A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 414

414. Jade Fan and White Dew

The former Jade Dragon smiled as he looked at Son Bin. Son Bin sighed softly at the smile.

“You are right.”

Son Bin said in a calm voice. At those words, not only Old Lord, but also the rest of the group were startled. This was because Son Bin had acknowledged the ‘countless possibilities of the world’ that the former Jade Dragon had spoken of. However, Son Bin’s words were not yet finished.

“But most of those countless worlds are swallowed by the darkness of the abyss.”

It was the truth of the cruel worlds that he had learned through the memories of the six Demon Gods, a truth that he would not have had any reason to utter otherwise.

“The Demon Gods, and even the old Heavenly Demon…”

“I know.”

The former Jade Dragon said with an unpleasant expression.

“Do you think I wouldn’t know that? I already said I took the position of the Heavenly Demon. Do you think I wouldn’t know about the countless worlds swallowed by the so-called ‘old things’ that remain in the Heavenly Demon’s memory?”

A story that no one else could understand was exchanged. But no one interrupted their conversation.

“But there is one.”

The former Jade Dragon said with a bitter smile.

“The gate to another world that the Heavenly Demon crossed.”

Son Bin bit his lip. And he looked up at the ominous, flickering Gate of the Abyss, and the pale-faced Blood Seal Golden Thread Lotus blocking the gate. It was as the former Jade Dragon said. Although the demonic energy spewed out by the darkness of the abyss was flickering now, the Gate of the Abyss that the Heavenly Demon had opened was definitely connected to the Heavenly Demon’s world, and the world of the Demon Gods.

“So, Son Bin. If you want to protect this world.”

The former Jade Dragon smiled. Slowly raising his jade fan, he said.

“Defeat me.”

Whooooong.

The former Jade Dragon’s clothes fluttered and his hair began to sway. The energy emanating from his whole body made the surroundings tense, and the eerie blue wings fluttering behind his back added to the spectacle.

“I understand.”

Son Bin replied.

“But before that, I will ask you one more time.”

Son Bin said, looking straight at the former Jade Dragon.

“Where is he? What happened to him…”

Son Bin said, gritting his teeth.

“Who knows?”

The former Jade Dragon said with blatant mockery. He had no intention of answering Son Bin.

“But I can tell you one thing. If you can’t defeat me.”

The former Jade Dragon’s red lips twisted.

“You will never see him again. Forever.”

Whooooosh.

The momentum that seemed to sweep everyone away at once rushed towards them. Not only Son Bin, but also Old Lord, Seo Rin, Sa Su-yeon, Dang Wol-ah, and even Sword Hee’s expressions changed. Hwang Bang-ju trembled and collapsed on the spot.

Swish.

Son Bin slowly reached out and grabbed White Dew. *Ttang*. Along with a clear sound like a wind chime ringing deep in the mountains, the warmth of White Dew spread to Son Bin’s heart. That wasn’t all.

Woo woong.

The blue energy immediately reacted to Son Bin’s will and bloomed. It did not form a specific shape like the former Jade Dragon, but it was clearly revealing its existence so that anyone could recognize it.

*Sreung*.

Son Bin drew his sword. Looking at the beautiful blade of White Dew, the former Jade Dragon laughed.

“Good. At least you seem to have the qualifications to stand before me. I feel like my old wounds are aching for some reason.”

The former Jade Dragon said in a clear voice. But Son Bin silently pointed White Dew at him.

“I didn’t want to confront you in this way.”

That was Son Bin’s true feelings. But the former Jade Dragon smirked.

“Your wishes.”

*Gritting*.

The former Jade Dragon’s eyes flashed sharply.

“Have no meaning.”

The former Jade Dragon, who had been glaring at Son Bin, sighed softly.

“Excuse me. As I said, my old wounds ached for a moment… Then, last time, did I concede two moves?”

He said in a seemingly relaxed voice. Son Bin shook his head.

“No. As soon as I started the Jade Dragon’s Reverse Scale Strike, you attacked me.”

“Was that so?”

The former Jade Dragon shrugged.

“I must have been a little impatient back then. If so, then I will gladly concede three moves this time instead.”

The former Jade Dragon continued, laughing.

“To you, and to your insignificant people.”

The former Jade Dragon’s gaze was directed not only at Son Bin, but also at Seo Rin, Old Lord, Sa Su-yeon, Dang Wol-ah, and Sword Hee.

“Even if I tell you it’s useless, you won’t understand, will you?”

“Of course.”

Old Lord lightly lowered his stance and turned his hand back. *Woong*. His sword, So-ryeong, revealed its appearance with a low cry. It wasn’t just the So-ryeong Sword.

Woo woong.

