Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 280

280. He Hates That Sort of Thing

The magnificent red city, the Imperial Palace.

A government official in official robes hurried along.

Normally, officials strolled leisurely and showily, but now his only thought was to arrive as quickly as possible.

Thud, thud.

The official stopped before the grand hall, which seemed ready to take flight with its splendor.

He straightened his attire, passed the Golden Uniform Guard, and entered the hall.

“What is it?”

A eunuch from the Eastern Depot [a secret intelligence agency] asked with a sharp gaze.

The official bowed deeply and took out a thin letter.

Rustle.

“I am an Assistant Censor from the Office of the Inspector-General. I have brought a report on the matter that Eunuch Gong ordered some time ago,” the Assistant Censor added hastily as the eunuch received the letter.

“It is something that Eunuch Gong instructed to be reported as a top priority.”

The eunuch’s eyes changed.

He placed the letter on a tray and immediately approached Eunuch Park.

Eunuch Park, who had been reviewing other documents, casually picked up the letter, and the Assistant Censor from the Office of the Inspector-General swallowed nervously.

Even as a Byungpil eunuch [a high-ranking eunuch] of the Eastern Depot, he did not have the influence to occupy an entire building in the Imperial Palace.

But Eunuch Park was an exception.

Eunuch Park had orchestrated a dramatic victory in the overwhelmingly disadvantageous succession dispute and was building his power based on the absolute trust of the next heaven [the Emperor].

Even the position of Byungpil eunuch of the Eastern Depot was merely a formality for him, so it was not surprising that all the authority of the Office of the Inspector-General was given to Eunuch Park, who was literally omnipotent and could do anything.

“Huhu.”

A soft smile appeared on Eunuch Park’s face along with a small laugh.

The Assistant Censor from the Office of the Inspector-General breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

“This way.”

At Eunuch Park’s words, accompanied by a light gesture, the Assistant Censor bowed and stepped forward.

“What measures have you taken regarding this report?”

Eunuch Park asked in a soft voice.

The Assistant Censor bent over so deeply that his head almost touched the ground and replied.

“The messenger who brought the report is now awaiting orders.”

Eunuch Park smiled with satisfaction.

He was satisfied that the important report had been delivered to him without any delay, and that the Office of the Inspector-General fully recognized that its handling should await his instructions first.

“This.”

As if he had been preparing in advance, Eunuch Park took out a sealed letter from his bosom and placed it on the tray.

As the eunuch brought the tray, the Assistant Censor received the letter with a respectful posture.

“Order the Surveillance Commissioner, who is touring Guangdong Province, to deliver this letter to the esteemed guest.”

It was obvious who Eunuch Park was referring to as the esteemed guest.

He was referring to the subject that the Assistant Censor himself had just reported on.

“I will obey your command.”

“Also.”

Eunuch Park said, looking down at the Assistant Censor.

“If that person permits, bring them here, but ensure that there is absolutely no breach of etiquette, in accordance with the Imperial Palace’s precedents.”

The Assistant Censor bowed deeply and accepted Eunuch Park’s command.

“Ah, and.”

Eunuch Park added as if he had suddenly remembered something.

“Also, tell them not to make too much noise. He hates that sort of thing.”

The Assistant Censor could not hide his inner shock at Eunuch Park’s words, spoken with a smile.

That Eunuch Park, who possessed omnipotent power, was so concerned about someone; he could not imagine what would happen if something went wrong.

“Y-yes, I will pay special attention to ensure that there is not even an inch of deviation, Eunuch.”

Eunuch Park nodded with a smile.

The Assistant Censor retreated from Eunuch Park’s presence, walking backwards.

As he left the grand hall, the last thing the Assistant Censor saw was Eunuch Park reading the letter he had submitted, with a gentle smile on his face.

“Hoo.”

The Assistant Censor let out a sigh of relief as he stepped out of the grand hall.

But only for a moment, as he soon had to move quickly towards the Office of the Inspector-General.

He had to convey Eunuch Park’s orders to the Surveillance Commissioner of Guangdong Province.

