Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 422

422. The Gongsun Family’s Mishap

Guilin, Guangxi Province, Tianhua Inn.

Yunhyun listened to the report from Investigating Inspector Jo Gwan, along with Guest Ong.

It concerned the attack on Gongsun Wi, the head of the Gongsun Family’s outer hall.

“The mastermind of the attack is dead?”

Yunhyun frowned.

“Yes, he was found dead in his cell this morning. According to the prison guard, he was acting strangely from the moment he was imprisoned.”

Yunhyun was silent for a moment at Jo Gwan’s words.

Jo Gwan carefully continued, “The others know almost nothing, making it difficult to uncover the true mastermind.”

Yunhyun quietly opened his mouth. “How is the head of the outer hall doing?”

“He was apprehended but released after a brief statement. I believe he is receiving treatment from a physician at the Gongsun Family.”

“I see. Thank you for your hard work.”

“It’s nothing. I only did as you commanded. Fortunately, the government was wary of any trouble due to the grand banquet. The regional inspector was very pleased.”

The regional inspector was bound to be pleased since it boosted his achievements.

Most local officials hoped to build achievements and return to the central government.

“That’s good. Ah, and…”

Yunhyun raised his head and looked behind him.

Yunhyun spoke to the empty space. “Snow Shadow Unit, thank you for your hard work as well.”

*Swish.*

A figure appeared in the empty space.

He knelt on one knee, paid his respects, and then disappeared again, as if he had never been there.

“Hmm.”

Investigating Inspector Jo Gwan groaned. “I didn’t know there were such people.”

“We’ve been together for a long time.”

Yunhyun said with a smile. “Fortunately, we became members of the same covenant, so I asked for a favor for the first time.”

It wasn’t easy to figure out which member of the Gongsun Family the Tang Clan would target.

So, Yunhyun decided to borrow the power of the Snow Shadow Unit of Bukhae [Northern Sea].

He already knew they were around.

Contact wasn’t difficult.

Even the secretive Snow Shadow Unit couldn’t escape Guest Ong’s reach.

As a result of Yunhyun’s slight coercion, the Snow Shadow Unit agreed to cooperate.

It was thanks to them that Investigating Inspector Jo Gwan was immediately informed of the mishap that befell the head of the Gongsun Family’s outer hall.

“Thanks to this, I have to go to Taewon.”

Taewon, Shanxi Province, is where the Bukhae Ilmun [Northern Sea Clan] is located.

Yunhyun promised to meet the Grand Palace Lord of Bukhae and explain the situation in person.

If Yunhyun hadn’t been the Azure Wolf, the Snow Shadow Unit wouldn’t have followed Yunhyun’s orders, even if it meant death.

“Don’t go; have him come here.”

Guest Ong said casually. “Anyway, everyone will have to come once the Hangzhou headquarters is completed.”

Yunhyun gave an awkward smile.

Unexpectedly, Guest Ong was concerned about who was doing the traveling.

“Ah, how is it with Chief Military Officer Yeonghojun?”

Jo Gwan answered Yunhyun’s question. “I sent it through messengers and express ships, so it shouldn’t be late. We’ll get an answer soon.”

The Tang Clan’s contact couldn’t be faster than the military’s emergency contact network.

Besides, Nanchang, where the Gongsun Family’s main house was located, was very close to Hangzhou.

It was incomparable to going from Sichuan, the Tang Clan’s main house, or here in Guilin to Nanchang.

“That’s a relief. I’m relieved with Chief Military Officer Yeonghojun.”

Yeonghojun knew the Tang Clan’s methods, especially poison, very well.

With Yeonghojun taking the lead, there was no need to worry about that side.

“Well, then…”

Yunhyun was about to say something when he suddenly stopped and turned his head.

Guest Ong also frowned, and Jo Gwan and Hang Jangik also followed Yunhyun’s gaze.

*Click.*

The door opened, and several people entered the inn.

The young lady with a cute face standing at the front widened her eyes.

It was Hwangbo Seonhye of the Namhae [Southern Sea] Sword Clan.

“Oppa…”

Hwangbo Seonhye said in a voice as sweet as honey.

But her sweet voice couldn’t continue.

*Thud.*

A low sound rang out.

