A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 97

97. Old Fisherman of the Jang River

“Heave-ho.”

The frail old man, the Old Fisherman of the Jang River, plopped down across from No-gun. Though no one invited him, he took a seat as if it were his right and nonchalantly waved to call a waiter.

“Take this and have it prepared deliciously.”

Accustomed to such requests, the waiter took the basket he offered and disappeared into the kitchen.

The fallen men were moved to a room, and the tavern was already as noisy as before. People no longer paid attention to the shabby old man.

“So, what brings you here? Besides…”

The Old Fisherman of the Jang River’s gaze turned to Dang-wol. His thin eyes, hidden beneath his wrinkled face, gleamed sharply for a moment.

“To be with a girl from the Dang family, quite a rare sight, isn’t it?”

“Aren’t you the rare one?”

No-gun retorted, pursing his lips.

“Leaving the precious disciples of the Orthodox Faction [a major, traditional martial arts sect] collapsed like that.”

“Heh heh.”

The Old Fisherman of the Jang River stroked his beard with his bony hand, chuckling. His thread-like eyes narrowed until they were almost invisible.

“It’s easy to bend but hard to straighten, so how could the Orthodox Faction’s children not be precious? But children sometimes grow by being scolded. Whatever you’ve done must have a reason.”

No-gun scoffed and said,

“What if there’s no reason?”

“Well, I, for one, hope there’s a possible reason…”

The eyes of the two old men met sharply. A palpable tension settled between them in an instant.

“You’re as stubborn as an old mule. Do you still think the world is so simply divided into black and white?”

“Everything that isn’t righteous is twisted. The world is very simple, you see.”

“Nonsense. Dividing the world like that is your arrogance and delusion.”

“Divide it…? Heh heh, if it’s to drive out the Demonic Faction [a rival, often villainous martial arts sect], I’d gladly divide this world in two.”

Whoo-oong.

The tense energy between the two began to clash in earnest. The sharp aura that had been subtly directed at each other soon enveloped them, explosively increasing its power.

Whoosh.

The two men’s energy collided, sweeping through the tavern like a storm. The bustling tavern was instantly thrown into chaos.

“Eek!”

“Ugh!”

“W-what is it?”

People instinctively cowered, feeling a chilling coldness from the sudden, immense energy. The lamps in the tavern flickered all at once, as if caught in a storm.

“No-gun.”

Shhh.

At Son-bin’s quiet voice, Nam-ak No-gun’s energy vanished as if washed away. At the same time, the Old Fisherman of the Jang River’s energy also subsided.

“Tch.”

No-gun turned his head. People wore bewildered expressions at the chilling, oppressive energy that had suddenly appeared and disappeared in the tavern.

“W-what was that? Wind?”

“Wind? W-where would such a wind come from…”

People still didn’t know what was going on and murmured among themselves.

Some martial artists realized that it was the energy caused by the Old Fisherman and No-gun, and their faces turned pale, but for most ordinary merchants, it was simply incomprehensible.

The martial artists quietly got up from their seats and went up to their rooms or left the tavern altogether. The noisy crowd also felt a chill down their spines and mostly rose from their seats.

“L-let’s go. We need to rest to cross the Jang River early tomorrow morning.”

“Y-yes, let’s.”

People disappeared into their rooms one by one, and thanks to that, the noisy tavern became quiet with an early closing atmosphere.

“Here’s your food. Here… Huh? Where did the other guests go?”

The waiter, who was bringing the food, wore a bewildered expression. But the other waiters in the tavern were just as clueless.

The waiter tilted his head, but for now, he placed the food he was carrying in front of the group.

“Enjoy your meal.”

The waiter said energetically and bowed, but no one responded.

No one touched the food. Even when another waiter from the kitchen came out and placed the carp dish down, no one opened their mouths.

“I apologize.”

Son-bin said in the quiet silence.

“However, I had no choice but to commit this rudeness as it seemed it might harm others. I apologize once again for interfering in your affairs.”

Son-bin bowed politely. No-gun still had his head turned, but the Old Fisherman of the Jang River looked at Son-bin with a strange light in his eyes.

“Hmm. This is quite a curious thing. To think there’s someone in the world who can stop the rampaging Nam-ak No-gun.”

“What? Who…”

“I didn’t stop him.”

