Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 442

442. People Waiting in Hangzhou

악양, Hunan Province, Ilchung County, the Yun Family Estate.

Though the Hoam Merchant Guild’s general assembly was not yet over, Woon-hyun was preparing to leave.

He had already discussed it with Chief Strategist Yeong Ho-jun, and he had completed all his tasks there.

However, some things had changed from his initial expectations.

“Are you ready, Lady Yeo-hyeop?”

“I am.”

Neng Hwa-young nodded.

Dressed in light martial attire and carrying a bundle on her back, she looked every bit the wandering martial artist.

“But I’m not Lady Neng Yeo-hyeop anymore, am I?”

“Ah, that’s right. Lady Geum Yeo-hyeop.”

Neng Hwa-young had become the adopted daughter of the Geum family.

Jangju [Head of the Family] Geum Sa-yeol was overjoyed at Woon-hyun’s suggestion and couldn’t hide his happiness at gaining a new daughter in his old age.

Geum Hye-rin, who usually called Neng Hwa-young “sister,” was also delighted.

Thus, Neng Hwa-young became Geum Hwa-young and gained a new family.

“Um, I’d prefer it if you called me ‘Sojeo’ [Young Lady] rather than ‘Yeo-hyeop’ [Female Knight-Errant]…”

Geum Hwa-young said hesitantly.

There was no reason not to call her that if that’s what she wanted.

Besides, it was even more so, if it was a request from a master like Geum Hwa-young.

“Yes, Lady Geum.”

Woon-hyun said as if it were natural, and Geum Hwa-young’s expression brightened.

“Thank you. I really want to show it to Halmang [Grandma], no, my teacher. She always nagged me for being such a tomboy…”

“A tomboy? How could my sister be a tomboy?”

Geum Hye-rin said to Geum Hwa-young.

“If such a pretty and cool lady is a tomboy, then I must be a man.”

Even without much makeup, Geum Hwa-young’s femininity couldn’t be hidden.

Rather, her unadorned, healthy charm was even more pronounced.

Geum Hye-rin said, sounding somewhat envious.

“So, Hangzhou, are you going to that beautiful city? I’ve always wanted to go…”

Visiting Geum Hwa-young’s teacher was postponed.

Woon-hyun had to go to the Changryong Alliance headquarters in Hangzhou first.

Thanks to this, Geum Hwa-young would accompany Woon-hyun’s group for the time being.

“Come visit sometime.”

Woon-hyun said with a smile.

“I’ll treat you to a meal at a nice place.”

“Thank you, Young Master Woon.”

Geum Hye-rin smiled and bowed her head lightly.

Although her complexion had improved a lot, she still needed to recover.

However, her unique ability had almost disappeared, and now she was only slightly more perceptive than others.

“Please take good care of my sister.”

“Ahem.”

Geum Hwa-young cleared her throat at Geum Hye-rin’s words.

It was a bit strange to ask someone to take care of a master like Geum Hwa-young, but Woon-hyun nodded.

“Yes, I understand.”

It was then that Woon-hyun answered.

“Oh my, everyone’s out here.”

Jegal Gi-ho appeared with a friendly smile.

He walked over without hesitation and bowed to Woon-hyun and Gekoeng.

“I’m sorry. I was a little late.”

Woon-hyun returned his greeting.

“No, we haven’t left yet.”

“That’s a relief. Haha.”

Jegal Gi-ho laughed heartily.

One of the reasons Woon-hyun’s group was going to Hangzhou first was the news that Jegal Gi-ho had brought.

The head of the Jegal family, having learned that Woon-hyun had dueled with the head of the Gongson family in Gyelim, insisted on visiting Woon-hyun.

Moreover,

A letter from Jin Ye-rim at the Changryong Alliance headquarters in Hangzhou stated that the Gongson family’s envoy was eagerly awaiting Woon-hyun’s return to Hangzhou.

Along with a complaint that Jin Ye-rim was suffering from excessive workload due to the absence of Chief Strategist Yeong Ho-jun.

In the end, Woon-hyun decided to return to Hangzhou before visiting Geum Hwa-young’s teacher.

The duties of the alliance leader took precedence, and he was also concerned about making the head of the Jegal family and the envoy of the Gongson family wait.

The head of the Jegal family, who had said he would come here, also decided to meet in Hangzhou.

“Hmm, are you another companion?”

Geum Hwa-young said, looking at Jegal Gi-ho.

Jegal Gi-ho smiled.

“Yes, I am Jegal Gi-ho.”

“I am Neng Hwa, no, Geum Hwa-young.”

