Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 229

229. The Only Person in the World

Namgung Byeok gazed intently at Unhyun before suddenly asking,

“Have you seen the Sword Manual?”

“Yes.”

Unhyun took out a wooden box from his chest and placed it on the desk.

It was the box containing the Sword Manual of the Azure Sky Sword Technique, which he had received from Namgung Biyeon.

Click.

The wooden box opened, revealing the aged Azure Sky Sword Manual.

“It was a great help. Thank you for showing it to me.”

Namgung Byeok was looking at Unhyun, not the Sword Manual.

“Did you happen to discover anything?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Is there anything you want to show me?”

Namgung Byeok’s eyes were filled with anticipation.

However, Unhyun shook his head.

“No, there isn’t.”

Namgung Byeok sighed softly.

“I see.”

He slid the box closer.

And stared at the old Sword Manual for a long time.

“Heh heh.”

A self-deprecating laugh escaped Namgung Byeok.

“I was hoping you might find my brother in this Azure Sky Sword Manual. Perhaps I could see my brother’s figure in your sword that unfolds the Azure Sky Sword. Looking back, it was truly foolish…”

“That is you.”

Unhyun interrupted Namgung Byeok.

Namgung Byeok raised his head.

Unhyun looked straight at Namgung Byeok and said,

“I mean that is not me, but you who can show him.”

Namgung Byeok’s eyes shook violently.

“……What do you mean?”

His voice trembled slightly as he asked.

Unhyun continued,

“I had only one sworn brother. He taught me the sword and life, but I had to lose him for a completely incomprehensible reason.”

Unhyun’s voice was tinged with sorrow.

Namgung Byeok closed his mouth tightly and listened to Unhyun’s words.

“And I became unable to do anything. Not reading books, not meeting people, and not even holding a sword.”

Unhyun clenched his teeth for a moment.

The sadness of that day surged up from his heart as if it were yesterday.

“But one day, someone told me.”

Unhyun said, looking straight at Namgung Byeok,

“That others are laughing.”

The thick eyebrows of Iron Sword Namgung Byeok twitched.

“Everyone knows that I was the last person to meet my brother, that I was the one who collected his belongings, and everyone knows who he entrusted his legacy to.”

Unhyun’s eyes were getting hot.

“They said, was I only this much of a man?”

Namgung Byeok gritted his teeth as if they would break.

He closed his eyes, but they were already getting wet.

“And I realized.”

Namgung Byeok opened his eyes at Unhyun’s voice.

“The only person who can show them my brother is me, that no one but me can show them my brother.”

Unhyun’s eyes were burning as he spoke.

“No one but you can show your brother. So, the only person in the world who can show them Lightning Sword is you.”

Namgung Byeok’s eyes were already red.

“Is that…so?”

Unhyun replied to Namgung Byeok’s trembling voice.

“Yes.”

Unhyun nodded and said,

“That is right.”

Namgung Byeok couldn’t say anything.

It was as Unhyun said.

Lightning Sword Namgung Jincheon, whom he was searching for, was only truly known by Namgung Byeok himself.

Who in the world knows his brother as well as he does, and who in the world misses his brother as much as he does?

So, if not him, no one else can show them Lightning Sword Namgung Jincheon.

He was the only person who could show them his brother.

Yet, he had been searching for someone else until now.

“…I see.”

A thick tear flowed from Namgung Byeok’s eye.

But Iron Sword Namgung Byeok did not wipe away the tears.

Nor did he hide them.

“What was the deceased’s name?”

Unhyun replied softly.

“His surname was Il, and his given name was Chung Hyun.”

“My brother’s surname is Namgung, and his given name is Jincheon.”

Namgung Byeok said, looking at Unhyun.

“Please, do not forget it.”

“Yes.”

Unhyun nodded.

“I will not forget.”

Namgung Byeok closed his eyes.

And after a while, when he opened his eyes again, there was no more regret.

No regrets, no sorrow, not even sadness.

His eyes, shining as clear as the blue sky, were showing the true 모습 [true nature/appearance] of Iron Sword Namgung Byeok.

‘Ah.’

Unhyun admired inwardly.

The old appearance, which seemed somewhat weak, was nowhere to be found.

Intense eyes and a large, magnificent warrior.

A man who was more than worthy of the title Iron Sword, and the new head of the Namgung family, whom even the Divine Monk 인정 [recognition/approval] had no 부족함 [shortcomings/deficiencies].

Iron Sword Namgung Byeok stood before Unhyun’s eyes.

“Thank you, Great Warrior Un.”

Namgung Byeok said with shining eyes.

“Is there anything you want from our family?”

“Yes, there is.”

Unhyun did not beat around the bush.

It was useless to hide anything in front of the current Namgung Byeok.

“I want to know about the current state of the Murim [martial arts world], specifically the movements of the Waterfront Bandits Alliance and the Green Forest.”

Surprise flashed across Namgung Byeok’s eyes.

Unhyun continued,

“In my opinion, they are moving in an organized manner with a clear purpose. But I cannot know what they are aiming for.”

