A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 114

114. If the End Is Good, All Is Good

Moyong Lin and Madam Moyong were waiting anxiously outside the door.

“It will be alright.”

Moyong Jin said, trying to reassure them, but it did little to ease the worry etched on their faces.

Moyong Lin clasped her hands tightly, staring at the closed door, while Madam Moyong, with her eyes closed, murmured something as if praying earnestly.

In truth, even Moyong Jin couldn’t hide the occasional flicker of anxiety in his expression.

Click.

The door opened, and all three pairs of eyes turned to it. The person who emerged was an old man with white and black hair—Shin-ui.

“You may come in.”

“Ah, Father…”

Moyong Lin asked. Shin-ui stepped aside instead of answering. The room, once dark, was now quite bright, likely because the window had been opened. And in the center, on the bed, sat someone.

As if noticing them, he turned his head and smiled. His smiling face, though gaunt, was unmistakably Moyong Myung.

The Gentleman’s Sword and head of the Moyong Clan, Madam Moyong’s husband, and the father of the two.

“I’ve caused you worry.”

He said with a smile.

“Dad!”

“Dear!”

“Father!”

The three rushed to Moyong Myung almost simultaneously and embraced him tightly.

Moyong Jin merely held his hand, and Madam Moyong stood beside him, wiping away tears, while Moyong Lin buried her face in her father’s arms.

“Dad…”

“Haha, I thought our Lin-ah was all grown up, but she’s still a child.”

The Gentleman’s Sword, Moyong Myung, said, stroking Moyong Lin’s hair.

“You’ve worked hard, Jin-ah.”

Moyong Jin nodded. Still, he couldn’t hide the tears welling up in his eyes.

“I’ve caused you worry.”

Moyong Myung said, looking at his wife, Madam Moyong. Madam Moyong tried to maintain her dignity as a noblewoman, but she couldn’t stop the tears from flowing at his words.

Watching the family’s touching reunion, Sohn Bin quietly slipped out of the room. Shin-ui was already waiting outside, and Old Gun followed Sohn Bin out of the room.

Click.

Careful not to disturb the family’s reunion, Sohn Bin gently closed the door.

“That’s a relief.”

“Yes.”

Sohn Bin nodded at Shin-ui’s words.

“It’s a great relief.”

Sohn Bin looked up at the blue sky. He felt as if tears would spill if he didn’t. The boundless blue sky was exceptionally high and clear.

*

*

*

Click.

The door opened, but no one was inside. Sohn Bin turned to look at the servant who had guided him. The servant smiled as if to say this was the place, bowed, and hurried away.

“Ahem.”

Though no one was visible, Sohn Bin cleared his throat and stepped inside.

The place resembled a small clinic. In the front, there was a rather large chair, and several chairs lined the left and right walls.

‘Oh, this is quite a nice place?’

The chairs and decorations were antique, reflecting the Moyong Clan’s long history. Sunlight streamed through the narrow window frames on the left and right walls, falling on the old calligraphy hanging in the front, creating an austere atmosphere.

Rustle.

Sohn Bin touched the glossy wooden chair. It hadn’t been used for a while, but it was well-maintained, with not a speck of dust.

Shuffle.

Sohn Bin turned his head at the sound of someone approaching from behind. A beautiful young lady stood before Sohn Bin, almost dazzlingly so.

“I’m sorry. I’ve kept you waiting.”

Speaking in a quiet voice, she was Moyong Lin, the Moyong Clan’s young lady. She entered with a composed and polite demeanor.

“Not at all. I just arrived myself.”

“I asked you to come because there was something I wanted to say before you left.”

Sohn Bin nodded. He had already guessed that she would have something to say to him.

“Would you like to sit down?”

Moyong Lin gestured, offering Sohn Bin a seat. Sohn Bin hesitated for a moment before sitting on a chair on the left wall.

“You don’t have to be so formal.”

Moyong Lin said with a slight smile. While the central seat was for the host, the seats to the left and right were for honored guests, so he could sit wherever he pleased. However, Sohn Bin had deliberately chosen a lower seat.

