Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 243

243. Gratitude and Mockery

Dokgo-rang’s words were undeniably rude.

Jang Cheon-ho cleared his throat, feigning discomfort, and others couldn’t conceal their unease.

Regardless of Dokgo-rang’s mastery of Sword Energy Manifestation, such blatant criticism was nothing short of an insult.

That unpleasant sentiment finally erupted in someone’s voice.

“Humph. Did someone come here just to freeload?”

“Ahem.”

Jang Cheon-ho hurriedly cleared his throat, but the voice had already echoed clearly throughout the guest hall.

Just as Jang Cheon-ho was about to respond with a forced smile,

“Even a stray dog would laugh,” Dokgo-rang’s cold voice cut through the air.

Looking at the martial artists filling the guest hall, Dokgo-rang said,

“Not knowing who the enemy is, not even considering countermeasures, and you claim you didn’t come here to freeload?”

Hoo-wook.

The martial artists’ sharp hostility and killing intent instantly saturated the guest hall.

Though they hailed from small to medium-sized martial clans, their skills were by no means ordinary.

Moreover, these vagrants lived by the sword.

The combined aura they emitted was by no means insignificant.

The leader of the Shimgeomun [Heart Sword Gate], Jang Cheon-ho, also said with a firm expression,

“Did you come here to insult us, Great Warrior Dokgo?”

His aura was quite impressive.

He wouldn’t be representing so many martial artists if it weren’t.

“My lord instructed me to assist you.”

However, Dokgo-rang’s expression remained unchanged.

Even the collective killing intent of everyone in the guest hall couldn’t faze Dokgo-rang.

“But since you are utterly unprepared, I have no choice but to report the same to my lord.”

Dokgo-rang finished speaking and turned to leave.

No, he was about to turn.

“Wa, wait a moment!”

Jang Cheon-ho said urgently.

“Did you just say you would help us?”

He seemed to have fixated on that one point.

The fact that the great Sword Energy Manifestation master, the Invincible Sword Master of Three Battles, was offering his help was all that mattered to him.

“That’s right.”

Jang Cheon-ho’s face brightened.

But it was too soon.

“But it’s meaningless. You have neither preparation nor resolve.”

Jang Cheon-ho frowned at Dokgo-rang’s words.

“What do you mean? We have made some preparations…….”

“Do you know who the enemy is?”

Jang Cheon-ho, feeling defensive, retorted,

“Isn’t it the Surochae Alliance [Alliance of Water and Land]? The chief leader, the Iron Masked Ruthless, Lee Mu-shim…….”

“It’s not the Surochae Alliance.”

Dokgo-rang interrupted Jang Cheon-ho.

“But it doesn’t matter. What matters isn’t a name, but an arrow.”

Silence and tension descended upon the guest hall.

The black arrows that had annihilated the Black Blood Society were already a source of terror for them.

“Ahem! Measures against that have already been taken!”

Jang Cheon-ho said in a deliberately strong tone.

The guest hall had been more boisterous than necessary, partly to mask this underlying fear.

The generous reward had been promised, but the cruel reality was that they would likely be used as arrow fodder, and the chilling black arrows were a terrifying prospect.

That fear, which they still couldn’t shake off, was silencing everyone in the guest hall.

“The League promised to provide us with shields. Some have already arrived…….”

“The size?”

Jang Cheon-ho flinched at Dokgo-rang’s sudden question.

“Is that shield big enough to cover your entire body? No, it wouldn’t be.”

Dokgo-rang continued calmly.

“They wouldn’t give such vital equipment to outsiders.”

Jang Cheon-ho was speechless.

Dokgo-rang was right.

Large shields that covered the entire body were highly valuable equipment. They were rare outside of military use, and the quantity was limited.

“We, well, if the shield is too big, it’s hard to move…….”

Jang Cheon-ho tried to smooth things over in embarrassment, but Dokgo-rang’s words weren’t finished yet.

“Just because you have a shield doesn’t guarantee you can block arrows. Unless you form a proper formation, the shield is just baggage.”

Dokgo-rang continued mercilessly.

“After the rain of arrows pours down, most of you will be on the ground groaning, struck by an arrow in a spot the shield didn’t cover.”

Jang Cheon-ho groaned inwardly.

He had never considered forming a formation with shields.

In fact, those gathered here were disciples of small to medium-sized martial clans and vagrants.

Even if they had engaged in group battles, it was only in small-scale disputes, and they lacked experience in full-scale combat.

“And then.”

