Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 432

432. You Said… Supreme Leader?

Yunhyun entered the Geum Family Manor and quickly opened the door.

Nang Hwa-yeong, holding Geum Hye-rin, stepped inside, followed by Gaek Ong and Il A-yeong.

Swish.

Nang Hwa-yeong carefully laid the unconscious Geum Hye-rin on the bed.

Gaek Ong checked Geum Hye-rin’s pulse and pressed several pressure points.

Tap.

“Umm.”

Geum Hye-rin groaned softly.

But soon, she took a long breath, and her expression became peaceful.

Gaek Ong, after checking her breathing and pulse, said with a stern face.

“She’s fine for now.”

Geum Hye-rin was still unconscious, but it was clear to anyone that her condition had improved.

The reddish complexion, as if she had a fever, now looked much better.

Swish.

Gaek Ong turned his head and looked at Nang Hwa-yeong.

“What suddenly caused this?”

It was an unexpected question.

Because there was no way Nang Hwa-yeong would know why Geum Hye-rin had collapsed.

However, Nang Hwa-yeong remained silent, only looking at Geum Hye-rin, without saying a word.

Il A-yeong, with a puzzled expression, said to Gaek Ong.

“Could it be that she was shocked? Geum Sojeo [Young Lady Geum] is naturally frail…….”

“No.”

Gaek Ong interrupted Il A-yeong.

“There’s a reason. Definitely.”

“I’m sorry.”

Nang Hwa-yeong said quietly.

“But I promised not to reveal it to anyone, so I can’t say now. Later, when the time comes… I’ll tell you then.”

“Are you going to tell me after this child dies?”

At Gaek Ong’s words, Nang Hwa-yeong bit her lip.

But she didn’t say anything more.

Gaek Ong clicked his tongue softly.

“Let her rest. She’ll wake up soon. But remember that each time this happens, her life is being shortened.”

With those words, Gaek Ong moved his feet.

Nang Hwa-yeong, with a flustered expression, said to Gaek Ong.

“Th, thank you!”

But Gaek Ong’s steps didn’t stop.

Thud, thud.

Gaek Ong left the room, and Yunhyun said to Nang Hwa-yeong.

“Please take good care of her. It doesn’t seem like the right time today, so I’ll come back later. Oh, and.”

Yunhyun smiled and said to Nang Hwa-yeong.

“Sojeo’s sword was amazing.”

“Re, really?”

Nang Hwa-yeong’s expression brightened.

“But if it weren’t for you, it wouldn’t have been resolved so easily.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

The person who took care of the two Madu [poisonous demonic individuals] was Nang Hwa-yeong, and the person who completely blocked the subsequent chaos was Gaek Ong.

But Nang Hwa-yeong shook her head.

“No. If you weren’t here, I wouldn’t have known what to do. I would have definitely made things worse with my personality.”

Nang Hwa-yeong wore a bitter expression.

Considering that she drew her sword at Yunhyun without hesitation last time, there was definitely a possibility of that.

“Come to think of it, it’s like you wielded me, the sword. Isn’t that right? Hahaha.”

Nang Hwa-yeong’s hearty laughter didn’t last long.

She glanced at the sleeping Geum Hye-rin and said.

“Please come again. If it’s you, Geum Agassi [Young Miss Geum] will open her heart. Oh, and please be sure to thank Gaek Ong Eoreusin [Elder Gaek Ong], too.”

“Yes. I will.”

Yunhyun nodded.

“Then I’ll be going. Don’t come out, and please rest.”

“Thank you.”

At Nang Hwa-yeong’s words, Yunhyun left the room with Il A-yeong.

The departing figure of Gaek Ong was just disappearing beyond the side door.

***

Yunhyun, Gaek Ong, and Il A-yeong were returning to the Ilchung County main residence in Ak Yang on a carriage.

Amid the sound of horse hooves, all three were silent.

Il A-yeong quietly reflected on what had happened at the Geum Family Manor.

Even to Il A-yeong, who knew nothing, Nang Hwa-yeong’s martial arts were amazing.

Moreover, the sword energy she showed was chilling.

Gaek Ong’s ability to subdue everyone in an instant at the end was also something she couldn’t figure out no matter how much she thought about it.

Il A-yeong looked at Gaek Ong with renewed amazement.

It was then.

“What did you see first?”

Gaek Ong suddenly said.

“The Madu moving, or that child shouting?”

That wasn’t a question directed at Il A-yeong.

“Geum Sojeo was first.”

Yunhyun answered quietly.

“I heard Geum Sojeo’s voice before he even moved.”

“Yes. It seemed that way to me, too.”

Il A-yeong couldn’t understand the conversation.

Not the content, but why these words were coming out.

“Are you saying that Geum Sojeo didn’t see him by chance?”

