Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 305

305. Taepyeong Alliance Martial Arts Tournament of Dragons and Phoenixes

Sichuan Province, Chengdu.

Three days before the start of the Taepyeong Alliance Martial Arts Tournament of Dragons and Phoenixes.

Chengdu was buzzing with excitement.

Not only were the most renowned sects from each region present, but also representatives from numerous merchant guilds, including the Three Great Merchant Alliances, and sightseers eager to witness the Taepyeong Alliance’s power, filling Chengdu to the brim.

The merchants of Chengdu rejoiced at the influx of people.

Colorful lanterns were hung ostentatiously, all sorts of street stalls opened up everywhere, and even traveling troupes and entertainers set up shop, making the entire city feel like a festival.

And that day, the six great families of the Taepyeong Alliance entered Chengdu as if they had made a promise.

The six great families, the main players in the tournament, immediately drew people’s attention.

The welcoming crowds and onlookers were so massive that the families’ processions were unable to move properly for a while.

The families were bewildered by the unexpected situation, but one thing was clear.

This tournament would effectively be the Taepyeong Alliance’s inaugural ceremony.

That evening, in a hall of the Taepyeong Alliance’s main headquarters, cheerful music and laughter never ceased.

It was a banquet held for the young prodigies participating in the tournament.

“It’s been a while.”

“Hahahaha.”

“It’s good to see you.”

The young prodigies greeted each other, and sometimes gathered in small groups to chat.

In three days, they would be competing against each other in martial arts, but at least for this moment, they were intoxicated by the fragrant wine and sweet youth.

“Haha, Young Lady Hwangbo is as beautiful as ever.”

Gongson Chuhyeon, the Outer Affairs Deputy Head of the Gongson Family, greeted Hwangbo Seonhye.

Both of them were attending the banquet as supervisors.

Hwangbo Seonhye smiled and replied.

“Thank you.”

Gongson Chuhyeon looked at the young people in the banquet hall and smiled.

“Everyone is so radiant, aren’t they? I used to have times like that too…….”

“Oh, Deputy Head, you are still wonderful now.”

Gongson Chuhyeon’s mouth stretched from ear to ear.

Even if it was just flattery, it was always pleasant to hear compliments from a beautiful young lady.

“You are also truly…….”

Swish.

Gongson Chuhyeon moved closer to Hwangbo Seonhye and spoke in a subtle voice.

Swoosh.

However, Hwangbo Seonhye immediately stepped back.

“Then, if you’ll excuse me. There is someone I need to greet.”

“Ah, just a moment…….”

He said something, but Hwangbo Seonhye walked away without looking back.

Swoosh, swoosh.

Hwangbo Seonhye’s expression was stiff.

She approached a large window.

The cold night air gently caressed her cheeks.

“Haa.”

As she sighed softly, she suddenly heard a voice from behind.

“Young Lady.”

Hwangbo Seonhye turned her head and said with a surprised expression.

“Young Master Dang.”

Thud.

The handsome young man with a tall stature was none other than Dang Hyeok, a promising young prodigy of the Dang Family.

Hwangbo Seonhye wore a bitter smile.

A shadow fell over Dang Hyeok’s face at her expression.

“Did that man do something rude to you?”

Dang Hyeok glared at Gongson Chuhyeon in the distance.

His momentum was as if he would draw his sword at any moment.

“It’s none of Young Master Dang’s business.”

Her voice was quite cold.

It was very different from the perfunctory smile she had given even to Gongson Chuhyeon.

“Don’t say that. I…….”

Dang Hyeok approached Hwangbo Seonhye with a mournful look.

No, he was about to approach.

Swoosh.

Hwangbo Seonhye took a step back.

Dang Hyeok flinched.

Hwangbo Seonhye bit her lip and turned her head.

“Don’t come any closer. The closer you get, the more my heart feels like it’s being torn apart.”

“Seon Mae…….”

“Don’t call me that either.”

Hwangbo Seonhye shook her head.

Swish.

