A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 137

137. The Way to Obtain the World (得天下有道)

The two maids guided Son Bin and his group.

They arrived at one of the wooden structures around the Ice Palace, seemingly a residence for guests. As Son Bin’s group entered, a thick curtain covered the entrance.

“We apologize for the late greeting.”

The two maids bowed respectfully to Son Bin.

“I am Namira, a maid of the Seventh Palace Mistress. And this is the head maid, Sareunae.”

As No-gun had said, they were maids of the Seventh Palace Mistress, Sa Su-yeon. Son Bin bowed politely.

“I am Son Bin.”

Son Bin introduced his companions to them. The two maids bowed respectfully to No-gun, Dang Wora, and Seo-rin each time.

“You said you had a message to deliver?”

“Yes.”

Namira replied. Then, she turned to the middle-aged maid who introduced herself as Sareunae. Sareunae slowly opened her mouth.

“You do not need to participate in the martial arts competition.”

Sareunae’s clear voice echoed. Namira conveyed her words to Son Bin.

“Because the place where you will cross swords has already been decided.”

After speaking, Sareunae bowed to Son Bin.

“This is the message from the Young Palace Mistress.”

It meant the message was over. A moment of silence passed, and Son Bin turned his head towards Sareunae.

“Is Sa Sojeo [Young Palace Mistress]… alright?”

Son Bin’s eyes, directed at Sareunae, were filled with unconcealable concern for Sa Su-yeon. Sareunae hesitated for a moment. But soon, she nodded.

“Yes.”

“Really? Is she really… alright?”

Namira conveyed Son Bin’s words to Sareunae in a low voice.

Sareunae struggled for a moment. But as the head maid, her answer was already determined.

“I’m sorry, but there is nothing I can answer.”

Sareunae said, deliberately hardening her expression. The moment Namira conveyed those words, Sareunae could see Son Bin’s eyes filling with sorrow.

“That is all the message we have to deliver. You may stay here, and the Ice Palace will treat you with all due respect. Please tell Namira whenever you need anything.”

Sareunae spoke quickly. If she continued to look at those eyes, she might accidentally let slip unnecessary words. Before Namira could finish conveying her words, Sareunae bowed her head.

“Then, I will take my leave.”

Even knowing that Namira was a little embarrassed, Sareunae left her behind and exited the room.

Sarak.

Only after the curtain closed behind her could Sareunae barely calm herself.

“Haa.”

After taking a moment to catch her breath, Sareunae turned her head and looked back.

Even though it was already covered by the curtain, the image of the young scholar vividly appeared before her eyes. His warm eyes, filled with concern for the Young Palace Mistress, seemed to be still looking at her.

‘The first thing he asked was about the Young Palace Mistress’s well-being.’

The North Sea is buzzing with the Young Palace Mistress’s martial arts competition for a spouse. Countless martial artists with swords have come to the North Sea.

Whether they are merchants or martial artists, what people from the south are interested in is only one thing.

If they win, can they really have everything? If they win, can they become the Young Palace Mistress’s spouse and gain wealth and power? If they win, can they freely control the wealth of the North Sea?

What they want, and what they ask, are only those things.

‘Only that.’

But the first thing the young scholar asked was about the well-being of Young Palace Mistress Sa Su-yeon. He had no interest in wealth, power, or even becoming the Young Palace Mistress’s spouse.

‘Son Bin… was it?’

Sareunae quietly repeated the young scholar’s southern name, biting her lip slightly.

―Bin.

Perhaps it is a different name. No, she can’t even be sure if it is a name at all.

But Sareunae remembered. The name that the Young Palace Mistress once murmured like a groan, the name that Sa Su-yeon’s lips moved and uttered in her sleep.

‘Perhaps…’

Sareunae placed her hand on her chest.

Perhaps this is the person. The person who will bring back the warm and faint smile of the Young Palace Mistress that has disappeared since some time ago.

“Haa.”

Sareunae shook her head. But there is nothing she can do now. The Young Palace Mistress has already decided to cross swords with that young scholar. If so, she can only hope that everything will go according to the Young Palace Mistress’s will.

Sabak, sabak.

Sareunae moved her feet towards the Ice Palace.

Today marks the end of the Twelve North Sea Trials.

What remains is the Young Palace Mistress’s seventh martial arts competition and the last trial of the Great Plains.

