A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 113

Unexpected Visitors (2)

The face of the man who lit up at the sight of the black-clad warrior was none other than Jang Hwasan, the leader of the Black Tiger Clan. He rushed towards the warrior.

“You’ve come, you’ve come! I’m so glad you’re here!”

Jang Hwasan’s expression was as if he were welcoming a savior. Which, in fact, he was.

“You scoundrel!”

Jang Hwasan immediately roared at Moryong Jin.

“Do you know who this is? This is the famous Gwi… ugh.”

Clang.

Jang Hwasan, who was about to say something, groaned and clutched his neck with both hands. The greatsword he dropped clattered to the ground.

“I told you to watch your tongue, didn’t I?”

The black-clad warrior said in a chilling tone. His slightly raised index and middle fingers were pointing directly at Jang Hwasan’s neck.

Even though his fingers didn’t touch him, Jang Hwasan couldn’t even breathe properly, let alone speak.

“Kuh, keuk.”

Jang Hwasan clutched his neck and nodded vigorously. When the black-clad warrior removed his fingers, he gasped for breath, his face red.

“Keuheok. Heok, heok.”

Thud, thud.

The black-clad warrior slowly walked towards Moryong Jin.

“I asked who you are.”

Moryong Jin said. Instead of answering, the black-clad warrior stared at the sword Moryong Jin was holding.

Woo-oong.

Moryong Jin’s sword cried out with a low sound. The blue energy surrounding the sword flickered slightly.

“Not bad.”

The black-clad warrior said in a low voice.

“Among the hypocrites of the orthodox sects I’ve seen, you’re the best. But something’s strange. Your condition is like…”

“Stop.”

Thud.

Someone stepped forward with a clear voice. The black-clad warrior stared at the young scholar who was blocking him. It was Son Bin.

“You are…”

“Young Master Moryong.”

Interrupting the warrior, Son Bin said in a low voice to Moryong Jin.

“The divine physician said you must step back.”

Moryong Jin’s face hardened. He, too, had a rough idea of his condition. And the divine physician’s message confirmed his guess. Confronting the black-clad warrior in this state was a dangerous act.

“I cannot retreat.”

Moryong Jin said with a firm expression.

“If I don’t protect them, who will?”

“It is said that a true friend is one who is with you in difficult times.”

Son Bin said. His eyes were fixed on Moryong Jin.

“If you consider me a friend, leave this place to me. Just as you have trusted my words until now.”

Moryong Jin’s eyes wavered.

Son Bin had healed him. Although the Old Lord and the divine physician were together, and his memories were vague due to the severe pain, it was clear that Son Bin had played an important role. So how could he not trust Son Bin’s words?

“I understand.”

Moryong Jin replied.

“I leave this place to you.”

Swish.

Moryong Jin stepped back. And Son Bin stood face to face with the black-clad warrior.

“It’s you again.”

The black-clad warrior said in an unpleasant tone. It was not difficult to spot the group he had encountered at the pleasure house over there. The same murderous intent as before was already pouring out towards him.

“I didn’t think you were, but were you also a hypocrite of the orthodox sects?”

“Perhaps, or perhaps not.”

Son Bin said quietly.

“It’s nice to see you again, young lady.”

Rustle.

A young lady appeared from behind the warrior. A subtle red silk dress, a very short staff in one hand. It was the same young lady he had encountered at the pleasure house.

The reason people hadn’t noticed her until now was probably because the warrior’s aura and presence were so strong in front of her.

“Indeed.”

The young lady with the youthful face bowed slightly and replied in a frail voice.

“I believe you said I was not an enemy.”

“That’s correct.”

The young lady in the subtle red silk dress replied.

“Then, could you step aside for me this time?”

Son Bin said politely and courteously. However, the young lady shook her head silently.

“I can’t.”

She said with a slightly sad look.

“Because he doesn’t want to.”

She looked up at the black-clad warrior. And Son Bin saw it. His eyes towards him were shining like lightning.

“This is strange.”

The black-clad warrior said. His lips were definitely smiling.

“My Blood Wolf desires you.”

Swish.

The warrior’s sword was all black and crimson. The sword’s body, as well as the blade, gleamed with an ominous red color, as if blood had dried on it.

“That sword is…”

The Old Lord’s expression changed. And.

Woo-oong.

Son Bin’s White Dew cried out softly.

∴

“Will he be okay?”

Moryong Rin, who was watching the black-clad warrior and Son Bin, asked with a nervous expression.

“Well, I don’t know.”

Moryong Jin replied in a stiff voice. Compared to when he saw him at the Yueyang Tower, Son Bin had definitely changed. But he didn’t think he was capable of facing that black-clad warrior.

“Even if the Old Lord is here…”

“Even if he is the Great Hero Jinryong…”

Moryong Jin and Moryong Rin’s voices overlapped.

“Great Hero Jinryong?”

Moryong Jin asked, frowning slightly.

“You didn’t know?”

Moryong Rin said to Moryong Jin with a rather strange expression.

