Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 409

409. Azure Dragon Sword

Wooong, wooong.

A low hum tickled Yunhyun’s ears.

Yunhyun could clearly see the air shimmering from his and Ileun’s fingertips.

The two men’s toxic energy was resonating.

That wasn’t all.

Gaeong’s eyes, watching Yunhyun and Ileun, were glowing with a subtle heat.

It was clear that the two men’s Heavenly Fragrance Butterfly had drawn out that look.

Woong, wooong, woong.

The shimmering in the air grew more intense.

The Heavenly Fragrance Butterfly seemed ready to spread its wings and take flight at any moment.

More beautiful and deadly than ever before.

“…Do it.”

Ileun said.

“Hmph.”

Gaeong scoffed.

But soon, he unleashed his own technique, the Heavenly Fragrance Butterfly.

Whoosh.

A heavy impact erupted from the two men’s fingertips.

‘Ugh.’

Yunhyun and Ileun nearly stumbled backward for a moment.

And at the same time, something spread its wings and soared before their eyes.

Whoaah!

Yunhyun, who had been staggering, widened his eyes.

It was the Heavenly Fragrance Butterfly.

The Heavenly Fragrance Butterfly of the Poisonous Lineage, which had originally been an intangible energy, was now clearly visible to everyone.

Hung.

The Heavenly Fragrance Butterfly, soaring high, was immense and majestic.

Its pale red and green wings, spread as if to cover the sky, were so beautiful that even Yunhyun and Ileun were captivated.

But it was also the image of death that no one could avoid.

Whoooosh.

The giant Heavenly Fragrance Butterfly slowly descended from the sky toward Gaeong.

As if to engulf not only Gaeong’s life but also his entire existence, life and death.

However, Gaeong’s eyes only grew hotter.

Sreuk.

The tip of Myeong’s blade quietly pointed toward the sky.

‘That’s!’

Ileun and Yunhyun knew it instantly.

It was the beginning of the White Tiger Swordplay First Form, Yegyeom.

Whooooong.

Before the wings of death that were engulfing him, Gaeong’s sword slowly began to draw a circle.

It might have been too late of a response.

Because the wings of the Heavenly Fragrance Butterfly were already descending upon Gaeong.

Whoosh.

Just as the wings of the Heavenly Fragrance Butterfly were completely covering Gaeong, Gaeong’s sword completed its circle as if by fate.

And the next moment.

Whoaaa!

A pale blue light engulfed the world.

Swish.

Yunhyun opened his eyes at the sensation of something tickling his cheek.

No, the expression ‘opened his eyes’ wasn’t quite right.

Because he had never closed them in the first place.

Flutter.

Yunhyun realized that a small light was fluttering around his face.

He instinctively knew that the light could not harm him.

Sreuk.

The light, which had been fluttering around his fingertip, landed on Yunhyun’s finger like a butterfly.

But soon, it rose again and slowly drifted away.

As Yunhyun watched it go, he suddenly realized that there was more than one light.

The surroundings were filled with sparkling lights.

‘This is….’

Yunhyun lightly reached out his hand.

Whooooo.

A sensation like the wind blowing was transmitted to his fingertip.

The lights flickered incessantly, embracing and flowing around Yunhyun.

Large and small currents intertwined or separated, forming even larger currents.

Yunhyun raised his eyes and looked above his head.

And he sighed.

‘Ah….’

The currents were not only around Yunhyun.

The flow of light was everywhere his eyes could reach, and even beyond, into the distant reaches.

The countless flows of light intertwined, creating a vast flow of light.

That wasn’t all.

Even the vast currents were only part of an even larger flow.

The majestic flows of light existed far beyond Yunhyun’s vision, senses, and perception.

Before this overwhelming flow, nothing could be called large.

No, it couldn’t even have a shred of meaning.

Before that wondrous and majestic sight, Yunhyun could only sigh.

‘…Was I, so small?’

It was an endless insignificance and, at the same time, an absolute sense of fulfillment.

Even though he was like a speck of dust, he was part of this majestic flow.

Yunhyun could be content even if he stayed here forever.

No, rather, this was where he should be.

It was then.

Swish.

One of the lights fluttering around him flickered slightly before Yunhyun’s eyes.

Yunhyun quietly reached out his hand.

The small light landed softly on Yunhyun’s finger as if it were natural.

And a small voice, like a whisper, was transmitted to Yunhyun’s heart.

—I was worried you might suddenly go somewhere.

It was surprising, but Yunhyun didn’t find it strange.

Rather, Yunhyun smiled.

Because he knew the warm affection contained in the nagging tone.

And there were other lights.

—Scholar Yun is never alone.

A small, faintly glowing light floated quietly beside Yunhyun.

As if to stay by Yunhyun’s side at any time.

On the other hand, there were lights that ran away when Yunhyun reached out his hand.

But if he stood still, they would soon come and flicker as if to reaffirm their existence.

Yunhyun smiled at the sight, finding it somehow cute.

Hung.

And another light appeared.

It was a light that was playfully light yet incredibly soft and warm.

—Thanks to you, I had some fun for a while, so that’s enough.

A hot emotion welled up in his chest.

How could he not know this voice?

How could he forget him?

Swish, swish.

Even in the meantime, countless lights appeared and disappeared from all directions.

Constantly shining and disappearing, small and subtle lights that could not even be estimated.

It was a sight that was so futile and yet so breathtakingly beautiful.

‘Ah…!’

At that moment, Yunhyun realized.

The small lights exist and disappear in a very short moment.

But those fragile lights were clearly part of that wondrous and majestic flow.

‘…People.’

His chest tightened.

It soon turned into tears and flowed down.