Looking up at Dang Hyeok with tearful eyes, she said.

“You are a direct descendant of the Clan Lord and a promising young prodigy of the Dang Family. Moreover, your sister is the General Military Advisor of the Taepyeong Alliance…….”

“My sister has nothing to do with me!”

Dang Hyeok said in an agitated tone.

“What does it matter if my father is the Clan Lord? Doesn’t Seon Mae know my true feelings? I would do anything for Seon Mae…….”

“Please, don’t make me feel any more miserable.”

Hwangbo Seonhye turned her head.

Swallowing her tears, she avoided his gaze and said softly.

“We can never be together.”

“That’s not true!”

Dang Hyeok said with a sad face.

“Seon Mae, why are you so kind to others but so cold to me? Please, show me your bright voice, that smiling face again.”

However, Dang Hyeok’s plea ended in vain.

“……My life already belongs to that person.”

Dang Hyeok’s face hardened.

Dang Hyeok knew very well who she was talking about.

The benefactor of Hwangbo Seonhye’s life, and someone with a status that Dang Hyeok could not even compare to, the protagonist of the rumors that were still rampant in the Jianghu [martial arts world] martial world.

It was none other than the Azure Dragon Sword Lord.

Dang Hyeok gnashed his teeth in jealousy.

“……But isn’t his whereabouts unknown right now?”

Dang Hyeok said with a stiff face.

However, Hwangbo Seonhye said nothing.

Dang Hyeok flinched.

Her silence now spoke volumes.

“Could it be…….”

“Young Master.”

Hwangbo Seonhye said, cutting off Dang Hyeok’s words.

Her eyes, still full of tears, looked at him.

“Please, become the dragon of the Dang Family. Forget about a woman like me, and fly into the blue sky.”

“Seon Mae!”

Rustle.

Regardless of Dang Hyeok’s voice, Hwangbo Seonhye turned her body.

And left the banquet hall as it was.

Swoosh, swoosh.

Dang Hyeok couldn’t take his eyes off her back as she disappeared into the darkness.

Hwangbo Seonhye was also aware of his gaze, but she never looked back even once.

Gritting his teeth, Dang Hyeok’s expression was terribly distorted.

***

Yunhyun and his party had entered Chengdu, Sichuan Province.

However, the entire city of Chengdu was so crowded that they could only find a terrible inn even after paying a high price.

Moreover, they couldn’t even sleep properly.

“Ugh, it’s so noisy. I couldn’t sleep all night because of the fireworks.”

As Jin Yerim grumbled, Dam Sohaga retorted quickly.

“I can sleep in any situation.”

“Is sleeping also a skill?”

Despite Jin Yerim’s taunt, Dam Soha was steadfast.

“It’s definitely helpful in situations like this, isn’t it?”

“Well done.”

As if she didn’t have the energy to argue anymore, Jin Yerim muttered that and stopped.

However, she couldn’t stand the food that came out for breakfast.

“Is this really food for people to eat? Why is it like this when they charge so much?”

“I know, right.”

Dam Soha also frowned.

Hang Jangik said with an awkward smile.

“Maybe they couldn’t get the ingredients?”

The prices in Chengdu had skyrocketed.

Naturally, the quality of the ingredients that the inn could obtain had no choice but to decrease.

“Um, but you know.”

Dam Soha suddenly said.

“It’s not a secret visit, but an official visit, so shouldn’t we ask the Regional Inspector or the Provincial Administration Commissioner for cooperation?”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Yunhyun.

It was as Dam Soha said.

If it were the Regional Inspector or the Provincial Administration Commissioner, they wouldn’t have to suffer with such poor food or inns.

“That’s…….”

“I opposed it.”

Yunhyun spoke first as Jo Gwan was about to say something.

“How can a Royal Secret Inspector receive the welcoming of local officials during an inspection? The duty of the local officials is to take care of the people.”

Dam Soha and Jin Yerim’s expressions were slightly distorted.

They thought Jo Gwan was stubborn, but there was someone even more so.

