Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 419

419. Flying Sword and Unclear Future

Tension filled the banks of the Yigang River.

The deep blue bamboo forest, and the flowing waters of the Yigang, seemed to watch the martial arts contest between Unhyun and Gongsun Yue.

Woo-oong.

Gongsun Yue’s flying sword hummed.

As if answering the sound, the deep blue sword energy surrounding the flying sword slowly rippled.

It clearly showed that Gongsun Yue had reached the pinnacle of mastery.

Whoo-ooo-oong.

In truth, defining the levels of martial artists wasn’t easy.

Internal energy wasn’t the only determining factor, and mastering advanced martial arts didn’t guarantee victory.

Yet, despite all this, there was one undeniable sign that indicated a martial artist had reached the highest level of skill.

That was sword energy.

Sword energy, capable of cutting through anything and unmatched by ordinary swords, was proof of a master at the peak.

Swish.

Unhyun raised his sword.

However, his sword still didn’t emit any presence.

Gongsun Yue’s eyebrows twitched.

“…Are you sure you’ll be alright?”

“Yes.”

Unhyun replied with a faint smile.

“I am familiar with sword energy.”

Gongsun Yue’s expression remained serious.

After Namgung Jincheon, the previous head of the Namgung Clan and master of the Sword of Lightning, the manifestation of sword energy was no longer shocking news.

Even the chief disciple of the Gongsun Clan had entered the early stages of sword energy manifestation.

However, Gongsun Yue’s sword energy, as the head of the clan, was on a completely different level.

Gongsun Yue’s deep blue, rippling sword energy showed that he had reached a level where he could wield it with complete mastery.

“I see.”

Gongsun Yue said.

Having already witnessed Unhyun’s swordplay, he no longer harbored any doubts.

He straightened his flying sword and aimed it at Unhyun.

Woo-oong.

The deep blue sword energy rippled before his eyes.

Gongsun Yue’s eyes shone intensely.

“Haa!”

Swoosh.

The deep blue sword energy left afterimages as it shot towards Unhyun.

The sight was like a beautiful scene of blue silk unfolding in the air.

However, only death and destruction awaited in the path of that blue light.

Whoo-oosh.

Unhyun gazed intently at Gongsun Yue’s sword energy rushing towards him.

There was no surprise or fear.

Instead, Unhyun’s eyes sparkled.

Sreuk.

His sword, Myeong [meaning “fate” or “destiny” in this context], cut through the air and moved.

Still without emitting any presence, the blade flew towards Gongsun Yue’s incoming flying sword.

‘As expected.’

Gongsun Yue realized that Unhyun was about to unleash that sword technique from before.

That amazing swordsmanship that had sent him flying into the air.

But this time, it would be different.

His flying sword was imbued with deep blue sword energy.

Whoo-oosh.

Gongsun Yue confidently attacked Unhyun.

Sarak.

As expected?

Unhyun’s Myeong, which had been weaving through the air, met the tip of Gongsun Yue’s flying sword once again.

Gongsun Yue had no doubt that Unhyun’s Myeong would shatter the moment the two swords met.

However, Unhyun’s sword path was different from Gongsun Yue’s expectations.

Sreuk.

The tip of Myeong moved ever so slightly to the side in an instant.

Like a small, delicate petal being pushed aside to avoid a person’s hand.

It happened in a flash, but as a result, the two sword tips failed to meet.

And the tip of Myeong, which seemed to have passed by, was already touching Gongsun Yue’s sword.

Saaaaaa.

A sound like wind leaking echoed.

The tip of Myeong was sliding across the blade of the flying sword, caressing it as it approached Gongsun Yue.

Not only that.

Gongsun Yue’s flying sword, rippling with sword energy, had already deviated from its original path and was flowing to the side.

‘Gasp!’

Gongsun Yue was greatly shocked.

If this continued, Unhyun’s Myeong would cut through Gongsun Yue’s hand and pierce his chest.

Although Gongsun Yue didn’t know it, it was the same sword path that Dokgo-rang had used against the chief disciple of the Gongsun Clan in the past.

“Haa!”

Gongsun Yue immediately drew upon all of his internal energy.

While correcting the twisted sword path, Gongsun Yue tried to shake off Unhyun’s Myeong.

But Myeong didn’t allow Gongsun Yue’s attempt.

Whoosh.

Gongsun Yue’s sword eventually cut through the air.

And a tremendous energy erupted.

Kwaaaang—!

The explosion echoed around them, and a storm-like force swept in all directions.

Blades of grass flew up, and the waters of the Yigang River within the range of the impact rose in a spray.