‘Were they so precious and beautiful?’

Yunhyun shed hot tears.

—Great Warrior Yun.

Suddenly, a voice was heard.

Yunhyun already knew the voice that made his heart ache just by hearing it.

—It’s time for you to go now.

Yunhyun nodded.

Tears were still flowing down his cheeks, but Yunhyun still smiled.

“Thank you. Dokgo Je.”

Yunhyun raised his head and looked up at the majestic flow of light.

And he quietly raised his hand.

Swish.

Before he knew it, a sword was in his hand.

The sword was neither Myeong, nor Nagil, nor even a wooden sword.

It was the sword in Yunhyun’s heart, which had no form or name.

—So you shall be the one who governs the sword.

A faint voice was transmitted to Yunhyun’s heart.

How could Yunhyun forget those words?

How could he forget that time?

Woong.

At that moment, Yunhyun’s sword changed.

The sword of the heart, which had no name or form, revealed a sharp blade.

It was Yunhyun’s will itself.

“Yes, I am….”

Yunhyun said quietly, looking down at the sword in his hand.

“The master of the Azure Dragon Sword.”

***

Clang.

Yunhyun opened his eyes at the small metallic sound.

Perhaps he had only blinked.

But the sight that unfolded before Yunhyun’s eyes was by no means ordinary.

Ileun and Gaeong were holding a small sword together, blocking Yunhyun’s sword right in front of him.

The two men were contorting their faces as if they were prepared to die.

Yunhyun, who had been blinking, asked.

“…What are you doing?”

Gaeong’s eyebrows twitched.

“…Yunhyun?”

Gaeong asked with a suspicious expression.

Yunhyun almost laughed without realizing it.

To ask ‘Yunhyun?’ while looking at Yunhyun right in front of him, and from Gaeong of all people.

“Who else would it be if not me?”

Yunhyun said with a hollow laugh.

Gaeong glared at Yunhyun with a frown.

And then he sighed.

“Hoo.”

“Hoooooo.”

A sigh also came from Ileun’s mouth.

Ileun said with relief.

“…It’s finally over.”

Yunhyun tilted his head.

He wondered if it meant the martial arts contest was over, but Gaeong muttered quietly.

“From next year, I can call today my birthday.”

Yunhyun couldn’t understand what he was saying.

Then, he suddenly realized that he was still pointing his sword at the two men.

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

Yunhyun stepped back and sheathed Myeong.

Sreung.

Myeong made a small sound and disappeared.

Ileun and Gaeong stared at the sight.

As if to make sure that Yunhyun had completely withdrawn his sword.

Ileun withdrew the small sword, and Gaeong asked Yunhyun as if throwing it away.

“Do you remember what you did?”

“Ah… Yes.”

When Yunhyun nodded, Gaeong frowned and asked again.

“What did you do?”

“We had a martial arts contest, didn’t we?”

Yunhyun replied with a puzzled expression.

“I cut through Cheoljeon [armor made of iron plates] and Nan Hong Twelve Leaves [a complex sword technique], and deflected the small sword with Geomgyeolji [sword energy technique], didn’t I? And at the end, the two of your Heavenly Fragrance Butterflies….”

Yunhyun, who was talking, tilted his head.

“I think I cut them, but I don’t know what happened after that.”

Gaeong let out a hollow laugh.

It wasn’t just ‘I think I cut them,’ he did cut them.

Yunhyun cut down the materialized, giant Heavenly Fragrance Butterfly, which even Gaeong himself had been shocked by, with a single strike.

With his White Tiger Swordplay First Form, Yegyeom.

And Yunhyun rushed towards Gaeong and Ileun with a cool gaze that had lost its heat.

As if there was nothing more to see.

There was no way for Gaeong and Ileun to block Yunhyun’s sword.

At that last moment, when they were prepared for the worst, Yunhyun stopped his sword as if it were a lie.

The result was the small metallic sound made by the blades of Myeong and the small sword touching.

“Heo.”

Gaeong sighed quietly.

And he stared at Yunhyun.

“…Let’s go. There’s nothing more to do here.”

Yunhyun looked around.

The surroundings were a mess as if an earthquake had occurred.

“I need to drink tea.”

Yunhyun nodded at Gaeong’s words.

Since the martial arts contest was over anyway, there was no reason to stay.

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

Yunhyun, who was talking, frowned.

“But what happened to your clothes….”

In fact, the two men’s clothes could no longer be called clothes.

The pieces of Cheoljeon that Yunhyun had cut had made holes everywhere, and they were torn to shreds by the aftermath of the Heavenly Fragrance Butterfly.

It was natural for Yunhyun, who only remembered the swordplay exchanged in the martial arts contest, to ask that.

But what came back was the two men’s distorted faces.

Especially Gaeong’s expression was very serious.

Yunhyun quickly said.

“…I don’t know if it will be enough, but I’ll buy you some.”

But Gaeong replied in a blunt voice.

“I don’t need it.”

“I’ll have you buy me some.”

That was Ileun’s voice.

“If possible, something good.”

Gaeong looked back at Ileun with a displeased expression.

But Ileun’s expression was only serious.

“We have to get at least clothes, or the loss will be too great, right?”

“I was just about to buy clothes myself.”

Yunhyun quickly said, thinking this was his chance.

“I’ll prepare clothes for both of you on this occasion.”

Gaeong still had a displeased expression.

But he didn’t refuse any further.

Only then did Yunhyun let out a sigh of relief and stroke his chest.

‘Hoo.’

The advice that Chief Military Officer Yeonghojun had slipped to him before leaving Hangzhou, ‘The elders hold grudges for a long time if they get upset, so it’s best to resolve it quickly,’ was lingering in his ears.