Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 212

212. Mo Yongjin’s Martial Arts Contest

“I don’t need it.”

“Yes?”

Jang Hodal asked, surprised, but the Inspector remained calm.

“I don’t need anything. The Chief Lord simply values Chief Jang’s spirit and skill. So, I hope you will remain loyal to the New Green Forest in the future.”

“Of course!”

Jang Hodal proudly puffed out his chest.

“When it comes to loyalty, who else would it be but me? Ah, you know, I avenged my friend without receiving anything the other day, didn’t I? His wife was so touched…”

“And.”

The Inspector cut off Jang Hodal’s words.

“Keep this Great Strength Heavenly Divine Pill strictly confidential. Understand?”

“Is there any doubt? My lips are sealed. Hahaha.”

Jang Hodal assured him, but the Inspector didn’t seem convinced.

In fact, he was rather hoping that the rumor would spread.

Thud.

The Inspector got up from his seat.

“Oh my, are you leaving already? I haven’t even properly entertained you…”

“I didn’t come here to be entertained.”

“Still, you’ve given me such a precious elixir…”

The Inspector chuckled.

“We have so many of those pills in the New Green Forest that they’re overflowing.”

At those words, Jang Hodal’s eyes gleamed with greed.

‘To have so many precious pills that instantly increase inner strength that they’re overflowing?’

“I’ll be going.”

The Inspector opened the door and lightly stepped into the darkness.

Thud.

Jang Hodal, who was about to follow him, was startled to see the Inspector leap over the high mountain fortress fence in a single bound.

“Agility skill!”

He had only heard of it, but it was the first time he had actually seen it.

Embarrassed by his surprise, Jang Hodal feigned a cough.

Fortunately, no one saw his reaction.

Jang Hodal looked into the darkness and muttered.

“New Green Forest, huh.”

‘There are many suspicious things.’

The Inspector didn’t even tell him who the Chief Lord was.

‘But what could such a master gain by deceiving me?’

‘At best, they’d use me as a shield.’

However, the Inspector didn’t ask for anything.

Rather, he said that within a few days, something that would shock the world would happen in the name of the New Green Forest and the Jang River Water Brigade alliance.

‘I can always observe the situation before moving.’

Swish.

Jang Hodal looked down at the pill in his hand.

‘Should I wait without eating it until then?’

Perhaps that would be wise.

But the agility skill the Inspector had just displayed was vivid in his mind.

‘If I have this, I can fly like that too, right?’

Jang Hodal swallowed hard.

Swoosh.

After looking around, Jang Hodal hid the pill in his chest and carefully closed the door.

Click.

Waiting a few days would definitely be the right thing to do, but Jang Hodal wasn’t even sure if he could make it through tonight.

***

The Martial Arts Alliance’s World Martial Arts Competition was heading towards its climax.

Along with it, new terms appeared, replacing the old title of the Martial Arts Alliance’s Eighteen Great Sects, based on the competition’s rankings.

Among the emerging Five Great Families, the Danmok Family, along with the South Sea Sword Sect, was named in the Sixteen Great Sects, and the Tang Family and the Jegal Family rose to the Eight Great Sects.

The Wudang and Mount Hua sects had already secured their places in the Four Great Heavenly Sects, and Shaolin joined third. Of course, Wudang was overseeing Shaolin’s martial arts contests to ensure fairness.

Of course, the Four Great Heavenly Sects and the Sixteen Great Sects were just terms used in gossip.

The results of this martial arts competition didn’t definitively determine the ranking of the sects, and the Qingcheng Sect, which had lost in the main rounds, still remained in the Martial Arts Alliance’s Eighteen Great Sects.

However, the thrilling martial arts contests left a vivid impression on people, leading to new evaluations of the sects.

Among them, the most talked-about sect was none other than the Mo Yong Family of Henan Province.

“Come to think of it, the Mo Yong Family has quite a deep history, right?”

“Is that all? It’s more like it’s strange that they’ve been quiet until now.”

People waiting for the martial arts contest debated with each other.

“But the Gongson Family is not to be trifled with either. Although they are from the Demonic Faction, they are a traditional prestigious family, and above all, aren’t they one of the Martial Arts Alliance’s Eighteen Great Sects?”

“Still, it won’t be easy. Didn’t you see him in the last martial arts contest? Mo Yongjin’s sword was definitely manifesting sword energy.”

“Eh, no way.”

The Mo Yong Family was riding high on momentum.