Sa Su-yeon’s sword, Mi-myeong, Dang Wol-ah’s sword, So-wol, and Sword Hee’s Ice Sword were also revealing their appearances.

“This isn’t just a problem between you and Bin.”

Old Lord said firmly. Seo Rin also took out her Buddhist staff, Hongjinmanri, and stuck close to Hwang Bang-ju.

“Well, then there’s no choice.”

*Chak*. The former Jade Dragon folded his jade fan. He said with the most beautiful smile in those charming eyes.

“Come.”

Son Bin quietly took a breath. But it wasn’t long.

*Sabeok*.

With one step, Son Bin advanced and drew his sword down.

*Paang*.

At the same time, Old Lord’s feet kicked off the floor, and his sword, So-ryeong, emitted a dazzling light and rushed towards the former Jade Dragon.

The others were not idle either. Sa Su-yeon and Dang Wol-ah flew as if following Old Lord, and Seo Rin hugged Hwang Bang-ju and quickly retreated. By the time Hwang Bang-ju turned his eyes, Sword Hee was already nowhere to be seen.

*Sseuk*.

A ‘line’ was drawn in the air, ignoring the distance between Son Bin and the former Jade Dragon. It was a terrifying sword strike that could even split a giant dragon, but not for the former Jade Dragon.

“Hmph.”

The former Jade Dragon, or rather, the Heavenly Demon, scoffed.

*Chak*.

The Heavenly Demon, who unfolded his jade fan, tilted his body slightly to the side.

*Swish*.

The space where he had been just a moment ago was cut diagonally. Not only the air, but even the huge jade throne behind it was split in one go.

*Kugugung*.

While the huge jade throne, having lost its support, was collapsing, the Heavenly Demon lightly stretched out his other hand forward. And he said as if whispering.

“Ice Soul Finger.”

The Ice Soul Finger was a martial art that the former Jade Dragon had unleashed towards Son Bin in the snowy mountains in the past. But what burst out from the Heavenly Demon’s slender fingers at this moment was a shock wave of enormous size.

‘Gasp!’

The moment he faced that tremendous momentum, Old Lord was greatly shocked. The Ice Soul Finger of the former Jade Dragon that he knew was never like this. The momentum of the Ice Soul Finger that the Heavenly Demon unleashed rushed in as if to swallow Old Lord whole. He wanted to ask where the promise to concede three moves had gone, but now was not the time to think about such things.

“Tahaaa!”

Old Lord gave his all and struck down his sword, So-ryeong. The light-emitting So-ryeong and the Heavenly Demon’s Ice Soul Finger collided head-on.

*Kwaaaang*.

With an explosion, a storm-like momentum burst out in all directions. But the Heavenly Demon was no longer looking at it.

Pee-ping.

The Heavenly Demon lightly flicked his fingers towards Sa Su-yeon and Dang Wol-ah. From those white fingertips, an enormous momentum poured out towards Sa Su-yeon and Dang Wol-ah.

*Kwagwagwag*.

“Storm Snow Flower!”

Sa Su-yeon confronted the Heavenly Demon’s Ice Soul Finger by deploying the Profound Heaven Freezing Art with all her might. Her sword, Mi-myeong, emitted a pure white light, and a storm of sharp ice blades instantly soared around her.

*Kagagagak*.

The storm of ice blades that Sa Su-yeon unfolded seemed to push back the Ice Soul Finger for a moment based on her immense cold energy. But it didn’t last long.

‘Keuk.’

The momentum of the Ice Soul Finger relentlessly rushed towards Sa Su-yeon.

*Kwaang*.

With an explosion, Sa Su-yeon’s body flew into the air. After twisting her body once in the air, Sa Su-yeon collapsed to the ground as if crumbling. Her complexion was pale, and blood flowed from between her tightly closed lips. With just one collision, Sa Su-yeon, a master of external affairs, suffered internal injuries.

Tak, tadak.

Old Lord and Dang Wol-ah landed behind Sa Su-yeon. Old Lord’s white hair was also disheveled, and Dang Wol-ah’s veil was also torn to shreds. The three masters of external affairs were helplessly pushed back by the three Ice Soul Fingers that the Heavenly Demon had unleashed.

“Sanghyo, One Severance.”

The Heavenly Demon raised his head at the low voice coming from above.

Whooooosh.

A huge blade falling towards him from the sky. Even with that eerie sight before his eyes, the Heavenly Demon laughed.

“This. Such a thing now…”

Looking down, the Heavenly Demon lightly swung his jade fan over his head.

“Doesn’t work, you know?”

The tremendous momentum caused by the jade fan swept away Sword Hee’s Sanghyo One Severance like a storm. At that moment, Sword Hee’s complexion changed.

