A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 177

177. Jade Dragon’s Seat

Clack.

The door opened cautiously.

Sasu Yeon saw Sohn Bin lying on the bed.

He was quietly asleep with his eyes closed.

A small, rhythmic breathing that she could barely hear. Sasu Yeon quietly approached Sohn Bin.

Rustle, rustle.

Sasu Yeon stared blankly at the sleeping Sohn Bin. His peaceful face was newly imprinted on her heart.

“Young Master Sohn.”

Sasu Yeon said in a low voice, careful not to startle him. Sohn Bin reacted.

Sparkle.

Sohn Bin opened his eyes immediately, as if he had only closed them for a moment.

“Ah, Miss Suyeon.”

Sohn Bin turned his head, looked at her, and smiled. Sasu Yeon’s heart ached anew.

But Sasu Yeon forced a smile.

“People from the Moryong Family have come to see you.”

“Yes.”

As Sohn Bin tried to get up, Seo Rin, who had been waiting, quickly ran over.

“Hyung!” [Older brother, term of endearment]

Thump, thump.

Sasu Yeon left Sohn Bin and Seo Rin behind, exited the residence, and closed the door. Sohn Bin needed to change his clothes.

“Are you awake?”

No Gun asked. Sasu Yeon nodded.

“Yes.”

“It’s really amazing.”

No Gun, who was sitting with a teacup, said in a grumbling tone.

“He doesn’t react to any other sounds, but he opens his eyes as soon as we call him.”

Sohn Bin didn’t wake up to the sound of the door or footsteps.

Once, there was a loud noise in the kitchen by mistake, but Sohn Bin didn’t move.

But if someone from the group called him, he would open his eyes, as if he had been waiting.

“No, maybe it’s not surprising. Considering his personality…….”

Perhaps even in this situation, he was worried about the group.

“Is your body okay?”

Moryong Myung, the Gentleman’s Sword, asked with a worried expression, holding a teacup.

“Whether he’s okay or not…….”

No Gun muttered with a sigh.

“Anyway, the Divine Doctor said he would come, so we’ll see then. Now that I think about it, I should send a letter to the Seowon [Private Confucian academy]. Tell him to come here if he’s not there.”

No Gun grumbled. The Divine Doctor said he would go to Cheongwon in a month, but Sohn Bin’s current condition made a long journey impossible.

“It’s a relief that the Divine Doctor is coming.”

Moryong Jin, the Iron Sword, nodded.

“Young Master Sohn is essential to the External Affairs right now.”

Moryong Jin’s expression was very serious. But Moryong Rin, who was sitting next to him, kept her lips tightly shut and said nothing.

Clack.

The door opened and Seo Rin and Sohn Bin came out. Sohn Bin, leaning on Seo Rin’s shoulder, looked sickly to anyone.

“Thank you for coming all the way here.”

“Not at all. Actually, I wanted to come earlier, but I didn’t because I thought I might be a hindrance.”

Sohn Bin smiled softly at Moryong Myung’s words.

“A hindrance? I’m really happy to see you all.”

“When winter comes.”

A low voice flowed out. Sohn Bin turned his head. Moryong Rin, the precious daughter of the Moryong Family, was biting her lip.

“You haven’t forgotten that you said you’d come visit sometime, have you?”

Moryong Rin’s voice sounded like an accusation. Her brother, Moryong Jin, the Iron Sword, looked embarrassed, but she continued.

“So, please get well by then. And this…….”

Moryong Rin turned her head and held something out. She looked like she was giving it reluctantly, but Sohn Bin could tell it was her heartfelt gift.

Sohn Bin accepted the small, long wooden box wrapped in red silk from her hand.

“Thank you.”

“Open it.”

Originally, it is customary not to open a gift in front of the giver.

However, since Moryong Rin, who gave the gift, urged him to do so, it would be impolite to refuse. Sohn Bin unwrapped the silk.

Clack.

When he opened the wooden box, several brushes were neatly arranged.

“This is…….”

“They’re Hobil brushes. I bought a few because they’re famous.”

It’s not just famous. There is even a saying that brushes are Hobil and ink is Hwimuk, so it is called ‘Hobil Hwimuk’ [Referring to the best brush and ink available].

