A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 301

301. Moonlight Fills the Sky

The world felt like a dream.

A soft blue light permeated everything, and countless stars shone in the sky, a realm existing neither in night nor day.

A scene that seemed otherworldly, yet undeniably belonged to this world.

Within it, the vast earth quietly rose to embrace Sohn Bin, and the endless sky gently descended to envelop him.

Hidden between night and day, a fleeting, dreamlike space-time existing in the gap between dawn and dusk.

It was the world of Dismembering the Moon, Moonlight Fills the Sky.

‘Ah.’

Sohn Bin couldn’t discern whether it was merely an image conjured in his mind, or another world existing within the vast flow that embraced even the stars.

He only knew that an inexplicable tear traced a path down his cheek.

Wooong.

A low hum emanating from Baekro’s sword roused Sohn Bin. And he recognized a presence that shouldn’t be there. Or perhaps, he had known all along.

―Kuaaaaak.

The black shadows shrieked in agony. They were suffering, unable to even properly materialize.

They couldn’t endure this world.

It was inevitable. In this world of Moonlight Fills the Sky, they were beings destined for annihilation.

Sarak.

Sohn Bin grasped Baekro in his hand. He couldn’t tell if it had been there from the beginning, or if it had materialized at that very moment.

But one thing was certain: Baekro would follow Sohn Bin’s will and achieve the desired outcome, as naturally as moonlight graces the sky.

Shwik.

Sohn Bin slashed Baekro diagonally. With a single, exceedingly simple, and concise sword stroke, he negated them.

∴

“Huk!”

Noh Goon’s gasp snapped everyone back to their senses.

Not only Sohn Bin’s group, but even Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, and Flying Sword, Gongson Geuk, hadn’t registered what had transpired before their eyes for a fleeting moment.

A sensation as if a moment had been erased from everyone’s memory simultaneously.

Considering they were all experts from the Outer Palace, such an occurrence should have been impossible.

“T, This is…….”

Noh Goon’s voice trembled, and he didn’t even attempt to conceal it. He himself couldn’t comprehend what he had just witnessed.

It was akin to being blinded by an overwhelming light that surpassed the limits of perception.

“Yes.”

A low, gentle voice responded. But even in that voice, a slight tremor lingered.

“This is Dismembering the Moon, Moonlight Fills the Sky.”

There was no hint of pride in the voice that answered. Rather, it conveyed awe for Saja Hyuk, and astonishment at the previous Jade Dragon who had endured it.

The dragon ascends against the world and fate. Having risen against that world bathed in moonlight, it was indeed worthy of being called the Jade Dragon’s Ascension.

“Kkeueueue…….”

Sohn Bin turned his head at the faint sound of breathing, like a whisper of wind.

The three monsters were no match for the previous Jade Dragon. They, who had been charging towards Sohn Bin, were now lying on the ground, their limbs contorted at unnatural angles.

There were no visible sword marks or wounds. But the monsters were twitching and convulsing on the ground like kites with broken strings.

“Kkeu, Kkeueuk.”

The monsters clawed at the ground with trembling arms, attempting to lift themselves up, their collapsing jaws agape.

Everyone’s expression hardened at the grotesque sight.

But the monsters could no longer rise.

Because the vile energies that had been raging within them had already lost their potency and were dissipating. Their rapidly dimming green eyes served as proof.

Ttuk.

The monster’s arm snapped weakly, like dry reeds. As the arm supporting its body gave way, the monster crashed headfirst to the ground and shattered.

Peoseok.

“Ugh.”

Cheonghye Satae frowned and averted her gaze from the scene.

But no blood flowed. The bodies of the monsters, having lost their power, crumbled away like burnt charcoal.

No one could utter a word. Sohn Bin, who had been observing the scene with a calm expression, turned his body.

Jeobeok, jeobeok.

Sohn Bin walked towards Flying Sword, Gongson Geuk, and Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa.

