A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 156

Clatter.

The bamboo blinds rustled as people entered. The waiter bowed politely but wasn’t overly enthusiastic, as these people had been staying at the inn for three days already.

“Is it already dinner time?”

The white-bearded old man, Nam Ryok No Gun, said as he sat down. Most of the people in the inn were already eating dinner.

“Yay! Food, food!”

Seo Rin jumped down into a seat. The rest of the group followed, sitting around the table.

Unable to see, Kang Rin was guided by her younger brother, Kang Min. Rin carefully held a guqin [a Chinese plucked seven-string musical instrument] wrapped in clean cloth.

No Gun immediately ordered from the waiter. After three days, he was well aware of the inn’s menu. As the waiter left with the order and they waited for the food, Kang Rin cautiously spoke.

“Young Master Son…”

“Yes, Miss Rin.”

With her eyes closed, Rin turned her head towards Son Bin’s voice.

“Are you sure it was alright? I hope it didn’t cost too much to fix…”

Rin said, carefully caressing the guqin she held close. Son Bin smiled.

“It’s fine. It’s customary to offer gifts when seeking instruction.”

Son Bin had repaired Kang Rin’s old guqin. He had taken it in three days prior and had only just retrieved it.

“I feel like it’s too inadequate as a gift…”

“No, it’s not.”

Rin shook her head.

“I like this. Thank you, Young Master Son.”

Rin said, hugging her guqin tightly to her chest.

According to the merchant, the guqin Rin possessed was quite good. However, it had been neglected for a long time and not properly maintained afterward, leaving it in poor condition.

“The sound is really much better.”

Rin, having received the newly repaired guqin, plucked a few strings and looked surprised.

Above all, the resonance of the sound had greatly improved, to the point that even Son Bin, who was new to the guqin, could tell.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Son Bin said. Rin nodded, her face slightly flushed.

In the meantime, the waiter arrived with his hands full of the ordered food.

“Delicious!”

Seo Rin said, finishing her portion before anyone else. Kang Min, sitting next to her, chided, ‘Hyung [older brother], you’re eating too fast,’ but Seo Rin paid no attention.

“Of course. You found this place with your nose, after all.”

No Gun grumbled. However, his hand was pushing one of the dishes in front of him towards Seo Rin.

Seo Rin’s face brightened, and Sa Su Yeon asked with a smile.

“Want more to eat?”

“Yes!”

Seo Rin replied energetically. Kang Min looked at her with disbelief, but Seo Rin seemed only happy. Sa Su Yeon portioned out some of her food to Seo Rin.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

Dang Wol-ah asked Sa Su Yeon in a low voice.

“Ah, I don’t have much of an appetite…”

Sa Su Yeon smiled and trailed off. But Dang Wol-ah stared at Sa Su Yeon intently before suddenly saying,

“It looks good enough.”

Sa Su Yeon looked at her, wondering what she meant, and Dang Wol-ah said,

“You haven’t gained weight.”

Sa Su Yeon’s face turned bright red.

“Th, that’s not it…”

“It’s just because I’ve been eating inn food lately. It’ll get better when I eat the food Young Master Son makes later.”

“That’s not it!”

Sa Su Yeon frantically tried to stop Dang Wol-ah, glancing at Son Bin. Son Bin pretended not to hear and quickly turned his head, but his obvious consideration made her even more embarrassed.

“And, give me some too.”

“Yes?”

Sa Su Yeon asked back at the sudden request. Dang Wol-ah was looking at the food in front of Sa Su Yeon.

“I want to eat it too.”

“Ah, this is a dish Miss Wol-ah hasn’t tried before. Alright.”

Sa Su Yeon nodded, but then No Gun suddenly asked,

“She hasn’t eaten this before?”

“No. At least not while she’s been with me.”

No Gun frowned.

“Were you keeping track of everything she ate? How do you know what she ate and what she didn’t?”

Sa Su Yeon looked at No Gun as if wondering what he meant.

“Why would I keep track of that? It’s easy to figure out if you think about it.”

Sa Su Yeon said as if it were nothing.

“Miss Wol-ah doesn’t order the same thing often, so it’s easy to remember. Come to think of it, the first thing we ate when we met was lightly fried dumplings, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Dang Wol-ah nodded.

