Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 92

092. Heir to the Sword Saint

Thud.

Like being struck by lightning, Taecheong’s body shook violently.

“D-did you say, Heir to the Sword Saint?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The young palace lord replied as if it were obvious. But for Taecheong, it was anything but.

“A-are you saying that among the disciples of our sect, there is an heir to the Sword Saint?”

Taecheong’s voice trembled.

However, the young palace lord widened her eyes as if surprised.

“You mean the Heir to the Sword Saint isn’t a disciple of Wudang?”

Taecheong couldn’t answer her.

No, he was hearing about the Sword Saint’s heir for the first time. What could he possibly know to answer her?

‘It’s well-known that the Sword Saint doesn’t take disciples…’

Taecheong wore a troubled expression.

The Sword Saint, Lee Geomhak, does not take disciples. But the Sword Saint is also a madman for the sword.

‘Originally, the Sword Saint is indifferent to the customs of sects or the martial world…’

Not just indifferent, he doesn’t even care.

If the Sword Saint met someone with the qualities he recognized, it wouldn’t be strange for him to make that person his heir, regardless of the customs of the martial world.

While Taecheong was lost in thought, considering complex possibilities, the young palace lord tilted her head and muttered.

“I never imagined that the Sword Saint’s heir, as mentioned by the Divine Monk, wouldn’t be from the Wudang Sect.”

“D-Divine Monk?”

This time, Taecheong’s face was filled with shock.

He asked, looking as if he would pounce on the young palace lord at any moment.

“Are you saying that the Divine Monk of the Martial Alliance spoke about the Sword Saint’s heir?”

The young palace lord nodded slowly.

“Yes. But he didn’t know which sect or who it was, so I naturally assumed it was someone from Wudang, the Mount Tai and Big Dipper [referring to prominent figures or pillars] of swordsmanship…”

The young palace lord trailed off, sounding disappointed.

She reached out her white hand and closed the jade box.

Click.

The jade box closed with a small sound.

The clear, cool air disappeared, and the radiance of the shining jewel hid inside the jade box.

The young palace lord said in a cold voice.

“I seem to have been short-sighted.”

The young palace lord’s expression, devoid of a smile, was extremely cold.

As if it were Taecheong’s fault for making her take a wasted trip, she even cast a subtle look of blame.

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

Bingseol picked up the jade box again.

The young palace lord stood up from her seat without hesitation.

“W-wait a moment.”

Taecheong said urgently.

The young palace lord’s cold gaze flew over, but this was no time to worry about that.

“There may be someone among our sect’s disciples who has been chosen as the Sword Saint’s heir. It’s just that it hasn’t been reported to me yet, perhaps?”

Taecheong thought quickly.

Not long ago, the Taoist Jinyoung, who won the Dragon-Phoenix Competition, said that the Sword Saint had come to the Martial Alliance.

Perhaps that Jinyoung was recognized by the Sword Saint.

Taecheong tried hard to maintain his composure as he continued.

“I will inquire with my sect leader, so please wait a moment…”

However, what came back was the young palace lord’s cold response.

“Oh dear, are you saying that even such an important matter is not known to you, Taoist?”

Taecheong bit his lip. The young palace lord’s remark hit a sore spot.

Secret and important matters of Wudang are never reported to him.

That’s because he is not yet the sect leader, and his lineage is different from the sect leader’s.

But he couldn’t admit that in front of the young palace lord of the North Sea Ice Palace.

In fact, it was already absurd that a secret matter known only to the sect leader would be conveyed to others.

“T-that’s not true. There’s nothing in Wudang that I don’t know…”

“Then there’s no need for me to wait.”

The young palace lord’s words were firm.

“Since it’s not Wudang, I’ll go to Mount Hua.”

Swoosh.

The young palace lord left the Taoist temple with elegant steps, without any regrets.

Watching her picturesque back, Taecheong muttered with a miserable face.

“Mount Hua, she said Mount Hua…”

When it comes to the sky of swordsmanship, everyone mentions Wudang and Mount Hua.

The two great mountains standing tall on the path of the sword, similar Taoist sects, are Wudang and Mount Hua.

However, Wudang’s pride was dented when it became known that the Sword Saint had inherited Mount Hua’s techniques.

Even if he didn’t formally join the sect, the fact that the Sword Saint had a connection with Mount Hua was very uncomfortable for Wudang.

And if even the Sword Saint’s heir came from Mount Hua, Wudang would have no choice but to suffer another great blow to their pride.

Moreover, the problem wasn’t just that.

Tak.

Taecheong quickly turned his body.

He had to meet the sect leader as soon as possible.

This is not just a matter for Wudang and Mount Hua.

The fact that the Divine Monk of the Martial Alliance spoke about the Sword Saint’s heir could bring about great changes to the entire martial world.

Swish, swish, swish.

Taecheong left the Taoist temple and quickly used his movement technique.

On the Taoist Taecheong’s deeply crumpled face, not a trace of the composure he always emphasized could be found.

***

Unhyun’s large merchant ship fearlessly sailed up the Yangtze River.

Occasionally, unidentified small boats would hover around, but thanks to the rumors of the battle with the Murim Alliance [a coalition of martial arts clans], the merchant ship continued its journey without much difficulty.

Passing Wuhan and the Red Cliff, Unhyun’s merchant ship was now approaching Yueyang, the entrance to Dongting Lake and the first city in Hunan Province.

“We’ll be at Dongting Lake soon.”

At Unhyun’s words, Jang Kyunggyu nodded.

“You said this is your first time at Dongting Lake, right? You’ll probably find it quite a sight.”

His tone seemed to imply that he should expect something great, but Unhyun sighed.

“Rather than that, I wish we could get off the ship soon.”

