Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 301

301. A Man Without Enemies

“Ugh.”

Yeom Jung-bu frowned.

In truth, he didn’t mind having too many merchant guilds in the Jang River.

He could just chase them away and crush them with force.

The biggest problem was the enormous amount of tribute paid to the Il Dae Sang In [One Great Merchant Company], which strained the headquarters’ finances.

The lack of talent or organizational skills to form a large merchant group was also critical.

With insufficient funds and manpower, there was no way a large merchant group could be properly established.

Yeom Jung-bu was burning inside, forced to watch a massive amount of money come and go right before his eyes.

“Especially these days, the government’s surveillance has been tightened, making it difficult to move recklessly. It seems to be an aftereffect of the Hangzhou Bloodshed…”

The subordinate trailed off.

Although the Jang River was said to be the world of the Heroes’ Alliance, that was only an underground story.

Even if they bribed and threatened officials, the Heroes’ Alliance ultimately had to be mindful of the government’s gaze.

This was another reason why a large merchant group was absolutely necessary.

“In any case, continue to strive to establish a large merchant group. It is something that must be achieved someday.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

The subordinate bowed deeply.

Swish.

At Yeom Jung-bu’s gesture, the subordinate slowly retreated.

After he left, Yeom Jung-bu, now alone, clicked his tongue.

“Tsk. All I have are incompetent fools…”

He was the leader of the Heroes’ Alliance.

The Jang River was his world, and the Heroes’ Alliance, a massive force that divided the Jianghu [martial arts world] martial world, was his.

Yet, there was almost nothing he could actually do.

He couldn’t ignore the government and roam freely, and he couldn’t possibly defy the orders of the Il Dae Sang In.

On the surface, it looked glamorous, but the financial situation was tight, and all sorts of problems were erupting within the organization, which only Yeom Jung-bu himself could solve.

Since the Heroes’ Alliance started as mountain bandits and waterway bandits, who could he trust to delegate tasks to?

“Ugh.”

Yeom Jung-bu groaned.

Most of all, he was concerned about the warning from Changryong Sword Lord, Unhyun.

He had managed to gain some leeway through their private meeting last time, but he had to find a way to survive as soon as possible.

Even if it meant walking a dangerous tightrope between Unhyun and the Il Dae Sang In.

“Damn it!”

Thump.

The luxurious armrest made a sound under his fist.

The leader of the Heroes’ Alliance, the Iron-Blooded Death King, Yeom Jung-bu, bit his lip tightly with anxiety and impatience.

***

A tavern on the outskirts of Beijing.

Unhyun met again with Inspector Jo Gwan and his party.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Sir.”

Jo Gwan bowed respectfully.

Hang Jang-ik, with his large physique, Dam So-ha, small in stature, and Jin Ye-rim also bowed their heads.

Unhyun smiled and returned the greeting.

“It’s a pleasure to see you all as well. Please, have a seat.”

Inspector Jo Gwan, Hang Jang-ik, Dam So-ha, and Jin Ye-rim sat down.

They all looked excited, but Jin Ye-rim had a particularly proud expression.

Unhyun looked at them and said,

“As you’ve already heard, we will be working together from now on. I look forward to working with you.”

Jo Gwan put his hands together and bowed, saying,

“No, the honor is ours to be working with you, Sir. Please, command us with anything.”

Unhyun smiled.

“It won’t be easy, in fact. As you’ve already experienced in Hangzhou.”

The eyes of Jo Gwan’s party turned serious.

The battle between the Iron-Blooded Death King, Yeom Jung-bu, and Unhyun still gave them chills.

How could they forget that tremendous force and overwhelming swordsmanship?

“However, this is absolutely necessary for the peace of the world. There may be some danger, but I will also do my best for you, so please don’t worry too much.”

“How could we spare our lives in performing such an important duty? You, Sir…”

“No. You must spare them.”

Unhyun said firmly.

“I will share information with you, discuss judgments, ask for opinions, and share each other’s perspectives. In performing this important duty, you will be the closest and most trusted people to me.”

Smiling, Unhyun said,

“So, spare your lives. Do you understand?”

Jo Gwan, as well as Hang Jang-ik, Dam So-ha, and Jin Ye-rim, were silent for a moment.

Swish.

Inspector Jo Gwan respectfully put his hands together and bowed.

“I will obey your command, Sir.”

“Thank you.”

