A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 110

110. Martial Arts and Martial Artists

Several days had passed since Son Bin had taken up residence with the Moyong family. During that time, he spent his days strolling through the garden, engaging in conversation with Moyong Jin (the Iron Sword), and playfully teasing Moyong Lin.

Whenever Moyong Lin ventured out, Son Bin would request to accompany her, even following her on visits to merchants for debt settlements, patiently waiting for her to conclude her business.

His actions were enough to make one wonder if he harbored romantic feelings for Moyong Lin.

‘That’s impossible.’

Moyong Lin frowned, dismissing the thought internally. Whenever Son Bin followed her, No Gun, Dang Wol-ah, and Seo Rin were always in tow. If he truly had feelings for her, they wouldn’t constantly be together.

‘Always a package deal…’

Seo Rin perpetually trailed behind Son Bin, her presence so constant that the initial pity Moyong Lin felt for her had dissipated.

No Gun occasionally wandered off on his own, and Dang Wol-ah sometimes took solitary walks. However, once they left the estate, they invariably moved as a cohesive unit.

They might have appeared to be a band of idle individuals with nothing better to do, but their true capabilities were far from insignificant.

‘Back then, it was truly…’

Moyong Lin shuddered, recalling the chilling aura she had sensed at the brothel a few days prior. Seo Rin and the veiled young lady from the Dangmun [Dang Family, known for their use of poison and assassination techniques] seemed to possess an aura that rivaled even that of Namak No Gun.

In fact, Son Bin appeared to be the weakest among them. Had she not known he was the Jin룡 Daehyeop [Great Hero Jin룡, a title signifying his heroic deeds], she would have mistaken him for the group’s attendant.

‘If they were to intervene…’

It wouldn’t even require the entire group to act. Even if only Namak No Gun stepped in, the Black Tiger Clan would be utterly outmatched.

However, it was inconceivable that Namak No Gun or Seo Rin would act against Son Bin’s wishes. Strangely, Son Bin was clearly the focal point of the group.

‘Today, he’s reading a book? And he’s actually alone for once.’

Son Bin was quietly absorbed in reading. With his hands clasped behind his back and a book held lightly in one hand, he resembled a refined scholar.

‘That’s my book.’

Moyong Lin’s frown deepened. The cover was unmistakably that of her book. She recalled her brother borrowing it some time ago.

Oblivious to the fact that he was reading a young lady’s book, Son Bin leisurely continued to read.

‘What on earth is he thinking?’

Moyong Lin found the situation frustrating. The threat of the Black Tiger Clan loomed large, and she had nowhere else to turn for assistance.

Ultimately, Son Bin and his group were her last hope, yet he was simply passing the time without offering any concrete solution.

‘Could he have ulterior motives?’

Uncertain of his intentions, a multitude of thoughts raced through her mind. She felt an urge to confront him and demand a detailed explanation. However, she restrained herself and waited patiently.

Son Bin, at least in her perception, was not someone who would be swayed by pressure.

‘Seeing that he doesn’t even flinch when I glare at him like this…’

Moyong Lin offered a wry smile. Whether he was oblivious or simply shameless, Son Bin remained steadfastly focused on his own pursuits. The problem was that she couldn’t decipher his intentions.

Was he hoping for something substantial in return?

“Ah, young lady.”

Son Bin, suddenly looking up, smiled at Moyong Lin.

“You’re not going out today.”

Moyong Lin stated, forgoing the usual greeting and offering a faint smile. However, her eyes remained devoid of warmth, hinting at her inner turmoil, but Son Bin seemed unfazed.

“I see.”

“Yes. I’ll be home all day. Oh, and my mother was wondering if you could join us for lunch starting today.”

Moyong Lin’s mother had taken a liking to Son Bin and his companions.

She appreciated Son Bin’s gentle demeanor and the innocent charm of the young Seo Rin, but most of all, she seemed grateful that her son had friends to support him during these trying times.

“I’d be happy to.”

“Then.”

Moyong Lin gave a subtle nod and turned away, her departure marked by a polite coldness.

Step, step.

As Moyong Lin’s figure disappeared around the corner, Son Bin closed the book.

Clack.

“Well, that means I have nothing to do today…”

Pondering what to do, Son Bin looked up, his gaze encompassing the desolate expanse of the Moyong family estate.

*

*

*

“Hoo.”

A disciple of the Moyong family lowered his sword, panting heavily. Kang Il-cheon, who was overseeing the training, frowned at the display.

“What are you doing! Pick up your sword!”

“Senior brother, let’s rest for a moment,” Saje [Junior Apprentice], Jeong Yo-gu, said, his face drenched in sweat. Kang Il-cheon, about to reprimand him, noticed that the other disciples wore similar expressions of exhaustion. He sighed softly.

“Alright, let’s take a short break.”

“Hoo-oo-oo.”

“Haa.”

At his words, the disciples simultaneously lowered their swords. Some slumped to the ground, while others rested their swords on the ground, causing Kang Il-cheon’s forehead veins to throb.

