A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 237

237. Entering Namchang

Both Gwangju in Guangdong Province and Nanchang in Jiangxi Province are major logistics hubs in Jiangnan [the area south of the Yangtze River]. Naturally, official roads connect them, and these roads further facilitate the gathering of people and goods.

Therefore, it was almost inevitable that the Namgung Clan and the Hyeonryeon Clan, who styled themselves as the two major powers of the Jiangnan martial world, would establish themselves in these two cities.

“Drive carefully.”

Old Master frowned as he spoke to Sonbin. Sonbin, sitting in the driver’s seat of the small carriage, smiled.

“Yes, I understand.”

However, Old Master didn’t seem very convinced by Sonbin’s reply. From Old Master’s perspective, that was understandable.

“I’ve said it repeatedly: never drive fast. You’ll cause an accident. Understand? The safest time for a carriage is when it’s standing still.”

Sonbin gave a wry smile.

“If it’s going to be standing still, there’s no reason to ride it, is there?”

It was a small protest, but Old Master became serious.

“Exactly. So, not riding is the best thing. Walking is better than riding a carriage, and staying still in a room is better than walking.”

That was not very persuasive. Old Master himself enjoyed driving the carriage, didn’t he?

“Are you telling me to go or not?”

Shinui, who was in the carriage, frowned.

Shinui ended up going with Sonbin. Old Master kept bothering him, saying, ‘There should be an adult,’ so he eventually gave in.

He had protested, ‘Am I some kind of shield?’ at Old Master’s words, ‘This guy is quite well-known, so he’s perfect for hiding Binie,’ but in the end, he relented.

“If you’re so worried, just have him ride another carriage. There are many carriages going from here to Nanchang.”

As Shinui said, there were many carriages traveling between Gwangju and Nanchang, befitting their status as major logistics cities in Jiangnan. It would be much cheaper to get a ride on one of those.

“What? Why would I ride someone else’s carriage when I have my own?”

Old Master retorted as if it were absurd.

“Besides, Young Madam bought it. Of course, we should ride this one.”

The carriage Sonbin was riding was newly prepared by Madam Tang Unyeong. It was small with a simple awning instead of a roof, but the horse tethered to it, one of those brought from Bukhae [North Sea; likely referring to a breed of horse], looked sturdy.

The remaining four horses were tethered to the carriage that Old Master and Tang Unyeong would ride.

Shinui had asked, ‘Why are you tethering four horses to a carriage for two people?’ but Old Master insisted, ‘You don’t know anything. That’s how these carriages are.’

“But, really, why are you guys going?”

Old Master asked seriously again. Seorin, who was sitting in the carriage, raised her hand enthusiastically.

“To eat delicious things!”

Seorin was quite excited. It hadn’t been long since they returned from Guiyang, where the Blood Faction was located, but she seemed happy about the trip.

Tang Wora also nodded as if it were obvious. It was still a small gesture, but it was quite a big reaction compared to her usual self.

“Ah, I have to take care of Shinui, and also look after Seorin and Miss Wora…….”

Sasu Yeon said, blushing slightly. When Old Master looked at her suspiciously, Sasu Yeon quietly turned her head.

“And actually, I like being with Binie oppa [older brother/term of endearment for a male friend].”

Seorin said with a bright smile. Thanks to that, Old Master’s gaze shifted.

“Seorin’s oppa must be happy.”

Cheonga, who was clinging to the side of the carriage, muttered with a sullen expression. Her small lips were pouting because she couldn’t go with them.

Tang Wora said in a small voice.

“You guys have to take care of the children at the Seowon [private academy]. Listen to Teacher Sehwa. Don’t skip training…….”

The five children nodded, but their expressions were still sullen. Perhaps bothered by their appearance, Tang Wora spoke again.

“Later…… I’ll take you with me.”

At those words, the children’s expressions brightened dramatically.

“Yes!”

The children smiled brightly and answered energetically. Under the veil, Tang Wora’s lips also faintly curved into a smile.

