Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 421

421. Ambush and Encounter

The Taiping Alliance’s Guilin Grand Banquet was teeming with martial artists.

The martial artists attending the grand banquet, which spanned a full fifteen days, were relieving their stress and fatigue, enjoying the festivities to the fullest.

The heads of each sect, as well as other key figures, were doing the same.

However, some individuals couldn’t bring themselves to enjoy the banquet.

Clack.

Gongsun Wei, the head of the Gongsun Family’s outer hall, set down his wine glass.

He avoided mingling, instead continuously drinking with a rigid expression.

Normally, this wouldn’t be noticeable, but his flushed face stood out.

Squeak.

Gongsun Wei tilted the bottle and refilled his glass.

Just then…

“Isn’t that a bit much, Wei?”

A deep voice echoed.

Gongsun Wei immediately stood up.

“Family Head.”

Family Head Gongsun Yue offered a gentle smile.

“Relax. I didn’t mean to interrupt your enjoyment.”

“…Yes.”

Gongsun Wei sat back down.

The Family Head called it ‘enjoyment,’ but Gongsun Wei’s expression remained stiff, far from festive.

Gongsun Yue clearly noticed the subtle difference in Gongsun Wei’s usually stern demeanor.

“You seem troubled.”

“No.”

Gongsun Wei replied instantly.

“…I’m just a little drunk.”

Gongsun Yue smiled wryly.

He understood Gongsun Wei’s behavior.

He must be feeling conflicted.

It was shocking enough that the Family Head, whom he respected immensely, had lost in a martial arts contest, but now they were even leaving the Taiping Alliance.

“How about heading in to rest early?”

Gongsun Yue suggested gently.

However, Gongsun Wei shook his head.

“I cannot. As the head of the outer hall, I must protect the Family Head.”

“It’s alright.”

Gongsun Yue said with a smile.

“What danger could there be in a banquet hall? I need you to protect my back on the battlefield.”

“But…”

“That is the Family Head’s order.”

Gongsun Wei flinched and looked up at Gongsun Yue.

Gongsun Yue’s eyes were kind.

“So go and rest. You’re quite drunk today, not your usual self.”

“…Understood.”

Finally, Gongsun Wei bowed his head.

Gongsun Yue nodded and lightly patted Gongsun Wei’s shoulder.

Then, he left the table.

Clunk.

Gongsun Yue stood up.

Leaving the swaying wine glass, Gongsun Yue exited the banquet hall.

***

After leaving the banquet hall, Gongsun Wei took a carriage to the Gongsun Family’s Guilin branch.

Several family disciples offered to escort the intoxicated Gongsun Wei, but he refused.

It wasn’t a long distance, and no one would dare to attack a carriage bearing the Taiping Alliance’s mark in Guilin.

Ultimately, Gongsun Wei headed to the Gongsun Family’s branch alone in the carriage.

Clatter, clatter.

Gongsun Wei stared blankly at the scenery, his expression still tense.

Perhaps it was the alcohol? Lost in thought, Gongsun Wei realized something was wrong when the carriage entered a secluded area.

Recognizing the unfamiliar surroundings, Gongsun Wei immediately yelled at the coachman.

“Stop the carriage!”

However, the carriage continued on.

Gongsun Wei immediately kicked open the carriage door.

Bang.

The door flew off, and Gongsun Wei leaped out.

Whoosh, thud.

Gongsun Wei landed on the roof of the carriage in one swift motion and reached out to strike the coachman’s pressure point [a point on the body used in martial arts to incapacitate or control someone].

“Ugh.”

The coachman groaned and slumped to the side.

Just as Gongsun Wei was about to grab the reins…

Pee-peep.

A sharp sound pierced the air, and an arrow whizzed by.

Gongsun Wei immediately stomped his feet.

Thwack, thwack.

The fallen coachman and the carriage were struck by arrows.

Clatter, clatter.

The carriage, now driverless, careened wildly, and Gongsun Wei leaped off, landing lightly on the ground.

Thud.

Gongsun Wei immediately scanned his surroundings.

