A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 87

87. One Summer Day

The morning at the Seowon [a traditional Korean private academy] is busier than expected. To be precise, it’s only Son Bin who is busy preparing meals.

Not only has the number of guests increased compared to before, but the variety of ingredients, some of which he hasn’t seen before, has greatly increased the number of dishes he has to make.

‘Fish… Did we even have something like this in our house?’

As Son Bin was pondering, holding a rather fine-looking fish that still seemed fresh, Shinui’s voice was heard from the yard.

“Someone brought it this morning.”

Shinui, who was playing Go [a strategic board game] with Old Man Namak on a bamboo mat, said without even looking at Son Bin.

“They say it’s a sign of gratitude, so we can eat it.”

“Gratitude? To whom?”

Old Man Namak, who was sitting across from him, asked.

“It’s not for you, so don’t worry about it.”

At Shinui’s words, tossed off as if to chide him, Old Man Namak frowned.

“That twisted old man… Can’t you speak plainly? I need to know the situation to decide whether to eat it or not.”

After a moment of silence, Shinui placed a Go stone and continued speaking with a reluctant expression.

Tak.

“Was it the day before yesterday? I stopped by that house and checked on an old man who was coughing. Afterward, his condition improved, so they brought it as a thank you.”

“Why did you stop by a house you don’t know?”

Tak.

Old Man Namak asked, placing a stone.

“It’s not a house I don’t know. It’s the house of a kid who comes here.”

“A kid’s house?”

“There’s something called family history in diseases.”

Tak.

Shinui said, placing a Go stone. The Go board and stones were something Old Man Namak had acquired from somewhere a few days ago.

“Even if there are no symptoms yet, examining the living environment and family medical history can reveal their constitution and what to be careful about. Illness is more important to examine from a long-term and holistic perspective than immediate symptoms.”

“So you’re going around all the kids’ houses?”

Tak.

Old Man Namak placed a stone. Shinui, who was frowning and looking at the Go board, replied.

“No, it’s already finished. It’s been a few days.”

Only then did Son Bin realize why there had been more ingredients he hadn’t seen in the kitchen these past few days.

‘So, the villagers brought them to Shinui.’

Meanwhile, Shinui, who had been stroking his beard and pondering for a while, carefully placed a stone.

Tak, tak.

At Old Man Namak’s move, which connected as if he had been waiting, Shinui’s expression became heavily distorted.

“The large dragon is dead [a Go term for a strategically lost group of stones].”

Shinui’s expression was complicated.

“Heh heh, why did you look away?”

“Let’s do it again.”

“I’ll accept. Unlike you, my heart is as wide as the ocean.”

Old Man Namak spoke as if it were nothing, but his face was full of the joy of victory.

Chwaarruk.

As Shinui’s large hand swept across it, the stones that had adorned the Go board were scattered again.

“Ah, they said it would be good to eat that quickly.”

Shinui’s voice, speaking to Son Bin, somehow contained anticipation. Because of that, Son Bin had no choice but to change his plan to sprinkle salt on it and eat it around dinner time.

Tak tak tak.

Son Bin began to prepare the fish. His skills from his long Seowon life, taking turns with meal duty, were being displayed without reservation.

As always, Dang Wol-ah was sitting silently in the morning sunlight, and Sa Su-yeon was watching Son Bin’s hand movements with a curious expression.

It didn’t seem like there was anyone among them who could be expected to help with meal preparation.

∴

After finishing breakfast and enjoying a cup of tea, Sa Su-yeon volunteered to do the dishes herself.

“Ah, but you’re a guest…”

“It’s okay. I should do this much.”

Despite Son Bin’s dissuasion, Sa Su-yeon smiled and got up from her seat. Then, Sa Su-yeon suddenly looked at Dang Wol-ah. Her sparkling eyes seemed to want her to join in, so Sa Su-yeon asked without thinking.

“Would you like to join me?”

Dang Wol-ah nodded, as if she had been waiting, albeit softly.