Jegal Gi-ho was slightly taken aback by Geum Hwa-young’s tone.

Changing her surname and the young lady speaking in an old man’s tone were strange, but more than anything, she didn’t react to Jegal Gi-ho’s surname.

Normally, people would ask, ‘Are you perhaps from the Jegal family?’

Still, Jegal Gi-ho said with a smile.

“Lady Geum, I look forward to working with you…”

“Strange.”

“Yes?”

As Jegal Gi-ho questioned, Geum Hwa-young frowned and said.

“I feel bad when you call me ‘Sojeo.’ Just call me ‘Yeo-hyeop.'”

At those words, Jegal Gi-ho’s eyebrows twitched.

“Ahahaha.”

Forcing a smile, Jegal Gi-ho said.

“Lady Yeo-hyeop, you may not know, but I am from the Jegal family…”

“Lady Geum.”

Woon-hyun said quietly.

“Is a master that Gekoeng Elder recognizes.”

Jegal Gi-ho was speechless.

He knew that Gekoeng was 독선 [dogseon, self-righteous].

A master that even the world’s 독선 [dogseon, self-righteous] recognized, Jegal Gi-ho asked himself without realizing it.

“…Really?”

Woon-hyun nodded.

“Yes. Especially the light of her sword energy is very clear.”

Jegal Gi-ho’s expression changed.

If the light of her sword energy was clear, it meant that she was not just at the beginning of sword energy manifestation, but at a higher level, at least the level of the family head.

She was not someone Jegal Gi-ho could dare to treat carelessly.

“Ahem.”

Jegal Gi-ho cleared his throat and put on a bright smile.

“It is truly an honor to travel together, Lady Geum.”

His change of attitude was decisive without any regrets.

Woon-hyun couldn’t help but smile, reminded of the time in Bukhae.

“Let’s go.”

Gekoeng said.

At those words, the group boarded the large carriage that had been prepared.

Royal Inspector Jo-gwan and Hang Jang-ik also got into the carriage.

As Geum Hye-rin, Ila-young, Yeong Ho-jun, and the happy-looking Dam So-ha saw them off, the carriage slowly moved.

Clatter, clatter.

“Be careful on your trip! Uncle Woon!”

Ila-young shouted towards the departing carriage.

“Don’t forget that this is your home!”

Woon-hyun smiled and waved back at Ila-young, who was waving her hand energetically.

The stuffiness that had been weighing on Woon-hyun’s chest disappeared, probably because of Ila-young’s bright expression.

Thus, Woon-hyun’s group headed to the Changryong Alliance headquarters in Hangzhou.

***

Woon-hyun’s group took a boat from Dongjeong Lake and went down the Yangtze River.

Geum Hwa-young couldn’t hide her surprised expression, as if it was her first time on a big boat.

“I, is this a boat? It, it looks bigger than a house?”

Geum Hwa-young carefully boarded the boat.

She was greatly shocked by the shaking floor.

Geum Hwa-young reacted sensitively even to the slightest sway that ordinary people wouldn’t even notice.

But that was only on the first day; the next day, Geum Hwa-young walked around the boat with a light step.

She seemed a little scared as she looked at the rippling waves of the Yangtze River, but even that became familiar in less than a day.

However, she still seemed hesitant to lean against the ship’s side.

Splash.

Woon-hyun looked at the breaking waves of the Yangtze River.

The white waves sparkled beautifully under the sunlight.

“Why?”

Was it because Woon-hyun’s expression looked somewhat dark?

Gekoeng suddenly asked.

“I’m a little worried.”

“…About Il-daesang’s words?”

Gekoeng’s words pierced Woon-hyun’s heart.

Woon-hyun smiled bitterly.

“Yes. Although he said that he had put down the 천하패령 [Cheonhaparyeong, Supreme Heavenly Authority]…”

Woon-hyun continued, looking down at the waves.

“Somehow, it’s too quiet.”

Gekoeng was silent for a moment.

Il-daesang clearly said that the 천하패령 [Cheonhaparyeong, Supreme Heavenly Authority] was his lingering attachment.

In fact, after Moon Wang died, Il-daesang stood by and watched the fall of the Hero Alliance.

He only took Yeom Jung-bu, who had knelt before him.

But that didn’t mean that Il-daesang had stepped down.

No, rather, Il-daesang must have been planning something more serious and bigger.

Rattle.

Woon-hyun took a thin letter from his chest.

“What is that?”

“It was delivered by the Great Palace Lord of the Bukhae Ilmun [North Sea First Gate].”

It was one of the letters delivered by a member of the Hoam Merchant Guild who had come just before the group boarded the ship.

