Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 366

366. The Central Plains

The group that had descended from Shaolin Temple boarded a carriage bound for the Murong Family estate.

Murong Mi entered the carriage and greeted Woon-hyun and the others.

While Murong Mi was already acquainted with Youngho-joon, she only knew Jo Gwan and Dam Soha by sight and hadn’t formally greeted them before.

After the introductions, Woon-hyun quietly leaned towards Murong Mi and said, “…Actually, Guest Elder is Dokseon.”

“Pardon?”

The revelation was so unexpected.

Murong Mi turned to Woon-hyun, blinking in surprise. They were sitting close enough that their faces were nearly touching, but Murong Mi was too stunned to notice.

“What did you just say…?”

“Shhh.”

Woon-hyun raised a finger to his lips.

He smiled faintly.

“…I thought you should know.”

Woon-hyun lowered his finger.

Murong Mi looked back at Guest Elder with wide eyes.

However, Guest Elder was simply gazing out the carriage window with an impassive expression.

Still disbelieving, Murong Mi asked Woon-hyun, “Then, regarding the Changryong Alliance…”

Woon-hyun shook his head.

“He’s with me personally, it’s unrelated to the Changryong Alliance.”

“Ah.”

The intelligent Murong Mi quickly understood the situation.

“…I understand.”

Murong Mi sighed softly.

Dokseon… she couldn’t help but be awestruck. She wanted to show proper respect to Dokseon immediately, but given the circumstances, she had no choice but to pretend she didn’t know his true identity.

Murong Mi turned to Woon-hyun and gave a weak laugh.

“Scholar Woon, you certainly know how to surprise me.”

Woon-hyun offered an awkward smile.

Murong Mi glanced at Guest Elder once more.

She still found it hard to believe that she was sitting beside Dokseon, one of the Hwanwooocheonjon [Four Heavenly Kings of Hwanwoo]. And now she understood why Mae Hwa Geom, Youngho-joon, who was usually so frivolous, was being so quiet.

Clatter, clatter.

The carriage carrying the group continued towards the Murong Family estate.

Looking at Woon-hyun smiling beside her, Murong Mi felt that the journey was passing much faster than the trip here.

***

The head of the Murong Family, Gwanilgeom Murong Dancheon, greeted Woon-hyun in front of the main gate.

“Hahaha. Welcome…”

However, Murong Dancheon’s greeting faltered.

The sight of Guest Elder stepping out of the carriage had caught his attention.

Naturally, Murong Dancheon’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Grandfather.”

Murong Mi quickly interjected.

“That person is Guest Elder.”

“What? No, Miya. That person is…”

Murong Mi cut off Murong Dancheon, who was speaking with a shocked expression, her tone serious.

“He is Guest Elder.”

At his granddaughter’s earnest expression, Murong Dancheon turned his gaze to Guest Elder.

“…Hmm.”

If Guest Elder had been alone, Murong Dancheon wouldn’t have believed it. However, seeing Woon-hyun, the Changryong Sword Lord, accompanying him, he somehow became convinced. Come to think of it, Woon-hyun had met Dokseon before; the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance] had mentioned it.

Murong Dancheon stepped forward to pay his respects to Guest Elder, who was approaching.

Swoosh.

“Thank you for visiting our humble family. I am Murong Dancheon, the head of the Murong Family.”

Murong Dancheon’s courtesy was polite, but there was a hint of tension in his eyes. Who wouldn’t be nervous in front of Dokseon, one of the Hwanwooocheonjon?

However, Guest Elder’s reaction was as indifferent as ever.

“I am Guest Elder.”

The tense Murong Dancheon gave a wry smile.

As his granddaughter had said, he was here as Guest Elder, not Dokseon.

“Welcome. I hope you have a comfortable stay during your visit.”

Murong Dancheon’s expression was much more relaxed as he spoke.

“Hmm.”

Guest Elder simply nodded, his expression unchanged.

Of course, he didn’t offer a word of thanks.

Murong Dancheon didn’t seem to expect it either and turned to Woon-hyun.

A bright smile spread across Murong Dancheon’s wrinkled face.

“Welcome, Great Woon. No, I should call you Alliance Leader now. Hahaha.”

Seeing Murong Mi and Woon-hyun together, Murong Dancheon could already tell that the Murong Family’s intentions had been conveyed to Woon-hyun.

