A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 351

351. Next

Among the high-ranking monks seated in rows in the eastern garden of the Potala Palace, a fierce debate was underway.

As befitting high-ranking monks, no one raised their voice or stood up, but they were expressing their opinions or refuting others with serious expressions, engaging in a heated argument.

—If you wish to test me, first defeat the Sword Demon and prove your worth.

Sunbin’s demand stirred up a storm of pros and cons.

Starting with the argument that it was a legitimate right for someone seeking recognition as an incarnation of the Eight Divine Generals, the debate touched on tradition, the authority of the Potala Palace, various complex esoteric concepts, and even the positions of each sect, creating a scene reminiscent of utter chaos.

“How is the atmosphere?”

Watching the high-ranking monks, Sunbin cautiously asked Chief Manager Hwang.

“As you can see, Great Hero.”

Sunbin was about to turn his head, puzzled by the sudden honorific, when Chief Manager Hwang’s firm voice came.

“Some of them understand our language. I am merely an interpreter, so please feel free to speak comfortably, Great Hero.”

“Ahem.”

Sunbin cleared his throat.

“What do you think will happen?”

Chief Manager Hwang slowly looked over the high-ranking monks and opened his mouth in a low voice.

“It is literally burning up. But I cannot say they are very favorable. If the master of Bodhicitta [enlightened mind] were not here, the atmosphere would have become quite harsh.”

Sunbin is the incarnation of the Eight Divine Generals put forward by the master of Bodhicitta, the lord of the Potala Palace. Without his authority, Sunbin’s method would probably not have been accepted.

Watching the high-ranking monks engrossed in the debate, Chief Manager Hwang carefully continued.

“Opinions are quite divided. Some say the Great Hero’s proposal is justified, but it seems they are mostly trying to check and refute the opposing sects.”

The division into the Four Great Sects means that it is difficult to unify opinions. Even if someone makes a reasonable argument, there are many cases where they raise objections or rebuttals simply to oppose that sect.

“Usually, they would continue this debate all day and end up achieving nothing. It would be very difficult for the opinions of the Four Great Sects to align.”

The reason why the Potala Princess said they ‘cannot do anything’ was precisely this.

Between conflicting sects, defining the other as an enemy is more common than compromise and agreement. Because that is easier and more comfortable. Moreover, this is especially true for sects that value ideals and refuse to compromise.

When this conflict intensifies, the Potala Palace ends up unable to decide anything. All they can do is maintain the status quo, and even that is only maintaining policies that worked in the past.

“However.”

This would have been the case with Sunbin’s situation as well. If there were no other variables.

“The Five Great Vidyarajas [wrathful deities] will not let it happen.”

As Chief Manager Hwang said, the gazes of the five Vidyarajas were focused on Sunbin’s group.

The Northern Vidyaraja, with his thunderous personality, was glaring at Sunbin as if he would devour him, and the gaunt, middle-aged Eastern Vidyaraja was scrutinizing Sunbin’s entire group with sharp eyes.

The young Southern Vidyaraja was staring intensely at the Sword Demon standing before him, and the Amorous Vidyaraja, who seemed to be flirting with Seorin with seductive eyes, also had her sharp energy stimulating Sunbin since earlier.

But among them, the most impressive gaze was that of the Immovable Vidyaraja.

The deep, heavy gaze of the Immovable Vidyaraja, with a physique reminiscent of Sajaheok [a legendary strongman], unusually dark skin, and raised red eyebrows, was fixed straight on Sunbin even at this moment.

‘This is quite something.’

Sunbin smiled wryly inside.

Sunbin was deliberately ignoring the Vidyarajas’ gazes pouring towards him.

This is because he had to maintain a kind of provocation, pretending that ‘I don’t care about the likes of you.’

‘I feel quite sorry for some reason?’

They are also proud martial artists. Even if it is just pretending, being so openly ignored cannot be comfortable for Sunbin.

Chief Manager Hwang glanced at Sunbin. He was feeling the pressure from the Five Great Vidyarajas just standing next to him, so he wondered how much more Sunbin, the person directly involved, must be feeling.

“You are doing well.”

Chief Manager Hwang said encouragingly.

“Please hold on a little longer. It seems the discussion will end soon.”

That was not the difficult part, but anyway, Sunbin thanked Chief Manager Hwang inwardly and looked at the young palace lord and the Potala Princess.

