A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 36

36. The Three Kings

Climbing the Snowy Mountain was nothing like Son Bin had imagined. Some areas were as wide as gently sloping fields, while others were narrow paths and steep inclines.

Just when the path seemed endless, the party would face sheer cliffs like walls reaching for the sky, and waterfalls cascading down their faces.

Once, they even had to cross a rather precarious-looking old suspension bridge.

Son Bin felt dizzy just looking at it, but the others crossed as if they were on solid ground. Even the horses showed no hesitation.

As the party ascended the Snowy Mountain, a forest appeared before them. But it was a forest of dead trees, not a single living one in sight.

‘This place is…’

Son Bin looked around. The roots of the trees were covered in green moss, but the trees themselves were withered and lifeless.

Few trees stood upright; most were broken and felled by the wind. It was a forest of dead trees, a zone of withered timber.

‘It’s kind of eerie.’

Along the steep slope, desolate dead trees stood faintly in the thick fog like ghosts.

The fog, which he thought had cleared, was particularly dense, probably due to the clouds shrouding the mountain peak. The slope was steep, and loose stones and sand made it difficult even for the horses to walk.

Clack.

Sa Su-yeon, who was walking while holding the reins, stopped. The horse also halted. Wondering what was wrong, Son Bin looked ahead and was startled.

‘Ugh!’

Next to a black, dead tree, a white human figure stood. With long, trailing black hair, it looked exactly like a ghost.

“Are you…”

A faint, thin voice came from beyond the fog. Son Bin was relieved that the white figure was a person, but the eerie voice sent shivers down his spine.

“The master of Pawol [a legendary sword]?”

“That’s right,” Sa Ja-hyeok replied.

Rustle.

Almost silently, the white figure took a step forward. Only then could Son Bin see the figure clearly.

‘A woman?’

Son Bin examined the person with a puzzled look. The white figure was a woman dressed in white.

Her clothes looked like a ceremonial robe, with snow-white fabric flowing from her slender shoulders to the ground, swaying gently as she moved.

The sleeves covering her clasped hands at her chest were also wide and long, extending down to her waist. If it weren’t for the sword she held to her chest, one might have mistaken this place for a Taoist shrine.

Rustle, rustle.

She slowly walked towards Sa Ja-hyeok. As she approached, her appearance became clearer.

As Son Bin examined her, he noticed that her feet, slightly visible at the hem of her robe, were bare.

‘Barefoot in this cold mountain.’

It wasn’t severely cold, but it was still quite chilly at this high altitude. If Son Bin, properly dressed, felt that way, the cold would be even more intense for someone barefoot.

‘Is there some religious significance to it?’

While Son Bin was thinking, her steps did not falter. And it was the moment she got close to Sa Ja-hyeok.

Whoosh.

She turned her body lightly. Following her movement, the white robe rippled in the air, and her black hair fluttered. It was a smooth and graceful movement, as if she were dancing.

‘Ah.’

Son Bin was momentarily captivated. Her movements were so smooth and graceful that they seemed beautiful.

Beneath the rippling hem of her robe, her white bare feet and slender calves were slightly revealed.

And when she faced Sa Ja-hyeok again, a snow-white sword in her hand gleamed.

Swoosh.

‘Gasp!’

Son Bin gasped. The cold, shining blade in her hand was falling towards Sa Ja-hyeok.

It was an unexpected movement for both Son Bin and Sa Su-yeon, as if they were possessed, and it felt unreal. However, Sa Ja-hyeok’s Pawol was already revealing itself.

Whoosh.

Sa Ja-hyeok, who had already lowered his stance, raised Pawol. The moment the black greatsword soared from the ground to the sky and the silver blade fell, a sharp sound pierced the silence.

Clang!

A sharp, piercing sound, as if something was breaking, echoed faintly.

The falling silver blade was suspended in the air. The tip of the blade was precisely touching the tip of the black greatsword.

Woo-oong.

The sword and the greatsword vibrated and wailed softly. The woman’s eyes gleamed sharply through her flowing hair.

Sa Ja-hyeok also met her gaze with intense eyes.

And the next moment.

Clang!

With a loud noise, the sword and the greatsword bounced away.

Whirl.

The woman spun around and retreated. Her robe and sleeves rippled as if she were dancing.

On the other hand, Sa Ja-hyeok regained his original stance by simply moving one foot back.

Thud.

