Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 453

453. The Chaos of the Joint Faction

Upon hearing that the person who had inflicted severe internal injuries on the Head of the Joint Faction and the Four Great Elders was the Dark Sky Demon Emperor, Unhyun’s expression hardened.

“Are you saying the Dark Sky Demon Emperor came here?”

To Unhyun’s question, Honwon Jin-in, an elder of the Joint Faction, replied in a low voice.

“That is correct. Do you know about the Dark Sky Demon Emperor?”

“Yes. I have crossed swords with him before.”

Honwon Jin-in’s eyes gleamed.

Staring intently at Unhyun, Honwon Jin-in let out a soft sigh.

“I tried to avoid you all, even at the risk of being impolite, but it seems that trying to escape one’s shadow in broad daylight was a futile effort.”

Honwon Jin-in invited the group to sit.

“Please, sit here.”

On either side of the Taoist temple, old and worn chairs were placed.

While the group took their seats, Honwon Jin-in called for someone to bring tea.

The chairs were small and old, offering no sense of comfort.

However, the tea had a very smooth and unique aroma.

Honwon Jin-in bowed his head to Neng Seyoung.

“Thank you, Lady Neng, for not forgetting our old ties and visiting us. The matters of the Blood Cult and the Demonic Sect are certainly important, but please understand that our faction is not in good shape.”

Neng Seyoung nodded.

The Head and the Four Great Elders were the highest authorities in the Joint Faction.

If they were so injured as to require seclusion, the expression ‘not in good shape’ was an understatement.

“Might this young lady be the new Thousand Autumn Sword?” Honwon Jin-in asked, looking at Geum Hwa-yeong.

“That’s right. She is a disciple who is lacking in many ways, but her martial prowess is something I can vouch for.”

Neng Seyoung’s words were filled with pride for her disciple.

Honwon Jin-in smiled.

“If Lady Neng says so, she must be truly remarkable.”

He clasped his hands and lightly bowed his head to Geum Hwa-yeong.

“Thank you for visiting the Joint Faction. I am Honwon.”

“I am Thousand Autumn Sword, Geum Hwa-yeong. Pleased to meet you.”

After a moment of hesitation, Geum Hwa-yeong introduced herself.

Honwon Jin-in chuckled softly.

“Haha, Lady Geum’s spirit is no less than Lady Neng’s in her younger days.”

That was probably due to Geum Hwa-yeong’s way of speaking.

Neng Seyoung wore a wry smile.

“She couldn’t fix her rebellious way of speaking when she was going through puberty, and it turned out like this. I thought she would fix it when she got older, but it didn’t happen.”

“I understand. When I see young people these days…….”

“So.”

Gek Ong’s voice cut off Honwon Jin-in’s words.

“Does that mean the Joint Faction knows nothing about the movements of the Blood Cult and the Demonic Sect?”

Honwon Jin-in’s eyebrows twitched.

But when he thought about it, it couldn’t be considered rude.

The person in front of him was the Peerless Eccentric [an unmatched, unconventional expert].

“I do not know why the Peerless Eccentric is interested in this matter, but…….”

“I am Gek Ong.”

Honwon Jin-in looked at the Peerless Eccentric with a puzzled expression.

But Gek Ong offered no explanation.

Honwon Jin-in smiled bitterly.

“How could we not know that the Blood Cult and the Demonic Sect are acting suspiciously? Even though our situation is not good, the Joint Faction will continue to uphold its ‘mission to subjugate demons.’ But if the Blood Cult has already raised the Blood Fiend…….”

He couldn’t finish his sentence and let out a soft sigh.

“The current Joint Faction cannot handle it.”

“It can be handled.”

Gek Ong said without hesitation.

“Hyun will help.”

That was a surprising declaration.

Unhyun’s help meant that they could get the assistance of the Azure Dragon Alliance, the leading righteous sect alliance.

However, Honwon Jin-in let out a soft sigh.

“……That is why I tried to avoid you.”

Gek Ong’s eyebrows twitched.

Unhyun quickly asked.

“Why? Didn’t you say that subjugating demons is the Joint Faction’s mission?”

“That is correct.”

“Then isn’t it better to deal with it together?”

“As the great hero says. There are even voices within the Joint Faction saying that we should cooperate with other sects.”