Swish.

Woon-hyun handed the letter to Gekoeng.

“It seems that the 암천무제 [Amcheonmuje, Dark Sky Martial Emperor] is moving in Seoseo Province.”

Woon-hyun said quietly.

Rattle.

Gekoeng opened the letter.

The content was exactly as Woon-hyun had said.

The handwriting, written so accurately that it even felt sharp, was like seeing the Great Palace Lord himself.

“Isn’t it a coincidence?”

Woon-hyun turned to Gekoeng and smiled faintly.

“Mount Giryeon, where Lady Geum’s teacher is, is in Seoseo Province.”

Geum Hwa-young had only revealed to Woon-hyun and Gekoeng that her teacher was in Mount Giryeon in Seoseo Province.

Although it was called a mountain, it was a rugged place where numerous mountains formed a mountain range.

“Hmm.”

Gekoeng frowned.

“Do you think that’s what that guy meant by fate?”

The ‘that guy’ that Gekoeng was referring to was Il-eun.

Hadn’t Il-eun told Woon-hyun that ‘the circle of fate will never be broken’?

“Well, I don’t know yet. It might just be a coincidence.”

Woon-hyun smiled faintly.

But that smile was not bright.

Whether it was a coincidence or fate, colliding with Il-daesang was an unavoidable destiny.

“Then shouldn’t we go to Mount Giryeon instead of Hangzhou?”

“There’s no need to do that.”

Woon-hyun shook his head.

“Didn’t Il-eun also say to take a step back and look around?”

“Tsk.”

Gekoeng clicked his tongue.

He didn’t like that Woon-hyun was dwelling on Il-eun’s words so much.

But Gekoeng also thought that those words were right, so he didn’t complain.

Splash.

The waves of the Yangtze River broke and made a sound.

The large ship, carrying Woon-hyun, Gekoeng, Jo-gwan, Hang Jang-ik, Jegal Gi-ho, and Geum Hwa-young, was flowing along the Yangtze River without hesitation.

***

The group, who got off the boat in Nanjing, headed to Hangzhou by carriage.

Thanks to the well-maintained official road, Woon-hyun’s group was soon able to reach the Changryong Alliance headquarters in Hangzhou.

The person who came out to greet the group in front of the headquarters was Jin Ye-rim.

She was smiling, but her eyes were burning fiercely.

It was because she knew that the Chief Strategist Yeong Ho-jun and Dam So-ha, whom she had been expecting, were not there.

“Welcome, Alliance Leader. And Elder.”

Jin Ye-rim calmly bowed to Woon-hyun and Gekoeng, who were getting out of the carriage.

“Royal Inspector Jo, and Brother Hang, I’m glad to see you too. Why didn’t you bring Dam So-ha? Jegal Gi-ho, and the lady I’m meeting for the first time, welcome.”

Jin Ye-rim bowed politely in turn.

“And these people next to me.”

She was not alone in coming out to greet them.

Two people who looked extraordinary at a glance were standing next to Jin Ye-rim.

Sighing, Jin Ye-rim said.

“…They are the heads of the Jegal family and the Gongson family.”

Even as she spoke, Jin Ye-rim couldn’t believe it.

The heads of the Jegal family and the Gongson family coming out to greet them was something that Jin Ye-rim, the daughter of a small martial arts family in Hangzhou, could not even imagine.

But Jegal Gi-ho’s expression, with his eyes wide open in surprise, was telling her that this was reality.

“Welcome, Alliance Leader.”

The head of the Gongson family, whom he had seen in Gyelim, said with a smile.

He also bowed politely to Gekoeng.

“Elder, it’s been a while.”

“It hasn’t been long.”

Gekoeng said bluntly.

Then he said to the head of the Jegal family, 군자검 [Gunjageom, Gentleman’s Sword] Jegal-myeong, who had a long beard.

“Why?”

군자검 [Gunjageom, Gentleman’s Sword] Jegal-myeong smiled bitterly as if he had suddenly awakened.

It was a sight that he had already heard about and knew, but he could not help but doubt his eyes.

To see him, who was synonymous with death during the Righteous-Demonic War, so close, was something he could not have imagined before.

“…No, it’s nothing.”

Jegal-myeong slowly bowed.

“Nice to meet you, Elder.”

All that Gekoeng did was nod.

But that was enough.

Jegal-myeong turned his gaze to Woon-hyun.

“It’s been a while, Alliance Leader.”

Jegal-myeong said, bowing politely.

A smile was blooming on his lips, but his eyes were more intense than ever.

It was the look of a martial artist with a thrilling duel ahead of him, that was it.