A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 117

The beautiful blade of Baekro, straight and elegant, traced a gentle arc. Watching it adorn the empty air beneath the moonlight, No-gun smiled.

“Good.”

“Indeed.”

Shin-ui, holding a small liquor cup, expressed his agreement.

No-gun turned to look at Seo-rin. Collapsed on the ground, Seo-rin was staring intently at Son-bin’s training. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she gazed fixedly at him.

Swish.

Still touched by the sight, No-gun gently stroked Seo-rin’s hair.

“By the way, what are you going to do about the former Sword Demon?”

After a moment of silence, Shin-ui asked.

“Well, I’m not sure what to do…”

No-gun’s answer was a bit unexpected for Shin-ui.

“Why not do it like last time?”

Shin-ui glanced at Son-bin as he spoke.

“Why not leave it to that kid?”

“This is a bit different.”

No-gun made a troubled expression.

“The Thunder Sword [referring to Dang Wol-ah] was guarding this place. Especially that child.”

No-gun gestured with his chin towards Dang Wol-ah. Her veil fluttered in the river breeze as she stood watching Son-bin.

“He was meticulously calculating whether the existence of this Seowon [a private academy] would benefit or harm the Namgoong Clan. So, in case I wasn’t here, I needed to make it clear what kind of resolve would be necessary to touch this place.”

No-gun said, fiddling with his liquor cup.

“To show them who the real owner of this place is.”

“Hmm.”

Shin-ui nodded.

“It worked out well.”

“Yeah. At least as long as Bin is here, he won’t even think about messing with this place. It turned out a bit differently than I expected, though…”

“Does Bin know too?”

“I didn’t explain it.”

No-gun gave a wry smile.

“But he probably has a rough idea. When I asked him, ‘Are you going to protect it, or should I?’ he quietly smiled and said that if we need to protect a precious guest, it’s natural for the owner to step in.”

No-gun was silent for a moment. Shin-ui was the same. The precious guests he was referring to were likely those present at that moment.

“Ahem. So, why is this case different?”

“The Sword Demon doesn’t calculate.”

No-gun said.

“He genuinely wants a duel. If that’s the case, there’s no reason not to give him one.”

“Then just give him one, right?”

No-gun frowned.

“Then it feels like I’m losing to him, doesn’t it?”

Shin-ui clicked his tongue without realizing it.

Whoong.

Under the moonlit sky, Son-bin’s Baekro was painting a picture.

* * *

“I want this one!”

“That one tastes weird.”

“Yours is weirder!”

The children chattered, picking out sweets. Seo-rin, not to be outdone, joined them with sparkling eyes.

Thanks to her long arms, she had already grabbed several of the most popular sweets. Ignoring the envious glances of the other children, Seo-rin ran to Son-bin and offered him one.

“Thank you.”

Seo-rin smiled brightly at Son-bin’s words. Then, she went to No-gun and offered him a sweet. No-gun wore a pouty expression but obediently took the sweet and put it in his pocket.

Seo-rin shared the sweets with the other children as well. Thanks to this, Seo-rin had become quite popular with the children lately.

“Would you like to head back to the Seowon first?”

Son-bin asked No-gun.

“Why?”

“I need to stop by the smithy for a bit.”

“Alright.”

He didn’t ask what was going on. No-gun glanced at the iron sword Son-bin was carrying and headed straight to the Seowon with the children.

“See you later, Teacher! You have to come quickly!”

“If you go play somewhere else, you’ll get a spanking!”

The children waved enthusiastically at Son-bin and then began to walk together, following No-gun. With treats in their hands, the atmosphere was cheerful.

Watching No-gun and the children disappear into the distance, Son-bin turned around. Strolling leisurely through the streets, Son-bin spotted the familiar sight of the smithy and entered.

“What brings you here?”

The blacksmith said in a gruff voice as Son-bin entered. Son-bin greeted him politely and said,

“The sword’s condition seems a bit… not so good.”

Sreung.

The middle-aged blacksmith drew the iron sword Son-bin handed him from its sheath. Examining the blade carefully, he immediately clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, did you leave it buried somewhere?”

“I’ve been carrying it with me, but…”

Son-bin said with an apologetic expression. He had been carrying it, but he hadn’t used it properly. The opponents Son-bin had faced so far were formidable, and if he even tried to train with the iron sword, Baekro would cry all night.