“Also, the local officials here will not be free from the influence of the Dang Family and the Taepyeong Alliance. Therefore, I judged that it would be better to act independently for the performance of duties.”

Yunhyun’s words were correct.

That was why Jo Gwan had also agreed.

However, he didn’t know that the local officials of Sichuan Province had all held their breath because Yunhyun had refused the welcoming altogether.

“Not bad.”

Jin Yerim, who was listening, said.

She nodded with a half-resigned expression.

“It will also be a warning to the local officials. A warning not to be too closely tied to the Dang Family or the Taepyeong Alliance.”

“That’s right. As expected, the Lord is very thoughtful.”

Hang Jangik nodded and said.

Yunhyun, who hadn’t intended to go that far, was momentarily embarrassed, but the result wasn’t bad.

“Hey, is your sister taking the Lord’s side?”

Jin Yerim’s eyes turned sharp at Dam Soha’s words.

“You…….”

“Shall we all go out for a walk for a while?”

Yunhyun said with a smile.

“It’s a bit unfair to come all the way to Sichuan and eat this kind of food. If we see a good restaurant while taking a walk, let’s have a meal together. Of course, I’ll pay.”

The voucher that Park Gonggong gave him, saying it was enough to use for a while, was enough to buy several mansions.

Perhaps because he was dealing with a national-scale budget, his sense of money was very different.

Moreover, he could request it through the Dochalwon [Office of Special Advisors] whenever and however much he needed.

The travel expenses that he had entrusted to Jo Gwan in the past had almost returned to Yunhyun as they were, so Yunhyun’s party was not in any financial difficulty at all.

“That’s right! Sichuan is famous for its unique cuisine, and eating this for breakfast is an insult to Sichuan!”

Dam Soha immediately changed his expression, and Hang Jangik and Jin Yerim couldn’t hide their happy expressions.

“Well, let’s go then.”

Yunhyun said to Jo Gwan.

Jo Gwan nodded and got up from his seat.

The five people left the inn with light hearts.

The exotic morning scenery of Chengdu, Sichuan Province, was welcoming them.

***

A few days later, Chengdu, Sichuan Province.

The Taepyeong Alliance Martial Arts Tournament of Dragons and Phoenixes was held in a separate arena.

This was because there were too many people who wanted to watch.

The front of the arena was literally a sea of people, but no one dared to cause a disturbance in front of the Taepyeong Alliance, so the entrance proceeded more smoothly than expected.

Of course, a separate entrance with formal invitations was also prepared.

However, there were so many formal invitees, ranging from sects to merchant guilds, that lining up was unavoidable.

‘Amazing.’

Yunhyun was inwardly impressed as he looked at the entrance to the arena.

So many people, all with considerable status, didn’t mind standing in line.

It was a scene that clearly showed the status of the Taepyeong Alliance.

“Welcome. Please show your invitation. Thank you.”

The five scribes who greeted the guests repeated the greetings that had become ingrained in their mouths without rest.

After confirming the number and identity on the invitation, they handed out a separate tag.

“Please receive your identification tag here. With this tag, you can enter without separate confirmation during the tournament period and have meals at the restaurant at any time. If you need accommodation, please inquire separately. Thank you. Yes, thank you.”

Even though the skilled scribes were working non-stop, the line of invitees did not shrink.

Moreover, they were influential enough to receive formal invitations, so they couldn’t be treated carelessly.

However, when dealing with people who rummaged through their luggage to find their invitations only when it was their turn, or asked all sorts of trivial questions, the scribes had to forcibly suppress their soaring blood pressure.

“Welcome. Please show your invitation. Thank you.”

The scribe’s ingrained greeting popped out as the next person approached.

Even though the other party hadn’t even taken out the invitation yet.

“Here it is.”

Fortunately, he handed over the invitation right away.

The scribe received the invitation with a polite but mechanical attitude.

The scribe paused as he was about to check the number and identity on the invitation.

And he realized that something was wrong.

‘Huh?’