Was it because of the unbelievable spectacle that had unfolded before their eyes?

Or was it because the shock of the Dismembering the Moon that Sohn Bin had just displayed still lingered?

Flying Sword, Gongson Geuk, couldn’t react to the approaching Sohn Bin. He was like someone unable to do anything but watch the sun set.

Seuk.

‘Huk!’

Only after seeing Sohn Bin raise the Sword of Purity, Baekro, did Flying Sword, Gongson Geuk, regain his senses.

But it was already too late.

Considering he was an expert from the Outer Palace with the title of Flying Sword, such a thing should have been impossible, but nevertheless, Gongson Geuk couldn’t cope with Sohn Bin’s swordsmanship.

No, it wasn’t even swordsmanship. Gongson Geuk couldn’t react to that simple movement, devoid of skill or mystery.

Perhaps it was inevitable.

Because it was something completely different from martial arts or swordsmanship, something Gongson Geuk didn’t comprehend.

Puk.

“Keok.”

The place where the Sword of Purity, Baekro, pierced was precisely Flying Sword, Gongson Geuk’s heart. An undeniably fatal vital point.

But the Sword of Purity, Baekro, didn’t destroy Gongson Geuk’s heart. It only lightly pierced the heart area with the tip of the sword. To exaggerate, it only made a small wound on Gongson Geuk’s left chest.

But the result was neither small nor light.

The energy of the Hyuncheon Grand River Art [a powerful internal energy cultivation technique], transmitted through the Sword of Purity, pierced the core of Gongson Geuk’s demonic art in an instant.

Chaenggang.

The sword that Flying Sword, Gongson Geuk, was holding clattered to the ground.

The demonic energy that had been gathered in the heart area scattered like mist, and pain as if his limbs were being torn off coursed through Gongson Geuk’s entire body.

“Kkeueuk, Keok.”

Flying Sword, Gongson Geuk, trembled in place.

Not only that.

The internal energy he originally possessed, the internal energy he had inherited from his predecessors and that had been the source of Gongson Geuk’s power, was all draining away at once.

He instinctively tried to resist the pain by summoning his internal energy, but like sand slipping through his fingers, all of Flying Sword, Gongson Geuk’s internal energy vanished in an instant.

Kuk.

Eventually, Flying Sword, Gongson Geuk, knelt on one knee. The fact that he didn’t collapse to the ground was solely due to his superhuman endurance.

“You are no longer a master.”

Sohn Bin’s voice fell upon Gongson Geuk’s head, who was convulsing silently with his mouth agape.

“And you can no longer be called a martial artist.”

Sreureung.

Sohn Bin said, withdrawing Baekro.

“So, for the rest of your life, consider how you should live as a human being.”

“Kkeueuk. Y, You…….”

Flying Sword, Gongson Geuk, grabbed his chest with trembling hands and raised his head.

And he saw it: Sohn Bin’s eyes, which contained no excitement, no pity, not even a trace of emotion.

They were extremely beautiful yet distant eyes, like a full moon looking down on him from the sky.

“Or you can spend your days dwelling on resentment, consumed by despair and hatred. If you are going to live trapped in your own hell, at least it will be a response to threatening the lives of my precious people.”

Flying Sword, Gongson Geuk, couldn’t answer. His eyes rolled back, and he could no longer maintain his sanity and collapsed to the ground.

Teolseok.

Sohn Bin raised his head. Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, flinched as she met his gaze.

‘W, What kind of eyes…….’

It was like a nightmare. The moment she met Sohn Bin’s eyes, she couldn’t recall her martial arts, her abilities, or her experiences.

An endless sense of powerlessness and fear vaguely overwhelmed her, not even allowing understanding. It was truly a nightmare.

“Bin.”

A low woman’s voice awakened Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, for a moment.

No, to be precise, that voice drew Sohn Bin’s attention, and in that gap, Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, woke up from the nightmare.

