Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 75

075. The Start of the Martial Arts Competition

“Didn’t you like it?”

That was a teasing remark.

Moyong Mi already knew that Woon-hyun was surprised.

“Ah, no!”

Only then did Woon-hyun seem to come to his senses and wave his hand.

“It was a very good sword technique. Uh, I mean, rather than flashy skills, it was faithful to the basics… so, it was a very excellent sword technique.”

Even as he spoke, Woon-hyun felt that his words kept getting tangled.

He felt like there should be a more wonderful expression or word, but he couldn’t seem to find the words more than usual.

“Thank you.”

Despite Woon-hyun’s clumsy words, Moyong Mi expressed her gratitude.

It was at that moment that a mischievous thought occurred to her, perhaps because she liked seeing Woon-hyun flustered.

“Could you perhaps tell me something, like you did for Young Master Pa?”

Moyong Mi’s sword technique was familiar to Woon-hyun. He had seen the disciples of the Moyong Family training many times.

Moreover, Moyong Mi’s achievements were not that great, so Woon-hyun felt he could easily offer some advice.

However, the problem was that Moyong Mi’s appearance while practicing her swordplay had captivated Woon-hyun.

‘I’ve heard that women’s swordplay is beautiful, but….’

Moyong Mi’s training, which he saw directly before his eyes, was very different from that of the Golden Guard or the disciples of the Moyong Family.

In fact, all the training Woon-hyun usually saw was the powerful and energetic *moseup* [Korean: 모습, appearance] of the Golden Guard, who had taken off their shirts.

However, Moyong Mi’s training *moseup* he saw before his eyes now was so charming.

It wasn’t the sword technique or the sword movements, but Moyong Mi’s figure in motion that had stolen Woon-hyun’s gaze.

He had never imagined that the *moseup* of a woman wielding a sharp sword could be so feminine and captivating.

“Scholar?”

When Woon-hyun didn’t answer, Moyong Mi spoke lightly, as if urging him.

However, Woon-hyun still couldn’t figure out what to say.

“Ah, no, that’s….”

He couldn’t possibly say that he was distracted by Moyong Mi’s *moseup*, not the sword technique.

That could be heard as an insult or harassment, depending on how it was taken.

“I’m sorry.”

In the end, Woon-hyun bowed his head and apologized.

Then, the person who became embarrassed was Moyong Mi.

When Woon-hyun was in trouble, she thought that her joke had been too much.

“No, it’s my fault for asking you to comment on a sword technique you saw for the first time. I’m sorry for making an unreasonable request.”

“It’s not that I saw it for the first time….”

It wasn’t that he was seeing it for the first time. But Woon-hyun couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence.

“By the way, Seohog was the first time we met, right?”

Woon-hyun looked puzzled at Moyong Mi’s sudden words.

“Yes? Ah, yes. That’s right.”

Woon-hyun nodded. But Moyong Mi tilted her head.

“But it’s strange. I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before.”

The reason she had paid attention to Woon-hyun at Samdaminwol in Seohog was because of his leisurely atmosphere and the feeling that she had seen him somewhere before.

But there was no way she could not remember someone she had met once.

So Moyong Mi was even more strange.

She couldn’t even imagine that she had only briefly seen Woon-hyun passing by the roadside from inside her carriage.

And in fact, there was one more thing that Moyong Mi found strange.

Thanks to that, she didn’t even notice that Woon-hyun’s face, which had received her gaze, was slightly reddened.

“Ah, there….”

At Woon-hyun’s words, Moyong Mi finally came to her senses.

‘Ah.’

Moyong Mi was flustered that she was staring so intently at a man she barely knew.

Besides, ‘I think I’ve met you somewhere before’ was no different from flirting, was it?

“I’m sorry for bothering you. Then, I’ll be on my way….”

Moyong Mi lowered her head to avoid Woon-hyun’s gaze and quickly turned her body.

*Sabeok, sabeok* [Korean: 사벅, 사벅 – sound of footsteps].

‘I’m such a….’

Moyong Mi felt her face burning and blamed herself inwardly.

She had been feeling *dapdap* [Korean: 답답, stifled/frustrated] because of the childish behavior of the so-called *hugijisu* [Korean: 후기지수, next generation talents] and had deliberately come to the martial arts arena this early in the morning to change her mood.

