Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 227

227. United River Alliance

Dressed in flamboyant attire, Lee Mu-shim lamented,

“Ah, how can I express today’s overwhelming emotion? The ultimate truth cannot be conveyed through words; is this why they spoke of the smile of silent understanding?”

“Silent understanding, you say? Shall I summon the courtesan Yeon-hwa to attend to you?”

Jang Sam-chae wasn’t sure why Lee Mu-shim was suddenly asking for a courtesan, but he tried his best to comply.

However, Lee Mu-shim frowned.

“Tsk, you ignorant fool.”

Jang Sam-chae’s mood soured.

‘Damn it, is he toying with me? Why does he keep changing his mind about Yeon-hwa…? Tch!’

Jang Sam-chae grumbled inwardly.

“More importantly, isn’t it almost time?”

Just as Lee Mu-shim said that,

“Waaah!”

A roar erupted from outside.

Simultaneously, a man dressed as a scholar burst through the doors.

It was Jang Ja-bang, Lee Mu-shim’s strategist.

“Oh, Jang Ja-bang.”

Lee Mu-shim greeted him with a bright smile.

With piercing eyes, Jang Ja-bang exuded an extraordinary aura, making it hard to believe he was part of the river alliance.

Jang Ja-bang bowed respectfully to Lee Mu-shim.

“Everything is prepared, Chief.”

“Ooh! Excellent. The time has finally come.”

Lee Mu-shim said, seemingly overcome with emotion.

“Did everyone take the Great Strength Heavenly Divine Pill?”

“Of course.”

The Great Strength Heavenly Divine Pill was a pill that had recently begun circulating within the river alliance.

It was whispered about as a secret, but in reality, all the chiefs knew about it.

A miraculous medicine that greatly enhanced inner energy and sharpened senses, allowing one to reach the realm of a master in an instant—that was the Great Strength Heavenly Divine Pill.

Rumor had it that the Yellow Sky Bandits, who had defeated the Namgung Clan, as well as the Dark Heaven Demon Emperor’s martial prowess, were all thanks to this pill.

In fact, there were even stories circulating that some of the chiefs had undergone a complete transformation.

As a result, any suspicious talk about the pill was quietly buried.

“Good, very good.”

Lee Mu-shim said with a satisfied expression.

“Jang Ja-bang, you have worked hard to assist me until now.”

The vice-chief, Jang Sam-chae, clicked his tongue.

‘Assist? What assistance? Frankly, that guy did everything.’

Jang Ja-bang was someone Chief Lee Mu-shim had suddenly brought along.

At first, everyone was suspicious.

However, Lee Mu-shim trusted him implicitly, and Jang Ja-bang demonstrated exceptional abilities.

Thanks to him, Lee Mu-shim rose to become the new chief of the Jang River Alliance, and Jang Ja-bang reorganized the once-ineffectual alliance.

From the alliance’s organizational structure and personnel to the execution of funds and finances, he had truly recreated everything.

‘Why is someone like him under Lee Mu-shim?’

Jang Sam-chae couldn’t understand it.

But the abilities Jang Ja-bang possessed were genuine.

The result of those abilities was what they were seeing today: the inaugural war.

“Now, let’s go out.”

Swish.

Lee Mu-shim rose from his seat.

The clothes, embroidered with all sorts of dazzling decorations and gold and silver jewels, made a sound.

It was a long robe that trailed far behind him on the floor.

“Don’t step on it, and follow me with utmost care.”

“Yes.”

Jang Sam-chae immediately lowered his head.

Swish, swish.

With the sound of the robe dragging, Lee Mu-shim left the main hall.

And the moment he stepped out of the hall,

“Waaah!”

“Oooooh!”

The people’s cheers erupted all at once.

The front of the hall was filled with people.

Hundreds, thousands, no, it seemed like tens of thousands of people were lined up there.

The flags of numerous river alliances fluttered, and the weapons in their hands glinted in the sunlight.

“Hehehe.”

Lee Mu-shim couldn’t hide his laughter.

The effect of defeating the Namgung Clan and forcing them to close their doors was tremendous.

Not only did the river alliances of the Jang River flock to Lee Mu-shim’s banner, but even the vagrants and sects who had been suppressed by the Martial Alliance joined the alliance.