“Who told you to put your swords on the ground? Pick them up immediately! And those who are sitting down, stand up!”

At his outburst, the disciples cautiously glanced around, either retrieving their swords or awkwardly rising to their feet.

“Um, senior brother, you’re not leaving, are you?”

“What?”

Kang Il-cheon frowned and turned toward the voice. The saje who had spoken looked hesitant and continued, “No, I mean, about the Shinse Gate [New Star Gate, a martial arts sect]. I heard that Senior Brother Bin Ga-bae said it’s not too late to join even now…”

“He is no longer a senior brother.”

Kang Il-cheon stated sternly.

“How can we call someone who betrayed the sect a senior brother?”

The saje flinched at his resolute tone.

“But what he said isn’t entirely wrong, is it?”

Jeong Yo-gu interjected with a frown.

“The Moyong family can no longer protect us. Isn’t it right to seek a way to survive, even now?”

“Have you forgotten that the Moyong family took you in when you had nothing?”

Kang Il-cheon retorted, his eyes intense.

“If it weren’t for the Lord’s grace, how could we have even held a sword?”

Becoming a disciple of a sega [martial arts family] is never easy. Most segas are extremely exclusive, sometimes demanding exorbitant fees simply for the privilege of becoming a disciple.

Places like the Moyong family, which accepted individuals based solely on their passion, were rare even in the vast Gangho [Martial Arts World].

“The Moyong family took us in because it ultimately benefited the sega. Every sega desires devoted disciples.”

Jeong Yo-gu said, pursing his lips.

“But the situation has changed. At this rate, aren’t we simply being forced to sacrifice ourselves? As Senior Brother Bin Ga-bae said, we should find a way to survive, even now…”

“Jeong Yo-gu!”

Thud.

Kang Il-cheon’s angry outburst was interrupted by the sudden sound of footsteps. The disciples turned to see a young man dressed as a scholar standing nearby.

“Who are you?”

Kang Il-cheon, already in a foul mood, asked curtly. The young man bowed politely and replied.

“I am Son Bin. I am staying here as a guest for a while.”

“Is that so?”

A sega’s guest was a common occurrence. The Moyong family, in its prime, had hosted numerous guests.

“But this is the sega’s training ground. It is a place where the martial arts of the Moyong family are honed, so outsiders should refrain from entering.”

“I see. I’m sorry.”

The young man, Son Bin, apologized politely. Kang Il-cheon assumed that was the end of the matter and began to turn away.

However, Son Bin had not finished speaking.

“But I’m a little disappointed.”

‘What?’

Kang Il-cheon momentarily questioned his hearing. But Son Bin continued without hesitation.

“I didn’t expect the disciples who train in the Moyong family’s martial arts to be so lacking. I remember the martial arts of the Moyong family being far superior to this.”

Kang Il-cheon’s eyebrows twitched as he glared at Son Bin.

“What did you say?”

Jeong Yo-gu interjected sharply. He was quick-tempered and had been on edge lately, so he was not about to let this insult pass.

“Damn it, I’m hearing all sorts of nonsense now. Hey, you.”

“Jeong Yo-gu!”

Kang Il-cheon tried to stop him, but Jeong Yo-gu ignored him.

Guests were still guests, and disciples were expected to be polite. But abusive language from a sega’s disciple was a different matter.

“You’re just a guest who came to scavenge from a dying sega, what are you even talking about?”

“Stop it…”

“The Moyong family’s martial arts? Do you even know what martial arts are, you bookworm!”

“Stop…”

“I see.”

Son Bin said in a low voice. It was barely audible, but everyone heard it clearly.

“I don’t know much about martial arts.”

A sneer formed on Jeong Yo-gu’s lips. But his judgment was premature.

“But I know what kind of person a martial artist is.”

He might not know martial arts, but he knew the essence of a martial artist. His dignified and immense figure was still vivid in his mind.

“A person who risks his life for his own righteousness, not for personal gain. A person who walks with confident strides but never ignores the needs of others. And a person who never gives up, even in the face of insurmountable odds. Standing behind him, you feel secure, even when death rains down like arrows…”

Son Bin knew. He knew what a true martial artist looked like.

Being in his presence made all worries seem insignificant. Standing behind him, nothing could inspire fear.

A person who instilled the belief that everything would be alright simply by being there. A great person who seemed impervious to anything the world could throw at him, unshaken even by heaven and earth.

The name that filled his heart simply by thinking of it.

It was Saja Hyuk.

“That kind of person… is a martial artist. If he acts for profit, he is nothing more than a merchant.”

Kang Il-cheon could discern from Son Bin’s words that he had been listening to their conversation for some time.

The disciples, feeling a pang of guilt at his quiet words, remained silent, but Jeong Yo-gu was not one to be swayed.

“You, you…”

Jeong Yo-gu gritted his teeth. He understood that Son Bin was insulting him. His already limited patience snapped at the sight of Son Bin’s unwavering gaze.

“How dare you…”

He was about to draw his sword when suddenly-

“Something terrible has happened!”

