A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 108

108. Infinite Wandering (2)

The back alleys of Infinite were a chaotic mix of people and carriages, filled with laughter and chatter echoing from every direction.

The alley was particularly crowded, and it was easy to bump into someone if you weren’t careful.

“This place smells delicious,” Moyong Lin said, stopping in front of a shop with a strong, savory aroma.

As soon as she spoke, the group gathered around the small shop, forming a protective circle to avoid being swept away by the passing crowds. The tiny shop didn’t have any seats, so this was their only option.

“What are they frying?” Namak Nogun asked, looking intrigued. Small, adorable morsels of meat and vegetables emitted a very savory smell.

Seorin was practically sniffing the air with her face close to the food. Dang Wora didn’t say anything, but she stood so close that she clearly didn’t want to back away.

“Five servings, please,” Son Bin said to the owner, who didn’t even glance at the customers. There was no welcome or offer to try the food. He was simply focused on cooking on the large griddle.

The owner skillfully placed several of the fried items on a wide, long leaf, stacking five bundles and handing them to Son Bin.

A savory smell wafted from his hands along with the heat, and Son Bin unconsciously swallowed.

“Two coins.”

“Expensive,” Nogun muttered, rummaging for money. Nogun never seemed to take out a money pouch, but when his hand emerged from his sleeve, it always held the exact amount.

‘Namak Nogun is paying again?’ Moyong Lin frowned and glared at Son Bin, but Son Bin was too focused on the food to notice.

“Make a lot of money,” Nogun said. The owner simply nodded and focused on his work, not even bothering to look at the customers.

“Shall we eat?” The group immediately gathered around Son Bin, who handed out one bundle to each of them.

Dang Wora received hers carefully, but Seorin grabbed it eagerly, juggling it between her hands and exclaiming that it was hotter than she expected.

“Miss, please have one,” Son Bin said with a smile, offering one to Moyong Lin.

“Ah, yes,” she replied, but Moyong Lin was thinking something else.

‘Just who is this person…’ She knew who he was: Son Bin, the lover of the Sword Goddess, and more recently, the famous True Dragon Great Hero.

Compared to the amount of personal information known about him, his sect and identity were still unclear, but he was very popular among the younger generation.

But no matter what, he couldn’t be compared to the previous supreme master, Namak Nogun.

‘But why is Namak Nogun acting as his treasurer?’ When Son Bin wanted to eat, Namak Nogun paid. Considering the hierarchy, reputation, skill, and age in the martial world, this situation was absurd.

Yet, no one seemed to find this strange.

Son Bin was nonchalant about taking the elder’s money, and Nogun seemed to think it was natural to pay.

Of course, elders might treat sometimes, but there were no words of thanks or offers to pay.

“Aren’t you eating?” At Son Bin’s words, the group’s eyes lit up. They were all taking small bites, and their satisfied expressions conveyed their appreciation of the taste.

“I’m eating.” Moyong Lin quickly took a bundle as if snatching it away. The group’s eyes showed a hint of disappointment at what they had hoped for.

“Haa.” Moyong Lin sighed softly and turned around.

“This way.” As Moyong Lin started walking, the group followed her, lined up like ducklings following their mother, which was almost comical. But in such a crowded street, they had no choice.

Rustle. Moyong Lin unwrapped the package and picked one up with a wooden skewer, putting it in her mouth. It was still savory and light. The small skewer prevented oil or sauce from getting on her hands.

‘Delicious.’ In fact, the shop was very famous in Infinite. If it weren’t for this odd hour, she would have had to wait in line for a long time.

Moyong Lin stopped walking after chewing for a while. She was in front of a shop with a tall, old red gate.

“Ah, they have delicious xiaolongbao [soup dumplings] here too.”

“Xiaolongbao?” Son Bin inadvertently asked at Moyong Lin’s words.

“The skin is very thin, and they’re like small, bite-sized dumplings. To be exact, they’re a type of siu mai [Cantonese dumpling]…”

Dumplings (饅頭), jiaozi (餃子), siu mai (燒賣), baozi (包子), spring rolls (春捲), etc., may seem similar, but their names vary greatly depending on the cooking method. Of course, Son Bin didn’t know much about that.

“They’re usually filled with pork or shrimp. When you bite into them, the hot broth bursts in your mouth, and the taste is…”

Moyong Lin couldn’t finish her explanation. Just thinking about it made her mouth water.

“Gulp.” Moyong Lin wasn’t the only one whose mouth was watering.

“Let’s go in!” Nogun said. At his words, Moyong Lin and the group moved towards the shop in unison.

However, the group was a little disappointed when they entered the shop. There were no empty seats, and more than ten people were already waiting.

Nogun grumbled to the owner. “What is this? How long do we have to wait?”