Sa Ja-hyeok’s greatsword Pawol was pointed at the woman. The woman, who had retreated, held the sword in one hand and stood facing Sa Ja-hyeok.

Without missing the opportunity, Sa Su-yeon wrapped her arm around Son Bin’s waist from behind.

“Get out of the way.”

Thud.

Son Bin, who had been half-pulled off the horse with a whisper in his ear, retreated with Sa Su-yeon.

Sa Su-yeon stood guarding Son Bin as if blocking him. Until then, neither Sa Ja-hyeok nor the woman made any movements.

“Hoo.”

A faint voice, like a groan, came from the woman.

“I never knew I would regret my inadequacy so much…”

Swish.

Her sword moved slowly. And the place the sword was directed at was the scabbard she was holding in her other hand.

Shling.

The silver blade slowly disappeared into the white scabbard.

“If I were just a little stronger, I could have risked my life to compete.”

Thud.

When the blade was completely hidden, she wrapped her hands around the sword. Her long, wide sleeves covered her white hands, and she looked the same as when she first appeared.

“I lost.”

Spack.

The woman took a step back. The lamenting expression from just now was completely gone.

Shling.

Almost simultaneously, Sa Ja-hyeok’s greatsword Pawol also disappeared.

“What is your name?” Sa Ja-hyeok asked. The woman replied in a thin voice.

“I don’t have one.”

“Is that so?”

“But,” she said in a faint voice, as if it would break at any moment, “if you remember me as Sword Demon (劍姬) [female sword demon], that would be enough.”

“I will,” Sa Ja-hyeok replied. “I am Sa Ja-hyeok. And there is no need to remember.”

The woman blinked. But that was it; she didn’t say anything more.

“I have something I want to ask.”

The Sword Demon’s eyes moved slightly towards Sa Su-yeon. Sa Su-yeon stared straight at her and said, “Are you one of the Three Kings?”

After a moment of silence, the Sword Demon replied, “I don’t know. I’m not interested in such things.”

The Sword Demon stared straight at Sa Su-yeon and continued, “And you don’t seem interested in such things either?”

Sa Su-yeon frowned slightly. But the Sword Demon’s expression did not change at all.

“Then you are…” Sa Su-yeon was about to say something more, but suddenly the Sword Demon moved.

Spack.

“You are…”

‘Me?’

Son Bin, who was moving his brush, paused and looked at the Sword Demon. Her gaze was directed at Son Bin.

She was walking straight towards Son Bin.

Spack, spack.

Sa Su-yeon blocked Son Bin, standing guard. Sa Su-yeon’s eyes were shining sharply.

“What are you doing?” Sa Su-yeon said. Her eyes were telling him that her warning was by no means a lie. But the Sword Demon’s gaze was not directed at Sa Su-yeon.

Sa Su-yeon couldn’t help but be nervous. Just a moment ago, the Sword Demon had walked like this and swung her sword at Sa Ja-hyeok without any warning.

Spack, spack.

“Stop!” Sa Su-yeon said, but the Sword Demon’s steps did not stop. Sa Su-yeon drew her sword.

Whoong.

Instantly, the Sword Demon stopped walking. And right in front of her face, Sa Su-yeon’s sword was stopped, its sharp edge gleaming.

“If you come closer, I will cut you down,” Sa Su-yeon said. Her eyes were telling him that her warning was by no means a lie. But the Sword Demon’s gaze was not directed at Sa Su-yeon.

“You, why do you have this scent…” The Sword Demon frowned slightly. Her eyes trembled slightly and soon reached something protruding from Son Bin’s backpack.

“Was it the Immortal Sword (仙劍) [a sword possessed by an immortal]?”

‘Immortal Sword?’

Son Bin turned his head and looked behind him. In fact, he didn’t need to see it to know what she was talking about. It must be referring to Baekro, the relic of Old Taoist.

Spack.

As if she had lost interest, the Sword Demon turned her body.

Sa Su-yeon’s sword was gleaming in front of her, but it was as if she had no interest at all. Sa Su-yeon bit her lip slightly but sheathed her sword.

Cling.

Spack, spack.

In the meantime, the Sword Demon was already disappearing into the fog. When even the faint sound disappeared, all that remained was the eerie atmosphere created by the gaunt dead trees.

“Let’s go,” Sa Ja-hyeok said. Son Bin closed the book.

Thud.

∴

The party couldn’t leave right away. From the withered tree zone onwards, the slope became so steep that they could no longer ride horses.