Thud, thud, thud.

The Assistant Censor hurried towards the Office of the Inspector-General.

Before he knew it, beads of sweat were forming on his forehead, but he did not even think of wiping them away.

***

Warm sunlight poured down in the afternoon.

Ha Yeong-ryeong of the Hacheong Merchant Group in Guangzhou was leaning against the window, gazing blankly at the flower garden.

“Hoo.”

A light sigh escaped her lips, but Ha Yeong-ryeong, lost in thought, did not even notice it.

Ha Yeong-ryeong’s maid, who was sitting in the background, smiled at the sight.

“Hehehe.”

“Why are you laughing?”

Ha Yeong-ryeong said, glaring at the maid with a sharp voice.

But the maid did not budge.

Rather, her smile deepened.

“Oh, my. Miss, really… Hehehe.”

Ha Yeong-ryeong’s mood, which was already uncomfortable, became even more twisted at the sight of the maid laughing while covering her mouth.

“Seriously… Why are you laughing!”

The maid flinched.

But her smile still lingered around her eyes.

“…As expected, Miss, you can’t help it either.”

Ha Yeong-ryeong’s eyebrows furrowed at the maid’s knowing attitude.

“What? What are you talking about?”

“It’s all like that, Miss.”

The maid said, nodding her head.

“Do you think I’ve only seen it once or twice? Sam-soon from the inner quarters was like that, and so was Mal-nyeon. They would be lost in thought while working, and then suddenly sigh deeply.”

The maid shook her head as if it couldn’t be helped.

“It’s all like that when you fall in love, you know? That’s why there’s even a word for it. When you think about it, lovesickness is really terrible…”

“What!”

Ha Yeong-ryeong jumped up from her seat, and the chair fell backwards with a noise from her momentum.

Thud.

“Who’s in love! Who’s lovesick!”

Ha Yeong-ryeong shouted at the maid, not even paying attention to the fallen chair.

The maid’s neck shrank as she answered hesitantly.

“W-well, of course, it’s Miss.”

“Why would I be in love! Why would I with that person!”

“But…”

The maid, who would not have dared to make a sound at Ha Yeong-ryeong’s loud voice, was different this time.

“The rumors are already spreading, you know? That Miss jumped in front of a sword for the sake of her beloved.”

“J-jumped, I didn’t jump!”

Ha Yeong-ryeong’s face turned red.

Jumping in front of a sword for the sake of a loved one was like a foolish woman from old stories.

Her face flushed at the thought that it was her.

“I-it just happened that way. When I tried to stop it, there was a s-sword!”

That was true.

When she jumped in without thinking, she saw a blade flashing before her eyes.

That was all.

From the beginning, she had never had any thoughts of risking her life for that person, not even a tiny bit, she swore to heaven.

“Ahem.”

The maid said to Ha Yeong-ryeong with a subtle look.

“So, if you had seen the sword, you wouldn’t have jumped in?”

“W-well, yes. That’s what would have happened.”

Ha Yeong-ryeong could not answer the maid’s question with confidence.

How could she be sure of such a case when she could not even understand her own actions?

Because of this, Ha Yeong-ryeong’s voice had already lost the venom it had at first, and the maid’s subtle smile deepened even more.

“Ah, I see. But people don’t know that and are whispering and making a fuss, you know? They say that our poor Miss is so in love with that person that she threw herself in front of the blade.”

“L-love!”

Ha Yeong-ryeong’s face, which was already flushed, turned red in an instant.

“That’s ridiculous! Where did you hear such nonsense? No, how can it make sense to love someone you’ve only seen twice… yes, exactly twice!”

“Oh, really?”

The maid covered her mouth with her hand.

But she could not hide the smile that was blooming on her lips.

“Then, is it okay to hate that person you’ve only seen twice?”

“W-well, it’s because I was annoyed that they were telling me to marry someone I didn’t even know…”

Of course, she couldn’t see him in a good light.

Far from trying to win her favor, he advised her on every mistake she made, so even if it wasn’t an arranged marriage set by her family, she wouldn’t have had good feelings for him.

