Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 39

039. Martial Arts Alliance

It’s not uncommon to behead messengers who deliver letters with displeasing content.

If the letter contains something deeply offensive, the solitary swordsman, already in a foul mood, might just chop off his head.

As the messenger from the escort agency imagined this, his face turned deathly pale.

However, the solitary swordsman, Dugu Lang, stopped him only because the sender of the letter was not indicated.

Depending on the content, there might be something to ask.

Rustle.

While the escort agency errand boy trembled with anxiety, the solitary swordsman, Dugu Lang, handed over the letter with a stern expression.

“What is it?”

“A challenge to a duel? There shouldn’t be anyone in Anhui Province who would request a duel with the solitary swordsman now, would there?”

“Perhaps it’s an invitation from another sect.”

“Then he would have thrown it away already, right? The solitary swordsman doesn’t seem like someone who likes to be tied down.”

While the person reading the letter remained silent, the onlookers began to murmur.

However, it was of little interest to most people.

Many were leaving, and some were helping the defeated, trying to push through the crowd to escape.

It was then.

“Kyahahahaha!”

The sudden burst of wild laughter silenced the murmuring crowd at once.

And they turned their gaze towards the source of the insane laughter.

“Hahaha, hahahaha!”

The person laughing madly, even disheveling his hair, was none other than the solitary swordsman, Dugu Lang.

Even as people stared, the solitary swordsman’s laughter showed no sign of stopping.

The person who brought the letter instantly turned pale.

“Hahahaha! Ha, haaa….”

How long had he been laughing?

The laughter gradually subsided, and the solitary swordsman’s head drooped.

However, his shoulders were still shaking slightly.

Crack.

The letter held in the solitary swordsman’s hand was crumpled miserably.

And then, a hollow voice seemed to leak from the solitary swordsman’s mouth.

“A frog in a well… I didn’t know there was a sky above the sky.”

People looked at each other with puzzled expressions.

Isn’t that the kind of lament one usually utters after losing a duel?

People couldn’t hide their doubts about the solitary swordsman’s words.

One person in the crowd, unable to contain his curiosity, finally asked a question.

“Esteemed hero, is there perhaps some dissatisfaction with the result of the duel?”

Others seemed to feel the same, their eyes shining as they focused on the solitary swordsman.

However, the solitary swordsman, Dugu Lang, didn’t care about anyone from the start.

His gruff voice was spat out roughly.

“I have no more business with duels.”

The solitary swordsman raised his head and looked at the sky.

“Now I know the path of the sword I must take.”

The solitary swordsman’s voice was so small that only the escort agency errand boy next to him could barely hear it.

Step, step.

While people were bewildered, the solitary swordsman, Dugu Lang, began to move.

His steps were unusually light, but people didn’t even notice that fact.

And that he was holding the letter tightly in one hand.

“What, what’s going on?”

“What happened to the duel just now?”

“I don’t know? I don’t understand at all….”

People began to murmur, watching the solitary swordsman’s receding figure helplessly.

However, the solitary swordsman didn’t stop or turn back.

“Whew.”

The escort agency errand boy sighed in relief as the solitary swordsman walked away.

“Goodness, I thought I was going to die for sure.”

When the solitary swordsman laughed like crazy a moment ago, his heart almost dropped.

Fortunately, the solitary swordsman disappeared without any mishap, so he felt like he had put one foot in the grave and then pulled it out.

“Damn it, if you were going to leave like this anyway, why did you stop me and make a fuss? Or don’t laugh… tsk.”

Once he saved his life, his complaints finally came out.

The escort agency errand boy pouted and grumbled.

“But what was in the letter that made him like that?”

Other people might not know what was going on, but he, who saw it right next to him, was different.

The solitary swordsman’s insane laughter was definitely because of the contents of the letter.

Just then, he saw the envelope of the letter that the solitary swordsman had torn up rolling around at his feet, so the escort agency errand boy picked it up without thinking.

“What is this? Beyond the Heavens (天外)… hmm, difficult characters. Lots of strokes. And the next one is… uh, um… Dragon Sword (龍劍)… Lord (主)?”

The escort agency errand boy tilted his head, but no one cared.

Thus, the solitary swordsman, Dugu Lang, left Soju.

And after that day, no one in Anhui Province saw the solitary swordsman, Dugu Lang.

As the solitary swordsman suddenly disappeared, various rumors spread.

From the story that he went to Wudang or Shaolin because he could no longer find an opponent, to the theory that he had already achieved some kind of goal and disappeared, and even the rumor that he was actually a disciple of a famous prestigious sword sect who enjoyed traveling around for duels while hiding his identity.

