A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 168

168. Soulmate

Tight tension instantly filled the banquet hall.

As Old Man Noh unexpectedly intervened, the outer sect masters watched the situation with a mix of caution and interest.

Sword Demon Gongson Guk glanced at Extinction Blade with a look of dismay.

Extinction Blade also seemed surprised, but that was it.

Old Man Noh’s exclamation that he would ‘fly away with just a breeze’ already showed whose side he was on.

“Calm down, Grandpa Noh.”

Extinction Blade backed off first. He raised both hands and said in a nonchalant voice.

“I didn’t intend to cause a disturbance. So please calm your anger. I don’t want to see Old Man Noh’s Spirit Sword dancing again, if possible.”

He simply plopped down in his seat.

With that, only Gongson Guk remained.

“What about you?”

Old Man Noh growled at Sword Demon Gongson Guk. Gongson Guk frowned and turned his head.

“Hmph, I don’t know when Old Man Noh started acting as a guardian of the Art Courtyard.”

Old Man Noh’s white eyebrows twitched.

“What nonsense is this guy talking about?”

Old Man Noh and his party were the only ones who didn’t understand Gongson Guk’s words.

Most people thought that Old Man Noh had stood up for Hwa-wol, who was being pressured. The young masters were also looking at Old Man Noh, their faces filled with gratitude and envy.

“If you want to side with Hwa-wol that much, go ahead.”

Originally, Gongson Guk had no intention of engaging in a life-or-death battle with Extinction Blade here. If two wolves shed blood, they would both die by the teeth of another beast.

Moreover, since Old Man Noh had stepped in and Extinction Blade had retreated, there was nothing to gain from holding out any longer.

With a twisted heart, Gongson Guk plopped down in his seat and sneered at Hwa-wol.

“Well, if an artist who can’t even play the instrument wants to be the head of the Art Courtyard, she has to hold onto Old Man Noh.”

“What?”

“Old Man Noh.”

The voice that stopped Old Man Noh was Hwa-wol’s. She bowed her head to Old Man Noh.

“Thank you for your warm consideration.”

Old Man Noh was taken aback by her extremely polite gesture.

It was because he was more concerned about the impact of their conflict on Son-bin than protecting Hwa-wol.

“No, I…….”

“But I’m fine.”

Sadness lingered in Hwa-wol’s eyes as she spoke. Hwa-wol raised her head and said to everyone.

“Although my talent is humble, I will overcome my shame and play for a while, as Sword Demon wishes.”

It was a natural choice as the head of the Art Courtyard. Now that things had escalated this far, if she didn’t play, it would be openly ignoring Sword Demon Gongson Guk’s intentions.

“Hmph.”

Gongson Guk sneered. However, since the head of the Art Courtyard had saved his face, he didn’t say anything more.

Rustle.

As Hwa-wol gestured to the maids, they soon began preparing what was needed for the performance.

“That’s too bad.”

Jeok Se-hwa said quietly.

“Why did it have to be the Gongson family… This woman is in a difficult position.”

“Then are you just going to leave her alone? What if that kid Bin gets hurt?”

Old Man Noh said gruffly. But he was actually sorry to Hwa-wol. After all, this outcome was ultimately Old Man Noh’s fault.

“Hoo.”

Old Man Noh sighed. Then he quietly called Hwa-wol.

“Hwa-wol.”

“Yes.”

Hwa-wol replied quietly.

“You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to.”

Old Man Noh said. It was a simple statement, but it was like a guarantee that Old Man Noh would stand up for Hwa-wol.

However, Hwa-wol shook her head.

“It’s okay.”

Hwa-wol said, quietly smiling.

“As an artist, I cannot put my own emotions first. Don’t worry about it.”

“Ahem.”

Old Man Noh couldn’t say anything more. Hwa-wol, who was gently smiling and looking at Old Man Noh, suddenly seemed to remember something and said.

“But… if you really feel that way, may I borrow that person for a moment?”

“That person?”

Following her gaze, Old Man Noh turned his head. The person Hwa-wol was looking at was Son-bin.

“That’s…”

Before Old Man Noh, who frowned, could say anything, Son-bin spoke.

“I don’t mind.”

Old Man Noh had stepped forward for Son-bin’s sake. He felt sorry for him looking troubled, and as for Hwa-wol, who had a connection with Sa Ja-hyuk, Son-bin wanted to help her if possible.

However, whether he had the ability to do so was another matter. She was none other than the pinnacle of all artists, the head of the Art Courtyard.

“But I haven’t touched the zither for very long, so I’m afraid I might interfere with the head of the Art Courtyard’s performance.”

