A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 253

253. The Result of the Discussion

The weather in Namchang was exceptionally clear. In the meticulously decorated, spacious rear garden of the Namgung Clan, Son Bin and his group were waiting for someone.

“The sky is high today.”

Looking up at the blue sky, Sa Su-yeon said. Son Bin, standing next to her, responded,

“It seems the season is about to change.”

“Has it already? Time really flies.”

There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky. The blue sky, so vast it felt like you could fall into it just by looking, was spread out before them.

However, what captivated Son Bin’s gaze even more was Sa Su-yeon’s beautiful figure as she looked up at the sky.

Seeing Sa Su-yeon’s appearance, both beautiful and tinged with a hint of melancholy, Son Bin suddenly felt worried.

“Sojeo [Young Miss] Su-yeon, are you perhaps… thinking strange thoughts?”

“Yes? What do you mean by strange thoughts?”

Sa Su-yeon looked at Son Bin and asked back. Son Bin said with a serious expression,

“For example, that everything would be alright if only Sojeo left for another place…”

According to Namgung Hyang’s prediction, Sa Su-yeon was inevitably going to be caught up in what was about to happen. It was possible that she was thinking of leaving, worried about causing harm to Son Bin.

“Heh heh.”

Sa Su-yeon laughed softly. She quietly looked at Son Bin, her beautiful eyes fixed on him.

“Gongja [Young Master] Son.”

“Yes.”

Son Bin replied, unknowingly with a tense expression. Sa Su-yeon’s voice continued.

“It’s hard to say this myself, but I have a bit of a rebellious personality. If someone tries to suppress me, I tend to bounce back even harder. Even my father couldn’t fix my personality.”

Sa Su-yeon said with a gentle expression.

Son Bin suddenly remembered Sa Ja-hyeok saying about Sa Su-yeon, ‘The only person in the world I can’t win against.’ Perhaps it wasn’t just something he said because she was his daughter.

“So, I’m not going to leave. A force capable of turning the Outer Affairs Division into an enemy is threatening me? In that case.”

The light in Sa Su-yeon’s eyes flashed.

“I’d rather smash them to pieces first.”

It was only for a moment, but her gaze was even chilling.

“Ah, yes.”

Son Bin stuttered without realizing it. Sa Su-yeon smiled at Son Bin again.

“So, don’t worry. I won’t leave.”

Son Bin nodded, feeling relieved.

“Perhaps…”

Suddenly, Sa Su-yeon lowered her voice and said as if to herself,

“If Gongja Son… were to go with me, maybe.”

“I want to go too!”

Before she could finish speaking, Seo-rin raised her hand enthusiastically. Then, she looked up at Son Bin with wide eyes and asked again.

“Hyung [Older Brother], you’ll take me, right?”

“I’m going too.”

Dang Wora said quietly, in a tone that suggested no objections or rebuttals would be allowed.

“What, is everyone going?”

Nogun, who was standing with his hands behind his back, said grumbling. Lady Dang, who was guarding his side, said,

“Then we’ll go too, Soon-rang.”

“Huh?”

Nogun turned around with a surprised expression. Lady Dang continued quietly.

“It doesn’t matter, does it? Whether it’s Cheongwon, Nammok, or even Tianzhu or the Western Regions.”

“But the Yeongmae [her position in the clan] is…”

Dang Un-yeong had a family to protect. The Dang Clan still needed her. However, Lady Dang smiled.

“At our age, it’s time to step down, isn’t it? The remaining work is for those who are left. I don’t need anything as long as I’m with Soon-rang.”

“Cough, cough. I, is that so?”

Nogun covered his mouth with his hand and coughed awkwardly, but he couldn’t hide his beaming expression.

“If it’s Tianzhu or the Western Regions, it might be worth a visit.”

Shinui, who was examining the rare flowers in the garden, said in a passing tone.

However, unfortunately, no one responded to Shinui’s words. But before Shinui could feel embarrassed, someone entered the garden just in time.

Clack, clack.

The people who appeared at the garden entrance with the unfamiliar sound were three people. Two were walking, but one was riding in a small cart.

Small and slender, still with a pale face, sitting in the cart and smiling, she was none other than Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon.

“Sojeo Geum.”

Son Bin approached with a delighted expression. The rest of the group also approached Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon, following Son Bin.

“Are you alright?”

Son Bin asked, and Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon smiled.

“Yes, thanks to you.”

Her face was bright. There wasn’t even a trace of her previous dark complexion.

“I heard that you were the one who saved me, Gongja Son. Thank you so much.”

Sitting in the cart, Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon bowed deeply. It was a polite and sincere gesture, but Son Bin wore a rather regretful expression.

“I’m sorry. This is all I could do…”

Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon had saved her life, but now she couldn’t stand on her own two feet. The reason she bowed while sitting was precisely because of that.

“No. You’ve done this much for me.”

Still smiling, Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon shook her head.

If Son Bin had accepted that flow, he might have been able to completely heal Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon.

But would Son Bin, who had entered that flow, have the will to heal her? No one knows. So, Hyeolbong’s words, ‘You’ve done this much,’ are correct.