This was because the Jang River Alliance was recognized as the vanguard of the anti-Martial Alliance.

Although there was a clear limitation in that most of them were sects related to the Jang River’s interests.

“Waaah!”

“Iron Masked Ruthless! Iron Masked Ruthless!”

Above the people chanting Lee Mu-shim’s title, Iron Masked Ruthless, countless flags fluttered.

It was truly a spectacle.

Swoosh.

Lee Mu-shim slowly raised both hands.

The cheers of the people subsided as if by magic.

“Fellow comrades!”

Lee Mu-shim’s voice echoed loudly.

His voice, imbued with inner energy, was clearly audible to everyone.

“The humiliation and hardship we have suffered at the hands of the Martial Alliance cannot be described in words.”

As if overcome with emotion himself, Lee Mu-shim trembled.

“We have been trampled, suppressed, and torn to pieces by that arrogant Martial Alliance!”

Anger began to rise in the eyes of the people.

This was partly due to the oppression they had suffered from the Martial Alliance, but the effects of the pills they had taken were also clearly at play.

“Why should we silently endure their tyranny? Why were we forced to be beaten like dogs as they pleased? It is because we lacked strength! But behold!”

Lee Mu-shim spread his arms wide.

On the left and right sides of the main hall, those dressed in yellow martial uniforms were lined up in an orderly fashion.

“We killed Thunder Sword and forced the Namgung Clan to close their doors. The Jang River has become ours again! With our own strength!”

“Waaah!”

The roar soared as if piercing the sky.

Questions about whether the Yellow Sky Bandits and the Dark Heaven Demon Emperor were the strength of the Jang River Alliance did not arise.

“Now, the Green Forest [a network of rebel groups and outlaws], our longtime brothers, have also awakened and are unleashing their power! Look at the Gongsun Clan! What state is their main family in now!”

Lee Mu-shim shouted even louder.

“The Gongsun Clan has collapsed and burned! The Black Spear Cavalry of the Green Forest did that!”

“Waaah!”

The people raised their swords, sabers, and spears, cheering madly.

“Now, the era of the Martial Alliance is over! With our own hands, the era of the Martial Alliance will come to an end!”

Lee Mu-shim, as if intoxicated by his own speech, drew his sword.

Clang.

And soon, a low sound began to resonate from that sword.

“Therefore, come! Heroes who share our purpose!”

Whoooom.

From Lee Mu-shim’s highly raised sword, a crimson aura began to surge.

Lee Mu-shim shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Let’s go! To the Martial Alliance!”

It was none other than a declaration of war.

The Jang River Alliance had declared war on the Martial Alliance of the world.

And in response to his declaration, a massive roar that seemed to cover the sky erupted.

“Waaaaaaaaah!”

“Let’s go!”

“Ooooooh!”

“Let’s go! Let’s go! To the Martial Alliance!”

The people in front of the main hall screamed madly, and countless flags waved like waves.

Watching that scene, Lee Mu-shim, the chief of the Jang River Alliance, Iron Masked Ruthless, wore a triumphant smile.

***

A new day dawned on the Namgung Clan.

It was the day to select the Hidden Dragon, who would lead the Namgung Clan’s future.

The candidates for the Hidden Dragon selection and the factions supporting them greeted the morning with renewed determination.

However, Yun-hyun, the judge of the Hidden Dragon selection, was still in his quarters.

“Hmm.”

Piles of letters were stacked in front of Yun-hyun.

The one he was holding and reading now was also one of them.

“Sir.”

Doh Go-rang’s voice was heard from outside.

“Come in, Doh Go-rang.”

The door opened, and Doh Go-rang entered.

He glanced at the letters piled on the desk.

“Haven’t you already seen them all yesterday?”

“Yes. But I was wondering if I had missed anything…”

Yun-hyun said, looking at the letters.

“Even though I told them to write anything, the content is all similar.”

The first thing Yun-hyun, as a judge, had asked of the candidates was to ‘write anything’.

He had not specified a topic or length.

The result was the pile of letters stacked on the desk.

“They’re all about the amazing martial arts they’ve learned or the great fame they’ve gained in the martial world.”