Now it has become like the pride of the North Sea is at stake, and in fact, the last martial arts competition that determines the fate of the Young Palace Mistress.

Sareunae steeled her heart and hastened her steps.

*

*

*

“If you don’t need anything else, I will take my leave.”

Namira said with a slightly pale face.

She couldn’t help but be pale. The amount of food placed in front of her right now was enough for ten North Sea warriors to eat and still have leftovers.

“Thank you. We’ve caused you too much trouble.”

The young man dressed as a scholar, Son Bin, said with an apologetic expression. But Namira was not fooled by his seemingly nice face.

It was he who incited the others, saying, ‘Since it’s such a rare act of kindness, shall we gratefully accept it?’

As soon as those words were finished, requests for food poured out like a storm, as if they had been waiting for it.

The veiled lady who knew the names of North Sea dishes and listed them one by one, and the pretty boy who had already emptied three or four bowls while the food was coming out, were also no ordinary people.

‘Where does all that go into that small body?’

As Namira, who has been paying attention to her figure lately, couldn’t help but envy Seo-rin.

“Thank you, pretty sister.”

Seo-rin said with a bright smile, noticing Namira’s gaze towards him. Namira’s heart thumped at the unexpected attack.

“Ah, no. Eat a lot.”

Namira took another look at the pretty boy. Although it was hidden by his clothes, he was quite well-built and looked sturdy.

The fact that he was an innocent and pure pretty boy was also the most appealing thing.

“Thank you so much.”

Son Bin’s voice awakened Namira. Namira answered, slightly flustered.

“Y, you’re welcome. If you need anything else, please tell another maid…”

At that moment, the sparkling eyes of the pretty boy Seo-rin turned to Namira.

“No, tell me. Anytime.”

Namira, slightly blushing, bowed lightly and quickly tried to leave the room.

“Ah, excuse me.”

Son Bin’s voice caught her.

“Yes?”

Namira turned around, wondering what it was this time, and Son Bin smiled.

“I would like to express my gratitude, but is it possible to see the Young Palace Mistress?”

Namira’s expression changed slightly strangely. But only for a moment, she said with a smile that was clearly forced.

“Well, I don’t know if I should say this, but… the fact that people who are not North Sea warriors or tribal chiefs are staying here is a big deal, you know? Even those who have passed the Twelve North Sea Trials are not allowed to stay here and are staying in the surrounding villages.”

Perhaps because she had already started talking? Namira continued to speak without hesitation.

“But a foreigner suddenly wants to enter the Ice Palace? And even the Seventh Palace Hall? You have to say something that makes sense.”

“Ah, is that so? I’m sorry. I didn’t know very well.”

Son Bin scratched his head.

“But it seems that the Seventh Palace Mistress has a separate grand hall where she stays.”

“Yes.”

Namira said in a proud tone.

“Do you know what it means for the Young Palace Mistress to be allowed a separate grand hall in the Ice Palace? It’s really amazing. Besides, I suffered so much decorating that Seventh Palace Hall…”

“Where is the Seventh Palace Hall? Is it outside the Ice Palace?”

Son Bin interrupted her and asked. Namira frowned slightly for a moment, then answered.

“It’s inside the Ice Palace. But the Young Palace Mistress is not in the Seventh Palace Hall right now.”

Namira said with a very proud face.

“From today, the Seventh Palace Mistress has entered the training chamber of the past Ice Emperors. This martial arts competition is already a competition with the pride of the entire North Sea at stake. It’s all thanks to accepting that bad Ice Empress’s ridiculous proposal… Ah.”

While speaking, Namira quickly covered her mouth. She realized that she had said something she shouldn’t have.

She looked at Son Bin’s face. But Son Bin didn’t seem to know the importance of what Namira had just said and was just looking at Namira with a puzzled look.

“Ahem. Anyway, you can’t see the Young Palace Mistress right now. Then, goodbye.”

Namira quickly bowed her head and left the room without looking back. If she stayed any longer, she didn’t know what she would say.

Sarak.

After passing through the curtain and leaving the room, she blamed herself, hitting her head.

‘You idiot. How could you say such a thing? I’m crazy, I’m crazy.’

Namira glanced back. There was no particular movement inside the curtain.

‘It’ll be okay, right?’

She had revealed things inside the Ice Palace, but it wasn’t very meaningful. It was just the level of stories that maids would chatter about.

Besides, that person is not from the North Sea, so it doesn’t really matter.

