Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 74

074. People Met at Dawn (2)

The girl who was addressed as Young Miss Mo Yong was the very same young lady Yun Hyun remembered from Lake Seo, whose refined appearance and bright eyes had set her apart.

‘Could she be from the Mo Yong Clan…?’

Before Yun Hyun could complete his thought, Mo Yong Mi turned her gaze towards him.

“You were with the people from the Northern Ice Palace. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Mo Yong Mi from the Mo Yong Clan.”

‘Confirmed.’

Yun Hyun returned the greeting politely.

“I am Yun Hyun. It’s a pleasure to meet you as well.”

A slight smile graced Mo Yong Mi’s lips.

“What brings you here so early in the morning?”

“It’s nothing of consequence.”

Pa Jin-han replied stiffly.

“I was merely seeking guidance from the Scholar on my deficient swordsmanship.”

There was no mockery or taunt directed at Yun Hyun.

Rather, his tone seemed self-deprecating.

It was a tone unbefitting a young man speaking before a beautiful young lady.

“It matters not the time. The swords of the Southern Sea do not refuse guidance.”

Pa Jin-han said, glancing at Yun Hyun.

He clearly acknowledged Yun Hyun’s willingness to accept his challenge.

“Anyway, excuse me. I’ll be going now.”

With that, Pa Jin-han bowed to Mo Yong Mi and departed the sparring arena without a backward glance.

Watching his retreating figure, Yun Hyun felt a sense of unease.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that there were complicated circumstances at play, unknown to him.

“Scholar, you were with the Northern Ice Palace group, weren’t you?”

Startled by the voice beside him, Yun Hyun turned his head.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Mo Yong Mi smiled faintly.

“And I believe I saw you once at Lake Seo as well. Am I correct?”

For Mo Yong Mi, Yun Hyun’s appearance at Lake Seo was most memorable.

While others from the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering might remember Yun Hyun as part of the Northern Ice Palace group, Mo Yong Mi’s lasting impression was of Yun Hyun’s relaxed figure by Lake Seo.

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

Yun Hyun was unaccustomed to standing so close and conversing with a young woman.

Especially not with a beautiful young lady like Mo Yong Mi.

Wasn’t that why he had felt uncomfortable even riding in the Northern Ice Palace’s carriage?

He was grateful that both the Young Palace Lord and the maid Bing Xue were not particularly talkative.

“I agree with Scholar Yun’s assessment.”

“Pardon?”

Yun Hyun asked, surprised by Mo Yong Mi’s sudden remark.

“About how Young Master Pa’s sword is too focused on speed.”

Yun Hyun’s voice must have carried more than he intended. Or perhaps her hearing was exceptionally sharp.

“Ah, that’s….”

“If it’s not too much to ask, could you elaborate on what you believe a truly quick sword entails?”

Yun Hyun hesitated.

He had intended to share his thoughts with Pa Jin-han, but it felt awkward to discuss it with someone else.

Wouldn’t it sound as if he were speaking ill of Pa Jin-han?

“I am merely a scholar who reads books.”

“But you were going to offer your insights to Young Master Pa, weren’t you?”

Mo Yong Mi smiled brightly.

Yun Hyun realized there was no escape. His scholar excuse wouldn’t work on her.

He sighed softly and said,

“I must preface this by saying that it is not meant to disparage Young Master Pa’s sword.”

“Of course. You’re simply answering my question.”

At Mo Yong Mi’s words, Yun Hyun paused before slowly beginning.

“In my opinion, whether a sword is fast or slow is not the most crucial aspect of swordsmanship.”

“Pardon?”

Mo Yong Mi fixed an interested gaze on Yun Hyun.

“What truly matters is that the sword strikes at the precise moment and location. I believe that quick sword or heavy sword are merely means to achieve that end.”

“Then how does one determine that precise moment and location?”

Mo Yong Mi asked, her interest piqued by Yun Hyun’s response.

“That’s what’s a bit difficult to articulate….”

Yun Hyun scratched his head slightly.

