Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 296

296. Reunion in Beijing

Un-hyun’s carriage sped along.

It was clear they had entered Beijing, but the curtains were drawn, obscuring the view.

Judging by the sounds, they were passing through the bustling heart of the city, yet the carriage didn’t pause.

The martial officers sharing the carriage with him remained silent, staring straight ahead, their expressions unchanging.

‘Beijing, huh….’

He never imagined he would return like this.

No, he had never even considered the possibility.

The day he left the Imperial Palace, he believed he had severed all ties with this city.

‘Come to think of it, I don’t really know this place well.’

Un-hyun had only spent a few months in Beijing preparing for the imperial examination [a rigorous test for aspiring government officials].

Even then, he was so preoccupied with the upcoming exam that he hadn’t considered sightseeing.

After passing the civil service examination, he immediately entered the Azure Dragon Hall [a prestigious government office], so this bustling metropolis remained largely unfamiliar to Un-hyun.

‘The Imperial Palace is more familiar than Beijing….’

Un-hyun smiled wryly.

The Azure Dragon Hall, the Munyeon Hall [a hall for royal lectures and discussions], and the countless other halls of the Imperial Palace.

The memories were still vivid.

Those cherished landscapes, familiar sights, and people he could no longer see.

Un-hyun felt a sudden pang of longing.

Memories, it seemed, were both a comfort and a source of pain.

Clatter.

Suddenly, the carriage halted, and the door swung open.

Two martial officers alighted first, followed by Un-hyun.

Thud.

It was a quiet, secluded courtyard within a residence.

The high walls prevented him from seeing beyond, but he could tell it was a residential area in Beijing.

“Welcome.”

An old man, neatly dressed, bowed to Un-hyun.

“Ah, yes.”

Un-hyun returned the greeting.

“Please, allow me to take your luggage.”

The martial officer who had exited behind him handed Un-hyun’s luggage and sword to the old man.

The martial officers bowed respectfully to Un-hyun and re-entered the carriage.

Clatter, clatter.

The carriage departed immediately through the main gate.

All that remained visible beyond the closing gate was another high wall.

“This way, please.”

The old man politely gestured for Un-hyun to follow.

Thud, thud.

The residence wasn’t particularly large, especially considering the imposing walls.

Passing through a small side gate, a garden and a well-kept building came into view.

“It’s a nice place.”

Un-hyun remarked, admiring the garden.

The small garden was meticulously arranged.

“Thank you.”

The old man replied with a gentle smile.

Un-hyun followed him into the house.

Click.

‘Oh.’

Un-hyun was inwardly impressed by the interior.

The house, neither extravagant nor shabby, possessed a serene atmosphere, reminiscent of a scholar’s study.

The windows on all sides were closed with storm shutters, blocking sunlight, but the softly glowing lamps created a sense of old-fashioned charm.

“Please, have a seat.”

At the old man’s invitation, Un-hyun sat at the table.

Pour, pour.

The warm scent of tea filled the room.

The old man, having served tea to Un-hyun, spoke politely.

“He will be here shortly.”

“Thank you.”

The old man smiled softly and stepped outside.

Left alone, Un-hyun savored the tea.

The comfortable atmosphere and warm tea soothed his mind and body.

As Un-hyun enjoyed the warmth of the teacup,

Click.

The door opened.

Un-hyun, turning his head without thinking, rose from his seat with a look of delight.

For a very welcome face stood there.

“Ah, Park Hwan……”

Un-hyun trailed off, unable to complete his greeting.

A strange middle-aged man in silk robes was entering behind Park Hwan.

“Scholar Un-hyun.”

Park Hwan-gwan, no, Eunuch Park [a castrated male servant in the Imperial court] bowed deeply.

“Have you been well?”

“Ah, Eunuch Park… have you been well too?”

“I’m always the same. Hehe.”

Eunuch Park said with a smile.

If it weren’t for the luxurious purple eunuch’s uniform, one could easily mistake him for the Park Hwan of old.

“This gentleman is Lord Ho (濠君).”

Eunuch Park said, introducing the middle-aged man.

“He expressed a desire to meet the Scholar, so I brought him along.”

“Pleased to meet you.”

The middle-aged man said to Un-hyun.

“I’ve heard a great deal about you from Eunuch Park.”

Un-hyun hesitated for a moment.

A tall and dignified presence, a noble air, and luxurious attire of black silk with subtle patterns and matching black tassels.

It was clear he was not a young master from an ordinary family.

However, that wasn’t the only reason for Un-hyun’s hesitation.

‘Lord Ho….’

Lord Ho literally meant a son of the Ho family.

However, Un-hyun could readily infer the deeper meaning.

Un-hyun glanced at Eunuch Park.

But Eunuch Park was simply smiling, feigning ignorance.

Un-hyun had no choice but to bow as respectfully as possible.

“I am Un-hyun. It is an honor to meet you, Lord.”

“Haha, please, dispense with the formalities.”

Lord Ho laughed heartily and turned to Eunuch Park.

“Come, let’s not stand here. Let’s sit down. Scholar Un-hyun, please join us.”

Eunuch Park bowed deeply and followed his instructions.

Lord Ho took a seat at the table first, and Eunuch Park and Un-hyun sat down, flanking him.

The old man, appearing unnoticed, served tea to the two men with a respectful demeanor and quietly withdrew.

“Hmm.”

Lord Ho made no attempt to conceal his interest in Un-hyun.

“Eunuch Park tells me that Scholar Un-hyun is skilled with the sword.”

“I have been away from official duties for some time, so it is no longer appropriate to call me a scholar.”