The opponent he dueled that day also insisted that his ultimate technique originally had a slow effect, so the solitary swordsman belatedly acknowledged his defeat, but it didn’t receive much support.

And among the opinions that didn’t receive people’s attention was the opinion of the escort agency errand boy.

He said that the solitary swordsman went to duel with a dragon from beyond the heavens, but after being laughed at once at the inn, he never opened his mouth about it again.

However, this was only the case in Anhui Province.

***

Hangzhou is the capital of Zhejiang Province and a city with a long history.

Like the saying goes, ‘The most beautiful city in the world,’ Hangzhou, with its numerous scenic spots that captivate people’s attention, is also a place watched by all martial artists.

This is because the undisputed best council of the martial arts world, encompassing both the orthodox and unorthodox factions, the Martial Arts Alliance, exists in Hangzhou.

About thirty years ago, the Martial Arts Alliance was born at the end of the bloody battle between the orthodox and unorthodox factions, also known as the Orthodox-Unorthodox War.

The Martial Arts Alliance, a coalition of the Eighteen Great Sects, claimed exclusive hegemony over the martial arts world.

Most of the sects, devastated by the Orthodox-Unorthodox War, succumbed to the Martial Arts Alliance, and the former masters who refused the Martial Arts Alliance went into seclusion.

After annihilating the notorious Janggang River Pirates Union and the Green Forest [groups of bandits], the Martial Arts Alliance brought stability to the martial arts world.

In the midst of a flourishing society, economy, and cultural development, the martial arts world under the Martial Arts Alliance system seemed to enjoy a golden age.

However, that was only a superficial appearance.

Click.

A luxuriously decorated door opened, and a young man dressed in splendid attire entered.

“Oh, Taoist Cheongjin is here.”

The young man said, bowing politely.

The young Taoist sitting at the table also rose from his seat and returned the greeting.

“You are Plum Blossom Sword Yeonghojun, a hero of the Mount Hua Sect.”

The young man, Yeonghojun, smiled brightly.

Rather than a Taoist of the Mount Hua Sect, he looked like a nobleman from a prestigious family, the kind that any woman would be attracted to.

“Hero is too much. How can I be called a hero by Taoist Cheongjin of Wudang?”

The young Taoist, called Taoist Cheongjin, said to Yeonghojun.

“The scenery of West Lake is beautiful from here, so why don’t you join us, Plum Blossom Sword?”

Plum Blossom Sword Yeonghojun did not decline.

He took a seat opposite Taoist Cheongjin.

“How is it? What are your impressions of coming to the Martial Arts Alliance as a representative of Wudang?”

The Martial Arts Alliance is truly the best council of the martial arts world.

However, not all the leaders of the sects can stay here.

Each sect dispatched people to the Martial Arts Alliance in the form of representatives, and large sects or clans even stationed representatives in the Martial Arts Alliance.

Therefore, being dispatched to the Martial Arts Alliance as a representative was the same as being recognized as a talent who would lead the sect in the future.

Taoist Cheongjin of Wudang and Plum Blossom Sword Yeonghojun of the Mount Hua Sect, who was already staying in Hangzhou, came to the Martial Arts Alliance in this way.

Taoist Cheongjin said in a soft voice.

“I just feel a great sense of responsibility. I will strive to protect the peace and well-being of the martial arts world….”

“Tsk, tsk.”

Taoist Cheongjin’s words were cut off by Yeonghojun’s clicking of his tongue.

“Don’t you know anything? Or are you pretending to know everything?”

Yeonghojun shook his head at Taoist Cheongjin’s surprised face.

“The martial arts world has never been as turbulent as it is today. The Orthodox-Unorthodox War is over, but the infighting for the interests of each faction is more intense than ever before.”

Yeonghojun’s words were true.

The Orthodox-Unorthodox War was already over, but in some ways, the world was more bloody than before.

“Moreover, with the involvement of large merchant groups and officials of the court, the survival of a sect is threatened by even a single misstep. The good old days when we were treated as a historic sect just for sitting still are long gone.”

Yeonghojun continued, sneering openly.

“And you’re going to protect the peace and well-being of the martial arts world? If Wudang intends to do that, I will stand up from this seat.”

Yeonghojun’s voice was firm.

A faint smile appeared on Taoist Cheongjin’s lips.

“I heard that Plum Blossom Sword of the Mount Hua Sect is light in temperament compared to his splendid swordsmanship, but the rumors of the martial arts world are not to be trusted.”