“Okay. Then let’s do it together.”

Old Man Namak said quietly to Sa Su-yeon as she stood up.

“She’ll be a bit slow.”

Sa Su-yeon realized what that meant as soon as she started washing the dishes.

Clatter, clatter.

Clean dishes were piling up next to Sa Su-yeon, while Dang Wol-ah was still holding the first dish she had picked up.

To Sa Su-yeon, it already looked clean enough, but Dang Wol-ah filled it with cold water and examined the dish as if she were inspecting something. And then she washed it again, her expression quite serious.

“Um, don’t you think it’s okay now?”

At Sa Su-yeon’s words, who couldn’t stand it any longer, Dang Wol-ah replied in a low voice.

“If there are any residues left, we can’t predict what kind of secondary reactions might occur.”

Dang Wol-ah said, examining the dish with a serious look.

“Clarifying the preconditions is an absolutely indispensable element in any experiment. A single small mistake can ruin the whole thing.”

“Um, this isn’t an experiment…”

“So we have to be even more thorough.”

Dang Wol-ah’s voice was low, but it was full of determination that she would never back down.

“Sacrificing life for life is a sacred ritual.”

Sa Su-yeon couldn’t understand what that meant at all. Then, she suddenly realized that Dang Wol-ah was staring intently at the dishes she had piled up.

Clatter.

Sa Su-yeon quickly cleared away the dishes she had washed.

∴

“Kya hahaha.”

“Waaa!”

The children gathered at Son Bin’s house early in the morning. The quiet yard was soon bustling with children running around.

Soso and Aeng-aeng asked Sa Su-yeon to braid their hair as soon as they arrived, and Sa Su-yeon smiled and touched the little ones’ hair.

“Hey, aren’t you going to braid the hair of that smart older sister teacher?”

The ‘smart older sister teacher’ was referring to Dang Wol-ah.

As Sa Su-yeon turned her head at Aeng-aeng’s words, she met Dang Wol-ah’s gaze, who was entrusting her wrist to Shinui.

“Ah, um, maybe…”

Touching someone’s hair is something you can’t do unless you’re quite close. It’s okay for little ones like Soso and Aeng-aeng, but Dang Wol-ah is a bit different. Dang Wol-ah said in a low voice.

“Later.”

“Okay. Then later.”

Sa Su-yeon accepted it as a routine refusal and smiled lightly. Then she focused on braiding Soso’s hair again.

Dang Wol-ah quietly watched Sa Su-yeon’s actions.

“The hair color cannot be helped.”

Shinui suddenly said quietly.

“It has already fundamentally changed according to the change in the True Origin Energy [a concept related to internal energy or life force]. Just like your eyes.”

Dang Wol-ah blinked.

“But there are things that can be done. Some things can be treated sufficiently.”

“I am different from ordinary people.”

She had lived her entire life as a poison blade of the Tang family. And now that fierce poison has become a part of her. She has no choice but to be different from ordinary people.

Shinui said, as if throwing it away.

“I know. What do you take me for? At least I know what I can and can’t do. I can’t change what has fundamentally changed, but I can at least release what has been suppressed all this time. It’s a pity that you have to live with poison for the rest of your life, but…”

Dang Wol-ah was silent. But her eyes, looking at Shinui, were shining.

“It will be quite painful. Anesthetic won’t work for you either.”

“It’s okay. I’m used to pain.”

Dang Wol-ah said.

“Is that so?”

Shinui snorted lightly. In these cases, all martial artists boast and confidently say that they can overcome such pain.

But when the treatment actually starts, most of them end up having to be gagged and tied up. When Shinui says ‘quite painful,’ it’s a different dimension of the problem.

“The treatment will be done after the little ones go back.”

Shinui said to Dang Wol-ah. It was Shinui’s consideration for Dang Wol-ah.

And that afternoon, Shinui realized that his consideration was not very useful.

∴

“Umm.”

Shinui pulled out the last needle.

