Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 67

067. The Sword of the South Sea

‘Still, this place isn’t bad,’ Un-hyun muttered to himself.

It seemed the training ground was open to all participants of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, as no one stopped him from entering.

‘And there’s no one here.’

Whether it was usually this way or just today, the training ground was empty.

This was fortunate for Un-hyun, who wanted to practice without being seen.

Step, step.

Un-hyun strode confidently onto the training ground.

Standing on the training ground, which he had previously only looked up at from below, the events of yesterday vividly came to mind.

From the duels that didn’t attract much interest to the duels of Nangong Bi-yeon and Pajin-han that caught Un-hyun’s attention, and even the master with that tremendous aura.

“Hoo-ooo.”

Un-hyun closed his eyes slightly and slowly calmed his breathing.

With that, Un-hyun’s mind also calmed down.

The thoughts that filled his head, the image of the master that had made his heart flutter all night, disappeared, and before he knew it, only a single sword clearly revealed its form in Un-hyun’s heart. [This refers to a state of mental clarity and focus, where the concept of the sword becomes central to his thoughts.]

A soft smile appeared on Un-hyun’s face.

It was at that moment.

‘Huh?’

Un-hyun, who was about to start training, opened his eyes.

He felt someone’s presence in the distance.

Sure enough.

After a moment, someone appeared.

‘Ah, that friend is…’

It was someone Un-hyun already knew.

‘Yesterday’s young man. Pajin-han, from the South Sea Sword Sect, wasn’t it?’

Pajin-han, heading to the training ground, stopped when he saw Un-hyun.

Un-hyun nodded slightly towards Pajin-han.

Pajin-han, recognizing Un-hyun, slowly approached the training ground.

“Greetings.”

Un-hyun, who had stepped down from the training ground, greeted him politely first.

Pajin-han also bowed his head politely, though a little stiffly.

“Greetings. I am Pajin-han from the South Sea Sword Sect. You were with the Bukhae Ice Palace people… Scholar.”

The reason he called Un-hyun ‘Scholar’ was probably because he had heard the Young Palace Master call him that.

Anyone, whether man or woman, would be captivated by the charming Young Palace Master of Bukhae Ice Palace.

“I am Un-hyun. It’s still early dawn, what brings you here…”

Un-hyun asked Pajin-han, hoping his guess was wrong.

However, his answer dashed Un-hyun’s expectations.

“Yes. I came out to do some training.”

“Ah, yes…”

Although he answered politely, Un-hyun couldn’t help but let a hint of disappointment flash in his eyes.

It was clear that his dawn training was now out of the question.

***

“Haa!”

Thud.

Pajin-han of the South Sea Sword Sect strongly extended his sword forward. Then, he slowly withdrew his sword and calmed his breathing.

“Hoo.”

After finishing the basic movements, Pajin-han glanced at Un-hyun, who was standing next to the training ground.

Even while watching him start training, Un-hyun did not leave.

Originally, watching others train was strictly forbidden in the Murim [martial arts world].

However, the movement Pajin-han had just done was well known to the outside world, and since the other party was a scholar and not a martial artist, Pajin-han didn’t say anything.

Un-hyun felt the same way.

He was upset that he had come first but was pushed out without being able to train, and he didn’t leave the training ground, intending to watch Pajin-han’s training, whom he was interested in.

‘Hmm…’

Pajin-han pondered for a moment.

He thought about asking him to leave, but it was already quite bright.

Rather than saying something to the scholar who was blankly staring at him, he decided to just end his training here.

Flick, thud.

Pajin-han shook his sword once in the air and sheathed it.

As Pajin-han turned to go down from the training ground, he heard Un-hyun’s voice.

“Excuse me…”

Pajin-han’s brow furrowed slightly reflexively.

“What is it?”

Pajin-han’s expression was stiff as he asked.

It was right after he had been humiliated in this place yesterday.

Un-hyun had also seen his miserable state in that place, so it was no wonder that Pajin-han’s face hardened.

“May I ask you something?”

Pajin-han glared sharply at Un-hyun, frowning.

‘Umm.’

Un-hyun was already regretting bringing it up.

While watching the training just now, something about the swordplay he had shown in yesterday’s duel came to mind.

That’s why he had unconsciously spoken, but seeing the other person’s reaction, he didn’t seem to be in a good mood.

“Ahem.”

But he had already spoken. Besides, since he had already received a glare, Un-hyun continued, thinking that he should at least satisfy his curiosity.

“Looking at it, the swordplay seems quite unique, I was wondering if it has anything to do with the movements of waves or tides…”

Twitch.

Pajin-han’s eyes twitched slightly. Un-hyun quickly tried to smooth things over.

“No, I was just asking because I felt that way, so don’t mind it.”

But the result was not good.

“Seeing that you recognize the sword of the South Sea, you are no ordinary scholar. If you have any insights, please feel free to share them.”

He told him to speak freely, but his tone was barbed.

Un-hyun waved his hand.

“What insights could I have? Just…”

He didn’t have any insights, but there was something he wanted to say.

No, in fact, Un-hyun had a lot to say about yesterday’s duel and today’s training.

However, if he said it in this atmosphere, he might be challenged to a duel right away.

“Just, what should I say, the way the sword moves is like the momentum of a raging wave… that’s all.”

Pajin-han’s eyes changed slightly at those words.

