Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 309

309. There’s Still One More

For Dang Hyeok, it was unbearable agony.

To witness his beloved woman’s touch caressing another man’s face, her red lips whispering sweet words into another’s ear, and her laughter directed at someone else.

While Dang Hyeok faced the martial arts competition with grim determination, Hwangbo Seonhye didn’t even spare him a glance.

How could he possibly endure it?

Dang Hyeok’s eyes, fixed on Unhyun, blazed with fury.

‘No!’

The first to react was Dang Seol-yeon.

He urgently tried to send a telepathic message to his younger brother, Dang Hyeok.

However, Dang Hyeok’s voice had already echoed throughout the arena.

“Martial arts competition?”

“The Azure Dragon Sword Lord?”

“What on earth is going on…?”

The arena instantly erupted into a commotion.

It didn’t take long for people to recall the widespread rumors in the Jianghu [the martial arts world].

“The Azure Dragon Sword Lord, the only one who can stand against the Heroic Alliance?”

“Could it be?”

“He’s here? The Azure Dragon Sword Lord is here?”

The uproar grew louder.

—The only one who can stand against the Heroic Alliance is the Azure Dragon Sword Lord.

Who hadn’t heard that rumor?

As the Heroic Alliance’s tyranny intensified, interest in the Azure Dragon Sword Lord grew even greater.

Yet, the Azure Dragon Sword Lord himself had not appeared.

But now, that Azure Dragon Sword Lord was right here?

The gazes of countless people in the arena turned towards the VIP seats.

Those in the VIP seats were no different.

Except for the key figures of the Seven Great Families, almost no one knew about Unhyun.

Especially in the VIP seats closest to the central martial arts stage, they could clearly see who Dang Hyeok’s sword was aimed at.

Unhyun, seeing Dang Yi-ryeong staring in surprise, said,

“May I borrow this for a moment?”

“Yes, yes?”

Before Dang Yi-ryeong could understand what he meant, Unhyun stood up from his seat.

Swoosh.

“That person is the Azure Dragon Sword Lord?”

“I’ve never seen him before.”

“Which sect is he from?”

Everyone in the arena began to whisper.

Unhyun smiled faintly.

“Be careful, young hero.”

His voice wasn’t very loud, but Dang Hyeok could hear it clearly.

“What…”

Just as Dang Hyeok was about to speak.

Whoosh.

Unhyun lightly waved his hand.

However, the result was anything but light.

Swoosh.

Something shot towards Dang Hyeok with a sharp, tearing sound.

“Gasp!”

Whoong.

Dang Hyeok immediately gathered his inner strength and swung the Five Dragons Sword.

A sharp metallic sound erupted before Dang Hyeok’s eyes.

Clang.

“Ugh!”

Thud.

Dang Hyeok was pushed back helplessly by the impact.

If Dang Cheon-byeok hadn’t caught him, he wouldn’t have been able to avoid tumbling off the martial arts stage.

Thump.

Dang Cheon-byeok’s thick arm quickly wrapped around Dang Hyeok’s waist.

Holding Dang Hyeok with one hand, Dang Cheon-byeok immediately rotated his body.

Flap, flap, flap.

The hem of Dang Cheon-byeok’s clothes fluttered as Dang Hyeok spun around violently.

Only then was Dang Hyeok able to stop.

“F-Father…”

Half-embraced in Dang Cheon-byeok’s arm, Dang Hyeok looked up at his father with surprised eyes.

However, his father wasn’t looking at Dang Hyeok.

“Tsk.”

Dang Cheon-byeok clicked his tongue softly.

Following his father’s gaze, Dang Hyeok saw an unbelievable sight.

‘Gasp!’

The Five Dragons Sword in his hand was broken in half.

Clang, tinkle.

Something fell and sparkled on the other side of the martial arts stage.

It was a fragment of the broken Five Dragons Sword and a silver chopstick that had been crushed on one side.

Although half of it was crumpled and unrecognizable, it was clearly a silver chopstick shining in the sunlight.

‘W-What on earth…’

Dang Hyeok couldn’t believe it.

The impact from just now felt like he had been struck by a spear.

But it was just a single silver chopstick?

