Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 523

Afterword (4)

Young Chil-bu’s pride was his older brother, Dokgo-rang.

Whenever he heard the name ‘Solitary Traveler’ while working at the inn, Chil-bu couldn’t help but puff out his chest.

But he never bragged about it.

He knew from the storytellers at the inn how terrifying martial artists were and how easily they killed people.

When Chil-bu heard the rumors that his brother had gained a new title, ‘Invincible Under Heaven,’ and had saved countless martial artists, his heart sank.

After all, the Martial Alliance had collapsed, and his brother, Dokgo-rang, was missing.

Chil-bu, who used to proudly tell his mother about his brother’s rumors, had no choice but to keep his mouth shut at that time.

Fortunately, the time of anxiety did not last long.

Because the money his brother sent arrived as always.

Although the merchant didn’t say anything, Chil-bu could tell.

His brother was hiding somewhere, avoiding the terrifying martial artists.

‘I have to protect Mom and my sister.’

Chil-bu made up his mind.

From then on, Chil-bu never showed any signs of hardship.

He took on all the work, not only working at the inn but also helping his sick mother and comforting his whining younger sister.

Thanks to this, Chil-bu became a remarkable and kind child who was praised by the neighbors for being more mature than his age.

But he also lost something.

It was the innocent and bright smile that all children his age had.

“Mom!”

His younger sister, Hyo-hyo, ran into the house.

When returning from work, Hyo-hyo always held her older brother Chil-bu’s hand and didn’t let go.

Listening to his younger sister’s stories about what happened that day, Chil-bu’s heart ached for her hardships.

But that was only until they reached the front of the house.

When they arrived in front of the house, Hyo-hyo would let go of Chil-bu’s hand and run away.

And she would snuggle into her lying mother’s arms, acting like a spoiled child.

That day, Hyo-hyo ran into the house and burst open the door.

“Huh!”

Hyo-hyo paused.

And said with a puzzled expression.

“……Who are you?”

Chil-bu’s expression hardened instantly.

He quickly ran to his younger sister.

What Chil-bu saw when he arrived at the open door was a young martial artist who looked strong at a glance.

Chil-bu immediately looked for his mother.

“Mom!”

“You’re back?”

Chil-bu’s mother said in a quiet voice.

She was sitting on the bed as always.

After confirming his mother’s safety, Chil-bu asked the young martial artist with a stern expression.

“Wh, who are you? Why are you in our house…….”

Step.

The young martial artist walked towards Chil-bu.

Chil-bu flinched.

The young martial artist with his intense eyes was intimidating just to look at.

Above all, the sword hanging from his waist clearly indicated that he was a ‘martial artist.’

Step.

The young martial artist stood in front of Chil-bu.

Chil-bu swallowed hard without realizing it.

He thought he had to protect his mother and sister, but Chil-bu was still a child.

Swish.

The young martial artist bent down.

And smiled at Chil-bu.

“My name is Moyeong-jin from the Moyeong Family.”

His smiling face looked truly gentle.

Moreover, he was so handsome that his younger sister, Hyo-hyo, had been unable to take her eyes off him since earlier.

But Moyeong-jin’s next words were enough to surprise Chil-bu and Hyo-hyo.

“So, you are the Dokgo Great Warrior’s younger siblings.”

Chil-bu was startled.

His younger sister, Hyo-hyo, was also surprised.

“How did you……. Ouch.”

After poking Hyo-hyo, who was about to speak carelessly, Chil-bu looked straight at Moyeong-jin and asked.

“Who are you?”

‘Oh ho.’

Moyeong-jin admired inwardly.

The appearance of an adult to a child is more intimidating than he thought.

Especially for a martial artist like Moyeong-jin, it was even more so.

Yet, Chil-bu was not avoiding Moyeong-jin’s gaze.

Even though his legs were trembling slightly.

Moyeong-jin smiled.

“Don’t worry. I’m not here to harm you.”

“How do you know that?”

Moyeong-jin let out a hollow laugh at Chil-bu’s words.

But Chil-bu’s eyes were extremely serious.

