Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 358

358. News from Wudang

After the departure of the Mercantile Emperor, Unhyun and his group headed to Xi’an, a nearby metropolis.

The carriage Youngho Joon had procured wasn’t large, but no one complained.

The shock of encountering the Mercantile Emperor had been too great.

Clatter, clatter.

The journey to Xi’an wasn’t far, and the group was soon able to unpack at an inn in Xi’an.

It was evening, but no one had much appetite, so the group headed to a nearby tea house.

As the subtle scent of tea enveloped them, everyone’s expression finally softened.

Clink.

Tapping her teacup, Dam Soha suddenly asked Unhyun,

“…That person was the Mercantile Emperor, wasn’t he?”

Unhyun nodded.

The fact that Dam Soha, who likely already knew, was asking again showed how astonishing it was.

“To think the Mercantile Emperor was like that…”

Dam Soha sighed.

“But why did he suddenly appear?”

Youngho Joon answered.

“It seems to be because of King Mu.”

Youngho Joon said, fiddling with his teacup.

“He mentioned the death of King Mu several times. That’s definitely the motive.”

“But he spoke of King Mu as a remnant of regret, a trace,” Dam Soha tilted her head.

“He didn’t seem to be seeking revenge.”

“The Mercantile Emperor valued the Sword of the Lord more than revenge.”

Dam Soha frowned.

“Does that make sense? Even so…”

“It does. It’s not uncommon among the eccentric figures of the Murim [martial arts world].”

Youngho Joon sighed softly and said,

“Before the sword the Lord displayed, even more than that would lose meaning.”

A moment of silence flowed.

Unhyun’s sword, which he had unleashed against the Mercantile Emperor, vividly appeared before the group’s eyes.

It was, in a word, awe-inspiring.

It was unbelievable that such a sword could exist and be wielded by human hands.

Perhaps the shock from Unhyun’s sword was greater than the appearance of the Mercantile Emperor.

“…Still, I don’t understand,” Dam Soha shook her head.

“Yes. That’s normal.”

Muttering, Youngho Joon turned to Unhyun.

“Lord, may I ask you a few questions?”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

As Unhyun nodded, Youngho Joon said,

“The Mercantile Emperor seemed convinced that the owner of the ‘document’ is you, Lord.”

“That’s what it seemed like.”

“Considering he mentioned the harmony of heaven and earth, it seems the ‘document’ refers not to a specific sword manual or secret technique, but to a destined adversary.”

Unhyun nodded.

Indeed, that’s how it sounded to him as well.

“Still, is there a chance that the White Tiger Training Sword you’ve mastered is the ‘document’ King Mu spoke of?”

Unhyun paused to think.

“I don’t know. But it’s true that the White Tiger Training Sword is significantly different from other martial arts manuals.”

From the start, it was neither a sword manual nor a secret technique.

Even the name White Tiger Training Sword was given by his sworn brother, Ilchunghyun; Unhyun called it ‘Report-Style Swordplay,’ and originally, it had no name at all.

So, calling it a ‘document’ might be the most accurate name.

Why a scholar who spent his life in the imperial palace, even in a minor position, could leave behind such a writing was a mystery, though.

“My sworn brother also said that the White Tiger Training Sword has the effect of guiding Qi [life force], and Abbot Wabul said it was like a dragon playing in the sky.”

“Wow.”

Dam Soha said with surprised eyes.

“That’s an amazing sword technique. Does it mean it’s as strong as a dragon in the sky?”

“That’s not the meaning.”

Guest Ong suddenly said,

“People say there are dragons in the sky, but who in the world has seen one? When Wabul says ‘a dragon in the sky,’ it means it’s as strange and incomprehensible as that.”

Dam Soha tilted her head.

“You mean it’s a very, very difficult sword technique?”

“No.”

Guest Ong shook his head.

“Meeting a dragon cannot be done with strength, wisdom, or luck. The fact that Hyun has glimpsed the ultimate realm through that sword technique itself is an incomprehensible event that cannot be understood by human reason.”

Lifting his teacup with a calm expression, Guest Ong said,

“So, it can only be called fate.”

Guest Ong quietly savored his tea.

That explanation was somehow similar to the Mercantile Emperor’s words.

That might be because Guest Ong was also a master known as one of the Five Celestial Venerables of Illusions.

Youngho Joon shrugged.

“Well, let’s leave the matters of the sky to the dragons and talk about the matters on the ground. First, the Mercantile Emperor’s purpose.”

