A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 268

268. The Meaning of One Person

On the outskirts of Hangzhou, a city renowned as a resort destination, there were quite a few estates owned by the wealthy and powerful. However, the owners themselves didn’t seem to have the leisure to enjoy them; many of these estates remained empty throughout the year, or even for several years at a time.

Even the people in the nearby villages didn’t pay much attention to such estates. They were built in secluded locations to begin with, and the only sign of life was the occasional elderly servant sweeping in front of the gate.

And in one of those estates was the Hangzhou residence of the Gyeonghui Princess.

“This is serious.”

The young man, Soha, said. Though his youthful appearance still held a hint of playfulness, his bright eyes spoke of his keen intellect.

“Yes, it’s a serious matter.”

The Gyeonghui Princess, seated at the table, said softly. The green shade cast upon her made her look as beautiful as a painting.

However, the Gyeonghui Princess’s complexion was not good. She didn’t look openly displeased, but she wasn’t smiling either.

“The fact that someone walking the Path of the Martial Emperor has revealed himself before you means he already knows our plans.”

Soha said with a stern expression.

“Of course, there’s a possibility this is just a bluff. But considering the names he mentioned were very specific, we must assume he has grasped the broad strokes.”

The Gyeonghui Princess quietly caressed her teacup.

“So, what’s your conclusion, Soha?”

“We need to review our entire plan. From start to finish.”

Soha’s answer was without the slightest hesitation. The Gyeonghui Princess’s expression didn’t change, but the face of her maid, Hang’a, who was standing behind her, stiffened.

“I-is it really necessary to go that far?”

Hang’a said, looking at Soha with round eyes. It was something an ordinary maid would never say. But Hang’a was recognized as having enough qualification to do so.

“He didn’t do any harm to you, Princess. That means he, he hasn’t…”

“That he’s too soft?”

Soha interrupted Hang’a. Hang’a always stuttered in front of the group. Conversely, she completely changed in serious situations.

“So you’re saying he doesn’t see this as a serious matter yet. In short, he refuses the Imperial Family’s intervention, but he’s not thinking of confronting the Imperial Family head-on, is that what he’s thinking?”

“Yes.”

Hang’a said with a wry smile. Soha always seemed to know everything she wanted to say.

“But I think differently.”

“How so?”

The Gyeonghui Princess asked, listening. Her gaze turned to Soha.

“Despite being in a situation of seemingly absolute superiority, he did not harm you at all. He didn’t even subtly show off his strength.”

Soha continued, his eyes shining.

“Showing off strength is human nature. If he were an ordinary person, he would have used his superior power to pressure us. But he didn’t. This means he is by no means impulsive or thoughtless. No, it means he is very calm and acts according to thoroughly calculated results.”

The Gyeonghui Princess agreed with Soha’s words.

Those who have power, even if it’s insignificant, want to show it off.

Isn’t it human nature to swing a sword when you hold it?

The Gyeonghui Princess had seen countless such foolish people. And she knew exactly what the end of thoughtless people was like.

‘Nature, huh…’

Sonbin’s clear eyes, which had looked at her in the carriage, were still vivid in her mind.

Was what lingered in those eyes the result of thorough calculation, as Soha said, or was it his nature?

‘No, either way, it doesn’t matter.’

The Gyeonghui Princess bit her lip.

‘He’s an enemy. Even if he has no hostility towards me, it doesn’t matter.’

Even if he had pure goodwill as it seemed, it was the same.

‘And yet, I barely…’

The Gyeonghui Princess’s red lips twisted strongly.

The one who walks the Path of the Martial Emperor.

How long had she waited to meet him? And how much had she prepared?

Among them was the so-called ‘offer you can’t refuse.’ Either accept it, or face mutual destruction.

Even if not that, there were many things she could do.

She could have planted seeds of distrust in the Outer Affairs [likely a rival faction or organization] with a few words, or provoked him to make mistakes or misjudgments. At the very least, she should have made an effort to gather more information.

But all she could do was say, ‘You really don’t want to join hands with me?’ which was too childish and powerless.

‘Really, the worst.’

All because of his eyes that looked straight at her. Or is his sorcery still confusing her?

“The one who knows when to fight and when not to fight wins.”

Suddenly, Soha’s voice echoed in the Gyeonghui Princess’s ears again.