The look in Dokgo-rang’s eyes as he continued was chilling.

“The enemy’s cavalry will trample over those who have fallen.”

“The Black Spear Cavalry!”

Someone said with a sigh.

The Black Spear Cavalry that had burned down the Gongsun Family’s main house.

Everyone had heard the rumors.

Wasn’t it the Black Spear Cavalry that had routed the Black Blood Society’s cavalry?

“Then how many will survive?”

No one answered.

The pouring rain of black arrows and the thunder of the Black Spear Cavalry seemed vividly real before their eyes.

Could they truly survive in that situation?

It was only natural that fear and anxiety were weighing them down.

Bang.

Someone in the guest hall slammed the table and stood up.

“What is this! What are you trying to do…….”

It was a desperate attempt to change the atmosphere, but he couldn’t finish his sentence.

Squeak.

The leader of the Shimgeomun, Jang Cheon-ho, reached out and stopped him.

Jang Cheon-ho looked directly at Dokgo-rang and asked,

“Are you familiar with combat, Great Warrior Dokgo?”

His voice and eyes were more serious than ever.

Dokgo-rang nodded slightly.

“I used to wander around the borderlands.”

“The borderlands…….”

Jang Cheon-ho muttered quietly.

The borderlands were a region where constant battles, both large and small, occurred due to the incursions of foreign tribes.

Naturally, this involved full-scale warfare between armies.

And the current situation was more akin to a battle than a typical conflict between factions.

Arrows raining down and cavalry rampaging – what else could it be but a battle?

Gritting.

Jang Cheon-ho gritted his teeth.

Any alcohol-induced haze had long since dissipated.

“……Do you have the goodwill to help us, Great Warrior Dokgo?”

There was no trace of a smile in his questioning eyes.

The gazes of the martial artists filling the guest hall were also fixed on Dokgo-rang.

Squeak.

Dokgo-rang slowly nodded.

“I do.”

A quiet exclamation rippled through the guest hall.

The eyes looking at Dokgo-rang were all shining with hope.

“I’ll ask you one more thing.”

Jang Cheon-ho asked seriously.

“Why do you want to help us?”

Silence filled the guest hall.

Why would Dokgo-rang, a master of Sword Energy Manifestation and a swordsman with the title of Invincible of Three Battles, want to help them?

Even the great aristocratic families would treat Dokgo-rang with the utmost respect and try to recruit him.

“As I said.”

Dokgo-rang answered without hesitation.

“It is my lord’s command.”

‘My lord……. Is he talking about the Azure Dragon Sword Lord?’

Jang Cheon-ho quickly racked his brains.

But he couldn’t even begin to guess why the Azure Dragon Sword Lord, whom he only knew by name, would give such an order.

“Why would that person…….”

“Helping those in need is never a bad thing.”

Dokgo-rang said calmly.

But everyone could clearly see the unwavering loyalty in his voice.

“This is my lord’s will.”

The guest hall was silent.

Jang Cheon-ho also felt a warmth spreading in his chest.

He couldn’t help it.

Any man, especially a martial artist who lived by the sword, would feel the same in the face of Dokgo-rang’s unwavering devotion.

The burning loyalty and trust towards his lord.

“Thank you, Great Warrior Dokgo.”

Jang Cheon-ho bowed respectfully.

“Come up here. It seems like this story will be a long one.”

The seat he offered was the seat of honor in the center of the guest hall, where he had been sitting just moments before.

Step.

Dokgo-rang walked slowly.

Amidst the gazes of all the martial artists, the Invincible Sword Master of Three Battles, Dokgo-rang, ascended to the seat of honor in the guest hall.

***

The Grand Assembly Hall was quiet.

However, the representatives’ sharp gazes directed at Woon-hyun clearly indicated that this was a formal meeting of the Martial Alliance representatives.

“Welcome, Secretary Woon.”

Jegal-yeon of the Jegal Family greeted Woon-hyun.

His attitude was quite respectful.

Woon-hyun also bowed.

“Would you like to sit down?”

Jegal-yeon offered. A seat had been prepared facing the representatives.

“Thank you.”

Woon-hyun expressed his gratitude and sat down.

Rustle.

The representatives’ gazes, a mixture of curiosity, wariness, and hostility, were focused on Woon-hyun.

Among them, Mo Yong-mi’s gentle gaze was also clearly present.

“We have reviewed Secretary Woon’s report. There are some points we need to clarify, so we have summoned Secretary Woon here.”

Jegal-yeon was carefully choosing his words.

