Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 33

033. Duel on Nokya Plain

“Hey, what do you think?”

At the words of a man in the murmuring crowd, the fellow next to him clicked his tongue.

“What is there to think? The Moryong Clan will lose.”

The man who had asked the first question tilted his head at the reply.

“Still, it’s the traditional Moryong Clan; if they’re asking for a rematch, doesn’t that mean they have confidence?”

However, the man who answered first shook his head.

“No matter what, there’s such a thing as atmosphere and momentum. Has the Moryong Clan shown any of that in the past year? The granddaughter is barely holding the clan together, the chief disciple is just drinking his life away, and the Clan Lord hasn’t even shown his face. You think that Moryong Clan is going to beat the Iron Palm Clan now?”

“I guess so…”

The man nodded. What the other said was true.

“Besides, the time is too short. Achieving great things in less than a year after losing a duel? It’s not easy. Clan Lord Moryong Dancheon isn’t a young man, and unless he’s learned some ultimate secret technique, it’s impossible.”

“So, it’s just a last-ditch effort…”

The man trailed off, a bitter expression on his face.

Even though the Iron Palm Clan is now the overlord of Honam [a region in Korea], people still had a lingering attachment to the historically renowned Moryong Clan.

But conversely, there were also people who smiled at the Moryong Clan’s downfall.

That was the Iron Palm Clan Lord, today’s duel winner, Iron Moo-woong, the One-Stroke Executioner.

“Heh heh, people do have eyes.”

A smile naturally spread across the rugged face of Iron Moo-woong.

It was because he had heard about the atmosphere at the duel arena from the Iron Palm Clan’s strategist, Jang Kyung-gyu.

However, Jang Kyung-gyu, who had delivered the message, lowered his head and whispered softly.

“Clan Lord, please control your expression…”

“Ahem.”

Iron Moo-woong, the One-Stroke Executioner, cleared his throat and recovered his expression as if nothing had happened.

“Geez, I can’t even laugh as I please…”

To the grumbling Iron Moo-woong, Jang Kyung-gyu bowed his head and whispered.

“Now, the Iron Palm Clan is truly the overlord of Honam. If the Clan Lord shows dignity that is not inferior to the Moryong Clan, the prestige of the overlord will be upheld, and people will trust and follow you.”

“Yeah, but… Ugh.”

Iron Moo-woong didn’t like such formalities and etiquette.

Perhaps it was because of this personality that the traditional Moryong Clan was even more annoying to him.

But if Iron Moo-woong had acted according to his personality, the Iron Palm Clan would not be what it is today.

It was thanks to Jang Kyung-gyu, who had a decent head on his shoulders, that Iron Moo-woong, who had nothing but brute force, had achieved today’s power.

So, he couldn’t lightly dismiss the words of strategist Jang Kyung-gyu.

“How’s the other side?”

Iron Moo-woong gestured with his chin and asked Jang Kyung-gyu.

The other side was, of course, the Moryong Clan, his opponent in today’s duel.

“Well? The disciples aren’t saying a word, so there’s no way to know the atmosphere.”

“Heh heh heh, that’s what a funeral home atmosphere is like.”

Iron Moo-woong said with a sneer.

“Those Moryong Clan guys probably feel like they have one foot in the coffin. After today, they’ll all have to pack their bags. Heh heh heh.”

“Clan Lord, control your expression.”

At strategist Jang Kyung-gyu’s quiet words, Iron Moo-woong’s laughter disappeared again.

“Then, I will request Great Master Baekwon to start the duel.”

Honam was the front yard of the Shaolin Temple.

The duel participants were the Iron Palm Clan and the Moryong Clan, but the formal host was still the Shaolin Temple, and naturally, a high-ranking Shaolin monk would preside over the entire duel.

As Jang Kyung-gyu stepped back, Iron Moo-woong looked at the Moryong Clan’s camp in the distance and muttered quietly.

“The strength of a historically renowned family or whatever, I’ll put an end to it today.”

Iron Moo-woong smiled.

Everything seemed to be going according to his plan.

For now.

