Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 431

431. Saved Their Lives

Nangwhayoung gave a wry smile.

Just moments ago, Woonhyun had said, ‘Do as you wish,’ while Gaekong had countered with, ‘Killing them would be truly disheartening.’

Turning to Woonhyun, Nangwhayoung said,

“You have a mischievous streak. Why not just tell me not to kill them?”

Woonhyun smiled.

“I hesitate to take lives, but the decision to spare or end them rests with you, Young Miss. It’s not my place to dictate.”

“That’s true.”

Nangwhayoung nodded, then frowned.

“But then you shouldn’t be disheartened either, should you?”

“That is a matter for my own heart.”

“Hmm.”

Nangwhayoung grumbled.

“I feel like I’m being subtly manipulated… Well, anyway, it means I can do as I please, right?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“Good.”

Swish.

Nangwhayoung whirled around.

Whoosh.

A tremendous aura radiated from her.

The hem of her clothes fluttered, and the disciples of the Twin Swords Sect, the guards of the Hoam Merchant Guild, and even the disciples of the Geum Family, all paled and instinctively stepped back.

Nangwhayoung smiled, her gaze fixed on Paedohyeolwang and Dokanmaje.

“You two get to live today.”

Though her face held the smiling innocence of a young and beautiful woman, even Dokanmaje, and Paedohyeolwang, who had been so free with their crude jokes, felt a shiver run down their spines.

“So, you should be prepared.”

Nangwhayoung’s eyes gleamed.

Grit.

The one-eyed Dokanmaje gritted his teeth.

“You bitch! Do you dare look down on me!”

His strong reaction stemmed from the fact that he had unconsciously flinched at Nangwhayoung’s aura a moment before.

Scoffing, Nangwhayoung said.

“You’re acting ridiculously, so I can’t help but look down on you. Did you really think you wouldn’t appear ridiculous while clinging to anyone without a shred of loyalty? That’s quite absurd.”

“Y-You bitch!”

Nangwhayoung paid Dokanmaje no further attention.

Clang.

With a soft, metallic sound, Nangwhayoung’s sword was drawn.

“Both of you, come at me. I’ll take you both on at once.”

“Tch.”

Paedohyeolwang chuckled dryly.

“You’re going to face us both at the same time? Even if it tarnishes my reputation, I will accept your challenge….”

“Spare me the nonsense.”

Swish.

Nangwhayoung raised her left hand.

And lightly flicked her fingers.

“Come. If you don’t….”

Thud.

In an instant, Nangwhayoung launched herself into the air.

The hem of her clothes fluttered in the wind as her slender figure ascended.

But that was only for a moment; she soon plummeted like lightning towards Paedohyeolwang.

Flap.

“I’m coming!”

Clang!

Cutting through the wind, her sword plunged downwards.

Paedohyeolwang was greatly alarmed and hastily drew his own blade.

Clang!

A sharp sound echoed, and Paedohyeolwang shouted in anger.

“You cowardly bitch! I hadn’t even fully drawn my blade, and you ambush me?”

She had attacked from the front, so it couldn’t accurately be called an ambush, but Paedohyeolwang didn’t care.

And neither did Nangwhayoung.

“Hmph. Your hand was already on your blade; what are you talking about?”

Paedohyeolwang gritted his teeth.

Nangwhayoung had noticed even the slightest movement of his hand.

As if trying to seize back the initiative, Paedohyeolwang roared.

“Haaah!”

Whoosh.

Paedohyeolwang’s greatsword roared as it descended towards Nangwhayoung.

But Nangwhayoung didn’t even blink.

Whir.

Nangwhayoung spun in place.

This daring maneuver was to intercept Dokanmaje’s sword, which was hurtling in from her right.

Before he knew it, Dokanmaje was rushing towards Nangwhayoung.

Shriek.

Nangwhayoung’s eyes flashed, and her sword tore through the air.

Clang, Bang!

A sound like an explosion erupted.

“Kugh.”

Paedohyeolwang groaned and stumbled backward.

Dokanmaje also frowned.

The two demons couldn’t withstand Nangwhayoung’s single sword strike.

But Dokanmaje hadn’t given up.

Grit.

Dokanmaje, gritting his teeth, thrust his sword forward.

“Haaah!”

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.

Sharp sword strikes rained down from Dokanmaje.

Nangwhayoung didn’t back down either.

Clang, clang, clang, clang.

Sharp metallic sounds rang out in rapid succession.

The exchanges between the two were so fast and precise that there was no room to breathe.

