Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 226

226. Answer and Excuse

Namgung Biyeon spoke in a trembling voice.

“U, Un Haksanim…”

“Call me Uihyeong, Uimae.”

Unhyeon’s expression was gentle.

Regardless of the situation, Unhyeon’s feelings for her were not negative.

In fact, he had considerable personal affection for her.

“Yes, Uihyeong.”

Namgung Biyeon said in a joyful voice.

Her eyes were teary, something she couldn’t help.

“Now that Un Daein is no longer a stranger, how about it, Un Daein? Will you accept the position of examiner?”

It was a question that didn’t even need to be asked.

“Though I am inadequate, I will gladly do so.”

Unhyeon replied.

“I cannot accept this!”

Namgung Cheol, the head of the Junggyeong branch, shouted.

He did not hide his anger.

“How can such high-handedness be tolerated! You should seek permission from the family elders first…”

“Heh heh.”

The skinny old man, who had been sitting silently, chuckled.

“Not bad.”

Though his voice was dry, Namgung Cheol was shocked into silence.

The old man, who was so small and hunched over that he couldn’t be imagined as an elder of the Namgung Clan, raised a bony hand and pointed at Unhyeon.

“If we can throw away a mere examiner position and have the Shinsung’s [Divine Sage’s] disciple as a subordinate, isn’t that a pretty good deal?”

Just because Unhyeon became sworn siblings with Namgung Biyeon doesn’t mean he has a relationship with the other members of the Namgung Clan.

Sworn brotherhood and sisterhood are completely different from the hierarchy of the Murim [martial arts world].

However, it is a clear fact that Unhyeon, the disciple of Shinsung, has become sworn siblings with the young lady of the Namgung Clan.

The word ‘subordinate’ is not correct, but it was clear that the Namgung Clan had something to be proud of.

“Bu, but…”

“Enough.”

The old man cut off the protest of Namgung Cheol, the head of the Junggyeong branch.

“I came out because I couldn’t resist the urging, and I’m seeing something interesting for the first time in a long time. Heh heh heh.”

The old man chuckled as he looked at Cheolgeom Namgungbyeok.

“Go ahead and do as you wish.”

Cheolgeom Namgungbyeok said nothing.

That was the end of the banquet that day.

***

The next day, Unhyeon was in Cheolgeom Namgungbyeok’s office.

“Are you sure you’re alright with this?”

Unhyeon asked.

“There’s nothing alright or not alright about it.”

Namgungbyeok said with a calm expression.

“Do as you wish, Un Daein. I will not interfere with anything.”

It was an almost resigned tone.

“If there is anything you need, please tell me.”

“If that’s the case.”

Unhyeon replied.

He had already thought enough about it last night.

“May I see the Namgung family’s Sword Manual?”

“The Sword Manual, you say?”

Unhyeon nodded.

“The Hidden Dragon Selection is about choosing the talent to lead the Namgung family. If so, then you must have an eye for the Namgung family’s swordsmanship. So, please show me the Namgung family’s Sword Manual.”

That made sense.

How could he pick the Namgung family’s Hidden Dragon without knowing the Namgung family’s swordsmanship?

“…Which Sword Manual do you want?”

The Namgung family’s ultimate skill is the ChangGung Muae Sword Art.

It is the unique sword art that made today’s Namgung family a Sword King family, said to cleave even mountains and seas, and is only allowed to the head of the family.

Cheolgeom Namgungbyeok expected Unhyeon to want that.

But Unhyeon’s answer was different.

“Anything is fine.”

Unhyeon said.

“I just need one that can be said to be the Namgung family’s sword.”

“Hmm.”

Cheolgeom Namgungbyeok was lost in thought.

But it didn’t last long.

“I will give you the ChangGung Sword Manual.”

“The ChangGung Sword Manual?”

“That’s right.”

Namgungbyeok continued.

“The ChangGung Sword is the first sword art that those who enter the Namgung family learn. It is the simplest but also the most Namgung family-like sword art. According to legend, the beginning of the ChangGung Muae Sword Art is this ChangGung Sword.”

