Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 411

411. The Artful Moon

The carriage carrying Yunhyun and his party sped along the main road and arrived in Nanjing.

Since Nanjing was on the way to Hangzhou, and to alleviate the fatigue of their long journey, the group decided to rest there for a day.

Inspector Jo Gwan went to the Nanjing branch of the Surveillance Department with Hang Jang-ik, as usual, while Yunhyun and Gaekong headed to the Cheongpungmyeongwol Tower [Tower of Clear Breeze and Bright Moon, a place of entertainment and arts].

“Welcome.”

As they entered, a dignified old man greeted Yunhyun and Gaekong.

Yunhyun began to introduce himself.

“Ah, I am…….”

“I know. You are Master Yun, aren’t you?”

He smiled and continued. “I have been assigned here as the chief manager to assist Lady Wolju [Wolhyang’s title, meaning ‘Moon Lord’]. I look forward to working with you.”

The chief manager bowed politely to Yunhyun and Gaekong.

Calling Wolhyang ‘Wolju’ indicated that he was also familiar with the world of arts.

“This way, please. I will guide you to the owner.”

“Thank you.”

Yunhyun and Gaekong followed the chief manager inside.

The Cheongpungmyeongwol Tower seemed even more splendid than before.

The floors were bustling with guests, and maids and servants were working diligently.

The elderly chief manager stopped in front of Wolhyang’s room.

“Master. Master Yun and Gaekong have arrived.”

Creak.

The door opened, and Yeonhwa appeared.

She bowed her head silently.

She was still wary of Gaekong, but her demeanor was much softer than before.

Yunhyun returned the greeting lightly and stepped inside.

Wolhyang rose from her seat to greet them.

Rustle.

“Welcome, Master Yun, Elder Gaekong.”

Her smile was gentle, and she was as elegant and beautiful as ever.

“Please, sit down.”

Yunhyun and Gaekong sat opposite Wolhyang.

Yeonhwa brought tea and placed it in front of them, and the soft scent of tea filled the room.

Clatter.

Wolhyang asked, lifting her teacup, “Did your business go well?”

“Yes.”

A strange light flickered in Wolhyang’s eyes at Yunhyun’s answer.

“Does that mean…….”

“I met Ileun.”

Wolhyang’s eyes widened, and Yeonhwa couldn’t hide her surprise either.

“Did you really find him?”

All Wolhyang had told Yunhyun was, ‘Neither be a great recluse nor a small one.’

How could he find Ileun with just that, and so quickly?

“As it turns out, he was someone I had a connection with in the past.”

Yunhyun continued with a gentle expression. “But I wouldn’t have been able to find him without Lady Wolju’s words. Thank you.”

“Ah, so…….”

Wolhyang nodded and suddenly let out a soft laugh.

“It’s amazing that he had a connection with you. Is he still healthy?”

“Yes. He’s doing very well.”

He hadn’t changed at all, so he was doing very well.

After all, there was no one who could touch Ileun.

“……I see.”

Wolhyang’s smile looked somewhat lonely.

Yunhyun said casually, “Speaking of which, he also mentioned Lady Wolju.”

She raised her eyes.

“……What did he say?”

Wolhyang’s voice was slightly trembling.

Yunhyun continued with a gentle expression. “He said you are bright and beautiful, capable of moving people’s hearts.”

The context was a little different, but that was indeed what he had said.

“Ah.”

Yunhyun smiled at the surprised Wolhyang and said, “I’ll bring him along sometime.”

Wolhyang nodded silently instead of answering.

Clatter.

Yunhyun picked up his teacup and savored the aroma for a moment.

“Is the work of helping the artists going well?”

“Yes.”

Wolhyang raised her eyes and looked at Yunhyun. “First, I’m forming an organization with people I can trust. This isn’t something that can be done with just enthusiasm.”

Yunhyun agreed with her words.

Even a Son of Heaven who has received the will of heaven needs a systematic organization to rule the world.

Ileun’s assessment that Wolhyang was bright was accurate.

“So, I have a request for you.”

It was Wolhyang’s first request.

Yunhyun smiled.

“Yes. Tell me.”

“What should we name ourselves?”

Yunhyun looked at Wolhyang with a puzzled expression.

Wolhyang gave a gentle smile.

“Since you are our protector, it is only natural that you name us.”

“I see.”