“It’s good that you haven’t had to use the sword, but you still need to take care of it.”

Son-bin gave a wry smile at the blacksmith’s stern words. It wasn’t that he hadn’t had to use the sword. It was more like he had too many opportunities.

“I’ve used it quite a bit.”

The blacksmith frowned and looked at Son-bin. Son-bin quickly continued,

“Ah, I’m talking about a different sword.”

“A different sword?”

The blacksmith’s frown deepened. Son-bin realized he had made a mistake. It sounded like he was saying that another sword was better than his, which was definitely a slip of the tongue.

Sighing inwardly, Son-bin said,

“There’s a sword that someone entrusted to me. It’s such a beautiful and exquisite sword that I’ve become more attached to it. I’m sorry.”

Which blacksmith wouldn’t feel bad if they were being compared so openly? Son-bin expected him to make an unpleasant expression.

“A beautiful and exquisite sword, huh…”

The blacksmith’s expression was still frowning. However, there was no unpleasantness in his voice or eyes.

“Hmm.”

He seemed lost in thought, clenching and unclenching his fist. Son-bin could tell that he was hesitating.

“Is there something you want to say?”

Son-bin spoke first. The blacksmith, who had been hesitating, let out a deep sigh.

“I should have said it properly when asking for a favor.”

The blacksmith looked up at Son-bin.

“I have a special iron.”

He said.

“I stumbled upon it by chance while wandering the world when I was young. It’s so incredible that I suspect it might be Myriad Year Cold Iron [an extremely rare and valuable type of metal].”

“Myriad Year Cold Iron?”

Son-bin asked, unfamiliar with the term. However, the blacksmith seemed to take it differently, giving a bitter smile.

“It might be. I’ve never seen Myriad Year Cold Iron before. But it’s definitely an amazing iron. Ordinary iron ore has the heat of the furnace… Ah, you wouldn’t understand even if I explained it.”

The blacksmith cleared his throat.

“The problem is that I can’t handle that iron properly. My current skill is… well, even if I do my best, this is probably the limit.”

He said, looking down at the iron sword. His voice even sounded somewhat dejected.

“The path ahead is long, but my skills aren’t improving, and I’m getting older every day. Now, I’m even starting to doubt how much longer I’ll be able to hammer iron.”

Son-bin could empathize with his words. He had felt the same way.

The harsh and dry life at the Seowon, the books that never seemed to end no matter how much he read, the writing and calligraphy that seemed to regress rather than improve. How could he forget those hopeless times when he couldn’t even see a glimmer of hope?

“How can I help you?”

Son-bin said, looking at the blacksmith. The blacksmith’s eyes lit up.

“Can you show me your sword?”

“My sword?”

“I know it’s a rude request to ask to see someone else’s sword. There’s no guarantee that anything will come of it even if I see it.”

The blacksmith’s expression was serious as he spoke.

“But many artisans have gained inspiration from encountering the works of masters. If the sword you have is truly beautiful and exquisite, I might be able to see something that I’m lacking.”

The desperate feeling of wanting to grasp at straws was conveyed through his voice. Furthermore, his words were quite understandable.

Don’t all scholars begin their studies by encountering the writings and poems of masters? It was only natural.

“I understand.”

Son-bin nodded. The blacksmith’s eyes flashed. So much so that even Son-bin flinched for a moment.

“Ah, you’re not going to hammer it or melt it down, are you…?”

Of course, he wouldn’t. But the blacksmith’s gaze was so intense that such worries arose.

“Don’t worry. I won’t harm a single hair on your sword.”

The blacksmith said with burning eyes.

“Where do you live? Can I come now?”

Unlike his initial heavy impression, his personality seemed fiery and impatient. Son-bin gave an awkward smile and nodded.

“Let’s go together.”

* * *

When Son-bin returned home with the blacksmith, a familiar scene greeted them. However, perhaps because of the former Sword Demon, Hyeon Ryeon-wi, the bamboo mat seemed a bit cramped. No-gun looked at Son-bin and asked,

“Who is this?”

“This is someone from Jeongryeon Blacksmith,”

Son-bin introduced. The blacksmith bowed lightly to the old men. In truth, the appearances of No-gun, Shin-ui, and the former Sword Demon were not ordinary. However, the blacksmith was not of ordinary character either, so he only showed a brief expression of surprise and didn’t pay much attention.