An elderly servant, employed by the sega, rushed into the training ground, his face pale with fear. He shouted frantically, “The Black Tiger Clan has invaded! The Black Tiger Clan!”

The disciples’ faces turned ashen. Those with sufficient skill had already sought refuge at the Shinse Gate. The remaining disciples were either not skilled enough to be accepted or were a small number who remained out of loyalty, like Kang Il-cheon.

They all knew that facing the Black Tiger Clan with their limited numbers would be futile.

Amidst the chaos, none of them noticed Son Bin sighing and muttering under his breath.

“The timing couldn’t be worse…”

Thud.

Son Bin turned and headed in the direction from which the servant had come. The servant, unsure of what to do, looked back and forth between the remaining disciples.

“Let’s go!”

Kang Il-cheon exclaimed, as if finally snapping out of his daze. He ran after Son Bin, but the disciples hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances.

“Damn it. I might die today if things go wrong.”

Jeong Yo-gu cursed under his breath and followed Kang Il-cheon, sword in hand. Only then did the remaining disciples grab their swords and begin to move, their expressions filled with apprehension.

*

*

*

“Come out!”

An old man with a distinctive beard, streaked with both black and white, bellowed in front of the Moyong family estate. But no one answered the door. The old man frowned.

“That’s strange. I was certain they were here?”

Not only did no one open the door, but he couldn’t sense any activity within. There wasn’t even a passerby in sight in front of the tightly shut gate.

The old man tilted his head and shouted toward the interior of the sega once more. Or rather, he was about to shout.

“Come o…”

Clatter, clatter.

“Get out of the way! Get out of the way!”

Dozens of horses galloped forward, kicking up a cloud of dust. They drove their steeds relentlessly toward the old man’s position.

“Whoa, whoa.”

“Tsk.”

The old man clicked his tongue and frowned. The large horses seemed poised to trample him at any moment, but he calmly stepped aside, raising a hand to shield his face from the dust with his sleeve.

“Ssireong [Expletive]. Get out of the way if you don’t want to die!”

A man with a fierce expression dismounted his horse and shouted, attempting to intimidate the old man. The old man took another step back.

Thump, thump, thump!

The man immediately began pounding on the door, his blows strong enough to make the large gate creak. The group accompanying him were equally burly and menacing, all armed with sharp weapons.

Thump, thump, thump!

“Open it! Damn it, if you don’t open it quickly, we’ll break it down!”

“Why wait for them to open it? Get out of the way!”

A giant of a man stepped forward, wielding a massive iron club as tall as himself. The man who had been knocking on the door immediately moved aside.

“Ptooey. Hoo-eup.”

Whoosh.

The large iron club soared into the air and crashed down mercilessly upon the gate of the Moyong family.

Thud! Crack!

The thick wood, which had stood for generations, could not withstand the brutal force of the iron club. The sturdy door of the Moyong family twisted, revealing the old latch on the inside.

“Hit it one more time!”

“Hoo-eup. Taah!”

The giant man roared and swung the iron club down again, aiming for the area near the latch.

Crash!

The latch, which had been firmly securing the door, broke off, and the door swung open. The man with the iron club immediately kicked the door.

Bang!

The door of the Moyong family, which had stood strong for so long, was flung open by his kick.

“Let’s go in!”

Dozens of murderous warriors surged into the Moyong family estate. Jang Hwa-san, the leader of the Black Tiger Clan, the Herculean Tyrant, moved arrogantly, guided by Wang Chang.

“Really, no one is coming, right?”

Jang Hwa-san asked Wang Chang, seeking confirmation.

“Of course. Neither the Namgung family nor anyone else is intervening. We meticulously checked everything. That’s why I had my subordinates secretly follow Moyong Lin for the past few days, wasn’t it? Thanks to that, I was able to serve a noble person.”

“Do you know how much money that noble person has spent so far?”

Wang Chang offered an awkward smile.

“It’s an investment for the future. It may prove to be more valuable than the Moyong family.”

“We’ll see about that. Anyway, you’ve ensured that he arrives here without any complications, right?”

“I’ve arranged for him to arrive at the precise moment the Clan Lord takes control of the Moyong family. Dramatic timing and a vivid on-site experience are crucial for this kind of thing.”

“That’s right. We need to ensure that this event leaves a lasting impression that ‘the Black Tiger Clan is truly formidable.’ Hahaha.”

Jang Hwa-san laughed heartily, and Wang Chang joined in.

“Come on, let’s feast. The Moyong family is a perfect no man’s land now.”

“Yes, yes. Now, all that remains is for us to become the owners of this place.”

Jang Hwa-san and Wang Chang entered the Moyong family estate, their eyes gleaming with greed.

After the warriors had entered, only the empty horses and the old man remained in front of the gate.

“Tsk, tsk.”

The old man, who had stepped aside, clicked his tongue softly.

“Well, it seems I arrived just in time.”

The old man strode through the wide-open gate. Despite having witnessed the murderous warriors rushing in, there was not the slightest hesitation in his eyes.