Unhyeon nodded.

“And the ChangGung Sword is…”

Cheolgeom Namgungbyeok said quietly.

“It is also the sword that my brother cherished the most.”

Unhyeon did not miss the regret that flashed in his eyes.

“…Will this be enough?”

“It is enough.”

Unhyeon bowed and left the head of the family’s office.

Until then, Cheolgeom Namgungbyeok was sitting in his seat, merely ruminating on his regret.

***

“Brother.”

Unhyeon, who was reading a book in his quarters, raised his head at the voice he heard from outside.

“Come in.”

He knew she was coming.

Doggorang had sensed her presence and told Unhyeon a little while ago.

Sarak.

The door opened and Namgung Biyeon entered.

Unlike before, she was wearing soft silk clothes and even had sparkling ornaments in her hair.

‘Oh.’

Unhyeon was inwardly impressed, though he didn’t show it.

Her impression had changed drastically just with her clothes and makeup.

She, who had been like a lively young lady, was now exuding an elegant and graceful atmosphere to her heart’s content.

“Are you comfortable, Brother?”

“Yes, Uimae.”

Unhyeon offered Namgung Biyeon a seat.

Sitting down, she bowed her head to Unhyeon.

“Thank you once again for accepting my unreasonable request, Brother.”

“It’s nothing.”

Unhyeon smiled.

“I wouldn’t become sworn siblings with someone I dislike either.”

Namgung Biyeon’s cheeks flushed slightly.

“Ah, right.”

Taktak.

Namgung Biyeon placed a small wooden box on the desk.

It was a very luxurious-looking wooden box, made of good wood and intricately crafted.

“Father told me to give this to you.”

Sarak.

Namgung Biyeon opened the wooden box.

A thin book, which looked old at a glance, revealed itself.

‘An ancient book?’

Unhyeon’s eyes sparkled at once.

“It’s the ChangGung Sword Manual. Although it’s not the original, it’s the oldest copy that has been passed down. And…”

Looking down at the Sword Manual, Namgung Biyeon said with a forlorn look.

“It is also the Sword Manual that the previous head of the family cherished the most.”

Unhyeon was a little surprised.

He had already heard that the previous head of the family, Noegeom Namgung Jincheon, cherished the ChangGung Sword the most.

But he never thought that she would give him that Sword Manual, not even a copy, as it was.

“Are you sure it’s okay? To receive something like this…”

This was valuable enough. Unhyeon couldn’t help but ask if it was okay to receive something like this.

“It’s okay.”

Namgung Biyeon bit her lip and added.

“…Maybe, it’ll be okay.”

Unhyeon stared at Namgung Biyeon.

She looked down at the old Sword Manual and couldn’t say anything.

“Who is participating in the Hidden Dragon Selection?”

Suddenly, Unhyeon asked.

Namgung Biyeon raised her head in surprise.

“What kind of people will be coming out?”

“Ah, well… You can think of it as coming from all the factions that have influence in the family.”

“Still, there must be someone who is likely to win, right?”

“Yes. First, there’s Namgung Jinhwi, and Namgung Jun, whom you saw at the inn, is also a strong candidate. And…”

“Namgung Jinhwi?”

Unhyeon asked at the unfamiliar name.

“Yes. He is the best in terms of skill. But he will never become the Hidden Dragon.”

“Why?”

“Because he is from a collateral line [a branch of the family not in the direct line of succession].”

A collateral line is a bloodline that branched off from the direct line.

In a family centered on blood ties, the collateral line was always pushed back by the direct line.

“I am the examiner, but…”

But Unhyeon doesn’t care about that. What does it matter if it’s a collateral line or a direct line?

“That’s not what I mean.”

Namgung Biyeon shook her head.

“He knows his position very well. So he won’t even come out. A collateral line that doesn’t have ties to the direct line is no different from an outsider.”

So, it means that he is skilled but alienated.

“You know him well.”

At Unhyeon’s words, Namgung Biyeon gave a bitter smile.

