Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 390

390. One Sword Pierces the Sky

Un-hyun stood face to face with the Sword Saint.

A passing breeze rustled the leaves in the backyard, and Guest Ong, holding a teacup, watched them with indifferent eyes.

The vibrant morning sunlight gently caressed the two, but Un-hyun and the Sword Saint’s eyes shone more intensely than ever before.

Rustle.

Un-hyun clasped his hands together and bowed politely.

“Thank you for the opportunity to cross swords.”

“There’s no need to thank me.”

The Sword Saint said with a calm expression.

“After all, it was what I wanted from the beginning.”

A moment ago, it was the Sword Saint who suggested they exchange swordplay.

It was also the Sword Saint who asked to see Un-hyun’s sword at the Wolong Pavilion, and it was the Sword Saint who provoked Un-hyun with his aura at their first meeting.

“And you never backed down, not even once.”

The Sword Saint wore a faint smile.

Among the younger generation, only Un-hyun had stood firm, raising his mental sword against the Sword Saint’s overwhelming aura.

At the Wolong Pavilion, Un-hyun readily offered to show his sword, and he couldn’t hide his enthusiasm at the Sword Saint’s suggestion to exchange swordplay.

Even now, Un-hyun’s eyes were shining.

Even when facing the Sword Saint Lee Geom-hak, the master of swords.

“Is the only thing you know still the sword?”

Swoosh.

Lee Geom-hak asked as he drew his sword, Hanwol.

His sword, Hanwol, which had frustrated countless masters and single-handedly brought the Northern Sea to its knees, emitted a cold light.

“Yes. That is all I know.”

Swoosh.

Un-hyun also drew his sword, Myeong.

The straight blade of Myeong sparkled under the sunlight.

“Then and now, it is only this.”

Myeong flaunted its beautiful form as always.

A strange light flickered in the Sword Saint’s eyes.

“That is the sword of the Northern Sea.”

Un-hyun also looked down at Myeong.

He savored the sensation in his hand and replied.

“It is a sword of special significance to me.”

Myeong had been with Un-hyun through many moments.

When the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance] collapsed, Un-hyun faced Cheolhyul Sawang Yeom Jung-bu [Iron-Blooded Death King Yeom Jung-bu], as well as In Tae-sang and Ji Tae-sang, with Myeong.

He briefly lost Myeong when he parted ways with Dokgo-rang, but it returned with his body and has protected Un-hyun ever since.

It was inevitable that it would be special to Un-hyun.

Like the Great Palace Lord who gave him this sword.

“What about Nagil? Was there some secret?”

The Sword Saint had entrusted Un-hyun with the Nagil Sword.

And he had told him that there seemed to be something hidden in that sword.

“There was.”

Un-hyun nodded.

Then, he raised Myeong and pointed it at the Sword Saint.

“Now, I will show you.”

Whoong.

Myeong hummed softly.

Un-hyun’s eyes were also shining.

“Is that so? Then.”

The Sword Saint’s eyes also changed.

He slowly raised Hanwol.

“I will gladly watch.”

Whooooong.

Hanwol also let out a soft cry.

Myeong and Hanwol echoed their sword names, and Un-hyun and the Sword Saint’s gazes met in the air.

How long had they been staring at each other like that?

Shwiiik.

The Sword Saint was the first to move.

There was no pretense of giving way for three moves, as is common in the Jianghu [martial arts world].

What the Sword Saint Lee Geom-hak wanted was a sincere sparring match, and Un-hyun was already an opponent who didn’t need any concessions.

Whoosh.

Un-hyun stared straight at Hanwol, the sword flying towards him.

There was no astonishing speed that couldn’t be seen.

Perhaps it seemed like he was just swinging it lightly.

But Un-hyun could tell.

The immense power contained in his sword.

Rustle.

Un-hyun’s sword, Myeong, gracefully cut through the air and moved towards Hanwol.

It was inevitable that the two swords would meet.

The moment the sharp tips of Hanwol and Myeong met precisely in the air.

Clang.

A sharp sound, as if something was breaking, echoed.

The Sword Saint frowned.

The two swords were stopped in the air, their tips touching as if it were a lie.

“Hmm.”

With a soft groan, the Sword Saint immediately drew up his inner energy.

Kwaaaak.

Suddenly, dust billowed up, and leaves and grass scattered in all directions.

