Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 83

083. White Tiger Sword Art, Third Form

That single step was a small crack that shattered the tense atmosphere.

However, Unhyun remained still. And Bingseol had no intention of ending things with a mere taunt.

Whoosh.

There was no tearing sound of air being sliced, nor any ear-splitting shout.

It was simply that, in an instant, Bingseol’s figure blurred like the wind and vanished from sight.

But this time, Unhyun wasn’t flustered.

Woo-oong.

The wooden sword in Unhyun’s hand, now swirling with an unfamiliar energy, began to trace blue arcs in the air.

At that moment, the Young Palace Lord couldn’t help but doubt his own eyes.

Because a series of explosions erupted in the empty air where Unhyun’s wooden sword passed.

Kwaang, Kwang, Kwang.

‘This, this can’t be happening!’

The Young Palace Lord was shocked.

Following a continuous trajectory, Unhyun’s wooden sword moved smoothly, as if dancing.

And unbelievably, or rather, as if it had been pre-arranged, it clashed with Bingseol’s sword, which was otherwise invisible.

There wasn’t even a single deviation.

Kwaang, Kwang, Kwang.

Swish, shwish, whirl.

At each clash, the Young Palace Lord could vaguely glimpse Bingseol’s figure.

But it was only a fleeting afterimage.

The Young Palace Lord’s keen eyes couldn’t keep up with Bingseol’s rapid movements.

All that could be seen was Unhyun’s figure and the path his wooden sword traced.

Yet, Unhyun remained calm, swinging his wooden sword towards Bingseol’s unseen blade.

The movement was incredibly smooth and never faltered.

Like a flowing river.

The Young Palace Lord felt a shiver run down his spine as he watched.

However, Unhyun’s expression was relaxed. Or at least, that’s how it appeared to the Young Palace Lord.

Kwang, Kwaang, Kwang.

The continuous explosions were like music accompanying the sword dance, and Unhyun’s wooden sword moved ceaselessly.

Sabeok, pababak.

With each step of Unhyun’s natural, flowing movements, traces of the clash were etched onto the ground like scars.

And before long, the Young Palace Lord realized that Bingseol’s offensive no longer felt threatening.

Or perhaps, it had never been a threat to Unhyun from the start.

As if to confirm the Young Palace Lord’s suspicion, Unhyun’s wooden sword, which had been deflecting Bingseol’s attacks, suddenly seemed to gain immense weight.

Woo-woo-oong.

A completely different, heavy momentum than before.

For a moment, it felt as if the wooden sword Unhyun was holding had transformed into a massive stone sword.

In that instant, like an illusion, Unhyun’s wooden sword, which had been moving smoothly like flowing water, drew a heavy, straight line.

It was the White Tiger Sword Art, Third Form: Heavy Sword.

***

Chae-aeng, chaeng.

“Keu-ak!”

The splendid hall echoed with the sounds of clashing swords and blades.

A group of warriors who had suddenly invaded were engaged in fierce battles with the younger generation of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

No one had been severely injured or killed yet.

However, as time passed, the younger generation of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering sustained more and more wounds, while the invading martial artists showed no signs of slowing down.

It was then.

“Stop!”

That voice reverberated throughout the hall.

No matter how loud the voice, no one would lay down their weapons in a life-or-death battle with just a word.

But this time, it was different.

Tadak.

The warriors who had been fighting against the younger generation of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering all retreated at once.

Then, the young successors also stopped their attacks in confusion.

Jeobeok, jeobeok.

The one who had stopped the fight with a shout entered the hall.

And he was already known to the younger generation of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

‘Binghon?’

Moyong Mi, who was holding a sword, wore a puzzled expression.

It was none other than Binghon, a guard warrior from the North Sea Ice Palace.

Moyong Mi, as well as the other younger generation, were bewildered, but one of the invading warriors approached Binghon.

And surprisingly, he respectfully bowed, holding his sword in both hands.

“Lord Binghon.”

The expressions of the younger generation instantly soured.

It was the moment when the identities of the warriors who had invaded the banquet hall were revealed.

But Binghon, unconcerned, said to the warrior.

“What brings you here?”

“We heard that Lord Binghon was coming to the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. And since we happened to meet other brothers, we thought we’d share a meal together with joyful hearts.”

No one found it strange that they were speaking in the local language instead of the language of the North Sea.

The warrior turned his head, frowning at the younger generation of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

“But those guys rudely picked a fight. So there was a small commotion.”

It was too significant to be called a small commotion, but Binghon nodded calmly.

“I see.”

The younger generation of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, who were listening, were dumbfounded.

But Binghon, after looking around, spoke to the young warrior again.

“This place isn’t suitable, so let’s move to another location.”

“Yes.”

Having finished speaking, Binghon turned to leave, and the warrior with sharp eyes happily sheathed his sword.

Seureung.

Along with him, the others, who had been full of murderous intent, also sheathed their swords and followed Binghon.

They acted as if the participants of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, with whom they had been fighting until just now, were beneath their notice.

“Stop right there!”

The younger generation couldn’t let that scene pass without comment.

Namgoong Sanghyeok shouted at Binghon with an angry expression.

“Who are you people!”

That was the sentiment of everyone present.

They had turned the banquet hall into a mess and were now trying to leave as if nothing had happened, so Namgoong Sanghyeok wasn’t the only one who was angry.

Tak.

Binghon stopped, and the warrior with sharp eyes glared at Namgoong Sanghyeok as if to kill him.

“You people?”

