A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 286

The rumor that the obscure Moon of the Blade had found the treasure spread like wildfire.

“Moon of the Blade? Where did they pop up from?”

“Looks like some small-fry sect got lucky.”

“Really? Then…”

The martial artists who heard the rumor all came to the same conclusion:

‘Finders keepers.’

The strength of the unheard-of Moon of the Blade was questionable. Snatching the treasure from them and finding out the location of the remaining treasure would be a piece of cake. If only they could find them.

“Hurry!”

“Move, move!”

The martial artists hurriedly grabbed their weapons and blindly rushed into the misty Huangshan. They didn’t even properly pack the torches and ropes they usually took.

They were weighed down by the anxiety that they had to be one step ahead of the other sects, and that there would be no chance if the Great Four or the Five Great Clans moved.

In that short time, all sorts of rumors circulated about the whereabouts of the Moon of the Blade, but no one was even trying to find out the truth.

They were overflowing with greed and the vain hope that they could seize the treasure if they just entered Huangshan and were lucky enough to meet the Moon of the Blade.

∴

Meanwhile, the inn they had left was like a storm had passed through. No, it was as if a storm had actually swept through.

Food and dishes were scattered everywhere, and the tables and chairs were a mess. It was fortunate that no one was hurt.

“Tsk.”

The Divine Physician, who was tending to the patient, frowned and clicked his tongue.

“This is why I hate martial artists.”

The fallen man was still unconscious. If Old Master and Old Fisherman had not protected the Divine Physician and the man, the patient would have lost his life by now.

“Isn’t it because everyone is struggling to live? It’s no wonder they’re blinded by the thought of great treasure.”

Old Master said with a sullen expression.

“Does that mean they should pursue wealth even if it means taking another person’s life?”

“Well, the world is a jungle, after all.”

Even though he didn’t really want to, Old Master replied to the Divine Physician’s words. When the Divine Physician frowned and glared at him, Old Master coughed and turned his head.

After all, Old Master also found their behavior disgusting.

“So, it looks like it’s started?”

Turning his head, Old Master asked Sohn Bin. Sohn Bin nodded.

“Yes. This is probably…”

Tak, tak, tak.

Before Sohn Bin could finish speaking, a man hurried down from the upper floor. He was a young man wearing the uniform of the Zhuge Family.

He approached without hesitation but hesitated at the sight of Old Master and Old Fisherman’s aura, then bowed and asked politely.

“Is this the person who told you about the Moon of the Blade?”

“Yes.”

Old Master answered casually. The young man approached the fallen man and bent down to examine him.

“Is he unconscious? Can he speak, perhaps…”

“He suffered severe injuries and lost a lot of blood. It will take several days for him to regain consciousness.”

The Divine Physician said, not hiding his displeasure. The young man had already heard about the Divine Physician’s personality, so he didn’t argue further.

“Besides the fact that the Moon of the Blade found the treasure, did he say anything else?”

“No. That’s all.”

“I see.”

The young man bowed politely to the Divine Physician and Old Master.

“Thank you for letting me know.”

After speaking, the young man hurried back to the room upstairs. The Divine Physician looked up at Sohn Bin and said.

“You guys go too. I’ll protect this place.”

“Understood.”

“I know you’ll do well, but still be careful. Don’t get hurt. Understand?”

Sohn Bin smiled.

“Yes. Thank you. Ah, and if anyone comes looking for me…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll tell them what you said.”

“Thank you.”

Sohn Bin thanked the Divine Physician. Then, he left the inn with the others.

The outside was full of white light, but nothing could be seen. However, the murmuring sounds could be heard clearly from everywhere.

*

*

*

The rumor that stirred everyone up was also conveyed to the Amitabha Sect’s camp. The entire entrance to Huangshan was buzzing, so they couldn’t not know.

“The Moon of the Blade is said to have found the treasure!”

A female monk of the Amitabha Sect who had rushed in said in an excited tone. She looked like she was about to rush into Huangshan with the others right away.

“Calm yourself.”

