Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 413

413. There’s No Reason Not to Go

Guangxi Province, Guilin.

Guilin, a city in Guangxi Province renowned for its beautiful scenery, was unusually bustling with martial artists.

Especially in Guilin’s downtown area, the sheer number of martial artists gave the impression that the city was literally overflowing with them.

These were members of the Taiping Alliance.

The primary target area for the Taiping Alliance’s Jiangnan [the region south of the Yangtze River] conquest was Guilin in Guangxi Province.

And the Taiping Alliance was using Guilin, with its relatively convenient transportation and abundant supplies, as a base of operations for the Jiangnan conquest.

The largest pavilion in Guilin was occupied by the Taiping Alliance’s Guangxi branch and the Tang Clan’s branch, while other aristocratic families commandeered large and splendid mansions for their own branches.

What happened to the original owners was of no concern to the Taiping Alliance.

Gongsun Family’s Guilin Branch, Family Head’s office.

“Family Head.”

Gongsun Wei, the head of the Outer Hall, spoke quietly.

Gongsun Yue, the Family Head of the Gongsun Family, who had been lost in thought, raised his eyes.

“A report has arrived confirming that the letter was safely delivered.”

“…I see. Thank you.”

Gongsun Yue’s complexion remained dark.

The expression of Gongsun Wei, the head of the Outer Hall, was equally stiff.

It was unavoidable.

Gongsun Chang, the new Deputy Head of the Outer Hall and representative of the Martial Alliance, had died.

He had been forcefully suppressing sects in Yongzhou, a small city in Guangxi Province, when he was struck by a stray arrow.

Gongsun Chang hadn’t taken the wound seriously, opting for only simple treatment.

However, the next day, Gongsun Chang lost consciousness and fell from his horse while riding.

Gongsun Chang, who repeatedly suffered from high fever and vomiting, turned blue all over and eventually died before the physician could do anything.

The cause of death was acute sepsis due to infection of the wound.

Sepsis was a common cause of death on the battlefield, so no one suspected foul play.

Except for one person: Gongsun Yue, the Family Head of the Gongsun Family.

Gongsun Wei, the head of the Outer Hall, said quietly.

“…Do you still believe it wasn’t an accident?”

“Then do you think it was an accident?”

Gongsun Yue countered with a sharp gaze.

“It’s not just Chang. Chu-hyeon died in Namdan, didn’t he?”

Gongsun Chu-hyeon was the former Deputy Head of the Outer Hall and representative of the Taiping Alliance.

He had attended the Taiping Alliance Family Head meeting as the Family Head’s proxy, opposed Changryong Sword Master Yun-hyeon, and was ousted from his representative and Deputy Head positions due to the strong protest of Chief Military Advisor Dang Seol-ryeon.

He tried to compensate for this by achieving great feats in the Jiangnan conquest.

However, he died after falling into a valley when the horse he was riding ran wild, without achieving any significant merit.

This happened on the way to Namdan, a small city in Guangxi Province.

“If it were one person, I might consider it an unfortunate accident. But not two.”

Gongsun Yue gritted his teeth.

“How can two masters of the Gongsun Family, especially two of that caliber, die while dealing with the Jiangnan’s evil sects?”

Two masters of the Outer Hall Deputy Head class, not even disciples of the family, had perished.

The pride of the Gongsun Family could never tolerate such a loss.

“But they were unexpected accidents. The terrain here is unusually rough…”

“Yes. It’s an accident.”

Gongsun Yue’s eyes blazed with anger.

“An accident that happened while plotting the Jiangnan conquest in alliance with the Tang Clan.”

Gongsun Wei flinched.

He understood why the Family Head considered the deaths of the two men suspicious.

The Family Head suspected the Tang Clan.

“But both incidents were carried out solely by members of our family. There was no one from the Tang Clan present at either scene.”

“What does that matter? If the Tang Clan sets its mind to something, it’s not a difficult task.”

The Tang Clan had even subtly suggested that if they had been present, Gongsun Chang wouldn’t have died of sepsis.

They subtly mixed in criticism that the Gongsun Family was 독선적 (dogmatic/self-righteous).

“But is it even possible to leave the Taiping Alliance now?”

They were already deeply involved in the Jiangnan conquest.

If they withdrew from the Taiping Alliance now, the damage the Gongsun Family would suffer would be even greater than if the main family home had burned down.

“It is possible. If he helps us.”

Gongsun Wei knew who the ‘he’ the Family Head was referring to.

It was Yun-hyeon, the leader of the Changryong Alliance, to whom the Family Head’s personal letter had been secretly delivered.