“Oh? Teacher!”

The children’s voices were heard from afar. Sonbin raised his head. The children who had spotted Sonbin in the distance began to run towards him.

Thump, thump, thump.

A bright smile spread across Sonbin’s face at the sight of the children running as if they were rolling.

“Oh, where are you going?”

“Huff, huff. Are you leaving again?”

Unlike Sonbin, the children’s expressions were serious.

Starting with Jau and followed by Jungoh and Gyegu, who joined later, the nine children surrounded the carriage in an instant.

“Teacher! Where are you going again…… Huff, huff. Are you leaving? Aren’t you being too much?”

“I, I want to go too.”

Soso spoke as if she were arguing, and Aeng Aengie, who arrived late, was about to climb onto the carriage.

“Sorry. I’ll be back soon.”

“Uuuuu.”

The children couldn’t hide their disappointment at Sonbin’s words. Sonbin stroked each of the children with their pouting lips, but their mouths wouldn’t go in.

“Okay, come here.”

Eventually, Hyeonryeon Sehwa stepped in. She hugged each of the children and soothed and explained to them in a gentle voice.

As the children seemed to calm down a bit, Sonbin bowed to Old Master and Tang Unyeong.

“Then, I’ll be back.”

They had been waiting to see the children anyway. It was time to leave.

“I’ll be back.”

“I’ll be back soon!”

Shinui and Seorin said, and Sasu Yeon bowed to Old Master and Tang Unyeong.

“We’ll be back. Have a pleasant trip, both of you.”

“Thank you.”

Tang Unyeong waved her hand, and Tang Wora also bowed.

“Be careful on your trip. Don’t worry about the Seowon.”

Hyeonryeon Sehwa smiled and greeted Sonbin and his party. Still uneasy, Old Master said to Sonbin.

“Be careful. As I always say, driving a carriage is…… Ahem.”

Old Master’s words were cut off because Madam Tang Unyeong grabbed his hand tightly. Tang Unyeong waved her hand at Sonbin as if urging him.

Sonbin nodded and took the reins.

Clatter, clatter.

“Goodbye!”

“Goodbye!”

As the carriage began to move, the children jumped up and down and shouted. Seorin even stood up and waved her hand, and Shinui, Sasu Yeon, and Tang Wora couldn’t take their eyes off them.

They drove slowly, but the Seowon soon disappeared into the distance. Thus, the carriage carrying Sonbin and his party left Cheongwon.

*

*

*

The journey from Cheongwon to Nanchang was just a normal trip along the official road. However, for Sonbin, who had to drive the carriage, it was not an easy road.

For the first two days, he was so focused on driving the carriage that he could hardly talk. But as he got used to it, he was able to chat and drive leisurely with a smile.

And sooner than expected, Sonbin and his party were able to arrive in Nanchang. It was his second time here since he came for the Jiangnan Yongbong Competition [a martial arts tournament].

“Wow! It’s big!”

Seorin exclaimed at the sight of Nanchang in the distance.

“It’s dangerous to stand up.”

Clatter, clatter.

Sonbin slowed down the carriage and said. But his expression was also bright. The journey of several days had been tiring, and driving the carriage had long become a tedious task.

“Is this Seorin’s first time here?”

At Sasu Yeon’s question, Seorin nodded vigorously.

“Yes! Ah, what’s that over there? It’s sparkling?”

Seorin, with her good eyesight, found something. Sonbin couldn’t even see it properly, but Sasu Yeon managed to recognize it and explained it.

“That’s the Pavilion of Prince Teng [a famous historical building]. It’s beautiful now, but it’s even more splendid at night.”

“I want to go!”

At Seorin’s words, Sonbin smiled and nodded.

“Then shall we all go together?”

“Wow!”

“That place…… isn’t it a place that sells food?”

When Tang Wora, who had been sitting quietly, spoke, Seorin’s expression immediately turned disappointed. Sonbin smiled.

“Not there, but there are many around it. Tonight, let’s go out together to look around and eat something delicious for the first time in a while.”

