Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered

Chapter 6: The Scholar’s Martial Arts Training (1)

Unhyeon immediately expressed his gratitude.

“Th-thank you, Master Il chung.”

Finally, he had a foothold to tackle the 37,000 books—or rather, the 36,000 books—of scattered texts.

But Master Il chung’s words were not yet finished.

“However, there is one problem.”

The color drained from Unhyeon’s face instantly.

“A p-problem? What do you mean…?”

When Unhyeon stuttered and asked, Master Il chung looked directly at him.

“I am a Master of the Royal Guard. I only know one way to teach martial arts.”

Master Il chung said firmly.

“If you, Scholar Un, wish to learn about martial arts, you must experience it firsthand.”

The blood drained from Unhyeon’s face.

“But, but I only want to know a little bit about martial arts…”

Unhyeon stammered, looking at Master Il chung, but there was no sign of retreat in Master Il chung’s gaze.

“I am a Master of the Royal Guard, not a storyteller. I do not have the skill to describe the 18 martial arts of the imperial palace in words. Besides, would it make sense for a Master of the Royal Guard to become a jester? Do you understand what I mean, Scholar Un?”

Master Il chung smiled, but his eyes were resolute.

Unhyeon understood what he was implying.

“Sigh…”

Unhyeon sighed inwardly.

As Master Il chung said, how could one learn martial arts through words alone? In the end, it was clear that a demonstration would be necessary.

However, demonstrating to teach was entirely different from showing it to satisfy curiosity.

This proud martial artist was firmly rejecting the idea of becoming a spectacle.

Even if it was for the Crown Prince.

“Is he telling me that if I want to learn, I must do it myself?”

This was by no means a simple issue.

It meant that Unhyeon, a scholar and a civil servant, would have to move his body and sweat.

Moreover, there was another issue.

“So, then would this make us master and disciple…?”

“Of course not.”

Master Il chung answered immediately.

“I am merely offering some assistance as a royal guard, so do not misunderstand.”

It was a clear stance, but Unhyeon felt a sense of relief.

He soon nodded.

“…I understand. Ah, by the way.”

Unhyeon looked at Master Il chung with a nervous expression and asked.

“Do I have to learn together with those young Royal Guardsmen?”

“Are you embarrassed to learn martial arts?”

Master Il chung’s reaction was unexpectedly sharp.

Unhyeon quickly waved his hands.

“Not at all. Moreover, if you, Master Il chung, are willing to teach me personally… I was just a little worried about whether I’d have to take off my clothes like them.”

Master Il chung smiled wryly.

“I won’t insist on you dressing like them.”

He said.

“But before long, you will understand why they dress that way.”

“Is that so? Even so…”

Watching the still anxious Unhyeon, Master Il chung sighed inwardly.

All scholars who read a bit of literature were the same.

They always judged people by their polished appearance and eloquence.

How ridiculous must the sight of bare-chested, sweating martial artists have seemed to them?

“Even though this scholar says he wants to learn martial arts now…”

Master Il chung looked at Unhyeon, who was still uneasy.

“It won’t last long, anyway.”

Master Il chung decided to ease the concerns of this novice scholar.

“I will set aside some time in the morning.”

Master Il chung said.

“Starting tomorrow, come here. You need not worry about others.”

Unhyeon instantly brightened and nodded.

“Thank you, truly, thank you. I will certainly do that.”

Unhyeon’s face was as bright as could be.

He looked as though he might grab Master Il chung’s hand and shake it at any moment.

“Well, then, I’ll be off.”

Master Il chung stood up and bowed to Unhyeon.

Unhyeon quickly stood up and bowed in return.

Without looking back, Master Il chung left the room.

Left alone, Unhyeon watched him leave and then slumped back into his seat.

“Phew.”

Unhyeon exhaled deeply.

Throughout his conversation with Master Il chung, Unhyeon had been tense.

Not only because he was unsure if he could get his help, but also because the presence of Master Il chung was more overwhelming than he had anticipated.

“Is it because he’s a Royal Guard Master? His presence is truly remarkable.”

Master Il chung maintained a gentle demeanor, but he could not hide the sharp gaze of a seasoned warrior that emanated from him unconsciously. This made it inevitable for Unhyeon to feel tense.

“Well, it seems I’ve succeeded for now.”

He had indeed succeeded—not only in securing the help of Master Il chung, but also in avoiding a publicly embarrassing situation. The thought of shedding his scholar’s attire and exposing his bare skin, training in martial arts alongside the young recruits of the Royal Guard, was enough to make him shudder.

“Now, let’s head back to the Munyeongak Hall.”

Unhyeon’s voice was noticeably more vibrant. The 37,000—or rather 36,000—books piled up in the Munyeongak Hall no longer seemed as daunting. After all, wasn’t reading books his area of expertise? As long as there was someone to help him—or rather, teach him—about martial arts, there was nothing to fear.

The soft sound of the wind chimes hanging from the eaves of the pavilion echoed gently. Leaving behind the elegant structure, Unhyeon’s steps were light as he made his way to the Munyeongak Hall.

But those lively steps did not last long.