“It might be the ‘geomryu’ [the essence or flow] of the sword technique, that is, the flow of the sword. In a way, that might be the meaning of the sword technique, so it could be called the sword intent….”

Mo Yong Mi smiled.

“It’s a vague statement, yet strangely persuasive. So, you’re suggesting that without realizing the sword intent, the ultimate essence of the sword, one cannot perceive the true form that the sword technique seeks to achieve?”

Yun Hyun’s face flushed slightly.

Listening to Mo Yong Mi’s words, it sounded as if he had realized that ‘sword intent’ himself.

The ultimate of the Southern Sea Sword Technique that even Pa Jin-han himself didn’t know.

Yun Hyun hurriedly waved his hands.

“Um, I didn’t mean to imply that I had realized some kind of ultimate….”

“Hehe.”

Mo Yong Mi chuckled softly at Yun Hyun’s reaction.

“I didn’t interpret it that way either.”

Watching Mo Yong Mi’s smiling face, Yun Hyun found it somewhat unexpected.

The Mo Yong Mi he had heard about from the Mo Yong Clan was known for her strong personality and commanding presence, but the Mo Yong Mi smiling before him now was indistinguishable from a cheerful and beautiful girl her age.

‘Now that I think about it, she bears a resemblance to Sang-ah. No wonder she seemed familiar.’

As Yun Hyun recalled the young Sang-ah he had met at the Mo Yong Clan, who sat beside him and chattered, Mo Yong Mi suddenly spoke.

“But Scholar Yun’s words bear a striking resemblance to someone else’s. Although the expression is slightly different….”

Mo Yong Mi spoke casually, but Yun Hyun was startled.

‘Ugh. Now that I think about it….’

The Mo Yong Clan was the very place he had sent the letter.

He doubted Mo Yong Mi would have read the letter, but he couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy, given his actions.

“Don’t take Young Master Pa’s words too much to heart.”

“Pardon?”

As Yun Hyun looked up, Mo Yong Mi continued quietly.

“You didn’t attend the banquet yesterday, so you wouldn’t know, but Young Master Pa Jin-han suffered quite a bit of humiliation.”

“Humiliation, you say….”

Mo Yong Mi’s face hardened slightly.

Casting her gaze in the direction Pa Jin-han had disappeared, Mo Yong Mi said softly.

“It’s a childish act. But for the person on the receiving end, there’s nothing more humiliating.”

Mo Yong Mi refrained from elaborating.

However, her hardened expression made it clear that something significant had occurred.

“But they belong to the same Murim Alliance [martial arts alliance], and they’re even participating in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering….”

Yun Hyun tilted his head.

He had witnessed the power struggles between the so-called orthodox and unorthodox factions from the very first day.

But even so, he doubted they would stoop to humiliating someone.

“Hehe.”

Mo Yong Mi laughed lightly.

Did the people attending the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering truly consider themselves to be ‘belonging to the same Murim Alliance’?

“The Southern Sea Sword Clan is located on Hainan Island. It’s a remote and isolated place. And their swordsmanship differs significantly from the prominent clans here. And above all.”

Mo Yong Mi paused for a moment.

“The Southern Sea Sword Clan remained neutral during the Orthodox-Demonic War. That’s reason enough for the influential clans to avoid and ignore them.”

Yun Hyun couldn’t grasp her meaning.

“They ignore the Southern Sea Sword Clan because they were neutral?”

“Yes. Because they didn’t choose a side.”

Yun Hyun was dumbfounded.

In other words, the factions within the Murim Alliance were not limited to the so-called orthodox and unorthodox factions.

“Besides, the image Young Master Pa presented on the first day became a great laughingstock for them. Regardless of the truth….”

Mo Yong Mi sighed softly as she spoke.

“I’m sorry. I don’t wish to dwell on this any longer.”

A shadow fell over Mo Yong Mi’s eyes as she gazed at the splendid Murim Alliance building.

