Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 242

242. The Martial Artists of the Guest Hall

Un-hyun spoke respectfully to Shin-seung.

“Please take care of yourself, Great Master.”

“You still won’t call me ‘Senior Brother’ until the end?”

Un-hyun gave a bitter smile.

“Maybe in about ten years, I’ll consider it.”

“Heh heh, in ten years, who knows if I’ll even be in this world?”

“That won’t happen.”

Un-hyun said with a smile.

“You two will live very long lives. Probably longer than me.”

By ‘you two,’ he meant Shin-seung Bul-yeong and his master, the Reclining Buddha.

“Heh heh heh.”

Shin-seung smiled brightly, his face full of wrinkles.

Seeing him so pleased at the prospect of living a long life, Un-hyun thought he must be getting old after all.

“Then, I’ll see you again.”

“Alright. Oh, wait a moment.”

Un-hyun, who was about to turn away, paused as a small pouch flew towards him.

Whoosh, thud.

Un-hyun caught the pouch reflexively.

“What is this……?”

“It’s a gift.”

At Shin-seung’s words, Un-hyun examined the pouch.

Inside the rough hemp pouch were dried tea leaves.

He checked just in case, but thankfully, there was no note or anything like that.

“Why? Don’t you like tea? Never mind then.”

Shin-seung reached out his hand.

Un-hyun quickly secured the pouch.

“No, it’s not that. Thank you.”

“Think of me when you drink it.”

Shin-seung pouted his lips and said.

“It’s precious tea. You can’t even find it in this land. The taste is just so-so, though.”

Un-hyun thought, what’s the point of it being precious if the taste is just so-so, but he didn’t say it.

He was just happy that Shin-seung had given him a gift.

Even if it might turn out to be some kind of trap later on.

“What are you standing around for? Hurry up and go!”

“Ah, yes.”

Un-hyun bowed lightly and moved his feet.

He looked back, wondering if he would be called again, but Shin-seung had already turned his head away and said nothing.

And so, Un-hyun left Waryongheon with Dokgo-rang.

Swish.

As Un-hyun’s figure disappeared, Shin-seung finally turned his head back.

But Un-hyun was already out of sight.

“Hoo.”

Shin-seung let out a deep sigh.

He held the teacup tightly with both hands and muttered quietly.

“A step forward from a precarious position…….”

No one heard those words.

Nor did anyone see Shin-seung’s stiff expression.

***

After leaving Waryongheon, Un-hyun headed to the Guest Hall.

After paying his respects to Gwan Ji-bu and Byeon Gi-ryang, Un-hyun sat at the desk in the Guest Hall and spread out his writing tools.

“Hoo.”

Calming his mind, Un-hyun carefully picked up the brush.

Swish.

He started slowly, but soon the brush began to race across the paper in a single stroke.

Swish, swish.

After a while, Un-hyun put down the brush.

Click.

As if it were a habit, he lightly blew on the ink to dry it, and then slowly read the sentences, looking for any places that needed correction.

In some ways, it was a typical task for a scribe, but it had a special meaning for Un-hyun.

‘Hmm. This should be good enough…….’

Confirming that there was nothing in particular to fix, Un-hyun carefully folded it, put it in an envelope, and sealed it.

Looking at the report, which had become thicker than he had expected, Un-hyun picked up the brush again.

The brush ran across the paper for a moment before stopping.

Thud.

“Hoo.”

After breathing on it, Un-hyun folded it in the same way and put it in an envelope.

But this time, he didn’t seal it.

“This is the second time. Someone made a famous piece of writing that will remain in history with this…….”

A sigh escaped his lips.

The first time was in the Imperial Palace, and the second time was in the Murim Alliance [a coalition of martial arts clans].

But neither of them will become a masterpiece.

Looking down at the two documents, Un-hyun got up from his seat.

And he approached Gwan Ji-bu, the head of the Guest Hall and his superior.

“Gwan Ji-bu.”

Gwan Ji-bu, who had been buried in documents, raised his head.

“What is it?”

Un-hyun smiled gently and handed over the first document.

“It’s a report on my trip to the Namgung Clan.”

“A report? There’s no need to…….”

Gwan Ji-bu’s reaction was lukewarm.

Since it wasn’t an official task anyway, there was no need to submit a report.

