Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 340

340. Inner Demon

The first to find Unhyun was Yeong Ho-jun.

With Royal Inspector Jo Gwan issuing a search warrant to the local government offices near Poyang Lake, Yeong Ho-jun was the first to spot the signal flare in the night sky.

However, due to the distance and the difficulty of securing a boat, everything was already over when he arrived.

Thud.

Yeong Ho-jun entered the residence and cautiously approached Unhyun.

Unhyun was sitting on a chair in the large open space in front of the main hall.

The woman sleeping on the coat spread at his feet was probably Il A-yeong.

“Alliance Leader, are you alright?”

Yeong Ho-jun asked quietly.

Unhyun raised his head.

“…Yes.”

Yeong Ho-jun stared straight into Unhyun’s eyes as he answered.

Yeong Ho-jun frowned.

Unhyun’s eyes seemed devoid of any emotion.

Even though he must have gone through something terrible.

Rustle.

Yeong Ho-jun put his finger to Il A-yeong’s nose.

After confirming her regular breathing, Yeong Ho-jun examined Unhyun’s side.

Yeong Ho-jun’s expression changed at the sight of the blackened, dried blood and discolored wound.

“It’s a potent poison. What were you stabbed with?”

“…They called it the Death Flying Needle.”

Unhyun’s reply seemed slightly delayed.

“Do you have it?”

Swish.

Slowly turning his head, Unhyun looked towards the forest.

“…It’s probably somewhere in that forest.”

Yeong Ho-jun was looking at the forest when Unhyun’s voice continued.

“Along with the body of Lady Yi Seo-yeon.”

“You cut her down?”

“I didn’t cut her down, but…”

Unhyun sighed softly and said.

“She was hit by the Death Flying Needle, so she’s probably dead.”

The forest beyond the residence was still dark.

Meanwhile, Unhyun continued.

“And Mun Wang is dead too.”

Yeong Ho-jun couldn’t help but be surprised.

“You mean Mun Wang is dead?”

“That’s right.”

Unhyun said, looking at the bloodstains on the floor.

“I cut him down, and I saw him die.”

Bloodstains were clearly visible on the floor.

Several scattered bows and arrows were also visible.

But that was it, nothing else.

“What about the body?”

“In Tae-sang took it and fled.”

“Huh!”

Yeong Ho-jun said with a sigh.

“You were stabbed with the Death Flying Needle, yet you killed Mun Wang and drove out In Tae-sang?”

“In Tae-sang had no intention of fighting me from the start.”

Unhyun said quietly, then looked down at Il A-yeong.

“Is A-yeong alright?”

“You are in more critical condition than she is, Alliance Leader.”

Unhyun looked at Yeong Ho-jun with a puzzled expression.

“I’m fine. Thanks to what the Chief Strategist gave me…”

“It’s not about the poison.”

Yeong Ho-jun said with a serious look.

“It’s an inner demon.”

It was the first time Unhyun had heard of such a thing.

“…Is it like Qi Deviation [a disruption in the flow of internal energy]? But my inner force is…”

“Alliance Leader.”

Rustle.

Yeong Ho-jun knelt on one knee and met Unhyun’s gaze.

“Who do you want to see the most right now? It doesn’t matter if it’s a man or a woman.”

Unhyun couldn’t understand.

Why was Yeong Ho-jun suddenly saying this?

“…I don’t know? Not really…”

“Think carefully.”

Yeong Ho-jun said, looking straight into Unhyun’s eyes.

“Who is meaningful to you at this moment, Alliance Leader?”

It was perhaps a very simple question.

But Unhyun couldn’t answer.

“Tell me. Who is it?”

Yeong Ho-jun asked again.

Unhyun’s eyes were shaking.

It was as if not a single person’s name came to mind.

“Right now, no one…”

It was the moment Unhyun was about to shake his head.

The fallen Il A-yeong came into his view.

‘Ah.’

In an instant, past events flashed through his mind like lightning.

The image of Il Chung-hyun, smiling as he sent him away even while imprisoned, was vividly unfolding before Unhyun’s eyes.

And the emotions of that time.

“…Brother.”

His eyes welled up.

That wasn’t all.

“…Dokgo Je…”

Tears burst out.

