Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 254

254. Unclear (未明) [Predawn]

Clack.

Je Gal-myung, the head of the Je Gal Clan, who had been riding ahead, stopped his horse.

He slowly looked around.

The small country road, shrouded in darkness, was quiet.

There was no sign of pursuing torches, nor any trace of people.

“Is everyone alright?”

Je Gal-myung asked in a low voice.

The representative, Je Gal-yeon, bowed his head and replied.

“Yes, everyone is safe.”

The head of the Je Gal Clan examined his disciples.

The disciples looked no different from when they had escaped the Murim Alliance [a martial arts alliance].

If it weren’t for this late hour, one could easily believe they were simply out for a stroll.

“What about the injured?”

“They will arrive soon.”

The Je Gal Clan’s designated route was also ambushed.

However, fortunately, there was no further pursuit after the initial clash.

The main road was also clear of any issues.

Thanks to this, the Je Gal Clan was able to stop their horses on this secluded road, waiting for the injured who had fallen behind.

“We were lucky.”

The representative, Je Gal-yeon, said, stroking the neck of his horse.

No collisions, no casualties. It was no exaggeration to say they were lucky.

However, the head of the Je Gal Clan did not respond.

“The injured are coming!”

One of the disciples at the rear shouted.

“I will go check.”

Je Gal-yeon said to the head of the clan and immediately spurred his horse towards the back.

Clack, clack.

As Je Gal-yeon rode towards the back, the other disciples’ gazes followed him.

Watching this, the head of the Je Gal Clan, Je Gal-myung, murmured quietly.

“Luck, you say…….”

Rustle.

Je Gal-myung took out a silk pouch from his chest.

It was the very one used to determine the escape routes of the various sects within the Murim Alliance.

“Luck doesn’t favor those who are unprepared.”

The silk pouch was designed so that pre-arranged individuals would receive the desired plaques, while others would receive random ones.

This was a very basic and insignificant trick among the Je Gal Clan’s repertoire. They possessed many more sophisticated and complex techniques.

“Even the most insignificant thing can be used effectively, depending on how it’s used.”

Je Gal-myung did not know what fate awaited those who had taken the ivory plaques.

However, it was clear that they would not have the same good fortune as the Je Gal Clan.

Swish.

Je Gal-myung held up the silk pouch.

Even though most of the ivory plaques were gone, the silk pouch was still heavy.

Je Gal-myung threw the pouch with all his might towards the waterway flowing beyond the main road.

Splash.

The silk pouch, flying through the darkness, sank into the water with a small sound.

Now, mud and water plants would hide it deep within the waterway.

Even if someone were to find it by chance, it wouldn’t matter.

Because now, it was just a meaningless piece of silk and ivory plaques.

Clack.

Je Gal-myung turned his horse’s head.

The small road leading out of Hangzhou stretched straight ahead in the darkness.

Following that road, the Je Gal Clan would face a new day.

A very different era from what they had known, but one that was essentially unchanged.

“……We owe a debt to the Tang Clan.”

Je Gal-myung, the head of the Je Gal Clan, the Gentleman’s Sword, murmured quietly.

No one heard his voice.

***

Tension flowed through the faces of the disciples of the Mo Yong Clan and the Hyuk Ryun Clan.

This was because the Iron-Blooded Death King, Yeom Jung-bu, who had appeared from the darkness, was exuding blatant murderous intent.

However, Yun-hyun, who was facing that murderous intent, remained calm.

“It’s been a while.”

Step.

Yun-hyun stepped forward and said.

“So many people want to see me; I don’t know whether to be happy or worried.”

Yeom Jung-bu looked at Yun-hyun with a sneer.

“Hmph, you…….”

“But who wanted to see me so badly? Was it the Moon King? Or was it the Merchant?”

The smile disappeared from Yeom Jung-bu’s face.

The names that came out of Yun-hyun’s mouth, who he thought knew nothing, were by no means trivial.

And Yun-hyun’s words were not over yet.

“Or is it the Three Supremes who made you kneel in ten moves?”

“You, you insolent……!”

Yeom Jung-bu, who was about to shout in anger, suddenly shut his mouth.

Grit.

Yeom Jung-bu, swallowing his shout and grinding his teeth, glared at Yun-hyun as if he wanted to kill him.

