Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 240

240. Measures Based on the Premise of Defeat

Byeon Gi-ryang continued.

“Still, thanks to the people from other sects who stepped forward, the members of the Black Tortoise Association were able to save their lives. Otherwise, they would have all died on the streets, you know?”

Yun-hyeon felt heavy-hearted.

He knew that there would be casualties, but hearing it directly made his heart even heavier.

“Moreover, even the Iron-Blooded Death King has appeared, they say. So, as the Martial Alliance, can we just stand idly by? We immediately sent official letters of cooperation to Hangzhou and nearby martial halls. Of course, we also sent messengers to the large sects and clans. They might have already set out towards this place.”

Byeon Gi-ryang had an excited expression, but Yun-hyeon was still troubled.

The messengers sent to the large sects and clans probably hadn’t even crossed the Yangtze River yet.

“So, I’m busy like this again. At this rate, I might die from overwork before I die at the hands of the bandits. Hahaha.”

Looking at the laughing Byeon Gi-ryang, Yun-hyeon asked,

“Are you alright?”

“Huh? About what?”

“The members of the Black Tortoise Association lost their lives. What if you get hurt…….”

“Oh, don’t be ridiculous.”

Byeon Gi-ryang waved his hand.

“How could the mighty Martial Alliance be defeated by a bunch of bandits? Even if such a thing were to happen, we wouldn’t care.”

Shrugging his shoulders, Byeon Gi-ryang said,

“We can just hide in a suitable place and slip away. Who would try to catch people like us?”

The enemy’s target is the Martial Alliance.

And that target does not include servants or clerks.

Unless they are in a special high position.

“Well, losing my job would be painful, but such a thing won’t happen, so don’t worry. With all the great masters gathered here, what is there to worry about? No matter how strong the Iron-Blooded Death King is, he can’t touch the Martial Alliance. The warriors gathered in the guest hall right now probably feel the same way.”

“The guest hall?”

“Yes. The warriors from nearby martial halls. Even though the situation seems a bit dangerous, they know this is an opportunity. If they catch the eye of the higher-ups, it’s a chance to turn their lives around.”

Small and medium-sized martial halls and the Martial Alliance are worlds apart.

If they can establish a connection with the Martial Alliance through this opportunity, their sect’s prestige will increase in an instant.

“But it’s really noisy.”

Byeon Gi-ryang sighed.

“Everyone’s eating and drinking like it’s a marketplace; it’s a complete mess. No one’s acting rudely, but the servants attending to them are working themselves to the bone, you know? Oh, right, I need to take this over there quickly!”

Byeon Gi-ryang got up, holding a stack of documents.

Yun-hyeon also rose from his seat.

“Waryongheon [Hidden Dragon Pavilion], is it still the same?”

Hoping for the best, Yun-hyeon asked.

Byeon Gi-ryang shrugged his shoulders.

“I haven’t heard anything about something happening, so I guess it’s the same, right?”

“What about the people from the Moryong Clan [Mystic Dragon Clan]?”

“The Moryong Clan?”

Byeon Gi-ryang asked back, then answered as if it were obvious.

“They’re the same.”

***

Yun-hyeon and Dokgo-rang left the Guest Hall and headed to where the Moryong Clan members were staying.

“Sir Yun! Great Warrior Dokgo!”

Moryong Jin, who was coming out just in time, was delighted to see Yun-hyeon.

“Have you been well?”

Yun-hyeon greeted him with a smile. Moryong Jin, who had rushed over to Yun-hyeon, bowed and then gave a bitter smile.

“I wish I could say yes, but I can’t.”

Moryong Jin said, looking at Yun-hyeon.

“This is perfect timing. Come in quickly. Everyone’s inside.”

Yun-hyeon nodded.

And a little later, Yun-hyeon sat facing Clan Leader Moryong Dancheon, First Disciple Moryong Jin, and Outer Hall Lord Moryong Mi.

“I’m glad you returned safely, Sir Yun.”

Clan Leader Moryong Dancheon said.

“Thank you, Clan Leader.”

Yun-hyeon bowed respectfully.

The aroma rising from the teacup gently enveloped the surroundings.

“How did things go at the Namgoong Clan [Southern Palace Clan]?”

“Before that, did you receive the letter I sent?”

“Letter?”

Moryong Dancheon looked puzzled.

“I didn’t receive anything separately.”

“I thought so.”

Yun-hyeon nodded with a stiff expression.

It was as he had guessed when he saw the men of Moon King guarding the main roads.

