Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 77

077. Five Days Prior

Five days before the final non-lethal sparring of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, Unhyun left the Murim Alliance.

The entrance inspection was thorough, but no one questioned Unhyun’s identity anymore.

As he walked through the streets of Hangzhou, where the sun had set and lanterns were lit, Unhyun bought a wooden sword from a shop he had been eyeing.

Holding the wooden sword wrapped in cloth, Unhyun leisurely headed towards West Lake.

He savored the scenery of West Lake, recited poetry, and examined the embankment that a great official had built for the people.

As the sun set and the lights of West Lake sparkled beautifully, Unhyun arrived at the training ground where he used to practice.

Then, he hid behind a suitably large thicket of trees.

How long had he waited?

Another person appeared in the clearing.

Step, step.

Realizing he was getting closer, Unhyun slowly regulated his breathing.

Then, he unwrapped the cloth and held the wooden sword in his hand.

Step.

The person who emerged from the darkness was a sturdy young man.

His sharp eyes were quite impressive, and he cautiously surveyed his surroundings.

But there was no one to be seen.

The young man opened his mouth.

“I am Pajinhan of the Namhae Sword Sect.”

Pajinhan continued, with a somewhat displeased expression.

“Show yourself, the one who sent me the letter.”

The direction he was glaring at was exactly where Unhyun was.

‘As expected.’

Unhyun knew that he had sensed his presence.

But Unhyun did not reveal himself.

Instead, he half-closed his eyes and quietly calmed his breathing.

Whoosh.

Responding to his call, the Sword of Mind revealed itself in an instant.

Rustle.

Unhyun raised the wooden sword in the darkness.

And when the sword in his mind became one with the wooden sword in Unhyun’s hand.

Whoosh.

A sharp aura shot out towards Pajinhan.

‘Gasp!’

Pajinhan, who had been wary of the darkness, was startled.

He didn’t even have time to draw his sword.

A strong sense of crisis, as if a blue blade was rushing towards him, ran through his entire body.

‘Could it be.’

It was not unreasonable for the events of a few days ago to flash through his mind.

That overwhelming murderous intent that had instantly plunged the younger generation of each faction into fear.

Pajinhan muttered to himself.

“A, are you the Sword Saint?”

After a moment, a voice was heard from the darkness.

“…No.”

The voice was young.

It was clearly trying to hide its original voice, though it was deliberately made to sound heavy.

“I am not the Sword Saint.”

“Th, then who are you?”

There was no answer.

Pajinhan swallowed dryly.

‘Could it be someone who holds a grudge against our Namhae Sword Sect?’

The Kangho Murim [martial arts world] is a place intricately intertwined with gratitude and resentment.

He could not guarantee that there would be no one seeking to avenge a grudge against the younger generation of the Namhae Sword Sect attending the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

If that were the case, coming all the way here in response to a single letter might be a truly foolish decision.

It was at that very moment, as Pajinhan was about to blame himself for his recklessness.

“Your sword.”

The opponent said from the darkness.

“Is not the sword of Namhae.”

Whooong.

At the same time as those words were heard, the sharp aura towards Pajinhan intensified even more.

The aura was beyond his ability to handle, and Pajinhan’s face turned blue in an instant.

Grit.

Clenching his teeth and suppressing a groan, Pajinhan asked.

“Wh, what do you mean? I am…”

Just speaking was desperate for Pajinhan.

He didn’t even have room to question the identity of the opponent who was overwhelming him with just their aura.

“Then.”

He said from the darkness.

“Why does your sword not possess the spirit of the Great Sea (大海)?”

Thud.

At that moment, Pajinhan felt as if something had struck his head.

‘The spirit of the Great Sea.’

The Namhae Sword Sect’s swordplay is quick.

The swordplay of strong people who live by facing the rough waves of Haenam Island head-on.

Therefore, the Namhae swordplay resembles raging waves, and its momentum is like a fierce storm.

This is the essence and ultimate of the Namhae Sword Sect that Pajinhan’s father, and his grandfather, had always spoken of.

‘Ah.’

Pajinhan finally realized the other person’s intention.

He was still hidden in the darkness, but his intention was already clear.

Thump.

Pajinhan knelt down.

“Please, give this foolish one guidance.”

The opponent was not Pajinhan’s enemy.

Not a family enemy, nor someone with a grudge.

If that were the case, there was no way he would know the ultimate of the Namhae Sword Sect so accurately.

Thud.

Pajinhan bowed his head to the ground. Dirt stained his head, but he didn’t care.

And after a moment, a voice was heard from the darkness.

“Do you truly desire guidance?”

“Yes, I do.”

Pajinhan replied with a determined voice.

The opponent was trying to help him.

The reason was unknown.

His identity was still unknown.

But he was clearly a person with goodwill towards the Namhae Sword Sect.

Perhaps he was trying to repay a favor that Pajinhan was unaware of.

The Kangho Murim is a place where countless favors are intertwined as much as grudges.

“Tomorrow.”

A somewhat heavy voice flowed out of the darkness.

“Another letter will go to you. All I can give you is that, the rest is up to you.”

At the same time as the words ended, he felt the opponent trying to move away.

