Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 464

464. The Person Who Waited in Nanjing

Yunhyun and his group left Gansu and arrived in Xi’an.

The group decided to stay in Xi’an for two days.

They needed a short break, but Yunhyun also had things to do.

On the morning of the second day, Inspector Jo Gwan looked puzzled at the several letters placed in front of Yunhyun.

“What are these letters?”

“These are letters to be sent to Eunuch Park.”

Rustle.

Yunhyun slid two letters towards Jo Gwan and said,

“And this one is to be sent to General Commander Yeonghojun in Hangzhou. General Commander Yeonghojun will be able to come up with the most effective measures. I tried to write as detailed as possible, so it turned out like this.”

The letter to General Commander Yeonghojun was particularly thick.

General Commander Yeonghojun could only devise a plan if he knew the exact situation.

“And these are letters to the heads of each family and the leaders of the sects.”

Yunhyun continued, handing over several thin letters.

“The official letter will be sent after consulting with the General Commander, but at least the heads of families and sect leaders should be aware of the current emergency. So, I took the form of a personal letter.”

“I see. You are right.”

“Ah, and this is a letter to be sent to the Geumga Manor in Hunan Province.”

Rustle.

The handwriting on that letter was different from Yunhyun’s.

As Jo Gwan looked at him questioningly, Yunhyun said with a smile.

“Geum Yeohyeop asked me to send news to Geumga Manor as well. She said Geum Sojeo will keep waiting.”

Only then did Jo Gwan realize that the handwriting was Geum Hwayeong’s.

Perhaps it was her personality or because she was a martial artist, but the letters were large and the handwriting looked very lively.

“Understood, Yun Daein [a respectful title]. Ah, and…”

Inspector Jo Gwan took out a thin letter from his bosom.

Yunhyun immediately recognized the handwriting on the letter’s surface.

“It arrived for you this morning, Daein.”

“Thank you.”

Yunhyun received the letter.

Inspector Jo Gwan bowed and left the room with the letters Yunhyun had asked for.

Clack.

Yunhyun picked up his teacup.

Savoring the warm tea, Yunhyun stared at the letter in front of him.

“What is it?”

Asked Gaeong, who was next to him.

“It’s from the leader of Bukhae Ilmun [Northern Sea First Gate, likely a martial arts sect]. It’s probably a reply to my request.”

“Request?”

“I asked them to move Seolyeongdae [Snow Shadow Unit, presumably a special forces group]. Although Yeohyeop and Geum Yeohyeop have joined, it will be difficult for the Gongdong Sect alone to grasp the entire situation in Gansu.”

Seolyeongdae, who is skilled in covert actions, would certainly be helpful.

Gaeong asked.

“So, what’s the answer?”

“Well?”

He couldn’t know since he hadn’t opened it yet.

“Maybe it’s acceptance or rejection.”

That was too obvious.

Gaeong frowned, but Yunhyun put down his teacup and opened the letter.

Rustle.

Yunhyun’s expression changed slightly as he read the letter.

Yunhyun silently put down the letter.

“Why?”

“…Neither.”

Yunhyun said with a bitter smile.

But there was no unpleasant light in his expression at all.

“It says this: You…”

—You don’t have to ask. You don’t have to bow your head to me, you don’t have to say please. You are….

“…a blue wolf.”

After reading the phrase, Yunhyun quietly stared at the letter.

Rustle.

The clearly written letters, with an almost sharp feeling, were lined up on the letter without the slightest deviation.

“I don’t like that kid, but.”

Gaeong said quietly, holding his teacup.

“I agree with that. If you have already made up your mind, there is nothing to hold back. You deserve it.”

Gaeong’s eyes were shining.

Yunhyun didn’t answer. No, he couldn’t.

Because something hot welled up in his chest.

“…Thank you.”

Yunhyun said after a long time.

Without looking at Yunhyun, Gaeong drank his tea.

How long did the silence last?

Rustle.

Yunhyun said, organizing the letters.

