Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 367

367. Doesn’t Exist

Hennan Province, outskirts of Kaifeng.

Near the Murong Family, on the main road.

A large carriage stood by the side of the road.

The driver’s seat was empty, but the carriage wasn’t abandoned.

It was because a woman with eyes as cold as snowflakes was sitting inside.

The extraordinarily beautiful woman was quietly gazing towards the other side of the road, her fair eyebrows slightly furrowed.

The maid sitting next to her was also silent.

Rustle.

As if carried by a breeze, a person in white martial attire appeared in front of the carriage.

He immediately knelt on one knee and paid his respects.

“Great Palace Lord.”

The woman as beautiful as a snowflake, the Great Palace Lord, asked with a chilly gaze.

“Binghun, what’s the situation?”

“He entered the Murong Family with his group,” Binghun, dressed in white martial attire, replied.

“Murong Mi is with them as well.”

The Great Palace Lord was silent for a moment.

She already knew that Murong Mi was with Unhyun.

Seolyeongdae [a group specializing in covert operations] had reported that Unhyun had met her at the Shaolin Temple.

Even Seolyeongdae, trained in covert operations, couldn’t hide from Unhyun’s senses and approach him.

However, the eyesight of the Bukhae people [people from Bukhae known for their keen eyesight] running through the grasslands is exceptionally keen.

Moreover, if it’s Seolyeongdae, they can distinguish the number of people and their actions even from a great distance where others can see nothing.

Although there’s a limitation that they must be able to see it, it’s enough to grasp Unhyun’s location.

“What shall we do?” Binghun asked.

Now that Unhyun has entered the Murong Family, surveillance through observation is greatly limited.

To obtain information, they need to get closer, but the risk is too great with Unhyun and Gekoeng as their opponents.

The Great Palace Lord remained silent.

She was simply staring at the direction of the Murong Family, beyond the main road.

Binghun spoke again.

“If we approach as close as possible, we can sufficiently observe the situation within the family. We can discern the movement of people and their locations…….”

“Enough.”

The Great Palace Lord cut off Binghun’s words.

Her voice was slightly sharp.

“There’s no need for that.”

Binghun was puzzled.

Does that mean she’s withdrawing the current plan?

“Will you not meet him?”

The only reason the Great Palace Lord came this far was to meet Unhyun.

She had also predicted that Unhyun would go to Shaolin.

So, the Great Palace Lord went to Shaolin Temple, which could be called enemy territory, with Bingseol and Binghun.

However, the Great Palace Lord couldn’t meet Unhyun at Shaolin.

Murong Mi was already with him.

Rustle.

The Great Palace Lord clenched her white hand and bit her red lip.

Seolyeongdae, who has the skill to read lips, reported what kind of conversation Unhyun and Murong Mi had at Shaolin Temple.

Although it was merely a story about what had happened, the Great Palace Lord was well aware of the affection contained within.

Especially Murong Mi’s reaction, as a woman, was very clear.

“Great Palace Lord, even if it’s the Murong Family, if we aim for a situation where he’s alone, we can sufficiently…….”

“I said enough…….”

Swish.

“Didn’t you hear me?” The Great Palace Lord said, glaring at Binghun.

A chilling coldness was flowing from her voice.

She didn’t want to meet Unhyun at the Murong Family.

Besides, to do as Binghun said, she would have to watch all of Unhyun’s actions tonight.

What should she do if Unhyun were to meet Murong Mi alone?

Is she supposed to listen to the reports telling her what they’re doing?

The Great Palace Lord could never do that.

Swish.

The wind blew, and dust swirled on the main road.

The Great Palace Lord raised her eyes.

Beyond the main road, Unhyun must be there, at the Murong Family.

“……There’s no need to monitor the Murong Family,” the Great Palace Lord said quietly.

“There’s no need to report separately except in urgent cases. Not until he leaves this place.”

It’s better not to know.

It’ll be better than having a broken heart.

Binghun frowned slightly but had no choice but to obey the Great Palace Lord’s command.

“Yes. I understand.”

Turning her gaze away from the direction of the Murong Family, the Great Palace Lord said.

“Let’s leave now.”

Binghun immediately rose from his seat and climbed onto the driver’s seat.

