just regretting not being able to hear the end of your performance.”

“It’s okay. I’ll play for you again.”

The Young Palace Lord said cheerfully.

“Thank you. Let’s not get out for now and observe the situation.”

With that, Yun-hyun surveyed the scene outside the carriage.

As if it were a common occurrence, someone was already stepping forward to face the robbers.

Thud.

“I am a master of the Azure Stream Hall, entrusted with guarding these carriages.”

A man in martial attire said with a stern expression.

“From which mountain fortress do you heroes hail?”

His tone was polite.

He had no choice.

There were only seven Azure Stream Hall warriors, including himself, while the number of robbers appeared to be over fifty at first glance.

However, the burly leader of the robbers, with his unkempt beard, merely squinted and did not respond to the master’s words.

“Check it out.”

“Yes!”

Five or six robbers immediately lowered their heads and approached the carriages.

“H-hey! Whatever it is you want…”

The master said urgently, but the robbers paid no heed.

“Interfere, and…”

The leader and the robbers’ eyes gleamed menacingly.

“…you die.”

The intensity was quite serious.

Their demeanor was distinctly different from that of ordinary bandits, leaving the master speechless.

“Search everything!”

Amidst the murderous aura emanating from the fifty-odd robbers, several began to ransack the carriages.

One cautiously grabbed the door while the other four brandished their swords.

Bang.

“S-save me!”

The person inside the carriage screamed in terror.

The robbers, startled and stepping back, grimaced.

“Tch, damn it. You scared me; I almost stabbed you!”

The grumbling robber peered inside the carriage and shouted to the leader,

“Not the one!”

“Next!”

The five robbers swarmed towards the second carriage.

They moved together, not scattering, clearly prepared for any resistance.

Yun-hyun’s expression hardened in the third carriage.

‘Could they be after the Grand Restoration Pill?’

They were definitely after something.

And nothing would be more fitting than the Grand Restoration Pill.

‘This is bad.’

Perhaps word had leaked that Yun-hyun possessed the Grand Restoration Pill.

However, he wasn’t particularly flustered or anxious.

Swish.

Yun-hyun raised his head.

Doh Go-rang was watching the robbers’ movements with a composed expression.

He could surely handle a band of robbers.

The problem was the Twelfth Palace Lord and the other passengers.

The robbers’ numbers were excessive, and there was a risk of casualties.

‘Would it be better to take cover first?’

Yun-hyun was pondering which course of action would minimize the damage when it happened.

“What are those people? Are they robbers?”

The Twelfth Palace Lord said, poking her head out.

Her lively voice echoed clearly in the surrounding silence.

The robbers all turned their heads at once.

And they spotted Yun-hyun, Doh Go-rang, and the Twelfth Palace Lord.

“We found them!”

One of the robbers shouted loudly.

At the same time, the eyes of the fifty-odd robbers turned fierce.

Yun-hyun clicked his tongue in annoyance.

The five robbers immediately approached the carriage Yun-hyun was in.

“Don’t move, you bitch!”

“Bitch?”

The Young Palace Lord’s eyes also turned sharp.

“You, did you say something bad to me?”

Thwack.

The Young Palace Lord opened the carriage door without hesitation.

And she placed her white hands on the pipa [a four-stringed Chinese musical instrument, similar to a lute].

Whoong.

‘Oh!’

Yun-hyun was startled and looked at the Young Palace Lord.

A formidable aura was gathering at the tips of the Young Palace Lord’s fingers as she held the pipa.

And the next moment.

Chwang.

Yun-hyun saw it.

A sharp shockwave shot out from the Young Palace Lord’s pipa.

The enraged, round face of the Young Palace Lord filled Yun-hyun’s astonished eyes.

Boom.

“Aaaagh!”

Three robbers collapsed instantly and flew backward.

The Young Palace Lord relentlessly plucked at the pipa.

Chang, chachang.

The sound of the pipa reverberated, and another shockwave shot out.

Bang, bang.