The elderly Abbess Beop-heo scolded the monk in a low voice. Although she was much lower in seniority, she did not lose respect for the other person.

“As a disciple of Buddhism, how can you lose your composure so easily?”

However, the monk was dissatisfied with Abbess Beop-heo’s rebuke.

“But it’s the treasure of the Heavenly Outlaw Star! It’s now…”

Abbess Beop-heo’s eyebrows twitched. At that sight, the monk flinched and lowered her head.

‘Hmm.’

Abbess Beop-heo’s heart was not at ease.

She had come to Huangshan as a member of the Great Four to prevent the chaos of the martial world, but her disciples were only focused on finding the treasure.

At this rate, wouldn’t they be no different from the other sects gathered here?

Even with the current chaos, Abbess Beop-heo knew the weight of the name ‘Heavenly Outlaw Star’.

There was no way that the ‘treasure of the Heavenly Outlaw Star’ could be found so easily.

“What does the sect leader think?”

Abbess Beop-heo turned her head and looked at Sect Leader Hye-wol.

Sect Leader Hye-wol was not as excited as the other disciples, but her expression was not good. It had been like that ever since the meeting of the Great Four and the Five Great Clans ended without any particular results the night before.

Sect Leader Hye-wol did not answer. She remained silent for a moment with a firm expression, then sighed softly and said.

“We should move too.”

Abbess Beop-heo could fully understand her feelings. She thought that she was lamenting the fact that she, as a disciple of Buddhism, had become entangled in the chaos of the martial world.

“I understand your difficulties.”

At Abbess Beop-heo’s words, Sect Leader Hye-wol turned her head and looked at the abbess.

“But this is something we have to do for the sake of the people. It’s like the responsibility of those who have power.”

The treasure of the Heavenly Outlaw Star, whether it was real, fake, or something else, must never be released into the world.

Abbess Beop-heo was so sure of that.

So, she was even feeling a little sorry to Sect Leader Hye-wol, who had followed her stubbornness.

Even though Sect Leader Hye-wol was acting in accordance with the agreement of the Great Four.

“The responsibility of those who have power, you say?”

Abbess Beop-heo nodded at Sect Leader Hye-wol, who asked back with a somewhat complicated look.

“That’s right.”

“I understand. I will prepare to depart immediately.”

“Ah, and…”

Abbess Beop-heo said to the sect leader, who was bowing with her hands clasped together.

“Let’s have the disciples of the Beijing Jahye Sect move together as well. It would be better for Cheong-hye to be with us than to move separately.”

This was largely in consideration of Sohn Bin, who was walking the path of the Unrestrained [a group of powerful martial artists]. Not only because he said so, but also because it was very dangerous for the Jahye Sect to move separately in this situation.

Even if Abbess Cheong-hye was with them, she still had little experience in the martial world, so if people like Bi-geom Gongson Geuk or Jeondae Roe-geom Namgung Cheon harbored hostility, there was no way she could handle them.

“I will convey that.”

Sect Leader Hye-wol readily accepted Abbess Beop-heo’s wishes. Like a true sect leader, she gave instructions in an orderly manner and quickly finished preparing to depart.

The disciples of the Jahye Sect and Abbess Cheong-hye, who were staying at the inn, and Cheong-rang-geom Wi Ga-jin soon crossed over to the Amitabha Sect’s camp. They were already prepared to leave, knowing about the commotion.

“I pay my respects to the abbess.”

Cheong-rang-geom Wi Ga-jin paid his respects to Abbess Beop-heo in a disciplined manner. Even some of the female monks could not take their eyes off Wi Ga-jin’s dignified and handsome appearance. Abbess Beop-heo also liked his spirit.

“I heard that your sword is very excellent. As a martial arts alliance inspector, I look forward to it in the future.”

“You flatter me.”

Cheong-rang-geom Wi Ga-jin also paid his respects to Sect Leader Hye-wol. The other disciples of the Jahye Sect who came with him also paid their respects to Abbess Beop-heo and Sect Leader Hye-wol.

Abbess Beop-heo smiled as she watched them.