Nam-ak No-gun was about to burst out, but Son-bin’s quiet voice flowed out.

“No-gun restrained himself. I merely offered a small piece of advice.”

“A small piece of advice… You have quite a smooth tongue.”

Unlike his smiling face, the Old Fisherman’s gaze towards Son-bin was fierce.

“Although your cultivation isn’t high, your eyes are upright and clear, so if you diligently cultivate, you could achieve great things in a few decades. If I didn’t see any sinister energy in your eyes, I would have simply let you pass quietly…”

Oong.

At the same time as the Old Fisherman of the Jang River’s eyes flashed, the White Dew [Son-bin’s sword] cried out. And a sharp energy assailed Son-bin’s entire body.

“The problem is that you possess something precious that doesn’t suit you. I don’t know why you have that sword or why No-gun is staying still, but I must confirm this.”

The Old Fisherman of the Jang River’s eyes turned towards Son-bin as sharply as a judge’s.

“Answer me. Are you one who stands with the Orthodox Faction, or do you belong to the Demonic Faction?”

His gaze flew towards Son-bin like a sharp sword.

A powerful energy that would make even a decent martial artist collapse on the spot poured towards Son-bin.

Shhh.

Son-bin straightened his posture. And he spoke calmly in his usual voice, as if he didn’t feel the Old Fisherman of the Jang River’s energy at all.

“If you ask about righteousness and evil, I am merely a foolish person who seeks to do what is right.”

That was Son-bin’s sincere answer. But it wasn’t so for the Old Fisherman of the Jang River. The Old Fisherman of the Jang River chuckled. That chuckle was by no means friendly.

“You have quite a clever talent, more than I thought. And a tongue as smooth as if it’s been oiled.”

The Old Fisherman of the Jang River partially revised his assessment of the young man before him. This young man, who seemed like a weak scholar at first glance, with shallow internal energy and no experience, was bravely withstanding his energy.

“But you still haven’t answered my question. If you were from the Orthodox Faction, you wouldn’t hesitate to reveal yourself. The fact that you’re cleverly trying to avoid answering means you must be wary of something.”

Whoo-oook.

The Old Fisherman of the Jang River’s energy pouring towards Son-bin grew even stronger. It seemed that Son-bin’s answer had only fueled his suspicion further.

“Answer me. Are you Orthodox, or Demonic? Or perhaps, an extreme heretic?”

The Old Fisherman of the Jang River was exuding an energy as if he would strike Son-bin at any moment.

Son-bin sighed quietly.

“The reason I have this sword is…”

“Are you trying to evade the question again?”

The Old Fisherman of the Jang River’s voice, tinged with subtle anger, flowed out.

“If you are a person of the Orthodox Faction, I will gladly listen to your words. But if you are Demonic, there’s no need to listen. So answer me first. Are you Orthodox, Demonic? Or perhaps, an extreme heretic?”

“If I must choose.”

Oong.

Listening to the White Dew’s cry, Son-bin answered.

“I am not.”

The Old Fisherman’s eyebrows twitched. To say he wasn’t meant that he wouldn’t fit into the Old Fisherman’s frame, which was the same as rejecting the question itself.

“You’re not? If you insist…”

As anger rose, the Old Fisherman saw Nam-ak No-gun’s expression for a moment. No-gun was feigning ignorance, but the faint smile on his lips was clear.

“Why bother arguing with words?”

Suddenly, Nam-ak No-gun’s voice was heard. It was a nonchalant voice as if throwing it away, but the Old Fisherman could clearly feel the faint ridicule flowing beneath it.

“There’s a very easy and simple way.”

The Old Fisherman frowned and looked at No-gun.

No-gun said,

“Martial arts are everything in the outer world. Isn’t that right?”

“Outer world?”

The Old Fisherman asked back without realizing it. For a moment, he thought No-gun was talking about the Dang family’s girl.

But No-gun’s sparkling eyes were clearly directed at the young man before him.

“This guy is from the outer world?”

With a dubious look, the Old Fisherman looked at Son-bin.

He couldn’t see him as being at the level to be in the outer world, although he had potential. It was much more convincing to call him a scholar, like his attire, rather than a young man with clear eyes staring straight at him.

*

*

*

The waves of the Jang River, swirling in the darkness, sparkled under the moonlight.