“Kuaaagh!”

The remaining two robbers also went flying.

One of the watching robbers shouted,

“Leader!”

“I know!”

The leader shouted, losing his temper.

“Don’t be afraid, overwhelm her! Her sorcery can’t be used if there are too many people!”

He dismissed the proper sonic art as sorcery, but the leader’s words were accurate.

The Young Palace Lord’s sonic art had not yet reached its peak, and she couldn’t handle more than nine at once.

The Young Palace Lord’s expression changed as nearly fifty robbers swarmed in.

But the Young Palace Lord wasn’t the only one in the carriage.

“Doh Go-rang.”

Yun-hyun said quietly.

“Yes, Master.”

Swish.

Doh Go-rang, who had been waiting for the order, drew his sword.

And he unleashed an immense murderous aura in all directions.

Whooook.

“Gasp!”

The robbers’ faces turned pale.

Just looking at the extraordinary Doh Go-rang, they felt a chilling dread, as if he were a god of death.

“L-leader!”

“I said I know!”

The leader snapped irritably.

He was also witnessing Doh Go-rang’s aura.

‘Damn it!’

The sturdy, burly leader cursed inwardly.

‘They said there would be no one here, but there’s a devilish bastard holding out!’

This changed everything.

Gritting his teeth, the leader hesitated.

Should he proceed with the numbers he had, or bear ‘that person’s’ wrath?

But the wrath was for later; Doh Go-rang’s sword was right in front of him.

‘Damn it, damn it.’

The leader made his choice.

Perhaps the outcome had already been decided.

“Everyone…”

He was about to shout to retreat when.

Whooook.

As if a cold wind blew, a chilling energy brushed past the leader’s neck.

And he saw the scholar-like youth next to the Young Palace Lord shouting something.

‘Huh?’

The strange thing was that the scene was slowly rotating to the side.

As if the leader himself was falling sideways.

And soon, a pitch-black darkness enveloped his vision.

Only then did the leader realize that the scholar youth had shouted, ‘No!’ but his consciousness was already fading.

Thud.

The headless giant of a leader collapsed, spurting blood.

“U-uaaaagh!”

The robbers were thrown into chaos.

Even those who had killed people before couldn’t help but be horrified by the sight of someone being beheaded before their eyes.

‘Oh dear.’

Yun-hyun frowned.

But now was not the time to be lost in thought.

“Stop! Bing-hun!”

Yun-hyun shouted loudly.

But Bing-hun had no intention of stopping.

Swish.

Bing-hun’s sword flew towards the robbers.

But the sword failed to reach its target.

Clang.

Doh Go-rang’s sword blocked Bing-hun’s sword.

As Bing-hun’s sharp gaze clashed with Doh Go-rang’s indifferent eyes, Yun-hyun turned his head and shouted,

“Stop it, Young Palace Lord!”

Rustle.

At Yun-hyun’s shout, a woman in white appeared from the seemingly empty bushes.

With a beautiful figure like a snowflake, she was none other than the Third Palace Lord of the North Sea.

“Ah!”

The Twelfth Palace Lord, who had been holding the pipa, flew towards the Third Palace Lord.

The Third Palace Lord quickly opened her arms and embraced the Twelfth Palace Lord.

Whack.

“Sister!”

The Twelfth Palace Lord nestled in the Third Palace Lord’s arms, rubbing her face against her chest like a child.

Although there wasn’t much difference in height, the Third Palace Lord’s expression as she held the Twelfth Palace Lord was extremely gentle.

“I missed you, Sister!”

“It’s been a while.”

The Third Palace Lord said, stroking the Twelfth Palace Lord’s head.

Although it was in the language of the North Sea, her voice was so soft and gentle that Yun-hyun was taken aback.

“What made you think of coming here alone?”

The Third Palace Lord said, as if scolding her.

But the Twelfth Palace Lord buried her face in her chest and held on tightly, refusing to let go.

Meanwhile, the robbers assessed the situation and began to flee.