Pak.

Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, immediately stepped back. At the same time, she saw the warmth slowly returning to Sohn Bin’s eyes.

Sabak.

Sohn Bin turned his body and looked at Sasu Yeon. It was an act that would have been impossible in front of a master like Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa. But Neung Cheon-hwa and the others didn’t care about that.

Sasu Yeon was looking at Sohn Bin with a gentle smile. Sohn Bin awkwardly smiled, seemingly embarrassed, and turned his head away from Geomhui, who was standing next to Sasu Yeon and looking at him with particularly sparkling eyes.

Seuk.

Sohn Bin’s gaze turned back to Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa.

Although the same momentum as before had already dissipated, Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, couldn’t dare to lower her guard. Even though she had only now realized that the opponent had already sheathed his sword, the situation remained the same.

“You are Grandmaster Neung, right? I am Sohn Bin. It is my first time meeting you in person.”

Sohn Bin said, bowing lightly. Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, felt a sense of relief spreading throughout her body without her even realizing it.

Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, bit her lip as she became aware of it. But the situation was already clear.

“……Did you say Dismembering the Moon?”

Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, asked instead of answering. She was trying hard to conceal it, but she couldn’t hide the trembling in her voice.

“Yes.”

Sohn Bin answered obediently.

“Does Dismembering the Moon mean the martial art of the Martial Emperor?”

“That’s right. It is the martial art that he completed, and that only the Heavenly Outer Four Stars knew.”

Only a very few people knew about Saja Hyuk’s Dismembering the Moon Three Forms. Even Noh Goon and Sasu Yeon only learned about it after hearing it from Sohn Bin.

Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, bit her lip.

‘I…….’

She thought she could surpass him now. She thought she no longer harbored any lingering feelings or attachments. If he died, she had resolved to destroy everything he had left behind.

But the Dismembering the Moon that Sohn Bin displayed was enough to shatter all of Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa’s thoughts.

‘What did I even know about him?’

She knew nothing. While she was unable to escape from her 煩惱 [worries/troubles in Buddhism], he had already reached a distant place, leaving her behind in the past.

“You…….”

It was when Sohn Bin was about to say something.

Piiiiiiii―.

A small flute sound was heard from above.

Sohn Bin raised his head and saw a small light with a long tail rising into the blue sky. Something had been shot up from the pavilion on the top of the rocky peak.

Peong.

With a small explosion, red smoke spread in the sky. Noh Goon frowned and muttered.

“What is it? A signal?”

Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, who discovered the red smoke, frowned and bit her lip.

“Oh? Something exploded over there too?”

Seo Rin, who had good eyesight, said, looking at the distant sky. Sasu Yeon and Noh Goon also looked up at the sky.

“It looks like they are responding to the signal from just now?”

Noh Goon muttered. Small red smoke rose and soon disappeared in the rather distant sky. The sound couldn’t be heard because of the distance.

“Just one…….”

Sohn Bin turned his gaze at Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa’s words that suddenly came.

Sohn Bin could tell from her trembling eyes what she was about to ask.

“Yes.”

“Is he.”

Neung Cheon-hwa gritted her teeth and continued.

“Is he alive?”

Slowly, Sohn Bin shook his head.

“I don’t know.”

That answer was enough to disappoint Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa. But Sohn Bin’s words weren’t over yet.

“But.”

Sohn Bin looked straight at Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa.

“I have never once thought that he wouldn’t be able to return.”

Neung Cheon-hwa could clearly see a gentle smile blooming on Sohn Bin’s lips as he spoke.

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, closed her eyes at Sohn Bin’s answer. After a while, she opened her eyes again and looked at the distant sky with a low sigh.

“I see, is that so…….”

The air of vigilance against Sohn Bin could no longer be found in her. After standing there for a while, Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, looked back at Sohn Bin and said.

“Then there is no reason for me to be here. If I want to leave, will you allow me?”