Yunhyun also smiled.

After thinking for a moment, Yunhyun said, “How about ‘Artful Moon (藝月)’?”

Wolhyang looked slightly surprised.

“Artful Moon means…….”

“Yes. It means the moon that illuminates the artists.”

That was the same meaning as Wolhyang being called Wolju.

Yunhyun expressed his respect and trust for her in that way.

“……That’s a really good name.”

Wolhyang said with a slightly moved look.

“Thank you, Master Yun.”

“You’re welcome.”

At that moment.

“Master.”

The chief manager’s voice was heard from outside.

Wolhyang frowned.

Even though she had told him not to disturb her, the fact that the chief manager had come meant that the matter was not light.

Yeonhwa immediately approached the door.

Rustle.

The door opened, and the chief manager said something in a low voice.

Yeonhwa looked back at Wolhyang with a slightly embarrassed expression.

“Why?”

Wolhyang asked, and Yeonhwa said, “Um, well……. The head of the Hanggyeong Merchant Group [a large merchant group spanning Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces] wants to see you?”

The Hanggyeong Merchant Group was a huge merchant group spanning Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.

Based in the large city of Nanjing and the prosperous Hangzhou, it had accumulated great wealth and was one of the top five merchant groups in the world.

Wolhyang also knew the head of the Hanggyeong Merchant Group.

He had visited this Cheongpungmyeongwol Tower before.

But that was it; there was no reason to seek her out separately like this.

“Tell him I’ll contact him later…….”

“It’s very important.”

Yeonhwa said with a firm expression.

The fact that the head of a large merchant group like the Hanggyeong Merchant Group had come in person was certainly not a light matter.

“Go and see him.”

Yunhyun said with a smile.

Wolhyang thought for a moment and nodded.

“Then I’ll be right back.”

“Take your time.”

Wolhyang responded with a smile to Yunhyun’s words.

Then she got up from her seat and went outside with Yeonhwa.

Thud.

The door closed, and Yunhyun savored the tea with Gaekong.

“Elder.”

Yunhyun said suddenly.

Gaekong turned his head and looked at Yunhyun.

“Why?”

“Don’t people call the Five Supreme Celestial Sovereigns [legendary martial arts masters] the strongest in the world?”

“They did. But not anymore.”

Since Yeom Jung-bu disappeared, or even before that, people no longer mentioned the Five Supreme Celestial Sovereigns.

When the Murim Alliance [martial arts alliance] collapsed and the Divine Monk died, the era of the Five Supreme Celestial Sovereigns ended with it.

“Are there no other masters?”

“Hmph.”

Gaekong chuckled. “Why wouldn’t there be? The world of martial arts is full of hidden masters and eccentrics. I, for one, never imagined that someone like you would pop up.”

Yunhyun gave an awkward smile.

“Hmm, masters…….”

Gaekong was lost in thought for a moment.

Then he quietly opened his mouth. “During the Righteous-Evil War, the influence of the Five Supreme Celestial Sovereigns was absolute. The fate of a sect could be decided by just one of them.”

Yunhyun nodded.

Seeing the elders of the sects still startled when they saw Gaekong, he could easily guess how strong an impression the Five Supreme Celestial Sovereigns had left at the time.

“Even after the establishment of the Murim Alliance, each sect did its best to cultivate masters who could manifest Sword Energy [a high-level martial arts technique]. Sometimes, they even gave up the position of head of the family and sect leader.”

The newly begun era of the Murim Alliance required seasoned political acumen and flexible negotiation skills.

However, the need for masters did not disappear.

No, it became even more important.

No matter how much political negotiation or alliance there was, the world of martial arts was ultimately established on the basis of martial superiority.

“Reaching the realm of a supreme master is never easy. Of course, not everyone succeeded. But some certainly did achieve results.”

“Where?”

“First, Shaolin, Wudang, Mount Hua, and Emei. Their potential cannot be ignored.”

“Didn’t Emei have trouble with the Taepyung Alliance?”

Gaekong chuckled.

“That’s because Bukhae intervened. If you only look at Emei and Tang Family, the problem is a little different.”

Yunhyun agreed with Gaekong’s words.

Indeed, the realm of the reclusive master of Emei, Thousand Hands Divine Nun, was admirable.

However, it didn’t seem like the Tang Family would create a situation where ‘only Emei and Tang Family’ clashed.

