Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 18

018. The Jinyiwei Scholar [The Embroidered Uniform Guard, a special imperial military unit]

풍류검 [Pungryu Sword, a fictional sword style] danced sharply, scattering disheveled hair, while the Overlord Saber met it head-on, as if to shatter everything.

At the moment of impact, the 풍류검 [Pungryu Sword] lowered itself, plunging into the chest of the Overlord Saber.

The Overlord Saber’s bewildered face and the determined gaze of the 풍류검 [Pungryu Sword] crossed paths, deciding the match in a fleeting instant.

In a scene that unfolded in his mind, Unhyun involuntarily sighed.

‘Ah!’

“And the result was decided by a hair’s breadth. The 풍류검 [Pungryu Sword], who had been at a disadvantage throughout the match, left a long sword mark on the Overlord Saber’s chest. The 풍류검 [Pungryu Sword] exploited a weakness in the Overlord’s Overlord Shattering Sky Saber at the last moment. With this, the Overlord Saber once again tasted defeat…”

Unhyun nodded.

“I knew it.”

Yunhyun’s words, nodding as if it were obvious, made Yoo Jae-seop frown.

‘He knew it?’ The excitement of the story that had been building up seemed to cool down.

‘Tch, what does he know? Did he even see it?’

Unhyun, who had been playing with his brush, noticed the strange feeling and looked at Yoo Jae-seop.

Yoo Jae-seop quickly lowered his eyes, but Unhyun had already seen his expression.

“What’s wrong? I really knew it.”

“Ah, well. Of course, you are a great lord, so you would naturally know. Yes, yes.”

Yoo Jae-seop nonchalantly replied, pretending to look elsewhere.

It is not easy to deduce the actual movements just by hearing about them.

Even those who saw it directly find it difficult to recreate, let alone someone who only heard about it?

There is usually only one case where such a thing is possible.

That is when the listener is already a great master who has reached a high level of skill.

They can infer ten things from just one.

So, to Yoo Jae-seop, Unhyun’s words seemed like nothing more than asserting useless pride.

‘Anyway, these people who have read a few books… Do they think their prestige will be diminished if they simply admire honestly? Tch.’

“No, really!”

Yoo Jae-seop’s nonchalant reaction scratched at Unhyun’s temper.

Unhyun, now agitated, put down his brush and said seriously.

“Didn’t the 풍류검 [Pungryu Sword] plunge into the Overlord Saber’s chest at the end? Like this, like this!”

Unhyun moved his empty hand as if it were a sword.

“Ah, yes. Of course. Your Excellency’s insight is truly amazing. Hehehe.”

Yoo Jae-seop smiled at Unhyun.

However, just because he lowered his head did not mean he lowered the pride of a storyteller.

‘I told you all that, didn’t I? Damn it, being powerless is a sin. If you know everything in advance, why do you ask? Just do it all yourself.’

Yoo Jae-seop grumbled inwardly.

‘Anyway, these so-called prophets always come late. They show up after everything is over and say they knew it all along. Ugh, I’m too good for this.’

Yoo Jae-seop’s complaints, seemingly filled with pent-up feelings, did not stop as he lowered his head.

However, as Yoo Jae-seop lowered his posture, the one who became embarrassed was Unhyun.

Isn’t this current situation one where anyone would see Unhyun as forcibly suppressing Yoo Jae-seop using his position?

Moreover, the 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei] are watching from the side.

Unhyun’s face flushed.

“Ahem.”

Unhyun, whose excitement had subsided in an instant, covered his mouth with his hand and coughed dryly.

“Ah, I seem to have gotten a little excited. I unknowingly raised my voice… It’s okay now, so raise your head.”

“Oh no, not at all. I was just ignorant of my place…”

Thump.

Unhyun lightly struck the table to stop Yoo Jae-seop’s words.

“I said it’s okay. Anyway… you’ve worked hard.”

Unhyun, letting out another awkward cough, picked up the brush he had put down and finished the record.

Swish, swish.

Yoo Jae-seop, who had been watching Unhyun’s brush dance, carefully opened his mouth.

“Is it all over now?”

“For today, yes.”

Unhyun answered simply without stopping his brush.

Yoo Jae-seop’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.

“Then when can I go home…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Unhyun stopped his brush and raised his head.

“You’re said to be a famous storyteller from Shanxi Province, is this all you know?”

Yoo Jae-seop hesitated at Unhyun’s sudden, direct gaze.

“N-no way.”

Yoo Jae-seop swallowed hard and tightened his stomach.

“There’s no way this is all I know, right? Just the things I’ve seen myself would take several nights to tell.”

Thump.

Suddenly, Unhyun closed the book.

“I see. Then let’s meet tomorrow.”

“Yes?”

While Yoo Jae-seop was making a blank expression, Unhyun began to gather his writing tools and books.

“You’ve worked hard. Then rest for today.”

Yoo Jae-seop’s face contorted.

In the meantime, Unhyun got up from his seat and moved towards the entrance.

“Your Excellency!”

Unhyun stopped and looked back.

Yoo Jae-seop quickly smiled and said.

“Ah, it’s nothing. You’ve worked hard, Your Excellency. Hehe.”

Yoo Jae-seop glanced at the 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei]’s hand on his shoulder and smiled awkwardly.

Unhyun smiled inwardly.

He could clearly see that Yoo Jae-seop was about to argue but gave up.

“You’ve worked hard too.”

Unhyun also greeted the 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei].

“Thank you, see you later.”

The 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei] bowed slightly in return, and Unhyun turned and left the building.

“Ah, right.”

Unhyun, who was about to leave the building, turned his head and looked at Yoo Jae-seop.

Looking at Yoo Jae-seop, who was sweating with the 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei]’s large hand on his shoulder, Unhyun said with a serious look.