Hwangbo Seonhye frowned slightly as if resisting, but soon gently closed her eyes.

The other young men behind her were the same.

*Thump.*

Yunhyun sighed quietly. “Elder, if you do that…”

It wasn’t a word said for Hwangbo Seonhye’s sake.

*Thud.*

Before Yunhyun could finish speaking, other people entered.

Dressed in the Hyeokryun Family’s martial uniform, they stopped in surprise upon discovering the fallen people.

But their surprise didn’t last long.

*Thud.*

“Ugh.”

Perhaps because they had some internal energy, they frowned.

Still, the result was the same.

*Thump, thud.*

The fallen were not only from the Hyeokryun Family.

Among them were people from the Danmok Family.

Yunhyun gave a bitter smile. “…If you do that, this is what happens.”

Guest Ong picked up his teacup without even answering.

“Ah, still…”

Before Yunhyun could finish speaking, someone entered the inn.

*Thud.*

“Lord Yun!”

The young man said with a surprised expression.

And this time, nothing happened.

Yunhyun said to him, “Nice to meet you, Hero Pa.”

It was Pa Jinhan of the Namhae Sword Clan.

Jo Gwan stared with a puzzled look, but Guest Ong drank his tea silently.

Pa Jinhan didn’t seem to expect Yunhyun to be here at all.

“How did you come to be here, Lord…”

Pa Jinhan, who was about to enter, stopped in surprise.

Several young men were lying in front of his feet.

Among them was Hwangbo Seonhye, who was from the same sect.

“Let’s go out,” Guest Ong said.

Since they had finished their tea anyway, the group got up from their seats.

Yunhyun said to Pa Jinhan, “Let’s talk later.”

“Ah, yes. I understand.”

Pa Jinhan nodded.

*Thud, thud.*

Yunhyun’s group avoided the fallen people and moved out of the inn.

The inn manager, who had been dozing off in one corner, belatedly woke up and made a fuss, but the people who had fallen asleep didn’t seem to wake up.

***

Late at night, the Gongsun Family’s Guilin branch.

Gongsun Wi, the head of the outer hall, was fast asleep.

Gongsun Wol, the family head and Flying Sword, watched the scene with an expressionless face.

Then, he suddenly said to the vice-chief next to him, “Take good care of him.”

“Yes, Family Head,” the vice-chief bowed deeply.

After looking at the sleeping Gongsun Wi once more, Gongsun Wol got up from his seat.

*Clack.*

Family Head Flying Sword Gongsun Wol closed the door.

His expression, which had been expressionless all along, contorted.

*Gritting.*

‘The Tang Clan, finally!’

Gongsun Wol gritted his teeth.

The fact that Gongsun Wi, the head of the outer hall, couldn’t muster his internal energy was undoubtedly a symptom of poisoning.

Although the physician couldn’t find even a trace of poison, there was no way Gongsun Wi, the head of the outer hall, could be mistaken.

The Tang Clan had definitely done something.

The fact that he had fallen into such a deep sleep was clearly a sequela of the poisoning.

*Thud, thud.*

Gongsun Wol’s expression hardened as he walked through the back garden to his office.

The Tang Clan’s sudden targeting of the head of the outer hall meant that they had already taken action.

‘Then…’

They would never stop at just targeting Gongsun Wi.

The Tang Clan’s venomous heart was more vicious than their poison.

*Clack.*

Gongsun Wol suddenly stopped.

‘…Could it be!’

The faces of his family members in the main house flashed before his eyes.

It was at that moment that Gongsun Wol’s complexion changed.

“Why are you so surprised?”

A clear voice echoed from the darkness.

Gongsun Wol turned his head so quickly that it made a sound.

*Flutter.*

A woman descended from the dark sky.

*Clack.*

She lightly landed in the middle of the back garden.

Gongsun Wol recognized the woman in the fancy clothes at once.

How could he not know her?

She was Tang Seol-ryeon, the chief military officer in charge of external affairs, whom he had seen at the Taepyeong Alliance’s [Great Peace Alliance] Guangxi branch today.

*Rustle.*

Tang Seol-ryeon smiled and took a step forward.

“You don’t answer. Are you perhaps blaming my rudeness?”

Tang Seol-ryeon bowed her head with an exaggerated attitude.