‘It’s okay. It’ll be okay.’

Namira stroked her chest. And quickly hastened her steps towards the Ice Palace.

∴

“She’s gone.”

No-gun said.

“She’s gone. She was a nice sister.”

Seo-rin muttered regretfully.

“You shouldn’t follow just anyone because they’re nice.”

Dang Wora said to Seo-rin.

“You’ll lose your way home if you meet a bad person.”

Seo-rin looked surprised as if he had been caught off guard, then nodded his head so hard that it made a sound.

“If she’s not in the Ice Palace, there’s no point in going.”

No-gun said.

“I was going to sneak in tonight.”

For No-gun, sneaking in and out of the Ice Palace was easier than eating cold porridge.

“Do you happen to know where the training chamber of the past Ice Emperors is?”

“I don’t know.”

No-gun said grumbling at Son Bin’s question.

“But it doesn’t seem like a good thing.”

No-gun’s eyes were sharp.

“Simma [inner demon] pops out from unexpected places. But it doesn’t come out of nowhere. Simma digs into the weaknesses hidden deep in the heart and begins to shake the most essential things.”

No-gun’s expression was hardened as he spoke. He also knew about Simma.

“The more you resist Simma, the more you become trapped by it, and eventually, you become buried in distorted and twisted thoughts. After that, you can only see that. There’s a reason why it’s called ‘Ma (魔)’ (Demon).”

No-gun sighed softly.

“I wonder what kind of wrong thoughts that child is trapped in…”

“I think I know.”

Dang Wora suddenly said. No-gun turned his head and looked at Dang Wora.

“What is it?”

“It’s not something I can answer. Not if Sa Sojeo herself doesn’t want it.”

No-gun frowned. Dang Wora looked back at Son Bin and said in a low voice.

“Maybe she’ll answer you, Son Gongja [young master]. Or maybe she’ll never let you know.”

No-gun frowned with a look that seemed to say, ‘Is she going to answer or not?’ He muttered quietly, but Dang Wora just focused on the food again and didn’t answer.

*

*

*

The area around the martial arts arena was a sea of people.

Martial artists and business people who wanted to see the end of the martial arts competition for a spouse, and tribal chiefs and warriors who wanted to see the martial arts competition with the pride of the North Sea at stake, were all gathered here.

The giant Ice Emperor, as well as the Ice Empress, concubines, and even the Young Palace Mistresses, were all seated above the martial arts arena.

It was the first time they had publicly appeared in one place, so there were many martial artists who saw the Ice Emperor for the first time at this event.

“Waaaaaah!”

A middle-aged man frowned as he listened to the pouring shouts of the North Sea people. As a member of the Maun Merchant Group, he was sitting with Pilong, Je Gal-ryun.

“This is too much. It’s already noisy from the start without doing anything.”

Pilong, Je Gal-ryun, looked up at the platform. The Ice Emperor, old but still exuding a sense of oppression, was seated on the platform.

“Do the North Sea people originally follow the Ice Emperor so enthusiastically?”

“That’s not true.”

The middle-aged man shook his head.

“The North Sea people respect the Ice Emperor very much, but not to this extent. This excessive enthusiasm has arisen since the martial arts competition for a spouse.”

Je Gal-ryun smiled bitterly. The moment one recognizes the other, one re-recognizes and gathers ‘us’. If the other is a force wielding a sword, there is no need to say more.

As Je Gal-ryun predicted, this martial arts competition was playing a significant role in uniting the North Sea.

The consciousness that they cannot allow the Central Plains martial artists to take away the beautiful Young Palace Mistress, who is like a jewel of the North Sea, is also openly prevalent among the North Sea people.

“Do you know how to obtain the world?”

The middle-aged man smiled quietly. How could he boast of his knowledge in front of Je Gal-ga’s Pilong, Je Gal-ryun?

“How could I know such a thing? I only know how to obtain small profits.”

“If you gain the people, you gain the world.”

“Ah, that’s Mencius’s saying.”

The middle-aged man nodded. But Je Gal-ryun’s words were not over yet.

“If you gain the heart, you gain the people.”

Je Gal-ryun looked at the Young Palace Mistress sitting on the platform.

“If it was intentional, it cannot be said that it is not a great strategy.”

Still beautiful and cold, she was not by the Ice Emperor’s side, unlike the other Young Palace Mistresses. Her appearance, standing alone, was dignified and overwhelming.