“The first time you met? That… after the Gangnam Yongbongjihoe [a gathering or event in the Gangnam region]?”

“Yes.”

Sa Su Yeon replied as if it were obvious. No Gun, who had been half-expecting it, clicked his tongue. He couldn’t understand either Sa Su Yeon, who remembered such things, or Dang Wol-ah, who confirmed that it was correct.

“You guys are a strange bunch. But then again, who in the Outer World isn’t strange…”

No Gun said as if talking about someone else. In the meantime, Sa Su Yeon handed her food to Dang Wol-ah.

“I’ll say it again, it’s not because I’m getting fat.”

Sa Su Yeon said, unable to let it go.

“It’s just that I feel like I’ve been eating too much lately without doing anything…”

But Dang Wol-ah slightly lowered her head and focused on the food.

Sa Su Yeon glanced at Son Bin, who was still being obviously considerate. Sa Su Yeon felt like crying, but she couldn’t show it.

And so, another day was coming to an end.

*

*

*

“Lord Shin-ui!”

Jeok Se-hwa said in a hurried voice. It was very rare for her, who was always so quiet, so Shin-ui raised his head to look at her.

“A letter has arrived. It’s from No Gun…”

Jeok Se-hwa’s hand, handing over the thin letter, was trembling slightly.

Shin-ui received the letter with an indifferent expression and unfolded it.

Rustle.

“Hmm.”

The contents of the letter were not long. Shin-ui frowned. His thick eyebrows twitched.

“I’ll have to go for a bit.”

Shin-ui said, putting down the letter.

“Bin is sick, it seems.”

“Yes?”

Jeok Se-hwa’s eyes widened.

“Sick? How sick is he?”

“I don’t know the details.”

Shin-ui handed the letter to Jeok Se-hwa. Jeok Se-hwa quickly unfolded the letter.

There, in No Gun’s unique handwriting, was a short sentence: ‘Bin is sick, so come to Hangzhou,’ a very simple sentence.

“Why does he want you to come to Hangzhou? And what happened to Young Master Son…”

“Who’s sick?”

A gruff and sharp voice interrupted their conversation. Jeok Se-hwa turned her head to see Jang Gang Eo Wung, holding a blue fishing rod, entering the Seowon [a type of private educational institution in Korea during the Joseon Dynasty].

“Bin.”

Shin-ui said in a blunt tone.

“The original owner of the food you eat, the person who bought the clothes you wear, and the owner of this house where you sleep. He’s also the owner of a charitable nature who even allows someone like you, who does no work and idly fishes in the river, to be treated.”

Jang Gang Eo Wung’s eyebrows twitched.

“At least I agree with the charitable nature part. To take in, feed, clothe, and house someone like you, who defies the heavens and plays with people’s lives.”

A sneer appeared on Shin-ui’s lips.

“Has old age made you blind? Can’t you see this letter? It’s a letter from No Gun asking for my help. At least I’m definitely helpful, unlike someone else.”

“You’re the one who’s blind.”

Rustle.

Jang Gang Eo Wung took out a letter from his pocket. It was a letter with No Gun’s unique handwriting inscribed in a single stroke.

“Can’t you see? It’s No Gun’s request to catch a Kyoryong [a mythical dragon-like creature] for Bin. Kyoryong are very good for men, much better than your unidentified hwandan [a type of elixir or medicine].”

“Unidentified?”

Shin-ui bristled at Eo Wung’s words.

“Isn’t that Kyoryong just a rare snake in the end? My hwandan is much better than such a trivial thing!”

“Ha! You’ve never even eaten it, yet you call it ‘just a snake’? But then again, you wouldn’t know.”

Eo Wung sneered, looking at Shin-ui.

“How would someone who’s never even met a woman in his life know?”

“And have you? It’s just laughable that someone useless like you is talking about what’s good for men.”

“Wh, what? Laughable?”

The two men’s argument was escalating.

“How about this?”

Suddenly, Jeok Se-hwa’s voice cut in between the two men. Receiving Shin-ui and Eo Wung’s sharp gazes, Jeok Se-hwa said with a gentle smile.