“……How did you know?”

That was the same as admitting Yun-hyun’s words.

“The Poisonous Immortal told me.”

Yun-hyun said calmly.

“The Poisonous Immortal?”

Yeom Jung-bu looked at Yun-hyun with suspicious eyes.

“Hmph, don’t lie!”

Yeom Jung-bu said with a feigned sneer.

“The Poisonous Immortal’s lips are heavier than a thousand gold pieces [meaning he doesn’t talk much]. The person he would say such things to is…….”

Yeom Jung-bu, who was speaking, flinched.

“Could it be you…….”

Yeom Jung-bu said as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Did you break through the Thousand Fragrance Butterfly? The Poisonous Immortal’s technique?”

“It’s not something that can be broken through.”

Yun-hyun said calmly.

“I just twisted it a little. The Thousand Fragrance Butterfly is the best technique in the world, containing his lifelong insights.”

Yeom Jung-bu was speechless.

But that was only for a moment.

“Haha, hahahahaha!”

Yeom Jung-bu, who was laughing, suddenly stopped.

Looking straight at Yun-hyun, Yeom Jung-bu said.

“I can’t believe it.”

Whir.

A sharp aura containing red energy rushed towards Yun-hyun.

Yeom Jung-bu’s whip, with its two-pronged end, was fired at Yun-hyun.

“Twin Venomous Fangs!”

The head of the Mo Yong Clan, Mo Yong-dancheon, exclaimed in great surprise.

Two snakes flashing venomous fangs.

It was one of the Iron-Blooded Death King Yeom Jung-bu’s signature moves, Twin Venomous Fangs.

And Mo Yong-dancheon was not the only one who recognized the Twin Venomous Fangs.

Clang.

Something seemed to flash under the moonlight, and a sharp impact echoed.

“……Who are you?”

Yeom Jung-bu frowned.

The one who blocked the Twin Venomous Fangs was Dokgo-rang.

A blue aura was rippling from his blade, shining under the moonlight.

Whoosh.

“I am Dokgo-rang.”

“Never heard of you.”

Swish.

Yeom Jung-bu, who had been standing with his hands behind his back, reached out one hand.

“And I won’t need to know in the future.”

Thud thud thud.

With a sound like a bowstring snapping, countless auras poured out from Yeom Jung-bu’s fingertips.

It wasn’t just aimed at Dokgo-rang.

Yeom Jung-bu’s other signature move, Crimson Blood Evil Sting, was fired indiscriminately at the group.

“Dodge!”

The head of the Mo Yong Clan, Mo Yong-dancheon, shouted, drawing his sword.

Clang, Thwack thwack thwack!

Sword light flashed, and with dull sounds, trees and dirt splattered everywhere.

‘Ugh.’

The chief disciple, Mo Yong-jin, gritted his teeth.

Even though it was fired indiscriminately in all directions, the inner strength contained in each one was extraordinary.

Fortunately, Mo Yong-jin succeeded in blocking those auras.

The same was true for the head of the Mo Yong Clan, Mo Yong-dancheon.

“Is everyone alright!”

Mo Yong-dancheon quickly assessed the situation.

Whether it was thanks to his quick warning, or because he and the chief disciple Mo Yong-jin had blocked them, no one seemed to be seriously injured.

However, the chief disciple of the Hyuk Ryun Clan, Hyuk Ryun-pil, was not so lucky.

“Kugh.”

Hyuk Ryun-pil was bleeding from his shoulder.

He couldn’t avoid it because he was protecting the fallen head of the Hyuk Ryun Clan, Paegeom Hyuk Ryun-cheolhu.

“Senior Brother!”

A disciple of the Hyuk Ryun Clan cried out in anguish.

Hyuk Ryun-pil couldn’t even support his body properly.

He had already been through several major battles. He had suffered a major injury in a state where he hadn’t been able to rest properly while being chased.

“Clan Head.”

Yun-hyun called out to Mo Yong-dancheon.

When Mo Yong-dancheon turned his head, Yun-hyun said in a quiet voice.

“Please evacuate with the others first. The person he wants is me. So…….”

“I can’t do that.”

Mo Yong-mi’s firm voice echoed in the forest.