Binghon slowly turned around. He looked at Namgoong Sanghyeok and said coldly.

“How rude.”

Namgoong Sanghyeok flinched.

The memory of being miserably defeated by Binghon in the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance] martial arts competition was still vivid.

That day, Namgoong Sanghyeok had been forced to admit defeat to Binghon himself.

How many times had he been knocked to the ground, and how many times had he faced Binghon’s blade?

Namgoong Sanghyeok could never forget the humiliation of having to admit defeat in front of everyone.

So, Namgoong Sanghyeok couldn’t help but shrink back under Binghon’s gaze.

The one who shouted instead of Namgoong Sanghyeok was Jegal Ryong of the Jegal Clan.

“Warriors of the North Sea dare to harm the younger generation of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering!”

Jegal Ryong shouted angrily, sword in hand.

“How will you take responsibility for this great offense?”

His anger was understandable. But not to Binghon.

“Responsibility, you say?”

Binghon smirked.

Jegal Ryong was about to explode at that sight, but Binghon slowly looked around the banquet hall.

“Is there anyone who died by the sword of the North Sea?”

“What?”

Jegal Ryong retorted, dumbfounded. But Binghon’s words weren’t finished yet.

“Or is there anyone who had their arms or legs cut off, or lost their eyes? Or what about their fingers?”

Jegal Ryong swallowed involuntarily.

Binghon looked at Jegal Ryong with a fierce gaze and said.

“No one? Then it was indeed a small commotion.”

As if he had nothing more to say, Binghon turned to leave.

But this time, Sama Geon of the Hwasan Sect stepped forward.

“Stop!”

Binghon frowned. As he turned around, Sama Geon shouted in anger.

“Do you think you can handle the consequences of this? How dare the North Sea Ice Palace…”

But Sama Geon’s words were cut short.

Because Binghon’s gaze fell upon Sama Geon like a sharp blade.

“Do as you please.”

Binghon said with a fierce look in his eyes. Each and every one of those words was like an awl, piercing into Sama Geon.

“The North Sea Ice Palace does not run away or hide. If you want revenge, do as you please. Or it would be good to end it here altogether. If you have the courage to do so.”

As if he meant it, Binghon placed his hand on his sword.

At the same time, the North Sea warriors also prepared to draw their swords.

The intensity in their eyes was palpable, and none of the younger generation of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering dared to speak.

“Hmph.”

Binghon sneered. That small sneer echoed in the ears of the younger generation from each sect.

“Eek.”

Just as Sama Geon, unable to contain his anger, was about to shout something.

“Just a moment.”

The owner of that clear voice was none other than Moyong Mi.

Seureung.

Sheathed her sword, she said to Sama Geon and Jegal Ryong, or rather, to the younger generation of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

“Everyone shares the same indignation at their violence. But now, tending to the injured is the priority.”

As she said, even if no one was dead or seriously injured as Binghon claimed, there were many who needed treatment.

“Above all, there are many people here who aren’t martial artists.”

Not everyone who attended the banquet was a martial artist.

Among them were many children of merchants or families who attended to build relationships with the younger generation.

“So I think it’s right to set aside our anger for now and formally investigate the rights and wrongs later.”

Moyong Mi’s words were reasonable.

“I think so too.”

Namgoong Biyeon, the young lady of the Namgoong family, stepped forward.

She also sheathed the sword she was holding and said.

“It’s never wise to resolve this here and now.”

Sama Geon, Jegal Ryong, and the younger generation then looked around.

The number of people injured in various parts of the banquet hall, which had become a mess, was significant.

Moreover, as Moyong Mi pointed out, there were many who weren’t martial artists, so it was impossible to continue fighting.

“Both of you are right.”

A heavy voice stepped forward to support Moyong Mi and Namgoong Biyeon.

The person who stepped forward this time was a young Taoist of the Wudang Sect.

He was also the one who won the championship by attending the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering late, with the Taoist name Jinyeong.

“Taking care of the injured is the priority now. Young master of the Hwasan Sect, please bear with your anger for my sake.”

With Jinyeong, the younger generation of Wudang, stepping forward, Sama Geon and Jegal Ryong could no longer insist.

Sama Geon gritted his teeth and glared at Binghon.

“I will let you go now. But I will definitely return this humiliation someday.”

Binghon laughed lightly.

And turned to leave the banquet hall.

The other warriors of the North Sea also followed him.

Jeobeok, jeobeok.

With heavy footsteps, they disappeared from the banquet hall.

Because of the commotion, no one noticed that they were speaking quietly in the language of the North Sea.

“The duel has begun.”

Binghon said to the warrior with sharp eyes who was following him.

“Return immediately. Cut down anything that blocks our path.”

The warriors of the North Sea’s eyes gleamed.

They had just come from a banquet hall filled with swords and blades, but their eyes shone even more fiercely.

Binghon and the warriors of the North Sea disappeared from the banquet hall.

Inside the banquet hall, which had suddenly become quiet, Sama Geon slammed his sword on a table.

“Eeeek!”

Kwajik.

The fallen table was cut in half in an instant, and Sama Geon shrugged his shoulders and said in an indignant voice.

“We shouldn’t have let those guys go!”

But the others didn’t pay attention to Sama Geon’s outburst.

The fact that the skills of the North Sea warriors who had suddenly invaded were formidable was something they had all experienced firsthand.

Wasn’t Sama Geon, despite his anger, also unable to properly deal with the North Sea warriors and had been on the defensive the entire time?