It was perhaps natural that she felt *chin-geunham* [Korean: 친근함, familiarity/closeness] towards Woon-hyun, who knew nothing and was therefore comfortable.

However, showing him her swordplay and asking for his opinion was definitely too much.

‘Besides, to think that he might have something to do with that letter….’

Another reason she found it strange was Woon-hyun’s tone.

Although the expression was different, what Woon-hyun had said when discussing Pa Jin-han’s sword was definitely similar to the letter from the *chang-nyong geomju* [Korean: 창룡검주, Azure Dragon Sword Master].

“Hoo.”

Moyong Mi sighed lightly.

‘I think I was too impatient.’

Looking back now, it was an absurd guess.

Perhaps it was because she was *dapdap* and her nerves were on edge due to *chojoham* [Korean: 초조함, anxiety/nervousness].

‘It’s okay.’

In fact, it wasn’t really okay.

At this rate, there was no point in attending the *yongbong jihoe* [martial arts competition] as the head of the outer hall of the Moyong Family.

‘The *yongbong jihoe* is just the beginning.’

Moyong Mi hastened her steps towards her *sukso* [Korean: 숙소, lodgings], thinking that it was too early to give up hope.

The morning *haetsal* [Korean: 햇살, sunlight] was gently shining down on her shoulders.

***

As soon as Moyong Mi left the martial arts arena, Woon-hyun was finally alone.

“Hoo.”

Woon-hyun sighed. And he muttered with a bitter expression.

“It’s already dawn.”

In the end, the time for him to train alone had passed.

Woon-hyun moved his steps with a *sseupsseulhan* [Korean: 씁쓸한, bitter] expression.

‘Hmm, but.’

Still, he didn’t feel *eok-ul* [Korean: 억울, wronged] or like he had lost out.

Because he had seen Moyong Mi’s training.

‘I’ve heard that *hwayong-woltae* [Korean: 화용월태 (花容月態), a beauty’s appearance is like a flower and her 자태 (ja-tae, figure/form) is like the quietly passing moon] means that a beauty’s appearance is like a flower and her *ja-tae* is like the quietly passing moon, but.’

Moyong Mi’s training *moseup* was vividly flashing before Woon-hyun’s eyes.

‘I learned today for the first time that a woman wielding a sword can also be so beautiful.’

Woon-hyun nodded to himself and moved his steps.

‘Come to think of it, that young man Pa Jin-han seemed to have stayed up all night, but what kind of *moyok* [Korean: 모욕, insult] did he receive….’

In fact, he didn’t really like his *taedo* [Korean: 태도, attitude] towards him.

But he was one of the few *yongbong jihoe* participants who had a *bimu* [Korean: 비무, sparring match] that Woon-hyun liked.

Moreover, considering that he must have been *maeumi apasseul jeongdoro* [Korean: 마음이 아팠을 정도로, so heartbroken] that he had to wield his sword all night, Woon-hyun felt *dongjeong* [Korean: 동정, sympathy] towards Pa Jin-han’s *cheoji* [Korean: 처지, situation/circumstances].

And at the same time, *ban-gam* [Korean: 반감, animosity] rose towards the other participants, the so-called *hugijisu*.

‘They themselves are *bujokhan* [Korean: 부족한, lacking/deficient], yet they dare to *moyok* and *sangcheo* [Korean: 상처, wound/hurt] to others!’

Woon-hyun was *hwaga chimireo olratda* [Korean: 화가 치밀어 올랐다, filled with anger].

He felt even more so when he thought of Moyong Mi’s *eodun eolgul* [Korean: 어두운 얼굴, dark/gloomy face] as she told him the story.

‘Hmm, what should I do about this?’

In fact, the *yongbong jihoe* was no longer an *gwansim-ui daesang* [Korean: 관심의 대상, object of interest] for Woon-hyun.

He had met the *geomseong* [Korean: 검성, Sword Saint], the real *gosu* [Korean: 고수, master], whom he still didn’t know the *jeongche* [Korean: 정체, identity] of, so there was no reason to *shingyeong-eul sseul* [Korean: 신경을 쓸, pay attention] to the *hugijisu*, who were already *shilmangseureopdeon* [Korean: 실망스럽던, disappointing].