Being ostracized for ridiculous reasons was not unique to Pa Jin-han of the Southern Sea Sword Clan.

While the degree might vary, Mo Yong Mi was not so different from Pa Jin-han.

She was simply wise enough to behave in a way that minimized the jealousy of other young ladies, and her beauty garnered her favor from young men.

But that was all.

The moment Mo Yong Mi outshone others, she would likely face similar ostracism as Pa Jin-han.

That was one of the reasons why Mo Yong Mi kept a low profile.

“Well, then….”

Mo Yong Mi, as if attempting to lighten the mood, put on a bright smile and turned to Yun Hyun.

“How about hearing Scholar Yun’s opinion on my swordsmanship this time?”

“Pardon?”

Yun Hyun looked surprised by her unexpected words.

“You’re not only going to offer guidance to Young Master Pa Jin-han, are you?”

“B-but….”

Yun Hyun hesitated.

However, Mo Yong Mi didn’t wait for Yun Hyun’s response and was already heading towards the sparring arena.

Yun Hyun was unsure how to interpret her sudden request.

‘Could it be… No, that’s impossible. Even if she saw the letter, there’s no way she’d know I sent it, right?’

While Yun Hyun was lost in thought, Mo Yong Mi, standing in the sparring arena, was smiling slightly.

In truth, half of what she said was in jest.

Normally, it was forbidden to display one’s training to outsiders.

However, the swordsmanship Mo Yong Mi was about to perform was very basic, so common that countless similar techniques could be found.

And Pa Jin-han wasn’t the only one who felt let down by the behavior of the so-called great clans at the banquet the previous night.

She, too, had come to the sparring arena early in the morning to alleviate her stifled feelings.

So, there was no reason to refrain from performing her sword just because Yun Hyun was present.

‘Hehe.’

Mo Yong Mi smiled as she observed Yun Hyun’s flustered expression.

Perhaps the genuine innocence displayed by this scholar was the real reason.

It was the reason why she revealed her inner thoughts without reservation, free from the burden of being the head of the outer hall of the family.

“Hoo-ooh.”

But now it was time to face the sword.

Mo Yong Mi quietly inhaled. And slowly drew her sword.

Sreung.

With a soft sound, her sword shimmered.

Yun Hyun swallowed hard and watched Mo Yong Mi with a tense gaze.

Sabak.

The beginning was light. Mo Yong Mi took a light step and shook her sword.

Pireurik.

With a sharp cry, Mo Yong Mi’s sword sliced through the air.

As if forgetting to simply watch, Mo Yong Mi’s feet began to sweep the floor intricately.

Pababak, Shwiririk.

Each time she moved, the sharp blade traced dazzling patterns in the air.

It was a sharp and precise, yet fatally beautiful sword dance.

How long did that sword dance, which filled the sparring arena, last?

At some point, Mo Yong Mi’s foot, which had naturally turned her body, kicked off the ground.

That.

‘Ah!’

Yun Hyun, who was watching, exclaimed without realizing it.

Mo Yong Mi’s fluid body was soaring into the air with her sword.

Her figure was like a fairy ascending into the sky, and Yun Hyun stared blankly, mesmerized.

“Taha!”

Pababak.

Mo Yong Mi’s sword, aloft in the air, scattered sharp light in all directions.

And Mo Yong Mi landed on the ground.

Parararak.

The light pink hem of her dress fluttered like flower petals falling in the wind, and her small silk shoes lightly touched the sparring arena.

Sabak.

As if a flower petal was descending, Mo Yong Mi landed on the sparring arena with a weightless grace.

And with that, her sword dance concluded.

“Hoo-ooh.”

Mo Yong Mi slowly composed herself and sheathed her sword.

Sreung.

Her slightly flushed expression was much lighter.

Mo Yong Mi, who had been so engrossed that she had momentarily forgotten her surroundings, finally remembered Yun Hyun’s presence.

“How was it?”

Mo Yong Mi asked with a faint smile.

As expected, Yun Hyun was staring at Mo Yong Mi with his mouth agape.