So she wanted to crush his annoying pride once.

That was all.

She didn’t particularly want him to be harmed or have bad things happen to him.

“Hmm, Miss, you didn’t have feelings for him from the beginning?”

“T-there’s no way!”

Ha Yeong-ryeong denied it, jumping up, but the maid’s smile did not disappear.

“Ahem, it seemed like you were trying to get his attention on purpose… When I saw it, I could tell that you were worried that he might get hurt. You know, like when little boys tease the girls they like and run away.”

Ha Yeong-ryeong’s eyes shot up.

“Hey! Do you think I’m like those childish kids!”

The maid flinched.

In fact, she had gone too far this time.

She had treated a grown-up lady like a snot-nosed kid.

“B-but love is originally childish.”

The maid did not give up her resistance until the end, even in a voice that seemed to be crawling in.

But the atmosphere had already shifted to Ha Yeong-ryeong.

“That’s enough! If you have time to talk nonsense, go and prepare my clothes!”

Ha Yeong-ryeong urged the maid, taking advantage of the momentum.

The maid was completely dejected.

“Are you going out again today?”

“Then shouldn’t I go out? Of course, I have to go out!”

The maid quickly ran out, so as not to upset Ha Yeong-ryeong.

As she disappeared, Ha Yeong-ryeong finally let out a small sigh.

“Hoo… Ack!”

As she was about to sit down without thinking, she almost lost her balance and lost her center of gravity.

This was because the chair that was supposed to support her had fallen backwards.

“Aish, seriously!”

Ha Yeong-ryeong, who barely managed to support herself on the window frame and avoid falling, was annoyed.

She almost ended up tumbling down in an unsightly manner.

Clunk.

Ha Yeong-ryeong roughly set up the fallen chair and leaned back in it.

And she let out a long sigh.

“Hoo.”

Even if she sighed as if the floor would collapse, one corner of her heart remained stuffy.

“What am I supposed to do now?”

She murmured as if whispering in a small voice.

She put her hands on the window frame and buried her face.

“Now…”

That day, his gaze at her in Nanhwa Restaurant came to mind.

That gaze that pierced her heart like a sharp blade.

“…If I had known this would happen.”

She had no idea that his calm gaze would hurt so much.

‘I should have been a little nicer.’

But was there time to be nice or not?

As she said, she had only met him twice.

“Aish!”

Ha Yeong-ryeong was annoyed.

“Why am I doing this?”

The answer was clear.

Ha Yeong-ryeong knew it well.

That was why her heart could only become more stuffy.

“Hoo.”

Ha Yeong-ryeong let out another long sigh.

In the flower garden outside the window, only the indifferent red flowers were swaying leisurely.

That night, Ha Yeong-ryeong canceled her evening outing.

The maid, who had already perfectly prepared for the outing, could only grumble inwardly at Ha Yeong-ryeong’s change of heart.

***

On a quiet afternoon, Yun-hyeon, who was training in the empty lot of the Unga Merchant Group, slowly stopped moving.

Sarak.

The trajectory of the blade, which had been flowing through the air like a dream, slowly stopped.

The image of a sword that had been filling his mind disappeared, and Yun-hyeon quietly exhaled.

“Hoo.”

His breathing was not rough.

However, Yun-hyeon habitually calmed his breath when he finished the twelfth form of the White Tiger Training Sword.

“…As expected.”

Yun-hyeon slowly raised his sword.

“My body got better thanks to that dream.”

After returning to the Unga Merchant Group, Yun-hyeon’s body quickly improved.

Was it only because he was cleaning, sweeping, and carrying water?

Was it because he tried hard to forget the painful memories and focused on new things?

That was not the case.

In fact, Yun-hyeon suffered from nightmares every day.

Normally, it is normal for one’s complexion to worsen day by day, and even healthy people get sick.

But people said that Yun-hyeon’s face had improved.

This was because Yun-hyeon performed the White Tiger Training Sword Form in his dreams every day.

What he thought was a nightmare had become a kind of ‘mental training’ learned from the reclining Buddha.