“Then…….”

“But people are weak.”

Honwon Jin-in said with a sigh.

“Once exchanges with other sects begin, their affluence and splendor will also come in. How many will remain faithful to the mission of guarding against the Blood Cult and the Demonic Sect without any promise of reward?”

He softly chanted a Taoist invocation [a prayer or mantra in Taoism].

“We may be able to overcome the immediate difficulties, but eventually, the Joint Faction will become the same as other martial arts sects, and the mission to subjugate demons will be forgotten.”

His words made sense.

But Unhyun’s thoughts were different.

“As you say, people are weak. But also, people are stronger than anything else in the world.”

Unhyun said, looking straight at Honwon Jin-in.

“Do you think that all martial artists sweat only for future gains? Do you think that everyone who reads books late into the night does so only to enjoy wealth and glory?”

Unhyun shook his head.

“It is true that affluence and splendor steal people’s eyes, but that is not everything. How many people abandon the secular world and enter the path of asceticism, and how many people dedicate their lives to a noble mission?”

His sworn brother, Ilchung Hyun, maintained his integrity as a martial artist to the end.

Shinseung Bulyeong held the Jianghu [the martial arts world] in his hands but voluntarily retreated and lived in seclusion in Waryongheon.

And his sworn younger brother, Dokgo Rang, sacrificed his life to save Unhyun.

Even though there was no benefit to him.

So how could Unhyun agree with Honwon Jin-in’s words?

“If the Joint Faction’s mission is right and noble, then dedicate yourselves to it and set an example. Then those who share your will will surely appear. Sincerity moves people.”

“Heo.”

Honwon Jin-in softly chanted a Taoist invocation.

“The great hero makes me ashamed.”

He thought he valued the Joint Faction more than anyone else.

But according to Unhyun’s words, wasn’t he the one who didn’t trust the Joint Faction?

“But the great hero’s words are too idealistic.”

“I don’t think that’s enough either. The efforts of the elders of the sect are also necessary, and concrete and realistic measures must also follow.”

“Realistic measures…….”

Honwon Jin-in trailed off.

Suddenly, Gek Ong asked.

“Is that the cause of the ‘discord’ you mentioned?”

Honwon Jin-in nodded.

“At a time when the movements of the Blood Cult and the Demonic Sect are ominous, the best warriors of the Joint Faction were defeated by an outsider, the Dark Sky Demon Emperor, so how could the shock not be great?”

When the Head and the Four Great Elders fell, the remaining elders immediately convened an elder council.

They elected an acting Head and appointed new Four Great Elders to minimize the chaos in the Joint Faction.

However, they could not eliminate the shock that the best warriors of the Joint Faction had fallen before the Dark Sky Demon Emperor’s sword.

“In this state, we cannot withstand the rise of the Blood Cult or the Demonic Sect, so there are those who say we should ask for help from other sects, and those who say that outsiders will only bring destruction to the Joint Faction and that we must adhere to tradition to the end.”

In an organization with a strong top-down command structure, no one openly voiced their dissatisfaction.

However, the young Taoists often argued with each other over this issue.

Even the elders had differing opinions, so what more could be said?

It was a natural reaction to be wary of the suddenly appearing Neng Seyoung and Unhyun’s group.

“What does adhering to tradition ultimately mean?”

Unhyun asked.

Honwon Jin-in wore a faint smile.

“One of two things. Either we stop the rise of the Blood Cult or the Demonic Sect, or the Joint Faction disappears.”

That straightforward answer clearly showed what the mission to subjugate demons meant to the Joint Faction.

Honwon Jin-in looked at Unhyun and said.

“Then can I take it that you are willing to cooperate? Regardless of any political purpose or the state of the Jianghu martial world.”

“Of course.”

Unhyun’s answer was also without the slightest hesitation.

“……That is a relief.”

Honwon Jin-in gave a hollow smile.

“It is not a false rumor that you have inherited the will of Shinseung.”

“……I am merely lacking.”

Unhyun replied quietly.

Even the closed-off Joint Faction highly valued Shinseung.

His will to end the Righteous-Demonic War and prevent the bloodshed of the innocent.

“I will convey Lady Neng’s matter and Great Hero Un’s intentions to the elder council. You are welcome to stay here as guests of the Joint Faction.”