“What happened to the ability you had?”

Nogun asked abruptly. Shinui frowned, but Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon replied in a calm voice.

“It’s gone. But it’s not completely gone… How should I put it, I can feel it faintly.”

“Hmm, anyone who’s been rolling around in the Jianghu [Martial Arts World] would have that much sense… Well, it’s better than nothing.”

Hyeolbong, realizing that there was concern for her beneath Nogun’s blunt words, smiled. As if embarrassed by that smile, Nogun coughed and changed the subject.

“But what is this? It’s a peculiar cart, isn’t it?”

What Hyeolbong was sitting on was a small cart with large wheels, but it wasn’t very big, so it seemed more like a chair.

Instead of an animal pulling it from the front, it was designed for someone to push it from behind, and it only seemed to have two wheels on the outside.

“Sojeo Namgung Hyang made it for me.”

Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon turned her head and looked at Namgung Hyang, who was standing behind her.

“I made it after seeing records of such carts in old literature. When I looked into it, it wasn’t that rare. All I did was make the cart smaller. And larger wheels are more stable.”

“Does it only have two wheels?”

Nogun showed interest. He usually showed quite an attachment to carriages.

“No. There’s one in the front and one in the back. The rear wheel is to ensure stability when moving quickly. For example…”

Namgung Hyang began to explain to Nogun. Nogun listened to the explanation with deep interest.

Nogun, who was even bending down to look closely at the cart, suddenly frowned.

“It’s quite well made, but there doesn’t seem to be a way to stop the cart if it rolls downhill.”

“Ah. That’s right.”

Namgung Hyang looked surprised.

“I didn’t think that far. I…”

As she spoke, Namgung Hyang turned her head and looked at Guigyeon Sura. He was still wearing black martial attire and holding Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon’s cart.

“I thought this person would always be there.”

Guigyeon Sura, wearing a black hat, put down the cart and slowly walked forward.

Thud, thud.

The place where he stopped was in front of Son Bin. Since Guigyeon Sura was taller than Son Bin, it was as if he was looking down on him. But that didn’t last long.

Thump.

Guigyeon Sura knelt down in front of Son Bin. Not just on one knee, but with both knees on the ground. His upper body remained upright, but his deeply bowed head showed his resolve.

“What is the meaning of this?”

Son Bin was surprised and tried to lift him up, but Namgung Hyang’s voice was heard from the side.

“Sojeo Hyeolbong!”

Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon was trying to lift herself up, putting strength into both hands. Namgung Hyang hurriedly tried to stop her, but she eventually got out of the cart. And, of course, she fell to the ground with a thud.

“Haa.”

Geum Sa-ryeon gasped for breath. Her body was now free from the severed meridians, but her stamina had not fully returned.

“What are you doing? You’re still a patient!”

Shinui was angry, and Namgung Hyang hurriedly tried to support Geum Sa-ryeon. However, Geum Sa-ryeon refused help.

And, fallen on the ground, she raised herself up and eventually knelt down in front of Son Bin.

She took a moment to catch her breath and then looked up at Son Bin.

“I, Geum Sa-ryeon, am shameless, but I dare to ask Gongja for a favor.”

The eyes of Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon, who was speaking, were shining. Anyone could tell what was making her eyes shine now.

“Arang is like my life to me. The sin Arang committed against Gongja is not enough even if he gives his life, but please, return this person to me.”

Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon, having finished speaking, bowed her head. Her hair poured down, and her white neck was revealed.

“Hoo.”

Son Bin sighed. This was not what he wanted. Son Bin bent down towards Geum Sa-ryeon and said,

“I…”

“You’re quite shameless.”

Nogun’s voice, which suddenly popped out, interrupted Son Bin’s words.

“Don’t you know what consequences your impulsive actions have brought? Although your intentions are commendable, your thoughtless actions have put many people in danger. Such actions are foolish and will never help you, this guy, or Hyeolbongryeon.”

Nogun said in a cold voice. Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon bit her lip and listened to the scolding.

But Son Bin, who was listening, felt something welling up inside. Son Bin said to Nogun. No, he was about to say.

“But Elder…”

“All those who say that are talking nonsense.”

Nogun said with a grin.

“If there’s nothing boiling in your heart, how can you be called a person? Those who pretend to be wise and advise others on their heroic deeds are always up to something. So, you don’t have to pay any attention to such words. Do you understand?”

“Elder…”

Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon looked up at Nogun with tearful eyes. Nogun smiled warmly at Geum Sa-ryeon as if he were treating his granddaughter.

“And this kind of thing is counterproductive for Bin. If you do something like waiting for punishment, this guy will be even more at a loss.”

Son Bin nodded. Just Guigyeon Sura alone was a burden he couldn’t express, but with Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon kneeling down as well, he was beside himself with anxiety.

“So, it’s better to just be openly shameless. You can push through recklessly. For example, um… That’s right. ‘You touched my chest, so please just let this person live’…”

“I didn’t touch it!”

Son Bin protested vehemently, but it was already too late.

“Yes? What did you say?”