The letter Yun-hyeon sent when he left the Namgoong Clan had not reached the Martial Alliance.

Moryong Mi carefully asked, watching Yun-hyeon’s expression.

“It seems things didn’t go so well at the Namgoong Clan.”

“The matter at the Namgoong Clan itself went well.”

Yun-hyeon sighed softly.

“But the result isn’t good.”

Clink.

Yun-hyeon picked up his teacup and asked Moryong Mi.

“What happened at the Martial Alliance?”

“Things weren’t so good here either.”

Moryong Mi briefly told him about the events that had occurred at the Martial Alliance.

The Martial Alliance, which had ignored the declaration of war from the Coalition of River Bandits, was shocked by the annihilation of the Black Tortoise Association and finally began to respond actively.

“……But I’m still concerned about two things.”

Moryong Mi said, her eyes shining.

“First, all the local officials, including the Provincial Governor, have vacated their positions. Even the Investigation Commissioner and the Surveillance Commissioner, all of them.”

Yun-hyeon’s expression hardened.

As he had expected, Il Dae-sang [One Great Master] was exerting influence over the government offices.

He also thought that Moryong Mi’s insight in noticing that change was remarkable.

“And secondly, I can’t shake the feeling that the Martial Alliance is isolated. Although there were no problems on the main roads…….”

“There was a problem.”

“Yes?”

“I sent you a letter when I left the Namgoong Clan. But that letter didn’t arrive.”

Yun-hyeon continued slowly.

“The Martial Alliance is now completely isolated. Even the local officials with military, administrative, and inspection authority are gone. Yet, the Martial Alliance hasn’t even properly identified the enemy’s identity.”

Yun-hyeon said quietly.

“In the end, the Martial Alliance will be defeated. That is the conclusion of me and the Namgoong Clan.”

Everyone’s expression hardened at once.

The same was true for Clan Leader Moryong Dancheon, First Disciple Moryong Jin, and Moryong Mi.

“……Then.”

Moryong Mi, biting her lip slightly, said,

“What should we do now?”

“That’s what you have to do.”

Yun-hyeon said calmly.

“What do you mean……. Ah!”

Moryong Mi, who had asked back, widened her eyes as if she had realized something.

Yun-hyeon smiled faintly.

“As you know, I don’t know much about sects or the martial world [Jianghu]. So, you have to come up with a plan.”

“Based on the premise that the Martial Alliance will lose this fight?”

“Exactly.”

Yun-hyeon nodded.

Moryong Mi bit her lip.

What would happen if the Martial Alliance lost this fight?

No one could say.

The defeat of the Martial Alliance is not just a single failure, but a shaking of the very foundation of the Martial Alliance system.

Moreover, with even the center of gravity, Shinseung, gone, the aftermath of the Martial Alliance’s defeat was simply unpredictable.

“I understand.”

Moryong Mi said with a determined look.

“I will come up with a plan. Based on the premise that the Martial Alliance will lose.”

“Sir Yun, then are the ones attacking now the forces of Il Dae-sang? The ones you mentioned last time?”

First Disciple Moryong Jin asked.

“To be precise, it’s a man named Moon King, but it’s true that they are the forces of Il Dae-sang.”

Moryong Jin couldn’t hide his surprise.

“Then that means they even brought in the Iron-Blooded Death King. That’s truly amazing.”

“The problem isn’t the Iron-Blooded Death King, but the Three Supremes.”

“The Three Supremes?”

Moryong Mi frowned slightly, asking about the unfamiliar title.

“Yes. Dokseon told me that the Iron-Blooded Death King Yeom Jung-bu couldn’t withstand their attacks for even ten moves.”

“Did you say Dokseon?”

Clan Leader Moryong Dancheon asked with a shocked expression.

Even the Iron-Blooded Death King was surprising, but the name of Dokseon, another member of the Hwanwoo Five Venerables [Five Venerables of Hwanwoo], was mentioned.

Yun-hyeon nodded.

“Yes. Dokseon told me that.”

Moryong Mi also said with a surprised expression.

“Then could it be that the Tang Clan already knew everything…….”

She didn’t finish her sentence, but everyone knew.

The Tang Clan has had no contact since leaving to investigate the truth of the Gongsun Clan.

Perhaps their contact was also intercepted in the middle, like Yun-hyeon’s letter, but the suspicion that the Tang Clan knew this from the beginning was too natural.

“The Iron-Blooded Death King couldn’t withstand even ten moves…….”