“For the time being, Ildaesangin [One Great Merchant, likely a title or name] will not move directly.”

Squeak.

Gaeong turned his head and looked at Yunhyun.

Yunhyun continued with a calm expression.

“Perhaps he is thinking like me too. In the end, everything will be decided by the confrontation between me and Ildaesangin himself.”

“In that case, isn’t there a possibility that he will come to find you like last time?”

Ildaesangin was greatly looking forward to confronting Yunhyun.

If Yunhyun was ready, he would not hesitate at all.

“No.”

Yunhyun said with a gentle smile.

“The Blood Cult and the Demonic Cult have regained their strength.”

Gaeong frowned.

He wondered what Yunhyun was talking about.

But soon he realized what Yunhyun was trying to say.

“Are you saying that Ildaesangin himself has exhausted his strength to strengthen the Blood Cult and the Demonic Cult?”

“Yes.”

Yunhyun nodded.

“Giving strength to the Blood Cult and the Demonic Cult is something that only Ildaesangin can do. It’s not something that can be done with elixirs or secret manuals. If the Blood Cult and the Demonic Cult have gained great power compared to the past, Ildaesangin will not be able to move for the time being.”

“Hmm.”

Gaeong nodded.

It is a great advantage that a powerful enemy like Ildaesangin cannot move.

“What worries me is whether that Taoist named Cheontaesang will remain still….”

“What about that kid called Amcheonmuje?”

Instead of answering, Yunhyun smiled.

Gaeong let out a hollow laugh at the sight.

He knew the meaning of Yunhyun’s smile very well.

“…I wish I could have pierced Ildaesangin’s weakness like Cheonilgeom [Thousand Illumination Sword] said.”

The Cheonilgeom he was talking about was Neung Seyoung.

Gaeong looked at Yunhyun and said.

“Is it not possible?”

“No.”

Yunhyun’s answer was without hesitation.

“I don’t know where he is. Ildaesangin can only vaguely feel my change, but he won’t know where I am. But it doesn’t matter anyway.”

Clack.

Yunhyun said, holding his teacup.

“He and I will clash anyway.”

He didn’t say ‘fate’.

As Ileun said before, Ildaesangin is not Yunhyun’s own fate.

He could now clearly see that.

He still didn’t know what Ileun meant by ‘Your fate lies further away than that’.

Slurp.

Yunhyun frowned as he drank his tea.

The tea had already cooled down.

Yunhyun sighed and moved his hand to the warm teapot.

The soft scent of tea filled the room, and Yunhyun and Gaeong savored the precious rest before their long journey.

***

The road back to Hangzhou was a very long journey.

The group traveled along the official road by carriage, and after several days down the Yellow River by the government’s express boat, they changed boats and headed south along the Grand Canal.

Many days after leaving Gansu, the group finally arrived in Nanjing.

In fact, Hangzhou and Nanjing were not that close, but considering the journey they had been on, it was just around the corner.

It was a stark realization of how far and remote Gansu was.

Thud.

As the group disembarked, they suddenly saw a welcome figure on the pier.

The tall and handsome man, recognizable even from afar, was none other than Yeonghojun, the General Commander of the Changryongmaeng [Ever-Victorious Dragon Alliance, likely a military organization].

“Welcome. Thank you for your hard work on the long journey.”

Yeonghojun politely bowed to Yunhyun and Gaeong.

He was already handsome, but when he smiled, the surroundings seemed to brighten up.

“Thank you. But, is there something good going on?”

Yunhyun had good reason to ask.

Yeonghojun’s face, which was always tired, was even glowing.

“Yes, there was. Ah, I’m not talking about the situation in Gansu, but….”

Yeonghojun said with a smile.

“The construction of the main base is finally finished. Some ancillary buildings are still left, but the major work is all done.”

Yeonghojun had a very relieved expression.

“I see. You’ve really worked hard.”

Yunhyun expressed his sincere gratitude.

How could building a main base be a small task?

