Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 72

“Ahem.”

Yunhyun cleared his throat, shaking off the awkwardness.

“If there’s nothing more you need from me, I’ll be on my way…”

“What’s your name?”

At Shinseung’s question, Yunhyun muttered inwardly,

‘He asks quickly, doesn’t he?’

But that was only in his mind; Yunhyun answered politely,

“I am Yunhyun.”

“If you don’t have anything else to do, how about joining the Murim Alliance [a coalition of martial arts clans]?”

It was a sudden and unexpected suggestion.

“But I…”

“I know. It’s that damn scholar talk again, isn’t it?”

Shinseung waved his hand, cutting off Yunhyun’s words.

“Soon, the Murim Alliance will be selecting scholars to serve as scribes. You may not be a martial artist, but it seems you can’t live apart from the martial world. Taking this opportunity to join the Murim Alliance wouldn’t be so bad.”

Yunhyun hesitated.

Though his focus was somewhat off, Shinseung’s point was valid.

Wasn’t he here because of his unavoidable interest in martial arts?

Besides, when he first left the Jageumseong [Purple Forbidden City, often associated with imperial power], he had considered taking on a role in the Moryong Clan [a fictional martial arts clan].

In some ways, the Murim Alliance might be exactly what Yunhyun wanted.

“As a scribe, what specific tasks would I be doing?”

With the memory of Changryong Hall [likely a reference to a specific location or event within the story] vivid in his mind, Yunhyun asked cautiously.

He shouldn’t jump in just because the opportunity seemed good.

Always think carefully, double-check, and look ahead to avoid trouble.

“That will be determined by the results of the exam, of course.”

“Excuse me? An exam?”

At Yunhyun’s question, Shinseung frowned this time.

“Did you think I would recommend you outright? You call yourself a scholar, so show your skills directly.”

Yunhyun was a little disappointed but also relieved at Shinseung’s words.

An exam meant that the process and results would be fair, and that the scribe position was not easy, meaning it was worth aiming for.

“When is the exam?”

“Hmm? Probably soon after the Yongbong Tournament [Dragon-Phoenix Tournament, a common trope in martial arts stories] ends. It’s not a secret affair, so you’ll find out easily enough.”

Yunhyun pondered.

Even if he went to Hangzhou as he was, he would have no face to show his uncle.

But if it was the Murim Alliance, even a scribe position would save face.

More than anything, it was a field he was interested in, and he was already thoroughly familiar with exams.

After thinking for a moment, Yunhyun bowed to Shinseung Bulyeong.

“Thank you for letting me know. Then, I’ll be on my way…”

Yunhyun tried to get up, but this time the Sword Saint’s voice stopped him.

“Wait a moment.”

As Yunhyun stood awkwardly, the Sword Saint turned to Shinseung and said,

“Give it to me.”

“Tsk, I knew it. You just brought it and left it with me… Geez, what a troublesome guy.”

Muttering, Shinseung looked at Yunhyun, pointed his chin towards Waryongheon [likely the name of the Sword Saint’s residence], and said,

“If you go inside, there’s a long wooden box in the corner. Bring it here.”

It was a sudden errand, but nothing had been unsurprising since he set foot here.

Yunhyun obediently followed Shinseung’s instructions.

“Be careful, it might break if you handle it wrong!”

Shinseung shouted at Yunhyun’s back as he entered the house, then turned back to the Sword Saint.

“Are you going to entrust that to him?”

The Sword Saint nodded.

“Hmm, is that okay? The burden won’t be light…”

“What you’re trying to entrust isn’t light either, I imagine.”

At the Sword Saint’s words, Shinseung just clicked his tongue without replying.

Clatter.

After a while, Yunhyun came out with a long wooden box and placed it on the table.

It was faded and broken in places due to its age, but the patterns that were visible suggested that this wooden box had originally been a valuable item.

The Sword Saint stared at the wooden box in silence, as if lost in reminiscence. Then, he opened his mouth towards Yunhyun.

“I will entrust this to you.”

“What is this?”

Yunhyun asked, but the Sword Saint didn’t answer.

Looking at Shinseung with a hopeful expression, he gestured with his chin as if to say, ‘Open it yourself.’

‘Hmm.’

Yunhyun slowly opened the wooden box with a somewhat suspicious feeling.

Squeak.

The dust-covered wooden box opened with an unpleasant sound.

And in the bright sunlight, what was inside revealed itself.

“This is…”

A long object wrapped in cloth, like a stick, came into Yunhyun’s view.

Although it was covered in old, worn cloth, it was clearly a sword.

Rustle.

Yunhyun carefully unwrapped the cloth covering the sword. Then, as Yunhyun had guessed, a sword appeared.

‘Oh ho.’

Yunhyun exclaimed inwardly.

It was a very fine sword at first glance.

The patterns engraved on the scabbard and handle, and the overall appearance, felt like the work of a master craftsman, even to Yunhyun, who didn’t know much about swords.

“It’s magnificent.”

Yunhyun admired honestly.

“Draw it.”

The Sword Saint said. His eyes, as he looked at the sword, were filled with an unknown regret.

Swoosh.

As Yunhyun gripped the handle and applied force, the blade appeared almost silently.

Clang.

“Gasp!”

Yunhyun couldn’t help but groan at the feeling that his breath had stopped for a moment.

The revealed blade began to emit an incredibly sharp energy in all directions.

Just holding it made his skin tingle with a chilling sensation.

“It’s an amazing sword.”

Yunhyun said with a sigh.

The sword in his hand was showing a clear difference from everything he had seen so far.

Even though Yunhyun didn’t know much about swords, he could clearly tell that this sword, with a faint red glow throughout the blade, was no ordinary sword.