“U-uaaaagh.”

Bing-hun’s brow furrowed at the sight, but Doh Go-rang wouldn’t budge.

“It’s alright. Step back.”

The Third Palace Lord ordered Bing-hun.

Swish.

Only then did Bing-hun sheathe his sword and step back.

Doh Go-rang also calmly sheathed his sword with an indifferent expression.

The Third Palace Lord turned her head and looked at Yun-hyun.

“Haa.”

A sigh escaped from the Third Palace Lord’s red lips.

“You are…”

“Sister, Sister! Something terrible has happened.”

But the Third Palace Lord’s words were cut short.

It was because the Twelfth Palace Lord, who had been nestled in her arms, raised her head and said, sobbing.

“Father, Father…”

The Twelfth Palace Lord couldn’t finish her sentence.

The Third Palace Lord’s face was hardening.

***

After the robbers fled, the coachmen and guards quickly cleaned up the mess.

They wanted to leave this blood-soaked place as soon as possible.

However, only one carriage in the procession had to depart empty.

This was because Yun-hyun, Doh Go-rang, and the Twelfth Palace Lord, who had been riding in it, had transferred to another carriage.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve been in this carriage too.’

Yun-hyun thought, looking back at the Young Palace Lord’s carriage.

Clatter, clatter.

The Young Palace Lord’s carriage was as large and luxurious as ever.

However, it somehow felt cramped now.

This was because, in addition to the Young Palace Lord, Bing-seol, and Yun-hyun, who were originally riding in it, there were also the Twelfth Palace Lord and Doh Go-rang.

The Twelfth Palace Lord clung to the Third Palace Lord’s side like a child, refusing to let go.

It was in stark contrast to her fearless demeanor when she had confronted the band of robbers.

Stroke, stroke.

The Third Palace Lord stroked the Twelfth Palace Lord’s head.

The Twelfth Palace Lord seemed satisfied, even closing her eyes and leaning on the Third Palace Lord’s arm.

Her appearance was still so childlike that Yun-hyun couldn’t help but smile warmly.

“For saving the Young Palace Lord of the North Sea…”

Yun-hyun raised his eyes at the Third Palace Lord’s voice, which suddenly rang out.

Her beautiful eyes were looking straight at Yun-hyun.

“Thank you.”

“It was nothing.”

Yun-hyun smiled.

“Rather, I was the one who enjoyed a good performance.”

The Young Palace Lord’s eyes sparkled.

“Did this child perform for you?”

“Ah, yes.”

Yun-hyun nodded.

The Third Palace Lord looked down at the Twelfth Palace Lord, who was leaning on her.

Perhaps because her tension had been relieved, the Twelfth Palace Lord was already asleep.

“It seems the Scholar has made quite an impression on her.”

Yun-hyun blinked in confusion.

He didn’t get the impression that the Twelfth Palace Lord was picky about people.

She had been wary at first, but that was only natural in an unfamiliar land, wasn’t it?

The Third Palace Lord stared intently at Yun-hyun.

Her gaze was sharp and persistent, as if trying to find something hidden.

“…Um, Young Palace Lord?”

Yun-hyun, who was already nervous about hiding the Grand Restoration Pill, said with an awkward expression.

“Is there something you need…?”

The Third Palace Lord blinked at Yun-hyun’s self-conscious words.

Her beautiful eyelashes fluttered slightly.

“…No.”

The Third Palace Lord said,

“It’s nothing.”

Yun-hyun smiled wryly at the voice that was so different from her words.

But Yun-hyun was the one who would be in trouble if the conversation dragged on.

After all, he was carrying the Shaolin’s Grand Restoration Pill.

“Ahem.”

Yun-hyun cleared his throat and turned his head.

He could feel the Third Palace Lord’s gaze on his cheek, but he stubbornly looked away and stared out the window.

Clatter, clatter.

While Yun-hyun endured the awkward silence, the six carriages were steadily approaching their next destination, a city.