After signaling to Seolyeongdae, who was watching this place, Binghun asked.

“Where shall we go?”

At Binghun’s question, the Great Palace Lord pondered for a moment.

She hasn’t given up on meeting Unhyun yet.

She just doesn’t want to be on this road leading to the Murong Family.

“To Kaifeng.”

The Great Palace Lord said quietly.

Kaifeng is a large city very close to here.

Binghun immediately drove the horse.

“Haa!”

Clatter, clatter.

As the carriage began to move, a small cloud of dust rose on the main road.

However, the dust was soon blown away by the wind, and nothing remained on the empty main road.

***

Hennan Province, Murong Family.

Unhyun and his group were enjoying the warm tea and relieving the fatigue of their journey amidst the Murong Family’s hospitality.

In that place, Unhyun briefly told the head of the family, Murong Dancheon, about the situation so far.

The other members of the group drank tea and silently listened to Unhyun’s story, and the chief disciple Murong Jin and Murong Mi also quietly listened.

As Unhyun’s story grew longer, the young Murong Sang-ah sat next to Gekoeng and was diligently drawing something with a brush and paper.

“Hmm.”

Murong Dancheon, who had been listening to Unhyun’s story, groaned.

“Amazing. Even the Jang River Fleet and the Gihondan [elite soldiers]? The Alliance Lord has done truly great things.”

“No. It’s all thanks to everyone’s help.”

Unhyun grasped the teacup and looked back at Gekoeng, Yeonghojun, Jo Gwan, and Dam Soha.

Gekoeng was indifferent, but the others lightly bowed their heads to Unhyun.

“Once the naval training begins, how do you think the Yeongung Alliance [Heroic Alliance] will react?” Murong Dancheon asked Unhyun.

“Iron-Blooded Death King Yeom Jung-bu is not one to sit still, so surely he will do something, no?”

“Nothing,” Unhyun replied quietly.

Murong Dancheon asked back with a puzzled expression.

“Nothing? What does that…….”

“The first thing to consider is that he might ambush key figures. Just like he did in the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance].”

Unhyun said with a bitter smile.

Murong Dancheon’s eyebrows twitched.

He was reminded of the night the Murim Alliance collapsed, when he encountered the Iron-Blooded Death King.

That day, many leaders of sects and families were attacked by the Iron-Blooded Death King and suffered serious injuries.

“But that won’t be easy,” Murong Mi took Unhyun’s words.

“To stop the naval training, who exactly should he ambush?”

“Hmm.”

Murong Dancheon groaned.

The naval training won’t stop just by killing a few sailors.

To stop the training of the Jang River Fleet, the only options are to deal with Navy Commander Jin Rim or Unhyun.

“That’s right. Surely ambushing the Navy Commander or the Alliance Lord is too risky.”

“It’s not just risky, it’s impossible,” Murong Mi asserted.

Ambushing Unhyun is beyond their capabilities, and ambushing the Navy Commander would make them enemies of the state from that day on, pursued by the imperial army.

“So, as the Alliance Lord said, there’s nothing Yeom Jung-bu can do.”

Perhaps he can make a last-ditch effort.

But there’s no way to stop the naval training.

“Wouldn’t he try to draw in the power of the Il Dae Merchant [One Great Merchant]?” Murong Dancheon said.

Murong Dancheon vividly remembered the forces of Blood Prince Mun Wang that appeared on the day the Murim Alliance collapsed.

“The possibility is low,” Unhyun said calmly.

The Blood Prince Mun Wang, who led the forces, is no more.

Besides, would the Il Dae Merchant really want to help the Yeongung Alliance?

Unhyun was skeptical.

“Even if they appear, nothing will change. As long as the Jang River Fleet moves, the Yeongung Alliance and Yeom Jung-bu can’t do anything.”

Even the Murim Alliance, which dominated the Gangho [martial arts world], didn’t even think about clashing with the military.

The saying that river water and well water don’t mix is just the thought of the martial artists, and the court has never once conceded that it is the sole ruling power.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean Yeom Jung-bu will obediently surrender.”

Unhyun smiled faintly and fiddled with the teacup.

“So, I’m considering a second possibility.”

“What is it?”