At Il A-yeong’s words, Yunhyun shook his head.

“No matter how coincidental, she couldn’t have noticed before Eoreusin [Elder].”

If Geum Hye-rin noticed even a moment before Gaek Ong, it’s definitely not a coincidence.

Because no one there can escape Gaek Ong’s attention.

But Il A-yeong still couldn’t understand.

Even if that’s the case, she wondered if it was important.

“A-yeong-ah.”

Yunhyun’s voice interrupted Il A-yeong’s thoughts.

“Do you think the Hoam Merchant Group will withdraw from the Geum Family Manor because of this?”

Il A-yeong gave a bitter smile.

“That’s impossible. Once the Hoam Merchant Group starts something, they always see it through.”

Slightly biting her lip, Il A-yeong continued.

“Since the use of force failed, they’ll think of other methods. For example, the debt certificate mentioned before, or putting pressure through the government.”

Yunhyun nodded.

“I see. But it seems like those methods will take some time?”

“I suppose so.”

There were still many ways for the Hoam Merchant Group to swallow the Geum Family Manor.

The fastest and simplest way, solving it with force, had failed.

“Hmm.”

Yunhyun was lost in thought.

Gaek Ong didn’t say anything more, and silence fell inside the carriage.

After a while, Il A-yeong asked.

“……But is Yun Sukbu [Yun, my uncle] okay?”

“Me?”

Yunhyun asked back with a puzzled expression.

Il A-yeong quietly continued.

“The Gangho [martial arts world] is so rough, I’m worried about whether Yun Sukbu is doing well in the Changryong Alliance.”

A faint bitter smile crossed Gaek Ong’s lips as he looked outside, but Il A-yeong didn’t see it.

Yunhyun smiled.

“I’m fine. I’ve met good people.”

“……That’s a relief, but.”

Il A-yeong’s worried expression didn’t improve much.

There would be many like the two Madu they saw today in the Gangho martial world.

No matter how much good people help, she was worried about how Yunhyun, with his quiet personality, would manage.

“Always be careful. Don’t go near dangerous places like today. Okay?”

At Il A-yeong’s words, Gaek Ong’s bitter smile deepened.

Yunhyun also gave an awkward smile.

In fact, Il A-yeong, who said that, wasn’t the type to step back and stay quiet either.

Still, Yunhyun had no choice but to nod.

Because Il A-yeong’s eyes were full of her heart worrying about him.

“Yes, thank you.”

Yunhyun said that with sincerity.

But Il A-yeong’s worried expression didn’t fade.

***

Jangsa, Honam Province, the main residence of the Hoam Merchant Group.

Internal Affairs Director Lee Hak-bung frowned.

“It failed?”

The secretary standing in front of him quickly lowered his head.

That secretary was one of the working-level staff assisting the Deputy Director of Internal Affairs.

“Y, yes. Moreover, the Deputy Director and the bodyguards are all imprisoned in the government office…….”

Thump.

Lee Hak-bung slammed the table.

“After making such bold claims, what is this!”

The secretary flinched, and Lee Hak-bung shouted.

“The General Assembly is right around the corner, and you’re telling me it failed? How dare you say such a thing!”

“I, I’m told it was an unavoidable situation.”

The secretary stammered.

“The female expert who joined the Geum Family Manor was so…….”

“So we took experts too! How did you fail to handle even the Geum Family Manor and end up imprisoned in the government office!”

Lee Hak-bung didn’t care about the difference in skill between experts.

The fact that the Deputy Director of Internal Affairs’ promised plan had gone wrong and his own plan had collapsed infuriated him.

The secretary couldn’t even dare to lift his head.

“Th, that is, it seems they coincidentally met the Ssanggeom Sect [Twin Sword Sect] at the Geum Family Manor. I don’t know the details, but at least the Ssanggeom Sect can’t interfere with the Geum Family Manor anymore.”

He had met the Deputy Director of Internal Affairs, who was imprisoned, but his explanation was incomprehensible.

The Deputy Director of Internal Affairs’ words about sword energy and some kind of sorcery were closer to rambling than explanation.

“……Really? The Ssanggeom Sect can’t interfere?”

Lee Hak-bung frowned and said.

Wasn’t it because of that Ssanggeom Sect that he had rushed things?

“Yes, that’s right. The Sect Leader of the Ssanggeom Sect and about thirty elite members are imprisoned, and since there’s no sign of them getting out, it seems like internal strife has occurred.”
The Ssanggeom Sect had been recklessly expanding its power anyway.

With the absence of Sect Leader Dam Wi-geol and the action leader, Deung Beom-yu, becoming indefinitely prolonged, those who remained had begun to fend for themselves.

Thanks to that, the Ssanggeom Sect was divided into factions, becoming a mess of infighting to take over the interests.