Woon-hyun politely returned Murong Dancheon’s greeting.

“I am truly grateful that the Murong Family is joining forces with us.”

“It is only right to do so.”

Murong Dancheon said with a smile.

Murong Dancheon was satisfied just seeing Woon-hyun and Murong Mi standing side-by-side.

“Great Woon!”

Murong Jin, the chief disciple of the Murong Family, exclaimed with a bright expression.

“Ah, Great Hyeop [Great Hero] Murong Jin.”

“Great Hyeop, I’m embarrassed.”

The two exchanged polite greetings, sharing their joy at meeting again after so long.

“Woon Oppa [Older Brother]!”

Tap tap tap.

The little child running towards them, making a racket, was Murong Sanga.

“Sanga!”

Woon-hyun quickly lowered himself, surprised.

Sanga ran into Woon-hyun’s arms.

“Oppa!”

Woon-hyun smiled as he looked at Murong Sanga.

“Yes, Sanga. It’s been a long time. How have you been?”

The last time Woon-hyun had seen Murong Sanga was at the Murim Alliance Cheonhamurim Competition [All Under Heaven Martial Arts Competition]. When Woon-hyun returned to the Murim Alliance, the situation was already critical, so Murong Sanga had returned to the Murong Family with some of the disciples.

“I’ve been good! How about you, Oppa?”

“I’ve been good too.”

“I’ve grown taller! Look at this!”

She still looked small to Woon-hyun, but Murong Sanga wore a proud expression.

“Yes, that’s good.”

“Yeah! I’m going to be as tall as my sister!”

As Murong Sanga spoke, she suddenly looked up at Guest Elder.

Murong Sanga immediately became serious and bowed her head politely.

“Hello. I’m Murong Sanga.”

Guest Elder looked down at Murong Sanga.

Murong Sanga looked back at Guest Elder intently.

Perhaps because she was always with her grandfather, Murong Dancheon, Murong Sanga wasn’t very afraid of Guest Elder.

“…I am Guest Elder.”

Guest Elder said.

Murong Sanga smiled brightly.

“Nice to meet you, Grandpa.”

“…Okay.”

Guest Elder turned his head away.

Woon-hyun was amazed at the unprecedented reaction, and Murong Dancheon said with a smile.

“Alright, everyone, let’s go inside. This way, please.”

The group all moved into the Murong Family estate together.

Guest Elder followed behind with his usual indifferent expression, and Murong Sanga followed with quick steps, looking up at him with an awed expression.

***

Seongdo, Sichuan Province, the main headquarters of the Taepyeong Alliance [Great Peace Alliance].

Bang.

Dang Seol-ryeon, the general military officer in charge of external affairs, slammed her hand on the desk.

The letter in her hand was crumpled, but she didn’t care.

“Murong Family, those… things!”

Gritting.

Dang Seol-ryeon gritted her teeth, her expression venomous.

Her hand holding the letter trembled.

“Those ungrateful wretches dare to…!”

She had expected the Murong Family to eventually leave the Taepyeong Alliance.

She already knew they were close to Woon-hyun.

But she hadn’t expected them to move so quickly.

She especially hadn’t expected them to notify her with a single, dismissive letter.

Swish.

Dang Seol-ryeon raised her head and looked at her subordinate.

“Did you confirm that the Shaolin Temple joined the Changryong Alliance?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

The subordinate bowed his head and answered.

“It seems the Murong Family will also join soon.”

Dang Seol-ryeon already knew that.

That was likely the reason the Murong Family had left the Taepyeong Alliance.

‘Shaolin, Wudang, and Hwasan, and even the Murong Family…’

Dang Seol-ryeon bit her lip.

‘It’s as if they’ve completely surrendered the Central Plains.’

‘Central Plains (中原)’ literally meant ‘middle land,’ but it was also a term used to denote a large area of great strategic importance.

The Murong Family, located not far from Shaolin Temple, Hwasan, and Wudang—the Taesanbukdu [Great Mountain and North Dipper] of the Murim—couldn’t help but be considered part of the Central Plains.

Moreover, the Murong Family’s location in Henan Province, historically known as the Central Plains, was no coincidence.

The true Central Plains had been conceded.

‘That’s why I tried so hard to bring them in…’

Even knowing the Murong Family’s close ties to Woon-hyun, she had brought them into the Taepyeong Alliance because of their strategic location.

She had also been confident that Woon-hyun’s dantian [energy center] was broken.