The owner said it wouldn’t be long, so they gave him their names and came back outside. Now that they looked, there were quite a few people lingering around the shop.

They managed to find an empty spot and settled down. It was a good location in the shade, where they could watch people pass by and lean against the wall.

Moyong Lin, who had nothing to do for the time being, looked at the group again and sighed inwardly.

‘Haa.’ Nogun seemed displeased with the wait, so he put his hands behind his back and looked elsewhere. Son Bin had taken out a cheap white feather fan from somewhere.

He was fanning himself diligently, probably to create a breeze for Nogun next to him.

Seorin was fascinated by the white feather fan and followed it with her eyes. It seemed like she might pounce on it at any moment.

Dang Wora was still munching on the food she had bought earlier under her veil. She had a string of small food bundles in her hands.

These were the leftovers from what the group had eaten, but Dang Wora hadn’t finished. She wouldn’t have been able to hold them all in one hand if Son Bin hadn’t tied them together with a string.

“Heh.” Moyong Lin chuckled to herself.

‘This is a first.’ It wasn’t the first time the Moyong family had guests. There were many guests from powerful families or martial arts masters, and Moyong Lin had often accompanied them.

But on those occasions, they usually traveled in luxurious carriages to high-end tea houses, restaurants, or taverns.

Wandering through these back alleys with distinguished guests was a first for her, even though she had been dragged here by Son Bin’s suggestion to go to a cheap and fun place, which had made her feel a little resentful.

‘Still…’ Moyong Lin smiled wryly. Perhaps it was because she was familiar with the back alleys, but she felt comfortable. It was like the old days when she used to wander around with her friends, giggling.

“Oh, aren’t you Miss Moyong?” A sudden deep voice broke Moyong Lin’s reverie. Her relaxed nerves instantly tightened, and she greeted him politely according to her ingrained etiquette.

“Hello, Chief Manager.”

The person in front of her was an elderly man with graying hair. He wore a flamboyant coat and had a dignified appearance as he received Moyong Lin’s greeting.

“I didn’t expect to see you in a place like this. And these people…?” He glanced at Son Bin and his group, his gaze sweeping over them for a moment.

“They are guests of the family.”

“Ah, I see.” He gave Son Bin and his group a friendly smile, but that was it. There were no greetings.

“Perhaps, is there any news regarding my request from last time…?” At Moyong Lin’s words, he made a troubled expression.

“As you know, the atmosphere isn’t good these days. I can’t give you a definite answer…”

“Then, what about the letter I sent to Pure Water Sword, Great Hero Namgung Jun?” Pure Water Sword Namgung Jun was the Deputy Chief of the outer branch of the Namgung family. He had expressed his gratitude to Moyong Lin at the Jiangnan Dragon and Phoenix Gathering.

His words that he would not forget her kindness were not to be taken lightly.

“Ah, the letter? I heard that the Deputy Chief of the outer branch is not currently available. Perhaps there will be a response after the Blood Bee Union’s matter is resolved, so please wait.”

Moyong Lin bit her lip slightly. The Namgung family was dealing with the urgent matter of the Jiangnan Blood Bee Union. Moyong Lin’s letter was probably far down the list.

Eventually, she would get a response, but it would be too late if it was after the Blood Bee Union’s matter was resolved.

“Then, other…” Moyong Lin was about to say something when she finally noticed the warrior behind the Chief Manager. Moyong Lin’s expression immediately hardened.

“Ah, by the way, the two of you must be acquainted.” The Chief Manager smiled with a friendly expression.

“This is the new Sect Leader of the Shinse Sect. And this is, as you already know, the young lady of the Moyong family. I feel a bit awkward introducing the two of you. Hahaha.”

At the Chief Manager’s words, the young warrior standing behind him lowered his head with a blank face. However, Moyong Lin said nothing.

*

*

*

“This is Yellow Crane Tower.” Moyong Lin said in a low voice. But there was no need to say it.

Seorin’s eyes widened with admiration, and even Dang Wora’s gaze behind her veil sparkled.

The towering pavilion, with its soaring architectural beauty, was the famous Yellow Crane Tower, one of the three great pavilions of Jiangnan, and even Son Bin, for the second time, couldn’t help but admire it.

“This way.” Moyong Lin led the way. The group, who had been looking up at the Yellow Crane Tower, followed Moyong Lin, glancing upwards from time to time.

Pushing through the crowd and the eye-catching decorations and patterns, the group diligently climbed the stairs.

The moment they stepped on the last step, the open view of the great city of Infinite unfolded before their eyes like a lie.

“Wowww.” Seorin exclaimed with surprised eyes. The sight of the vast city spread out below was truly spectacular.