The young palace lord seemed amused by this situation and wore a faint smile, while the Potala Princess put her hands together, closed her eyes, and chanted a mantra [sacred utterance] in a low voice.

Clang.

A small bell sound ended the discussion. The Great Monk looked at the high-ranking monks and said without a hint of wavering.

“What will you do?”

The heads of the Four Great Sects looked at each other and said as if they had made a promise.

“We will follow the will of the Five Great Vidyarajas.”

Opinions were not unified. Nothing was concluded either. But the heads of the Four Great Sects had no choice but to say that.

Because the will of the five Vidyarajas in this place was too clear.

The Five Great Vidyarajas never avoid this challenge. Which high-ranking monk of which sect could ignore that clear will that they are so openly exuding in all directions?

“I will ask the Five Great Vidyarajas. Will you accept this proposal?”

The Great Monk asked the Five Great Vidyarajas in a slow voice. But that question was merely a formality. The Vidyarajas had already given their answer a long time ago.

“We shall.”

The Immovable Vidyaraja answered. The Great Monk nodded.

“Then, begin the martial arts contest.”

As soon as those words fell, a heavy silence descended on all sides. The gazes of the high-ranking monks gathered on the woman standing with a chilling aura, the Sword Demon.

“I will do it.”

It was the Northern Vidyaraja’s voice that broke the silence. He stood up from his seat and slammed the ground with the huge spear he was holding.

Thud.

A heavy reverberation shook the surroundings. But the Sword Demon did not even blink and lightly flew away to create distance. Only her unique, desolate gaze was fixed on the Northern Vidyaraja.

As if conscious of the safety of the young palace lord and the high-ranking monks, the Northern Vidyaraja walked quite far away and stood facing the Sword Demon. From the perspective of the young palace lord in the center, they were standing facing each other on the left and right.

“You must not take her lightly.”

The Amorous Vidyaraja said in a rather clear voice. It was a remark to the Northern Vidyaraja, but her gaze with a smile was directed straight at the Sword Demon.

“That child seems to be planning to end it in one go.”

Chief Manager Hwang looked at Sunbin. He was asking if he should translate the Amorous Vidyaraja’s words to the Sword Demon. Sunbin quickly nodded.

While the translation was being conveyed, the Amorous Vidyaraja looked at the Sword Demon with a ‘see, I told you so’ look. The smile on her lips was probably a sneer.

The Sword Demon’s eyes changed slightly. This was because the Amorous Vidyaraja’s point was accurate.

“Even if you knew that.”

After Chief Manager Hwang’s translation was over, the Sword Demon replied in a low voice.

“Nothing changes.”

Chief Manager Hwang translated her words in a trembling voice. And those words definitely touched the Northern Vidyaraja’s pride.

“Kuhahaha.”

The Immovable Vidyaraja laughed loudly. The sound of his laughter echoed around, and the high-ranking monks frowned.

“Good. Let’s see how long you can…….”

“Can I, start?”

The Sword Demon interrupted the Northern Vidyaraja’s words. Chief Manager Hwang quickly translated, and the Northern Vidyaraja’s face contorted greatly.

“How dare you!”

Gritting.

The Northern Vidyaraja gritted his teeth. He already guessed that the Sword Demon was a great person. But she cannot be so rude and arrogant in front of him, who holds the name of Vidyaraja.

“Good!”

Swish.

Before Chief Manager Hwang could even translate, the Sword Demon drew her sword. Her half-cut sword, the Ice Sword, revealed its appearance.

The high-ranking monks frowned at her sword, which had been broken in half. The Northern Vidyaraja also had a look of surprise, but it was not long.

Whoosh.

The Northern Vidyaraja, facing the Sword Demon, grabbed his large spear and took a stance.

A huge spear with an unusually thick blade divided into three, filled with patterns unique to Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism, was aimed at the Sword Demon.

Woo Woong.

A low 울음 [wail] began to 울려 [resound] from his spear. At first glance, it looked like a spear that would only be used for religious rituals, but the aura surrounding the spear showed that it was by no means just for decoration.

“Come on, come.”

The Northern Vidyaraja, wearing a red robe, said provocatively as he looked at the Sword Demon. But the Sword Demon’s expression did not change at all.

The Sword Demon held the Ice Sword with both hands and slowly raised it above her head. It looked quite threatening, but in a battle between masters, it was just a preparatory stance that revealed 허점 [an opening].