“It’s okay.”

Hwa-wol smiled.

“My children liked it. The young master’s music.”

Son-bin realized who she was talking about when she said ‘children’. She must be referring to the three artists he met in the Art Courtyard garden.

Son-bin gave an awkward smile.

“Ah, then we’ll need another zither.”

Hwa-wol instructed the maids to prepare another zither. But there was no need.

“Use mine if you need a zither.”

Suddenly, one of the young masters spoke. She was Nanhyang of Seoa, who stood up from her seat with a graceful figure.

“It’s not much, but it will be enough not to interfere with the young master’s music.”

She said with a polite and respectful attitude. Her voice felt distant, as if she was seeing him for the first time.

“Thank you.”

Son-bin bowed. She lightly nodded to accept Son-bin’s bow.

“Shall we go then?”

At Hwa-wol’s words, Son-bin moved his feet.

Step, step.

The maids had prepared a seat for the two of them. Son-bin’s seat was on Hwa-wol’s left when facing the guests.

It was also a placement according to yin and yang and the five elements, so Son-bin was inwardly impressed. Or perhaps there was a precedent for this kind of situation.

Step.

Hwa-wol, who was seated, briefly tuned the strings. Son-bin also sat down.

In front of Son-bin was a familiar zither. It was the black zither that Nanhyang had played that day, the one he had listened to with Sa Ja-hyuk.

Son-bin stroked the zither. It felt somehow welcoming, and it was as if the memories of that day were coming back to him.

But he couldn’t be lost in memories forever.

Ting, ting.

Son-bin plucked the strings a few times. Perhaps because Son-bin’s posture and hand movements looked clumsy, some of the young masters slightly frowned.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been close to the instrument.”

Hwa-wol said quietly. Her small voice echoed clearly in the banquet hall.

“Please forgive me if my hands are dull and I make mistakes. And the person who will help me is Young Master Son.”

The word ‘help’ was likely an expression of humility. Son-bin bowed.

The eyes of several people sparkled. In particular, Namgung-hyang, Moryong-rin, Namgung-cheon, and Hyeonryeon-wi showed blatant interest.

‘Was there such a young man?’

On the other hand, Extinction Blade frowned. Come to think of it, it seemed like there was someone behind Old Man Noh when he greeted him earlier.

But there were many people in this banquet hall who didn’t feel any particular energy. So there was no reason to keep him in mind.

‘Hmph.’

Extinction Blade withdrew his attention from the still faint young man and turned his gaze to Hwa-wol. He was more interested in whether Hwa-wol would be able to play properly.

Most of the outer sect masters were showing similar reactions.

Meanwhile, Abbess Cheonghye of the Emei Sect tilted her head at the young man’s appearance.

‘Was he a musician, not a scholar?’

He was clearly dressed as a scholar, but he was said to play the zither. Moreover, if the head of the Art Courtyard was recommending a duet, it meant he was quite skilled.

‘So that’s why he’s popular with the young ladies.’

A young man playing soft music could easily shake the hearts of the young ladies. Especially for the young ladies of martial families who had only seen rough warriors.

She understood, but she still didn’t like it. Abbess Cheonghye couldn’t take her eyes off the young man sitting in front of the zither.

It was similar to the feeling of ‘Let’s see how good you are’.

“Do you know the song ‘Guangling Melody’ by Hye Kang?”

“Yes. I’ve played it in a duet before.”

Son-bin replied to Hwa-wol’s question. It was the song he had played for the second time with the three artists in the garden.

“‘Guangling Melody’ was known to have been lost a long time ago, but it is a miraculously found ancient melody.”

It was more like an introduction to everyone in the banquet hall than a word to Son-bin.

In fact, many ancient melodies were lost and then restored.

However, there were countless variations, and since the purpose was not to accurately reproduce the original song in the first place, there was no guarantee that it was exactly the same as the original song.

“Some people have arranged this song to suit the zither and flute and named it ‘The Smiling, Proud Wanderer’, so it can be said to be a song suitable for this occasion.”

“I can’t play the flute…”

Hwa-wol turned her gaze to Son-bin’s words from the side.

“We will play the original ‘Guangling Melody’, not ‘The Smiling, Proud Wanderer’. You said you’ve done it before, so just do it like then.”

Hwa-wol, who smiled at Son-bin, stretched her hands over the zither. And she half-closed her eyes and slowly calmed her breathing.

Long eyelashes gently fell over her elegant and beautiful face.

Swish.

A breeze blew. And Son-bin could feel it.

Even before Hwa-wol’s hand plucked the strings, the flow surrounding her was slowly changing.