Tat.

The judgment was quick. Sword Hee immediately flew her body in the air. And Sword Hee’s huge blade, swept away by the momentum of the jade fan, shattered into the air as if flower petals were fluttering in the spring breeze.

“Your senses have gotten quite a bit better than before. But…”

It was the moment when the Heavenly Demon was about to raise his white and eerie hand towards the receding Sword Hee.

Hwik.

The Heavenly Demon turned his head. And he saw the large circle that Son Bin’s White Dew was drawing, nearing completion, towards him.

“Oh-ho. Lunar Eclipse…”

Even while looking at the light spreading from the blue circle, the Heavenly Demon opened his mouth with a relaxed expression.

“Then you know what I’m going to do, right?”

Whooooong. White Dew completed the circle. And the next moment, merciless moonlight poured down on the Heavenly Demon.

Kiiiiiiing.

At the same time, the Heavenly Demon’s jade fan made a sharp sound and split the world. It was the ‘Dragon Scale Wall’ that had faced Saja Hyuk’s Lunar Eclipse in the snowy mountains in the past. A tremendous momentum rushed out from the jade fan as if dozens of dragons were rushing in. And it literally swallowed the moonlight that was pouring down on the Heavenly Demon, like fate.

*Kwaaaaaang*.

*Urrrrrr*.

The huge space vibrated slightly in the aftermath. The storm swept through the surroundings and shattered stone dust flew around. Old Lord covered his face with his hand, frowned, and tried to check the results of the clash. But the result was quickly apparent.

“Hmm, am I getting stronger?”

The Heavenly Demon said, slightly covering his face with his jade fan. The Heavenly Demon was still standing there. Leisurely holding the jade fan in one hand and turning the other hand behind his back.

“Or maybe the fate you set wasn’t that great.”

Son Bin was standing in front of him with White Dew hanging down. His hair was disheveled and his clothes were torn here and there. Son Bin’s Lunar Eclipse had failed to break the Heavenly Demon’s Dragon Scale Wall.

*Charak*.

The jade fan folded. The Heavenly Demon looked at Son Bin with a leisurely expression and said.

“How is it? Are you going to try Lunar Eclipse Two? Or how about Lunar Eclipse Three? Or else…”

The Heavenly Demon, or rather, the former Jade Dragon, said, slightly licking his red lips.

“How about the Jade Dragon’s Reverse Scale Strike?”

Woo woong.

The eerie wings of light fluttered behind the former Jade Dragon’s back. It was also showing the overwhelming difference in power between Son Bin and him now.

“You are still.”

The former Jade Dragon said, looking at Son Bin with cold eyes.

“It was your fate to die from my Ice Soul Finger back then.”

*Sseuk*.

The former Jade Dragon raised his white hand. Old Lord could never stand by and watch those slender fingers pronounce death on Son Bin.

“Bin-ah!”

Just as he was about to rush out, Old Lord noticed Son Bin smiling faintly. Sa Su-yeon, Dang Wol-ah, and Sword Hee also saw his smile. Son Bin’s smile, which could never be mistaken, stopped everyone.

Flash.

The Ice Soul Finger burst out from the former Jade Dragon’s fingertips. No, it was no longer something that could be called an Ice Soul Finger. An eerie and fatal momentum that could not be compared to the Ice Soul Finger that had been unleashed on Old Lord, Sa Su-yeon, and Dang Wol-ah a moment ago. The former Jade Dragon’s words that he would concede three moves earlier were not entirely false.

*Kwagwagwag*.

The momentum of the Ice Soul Finger rushed towards Son Bin’s eyes. But Son Bin rather took a step towards it. As if taking a step from the end of a hundred-foot pole [a precarious situation].

Hook.

Son Bin’s figure flickered faintly. And Son Bin wrapped around the Ice Soul Finger like fluttering flower petals.

*Pararak*.

That was absolutely impossible. Son Bin lightly swayed and brushed off the momentum of that Ice Soul Finger, which was fatal just by touching it. No, he was not just brushing it off, but rather going against it. As if flower petals were flying into the sky in a sudden gust of wind.

Whooooosh.

Son Bin instantly reached the front of the former Jade Dragon. And as if it had already been decided, the beautiful blade of White Dew fell towards him.

*Ching*.

There was no ear-splitting impact sound, nor was there a storm-like aftermath. But the jade fan was arrogantly blocking the noble blade of White Dew.

Woo woong.

The faces of each other, seen between White Dew and the jade fan, are so close that they seem to touch. It felt like they wouldn’t miss even the smallest breath now.

“You twisted the world again, Son Bin.”

The former Jade Dragon smiled.

