Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 43

43. Farewell at the North Gate

Yun-hyeon bowed in response to Sa Il-cheon’s brief greeting.

“Farewell.”

Yun-hyeon turned away, and Sa Il-cheon lowered his gaze to his book.

Suddenly, Yun-hyeon stopped and looked back at Sa Il-cheon.

“May I ask you something?”

Sa Il-cheon looked up.

“Why do you continue to stay in a place like this?”

As Yun-hyeon had said, Sa Il-cheon also had to choose one of two paths.

Either pursue power or sever ties with this place like Yun-hyeon.

However, Yun-hyeon didn’t think Sa Il-cheon was doing either.

Wasn’t Sa Il-cheon living a life of exile, though not exactly, here in the isolated Changryong Hall, like an isolated island within the Forbidden City?

A faint smile appeared on Sa Il-cheon’s face.

Had Yun-hyeon ever seen Sa Il-cheon smile in the dozen years he had been here? As Yun-hyeon pondered, Sa Il-cheon’s voice was heard softly.

“One doesn’t necessarily have to hide in deep mountains and valleys to escape the world.”

The smile that had appeared on Sa Il-cheon’s face disappeared, and he turned his gaze back to the book.

Yun-hyeon, who had received the answer, stared at him blankly for a while.

It felt like he had been struck in the back of the head.

But looking at Sa Il-cheon, it wasn’t incomprehensible.

‘I suppose…’

This is the Forbidden City.

If there are people who come out into the open, it wouldn’t be strange for there to be people who try to hide.

Yun-hyeon shrugged and walked out of Changryong Hall.

Until Yun-hyeon left Changryong Hall and disappeared, Sa Il-cheon’s gaze remained fixed on the book.

***

After leaving Changryong Hall, Yun-hyeon walked towards the North Gate of the Forbidden City.

Like everything else in the Forbidden City, the North Gate was also a large and beautiful gate.

However, it couldn’t compare to the massive Wu Gate [O-mun, the main southern gate], which represented the authority of the Forbidden City, or the Five Phoenix Tower [Obongru], also known as the Five Phoenix Tower.

Above all, if Five Phoenix Tower was the main gate through which officials and the emperor passed, the North Gate was a kind of back gate, mainly used by the concubines.

‘I wanted to see Munyeon Hall one last time…’

Munyeon Hall was located near the main gate, so it was in the opposite direction.

Besides, now that he no longer had permission to enter, there was no way they would let him in.

Yun-hyeon stopped for a moment and looked back.

It seemed like he could see Munyeon Hall between the towering golden double roofs.

But only for a moment, Yun-hyeon shook his head.

It was time to let go of all attachments, as Sa Il-cheon had said.

Yun-hyeon started walking again.

Step, step.

After walking a little further, he saw the large North Gate.

Once he passed through that large gate, he would be parting ways with the Forbidden City.

‘Others are just about to pass the civil service examination, but I’m already retiring…’

The top graduate of the palace examination gains the honor of passing through the Wu Gate, the main gate of the Forbidden City and the gate through which the emperor passes.

At that time, it felt like he held the whole world in his hands.

The hardships and difficulties of the past disappeared, and he believed that his future would unfold brightly like clouds rising in the blue sky.

But now, he was leaving alone through the back gate.

It was truly a world of difference, but the fact that he didn’t feel particularly sad meant that the years that had passed weren’t just meaningless time.

However, what weighed heavily on his steps was the fact that he still didn’t know what to do after leaving this place.

“Scholar Yun.”

Yun-hyeon lifted his head at the sound of someone calling him.

“Ah, Eunuch Park.”

Eunuch Park was standing next to the large North Gate.

When he spotted Yun-hyeon, Eunuch Park hurried over.

“You’re leaving now.”

Surprisingly, Eunuch Park’s tone was bright.

It was quite different from when he had argued in Munyeon Hall, saying, ‘You can’t quit like this.’

Yun-hyeon smiled.

When you think about it, the first person he met when he entered the Forbidden City was Eunuch Park.

Since the last person he was seeing was also Eunuch Park, such a connection was rare.

“Thank you for everything.”

Yun-hyeon expressed his gratitude to Eunuch Park.

However, Eunuch Park shook his head.

“You’re welcome. Rather, Scholar Yun treated me well.”

Yun-hyeon wore a bitter smile at Eunuch Park’s words.

“That can’t be… Rather, now that I’m no longer a scholar, stop calling me Scholar Yun.”

Since he had left his official post, he was no longer a scholar.

Now, he should just be called a commoner.

However, Eunuch Park shook his head.

“If you’re an official, you can’t be called an official if the government doesn’t give you a job. But a scholar is always a scholar as long as there is something to learn [學, xué in Mandarin, meaning ‘to learn’], isn’t that right?”

“Heh.”

Yun-hyeon exclaimed at Eunuch Park’s words.

“Yes, that’s right. You’re better than me, haha.”

Eunuch Park smiled at Yun-hyeon’s laughter.

Eunuch Park bowed deeply.

“I hope you take care of yourself, Scholar.”

“Oh, come on. What’s with the formalities… please raise your head.”

If anyone needed to take care of themselves, it was Eunuch Park, who was still in the Forbidden City.

However, Eunuch Park didn’t raise his head.

“No. Please don’t dismiss my humble words and be careful in everything, and plan for the future.”

Eunuch Park emphasized his words.

“If you persevere and wait, a good day will surely come.”

“…Thank you.”

Yun-hyeon sincerely thanked Eunuch Park.

Even if his words were just a comfort, he was grateful for the heart that tried to encourage him.

More than anything, hearing his words made his steps lighter as he left this place.