“The reason he didn’t harm you is because he calculated when not to fight. And that’s not because he wants to avoid conflict with the Imperial Family, but…”

Soha’s eyes, looking at the Gyeonghui Princess, were challenging.

“Because he’s already prepared to confront the Imperial Family.”

The Gyeonghui Princess could understand the hidden meaning in Soha’s words. Soha had noticed her confused mind.

“Hmph.”

The Gyeonghui Princess laughed.

“Preparedness. Then we should show them too. What our preparedness is like.”

The Gyeonghui Princess raised her head and looked at Soha.

“How long will it take?”

That meant she would accept Soha’s proposal.

“It depends on what you want, Princess.”

“My will does not change.”

The Gyeonghui Princess’s eyes were firm. The regret and anguish that had troubled her mind a moment ago were now gone without a trace.

“Then, in the end, nothing will change in the big picture.”

Soha was lost in thought.

“Still, some things will have to be discarded immediately, and some approaches will have to be completely different. But thanks to this, some things have become simpler. It will be a little late, but there won’t be much difference from the original schedule.”

“Good.”

The Gyeonghui Princess turned her gaze to Cheongrang Sword Wi Gajin. He stood silently, guarding his place.

“How is Cheonghye doing?”

“She is teaching her disciples at the Jahye Gate in Beijing.”

Cheongrang Sword Wi Gajin bowed and answered the Gyeonghui Princess.

The Jahye Gate was a secular branch of the Ami Sect [a Buddhist sect] established by the Gyeonghui Princess. Soha added to Wi Gajin’s answer.

“She seems to be completely immersed in the fun of teaching the newly accepted secular disciples these days. It’s as Cheonsugeom predicted, that the bond of master and disciple is the best way to tie her down. Besides, Cheonghye’s reputation is already well-known in Beijing.”

The young Cheonghye could not overlook injustice before her eyes. Several masters of the Demonic Sect who had harassed her had already been crushed, and the sects that had been bullying others had to take down their signboards.

Thanks to this, she had become the most famous person in Beijing. Her beautiful appearance, her supreme martial arts, and the fact that she was a Buddhist nun of the Ami Sect were perfect for people to talk about.

“Thanks to this, the disciples who want to enter the Jahye Gate are lining up in droves. She said she would only accept female disciples, but now she’s worried about whether she should accept men as well. The interest of the children of martial arts families, as well as young people who aspire to the military, is very high.”

It is an open secret that the Gyeonghui Princess is involved with the Jahye Gate. Although she is not on the front lines, she is recognized as the biggest supporter, so young people who are interested in the government or the military cannot help but be interested.

“For now, it seems that we can proceed with the Jahye Gate as it is.”

Soha scratched his chin with his finger.

“Still, we should review this again.”

Cheonghye is also a person from the Outer Affairs. She is not unrelated to the ‘one who walks the Path of the Martial Emperor,’ so we cannot easily pass it over.

The Gyeonghui Princess turned her gaze to Hang’a.

“Contact Cheonsugeom. She needs to know too.”

“Yes.”

Hang’a bowed and received the Gyeonghui Princess’s order.

The ‘one who walks the Path of the Martial Emperor’ has already grasped Cheonsugeom. Perhaps Cheonsugeom, Neung Cheonhwa, will also have to revise a significant portion of the plan.

“What about the Murim Alliance [a martial arts alliance]?”

At the Gyeonghui Princess’s words, Soha sighed.

“That too must be stopped for now. If we make a mistake, we may have to go a long way again. Ugh, really.”

Soha grumbled as he spoke.

“I don’t know what this trouble is all about because of just one person.”

It was not unreasonable. Because the so-called ‘one who walks the Path of the Martial Emperor’ has appeared, they have to rebuild from the ground up.

“Because he’s a person worth it.”

The Gyeonghui Princess said with a cold sneer. Soha nodded with a bitter expression, expressing his agreement.

“That’s right.”

The Gyeonghui Princess raised her head and straightened her back. With a haughty and imposing gaze, she said.

“It would be polite for us to welcome him with all our strength.”

Soha, Hang’a, and Cheongrang Sword Wi Gajin bowed their heads. However, the Gyeonghui Princess’s frosty gaze was shining towards the clear ‘adversary’ in front of her.