He sensed the presence of several people lurking in the darkness.

Gongsun Wei spoke in a low voice.

“Come out.”

Rustle, rustle.

More than ten figures emerged from the shadows.

Each held a sword or saber.

Gongsun Wei frowned.

“Who are you?”

Thud.

A man stepped forward from the group of attackers.

His eyes burning with intensity, he spoke to Gongsun Wei through gritted teeth.

“Don’t tell me you don’t recognize me? We are the Blood Evil Sect you destroyed.”

“Blood Evil Sect?”

Gongsun Wei tilted his head slightly, then chuckled.

“I don’t recognize you. We’ve destroyed so many, I can’t keep track.”

“Damn you!”

The man’s shoulders trembled with rage.

Gongsun Wei smirked.

“So, what business do the remnants of a destroyed sect have here? Looking for work? Try an inn.”

It was a blatant provocation.

However, the man laughed.

“Heh heh heh. Is that so? Well, no inn would accept you.”

The man said, his eyes gleaming.

“Because there’s no place for dead people!”

Whoosh.

A powerful aura erupted from the man’s body.

Gongsun Wei’s expression changed.

‘Something’s not right.’

The Blood Evil Sect was a minor sect in a small city in Guangxi Province [a province in southern China].

They were destroyed without hesitation because of their heinous acts and exploitation of the local populace.

But could someone of this caliber have been among them?

Buzz.

The man’s saber vibrated.

His eyes glowing red, he said,

“Gongsun Wei, you will die here today.”

It was a terrifying sight, but Gongsun Wei chuckled.

Swish.

Gongsun Wei drew his sword.

He looked at the man and said calmly.

“Try it if you can.”

Gongsun Wei was the head of the Gongsun Family’s outer hall.

Even if the man possessed an unusual aura, he wouldn’t be afraid, even if there were ten of him.

However, the man felt the same way.

“Alright, I will gladly…”

Thud.

The man lunged at Gongsun Wei.

His saber, infused with internal energy [qi or chi, the vital life force in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts], gleamed with a chilling light.

“I’ll kill you!”

Clang.

A sharp metallic sound rang out.

“Ugh.”

The one who groaned and stumbled back was, surprisingly, Gongsun Wei.

Unable to withstand the internal energy contained in the man’s saber, he was forced back.

‘Th-this can’t be. What’s happening…’

Gongsun Wei’s eyes widened in disbelief.

As he tried to summon his internal energy, a sharp pain shot through his entire body.

“Why? You said try it if I could, but have you lost confidence? Or perhaps…”

The man smiled slyly.

“You can’t use your internal energy? Heh heh heh.”

Gongsun Wei’s expression darkened.

The man turned to the other attackers.

“Kill him.”

The attackers didn’t hesitate.

“Haa!”

“Taha!”

They all charged at Gongsun Wei.

Clang, clang.

Even without internal energy, Gongsun Wei was still the head of the outer hall.

His swordsmanship alone was enough to defeat the attackers.

If only the sharp pain wasn’t tormenting him.

Gongsun Wei gritted his teeth and swung his sword with all his might.

Whoosh, clang.

However, Gongsun Wei’s attempt failed.

The man’s saber, imbued with internal energy, blocked Gongsun Wei’s sword.

“Heh heh heh.”

The man smiled slyly.

“Gongsun Wei, you will die here.”

His voice echoed eerily in Gongsun Wei’s ear.

Just then…

“Stop!”

A booming voice echoed, and lanterns illuminated the area.

The sound of hurried footsteps filled the air.

Thud thud thud thud.

Before they knew it, dozens of government soldiers surrounded them with spears.

The sharp blades of the spears gleamed menacingly in the light.

“Daring to defy the imperial law and attempting murder! Criminals, kneel down and surrender immediately!”

A high-ranking military officer in official uniform shouted.

His expression, as he carried out his duties, was exceedingly dignified and imposing.

While Gongsun Wei was bewildered, the attackers’ faces twisted in dismay.

