A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 21

21. Tiger Fang and Moon Splitter

Seolgeom was silent for a moment, but it didn’t last long.

“Understood.”

Flap.

Though holding a sword, Seolgeom lightly turned and took off his coat. His white silk, embroidered with gold and silver threads, fluttered in the air before hanging on the railing of the pavilion.

‘Huh?’

Sonbin blinked. Seolgeom’s figure was much slenderer than he had expected.

Moreover, Seolgeom’s chest seemed a bit more prominent than it should be.

“I will use a sword.”

Seolgeom bowed his head to the man as he spoke.

“It’s a tainted sword anyway. Do as you please.”

Sreung.

Seolgeom raised the sword he held to his chest slightly, revealing a portion of the blade. Then, he grazed his fingertip against it.

‘Ugh.’

It was Sonbin who frowned. Seolgeom, who had actually been cut, didn’t even flinch.

Swish, swish.

Seolgeom moved his bloodied finger, beginning to write on the inner lining of his coat.

‘Oh dear. At this rate…’

Sonbin couldn’t smooth out his furrowed brow.

Blood is not a suitable tool for writing. Moreover, continuously bleeding is a dangerous act that could lead to death.

“I have a brush.”

Without realizing it, Sonbin shouted.

“I also have ink and spare paper, so please stop doing that.”

“Such an act, you say.”

It was the middle-aged man who responded. He spoke with a sneer.

“Seolgeom, it seems your appearance is seen as vulgar. Such an insult…”

“I’m curious.”

Saja Hyuk’s voice cut him off.

“To record the same duel, one side reeks of blood while the other has the scent of ink… I wonder what future generations will think when they see these two records?”

Saja Hyuk said, leaning on Moon Splitter with one hand.

“If they are women with delicate sensibilities, they might faint before even seeing the content.”

The middle-aged man frowned.

“Are you taking that child’s side? You?”

“No.”

Saja Hyuk said.

“I’m merely disgusted by your actions. And your constant tricks.”

Hoo-oong.

Once again, energy surged from the greatsword Moon Splitter. The intense heat from before gently enveloped Sonbin once more.

“Your true strength doesn’t lie in such low-grade poison arts.”

Saja Hyuk stared straight at the middle-aged man.

“Nor does it lie in your venomous techniques, subtly combining non-toxic elements to create something deadly. Not even in your meticulous schemes or instinctive wariness.”

With deep, calm eyes, Saja Hyuk said.

“Your Poisonous Energy Art is the most outstanding skill unique to you in all the world.”

“Poisonous Energy Art?”

The man murmured quietly. And soon, a burst of wild laughter erupted from his mouth.

“Ahahahahaha!”

He laughed as if he were insane. His laughter echoed through the dark night sky.

“Was that so? The Martial Emperor of Hyeoncheon feared my Poisonous Energy Art? Ahahahahaha!”

“That’s right.”

Saja Hyuk said in a calm tone.

“Your Fierce Tiger Poisonous Energy Art is the only skill of yours that I acknowledge. And…”

Saja Hyuk’s eyes gleamed.

“It’s the reason I’m dueling you.”

The middle-aged man stopped laughing. It was as if his previous mad laughter had been a lie.

“That’s… unbelievable.”

The man said. He was staring straight at Saja Hyuk.

“But it doesn’t matter. At least it’s clear that you acknowledge my Fierce Tiger Poisonous Energy Art.”

Saja Hyuk didn’t respond.

“I see.”

The man said.

“You’ve changed. And I think I know the reason why.”

A faint smile appeared on the face of the man staring at Saja Hyuk.

“Seolgeom.”

The middle-aged man said without turning his gaze.

“Go and borrow brush and ink. Ink fragrance certainly suits this duel.”

Seolgeom hesitated for a moment, but his words had already been spoken.

Thud, thud.

With light steps, Seolgeom approached Sonbin. But he stopped just before Saja Hyuk.

‘Ah.’

Thinking that he probably couldn’t pass Saja Hyuk, Sonbin stepped forward.

“Here it is.”

Sonbin took out a spare brush, a scroll of paper, and a small ceramic bottle containing ink from his chest.

He had brought an extra ink container just in case. It was because there was so much to write during the last life-or-death struggle, and he thought it was a good idea to bring it.

Seolgeom accepted it without a word.

“Is your wound alright?”

It was just a thoughtless remark. But at that moment, a spark flashed in Seolgeom’s eyes.

Grit.

Clenching his teeth, Seolgeom said in a low voice.

“Are you pitying me? You?”

It was unmistakably a woman’s voice.

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

Before Sonbin could say anything, Seolgeom turned away abruptly. Then, with determined steps, he returned to his spot.

It was the moment Sonbin smiled wryly and was about to turn around.