“But it’s still not enough.”

Son Bin’s soft voice answered the former Jade Dragon.

“Compared to ‘him’, anyone.”

In those eyes of Son Bin, who had a faint smile, there was not even a trace of helplessness that Lunar Eclipse had been broken and his attack had been blocked.

“Hmph.”

The former Jade Dragon said, frowning.

“You don’t back down a single word.”

*Kwaaaang*.

The power contained in the sword and fan finally burst out in all directions. Riding on the aftermath, the former Jade Dragon lightly flew into the air. And he landed a little away.

Ttak.

*Chwalak*. The jade fan unfolded and covered the former Jade Dragon’s face.

“Now, what are you going to do?”

The former Jade Dragon said with a sneer.

“Lunar Eclipse One has been broken. Lunar Eclipse Two will be the same. So what are you going to do now? Are you going to challenge the incomplete Lunar Eclipse Three? Or are you going to bet everything on the Jade Dragon’s Reverse Scale Strike?”

He couldn’t break the former Jade Dragon’s Dragon Scale Wall. Then his Jade Dragon Ascension would be the same. It was impossible for the current Son Bin to produce the same results as Saja Hyuk.

*Sseuk*.

Son Bin took a stance. It was just an ordinary appearance of holding the sword with both hands, but the former Jade Dragon realized the meaning contained within.

“…What is that?”

The former Jade Dragon could not hide the curiosity that was rising like a fire. Looking at those eyes, Son Bin smiled softly.

“Old Lord told me to name it well.”

The former Jade Dragon frowned slightly.

“But in fact, it wasn’t something worth naming. In a way, it was like a crude imitation of Lunar Eclipse.”

Son Bin continued, looking embarrassed.

“So I was worried. First of all, I tried to put the principles of Lunar Eclipse as much as possible and even gave it the name ‘One Flash’, but it wasn’t anything special to show off. In fact, the name ‘One Flash’ itself was taken from Lunar Eclipse.”

The former Jade Dragon’s distorted frown deepened even more. But Old Lord and the others realized what Son Bin was talking about. ‘One Flash’ that had cut down the giant dragon. Son Bin was talking about that now.

‘Come to think of it, wasn’t the Martial Emperor’s Lunar Eclipse Flash of Lightning? So that’s where One Flash came from.’

Old Lord inwardly clicked his tongue. Taking the name was nothing, but containing the principles of martial arts was never easy. Even if it was a simple imitation, let alone the Martial Emperor’s ultimate skill. Then suddenly, Old Lord remembered that Son Bin had also created the ‘Profound Heaven Great River Art’.

‘That guy Bin, now that I see it…’

“I already know you’re that kind of person.”

The former Jade Dragon said, not hiding his unpleasant expression.

“The Martial Emperor also said it? You walk with big steps. So what do you want to say? What is that sword you’re about to unleash?”

“White Dew One Knot (白露一結).”

“White Dew, One Knot?”

The essence of the sword is called Sword Art (劍訣) [gyeon-gyeol, a technique or style]. But what Son Bin said now was not Sword Art, but a word used when dew or frost condenses. White Dew One Knot (白露一結), meaning that white dew has condensed once.

“Yes.”

Son Bin nodded.

“My first sword for White Dew, which has always been a precious meaning to me.”

*Sreuk*. The tip of White Dew’s sword slowly rose. And the former Jade Dragon, or rather, the Heavenly Demon, saw it. The blue energy that rose in response to Son Bin’s will, like the shape of a giant dragon.

“It is Sword Imprint Thousand Rivers (劍印千江).”

The former Jade Dragon’s eyes trembled violently. In those eyes that were facing the blue dragon’s form that was arrogantly looking down at him, there was not fear, but extreme joy. Now was the time. The very moment he had been so eagerly waiting for, the moment that would determine the fate of himself and this world.

Whooooosh.

The Heavenly Demon’s wings emitted light. And at the same time, the Heavenly Demon literally became a ray of light and rushed towards Son Bin.

“Kuaaaaa!”

*Buuuuuuuk*.

With a scream-like sound, the light of death rushed towards Son Bin. But Son Bin did not waver. He did not hesitate.

*Sabeok*.

Son Bin took a step and drew White Dew as it was. Along with it, the giant dragon of blue light fell like lightning towards the Heavenly Demon. It was the moment when White Dew One Knot, Sword Imprint Thousand Rivers, revealed its appearance.

(Author’s words)

Son Bin’s passive skill: King of Summaries.

Effect: Your notes are very neat and very thin. All students want to see your notes, and especially before the exam, your notes are called ‘Secret Scroll’ among friends.

“Oh, it’s because I always make exam problem summary notes….”