Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 494

494. Detour

A thunderous explosion erupted, sending dust and dirt swirling into the air.

Energy laced with chilling intent tore through the wind, scattering earth and splintering trees in every direction.

Yet, Dang Seol-yeon watched the scene unfold without so much as a flinch.

It was a perilous act, but Dang Seol-yeon paid it no mind.

It was her duty, and she had anticipated that Clan Lord Dang Cheon-byeok would be too preoccupied to concern himself with her.

Thud.

“Kugh!”

A groan escaped from the lips of Dang Cheon-byeok, the Azure Flame Lord.

Hong-no’s unorthodox fist had struck Dang Cheon-byeok’s side.

Dang Cheon-byeok had been unleashing torrents of dark sword energy, but even for him, the Azure-Crimson Twins, who had reached the pinnacle of mastery, were no easy opponents.

Especially while poisoned by the dart Dang Seol-yeon had launched.

Thump.

Dang Cheon-byeok collapsed to the ground.

The Azure-Crimson Twins seized the opportunity, targeting Dang Cheon-byeok’s pressure points.

Pabababak.

Innumerable streams of finger force shot from the hands of Cheong-no and Hong-no.

Dang Cheon-byeok twisted his body with all his might, but he could not evade the onslaught.

Thwack.

Blood splattered, and Dang Cheon-byeok’s body convulsed.

In that moment, the Azure-Crimson Twins lunged at Dang Cheon-byeok, striking down without hesitation.

Suddenly, Dang Seol-yeon’s clear voice rang out.

“Stop.”

Thud.

The hands of the Azure-Crimson Twins halted as if by magic.

Hong-no’s crimson hand, hooked like a claw, was already touching Dang Cheon-byeok’s chest and neck.

Blue energy surged from Cheong-no’s hand, aimed at his head and dantian [the center of one’s vital energy].

“We must end it now.”

“Heh heh. Yes, we must finish this now to prevent any future trouble.”

The Azure-Crimson Twins spoke.

Grit.

The fallen Dang Cheon-byeok gritted his teeth.

But there was nothing he could do.

The poison seeping from the fingertips of Cheong-no and Hong-no was already corroding his heart, head, and dantian.

The outcome was already decided.

As the Azure-Crimson Twins said, all that remained was to finish it.

Shuffle, shuffle.

Dang Seol-yeon walked over quietly.

She stopped right in front of the fallen Dang Cheon-byeok.

“If you have anything to say…”

Dang Seol-yeon said, looking down at Clan Lord Dang Cheon-byeok.

“Say it now. Perhaps if you kill me, you can change the minds of the two elders, no?”

Dang Cheon-byeok gritted his teeth.

Dang Seol-yeon’s words were false.

There was no way the Azure-Crimson Twins would back down if Dang Seol-yeon died here.

They would rather choose to eliminate everyone and silence them.

“Heu.”

Dang Cheon-byeok let out a hollow laugh.

“Do you think things will go your way just by doing this? The Dang Clan… Keok.”

His words were cut short.

Because the cold energy flowing from Dang Seol-yeon’s white fingertips was already constricting Dang Cheon-byeok’s dantian.

Swish.

“I will not spill the blood of the Dang Clan.”

Dang Seol-yeon said, looking down at the suffering Dang Cheon-byeok.

“Because that is not something a woman of the Dang Clan should do. Clan Lord, you should just…”

Dang Seol-yeon smiled faintly.

“Quietly sleep until everything passes.”

Those were the same words Dang Cheon-byeok had said to Dang Seol-yeon.

But Dang Cheon-byeok could not recognize that fact.

“Kkeueuk, Kkaaaaaak!”

Dang Cheon-byeok’s screams echoed through the hunting grounds.

But it did not last long.

Thump.

The convulsing Dang Cheon-byeok collapsed.

He was no longer a master.

Because his dantian had been shattered.

Rustle.

Dang Seol-yeon withdrew her hand.

The Azure-Crimson Twins, having completely poisoned Dang Cheon-byeok’s heart and head, stood up.

“Are you alright?”

Cheong-no asked in a heavy voice.

Dang Seol-yeon wore a faint smile.

“I will take responsibility for everything. You two elders do not need to worry about anything.”

“Heh heh. That is not what I meant.”

Hong-no said with a sly smile.

“I am asking if we can trust your promise to let us settle the score with Dokseon.”

“Of course. If it is the two elders’ new technique, Dokseon Grandfather will surely accept the challenge.”

Dang Seol-yeon said as if it were obvious.