“We were close since we were young. If I had power, I would have definitely selected him, but…”

Namgung Biyeon, who is still a young lady, can’t possibly have power.

“I see.”

Unhyeon nodded.

“What about you, Miss?”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

Namgung Biyeon bit her lip.

“…It’s not that I haven’t thought about it. But I am a woman, and if I step forward, my father will be in trouble.”

No matter how much of a Murim family it is, there is no precedent for a woman becoming the head of the family.

Moreover, she is the only daughter of Cheolgeom Namgungbyeok.

The reason why the Hidden Dragon Selection is being held is because she is a woman, so she will never receive favorable attention.

“I see.”

Unhyeon, who was nodding, stared intently at Namgung Biyeon.

“But is that really the case?”

Namgung Biyeon was puzzled.

“What…”

“I asked the young lady. But the young lady is now making excuses to me. Not an answer, but an excuse.”

The eyes of Unhyeon, who was speaking, were more serious than ever.

“Many people mistakenly believe that they have made a decision. But is that really the case? Isn’t it what other people have decided for you? Isn’t it that you have escaped from the problem with anxiety and fear, saying that you can’t help it because the situation is like this?”

Those were words that pierced Namgung Biyeon’s heart.

“I’m not saying to blindly resist or not to listen to others. It is also necessary to consider the situation. But.”

Unhyeon looked straight at Namgung Biyeon and said.

“Don’t deceive yourself.”

Namgung Biyeon bit her lip and clenched her hands.

What is it that she really wants?

The answer came quickly.

However, she didn’t have the courage to say it out loud.

Until now.

“I.”

Namgung Biyeon raised her head.

“I want to participate in the Hidden Dragon Selection.”

Unhyeon wore a smile.

It was an expression as if he knew it would be like that.

“If that’s the case, then do so.”

“I’m sorry. It may be a nuisance to you, Brother, but…”

“To me? Why?”

“Well, Brother is the examiner, so…”

Namgung Biyeon is Unhyeon’s Uimae.

If she participates in the Hidden Dragon Selection, there will inevitably be talk of questioning the fairness of Unhyeon, who is the examiner.

“Don’t worry.”

Unhyeon said with a smile.

“The test must be thoroughly fair. Such words will never come out.”

The civil service examination must be fair.

Namgung Biyeon’s worries were unnecessary for Unhyeon, who knew that deep in his bones.

“Well, then.”

Unhyeon said with a smile.

“I won’t be able to see you until the Hidden Dragon Selection.”

Namgung Biyeon looked at him as if asking what he meant.

“Wouldn’t it be troublesome if we were suspected of having a secret meeting? For the sake of the fairness that Uimae mentioned.”

A secret meeting is to meet secretly without anyone knowing.

Namgung Biyeon blushed at the thought of a secret meeting between Unhyeon and herself, feeling strangely seductive.

“Then I’ll see you at the Hidden Dragon Selection, Uimae.”

It was an order to leave.

But Namgung Biyeon’s mood was not bad at all.

No, Namgung Biyeon thought that the voice was somehow sweet.

***

“Hey, am I shaking?”

Musimpa’s Buchaeju [Deputy Leader], Jang Samchae, frowned.

He didn’t know how many times he had heard the same question since a while ago. But he couldn’t get annoyed.

The other person was none other than Chongchaeju [Leader], Lee Musim.

“You are very dignified.”

Jang Samchae replied with a bright smile.

However, Lee Musim had an unreliable expression.

“The expression ‘dignified’ is somehow inappropriate.”

Jang Samchae’s face crumpled.

Lee Musim’s chronic illness had relapsed again.

That habit of writing letters that he doesn’t even know himself.

“Then what should I…”

“For example, dazzling, or majestic and unparalleled. Ah, I can’t find a word to express this situation. What should I call this meaningful and unprecedented historical moment?”

The word historical moment was right.

It was the moment when the Janggang Surochae Alliance, which had only remained in name for decades, officially declared the Gaepae Daejeon [Faction Founding Grand Ceremony].