“Regaining influence in the Yangtze River region is what everyone in the family desires. But it’s never easy. Above all, why would he help us?”

“We have to make it so. No matter what it takes.”

Family Head Gongsun Yue’s eyes were firm.

Gongsun Wei said, frustrated.

“Is it something we have to go to such lengths for?”

Swish.

Family Head Gongsun Yue fixed his gaze on Outer Hall Head Gongsun Wei.

“What the Tang Clan is aiming for is not just Jiangnan. After another one of us dies, it will be too late.”

Gongsun Yue’s eyes were resolute.

Gongsun Wei knew that he couldn’t change the Family Head’s mind.

He sighed quietly.

“…Will he even agree to meet us?”

The Family Head’s personal letter had been delivered to Yun-hyeon.

But would he actually come to the meeting?

The Changryong Alliance had already risen to become a leading righteous faction alliance, having taken over Gangbuk [the region north of the Han River] and the Central Plains.

Wouldn’t he consider it more advantageous to simply observe the situation as it is?

“You never know.”

Family Head Gongsun Yue sighed quietly.

“I can only hope that the heavens have not abandoned our Gongsun Family.”

Gongsun Yue said with a sigh.

However, Outer Hall Head Gongsun Wei’s expression remained stiff.

***

Outside Hangzhou, Changryong Alliance Temporary Headquarters.

Yun-hyeon was meeting Yeong Ho-jun in his office and study.

Swoosh.

Yeong Ho-jun spread a map on the desk.

It was a map showing Hangzhou, where the Changryong Alliance was located, and the area around Jiangxi Province, where the Gongsun Family’s main family was located.

“The meeting location is an important issue.”

Yeong Ho-jun’s eyes gleamed as he studied the map.

“We can consider not only the symbolism of the location but also the pressure it exerts on the other party. So, where would be ideal?”

“Tell them to come to Shaoxing.”

Guest Elder, who was savoring tea nearby, suddenly interjected.

Shaoxing is a small city just south of Hangzhou, also famous for its specialty, ‘Shaoxing wine.’

It was essentially the same as telling them to come to Hangzhou, so Yun-hyeon gave a wry smile.

But Yeong Ho-jun nodded.

“That would work too. Strictly speaking, Shaoxing belongs neither to the Changryong Alliance nor the Gongsun Family. But it will take them some time to get there.”

Yun-hyeon asked with a puzzled expression.

“It will take time? I know it’s not that far…”

Jiangxi Province, where the Gongsun Family was located, and Zhejiang Province, where the Changryong Alliance was located, were adjacent to each other.

It wasn’t extremely close, but it wasn’t a great distance either.

Yeong Ho-jun replied nonchalantly.

“That’s because they are currently in Guilin, which is much further away. That place is the base for the Taiping Alliance’s Jiangnan conquest. For now, they seem to be focusing their efforts on Guangxi and Guizhou provinces, excluding Hunan province.”

The fact that the Taiping Alliance was avoiding Hunan Province was undoubtedly related to the fact that the Yangtze River passed through Hunan.

The whole world knew that the Changryong Alliance was the new master of the Yangtze River.

Yeong Ho-jun carefully examined the map.

“Hmm, there’s no particularly suitable place between the Gongsun Family and the Changryong Alliance headquarters. A small city isn’t bad in terms of secrecy… Should I tell them to come to Changsha, which is closer to Nanjing or Guilin?”

Yeong Ho-jun frowned, as if he couldn’t think of a suitable location.

Yun-hyeon suddenly spoke.

“If the Family Head of the Gongsun Family is in Guilin, why don’t we go there?”

“Yes?”

Yeong Ho-jun asked, surprised.

Guest Elder, who was drinking tea, also turned to look at Yun-hyeon.

“Guilin belongs neither to the Changryong Alliance nor the Gongsun Family, right? And besides, not many people will be traveling with us…”

As before, the entourage would consist of Guest Elder, Royal Inspector Jo Gwan, and escort Hang Jang-ik.

Jo Gwan didn’t want to leave Yun-hyeon’s side, on the orders of Eunuch Park, and Yun-hyeon didn’t refuse his company out of consideration for Eunuch Park.

“I think it would be good to go to Guilin.”

Neither Guest Elder nor Yeong Ho-jun said anything.

After a moment, Yeong Ho-jun spoke.

“Are you sure about that? As I mentioned, that place is being used by the Taiping Alliance as a base for the Jiangnan conquest.”

“We’re not fighting the Taiping Alliance, are we?”