“Hmm.”

Lee Hak-bung was lost in thought for a moment.

Although he had failed to take over the Geum Family Manor, excluding the Ssanggeom Sect wasn’t a bad result.

At least the worry of losing the Geum Family Manor had disappeared.

‘Anyway, all I need is a result to show the elders at the General Assembly…….’

In fact, taking control of the Geum Family Manor didn’t matter even later.

What was important was the result. The result to show at the General Assembly.

Lee Hak-bung tapped the table with his finger.

‘Tsk, it seems like it’s time to make a deal with the Geum Family Manor’s head.

“Th, there…….”

At the secretary’s voice, Lee Hak-bung frowned and looked up.

“Shouldn’t we get the Deputy Director out of prison?”

Normally, this would have been resolved on its own before the Hoam Merchant Group even used its power.

However, for some reason, the government had threatened to strictly investigate those involved in this incident.

The same was true for the Ssanggeom Sect, which had likely bribed the government a lot.

“Leave him.”

Lee Hak-bung said as if throwing it away.

“It’s his own fault, so let him suffer a bit on this occasion.”

The secretary gave a bitter smile inside.

He was suffering in prison while carrying out the orders of the Hoam Merchant Group, no, Lee Hak-bung, so how could it be his own fault?

But the secretary couldn’t say anything and bowed his head.

He felt that the Deputy Director of Internal Affairs, who was eagerly waiting to be released from prison, and his own situation, where he had to bow his head without daring to argue, were the same anyway.

***

Ak Yang, Honam Province, the main residence of Ilchung County.

A carriage stopped in front of the gate.

The person who got off, dressed in stylish clothes, was talking with Yeong Ho-jun and Dam So-ha.

The waiting Chief Manager politely paid his respects and guided the two to the back garden.

“Supreme Leader!”

The handsome Yeong Ho-jun walked over with a bright expression and said.

“Ah, Chief Military Advisor. Dam Je.”

Yunhyun, who was drinking tea in the back garden, stood up from his seat.

Dam So-ha politely paid his respects to Yunhyun, who was talking with Yeong Ho-jun.

As Yunhyun returned their greetings, Yeong Ho-jun smiled and said.

“It’s really nice to see the Supreme Leader after a long time. And Eoreusin [Elder], too.”

Yeong Ho-jun politely paid his respects, but Gaek Ong didn’t respond, holding his teacup.

Yunhyun offered Yeong Ho-jun and Dam So-ha a seat.

“Please sit down first.”

“Thank you.”

As Yeong Ho-jun and Dam So-ha sat down, Yunhyun handed them tea.

Savoring the soft tea fragrance, Yeong Ho-jun let out a satisfied sigh of relief.

And soon, he asked Yunhyun with shining eyes.

“By the way, what did you do in Gyerim? The Taepyeong Alliance was completely turned upside down, you know?”

“It’s nothing. I just had a sparring match.”

Yeong Ho-jun couldn’t hide his surprised expression.

“A sparring match? Wow, the Supreme Leader drew his sword himself, so Gyerim must have been buzzing.”

Yunhyun gave a bitter smile.

What made Gyerim buzz was rather the Taepyeong Alliance’s grand banquet.

“More than that, is the preparation for the General Assembly finished?”

“Of course.”

Rustle.

Yeong Ho-jun took out a thin letter from his pocket.

The red pattern and golden letters were clear under the sunlight.

“They sent it to the best seat.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“You’re welcome.”

Yeong Ho-jun, who was speaking with a gentle smile, suddenly noticed Il A-yeong.

“Ah, Il Sojeo [Young Lady Il]. Long time no see……. Why do you have that expression?”

It was natural for Yeong Ho-jun to ask.

Because Il A-yeong was staring at Yeong Ho-jun and Yunhyun with wide eyes and an open mouth.

“……Just now, did you call Yun Sukbu [Yun, my uncle] ‘Supreme Leader’?”

“Of course, didn’t I?”

Yeong Ho-jun rather said with a puzzled look.

“Since he’s the Supreme Leader, I have no choice but to call him Supreme Leader. Isn’t that right?”

Swish.

Il A-yeong turned her gaze to Yunhyun.

“……You said… Supreme Leader?”

Even Il A-yeong, who didn’t know much about the Gangho martial world, knew the meaning of the title Supreme Leader.

Isn’t it literally the master of the alliance?

“Um, well, that’s…….”

Yunhyun avoided Il A-yeong’s gaze and picked up his teacup.

“It’s a bit of a long story, you see.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

Il A-yeong said in a firm tone.

“I have a lot of time today. A lot.”

Il A-yeong’s resolute eyes were full of a determined will not to let it go.

Yunhyun wore an awkward smile.

It seemed like he would have to tell a long story today.