The clothes of the guest elder and Gongsun Wi, the head of the outer hall, also fluttered violently.

But that was all.

Whir.

Myeong scattered light in the air.

Unhyun, who lightly swung his sword as if checking its condition, turned his head and looked at Gongsun Yue.

“Umm.”

Gongsun Yue groaned and stood up.

His hair was disheveled and his clothes were torn here and there, but Gongsun Yue didn’t care.

His gaze was fixed on the long trail he had left on the ground.

It was the trace created while Gongsun Yue was regaining control of his twisted sword path, and it was proof that Unhyun could have cut Gongsun Yue down at any time if he had wanted to.

Gongsun Yue raised his head.

He looked at Unhyun with a serious expression.

“…What is that swordsmanship?”

Gongsun Yue asked quietly.

“How on earth can you…?”

He couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence.

Sword energy was absolute power.

A sword imbued with internal energy alone could never stand against sword energy, and in the face of sword energy, all swordsmanship and techniques lost their meaning.

But now, Unhyun had perfectly countered Gongsun Yue’s sword energy, even the deep blue sword energy that was on a different level from the initial stages.

“This is the Second Form of the White Tiger Lost Sword, called the Supple Sword.”

Unhyun replied quietly.

“If you look closely, it’s just slightly twisting the opponent’s sword path, but…”

With a faint smile, Unhyun continued.

“The stronger the power, the easier it is to lose its way.”

Gongsun Yue knew what Unhyun was talking about.

Using a small force to handle a large force, and using the opponent’s force against them were all well-known techniques in the martial arts world.

However, those were all things that happened when one’s level was not high.

To twist the sword energy emitted by a master of the highest level was worthy of being called a divine skill.

“Heo.”

Gongsun Yue let out a sigh without realizing it.

And he realized.

That Unhyun, who was standing before him, was someone standing in a very different place from his own judgment or common sense.

“As a fellow martial artist, I pay my respects to you.”

Gongsun Yue said.

Unhyun could tell that it was by no means a declaration of defeat.

Because Gongsun Yue’s eyes were shining intensely as he spoke.

Whir.

Gongsun Yue lightly scattered his sword, the Flying Sword, into the air.

And he lowered the tip of the sword diagonally downward.

“This is called the Flying Sword Ascending to Heaven.”

Gongsun Yue said calmly.

The blade of the Flying Sword gleamed under the sunlight.

“And this one sword is my everything.”

Whoo-ooo-oong.

A tremendous force poured out of Gongsun Yue.

As if proving that his words of betting everything were not empty, a storm-like force raged around Gongsun Yue.

Pararak.

Gongsun Yue’s hair and clothes fluttered.

From his Flying Sword, which he had lowered diagonally downward, deep blue sword energy rippled.

Woo-woo-woo-oong.

It was literally everything of the Flying Sword Gongsun Yue.

Sreuk.

Unhyun stretched Myeong to the side.

At the same time as a quiet cry flowed from Myeong, white frost spread beneath Unhyun’s feet.

Woo-oong, tsuzzzzzzzz.

A smile spread across Gongsun Yue’s lips.

The quiet cry of Myeong meant that Unhyun was going to face Gongsun Yue’s one sword head-on.

“…I’m coming.”

Whoosh.

Gongsun Yue’s figure shot towards Unhyun.

At that moment, the force that had been pouring out of his entire body changed.

Like the sword energy rippling from his sword, Gongsun Yue’s force had already formed the shape of a blue flame.

That appearance was the realm of Sword and Body as One [a state of perfect unity between the swordsman and their sword], where Gongsun Yue and the Flying Sword had become one.

Kwagwagwag.

Gongsun Yue charged in with the Flying Sword.

However, Unhyun’s Myeong was not still either.

Sarak.

The tip of Unhyun’s sword drew a circle in the air.

That soft sword path, as if to embrace everything, was the First Form of the White Tiger Lost Sword, the Ye Sword.

***

The shaking of the bamboo forest subsided, and the dust and blades of grass that had been obscuring the view settled down.

The waters of the Yigang River, which had been causing a spray, were pushed back by the backwash and were regaining their original flow.

Sreung.

Unhyun sheathed his sword.

And he turned his head and looked at Gongsun Yue.

“Did you call it the Flying Sword Ascending to Heaven?”

Gongsun Yue, who had been hanging his head, flinched.

He sighed quietly.

In the past, he had manifested sword energy, which was like the symbol of the Five Venerables of Illusionary Rain, but he wasn’t satisfied with that.

