Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 66

66. The Dragon in His Arms

“Why would I?”

Buryoung retorted gruffly.

“I’m sitting right here in the heart of the Martial Alliance, controlling the entire Kangho Murim [the entire martial arts world]. Why would I abandon this place? A lazy monk like me loves living in luxury like this, heh heh.”

Saying he was in the heart of the Martial Alliance was no lie. The name Shinseung [Divine Monk] was the core of the Martial Alliance.

However, Buryoung’s words sounded hollow, as if he were talking about someone else’s life. His residence was also far from the word ‘luxury’.

Tak.

“Do you think Shaolin will give up on you like that?”

Geomseong [Sword Saint] spoke with intense eyes.

“That world is already gone. As long as you are alive, Shaolin can never abandon you. So your waiting will never be rewarded.”

It was a voice full of sincerity towards his friend.

However, Buryoung frowned and pouted.

“If you want to suffer, you do it. I’m going to live like this…….”

Bringing the teacup to his lips, Shinseung Buryoung continued.

“And die like this.”

Slurp.

The sound of tea drinking echoed. But Geomseong Lee Geomhak couldn’t say anything with a stiff expression.

Jjoreureuk.

While Buryoung refilled his teacup, Geomseong held his cold teacup in one hand and turned his head to look at the garden.

Looking at the garden with more weeds than flowers, Geomseong continued in a low voice.

“Are you growing weeds, or are you growing flowers?”

“Tsk tsk. How foolish.”

Buryoung clicked his tongue.

“Who in the world would grow weeds? But it is the way of the world that weeds grow more than flowers, so I’m just learning to live with weeds. So you should empty your mind…….”

“If it is the natural order for weeds to be rampant.”

Geomseong’s calm voice interrupted Buryoung’s words.

“Isn’t it the Dao [the natural order or path] to seek out flowers among them?”

At those words, Buryoung’s wrinkled face contorted.

“Are you trying to argue with me now? Have you forgotten that monks are the ones who make a living by preaching?”

Geomseong chuckled.

He had no intention of arguing with his friend, especially Buryoung.

Because there was no one who could win against Buryoung, who was once called a strange monk, with words.

“I don’t care whether you grow weeds or flowers, but don’t let go of the dragon in your arms.”

Swaaaa.

The wind swept through Waryongheon [Hidden Dragon Pavilion], shaking the grass and flowers in the garden.

Geomseong, who had thrown out unexpected words, said no more, and Buryoung frowned and looked at Geomseong.

“A dragon…….”

Buryoung said, fiddling with the teacup with both hands.

“So you surprised the children? Tsk tsk, a person can’t even control their temper even at that age…….”

Buryoung knew what Geomseong had caused at the Yongbongjihoe [Dragon Phoenix Gathering].

However, Buryoung’s voice, which was speaking as if scolding, could not continue.

“He.”

Geomseong said as he raised his teacup, as if it were nothing.

“Drew his sword against me.”

Drawing a sword does not mean actually holding a sword.

But it was also true as it was.

At that moment, what Geomseong Lee Geomhak felt was a sword shining its blade towards him.

“Drew his sword?”

Shinseung Buryoung tilted his head and pondered.

“Hmm, was there such a beast-like child at this Yongbongjihoe?”

If it was an untamed beast, it could be possible.

It is not uncommon for a martial artist to have the nature of a beast, baring its teeth unconditionally when meeting a strong opponent.

However, Geomseong Lee Geomhak shook his head.

“That’s not it.”

Tak.

Putting down the teacup, Geomseong said in a calm tone.

“There was no killing intent. There was no hostility either. Judging from the pure and upright energy, I rather felt something like a mystical energy.”

“Mystical energy?”

Mystical energy is a mysterious energy. And it is very close to the characteristics of Buddhist or Taoist mental cultivation methods.

“Then…….”

“He wasn’t a monk, so don’t think otherwise. Of course, he wasn’t a Taoist either. For some reason, he was dressed as a scholar, but…….”

After speaking, Geomseong stared blankly at the empty teacup.

“What he aimed at me was definitely a sword.”

There was nothing in his hand. But Geomseong was not someone who didn’t know what was filling his heart.

Geomseong was silent for a while, as if recalling what happened then.

“So.”

Buryoung said, throwing the words out.

“Are you going to have a fight with that child from now on?”

“Not yet.”

Geomseong’s answer was without hesitation.

“But it won’t be long. I am very much looking forward to seeing what he will show in the future. He is…….”

Geomseong said, holding the teacup.

“The one who made my Hanwol (寒月) [Cold Moon] cry.”

Hanwol is Geomseong’s beloved sword.

Making that Hanwol cry had a very significant meaning. To Geomseong Lee Geomhak, and to Shinseung Buryoung as well.

“Heul.”

After a while, Buryoung let out a hollow laugh.

“It seems like this guy has brought some troublesome work with him.”

Buryoung said in a rather pleased tone. But then Geomseong’s serious voice flowed out immediately.

“Don’t do anything rash.”

Geomseong’s expression was serious. But Buryoung rather flared up.

“No, then are you saying I should just stay still? After stimulating my curiosity like this? Do you perhaps want to see me die of frustration?”

To Buryoung, who was firing back, Geomseong slowly raised his teacup and said.

“Do you think his future will be smooth if you meet him?”

Buryoung knew very well what Geomseong’s words meant.

“Keueung.”

Buryoung frowned.

The Martial Alliance is already full of tension with each other trying to check each other.