That’s how good the brushes are, so they are not easy to obtain, and the price is by no means light. As it happened, Hoju, the production area of Hobil, was nearby.

“Just throw them away after you use them. I just bought them on a whim.”

The moment Moryong Rin found Hobil on the streets of Hangzhou, she thought of Sohn Bin.

Perhaps it was because his leisurely appearance of reading a book was more deeply imprinted on Moryong Rin’s mind?

“Thank you.”

Sohn Bin smiled and replied. But the sight of him looked somehow more pitiful, so Moryong Rin bit her lip.

Clack.

“Then we’ll be on our way.”

Family Head Moryong Myung and Iron Sword Moryong Jin stood up. Sohn Bin escorted them to the entrance of the detached building, but Moryong Rin did not look back until the end.

*

*

*

“From the beginning.”

A young nobleman with a picture-like appearance, who covered his mouth with a jade fan, said. His voice was as clear as jade beads rolling.

“Why didn’t you tell me he was a companion of the Martial Emperor? You’re practically the only one who knows that, right?”

“Is that so?”

A woman with a beautiful appearance replied quietly. Dressed gorgeously like a court lady, she was Nanhyang, the mistress of the Yewon [A place of entertainment and art] in Seoan.

“But what does that mean? He was the one walking the path of the Martial Emperor.”

“Hmph.”

The young nobleman laughed. And immediately, Nanhyang’s face began to turn blue.

“Ugh.”

A small groan escaped from her red lips.

The young nobleman sitting across from her did nothing, but Nanhyang was now overwhelmed with tremendous pain.

Nanhyang’s two hands holding the armrest trembled. But the pain did not stop.

“Did you want to protect him even at the risk of your life? But too bad. He is the one walking the path of the Martial Emperor. Your protection was meaningless from the start.”

Nanhyang’s face turned blue. Seeing her about to die, the young nobleman snorted lightly.

“Hmph.”

“Cough, ha, ha.”

Nanhyang gasped for breath, folding her waist. Her face, which had been beautifully decorated, was already a mess.

“You…… ha.”

Nanhyang said, staring straight at the young nobleman.

“Is all you can do to threaten helpless women?”

Even though she was suffering so much, there was no sign of surrender in Nanhyang’s eyes.

“You don’t seem to be worthy of succeeding the Jade Dragon’s Seat.”

“Hmph.”

Flap.

The jade fan fluttered softly. The picture-like young nobleman, the new Jade Dragon, said.

“Threaten? You’re not even trembling, so what’s the big deal? Anyway, as you said, this is all I can do. When it comes to martial arts, I can’t even compare to the people in the External Affairs.”

The young Jade Dragon said, holding up his white hand.

His martial arts skills were only at the beginning of Sword Energy Manifestation. It was a great level, but he could not dare to compare with the masters of the External Affairs.

“But if I fight, I’ll win. Anyone in the External Affairs.”

Nanhyang said, catching her breath.

“That’s right. Stabbing someone who is just standing there trembling, even a child can do that.”

What he has is the power of blood.

With that alone, he is revered as a mythical being.

Once the whole body is bound, who in the world can resist?

“But will this power work on him too?”

As he thought of him in plain scholar’s clothes, a subtle thrill ran down the young Jade Dragon’s back.

“The previous Jade Dragon said. The power of blood is trash.”

The previous Jade Dragon was able to manifest the power of blood more powerfully and skillfully than anyone else. He could freely bind everything he saw, as well as what he could not see.

But even so, the previous Jade Dragon asserted. The power of blood is just a joke.

“He reached the supreme realm with his own power.”

The battle between the Martial Emperor and the Jade Dragon that took place in the Snow Mountain. He didn’t see it. He didn’t even dare to go near it.

But one thing he was sure of.

“I’m different.”

It was a decisive and absolute difference.

The previous Jade Dragon executed all the elders at the time and chose to walk his own path.

In fact, by abandoning the power of blood, he finally achieved what he wanted. His own Dao [A philosophical concept, often translated as ‘the Way’].

‘I need it too. Just like the Martial Emperor had for him.’

The young Jade Dragon gritted his teeth.

All these changes in the previous Jade Dragon are due to one person.

