A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 224

224. Seowon’s Daily Life

The Seowon [a type of private Confucian academy in Korea], nestled in a secluded spot on the outskirts of Cheongwon, was as bustling with children’s voices as ever.

“No, that’s not it!”

Sitting on the low wooden bench, Aeng-aeng shook her head, displeased. Though the bench was low, Aeng-aeng’s small feet didn’t reach the ground, dangling in the air.

“Th-then, how…?”

Hwasa, sitting next to Aeng-aeng, held a few flowers in her hands, unsure of what to do. Soso, who was watching from the side, quickly intervened to teach her.

“You have to do it like this, Unni [term for ‘older sister’ or ‘older female friend’ in Korean].”

Soso wiggled her small hands a few times, and soon a tiny flower ring was made.

“Ah, so it’s like this!”

Hwasa exclaimed, her eyes wide with admiration. Soso wore a proud expression, as if to say, ‘See?’, and Aeng-aeng, sitting next to her, also smiled brightly.

Once again, Hwasa attempted to make a flower ring. The scene was outwardly harmonious, but Jeong Se-hwa wore an awkward smile.

‘Hwasa Sojeo [term of respect for a young lady] calling them Unni…’

The lady, who seemed to be playing with her young siblings, was actually Hwasa, a master of the Black Blood Association. And not just any master, but one of the best in the outer division, skilled in both the Spirit Absorption Art and the Hand of Stars.

Even the leaders of the Demonic Sects would tremble before Hwasa, yet the powerless young Soso and Aeng-aeng were calling her ‘Unni’ and playing with her. They even reprimanded her.

‘Probably no one would believe it.’

It was unbelievable. Soso becoming Hwasa’s senior, Aeng-aeng helping Geom-hui with her calligraphy—it was a dreamlike scene that could never be seen anywhere else.

“Teacher! Look at this!”

Hwasa suddenly shouted loudly toward Jeong Se-hwa.

“I made it!”

Hwasa shook the hand with the flower ring proudly. But Aeng-aeng, who was next to her, looked like she was about to cry.

“Unni, don’t move.”

Aeng-aeng, standing on the bench, was trying to put a small flower crown on Hwasa’s head. She was even standing on tiptoes, but Hwasa kept moving, making it difficult to put it on properly.

“It’s pretty. You did a good job.”

Jeong Se-hwa replied with a smile. The title ‘Teacher’ was what the children had taught Hwasa to use.

Hwasa surprisingly followed the rules of the Seowon obediently. It was Hwasa who told the children to call her ‘Unni’. Otherwise, she would have been called ‘Auntie’.

“Hey, Ice Block! You can’t do something like this, can you?”

Hwasa provoked Geom-hui, who was sitting across from her. Geom-hui glanced at Hwasa and then turned her head back to her book.

It was an outright ignoring attitude, but Hwasa was triumphant. Whether it was learning to read, writing, or composing sentences, Geom-hui was always slightly better.

“Even though it looks simple, it requires patience and wisdom. Patience and wisdom! You know?”

Hwasa said smugly.

‘Patience’ and ‘wisdom’ were the words Jeong Se-hwa had taught her yesterday. Jeong Se-hwa was secretly pleased that Hwasa was using them in real life so quickly, but it was a bit concerning that she was using them to tease others.

‘Ah.’

Jeong Se-hwa saw Geom-hui’s eyes flash for a moment. No one else would have noticed, but Jeong Se-hwa smiled wryly inwardly.

‘She’s going to practice alone again.’

Geom-hui seemed like someone who didn’t care about anything. But in reality, she also had a considerable competitive spirit.

The reason she wrote better than Hwasa was because she practiced alone somewhere.

Hwasa didn’t seem to know, but it was obvious from her brushstrokes. Skilled writing never came without practice.

‘That’s why Hwasa Sojeo is falling behind in composing sentences.’

If one was skilled in writing, one could concentrate on the sentence. But if one was focused on the writing itself, the sentence wouldn’t come to mind properly.