The long silver needle, deeply embedded to the point of touching the bone, slowly came out, revealing its blackened appearance. Dang Wol-ah didn’t let out a single groan until the last moment the needle came out.

Cling.

The last needle was thrown onto the pile of numerous needles that had been pulled out of her.

Sa Su-yeon, who was standing next to him, handed Shinui, who was sweating, a clean cloth.

“Are you okay?”

Old Man Namak asked Shinui in a blunt voice.

“This is nothing.”

Shinui said, wiping away the sweat lightly.

“You look like you’re about to collapse right now, but you’re still showing off.”

Muttering, Old Man Namak removed his hand from Shinui’s back. A huge amount of True Energy was consumed each time Shinui placed a needle. If it weren’t for Old Man Namak, the procedure alone would have taken several days.

“It’s not showing off. Compared to the patient’s pain, it’s nothing.”

Looking at Dang Wol-ah, Shinui shook his head without realizing it. Dang Wol-ah really endured that extreme pain. It’s hard to believe even after seeing it with his own eyes.

“It’s over now. Rest for a while while recovering your energy. Normally, I would give you herbal medicine, but for you, it would be better to do a round of meditative breathing.”

Clatter.

Shinui got up from his seat.

“Ah, and you’ll need to change your clothes, so Yeon-ah, please help her.”

Dang Wol-ah, who was lying down in her needled state, turned her head.

“I can do it alone…”

“Nonsense. You have to accept help when you need it. The world is not lived alone.”

Shinui, dismissing Dang Wol-ah’s trembling voice, said to Sa Su-yeon.

“Wipe her with a clean, dry cloth. Don’t get her near water.”

“Yes.”

Sa Su-yeon nodded. Shinui, supported by Old Man Namak, went outside together.

Click.

“Hoo.”

Dang Wol-ah sat on the bed and began to meditate. Watching her quietly closing her eyes and calming her breath, Sa Su-yeon thought.

‘Why is she covering her face?’

Even while receiving the needle treatment, Dang Wol-ah was covering her face with a veil.

The same is true now. But a thin veil like that can’t hide Sa Su-yeon’s discerning eye.

‘She’s so pretty.’

Shiny silver hair, long eyelashes, and red lips. In Sa Su-yeon’s eyes, there seemed to be no reason to hide her face at all.

“Haaa.”

In the meantime, Dang Wol-ah’s meditative breathing was over.

Sa Su-yeon, who was standing guard, helped her change her clothes.

“Um, hair…”

Dang Wol-ah’s small voice was so quiet that it could have been missed. But Sa Su-yeon realized what she was saying.

“Ah. Okay. Let’s do it now.”

Swish.

Dang Wol-ah, who was sitting with her back turned, took off her veil. Sa Su-yeon slowly stroked Dang Wol-ah’s hair, which was like silver thread.

The comb moved slowly along the soft silver hair, which was so thin that it seemed like it would break if she wasn’t careful.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t said thank you yet.”

Swish, swish.

Sa Su-yeon said, stroking Dang Wol-ah’s hair.

“Wasn’t it you who told me how to save you? And about the Hanbing Ice Skill… Thank you, really.”

“You don’t need to thank me. It’s all Young Master Son’s doing.”

“Still, it’s clear that you’ve been kind to me.”

Swish, swish.

Dang Wol-ah was silent for a while. Then, suddenly, she said in a low tone.

“Please… put this hairpin in.”

“Hairpin?”

What Dang Wol-ah handed over was a small, pretty hairpin decorated with silver and jade. The small pink butterfly fluttering at the end was impressive.

“I received it from my sister at the coming-of-age ceremony [a traditional rite of passage for young women]. But no one actually put the hairpin in for me…”

The coming-of-age ceremony is a woman’s coming-of-age ceremony where a hairpin is inserted. It’s an important ceremony like a man’s coming-of-age ceremony, but there was no one to take care of such things for Dang Wol-ah.

