Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 430

430. Unholy Alliance

The expulsion order was unmistakable.

The firm words, “Leave immediately,” and the justification, “What is all this commotion in front of someone else’s house without an invitation?” left no room for misinterpretation.

Anyone overhearing would think they were shooing away common thugs from their doorstep.

“Hehehe.”

The Bloodfist Overlord, accompanying the Howling Tiger Merchant Group, was the first to react.

He glanced not at Unhyun but at the women behind him, saying, “Very good. Aren’t they all exquisite? It might be nice to take them all as concubines on this occasion.”

The Bloodfist Overlord’s lecherous gaze lingered on Neung Hwa-young, Il A-young, and Geum Hye-rin.

Il A-young felt a chill creep down her spine.

The sight of the Bloodfist Overlord stroking his long beard and smiling slyly was utterly repulsive.

Just then, the Internal Affairs Vice-Chief of the Howling Tiger Merchant Group pointed at Neung Hwa-young and exclaimed, “That woman is the master!”

“Tsk.”

The Bloodfist Overlord clicked his tongue in annoyance.

He was already wary of Neung Hwa-young.

He had intended to feign ignorance and provoke her, but the Internal Affairs Vice-Chief had blurted it out, ruining his plan.

Dam Wi-geol, the Sword Twin Sect Leader, was equally in the dark.

“Is that woman the master who beat up our men?” he asked Deng Beom-yu, who seemed to be leading the action squad.

Deng Beom-yu, standing among the Sword Twin Sect disciples, nodded.

“Yes, it is.”

Dam Wi-geol turned to the One-Eyed Devil.

“Did you hear? That woman…”

“Who is that?” The One-Eyed Devil raised a gaunt hand, pointing at someone.

Dam Wi-geol followed the One-Eyed Devil’s gaze.

At the very back, an old man was walking slowly with his hands clasped behind his back.

Even at a glance, the old man exuded an extraordinary aura.

Dam Wi-geol frowned and asked Deng Beom-yu, “Who is that old man?”

“…I’m not sure. But there was no mention of a master joining the Geum family separately.”

The One-Eyed Devil clicked his tongue at Deng Beom-yu’s response.

He was clearly displeased with the Sword Twin Sect’s failure to grasp even the basics.

“I will give you more silver,” Dam Wi-geol quickly offered.

The One-Eyed Devil remained silent, but his displeasure visibly lessened.

Seizing the moment, Dam Wi-geol shouted, “You scoundrels, Geum family!”

His voice, amplified by internal energy, echoed loudly.

Dam Wi-geol addressed Geum Sa-yeol, the Geum family head, directly: “You trampled on my goodwill and dared to harm the disciples of the Sword Twin Sect! How do you intend to atone for this great sin? Kneel down and prostrate yourselves immediately!”

Anger flashed in Geum Sa-yeol’s eyes.

“How can handing over the Geum family be called goodwill! I would rather die standing than kneel before the Sword Twin Sect!” Geum Sa-yeol retorted, his beard trembling with indignation.

Just then, a clear voice rang out: “The family head’s words are indeed correct. How could the Geum family submit to the Sword Twin Sect?”

It was the Internal Affairs Vice-Chief of the Howling Tiger Merchant Group.

“Family Head Geum, aren’t we once on the same boat? I won’t be so heartless, so come to the Howling Tiger Merchant Group. Since Miss Il, who is also from our group, is here, it shouldn’t be difficult to negotiate.”

The Internal Affairs Vice-Chief knew Il A-young.

He didn’t know the specifics, but seeing Il A-young and Geum Sa-yeol together, he extended the offer. However, Dam Wi-geol, the Sword Twin Sect Leader, was startled.

‘Damn it! The Howling Tiger Merchant Group already has a connection!’

The fact that someone from the Howling Tiger Merchant Group was already involved with the Geum family felt like a stab in the back.

Dam Wi-geol immediately shouted at the Internal Affairs Vice-Chief, “This is a matter of the martial world, so the Howling Tiger Merchant Group should stay out of it!”

At that moment, the Bloodfist Overlord, standing next to the Internal Affairs Vice-Chief, glared at Dam Wi-geol.

‘Gasp!’

Dam Wi-geol flinched under the intense gaze.

Despite the Bloodfist Overlord’s white hair, his eyes were as intimidating as those of a fierce tiger.

Sect Leader Dam Wi-geol asked Deng Beom-yu in a low voice, “Who, who is that?”

“I, I don’t know. Judging by his aura, he seems to be a master from the Demonic Sect…”

Deng Beom-yu and Dam Wi-geol turned to the One-Eyed Devil.

