Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 260

260. Desertion

Yunhyun couldn’t understand what Shinseung was saying.

“You’re right.”

Shinseung Bulyeong said.

Kwaang!

A huge explosion grazed Yunhyun’s cheek.

Amidst the fragments of shattered trees and clods of earth, Shinseung relentlessly sped through the darkness.

“All my stubbornness and obsession were in the Murim Alliance.”

Swish, swish.

Shinseung’s voice was heard amidst the sound of wind brushing past his ears.

“Seeing you return to the Murim Alliance, I thought. That guy is stubbornly returning to uphold human decency, but what am I doing, clinging to the Murim Alliance?”

At those words, Yunhyun felt even more self-reproach.

Looking back now, he realized that he was full of stubbornness and arrogance.

He didn’t even know what it meant to risk his life, nor did he understand the meaning of braving danger, yet he stubbornly refused to return, didn’t he?

“I, I…….”

“You’re saying you didn’t do it with that in mind? Don’t worry. Whether you intended it that way or not, I saw what I needed to see in your actions.”

Shinseung Bulyeong smiled.

Whir.

Yunhyun’s body shook violently.

It was because Shinseung suddenly made a sharp turn. And soon, a huge explosion was heard from the spot they were heading towards.

Kwaaaang!

“I am a monk. Before being part of the Murim Alliance or anything else, I am a monk.”

Shinseung said.

“But I was clinging to the Murim Alliance and doing disgraceful things. As if I were the Murim Alliance Leader, I was plotting behind the scenes, manipulating people at will, and dragging you in. All under the guise of serving the *Kangho Murim* [the martial arts world].”

A smile hung on Shinseung’s wrinkled lips.

“In fact, I had already planned to use you for the next thirty years. Heol heol heol.”

Bulyeong said in a rather cheerful voice.

“It was very interesting. Imagining various aspects of the *Kangho Murim* with you. When I thought about pairing you with certain young ladies, I felt quite pleased. Ah, could you handle even nine of them, perhaps?”

As if uttering lewd jokes, Shinseung’s lecherous laughter was carried away on the wind.

That laughter soon turned into emptiness.

“But dreams must be broken, and even fun games must come to an end.”

Shinseung said to Yunhyun as he raced through the darkness.

He was no longer Shinseung of the Murim Alliance, but just a monk, Bulyeong.

***

Intaesang’s face, as he chased after the two, was distorted.

His heart was impatient, but he couldn’t catch up with Shinseung as easily as he thought.

He had never imagined that Shinseung’s lightness skill was at this level.

‘Yeomga, that useless bastard.’

Suddenly, anger towards Yeom Jung-bu bubbled up.

He had grandly described the Hundred Step Divine Fist as Bulyeong’s technique, but he hadn’t said a word about the important things.

‘When I get back, I’ll…….’

But now is not the time to dwell on that.

It was more urgent to grab the back of Shinseung’s neck, who was running away right in front of him.

“Geom Old Man!”

Intaesang called out to Jitaesang.

“Can’t you stop that guy?”

“It’s a waste of effort.”

Geomong Jitaesang’s answer was simple.

Intaesang also knew that he was right.

He had already attacked several times, but Bulyeong skillfully avoided their attacks.

Each time, the distance grew further.

‘Damn it. If I had known it would be like this…….’

Intaesang was anxious.

It was not good for the chase to drag on like this.

They were unfamiliar with the geography of this area, while Shinseung knew it like the back of his hand.

Most of all, what worried him was that he didn’t know what tricks Shinseung would play.

No, perhaps it had already begun.

‘This isn’t good.’

Intaesang had an uneasy feeling.

Even being this concerned might mean he was falling for the opponent’s tricks.

Gnash.

Manong Intaesang gritted his teeth.

He had no face to show the Moon King if he let them get away here.

And Iltaesang would once again be disappointed in the Moon King.

That was something that should never happen to the precious young master, the Moon King.

“Seoraa! You son of a biiitch!”

Manong Intaesang shouted as if wailing.

***

Hangju was in utter chaos.

There was no looting or destruction by the Green Forest Bandits yet, but the procession of countless people leaving Hangju was truly a scene of pandemonium.

The escape, which began with people working at the Murim Alliance and the injured, quickly grew as the people of Hangju, feeling fear, joined in.

It was understandable.

A great battle resembling war, and the unbelievable defeat of the Murim Alliance.

The people’s hearts plummeted at once.