The Martial Emperor of Hyeoncheon. He changed everything about the previous Jade Dragon.

‘Someone who will allow me to surpass myself, or rather, surpass the previous Jade Dragon.’

The reason why he let the Sword Dancer go at the banquet was perhaps because he briefly sympathized with her desire for a perfect sword.

Swish.

The young Jade Dragon leaned back.

“The External Affairs does not suppress Yewon with force, right? From now on, I will not use this power on you either.”

Nanhyang’s eyes sparkled.

“As a member of the External Affairs, you may reveal my existence. The title is……. Yes. As the Sword Dancer said, the new Jade Dragon would be fine.”

Clack.

The young Jade Dragon said, folding his fan.

“But that’s it. I will not allow you to say anything other than my existence.”

He continued with cold eyes.

“You better not do anything to bother me. If I don’t like it, I’ll wipe out Yewon in one night.”

Rustle.

Nanhyang got up from her seat. And she knelt down and bowed her head.

“Welcome to Yewon.”

Her red lips twitched.

“New Jade Dragon.”

“Hmph.”

The young Jade Dragon snorted.

*

*

*

“No Gun.”

Wonju Hwa Yue’s quiet voice spread through the Yewon detached building. No Gun and his party, who were savoring tea in the garden, turned their heads.

“Why?”

No Gun frowned. It was understandable. Next to the elegant and graceful Wonju Hwa Yue, stood a small and slender woman.

At first, No Gun didn’t recognize who she was.

But soon he remembered. The bright and easy-going girl was one of the mistresses who greeted No Gun at the banquet.

“You, aren’t you Hongryeon?”

She was Hongryeon, the mistress of the Yewon in Jangsa.

“This child wants to see Young Master Sohn.”

“Why?”

“I have something to say.”

Hongryeon said in a quiet voice.

“Is that so?”

No Gun got up from his seat.

“It’s almost time for lunch anyway, so I have to wake up Bin. Wait here.”

Hongryeon shook her head.

“How dare I ask him to come here? I’ll go.”

No Gun stared at Hongryeon intently, examining whether she had any other intentions.

“Well, I guess it doesn’t matter.”

But No Gun soon made up his mind.

“Thank you.”

Hongryeon quietly followed No Gun and his party into Sohn Bin’s residence.

Clack.

The door opened. Many people entered, including No Gun and his party, Wonju Hwa Yue, and Hongryeon, but Sohn Bin did not move.

Seo Rin quickly jumped over to the opposite side of Sohn Bin’s bed. And with his face close to his, he called out in an innocent voice.

“Hyung.”

Blink.

Sohn Bin opened his eyes immediately and smiled when he found Seo Rin’s face, which looked huge in front of him. A smile so bright that he couldn’t be happier.

Seo Rin quickly raised Sohn Bin’s upper body and made him sit down.

Sohn Bin raised his hand and stroked Seo Rin’s head. Seo Rin closed his eyes like a puppy and raised his head, making a satisfied expression.

Thud.

Hongryeon took a step forward. Sohn Bin turned his head and looked at Hongryeon. A look of doubt flashed in his eyes.

“I am Hongryeon, the mistress of the Yewon in Jangsa.”

Hongryeon said in a low voice. And she knelt down on the floor and bowed her head.

Rustle.

Soft hair flowed to the floor and a white nape appeared. With her head bowed like that, Hongryeon said.

“I invited the Sword Dancer to the meeting.”

Wonju Hwa Yue’s face instantly hardened.

The expressions of No Gun and the others also stiffened.

“What does that mean?”

Hwa Yue said in a sharp voice.

“You invited the Sword Dancer to the meeting?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Hongryeon said in a calm voice.

“The Half-Sword Demoness was an External Affairs master that Yewon did not know about. By inviting her, I thought I could increase my personal influence within Yewon.”

Hwa Yue gritted her teeth. It was as she said.

Nanhyang of the Yewon in Seoan met the Martial Emperor and his companion. Just by that alone, it is not known how many External Affairs masters came to the Yewon in Seoan.

Nanhyang and the Yewon in Seoan’s influence soared in an instant.

Even Wonju Hwa Yue came to Seoan and waited for the Martial Emperor for a while.