*

*

*

After the children go home, a tranquil atmosphere settles in the Seowon [a private academy], which had been noisy.

While Seorin cleans with the five children and Dang Wola prepares tea, the old woman Dang Unyeong, Sa Suyeon, and Hyeonryeon Sehwa prepare dinner.

Today, Hwasa also helped prepare dinner. First of all, she wanted to follow everything Hyeonryeon Sehwa did, and the old woman Dang Unyeong’s words, ‘You have to feed men well so they don’t cause trouble,’ seemed to have captured her heart.

The mealtime is quite lively. While the women, including Dang Unyeong, have a lively conversation, Seorin and the five children also chatter.

Thanks to this, Talhondo is bored. Occasionally, the former Paegeom [a title or position], Hyeonryeon Wi, came to visit, but both of them were silent people, so they just sat there blankly and then left.

Even now, Talhondo, who had finished eating first, was sitting in a corner of the garden, yawning languidly.

“Oops… no, isn’t it a little boring without Son Gongja [Master Son]?”

Hwasa said suddenly while drinking tea after finishing the dishes.

“It’s not that I hate or dislike it now. But, what should I say, I feel a little empty.”

Hwasa stretched her arms above her head, gathering her arms as if she were bored. Her chest, which already attracts attention, becomes even more prominent.

“Ah, it would be nice if unlucky guys showed up at times like this. I feel refreshed after hitting those who act without knowing the subject. But there’s not a single one of those here…”

“Cherish and be grateful for the moment.”

Dang Wola said softly, raising her teacup.

“There’s no room to be bored.”

It was quite unexpected for her to say this so clearly. However, Hwasa’s eyes quickly rise up.

“Oh, so you’re saying I’m a woman who doesn’t know how to be grateful?”

Dang Wola did not answer. The old woman Dang Unyeong laughed and stepped in to mediate.

“That’s not what she meant. And I agree with Hwasa Sojeo’s [a respectful title for a young woman] words. There’s nothing to see at night without Son Gongja, and after Sunrang left, I feel a little empty in one corner of my heart…”

Everyone agreed with Dang Unyeong’s words. The pleasure of going out at night, enjoying the river breeze, and watching Sonbin’s training had disappeared.

I didn’t know when we were traveling together, but now that I’m left in Seowon and waiting, I feel so sorry.

“Shall we have a sparring match?”

Hwasa said suddenly.

“Oppa [older brother]… no, Son Gongja does it every day, so there’s no reason why we can’t.”

An awkward smile appeared on Hyeonryeon Sehwa’s face.

“Wouldn’t it be better to do that with Geomhui Sojeo? If possible, far away from the village.”

“Ice block, she’s not here right now.”

Hwasa said with a slight annoyance.

“Like a heartless girl. She disappeared without a word. It’s like she won once and the game is over…”

“Okay, sparring.”

Dang Wola’s voice interrupted Hwasa’s words.

“But it’s no fun to just do it.”

Hwasa, who didn’t expect her to agree, had a bewildered expression.

“Then what…”

“Bet.”

Hwasa’s eyes sparkled at Dang Wola’s words.

“A bet? Good. What are you going to bet on?”

“Ah, both of those people…”

Sa Suyeon opened her mouth as if trying to stop the two, but she swallowed her words at Dang Wola’s next words.

“Calling each other ‘Unni’ [older sister].”

Silence fell in an instant. Seorin, who had been chatting with the children, realized the atmosphere and closed her mouth, watching the ‘older sisters’.

In that silence, Dang Wola continued to speak in a calm voice.

“If you’re weak, you’re not an older sister. So…”

Tak.

Dang Wola put down her teacup.

“The loser will call the other ‘Unni’ until the next sparring match.”

Hwasa clearly saw Dang Wola’s eyes shining behind her veil.

“Hmph.”

Hwasa let out a thin smile.

“That’s really… a word I like. Okay, I’ll accept it.”

Hwareureuk.

Hwasa’s hair slowly swayed as she spoke.

“I’ll make you call me ‘Unni’.”

Dang Wola’s eyes also subtly raised her energy from under her veil.

Dalkak.

Hwasa and Dang Wola’s eyes moved at the sound of another teacup being put down.

“That sparring match.”

Sa Suyeon said with a soft smile. However, her coldly shining eyes were not smiling at all.