It was perhaps a very brazen request. But Sohn Bin had no choice but to nod. Now that he knew her heart, it was difficult to be hostile any longer.

“Of course.”

Sohn Bin answered. Perhaps this was pity, or perhaps it was a sense of kinship.

“Thank you.”

Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, expressed her gratitude to Sohn Bin. Noh Goon’s mouth dropped open at the sight of her obediently bowing her head, but she didn’t care.

“Then…….”

“Ah, wait a moment.”

Sohn Bin called out to Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, who was about to leave.

“I’m sorry, but could you take this person to the inn?”

Sohn Bin said, looking at Gongson Geuk, who had already lost consciousness and collapsed.

Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, frowned slightly, but that wasn’t a refusal.

“I don’t mind, but is it okay?”

Her gaze was directed at Hwasa. She was remembering Hwasa’s words that she would ‘beat him up until dust flew on a rainy day’.

“What? Why are you looking at me? I don’t have a hobby of hitting weak people.”

Hwasa frowned and waved her hand. She had no interest in Gongson Geuk, who had already lost all his internal energy.

“Compared to you, most people are weak.”

Hwasa flared up at Dang Mua’s low words.

“Those unlucky ones are exceptions?”

But Dang Mua only stared at Hwasa. Hwasa slipped away from that gaze and added in a low voice with a sigh.

“……Sister.”

It was a very small voice, but Geomhui couldn’t have missed it. Hwasa desperately avoided Geomhui’s eyes, which were sparkling as she looked at her.

“Well, I’ll be going now.”

Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, said in a hollow voice. Watching their conversation suddenly made her feel like everything was meaningless.

Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, grabbed Gongson Geuk’s clothes with one hand and lightly lifted him up. As if she were lifting an object, there was no consideration at all.

“Ah, and.”

Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, said, turning her body.

“You should be careful. The lord is not an ordinary person.”

Sohn Bin smiled.

“Yes. I know.”

“Then…….”

Tak.

Thousand Hands Sword, Neung Cheon-hwa, flew away as she was. She didn’t even glance at Sasu Yeon, who could be said to have saved her, until the very end.

After Neung Cheon-hwa disappeared, Noh Goon clicked his tongue as if he was dumbfounded.

“This is, really. For that woman to be so docile, aren’t my eyes deceiving me? No one would believe me if I said this, right? And…….”

Noh Goon glanced back at Sohn Bin.

“I think it’s the first time I’ve seen that guy angry too…….”

“Oh, I’ve seen it a few times? Hyung [older brother/term of respect] getting angry.”

It was Seo Rin’s voice that came from the side.

“Really? When?”

“At the Seowon [private academy]. He gets angry when the kids fight over ridiculous things or stubbornly insist on something until the end.”

Seo Rin shuddered as if recalling the scene.

“It’s very scary. Fourteen kids at hyung’s one word…….”

Noh Goon swallowed his saliva without realizing it. Seo Rin continued to speak with a face that seemed scared just by thinking about it.

“No one gets to eat sweets. Ah, including me, there are fifteen. Fifteen kids……. Huh? Why?”

“……It’s nothing. But do other kids get scolded together besides the ones who did wrong? Bin wouldn’t do that, would he?”

“Ah, Soso told him to do that. Everyone can’t do anything when Soso says something. What was it? Joint destiny? And something about the principle of table 行 [table manners/conduct]…….”

Noh Goon smiled bitterly. Soso’s house is Soeun Escort Agency, and her sister is the head Eun Chobin. She probably heard it from her sister Eun Chobin.

“Anyway, let’s go up now.”

Noh Goon said, looking around.

“I’m worried about that signal from earlier, so we should finish quickly and go back. The kids will be waiting, right?”

Suddenly, the Cheongwon children flickered before Noh Goon’s eyes. At those words, everyone raised their heads and looked towards the top of the rocky peak.

The end of all this chaos that started in Baek In-rok was finally visible before their eyes.