“You should go to Hangzhou together. And then see which of you is truly helpful to Young Master Son. Then, you won’t need to argue anymore, right?”

Eo Wung’s eyes sparkled.

“Indeed, that is the right way.”

Eo Wung said, glaring at Shin-ui.

“You won’t run away, will you?”

“I don’t care. I have to go to Hangzhou anyway. But…”

Shin-ui said, frowning.

“Going with you alone is a bit…”

Eo Wung’s eyebrows also furrowed.

“Ah, is that so? Then I have no choice but to go too, right? It would be a disaster if you two were to fight on the way.”

Jeok Se-hwa said, nodding. Eo Wung and Shin-ui both looked back at her with puzzled expressions.

“Well, I’m fine with that…”

Eo Wung said with a somewhat uneasy expression. Shin-ui, also a little suspicious, asked Jeok Se-hwa.

“Then what are you going to do about the Seowon? Bin is…”

“Oh my, is the Seowon the problem now?”

Jeok Se-hwa said with a bright smile.

“The Seowon can just have a temporary break or something. More importantly, Young Master Son is sick, isn’t he?”

Her eyes were not smiling. Shin-ui coughed awkwardly.

“Th, then let’s prepare to leave…”

“I’ll finish it by today.”

Jeok Se-hwa said.

“We can leave early tomorrow morning.”

She said in a firm voice. Shin-ui and Eo Wung could only nod at her forcefulness.

*

*

*

Ttang, ttang.

The clear sound of the guqin echoed in the room. Rin’s slender, white fingers raced across the guqin, and her younger brother, Min, sat beside her as if guarding his sister’s performance.

Ttang.

The performance ended, and Rin stopped her hands. As even the lingering resonance of the last note disappeared, Rin quietly sighed.

“Why, Nuna [older sister]?”

Min asked. Rin shook her head.

“No, it’s nothing.”

She said it was nothing, but her expression was quite serious. Min was worried.

“What’s wrong? Tell me, Nuna.”

Rin couldn’t open her mouth easily. After stroking the guqin for a long time, Rin said quietly.

“I wonder if this is… alright…”

“What is?”

“I wonder if it’s okay for me to teach the guqin to someone like Young Master Son…”

“What’s wrong with Nuna? You’re good at the guqin, aren’t you?”

Min said with wide eyes.

“Why? Did Young Master Son say something?”

“It’s not that. He is…”

Rin sighed.

“He’s really trying to learn from me seriously.”

Rin said in a calm voice.

“Think about it. Who would want to have a girl like me as a teacher?”

“That’s… true.”

Min nodded. Being ignored and kicked out was the typical treatment they had received.

Sometimes there were people who respected them, saying that music was a noble art, but that was closer to their self-satisfaction, and no one truly respected Rin.

“But he sincerely asked me to teach him. Even showing such courtesy. But is my guqin… qualified to respond to that sincerity?”

Rin gently stroked her guqin. Her hands were trembling slightly.

“Do I have the worth for someone like that to bow his head and ask for guidance? Isn’t it actually too presumptuous of me? I keep thinking that…”

“It’s, it’s okay! Nuna!”

Min said with feigned energy. He was secretly thinking that the favor was too great.

“N, Nuna didn’t do anything wrong! Young Master Son did it on purpose. Th, the people who read a lot of difficult books do a lot of strange things, right? And, and it’s true that Nuna is better than Young Master Son…”

“I’m not even sure about that anymore.”

Rin sighed again. Playing with Son Bin was so happy, but at the same time, it made Rin look back at herself.

“Am I… really good at the guqin?”

Min was speechless. It was the first time his sister had said such a thing.

“Nuna is the best!”

Min suddenly shouted. Rin was so surprised that she flinched.

“No matter what anyone says, Nuna is the best! Nuna is, Nuna is… my Nuna!”

Min’s voice was choked with tears. Rin, who had been looking surprised, reached out to her brother. She felt the familiar touch of her brother at her groping fingertips. And also a tear running down his cheek.

Swish.

Rin wiped away the tears running down her brother’s cheek.

“Yes.”

Rin said to her brother with a smile. The words that his sister was the best were without any reason, in fact, they were just stubborn, but that was even better for Rin.