***

Great Master Baekwon of the Shaolin Temple spoke a few words before the duel.

But no one was listening to his words.

Even Iron Palm Clan Lord, Iron Moo-woong, the One-Stroke Executioner, was not.

“That old geezer.”

Iron Moo-woong grumbled in a rough tone.

The person who was currently grating on his nerves was the Moryong Clan Lord sitting on the other side, Gwanilgeom Moryong Dancheon.

No, to be precise, it was Moryong Dancheon’s expression.

Unlike himself, who was full of tension and excitement, Moryong Dancheon’s expression was unchanging.

It was so empty that it seemed as if he had given up on the match altogether.

But that couldn’t be true.

Then why would he have volunteered for a rematch, betting everything on his clan?

That was what bothered Iron Moo-woong, making him feel uneasy.

“What the hell is it?”

Iron Moo-woong was also a born martial artist.

Before rational judgment, the instinctive anxiety he felt towards his opponent was constantly sending him warnings.

“Clan Lord.”

Strategist Jang Kyung-gyu said quietly.

Before he knew it, everything was silent, and people’s gazes were directed at him and Gwanilgeom Moryong Dancheon.

Iron Moo-woong stood up from his seat.

“Waaaaah!”

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Moryong Dancheon, who had been sitting silently, also quietly rose from his seat.

Iron Moo-woong frowned at the sight of him taking off his coat and handing it to his granddaughter, Moryong Mi, who was standing next to him.

‘Maybe…’

Moryong Dancheon’s movements were very natural.

He was just entrusting his coat, but the action was as smooth as flowing water.

It was completely different from his stiff appearance during the previous duel.

‘…It might not be easy.’

Without realizing it, Iron Moo-woong muttered inwardly.

At that moment, he heard the voice of strategist Jang Kyung-gyu in his ear.

“Once this duel is over, no one in Honam will dare to defy the Clan Lord.”

Jang Kyung-gyu had an expression as if he had already secured victory. But Iron Moo-woong frowned.

In the Jianghu [martial arts world], there are no eternal winners or eternal losers.

If he had heard news that Moryong Dancheon had gone into secluded training or was sharpening his skills with determination, Iron Moo-woong would never have accepted the rematch.

He readily accepted the rematch because he knew that Moryong Dancheon had been virtually in seclusion, but somehow, things felt suspicious.

Swish.

Iron Moo-woong reached for his beloved blade, Black Killer.

Feeling the familiar touch of the blade in his hand, Iron Moo-woong closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“Hoo.”

He no longer needed distractions. Strategists and tactics were no longer useful.

The time had come to bet his fate on a single blade and pour out everything he had.

And it was in these very moments that Iron Moo-woong had seized victory and built today’s Iron Palm Clan.

Flash.

Iron Moo-woong opened his eyes.

“I’m going.”

Leaving a short, thick word to strategist Jang Kyung-gyu, Iron Moo-woong took his beloved blade, Black Killer, and slowly walked out.

Step, step.

As the two men slowly walked to the center of the duel arena, the onlookers became as quiet as mice.

Iron Moo-woong made a seemingly mocking expression, but Moryong Dancheon remained unchanged.

The quiet voice of Great Master Baekwon reached the ears of the two men.

“Both of you are leaders of your respective factions, so I trust that you will show us a wonderful duel. Also, please keep in mind that this is a duel and ensure that no unsavory incidents occur. Shaolin also has high expectations for your duel.”

Great Master Baekwon reminded the two men of the existence of the Shaolin Temple and then returned to his seat.

There was no need for a starting declaration.

Because these two men were the protagonists of today.

“Hmm, have you been resting well? I heard you haven’t been out of your room?”

Subtle anxiety caused Iron Moo-woong to speak first.

However, Gwanilgeom Moryong Dancheon grasped his beloved sword, Cheonggang, and bowed respectfully.

Iron Moo-woong was flustered and hurriedly clasped his hands in front of him, when he heard Moryong Dancheon’s voice.

“I am honored to duel with you today, the overlord of Honam.”

Iron Moo-woong couldn’t believe it.

