A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 1

1. Disgraced Scholar

Located at the foot of Mount Hoomun, the Hoomun Inn was a small, dilapidated establishment. It wasn’t on a major thoroughfare, nor was it near any significant cities or famous scenic spots, so the inn was always quiet.

The only people who stopped by were the occasional merchants and travelers with light purses. After the signboard was blown off by wind and rain a few years ago, no one knew if its original name was Hoomun Inn, or if it was simply called that because it was at the foot of Mount Hoomun.

Wang Pal, the old man who owned and ran the kitchen of this inn, was looking around his establishment with a deeply furrowed brow. The inn was so empty it looked desolate, but the reason for Wang Pal’s displeasure wasn’t the lack of customers.

The reason he was frowning was because of one drunken guest.

“If the waters of the *changlang* [a river or stream] are murky, hic, you should wash your feet in them,” the young man slurred. He was dressed in the garb of a poor scholar, with a worn-out bundle. At a glance, anyone could tell he was a disgraced scholar.

Already quite drunk, the scholar was gesturing wildly in the air, muttering to the empty wall.

“Not just anywhere, but in the *huishi* [metropolitan examination], hic, to select officials for the nation, how could such a thing happen? Favoring relatives of high-ranking officials, favoring sons of wealthy *geshang* [powerful merchants]. No wonder people say the world is rotten. Not just murky water, but rotten, hic, water!”

He raised the wine cup he was holding and swallowed it in one gulp.

“Kuh!”

Thump!

Several empty bottles already lay on the table where the scholar placed his cup. Wang Pal clicked his tongue in disapproval as he watched.

‘Tsk, tsk. If you’re drunk, just shut up and sleep it off,’ Wang Pal muttered to himself, glaring at the scholar with a displeased expression.

‘Just a few bottles of cheap wine and he’s acting like this… It’d be different if he ordered a lot and then acted up.’

“Injustice! Injustice!”

The scholar, who had been clutching the empty wine cup, suddenly shouted.

“The world is full of injustice! Everything’s wrong! Damn it!”

Bang!

The scholar slammed his empty fist on the table.

‘That, that guy! If it breaks, just you wait! I’ll make you pay for the damages immediately…’

Wang Pal glared at the scholar who was hitting the old table, but the drunken scholar didn’t even look his way.

As he glared at the scholar, Wang Pal furtively glanced at another guest.

There, another man was sitting alone, silently sipping his wine.

‘Is it, is it going to be alright?’

Wang Pal anxiously watched the other man.

Dressed in light *mubok* [martial arts training clothes], the middle-aged man had a sturdy build that belied his graying hair.

His thick arms looked like he could take down a tiger from Mount Hoomun, and just looking at the large *dao* [Chinese single-edged sword] he carried on his back made it clear he was a *murim-in* [martial artist].

Not just any *murim-in*, but the kind who wouldn’t bat an eye at killing someone.

Even now, the way he quietly stared at his wine cup was so intense and piercing it was frightening.

‘Oh my, look at those arms. He could take down that scholar with one punch.’

The wine cup in the man’s hand looked unusually small. He had ordered a simple meal and only one small bottle of wine.

Contrary to his imposing appearance, he was quietly silent, but Wang Pal knew that if he upset him, anything could happen, just from looking at the chilling black *daedo* [great sword] on his back.

‘If he starts a sword fight because he’s in a bad mood, it’ll be a disaster…’

Wang Pal wrung his hands anxiously. Arguments while drinking were commonplace.

But if someone died and the inn was destroyed, it would be a huge headache for Wang Pal.

And now, that terrible situation was about to unfold right before his eyes.

“The world is drunk, and only I am sober!”

‘Eek!’

Wang Pal was startled by the scholar’s sudden outburst.

‘Why, why is that bastard suddenly doing that?’

Wang Pal glared at the scholar, who was oblivious to his impending doom, with all his might. He couldn’t hate the scholar more for being so clueless and spouting nonsense.

Whether Wang Pal glared or not, the scholar, who had been muttering to himself, suddenly let out a long sigh.

“Haa…”

‘Tsk, this inn’s going to collapse.’

Regaining his composure, Wang Pal grimaced and grumbled inwardly. But whether he knew Wang Pal’s feelings or not, the scholar continued to mutter to himself.

“What? I’ll get *chidogon* [a severe beating] if I spout nonsense? Is that what an official should say? Sticking to those in power, twisting what’s right, is that what an official should do? Damn it, this dirty world. Damn it, damn it.”

Muttering almost unintelligibly, the scholar brought the wine cup to his lips again.

“Kuh.”

Thump.

After emptying the cup, the scholar lowered his head with a deep sigh. And he spoke as if he was just rambling to himself.

“This damn world. If no one knows, it never happened. If no one knows, it never happened.”

Click.

It was a small sound, but it was enough to make Wang Pal’s heart drop. Because it was the sound of the middle-aged *muin* [martial artist], who had been sitting silently, getting up from his seat.

‘Oh no, something’s finally going to happen.’

While Wang Pal was calculating the estimated damage and countermeasures in his head with a tearful face, the sturdy *muin* slowly walked towards the scholar.

“If no one knows, it never happened?”

The middle-aged *muin* said to the scholar in a low, thick voice.

The scholar, who had been bowing his head, raised his head and looked at the *muin* with bleary eyes. His drunken eyes didn’t seem to be able to grasp the situation.

“Who…?”

The *muin* chuckled. And he looked down at the scholar and said.