If Shinseung, of all people, takes an interest in someone and meets them personally, it will surely cause a great ripple.

Huge sects will approach him, and his daily life will be distorted at once in the midst of power struggles and conspiracies to use him.

While Buryoung was frowning, Geomseong quietly savored his tea.

Then, as if he had just thought of it, Geomseong brought up the topic.

“Come to think of it, there was a decent child in the Bukhae Ice Palace [North Sea Ice Palace] as well. Seeing him with him, it seems like they are a group, maybe…….”

Geomseong stopped talking. Because Buryoung was suddenly staring at him with sparkling eyes.

“Bukhae Ice Palace? Are you saying that the dragon you mentioned earlier was with the Bukhae Ice Palace?”

Geomseong nodded and said.

“That’s right. The Bukhae Ice Palace has become quite significant these days.”

“Heol heol heol.”

Buryoung burst into a hearty laugh with a face full of smiles.

“Indeed, the Buddha does not want to see this old monk die of frustration. Heol heol heol.”

Buryoung was suddenly rejoicing, even chanting Buddhist mantras.

Geomseong Lee Geomhak’s frowning eyes did not ease, and Great Master Shinseung Buryoung’s laughter did not stop easily.

***

In the early dawn when the twilight had not yet faded, Woonhyun quietly opened the door of his lodging.

Huuk.

The chilly dawn air rushed in and tickled the tip of his nose, but to him, who had not slept a wink all night, the cold air was rather welcome.

“Huuu.”

Woonhyun slowly inhaled and exhaled deeply. As if to chase away the problems that had tormented him last night.

Seuk.

Woonhyun raised his head and looked at the dawn sky.

Looking at the still dark dawn sky, his heart, which had been confused all night, seemed to lighten a little.

‘Is it already dawn? I ended up staying up all night.’

Woonhyun sighed slightly.

It was his first day at the Martial Alliance, but Woonhyun couldn’t sleep a wink.

He didn’t particularly intend to stay up all night, but just recalling the look in his eyes he met yesterday kept him wide awake.

“A master…….”

Woonhyun muttered without realizing it.

The man he met yesterday was the first real master Woonhyun had met since leaving the Forbidden Palace.

And the aura he showed Woonhyun, although it was difficult to say for sure, was definitely a kind of hostility.

‘Maybe it’s because I drew my sword…… But that strange feeling came first, didn’t it?’

Woonhyun tilted his head.

He didn’t know why. But the intense presence he had shown was still making Woonhyun’s heart flutter.

“Hmm…….”

Woonhyun groaned, recalling that look in his eyes.

He couldn’t forget that intense gaze.

No, he didn’t want to forget it.

“I can’t even imagine what kind of swordplay that person would show.”

Since leaving the Forbidden Palace, Woonhyun had been looking at the martial artists with shining eyes whenever he met them.

Most of them did not meet his expectations, but some of them caught Woonhyun’s interest.

For example, Binghon or Younghojun of the Mae Hwa Sword [Plum Blossom Sword].

They stood out even when mixed with other people and naturally attracted Woonhyun’s attention.

‘Well, not necessarily…….’

Woonhyun gave a bitter smile.

Even among his group, Bingseol, who seemed to be a maid, was always silent, expressionless, and had no presence.

But Woonhyun was particularly drawn to Bingseol.

‘Was my taste such a woman?’

He even wondered if he had discovered a taste he didn’t even know he had.

But that’s not it.

When it comes to feminine charm, no one can compare to the young palace lord of Bukhae.

‘Stop thinking nonsense.’

Sabak.

Woonhyun shook his head and left the lodging.

‘Anyway, it’s already dawn, but it’s quite quiet.’

The surroundings were quiet.

Not only the Yongbongjihoe participants but also the people working were not to be seen.

‘I thought everyone would be diligently training in martial arts since it’s the Martial Alliance…….’

It is not uncommon for a martial artist to start training from dawn.

However, the Martial Alliance, at least around the lodging, was quite quiet.

‘Are they all tired? Or are they perhaps training in their rooms?’

Most scholars get up before sunrise, tidy their clothes and hats, open a book, and start the day.

It goes without saying in the Forbidden City.

Even more so for martial artists, especially in the Martial Alliance, it would be natural to start training already.

But in reality, no one is seen training.

Woonhyun slowly moved his steps.

Sabak, sabak.

His footsteps sounded particularly loud in the silence of the dawn.

‘I wonder if there is a place where I can train?’

The reason Woonhyun came out now was not just to enjoy a dawn walk.

Was it because of that master’s gaze yesterday?

Woonhyun’s heart was hot all night. He wanted to get a wooden sword right away and go out and train.

As dawn broke, that desire grew even more, and he couldn’t sit still.

‘I can’t go outside the Martial Alliance, but…….’

This is the Martial Alliance.

Considering the strict atmosphere when he entered, he would not be able to come and go carelessly.

But because it is the Martial Alliance, Woonhyun thought that he might be able to find a suitable training ground.

Sabak, sabak.

Woonhyun leisurely moved his steps, enjoying the serene atmosphere of the dawn.

And it didn’t take long for Woonhyun to realize that even that ‘suitable training ground’ was not easy to find.

‘Huu.’

Woonhyun let out a sigh of relief, looking at the sparring arena from yesterday.

The Martial Alliance was wide, but the places Woonhyun could go were very limited.

Wherever there seemed to be something, warriors were guarding the path and blocking passage.

In the end, Woonhyun came here with the feeling of grabbing at straws.