“Yes!”

There were three answers. Along with Seorin’s excited voice, Sasu Yeon and Tang Wora’s answers were also heard.

When Sonbin turned around, Sasu Yeon blushed shyly and coughed dryly.

“Ah, it’s not that I particularly like food…….”

“Then it’s better not to enter the Namgung Clan today.”

Shinui, who had been sitting quietly, said.

“They’ll bother you so much, saying they’re treating a guest. You’ll be called here and there, and they’ll follow you wherever you go, so it’s very annoying.”

There are not many people whom the Clan treats with such hospitality. Shinui shook his head, talking about something that others would envy.

Sasu Yeon also agreed with Shinui’s words. It was something she had experienced enough while staying at the Zhuge Clan last time.

“Then let’s go to the Namgung Clan tomorrow. Since we arrived earlier than expected anyway, shall we comfortably look around the Pavilion of Prince Teng today?”

No one objected to Sonbin’s words. Not only Seorin but even Shinui nodded.

“Giddy up!”

Sonbin urged the horse. The sturdy horse from Bukhae immediately increased its speed according to Sonbin’s will.

Clatter, clatter.

The carriage headed powerfully towards Nanchang, the metropolis of Jiangnan and the place where the Namgung Clan, who styled themselves as the two major powers of Jiangnan, was located.

∴

Nanchang was still splendid and crowded with people. Sonbin, who was slowly passing through the bustling streets, muttered to himself.

“It’s very different from Guiyang.”

“That’s right. It’s very different from Guiyang, where the Blood Faction was located.”

Sasu Yeon muttered from beside him. She seemed to have had the same thought.

Even on the bustling streets, Sasu Yeon’s beauty was exuding a definite presence. Her simple clothes seemed to make her stand out even more, and whether they were men or women, everyone who passed by looked at Sasu Yeon.

However, Sasu Yeon didn’t even make eye contact. She mercilessly unleashed a chilling aura on those who stared persistently, causing them to change color and quietly run away.

“It’s different. For them, it’s a matter of survival, but for these people, it’s a matter of profit.”

Shinui, who was walking in front, said quietly.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean the Namgung Clan takes this matter lightly. The ripple effect depending on the outcome will be great. But the Blood Faction and the Namgung Clan are fundamentally standing in different places. Naturally, their attitude towards this matter will be different.”

Sonbin nodded.

The conversations of people heard in restaurants and inns were all about business or the situation in Gangbuk [area north of the river]. It felt like no one cared about the conflict between the Blood Faction and the Namgung Clan.

“But the Clan is also walking on a knife’s edge.”

Tang Wora quietly raised an objection.

“Even if they don’t seem like they’ll ever collapse, downfall is instantaneous.”

She was also a member of the Tang Clan, one of the Five Great Clans, but Tang Wora spoke as if it were someone else’s business.

“Wow! What’s that?”

Seorin grabbed Sonbin’s hand and said. The women around them, who had been subtly following Seorin, exclaimed and blushed, and Shinui frowned at the sight.

“I understand why Old Master wanted Seorin to wear a veil. Yeon-a, you’ve gotten worse than before too.”

Shinui clicked his tongue. Sasu Yeon, who had been deliberately wearing a cold expression, blushed slightly at those words.

“Let’s go to the Namgung Clan tomorrow. If we keep wandering around Nanchang like this for a few days, I have a feeling that something very troublesome will happen.”

Shinui’s words were more of a definite prediction than a feeling. Sonbin also agreed with those words and nodded.

“Then is today the last day?”

Seorin said as if she were disappointed. Hearing the sighs of the women around them, Sonbin said.

“There will be other opportunities to come out. Don’t worry.”

“Yes!”

Seorin nodded and began to walk ahead, grabbing Sonbin’s hand. Ignoring the envious gazes of some of the women, Sonbin followed Seorin.

*

*

*

The front of the Namgung Clan was crowded with people. People of all kinds were waiting in front, and carriages carrying luggage were coming and going.

