Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 341

341. Rumors

An elderly man, who appeared to be a doctor, carefully raised Lee Seo-yeon’s upper body.

Then, he placed a soft support behind her neck.

“Ugh!”

Lee Seo-yeon groaned.

Every movement sent waves of excruciating pain through her body, but the doctor’s touch offered no gentleness or consideration for her condition.

Still, being raised slightly seemed to clear her mind.

“If this is the medical ward, then where…”

As Lee Seo-yeon spoke, she suddenly became aware of the strange resistance she felt all over her body.

It was the tight bandages wrapped around her, covering her entirely.

Those bandages even covered Lee Seo-yeon’s face.

Except for the area around her nose, which allowed her to breathe, and small openings for her eyes.

“…What is this…”

Just as Lee Seo-yeon was struggling with confusion.

Creak.

“The patient is awake?”

A short, stout old man opened the door and entered the room.

“Yes.”

The doctor replied curtly.

The stout old man immediately approached Lee Seo-yeon.

‘Could it be…’

Lee Seo-yeon recalled the title the doctor had mentioned earlier.

The old man, In Tae-sang, looked down at Lee Seo-yeon and asked.

“Who are you?”

His voice was cold, and his eyes were sharp and piercing.

“And how did you come to possess the young master’s jade pendant?”

In an instant, countless thoughts raced through Lee Seo-yeon’s mind, trying to make sense of the situation.

But In Tae-sang didn’t give Lee Seo-yeon any time to gather her thoughts.

“Answer quickly! Don’t avoid my gaze!”

Lee Seo-yeon flinched at his demanding tone.

“I, I am…”

However, because of the bandage covering her mouth, her words were muffled and difficult to understand.

“Tsk.”

In Tae-sang clicked his tongue in annoyance and turned to the doctor.

“Take that off. She can’t speak properly like that.”

“There’s no point in removing it now, is there?”

The doctor said gruffly, clearly not wanting to redo his work.

But In Tae-sang frowned, his displeasure evident.

“It doesn’t matter, just do it.”

The doctor glanced at In Tae-sang, acknowledging his authority, and walked towards Lee Seo-yeon.

He began to carefully unwrap the bandage covering Lee Seo-yeon’s face.

Rustle, rustle.

Lee Seo-yeon felt her entire face throbbing with pain as the bandages were removed.

And not only that.

The back of her head, where her hair should have been, felt strangely cold and exposed.

With a chilling premonition creeping into her heart, Lee Seo-yeon said in a trembling voice.

“A, a mirror…”

“Answer me first.”

In Tae-sang said in a cold, unwavering voice.

“Who are you? And how did you come to possess the young master’s jade pendant?”

When he was holding Moon Wang’s body and fell into the forest, In Tae-sang found Lee Seo-yeon collapsed and unconscious.

Normally, he wouldn’t have paid her any attention, but a jade pendant that had fallen near her caught his eye.

It was Moon Wang’s, a unique and recognizable item.

So In Tae-sang made the decision to bring Lee Seo-yeon here.

“I, I received the jade pendant from… Moon Wang, cough.”

Her throat felt incredibly parched, and intense pain surged through her chest and abdomen with every word.

Her whole body was a wreck, making it difficult to even speak without causing herself more agony.

Lee Seo-yeon frowned, enduring the pain as best she could, and barely managed to continue.

“…I received the jade pendant from His Highness Moon Wang. To act as his proxy.”

In Tae-sang’s eyes flashed with a hint of surprise and suspicion.

“Act as the young master’s proxy? You?”

It was hard for him to believe that Moon Wang would entrust his authority to someone like her, a complete stranger.

But the jade pendant she possessed was undeniably Moon Wang’s, a fact he couldn’t ignore.

“That’s… Ah!”

Lee Seo-yeon screamed in pain, her body convulsing.

“It’s too much for her right now.”

The doctor said, his tone suggesting he didn’t want to deal with her anymore than necessary.

“Since she’s already passed the critical point anyway, ask her when her condition improves. There’s no use pushing her now.”

In Tae-sang frowned, clearly impatient.

But the doctor’s words were logical and correct.

Right now, Lee Seo-yeon was completely immobilized, wrapped in bandages from head to toe, unable to move even a fingertip, and constantly groaning in pain.