The Northern Vidyaraja snorted without realizing it. But before that smile could even end, the Northern Vidyaraja’s expression hardened.

Whooooooong.

“Sanghyo, Iljeol.”

With the Sword Demon’s low voice, a huge energy gathered into the broken Ice Sword. And it soon became a sword of tremendous size and appeared before the Northern Vidyaraja, no, before everyone’s eyes.

Woo Woong.

The huge blade surrounding the Sword Demon’s Ice Sword was so large that it seemed impossible for a person to lift it. If it were a real sword, its weight alone would easily crush a human.

But the Sword Demon was calmly holding that large sword up.

“One.”

No one understood the words the Sword Demon muttered. Chief Manager Hwang, who was staring with wide eyes and an open mouth, and even Sunbin did not know why the Sword Demon said those words.

But immediately after the Sword Demon muttered that, her Sanghyo Iljeol fell towards the Northern Vidyaraja.

Whooooosh.

‘I must not avoid it!’

A scene like the sky collapsing before his eyes.

The Northern Vidyaraja knew that he could never avoid this sword. Keeping his distance would only make him prey.

“Tahaaa!”

The Northern Vidyaraja poured all his power into his Vajra Spear.

Woong.

In an instant, the Vajra Spear shone with golden light, and the Northern Vidyaraja became one with his spear. And towards the collapsing sky, towards the Sword Demon’s Sanghyo Iljeol, he soared like lightning.

Kwaarrreureung.

The tip of his spear tore through the air and made a faint thunderous sound. And immediately after, an even louder roar swallowed that sound.

Kwaaaang.

A tremendous explosion erupted, but the sound was beyond the limits of what a person could hear.

The high-ranking monks instinctively covered their ears, and at the same time, a storm raged, and their golden crowns flew into the air. The colorful robes fluttered in all directions, and the high-ranking monks tumbled helplessly in all directions.

Screams erupted from here and there, and the 방석 [cushions] that had been sat on flew into the air.

All of that was the result of a single clash, or rather, the aftermath of it.

‘Gasp.’

Chief Manager Hwang gasped without realizing it. He was no exception to this storm either. But he protected his ears with the warning of Old General No right before the collision, and Old General No’s firm hand holding his shoulder protected him like a rock.

Whoooooo.

The violent wind subsided, and the view gradually revealed itself. The surroundings were literally a mess.

The only people in place were Sunbin’s group, the young palace lord and the Potala Princess protected by the Vidyarajas at the moment of the clash, and the Great Monk. Sayeon and Seorin tried to protect the young palace lord and the Potala Princess, but yielding to the Vidyarajas also happened in an instant.

“Ugh.”

Groans and chants of 진언 [mantras] flowed from all directions from the high-ranking monks. But no one cared about that.

The clash between the Sword Demon and the Northern Vidyaraja, which created such a huge aftermath. Because the result was revealed before everyone’s eyes.

Thud.

The Northern Vidyaraja’s knees 울렸다 [struck] the floor. The Vajra Spear he was so proud of was still in his hand, but the three blades were already crushed miserably.

He had failed to overcome the Sword Demon’s Sanghyo Iljeol.

The Northern Vidyaraja, with his red robe torn and his body covered in wounds, was barely managing to avoid falling by supporting himself with his spear. But he did not even have the strength to open his mouth.

Looking down at him, the Sword Demon put away the Ice Sword.

Tak.

The Ice Sword disappeared, and the Sword Demon said calmly with her sword in her arms.

“Next.”

Chief Manager Hwang translated her words in a trembling voice. But no one moved.

“I, no, this humble one sees.”

Sunbin hurriedly changed his tone and said. Flapping the coat he had been holding tightly with both hands so that it would not fly away, Sunbin continued.

“You will need some time.”

Sunbin spoke in a tone as if he were showing generosity. In this situation where the high-ranking monks of the Four Great Sects were tumbling around, they would not be able to continue the martial arts contest.

The complexions of the high-ranking monks sitting here and there were beyond surprised, they were even pale.

Looking at that expression, Sunbin glanced at the Sword Demon. He wanted to give her a nod to say she did well, but the Sword Demon still did not even look at Sunbin.

‘Is she angry?’

Sunbin became a little uneasy.

* * *

The martial arts contest was temporarily suspended. As Sunbin said, they needed time to clean up the surroundings.