Youngho Joon said, his eyes gleaming.

“He has the goal of becoming the Supreme Overlord and another incomprehensible goal of reaching the sky beyond the heavens. Among them, he used the expression ‘lingering attachment’ for becoming the Supreme Overlord.”

“If becoming the Supreme Overlord means treason…”

Dam Soha blurted out,

“Does that mean he gave up?”

The group fell silent for a moment.

The word ‘treason’ was by no means light.

“It’s not necessarily like that,” Youngho Joon said with a wry smile.

“Those who are lost in their own world have strange logic and interpret words as they please. Perhaps it means he’s still obsessed.”

Dam Soha tilted her head.

“Then we can’t be sure of anything?”

“No.”

Youngho Joon shook his head.

“Didn’t we learn that the Mercantile Emperor has another purpose besides becoming the Supreme Overlord? He’s someone who tried to dominate the world through King Mu, so the other purpose won’t be good either.”

Dam Soha’s expression twisted.

“Then, are we supposed to stop that too?”

Youngho Joon smiled wryly.

“Probably.”

Dam Soha sighed deeply.

“I’m already busy, and now more work is piling up.”

Shaking her head as if she was fed up, Dam Soha grumbled,

“Why don’t bad guys ever take a break?”

At those words, Jo Gwan and Unhyun also smiled wryly.

Quietly fiddling with his teacup, Unhyun suddenly asked,

“What about the matters concerning Wudang and Shaolin?”

Originally, Unhyun and his group were going to visit Shaolin and Wudang to check if there was any damage from the Soul Attachment Pill.

However, Youngho Joon suggested waiting in Xi’an for a while.

The reason was that they should assess the situation before recklessly visiting.

Both Shaolin and Wudang were proud places, and the Soul Attachment Pill was a very sensitive issue.

Especially in the case of Wudang, with whom Unhyun had no connection, it could lead to unintended misunderstandings.

“Hwasan sent a letter to Wudang, so we’ll receive a reply soon. Miss Jin will also contact us, so please wait a little longer.”

Acting Chief Strategist Jin Yerim decided to check if there were any problems in Emei and Shaolin due to the Soul Attachment Pill.

Also, she said she would look for someone in the Emei Sect who had connections with the Wudang Sect, so she would contact them soon.

“Will it be alright?”

Guest Ong suddenly said.

Unhyun smiled wryly.

“I can only hope it’s alright. If by any chance, due to the Soul Attachment Pill…”

“No, that’s not it.”

Guest Ong looked straight at Unhyun.

“I’m saying, the Mercantile Emperor might come again at any time, is it alright to stay like this?”

The Mercantile Emperor had blocked Unhyun’s Heavy Sword and Sharp Sword from the Three Forms of the White Tiger Sword.

If he hadn’t retreated, the outcome would have been unknown.

“…Right now.”

Unhyun answered after a moment of silence.

“I will do what I must do.”

“And then?”

“I must find it.”

Unhyun said with a determined expression.

“How to defeat the Mercantile Emperor.”

“Don’t dwell on winning or losing.”

Guest Ong continued softly,

“Originally, a dragon is a transcendent and mysterious being. The moment it becomes entangled with something else, the dragon is no longer a dragon.”

That was the same as Abbot Wabul’s advice.

Hadn’t Abbot Wabul also told him to only look at the sword?

“I understand.”

Unhyun bowed to Guest Ong.

Although the danger of inner demons still remained, it was clear that it was the right path.

“Thank you. Guest Ong.”

Guest Ong lifted his teacup without a word.

The soft scent of tea filled the tea house.

***

The wait for Unhyun and his group was not long.

Three days after waiting for news, someone came to the inn to find Unhyun and his group.

But it wasn’t a courier with a letter, nor someone from the Namgoong Clan or Hwasan.

Upon hearing the innkeeper’s message that someone was looking for ‘Great Warrior Unhyun,’ Unhyun went down to the inn’s restaurant with Youngho Joon.

“Are you Great Warrior Unhyun?”

The person waiting in the restaurant was an elderly man dressed as a Taoist.

The old man with a long beard and a detached aura felt almost like a divine immortal.

“Yes, I am.”

Unhyun answered politely.

Swish.

The old man rose from his seat.

And, chanting a Taoist invocation, he paid his respects to Unhyun.

“This humble Taoist is Cheongsong.”