“You can trust me. Because no one knows him better than I do.”

“Hahahaha. Good, very good!”

Hong-no laughed loudly, and Cheong-no nodded as well.

Looking at them, Dang Seol-yeon smiled.

In her eyes, those who had reached the pinnacle of mastery were somewhat insane.

Just like Clan Lord Dang Cheon-byeok, who had admitted to being crazy himself.

“Heul, then now…”

Hong-no said, glancing down at the fallen Dang Cheon-byeok.

“Are you going to become the new Clan Lord of the Dang Clan?”

Dang Seol-yeon was the Chief Military Strategist of the Taepyeong Alliance.

Even though its power had diminished, the fact that she had led the massive coalition remained.

As a direct descendant of the family and the one who knew Dokseon’s intentions best, if she wanted to, it was not impossible for her to rise as the first female Clan Lord in the history of the Dang Clan.

“No.”

But Dang Seol-yeon’s answer was different.

“I cannot become the Clan Lord. How can I, who could not even prevent the Clan Lord’s fall, ascend to the position of Clan Lord?”

It was absurd that Dang Cheon-byeok, a master, had fallen from his horse and been seriously injured.

But accidents were sudden, and if no one publicly raised suspicions, it would simply be overlooked.

As Dang Cheon-byeok had said, justification changes depending on the situation.

“Then who are you planning to put forward?”

“When the world is in chaos, heroes are needed. A young, vibrant hero who will bring new hope.”

Dang Seol-yeon said quietly.

“The next Clan Lord is already decided.”

Her answer was unwavering.

The Azure-Crimson Twins frowned, but that was all.

After all, the fate of the Dang Clan was now in Dang Seol-yeon’s hands.

The Clan Lord Dang Cheon-byeok’s unfortunate accident brought shock to the Dang Clan.

Even with the Dang Clan already shrinking, the absence of the Clan Lord was a serious problem.

But Dang Seol-yeon moved quickly and decisively.

She was delegated full authority over external and internal policies from the Council of Elders, and at the same time, she entrusted all authority regarding the hierarchy of the bloodline to the Council of Elders.

The history of the Dang Clan was long, and the hierarchy among the bloodlines was almost as complex as that of the imperial family.

The Clan Lord’s authority to determine the order of the hierarchy or to review the qualifications of new elders was handed over to the Council of Elders, even if only temporarily.

The elders were overjoyed to the point that they could not manage their expressions.

Having the authority to determine the hierarchy of the bloodline and to review new elders was of great significance.

Especially in a place like the Dang Clan, where bloodlines were highly valued.

Faced with the vested interests, the Council of Elders quickly began to divide into several factions.

While the Council of Elders was virtually unable to do anything due to disputes between factions, Dang Seol-yeon declared a state of emergency and steadily seized the real power of the Dang Clan.

No one questioned the Clan Lord’s unfortunate accident.

***

Gansuk Province, near Lanzhou.

Hwanma, a Protector of the Demonic Sect, was sitting leisurely on the main floor of a large mansion.

Although it was an old mansion, it was quite large and spacious, so Hwanma had established his camp here and was governing the forces of the Demonic Sect.

Even now, high-ranking demonic soldiers stood on Hwanma’s left and right, guarding him.

Swish.

A demonic soldier appeared before Hwanma.

“Protector.”

The demonic soldier, dressed in black uniform, knelt before Hwanma and paid his respects.

“As you commanded, some of the forces have successfully detoured around Lanzhou and moved south.”

“Heh heh.”

Hwanma smiled leisurely.

It was as he had expected.

The government troops in Lanzhou would never open the road to Xi’an, while the defenses to the south, towards Sichuan, were relatively weak.

Sichuan was not a military stronghold, nor was it a gateway to the Central Plains like Xi’an.

“What about the internal operations in Lanzhou?”

“There has not been much progress due to the interference of the Taoists from the Common Faction.”

Attempts to undermine Lanzhou from within had been made for some time.

However, the Taoists of the Common Faction had voluntarily taken action despite the government’s exclusion, and they had not achieved any significant results.

It was also the Taoists of the Common Faction who were soothing the public sentiment of the people of Lanzhou and preventing chaos.

“Eum.”

Hwanma groaned softly.

After thinking for a moment, he said to the demonic soldier.

“Understood. You may go.”

The demonic soldier respectfully paid his respects and left.

Hwanma clasped his hands together and pondered.

“Tsk.”

Hwanma clicked his tongue and muttered quietly.