“The name of that sword is Nagil (落日) [literally ‘Falling Sun’], Falling Sun.”

The Sword Saint said quietly.

“…A sword I exchanged for many things.”

Yunhyun suddenly came to his senses at that voice.

“But why are you giving this to me…”

“It’s a token of my meeting you today. It also means that I will not forget your answer.”

Yunhyun’s expression changed strangely.

This sword was a great masterpiece that anyone could see.

Was he entrusting such a masterpiece to him for such a reason?

After hesitating for a while, looking at the Nagil Sword (落日劍) [Falling Sun Sword], Yunhyun finally let out a long sigh.

“Hoo.”

Clatter.

Yunhyun sheathed the sword and carefully placed it on the table.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t accept this sword.”

“Just take it quietly when you’re given it.”

Shinseung interjected abruptly.

“Do you think anyone can have it?”

But Yunhyun slowly shook his head.

“I can’t have something that exceeds my station without a good reason. And above all…”

Yunhyun lowered his head, looked at the sword on the table, and continued,

“It’s too sharp, it might hurt someone. A wooden sword is enough for me.”

Yunhyun’s answer was sincere.

It was truly amazing and desirable, but it was a sword beyond his means.

A wooden sword was enough for him.

Besides, if he accepted this sword now, wouldn’t all his previous words about not being a martial artist be false?

“A wooden sword, you say…”

The Sword Saint murmured quietly.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

As Yunhyun said that, the Sword Saint nodded.

“I understand. But the fact that I gave this sword to you remains unchanged.”

Yunhyun frowned. But the Sword Saint’s words were not over yet.

“So, I will leave this sword here for a while longer.”

That was enough to satisfy Yunhyun.

Yunhyun got up and bowed politely.

“Thank you. Then, I will take my leave.”

“And one more thing.”

The Sword Saint said to Yunhyun with an intense gaze.

“Erase the sword from your mind.”

The Sword Saint’s eyes were emitting a subtle heat.

That heat instantly ignited a fire in Yunhyun’s heart.

“If you can’t do that, you will disappoint me.”

“I understand.”

Yunhyun answered without realizing it.

The Sword Saint nodded in satisfaction.

His burning gaze had already changed to a calm one.

Rustle.

Yunhyun bowed respectfully to the Sword Saint.

He didn’t understand it yet, but he knew that the Sword Saint was trying to give him some kind of enlightenment.

The Sword Saint lifted his teacup and didn’t even glance at Yunhyun.

Yunhyun also turned around and left Waryongheon without hesitation.

His heart was burning after a long time.

As a result, it was long after he returned to his lodgings that he realized he hadn’t even asked the name of that impressive martial artist, the Sword Saint.

***

Silence filled Waryongheon after the guests had left.

Looking at the coldly cooled empty teacup, Shinseung Bulyeong muttered to himself as if talking to himself.

“Wasn’t that last request too harsh? I know it hasn’t been long since you were able to do that yourself.”

Shinseung’s words were about the last words the Sword Saint had thrown at Yunhyun.

“So, you’re saying he will be disappointed.”

Shinseung smiled bitterly at the Sword Saint’s answer.

The Sword Saint already considered Yunhyun to be below him.

Suddenly, the Sword Saint asked in a quiet voice.

“Do you understand the meaning of ‘He learned martial arts but is not a disciple, he did not learn the sword but knows only the sword’?”

“It means that he did not learn through a master, but one day suddenly realized the principles of the sword.”

Shinseung answered with a calm expression.

“In Buddhism, it is called sudden enlightenment (頓悟) [Sudden enlightenment, a key concept in Zen Buddhism].”

Letting out a snort, Shinseung continued,

“He clearly felt the movement of true energy [Qi or Chi, vital energy in traditional Chinese medicine], but doesn’t know the mental cultivation technique? Did he throw away the net after catching the fish? His Zen dialogue is so natural, he’s more like a monk than I am in some ways.”

As he spoke, Shinseung raised his head and looked at the Sword Saint.

“Still, I’m surprised you gave him that sword. I thought you were against drawing that child in… Heolheol [a Korean onomatopoeia for laughter].”

“I am against it.”

The Sword Saint said.

“But is the Gangho Murim [the martial arts world] a place where things go as you wish?”

Shinseung was silent at that voice filled with bitter emotion.

The Sword Saint, staring silently at the Nagil Sword on the table, spoke again.

“Bulyeong, why are you trying to draw him in?”

“Because he’s no ordinary guy.”

Shinseung’s answer was simple.

“I can’t leave such an interesting guy where my eyes can’t reach, can I?”

Shinseung caressed the empty teacup wistfully.

“As you know, when I first founded the Murim Alliance, I thought the Shaolin [a famous Buddhist monastery known for its martial arts] would cast me out. No, I expected it.”

Looking up at a distant place, Shinseung said,

“Water is water, and mountain is mountain [a Zen saying indicating acceptance of reality]. No matter how much I put up the pretense of helping the masses, forming a huge group of interests called the Murim Alliance and sitting in the middle of it is an act that can never be tolerated as a monk. So, I wanted the Shaolin to return to its original place by casting me out. But the reality was not so. Now I’ve even taken on the unsightly title of Shinseung [Divine Monk], haven’t I? Heolheol.”

The Sword Saint silently listened to that laughter filled with bitterness.

“Do you remember how that guy said he wasn’t a martial artist earlier? Keulkeulkeul [another Korean onomatopoeia for laughter], he’s not a martial artist, it’s as if he doesn’t care about the Murim Alliance at all, isn’t it? At that time, his eyes were really…”

Shinseung recalled Yunhyun’s eyes. Those honest and upright eyes, completely devoid of the filth of the world.

“If there’s someone like that, wouldn’t this stuffy place be a little more interesting?”