“Please submit it to the representatives’ meeting.”

“The representatives’ meeting?”

Gwan Ji-bu realized that this thick report was about something very important.

“……I understand.”

After hesitating for a moment, Gwan Ji-bu nodded.

“Ah, and.”

Un-hyun took out the thin, unsealed envelope.

“This is my resignation letter.”

Gwan Ji-bu’s eyes widened.

However, Un-hyun’s expression as he held the resignation letter was calm.

***

Gwan Ji-bu immediately headed to the Great Council Hall.

The representatives’ meeting was already underway in the Great Council Hall, but Gwan Ji-bu couldn’t readily go inside.

He wasn’t sure if this was an important enough matter to interrupt the meeting.

In the end, it was when the representatives’ meeting was temporarily adjourned that Gwan Ji-bu entered the Great Council Hall.

“What’s going on?”

Jegal-yeon, the representative of the Jegal Clan and the facilitator, asked.

Even a master like him looked exhausted from the continuous meetings and work.

“Scribe Un submitted a report.”

“Scribe Un did?”

“He returned from the Namgung Clan a while ago.”

Jegal-yeon frowned.

‘The Namgung Clan……. And at a time like this.’

No one would say anything about what Un-hyun did.

But to visit the Namgung Clan, especially at a time like this, was too coincidental.

‘Is Shin-seung plotting something again?’

Such suspicion was only natural.

But in the end, Jegal-yeon had no choice but to accept the thick report that Gwan Ji-bu handed over.

Rustle.

Opening the seal, Jegal-yeon asked.

“Where is Scribe Un now?”

“He’s waiting in the Guest Hall.”

‘Waiting?’

As if he were going to call Un-hyun himself.

‘Hmm.’

Jegal-yeon unfolded the document.

Jegal-yeon’s complexion, which had been indifferent as he read, darkened rapidly.

Crack.

Jegal-yeon raised his head with a pale face.

“Gwan Ji-bu, have you seen this report?”

Jegal-yeon’s demeanor was quite serious. Gwan Ji-bu quickly bowed his head.

“How could I have? Scribe Un submitted it as it was sealed.”

Originally, Gwan Ji-bu, as his superior, should have reviewed it first.

But Gwan Ji-bu didn’t have the courage to break the seal that Un-hyun, Shin-seung’s disciple, had made.

“You did well.”

Jegal-yeon said with a stern expression.

And he raised his head.

“Representatives.”

Jegal-yeon’s clear voice echoed in the Great Council Hall.

The representatives were already looking at Jegal-yeon.

Everyone had stayed in their seats at Gwan Ji-bu’s words, ‘Scribe Un.’

Not only the Shaolin, but also the Moryong Clan, the South Sea Sword Sect, and all the representatives.

“We must resume the meeting. Immediately.”

Quiet sighs leaked out from here and there, but there were no complaints.

Jegal-yeon turned to look at Gwan Ji-bu.

“And you go now……. What’s that?”

Jegal-yeon noticed that Gwan Ji-bu was still holding another envelope.

“Ah, this.”

Handing over the envelope, Gwan Ji-bu said.

“It’s Scribe Un’s resignation letter.”

The expressions of Jegal-yeon and the representatives all twisted at once.

***

At the time when Gwan Ji-bu was meeting with Jegal-yeon.

Un-hyun was walking towards the Great Council Hall with Dokgo-rang.

‘They’ll call me anyway.’

Rather than making the innocent Gwan Ji-bu suffer, he intended to go to the Great Council Hall and wait.

As Un-hyun moved his feet towards the Great Council Hall, he suddenly heard a loud noise.

“Hahaha! Is that really the case? Back when I was young…….”

“Hey! Bring me some more alcohol here!”

It was the sound coming from the Guest Hall.

The Guest Hall was located on the way to the Great Council Hall.

‘Ah, come to think of it.’

Byeon Gi-ryang of the Guest Hall had said that there were martial artists gathered in the Guest Hall.

Indeed, there were many martial artists in the Guest Hall.

The attire and weapons were so diverse that the large Guest Hall seemed cramped.

No, it was actually cramped.

It was no exaggeration to say that all the sects near Hangzhou had gathered.

They were laughing loudly, or subtly showing their wariness, making a noisy commotion as they spread out their mats even into the courtyard.

