Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 236

236. A Step Behind, A Move Ahead

Wabul clearly stated that Unhyun had opened his Mind’s Eye.

He didn’t mention that Wabul grumbled afterward, saying things like, ‘So, his standards have only gotten higher,’ or ‘In that state, he’s only looking at the Imperial Princess.’

That was just Wabul’s way of speaking.

“Then, all that’s left is to take the sword. The stronger the force, the easier it is to lose its way with just a slight twist.”

Swish.

Dokseon pointed at Unhyun with his finger.

“If so…….”

Dokseon’s voice trembled slightly.

“What was that swordsmanship then?”

He now knew that Unhyun had seen the Heavenly Fragrance Butterfly with his Mind’s Eye, though it was hard to believe.

But what he still couldn’t understand was Unhyun’s swordsmanship.

That sword path where the Heavenly Fragrance Butterfly, no, the whole world seemed to move slowly.

“That is.”

Unhyun said, a little embarrassed.

“The First Form of the White Tiger Lost Sword, Yegom. It’s the fastest and sharpest sword I can use.”

Unhyun demonstrated the first form of the White Tiger Lost Sword, Yegom, with a sword that didn’t even carry sword energy.

“But when you think about it, it’s just a sword that arrives a little earlier than the opponent.”

Speed is relative.

Also, speed is, at least in swordsmanship, all about the result.

Therefore, the answer was simple.

A sword that absolutely arrives before the opponent, a sword he thought of first but could only complete after seeing the sword of Bukhae.

That was the First Form of the White Tiger Lost Sword, Yegom.

“Heo.”

Dokseon sighed.

“You made my Heavenly Fragrance Butterfly a useless thing, and now you’re saying you’ve reached the ‘step behind, move ahead’?”

The side that moves first seizes the initiative, which is called the ‘first move’.

On the other hand, the ‘step behind, move ahead’ refers to achieving the desired goal before the opponent, even though starting later. [Essentially, outmaneuvering someone by reacting to their actions.]

“Even if Bulyoung puts you on the same level as us…….”

The ‘step behind, move ahead’ is an impossible realm to reach unless there is an absolute difference in skill between you and your opponent.

It was natural for Dokseon to be angry and embarrassed.

Gritting.

“I can’t believe it!”

Flap, flap, flap.

Dokseon’s clothes began to flutter wildly.

“If so.”

Unhyun replied calmly.

“I suppose we’ll have to do it until you’re convinced.”

Unhyun’s eyes were shining as he spoke.

Dokseon, Dang Seol-yeon, and Dokgo-rang all knew that he wouldn’t back down even a single step.

“Okay.”

Dokseon said with a distorted expression.

His beard and eyebrows fluttered, and his clothes billowed as if caught in a storm.

“I’ll do just that!”

Screeching.

A chilling sound covered the main road.

Everything seemed to be screaming under Dokseon’s energy.

The grass, the trees, the rocks, and even the passing wind.

“Keut.”

A groan escaped from Dang Seol-yeon’s lips as she watched.

She had gathered as much internal energy as she could and gritted her teeth, but Dang Seol-yeon could no longer withstand Dokseon’s energy.

“Gra, Grandf…….”

Just as she was about to speak with a groan.

Thump.

Dokseon stretched out both hands forward.

And merciless violence erupted, covering the main road.

Thwack, thwack, thwack.

The main road was torn apart, and explosions shook the earth.

It was like a wounded beast destroying everything in front of it and rushing towards Unhyun.

And Unhyun’s Myeongmi [sword name] was already soaring into the sky.

Whoo-oong.

Unhyun’s sword energy stretched out towards the sky, like a pillar rising towards the heavens.

The only person who recognized that the scene was the same as what had unfolded in Bukhae was Dokgo-rang.

And Dokgo-rang knew what he had to do.

Thump.

In the midst of the storm-like momentum, Dokgo-rang immediately leaped.

The direction he headed was not Unhyun or Dokseon, but Dang Seol-yeon.

Pak.