Even as night approached, people, seized by fear, began to flee Hangju recklessly.

The shocking sight of the burning Murim Alliance added certainty to that fear.

Along with the moans of the injured heard from here and there, the procession of people escaping Hangju continued endlessly into the darkness.

Thump.

“Kkeueueueue.”

As the cart rattled, a groan escaped from among the injured piled up like luggage.

But no one looked back.

The person holding the reins also silently drove the cart with a face worn out from fatigue.

The injured loaded on the cart were mostly people who had been seriously injured while standing on the front lines, or who had been harmed by the fire arrows that flew into the Murim Alliance.

Still, the injured had to be grateful for having saved their lives.

There were countless people who had been trampled by the Black Blood Cavalry’s hooves and whose bodies could not even be recovered, and among the injured, there were even those who had already breathed their last.

Thud.

Suddenly, the people in the procession stopped in surprise at the sound of an explosion heard from afar.

They hunched their shoulders and looked around.

But when no more sounds or signs were heard, the procession slowly began to move again.

Squeak.

The cart’s wheel axle turned again, making a sound, and the procession continued in silence.

How long had passed like that?

Kwaaaang!

A more intense explosion than before erupted in the middle of the procession.

“Uaaagh!”

“Heeheeheeing.”

The startled horses panicked, and the people scattered in confusion.

The explosion that erupted in the middle of the procession knocked people over with its boisterous force.

In fact, there was not much damage compared to the tremendous noise.

But that alone turned the procession into chaos in an instant.

***

Intaesang, who was chasing Shinseung and Yunhyun, frowned.

Kwaang.

“Ouch.”

“Aagh!”

Subsequently, an explosion erupted, and the screams of startled people were heard.

Shinseung had jumped into the middle of the refugee procession.

‘That bastard!’

Was he perhaps trying to use the refugees as a shield? It was the moment Intaesang suspected that.

Thud.

Shinseung jumped out of the procession and flew into the darkness.

“……What should we do?”

Gnash.

At Jitaesang’s question, Intaesang gritted his teeth.

Shinseung had played another trick.

Whir, whir.

Leaping over the refugee procession, Intaesang’s sharp gaze quickly scanned the people.

Yunhyun’s figure was not visible. But he couldn’t be sure.

Because the opponent was Shinseung.

‘I’d rather just kill them all…….’

Even the thought of it gathered power in Intaesang’s hands.

“Stop it.”

Jitaesang, realizing his feelings, said.

“What if that guy is mixed in there?”

The Azure Dragon Sword Lord must not be killed.

But he couldn’t stop and investigate the procession either.

Whizz, whir.

“Is that bald monk still carrying that guy for sure?”

Jitaesang asked, using lightness skill towards Shinseung who was visible in the distance.

“For sure.”

Intaesang said.

It was amazing just to know that from this distance.

“But whether it’s that guy…… I don’t know.”

Just now, Shinseung had jumped into the procession, emitting a loud explosion and force.

It was a fleeting moment, but Intaesang had missed Shinseung’s actions at that time.

“Then I’ll check.”

Jitaesang said.

He meant that he would go back and look at the procession.

But Intaesang’s reaction was blunt.

“Then what about next time?”

If Jitaesang was not there, the pursuit would be even more difficult.

Moreover, if the same situation occurred next time, if Shinseung took suspicious actions like just now, what would Intaesang do alone?

Then there would really be no choice.

‘To dare to gamble like this…….’

It was literally a gamble.

Shinseung was gambling on whether he would live or die, with Yunhyun’s life on the line.

Gnash.

Intaesang gritted his teeth.

But his judgment was cold and his decision was swift.

“We continue to chase him.”

Even if Shinseung gambled, this was not the time.

Because now one person could go back and check.

Shinseung was probably betting his fate after dropping one of the two Taesangs.

“Let’s see how far you can run.”

Intaesang spat out, speaking towards Shinseung’s back, which was visible in the distance.

“We’ll see.”

Intaesang resolved to catch Shinseung no matter what.

Even if it was Sorimsa [Shaolin Temple], he didn’t care. Even if he jumped into the government office, he didn’t care.

Even if he ran to the end of the world, he would definitely catch him, Intaesang gritted his teeth and vowed.

Just then, Shinseung plunged downwards as if falling.

Kwaang.

An explosion erupted in another refugee procession.

Instantly, people scattered and dust rose.

“Is he doing that again!”

Thud.