Moreover, the Five Dragons Sword was broken by that silver chopstick?

He couldn’t believe such a result was possible, even after seeing it with his own eyes.

Swish.

Dang Cheon-byeok turned to look at Unhyun.

Unhyun, with one hand behind his back, said calmly,

“There’s still one more, though.”

Flash.

In his raised hand, a silver chopstick gleamed.

“Is that enough, or should I do more?”

“…It’s enough.”

Dang Cheon-byeok said in a heavy voice.

Releasing the arm that had been holding Dang Hyeok, Dang Cheon-byeok lightly bowed towards Unhyun.

“I am grateful for the kindness of the great man who has enlightened my inadequate son.”

It was only natural that he called Unhyun a ‘great man.’

He was a disciple of Shin Seung, and his seniority was not something even the head of the Dang Clan could disregard.

“You’re welcome.”

Smiling and lightly bowing his head, Unhyun sat back down.

Then, looking at Dang Yi-ryeong, he said,

“Thank you. I’ve returned what I borrowed to the Dang Clan, so it should be alright, right?”

“A-Ah, yes… yes.”

Dang Yi-ryeong couldn’t answer properly.

Her expression was pale, having witnessed the tremendous force that had erupted before her eyes.

Besides, hadn’t Dang Hyeok clearly called Unhyun the Azure Dragon Sword Lord just now?

Clink.

Only the silver chopstick on the silver tray that Unhyun quietly placed down was proof that the scene just now wasn’t a delusion.

Dang Hyeok stared blankly at Unhyun.

His gaze, of course, turned towards Hwangbo Seonhye, who was in the same VIP seat.

‘Ah!’

Hwangbo Seonhye covered her mouth with her sleeve, wearing a surprised expression.

However, her eyes, looking at Dang Hyeok, were filled with pitiful compassion.

Her gaze, as if looking at someone pitiful, pierced Dang Hyeok’s heart.

“…Worthless fool.”

His father, Dang Cheon-byeok’s voice, rang out softly, but Dang Hyeok didn’t hear it.

Only her pitiful gaze towards him filled his vision.

Stagger.

Dang Hyeok collapsed as if crumbling down.

Dang Cheon-byeok frowned and went down from the martial arts stage.

Step, step.

Dang Seol-yeon immediately stepped forward.

“Move!”

She ordered her subordinates to descend the Five Dragons Peak and went up to the martial arts stage herself.

However, Dang Hyeok couldn’t remember how the competition ended after that.

The spirit he had when he aimed his sword at the Azure Dragon Sword Lord was nowhere to be found, and a terrible sense of defeat and self-disgust weighed down on Dang Hyeok.

***

The rumors about the Azure Dragon Sword Lord swept through the capital in an instant.

Who hadn’t heard the rumor that the only one who could stand against the Heroic Alliance was the Azure Dragon Sword Lord?

That very Azure Dragon Sword Lord had revealed himself.

All sorts of speculations circulated about the fact that even the head of the Dang Clan had called him a great man, and about why the Azure Dragon Sword Lord was in the VIP seats of the Taepyeong Alliance.

Before anyone knew it, the stories about the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly and the Taepyeong Alliance had disappeared as if they were lies, and the name of the Azure Dragon Sword Lord filled the capital.

Taepyeong Alliance Headquarters, the office of Dang Seol-yeon, the General Military Advisor for External Affairs.

Dang Seol-yeon retorted with a sharp look.

“The General Military Advisor for Internal Affairs made an official request?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

The subordinate respectfully handed Dang Seol-yeon a thin letter.

“He requested an explanation as to why the Azure Dragon Sword Lord was invited, and questioned whether there have been any changes to the Alliance’s external policies regarding the Heroic Alliance.”

“Hmph.”

Dang Seol-yeon unfolded the letter and let out a sneer.

“Pretending not to know when they know everything.”

There was no way the Zhuge Family wouldn’t know that Unhyun was Park Gong-gong’s plenipotentiary [a representative with full authority].

No, in the first place, the key figures of the Seven Great Families would all know.

They were just holding their breath and waiting to see what results the meeting between the Taepyeong Alliance and Unhyun would bring.