“Hmm.”

Namgung Byeok let out a light sigh.

“Your insight is truly remarkable, Great Warrior Un.”

With a serious look, Namgung Byeok continued,

“A few days ago, the Waterfront Bandits Alliance of the Jang River held an Inauguration Ceremony.”

The Inauguration Ceremony is an event to widely announce the start of a new sect to the world.

But for a group like the Waterfront Bandits Alliance, which is closer to a group of pirates than a sect, to hold an Inauguration Ceremony was absurd.

“The Waterfront Bandits Alliance held an Inauguration Ceremony?”

“That is right.”

Namgung Byeok nodded.

“The Supreme Leader, Iron Masked Heartless Yi Musim, declared two things at the Inauguration Ceremony. The first was that the Black Spear Cavalry of the Green Forest was the one who burned down the main house of the Gongsun family.”

Unhyun 악다물었다 [bit down hard on] his mouth.

His concern about the Green Forest had become a reality.

“And the other was a declaration to strike the Murim Alliance together with the Green Forest.”

“The Murim Alliance?”

That was completely unexpected.

He knew that the Waterfront Bandits Alliance and the Green Forest, or rather, the Il Dae Merchant [One Great Merchant], were planning something, but the target was the Murim Alliance?

“Is that possible?”

“It is possible.”

Namgung Byeok said with an even more serious expression.

“The Waterfront Bandits Alliance of the Jang River is growing day by day. The confirmed size alone is over five thousand, and if you add the Green Forest, the number approaches ten thousand.”

‘Ten thousand!’

Even if they are just pirates and bandits, the number of ten thousand cannot be ignored.

“On the other hand, the number of warriors currently in the Murim Alliance is less than twelve hundred.”

There are not many warriors stationed at the Murim Alliance.

As the progress of the World Murim Assembly became sluggish, most of the sects returned, and those who remained according to the resolution were the former Eighteen Great Sects, or rather, the fifteen sects excluding the Namgung family, the Gongsun family, and the Tang family, and the emerging Five Great Families.

“But their martial prowess is…”

“Of course, that is true.”

How can mere pirates and bandits be compared to the warriors of a large sect?

Currently, the Murim Alliance has gathered not only the leaders of each sect but also the masters who can be said to be the core power.

It is as if all the 태산북두 [leading figures/authorities] of Murim are gathered, making the numerical advantage of the opponent, which is ten times greater, insignificant.

“But in the short term, the Murim Alliance will definitely be in trouble. First of all, our Namgung family and the Gongsun family cannot provide immediate help…”

The Namgung family of Anhui Province was virtually 봉문 [sealed off/isolated] by the 암천무제 [Dark Sky Demon Emperor].

The Gongsun family, which had 영향력 [influence] throughout Jiangxi Province, had its main house burned down by the Black Spear Cavalry.

The two provinces closest to the Murim Alliance, Jiangxi and Anhui, were empty.

“The waterways of the Jang River are also blocked by the Waterfront Bandits Alliance.”

If they cannot receive help from the two provinces, the only remaining option is to 증원 [reinforce] the power of the sect through the Jang River.

But to do that, they have to break through the Waterfront Bandits Alliance of the Jang River.

“In fact, the Murim Alliance is completely 고립되어 [isolated].”

‘Ah!’

Unhyun suddenly had a 떠오르는 [thought/idea].

It was the words he muttered in the Murim Alliance 서고 [library].

―So many books are mostly about the World Murim Assembly.

―And stories about the 암천무제 [Dark Sky Demon Emperor] and the Namgung family.

―This time, it will be filled with reports of the incident that happened to the Gongsun family.

And the following was the voice of the Divine Monk.

―What you want to know means you already know.

The sects gathered at the Murim Alliance. And the two provinces closest to the Murim Alliance were empty.

Then it is clear what the Waterfront Bandits and the Green Forest are aiming for.

It is the 고립된 [isolated] Murim Alliance.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean the Murim Alliance will collapse.”

Namgung Byeok said with a smile.

“Even if they block the waterways of the Jang River, if the power remaining in the main houses of the large sects is 투입 [invested/deployed], they will not last long. If they make a mistake, they will be 협공 [attacked from both sides] from the front and back.”

Even if the number of the Waterfront Bandits Alliance and the Green Forest is ten thousand, if the large sects 작정하고 나서면 [decide to act], the 우위 [advantage] is 뒤집힌다 [reversed] in an instant.

“Above all, the 관부 [government] will not 가만히 있을 [stand idly by] if such a large-scale 무력 충돌 [armed conflict] occurs. Neither the Waterfront Bandits Alliance nor the Murim Alliance will 결코 오래 끌려 [be able to last long]. In the end, the Murim Alliance will only experience temporary 곤란 [difficulty].”

The reason why he was sure that the situation would not 크게 번지지 [escalate greatly] was the existence of the 관부 [government].

The 관부 [government] will never 좌시 [overlook/ignore] the movement of thousands of armed people.