Cheong-hye, her youngest disciple who she had taken in at an old age and who always seemed young, had become a master to others and was receiving their trust and respect. How could she not be pleased to see that?

“Preparations for departure are complete.”

One of the Amitabha Sect’s monks reported. Sect Leader Hye-wol nodded and looked at Abbess Beop-heo.

“Let’s go.”

Abbess Beop-heo said. With her, the Amitabha Sect’s monks and the Jahye Sect entered Huangshan.

∴

Flicker.

It was midday, but the Amitabha Sect’s monks lit torches. This was because the thick fog made it difficult to see ahead, and the shade of the mountain made it dark as they entered Huangshan.

In fact, lighting torches didn’t make the surroundings that much brighter, but at least they could confirm each other’s positions.

“Sect Leader!”

At the shout of a monk who was ahead at a distance, Abbess Beop-heo, Abbess Cheong-hye, and Cheong-rang-geom Wi Ga-jin stepped forward.

The three soon arrived at the place where the monk was standing, and what they found were three or four corpses.

“They are already dead.”

The corpses were holding swords and knives, and each had many wounds. It meant that they had fought a fierce battle, but there was something more important than that.

“And these…”

The monk held out something with a firm expression. It was a gold coin, stained with dirt and blood.

“They were dropped around the corpses.”

Abbess Beop-heo looked around. Her excellent eyesight discovered a few more sparkling lights in the fog, and more other corpses too.

“Did they find the Moon of the Blade?”

The monk asked with eyes full of tension and anticipation. Abbess Beop-heo inwardly exclaimed ‘Amitabha’ and answered quietly.

“I don’t know. Or maybe another sect snatched it from the Moon of the Blade.”

In the meantime, the Amitabha Sect’s monks and the Jahye Sect’s disciples who had been lagging behind approached with Sect Leader Hye-wol. They also looked surprised to see the corpses and gold coins.

“But with this, we can know a few things for sure.”

Cheong-rang-geom Wi Ga-jin said. He was also aware of the gold coins and corpses scattered around.

“They are being chased very urgently, and they are in a situation where they can willingly give up a few gold coins.”

At his words, people’s eyes sparkled. If they were willing to leave behind gold coins, how great a treasure would they have?

The Amitabha Sect’s monks still exclaimed ‘Amitabha’ and didn’t show it, but the Jahye Sect’s young disciples were openly shining their eyes.

“Get a hold of yourselves!”

Cheong-rang-geom Wi Ga-jin, who noticed the atmosphere, said in a loud voice.

“Don’t you know why these people lost their lives!”

At his scolding, which was subtly filled with inner strength, the disciples of the Jahye Sect and the monks of the Amitabha Sect came to their senses. Only then did the light of greed that had been rising in their eyes subside.

Abbess Beop-heo looked at Cheong-rang-geom Wi Ga-jin again. She thought that it was only natural that such a young man had become a martial arts alliance inspector.

“Cheong-rang-geom’s words are very right. The disciples should keep in mind and be careful not to act rashly.”

Abbess Beop-heo also spoke with subtle inner strength. The Amitabha Sect’s monks and the Jahye Sect’s disciples lowered their heads or clasped their hands together and followed her words.

“And Sect Leader.”

Turning to Sect Leader Hye-wol, Abbess Beop-heo continued.

“As a disciple of Buddhism, how can we pass by the dead? Stop for a moment and collect the corpses, even temporarily.”

Sect Leader Hye-wol’s expression was still not good, but she obediently lowered her head and followed Abbess Beop-heo’s words.

While the monks and disciples were collecting the corpses and gathering the gold coins, Abbess Beop-heo raised her head and looked at Huangshan.

The dense sea of clouds was still there, and she couldn’t see Huangshan properly, let alone the front a little further away. If she moved alone, this sea of clouds would not be a big obstacle, but then the remaining disciples would be in danger.

‘Should I entrust it to Cheong-hye and Cheong-rang-geom?’

It was when Abbess Beop-heo was struggling like that.