“Why don’t you come over here?”

The middle-aged man suddenly said to Sonbin.

“There’s light and a table, so it would be better to write here.”

Sonbin looked back at Saja Hyuk. Saja Hyuk nodded lightly.

‘Hmm.’

To be honest, he didn’t feel like it. But if Saja Hyuk was okay with it, it would be fine.

Sonbin put his hands together and bowed.

“I gratefully accept your kindness.”

“You’re a polite child.”

The man smiled.

“In consideration of your politeness, I promise not to touch you as long as you’re inside this pavilion.”

He spoke as if he were bestowing a great favor, but Sonbin didn’t really trust him.

Thud, thud.

Sonbin walked towards the pavilion.

“Seolgeom.”

Meanwhile, the middle-aged man extended a hand to Seolgeom.

As Seolgeom bowed and handed over the sword, the man accepted it and slowly began to walk out of the pavilion. It was a sword that looked unusually long and thin compared to ordinary swords.

Swish.

Passing by Sonbin, the man lightly tapped Sonbin’s shoulder with his right hand.

“After it’s over, let’s have a drink.”

He passed by without waiting for Sonbin’s reply, as if he had the right to do so, and as if he didn’t care about this duel.

‘A drink? Not even close…’

He was the type of person he didn’t want to run into, even by chance. Forcing himself to suppress the frown that naturally formed, Sonbin entered the pavilion.

The first thing that greeted Sonbin was Seolgeom’s fierce gaze.

Sonbin tried to ignore her gaze and looked around the pavilion. The small, old pavilion, which looked old at a glance, was smaller than he thought, and the table was too small for two people to write on. There weren’t even any chairs. Sonbin immediately gave up on using the table.

‘Since I can just hold the book and write…’

On the other hand, he had given Seolgeom a scroll of paper. It would be too much to hold and write, so he would need a table.

Rustle.

But Seolgeom seemed to have a different idea, as she cleared the scroll that was spread out on the table.

“Miss, the table…”

Before Sonbin could finish speaking, Seolgeom’s head snapped around and glared at Sonbin.

‘Ugh.’

The gaze was so fierce that Sonbin flinched. Seolgeom, who had been glaring at Sonbin, turned his head and said in a low voice.

“He permitted it to you.”

It seemed to be because of what the middle-aged man had said.

‘There’s no need to pay attention to such words…’

Sonbin thought so, but judging from the other person’s atmosphere, something might happen if he said that. No, it didn’t seem like a good reaction would come out no matter what he said now.

‘What did I do wrong?’

Sonbin glanced at her.

Up close, and from under the light, the woman’s slender face stood out. She had a face that would look quite beautiful if she dressed up properly.

‘She’d look much better if she smiled…’

Snap.

Suddenly, Seolgeom glared at Sonbin. Sonbin flinched and quickly turned his gaze away.

Outside, the figures of two people standing in opposition to each other in the dim darkness came into Sonbin’s view.

∴

“It’s been a while since I’ve held Tiger Fang.”

The man said, looking down at his sword. It wasn’t comparable to Moon Splitter, but the sword was quite long and thin compared to ordinary lengths.

“I thought about breaking it, but there was no reason to, so I kept it.”

The man said, looking straight at Saja Hyuk.

“Doesn’t it bring back old memories?”

The man’s face wore a bitter smile.

“I said it back then too.”

Saja Hyuk tightened his grip on his hand. The greatsword Moon Splitter slowly raised its head.

“You talk too much nonsense. That’s why your sword is light.”

Hoo-oong.

A subtle energy rose from Saja Hyuk.

“Isn’t there something else you really want to ask?”

The man smiled, looking at the black greatsword pointed straight at him.

“Yes. That’s right. There is something else I really want to ask.”

Sreung.

The man’s sword, Tiger Fang, revealed its appearance. Uniquely, golden patterns were engraved on the long blade. The glittering gold patterns on the straight silver blade gave off a very flashy feeling.

“And soon, I will receive the answer.”

Clang.

The scabbard, decorated as ornately as the sword, sparkled and fell to the ground. The man had let it go. And at the same time, Tiger Fang shone.

“Directly from your Moon Splitter!”

Hoo-oong,

Shieeng,

At the same time as raising a gruesome red light, Tiger Fang revealed its sharp fangs towards Saja Hyuk.

It was a surprise attack, but it didn’t work on Saja Hyuk.

Kwaang!

The black greatsword Moon Splitter and the silver sword Tiger Fang collided. Moon Splitter was also surrounded by blue energy.

“Indeed.”

The middle-aged man said, as if admiring.

Flick.

He spun the sword and struck down strongly with both hands. His large physique moved dynamically, and the decorations sparkled all at once.