Even Clan Head Geum Sayul and Sect Leader Dam Wigeol couldn’t clearly follow the movements.

The disciples of the Twin Swords Sect and the Geum Family, along with the guards of the Hoam Merchant Guild, watched Nangwhayoung and Dokanmaje’s exchange with wide-eyed surprise.

But Paedohyeolwang couldn’t afford to simply watch.

He had to deal with Nangwhayoung before the old man watching from behind, Gaekong, intervened.

“Take this!”

Paedohyeolwang shouted loudly, swinging his greatsword.

The intention of shouting, as if to warn her, was to distract Nangwhayoung.

Boom.

Whatever the intention, the force behind Paedohyeolwang’s greatsword was terrifying.

His greatsword cut through the wind and hurtled towards Nangwhayoung’s slender waist.

Dokanmaje’s eyes gleamed, seeing this as his chance.

“Haaah!”

Swaaek.

A swift sword strike, imbued with internal energy, flew towards Nangwhayoung.

But Nangwhayoung didn’t panic.

Swish.

Just as Nangwhayoung seemed to fall, her slender body floated into the air.

She executed a somersault in place without even touching the ground.

Whoosh.

Dokanmaje’s sword brushed past her eyes, and Paedohyeolwang’s greatsword narrowly missed her back and waist.

In that position, Nangwhayoung kicked out with both feet in the air.

Thwack.

“Cough!”

“Kugh!”

Dokanmaje and Paedohyeolwang, struck in the face by Nangwhayoung’s feet, groaned.

That wasn’t all.

Dokanmaje and Paedohyeolwang couldn’t withstand the force behind Nangwhayoung’s feet and were sent flying backward.

Thud.

Nangwhayoung landed lightly on the ground.

People couldn’t tear their eyes away from her amazing display, which resembled a performance.

“Hmm.”

Nangwhayoung lightly flicked her sword in the air.

“The forms are nothing special. Shall we compete in internal energy now?”

The Internal Affairs Vice-Chief of the Hoam Merchant Guild and Dam Wigeol, the Sect Leader of the Twin Swords Sect, were dumbfounded.

Then what had they been watching until now?

Nangwhayoung was dismissing the exchanges so far, which had been filled with terrifying internal energy, as mere form battles.

“You guys, do you even use internal energy? My grandma, no, my master, always said that men should be strong.”

Dokanmaje and Paedohyeolwang’s faces turned bright red.

They had been openly humiliated in front of everyone, and their anger reached a boiling point.

Paedohyeolwang sneered, his eyes blazing with murderous intent.

“Hehe, don’t blame me; you brought this upon yourself.”

Dokanmaje also said in a sinister voice.

“I will definitely stab your neck with my sword.”

Nangwhayoung chuckled at their harsh words.

“With words?”

Paedohyeolwang and Dokanmaje gritted their teeth.

But no more words were necessary.

They slowly gathered their internal energy.

Whoosh.

Paedohyeolwang’s greatsword and Dokanmaje’s sword began to hum.

The sight was quite different from before, and Nangwhayoung frowned.

“Haaaaaa!”

“Ooooooh!”

Paedohyeolwang and Dokanmaje’s eyes turned red, and the blood vessels in their bodies swelled as if they would burst.

At the same time, a dark red energy began to emanate from their swords and greatsword.

Ooooooong.

“T-That’s Sword Energy!”

Someone shouted in surprise.

Nangwhayoung said, feigning surprise.

“Oh. So you can imitate it. But it’s far from being real Sword Energy with that.”

Smirking, Nangwhayoung raised her sword.

Woong.

With a soft hum, a deep green energy rippled on her sword.

There was no ear-splitting shout, nor did she gather internal energy as if her blood vessels would explode.

“This is what Sword Energy is.”

Nangwhayoung said with a faint smile.

People couldn’t hide their astonished expressions.

The same was true for Dam Wigeol and Deung Beomhyu of the Twin Swords Sect.

“…S-Sword Energy Manifestation?”

Dam Wigeol couldn’t believe it.

Nangwhayoung manifesting Sword Energy meant that her martial prowess was comparable to the head of a major clan.

He knew she was a master, but he couldn’t believe it was to this extent.

Grit.

Paedohyeolwang and Dokanmaje gritted their teeth without a word.

But it was already too late to turn back.

“Haa!”

Whoosh.

With Paedohyeolwang’s shout, they flew towards Nangwhayoung.

The swords and greatsword, overflowing with dark red energy, scattered afterimages in the air and rushed towards Nangwhayoung’s eyes.

