Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 498

498. Plum Blossom Sword

The superior demon soldier’s expression hardened at Yeonghojun’s sudden appearance.

The technique that had just defeated the demon soldiers was no simple martial art.

Without the aura of subjugation and destruction, the demon soldiers couldn’t have been so easily neutralized.

Stealing a glance at the remains of the demon soldiers, already turning black, the superior demon soldier asked, “Who are you…?”

“Why would I be *your* woman?” Dang Seol-yeon’s sharp voice cut off the demon soldier’s words.

Frowning, Dang Seol-yeon said, “Where is Grandpa? Why are you here…?”

“If my presence is so displeasing, I could leave as quickly as I arrived,” Yeonghojun said with a relaxed expression.

Dang Seol-yeon’s eyebrows furrowed. “Do as you please.”

Swish.

Drawing her sword, Dang Seol-yeon declared, “I was also counted among the Dragon and Phoenix. I have no intention of being easily defeated by a monster like you.”

Her eyes were resolute.

The superior demon soldier’s expression hardened, and Yeonghojun sighed. “Indeed, I can’t win against Yeon Mae [a familiar, possibly endearing, name] with words.”

Muttering, Yeonghojun said to Dang Seol-yeon, “I retract my offer to leave. So, please allow me the opportunity to help Yeon Mae.”

Dang Seol-yeon bit her lip. She had flared up without realizing it a moment ago, but now was not the time for such bickering.

“…Please,” she said in a small voice, but Yeonghojun heard it clearly.

Yeonghojun’s eyes widened, and soon his face was filled with a smile. “Hahahaha. I don’t know how fortunate I am to be here, to be able to see such an expression on Yeon Mae’s face.”

However, Dang Seol-yeon’s frown did not disappear. “I told you not to call me Yeon Mae. I will never forgive you.”

It was a rather sharp tone, but Yeonghojun’s smile did not fade. “Oh, so you’ll be thinking of me for the rest of your life?”

Dang Seol-yeon flinched.

Yeonghojun said with a charming smile, “I’m touched. Yeon Mae will never forget me. How could I…?”

“Khehehe.”

A sinister laughter cut off Yeonghojun’s words. The superior demon soldier glared with rage in his eyes and said, “Are you two daring to engage in a love affair in front of me?”

“What?” “That’s not it,” Dang Seol-yeon and Yeonghojun said simultaneously.

Yeonghojun said with a serious look, “A love affair? Can’t you see I’m risking my life to woo back a departing lover?”

His expression was beyond serious, almost solemn. However, the superior demon soldier’s sneer did not disappear. “Heh heh heh. Lovers? Good. I’ll specially drink your blood together, so you can be together even in death.”

Whoosh.

A dark aura enveloped the superior demon soldier and rose up. It was a terrifying sight to behold, but Dang Seol-yeon and Yeonghojun’s reactions were different.

“I have no intention of being together,” Dang Seol-yeon stated flatly.

“Die? I still have a bright future ahead of me. I can’t do that,” Yeonghojun protested.

Swish.

Yeonghojun brandished his sword in the air and took a stance. It was the starting stance of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, a specialty of the Mount Hua Sect [a famous Taoist sect known for its swordsmanship].

“The one who should return to death is you, demon soldier,” Yeonghojun said in a leisurely tone. He looked as relaxed as if he had come out to enjoy a bit of leisure.

The superior demon soldier gritted his teeth and gripped his spear.

Thump.

The black aura covering his entire body spread along the spear shaft and began to surge from the tip of the spear.

Yeonghojun’s sword also emitted a subtle sword cry.

Woo-oong.

In an instant, an unexpected fragrance of plum blossoms spread. Originally, Sichuan [a province in China] was the home of plum blossoms, but this fragrance was no ordinary floral scent.

It was a phenomenon that was only possible when the mastery of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique reached its peak, and it was now occurring from Yeonghojun’s sword.

“So, you’re just trash from Mount Hua,” the superior demon soldier recognized Yeonghojun’s martial arts at once. The demon soldiers who had their foreheads pierced were neutralized because of the unique aura of the Taoist mental cultivation technique.

However, even in the face of Yeonghojun’s sword imbued with the aura of destruction, the superior demon soldier showed no fear.

Swish.

The superior demon soldier pointed the tip of his spear at Yeonghojun. His eyes were shining sharply.

Swoosh.

The moment the superior demon soldier’s spear tip seemed to point slightly downward…

Whoosh.

The superior demon soldier charged towards Yeonghojun with tremendous force. It was a speed that even Dang Seol-yeon was surprised by.

The black spear tip, already filled with a terrifying aura, was soaring towards Yeonghojun’s neck.

However, Yeonghojun did not stand still either.