Moreover, Yeonghojun never neglected even the smallest details.

Yeonghojun’s belief was that ‘People may leave, but buildings remain for a long time.’

Considering that the main bases of the former Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance] and Heroic Alliance were burned down, it wasn’t very convincing.

Yeonghojun lightly bowed his head at Yunhyun’s gratitude.

“Thank you. But I will never do construction again. I feel like I’ve aged several years. Hahaha.”

Yeonghojun laughed heartily.

Yunhyun also smiled softly.

“Did you receive the letter I sent?”

“Yes. I received it.”

Yeonghojun’s expression turned serious.

“The Blood Cult and the Demonic Cult, this is another surprising thing. Anyway, based on the situation you told me, I have come up with some countermeasures. Thanks to your detailed description, I was able to prepare quite specifically.”

Yunhyun’s eyes lit up at the words.

“That’s a relief. You are indeed the General Commander. Then where should we go to discuss the details….”

“I have already prepared a place.”

Yeonghojun said with a smile.

“At the famous ‘Cheonhajeillu’ [The Best House Under Heaven].”

“Yes?”

Yunhyun asked without realizing it.

“Don’t you know? It’s the best gisaeng [Korean courtesan] house in Nanjing, no, the best in the world, which declared that ‘If it’s not the best in the world, I’ll take down the signboard right away’?”

Yunhyun couldn’t hide his puzzled expression at Yeonghojun’s words.

No matter how good the best gisaeng house in the world was, he didn’t think it was a place to have important conversations.

“Rather than that, Daruga would be… Ah! Could it be?”

Yunhyun realized while speaking.

Yeonghojun nodded with a grin.

“Yes. That’s right. Cheonhajeillu is the gisaeng house built by Wollyang. And it’s the Maengju’s [Alliance Leader’s] gisaeng house.”

Wollyang was a great help in finding Ileun.

Yunhyun decided to sponsor her, who wanted to help the entertainers, and Gaeong entrusted Wollyang with one task.

That was to build a gisaeng house that was one of the best in the world.

A large and splendid place that anyone would recognize.

Wollyang gladly accepted the task.

The result is the ‘Cheonhajeillu’ that Yeonghojun is talking about now.

“I see.”

Yunhyun said with admiration.

The beautiful figure of Wollyang with a determined expression vividly came to his mind.

Gaeong also showed interest.

There was no way he wouldn’t be interested since he had directly ordered it.

“Let’s go.”

Gaeong’s words were decisive.

Yunhyun nodded.

“I understand. Then let’s go to Cheonhajeillu.”

“Yes. As a matter of fact, Cheonhajeillu sent a carriage. It’s a consideration for the VIPs.”

Following Yeonghojun’s gaze, Yunhyun turned his head.

A black carriage, about three or four times the size of a normal carriage, was standing on the pier.

It wasn’t flashy or extravagant, but the glossy appearance alone was quite intimidating.

“Cheonhajeillu has more than ten of those carriages. When they run through the city of Nanjing, everyone sends envious glances. Hahaha.”

Yeonghojun was proud as if it were his own business.

Only then could Yunhyun realize.

Why Yeonghojun’s face, who said he had aged several years because of the construction of the main base, was glowing.

Perhaps it was largely thanks to Cheonhajeillu.

“You’ll be surprised. Even I thought this was what a different world was like.”

Yeonghojun continued to praise Cheonhajeillu.

Yunhyun smiled without realizing it.

“I see. That’s a very good thing.”

He was also happy that Wollyang was being recognized for building Cheonhajeillu.

But what was even more pleasing was the sight of Yeonghojun smiling brightly.

“Let’s all go together.”

Yunhyun said to Inspector Jo Gwan and Hang Jangik.

They also couldn’t hide their curiosity-filled faces.

The two immediately followed Yunhyun.

Following Yeonghojun, who was striding ahead, the group walked towards the large carriage that Cheonhajeillu had sent.

The black decorations on the outside of the carriage were shining proudly.