The only thing her sister, Dang Hwa-ryeon, could do was barely hand over a hairpin. Dang Wol-ah was happy all day with just that.

“It’s a pretty hairpin.”

Flutter.

Watching the fluttering butterfly ornament, Sa Su-yeon recalled her own coming-of-age ceremony.

“I received it from my mother.”

Sa Su-yeon also didn’t have a special ceremony. But she was happy.

“She touched my hair like this and put in the hairpin.”

Sa Su-yeon still remembers her mother’s smiling face, that bright smile.

“It’s my first time.”

Dang Wol-ah said in a low voice.

“Putting in a hairpin, and having someone else touch my hair…”

Sa Su-yeon was a little embarrassed at her words.

‘Is that why she was staring like that?’

The thought occurred to her that this little girl, who seemed to fit snugly in her arms, might have had a harder time than she thought. Sa Su-yeon also didn’t have a very ordinary childhood.

Swish.

Sa Su-yeon twisted Dang Wol-ah’s hair up and put in the hairpin beautifully. Changing her hairstyle made her feel much more mature.

“It’s done.”

Sa Su-yeon said with a smile.

“It’s very pretty.”

Dang Wol-ah raised one hand and carefully touched her hair. Dang Wol-ah, who seemed curious and shy, reached out and picked up the veil next to the bed.

“Ah.”

Watching Dang Wol-ah put on the veil, Sa Su-yeon couldn’t help but exclaim. She had dressed her up so prettily, but to cover it with a veil was like wearing silk clothes on a dark night.

“Shall we go out?”

Dang Wol-ah got off the bed. An ordinary person would have to lie down for several days, but there was no discomfort in her movements at all.

“Yes, let’s go.”

Sa Su-yeon nodded with a slightly regretful smile.

Click.

The door opened and Sa Su-yeon and Dang Wol-ah came out. Shinui and Namak Old Man, who were drinking tea, and Son Bin’s gazes all turned to the two of them at once.

“Huh, I thought you’d only be able to move after the sun went down, but you’re already coming out?”

“Thank you, Shinui.”

Dang Wol-ah thanked Shinui with a polite bow. Shinui raised his teacup.

“It’s a small reward for saving Yeon-ah, so don’t worry about it.”

“But, what has changed?”

Old Man Namak said, frowning.

“You made such a fuss, but nothing much has changed? It seems like she’s gotten a little taller…”

“That’s it.”

“That?”

“Due to the extreme poison, that child’s growth has been abnormally stunted for a long time. From now on, she will gradually grow taller and her body will return to normal to some extent.”

Shinui said, taking a sip of hot tea.

“Well, she was already recovering naturally. All I did was help a little. It’s not a big deal.”

Listening to Shinui’s words, Son Bin looked at Dang Wol-ah. He didn’t know if she had grown taller, but her presence definitely seemed to have changed.

“Is that so?”

Old Man Namak muttered next to him.

“But do you have to make such a fuss just to get a little prettier?”

“That’s why you’re still alone.”

Shinui said, holding his teacup.

“What?”

Old Man Namak’s face contorted.

“Aren’t you alone? You haven’t even held a woman’s wrist, except for patients!”

“Th, that’s… Ahem.”

Son Bin, letting Shinui and Old Man Namak’s rare quarrel flow in one ear, looked at Dang Wol-ah.

“Congratulations, Lady.”

Son Bin bowed and offered her his congratulations. Dang Wol-ah only quietly bowed her head as always. Because of that, Son Bin didn’t see Sa Su-yeon’s expression change slightly.

*

*

*

Clatter, clatter.

Several carriages and horses were kicking up dust as they sped along the official road. The proudly raised flag fluttered fiercely in the wind.

“Are we still far from Gwangju?”

A white-haired old man with a large build, riding in a luxurious carriage, asked as if bored. Although he was an old man, he seemed like he could overwhelm any young man with his aura alone. A middle-aged man answered him politely.

“We will arrive soon.”

The middle-aged man was also a warrior with a large build and strong features.