Flap.

Yeonghojun flicked his sword. Then, countless sword shadows bloomed in the air like plum blossoms.

It was the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, the pride of Mount Hua.

Clang, clang, clang.

Sharp sounds erupted in succession. The superior demon soldier’s eerie spear blade relentlessly struck towards Yeonghojun, but Yeonghojun’s sword drew a dazzling trajectory, blocking all attacks.

It was a feat that could cost a life with a single mistake, a spectacle that crossed the boundary between life and death, and an art that gambled with life.

Dang Seol-yeon was involuntarily captivated by the sight unfolding before her eyes.

Kaboom.

A burst of sound erupted, and the two men retreated.

Tap.

Yeonghojun and the superior demon soldier landed lightly on the ground. The two, having created distance, glared at each other again, facing off.

“Khehehehe,” the superior demon soldier let out a low laugh. “Amazing. To think there is still a martial artist like you in this era.”

The superior demon soldier, pointing his spear at Yeonghojun, could not hide his satisfied expression.

Shriek.

Yeonghojun lightly swung his sword and turned one hand behind his back. “Thank you, but I’m not particularly pleased. Hearing such words from a man… Ah, but you’re not even human, are you?”

Yeonghojun said with a rather relaxed expression. “I’m sorry, but my taste is for charming young ladies with sharp thorns.”

“Hehehe,” the superior demon soldier chuckled. “Good. But your bluff ends here.”

Woo-oong.

A different aura than before began to ripple from the tip of the superior demon soldier’s spear.

Yeonghojun’s eyes changed, and Dang Seol-yeon’s expression hardened. It looked similar to sword energy.

However, the aura lingering at the tip of the superior demon soldier’s spear was demonic energy.

The demonic energy, accumulated by killing countless lives, was being condensed at the tip of the spear like sword energy.

“As promised,” the superior demon soldier said with a sneer. “I will drink both of your blood together.”

Whoosh.

The spear tip, rippling with black demonic energy, struck towards Yeonghojun.

Yeonghojun immediately flicked his sword.

‘Ah!’

Dang Seol-yeon bit her lip without realizing it. If the superior demon soldier’s demonic energy was similar to a martial artist’s sword energy, then Yeonghojun’s sword would not be able to withstand it.

Shriek.

Yeonghojun’s sword tip flexibly wrapped around the demon soldier’s spear blade like a snake and slipped away. And then, it struck towards the spear shaft.

From the beginning, he had aimed for the spear shaft, not the blade.

Clang.

With a metallic sound, the spear’s trajectory bounced. Yeonghojun’s sword failed to cut the spear shaft.

Demonic energy was not only present on the blade. Moreover, the tremendous rebound force transmitted at the moment of impact was enough to disrupt Yeonghojun’s stance.

“Ugh!” Yeonghojun staggered and retreated.

However, the superior demon soldier’s spear tip did not waver in the slightest. Now, all he had to do was reach out, and the black spear blade would claim Yeonghojun’s life.

“Die!” The superior demon soldier smiled, baring his teeth.

It was at that moment.

“No!”

Swoosh.

A sharp blade flew from behind the superior demon soldier. Although it was not sword energy, the superior demon soldier could not ignore the sword strike imbued with internal energy.

“Hmph!”

Boom.

The superior demon soldier swung his spear greatly. Dang Seol-yeon saw that clearly.

‘Ah.’

The spear blade, condensed with demonic energy, was flying towards her. Dang Seol-yeon extended her sword, but the superior demon soldier’s black spear blade easily shattered her sword imbued with internal energy.

Crash.

The shattered remains of the sword scattered in the air, and the demon soldier’s merciless spear blade struck towards Dang Seol-yeon.

And Dang Seol-yeon saw an unbelievable sight.

Yeonghojun’s sword was flashing with blue light, cutting through the superior demon soldier’s chest. It was undoubtedly sword energy.

Slash.

Thud.

Two sounds echoed simultaneously: the sound of the superior demon soldier splitting in two and the sound of the spear, having lost its demonic energy, striking Dang Seol-yeon’s waist.

Thump.

Dang Seol-yeon fell to the ground.

Yeonghojun did not even look back at the collapsing superior demon soldier and immediately flew towards Dang Seol-yeon. “Yeon Mae!”

He picked up the fallen Dang Seol-yeon. Fortunately, Dang Seol-yeon was not seriously injured. The demonic energy had disappeared before the spear struck her, and she was wearing light armor underneath.

“Hoo,” Yeonghojun let out a sigh of relief. He looked down at Dang Seol-yeon and said, “Yeon Mae, are you alright?”

Dang Seol-yeon frowned. “Don’t shout. My ears are ringing.”