That was why Geom-hui’s writing was smoother than Hwasa’s. Hwasa seemed to think that Geom-hui was just smarter than her.

“Kyahaha!”

Aeng-aeng laughed. Before anyone knew it, Hwasa had Aeng-aeng on her shoulders and was spinning around. Soso also waited for her turn with shining eyes.

The boys could only watch with envious expressions. It was because Hwasa would never let the boys ride on her shoulders.

Swish.

The boys looked at Geom-hui. Geom-hui, who had been unknowingly watching Aeng-aeng, looked at the boys as if she felt their gaze.

Their eyes sparkled with anticipation as their eyes met, but Geom-hui quietly turned her head away.

‘Ah, Geom-hui Sojeo avoided them.’

Jeong Se-hwa covered his mouth with his sleeve and smiled slightly.

Geom-hui had almost no change in expression, but Jeong Se-hwa could somehow notice the subtle differences.

In Hwasa’s case, she had ignored them, but just now she had definitely avoided them. That Geom-hui, who seemed like no one could stop her, had quietly hid her tail in front of the young boys’ gazes.

“Lunch is ready.”

A gentle old woman’s voice was heard. The person who came out of the kitchen was Tang Un-yeong, the old woman of the Tang family.

“Everyone, go wash your hands.”

“Yes!”

The children raised their voices as if in unison. Then, they ran toward the water jar behind the garden, trying to be the first.

Dada da.

Hwasa and Geom-hui also obediently got up and went to wash their hands, and Jeong Se-hwa got up from his seat and bowed to Tang Un-yeong.

“You’ve worked hard. I should be doing it…”

“No. You have to teach the children.”

The old woman Tang Un-yeong said with a smile. Then, she quietly brought her head closer and lowered her voice.

“And you have to take care of those young ladies too.”

By ‘those young ladies,’ she meant Hwasa and Geom-hui.

Jeong Se-hwa, who wore an awkward smile, began to help Tang Un-yeong carry the food.

Clatter, clatter.

Looking at the appetizing food, Jeong Se-hwa couldn’t help but admire it inwardly.

“Your cooking skills are really good. When did you learn to cook like this?”

“When you’re trapped in a house and have nothing to do, you end up trying this and that.”

Tang Un-yeong smiled as she carried the food bowls.

In fact, most of the Tang family’s daughters were not good at cooking. No, they hardly ever had to get their hands wet in the first place. In that respect, Tang Un-yeong was a bit of an exception.

“I once brought food to Sun-rang.”

Jeong Se-hwa looked up at Tang Un-yeong’s words. ‘Sun-rang’ was obviously referring to Nam-ak Old Master. Tang Un-yeong put down the bowl and continued.

“I said I made it, but it was actually made by the family’s cook. But he praised it so much, saying it was delicious…”

A smile bloomed on the old woman Tang Un-yeong’s face.

“So I had no choice but to learn hard. I couldn’t let my skills be exposed later. I didn’t think it would take this long, though.”

Jeong Se-hwa’s eyes naturally turned red at the words that felt the weight of life. But Jeong Se-hwa forced a smile and said.

“But it’s worth learning.”

“Yes.”

Tang Un-yeong said with a smile.

“I’m really glad.”

The old woman’s expression was warm and gentle.

“Anyway, everyone will be surprised. The Seowon has really improved.”

“Really?”

Tang Un-yeong and Jeong Se-hwa looked up at the garden.

The place that had been blocked by a fence had been transformed into a small garden. Trees had been planted to provide shade, and bamboo benches had been placed for the children to rest or play on.

“I hope Sun-rang likes the detached building.”

Tang Un-yeong had bought all the land around the Seowon. Since it was a Seowon that was alone in a remote place anyway, it wasn’t difficult.

She built a small detached building behind the room where the Old Master stayed and planted trees around it. It was connected to the Seowon, so it looked like a backyard, but it was also a completely independent space.

“He’ll like it. It’s so pretty even to me.”