But thinking that Pa Jin-han would be *musireul danghago* [Korean: 무시를 당하고, ignored/disregarded] and that *geuneul* [Korean: 그늘, shadow] would be cast on Moyong Mi’s *goun eolgul* [Korean: 고운 얼굴, beautiful face], he felt that it was very *bujoori-hago bulhaprihada* [Korean: 부조리하고 불합리하다, unjust and unreasonable].

‘Young Master Pa won’t even try to listen to me….’

Judging from Pa Jin-han’s *gise* [Korean: 기세, spirit/energy] earlier, it would be fortunate if he didn’t feel it as another *moyok*, let alone listen to Woon-hyun’s words.

*Dalkak* [Sound of something clicking into place].

Woon-hyun, who had already returned to his *sukso*, sat at a small *takja* [Korean: 탁자, table] and fell into deep *saenggak* [Korean: 생각, thought].

‘If I send a *seochal* [Korean: 서찰, letter] in the name of *chang-nyong geomju*……. No, no.’

Woon-hyun shook his head.

If he said such words and then wrote a *seochal* with the same content, he would be able to tell right away, even if he didn’t reveal his name.

Besides, it was questionable whether they would take such a *seochal* of unknown *chulcheo* [Korean: 출처, origin] seriously.

‘In the end, I have no choice but to make him *naptteuk-hadorok* [Korean: 납득하도록, understand/convince]…….’

He even thought about *sincheong* [Korean: 신청, applying for] a *bimu*.

If Woon-hyun won, at least he wouldn’t *musi* [Korean: 무시, ignore] his words.

‘But conversely, he might close his ears altogether.’

Pa Jin-han is *shimrijeogeuro gungjie mollin* [Korean: 심리적으로 궁지에 몰린, psychologically cornered] while being *jorongeul batmyeo* [Korean: 조롱을 받으며, being ridiculed].

If he loses to Woon-hyun, a *munsa* [Korean: 문사, scholar], the situation might get even worse.

‘What should I do?’

Woon-hyun *jamgyeotda* [Korean: 잠겼다, immersed] in deep *saenggak*. But a good *saenggak* didn’t come to mind.

It was already *achim siksattaega doeeotjiman* [Korean: 아침 식사 때가 되었지만, time for breakfast] because it was *nari balga* [Korean: 날이 밝아, dawn], but Woon-hyun didn’t know how to *ireoseol* [Korean: 일어설, get up] from his *jari* [Korean: 자리, seat].

***

The *yongbong jihoe* for the *hugijisu* of each *munpa* [Korean: 문파, sect/clan] continued without much *byeonhwa* [Korean: 변화, change].

During the day, they listened to a *gangyeon* [Korean: 강연, lecture] by someone ‘highly respected in *gangho murim* [Korean: 강호 무림, the martial arts world],’ and in the evening, they held a *yeonhoe* [Korean: 연회, banquet].

For Woon-hyun, it was a *iljeong* [Korean: 일정, schedule] that made him wonder what they were doing, but for the *hugijisu*, it was a *ppudeutan* [Korean: 뿌듯한, proud/gratifying] time to be *daejeopbatgo* [Korean: 대접받고, treated well] by the *murimmaeng* [Korean: 무림맹, Martial Arts Alliance] and to *jaehwagin* [Korean: 재확인, reaffirm] their *wichi* [Korean: 위치, position].

Meanwhile, the person who attracted the most *gwansim* [Korean: 관심, attention] from the *hugijisu* was the *sogungju* [Korean: 소궁주, young palace lord] of the Bukhae Ice Palace [North Sea Ice Palace].

Because of her own *maeheukjeogin areumdaum* [Korean: 매혹적인 아름다움, captivating beauty], as well as the fact that she had met the *shinseung* [Korean: 신승, divine monk] who had been *dumunbulchul* [Korean: 두문불출, reclusive], the *hugijisu* all wanted to *daehwareul nanugo* [Korean: 대화를 나누고, have a conversation] with the *sogungju*.