“Good.” Namak Nogun muttered quietly beside her. Nogun was facing the wind, looking at the scenery of Infinite. Dang Wora also let the wind blow her veil as she quietly looked down at the scenery.

Swoosh. Feeling the blowing wind, Son Bin quietly savored the scenery.

The sight of Infinite, with its long history, unfolded before his eyes, but what spread deeper into Son Bin’s heart were the memories of the past. She, who was as sharp and beautiful as a sword, Sa Su-yeon.

‘Someday…’ Son Bin smiled quietly. If he could visit this place again with her someday, he would be able to tell her then. The poem about the yellow crane that flew to the sky and the mist on the river below, which he couldn’t finish reciting before.

The group was silently immersed in the atmosphere of the Yellow Crane Tower. Moyong Lin, who had seemed to be in a bad mood, was also leaning against the railing, looking at the scenery with a comfortable expression. The wind shook her hair.

“Are you alright?” Son Bin approached her and asked. Perhaps it was because of Son Bin’s worried expression, but Moyong Lin chuckled.

“I’m fine. Well, it’s not the first time.” Moyong Lin said, turning her head back to look at the scenery.

“The Shinse Sect member we met earlier was a disciple of the Moyong family,” she continued in a light voice.

“It was a time when tensions were high between us and the Namgung family as they advanced into Infinite. There was a dispute at a tavern, and the government sided with the Namgung family. The Moyong family’s disciples were imprisoned, and the Namgung family demanded compensation from us.”

Son Bin’s brow furrowed slightly. Son Bin also had the experience of being unfairly treated due to the corruption of officials at the provincial examination.

“Isn’t it surprising? The Namgung family had already made the government of Infinite their ally. It seems that no one knows better than the Namgung family what it means to have power. We are very different,” Moyong Lin said with a self-deprecating smile.

“To save the disciples, my father conceded a lot. Eventually, the disciples were released, but the Moyong family could no longer be the master of Infinite. And when my father and brother fell ill, they turned their backs on us as if they had been waiting for it. They said the Moyong family could no longer protect them?” Moyong Lin gritted her teeth.

“I will never forgive them. The Namgung family, the Shinse Sect, someday, I will definitely…”

“Repay hatred with uprightness (以直報怨) [a Confucian principle of dealing with grievances fairly],” Son Bin said quietly.

“The sages said to repay hatred by doing what is right.”

“Ha.” Moyong Lin laughed.

“Are you telling me to forgive them? Such words are nothing more than futile idealism.”

“I’m not telling you to forgive them,” Son Bin said.

“Although the imperial law prohibits private revenge, it is natural for someone who has been wronged to want to repay the hatred. However, I would like to advise you to take a different approach.”

“A different approach?”

“First of all, for the time being… Well, how about finding your own happiness for about ten years? It is said that a gentleman’s revenge is not too late even after ten years, so that should be fine.”

Moyong Lin’s brow furrowed.

“I’m not in the mood for jokes.”

“Neither am I.” Son Bin looked straight at Moyong Lin and said, “You are not alone. Everything will be alright, so don’t worry. Isn’t it too wasteful to spend your precious days on revenge or hatred?”

Moyong Lin’s eyes wavered.

“What do you mean? Does that mean you will help me?” Moyong Lin said, looking straight at Son Bin. However, Son Bin only smiled and did not answer.

That made Moyong Lin even more confused.

‘What is he thinking?’ Clearly, Son Bin had goodwill towards Moyong Lin and the Moyong family. Even her brother, Moyong Jin, showed an unusual level of trust in Son Bin.

But when she actually asked for help, Son Bin avoided giving a definite answer.

‘Could it be…’ Moyong Lin’s face turned cold at the sudden thought.

‘No, that can’t be.’ That was a foolish thought. He had a lover with unparalleled beauty, the Sword Goddess.

Moyong Lin shook her head to clear her thoughts. The words about her precious days and so on must be just conventional rhetoric.

“Let’s go.” Suddenly, Nogun’s dissatisfied voice was heard.

“I can’t stand it anymore.” As Son Bin turned his head, he met the gazes of the women looking at this place. To be exact, they were looking at Seorin.

“Oh my, a pretty boy.”

“Cu, cute.” The sparkling eyes of the women were all focused on Seorin. Seorin, who was holding the Dust Sweeper in her arms and leaning against the railing, turned her head and smiled brightly when she felt Son Bin’s gaze.

It was a smile towards Son Bin, but the women who saw it went wild.

“Kyaa.” Exclamations flowed from the women’s mouths, and their eyes instantly became dreamy.

“We should put the veil on that guy,” Nogun grumbled.

“Then, let’s go back now.” At Moyong Lin’s words, Son Bin and his group came down from the Yellow Crane Tower. It had been a tiring day, but Moyong Lin thought that her work was finally over. But that was her miscalculation.