In an instant, her hand lightly bounced upwards.

Tang.

The string cried. Her white and slender fingers began to run unhesitatingly over the seven strings, as if she had never hesitated.

Ttang, tararang, ttang.

Hwa-wol’s melody began to fill the banquet hall like a gentle breeze.

Son-bin quietly savored the melody. A larger and more dignified flow than any other artist surrounded and flowed through Son-bin.

The sadness and joy created by her, Hwa-wol’s fingertips, were overflowing into Son-bin’s heart at this moment.

Rustle.

Son-bin quietly reached out his hand. The melody he had to play, the flow he had to be with, was already waiting for Son-bin in that place.

Along with the huge and dignified flow that surrounded him even at this moment.

Tadang.

A small and faint, but never to be missed, new note was placed on Hwa-wol’s melody.

At that moment, people felt goosebumps all over their bodies, without exception.

‘Ah.’

Abbess Cheonghye could tell. Her heart had been shaken by a single note.

The note was like someone’s heart that had unexpectedly revealed itself for a moment.

In an instant, heart resonated with heart, and melody resonated with melody. As naturally as if it had always been so.

Her heart, which had begun to waver, soon moved and flowed with the melody. The zither and she rejoiced together, longed for each other, and cried together.

“Sniff.”

Someone was already heard swallowing their sobs. It was probably not an outer sect master.

Was it one of the young masters with sensitive emotions?

However, Abbess Cheonghye couldn’t even think of looking at who it was. Because a wind was blowing in her heart as well.

“Haaa.”

Low sighs like lamentations flowed out from here and there. Some women were covering their mouths with their hands, lest they be disturbed, with tears welling up in their eyes.

It wasn’t just them who were shocked by the heart-shaking melody. Hwa-wol, who was playing, was the same.

‘Ah, ah.’

Hwa-wol had heard this kind of sound before.

Like knowing all the deep truths hidden in her heart, sometimes surprising her or embracing her, and making her soar high into the sky, this sound.

Before she knew it, her hand had stopped. She couldn’t continue playing anymore. The main melody had disappeared.

However, Son-bin’s zither was still continuing the sound. Softly and warmly, as if waiting for Hwa-wol.

Hwa-wol could tell. He was in front of her now.

The only person in this world, her soulmate who knew her music.

He was here, the one she had always waited for alone and always longed for with tears.

‘Were you waiting for me? Not me… were you?’

He was here. Inside her zither, and inside her heart. The one she had so longed to see was already with her.

Hwa-wol felt hot tears welling up in her eyes. But she couldn’t back down like this. At the same time as being a woman, she was an artist.

Hwa-wol bit her lip. And she began to play the zither strongly.

Ttang, tadang, ttang.

Rough sounds burst out without rest. She was angrier than anyone else. She roughly lashed out at him and shouted.

She poured out all her pain and suffering to him. The melody that had mocked the world with laughter was screaming under her hands.

Tuung, tuung—.

Son-bin’s melody, responding to Hwa-wol, was low and heavy. He silently embraced Hwa-wol’s anger. And he made Hwa-wol’s melody, which could have ended up as noise, deep and rich.

So people could resonate. With her sadness hidden beneath Hwa-wol’s anger, and with her passionate affection.

Chachang, chaang—. Tuung.

Hwa-wol and Son-bin’s fierce sounds echoed in the banquet hall at the same time, and Hwa-wol’s white hand no longer moved.

Son-bin was the same. Before they knew it, the song was over.

“Haa, haa.”

Hwa-wol’s slender shoulders heaved, and her red lips exhaled a rapid breath. Although it was originally a long song, it seemed like she had poured out all her strength in this one performance.

‘How could I have played such an emotional performance…’

Feeling her rapid breathing, Hwa-wol smiled bitterly.

‘The worst. As an artist.’

She had taught her disciples that an artist performing must maintain composure. She had said that an artist who cries at her own performance was third-rate.

But now she was reacting violently to her own performance, not knowing what to do.

‘And… as a woman.’

Tteureuk.

A drop of tear flowed from Hwa-wol’s eyes. But it was not a tear of sadness, nor a tear of self-reproach.

It was a tear of joy at finally meeting her beloved soulmate in her zither.

“Amitabha [a Buddhist expression of reverence].”

Buddhist Monk Bulgwang let out a Buddhist chant like a sigh. But that was all, he couldn’t say anything either.

But his Buddhist chant began to awaken the people who were intoxicated by the performance.

“Indeed, the head of the Art Courtyard.”

Nun Beopheo said. Tears were swirling in her eyes.