The horse might be able to climb on its own, but if they rode, they would fall backward on such a steep slope.

Since all they had was a bundle on their backs, Son Bin let the horse go without hesitation.

He thought about tying it nearby, but since there was no guarantee that it would come back this way, he decided to let it go.

Clack, clack.

After confirming that the horse, with its reins released, was going down, Son Bin began to walk, following Sa Su-yeon and Sa Ja-hyeok.

The ground was sandy, and the slope was steep. It felt like he hadn’t walked even a few steps, but he could already feel his breathing becoming difficult.

Thud.

Someone put their hand on Son Bin’s shoulder—a large hand that seemed to cover his entire shoulder. When he looked up, it was Sa Ja-hyeok.

“Wait a moment.”

“What…” As he looked up with a bewildered expression, he felt Sa Ja-hyeok putting his hand on his back. He slowly felt heat rising from the part where his large hand touched.

“No, I’m okay…”

“You’re not okay,” Sa Ja-hyeok said. “Don’t take the mountain lightly. Even if it just looks desolate, this place never allows carelessness.”

Son Bin quietly nodded. His body seemed to warm up, and his breathing became easier in an instant.

Son Bin slowly calmed his breathing. After a while, Sa Ja-hyeok took his hand off Son Bin’s back.

“Your breathing has deepened.”

It was just a passing remark, but Son Bin felt embarrassed for some reason. It felt like he had been caught imitating Sa Ja-hyeok without being able to do it properly.

“Ah, well, this is…”

But Sa Ja-hyeok didn’t seem to care much.

“You’ll be fine for a while. Do you still have the Hoah?”

“I have it.”

To be exact, it was the hilt of the Hoah Sword. The one that the Fierce Tiger of Sichuan had; the sword blade was broken, and now it couldn’t even be called a sword.

“It will help if you keep it in your bosom.”

Son Bin nodded and took out the hilt of the Hoah Sword from his backpack. He wrapped it in cloth and put it in his bosom.

Sa Ja-hyeok’s words that it was a painful memory came to mind, and he felt sorry for some reason.

‘Come to think of it, this is also someone else’s.’

Suddenly, the image of Seolgeom Dang Hwa-ryeon came to mind. Her words that she would definitely come to find it seemed to ring in his ears.

“Are you okay?” Son Bin was startled by Sa Su-yeon’s sudden voice.

“Ah, I’m okay.”

“I’m sorry. I should have noticed it first.”

“No, no,” Son Bin waved his hand. But Sa Su-yeon bit her lip.

“I thought the only thing I could do was this, but I can’t even do that properly.” Her gaze was directed at Sa Ja-hyeok’s back.

“Shall we go?” Sa Su-yeon said. Son Bin nodded silently. The cold had subsided, and his breathing was much easier, so his steps were light.

But without letting his guard down, Son Bin moved his steps, slowly adjusting his breathing.

∴

Whoo-oong.

When the wind blew, the accumulated snow rose and sparkled in all directions. As if complaining about being awakened, the snow under his feet rustled and made noise.

Spack.

Footprints were engraved on the pure white snowfield like scars.

The snowfield spread out under the sky, which was blue as a lie, creating an overwhelming and otherworldly beauty. It was almost a pity to have to step on it.

“Hoo-woo-woo.”

Son Bin slowly exhaled. The clouds had passed, and the surroundings were wide open.

Looking back, the endless blue forest of Yunnan stretched out far below, and when he turned his head, the peaks of the mountain shone white against the blue sky.

The snow flying behind the peaks in the wind flickered like white flames.

“Are you okay?” Sa Su-yeon, who was walking ahead, turned around and asked. Son Bin nodded lightly.

“I’m okay…”

Son Bin’s answer was cut short, and Sa Su-yeon was no longer looking at Son Bin.

Spack.

Sa Su-yeon stood guarding Son Bin as if blocking him. Sa Ja-hyeok, who was walking in the front, also stopped.

Whoong.

A man was standing on the pure white snowfield. The dragon patterns embroidered on his white silk robe, gently swaying in the wind, sparkled as they caught the light.

He was looking up at the mountain with his hands behind his back, and he turned his body.

“Welcome,” he said, hiding his face with a jade fan. His voice was mixed with a faint laughter that he couldn’t hide. “Is this your first time here?”

Standing on the snowfield like a phantom, he was none other than Okryong [Jade Dragon].