“Tsk.”

In Tae-sang clicked his tongue in frustration and turned away from her.

He said to the doctor in a blunt tone, his voice leaving no room for argument.

“Let me know immediately when her condition improves. If that thing dies, I’ll cut off your head myself.”

“Heh heh, why not just take it now? What good is an old head anyway…”

The doctor wasn’t intimidated by In Tae-sang’s threat at all and instead responded sarcastically, showing his lack of respect.

In Tae-sang glared at the doctor with a menacing look and then finally left the room.

Thud.

As the door closed behind him, the doctor clicked his tongue in annoyance.

As he was about to reapply the bandages he had removed, Lee Seo-yeon spoke again, her voice weak and desperate.

“Sh, show me a mirror.”

“You should consider yourself lucky to have your life saved. What mirror are you talking about at a time like this?”

The doctor paid no attention to her plea and continued to apply the bandages, ignoring her distress.

Lee Seo-yeon spoke desperately, her voice filled with fear.

“Wh, what happened to my face…?”

“The fire from the poison rose up and caused significant damage to your face. It’s not a pretty sight.”

Rustle, rustle.

As he continued to apply the bandages, the doctor added with a hint of morbid satisfaction.

“Well, it’s not just your face that’s damaged. You’re lucky to be alive.”

“Mirror!”

Lee Seo-yeon screamed, her voice cracking with emotion.

“Hurry, a mirror! I need a mirror…! Cough. Ugh.”

Even while groaning in pain, Lee Seo-yeon pleaded, her voice barely a whisper.

“…Give me, a mirror.”

“Tsk.”

The doctor clicked his tongue again, clearly annoyed by her persistence.

He turned around and soon returned, holding a small mirror, about the size of a book, in his hand.

“Here, look for yourself.”

Instead of handing the mirror to Lee Seo-yeon, who couldn’t move even a fingertip, the doctor held it up for her to see.

Lee Seo-yeon’s eyes widened in horror as she saw her reflection.

“Th, this is…”

Between the bandages that were only partially applied, she could see mangled, burned skin.

The once sharp nose, the bright red lips, and the beautifully drawn eyebrows that had defined her face were no longer there, replaced by grotesque disfigurement.

The sparse remaining hair was singed and repulsive, adding to the horror.

The figure reflected in the mirror was, quite literally, a monster, a grotesque parody of her former self.

Lee Seo-yeon, whose eyes were trembling uncontrollably, looked at the doctor with a shred of desperate hope.

“Ca, can it be healed…?”

Lee Seo-yeon’s voice was trembling severely, barely audible.

But the doctor shook his head, his expression grim.

“It’s impossible with human medicine. What’s done is done.”

Lee Seo-yeon’s heart sank into the depths of despair in an instant, all hope extinguished.

“No. I, I can’t be like this…”

Lee Seo-yeon, trembling uncontrollably, screamed in anguish.

“Aaaaaaagh!”

She didn’t care about the pain that wracked her body with every movement.

No, a reality even more terrible and unbearable than the physical pain was overwhelming Lee Seo-yeon, crushing her spirit.

“Aaaaaaagh!”

Lee Seo-yeon’s screams echoed through the small room, filled with agony and despair.

“Tsk.”

The doctor clicked his tongue in annoyance and immediately pressed several pressure points on Lee Seo-yeon’s body, silencing her screams.

Lee Seo-yeon, who was screaming moments before, abruptly lost consciousness and went limp.

Thud.

As Lee Seo-yeon’s head dropped to the side, the doctor nonchalantly put away the mirror.

And began to reapply the bandages to the fallen Lee Seo-yeon, his movements efficient and uncaring.

Rustle, rustle.

“Consider yourself lucky to be breathing and living, even in this state.”

The doctor muttered to himself, his words devoid of any sympathy.

“Even that won’t be easy. Your chances aren’t good.”

But Lee Seo-yeon was beyond hearing anything he said, lost in the darkness of unconsciousness.

After finishing applying the bandages, the doctor returned to his work with the medicinal herbs, his focus solely on his task.

Thump, thump, thump.

Next to Lee Seo-yeon, who had lost consciousness, the rhythmic sound of the doctor grinding medicinal herbs continued indifferently, a stark contrast to the turmoil she was experiencing.