And once the 관부 [government] starts to 움직이기 [move/act], all 사태 [situation] is 종결 [concluded/ended].

The alliance between the Waterfront Bandits and the Green Forest will be 와해될 [disintegrated] in an instant, and the Murim Alliance will also be 급급 to 발을 빼 [eager to withdraw].

So, whether it is the Waterfront Bandits, the Green Forest, or the Murim Alliance, the 사태 [situation] ends within the 범위 [scope] that does not 건드리지 [touch/offend] the 심기 [displeasure] of the 관부 [government].

That was the conclusion of the Namgung family.

“Even so, the Murim Alliance will 입을 타격 is 크오 [suffer a great blow]. It is clear that the Murim Alliance will 겪게 될 [experience] for a 잠시나마 [short while], and it is 아주 치욕적인 [very humiliating] that they 허용했다 [allowed] an 일격 [attack] from the Waterfront Bandits or the Green Forest.”

Namgung Byeok continued 담담히 [calmly].

“In the end, the Murim Alliance 체제 [system] will 안팎으로 흔들릴 수밖에 [inevitably be shaken from within and without]…”

“What if.”

Unhyun said with a 굳은 [stern/firm] face.

“What if the Waterfront Bandits and the Green Forest have another 힘 [power]?”

“You said another 힘 [power]?”

“There is a person called Il Dae Merchant [One Great Merchant] behind them.”

Unhyun 천천히 말을 이었다 [slowly continued speaking].

“Even the 암천무제 [Dark Sky Demon Emperor] is only a 일부 [part] of the 힘 [power] he has. He clearly has another 무력 집단 [armed group]. At least a 무력 집단 [armed group] comparable to the 황천대 [Yellow Sky Army] or the 암천무제 [Dark Sky Demon Emperor].”

Namgung Byeok’s 표정 굳었다 [expression hardened]. But Unhyun’s 말 [words] was not yet 끝나지 [finished].

“And what if they have 영향력 [influence] over the 관부 [government] as well?”

Unhyun had already 말한 [told] the 추측 [speculation] that Il Dae Merchant was 끼치고 영향력 [exerting influence] not only on the Waterfront Bandits and the Green Forest but also on the 관부 [government] and the 상계 [merchant world] to the 가주 [family head] and 장문인 [sect leader] of the Murim Alliance.

They did not 기울이지 [pay attention] to Unhyun’s 말 [words]. But Iron Sword Namgung Byeok was 달랐다 [different].

“To the 관부 [government]?”

Unhyun said to Namgung Byeok, who 반문하는 [questioned] with a 굳은 표정 [stern expression],

“Yes. If they have 영향력 [influence] to the extent that they can 철저하게 숨길 [completely hide] a 국지적인 혼란 [localized chaos] from the 중앙 [central government], even if it is 단기간일지라도 [only for a short period].”

Unhyun saw 문왕 [Moon King] 끼치고 영향력 [exerting influence] on a 상급 무관 [high-ranking military officer].

끼치고 영향력 [Exerting influence] on the 국경 수비군 [border guards] is 결코 쉬운 일이 아니다 [never an easy task].

Unhyun was 확신하고 [convinced] that the 영향력 [influence] that Il Dae Merchant had was 작지 않음 [not small].

“Hmm.”

Iron Sword Namgung Byeok’s 표정 심각해졌다 [expression became serious].

Two of the 대전제 [major premises] that 지탱하던 [supported] his 결론 [conclusion], the 전력 우위 [superiority in strength] of the Murim Alliance and the 개입 [intervention] of the 관부 [government], 무너졌다 [collapsed].

If we 고려하면 [consider] the 존재 [existence] of another 무력 집단 [armed group] 준하는 [comparable] to the 황천대 [Yellow Sky Army] or the 암천무제 [Dark Sky Demon Emperor] and the 영향력 [influence] of the 관부 [government] as Unhyun’s 말 [words], the 결과 [result] was 명백했다 [obvious].

“Then.”

Namgung Byeok said with a 딱딱하게 굳은 [stiff/rigid] face.

“The Murim Alliance will be a 사지(死地) [death ground].”

It was 당연했다 [natural] that Iron Sword Namgung Byeok’s 표정 [expression] was 굳은 [stiff].

Who would 믿을 [believe] the 말 [words] that the 천하’s [world’s] Murim Alliance would become 죽음’s 땅 [death’s land]?

Unhyun 입술을 깨물었다 [bit his lip].

잠시 침묵하던 [After a moment of silence] Unhyun 천천히 고개를 들었다 [slowly raised his head].

그에겐 아직도 물어야 할 것이, 아니 확인해야 할 것이 남아 있었다 [He still had something to ask, or rather, something to confirm].

“Then.”

Unhyun 심각한 눈빛으로 물었다 [asked with a serious look].

“What will they 노리게 [aim for] after 무너뜨린 [destroying] the Murim Alliance? What will be 그들의 원하는 바 [their desire/goal]?”

Namgung Byeok 잠시 혼란스러웠다 [was momentarily confused].