The detached building was so small and atmospheric that even Jeong Se-hwa was impressed. Moreover, it was hidden by trees when viewed from the Seowon.

“But why did you build two detached buildings?”

Tang Un-yeong had built one more detached building. It was a slightly larger building built behind the place where Son Bin stayed, and it was a detached building with three rooms.

Similarly, it was hidden by trees, and it was a separate place, but it was designed to feel naturally connected.

“I think we’ll have a lot of guests here.”

Tang Un-yeong said with a smile. Jeong Se-hwa nodded in agreement, somehow convinced.

It was at that moment.

“Teacher!”

Soso’s urgent voice was heard. Jeong Se-hwa was startled and turned his head.

“Unni, Unni!”

Aeng-aeng’s sobbing voice. Jeong Se-hwa, surprised, got up from his seat and shouted.

“Hwasa Sojeo!”

Hwasa was unconscious in Geom-hui’s arms. Geom-hui, who had lowered her body as if she had caught Hwasa as she fell, examined Hwasa’s complexion in her arms.

If it were the usual Hwasa, she would have absolutely refused this position, but she was already unconscious.

Thud.

Tang Un-yeong and Jeong Se-hwa also rushed to Hwasa and Geom-hui.

The little ones were clearly flustered by the sudden event, and Soso and Aeng-aeng grabbed Geom-hui’s sleeves, not knowing what to do.

“She suddenly collapsed.”

Geom-hui said quietly. Her eyes were also serious. It couldn’t be helped.

Hwasa’s face, unconscious in Geom-hui’s arms, was literally bloodless and pale.

***

Blink.

Hwasa opened her eyes.

The familiar appearance of the room came into view. It wasn’t her own residence, but the Seowon’s room where Shin-ui and the Old Master stayed.

At the same time, the image of the world spinning around and Soso and Aeng-aeng looking at her with surprised expressions came to mind.

‘Damn it.’

Hwasa cursed quietly inwardly.

‘I thought I’d be okay…’

There had been several omens. But Hwasa had tried to ignore them.

There was also the calculation that she would still be okay, but she felt that if she plundered yang energy from someone now, she might not be able to return to this Seowon.

“Foolish.”

A cold woman’s voice. Hwasa turned her eyes. And she frowned right away.

“Why are you here? Ice Block.”

Hwasa said in a blunt tone. The person looking down at her was Geom-hui.

“And reckless. To hold out until it’s this dangerous.”

“Hmph, this level isn’t even dangerous.”

Hwasa turned her head and retorted. But she herself knew that her condition was serious.

“Geom-hui Sojeo gave you internal energy.”

Jeong Se-hwa’s voice was heard. She was sitting right behind Geom-hui.

“Internal energy?”

“Yes.”

Only then did Hwasa realize that she had opened her eyes thanks to Geom-hui’s help.

“You did something unnecessary.”

Hwasa said quietly. And soon she asked Jeong Se-hwa.

“The children?”

“They’re outside. They said they had to see Sojeo wake up.”

“How much time has passed?”

“Not much.”

“Really? Then what about the food? Haven’t you eaten yet?”

Jeong Se-hwa nodded. Hwasa had collapsed, so there was no time to have lunch.

“I’m okay, so feed the kids first.”

“Now that Sojeo has woken up, the children will want to see you.”

“It’s too noisy, so tell them to see me tomorrow.”

That was probably because of Aeng-aeng, who would burst into tears as soon as she saw Hwasa’s appearance.

“Then shall I send everyone in now?”

“No, feed them. It’s a waste since Auntie made it.”

The ‘Auntie’ Hwasa was talking about was the old woman Tang Un-yeong. Tang Un-yeong was taking care of the children outside.

“Help me get up before you go out.”

Jeong Se-hwa supported Hwasa and helped her up. But Hwasa couldn’t stand up.

“Umm.”

Hwasa frowned and eventually sat leaning against the edge of the bed. She had only raised her upper body from a lying position.

“Hurry up and go out and feed the kids first.”

