A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 10

10. Moon and Wolf (2)

“What?”

Wi Gajin frowned the moment he heard Saja Hyuk’s voice.

“That’s absurd.”

In a short period, Wi Gajin had faced various masters of the Kangho Murim [martial arts world].

However, he had yet to meet an opponent who forced him to exert his full power from the start, an opponent against whom he couldn’t guarantee victory.

Saja Hyuk was like a massive wall, but that only made his heart race. He believed Saja Hyuk was the opponent who would push him beyond his limits.

The expectation was not wrong. No, the sparring with Saja Hyuk exceeded Wi Gajin’s expectations.

His sword seemed to extend as he intended, and the opponent blocked it exquisitely.

The swords and the saber intertwined in attack and defense. The fleeting moments created by the pure power were thrilling.

He purely admired the opponent’s unwavering martial prowess and skill, enduring his fierce attacks and aiming for weaknesses to counterattack.

But suddenly, to say it was over?

‘No, I mustn’t be swayed by the opponent’s words.’

Wi Gajin steeled himself. This was the opponent’s provocation to shake him. He mustn’t be swayed by words of this level.

‘Rather, the real match starts now.’

He knew that even though he seemed to have the upper hand now, it didn’t mean much.

The opponent was still impregnable and showed no signs of faltering.

However, a match could be decided in an instant. A little more, and perhaps he could seize the advantage.

Therefore, Wi Gajin thought so. Saja Hyuk’s words were just a tactic to confuse him.

‘Haa!’

With a hint of disappointment at the opponent’s shallow psychological warfare, Wi Gajin let out a strong shout as if to shake off his distracting thoughts.

His sword, as if responding to its master’s will, emitted an even more intense blue aura. It was at that very moment that the eerie momentum rushed fiercely towards Saja Hyuk.

Whooong.

Saja Hyuk’s saber, Paewol, slowly drew a circle.

‘Huh?’

It was a truly bizarre experience. Saja Hyuk was visibly moving his greatsword slowly, but Wi Gajin’s sword was moving as slowly as if time had stopped.

No thoughts or questions arose. The time seemed to pass in an instant, and it seemed to last too long.

But one thing was clear. As if accepting a predetermined fate, Wi Gajin had to watch Saja Hyuk’s black greatsword, Paewol, complete a large circle.

And the moment Saja Hyuk’s greatsword completed the circle, dazzling moonlight poured down on him.

‘Keuk.’

He couldn’t see anything. Only blue moonlight filled all directions. In that moonlight, Wi Gajin sensed his defeat.

‘It’s over.’

It was over. Saja Hyuk’s words that it was over were not just words. It was that very moment.

Hoo-ook.

From deep within Wi Gajin’s heart, who had sensed defeat, something surged up as if in rebellion.

What seemed like a small surge at first soon became a flame, filling Wi Gajin’s inner self.

As if to burn Wi Gajin completely, it was a fierce flow of flames that Wi Gajin had never experienced before.

‘Uaaaaa!’

Entrusting himself to the fierce flames, Wi Gajin unleashed his sword with all his might. A single sword that disregarded swordsmanship, sword forms, and even the operation of internal energy.

At that moment, his sword, which had been nailed as if time had stopped, shot forward as if answering its master’s will.

Wrapping around Wi Gajin’s sword was an intense blue energy that seemed to shatter the pouring moonlight.

∴

Thud!

A heavy earth-shaking sound vibrated the ground, followed by a strong wind.

Hoo-ook.

Dust and dry leaves flew up in the strong wind, obscuring the view. Even the intact trees swayed in the strong wind. Soha quickly stood in front of the young lady.

The cold-looking beauty frowned at the wind but did not take her eyes off the sparring.

She couldn’t see well because of Hang-ah and Soha, who were blocking her way, but she could intuitively understand one thing.

She said.

‘Daein [Great Man]!’

‘Hmph, don’t worry.’

Saja Hyuk’s voice was heard through the fading leaves and dust.

‘He’s not dead yet.’

Along with Saja Hyuk’s somewhat blunt voice, the result of the sparring unfolded before them.

Saja Hyuk was still standing firmly under the moonlight, while Wi Gajin was kneeling in front of him with his head bowed.

‘Wi hyung [older brother]!’

Soha shouted with a surprised expression.

‘A commendable fellow.’

Saja Hyuk said, looking down at Wi Gajin.

‘To step forward the moment Paewol Ilshik [a specific saber technique] is completed, that boldness alone is commendable. A wildness that doesn’t resemble a tamed dog.’

Wi Gajin seemed unconscious. However, Wi Gajin’s hand still firmly gripped the sword. That sword was supporting Wi Gajin.

‘Hmph. Seems like a weakling.’

Saja Hyuk, who spoke as if grumbling, reached out his hand to the crown of Wi Gajin’s bowed head.

‘Daein.’

The cold-looking beauty called out in a low voice, but Saja Hyuk did not stop his hand.