“This place is comfortable.”

Sohn Bin said.

“I see.”

Shuffle, shuffle.

Moyong Lin walked over. Sohn Bin thought she might sit in the central seat or across from him.

But Moyong Lin didn’t sit in either place. Instead, she stopped in front of where Sohn Bin was sitting, then slowly turned to face him.

“Moyong Lin of the Moyong Clan.”

Moyong Lin said, slightly lowering her gaze.

“I offer my respects to the benefactor of our family.”

Rustle.

She bent her knees. Instantly, Sohn Bin stood up and grabbed her arms with both hands.

Click.

The chair made a noise as he stood up abruptly. Still, Sohn Bin managed to stop Moyong Lin’s bow.

“Ah…”

Moyong Lin’s surprised, round eyes were before Sohn Bin. She seemed genuinely surprised by Sohn Bin’s sudden action.

“I have done nothing to deserve such respect from you, young lady.”

Sohn Bin said sternly. This wasn’t the first time he had received such excessive respect. He was starting to worry that he might be punished by the heavens.

“So please, withdraw your gesture.”

Perhaps because their faces were too close, Moyong Lin’s face flushed slightly. She turned her head and said,

“It hurts.”

‘Ah.’

Sohn Bin realized he was holding her too tightly. And they were too close.

“I, I’m sorry.”

Sohn Bin quickly released her and stepped back. Moyong Lin, who had turned her head, covered the spot where Sohn Bin had grabbed her with her hand and remained silent for a moment.

“You stopped the Black Tiger Gate.”

Moyong Lin said, slowly turning her head to look at Sohn Bin.

“Moreover, you saved my brother and father. So how can I not show my respects?”

Sohn Bin shook his head.

“It was Young Master Moyong who stopped the Black Tiger Gate. It was Shin-ui who healed them. And I clearly refused Young Lady Moyong’s request.”

“But you accomplished more than that.”

Moyong Lin said, looking directly at Sohn Bin.

“Both my father and brother have gained great insight from this incident. Of course, their beliefs haven’t changed, but at least the Moyong Clan will never be the same as before.”

The head of the family, Moyong Myung, learned what had happened while he was unconscious. He was shocked and furious to learn that disciples had left and that he had almost lost his daughter.

Moyong Myung immediately got up, and that day, the Black Tiger Gate and the Shinse Gate had to take down their signs.

The Black Tiger Gate’s leader, who had already fled, could not be caught, but all the Black Tiger Gate’s members were handed over to the authorities and imprisoned, and all the Shinse Gate’s disciples were stripped of their martial arts and expelled from Wuhan.

The Gentleman’s Sword Moyong Myung’s fury astonished Wuhan.

The Namgung Clan had virtually no power or justification to intervene, and the sects and merchants of Wuhan quickly sent people to the Moyong Clan to congratulate the head of the family on his recovery.

In less than three days, the Moyong Clan had regained its former status, or even surpassed it.

“It’s all thanks to you.”

“That’s not true.”

Sohn Bin said.

“If I had truly wanted to help you, young lady, I would have comforted you with kind and gentle words and told you in advance how things would turn out. I was merely doing what I wanted to do, so there is no reason for you to consider it a favor.”

In short, it was just self-satisfaction. However, Moyong Lin shook her head.

“If I had known in advance, I would never have gone to the Namgung Clan or other sects. The Black Tiger Gate, being so perceptive, would certainly not have moved, and in the end, the Moyong Clan would have ended up returning to its former state without anything happening.”

Moyong Lin gave a slight bitter smile.

“I felt a lot after being turned away so many times. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted someone to help me so desperately. So sometimes I resented you…”

Moyong Lin looked directly at Sohn Bin. Pride shone in her eyes.

“Now I know why my father and brother valued martial virtue and chivalry so much. It’s because it’s so precious and so desperately needed. It can bring tears to your eyes when you’re on the receiving end.”

Moyong Lin said.