“Is that really alright?”

Neng Seyoung asked.

They were already wary of outsiders, and the leader of the Azure Dragon Alliance and the Peerless Eccentric would surely face considerable resistance.

But Honwon Jin-in smiled.

“It is alright. As one of the Four Great Elders of the Joint Faction, I have that much authority.”

“One of the Four Great Elders? You?”

To the surprised Neng Seyoung, Honwon Jin-in said.

“It is an undeserved position, but it could not be helped. The one who fell was my senior brother.”

The Four Great Elders, along with the Head, were the highest authorities in the Joint Faction.

However, no joy or pride could be found in Honwon Jin-in’s expression.

His wrinkled face was filled only with worry for the Joint Faction in distress.

“There is one more thing I must tell you.”

Unhyun said quietly.

“The Dark Sky Demon Emperor is acting under the orders of someone called the One Star Merchant. And it is highly likely that the movements of the Blood Cult and the Demonic Sect are also backed by the One Star Merchant.”

Honwon Jin-in’s eyes widened.

It was completely different whether the two events happened by chance or were intentionally planned by someone.

“Did you say One Star Merchant?”

“That is correct.”

Unhyun continued.

“The one who brought down the Martial Arts Alliance by putting Moonwang and the Iron-Blooded Evil King forward was also the One Star Merchant.”

Honwon Jin-in could not hide his surprise.

He had never imagined that there was such a hidden story behind the fall of the Martial Arts Alliance.

Moreover, that the One Star Merchant was even inciting the Blood Cult and the Demonic Sect?

Unhyun’s expression was extremely serious, and Neng Seyoung, Geum Hwa-yeong, and even Gek Ong were silently expressing their agreement.

“……Heo.”

Honwon Jin-in unknowingly let out a sigh.

The Taoist invocation he repeated echoed throughout the old Taoist temple.

***

That evening, a Joint Faction elder council was convened.

The story of Neng Seyoung and Unhyun, conveyed through Honwon Jin-in, turned the elder council upside down.

Questions were poured out about the truth of the story, but there was no reason for Neng Seyoung, the Thousand Autumn Sword who had once slain the Blood Fiend, and Unhyun, the leader of the Azure Dragon Alliance, to lie.

Moreover, they had come all the way to the distant Joint Faction.

The problem was the discussion about the Joint Faction’s response.

As Honwon Jin-in feared, the existence of Unhyun, the leader of the Azure Dragon Alliance, further exacerbated the already serious discord.

The meeting continued late into the night, but no conclusion was reached.

The elders’ heated debate only intensified.

Late at night, the Joint Faction’s guest house.

Honwon Jin-in had provided Unhyun’s group with an entire guest house.

Like the other Taoist temples, this guest house was old and cramped, but it was clean and neatly organized.

Thanks to this, it felt more like an antique atmosphere than discomfort.

After a simple and modest dinner, the group sat around the table in the guest house.

“Young Master Un. Are you alright?”

Suddenly, Geum Hwa-yeong asked Unhyun.

When Unhyun looked at her, Geum Hwa-yeong continued.

“No, that’s… The Joint Faction doesn’t seem that strong than I thought… If that Taoist is one of the Four Great Elders, wouldn’t the rest be obvious?”

“The martial prowess of the Joint Faction’s Four Great Elders is by no means low.”

The one who answered her was Neng Seyoung.

Neng Seyoung put down her teacup and said.

“The fact that the Dark Sky Demon Emperor defeated the Head and the Four Great Elders means that he judged that they had the potential to be a threat. It cannot be helped that the later generations, who have not inherited the enlightenment of the previous generations due to the sudden accident, seem to be lacking.”

“Hmm. But…….”

“By your standards.”

Gek Ong, holding a teacup, said bluntly.

“There are only a few people left in the world [who can compare to you].”

Slurp.

Gek Ong drank his tea.

Unhyun and Neng Seyoung agreed with that, but Geum Hwa-yeong’s dissatisfied expression did not disappear.

“Still……. Huh?”

Geum Hwa-yeong, who was about to say something, stopped talking.

“It’s alright.”

Neng Seyoung said in a soft tone.

“They are the Taoists here.”