“Let’s talk for a bit. But before that…”

As his large hand slowly reached towards the scholar’s head, Wang Pal forgot about his calculations and stared intently at the scene.

He wondered if he was really going to punch him to death, but unfortunately, the situation Wang Pal had been hoping for didn’t happen.

“First, you need to sober up a bit.”

The middle-aged *muin* grabbed the scholar’s collar near the back of his neck with his large hand. And he lifted him up as lightly as if he were handling a *gonggitdol* [small stones used in a Korean jacks game].

“Huh? Huh?”

Hanging in the air, the scholar had a bewildered expression, not understanding what had happened to him.

The *muin*, who lifted the scholar as easily as if he were handling a puppy or a child, strode out and left the Hoomun Inn.

Clang.

The old bell rang, announcing that they had left the inn.

Wang Pal, who had been cowering in fear that the sparks might fly his way, could only watch the scene of the *muin* carrying the scholar out with his mouth agape.

But soon, Wang Pal couldn’t help but wear a tearful expression in the face of the damage that had become a reality before his eyes.

“Damn it, who’s going to pay the bill if they all leave?”

In a very small voice, Wang Pal mumbled tearfully.

***

“Aaaaaah!”

The scholar screamed with all his might. But his screams were buried in the wind and couldn’t be heard at all. Because he was passing through the pitch-black mountains at an incredible speed.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

The sound of the wind was like a waterfall, the wind was hitting his face so hard he couldn’t make a proper expression, shadows like trees passed by with sharp whooshing sounds, and the moon and stars in the night sky were spinning dizzily.

“St, stop! Stop ittt!”
The scholar screamed.

“Are you coming to your senses now?”

That voice was clearly audible despite the tremendous wind noise. It was like speaking directly into his head.

“Com, coming! Cominggg! So now, st, stoooop!”

Whoosh.

Suddenly, the sound of the wind that had been ringing in his ears disappeared. And the body that had been moving with tremendous momentum also stopped. But his vision was still spinning.

Rustle.

The ground seemed to be getting closer, and then cold blades of grass caught the scholar’s body.

“Ah, aigo…” [an expression of frustration or annoyance]

The scholar supported himself on the ground with his knees and hands. His head was still dizzy, but he felt a deep sense of relief that he was no longer being shaken.

“I’m glad you’re back to your senses.”

A heavy voice was heard from above. The scholar raised his head. It was hard to see in the dark, but only the white teeth were clearly visible between the lips of the smiling man.

“If you were still out of your mind, I was going to throw you over there.”

Following the man’s gaze, the scholar also turned his head. And in an instant, he felt a chill run down his spine at the sight before his eyes.

“Heok.”

It was natural for the scholar to gasp. Because the two were now on top of a high waterfall, and right in front of them, a dark blue pool was gaping below the cliff. Just looking at it made his legs tremble.

“Wh, what’s going on? What is…”

The scholar, who had been reflexively questioning, closed his mouth. Only then did he realize that the man standing in front of him was no ordinary person.

The man looked down at the scholar with his arms crossed and a smirk. The man’s arms were so thick that it was a wonder how he could cross them.

Gulp.

Without realizing it, the scholar swallowed his saliva and thought.

‘I’m done for with one hit.’

The scholar’s impression of those arms was not much different from that of Wang Pal at the inn. Of course, neither of them knew that fact.

∴

Swish.

Listening to the sound of the waterfall falling powerfully, the scholar washed his face in the shallow water. His hair was all messed up by the wind, but his face was a mess with sweat, tears, and snot.

“Hoo.”

After lightly washing his face and touching his hair, the scholar straightened his clothes. After washing his face and tidying himself up, he seemed to be regaining his senses as the alcohol wore off.

The scholar turned his head and looked at the man. The middle-aged man, who gave off the feeling of a huge rock, was looking at the scholar with shining eyes. Even if it wasn’t for the *mubok* he was wearing, the large *dao* he was carrying on his back roughly told him who the man was.

“Ahem.”

The scholar straightened his posture and stood up straight.

“First of all, let me tell you that your actions are very rude.”

The scholar said with strength in his eyes.

“No matter how old you are, you shouldn’t treat people like this!”

The graying hair, as well as the beard that was also mixed with white, gave a rough estimate of the age of the man standing in front of him. Still, his strong features still made him look like a middle-aged man in his prime.

“So you do have a temper.”
The man smirked and said.

“Temper, you say!”
The scholar said in an angry voice. He was already angry at the other person’s violent and rude behavior. He tried to act like a gentleman befitting a scholar, but he couldn’t help but get angry when the other person picked a fight.

“What’s the reason for dragging someone here like this out of the blue! Do you know that such actions are strictly prohibited by *hwangbeop* [imperial law]!”

“*Hwangbeop*?”
The man smirked again.

“A moment ago, you were imitating a noble scholar, saying that the world was unjust, but now you’re talking about *hwangbeop* and trying to cling to that unjust world? If you’re a man, you should…”

The man suddenly looked at the large rock next to him.

Whooong.

With a low sound, the man’s *mubok* suddenly began to flutter even though there was no wind. And the next moment, the man’s fist cut through the air.

Whooong.

Kwaang!

The scholar reflexively lowered his body and swallowed a gasp. The large rock, taller than a person, was shattered in an instant under the man’s fist.

‘H, how can a person do that with their bare hands…’

Standing among the scattered pieces of stone, the man smirked and said.

“Isn’t it right to travel the world with your own strength?”