“I’m sorry for the late hour, but please understand that I had an unavoidable reason for visiting you urgently.”

Her hair ornaments sparkled as they caught the light.

Tang Seol-ryeon, who raised her head, smiled. “So, what were you so surprised about?”

Instead of answering, Gongsun Wol glanced around.

But he couldn’t sense anything.

That made Gongsun Wol even more uneasy.

“It’s nothing.”

“Ah, it was nothing.”

Tang Seol-ryeon said with a smile. “I thought you had already heard the news, but it will take a few more days for a mishap to occur at the Gongsun Family’s main house.”

Gongsun Wol’s expression hardened.

“…A mishap at the main house?”

Tang Seol-ryeon said with a seemingly regretful expression. “Yes. It’s not uncommon for those who miss their husband and father who have gone far away to become ill from grief. Isn’t that so?”

*Crack.*

Gongsun Wol gritted his teeth.

“What on earth are you trying to do?”

The voice was full of anger that seemed ready to explode at any moment.

But Tang Seol-ryeon was relaxed.

“The one trying to do something isn’t me, but you, Family Head. What on earth are you thinking, trying to go to the Changryong Alliance [Azure Dragon Alliance]? Especially in this situation?”

Tang Seol-ryeon’s eyes turned venomous.

If the Gongsun Family’s head met with the Changryong Alliance’s leader, there was only one reason.

It was to join the Changryong Alliance on the condition of regaining influence in some areas of the Yangtze River.

There would be no loss for the Changryong Alliance.

The influence in the Yangtze River was originally the Gongsun Family’s anyway, and in return, they would gain a powerful member called the Gongsun Family and inflict fatal damage on the Taepyeong Alliance.

“So I have no choice. I have to go to the trouble of clearly informing you of your situation so that you don’t have any other thoughts.”

Tang Seol-ryeon gritted her teeth.

The respect for the Gongsun Family’s head was nowhere to be found.

“Huh.”

Gongsun Wol let out a hollow laugh.

But soon, a murderous intent began to flicker in his eyes.

“So you came here yourself? To deliver that great warning?”

“Hehehe.”

Gongsun Wol frowned at the sudden laughter.

Tang Seol-ryeon said with a smile, “It wasn’t easy. I barely got permission after attaching the condition that I would check it myself. But what can I do? If the Family Head has other thoughts, warnings are useless.”

Her words were correct.

Once Gongsun Wol, the Family Head, had made up his mind, warnings were meaningless.

Tang Seol-ryeon stared straight at Gongsun Wol.

Moving her red lips, she said, “So, you’ll have to step down from the position of Gongsun Family Head today.”

Gongsun Wol glared at Tang Seol-ryeon with a cold gaze.

“Are you going to make me do that?”

“Of course not.”

Tang Seol-ryeon smiled. “Please, elders.”

It was clear that those words were not directed at Gongsun Wol.

That was because the sound of wind immediately rose in the air.

*Rustle.*

Gongsun Wol immediately raised his head.

Two people were slowly descending from the dark sky.

It was an amazing sight, but it wasn’t the reason why Gongsun Wol’s expression hardened.

It was because an enormous force, as if a large hand was pressing down, was felt from the sky.

*Rustle.*

The two landed on the ground almost silently.

At the same time, the bamboo in the back garden began to shed its leaves.

The leaves, which had been boasting their greenness until just now, had turned into a dry brown color.

“Who are you?”

Gongsun Wol asked with a hardened expression.

Two old men wearing fancy clothes of red and blue light were looking at Gongsun Wol.

“Hehe. What good would it do to know that? You’re about to die anyway.”

“But if you’re the head of the Gongsun Family, you deserve to hear our names.”

The old man in red clothes wore a sneer, and the old man in blue clothes wore a calm expression.

They said opposite things, but the expressions of the two old men didn’t change at all.

They said at the same time, “We are the Blue-Red Twin Elders.”

*Swish.*

Along with the chilling wind, the bamboo shed its dry leaves out of season.

It wasn’t just the bamboo.

All the grass, flowers, and trees in the back garden were withering away in an instant, as if the energy of death had covered the back garden.

“Hehehe.”

Hongno [Red Old], the old man in red clothes, laughed.

Gongsun Wol’s expression was becoming even more hardened.