Even though the sun had already set, the humid feeling hadn’t disappeared. The blowing wind also felt lukewarm for some reason. Just like the Old Fisherman of the Jang River’s frowning expression.

“Greed devours life.”

The Old Fisherman of the Jang River, standing with his back to the river, said sternly as if warning. His shabby clothes fluttered in the night wind.

“That sword originally belongs to a great elder of the Orthodox Faction and is not something anyone can touch carelessly. You seem to have accidentally obtained the sword and been captivated by its beauty, but anyone can make a mistake once in a while. Since your nature doesn’t seem to be malicious, if you regret your mistake and hand over the sword now, I will spare your life.”

His anger had subsided a bit, and his voice was calm. But his resolve seemed to have grown even stronger.

“Of course, that’s only if you are a person of the Orthodox Faction.”

The Old Fisherman of the Jang River’s gaze towards Son-bin was as cold as frost.

“That is not the case.”

Son-bin shook his head. The Old Fisherman of the Jang River’s eyebrows twitched.

“If you insist…”

Anger rose again in his eyes. But Son-bin continued to speak.

“I am merely a scholar. The reason I said I wasn’t is because of that. And the reason I have this sword is because I was asked by the True Man [a Taoist title for a highly realized individual].”

Answering that he wasn’t was Son-bin’s best. In reality, he didn’t belong to a martial arts sect. And he had no intention of belonging to one.

But the Old Fisherman laughed. It was a cold and angry smile.

“Do I look so foolish that I would believe those words and let you go?”

No-gun, who had been listening to Son-bin’s words from a short distance away, sighed.

“Why so much talk when you can just fight? You have to beat up a stubborn guy like that before talking to him, right? Well, he wouldn’t understand even if you did.”

The Old Fisherman of the Jang River’s face contorted. No-gun’s words were clearly mocking him.

But No-gun didn’t stop there.

“If you’re going to fight anyway, do it quickly. Why are you talking so long today? Do you feel guilty for trying to catch an innocent person?”

The Old Fisherman’s eyebrows twitched. But he didn’t answer. The Old Fisherman of the Jang River stared straight at Son-bin and said,

“The sins of the Orthodox Faction are heavier than the evil deeds of the Demonic Faction. Even if you belong to the Orthodox Faction, if you don’t repent until the end, you will eventually have to pay for it with your life.”

The reason his warning was unusually long was perhaps because, as No-gun said, there was a hint of hesitation.

Son-bin sighed quietly. In a calm and resolute voice, Son-bin said,

“I will answer with this sword.”

If the other party had already closed their ears, further explanation was meaningless. Now, the conversation was postponed until after the martial arts contest.

Shhh.

Son-bin placed his hand on White Dew. The warmth felt from White Dew gently enveloped Son-bin.

Whoo-ook.

The Mysterious Heavenly Great River Art, which he had repeated countless times, came to mind like an instinct, and his mind calmed down.

The stuffy feeling and the slightest hesitation disappeared. A faint smile appeared on Son-bin’s face.

On the other hand, the Old Fisherman of the Jang River didn’t hide his unpleasant mood.

“Everything is your own doing. I will return that sword to the Wudang Sect [a prominent Taoist martial arts sect].”

Flick.

As the Old Fisherman of the Jang River’s wrinkled hand disappeared behind him and reappeared, a fishing rod made of blue bamboo appeared.

But it was definitely not bamboo.

Because bamboo couldn’t emit a blue light.

“My friend, Azure Flow.”

The Old Fisherman of the Jang River said. But Son-bin couldn’t pay attention to those words. At that moment, along with a chilling feeling, something was rushing fiercely towards Son-bin from the darkness.

Swae-aek.

Oong.

At the same time as the White Dew’s cry, Son-bin drew his sword. The tip of the White Dew, shining under the moonlight, drew a semicircle towards the sky, and a sharp sound erupted.

Clang!

Sparks flew, and something brushed past Son-bin’s ear. To be exact, it was obstructed by White Dew and failed to achieve its purpose.

But still, nothing was visible.

“Today, I will fish you out with this Azure Flow. Whether you want it or not.”

Shhh.

The Old Fisherman stood calmly, holding the blue fishing rod, Azure Flow.

But the invisible something was clearly cutting through the wind menacingly in the darkness.

The martial arts contest had already begun.