Yun-hyeon continued with a puzzled expression.

“It’s not like I have any personal grudges against them, and I even went to the Taiping Alliance headquarters in Chengdu before.”

Yeong Ho-jun gave a wry smile.

Certainly, Yun-hyeon had even visited Chengdu in Sichuan Province, the Taiping Alliance headquarters.

But unlike then, Yun-hyeon is now the leader of the Changryong Alliance, isn’t he?

“Still…”

“There’s no reason not to go.”

Guest Elder suddenly said.

“We go in and out of the imperial palace without hesitation, so why can’t we go to Guilin? Hyun can go anywhere in the world if he wants to.”

Guest Elder spoke in a firm tone.

Yeong Ho-jun shrugged.

“Well, that’s true. We go where we want to go.”

He didn’t object any further.

Since Guest Elder and Yeong Ho-jun didn’t object, the decision to go to Guilin was naturally made.

Yeong Ho-jun nodded.

“Then I’ll inform the Gongsun Family of this. I’ll tell them to wait, as the Alliance Leader will be contacting them directly. The wording is a bit ambiguous, but it should be sufficient.”

Yeong Ho-jun, having sorted out the situation, said with a smile.

“That’s good. Guilin is said to have outstanding scenery and a unique, exotic atmosphere, so please take your time to enjoy it.”

Yeong Ho-jun sighed quietly.

“I’ll be working hard here in Hangzhou instead of enjoying the 풍류 (pungnyu/romanticism) [a life of leisure and artistic pursuits].”

In fact, Hangzhou is so beautiful that it’s compared to paradise, with the saying 上有天堂 下有蘇杭 (shàng yǒu tiāntáng, xià yǒu Sū Háng) [Above, there is heaven; below, there is Suzhou and Hangzhou].

But the fact that he has to live a life overwhelmed with work instead of leisurely enjoying 풍류 (pungnyu/romanticism) here in Hangzhou… how frustrating must that be?

“Please take a break sometimes.”

Yun-hyeon said, but Yeong Ho-jun’s expression didn’t brighten.

He said with a hollow laugh.

“Thank you. Ah, and…”

Rustle.

Yeong Ho-jun picked up the map he had spread on the table.

“Please give my regards when you go.”

“Regards?”

Yun-hyeon, who was repeating the word, realized in an instant.

Going to Guilin, where the Taiping Alliance was located, meant that he might run into Dang Seol-ryeon.

‘Ah.’

There was another problem.

There would naturally be people from the Tang Clan in Guilin.

Yun-hyeon looked at Guest Elder.

But Guest Elder was simply savoring his tea as usual.

***

The road from Hangzhou to Guilin was not easy.

Yun-hyeon and his party took a boat and traveled up the Yangtze River.

The boat passed Wuhan and reached Yueyang, entering Dongting Lake, of which people sang, ‘Heaven and earth float on the lake.’

Yun-hyeon and his party disembarked in the large city of Changsha.

And they traveled south along the main road in a carriage.

Clatter, clatter.

After a few days, the surrounding scenery began to change noticeably.

Beyond the ordinary rice paddies, bizarre peaks like fingers began to appear.

The scenery seen through the morning mist, combined with the winding waterways, was enough to create the illusion of entering a world of immortals.

And before long, the carriage arrived at a city nestled among several peaks.

[滿城玉桂成林] (Mǎnchéng yù guì chéng lín) [A city full of fragrant osmanthus trees], also called 목서(木犀) [mokseo/osmanthus] in Korean, they had arrived in Guilin, the beautiful city of Guangxi Province.

The carriage carrying Yun-hyeon and his party slowly entered Guilin.

The atmosphere of Guilin, which he had only heard about, was truly remarkable.

Exotic clothes and objects that were easily recognizable were everywhere.

But what stood out more than that were the martial artists carrying swords.

As the carriage entered the downtown area, there were literally martial artists everywhere.

Martial artists belonging to the Taiping Alliance, as well as small and medium-sized sects and wandering warriors cooperating with them, were filling Guilin’s downtown area.

Of course, people wearing the Tang Clan’s martial uniform were also visible.

Yun-hyeon glanced at Guest Elder, but Guest Elder remained as calm as ever.

Clatter, clatter.

Meanwhile, the carriage arrived at the largest inn in Guilin.

Yun-hyeon and his party got out of the carriage and entered the inn.

Swoosh.

As they pushed aside the curtain and entered, the sound of people laughing and the smell of food rushed in.

And a rough voice flew towards Yun-hyeon and his party.

“What are you?”