“So, in retrospect, this time was something that I and the Moyong Clan had to go through at least once. You knew that, didn’t you?”

“You’re gilding my face.”

Sohn Bin gave a bitter smile.

“If the young lady or the Moyong Clan learned a lesson through hardship, it’s because the Moyong Clan’s virtue is profound. I abandoned you in your difficulties, so there’s no reason for me to receive thanks.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Sohn Bin’s answer was firm. Moyong Lin, who had been quietly looking at Sohn Bin, smiled slightly.

“But you did tell me, didn’t you? That I’m not alone.”

Moyong Lin said.

“Wasn’t that your way of saying you would be there? That no matter what happens, you would never turn your back on me, that you would never let the worst happen?”

Sohn Bin couldn’t answer. But his expression, as if he had been caught off guard, said it all. In fact, Sohn Bin had directly stopped the black-clad warrior, who was the worst-case scenario.

“They say that true friends are those who are there in times of difficulty.”

Those were the exact words Sohn Bin had said to Moyong Jin.

“You refused my request, but you gave me something better. In that difficult time when everyone turned their backs and left, you were the only one who stayed by my side.”

Moyong Lin said quietly, looking directly at Sohn Bin.

“Your choice brought about the best possible outcome that no one expected. The best possible outcome for me, the Moyong Clan, and this Wuhan.”

Sohn Bin quietly shook his head.

“I didn’t think that…”

“But that’s how it turned out.”

Moyong Lin said in a soft voice. Her eyes were shining quietly.

“Indeed, you are worthy of being called the Dragon Among Men, Great Hero Jinryong.”

It was too embarrassing to hear while sober. Sohn Bin gave a bitter smile when Moyong Lin suddenly put her hands together and slowly bowed.

“Moyong Lin offers her respects to the benefactor.”

It wasn’t a deep bow like before, but it was a polite and sincere one.

Letting out a small sigh, Sohn Bin also bowed to her. Moyong Lin, who raised her head, smiled at Sohn Bin. Her smile was warmer than ever.

*

*

*

“Whoa, whoa.”

The Moyong Clan’s servant, sitting on the driver’s seat, calmed the horse. The horse seemed a little excited because of the crowd.

“Thank you for saving my life.”

The head of the Moyong Clan, the Gentleman’s Sword Moyong Myung, bowed politely to Shin-ui. His majestic eyes and intense aura made it hard to believe that he had been a patient until recently.

“It’s a doctor’s duty.”

Shin-ui said.

“And these guys are the ones who saved you.”

Shin-ui looked at Old Gun and Sohn Bin. But Old Gun snorted.

“What about me? I’m happy with this.”

Holding a small liquor bottle, Old Gun said with a satisfied expression.

It was said to be fruit wine made by Madam Moyong herself, and although the noblewoman may not have done everything herself, it was a wine that even the head of the family, Moyong Myung, didn’t hide his confidence in.

“Next time you come, I’ll prepare a wonderful feast. Please visit us again.”

“Alright.”

Sohn Bin felt sorry for Old Gun’s insincere reply. The Gentleman’s Sword Moyong Myung turned his head to face Sohn Bin.

“Thank you.”

The Gentleman’s Sword Moyong Myung took Sohn Bin’s hand.

“For saving the clan, and for telling me about him.”

Sohn Bin roughly told the Gentleman’s Sword Moyong Myung about what had happened in the snowy mountains. Even after the story ended, Moyong Myung said nothing. Sohn Bin also sat quietly with him in silence for a while.

“I owe you a great debt.”

Moyong Myung said to Sohn Bin with a smile. Sohn Bin shook his head.

“I was just there for a friend in need.”

Sohn Bin looked at Young Master Moyong Jin. Moyong Jin smiled and responded to Sohn Bin’s gaze.

“The Moyong Clan will always welcome you. Come whenever you feel like it. My mother’s wine-making skills are the best in the world.”

As if responding to his words, Madam Moyong, who was standing behind him, smiled gently. Sohn Bin glanced at Moyong Lin. She was standing behind Madam Moyong, saying nothing.