It was the Moryong Clan, who had always ignored him as a prestigious family with a long history, though they never said it outright.

But now, Moryong Dancheon was politely showing respect to Iron Moo-woong, and he was even acknowledging the Iron Palm Clan as the overlord of Honam with his own mouth?

Iron Moo-woong raised his head.

There was no ridicule or mockery in Gwanilgeom Moryong Dancheon’s expression.

It was even less self-deprecating.

His greeting was sincere.

Iron Moo-woong tensed up without realizing it.

‘…Damn it.’

Iron Moo-woong intuitively realized that Moryong Dancheon would not be an easy opponent.

However, he couldn’t afford to lose momentum from the start, so Iron Moo-woong laughed heartily and replied.

“Hahaha, what humble words. I also want to see the strength of the Moryong Clan today. Last time, it didn’t quite meet my expectations.”

He made a seemingly provocative remark, but Moryong Dancheon did not waver.

‘Tch.’

Iron Moo-woong clicked his tongue inwardly.

He didn’t think the opponent would fall for it at this level anyway.

“Enough talk, let’s start.”

Iron Moo-woong said.

Moryong Dancheon quietly drew his beloved sword, Cheonggang.

Sreung.

Iron Moo-woong also drew his beloved blade, Black Killer.

The straight and sharp Cheonggang of Moryong Dancheon and the thick and curved Black Killer of Iron Moo-woong.

The two men lightly clashed their weapons three times in a formal sense.

Clang, clang, clang.

The three short metallic sounds indicated that this was a duel, not a life-or-death battle.

But in reality, there was no difference.

Even though no one would die, the fate of each other’s families and sects depended on this duel.

Step.

The two men widened the distance and took their stances.

Moryong Dancheon’s expression remained calm, while Iron Moo-woong’s large eyes began to emit a sharp light.

After a while, a thunderous shout erupted from Iron Moo-woong’s mouth.

“Taha!”

Kaang.

The sword and blade made a sharp sound.

Moryong Dancheon lightly deflected Iron Moo-woong’s offensive.

Of course, that was not the end for Iron Moo-woong either.

Whoosh.

Iron Moo-woong’s blade cut through the air and pierced Moryong Dancheon’s waist.

Moryong Dancheon’s Cheonggang sword strangely changed direction.

Cheeing.

The two men’s weapons crossed, making an unpleasant sound.

Tak.

The two men distanced themselves again.

The exchange was short. It was just to gauge the opponent’s level.

And both men could learn more from that one clash than from a hundred words.

‘I thought this old man was just wasting his life in his room…’

Iron Moo-woong thought inwardly, glaring at Moryong Dancheon.

‘Rather, the tip of his sword has become sharper.’

Indeed, it was Gwanilgeom Moryong Dancheon.

He must have a hidden card up his sleeve.

Sreuk.

The two men looked at each other and did not try to move easily.

But soon, Iron Moo-woong slowly raised his Black Killer.

Perhaps it was an instinctive realization.

The longer it dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would be for him.

“Haaap!”

Iron Moo-woong’s blade began to cut through the wind.

Clang, clang, chaeng.

The sound of swords and blades colliding continued endlessly.

The onlookers were all sweating in their hands, unable to take their eyes off the two men’s duel.

As if mocking the expectations of those who had predicted a one-sided victory for the Iron Palm Clan, the duel between Iron Moo-woong and Moryong Dancheon continued with constant offense and defense without a moment’s rest.

“Hey, it looks like Iron Moo-woong, the One-Stroke Executioner, is being pushed back… Am I mistaken?”

As one of the gathered people spoke, the person next to him stammered and replied.

“I, is that so? But judging from the fact that Iron Moo-woong is continuing his offensive…”

“Tsk tsk, what’s the point of just attacking?”

As the two men turned around, the man who clicked his tongue raised his voice as if to be heard.

“None of his attacks are landing properly, are they?”

Whispering spread among the people.

Only then did people realize that the duel was unfolding in a completely different way than expected.

As time passed, the one who was showing composure was rather Gwanilgeom Moryong Dancheon.