In the first place, offering such an explanation was an exception and a special courtesy.

Woon-hyun nodded.

“Please proceed.”

“Is it true that you met Dokseon [Poisonous Scholar]?”

Someone asked abruptly. Woon-hyun turned his head towards the representatives.

“It is true.”

“Then does that mean the Tang Family is also involved?”

A clear, woman’s voice rang out.

She seemed quite young and energetic, and Woon-hyun was seeing her for the first time.

“I don’t know.”

Woon-hyun shook his head.

“As for the Tang Family’s affairs, I couldn’t confirm anything.”

He could make educated guesses.

Dokseon had clearly alluded to the Tang Family’s decision.

But the topic Woon-hyun wanted to discuss now was not the Tang Family.

“Whose opinion does the Namgoong Family truly represent?”

“I heard it directly from the current head of the family, the Iron Sword Namgoong-byeok.”

The representatives buzzed with murmurs.

The Namgoong Family was known for its pride and its strained relationship with Buddhist and Taoist sects.

Moreover, given their near-seclusion, would they have shared such information with Woon-hyun, a disciple of the Divine Monk?

“Is that verifiable?”

“If you send someone to the Namgoong Family to confirm, you will find that what I say is true.”

“Hmm.”

If they had the time to send someone to confirm, they wouldn’t have asked in the first place.

After a moment of silence, someone asked again.

“Who is Samtaesang?”

“I don’t know.”

Woon-hyun answered.

“But they are strong enough to defeat the Iron-Blooded Death King Yeom Joong-bu.”

“Ha! You claim someone defeated the Iron-Blooded Death King?”

A mocking voice was heard. It was Hyeokryun-pil, a representative of the Hyeokryun Family.

“Are you seriously asking us to believe such absurd claims?”

There was some validity to his skepticism.

The Iron-Blooded Death King was one of the Hwanwoo Five Venerables [Five Venerables of Hwanwoo].

How could someone strong enough to defeat him suddenly emerge from obscurity?

“Dokseon said so.”

“Huh, so you’re telling us to send someone to Dokseon to confirm? That’s a truly pathetic excuse.”

No one could meet Dokseon.

Hyeokryun-pil believed that Woon-hyun was lying, using Dokseon’s name as a shield.

“Let’s be honest.”

Hyeokryun-pil said with a sneer.

“Did the Divine Monk instruct you to do this?”

Woon-hyun’s expression hardened.

But Hyeokryun-pil didn’t relent.

“Did he tell you to spread anxiety with lies, scare people with fabricated news, and make them cling to the Divine Monk once again?”

‘Hyeokryun Family…….’

Woon-hyun recalled a past memory.

The head of the Hyeokryun Family had been the first to scold and rebuke him during his interrogation by the sect leaders.

Taeheo, the leader of the Shaolin Temple, had later told Woon-hyun that the Hyeokryun Family harbored a deep-seated animosity towards the Divine Monk.

Hyeokryun-pil’s current attitude was undoubtedly connected to that history.

“If the Divine Monk had instructed me to do this.”

Woon-hyun said with a subtle smile.

“……No one would have realized it. Neither I, nor any of you.”

He suppressed the more biting words he had initially intended to say.

To retort with, ‘Even if that were the case, what could you possibly do?’ would have been too crude.

Hyeokryun-pil’s expression twisted in anger.

But the other representatives seemed to agree with Woon-hyun’s implication.

In truth, Hyeokryun-pil’s accusations were undeniably unreasonable.

“Who is Moonwang [King of the Moon]?”

Someone asked.

“No, shouldn’t we first reveal the identity of the First Merchant? If the Dark Sky Martial Emperor is his subordinate…….”

“That’s preposterous! How could such a powerful force have remained hidden until now?”

The Grand Assembly Hall began to fill with agitated voices.

“Silence!”

Jegal-yeon commanded.

As the commotion subsided, Jegal-yeon addressed Woon-hyun.

“Does Secretary Woon have any evidence or witnesses to corroborate his claims?”

Woon-hyun shook his head.

“I do not.”

It was a question he had anticipated.

They were questioning the credibility of his claims and attempting to dismiss everything.

“There are witnesses, but they are unlikely to appear here.”

There was Dokseon, and there was the head of the Namgoong Family.

But they would not come, and even if they did, it would be too late.

Hyeokryun-pil wore a triumphant smile, and Jegal-yeon said with a resolute expression.

“Then Secretary Woon’s report is unsubstantiated…….”

“Wait a minute.”

A white hand rose, accompanied by a clear voice.