Tall trees shook violently as if they had encountered a typhoon, and the peaceful backyard instantly turned into a mess.

“Tsk.”

Guest Ong clicked his tongue.

Clatter, crash.

The chairs, caught in the momentum, rolled away like fallen leaves, but the spot where he sat didn’t move an inch.

The teacup he held didn’t even ripple.

The Sword Saint Lee Geom-hak, the cause of all this chaos, was still facing Un-hyun, his sword tips touching.

Kwaaa kwa kwa kwaak.

A storm-like force swirled around the two.

Un-hyun’s clothes and hair were also fluttering wildly, but his eyes, looking at the Sword Saint, were calm.

It was as if he would stay like that forever.

But the Sword Saint didn’t want that.

“Hmm.”

A soft sound escaped from the Sword Saint’s mouth.

And the sword tips, which seemed like they would remain that way forever, separated.

Kwaang.

With an explosion, the power that had lost its way burst out in all directions.

Flutter flutter.

Un-hyun’s clothes fluttered, and his hair flew.

But Un-hyun was still standing in the same spot.

Thud.

The Sword Saint landed back in his spot.

He looked at Un-hyun with a calm gaze.

“Amazing.”

The Sword Saint Lee Geom-hak said.

“Is this what you gained from Nagil?”

Un-hyun quietly smiled.

“Yes.”

In fact, Un-hyun was inwardly surprised.

A moment ago, Un-hyun’s sword had clearly deflected Hanwol’s force.

The technique that even Cheolhyul Sawang Yeom Jung-bu had no choice but to give up on, the Sword Saint had instead responded to by pouring in his inner energy.

If it had simply relied on inner energy, the Sword Saint would have been swept away by his own force.

But the Sword Saint’s sword was not like that.

“How did you do it?”

Un-hyun asked.

The Sword Saint replied in a calm voice.

“I have some connection to the Tai Chi Wisdom Sword as well.”

The Tai Chi Wisdom Sword was a secret technique of the Wudang Sect.

The Sword Saint was speaking so casually about the technique that martial artists were careful even to mention.

“I see.”

Un-hyun understood.

Just as his sword Myeong had deflected Hanwol’s force, the Sword Saint was also deflecting Un-hyun’s force.

It was as if the two forces were forming a Tai Chi, maintaining a state of equilibrium.

“Then now.”

Rustle.

Un-hyun straightened his posture.

“I will show you my sword.”

Un-hyun’s eyes were sparkling as he spoke.

Ordinary swordsmanship would not work against the Sword Saint.

Then, there was only one path Un-hyun could take.

That was the White Tiger Lost Sword Third Form.

Un-hyun’s heart was pounding.

Showing himself to the Sword Saint Lee Geom-hak now was like showing his sword to Ilchung-hyun for the first time.

Rustle.

Un-hyun slowly raised his sword.

The tip of Myeong soared towards the sky.

“This is the White Tiger Lost Sword Third Form……”

Tszzzzzzzz.

Whoong.

White frost spread beneath Un-hyun’s feet, and the Northern Sea Sword Myeong softly cried.

“Heavy Sword.”

Kugugugu.

Un-hyun’s sword, raised to the sky, began to exude a heavy presence.

Before that sword, the Sword Saint’s aura also changed.

Swoosh.

The Sword Saint adjusted his grip on his sword Hanwol and took a stance.

A strange light flickered in the eyes of Guest Ong, who was watching.

It was very rare for the Sword Saint to react to a sword that had not even been unleashed yet.

But it couldn’t be helped.

From Un-hyun’s sword, which had soared before his eyes, a presence like a thousand-year-old tree was emanating.

“Indeed.”

The Sword Saint said with a look of joy spreading across his face.

“My expectations were not in vain.”

Whooooong.

Hanwol cried, and the Sword Saint’s aura slowly spread in all directions.

It was like a fog, softly but surely taking control of the surroundings.

Whooooong.

Ripples began to spread in the teacup held in Guest Ong’s hand.

With a stern expression, Guest Ong couldn’t take his eyes off Un-hyun’s sword.

Guest Ong had already seen Un-hyun’s White Tiger Lost Sword Third Form.

But Un-hyun’s sword made Guest Ong shudder again this time.

An overwhelming presence that seemed to break one’s will to fight just by looking at it.

That tremendous force was pressing down on all sides.

But the Sword Saint did not back down.

Rather, he burned his fighting spirit even more and stared straight at Un-hyun’s sword.