“Abbess.”

Sect Leader Hye-wol approached and paid her respects with her hands clasped together.

“What is it?”

“I have something urgent to tell you.”

Abbess Beop-heo was puzzled.

“Tell me.”

“It’s a difficult story to tell here.”

At those words, Abbess Beop-heo looked at the Jahye Sect’s disciples and Cheong-rang-geom Wi Ga-jin. They were not unrelated to the Amitabha Sect, but they were definitely outsiders.

“I understand. Let’s move to another place.”

Abbess Beop-heo thought that she was probably going to tell her another secret story that had been exchanged at the meeting of the Great Four and the Five Great Clans. Sect Leader Hye-wol’s expression had been bad, so she had been guessing that something was up.

“I would like Abbess Cheong-hye to join us as well.”

“Cheong-hye too?”

“Yes.”

Abbess Cheong-hye was also a key figure in the Amitabha Sect. It wouldn’t make sense for her not to know about the sect’s important matters. Abbess Beop-heo thought that the sect leader’s words were reasonable.

“I understand. Let’s ask Cheong-rang-geom to take care of this place for a while.”

Cheong-rang-geom Wi Ga-jin gladly accepted Abbess Beop-heo’s words, and Abbess Beop-heo moved to a remote place with Sect Leader Hye-wol and her disciple Abbess Cheong-hye.

Step, step.

How far had they walked? Just when Abbess Beop-heo thought they had come quite a distance, Sect Leader Hye-wol, who was walking ahead, stopped. Abbess Beop-heo said in a slightly anxious voice, filled with concern for the sect leader.

“So, what is it that you want to say?”

Sect Leader Hye-wol could not answer. Originally, this was not Hye-wol’s job, but the situation had changed, and this had become her responsibility.

With a complicated heart, Sect Leader Hye-wol quietly exclaimed ‘Amitabha’. But when she thought about it, it was something she had to face sooner or later anyway.

After a moment of silence, she turned her body and looked at Abbess Beop-heo.

“Abbess.”

“Yes, speak.”

“I am deeply grateful to the abbess.”

Abbess Beop-heo made a puzzled expression at Sect Leader Hye-wol’s sudden words. Hye-wol continued.

“If the abbess had been a little more greedy, someone else, someone belonging to the abbess’s faction, would have become the sect leader of the Amitabha Sect. But the abbess willingly supported me, who had no connections or power.”

Abbess Beop-heo smiled bitterly. She was inwardly bitter that the power of factions or connections was needed to become the sect leader of the Amitabha Sect.

“It’s because I thought your character was suitable as a sect leader. Besides, considering the seniority and rank, wouldn’t it be natural for you to take the position of sect leader?”

“But not everyone follows that natural order. That’s why I respect the abbess deeply, sincerely.”

“Don’t say such things. I’m just doing what’s natural…”

Abbess Beop-heo was about to say words of humility when Hye-wol interrupted.

“That’s why I earnestly ask you this.”

Sect Leader Hye-wol’s expression was still not bright, but her shining eyes as she spoke were conveying her sincerity as it was.

“Please stand on my side—no, on the side of the Amitabha Sect.”

That was a really absurd thing to say. Asking Abbess Beop-heo, who had lived her whole life as a disciple of the Amitabha Sect, to be on the side of the Amitabha Sect?

But Abbess Beop-heo realized that there was more meaning in Sect Leader Hye-wol’s words now.

“Can you… tell me in detail?”

Abbess Beop-heo’s eyes also became serious. Abbess Cheong-hye also noticed that the situation was unusual, and her expression hardened.

“The ‘treasure’ that is said to be in this Huangshan…”

Sect Leader Hye-wol’s words were not an answer to Abbess Beop-heo’s question, but it was also something that could not be said to be completely unrelated.

Looking at Abbess Beop-heo with a complicated and even desperate look, Hye-wol said.

“We have already found it.”

Abbess Beop-heo could not hide her surprise. Abbess Cheong-hye was also surprised. Sect Leader Hye-wol was now saying that she had already found the ‘treasure of the Heavenly Outlaw Star’ in Huangshan.