At Hwasa’s urging, Jeong Se-hwa went outside. Only Hwasa and Geom-hui were left.

“Hey, Ice Block.”

Hwasa called Geom-hui bluntly. Geom-hui quietly looked at Hwasa.

“Why did you give me internal energy? It’s already a problem because I have too much yin energy. You stupid Ice Block.”

It was a brazen act, but Geom-hui didn’t react. She just quietly looked at Hwasa.

“What should I do?”

At Geom-hui’s question, Hwasa chuckled.

“Go and catch a man with vigorous blood energy. He has to be at least at the level of transcendence, and his internal energy has to be pure. If possible, it would be nice if he was a bit older and had a beard. It would be even better if he used a large blade rather than a thin sword.”

“Are you talking about the former head of the Hyeokryun family?”

Geom-hui said, her eyes flashing. Hwasa laughed again.

“That person has a huge sword. It’s not a blade.”

“Is there a difference?”

“To me.”

Geom-hui’s eyes, tilting her head as if she didn’t understand, were more serious than ever. Hwasa chuckled at that expression.

“I’m kidding. If I used Spirit Absorption Art on the former Sword Demon, the problem would get bigger. And he’s not someone who would give it up willingly. Rather, I’d rather…”

Hwasa bit her lip.

Speaking of timing, she had already missed it a long time ago. Ordinary yang energy can no longer control the seizure.

“It’s better to become a crazy woman for a while. It’ll be unsightly, but.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

Geom-hui asked in a calm voice. Hwasa smiled bitterly.

“This is the only way.”

There was no way she was okay. It was something Hwasa never wanted to experience again. But it was entirely her fault that it had come to this.

Her mistake was that she couldn’t let go of the happiness she had tasted for the first time and had been procrastinating.

“What can I do for you?”

Hwasa frowned at Geom-hui’s voice, which didn’t feel any emotion at all.

“This year is dry to the end. You know dry, right? It’s a word that means tasteless, dry, and unappealing. Dry…”

Hwasa, who was writing the characters for dry in the air with her finger, hesitated. It wasn’t just because her hand was shaking.

“How do you write ‘dry’ again?”

“Like this.”

Geom-hui calmly wrote the character for dry in the air. And asked.

“So, what do you want?”

Hwasa stared intently at Geom-hui’s transparent eyes.

Strangely enough, she thought it would be nice if she had such pretty eyes too.

“Stop me.”

Hwasa said. She had already passed her limit. Only one thing remained.

“If I become a crazy woman, my hair will be disheveled and I won’t be able to see anything. I’ll destroy things mindlessly, kill everything in sight… After I release the yin energy like that, I’ll come back to my senses. By then, I’ll probably be exhausted.”

Hwasa’s voice, continuing her words, was extremely calm.

“So stop me. Don’t let me touch the children, and don’t let me destroy this Seowon. Tang and the store are also off-limits. The kids like it. And of course, the Hoyeon Martial Arts Center is also off-limits. Ah, you can destroy the Bureau. The passing Bureau masters said I was well-built.”

“Isn’t that a compliment?”

Hwasa frowned at Geom-hui’s words.

“It’s only a compliment if the person you want to hear it from says it. Don’t let me destroy the blacksmith shop either. They’re pretty good at hammering iron there.”

Geom-hui nodded. Hwasa, who was continuing her words, chuckled.

“You better be careful. If I become a crazy woman, I’m pretty strong.”

For a very brief moment, Geom-hui smiled. It was really just a moment, but an expression had flashed across Geom-hui’s face.

Hwasa’s eyes immediately went up. But she was already losing the strength to even maintain that expression.

“You unlucky… bitch.”

The end of her words was strange because she couldn’t pronounce them properly.

Looking down at Hwasa, who had lost consciousness again, Geom-hui replied with a blank face.

“Same here.”

Swish.

Geom-hui picked up Hwasa. Hwasa’s hair, who had lost consciousness, poured down like a waterfall.

She didn’t know how much time was left. But she had to go as far as possible before then.

Tap.