Yeonghojun chuckled dryly. Seeing that her unique cold tone was still the same, it seemed that she was not seriously injured. However, having a sword imbued with internal energy shattered was by no means a small shock.

Dang Seol-yeon grimaced in pain and moved her red lips. “That sword energy…”

“Ah,” Yeonghojun gave an awkward smile. “That is…”

“Did the Divine Monk teach you?”

Yeonghojun’s expression hardened with a flinch. He sighed quietly. “You knew?”

“Do you think I’m a fool?”

Yeonghojun gave a bitter smile. In fact, Yeonghojun was one of the people arranged by the Divine Monk.

He had already experienced what Unhyeon had gone through with the Sleeping Buddha Master of Shaolin [a Buddhist monastery] a long time ago, so to speak, he was Unhyeon’s senior.

“So, the reason Yeon Mae left me was…”

“Yes,” Dang Seol-yeon said in a calm voice. “I was prepared to abandon my family and choose you, but you abandoned me and chose the Divine Monk.”

She bit her lip as if the pain of that day was coming back to life.

Yeonghojun looked down at Dang Seol-yeon with a sad expression. “I did not abandon you, Yeon Mae. Only temporarily for the sake of the greater good…”

“It’s the same thing.”

“It’s different. No, even if it’s the same, it doesn’t matter anymore, does it?” As he said, it was true.

Now, there was no Divine Monk, no Murim Alliance [a martial arts alliance], and no former Tang Family that bound Dang Seol-yeon.

Yeonghojun said quietly, “I still love Yeon Mae. Even if you can’t forgive me for the rest of your life.”

“Ha!” Dang Seol-yeon let out a sneer, but the sneer was somehow hollow.

“You love me?” Dang Seol-yeon asked, looking straight into Yeonghojun’s eyes. “Why? I only hurt you.”

“I already told you?” Yeonghojun said, looking at Dang Seol-yeon. “You are more beautiful and enchanting than anyone else in this world, enough to captivate my soul in an instant. No matter how much you hurt me, I will always be your Yeonghojun.”

Yeonghojun’s eyes were shining brighter than ever.

Dang Seol-yeon chuckled. “That can’t be. People tend to love themselves more than anyone else.”

Rustle.

Dang Seol-yeon’s white hand caressed Yeonghojun’s face. “…But, it doesn’t matter anyway. Like you said.”

Swoosh.

Dang Seol-yeon pulled Yeonghojun closer and closed her eyes. Yeonghojun silently lowered his head, and their lips quietly met.

“Haa,” Dang Seol-yeon let out a soft sigh. Opening her eyes, she looked at Yeonghojun and said, “I’m going to die before I get old and ugly. I want to remain a beautiful woman to you forever.”

“Please don’t do that,” Yeonghojun said in a soft voice. “To me, you are always beautiful. Just thinking about how elegant and charming you will be when you are older already makes my heart race.”

“Liar,” but Dang Seol-yeon was smiling. She wrapped her arms around Yeonghojun’s head. Yeonghojun also tightened his arms around Dang Seol-yeon.

Crackle, crackle.

The fires set by the demon soldiers were burning throughout the Tang Family. But the two did not care.

Boom, boom.

The sound of cannons was heard in the distance. The government army had begun military operations to recapture Chengdu [a major city in Sichuan province].

Amidst the flames burning the Tang Family and the faintly echoing explosions, the two lovers were reconfirming the warmth of their lips, which they had forgotten for a long time.

***

Flutter.

Guest Elder flew down from the roof, fluttering his robes. Unhyeon asked in a hurried voice, “Elder! How is that side…?”

“That side is fine now,” Guest Elder said in a calm voice.

Unhyeon let out a sigh of relief. He had been worried about how Yeonghojun had displayed surprising lightness skill [a martial art technique that allows one to move quickly and lightly] and gone ahead alone.

But fortunately, there seemed to be nothing dangerous.

Fwoosh.

Flames soared from between the buildings. The demon soldiers had set fire to the Tang Family.

The historic buildings were burning, but in the midst of the battle, they could not even think of putting out the fire.

“It’s a pity. The Tang Family…”

“It doesn’t matter,” Guest Elder said quietly. “As long as there are people, these things can be rebuilt as many times as necessary. It is not the buildings, but the people who are the Tang Family.”

His answer was without hesitation. Unhyeon was slightly surprised but soon nodded. “Yes. That’s right. People are the Tang Family.”

Crackle, crackle.

The ancient and elegant buildings burned, making sounds. However, there was even a faint smile on Guest Elder’s face.

Boom, kaboom.

The sound of the government army’s cannons began to be heard from the city gates. Now, the recapture of Chengdu was only a matter of time.