“Can I do it too?”

“Of course.”

Hwasa’s lips went up.

“I’m glad. It seems like I’ll have a lot of younger siblings.”

Unlike the word glad, the three people’s eyes were sharply intertwined in the air. No one seemed to want to back down. Besides, on the one hand, they seemed really happy, and even a blush began to appear on their faces.

Hyeonryeon Sehwa, who thought the situation was overheating, stepped in to mediate.

“Um, calm down for a moment…”

“Ah, are you going to do it too, Teacher?”

Hwasa suddenly said to Hyeonryeon Sehwa. Hyeonryeon Sehwa’s eyes widened.

‘Ah, it’s dangerous.’

The moment she saw Hwasa’s sparkling eyes, Hyeonryeon Sehwa sensed it. Hwasa is really happy now. Besides, she’s thinking of dragging Hyeonryeon Sehwa in too.

Hyeonryeon Sehwa is also the daughter of a martial arts family. But no matter how much, how can she be compared to Hwasa, Dang Wola, or Sa Suyeon in front of her?

Of course, if it’s watching, she has the confidence that she won’t be second to anyone.

“Don’t you need a referee for sparring?”

Hyeonryeon Sehwa said with a smile.

“I’ll do it. Of course, if you all agree.”

Dang Wola nodded first. Sa Suyeon also readily agreed.

“Okay. If it’s Sehwa Sojeo.”

“Woong. I like it when the teacher does it together too.”

Hwasa expressed her regret, but Hyeonryeon Sehwa smiled.

“Instead, you must stop when I tell you to stop. If something happens because you don’t listen to me, I have to explain the whole story to Son Gongja.”

Everyone knows that Sonbin entrusted everything in Seowon to Hyeonryeon Sehwa. She is the Seowon teacher who was formally invited by Sonbin.

“Then Son Gongja will be very disappointed. Everyone, do you understand?”

Hyeonryeon Sehwa said with a smile, but Hwasa, Sa Suyeon, and Dang Wola’s faces hardened noticeably.

They never want to see Sonbin disappointed. The three immediately nodded.

“Ah, are you going to do it too?”

Hwasa’s arrow was now aimed at Seorin. Seorin, who had been listening with interest as if it were someone else’s business, flinched.

“I, I don’t want to.”

Seorin shook her head. Seorin doesn’t hate sparring, but she absolutely refuses to be among these scary ‘older sisters’. Of course, she has no intention of missing out on watching.

“Wouldn’t it be a bit much for Seorin to join the women’s sparring?”

This time too, Hyeonryeon Sehwa saved Seorin. Seorin looked at Hyeonryeon Sehwa with a touched expression.

In fact, the old woman Dang Unyeong wanted to say that too, but she was afraid that Hwasa’s sparks would fly to her. If she just stays still, an exciting spectacle will unfold before her eyes.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Hwasa said with regret. Seorin quickly got up from her seat, fearing that Hwasa would recommend her more.

“I’ll take the kids and come back.”

Seorin said that and left with the five children as if running away. Talhondo, who had been dozing in a corner of the garden, was already quietly leaving Seowon.

“Where are you going?”

Hwasa’s eyes didn’t miss it.

“Cough. Um, just taking a walk.”

Talhondo, who answered with a cough, didn’t even look at Hwasa and left as it was. He will probably return silently and keep his place when the sparring match takes place.

“What, let’s go together.”

Hwasa seemed a little sad, but she soon gave up her regrets. Because there was something more interesting in front of her now.

“Then when shall we do it? The first sparring match. I’m good to go right now.”

Hwasa’s eyes, shining provocatively, turned to Sa Suyeon and Dang Wola.

“Is that so? Me too.”

Sa Suyeon also said with a smile. But her eyes were also shining sharply.

“Me too.”

Dang Wola also agreed softly.

Watching the three people’s eyes intertwine sharply, Hyeonryeon Sehwa sighed. But she didn’t feel bad.

“There’s no need to rush.”

Hyeonryeon Sehwa said, raising her teacup.

“There’s still plenty of time.”

Before she knew it, a smile was blooming on Hyeonryeon Sehwa’s lips. Her heart was already pounding with anticipation for the sparring match that would unfold tonight and the developments that would unfold as a result.