Dang Seol-yeon was startled when Dokgo-rang wrapped his arms around her waist. And immediately got angry.

“What are you doing……!”

But her voice couldn’t continue.

Kwarooooong.

A huge explosion covered the main road.

‘Keuk.’

Even Dang Seol-yeon couldn’t open her eyes properly.

All she could tell was that Dokgo-rang was holding her and running, and that chilling sounds of air being torn were pouring in from all directions.

Flap, flap, thump.

Dokgo-rang landed away from the main road and released Dang Seol-yeon.

Clang.

Dang Seol-yeon immediately drew her Yeon Sword.

“How dare you!”

Dang Seol-yeon shouted, her face red with shame and anger.

But Dokgo-rang’s gaze was not directed at her.

‘Ah!’

Dang Seol-yeon turned her head.

And saw a scene she couldn’t believe.

Whoo-oong.

There was nothing left there.

No trees, no grass, no rocks, not even a trace of the main road.

All that remained were traces of destruction and violence.

Buzz.

And Unhyun’s sword, Myeongmi, was shining its beautiful blade like a proud beauty.

Unhyun and Dokseon were both still standing, but Dang Seol-yeon could clearly tell.

‘Grandfather…….’

Dang Seol-yeon bit her lip.

‘……lost.’

It was something that could never happen.

No, it shouldn’t have happened.

But the scene Dang Seol-yeon was seeing now was clearly telling her.

Unhyun had defeated Dokseon.

Flutter, flutter.

‘What is this?’

Something cold was falling all around.

At first, she thought it was just dust, but it was clearly snow that melted the moment it touched her.

“……Why.”

Dokseon’s dry voice echoed over the main road, no, the ruins.

“Did you sheathe your sword?”

Dokseon clearly saw Unhyun’s sword, wrapped in that formidable energy.

Unhyun’s sword was about to strike down with the power of pure violence itself, containing all of his internal energy.

In front of that overwhelming sword, Dokseon’s defeat seemed all too clear.

If Unhyun hadn’t twisted the sword path at the last moment.

“Why.”

Dokseon said, gritting his teeth.

“Did you save me?”

Frost was falling on Dokseon’s shoulders and white hair as he spoke.

Unhyun slowly sheathed his sword.

“First, it is because I have already shown my strength.”

Sreung.

Unhyun said, looking straight at Dokseon.

“Secondly, it is because you are worthy of respect.”

Unhyun’s hair was clean.

The frost and swirling snow that covered everything around him left no trace on Unhyun alone.

“Your martial arts are a realm that can never be reached without dedicating your whole life to upright practice.”

Unhyun respects martial artists.

He admires their spirit, envies their amazing martial prowess, and is moved by their burning passion.

Just like his sworn brother, Ilchunghyun, who still lives and breathes in Unhyun’s heart.

“So I.”

Sarak.

Unhyun straightened his posture and clasped his hands.

And bowed his head.

“I will gladly pay my respects to your realm.”

Silence fell.

Unhyun, Dokseon, Dang Seol-yeon, and Dokgo-rang were all silent.

Sarak, sarak.

Snow fell on Dokseon’s shoulders.

And after a while, a long sigh flowed from Dokseon’s mouth.

“Heo.”

Dokseon raised his head.

“You…….”

Dokseon said in a quiet voice.

“Now you’re trying to steal my heart too.”

Dokseon’s expression was smiling.

“No.”

Unhyun raised his head.

A gentle smile lingered on his lips as well.

“You were the one who showed me kindness first.”

Even when they first met in Cheoljeongsan, Dokseon did not show hostility towards Unhyun.

Although he was rough, violent, and selfish, what Dokseon showed Unhyun was rather close to goodwill.

The very fact that he was standing in front of Unhyun now showed that.

Dokseon is not an adversary of Unhyun and Shinseung.

“Ahem.”

Dokseon cleared his throat and avoided Unhyun’s gaze.

It was then.

Sabeok, sabeok.

Dang Seol-yeon stepped forward with an elegant gait.