Unhyun replied with a gentle expression.

“Then, shall we first discuss the current situation?”

“Yes.”

They began by discussing the various documents prepared by Jo Gwan.

The information held by the Dochalwon [Imperial Secret Service] was more meager than expected.

It was mostly about the Heroes’ Alliance trying to establish a merchant group recently, or the Taepyung Alliance [Great Peace Alliance] continuing its unreasonable expansion.

Especially regarding the Taepyung Alliance, there was not much information itself because it was not a target of inspection.

“Hmm.”

After thinking for a moment, Unhyun looked at Jo Gwan and his party.

“This will be a bit of a long story…”

Unhyun began to talk about the Il Dae Sang In.

He told them about the Black Spear Cavalry, the Short Bow Unit, the Soul Stealing Unit, and the Yellow Sky Unit that had appeared during the Hangzhou Bloodshed, and he also talked about the Three Great Dignitaries and Blood Prince Mun Wang, Dark Sky Demon Emperor, and Iron-Blooded Death King Yeom Jung-bu under the Il Dae Sang In.

He even mentioned that they had extended their reach to the Northern Sea, and that Dark Sky Demon Emperor or Mun Wang was behind the alliance between the New Green Forest and the Jang River Waterway Bandits.

These were stories that no one knew except for Unhyun and Dokgo-rang.

And finally, Unhyun revealed the purpose of the Il Dae Sang In.

“Rebellion…”

Inspector Jo Gwan repeated with a hardened expression.

The other members of the party were the same.

As they were involved in the government, they knew the meaning and seriousness of that word well.

“Of course, this is just my speculation…”

Unhyun sighed and continued,

“What’s even more serious is that he hasn’t revealed all of his power yet. We still don’t know what he’s hiding or what he’s plotting.”

“I see.”

Jo Gwan nodded.

Only then could he understand why the Imperial Court had appointed Unhyun as a special inspector and entrusted him with full authority.

This was undoubtedly a serious threat.

“So, from now on, we need to look at various things, from the movements of local sects and merchant groups to everything else, not just the Taepyung Alliance or the Heroes’ Alliance.”

“Understood.”

Jo Gwan immediately obeyed Unhyun’s command.

“I will issue orders to the inspectors on patrol throughout the country and request cooperation from the regional surveillance commissioners and the provincial administration commissioners as well.”

“Ah, and have you heard about the Taepyung Alliance Martial Arts Tournament?”

“Yes. We have already planned a rough itinerary to Chengdu.”

Chengdu in Sichuan Province was a distant place.

Jo Gwan had already prepared the overall itinerary.

“Would it be possible to stop by Gaebong and Nakyang?”

After thinking for a moment, Jo Gwan nodded.

“Yes. There won’t be any problems as long as we don’t stay too long. May I ask if there’s a reason?”

“Yes, of course.”

Unhyun readily replied and continued,

“The Moyeong Family is located on the outskirts of Gaebong. They are very close to me and are also a family belonging to the Taepyung Alliance, so we may be able to hear important stories.”

In fact, if it hadn’t been for Head Eunuch Bak’s invitation, he would have visited the Moyeong Family after Hangzhou.

“Oh, then wouldn’t the Moyeong Family be going to the Taepyung Alliance as well?”

Dam So-ha suddenly said.

The Moyeong Family was one of the Seven Great Families of the Taepyung Alliance.

Of course, they would be attending this Martial Arts Tournament, and considering the dates, it wouldn’t be strange if they had already left by then.

“Th, that’s right. Officer Dam.”

Unhyun gave an awkward smile.

“You can speak comfortably. And what about Nakyang?”

Dam So-ha asked again.

“I’m going to the Shaolin Temple…”

“That would be fine. May I ask what you’re going to do there?”

“So-ha, aren’t you being too rude to the Sir?”

Jin Ye-rim quickly interjected.

It was because she noticed that Unhyun’s expression had slightly hardened.

Giving an awkward smile, Unhyun said,

“It’s okay. Everyone has to know anyway.”

After a moment of silence, Unhyun replied to Dam So-ha.

“I’m going to check if High Monk is safe.”

Jo Gwan had also heard of the title High Monk.

“Are you talking about that High Monk of the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance]?”

“That’s right.”

Unhyun nodded.

“Strictly speaking, he is my martial brother. And… he is the one who saved my life.”