***

Gongsun Seol, the beloved daughter of the Gongsun Family, ascended the Seunggeum Tower in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province [a province in southeastern China], with her maid.

While not as famous as the Tengwang Pavilion [a renowned historical building in Nanchang], the seven-story Seunggeum Tower, with its long history, offered a clear view of Nanchang and the Ganjiang River that flowed through the city.

After her father, Gongsun Yue, left to conquer Jiangnan [a region south of the Yangtze River in China], Gongsun Seol climbed this tower every day to pray for his safe return.

That day, Gongsun Seol finished her prayers and began descending the tower, trying to calm her worried heart.

“Oh, miss. Look at that man.”

At her maid’s words, Gongsun Seol turned her head.

Swish.

A nobleman stood in the wind.

With a fan in one hand, his handsome figure gazing down at Nanchang looked as if he had stepped out of a painting.

The maid even sighed, saying,

“Haa, he’s really handsome.”

It wasn’t just his good looks.

The nobleman, dressed in luxurious clothes, possessed a unique air of dignity.

However, Gongsun Seol chuckled softly.

“Is this the time to be distracted? Our elders are shedding blood in a distant land.”

“What’s wrong with just looking?”

The maid pouted but quickly followed Gongsun Seol.

Gongsun Seol waited for the carriage at the tower entrance.

Just as she was thinking the coachman was a little late, she heard a voice from behind.

“Excuse me. I’m not familiar with this area, so…”

Gongsun Seol turned her head absentmindedly.

The maid gasped and covered her mouth.

“Oh my!”

The person standing behind her was the nobleman she had seen earlier.

It wasn’t just the maid who was surprised; Gongsun Seol’s heart skipped a beat.

The handsome man standing before her was even more striking up close.

The nobleman smiled and said,

“Could you tell me how to get to the Gongsun Family?”

Even his voice was captivating.

While Gongsun Seol remained silent, the maid became flustered.

“Yes? The Gongsun Family? Oh my, what should I do? Our young lady is…”

“Enough.”

At the sharp command, the maid quickly fell silent.

Gongsun Seol lowered her gaze slightly and replied to the nobleman.

“Everyone here knows the Gongsun Family. Any coachman will know the way.”

“Oh, is that so?”

The nobleman said with a gentle smile.

“Thank you for your help. You are very kind.”

At that smile, the maid’s eyes glazed over, but Gongsun Seol simply bowed her head in acknowledgment.

Clatter, clatter.

Just then, the carriage Gongsun Seol had arrived in appeared.

The maid looked back and forth between Gongsun Seol and the nobleman, seemingly disappointed, but Gongsun Seol entered the carriage without looking back.

Thud.

The door closed, and the carriage moved.

The maid craned her neck to look at the nobleman, but his handsome figure soon disappeared.

Clatter, clatter.

“Oh, why did you do that?”

The maid grumbled.

“Since he’s a guest of the family, we could have given him a ride.”

“No. You can’t just let a strange man in.”

Gongsun Seol’s answer was firm.

It was the result of her father, Gongsun Yue, repeatedly warning his precious daughter about such things.

However, Gongsun Seol couldn’t help but sigh softly.

The nobleman’s handsome face remained vivid in her mind.

Clatter, clatter.

Watching the departing carriage, the nobleman chuckled softly.

Even that was so charming that passing young women couldn’t help but stare.

“She’s more aloof than I expected. If she had been arrogant and even said something harsh, she would have been exactly my type…”

Muttering to himself, the nobleman shrugged.

“Well, I guess this isn’t a bad first impression.”

The nobleman turned to the short young man beside him.

“Tell the Alliance Leader not to worry; I’ll take good care of her.”

“Take good care of her? How?”

The young man, Dam Soha, asked suspiciously.

Yeonghojun, the nobleman with the fan, smiled.

“Of course, in a wholesome way.”

Dam Soha smiled wryly.

That implied there were also unwholesome ways.

In any case, the two men smiled contentedly at the fact that they were free from work and had a temporary vacation.

Even though that vacation was to fulfill a request from the Alliance Leader, Unhyun.