***

Rumors began to spread throughout the Jianghu [martial arts world] that Blood Prince Moon Wang had lost his life to Yun Hyun’s sword.

However, the reaction to the rumors was not very significant.

First of all, it was unclear whether the rumor itself was true, and Blood Prince Moon Wang’s name had only briefly gained attention after the Hangzhou Bloodshed incident. Compared to established powers like the Taepyung Alliance or the Heroic Alliance, he wasn’t frequently mentioned by people.

Therefore, the rumor spread for a short while and then soon died down, dismissed as unsubstantiated gossip.

But it wasn’t the same for some people who had a vested interest in Moon Wang’s fate.

Taepyung Alliance headquarters, Dang Seol-yeon’s office.

Dang Seol-yeon, who was sitting at her desk listening to a report from a subordinate, suddenly raised her head, her attention snapping into focus.

“What?”

The subordinate who was reporting looked at Dang Seol-yeon with a puzzled expression, unsure of what had caused her sudden reaction.

Dang Seol-yeon asked with sharp, intense eyes.

“What did you just say? Repeat it.”

The subordinate immediately replied, sensing the change in her demeanor.

“In some areas, rumors are circulating that Blood Prince Moon Wang was killed by the Azure Dragon Sword Master’s sword. However, the facts have not been confirmed, and it’s mostly being dismissed as speculation…”

The subordinate, who was about to add that ‘no one is taking it seriously,’ noticed that Dang Seol-yeon’s expression was becoming increasingly unusual, a mixture of disbelief and suppressed anger.

Not only that.

Clatter.

The brush fell weakly from Dang Seol-yeon’s hand onto the desk, the sound echoing in the silent office.

Her white fingers were trembling slightly, betraying her inner turmoil.

“…Get out.”

Dang Seol-yeon raised her head and said in a sharp, commanding tone, her voice laced with barely controlled fury.

“Give the report next time! Get out now! I need to be alone.”

“Yes!”

The subordinate bowed deeply, not wanting to provoke her further, and immediately hurried outside.

Thud.

The door to the office closed, leaving Dang Seol-yeon alone with her thoughts, and she gritted her teeth in frustration.

‘Moon Wang, Moon Wang is dead?’

She couldn’t believe it, the news hitting her like a physical blow.

Blood Prince Moon Wang, dead? It seemed impossible.

Dang Seol-yeon bit her lip and clenched her trembling hands into fists, trying to regain control of her emotions.

‘How did this happen? He must have received the Death Decree [a formal challenge to a duel], right? And he even took hostages to ensure his victory?’

In an absolutely advantageous situation, Moon Wang didn’t kill Yun Hyun as planned, but was instead killed by him, a complete reversal of expectations.

Just like how he destroyed the Martial Alliance but lost the imperial court’s power all at once due to his arrogance, Moon Wang failed to defeat Yun Hyun this time as well, repeating his past mistakes.

And now, he wouldn’t even get another chance to redeem himself.

Because this time, Yun Hyun had taken his life, ending his ambitions permanently.

‘That foolish bastard…’

Dang Seol-yeon gritted her teeth, her anger rising to the surface.

That anger eventually erupted into a sharp, frustrated cry.

“You idiot! How could you die in that situation! You had everything in your favor!”

Bang.

The desk made a loud sound as Dang Seol-yeon slammed her hand down on it, her frustration reaching its peak.

But Dang Seol-yeon’s anger didn’t subside, it only intensified.

“You can’t do anything right! Nothing! You always mess things up!”

Bang, bang.

Moon Wang’s failure had completely blocked Dang Seol-yeon’s carefully laid plans, throwing everything into disarray.

Now, Yun Hyun would be even more thoroughly prepared for any attempts to take hostages, making her original strategy impossible.

Not only had the execution of her plan itself become significantly more difficult, but Dang Seol-yeon’s plan couldn’t be attempted carelessly either, as the risks were now far too great.

Because she knew that if she failed, even her own life would be in danger, a terrifying prospect.

‘…He’ll kill me too. Just like he killed Moon Wang, he won’t hesitate to eliminate anyone who stands in his way.’

Not only that.

If the plan failed, Yun Hyun would never forgive the Taepyung Alliance for their involvement, leading to a devastating war that they might not survive.