‘…Should I have dealt with the Murong Family sooner?’

But there hadn’t been time.

She had been busy stabilizing the Taepyeong Alliance’s organization and absorbing unclaimed territories.

In truth, if it had only been the Murong Family, this wouldn’t have been so significant.

But the Ami and Namgung Families had joined the Changryong Alliance, and then Hwasan, Wudang, and Shaolin had followed suit as if they had been waiting for the opportunity.

As a result, the Murong Family had also joined the Changryong Alliance, creating a stronghold in the heart of the Central Plains almost overnight.

A solid stronghold comprised of Hwasan, Wudang, Shaolin, and the Murong Family.

‘If this continues…’

Dang Seol-ryeon, lost in thought, looked at her subordinate.

“What’s the status of the naval training plan?”

“I haven’t been able to ascertain the details yet.”

Dang Seol-ryeon’s beautiful eyebrows furrowed deeply.

The subordinate quickly continued.

“I did discover that the naval commander-in-chief directly submitted the training plan. However, the specific dates and location remain unknown…”

“The naval commander-in-chief himself?”

“Yes. It’s Jinrim, the naval commander-in-chief of the Janggang [Yangtze River] Naval Command.”

“Jinrim…”

Dang Seol-ryeon was lost in thought.

Soon, she recalled the name Jinrim.

“Originally, his faction was supposed to be opposed to Public Official Park, correct?”

The Taepyeong Alliance had poured a considerable amount of resources into the court.

As a result, she had gained some influence, allowing Dang Seol-ryeon to understand the general factional dynamics within the court.

“Furthermore, the naval commander-in-chief is the highest-ranking officer in the military. He knows better than anyone that moving the military on a large scale could raise suspicion. Yet, he still submitted such an extensive naval training plan?”

Those who wield military power are always subject to scrutiny and suspicion.

That’s why a general commander is appointed separately to take command, even when a naval commander-in-chief exists.

“But it’s confirmed that Naval Commander-in-Chief Jinrim directly submitted the training plan.”

Dang Seol-ryeon couldn’t understand it at all.

Even she couldn’t know the secret machinations of the court and the imperial palace, so she could only bite her lip in frustration.

“Find out everything.”

Dang Seol-ryeon said, her expression venomous.

“Scale, dates, location, personnel… Everything about the naval training. Especially the location; you must discover where it’s being held. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

The subordinate bowed his head.

Dang Seol-ryeon turned her attention to the documents and said,

“You may leave. Oh, by the way, is the Bukhaeilmunju [Lord of the Northern Sea One Sword Gate] still in Seongdo?”

The subordinate, who was about to leave, answered,

“He has already departed Seongdo. The chief of Bukhaeilmun remains.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

She had already received a report that Bukhaeilmunju and the people of Bukhaeilmun had left.

Dang Seol-ryeon tapped the desk with her finger, lost in thought.

“Should I summon the chief of Bukhaeilmun?”

“No, there’s no need.”

Dang Seol-ryeon shook her head, recalling the fat and friendly-looking chief of Bukhaeilmun.

She wouldn’t have anything to discuss with the chief, unless it was Bukhaeilmunju himself.

When Dang Seol-ryeon waved her hand dismissively, the subordinate bowed and left the office.

Tap.

Dang Seol-ryeon, left alone, muttered quietly.

“It’s not entirely bad that the Jegal Family is wavering…”

Henan Province, where the Murong Family was located, bordered Shandong Province, where the Jegal Family was situated, and Anhui Province, where the Namgung Family resided.

If news spread that the Murong Family had left the Taepyeong Alliance, the Jegal Family would feel even more threatened.

“It’s not ideal that the Gongson Family is so excited.”

The Gongson Family had been elated by the announcement of the naval training.

They spoke as if it were a foregone conclusion that they would regain their influence in the Janggang.

But the greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.

If the Gongson Family wasn’t the only one benefiting from the naval training, but the Namgung Family as well, and if they discovered that the Changryong Alliance was behind it, what would become of the Gongson Family?

It was just a hypothesis, but Dang Seol-ryeon was already accepting it as fact.

She was convinced that Changryong Sword Lord Woon-hyun was behind all of this.

“The price for this…”

Gritting.

Dang Seol-ryeon gritted her teeth, recalling Woon-hyun’s soft smile.

“I will definitely make you pay.”