“If only we had the Demonic Lord, we would have conquered Lanzhou long ago.”

The forces of the Demonic Sect led by the Demonic Lord were qualitatively different from those led by high-ranking demonic soldiers like now.

If Hwanma had the Demonic Lord, he would not be lingering in front of Lanzhou like this.

‘Anyway, Gansuk has become ours…’

Lanzhou was holding out, but Gansuk was already becoming the world of the Demonic Sect.

If they avoided direct conflict with the border defense forces, they could build up their strength in Gansuk as much as they wanted.

Until the Merchant of Illusions threw the world into chaos.

Swish.

Hwanma leaned back and said leisurely.

“Now it’s Sichuan.”

Sichuan was a remote area with very rugged mountains.

If they succeeded in taking Sichuan, the war situation would change dramatically.

Like building a house in Go [a strategy board game], they would have a solid and stable foundation.

In the long term, Sichuan was the best place to prevent the entry of government troops.

If they built up their strength in Gansuk and Sichuan, it would not be difficult to raise the Cheonma Demonic Sect.

“Hehehe.”

Hwanma laughed.

It was as if he could see the world of the Cheonma Demonic Sect unfolding before his eyes.

***

Changryong Alliance Main Hall in Hangzhou.

Guest Elder was leisurely savoring his tea, but Woon-hyeon was surrounded by documents.

Because all the matters that had been decided by Chief Military Strategist Yeongho-jun’s authority had been brought to Woon-hyeon, the Clan Lord.

Woon-hyeon had been wrestling with the documents all morning, but they seemed to be increasing rather than decreasing.

“Hoo.”

Woon-hyeon sighed without realizing it.

He looked down at the documents and said.

“Did the alliance have so many things for me to decide?”

“This is greatly reduced.”

Chief Military Strategist Yeongho-jun said.

He had just brought another document to Woon-hyeon.

“Young Lady Moryong is handling the contact information of the sects and clans, and the matters that need adjustment. The new Chief of External Affairs is very capable.”

Moryong-mi had received the position of Acting Chief of External Affairs of the Changryong Alliance.

But Yeongho-jun was already omitting the word ‘Acting’.

“That is a good thing. I should buy her a cup of tea later.”

“Of course. I will let you know a good place.”

Woon-hyeon thanked Yeongho-jun for his words.

Woon-hyeon, looking at the pile of documents in front of him, suddenly asked as if he had remembered something.

“Is there any other news from Inspector Jo?”

Royal Inspector Jo Gwan had gone to Beijing with Hang Jang-ik.

He would occasionally give Woon-hyeon news from the court.

“No. I heard that the Vice Minister of War is confidently saying that the rebellion will soon be suppressed, and even the Minister of Rites is attacking Eunuch Park, saying that he caused the rebellion. So, there is a constant stream of memorials calling for the punishment of Eunuch Park.”

The influence of the Ministry of Rites, which oversees education and diplomacy, was greater than expected.

Woon-hyeon wore a bitter expression.

He did not think Eunuch Park would falter, but he could not help but worry.

“I see. Then…”

Woon-hyeon was about to say something.

Tap tap tap.

Hurried footsteps were heard outside the Clan Lord’s Hall.

“Clan Lord!”

The voice was Moryong-mi’s.

“Young Lady!”

Woon-hyeon looked back with a surprised expression.

Moryong-mi, who was always elegant, was entering the Clan Lord’s Hall with a flushed face.

She immediately approached Woon-hyeon.

“Cheonunja of the Common Faction has sent an urgent report.”

Woon-hyeon’s expression hardened.

Cheonunja was the Acting Clan Lord of the Common Faction.

If it was an urgent report sent by him, who was confronting the forces of the Demonic Sect in Lanzhou, it must be serious.

Moryong-mi continued with a firm expression.

“Some of the forces of the Demonic Sect have detoured around Lanzhou and headed to Sichuan.”

“To Sichuan?”

Yeongho-jun said with a surprised expression.

Moryong-mi nodded.

“Yes.”

Woon-hyeon bit his lip.

He said to Moryong-mi.

“Prepare a carriage. I must see the elders right away.”

The elders he was talking about were the elders, clan leaders, and masters in the mansion outside Hangzhou.

“Yes, I understand.”

Moryong-mi immediately nodded and headed outside.

Woon-hyeon turned his head and looked at Guest Elder.

No words were needed.

Click.

Guest Elder, who was next to him, put down his teacup and quietly stood up.

His expression was stiffer than ever before.