“I am Unhyun.”

As Unhyun returned the greeting, the old man said in a low voice,

“Though inadequate, I belong to the Council of Elders of Wudang.”

Youngho Joon, who was next to him, widened his eyes.

“Could it be that you, Taoist, are the True Master Cheongsong?”

“That is correct.”

The surprised Youngho Joon quickly paid his respects.

“I am Youngho Joon of Hwasan.”

“Oh, you are the Plum Blossom Sword.”

True Master Cheongsong replied to Youngho Joon with a gentle smile.

After finishing his greetings, Youngho Joon asked,

“What brings you here, True Master?”

The only person accompanying True Master Cheongsong was a servant.

It was too simple for the procession of a Wudang elder.

After a moment of silence, True Master Cheongsong let out a soft sigh and said,

“In truth, I have come to ask Great Warrior Unhyun to save Wudang.”

At those words, Unhyun and Youngho Joon’s expressions hardened at once.

It was all too clear what True Master Cheongsong was talking about.

“Then, could it be…”

“That is so.”

True Master Cheongsong chanted a Taoist invocation and said,

“Many disciples of Wudang have also been poisoned by the Soul Attachment Pill. However, the opinions of the elders differ greatly, and we have not yet been able to decide on a countermeasure.”

Unhyun and Youngho Joon’s expressions hardened.

“Opinions differ greatly?”

Youngho Joon asked,

“Why is that?”

In Hwasan, the Soul Attachment Pill had instead united the elders’ opinions.

But why had Wudang become divided instead?

As True Master Cheongsong sighed again, Unhyun suddenly said,

“Let us move to another place first.”

This was the inn’s restaurant, not a place to have a private conversation.

True Master Cheongsong nodded.

They moved to a nearby tea house.

Pitter-patter.

The tea house’s maid poured tea into the teacups.

After filling the teacups, the maid stepped back, and the three sat facing each other with the teacups between them.

“Thank you, Great Warrior.”

True Master Cheongsong thanked Unhyun.

“It is nothing. Would you please tell me what happened in Wudang?”

“I understand.”

True Master Cheongsong slowly began to explain.

The incident caused by the Soul Attachment Pill was similar to that of Hwasan.

However, Wudang, which had only regarded it as the misconduct of some disciples, conducted a thorough investigation after receiving the letter from Hwasan.

The result was shocking.

Far more addicts were discovered than in Hwasan.

They immediately isolated the addicts and began taking measures according to the advice from Hwasan that followed.

The problem was what came next.

“Wudang originally started as a federation of Taoist temples. Therefore, many factions exist depending on what they pursue.”

Unlike Hwasan, Wudang is a sect rooted in Taoist temples.

Not only martial arts but also various Taoist practices such as spells, exorcisms, amulets, and alchemy are practiced in the various palaces and halls of Wudang Mountain.

“There have always been subtle power struggles and conflicts between the factions.”

True Master Cheongsong sighed softly.

“That strife has intensified greatly since the head of the sect, True Master Hyeonheo, fell ill. To the point where even the Council of Elders is not fulfilling its role.”

Watching the disciples whose symptoms were worsening day by day and the Council of Elders still mired in factional conflicts, True Master Cheongsong made a decision.

Thump.

True Master Cheongsong rose from his seat.

He said to Unhyun in a earnest voice,

“This old body earnestly pleads.”

Swish.

True Master Cheongsong bowed deeply to Unhyun.

“Please save Wudang, Great Warrior Unhyun.”

Unhyun sighed.

The sight of the gray-haired old Taoist bowing was heartbreaking.

“I am unworthy to bear such a burden. Please, lift your head.”

However, True Master Cheongsong did not raise his head.

True Master Cheongsong did not care that the servant who had accompanied him was surprised and flustered, or that Unhyun was far younger than him.

Unhyun sighed.

“I understand.”

The answer had already been decided.

“Though inadequate, I will do my best. So please, lift your head.”

Only then did True Master Cheongsong raise his head.

Tears were already welling up in his wrinkled eyes.

“Thank you.”

True Master Cheongsong said in a trembling voice,

“Thank you, Great Warrior.”

Youngho Joon, who was next to him, sighed.

The fact that even the Council of Elders was divided meant that Unhyun’s visit would not be welcomed.

Yet, Unhyun had decided to help Wudang.

However, before the old Taoist’s tears, Youngho Joon could not say anything and could only let out a helpless sigh.