The two looked like a giant dragon and a fierce tiger facing off.

Guest Ong unknowingly put down his teacup.

Clatter.

It was at that very moment.

Whook.

Un-hyun’s sword fell.

It couldn’t be said to be fast, but that path, which nothing could stop, was a wondrous sight, as if a mountain was collapsing.

Kugugugung.

The enormous presence soon fell towards the Sword Saint with overwhelming power.

Before that sword, which seemed like it would crush him at any moment, the Sword Saint instead wore a smile.

“……Hanwol.”

The Sword Saint said softly.

It was the name of the Sword Saint Lee Geom-hak’s only confidant and friend, who had been with him through countless life-and-death situations.

Hwaaaak.

Light poured out from the sword held by the Sword Saint, Hanwol.

And the next moment, Hanwol’s presence disappeared.

‘Gasp!’

Guest Ong widened his eyes.

He hadn’t thrown the sword, nor had he used some strange technique.

Hanwol was still held in the Sword Saint’s hand.

But it was no longer someone’s sword.

It was the Sword Saint Lee Geom-hak himself.

Kugugugung.

The Sword Saint raised his head towards the sword falling as if the sky was collapsing.

The Sword Saint said softly.

“Let’s go.”

Hanwol answered in that voice.

Whook.

The Sword Saint, united with Hanwol, soared towards Myeong.

A single sword piercing the sky.

It was the Sword Saint Lee Geom-hak’s ultimate technique, One Sword Pierces the Sky.

Un-hyun’s collapsing Heavy Sword and the Sword Saint’s soaring One Sword Pierces the Sky collided as if by fate.

***

“Tsk.”

Guest Ong frowned and clicked his tongue.

It couldn’t be helped.

The backyard was a mess, as if a typhoon had passed through.

Small trees and flowers had been uprooted, and even fairly large trees were leaning to one side.

Not only that.

The table and chairs that Guest Ong had been sitting at were also smashed and thrown into a corner of the backyard.

The teacup was, of course, nowhere to be found.

Guest Ong, who had been frowning, looked at his sleeves covered in dust and lightly brushed them off.

Tap, tap.

In fact, his hair was already a mess, but since he couldn’t see it, it didn’t bother Guest Ong.

“Hahahahaha.”

Guest Ong’s frown deepened at the laughter that suddenly rang out.

That voice was none other than the Sword Saint Lee Geom-hak’s.

“Indeed.”

The Sword Saint looked at Un-hyun, his eyes shining.

“Amazing. To think that even my One Sword Pierces the Sky couldn’t break through it.”

Un-hyun gave a wry smile.

In the end, Un-hyun’s Heavy Sword and the Sword Saint’s One Sword Pierces the Sky had not determined a winner.

Perhaps if the two had poured out all their strength, things might have been different, but the risk was too great.

Above all, this was not a life-or-death battle, and ever since Guest Ong’s teacup had flown away, his gaze had been too piercing.

Swoosh.

Un-hyun sheathed Myeong.

“Hmm?”

The Sword Saint frowned.

He was still full of thoughts of continuing the sparring match, but Un-hyun could no longer insist.

“Thank you for indulging me.”

Un-hyun bowed politely.

To the Sword Saint, who was still frowning, Un-hyun said in a soft voice.

“Let us promise to meet again next time.”

“……That’s a pity.”

The Sword Saint Lee Geom-hak sheathed his sword.

Swoosh.

The Sword Saint said as he sheathed Hanwol.

“Do not forget what you said just now.”

His sparkling eyes were so full of life that they made one momentarily forget his reputation and age.

Un-hyun smiled awkwardly, and Guest Ong, who had been watching, sighed.

“Do it next time when I’m not here.”

It was when Un-hyun was about to smile at those words.

“But it’s strange.”

The Sword Saint suddenly said.

“Even while sparring with me, there was no wavering in your heart, so why were you so swayed before?”

“Pardon?”

Un-hyun asked back with a puzzled expression.

“I’m talking about that guy Muje.”

But Un-hyun was still bewildered.

Suddenly Muje? He couldn’t understand what the Sword Saint was talking about.

The Sword Saint frowned.

“You wouldn’t be swayed by mere emotions. Could it be…….”

The Sword Saint stared straight at Un-hyun and continued.

“A mental demon?”

At that one word, Un-hyun’s expression stiffened.