“Since Hwa-wol’s music is like this, who would say that she is not qualified to be the head of the Art Courtyard? I wonder if there will be an artist who can surpass today’s Hwa-wol even after ten years.”

In a way, it was an open rebuke to Sword Demon Gongson Guk, but Gongson Guk had nothing to say. He was also struggling to hide his emotions with a hardened face.

Rustle.

Hwa-wol stood up. In the meantime, she had recovered her emotions and bowed deeply.

“I don’t know what to do with myself for praising my lacking talent so highly.”

She said in a calm voice. Her expression was calm, but her face was shining brightly, as if she had awakened from a long delusion.

Swish.

Hwa-wol turned her body and looked at Son-bin. Compared to her, who was breathing rapidly, Son-bin was just sitting quietly.

Son-bin, who felt Hwa-wol’s gaze, raised his head. His face was full of a gentle smile.

“The praise…”

Hwa-wol felt her voice tremble slightly.

Now Hwa-wol could also understand. Why Namak Old Man Noh tried to protect him, who the ‘one walking the path of the Uncrowned King’ that Janggang Old Man met was.

And who the ‘companion of the Uncrowned King’ that Nanhyang spoke of was.

Looking at Son-bin with a complicated gaze, Hwa-wol said.

“It is right to return to Young Master Son.”

Hwa-wol reached out her hand towards Son-bin.

“Oh, that’s right. He’s young but amazing.”

“Which Art Courtyard does he belong to?”

“Is he a disciple that Hwa-wol raised herself?”

Admiration and praise began to pour out. There were many words that seemed to mistake Son-bin for belonging to the Art Courtyard.

It was because they didn’t have much memory of the young man dressed as a scholar in the first place, and only the duet with Hwa-wol was strongly imprinted on their minds.

“He’s good.”

Deputy Head Biyeon said in a seemingly calm voice. Her voice was trembling slightly, as if trying to hide her agitation.

“There are some points that deviate from the ancient etiquette, but if you refine only that, it can be a decent performance. If you work hard, ahem, maybe even a performance at the Imperial Palace…”

“Why don’t you come to Pungwol Pavilion instead?”

Biyeon frowned and looked at the owner of the voice.

The person who rudely interrupted her was Deputy Head Hyoseol.

Hyoseol, who revealed her neckline and shoulders, spoke to Son-bin without paying attention to Biyeon’s glare. Her tearful eyes were shining with undisguised interest and affection towards Son-bin.

“You can become a special artist of Pungwol Pavilion at once. You can gain tremendous wealth, as well as embrace the most beautiful courtesans in the world without limit. How about it? As a man, isn’t it quite appealing?”

Hyoseol was in a state of wanting to take Son-bin away right away.

The other young masters were also looking at Son-bin with shining eyes. There were some wary glances or hazy gazes of longing mixed in, but most of them were gazes full of goodwill and interest.

“Hmm. A, amazing.”

“It was really good.”

“Sniff. Where do you belong?”

It was right at that moment when several young masters were saying a word each as if they had met the right time.

“Hoh ho ho. Yes, a man has to be this good.”

A woman’s coquettish voice spread throughout the banquet hall.

The owner of the voice was Hwasa (Flower Snake), who was next to Extinction Blade.

The young masters who were talking about Son-bin all stopped talking at once, and the gazes of the banquet hall were focused on her in an instant.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen a man so full of sex appeal. It’s been a while…”

Hwasa continued, revealing her chest in a provocative pose.

“Aheung, I’m really getting hot.”

Abbess Cheonghye frowned. Her words were close to obscene to Abbess Cheonghye. To the point where she couldn’t possibly say it as a woman.

Click.

Hwasa’s words were not over. She stood up from her seat. And she smiled at Son-bin as she was.

“Want to go with me, sister? I’ll make you very happy.”

Tak.

The moment Hwasa lightly stomped her foot, her body became blurred.

‘Oh.’

Abbess Cheonghye momentarily missed her movement. Forgetting Nun Beopheo’s words that she shouldn’t underestimate her, she blamed herself for already judging her by her appearance.

However, she could quickly tell what Hwasa’s goal was. Abbess Cheonghye immediately turned her gaze. Towards the young scholar musician, Son-bin.

But it was right at that moment.

Chaang!

“Oh my, what’s going on?”

Hwasa said as if singing.

But unlike her voice, her eyes were cold. Before she could even reach the targeted scholar young man, two blades were already blocking her.

The two swords that crossed in front of her and blocked Hwasa. They were none other than Myeong (Twilight) and Sowol (Moonlight).