Why did he only remember now?

He saved Il A-yeong for his sworn brother Il Chung-hyun.

And he cut down Mun Wang, who was responsible for the death of his sworn brother Dokgo-rang.

But somewhere along the way, the meaning had disappeared, and only cold facts remained.

Like a person who had been emptied.

Drop, drop.

Tears streamed down Unhyun’s cheeks.

Once the tears started to fall, they didn’t stop.

Sob.

The door to his closed heart opened, and a storm of emotions engulfed Unhyun.

His chest ached as if it would burst, but Unhyun knew now.

This pain was not due to the poison.

Unhyun began to sob.

“Hoo.”

Only then did Yeong Ho-jun let out a sigh of relief.

He placed his hand on Unhyun’s faintly trembling shoulder and quietly recited a Buddhist invocation.

***

Soon, dawn broke.

The government troops that Royal Inspector Jo Gwan brought searched the island as if combing through it, and the small pier was filled with ships that had arrived.

“Yi Seo-yeon’s body has not been found.”

Royal Inspector Jo Gwan said.

Sitting in the room where Il A-yeong had been held, Unhyun raised his head.

“You haven’t found her?”

“No. We haven’t found the dagger you mentioned either. There was something presumed to be her bloodstains, but…”

“Is that so?”

Unhyun was lost in thought for a moment.

How could Yi Seo-yeon, who was hit by the Death Flying Needle, have escaped?

Did she have an antidote, or did someone help her?

“Was there anything else?”

“No. As you said, we found the bodies of the fighting dogs, and the traps set with Heavenly Silk are being dismantled now. Just in case, we also looked for Mun Wang’s body, but it was also gone.”

The only people remaining on this island were Unhyun and Il A-yeong.

The others had only left traces.

“How is A-yeong?”

“A doctor is taking care of her. He says she’s just in a deep sleep and there’s nothing else wrong.”

“I see. Thank you.”

“Are you alright, sir?”

Jo Gwan said, looking at Unhyun’s side.

He had done a simple treatment and wrapped a bandage around it, but Jo Gwan knew that the wound was not ordinary.

“Ah, this…”

“He’s fine.”

Yeong Ho-jun said with a wry smile.

“Our great Alliance Leader has already detoxified himself. I’m starting to feel a sense of self-disgust as to why I gave him that precious detoxification needle.”

Yeong Ho-jun clicked his tongue as if he really regretted it, but it was an exaggeration.

If it hadn’t been for the detoxification needle that Yeong Ho-jun gave him, Unhyun probably wouldn’t have been alive.

“Still, I owe you my life. Thank you, Chief Strategist.”

“If that’s the case, then I’m glad.”

Yeong Ho-jun shrugged and said.

“Well, since I risked my life to save you, it has to be worth it. Besides, you’ve also made a great contribution.”

“A contribution?”

Dam So-ha, who was sitting at the table, suddenly asked.

“You saved Lady Il A-yeong, but the Head of the Merchant Guild…”

“That’s not it.”

Yeong Ho-jun shook his head.

“Mun Wang is dead, you know. Mun Wang, the Blood Prince, who was the real owner of the Heroic Alliance. For our Alliance, which raised the banner against the Heroic Alliance, what greater contribution could there be?”

Dam So-ha, as well as Jo Gwan, couldn’t help but be amazed.

“Indeed…”

Jo Gwan nodded.

Yeong Ho-jun said proudly.

“We can probably milk this for the next three or four years.”

The death of the Blood Prince Mun Wang was of great significance.

As soon as the Azure Dragon Alliance raised its banner, it eliminated the mastermind behind the Heroic Alliance, so what could be a more certain justification and contribution than this?

Park Gong-gong would also be pleased.

“No, please don’t do that.”

The three people turned their heads at Unhyun’s voice.

With a rather serious expression, Unhyun said.

“This was a private matter of revenge between me and Mun Wang. It’s not something to be put forward as a contribution of the Alliance.”

“But…”

Yeong Ho-jun tried to say something, but Unhyun shook his head.

“Please don’t do that. I won’t tell you to hide it, but don’t announce it or confirm it in the name of the Alliance.”

Unhyun’s intention was firm.