Hye-wol, who had not been included in the Unrestrained, would not even know what that meant.

“What are you talking about!”

Abbess Beop-heo said urgently. She couldn’t help but raise her voice as she asked.

“You found the treasure! What on earth…”

“The imperial family has promised to support the Amitabha Sect.”

Sect Leader Hye-wol’s eyes, unlike Abbess Beop-heo’s, were calmly sinking.

“The Amitabha Sect will become a Buddhist center respected by the imperial family and revered by all the people. The arrogant Five Great Clans will fall, and our Amitabha Sect will become the Taesan Bukdu [the most important figure] of the martial world. So how can we not call this a ‘treasure’?”

Hye-wol continued in a calm voice. Her voice was as calm as if she was talking about something that had already been decided, or even something that had already passed.

“But if the abbess refuses, the Amitabha Sect will face the wrath of the imperial family. The emperor will define the Amitabha Sect as a heretical cult that disturbs the world, and all the disciples of the Amitabha Sect will be killed or scattered. Many people will die in this Huangshan, so it’s not strange that the imperial family will come out like that.”

“You, you…”

Abbess Beop-heo could not continue speaking. Everything was too sudden and too enormous.

“Abbess.”

Sect Leader Hye-wol looked straight at Abbess Beop-heo. Her eyes were filled with a sincerity that was more desperate than ever.

“I want to see the glorious future of the Amitabha Sect with the respected abbess. So please, stand on my side, and on the side of the Amitabha Sect.”

Hye-wol gritted her teeth and spat out the words.

“Not the Unrestrained, which is just a futile game of playing above the clouds, but on the side of the Amitabha Sect.”

Neither Abbess Beop-heo nor Abbess Cheong-hye could say anything. The meaning of the words that Sect Leader Hye-wol had poured out was so great that they could not even grasp the situation.

“You, where did you…”

Flutter.

The sound of clothes tearing through the wind cut off Abbess Beop-heo’s words. Abbess Beop-heo quickly turned her head. This was because an enormous aura had swept over them along with the sound of clothes.

Tak.

A person landed at a distance where they could barely see each other through the thick fog. Abbess Cheong-hye immediately moved to protect Abbess Beop-heo.

“It’s been a while.”

A slightly androgynous woman’s voice pierced through the dense fog.

Rustle.

“To think that you, who were so beautiful, have become so old—it seems that a lot of time has really passed.”

The person who revealed herself was a woman whom Abbess Cheong-hye had never seen before. Her clothes were men’s clothes, but she was a beautiful woman who looked like a young lady if she dressed up a little.

But her aura alone was so overwhelming that even Abbess Cheong-hye was nervous.

“Who are you…”

It was before Abbess Cheong-hye could finish speaking that Abbess Beop-heo uttered the words like a groan, with an expression as if she couldn’t believe it.

“Saja… [a senior disciple].”

Those words made Abbess Cheong-hye even more confused. For that woman, who only looked like a middle-aged beauty, to be Abbess Beop-heo’s saja, does that mean that she was taken into the Amitabha Sect before Abbess Beop-heo when she was very young? If not…

‘Perhaps it’s a martial art that maintains youth by using inner strength? To waste inner strength on such a strange martial art is foolish…’

As Abbess Cheong-hye was thinking that, she suddenly felt a chilling sensation running down her spine.

‘No, could it be!’

That kind of martial art continuously consumes a huge amount of inner strength, and yet, to emit such an enormous aura, how much inner strength does that woman have?

“Yes, it’s me.”

She, who used to have the Buddhist name Beop-ryeon and is now called Cheonsu-geom Neung Cheon-hwa [Thousand Hands Sword Neung Cheon-hwa], answered with a smile.

“Nice to see you, Samae [junior sister].”

Beop-ryeon, no, Cheonsu-geom Neung Cheon-hwa’s smile was bright and radiant, but Abbess Cheong-hye could not relax. It was as if she could see the figure of a more ruthless demon behind her smile.