But suddenly, the existence of the Azure Dragon Sword Lord was revealed to the world.

So, they had no choice but to demand an official explanation from the Taepyeong Alliance, or rather, from Dang Seol-yeon.

“Also, he wants to formally invite Park Gong-gong’s plenipotentiary to the meeting of key party officials.”

Dang Seol-yeon’s expression crumpled.

“That’s not allowed!”

Dang Seol-yeon said as if there was no room for consideration.

The subordinate continued with a firm expression.

“But if we don’t, we won’t be able to dispel the suspicions of the other families.”

There were no suspicions.

However, now that a problem had arisen, an official explanation procedure was necessary.

As a method, Zhuge Gi-ho was demanding the public appearance of Unhyun.

In other words, now that the situation had become like this, he was telling her to reveal her hidden card.

Grit.

Dang Seol-yeon gritted her teeth.

Park Gong-gong’s plenipotentiary was entirely Dang Seol-yeon’s achievement.

She had planned it, achieved it, and Dang Seol-yeon herself was supposed to be the party to the secret agreement.

Originally, she was supposed to be by his side from morning till night throughout the competition period.

But what was this mess?

The Dragon-Phoenix Assembly ended up publicizing the name of the Azure Dragon Sword Lord, and Unhyun and Dang Seol-yeon didn’t even properly make eye contact except for their first meeting.

Rather, the Zhuge Family, the Moryong Family, and the Southern Sea Sword Sect became closer to Unhyun.

In this situation, if he was exposed to the meeting of key party officials, wouldn’t it be the same as cooking porridge and giving it to the dog [a saying meaning to waste effort on someone undeserving]?

The entire Seven Great Families would openly try to contact him.

Dang Seol-yeon, who had been gritting her teeth, let out a soft groan.

“…To the Family Heads Meeting.”

“Yes?”

Dang Seol-yeon raised her eyes and glared at her subordinate.

“Tell them that Park Gong-gong’s plenipotentiary will be invited to the Family Heads Meeting. The detailed explanation will also be given there.”

Currently, the Family Heads here are only from the Dang Clan, the Zhuge Family, and the Moryong Family.

The other families will have representatives or senior figures instead, but their influence cannot be compared to that of the Family Heads.

Moreover, the Family Heads Meeting is a higher-level organization than the meeting of party officials, so the justification was sufficient.

“Understood.”

“And one more thing.”

Dang Seol-yeon bit her lip and said,

“Prepare for me to meet him privately after the Family Heads Meeting. Just him and me, alone. Understood?”

The subordinate bowed his head.

“I will contact the plenipotentiary and inquire about his intentions.”

He wouldn’t refuse.

After all, Unhyun would have intended to do so as well.

The subordinate immediately left his seat, and Dang Seol-yeon, left alone, was lost in thought.

‘The problem is.’

Dang Seol-yeon bit her lip.

‘What does he want…’

What on earth does Unhyun want?

What does he, who has obtained the tremendous authority of being a plenipotentiary, who has even gained the reputation of being the only one who can stand against the Heroic Alliance, want?

Is it the power of the Martial Arts Alliance Leader that he was supposed to have originally?

Or is it the wealth and lust that even emperors cannot escape?

Or is it the title of the strongest under heaven that countless masters have dreamed of?

Grit.

“They said his dantian [energy center in the body] was shattered…”

Dang Seol-yeon couldn’t bear the sudden surge of anger.

“What on earth did you do!”

Thud.

The desk under her hand made a creaking sound.

They clearly said his dantian was shattered.

But a single silver chopstick that he lightly threw with one hand shattered the Five Dragons Sword in an instant.

How could that be the appearance of someone who had lost their martial arts?

‘Gasp.’

Suddenly, Dang Seol-yeon shuddered with a chill.

The image of Unhyun breaking through the Thousand Fragrance Butterflies of Poisonous Benevolence that day vividly flashed before her eyes.

Just that alone seemed to make her whole body crawl with goosebumps.

‘Wait.’

Dang Seol-yeon’s eyes flashed at a sudden thought.

‘Could it be that those Azure Dragon Assembly bastards are taking advantage of this opportunity…’