She tried to step forward, but Soha and Hang-ah blocked her. In the meantime, Saja Hyuk’s hand was placed on Wi Gajin’s head.

Thud.

Silence fell.

Everyone’s eyes were on Saja Hyuk, or rather, on his hand and Wi Gajin.

Time passed in silence, and Saja Hyuk’s hand fell from Wi Gajin.

‘Ugh.’

Wi Gajin, who had lost consciousness, twitched and convulsed.

Wi Gajin, who opened his eyes, seemed confused for a moment, but soon realizing the situation, he gave a bitter smile and straightened his knees and stood up. No, he tried to stand up.

‘Keuk.’

Wi Gajin let out a short groan. His body staggered for a moment but soon regained balance and stood up.

Saja Hyuk, the beauty, no one said anything. They were just silently watching Wi Gajin.

‘Hoo.’

Wi Gajin, who stood up, took a long breath. And with both hands gathered, he held the sword and bowed to Saja Hyuk.

‘I lost.’

‘You are.’

Saja Hyuk said, looking down at Wi Gajin, who was bowing to him.

‘You are like a wolf.’

A faint smile hung on Saja Hyuk’s lips as he spoke.

Wi Gajin frowned with his hands clasped together. He thought it was another taunt from Saja Hyuk.

‘A foolish wolf that dares to bare its teeth at the moonlight.’

Wi Gajin gave a bitter smile.

‘Moon and wolf.’

Since the moon and the wolf are not comparable in the first place, it may seem like a word that infinitely lowers Wi Gajin.

However, Wi Gajin didn’t feel bad about Saja Hyuk’s evaluation of him as a wolf.

‘Thank you.’

‘Hmph.’

Wi Gajin bowed politely, but Saja Hyuk turned his head as if he didn’t like it.

As Wi Gajin stepped back with a bitter smile, a woman’s low voice was heard.

‘Since Wi Gongja’s [young master] sword energy is blue, we should call his byeolho [nickname/title] Cheongnanggeom (靑狼劍) [Blue Wolf Sword] from now on.’

The owner of the voice was the cold-looking beauty. As she stepped forward, the moonlight shone blue on her.

‘Don’t misunderstand.’

Saja Hyuk frowned and looked at her.

‘I have never given anyone a byeolho.’

‘Yes, that’s right.’

Even in the face of Saja Hyuk’s fiery eyes, she did not back down at all. She looked at Wi Gajin, who had returned to her side, and said to Saja Hyuk.

‘Still, I think I should apologize for causing trouble to Daein and thank you for sending Wi Gongja back.’

‘I don’t need it.’

‘Even if I offer Daein the position of the strongest under the heavens?’

Saja Hyuk’s eyebrows twitched. With that, a faint smile hung on her lips.

‘Wouldn’t this be enough apology and gratitude to Daein?’

∴

Son Bin, who was busily moving his brush, raised his head at her voice.

‘The strongest under the heavens?’

The look in her eyes was confident and full of self-assurance. But Son Bin couldn’t help but tilt his head.

‘How?’

At first, Son Bin’s question was ‘how’.

The woman in front of him cannot be compared to Saja Hyuk, even with empty words. But how can she offer Saja Hyuk the position of the strongest under the heavens?

‘Is there some kind of elixir or martial arts manual or something?’

It is said that elixirs with miraculous effects that extend a person’s life also greatly increase the internal energy of martial artists in an instant.

Besides, aren’t strong martial arts manuals what martial artists look for with their eyes wide open, even risking death?

‘Huh? Come to think of it, how do you determine who is the strongest in Murim?’

As he thought about it, a random question suddenly popped up. Unlike the government posts, there is no ranking, and there is no civil service examination to select the best martial artist under the heavens.

He had no idea how the strongest in Murim was determined. As he thought about it, he began to wonder what exactly the strongest under the heavens meant.

Son Bin moved his brush and wrote the sentence, ‘How is the strongest in Murim determined, what is the strongest under the heavens?’

And he raised his head and looked at the cold-looking beauty.

‘Who on earth is that young lady…….’

I don’t know who she is to make such a suggestion. Son Bin was newly curious about the identity of that young lady. But Saja Hyuk, on the other hand, had a calm expression.

‘The strongest under the heavens…….’

Saja Hyuk muttered with a bitter smile.

‘There was a time when I also longed for such a vain name.’

‘It’s different.’

The cold-looking beauty said. Her lips still had a faint smile.

‘The strongest person in the world is called the strongest under the heavens, and the most powerful sect is called the strongest sect under the heavens. But that cannot be called the true strongest under the heavens.’

She said.

‘One who reigns above all. The only one who does not allow challenges or comparisons. The only family that reigns above all families. Wouldn’t that be the true strongest person under the heavens and the strongest sect under the heavens?’

Her sparkling eyes were provocative. In front of those eyes, Saja Hyuk chuckled.

‘As expected.’