The disciples’ solid swordsmanship and inner strength were excellent, but the swordsmanship of the chief disciple, Mo Yongjin, was truly outstanding.

Disciples of famous families and martial artists who were considered key figures knelt one after another before Mo Yongjin’s sword.

In particular, the fact that he defeated the three top disciples of the Black Demon Society and their representative, Mook Hyulyeop, in succession was still being talked about.

Whether the energy that flickered from Mo Yongjin’s sword at the last moment was truly sword energy was also a matter of controversy.

“Wasn’t it just for a moment? At best, it would be the beginning stage.”

“At best? Even the beginning stage is amazing! It’s amazing even for a moment!”

“Whoa, whoa. Calm down.”

The person listening stopped them.

“There’s a rumor that the Gongson Family’s chief disciple has also reached the beginning stage of sword energy manifestation, so won’t it be confirmed in this martial arts contest anyway? Isn’t that right?”

There was indeed a rumor that Gongson Kang, the chief disciple of the Gongson Family, had also reached the beginning stage of sword energy manifestation.

So, whether the two had truly reached the realm of sword energy manifestation would be confirmed in today’s martial arts contest.

The gathered people’s eyes were shining with anticipation.

“Are you okay? Brother Jin.”

“Huh? Are you talking about me?”

Mo Yongjin turned his head.

Mo Yongmi said with a wry smile.

“Yes. You seem a little nervous.”

“Nervous, huh…”

Mo Yongjin clenched and unclenched his fists.

“Yeah, to be honest, I’m nervous.”

Mo Yongmi nodded.

“Yes. Because the opponent is the Gongson Family. Besides…”

“No, that’s not it.”

Mo Yongjin shook his head.

“What I fear is not being able to reach the realm of the sword that Lord Woon showed me.”

Mo Yongmi was slightly surprised. Mo Yongjin continued.

“And I’m afraid that I might be ashamed of Senior Dogo. I’m not afraid of the Gongson Family at all.”

The sword energy that Dogo Rang showed at Iron Peak Mountain greatly stimulated Mo Yongjin.

After Dogo Rang recovered, the two quickly became close.

The passion for martial arts and the common ground of being the Azure Dragon Sword Lord made the two feel a sense of kinship.

After Dogo Rang and Woonhyun left the Mo Yong Family, Mo Yongjin devoted himself to training to an incredible extent.

Mo Yongjin had already put down all the affairs of the family and was focusing solely on training.

It was no coincidence that Mo Yongjin, who had witnessed the manifestation of sword energy before his eyes and tasted the new horizon of the sword that Woonhyun had shown him, had reached his current state.

Of course, the full support of the family head, Mo Yong Dancheon, also played a part.

“Come to think of it, where is Lord Woon?”

At Mo Yongjin’s question, Mo Yongmi shook her head.

“I don’t know. I asked the Martial Arts Alliance, but there was no official reply at all. The people working there don’t seem to know either.”

“Is that so? That’s a shame.”

In the first place, Mo Yongmi had to attend all the martial arts contests of the competition.

As the head of the family’s outer hall, she had to grasp even more of a sect’s strength.

Besides, she used to handle the urgent matters of the family even here.

Of course, she didn’t have time, and she didn’t have the leisure to inquire about Woonhyun.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okay.”

Swish.

Mo Yongjin raised his eyes and looked at the martial arts stage.

“I’ll win and meet you with good news.”

His eyes were shining.

Mo Yongmi was sure of her brother’s victory.

Sanga, who was sitting next to her, clenched her small fist and said.

“Brother Jin, good luck!”

“Yeah.”

Mo Yongjin stroked Sanga’s head.

However, his gaze did not leave the martial arts stage.

***

Thud.

Putting down the documents, Kwan Jibu said.

“With this, it’s over for now.”

“Hoo-ah.”

Byun Gilyang let out a deep sigh.

“It’s finally over. These damn documents.”

Woonhyun smiled lightly and organized his brush.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Thud.

Following an old habit, Woonhyun meticulously arranged the brush, paper, ink, and inkstone.

“Ah, well, um, thank you for your hard work, Secretary Woon.”

Kwan Jibu hesitated and said.

He hadn’t noticed when he was busy, but now that the work was over, he couldn’t help but feel sorry.

He had made the successor of the Sword Saint do chores.

“You two have worked harder. I’ve only helped a little…”

“Oh my, a little? By the way, are you okay? The main martial arts contests are now in their final stages, aren’t they?”

Byun Gilyang made a fuss.

But Woonhyun smiled.

“I’m fine. I can watch the remaining martial arts contests. Ah, where is it today?”