“That person is the Great Hero Jinryong. The one who defeated the ultimate expert of the Blood Dragon Clan at the Pavilion of Prince Teng [a famous historical pavilion in China], the lover of the Sword Saintess of Destruction.”

“What?”

“Huh?”

It wasn’t just Moryong Jin who was surprised. The disciples of the Moryong Family next to him also retorted with disbelief.

“That guy, no, that s… that person is the Great Hero Jinryong?”

Jeong Yogu said, wrinkling his face as much as possible.

“Yes.”

Moryong Rin replied with an unpleasant expression. She was rather displeased with the reaction that they couldn’t believe her words.

“I saw it myself. That person is the Great Hero Jinryong.”

“That’s…”

“Ah, damn it…”

Kang Ilcheon and Jeong Yogu uttered different words. They had already heard about the name Great Hero Jinryong from Moryong Rin.

Of course, their impression was just that another hero had been born at the Gangnam Dragon and Phoenix Gathering. They thought it was a story from another world that had nothing to do with them.

“Damn it, I’m completely screwed.”

Jeong Yogu spat out his feelings without filtering them. He even forgot that he was in front of Young Master Moryong.

“Why? What happened?”

Moryong Rin asked. Kang Ilcheon said in a low voice.

“We didn’t recognize him and were rude to him. We thought he was just an ordinary guest…”

“Is that so?”

Moryong Rin frowned slightly, but didn’t think much of it. She didn’t think that Kang Ilcheon, who was usually cautious, had made such a big mistake, even though he said it was rude. And Son Bin didn’t seem to be the type to care about such things.

“It’ll be okay. I don’t know him well, but I don’t think he’ll care about that.”

“Thank you.”

Kang Ilcheon bowed lightly. Jeong Yogu frowned, but he subtly bowed his head to Kang Ilcheon.

“Great Hero Jinryong… Well, it’s like Son Gongja [a respectful title for a young master] would do that.”

Moryong Jin smiled. It was surprising, but somehow he thought it would be like that.

“But, what exactly is the identity of that black-clad warrior?”

At Kang Ilcheon’s question, which suddenly came to his ears, Moryong Rin and Moryong Jin also hardened their faces.

“Well…”

Moryong Jin grabbed his sword. Although the Old Lord was watching from behind, he was prepared to jump out himself if necessary.

“At least it’s certain that he’s an enemy.”

Moryong Jin said with a stiff face, looking at the ominous energy flickering in the crimson sword.

∴

The warrior was smiling.

‘Heh heh.’

The eerie energy pouring towards him was enough to make his skin tingle. The eyes of the old man who was looking at him with sharp eyes, as well as the boy called Seorin and the young lady wearing a veil, were also extraordinary.

But what was most exciting him at this moment was the young scholar in front of him.

‘Good.’

He didn’t know who he was. But the smell emanating from him was awakening the beast-like impulse hidden within him.

‘Very… good.’

At first, he thought he was just an insignificant existence, but when he met his eyes, something began to stir and awaken within him. A instinctive impulse that he thought had already fallen asleep, an impulse that he himself could not control.

Swish.

The young scholar slowly drew his sword. It felt as if he had been waiting for this moment since eternity.

Woong.

His sword, Blood Wolf, cried. It was different from the sword cries he had heard so far. It felt like it was ringing directly in his head.

“What is that sword?”

He had never been interested in his opponent’s weapon. But he couldn’t help but ask.

“This sword is called White Dew.”

‘White Dew.’

It was the first time he had heard the name. But it was instantly etched in his mind as if he had known it from the beginning.

“This sword is Blood Wolf.”

The warrior said. He had never told the name of the sword, but somehow he felt like he had to now.

“Dewdrops are nothing in front of a wolf.”

“Is that so?”

Son Bin smiled quietly. It felt like there was no more unpleasant and disgusting smile in this world.

“The cold dew is what even wolves avoid. Even if it is a Blood Wolf stained with blood.”

“Heh heh.”

The warrior laughed out loud.

“I like it.”

He said.

“That you never back down.”

In fact, there was another thing that the warrior was satisfied with. Behind Son Bin was a group that could not be ignored. But Son Bin stepped forward on his own. And he doesn’t rely on others. Unlike other hypocrites of the orthodox sects.

“I see why the young lady said you were not an enemy. But.”

Woo-oong.

His crimson sword, Blood Wolf, began to cry. At the same time, crimson energy began to flicker on his sword.

“This battle cannot be avoided.”

Woong.

White Dew also began to cry. But that was it, there was no threatening aura or ominously flickering light. All that existed was the straight, beautiful sword body.

Woo-woo-oong.

The sword cries of the two swords resonated with each other and spread louder and louder around them.

“Cover your ears.”

Moryong Jin said. The disciples, who didn’t understand what he was saying, immediately covered their ears with their hands due to the pain that penetrated their heads. Moryong Rin also covered her ears with both hands. And she looked at Son Bin’s back.

‘Son Gongja…’

Son Bin’s appearance so far was so absurd that she wondered if this person was really the Great Hero Jinryong she had seen.