“What I said earlier about knowing it all along was not a lie. Do you understand?”

Yoo Jae-seop just rolled his eyes, wondering what this was about.

He didn’t even think that Unhyun was talking about guessing the outcome of the martial arts match.

After speaking, Unhyun turned his head and disappeared out of the building, and Yoo Jae-seop, left behind, was awkwardly smiling and looking at the 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei].

***

“Haaa!”

Thump, thump.

The shouts and footsteps of several people resounded throughout the wide training ground.

“Seventh Form!”

At the loud command of a bearded martial arts instructor, the 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei] in the training ground simultaneously stepped forward and threw punches.

Thump.

On one side of the training ground, where the shouts of the 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei] echoed, sat the 금군교두 [Geumgun Gyodu, instructors] belonging to the 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei].

They, including Instructor Il Chung-hyun, were carefully watching the 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei] who were training with sharp eyes.

“Greetings, Instructor Il Chung-hyun.”

Instructor Il Chung-hyun turned his head at the voice suddenly heard from the side. A warm smile spread across his face.

“Welcome, Scholar Unhyun.”

The person who greeted him was Unhyun. Instructor Il Chung-hyun offered him a seat.

Unhyun sat down and exchanged greetings with the other instructors.

“Greetings.”

“Welcome.”

Of course, Unhyun was not able to exchange greetings like this from the beginning.

When Unhyun appeared at the 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei] training ground, the instructors ignored him or even treated him with hostility.

However, Instructor Il Chung-hyun treated Unhyun with respect, and Unhyun showed a sincere interest in martial arts, which began to win their favor.

As Unhyun appeared every day without fail, he was soon naturally accepted by the instructors.

Of course, all they did was exchange simple greetings.

“Is your work all finished?”

Il Chung-hyun asked as Unhyun sat down. Unhyun answered as if complaining.

“I barely finished it yesterday, but it starts again today. By the way, the movements of the new 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei] who came in this year are quite good, aren’t they?”

Unhyun looked at the new 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei] sweating in the training ground.

Those in the training ground now are martial officers who passed the military examination this year and newly belong to the 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei].

Instructor Il Chung-hyun nodded.

“That’s right. They are all full of enthusiasm, so the instructors will have a hard time.”

Some of the instructors around him let out a light laugh.

“How is your training, Scholar Unhyun?”

“There’s nothing particularly strange, but…”

Unhyun tilted his head and continued.

“Strangely, the time I spend practicing the sword form seems to be getting longer and longer.”

“Longer?”

“Yes. In the past, I think I practiced the sword form three or four times in one hour, but these days, one practice takes well over an hour. If I did it twice, the sun would be setting.”

A smile spread across Instructor Il Chung-hyun’s face.

He was reminded of the time when Unhyun had shown him the White Tiger Training Sword.

At that time, Unhyun said three or four times, but in fact, he did it several times more than that, didn’t he?

“As training deepens, it actually slows down, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

Unhyun tilted his head at Instructor Il Chung-hyun’s answer.

Logically speaking, shouldn’t it get faster as you get used to it?

Something felt uneasy, but Unhyun couldn’t say anything more.

Because there was a change happening in the training ground.

“Attention!”

At the loud voice of the bearded instructor, the new 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei] stood in orderly rows.

Instructor Dojin bowed slightly to Instructor Il Chung-hyun and stepped forward.

Rustle.

Unhyun also quickly took out the empty book and brush he had brought.

“From now on, we will begin the sparring!”

Instructor Dojin said in a strong tone as he stepped into the training ground.

“Sparring. Understand? Make sure no one gets hurt due to unnecessary competitiveness.”

However, the first sparring is always tense and overly forceful.

Especially for young recruits who are as enthusiastic as these.

Sure enough,

The eyes of the new 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei] were already burning fiercely.

***

“When is my turn coming?”

One of the new 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei] who had been waiting muttered anxiously.

“Well, it will come when it’s your turn.”

The other new 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei] chuckled.

Sparring was taking place in front, but it was just boring for those who were waiting.

At first, they couldn’t take their eyes off it due to tension, but soon the new 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei] were even chatting with the person next to them.

Of course, they lowered their voices as much as possible.

“Who is that civil official? Over there, that way.”

At someone’s voice, the new 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei]’s gazes turned towards the instructors.

A young civil official, who looked frail, was mixed in with the 금군교두 [Geumgun Gyodu, instructors], whose presence alone was unusual.

He was holding a brush and a book in his hands, and he was carefully watching the new recruits’ sparring and writing something down.

“Could it be that the civil official is evaluating us?”

The new 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei] frowned at another voice.

They were always compared to civil officials and tired of subtle belittlement.

Now that they had become 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei] and their pride was at its peak, they would not welcome the evaluation of a civil official who was not even a 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei].

The atmosphere cooled down, and several sharp glares were directed at the civil official.

Then someone said from behind.

“Oh? That person is a scholar from that Changryong Hall or something. The seniors told me… Was it Scholar Unhyun?”

“Ah.”

The animosity that had been spreading rapidly disappeared in an instant.

One of the new 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei] who didn’t know what was going on asked.

“Scholar Unhyun? Why is a scholar in the 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei]…”

“He’s a scholar belonging to His Highness the Crown Prince, and he writes reports on martial arts.”

The new 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei] next to him answered him.

“He’s been coming to the 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei] training ground every day for three years now, hasn’t he?”

“Three years? A scholar at the 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei] training ground?”

“Yeah. There’s also talk that he’s a disciple of Instructor Il Chung-hyun, but it’s not a formal master-disciple relationship… Well, he has a good eye for martial arts, so some seniors have received help from him.”

“Receiving help? What? How?”

The new 锦衣卫 [Jinyiwei] who was listening frowned and asked.