“The same goes for Yi Seo-yeon. Don’t hold the Hoam Merchant Guild responsible for her actions. Of course, there’s no need to tell them the truth either.”

“Are you thinking of forgiving them like this?”

“No.”

Unhyun gave a wry smile.

“I mean I won’t hold irrelevant people responsible.”

Jo Gwan, Dam So-ha, and Yeong Ho-jun seemed surprised for a moment, but soon nodded.

“Hmm, if that’s what the Alliance Leader wants…”

Yeong Ho-jun was speaking when Dam So-ha suddenly interjected.

“But wouldn’t the Hoam Merchant Guild think it’s strange?”

Dam So-ha said, tilting her head.

“Everyone saw Unhyun and Yi Seo-yeon leave together. But if Yi Seo-yeon and the Head of the Merchant Guild are missing, and only Unhyun and Lady Il A-yeong return…”

“Of course they’ll think it’s strange.”

Yeong Ho-jun answered.

“But if we say they got separated in the chaos, they won’t be able to say anything. Or maybe they won’t even ask.”

“What? No, even though the Chief Manager has disappeared?”

“That’s why, because the Chief Manager has disappeared.”

Yeong Ho-jun shrugged.

“With this chaos, they won’t think that the kidnapped Head of the Merchant Guild will be alright. Besides, with the Chief Manager also missing, would the people of the Hoam Merchant Guild be interested in uncovering the whole kidnapping incident, or would they be more interested in taking over the vacant position of the missing owner?”

Dam So-ha gave a wry smile.

The Hoam Merchant Guild would be plunged into chaos in an instant.

After all, the position of the owner of a giant merchant guild, counted as one of the three great merchant guilds in the world, had become vacant.

Yeong Ho-jun muttered to himself.

“Hmm, it wouldn’t be bad to get involved in the succession dispute at this opportunity and make the Hoam Merchant Guild a supporter of the Alliance…”

Thud.

Unhyun got up from his seat.

“Let’s leave now. There’s nothing more to do here.”

“Are you alright? Your injuries…”

Jo Gwan was worried, but Unhyun shook his head.

“I’m fine.”

The extreme poison of the Death Flying Needle had already lost its momentum.

The aftereffects were gradually disappearing.

The scars left by this incident still remained in Unhyun’s heart, but they were not something that would heal with rest.

“I understand. Let’s go.”

Yeong Ho-jun said, getting up.

Jo Gwan stayed behind to oversee the search of the island and the control of the government troops, and the rest of the group left the island.

The island, seen in the daytime, was smaller than he thought.

***

“…Ugh.”

Yi Seo-yeon opened her eyes, feeling a splitting headache.

The sight of a luxurious room came into view, and at the same time, the smell of medicine stung her nose.

Yi Seo-yeon tried to turn her head absentmindedly, but she couldn’t help but scream at the extreme pain that ran through her body.

“Aaaagh!”

“Hmm, you’ve regained consciousness?”

A old man’s voice was heard, but Yi Seo-yeon couldn’t even turn her head.

Thud, thud.

Someone approached and ruthlessly tapped Yi Seo-yeon’s pressure points.

“Aaaagh!”

Pain assailed her again.

But that was only for a moment, and the pain gradually began to decrease.

And the figure of an old man appeared before her eyes.

Looking down at the motionless Yi Seo-yeon, the old man examined her eyes.

“You won’t die.”

Yi Seo-yeon’s eyes trembled.

She opened her mouth with all her strength.

“…Wh, where is this…”

Even moving her mouth was difficult.

Besides, she felt some resistance around her mouth.

“It’s the Medical Bureau [a government-run medical facility].”

The old man, who spoke as if throwing a stone, disappeared from Yi Seo-yeon’s sight.

And he said to someone.

“The patient has awakened. Inform In Tae-sang.”

“Yes.”

Listening to the conversation of people she didn’t know, Yi Seo-yeon slowly tried to move her head.

‘Kugh!’

She felt pain, but it was much better than before.

Yi Seo-yeon put strength into her arm and tried to lift her body.

“Ack!”

She screamed without realizing it because it hurt so much.

“Tsk.”

The old man clicked his tongue and approached.