Taoist Cheongjin looked straight at Plum Blossom Sword Yeonghojun and continued.

“Don’t worry. The Wudang Sect will maintain a close relationship with the Mount Hua Sect as before and will always jointly deal with matters discussed in the Martial Arts Alliance. This is the firm will of the Wudang Sect.”

Yeonghojun looked at Taoist Cheongjin with sharp eyes.

Taoist Cheongjin also did not avoid his gaze.

“Thank you.”

Yeonghojun smiled.

“Now that you’ve told me so clearly, I feel like I’ve thrown off a great burden. Hahaha!”

Taoist Cheongjin replied with a soft smile.

“Don’t mention it. I have learned a lot myself.”

He had learned a lot.

He realized that clumsy hypocrisy would be ignored in this Martial Arts Alliance.

“The good thing about this Martial Arts Alliance is that you don’t have to wear a mask.”

Plum Blossom Sword Yeonghojun continued with a smile.

“Everything is laid bare. There’s no one who would lose face, and if you step back out of courtesy, you’ll be trampled on as if you’re being mobbed.”

“It’s truly a den of devils (伏魔殿) [a place where demons gather].”

“That’s right. Very accurate.”

Plum Blossom Sword Yeonghojun chimed in.

The Martial Arts Alliance is a place where a huge demon is crouching.

That is, the demon of endless human greed.

“Oh, by the way, do you know the agenda of the Martial Arts Alliance meeting in a few days?”

At Plum Blossom Sword Yeonghojun’s words, Taoist Cheongjin put down the teacup he was about to lift.

“I haven’t heard anything yet.”

“Hmm.”

Yeonghojun pretended to be distracted for a moment.

Taoist Cheongjin asked him slyly.

“Do you have any news?”

“Have you ever heard the name Changryong Sword Lord?”

“No. It’s the first time I’ve heard that name.”

Taoist Cheongjin added to Yeonghojun, who was frowning.

“Officially, that is.”

Yeonghojun smiled.

There was no way that a place like the Wudang Sect wouldn’t know that name yet.

Yeonghojun slowly continued.

“I think there’s some intention behind his eccentric behavior.”

“Intention?”

“That’s right.”

Yeonghojun nodded.

“There is no such thing as unconditional good deeds in the world. That Changryong Sword Lord, who gives enlightenment through letters… Ah, some even say he is the advent of the Sword Immortal, right? Anyway, would he really do such a thing without any intention? Would such a master really do it without any purpose?”

“It’s certainly suspicious, but….”

Taoist Cheongjin frowned.

“I don’t think it’s enough to make it an agenda of the Martial Arts Alliance….”

“The situation has changed.”

Yeonghojun said.

“Someone died.”

“Yes?”

Yeonghojun said to the surprised Taoist Cheongjin in a serious tone.

“Are you aware of the series of mysterious deaths that have occurred in the past few months?”

“I know that some martial artists died while engaging in secret duels.”

“You shouldn’t forget that those few martial artists were all leaders of their respective factions, and the opponents were all unknown.”

Yeonghojun added.

“Are you saying that the Changryong Sword Lord was involved in their deaths?”

“There is no such evidence.”

Plum Blossom Sword Yeonghojun lowered his voice as if telling a secret story.

“But don’t you feel like someone is forcing a choice? Bestowing grace on those who accept, and taking the lives of those who refuse, a choice between life and death.”

Taoist Cheongjin felt a chill down his spine.

“Then could it be that the Martial Arts Alliance is….”

Yeonghojun nodded.

“That’s right. They have acknowledged that this incident is a threat that shakes the very foundation of the current Martial Arts Alliance system.”

The color drained from Taoist Cheongjin’s face.

The Martial Arts Alliance never tolerates challenges. Challenging the Martial Arts Alliance is the same as challenging the giant sects that make up the Martial Arts Alliance system.

Also, the Martial Arts Alliance does not want chaos in the martial arts world. Because they do not want the vested interests of the giant sects to be shaken.

Therefore, if the Martial Arts Alliance has acknowledged this as a threat, it is by no means a matter to be taken lightly.

“Then we can’t just stand by. Shouldn’t we use the authority given to the Martial Arts Alliance to recover the Changryong Sword Lord’s letters and immediately begin a thorough investigation?”

Plum Blossom Sword Yeonghojun nodded as if agreeing.

“That’s right….”

It was then.

Click.

A young woman entered the room as the door opened.

A woman with a radiant face, beautifully drawn eyebrows, shining eyes, and glossy red lips.