Unhyun had never called him martial brother before.

He had been tricked a lot and was always caught up in his schemes, always getting into trouble.

But High Monk Bulyeong always treated Unhyun with sincerity.

Even until the moment the Murim Alliance collapsed, High Monk risked his life to save Unhyun.

On the other hand, Jin Ye-rim couldn’t help but be surprised in another sense.

“A martial brother of High Monk? Then what is your seniority…”

It was so distant that she couldn’t even imagine it.

“Oh, is it high?”

Dam So-ha asked.

Jin Ye-rim sighed.

“It’s high. Seniority isn’t absolute, but there’s no one who would claim to be above Sir Un, right?”

Dam So-ha also looked surprised.

“Wow. He’s a nobleman in the Imperial Court, the highest in the Murim world, and he defeated the leader of the Heroes’ Alliance with his sword, so he’s literally invincible.”

“Officer Dam!”

Hang Jang-ik quickly stopped him, but it was already too late.

Unhyun gave a bitter smile.

“I wish I was.”

“Are you the strongest person in the world?”

“No.”

Unhyun said,

“A man without enemies.”

Jo Gwan, Hang Jang-ik, and Jin Ye-rim’s eyes flashed with a different light.

Dam So-ha nodded.

“I see. Ah, and my sister suddenly took your side, why is that? She said you were an annoying person in Hangzhou.”

“Wh, when did I!”

Jin Ye-rim’s expression twisted.

Unhyun smiled.

“I think you should ask Jin Mae about that? Officer Dam.”

Jin Ye-rim’s expression, glaring at Dam So-ha, was turning red and blue.

Thanks to that, Unhyun’s title for the party was naturally being decided.

The next day, Unhyun and Jo Gwan’s party left Beijing.

The long journey to Shaolin Temple and then to Chengdu in Sichuan Province had begun again.

***

Unhyun’s party headed to Nakyang, going against the Yellow River.

Because of their status as inspectors, everyone wore plain clothes or simple martial attire, and there were no large carriages or escorts following them like before.

For Unhyun, that was even better.

After several days of sailing, the party arrived in Nakyang, a large city, stayed overnight, and set off for Mount Song’s Shaolin Temple.

Dam So-ha complained, saying, ‘I still feel like my feet are shaking,’ but they were able to arrive at Shaolin Temple without any problems.

There was a bit of trouble at the mountain gate.

Shaolin was prohibiting the entry of martial artists, and the warrior monks guarding the mountain gate were suspicious of Unhyun’s status as a disciple of the laity.

Fortunately, with the help of Monk Jeon-gak of the Disciplinary Hall, Unhyun’s party was barely able to enter Shaolin Temple.

And they heard shocking news.

“A, a cremation ceremony?”

A cremation ceremony was a Buddhist funeral ritual.

In response to Unhyun’s question, Jeon-gak, who had been walking ahead, stopped and turned to look at Unhyun.

“…Don’t tell me you didn’t know yet?”

Jeon-gak frowned.

But Unhyun couldn’t say anything.

Jeon-gak could tell that Unhyun really didn’t know.

Letting out a soft sigh, Jeon-gak quietly put his palms together and said with a hollow expression,

“…Venerable Bulyeong has already passed away.”

Perhaps Unhyun had already guessed it.

The look in Yeom Jung-bu’s eyes when he told him to go to Shaolin was by no means friendly.

But he couldn’t believe it.

That High Monk, the High Monk who had the world in his hands and toyed with it, had died?

“We have not announced it to the outside world, but it has been a long time since we held the cremation ceremony.”

Jeon-gak quietly chanted a Buddhist invocation.

“Th, that can’t be…”

Unhyun staggered for a moment.

“Sir!”

Jo Gwan, Hang Jang-ik, and Jin Ye-rim hurriedly tried to grab Unhyun.

But Unhyun barely managed to regain his balance.

“No, I’m fine.”

Raising one hand to Jo Gwan’s party, Unhyun said in a very small voice,

“…I’m okay.”

But Unhyun’s voice was not okay at all.

Jin Ye-rim, who couldn’t take back her outstretched hand, bit her lip, and Unhyun sighed softly and looked up at the sky.

‘High Monk…’

Dokgo-rang had died, and now High Monk Bulyeong had also left.

Unhyun shivered as the cold wind pierced his heart.

It felt as if a large hole had been pierced in his chest.