“You’re right. My guqin is the best. Because my brother says so, not anyone else.”

Min was still teary-eyed, but he grinned.

“Yeah. Nuna will definitely become the best artist in the world, playing in front of the Emperor.”

“Yes, I will definitely become that.”

Rin nodded. If her guqin had no value, she would create that much value. If it was lacking, she would work harder. To the point where she wouldn’t be ashamed to receive courtesy from Young Master Son.

“So I shouldn’t be shaken by this much.”

She said in a more determined voice than ever before. The only way to respond to his sincere courtesy was that.

*

*

*

“The Ye Won’s Soju Gathering…”

Namgung Cheon, now called the Former Thunder Sword, muttered, holding a letter in his hand. His expression was not very comfortable. The inner garden of the Namgung Clan, adorned with precious flowers and trees, did not ease his mood.

“This is, what an awkward time.”

The situation of the Namgung Clan was not very good right now.

Above all, the conflict in the Gangnam Murim [a community of martial artists] that had erupted due to the Blood Phoenix Society was still unresolved.

As time passed, the situation not only did not improve but felt like it was sinking deeper and deeper into a quagmire.

“But if I don’t go, they might suspect that the clan is really faltering.”

Namgung Cheon frowned.

“How great would it be if one of my sons suddenly became an Outer World-level expert at a time like this? That Kwon guy doesn’t practice martial arts and only opened his eyes to politics early on… Tsk.”

“No one in the Gangho Murim [another term for the martial arts world] would lightly regard the head of the Namgung Clan, Grandfather. Whether it’s power or martial arts.”

A beautiful voice flowed out. A beautifully dressed woman sat gracefully opposite Namgung Cheon.

It was Namgung Cheon’s granddaughter, Namgung Hyang. As she said, no one in the Gangho Murim would lightly treat Namgung Kwon, the current Thunder Sword and head of the Namgung Clan.

“What good is it if we’re not looked down upon in the Gangho Murim? It has to work in the Outer World, in the Outer World.”

Namgung Cheon said, frustrated.

“I have to worry about how our family is seen in the Outer World even at this age, what kind of unfilial son is this? Should I catch this guy and make him go into secluded training right now?”

Namgung Hyang gave a wry smile.

“Someone else grew up well on their own at a young age, but that Kwon guy… Aish.”

Namgung Cheon, who had been grumbling, suddenly looked at Namgung Hyang.

“How is the Gangnam Murim situation going?”

“It’s a matter that the head of the family is directly taking care of. There will be good news soon.”

Namgung Hyang said in a graceful posture. Even in front of the Former Thunder Sword, the head of the Namgung Clan had to be respected.

“So that means you still don’t intend to listen to your opinion. Aish, what a bunch of stubborn guys.”

In fact, it would be easy for Namgung Cheon to appoint Namgung Hyang to a major position if he made up his mind.

However, it was obvious that there would be a backlash if he pushed it that way.

Even if he suppressed it with the name of the Former Thunder Sword right now, it would be poison in the long run if she were to establish herself as the core of the family.

“Be patient a little longer, even if it’s frustrating. Great vessels are made slowly.”

Namgung Hyang smiled. Namgung Cheon asked as if he had suddenly remembered something.

“Ah, are you still writing letters to that child?”

It was a sudden remark, but Namgung Hyang quickly realized who he was referring to.

“Yes.”

Namgung Hyang said, bowing her head. A slight blush appeared on her cheeks as if she was embarrassed.

“I’m writing often because I have some free time.”

“Any replies?”

“Not yet…”

Namgung Hyang trailed off, giving an awkward smile. Namgung Cheon clicked his tongue.

“Aish, nothing’s working out. Did the Tang Family do something?”

Namgung Cheon recalled the Tang Family’s young lady who was with that child, Son Bin. Thinking about the Tang Family raising such an Outer World-level expert made his chest feel stuffy again.

“Maybe it’s a good thing.”

Looking at the letter in his hand once more, Namgung Cheon said to his granddaughter Namgung Hyang.

“Let’s go get some fresh air. To Hangzhou.”

“Hangzhou?”

Namgung Hyang’s eyes widened.

“Yes, Hangzhou.”

Namgung Cheon nodded.