However, the One-Eyed Devil simply snorted lightly instead of answering.

Dam Wi-geol’s expression brightened at that reaction.

He glared at the Internal Affairs Vice-Chief of the Howling Tiger Merchant Group with a triumphant look once more.

The Internal Affairs Vice-Chief also asked the Bloodfist Overlord in a low voice, “The Sword Twin Sect seems to have brought a master. Do you know who it is?”

“No need to worry about it,” the Bloodfist Overlord said dismissively.

“As long as you keep your promise, everything will be fine.”

The Internal Affairs Vice-Chief felt a strange unease.

But he quickly composed himself and glared at the Sword Twin Sect.

“The Sword Twin Sect should stay out of it immediately! This is a matter between the Howling Tiger Merchant Group and the Geum family!”

“What! Are you daring to insult the Sword Twin Sect!” Sword Twin Sect Leader Dam Wi-geol glared sharply, but the Internal Affairs Vice-Chief, backed by the Bloodfist Overlord and a dozen guards, stood his ground.

“What a load of crap,” a voice declared, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.

The speaker was none other than Neung Hwa-young.

“The one who’s supposed to give the rice cake [a metaphor for the Geum family’s assets] isn’t even thinking about it, so why are they making a fuss among themselves? Crazy bastards.”

Geum Hye-rin, standing beside her, grabbed Neung Hwa-young’s sleeve with a flustered expression.

“W, where did you learn such words?”

“Why? Did I say something strange?” Neung Hwa-young asked, looking genuinely puzzled.

“J, just now, you, you said ‘crap’…” Geum Hye-rin trailed off, as if ashamed to even utter the word.

But Neung Hwa-young replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world: “Didn’t my master always say that to me when I made a mistake? He said I was talking crap.”

“T, that’s…” Geum Hye-rin was taken aback.

It wasn’t something a young and beautiful woman should say, but since her master said it, she felt she couldn’t object.

“Keuheuheuh. That little girl is quite cute, even if she’s a bit slow. What is your sect?” the Bloodfist Overlord said with a sly smile.

Neung Hwa-young’s eyebrows furrowed immediately.

“That’s strange,” she said, glaring at the Bloodfist Overlord. “Why do I get so annoyed when you say I’m cute? You ugly old man.”

Geum Hye-rin gave a wry smile.

Neung Hwa-young remembered that the word ‘old man’ was considered rude.

It wasn’t enough to truly offend the Bloodfist Overlord, but he frowned nonetheless.

“How dare you! Do you know who I am…?”

“I don’t know,” Neung Hwa-young interrupted the Bloodfist Overlord.

“Why does everyone think I should know them? The only person I truly acknowledge didn’t say such things.”

The Bloodfist Overlord’s eyes gleamed.

“Who is that?”

“Esteemed Guest Elder. It’s this person right here.” Neung Hwa-young pointed with her chin at Guest Elder, who was standing behind her.

Guest Elder frowned, and the eyes of the Bloodfist Overlord and the One-Eyed Devil lit up.

The Bloodfist Overlord’s tactic of provoking the opponent to reveal their identity had worked, even if only slightly.

‘Guest Elder?’

‘Who is it?’

The Bloodfist Overlord and the One-Eyed Devil quickly searched their memories.

However, neither had ever heard of the title Guest Elder.

The One-Eyed Devil, who had been active in the closed-off Guangxi Province, and the Bloodfist Overlord, who had committed evil deeds by exploiting the power vacuum in the early days of the Martial Alliance, had no recollection of such a figure.

But if Neung Hwa-young acknowledged him, he must be a master.

Meanwhile, Family Head Geum Sa-yeol said to Unhyun in a low voice, “Young Master Un, it seems those people are keeping each other in check, so it would be wise to take advantage of that.”

The Sword Twin Sect, like a jackal, and the Howling Tiger Merchant Group, like a tiger, were growling at each other over who would take over the Geum family.

Since the three were in a precarious balance, the best strategy was to incite the tiger and jackal to fight each other.

“No, that won’t do,” a low voice answered Geum Sa-yeol.

It was Geum Hye-rin.

“Those two, no, those two people won’t fight each other.”

Instantly, Unhyun’s eyes gleamed.

“Why is that?”

Geum Hye-rin sighed softly.

She looked at the Bloodfist Overlord and the One-Eyed Devil and said, “Those two people have no animosity towards each other at all. No, it seems they have the same intentions.”

Her voice echoed clearly in the sudden silence.