However, the *sogungju* did not *chamga* [Korean: 참가, participate] in *yeonhoe* or even *gongsikjeogin iljeong* [Korean: 공식적인 일정, official schedule], using the excuse that she was *momi bulpyeonhada* [Korean: 몸이 불편하다, unwell].

Youngho-jun, the Plum Blossom Sword of the Hwasan Sect, personally *chajaga gwonhaesseuna* [Korean: 찾아가 권했으나, visited and recommended/invited] he couldn’t even see her *eolgul* [Korean: 얼굴, face].

Thanks to that, Woon-hyun was *yeoyuga saenggin* [Korean: 여유가 생긴, had more free time].

Woon-hyun, who had heard from the *sogungju* that he only needed to come to the *bimu* on the last day, spent more time *meomulgo* [Korean: 머물고, staying] outside the *murimmaeng*.

Woon-hyun also did not know that Moyong Mi, who appeared at the *saebyeok bimu-dae* [Korean: 새벽 비무대, dawn sparring arena], was *aswiwohaetda* [Korean: 아쉬워했다, regretting] that Woon-hyun was *eopseumeul* [Korean: 없음을, absent].

In that way, the *yongbong jihoe* was *heulleogago haruharu* [Korean: 흘러가고 하루하루, flowing day by day] towards the last *bimu*.

On the morning of the last day of the *yongbong jihoe*, the *hugijisu* of each *munpa* were gathered at the *bimu-dae* with *ginjangdoen pyojeong* [Korean: 긴장된 표정, tense expressions].

On this day, the *ilhaeng* [Korean: 일행, group] of the Bukhae Ice Palace and Woon-hyun also *jikyeotda* [Korean: 지켰다, kept/maintained] their *jari*.

“Have you all been waiting long?”

Youngho-jun, the Plum Blossom Sword, who had *ollaseon* [Korean: 올라선, ascended/stepped onto] on the *bimu-dae*, said while *dulleobomyeo* [Korean: 둘러보며, looking around] the *hugijisu* of each *pa* [Korean: 파, faction/group].

“From today, the *bimu* that you have been *gidaryeotdeon* [Korean: 기다렸던, waiting for] will begin. Everyone, do your best to *ppomnae* [Korean: 뽐내, show off] your *giryang* [Korean: 기량, skill/ability]. If you’re *uni joteumyeon* [Korean: 운이 좋으면, lucky], you might *sarojabeul* [Korean: 사로잡을, capture] the *maeum* [Korean: 마음, heart] of a *minyeo* [Korean: 미녀, beautiful woman]. Ah, of course, the *maeum* of a *minam* [Korean: 미남, handsome man], too.”

A small *useumsori* [Korean: 웃음소리, laughter] flowed out from among the *hugijisu*.

Some *cheongnyeon* [Korean: 청년, young men] even *deonjigido uimi inneun siseon* [Korean: 던지기도 의미 있는 시선, cast meaningful glances] towards the *sogungju* of the Bukhae, but the *sogungju’s pyojeong* was just *damdamhagiman* [Korean: 담담하기만, calm/composed].

“To be clear, this is a *bimu*. So don’t *jipchak* [Korean: 집착, fixate/obsess] too much on *seungpae* [Korean: 승패, victory/defeat]. But it’s also true that the *gyeolgwa* [Korean: 결과, result] of this *bimu* will *namneun* [Korean: 남는, remain] in the *murimmaeng* as an *gongsikjeogin girok* [Korean: 공식적인 기록, official record].”

At those words, *ginjangi beonjigi shijakhaetda* [Korean: 긴장이 번지기 시작했다, tension began to spread] in the *nundongja* [Korean: 눈동자, eyes] of the *hugijisu*.

The words that it would *namneun* as an *gongsikjeogin girok* of the *murimmaeng* meant that the *gyeolgwa* of this *bimu* would *michige keun yeonghyangeul* [Korean: 미치게 큰 영향을, have a huge impact] on their *pyeongga* [Korean: 평가, evaluation] and their *mirae* [Korean: 미래, future].

“So everyone, do your best so that *huhoega namji anke* [Korean: 후회가 남지 않게, no regrets remain]. I’m saying this as a *seonbae* [Korean: 선배, senior] who was *ppophyeotdeon* [Korean: 뽑혔던, selected] as a *yongbong* in the past. Hahaha.”