“The Gongson Family and the Mo Yong Family are fighting at the central martial arts stage.”

“The Mo Yong Family?”

Woonhyun was surprised.

“Yes. Aren’t they very popular these days? Especially the Mo Yong Family’s chief disciple, Mo Yongjin, is very popular.”

Woonhyun unknowingly wore a proud smile.

‘Mo Yongjin’s popularity is high, so I feel like my shoulders are raised as well.’

“Maybe…”

“Ah, but there won’t be any seats, will there? Both the VIP seats and the general seats are full, and the martial arts contest must have already started.”

If it’s a martial arts contest that hasn’t started yet, you can arrange a seat.

But you can’t pull out someone who is already sitting in a martial arts contest that has already started.

“How about, from the next martial arts contest…”

“No, it’s okay.”

Woonhyun fully understood that it was impossible.

Besides, Woonhyun doesn’t like abusing privileges like this.

“Do you know where Senior Dogo, who came with me, is?”

“If it’s him, he’ll be at the east side martial arts stage. It’s where the off-stage martial arts contests are held.”

Byun Gilyang said.

He must have been busy working, but he was still quick with rumors.

“Off-stage martial arts contests?”

Woonhyun looked puzzled at the words he heard for the first time.

“Yes. It’s not an official martial arts contest, but it’s said that quite a few people gather there.”

“Is that so?”

Martial artists are rough in nature and lack patience.

It is better to discharge their energy under the name of off-stage contests than to suppress them unconditionally. The Martial Arts Alliance leaves the off-stage martial arts contests alone for that reason.

Besides, it was natural for Dogo Rang to be drawn to such a place. He was originally a swordsman called a solitary guest [a wandering swordsman].

“I understand. Then I’ll go out first.”

Woonhyun politely bowed.

Kwan Jibu jumped up from his seat, and Byun Gilyang smiled brightly and returned the greeting.

“Get some rest, Secretary Woon.”

“Th, thank you for your hard work.”

Kwan Jibu and Byun Gilyang bowed deeply.

Woonhyun smiled at the two and left the guest hall.

‘The sky is blue.’

‘Is it because I’ve been stuck in the guest hall for several days?’

The sky felt unusually high and blue.

Step, step.

With a leisurely heart, Woonhyun moved his steps.

His steps were heading to where his sworn brother Dogo Rang was, the east side martial arts stage.

***

Buzzing.

Was it because of the lingering afterglow of the clash just now?

The low wail coming from his beloved sword, Biwol, tickled Gongson Kang’s ears.

But Gongson Kang’s heart was shaking even more than his sword.

‘How can this be…’

The sword style unfolded with the Biwol Sword, Biwol Ascending to Heaven, was one of the sword styles he was most confident in.

Even the head of the Gongson Family admired it, and he even heard the words, ‘You will make a name for yourself in the Jianghu [the martial arts world] with this Biwol Ascending to Heaven.’

So it was a sword style that he had absolute confidence in.

His Biwol Ascending to Heaven was blocked by Mo Yongjin of the Mo Yong Family, not Wudang or Shaolin.

‘How…’

Gongson Kang, the chief disciple of the Gongson Family, raised his eyes and looked at the man standing in front of him.

Buzz.

Mo Yongjin’s eyes, holding a sword and standing proudly, did not waver in the slightest. And the faint energy flickering from his sword was sword energy.

‘How, sword energy.’

He knew the name Mo Yong Family to some extent.

However, he thought it was just a lucky family that had risen overnight.

In fact, the families called the Emerging Five Great Families stopped at the Sixteen Great Sects at best in the early stages of the main rounds.

Objectively, the Mo Yong Family was one level below the Gongson Family. That was the objective assessment.

But what appeared from Mo Yongjin’s sword was sword energy.

Although it was a similar beginning stage to himself, it was still a shock to Gongson Kang.

Gnash.

Gongson Kang gritted his teeth.

‘But it’s a match that the family head and the heads and leaders of other sects are watching.’

After himself, the family’s Martial Arts Alliance representative Gongson Chang and the head of the outer hall are present, but defeat should not happen.

It can never happen against the Mo Yong Family, not Wudang or Mount Hua.

Whoo-oong.

His beloved sword Biwol contained a faint energy.

And Gongson Kang let out a rough shout and rushed in.

“Haa!”

Flash.

With a chilling energy, Biwol Ascending to Heaven unfolded towards Mo Yongjin.

But Mo Yongjin’s eyes were calm.