Intaesang unleashed a fist towards Shinseung, who was soaring up.

But the distance was too far.

Shinseung skillfully twisted his body in the air, avoiding Intaesang’s power.

No, this time he even glanced back.

Intaesang gritted his teeth again at that annoying sight.

Still, confirming that he was a little closer than before, Intaesang poured all his energy into his lightness skill.

***

“Oh my, what on earth was that just now…….”

As the explosion disappeared and the commotion subsided, the scattered people raised their heads and looked around.

Some people had rolled into the muddy ditch next to the road, but fortunately, no one was hurt.

“What a mess this world is in…….”

People grumbled or sighed and returned to the procession.

They were curious about what the explosion just now was all about, but no one could explain it.

It had happened in an instant, and they hadn’t seen it properly.

People calmed their fearful hearts and moved their feet again.

Squeak.

The cart carrying the injured also began to move again.

Perhaps because of the shaking, a groan escaped, but no one paid attention.

“Keueuk.”

Yunhyun, lying on the floor of the cart, gritted his teeth.

Terrible pain was racing through his body.

It was as if something was rampaging around violently.

But thanks to that, his mind was completely clear.

He could clearly remember what had happened and what Shinseung had said.

—It’s just a coincidence.

Shinseung said in an unusually gentle tone.

—The fact that you appeared before me for the first time, and the fact that I happened to save you today. So don’t think about revenge or resentment. Don’t even consider it a favor.

Shinseung stared intently at Yunhyun.

His eyes were so comfortable and satisfied.

—It’s just a world that we pass by coincidentally anyway, I enjoyed it for a while thanks to you, so that’s enough.

Those were Shinseung Bulyeong’s last words.

With those words, Yunhyun was replaced with the corpse of someone who had originally been lying here.

The place where Shinseung Bulyeong had gambled was the first procession.

Squeak.

The sound of the wheels sounded like a groan.

Even in the pain of his body being torn apart, Yunhyun thought.

‘I have to go.’

He had to get up and go.

The sight of Dokgo-rang falling like a leaf, covered in blood, was by no means a nightmare or an illusion.

He would still be waiting for him there.

In that blood-soaked state.

Shinseung was also being chased by the two Taesangs.

So he had to go.

He had to go and save him, and help him.

But Yunhyun’s body could not follow his will.

Thump.

“Keoeok.”

Even a small impact sent excruciating pain through his body.

Yunhyun groaned, but still put strength into his arms.

It hurt as if they were breaking off, but he still had to get up.

Because if he stayed like this, he would get even further away.

Squeak.

At that moment, Yunhyun flinched.

He was getting further away.

From that terrible and disgusting place, from that scary place, he was slowly getting further away.

The moment he realized that a sense of relief was spreading in one corner of his heart, Yunhyun felt nauseous.

‘Ugh.’

Yunhyun gritted his teeth.

As if resisting his disgusting heart, Yunhyun endured the pain and moved his hand.

Thud.

Finally, Yunhyun’s hand grabbed something on the cart.

But that was the end.

The hand didn’t move any further.

Squeak, squeak.

Tears flowed from Yunhyun’s eyes along with the sound of the cartwheels rolling indifferently.

And the tears soon turned into sobs.

“Heueuk, sob, keuheuk.”

Fear, pain, and even the thought that he had to go back gradually faded away.

With the tears pouring out uncontrollably, Yunhyun’s chest seemed to be emptying as well.

Squeak, squeak.

“Hey, even if it hurts, try to bear it.”

The man driving the cart said bluntly.

The mournful refugee procession was already depressing, so he couldn’t help but speak harshly when he heard the sound of crying.

“Isn’t it fortunate that you saved your life? Everyone is suffering…….”

But perhaps feeling that he was being too harsh to the injured person, the man soon said in a softer voice.

“It’ll be okay if we go just a little further. Tsk, how did the world become like this…….”

The man shook his head and began to drive the cart silently.

Squeak, squeak.

Yunhyun’s low sobs leaked out between the sounds of the cartwheels.

But the man driving the cart didn’t care anymore.

The people walking beside him were the same.

As if they couldn’t hear anything, the people were silently moving their feet in the darkness.

But Yunhyun knew.

That he was running away.

That he was turning away from Dokgo-rang lying in a pool of blood, and cowering under the pretext of pain and helplessness.

Squeak, squeak.

Yunhyun sobbed quietly on the floor of the cart.

In that way, the refugee procession was leaving Hangju.