The look in Sa Su-yeon’s eyes as she asked was somehow eerie. Seo-rin and Dang Wora also turned to look at Son Bin.

“Hyung…”

“Gongja Son.”

“No! I put my hand there, but I didn’t touch it. Sojeo saw it, didn’t she?”

At Son Bin’s words, the light in Sa Su-yeon’s eyes wavered. Certainly, that was the case until she saw it. But after that, she didn’t see it until Son Bin stood up. That’s because she was facing the Blood Demon.

The group’s gaze turned to Shinui and Namgung Hyang. These two were the only people who could have seen the scene, except for the Blood Demon.

“W, well. I’m too far away to see well…”

Namgung Hyang was the first to back out. And Shinui frowned and said,

“I didn’t see it accurately from the side, so I can’t say for sure. From above, I can’t tell if it touched or not…”

“Shinui-nim!”

Son Bin’s expectations that he would say it was okay because it was part of the treatment were disappointingly not answered.

“D, did you touch it?”

At the voice coming from below, Son Bin lowered his gaze. Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon was asking with a flushed face, and her teary eyes looked like she was about to burst into tears.

“No.”

Son Bin hardened his face and answered with a serious expression. Nogun said it as a joke, but depending on the situation, it could turn into a serious matter of defiling chastity.

“I see. I’ll believe Gongja’s words.”

Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon nodded. Since the person involved was convinced, the atmosphere around them became much more comfortable. Son Bin sighed in relief, but Hyeolbong’s voice continued.

“Then will you forgive Arang?”

Son Bin said with a bitter smile.

“It’s hard to forgive him.”

Hyeolbong’s expression darkened rapidly. But Son Bin’s words were not over yet.

“So, he must protect Sojeo Geum Sa-ryeon for the rest of his life. That is the punishment I am giving him.”

Guigyeon Sura raised his head and looked at Son Bin. He was staring with wide eyes as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Thank you.”

The moist voice of Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon flowed out. She turned to look at Guigyeon Sura, Arang.

“Did you hear?”

With tearful eyes, Geum Sa-ryeon said to Arang.

“Don’t ever leave me again, Arang.”

“That’s…”

Arang, who was gritting his teeth to suppress his agitation, barely spat out the words.

“What I was going to say.”

Before he knew it, Arang’s eyes were also moist.

∴

After the commotion subsided, the group took a walk in the garden and talked. The most important thing was to convey the results of the agreement between Hyeolbongryeon and the Namgung Clan to Son Bin.

The agreement between Hyeolbongryeon and the Namgung Clan ended simply. This was because the current head of the family, Namgung Kwon, had a firm will, and the former head of the family, Namgung Cheon, also supported the decision.

“In fact, what I was most worried about was the Namgung Clan dragging out the time without any conclusion.”

Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon said from the cart with her hands clasped together. Her cart was being pushed by Guigyeon Sura Arang, and Son Bin was walking slowly beside her with his hands behind his back.

“You mean the prediction made by someone named Hyeolhondokjo [a member of Hyeolbongryeon who opposed Geum Sa-ryeon].”

Hyeolhondokjo was the one who tried to become the head of Hyeolbongryeon. Of course, Nogun, especially the young Okryong, did not allow it.

“Yes. But the head of the family made his intentions clear. Rather, through this incident, I realized the potential of the prestigious orthodox sects. In fact, there are not many sects within Hyeolbongryeon that keep their word to the end.”

Geum Sa-ryeon smiled bitterly.

“It’s a good thing, but wouldn’t there be people who don’t accept these results?”

Son Bin asked. Hyeolbongryeon is a coalition of several sects. Unlike the Namgung Clan, where the head of the family’s decision is law, there is no way there would be no dissenting voices.

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

The answer was given by Namgung Hyang, who was walking with them from the side.

“What the Namgung Clan promised was ‘not to antagonize the flag of Hyeolbong first.’ In other words, if Sojeo Hyeolbong excommunicates any sect or does not allow them to raise the flag of Hyeolbong, they will not be guaranteed safety in the Gangnam Murim [Jianghu of Gangnam region].”

“Ah.”

Son Bin nodded. The meaning of becoming an enemy of the Namgung Clan is great. Since the decision depends on Hyeolbong’s decision, it is the same as giving them the power of life and death, depending on how they accept it.

“The family doesn’t just make concessions unconditionally. The words ‘not to antagonize first’ only go that far.”

The Namgung Clan’s concessions were more reasonable than expected. It was not just an emotional statement, but a clear line was drawn.

In addition, from the Namgung Clan’s point of view, it is better for a predictable and friendly Hyeolbong to gain power than for Hyeolbongryeon to be in chaos.

Son Bin was inwardly impressed by the current head of the family, Namgung Kwon’s, deep thoughts.

“We are leaving tomorrow.”

Hyeolbong said. Son Bin also nodded.

“We are also leaving tomorrow.”

“I hope we can walk through this garden again someday. I want to talk more then. Not these stiff stories.”

Son Bin smiled and said to Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon.

“It will definitely be possible.”

Geum Sa-ryeon also answered Son Bin with a smile. Her smile was as bright and radiant as any other young lady of her age.