“Great One!”

Pajinhan quickly raised his body.

But he could not finish that action.

Whoosh.

At the same time as he raised his body, a sharp murderous intent reached Pajinhan’s neck.

There was nothing visible, but it felt as if a blue blade was about to pierce his neck at any moment.

“No greetings are necessary. Do not consider it a favor either.”

A somewhat cold voice said from the darkness.

“It is merely a word of advice from someone who walks the path of the sword [劍道, Kendo].”

‘The path of the sword?’

Suspicion spread again in Pajinhan’s eyes.

There are countless people who wield swords. There are many who have achieved commendable accomplishments.

But currently, there is only one person in the Kangho Murim who can be said to truly walk the path of the sword.

That is the Sword Saint, Lee Geomhak.

“Are you really not the Sword Saint?”

Pajinhan’s voice was trembling. But the answer coming from the darkness was firm.

“No.”

After a moment, the voice spoke again.

“I am from the Heavenly Outer Secret Place (天外秘處).”

There was no hesitation in revealing the name.

Because it was already written in the letter, the signature that Pajinhan would receive tomorrow morning.

Step.

With that answer, the owner of the voice slowly moved away.

But Pajinhan could not move from that spot for a while.

The aura that had been pressing down on him had already disappeared, but his legs, which had given way, simply would not listen.

***

After getting far enough away from Pajinhan, Unhyun sighed.

He carefully looked behind him, but it didn’t seem like he was following.

“Hoo, I’m glad he didn’t rush at me recklessly.”

Unhyun muttered, lifting the wooden sword in one hand.

What he was most worried about was Pajinhan’s reaction when he unleashed his aura.

He thought he might recklessly charge at him.

But fortunately, Pajinhan was not the type to rush in without considering the consequences.

‘Pressuring him with aura seems to have worked better than I thought.’

Unleashing an invisible aura to overwhelm the opponent was exactly the method the Sword Saint used.

The problem was whether Unhyun could do the same.

‘Of course, I can’t create the same aura as that person.’

Unhyun thought.

If the Sword of Mind reacted to the Sword Saint’s aura at that time, wouldn’t the Sword of Mind be able to do something similar as well?

So Unhyun visited West Lake to test whether his idea was correct.

First, he tested the ‘Sword of Mind’ on the birds playing in West Lake, and later on the flying waterfowl.

And the result was as Unhyun had expected.

He was also able to unleash an invisible aura.

‘I didn’t know it would work this well, though.’

Pajinhan is not a bird, but a person. And a martial artist who has mastered martial arts.

When he raised the Sword of Mind towards Pajinhan, he couldn’t be sure how he would react.

But fortunately, it ended well.

‘Perhaps he reacted more sensitively because he is a martial artist.’

It was unexpected that Pajinhan suddenly knelt down.

Thanks to that, the words he had prepared to persuade him became unnecessary, but it was a bit surprising that he called him the Sword Saint.

“Now I’ve done everything I need to do. It’s something I wanted to do anyway…”

Unhyun said that with a sigh.

It was a hassle with no benefits, but since it was self-satisfaction, there was no one else to blame.

“The result now depends on Young Master Pa.”

The words he wanted to say had already been written and sent in the letter.

Pajinhan would receive it tomorrow, and whether he would accept the contents was entirely up to him.

“I shouldn’t do this kind of thing again. It’s too cumbersome.”

It’s not only cumbersome but also a plan with many loopholes.

If Pajinhan had rushed at him, Unhyun would have had to reveal his identity in the end.

That’s why he was carrying the wooden sword, but it was truly fortunate that it worked out well.

Rustle.

Wrapping the wooden sword he was holding back in cloth, Unhyun sighed.

Anyway, he felt relieved after safely finishing the matter that had been bothering him.

But there was also something Unhyun hadn’t anticipated.

Pajinhan, who received the letter, started training right there in the clearing, the place Unhyun used to frequent.

He couldn’t chase away Pajinhan, who was diligently training after being stimulated by his letter.

Moreover, the Murim Alliance’s martial arts arena was becoming crowded, so Unhyun had to wander around looking for another place for a while.

***

“Haa!”

Jegal Ryong’s sword emitted light, aiming for Pajinhan.

But that attack was too easily blocked by Pajinhan’s sword.

Clang.

“Keuk.”

The person who groaned after the clash was Jegal Ryong.

The sparring between the two, which had seemed tense, gradually began to tilt to one side as time passed.

And surprisingly, the person who gained the upper hand was Pajinhan of the Namhae Sword Sect.

Grit.

Jegal Ryong retreated and gritted his teeth.

It was as if he could kill Pajinhan with just his eyes, but Pajinhan never wavered.

No, there was no reason to waver.

Compared to the eerie aura he had experienced, Jegal Ryong’s was not even a threat.

“Haa!”

Swoosh.

Jegal Ryong scattered his sword again. But the victory or defeat was already decided.

Watching that scene, Unhyun wore a satisfied smile.

‘Well done.’

Unhyun praised Pajinhan inwardly.

‘To be at that level in just three days. Well, his original skills weren’t lacking compared to others anyway.’