“Then, goodbye.”

Sohn Bin, Shin-ui, and Old Gun got into the carriage. It was provided by the Moyong Clan. Seorin and Dang Wora were already sitting by the carriage window.

“Let’s go. Take special care to ensure that these honored guests lack nothing.”

At Moyong Myung’s words, the servant nodded.

“I heard that Gangnam [Region south of the Yangtze River in China, known for its prosperity and mild climate] is warm even in winter.”

Moyong Lin suddenly said. When Sohn Bin turned his head, she said with a calm expression.

“When winter comes, I might want to go.”

“Ah…”

“Giddy up!”

Clatter, clatter.

Before Sohn Bin could reply, the carriage moved. Leaving the people of the Moyong Clan behind, the carriage began its long journey from Wuhan to Cheongwon.

Clatter, clatter.

“Is she really coming?”

Old Gun suddenly muttered. Sohn Bin shook his head.

“She’s just saying that. Surely she wouldn’t come all the way to Cheongwon…”

Cheongwon is a very long way from Wuhan. It’s not a journey one would make simply because they wanted to.

“You never know. If it’s that young lady… Ah, I don’t know either.”

Old Gun frowned and became annoyed.

“If it doesn’t work out, she can just run away to Namak like me.”

“Namak?”

Sohn Bin looked at Old Gun with a puzzled expression.

“Me? Why?”

Shin-ui sighed, and Old Gun looked dumbfounded. Dang Wora turned her head to look out the window without moving, and Seorin looked back and forth between the group with round eyes, not knowing what they were talking about.

“Don’t look at me. I don’t know about these things either.”

Shin-ui said to Seorin.

“More importantly, let’s buy some medicinal herbs while we’re passing through the city. It’s too far south in Cheongwon, so there are many herbs that are hard to find.”

“Then…”

Dang Wora suddenly turned her head and looked at Sohn Bin.

“Let’s buy food too.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea.”

Old Gun’s face lit up. The memories of visiting hidden restaurants over the past few days came flooding back, and he was already drooling. Sohn Bin readily nodded.

“Let’s do that. We need to buy gifts anyway.”

Everyone’s faces lit up at Sohn Bin’s words. Sohn Bin asked the servant sitting in the driver’s seat to go to the back alleys of Wuhan. The atmosphere inside the carriage was warm, perhaps because of the anticipation of food, when Old Gun quietly said to Sohn Bin.

“You don’t need to think too deeply about what that guy said.”

“That guy?”

Shin-ui asked, wondering what he meant.

“That dark guy.”

“What did he say?”

Old Gun didn’t answer, and instead, Sohn Bin gave a bitter smile.

“He said that when the Blood Phoenix’s wings cover Gangnam, he will come looking for me.”

Just before turning around, the black-clad warrior had said that to Sohn Bin.

His lips barely moved, but the voice was clear as if whispering in his ear. But of course, Old Gun’s ears couldn’t be fooled.

“Blood Phoenix? Was he from the Blood Phoenix Society?”

“Probably. He’s probably Gwigeonsura [A high-ranking member/title in a martial arts society].”

Old Gun answered Shin-ui’s question with a sullen expression. Then he muttered as if complaining.

“The owner of the Blood Wolf… Hmph, it’s been a while. So what if he is?”

Elder Janggang had speculated that there was someone from the Outer History behind Gwigeonsura. And Old Gun confirmed that his speculation was correct. But there was nothing he could do about it right now.

“Don’t worry about it. No one who says ‘I’ll see you later’ is ever any good. Especially not in the Outer History. Let him do whatever he wants, whether the Blood Phoenix covers Gangnam or not.”

Clatter, clatter.

The carriage, carrying Old Gun who was muttering with a disgruntled face, sped quickly along the main road.

If they were to visit the back alleys of Wuhan and the medicinal herb street and then take a large ship from the port, it would be tight on time, as large ships that could carry carriages were not frequent.