Unhyun looked at her with a puzzled look, and Dokseon frowned, but Dang Seol-yeon knelt down on one knee in that spot.

Sarak.

Dang Seol-yeon bowed deeply to Dokseon.

And raised her head and said.

“I’m leaving now.”

Dokseon groaned.

“Is that your choice?”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

“Hmm…….”

Dokseon’s eyes, looking at Dang Seol-yeon, contained complex emotions.

But Dang Seol-yeon was just calmly waiting for Dokseon’s words.

“I understand.”

Dokseon said.

“Go.”

“Thank you. Grandfather.”

Sarak.

Dang Seol-yeon rose from her seat.

And immediately leaped into the air.

Thump.

Dang Seol-yeon’s figure quickly disappeared beyond the main road.

Until then, she never looked back at Dokseon and Unhyun even once.

Unhyun watched the scene with a bitter expression.

Dang Seol-yeon’s words, although exaggerated, accurately described the ecosystem of the Kangho Murim [martial arts world], entangled in grudges and favors.

“Hoo.”

Unhyun sighed softly and turned his head.

“Now.”

Unhyun said to Dokseon.

“Could you tell me why you stopped me?”

He had shown his strength and proven his qualifications.

Now it was Unhyun’s turn to hear the answer.

Dokseon groaned softly.

And after a while, shocking words flowed from Dokseon’s mouth.

“Yeom Jung-bu has become a subordinate of Il Dae-sang.”

Unhyun’s face hardened.

Dokseon’s words continued.

“He couldn’t withstand the attack of Ji Taesang, one of the Sam Taesang [Three Grand Masters], for even ten seconds. And neither could I.”

Dokseon paused for a moment and slowly opened his mouth.

“I couldn’t beat them.”

Unhyun couldn’t hide his surprise.

Dokseon, one of the Hwanwoo Five Heavenly Dignitaries [powerful martial artists] and who had vowed to give Unhyun the world, had been defeated?

“Moon Wang promised Yeom Jung-bu the position of Murim Alliance Leader. He also told me that he would make the Tang Family the greatest family in the world.”

“Why did you refuse?”

If Dokseon had accepted, he wouldn’t be here.

And Dang Seol-yeon wouldn’t have left either.

“Hehe.”

Dokseon smiled softly.

“I am not Yeom Jung-bu.”

From that voice, Unhyun could feel Dokseon’s pride, his pride in having walked a single path his whole life.

What meaning would the greatest in the world given by someone else have?

Dokseon’s choice was clearly right.

“Then why did you come to me?”

“Because Bulyoung entrusted the future to you.”

Unhyun bit his lip.

‘As expected…….’

He had already guessed it, but the reason Shinseung Bulyoung told him not to come to Waryongheon was precisely that.

“And because if you can’t beat me, it’s useless for you to go.”

Dokseon’s words were confirming what the head of the Namgoong Family, Cheolgeom Namgoong-byeok, had said.

Namgoong-byeok’s voice echoed in Unhyun’s ear.

―Then the Murim Alliance will become a dead end.

“Go to Shaolin.”

Dokseon continued.

“And ask Wabul for help. Then you may be able to plan for the world later.”

Planning for the world means challenging for the hegemony of the world.

Depending on how you do it, you could become the master of the Kangho Murim.

“Hoo.”

Unhyun sighed softly.

And slowly raised his head.

Swish.

The empty main road stretched straight ahead.

One side was the road to the Hangzhou Murim Alliance, and the other side was the road to the Shaolin Temple in Songshan, via Henan Province.

“Maybe I.”

Unhyun said softly.

“May regret today’s choice.”

But Unhyun’s answer was already decided.

“But I will go this way.”

Unhyun said, looking at Dokseon and Dokgo-rang.

“Because I have promises to keep and people I want to protect.”

“……Is that so?”

Dokseon said softly.

Unhyun nodded.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Dokseon closed his eyes tightly.

And after a while, he looked straight at Unhyun and asked.

“Promise me one thing.”