When he achieved the realm of Sword and Body as One and finally became one with the Flying Sword, Gongsun Yue didn’t hesitate to call it the ‘Flying Sword Ascending to Heaven.’

Because he had no doubt that the name of the Gongsun Clan would stand tall in the world with this sword.

Even though the main house of the Gongsun Clan had been burned down in a surprise attack and the Righteous Hero Alliance had taken the Yangtze River, he only thought that it wasn’t yet the time.

No matter how skilled a master was, if he didn’t meet the right time, he would only become a strange person or a hidden master.

“…That’s right. This is called the Flying Sword Ascending to Heaven.”

Gongsun Yue said quietly.

“But since it has not ascended to heaven, now only regret remains.”

It was a metaphor for the ascension of a dragon.

Just as a dragon that has risen too high eventually regrets [亢龍有悔 – kàng lóng yǒu huǐ, a concept from the I Ching meaning that reaching the highest point inevitably leads to decline], Gongsun Yue’s confident sword had been broken by Unhyun.

Unhyun said calmly.

“Of course, that would be the case if this were a life-or-death duel.”

Gongsun Yue turned to look at Unhyun without realizing it.

Unhyun continued.

“But this is just a martial arts contest, and we are not enemies either. So, what remains is not regret, but sharing a drink together.”

A smile was spreading across Unhyun’s lips as he spoke.

Gongsun Yue’s eyes trembled.

Those words meant that he acknowledged Gongsun Yue as a ‘martial artist worthy of sharing blood with, with the same aspirations.’

“…Is that so?”

“How could Flying Sword lie?”

Unhyun said with a smile.

“Get up. This is not a place where Flying Sword should stay.”

Those words were meaningful.

“Heh heh.”

Gongsun Yue let out a hollow laugh.

He quietly asked back.

“Is that really so?”

“Yes. That is really so.”

Unhyun didn’t hesitate at all.

Although he couldn’t surpass Unhyun’s Ye Sword, how could Gongsun Yue’s achievements be in vain?

As a fellow martial artist, Gongsun Yue’s ‘Flying Sword Ascending to Heaven’ deserved to be respected.

Swish.

Gongsun Yue stood up.

And he looked straight at Unhyun.

Gongsun Yue’s eyes were shining.

“Your words are right. This is by no means a place where I should stay.”

“That’s right.”

Unhyun nodded.

Gongsun Yue said with a smile.

“After facing your sword today, I finally know what kind of person you are.”

“Me too.”

Gongsun Yue smiled at Unhyun’s reply.

“I will speak as the head of the Gongsun Clan. I will join your Azure Dragon Alliance…”

“Clan Head!”

Gongsun Yue turned his head at the sudden voice.

Thud.

Gongsun Wi, the head of the outer hall, knelt down.

And he kowtowed [a deep bow showing respect] to the ground.

쿵.

“The Clan Head’s orders are absolute, so no one dares to disobey them. But if you reveal your intentions now, the resulting chaos will be extreme.”

Gongsun Yue frowned.

However, Gongsun Wi’s words were correct.

Gongsun Yue was a martial artist and the head of the Gongsun Clan at the same time.

He couldn’t help but consider the chaos that would ensue in the clan if he rashly revealed his intentions, as well as the retaliation from the Great Peace Alliance that might occur.

“It seems you need time to sort things out.”

Unhyun said in a soft voice.

“Come to Hangzhou when you are ready. I will have good wine prepared.”

Gongsun Yue also smiled.

“I understand. I will gladly do so.”

Unhyun nodded, and Gongsun Yue looked down at Gongsun Wi, the head of the outer hall.

“I understand your concerns. But my intentions will not change.”

Gongsun Wi immediately kowtowed to the ground.

쿵.

“I obey the Clan Head’s orders.”

At that sight, Clan Head Gongsun Yue could no longer say anything.

Because he knew Gongsun Wi’s loyalty.

Gongsun Yue turned to look at Unhyun.

And he put his hands together and paid his respects.

“Thank you, Alliance Leader.”

It could have been simply because Unhyun was the Alliance Leader of the Azure Dragon Alliance.

But Unhyun wasn’t the only one who heard that title in a special way.

Sarak.

Unhyun smiled and returned the greeting to Gongsun Yue with his hands together.

Gongsun Yue helped Gongsun Wi up and paid his respects to the guest elder as well.

Then, he used his lightness skill [a martial art technique that allows one to move swiftly and lightly] and disappeared beyond the bamboo forest.

Swaaaa.

The wind blew and the bamboo forest swayed.

Gongsun Yue’s figure had already disappeared, but a warm smile remained on Unhyun’s lips for a long time.