“Second, the so-called great aristocratic families. In particular, the Namgung Family is noteworthy.”

The previous head of the Namgung Family, Lightning Sword Namgung Jincheon, was the first master to manifest Sword Energy besides the Five Supreme Celestial Sovereigns.

Although he was defeated by the Dark Sky Demon Emperor, he announced to the world that the era of supreme masters who could emit Sword Energy had begun.

“It’s a pity. Lightning Sword has passed away.”

“There’s Iron Sword, isn’t there?”

Yunhyun said with a puzzled expression.

“But he said himself that he was inferior to Lightning Sword.”

Gaekong chuckled.

“Have you ever seen Lightning Sword?”

Yunhyun shook his head.

He had only heard about him, but Yunhyun had never seen Lightning Sword Namgung Jincheon.

Gaekong asserted, “If you had seen him, you would have noticed. Iron Sword’s realm is actually higher now than Lightning Sword’s was in the past.”

He had seen Iron Sword up close when he visited the Namgung Family with Yunhyun.

Also, the Divine Monk had said that Iron Sword was perfect.

“Besides these, there will be even more who are hidden. The world of martial arts is a place where you never know what will pop out from where. Of course, whether they will catch your eye is another matter.”

Gaekong, who was speaking, suddenly asked, “But why are you asking this all of a sudden?”

“Didn’t Ileun say something?”

“What are you talking about?”

Ileun said a lot of things.

But he hid even more.

“He said that if you don’t know which way to go, take a step back and look around.”

“That you will realize you are not alone?”

“Yes.”

Yunhyun continued with a serious look. “I’ve been thinking about what that means. So…….”

Tap, tap, tap.

At the sudden sound, Gaekong and Yunhyun turned their heads.

Sure enough, the door burst open.

“M, Master Yun!”

The person who opened the door was Wolhyang.

Wolhyang, who was always gentle and elegant, was wide-eyed with surprise.

Her face was slightly flushed, and she was holding a thin booklet that she didn’t have just a moment ago.

“What’s wrong?”

“Is it more trash?”

Yunhyun and Gaekong asked.

“Ah, no. It’s not trash……. Is it trash?”

“Are there humans who need to be disposed of?”

Wolhyang shook her head.

“No. It’s not like that.”

Thump, thump.

Wolhyang strode confidently towards Yunhyun and spread the booklet she was holding on the table.

Flap.

Yunhyun couldn’t see the book.

Wolhyang was coming too close, and her hair, which had fallen down, tickled his face.

Meanwhile, Yeonhwa, who followed behind, closed the door.

Clatter.

Yunhyun awkwardly leaned back.

“Um, it would be better to move a little…….”

But Wolhyang ignored him and turned her head towards Yunhyun.

“Someone named Yunhyun from Hangzhou sent these to us, did you do it, Master Yun?”

Wolhyang’s face was flushed too close, so Yunhyun had nowhere to look.

“Wh, what are you…….”

“Yes.”

Gaekong answered.

Wolhyang looked at Gaekong with a surprised expression.

It couldn’t be helped.

The booklet that the head of the Hanggyeong Merchant Group had personally handed over contained an unbelievable amount of goods.

Gold and silver, as well as various jewels and precious pearls, famous calligraphy and paintings, and rare items from the distant Western Regions, were enough to buy several Cheongpungmyeongwol Towers.

The head of the Hanggyeong Merchant Group himself had come to explain the situation and confirm the list.

Clatter.

Ignoring the surprised Wolhyang and Yeonhwa, Gaekong lifted his teacup and said nonchalantly, “But is that all?”

“Pardon?”

Wolhyang asked without realizing it.

Certainly, there was no mention of ‘all’.

She had heard that ‘someone named Yunhyun from Hangzhou had sent it’, so she had run over without finishing the list.

“Check if that’s all. If that’s all, it means that Yeomga was less greedy than I thought.”

Gaekong glanced at the thin booklet and calmly savored his tea.

While Wolhyang and Yeonhwa were looking at Gaekong with confused expressions, Yunhyun was giving an awkward smile and trying to lean his upper body back.

Rustle.

Wolhyang turned to Yunhyun.

Wolhyang’s eyes sparkled beautifully right in front of him.

“I can’t accept this.”

Wolhyang said firmly.