Un-hyun replied politely.

“Please, simply call me Un-hyun.”

Lord Ho looked surprised.

“But Eunuch Park always refers to you as Scholar Un-hyun, does he not?”

At Lord Ho’s questioning gaze, Eunuch Park smiled and replied.

“When an official retires from his post, he can no longer be addressed as such, but is not a scholar (學士) always a scholar as long as there is something to learn?”

Lord Ho nodded and looked at Un-hyun.

“So he says.”

Un-hyun smiled wryly.

“I could never win an argument with Eunuch Park in the past, and it seems nothing has changed. I suppose I still have much to learn.”

“Hahaha.”

Lord Ho laughed, amused.

“I hear that Scholar Un-hyun was the top graduate of the imperial examination, a great talent of the country, wouldn’t you agree?”

Suddenly, Lord Ho turned to Un-hyun and asked.

It was a thinly veiled question of whether he was willing to serve the country.

“I believe that serving oneself depends on one’s abilities, but serving the country requires Heaven’s permission.”

“Does that imply that if the opportunity arose, you would be willing to serve the country at any time?”

“I am an inadequate person, so I doubt Heaven would grant such permission.”

“Well, one never knows.”

Lord Ho smiled meaningfully, looking directly into Un-hyun’s eyes.

Un-hyun responded with an ambiguous smile.

“How did you come to learn swordsmanship? Are you from a martial arts family?”

Lord Ho was speaking informally, as equals.

Moreover, his questions were abrupt and direct.

Un-hyun replied politely.

“No, I learned it later in life to better fulfill my duties, but I suppose it suited me.”

“That’s fortunate.”

Lord Ho said.

“Many dedicate their entire lives to a single path and still fail to achieve mastery, yet you started late and achieved great success.”

“Yes, I am truly fortunate.”

Un-hyun agreed with Lord Ho’s words.

In truth, he couldn’t simply attribute his past to good fortune.

But looking back, what else could he say other than that worn-out phrase?

“Are you strong?”

At Lord Ho’s question, Un-hyun raised his head.

“I heard that you defeated one of the five strongest people in the Murim [the martial arts world], but honestly, you don’t look the part. Isn’t the Murim a place ruled by power?”

“To say that the Murim is ruled by power is akin to saying that power rules people.”

“Hmm?”

Lord Ho’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.

He was asking for clarification.

“The Murim resolves favors and grudges with strength. So, it is somewhat true that power holds sway. But that place is also inhabited by people.”

Un-hyun continued quietly.

“Just as rivers and lakes intertwine to form the world, the Jianghu Murim [another term for the martial arts world] is also created by the interactions of people. So, to say that power rules the Murim is the same as saying that power rules people.”

Looking at Lord Ho, Un-hyun asked.

“Do you believe that power rules people, Lord?”

“Hmm.”

After a moment of thought, Lord Ho countered.

“Then what do you think rules people?”

“I don’t know.”

Lord Ho frowned slightly.

But Un-hyun’s words were not finished.

“However, one thing I can say is that only what one allows can rule him.”

Un-hyun said, looking directly at Lord Ho.

“Anger can only rule him when he allows anger to control him. Greed only governs him when he allows greed to govern him. Therefore, whatever governs oneself is the result of one’s own choice.”

“Heo.”

Lord Ho let out a low sigh.

“Your words are reminiscent of a Taoist.”

But soon, Lord Ho frowned.

“But doesn’t power force people to obey? Isn’t that why people seek power and strive to become stronger?”

“Although it may appear that force compels obedience, it is only temporary.”

Un-hyun said quietly.

“It is like grasping sand, a futile illusion. No matter how tightly you clench your fist, the sand slips through your fingers as if nothing happened and returns to where it belongs.”

“You mean you can’t rule people with force?”

“It means the applications are different. Force can only break another force.”

“Only break another force….”

Lord Ho repeated Un-hyun’s words.

“But even now, aren’t there many who suffer simply because they lack power?”

“I am glad to hear you say that.”

Un-hyun said with a smile.

“The ancient sages taught that it is the duty of those with power to care for those less fortunate. Therefore, the truly strong person is not one with great power, but one with a righteous and unyielding spirit.”

“Hmm.”

Lord Ho tapped the table with his finger, lost in thought.

“Still, if you possess power, your will cannot be 꺾이는 [broken] by others. Don’t you agree? You must have roamed freely through the Murim with that power.”

종횡 [Zongheng – to roam freely] implies moving without hesitation.

In his voice, there was envy towards Un-hyun, tinged with bitter regret.

“Rather than 종횡 [roaming freely].”

Un-hyun replied with a wry smile.

“I spent more time running away.”

Lord Ho looked at Un-hyun with puzzled eyes.

Un-hyun said in a calm voice.

“I ran away in a truly miserable state, barely surviving. At one point, I felt like I had lost everything, but thanks to the kindness of others, I was able to stand up again. So, what truly makes people strong is….”

Un-hyun said with a smile.

“I believe it’s human affection (情) [Qing – deep feeling or attachment].”

A faint smile appeared on Lord Ho’s lips as well.

“……Is that so?”

After a moment of silence, Lord Ho asked again.

“People call you the Azure Dragon Sword Lord, don’t they?”

“Ah, that’s….”

Un-hyun said, trying to hide his embarrassment.

“I made up the name myself.”

Lord Ho looked at Un-hyun, surprised.

It was unusual for even a scholar to create his own title.

“Is that so? Azure Dragon (蒼龍), you chose it with truly great ambition.”