She, too, had not been able to avoid Yeom Jung-bu’s offensive, and the sleeves of her clothes were torn long.

However, the blade in Mo Yong-mi’s hand was shining sharply under the moonlight.

“The Mo Yong Clan does not abandon a great man. Not at any time.”

Mo Yong-mi’s eyes were resolute.

“Thank you.”

Yun-hyun smiled.

“But don’t you also know, Miss, that dividing here is the most efficient thing to do?”

“Efficiency for whom?”

Mo Yong-mi did not hesitate at all.

“Efficiency that unilaterally forces danger on you? I don’t need that kind of efficiency.”

Yun-hyun was momentarily speechless at her unwavering assertion.

Mo Yong-mi looked straight at Yun-hyun and said.

“We will not leave you behind.”

The reason Yun-hyun was silent was not because he couldn’t argue.

It was because his heart was overwhelmed by her sincerity.

“Kekeke.”

Yeom Jung-bu chuckled.

“Good times. This old man also had such times. Kekeke.”

No one believed those words.

The rumor that the Iron-Blooded Death King had even eaten his wife and children for the sake of martial arts was openly circulating in the Gangho Murim [martial arts world].

“How about this?”

Yeom Jung-bu, who was laughing, said, looking at Yun-hyun.

“I’m in a very good mood today, so if you obediently follow me.”

Swish.

Yeom Jung-bu slowly raised his hand.

And pointing at Mo Yong-mi with his finger, he said.

“I will specially not kill this girl.”

It was at that moment.

“Miss! Lower left!”

Yun-hyun shouted. Mo Yong-mi reflexively struck her sword down to the lower left.

Clang.

“Kugh.”

Mo Yong-mi gritted her teeth at the tremendous repulsive force transmitted from her hand.

And soon she realized that what she had blocked was Yeom Jung-bu’s finger wind [a martial arts technique].

At the very moment he said he wouldn’t kill her, Yeom Jung-bu had unleashed a killing move towards Mo Yong-mi.

Step.

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t kill her?”

Yun-hyun stepped forward and said with a stiff expression.

“She’s not dead, is she?”

Yeom Jung-bu shrugged.

“Since you haven’t answered yet, I have no obligation to fulfill my promise.”

Blatant mockery hung on Yeom Jung-bu’s lips.

“And people don’t believe it until it’s right in front of their eyes. Humans only realize reality when one of their limbs is cut off. Kekeke.”

Yeom Jung-bu, who was laughing, shone his eyes.

“And aren’t they all going to die anyway?”

Step.

Yeom Jung-bu took a step.

With it, a tremendous aura poured out.

Kwa kwa kwa kwak.

It was Yeom Jung-bu’s murderous intent that made his clothes flutter and the trees shake.

“Kugh.”

“Ugh.”

The disciples with weak inner strength groaned.

The disciples of the Hyuk Ryun Clan were even worse, with some even collapsing.

“There’s nothing to fear.”

The Iron-Blooded Death King said, exuding a terrifying murderous intent.

“Everything that lives is bound to die someday. It’s just that the time is now for you.”

In the storm-like aura, trees shook and dust and grass scattered everywhere.

The murderous intent that the Iron-Blooded Death King Yeom Jung-bu had deliberately unleashed was truly terrifying.

Grit.

The head of the Mo Yong Clan, Mo Yong-dancheon, gritted his teeth.

The five strongest in the world, the Hwanwoo Five Supremes [the top five martial artists].

However, he wasn’t without the thought that he might be able to do it.

But the aura of the Iron-Blooded Death King Yeom Jung-bu, which was now before his eyes, clearly showed why he was counted as one of the Hwanwoo Five Supremes.

‘……At this rate.’

Even he had a hard time enduring Yeom Jung-bu’s aura.

Even the head of the clan was like this, so there was no need to talk about the situation of others.

It was when Mo Yong-dancheon was determined to do something right away.

Buzz.

Moonlight drew a sword path.

Yun-hyun’s blade, shattering blue moonlight, drew a single trajectory.

A sword path that was more gentle and beautiful, like a fantasy.

And the next moment.

Whoosh.

The murderous intent that had been pressing down on people disappeared like a lie.

‘Huh?’