However, it was not as noisy as a market or a bustling street. No one dared to raise their voice in front of the Namgung Clan.

“So this is the Namgung Clan.”

Sonbin said with admiration.

As if to show the power of the Clan that styled itself as the ruler of Jiangnan, the Namgung Clan was large and splendid. The antique double roof visible over the wall and the eaves that seemed to twist and fly upwards were more impressive than any ordinary government office.

“Didn’t you come here last time?”

At Shinui’s words, Sonbin shook his head.

“I only came to see the Jiangnan Yongbong Competition back then. But, who should I talk to?”

Sonbin looked around. Shinui also shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t know much about this.

Everyone seemed busy, so Sonbin decided to talk to the warrior guarding the entrance.

Sonbin approached, but the warrior with a sturdy physique didn’t even look at him.

“Good work.”

Sonbin spoke naturally with a gentle expression. The warrior frowned and turned to look at Sonbin.

‘What’s this?’

No one speaks to the warrior guarding the gate of the Namgung Clan. Originally, greeting guests was not his duty, and no one dared to speak to him because of his imposing aura.

The warrior glared at Sonbin threateningly. Most people would realize their mistake at this point and turn pale and quickly retreat. Even if they didn’t realize it, they would retreat for now.

However, Sonbin didn’t change his expression despite the imposing aura. Most of those he had faced had a more easily understood, terrifying aura.

“I would like to see the Clan Lord, what should I do?”

At Sonbin’s nonchalant words, the warrior’s eyebrows furrowed even more. It was nothing short of ridiculous that a young scholar who didn’t know anything was suddenly looking for the Clan Lord.

However, the warrior didn’t get angry. He didn’t want to get angry from the morning, and he thought that raising his voice against such a weak scholar was beneath the dignity of a warrior of the Namgung Clan.

‘Hmm.’

The warrior, who had been glaring at Sonbin with a displeased expression, pointed to a person with his chin instead of answering. It was one of the scribes of the Namgung Clan who greeted guests and managed entry and exit.

Sonbin glanced at the scribe once and then politely thanked the warrior.

“Thank you.”

Watching Sonbin’s back as he strode away, the warrior let out a chuckle. He had no doubt that the scholar who didn’t know anything would soon be bowing repeatedly to the scribe.

The warrior watched the young scholar approach the scribe. He saw the scribe chuckle at what he said. He probably felt the same way as the warrior.

The warrior prepared to enjoy the ridiculous spectacle that would soon unfold.

As expected, the scribe seemed to be lecturing the young scholar. He couldn’t hear the content because of the distance, but it was obvious.

But suddenly, the young scholar took something out of his arms. He seemed to have taken it out wrong and put it back in, then took out something else, which looked like a small jade pendant from afar.

‘What is it?’

The warrior saw the scribe’s expression change drastically. The scribe, who couldn’t hide his flustered expression, suddenly bowed politely to the young scholar.

The young scholar was also flustered by the sudden courtesy, and the warrior became even more unable to understand the situation.

‘What? What happened?’

A strange feeling swept past the warrior’s back.

In the meantime, the scribe hurriedly tried to enter the Clan, but then came back and politely guided the scholar inside. His fidgeting showed that he was at a loss.

And the moment he saw the group following behind, the warrior unknowingly let out a sigh of admiration.

“Oh oh.”

A handsome young man, a woman with a beauty that would make your eyes pop out, a slender lady wearing a veil, and an old man with a sturdy and intense impression who seemed to be a martial artist followed behind.

‘Was he, was he someone with connections to the Clan? But why is he dressed so shabbily?’

Sonbin’s clothes were decent in Cheongwon. But not here in Nanchang, especially in front of the Namgung Clan. Even the warrior wore better clothes than Sonbin.

‘Ugh, damn it. From the morning…….’

The warrior was annoyed. Especially since his response was not very friendly or polite.

The warrior had to work anxiously all day, wondering if there would be any disadvantages later. But fortunately, the thing he was worried about didn’t happen.