But Nangwhayoung didn’t move.

Clang!

‘Got her!’

It was the moment when a flicker of triumph appeared in Paedohyeolwang’s eyes.

Shiek.

A small sound, like the wind brushing past, grazed Paedohyeolwang’s ear.

The result immediately unfolded before Paedohyeolwang and Dokanmaje’s eyes.

Whoosh.

The dark red energy rippling on their swords and greatsword vanished.

And a terrible shock coursed through the two men.

“Cough!”

They couldn’t even scream.

They couldn’t even think about attacking Nangwhayoung.

Their own internal energy, which they had poured into their swords and greatsword, began to surge uncontrollably, flowing in reverse.

Clang.

The sword and greatsword, sliced in half, fell to the ground, and Paedohyeolwang and Dokanmaje finally screamed.

“Kuaaaaaak!”

“Eueueueuk!”

Paedohyeolwang and Dokanmaje, screaming in agony, suddenly vomited blood.

That was the end.

Paedohyeolwang and Dokanmaje rolled their eyes and collapsed into the pool of blood they had vomited.

Thud.

People stared at the fallen Paedohyeolwang and Dokanmaje with stunned expressions.

Clang.

Nangwhayoung sheathed her sword.

Looking down at the two demons, she said quietly.

“I spared your lives.”

Swish.

Nangwhayoung turned around.

And suddenly, she was met with the gazes of many people staring at her.

Startled, Nangwhayoung said.

“Why, why are you all looking at me like that? Did I do something strange?”

Woonhyun gave a wry smile.

She seemed genuinely unaware of her impact and worldly perception.

“No. You did a great job….”

It was when Woonhyun was about to speak to Nangwhayoung.

“Nang Unni [Older sister/term of endearment]! Behind you!”

Geum Hyerin said urgently.

Nangwhayoung immediately spun around.

Dokanmaje, who had fallen, was raising his head and moving his hand.

“Hmph!”

Nangwhayoung immediately reached for her sword.

It was then.

Clack.

With a soft sound, Dokanmaje’s movement ceased.

He weakly buried his head back into the pool of blood.

Thud.

And people began to fall from all directions.

Thud, thud.

About thirty disciples of the Twin Swords Sect, about ten guards of the Hoam Merchant Guild, and even the disciples of the Geum Family, quietly closed their eyes and collapsed.

Dam Wigeol and Deung Beomhyu, the Sect Leader of the Twin Swords Sect, and the Internal Affairs Vice-Chief of the Hoam Merchant Guild were no exception.

The surroundings became quiet in an instant.

“Wow.”

Nangwhayoung clicked her tongue and looked at Gaekong.

“Amazing skill. Gaekong Elder.”

Nangwhayoung, who was admiring, smiled and continued.

“But I took care of the strongest ones.”

Gaekong’s eyebrows twitched.

Gaekong responding meant that he acknowledged Nangwhayoung.

But Nangwhayoung couldn’t accept Gaekong’s words.

“How can that be? Even if you combine all of them, they wouldn’t be as good as those two. Besides, we never said we’d do it by numbers in the first place….”

“You missed one.”

Nangwhayoung’s expression soured at Gaekong’s words.

“T-That kind of guy is just….”

But Nangwhayoung couldn’t finish her sentence.

“Geum Sojeo [Young Miss Geum]!”

Ilahyoung shouted in surprise.

Woonhyun immediately reached out and caught the falling Geum Hyerin.

Swish.

Geum Hyerin’s slender body was in Woonhyun’s arms.

She was unconscious.

Moreover, her face was flushed, as if she had a fever.

“Elder!”

“Move her.”

Gaekong strode into the house.

“I’ll do it!”

Woonhyun handed Geum Hyerin to Nangwhayoung, who quickly approached.

Nangwhayoung carefully held Geum Hyerin and followed Gaekong.

Woonhyun was about to move his feet when Ilahyoung asked.

“Woon Uncle. What should we do with these people….”

Behind her troubled expression, the fallen people could be seen.

Woonhyun said to Clan Head Geum Sayul.

“Clan Head-nim [Honorific title for Clan Head], would you tie these people up and hand them over to the government office? The government will take care of the rest.”

“I understand. More than that, I ask you to take care of my daughter.”

He wanted to go see his daughter, but he couldn’t ignore his responsibility as Clan Head.

Woonhyun nodded.

“Yes. Don’t worry.”

With those words, Woonhyun quickly followed Gaekong.

In front of the Geum Family’s gate, which had become quiet in an instant, only the quiet breathing of the sleeping people continued.