But Son Bin’s appearance now, facing the warrior and holding his sword, was showing her the same appearance she had seen at the Pavilion of Prince Teng that day.

The same appearance of calmly facing the overwhelming, no, even desperate opponent with a beautiful sword.

‘But, will he be okay?’

The reason why Moryong Rin’s worries didn’t disappear was probably because of his unreliable appearance so far. Moryong Rin thought so.

‘It’ll be okay. If necessary…’

It was at that moment that Moryong Rin was repeating to herself as if to soothe her unwavering worries.

Swish.

The black-clad warrior disappeared in an instant. It could only be described as disappearing. He had clearly disappeared from Moryong Rin’s sight. But at that moment, White Dew was gently drawing a curve.

Rustle.

A red light left a long afterimage in the air. And the sound of silk tearing pierced through her tightly covered ears.

Boo-ook.

The red light met White Dew and made a small, even clear sound. But the sound didn’t end there.

Ping, ching, chaeng!

The sound became more and more sharp. All that could be seen was the red light flickering like an afterimage, and the appearance of White Dew drawing a soft curve.

‘M-my goodness.’

Moryong Rin couldn’t believe her eyes. She couldn’t follow the warrior’s movements, this martial arts competition. But Son Bin’s movements seemed calm and even slow.

‘No way.’

It was at that moment. Son Bin’s sword, White Dew, which had been drawing a soft curve, suddenly soared into the sky. As if declaring the end of a movement. And that became a fact.

Kwaang!

Chwaaak.

At the same time as the black-clad warrior appeared, he was pushed back. His feet left a long trail on the floor.

“Keuk.”

It was barely audible, but it was definitely a groan. The black-clad warrior gritted his teeth.

“Who are you?”

The warrior’s eyes were trembling slightly.

Swish.

Son Bin slowly lowered his sword. And he said.

“Right now, it is important that I am standing in front of you.”

“Heh heh heh.”

The warrior laughed.

“Yes, that’s important. Names and titles are just shells.”

Swish.

The warrior gripped his sword again.

“Meeting you, I have finally found a place to risk my life.”

His eyes were shining with determination. But Son Bin shook his head. Son Bin said with intense eyes as if rebuking him.

“Then, what about that person?”

The warrior turned his head. And he saw a small, youthful-faced young lady standing with a pale face.

Her face was pale to the point of being blue, and blood was oozing from her tightly closed lips. Her frail body seemed about to collapse at any moment, but she stood upright with dignity.

“I’m okay.”

She said with a forced smile that was clearly unreasonable.

“Do as Arang wishes.”

The warrior bit his lip. But the conflict didn’t last long.

Whir.

His red sword withdrew its energy. And it quietly disappeared into its scabbard.

“Now is not the time.”

The warrior said, staring straight at Son Bin. His eyes were blazing as if he would kill Son Bin right away.

“I’m leaving.”

The warrior said. It was a short word, but the desperate and intense emotions contained within it were enough for anyone who heard it to know. But there were also people who couldn’t sympathize with it.

“Who said you could…!”

Moryong Rin was about to shout, but someone’s hand stopped her. It was Iron Sword Moryong Jin.

“O, Older brother.”

At Moryong Rin’s gaze, Moryong Jin quietly shook his head.

“It’s a place I left to Son Gongja.”

Moryong Jin’s gaze turned to Son Bin.

“It’s up to him to decide.”

Son Bin was quietly sheathing White Dew. His decision was clear.

“No way! What about me if you leave like this!”

The one who shouted in a rough voice was Jang Hwasan, the leader of the Black Tiger Clan, who called himself the Herculean Overlord.

“Do you even know how much money you’ve spent on me? Besides, without me, you’ll never be able to get into the Gangbuk Demonic Sect…”

Jang Hwasan, who was shouting, flinched. The black-clad warrior’s glare alone made him speechless.

“That is the price of your life.”

What did he see? Jang Hwasan staggered back with a pale face, then started running away as it was.

Thud thud thud.

His appearance of running away, leaving behind his injured subordinates and even his weapons, was desperate, as if he were running away from the god of death.

Whoosh.

The black-clad warrior turned his body.

“Let’s go.”

The warrior said to the young lady with a polite bow. She nodded silently. And she looked up at Son Bin.

“Thank you.”

Son Bin bowed lightly.

“You’re welcome.”

“We weren’t enemies after all.”

She smiled very faintly. And she turned her body. Her subtle red hem fluttered softly.

Rustle, rustle.

With the young lady’s small footsteps, the two people went far away. All that remained was the groans of the fallen Black Tiger Clan men, and the silence of the people who still couldn’t believe what had happened before their eyes.

“It’s over.”

Moryong Rin said softly. But still no one moved. Moryong Rin turned her head and looked at Son Bin.

‘Son Gongja…’

Son Bin was standing in that place. Without taking his eyes off the backs of the two people leaving the Moryong Family. Moryong Rin suddenly thought that their backs looked very big.