Hoo-oong.

Scattering red light, Tiger Fang instantly drew a large trajectory in the darkness. And again, an explosion erupted.

Clang.

What blocked Tiger Fang was Moon Splitter, clad in blue energy. Moon Splitter and Tiger Fang were facing each other without an inch of compromise.

Woo-oong.

The blue and red energies rising from the sword and blade collided, shining eerily.

“I see.”

A sneer appeared on the man’s face.

“You couldn’t overcome it either.”

Woo-woo-oong.

The red light of Tiger Fang increased its energy. Along with it, joy spread in the middle-aged man’s large, tiger-like eyes.

“Then you’re finished here. With this sword that pierced that bitch.”

“No.”

Suddenly, Saja Hyuk’s voice flowed.

“It’s you who will end.”

Hoo-ook.

Saja Hyuk’s Moon Splitter, which had been facing Tiger Fang, suddenly increased its energy. And then, an enormous energy that could not be compared to anything before began to pour out of Saja Hyuk.

It was an energy that made Sonbin, who was watching, flinch.

“Keuk.”

The red light of Tiger Fang was still there, but the middle-aged man flew backward without hesitation for even a moment, with a short groan.

Flick.

The large-bodied middle-aged man who flew backward landed on the ground as lightly as a feather. But his expression was contorted.

“No way!”

He said, as if shouting. The leisurely expression with a smile could no longer be found.

“Are you saying you’ve truly overcome even Heavenly Fragrance Dew [a potent poison]!”

Sonbin clearly felt Seolgeom flinch next to him the moment his shout cut through the darkness and was heard.

“Didn’t you know?”

Saja Hyuk said in a cold voice.

“I thought you would have already guessed, since it was said that White Dew [antidote to Heavenly Fragrance Dew] has found a new master.”

“That can’t be. There’s no way.”

The middle-aged man shook his head.

“No one in the world can detoxify that! It’s impossible even for a god!”

“But.”

Saja Hyuk said. Holding the greatsword Moon Splitter, which proudly emitted blue light, he slowly approached the middle-aged man.

“I did it.”

Thud.

As Saja Hyuk approached, the middle-aged man took a step back.

“Use the Fierce Tiger Poisonous Energy Art.”

Saja Hyuk said.

“Or you will die.”

Shieeng.

The giant blade, Moon Splitter, slowly began to move. Cutting through the dark night sky, his black greatsword drew a large circle. It was the beginning of Moon Splitter First Form, Lightning Flash.

“Keuk.”

A low groan flowed from the middle-aged man’s mouth. He no longer had a choice.

“Haa!”

With a shout, the middle-aged man’s body began to be dyed entirely in red light. And the next moment, moonlight poured down through the darkness.

‘Ah.’

Sonbin’s eyes widened. It passed by in an instant, like a flash.

But Sonbin saw it clearly. At that moment, as if moonlight was pouring down, Saja Hyuk’s greatsword Moon Splitter was drawn down once, from top to bottom. And the middle-aged man, dyed in red, blocked that strike.

Koo-oong!

A strong wind swept through the surroundings. Leaves and dry grass scattered and flew up, and Sonbin and Seolgeom, who were watching, also flinched and raised their hands to cover their faces.

But their gazes could not be taken away from one person. It was Saja Hyuk.

Flick.

Saja Hyuk lightly moved his wrist and lifted the greatsword Moon Splitter. And he smiled as he looked down.

“If you do it, doesn’t it work?”

The middle-aged man was standing where Saja Hyuk’s gaze was directed. But his appearance was very different from before.

“Huk, huk.”

The shining silk clothes were in a mess, and the well-groomed hair was disheveled. The small crown decorated with precious jewels was nowhere to be seen.

His sword, Tiger Fang, was still held in both hands, but it shook uneasily as the man gasped for breath.

“Mo, monster-like bastard. How, more than back then…”

“Indeed, your Fierce Tiger Poisonous Energy Art is the best in the world.”

Saja Hyuk said.

“But it doesn’t suit you. The true value of the Fierce Tiger Poisonous Energy Art lies in close combat, but you never get close to your opponent. Until you are sure you will win.”

Grit.

A rough sound flowed from the man’s mouth.

“Are you still mocking me? Like back then?”

“I have never mocked you.”

Saja Hyuk said.

“You were just mocking yourself. Now, then…”

The greatsword Moon Splitter slowly headed towards the sky.

“Let’s test whether your Fierce Tiger Poisonous Energy Art can withstand Moon Splitter Second Form.”

Saja Hyuk’s eyes gleamed.

“Wa, wait a moment…”

“Whether you collapse or discover your destiny is entirely up to you. But you cannot avoid it. Absolutely.”

Grit.