“So I went to Nammok and met the Sword Dancer. And I made the Sword Dancer come to the meeting with the story of the one walking the path of the Martial Emperor.”

Crack.

“Then why are you here in front of Bin now?”

No Gun’s voice echoed ominously. The backrest decoration of the chair broke with a sound in his hand.

According to her words, the incident at the banquet was no different from her causing it. It is natural for No Gun to be angry.

“It is to take responsibility for my mistake.”

“Responsibility?”

Wonju Hwa Yue asked.

“Yes.”

Hongryeon replied with her head bowed.

“If you want my life, I will give you my life. Even if you tell me to become a concubine, I will obey. As a mistress of Yewon, I have dared to endanger the adults and many nobles, so I will gladly accept any punishment you give me.”

Hongryeon’s voice was even detached. Silence flowed for a while.

“That’s a really serious matter.”

Sohn Bin said quietly. Looking down at Hongryeon, he said with a firm expression.

“Are you saying that knowing that what you are saying now is something that puts your whole life on the line?”

Hongryeon gritted her teeth.

“Yes.”

“It’s something that you have to atone for by devoting your whole life…….”

Sohn Bin repeated as if thinking for a moment.

“No.”

“Yes?”

Hongryeon raised her head. Sohn Bin was looking down at her and smiling.

“As a mistress of Yewon, isn’t it natural to want even one more guest to come?”

Sohn Bin continued slowly.

“If there was a problem, it is the guest’s fault. I don’t think you need to ask for forgiveness for such a thing.”

Hongryeon bit her lip.

“Then, you will forgive me…….”

“There is nothing to forgive.”

Sohn Bin’s voice was soft yet firm.

“However, one thing…….”

Sohn Bin paused as if lost in thought for a moment. Everyone’s eyes were on Sohn Bin.

“It’s a little disappointing that I didn’t get to see the other mistresses’ performances.”

Sohn Bin said with a bright smile. But no one could say anything.

“Did you hear that?”

No Gun said, puffing out his nose.

“Now go. Don’t bother people for no reason.”

It was a clear expulsion order. Hongryeon turned her head and looked at Wonju Hwa Yue.

“Haa.”

Hwa Yue sighed lowly. Now it was her turn to judge Hongryeon’s actions.

“Inviting the Sword Dancer is a natural thing as a mistress of Yewon. However, it is also true that she did not foresee the results and caused trouble to many people.”

Sohn Bin, the person involved, had already made it clear that he would not make an issue of it. No Gun’s words were no different from representing the feelings of the other members.

Hwa Yue could not severely reprimand Hongryeon for her mistake. But a mistake is a mistake. A penalty had to be imposed.

“Hongryeon is ordered to step down from her position as mistress and reflect on her actions for 100 days. After that, she may return to her position as mistress of the Yewon in Jangsa.”

“Wonju…….”

Even if Hongryeon was kicked out of her position as mistress altogether, there would be nothing to say.

However, Hwa Yue chose to leave her in the position of mistress.

“We cannot afford to lose a promising entertainer at a time like this.”

Hwa Yue said, looking down at Hongryeon with stern eyes.

“Now, step back.”

“Yes.”

Hongryeon bowed deeply.

“Um…….”

Suddenly, Sohn Bin’s soft voice echoed.

“I hope you all can leave too.”

Sohn Bin said with an awkward smile.

“I’m still in my pajamas.”

The women’s faces turned red. Come to think of it, Sohn Bin had been sitting in his pajamas all this time.

Although the lower part of his waist was covered with a blanket, Sohn Bin’s bare skin was visible inside the sloppy top.

“Ah, what rudeness…….”

Hwa Yue hurriedly tried to go out, but quickly picked up Hongryeon and went out together. Sasu Yeon also turned her head and left, and Jeok Se Hwa smiled once before leaving the residence.

“Why aren’t you leaving?”

Dang Wora, who had been silent all this time, went out only after No Gun said a word.

“Tsk.”

As the women with red cheeks were kicked out, No Gun frowned and closed the door of the bedroom.

Creak.

In the last moment, Hongryeon realized that Sohn Bin was looking at her and smiling.

His eyes, as if he knew even Hongryeon’s hidden inner thoughts, soon disappeared through the crack in the door.