His mother, who was sitting on the bed, opened her mouth.

“Chil-bu. This person is…….”

“You are right.”

Moyeong-jin said quietly.

“You can’t know a person’s heart, so you don’t know whether they came with good intentions or are lying to harm you.”

Looking straight at Chil-bu, Moyeong-jin continued.

“Do you know the Moyeong Family?”

The Moyeong Family was a name often mentioned by the inn storytellers, but Chil-bu shook his head.

“I see. The Moyeong Family is…….”

“I’m just a child.”

Chil-bu said, interrupting Moyeong-jin’s words.

“I can’t tell if what the martial artist is saying is true or not. More than that, can you tell me why you came to our house?”

There was a clear look of vigilance in Chil-bu’s eyes.

Moyeong-jin smiled bitterly.

He was going to tell them slowly later, but it seemed he couldn’t do that.

“I understand.”

Swish.

Moyeong-jin stood up.

“Won’t you sit down first? It’s strange for me to offer, but.”

Chil-bu glanced at his mother and younger sister.

And nodded.

Tap.

“Mom!”

His younger sister, Hyo-hyo, ran to her mother’s bed.

Hyo-hyo, who jumped up, snuggled into her mother’s arms, and Chil-bu also carefully approached his mother.

“Mom. Are you okay?”

“Don’t be rude to him.”

She said quietly.

“He’s here to tell you about your brother.”

“Mom!”

Chil-bu frowned at his mother’s rashness.

But his mother didn’t listen.

“Please sit down. It’s a humble place.”

Moyeong-jin bowed in response to her words.

“Thank you. But I can’t right now. I was originally going to tell you slowly.”

Swish.

Moyeong-jin turned his head.

Following his gaze, Chil-bu noticed people he hadn’t seen before standing at the door.

A quiet young man dressed as a scholar and a young lady who was so beautiful and elegant that his eyes widened.

“Excuse me.”

The scholar said in a polite voice.

Chil-bu’s mother, who was sitting on the bed, asked with a bewildered expression.

“Who are you?”

“I am Woon-hyeon.”

Woon-hyeon said after pausing for a moment.

“I am a sworn brother of Dokgo Je.”

“A sworn brother?”

His mother couldn’t hide her puzzled expression.

“Yes.”

Woon-hyeon replied in a quiet voice.

“The day the Martial Alliance collapsed.”

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

But it was something he had to do.

Woon-hyeon continued.

“Dokgo Je saved many people. And he lost his life trying to save me.”

A heavy silence fell.

Chil-bu’s mother widened her eyes as if asking what he meant.

“What on earth…….”

“No!”

Chil-bu’s voice echoed loudly.

“That can’t be! My brother is not dead!”

“Chil-bu!”

His mother shouted, but Chil-bu didn’t listen.

“There’s no way my brother is dead! My brother is……!”

“Dokgo Je was.”

A quiet voice echoed in the house.

Both the confused mother and the shouting Chil-bu looked at the owner of the voice.

“He was a more courageous and spirited martial artist than anyone else.”

Chil-bu couldn’t say anything.

Because he could clearly see tears flowing from Woon-hyeon’s eyes.

His words were sincere, and it was true that Chil-bu’s brother had died.

“Sniffle.”

Chil-bu’s expression crumpled.

Then he burst into tears of sorrow.

“Waaaaa.”

His mother reached out and hugged Chil-bu.

Chil-bu hugged his mother tightly and cried, and his younger sister, Hyo-hyo, also started crying.

“Waaaa.”

“Waaaaaa.”

The house instantly turned into a sea of tears.

The shoulders of the mother, who was holding her children, were also shaking slightly.

After a bout of crying, Woon-hyeon sat down and told them about the things he had experienced with Dokgo-rang.

How he met him, what they talked about, and everything from their trip to the North Sea to what happened at the World Martial Arts Competition.

Amidst their sadness, the mother and children listened to Woon-hyeon’s words.

Sometimes they were happy, sometimes they were amazed, and they listened to Woon-hyeon’s story.