“You’ve been saying that answer for a while now, haven’t you?”

“I apologize.”

The middle-aged man replied in a polite tone. He was so polite and dignified that he didn’t seem sorry at all.

“Hey, the Deputy Chief of the Inner Hall is so inflexible… Hyang-ah, don’t you have anything interesting?”

A slender young lady who was looking out of the carriage smiled slightly.

“Shall I tell you about the history of the Hyeokryun family or the story of Gwangju? We’ll be arriving soon, so it might be good to know in advance…”

“Why, when I’m not even attending a meeting? And I’m sick of the Hyeokryun family. Thinking about the bloody battles we fought in the past still makes my bones ache.”

Namgung Hyang smiled slightly at those words. Although he was an old man, no one would believe his words that his bones ached. And the fact that he was such a talkative person.

“By the way, Grandfather, have you ever fought directly with the Hyeokryun family?”

Namgung Hyang asked, tilting her head. There were frequent large and small conflicts with the Hyeokryun family over the hegemony of the Jiangnan martial arts world, but he had never directly stepped forward. At least according to the records Namgung Hyang had seen.

“Ahem. Let’s just say that’s what it means. It’s a figurative meaning, figurative.”

Namgung Hyang nodded. If he had really stepped forward directly, it wouldn’t have been a big deal. It would be the same as a full-scale war.

“Grandfather, will you also be attending the meeting?”

“I won’t.”

The old man refused flatly.

“That’s something for you or this stubborn guy to do. And, Gwon that guy too. Even if we try to persuade him that we didn’t do it, he comes out with ‘So what?’ Who would look kindly on that? The Martial Alliance is trying to keep us in check right away, and even the Hyeokryun family is backing away. We ended up missing the Blood Dragon Gate [a martial arts sect] that we really had to catch and killed the promising disciples of innocent sects. Aying, you stupid guy. People may be afraid for now, but it’s only a matter of time before that turns into hostility.”

“But that kind of response isn’t bad either. The way to quell criticism is to make it meaningless. And the Blood Dragon Gate is a target we will have to face someday.”

“There’s no need to deliberately put ourselves in a disadvantageous situation. Besides, you warned him, but he didn’t even listen? It’s the same with this matter. If you’re going to ask the Hyeokryun family for help, you should come yourself. That way, the Hyeokryun family will say, ‘Oh my, the head of the family is coming in person!’ and run out barefoot, right? But he’s sending this old man. That guy still hasn’t come to his senses.”

The Deputy Chief of the Inner Hall, Namgung Jeong’s expression darkens.

In the Namgung family, where the hierarchy is particularly strict, such complaints about the head of the family are close to taboo. It’s bound to be uncomfortable for him.

“Why, don’t you like hearing it?”

The old man says, teasing him. But Namgung Jeong had no choice but to endure it. This old man was the only person who had the right to say that.

“It’s not that. However, this visit is not to ask for help, but as a kind of consultation and coordination…”

“That’s the same thing. He seems to think he’s showing consideration by sending me and Hyang, but with that stiff neck… he’s still far off. He’s like a guy who doesn’t know that there’s a sky above the sky, tsk tsk.”

The old man clicked his tongue. The sight of him grumbling like an old man in the back room made Namgung Hyang laugh without realizing it.

But the Deputy Chief of the Inner Hall, Namgung Jeong, couldn’t laugh.

The former head of the Namgung family and the ultimate master of the previous generation whose name still resounds throughout the world. The former Thunder Sword, Namgung Cheon, who made the title Thunder Sword, which was recognized as the title of the head of the Namgung family, known throughout the world, was this old man.

Although he had entrusted everything to his son Namgung Gwon and retired, his name still stands out in the martial arts world.

Clatter, clatter.

The Namgung family’s flag, raised high in the sky, fluttered proudly above the carriage.

The carriage was speeding non-stop towards Gwangju, the largest commercial city in Henan and the location of the Hyeokryun family.