Dam Wi-geol, the Sword Twin Sect Leader, frowned immediately.

“What nonsense! You’re trying to incite internal strife, but…!”

“Hehe,” the One-Eyed Devil’s sneer interrupted Dam Wi-geol’s words.

“A very cunning bitch,” the One-Eyed Devil said, licking his lips. “Brother, give me that bitch. I want to kill her myself.”

“That won’t do,” the Bloodfist Overlord frowned.

“I need that bitch to justify swallowing the Geum family, don’t I? But once the Geum family is mine, I will gladly give her to you. Hehehe.”

The two men exchanged sly smiles.

The most flustered people at that sight were Dam Wi-geol and Deng Beom-yu of the Sword Twin Sect.

“W, what is this? One-Eyed Devil! Surely you’re not…”

Swish.

The One-Eyed Devil drew his sword.

The blade gleamed sharply under Dam Wi-geol’s chin.

‘Ugh!’

Dam Wi-geol flinched.

“Choose,” the One-Eyed Devil said.

His one eye was looking not at the sect leader Dam Wi-geol, but at Deng Beom-yu.

“Will you live miserably under this guy, or will you take over the Geum family and the Sword Twin Sect with me and enjoy wealth and glory?”

Deng Beom-yu couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

The thirty or so disciples who had come with him also didn’t know what to do.

The Internal Affairs Vice-Chief of the Howling Tiger Merchant Group was equally confused.

He turned to the Bloodfist Overlord and asked, “S, surely you’re not breaking the contract…?”

The Bloodfist Overlord smirked.

“No need to worry. The contract hasn’t changed.”

The Internal Affairs Vice-Chief was relieved at those words.

But the Bloodfist Overlord’s words were not over yet.

“It’s just that a better method has emerged. Isn’t it much better to eat both than to fight the Sword Twin Sect to swallow the Geum family? Isn’t that right? Keuheuheuh.”

The seasoned Bloodfist Overlord had learned about the existence of the One-Eyed Devil while investigating the Sword Twin Sect.

It was very easy for two demonic figures to collude.

This was a golden opportunity to not only take over the Sword Twin Sect and the Geum family but also to legally disguise their identities.

“The close relationship between the Howling Tiger Merchant Group and this old one will not change. Ah, prepare one more identity that you promised to make for me. Understand?”

The Bloodfist Overlord glared subtly at the Internal Affairs Vice-Chief and said.

The Internal Affairs Vice-Chief swallowed hard.

This situation was a very different matter from simply taking over the Geum family.

The Geum family and the Sword Twin Sect would effectively be integrated into one, and not only the Bloodfist Overlord but also two demonic figures like the One-Eyed Devil would take their place.

It was obvious that not only this business but also the martial world of Hunan would be greatly shaken.

But if the Internal Affairs Vice-Chief himself kept his mouth shut, nothing would change on the surface.

At least for the Howling Tiger Merchant Group.

“Why is there no answer?” the Bloodfist Overlord said, glaring.

“Do you not care what happens to your family?”

‘Gasp.’

The Internal Affairs Vice-Chief was startled.

“A, I understand. Just make sure to take over the Geum family.”

“Of course,” the Bloodfist Overlord said with a smile.

“How could I ignore the request of an important client? Euhahahahaha.”

The Bloodfist Overlord laughed heartily.

The One-Eyed Devil’s sly smile also deepened, but the expression of Dam Wi-geol, the Sword Twin Sect Leader, was withering away.

“What a load of crap.”

Everyone already knew whose clear voice it was.

Cheon Il-geom [Heavenly Sword] Neung Hwa-young’s eyes gleamed coldly.

“You are going to die today… Ah, right.”

Neung Hwa-young, who was speaking, turned her head to look at Unhyun.

“Y, you have full authority, don’t you? Isn’t that right?”

Neung Hwa-young stammered.

She was trying to avoid making eye contact with Unhyun.

As a result, Neung Hwa-young’s gaze was wavering.

Unhyun smiled.

“Thank you for remembering.”

“I, I’m originally good at remembering… Um, well, I want to kill those guys. Is that okay?”

It was a terribly gruesome thing to say, but Neung Hwa-young’s demeanor was exactly like that of a shy young lady.

Unhyun gave a wry smile.

He said in a calm tone, “Do as you wish.”

“Really?” Neung Hwa-young raised her eyes to look at Unhyun.

Her eyes were full of life.

“But if you really kill them, Hyun will be heartbroken,” Guest Elder suddenly said in a low voice.

That was Guest Elder’s sincere advice, born from experience.