“Please take care of yourself as well.”

Only then did Eunuch Park raise his head at Yun-hyeon’s words.

“Oh, right. I have something to return to you, Scholar.”

“To me?”

Yun-hyeon tilted his head.

To return something? Had he entrusted something to Eunuch Park?

Clink.

Eunuch Park suddenly handed Yun-hyeon a pouch.

It was a pouch that looked familiar.

“What’s this?”

“This is what you entrusted to me before, Scholar Yun. I brought it to return it to you since it was left over, yes.”

Eunuch Park placed the pouch in Yun-hyeon’s arms as if dropping it lightly, without waiting for Yun-hyeon to receive it.

Yun-hyeon accepted the pouch in confusion.

Come to think of it, it was the silver pouch he had entrusted to Eunuch Park when he asked for the letter to be delivered.

“No, Eunuch Park. This is just…”

Yun-hyeon tried to hand the pouch back, but Eunuch Park had already stepped back.

“What need do I have for silver since I’m here? Besides, I have to return what you entrusted to me.”

“Heh.”

When he lifted the pouch, it was still heavy, and it didn’t seem to have decreased much from when he handed it over.

Yun-hyeon let out a sigh, but it didn’t seem like Eunuch Park would take it back even if he refused.

“Thank you.”

Yun-hyeon thanked Eunuch Park once again.

“Come to think of it, I’m only receiving favors from Eunuch Park.”

From getting lost when he first entered the Forbidden City to this small pouch now.

All he could think of were the things he had been indebted to Eunuch Park for.

“Favors? I’m just doing what I should be doing.”

Eunuch Park still smiled and declined Yun-hyeon’s gratitude.

However, who else was there like Eunuch Park in the Forbidden City for Yun-hyeon?

If he had to find someone, it would only be the constable Ilchung-hyeon, so even a hundred words wouldn’t be enough to repay the debt of gratitude he owed to Eunuch Park.

“No. Thank you so much. I think it was the greatest luck to have met someone as good as you.”

Eunuch Park smiled silently.

“Then, goodbye…”

As Yun-hyeon said goodbye, Eunuch Park still bowed politely.

“Yes, I’ll see you again next time.”

Even though they probably wouldn’t meet again, Eunuch Park emphasized the word ‘next’ in particular.

Yun-hyeon waved his hand at Eunuch Park and started walking towards the North Gate.

After being briefly questioned by the Geumuiwi [royal guards] guarding the gate, Yun-hyeon left the North Gate.

However, Eunuch Park didn’t leave his spot.

Even though Yun-hyeon waved his hand at the end, Eunuch Park simply replaced his greeting with a silent smile.

After Yun-hyeon’s figure completely disappeared, Eunuch Park murmured Yun-hyeon’s words as if whispering.

“I’m a good person…”

Eunuch Park turned around.

The smile on his face turned cold and dry.

Hunching his shoulders and slightly lowering his head, Eunuch Park began to walk quickly.

A figure that didn’t look any different from the countless eunuchs coming and going in the Forbidden City.

However, only Eunuch Park’s eyes were shining so strongly that they couldn’t be compared to anyone else.

***

After leaving the North Gate of the inner city, Yun-hyeon walked along the straight road and crossed the wide moat surrounding the Forbidden City.

And then, he passed through a small gate again and completely escaped outside the Forbidden City.

“Hoo.”

Even though he had let go of his attachments, it was only human nature to look back.

Yun-hyeon sighed as he looked at the magnificent red walls and the golden roofs visible in the distance.

“Now, what to do…”

As he had said to Sa Il-cheon, he should go to Gwangju, where his uncle was, for now.

Gwangju was located at the southernmost tip of the continent, so it would be a long journey from Beijing, and it wouldn’t be a bad choice to visit famous places along the way as he had planned.

However, Yun-hyeon’s worry wasn’t about where to go, but about what to do in the future.

Even if he went all the way to Gwangju, it was obvious that his uncle wouldn’t welcome him very much.

“First, I should stop by Henan Province, right? And take a look around the famous Shaolin Temple…”

The real reason he said ‘from Henan Province’ was because that’s where the Murong family was located.

“Well, it’s not like I’m hoping for anything special, I’m just trying to say hello.”

Yun-hyeon muttered as if making excuses, even though no one had asked.

There was also a practical calculation behind Yun-hyeon’s decision to visit several places on the way to Gwangju.

He had heard that the Murong family was a historically deep-rooted and powerful family that reigned as the dominant force in Henan Province.

If so, there would definitely be something that a scholar like himself could do.

Moreover, unlike ordinary scholars, he had at least some understanding of martial arts, so the Murong family would like that, and above all, weren’t they on a level where they had even sent a letter?

“Or maybe just see their faces once…”

He had sent a letter, but he didn’t know what the response was, so it could be a false alarm.

But he could just come out if he sensed that it wasn’t right, so for Yun-hyeon, it was a business that wouldn’t lose him anything anyway.

Yun-hyeon began to move his feet.

His luggage was simple without anything heavy, but his steps weren’t light.

However, a person’s situation is not always as expected.

Just looking at himself, who seemed like he would be free when he entered the Forbidden City but ended up getting twisted, this footstep leaving the Forbidden City in a miserable state might bring good things instead.

“Okay, let’s go.”

Yun-hyeon put strength into his legs.

He decided to get out of Beijing as soon as possible.

It’s not like there aren’t any places with good scenery here, but staying for a long time would only make his heart complicated.

Pretending to ignore the towering Forbidden City, Yun-hyeon looked up at the sky.

A lonely white cloud floating in the blue sky looked as beautiful as a painting.