The risk had become far too great compared to the slim possibility of success, making the original plan untenable.

“Hoo.”

Dang Seol-yeon took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, raised her head, and bit her lip in determination.

‘It won’t work. I need another plan, a new strategy to achieve my goals.’

There would be another way, she refused to accept defeat.

No, if there wasn’t a clear path forward, she would have to create one herself, forging a new path through sheer force of will. That was the way the Dang Family had always done things, overcoming obstacles through cunning and determination.

Tightly.

Dang Seol-yeon gritted her teeth, her resolve hardening.

Her eyes were shining eerily with a fierce determination, a sign of the dangerous path she was willing to take.

***

Heroic Alliance of Hangzhou, Main Hall.

There was also someone here who was greatly surprised by the rumors of Moon Wang’s death, though for different reasons.

“What did you just say?”

The Alliance Lord, Iron-Blooded Death King Yeom Jung-bu, frowned deeply, his expression darkening.

He, who was rarely surprised by ordinary events, widened his eyes in disbelief and asked again, seeking confirmation.

“Rumors are circulating in some areas of the Yangtze River [a major river in China] that Moon Wang was killed by the Azure Dragon Sword Master. There is no concrete evidence and no specific witnesses, so it is currently being treated as a groundless rumor, but…”

The scribe’s report continued, but Yeom Jung-bu had already stopped listening, his mind racing with the implications of the news.

‘Moon Wang… is dead?’

He had guessed that Blood Prince Moon Wang wouldn’t simply disappear after his defeat, accepting his fate without a fight.

He had fully expected him to try to take revenge on Yun Hyun in any way possible, even if it meant resorting to desperate measures.

But Moon Wang himself was killed by Yun Hyun? That was an unexpected turn of events.

‘Could it be that he recklessly charged in without knowing his place, blinded by his desire for revenge?’

Since all authority had been stripped from him, Moon Wang probably acted alone, without the support of his former allies.

But how could Moon Wang, a skilled and resourceful martial artist, die so easily? It didn’t make sense.

Even if things had failed, Moon Wang would have had plenty of ways to escape, to live to fight another day.

Unless the two had engaged in a life-or-death duel, a desperate battle with no escape for the loser.

‘Tsk, but I can’t ask for more information. I’m kept in the dark.’

Orders were only unilaterally issued from the First Merchant [a mysterious figure controlling the Heroic Alliance], and Yeom Jung-bu wasn’t even given the authority to meet him directly, let alone question his decisions.

Even the Alliance Lord of the Heroic Alliance was just a tool to the First Merchant, a puppet with limited autonomy.

“Hmm.”

Yeom Jung-bu groaned softly and frowned, his mind working to analyze the situation.

When the reporting scribe stopped speaking, sensing his leader’s preoccupation, Yeom Jung-bu waved his hand dismissively.

“That’s enough. Get out. I need to think.”

“Yes, sir.”

The scribe bowed deeply, relieved to be dismissed, and backed out of the main hall, leaving Yeom Jung-bu to his thoughts.

Clatter.

As the door closed, Yeom Jung-bu frowned and pondered the implications of Moon Wang’s death, carefully calculating what impact it would have on him and the Heroic Alliance.

Yeom Jung-bu, who was carefully calculating what impact Moon Wang’s death would have on him, chuckled softly, a hint of dark amusement in his voice.

“Still.”

Yeom Jung-bu said with a bitter smile, a hint of admiration in his tone.

“I like that he doesn’t forgive anyone who touches him, that he fights back against those who wrong him.”

That was only natural, a sentiment that resonated with his own ruthless nature.

If you were a martial artist, you had to defend your honor and punish those who dared to challenge you.

“Heh heh. It’s not a bad thing. Not at all.”

The more chaotic the world, the better it was for Yeom Jung-bu, as it created opportunities for advancement and power.

The more possibilities would open up, allowing him to exploit the chaos to his advantage.

“It’s not a bad thing.”

Yeom Jung-bu, sitting alone in the main hall, pondered the situation with shining eyes, his mind already formulating plans to capitalize on the changing landscape.

That smile didn’t disappear for a while, a sign of the ambition and ruthlessness that lay beneath his calm exterior.