Most of the golden crowns that had been scattered around were found by their owners, but the seats of the high-ranking monks of the Four Great Sects were moved much further back. They were completely 붙어버린 [stuck] to the end of the garden, against the walls of the buildings.

The Northern Vidyaraja, who had lost consciousness, was carried to the medical room of the Potala Palace, and the young palace lord, the Potala Princess, and the Great Monk also took their seats again in a safe location.

Chwareureureuk.

A long sword, like a whip, danced in the air, flashing brilliantly. It was the weapon of the Eastern Vidyaraja, the Sword Demon’s second opponent.

The gaunt Eastern Vidyaraja used a very unique weapon. At first, it only looked like an unusually long sword, but when he swung it once in the air, it separated into pieces and changed into a whip with connected sword pieces.

“This is my consideration for a fair fight.”

The Eastern Vidyaraja glared at the Sword Demon with narrow eyes and said.

“Because my Vajra 편검 [flexible sword] will be unfamiliar to you.”

Chwareureureureuk.

Amid the sound like a snake aiming for its prey, Old General No frowned as he listened to Chief Manager Hwang’s translation.

“편검 [Pyeon geom]? It looks like a 사복검 [sabok geom] type?”

사복검 [Sabok geom] means a sword that transforms like a snake. It is a type of 변칙적인 [unconventional] weapon that targets the opponent’s 허점 [weakness].

“But that seems closer to a whip with blades than a sword. What was it? I heard there is such a weapon in 천축 [ancient India]…….”

“Urumi.”

Chief Manager Hwang answered. Sunbin looked at him as if he did not expect it, and Chief Manager Hwang smiled wryly.

“I wondered if I could sell it for money if I took it, so I looked into various things in the past. It is a fairly rare weapon.”

Sunbin nodded. After all, the people of the 상단 [merchant guild] are bound to light up their eyes at anything and everything, or rather, anything that can make money.

Chwareureureureuk.

In the meantime, the Eastern Vidyaraja’s 편검 [flexible sword] was dancing in the air, aiming for the Sword Demon. If anything were to be entangled in that sword, it would be 무참히 조각나게 [ruthlessly shredded].

The Eastern Vidyaraja flashed a sharp look between his narrow eyes. But the Sword Demon was just calmly holding her sword in her arms.

Sarak.

The Sword Demon’s white hand gripped her sword, the Ice Sword.

Chwaaat.

Aiming for that fleeting moment, the Eastern Vidyaraja’s Vajra 편검 [flexible sword] shot towards the Sword Demon. It was much longer and sharper than what he had shown so far.

Tat.

The Sword Demon lightly flew her body while holding the Ice Sword. The Ice Sword had not yet revealed its appearance.

“Humph.”

The Eastern Vidyaraja 흘렸다 [let out] a sneer. And his Vajra 편검 [flexible sword], which had been rushing towards the Sword Demon, immediately split into two. From the beginning, his Vajra 편검 [flexible sword] was a weapon that formed a pair by combining two.

“Haaaa!”

The Eastern Vidyaraja, holding the Vajra 편검 [flexible swords] in both hands, freely wielded the two Vajra 편검 [flexible swords] as if he were wielding whips. The 완연히 shining 모습 [clearly shining appearance] of 검기 [sword energy] in each whip clearly showed the destructive power contained in the Vajra 편검 [flexible swords].

Chyarararak.

The 편검 [flexible swords], 번뜩이는 [gleaming] sharp blades, rushed towards the Sword Demon floating in the air from different directions. It was like a snake 날름거리는 [flicking] its tongue towards its prey.

Shwii Shwiik.

The Vajra 편검 [flexible swords] cut through the air with a fierce momentum. But the Sword Demon lightly twisted her body as if she were dancing, 지나갔다 [passing] through the gaps between the blades. It was literally a life-threatening 곡예 [acrobatic feat].

“Oh my, she’s good?”

Not only Sunbin, who was watching, but even the Amorous Vidyaraja 흘렸다 [let out] 감탄 [an exclamation]. It was half 조롱 [mockery], though.

And when the Sword Demon turned her body towards the Eastern Vidyaraja again, the Ice Sword was revealing its 모습 [appearance] in her hand.

“Sanghyo, Ijeol.”

The Sword Demon’s low voice flowed out. And at that moment, countless sword shadows [劍影] surrounded the Eastern Vidyaraja.

(Author’s words)

Bullet Hell! That’s why you should play 탄막 [danmak] shooting games on a regular basis.