Saja Hyuk said. With a faint but clear ridicule and disgust, he said.

‘That family always thinks the same thing.’

The beauty’s complexion changed at that moment. Not only Soha and Hang-ah, but even Wi Gajin’s complexion changed, and they almost reflexively reached for their swords, but the beauty’s hand stopped him.

‘Do you know my family?’

The beauty’s eyes were like she was shooting.

‘I don’t know. I’ve never tried to know, and I don’t want to know.’

Saja Hyuk smiled faintly and met her sharp eyes.

The beauty, who was glaring at Saja Hyuk, bit her lip slightly. She realized that her reaction had rather given the other person confidence, through Saja Hyuk’s smile.

‘I’ve been had.’

Saja Hyuk chuckled.

‘Don’t misunderstand. That means nothing to me.’

‘Is that so?’

‘That’s right.’

Saja Hyuk said.

‘The reason why you are still breathing is because of that.’

The beauty’s complexion hardened. It was the same for Soha, Hang-ah, and Wi Gajin.

Because Saja Hyuk was saying that he could kill the four of them at any time.

Regardless of what her family is.

‘I see.’

The beauty smiled.

‘I apologize for misunderstanding for a moment. Daein’s simgye [deep thoughts/intentions] cannot be taken lightly. Now, I even think that this whole situation was not Daein’s plan.’

Her point was quite persuasive. In the first place, if Saja Hyuk didn’t want it, there would be no such sparring, and there would be no such result.

But Saja Hyuk didn’t answer.

‘But that’s what I like more.’

The beauty’s eyes sparkled.

‘Would you like to stand at the pinnacle of Cheonhamurim [all martial arts under the heavens]?’

‘First.’

Saja Hyuk answered.

‘The word strongest under the heavens has no meaning. If there is no tiger in the mountain, the wolf becomes the best, and if there is no wolf, a mere dog becomes the strongest under the heavens. If that is the meaning of the strongest under the heavens, what meaning does that name have to me?’

‘That’s…….’

‘Second.’

Saja Hyuk continued, as if blocking the beauty’s words.

‘I don’t like standing above anyone, but I hate being under anyone even more. Isn’t the strongest under the heavens that you speak of the strongest under the heavens under you? I’ve heard that there are many fools who want to be under a beauty, but at least I’m not.’

‘You misunderstood. What I’m proposing is…….’

‘And third.’

Saja Hyuk suddenly chuckled. And he turned his head and looked at Son Bin.

‘He is recording.’

‘Yes?’

The beauty frowned. The first and second are reasonable and the reasons are clear.

But suddenly, everything is being recorded? She turned her head following Saja Hyuk’s gaze. And he found a man.

A person who knew of his existence early on but had disappeared from his interest. He thought it was an unconfirmed uncertain factor, but a person who had been buried in Saja Hyuk’s presence. He was wary just in case, but a person who had been pushed back by the absolute threat that Saja Hyuk was emitting.

He was Son Bin, a young man dressed as a scholar who was with Saja Hyuk.

∴

Squeak.

Son Bin was very busy. He was 정신이 없었기 때문이다 [out of his mind] to write down the conversation between the two and to 옮기랴 [convey] the 감동 [emotion] of the 비무 [sparring match] before it disappeared.

His slender brush 넘나들며 [darted] 빈 공간 [empty space] above the book and 메워 나가고 [filled it in], the 묵호 [inkstone] that he is using as a 작은 도자기 병 [small ceramic bottle] was 드나들었다 [going in and out] without even closing the 뚜껑 [lid].

Saja Hyuk and the cold-looking beauty were talking, so he had his ears open, but in fact, all of Son Bin’s 신경 [nerves] was 쏠려 [focused] in 채워 나가는 데 [filling in] the 기록 [record] about the first 비무 [sparring match].

Then suddenly, Son Bin realized that the 분위기 [atmosphere] had become 이상해졌다는 [strange]. It was 분명히 [clearly] after 적은 [writing] the 언급 [mention] that Saja Hyuk’s ‘그가 기록하고 있다 [he is recording]’.

‘Huh?’

Unconsciously, Son Bin raised his head. And he 맞닥뜨렸다 [faced] 다섯 명의 시선을 향한 자신을 동시에 [five pairs of eyes directed at him simultaneously].

The cold-looking beauty and the 아가씨 [young lady] wearing a 간단한 무복 [simple martial arts uniform], the 청년 [young man] with the 귀공자 같은 외모 [noble-like appearance] and the 청년 [young man] who looks a little 어려 [young], and even Saja Hyuk. All of them were 바라보고 [looking at] 손빈 [Son Bin] 지금 [now].

‘Ah. Aha.’

손빈 [Son Bin] 당황한 [flustered] 지었다 [gave] 어색한 웃음을 [an awkward smile]. 사라지지 않았다 [did not disappear] 시선은 [the gazes] 향한 [directed at] 자신을 [him] 하지만 [however].