‘They’re just as nervous.’

It was only natural that tension could be seen in their eyes. They already knew that they would be the first to face the enemy.

Otherwise, why would the Murim Alliance release silver to gather them?

But their expectations were just as high.

Everyone recognized that this was an opportunity, even though it was dangerous. After all, danger was a given for those who carried swords.

Swish.

Un-hyun turned his head to hurry along the road.

Then, he suddenly realized that Dokgo-rang was still looking at the Guest Hall.

‘Huh?’

There was no one among them who could be Dokgo-rang’s match.

It didn’t seem like there was anyone he was particularly close to.

Un-hyun asked tentatively.

“Dokgo-je [term of respect], did you have enemies like that?”

“……The circumstances of wanderers are all similar.”

Dokgo-rang answered without taking his eyes off the Guest Hall.

“Then, will you wait here? I have to go into the Great Council Hall alone anyway.”

“No.”

Dokgo-rang turned his head to look at Un-hyun.

“I will escort you to the Great Council Hall.”

Un-hyun smiled.

“That’s fine. Find out how strong these people are. It would be even better if you could help them.”

Dokgo-rang frowned slightly.

Certainly, he had experienced chaotic battles and group battles in the frontier.

But suddenly telling him to help them?

“These people, it’s hard to say, but they’re probably going to be cannon fodder.”

Un-hyun continued, looking at the Guest Hall.

“So, even if you help them a little, it won’t be a bad thing. Don’t you think?”

Un-hyun already knew that Dokgo-rang felt a kind of camaraderie with them.

Just as Un-hyun was concerned about the scribes.

Still, Dokgo-rang hesitated.

“Help them.”

Un-hyun drove the wedge in.

Dokgo-rang answered immediately.

“Yes, my lord.”

His eyes were shining.

***

The Guest Hall was noisy.

So much so that no one would notice one or two people coming and going.

But this time was different.

“Oh.”

“That, that person is…….”

Some of the martial artists filling the Guest Hall began to quiet down.

And that silence spread throughout the Guest Hall in an instant.

The footsteps, which couldn’t even be heard a moment ago, rang clearly in everyone’s ears.

Even those sitting in the courtyard, even those in the Guest Hall, couldn’t take their eyes off the one person approaching.

“……Samjeon Mujeok [Three Battles No Defeat].”

Someone muttered quietly.

The person walking towards them, emitting a sharp gaze like a single blade, was none other than Samjeon Mujeok, Dokgo-rang.

Thud.

Dokgo-rang stopped in front of the Guest Hall.

And he slowly looked around at the martial artists filling the four directions, their gazes directed at him.

Clatter.

“Welcome, Great Hero.”

A middle-aged martial artist sitting in the Guest Hall stood up.

He bowed respectfully to Dokgo-rang.

“I am Jang Cheon-ho of the Simgeom Sect of Hangzhou. Are you perhaps the swordsman Samjeon Mujeok?”

That was a question he already knew the answer to.

“That’s right.”

Dokgo-rang raised both hands and bowed lightly.

“I am Dokgo-rang.”

At the same time as his greeting, a quiet exclamation flowed out.

Receiving the greeting showed that he had no hostility towards them.

And that was telling them another possibility.

“Hahaha, I knew it. Then, perhaps the Great Hero has come to join the Murim Alliance in this matter?”

Expectation was evident in the eyes of Jang Cheon-ho, as well as the other martial artists.

“No.”

Dokgo-rang shook his head.

“I have only come to serve my lord.”

The martial artists couldn’t hide their expressions of disappointment at that answer.

The martial artists also began to whisper.

“Lord? Who is Samjeon Mujeok’s lord?”

“It’s Changryong Geomju [Azure Dragon Sword Master]. Didn’t you even know that?”

“Ah, that master and sworn brother…….”

Jang Cheon-ho, the head of the Simgeom Sect, quickly managed his expression and said with a smiling face.

“Then, how about having a meal together for a while? Everyone here is a hero of Hangzhou, so they will gladly welcome the Great Hero.”

It was a shameless statement that gilded his own face, but Dokgo-rang didn’t care.

“I don’t need it.”

And he didn’t accept it either.

“Because I didn’t come here to eat and drink.”

In an instant, the expressions of all the martial artists hardened.