Clan Leader Moryong Dancheon muttered in disbelief.

The Iron-Blooded Death King Yeom Jung-bu is one of the Hwanwoo Five Venerables.

The five strongest masters under the heavens. Although he is rated lower than Sword Saint or Shinseung, the Iron-Blooded Death King Yeom Jung-bu is also an absolute powerhouse who stands shoulder to shoulder with them.

For him to have been unable to withstand even ten moves was truly a story that could shake the world.

“If there is such a master among them…….”

Moryong Mi bit her lip.

“No one in the Martial Alliance will try to fight with all their might.”

“What do you mean?”

At Moryong Jin’s words, Moryong Mi continued quietly.

“The Martial Alliance is essentially a cooperative body to protect vested interests. If it’s clear that they will suffer a great loss, which sect would step forward? It’s only natural to choose the safety of their own sect over the Martial Alliance.”

“That can’t be…….”

Moryong Jin muttered like a groan.

But he could clearly see that Moryong Mi’s words were correct.

When the Martial Alliance is overwhelmingly superior, everyone pledges allegiance.

However, if the Martial Alliance’s defeat becomes clear, the moment will come when the Alliance crumbles like a sandcastle.

This is the nature of the Martial Alliance, no, the martial world and the Jianghu [world of martial arts and chivalry].

“Actually, I think it would be best to leave this place right away.”

Yun-hyeon said with a bitter smile, fiddling with his teacup.

“But that would be impossible.”

“Yes, that’s absolutely impossible.”

Moryong Mi replied quietly.

“No one can accept the Martial Alliance running away from the River Bandits without even fighting.”

This fight cannot be avoided.

No one will accept it, and the foundation of the Martial Alliance, based on overwhelming power, will be shaken.

“No one will believe Sir Yun’s words anyway.”

“What?”

Moryong Jin said with a puzzled expression.

“What do you mean? That they won’t believe Sir Yun? Sir Yun is…….”

“Brother.”

Moryong Mi sighed softly.

“Right now, we don’t have any evidence. Even if we put aside Il Dae-sang, Moon King, and the Three Supremes, the same goes for the Iron-Blooded Death King and Dokseon. Of course, the Namgoong Clan can confirm it, but it will take time.”

Moryong Mi continued with a firm expression.

“So, Sir Yun’s warning that we should prepare for defeat is just a malicious curse to the Martial Alliance.”

It was a very cold, but very realistic analysis.

“It’s alright.”

Yun-hyeon said quietly.

“I came here to save people, not the Martial Alliance. People who believe in me. So, I don’t care whether others believe it or not.”

The gentle smile showed Yun-hyeon’s feelings as they were.

“Um, but.”

Yun-hyeon said, picking up his teacup again.

“Still, I have to do my duty.”

“Duty?”

At Moryong Mi’s question, Yun-hyeon nodded.

“Yes.”

After taking a sip of tea, Yun-hyeon said,

“I will report to the Martial Alliance Representatives Meeting.”

Clink.

Yun-hyeon’s eyes, which had put down the teacup, were shining resolutely.

***

After leaving the Moryong Clan’s residence, Yun-hyeon headed to Waryongheon with Dokgo-rang.

Nothing had changed.

The shabby Waryongheon welcomed Yun-hyeon in its old form.

But the fact that it looked somehow lonely was probably because it knew that the Martial Alliance had parted ways with Shinseung.

Thud.

“Tsk.”

As Yun-hyeon entered, a sound of laughter was heard.

“I told you not to come, but you still come.”

The owner of the voice was none other than Shinseung Bulyeong.

He was sitting on the platform as always, sipping tea.

His hunched shoulders, emaciated hands, and unpleasant expression full of wrinkles were also the same.

Somehow, that appearance was so endearing that Yun-hyeon smiled without realizing it.

“I think you said you wouldn’t be here even if I came?”

“I wasn’t.”

Shinseung sighed and said,

“But because you came, I’m here. I wasn’t here, but I was. Tsk.”

Yun-hyeon tilted his head.

But it wasn’t the first time Shinseung had said something incomprehensible, so he just let it go.

“Shall I get you some tea?”

“I’m drinking it. Can’t you see?”

“Then…….”

“Bring it anyway.”

Shinseung said grumbling.

“The tea you make is the best.”

That indifferent voice made Yun-hyeon smile.

“Yes, I’ll prepare it right away.”

Yun-hyeon quickly ran to the back of the house, leaving only Dokgo-rang and Shinseung in the yard.