“Sigh…”

His footsteps became sluggish as he climbed the stairs leading to the hall. The bright expression he had worn just moments ago had completely vanished.

Thud.

Back in the Munyeongak Hall, Unhyeon slumped into his seat, letting out a deep sigh as he leaned over the table.

“Is this really how I’m supposed to live…?”

Since entering the Forbidden City, there hadn’t been a single day of peace. The more he thought about it, the more suffocated he felt.

“A scholar, now reduced to learning martial arts…”

Earlier, he had felt relieved at the thought of receiving help. But as he walked back, the situation seemed increasingly pitiful. Initially, he had visited the Royal Guard training grounds for advice, not to actually learn martial arts. Yet somehow, he had ended up committed to learning them.

While he had avoided the worst-case scenario, in strict terms, nothing had really changed. A scholar learning martial arts—how absurd.

“Perhaps I should have just continued struggling with the books?”

Regret started to creep in. Maybe it would have been better to keep wrestling with the texts, however frustrating it was. At least then, he wouldn’t have to embarrass himself by learning martial arts.

“What kind of miserable situation is this?”

Suddenly, Unhyeon was overwhelmed with a sense of melancholy. He abruptly stood up.

“No, I can’t give up like this!”

Clenching his fist, Unhyeon spoke with determination.

“After all, I am the Crown Prince’s scholar, am I not? I must accomplish my duties and earn His Highness’s recognition!”

It wasn’t uncommon for the scholar who tutored the Crown Prince to become a key figure in the next administration. After all, who would the Crown Prince trust and rely on more than the person who taught him and shared his knowledge?

“The center of power, huh…”

Given his current circumstances, even he found it hard to believe in such a notion. As if reflecting his inner turmoil, Unhyeon’s clenched fist slowly relaxed.

“For now, it would be a relief if I’m not dismissed…”

Hearing himself say that aloud, he couldn’t help but feel utterly despondent. Looking up, Unhyeon gazed at the shelves packed with books in front of him. Just like those tightly filled shelves, his future seemed bleak and stifling.

“After all, isn’t there a saying that books contain all the answers? Books hold the treasures of the world and even beautiful maidens.”

Unhyeon approached the shelves. Pulling out as many books as he could hold, he murmured to himself.

“Of course, there’s no guarantee that any of that will be mine. Damn it!”

Thud.

Unhyeon stacked the books on the table and sat down. He began to check the titles one by one. For a while, Unhyeon continued to sort the books repetitively, until suddenly, he let out a small laugh.

“What do you know. There’s someone out there just like me.”

Unhyeon picked up a book, glancing over its title that had made him chuckle.

“A ‘Report on the Comprehensive Approach to the Origins of Martial Arts Passed Down in the Murim.’ What a long title.”

Unhyeon turned the book over in his hands, examining it. The book felt rather thick and hefty for a report. He lightly flipped through the pages. The neat handwriting and clean paper caught his eye.

Despite its worn-out cover, the inside pages were so pristine that it seemed the book had hardly ever been opened.

“It seems this report was compiled in the imperial palace, but… the book is so clean.”

This thick report must have remained unread. Likely, it was shelved here before the ink on the last word had even dried, only to be forgotten, leaving nothing but a line in the book inventory.

Unhyeon sighed mid-thought, realizing how much the fate of this book mirrored his own.

“If someone got hit with this, it would hurt pretty bad.”

He could almost picture the superior throwing the book in frustration. With a wry smile, Unhyeon sympathized with the unknown author.

“Still, it’s definitely a book about martial arts…”

Unhyeon placed the book atop a pile of others he had sorted out.

Thud.

The newly found book joined the seventeen other books about martial arts that Unhyeon had set aside. Then, he resumed the monotonous task of checking the titles of the remaining books.

***

“The practice of martial arts begins with forms (hyeong).”

Master Il chung spoke in a deep voice.

Unhyeon strained to catch every word, focusing all his attention on the Master’s voice.

“The purpose of practicing forms is to enhance the body’s flexibility, elasticity, and sense of balance. However, these three aspects are not all there is to martial arts.”

Master Il chung continued calmly, looking at Unhyeon standing in front of him.

Unhyeon had arrived punctually as promised. As expected, he was impeccably dressed in his scholar’s robes.

However, there was something that Master Il chung had not anticipated.

Unhyeon had arrived holding a brush, ink, and a thick book.

Rustle.

The sound of pages turning echoed softly.

Unhyeon was wholly focused on Il chung’s words, diligently writing in his book as he flipped through its pages. His behavior resembled that of a scholar earnestly taking notes in class.

“I’ve never seen anyone taking notes while learning martial arts.”

Il chung thought to himself in astonishment.

In the history of martial arts, it was unheard of for a student to write down their instructor’s words.

This wasn’t because martial artists were illiterate, but because true understanding was believed to come through personal experience and realization.

“Even so, it’s hard to criticize him for taking notes so earnestly…”

Indeed, Unhyeon’s attitude didn’t quite align with the typical approach to learning martial arts.

But considering that Unhyeon had spent his entire life—albeit not a long one—dedicated to scholarly pursuits, it was difficult to find fault in his efforts to learn.