The expressions ‘amazing martial arts’ and ‘great fame’ were quite exaggerated.

How could young people with little experience have such things?

“Ah, and Miss Namgung Bi-yeon’s handwriting is better than I thought. The young man named Namgung Jin-hwi also wrote a letter.”

Contrary to Namgung Bi-yeon’s statement that she would not participate, Namgung Jin-hwi also wrote a letter.

This also meant that he would be participating in the Hidden Dragon selection.

“Well, anyway, the original purpose has been achieved.”

Rustle.

Yun-hyun put down the letter.

“What do you mean by the original purpose?”

At Doh Go-rang’s question, Yun-hyun nodded.

“Evidence that they actively participated. I thought they might later say that they never recognized me as a judge, or that it was completely invalid from the start.”

All the letters begin with respect for the judge, Yun-hyun.

Some even contained flattery that was embarrassing to read.

This was the most definitive proof that they had acknowledged the judge, Yun-hyun.

“And I was wondering if I could discern their achievements from their handwriting…”

“Can you see such things from handwriting?”

Yun-hyun chuckled.

“I heard such stories in the past… But I don’t know.”

The sword of a master is sometimes compared to the brush of a master calligrapher.

Yun-hyun had also heard such stories from storytellers.

But he had never seen such a case in the martial world.

“…Is my discernment still lacking?”

As Yun-hyun muttered to himself, a wry smile flashed across Doh Go-rang’s face.

But it quickly disappeared.

“It’s time for you to leave.”

Today was the day to select the Hidden Dragon of the Namgung Clan.

Yun-hyun nodded.

“I know. Let’s go.”

Click.

Yun-hyun rose from his seat.

The preparations were already complete.

Holding the Sword of the North Sea, Myeong, Yun-hyun left the quarters with Doh Go-rang.

***

The place where the Hidden Dragon selection was held was the Namgung Clan’s Great Training Ground.

The Great Training Ground, paved with stone, was already crowded with many faction members and elders.

The judge, Yun-hyun, as well as the head of the family, Iron Sword Namgung-byeok, the Junggyeong branch leader, Namgung-cheol, and the old elder were seated at the very front.

Step, step.

The young people entered the Great Training Ground with tense expressions.

The young man named Namgung Jin-hwi, who was considered the most promising, Namgung-jun, and fifteen young people, including Namgung Bi-yeon, were the candidates for the Hidden Dragon selection.

Swoosh.

Yun-hyun rose from his seat.

The murmuring noises subsided at once.

Step, step.

Yun-hyun walked towards the candidates.

And stopped a little in front.

“I have reviewed the writings you submitted.”

Tension flashed across the faces of the fifteen young people.

Everyone could have guessed that Yun-hyun’s task of submitting writings was the first gate.

So perhaps now, the names of those who would be eliminated would be announced.

“I will recognize all of you as legitimate participants in the Hidden Dragon selection.”

The young people were all relieved, and those who were watching nodded.

“That’s only natural.”

Namgung-cheol, the Junggyeong branch leader, who was sitting in the front row, said in a deliberately loud voice.

“If you were to eliminate them with just a few lines of writing, no one would be convinced.”

Swoosh.

Yun-hyun turned back to face the people.

“I have recognized them as legitimate participants. Do you have any objections?”

The people exchanged glances, but no one spoke out against it.

Yun-hyun’s actions were understandable, and there was no reason to oppose the judge, Yun-hyun, now that the selection was about to begin.

Of course, there were complaints about the participation of Namgung Jin-hwi, who was from a collateral line, and Namgung Bi-yeon, the head of the family’s daughter, but no faction or person was willing to take the loss and step forward.

“There are no objections. Then, let’s begin the Hidden Dragon selection.”

Yun-hyun bowed to the head of the family and the elders.

And turned his body towards the young people who had come out as candidates.

“Everyone, step back.”

The young people were puzzled by what he meant.

Rustle.

Namgung Bi-yeon was the first to step back a few steps. Then, the others also stepped back like her.

“More.”

Yun-hyun said, reaching out his hand.

The young people were puzzled, but they followed Yun-hyun’s words and continued to move back.

It was only when they were standing near the center of the Great Training Ground that Yun-hyun lowered his hand.

“The rules are simple.”