The South Sea Sword Sect is a prestigious sword sect in Hainan Island [a large island in the South China Sea]. And the swordplay of the South Sea Sword Sect emphasizes the energy of raging waves and rushing storms, just like Un-hyun said.

Pajin-han had repeatedly heard the words to imbue such energy while learning the sword techniques, so Un-hyun’s words could be considered a compliment.

Step.

However, Pajin-han did not show it.

Pajin-han went down from the training ground and disappeared towards the other side of the building without looking back.

“Hoo.”

Un-hyun shook his head as he disappeared.

“That young man is quite difficult to deal with.”

He was someone he had felt some liking for while watching yesterday’s duel.

That’s why he spoke without hesitation, but it turned out that Un-hyun was the only one who had a liking for him.

But it couldn’t be helped.

He had been humiliated in this place yesterday, and he was just a scholar no matter how you looked at it.

“Still…”

Swish.

Un-hyun moved his empty hand, imitating one of the sword movements he had just shown.

“Connecting this part like this is quite impressive? If you give it a little leeway here, you can bring out the sharpness even better, but…”

Even if he told him, he wouldn’t accept it. It’s not like anything good will happen to Un-hyun.

Swish.

Un-hyun raised his head and looked up at the sky.

The sky was already bright, and it seemed like he could hear people’s voices little by little from all directions.

So much time had already passed.

Un-hyun shrugged his shoulders and trudged away.

“Still, the swordplay is quite unique and the feeling is good… it’s a pity.”

In front of Un-hyun’s eyes, who was leaving the training ground, the swordplay that Pajin-han had just shown, and the swordplay he had seen in yesterday’s duel, were unfolding.

“It’s a pity…”

Un-hyun muttered to himself without realizing it as he trudged along.

***

The second day of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering proceeded in a calm atmosphere, unlike the first day.

Originally, the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering was meant to strengthen the bonds and sense of belonging among the later generation talents of the Murim Alliance.

Sudden duels were only for the first day, and most of the schedule consisted of introducing the Murim Alliance and meeting seniors who were well known.

This was to solidify the Murim Alliance system and broaden mutual understanding.

Of course, the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering also had another implicit purpose of determining the rankings of the later generation talents of each faction, so fierce checks and balances among the participants were also taking place.

However, there were also people who were outside of that check and balance.

Those were people who were treated as dropouts like Pajin-han, cases like Bukhae Ice Palace who were only the target of checks and balances for everyone, and cases like Un-hyun who were not even considered a target from the beginning.

‘This is really boring.’

Un-hyun couldn’t stand the boredom.

All the talk since earlier was only about the state of the Murim or how great the Murim Alliance was.

Moreover, the content was only vague compliments without any specifics, so there was nothing that Un-hyun could be interested in.

Watching the so-called later generation talents who did not miss out on checking each other even in the midst of all this, he couldn’t help but feel pathetic.

‘Tsk. Are these people not promising later generation talents, but people who are promised to become later generation talents?’

After meeting the real master who had exuded an overwhelming presence yesterday, there was one thing he clearly realized.

That was that the people here were definitely not masters.

‘Well, if these people were all masters, there would be no one who wasn’t a master among the people passing by.’

The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering is held every three years.

If all the attendees were masters, then it would be as if everyone in the Murim was a master.

Therefore, Un-hyun thought that the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering was only a preliminary exam when compared to the civil service examination.

“Therefore, the Murim Alliance values consultation between each faction the most. Important decisions always go through the resolution of the General Assembly, and a lower organization with a special purpose is formed according to that resolution. And once a decision is made, the Murim Alliance can immediately use force. This is to prevent the tragic past of the Great War of Justice and Evil from repeating…”

Regardless of Un-hyun’s boredom, the explanation of the person standing in front was coming to an end.

“This is the outline of the Murim Alliance. Any questions?”

There were no questions.

Even though the participants were considered later generation talents from each faction, they were not interested in political issues.

And those who were seriously interested did not come forward rashly, so as a result, there was no one to ask questions.

Of course, Un-hyun had no intention of asking questions either.

“Then we will take a break and proceed with the next schedule. Thank you for your hard work.”

The lecture of the Chief Secretary of the Murim Alliance ended with a polite greeting.

However, no one showed any particular reaction.

The Chief Secretary also did not seem to expect that, and simply picked up his books and went outside, followed by maids holding teacups.

Buzz, buzz.

As the tea began to be placed, various chats began to take place among the participants.

As yesterday, the groups were still divided, but the topic of conversation was the same.

“Well? I have never heard of such a person. Does Young Master Sima know anything?”

Sima Geon of the Hwasan Sect shook his head.

“How would I know what you all don’t know?”

“But yesterday, Plum Blossom Sword followed him, didn’t he? Young Master Sima is from the same sect as Plum Blossom Sword, so you must have heard something…”

“My Senior Brother is not that kind of person. Didn’t you hear him say that everyone belongs to the Murim Alliance while they are here?”

Sima Geon’s words were curt.

People could guess that he had gone to see Plum Blossom Sword Yeongho-jun yesterday.

And that he had been scolded by Plum Blossom Sword with the same content as what he had just said.

“Yesterday, that person.”

People’s attention was focused on someone’s voice that echoed as if to be heard.

“He must be one of the Hwanwoo Five Heavens [a group of highly skilled individuals].”

The person who spoke was the young man from the Jegal Clan, Jegal-ryong, who was dressed in neat clothes.