“Yeom Jung-bu abandoning the Jang River and escaping.”

Murong Dancheon frowned.

“Abandoning the Jang River? But he…….”

Yeom Jung-bu is one of the Hwanwoo Five Venerables [powerful figures in the Heroic Alliance], the leader of the Yeongung Alliance, and a man with the title of Iron-Blooded Death King.

Would he try to do such a thing?

“He will do it,” Unhyun said.

“He is a man who doesn’t hesitate to take the lives of others and hates losing to a maniacal degree. When he realizes that there is only one option left for him.”

Raising the teacup, Unhyun continued.

“He will surely choose it.”

That was also Shinseung’s assessment of Iron-Blooded Death King Yeom Jung-bu.

Murong Dancheon glanced at Gekoeng.

But Gekoeng was silently savoring his tea.

“Yeom Jung-bu abandoning the Jang River…….”

Murong Dancheon murmured quietly.

It was a story that was hard to believe.

But if he doesn’t do that, he has no choice but to ambush the Navy Commander or Unhyun.

He must either die by Unhyun’s sword or become an enemy of the state and be pursued by the imperial army.

“Hoo.”

Murong Dancheon let out a hollow laugh.

In that case, it’s much more rational to abandon the Jang River.

“He must be quite troubled. This is difficult, and that is not easy either…….”

Murong Dancheon trailed off.

He had no intention of sympathizing with Yeom Jung-bu.

But who would have known that the position of Alliance Lord, which he had taken by bending the pride of the Hwanwoo Five Venerables, would collapse so quickly?

“Because he tries not to lose even a little, he loses many things instead,” Unhyun said quietly.

“Truly important, very precious things.”

Murong Dancheon agreed with those words.

Unhyun’s eyes, as he raised his teacup, were very chilly.

“Brother, this is for you.”

Murong Sang-ah suddenly said to Unhyun.

In her small hands, she held a piece of paper with something drawn on it.

Murong Mi asked with a puzzled expression.

“What is that?”

Flutter.

Drawn on the paper were figures of people.

People made of circles and lines were holding hands.

“This is…….”

Unhyun murmured, looking at the picture.

The picture depicted not only Murong Sang-ah’s family, Murong Dancheon, Murong Jin, and Murong Mi, but also two more people.

“Who are these?” Unhyun asked.

Murong Sang-ah smiled brightly.

“It’s Unhyun oppa [term of endearment for older brother]!”

Unhyun unknowingly smiled.

But Murong Mi blushed slightly.

The Unhyun that Murong Sang-ah drew was holding Murong Mi and Murong Sang-ah’s hands tightly.

And Unhyun looked at another person in the picture.

“Who is this grandfather?”

“Gekoeng grandfather!”

Gekoeng’s eyebrows twitched.

Unhyun was also surprised.

“Gekoeng senior?”

“Yes.”

Murong Sang-ah nodded.

Then, she started drawing another picture without a care.

“Hey, little miss. What about me?” Yeonghojun asked, forcing a smile, but Murong Sang-ah didn’t even pretend to hear him.

“Thank you, Sang-ah,” Unhyun said, handing the picture to Gekoeng.

Rustle.

Gekoeng looked down at the picture.

Murong Sang-ah and her family, and Unhyun and Gekoeng.

Holding hands together, they were all smiling brightly.

***

The Murong Family prepared a dinner banquet for Unhyun and his group.

Although it was only a gathering of a few people, the famous dishes and rare foods of Henan Province spoke of the Murong Family’s sincerity.

Gekoeng was also very pleased, and everyone enjoyed the meal with laughter.

After the meal, Chief Strategist Yeonghojun went to the office with Family Head Murong Dancheon, Outer Affairs Head Murong Mi, and Chief Disciple Murong Jin to discuss the affairs of the Alliance.

Jo Gwan and Dam Soha decided to go to the Henan Province Inspector’s Office to gather information and report the letter written by Unhyun to Eunuch Park.

After the two left, Unhyun, who suddenly had free time, said to Gekoeng.

“Do you perhaps have anything else to do?”

“No,” Gekoeng said indifferently as always.

“I see. Then…….”

Unhyun said with a smile.

“Would you perhaps like to go see the night scenery of Kaifeng?”