Seomoksu, Orhan, was standing respectfully by her side, guarding her.

Although most people may not know it, those in the North Sea who know about foreign affairs will clearly understand its meaning.

“I see.”

The middle-aged man nodded.

But Je Gal-ryun’s words did not give him much emotion. He had seen many people change their minds for a few coins.

“But would the young Young Palace Mistress have such deep intentions? Besides, as I have already explained, the martial arts competition for a spouse was a condition put forward by the Ice Empress.”

The middle-aged man glanced at the Ice Empress sitting next to the Ice Emperor. Her expression was not very good.

How could it be? The strategy she proposed had rather fueled the popularity of the Young Palace Mistress.

“It is the Ice Empress’s misstep and the Young Palace Mistress’s good fortune.”

“Is that really so?”

Pilong, Je Gal-ryun, frowned. Of course, it is possible to think as the middle-aged man said. But logically, would anyone accept such conditions from the Ice Empress?

‘But the Young Palace Mistress accepted it.’

Of course, the Young Palace Mistress also gained a lot. She gained full authority over the progress of the martial arts competition for a spouse, and the extraordinary privilege of entering the training chamber of the past Ice Emperors as the Young Palace Mistress.

Although it is symbolic, its meaning is great. She has preempted a unique position that cannot be compared to other Young Palace Mistresses.

But the biggest thing she gained was the fact that she became the protagonist of this hot enthusiasm.

“If it was done without calculation, it is even more frightening.”

A true genius cannot teach others. Because they cannot explain how they come to a conclusion. They just wonder why they cannot do such a simple thing.

Pilong, Je Gal-ryun, looked at the Young Palace Mistress again. The strands of her hair, lightly scattered by the wind, seemed like flowing mist.

‘Hmm.’

Was it a coincidence? Suddenly, the Young Palace Mistress’s gaze met Pilong, Je Gal-ryun’s. Despite the distance that was by no means close, her cold gaze seemed to penetrate Je Gal-ryun’s heart.

Seuk.

The Ice Emperor rose from his seat. The noisy surroundings became quiet in an instant.

“It is the last night of the Great Plains.”

The Ice Emperor’s low and heavy voice echoed around. The Ice Emperor turned his gaze.

Jeobeok, jeobeok [sound of footsteps].

At his gesture, two people stepped onto the martial arts arena.

It was Menghogeom, Je Gal-gyun, and Pungungeom, Gongson-byeok.

Both of them had calm expressions, as if telling of their considerable years of experience, but they were not hiding the sharp momentum in their eyes.

The martial artists watching were also unable to hide their tension. The sight of Je Gal-sega [Je Gal family] and Gongson-sega [Gongson family], two of the Five Great Families, facing each other head-on was not common, even if it was a martial arts competition.

“Prove your courage. Whoever wins to the end will run with the Seventh Palace Mistress.”

The Ice Emperor’s declaration fell. At that moment, Je Gal-gyun and Gongson-byeok’s momentum changed.

Huuk.

An extraordinary energy began to emanate from the two people’s bodies. The fighting spirit of the supreme masters who had reached the realm of Sword Energy Manifestation was so great that the faces of the people near the martial arts arena changed involuntarily.

Jeobeok [sound of footsteps].

It was the very moment they took a step towards each other.

Sarak.

Everyone’s eyes turned to one person. Even Je Gal-gyun and Gongson-byeok turned their heads. It was because Young Palace Mistress Sa Su-yeon had risen from her seat.

“I don’t like it.”

The Young Palace Mistress’s expression was clearly unpleasant.

“You are not at all prepared.”

Young Palace Mistress Sa Su-yeon said to Je Gal-gyun and Gongson-byeok. Her eyes towards the two were literally like frost at this moment.

“Prepared to face me.”

Huuuuk.

At that moment, an enormous energy began to pour out from the Young Palace Mistress’s body. It was an overwhelming energy that could not be compared to Je Gal-gyun or Gongson-byeok, and even Pilong, Je Gal-ryun’s face changed.

Hwaaaak.

Seo-rin gritted his teeth at her momentum that extended beyond the martial arts arena. Dang Wora also began to emit energy faintly, and even Namak No-gun’s face hardened.

“Was that child’s inner strength this much?”

Wooung.

The White Heron cried. But Son Bin’s eyes, looking at Sa Su-yeon, were only filled with unconcealable concern for her.