That was a *mal* [Korean: 말, statement] that *deo-hae juneun hwaksin* [Korean: 더해 주는 확신, added conviction] to the *saenggak* of the *hugijisu*.

The *nunbit* [Korean: 눈빛, gaze] of the young *hugijisu* who *kkumkkuneun* [Korean: 꿈꾸는, dreaming] of the *murimmaeng* began to *beondeulgigi gangnyeolhage* [Korean: 번뜩이기 강렬하게, gleam intensely].

“Okay, then.”

The Plum Blossom Sword Youngho-jun *naeryeoseotda* [Korean: 내려섰다, descended] from the *bimu-dae*.

The *sogungju’s najimakhan moksori* [Korean: 소궁주의 나지막한 목소리, low voice] was *deullida* [Korean: 들렸다, heard] in Woon-hyun’s *gwitga* [Korean: 귓가, ear] as he was *bogo itdeon* [Korean: 보고 있던, watching] that *moseup*.

“That person is a little *teukihagoonyo* [Korean: 특이하군요, unique/peculiar].”

Woon-hyun *dollyeotda* [Korean: 돌렸다, turned] his *gogae* [Korean: 고개, head].

The *sogungju* *barabomyeo* [Korean: 바라보며, looking at] the Plum Blossom Sword Youngho-jun and *ieotda* [Korean: 이었다, continued] her *mal*.

“*Pyo-myeonjeogeuro-neun* [Korean: 표면적으로는, superficially] he is *gangjohago* [Korean: 강조하고, emphasizing] the *murimmaeng sosok* [Korean: 무림맹 소속, Martial Arts Alliance affiliation], but he is *yudohago* [Korean: 유도하고, inducing] the *chamgajadeul* [Korean: 참가자들, participants] to have a *gyeongjaeng* [Korean: 경쟁, competition] that *geon jajonshim* [Korean: 건 자존심, involves pride].”

“*Gyeongjaeng* is not *kkok nappeun geotmaneun* [Korean: 꼭 나쁜 것만은, necessarily a bad thing].”

Woon-hyun *malhaetda* [Korean: 말했다, said]. The *sogungju utseotda gabyeopge* [Korean: 소궁주 웃었다 가볍게, young palace lord laughed lightly].

“*Geuya geureochiyo* [Korean: 그야 그렇지요, of course].”

While *hwaginhamyeo* [Korean: 확인하며, checking] the *siseon* [Korean: 시선, gaze] of some *cheongnyeon* who were *hilkkeumhilkkeum chyeodaboneun ijok* [Korean: 힐끔힐끔 쳐다보는 이쪽, glancing this way], Woon-hyun *giullyeotda* [Korean: 기울였다, leaned] his *gwi* [Korean: 귀, ear] to the *sogungju’s mal*.

“But I *uisimi deuneun-gunyo* [Korean: 의심이 드는군요, suspect] that he *eojjeonji gajigo inneun dareun saenggak* [Korean: 어쩐지 가지고 있는 다른 생각, somehow has other intentions].”

‘*Dareun saenggak* [Korean: 다른 생각, other intentions]?’

Woon-hyun *sipeotda mureobogo* [Korean: 싶었다 물어보고, wanted to ask] what that was.

But because there were *jeokji aneun siseon salpineun ijok* [Korean: 적지 않은 시선 살피는 이쪽, quite a few glances being cast this way], he could only *eusseuk* [Korean: 으쓱, shrug] his *eokkae* [Korean: 어깨, shoulders].

*Eochapi* [Korean: 어차피, anyway] he had no *gwansimdo* [Korean: 관심도, interest].

The *sogungju yeokshi* [Korean: 소궁주 역시, young palace lord also] didn’t seem to have any *saenggak* [Korean: 생각, intention] to *iyagihal gipge* [Korean: 이야기할 깊게, talk deeply] and *deo isang kkeonaeji anatda* [Korean: 더 이상 꺼내지 않았다, didn’t bring up anymore] her *mal*.

And *got*, the last *iljeong* of the *yongbong jihoe* and the most *jungyohan jeonche bimu shijakdoeeotda* [Korean: 중요한 전체 비무 시작되었다, important overall sparring match began].