It was the first time Woon-hyeon had said so much about Dokgo-rang.

As if he had become an inn storyteller, Woon-hyeon’s story about Dokgo-rang seemed endless.

Chil-bu and Hyo-hyo listened with shining eyes like other children their age.

And when they finally reached the story of Dokgo-rang saving Woon-hyeon, everyone’s eyes welled up with tears.

Tears were also flowing from the eyes of Moyeong-jin and Moyeong-mi, who were watching from the side.

“That was.”

Woon-hyeon tried to smile even as he shed tears.

“Dokgo Je’s last moment.”

“……I see.”

His mother said, shedding tears.

“Thank you. For telling me about my son’s story.”

She wiped away her tears with her sleeve.

Tears were also welling up in Chil-bu’s eyes, but he was no longer sad.

Rather, Chil-bu’s eyes were shining with pride.

Because he knew how his brother lived and how he died.

“The favor I received from Dokgo Je is so great that I cannot express it in words.”

Woon-hyeon said quietly.

“Will you allow me to repay that favor?”

The mother quietly nodded her head.

Looking straight at Woon-hyeon, she said.

“Thank you. Great Warrior.”

She knew now.

That the young man in front of her was the leader of the Azure Dragon Alliance, the Azure Dragon Sword Master.

But there was no fear or shame.

Because she already knew what Woon-hyeon’s heart was towards them.

“I’m so glad my son met the Great Warrior.”

“I am the one who is grateful.”

Woon-hyeon said quietly.

“For meeting Dokgo Je, and for having all of you here like this.”

Although there were still tears in his eyes, a gentle smile was spreading across Woon-hyeon’s lips.

***

Taewon, Shanxi Province, Bukhae Ilmun [North Sea First Gate].

Although the night was deep, Woon-hyeon could not fall asleep.

Was it because he met Dokgo-rang’s family during the day?

Sitting at his desk, lost in complicated emotions, Woon-hyeon eventually got up.

Click.

The outside was full of moonlight.

Even those who usually guarded Bukhae Ilmun seemed to be staying away so as not to disturb Woon-hyeon’s rest tonight.

Woon-hyeon stepped into the middle of that quiet night.

Step.

Here, a small garden was also decorated for the rest of the honored guests.

Looking at the garden, which expressed mountains with strange stones and the sea with a small pond, Woon-hyeon was reflecting on what had happened during the day.

It was then.

Rustle.

Woon-hyeon turned his head at the quiet sound of someone approaching.

And his eyes widened.

“Great Palace Lord.”

The Great Palace Lord was also surprised.

As if she hadn’t expected Woon-hyeon to be awake, the Great Palace Lord couldn’t hide her flustered expression.

“Did you just return?”

Woon-hyeon said with a bright expression.

The Great Palace Lord, who had left for the Bukhae Ice Palace, had returned.

He had heard from the Third Palace Lord that she would be coming soon, but he never thought she would return in the middle of the night like this.

“Ah, yes.”

The Great Palace Lord had a rare flustered expression on her face.

Woon-hyeon smiled and looked at her, then soon tilted his head.

“But why are you here…….”

If it was someone as busy as the Great Palace Lord, it wouldn’t be strange for her to hurry back at night.

But this is where Woon-hyeon is staying.

Why would she come here when she couldn’t meet him at this hour anyway?

Moreover, the Great Palace Lord, who must be very tired from just returning from Bukhae.

“……I just stopped by on the way.”

The Great Palace Lord said in a somewhat sharp voice.

“Ah, I see.”

Woon-hyeon nodded.

She didn’t seem to find it strange at all, but the Great Palace Lord bit her lip slightly.

“Then I…….”

“If you’re okay with it.”

Woon-hyeon said in a soft voice.

“Would you like to take a walk for a while?”

The Great Palace Lord’s beautiful eyes widened.

She looked at Woon-hyeon as if surprised.

But Woon-hyeon’s expression was still gentle.

“……Yes.”

The Great Palace Lord said, bowing her head slightly.

Fortunately, her cheeks, which had turned slightly red, were not noticed.