The journey up the Yangtze River was exceedingly boring.

Even the famous Red Cliff was just an ordinary cliff, so it was perhaps natural that Unhyun sighed instead of being excited.

“Hahaha, no way. It can’t be compared to the West Lake you saw. Dongting Lake is…”

“Dongting Lake is practically the sea.”

At the sudden, clear voice, the two turned around.

The owner of the voice was none other than Lee Seoyeon.

“It can’t be compared to a small lake like the West Lake.”

She naturally stepped between Unhyun and Jang Kyunggyu with a light step.

“You’ll probably be surprised. The scenery of Dongting Lake from Yueyang Tower is so amazing that it can’t be compared to anything else.”

Lee Seoyeon’s expression was full of pride as she spoke.

The main family of Hoam Merchant Group was said to be in Dongting Lake, so it might be natural for her to be proud.

Of course, he hadn’t asked her yet if she was really a member of the Hoam Merchant Group.

“In particular, Yueyang Tower is a place filled with beauty and loyalty, to the extent that many poets have sung about it.”

Lee Seoyeon, who was continuing to speak, suddenly turned her head towards Unhyun.

“But you don’t seem to be from around here, do you?”

Since Unhyun said he was getting off at Dongting Lake, she seemed to have thought he was from the same hometown.

Unhyun subtly moved his upper body back, thinking that her face was too close.

“That’s right. My brother’s main residence is here, so I’m just…”

“Is that so?”

Before he could finish speaking, Lee Seoyeon nodded as if she understood.

“Then you must go up to Yueyang Tower. There is the poet Du Fu’s…”

As she was saying that, a scene suddenly came to Lee Seoyeon’s mind.

It was the image of the scholar Unhyun, standing on Yueyang Tower, his clothes fluttering in the wind of Dongting Lake, wearing a rough wooden sword and a seemingly resolute expression.

“Pfft.”

Lee Seoyeon unknowingly burst into laughter.

Unhyun immediately stepped back and frowned.

“Why, why are you doing this?”

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

Lee Seoyeon quickly waved her hand and said.

“Anyway, Yueyang Tower won’t be disappointing. I go there often too.”

Lee Seoyeon’s face was still full of laughter.

She lightly waved her hand and left the spot right away.

The fact that her shoulders were shaking again was probably because she couldn’t hold back her laughter from bursting out again.

“What’s with her? That young lady…”

As Unhyun spoke with a bewildered expression, Jang Kyunggyu shrugged.

“Who knows? She’s a member of the merchant group and has learned martial arts, so she’s probably more outgoing than other young ladies…”

But at this level, it goes beyond being outgoing.

Jang Kyunggyu turned his head and looked at Unhyun.

“It seems like she’s looking at you a bit… casually?”

“Pardon?”

At Unhyun’s question, Jang Kyunggyu shrugged and said.

“Casually, roughly. That means she’s looking down on you. In my opinion, maybe…”

He swallowed the words ‘she’s playing with you’.

No matter how kind Unhyun seemed, he wouldn’t be happy if he knew that a young lady was teasing him.

However, Unhyun seemed to have already resigned himself to it.

“I guess so.”

Unhyun sighed.

He could roughly guess why she was laughing.

Didn’t she laugh at Unhyun when they first met, saying that his courage was commendable?

Of course, she might have been sincere, but it wasn’t a pleasant thing for Unhyun.

Unhyun shook his head.

There’s nothing he can do about it now, no matter how much he thinks about it.

“When will we arrive at Yueyang?”

When Unhyun asked, Jang Kyunggyu tilted his head and replied.

“The sailors say it will be around this evening. You should start packing your things.”

He told him to pack his things, but all he had to do was lift up a bundle.

Unhyun nodded and turned his gaze towards Dongting Lake, which was not yet visible.

“Yueyang Tower…”

Even if Lee Seoyeon hadn’t said it, he knew about Yueyang Tower.

Feeling the cool river breeze on his cheeks, Unhyun muttered.

“Should I visit it after seeing my brother’s house?”

The ship headed towards Dongting Lake without hesitation.

Unhyun’s tedious voyage was finally coming to an end.

***

The ship arrived at Yueyang around evening.

Unhyun worried about Jang Kyunggyu, who still had a long voyage ahead, but Jang Kyunggyu instead comforted him, telling him not to be discouraged.

Lee Seoyeon, who got off the ship with them, didn’t even glance at Unhyun as she got into a fancy carriage and left.

And Unhyun began to walk towards the house of his sworn brother, Ilchung Hyun, which was said to be near Yueyang.

Step, step.

It was around dusk when Unhyun, who had left Yueyang and walked for a long time, found an old mansion.

“Is that my brother’s house?”

Looking at the not-so-large old house, Unhyun muttered quietly.

The meaning that Ilchung Hyun had for Unhyun cannot be expressed in words.

At first, they met simply as a scholar and a head instructor, but he faithfully kept his promise and never looked down on Unhyun.

And he remained loyal to the end, until the moment of his death, and showed Unhyun his faith.

Even now, after leaving the Forbidden City, or rather, now that he has seen so many people, Unhyun is even more aware of how upright a martial artist and how precious a person Ilchung Hyun was.

Ilchung Hyun’s house had finally appeared before his eyes.

Was it because of the renewed feeling in his heart?

Unhyun touched the ring hidden under his collar.

“Let’s go.”

Unhyun put strength into his feet.

The unfamiliar front gate of the old house, visible in the distance, felt somehow welcoming, as if it was greeting him.

***

“Please come this way.”

Unhyun was led into a room by an old man who appeared to be the general manager.

“The mistress will be here soon.”

The old man with white hair guided Unhyun to a seat, bowed politely, and left.

Unhyun sat at the table and slowly looked around.