He didn’t seem to recognize Hyeon Ryeon-wi, the former head of the Hyeon Ryeon Clan. The only person he showed a friendly attitude towards was Lady Jeok Se-hwa. Though it wasn’t very noticeable.

“Where is the sword?”

“This way.”

Son-bin led him into the room. The children, who had been waving so enthusiastically earlier, were now too busy playing to even greet them.

Joong-oh, the youngest of the Hoyeon Martial Hall, was being scolded by his older sister, Jeok Se-hwa.

Clack.

Son-bin opened a large chest and took out Baekro. He could feel the blacksmith’s gaze burning into the back of his head as he watched.

“Here it i… Ah.”

Son-bin, who was about to hand over Baekro wrapped in a clean cloth, stopped. He remembered that no one could touch this sword. Fortunately, the blacksmith didn’t grab the sword.

“Wait.”

The blacksmith rummaged through the bundle he had brought and took out something made of wood. What he set on the table was a stand to place the sword on.

“Place it here.”

His attitude was quite cautious. Son-bin nodded. As Son-bin unwrapped the cloth and took out Baekro, the blacksmith took out a clean piece of paper and lightly bit it with his mouth.

‘Oh ho.’

Son-bin wondered if he really needed to go that far, but he was relieved that the blacksmith seemed sincere about seeing Baekro.

Sreung.

As Son-bin drew the sword, the silver blade revealed itself. Baekro’s blade, shining elegantly in the darkness, was as beautiful as a fantasy. Even Son-bin, who saw it often, couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.

The blacksmith seemed to feel the same way, his large eyes widening.

Son-bin carefully placed Baekro on the stand. The blacksmith didn’t even sit on a chair but knelt down, leaning his upper body forward to look at Baekro. His wide eyes were full of fervor, and his serious and solemn attitude was almost reverent.

After waiting for a while, Son-bin realized that this would not end soon. The blacksmith’s eyes were completely captivated by Baekro, and he had also taken out more than one or two pieces of paper.

He had also taken out something like a brush made of soft fur, but he didn’t even dare to touch it.

Clack.

Son-bin left the room and closed the door.

“What? Are you showing it to him?”

No-gun said, frowning.

“Yes.”

As Son-bin answered, No-gun clicked his tongue.

“Things like that… Eh, do as you please.”

No-gun said in a tone of resignation, and Son-bin stroked Seo-rin’s hair.

“I’m sorry. I’ll tell you in advance next time.”

Seo-rin looked like she didn’t understand what he was saying. She just seemed happy that Son-bin was stroking her hair, giving a satisfied smile.

“Come here for a moment.”

No-gun called Son-bin over, gesturing with his hand. As Son-bin approached, No-gun lowered his voice and said,

“That guy. We can’t just leave him like that, can we?”

He glanced at the former Sword Demon, Hyeon Ryeon-wi. With him sitting there, the rather spacious bamboo mat seemed cramped.

“I guarantee that guy will never leave. He’ll stay here for months or even years. He’s a stubborn one.”

Son-bin smiled slightly at No-gun’s words as he shook his head.

“Then what should we do?”

“I have a good idea. Will you do as I say?”

Son-bin nodded.

“I will.”

He didn’t ask what the method was, and No-gun didn’t explain it. No-gun smiled triumphantly and turned to face the former Sword Demon, Hyeon Ryeon-wi.

“Hey, come here.”

The former Sword Demon, Hyeon Ryeon-wi, who was holding a teacup, looked up at No-gun. However, he still didn’t move.

“I said, come here.”

No-gun frowned, but Hyeon Ryeon-wi simply remained silent.

“Eh, stubborn guy. Fine. I’ll go, I’ll go.”

In the end, No-gun got annoyed and stood up. No-gun walked over to Hyeon Ryeon-wi and plopped down.

“You want to duel, don’t you?”

Hyeon Ryeon-wi’s eyes flashed. No-gun smirked.

“Are you that happy? But there’s more to be surprised about.”

No-gun leaned towards Hyeon Ryeon-wi and said,

“I’ll let you compete against the Way of the Martial Emperor [referring to Son-bin’s martial art].”

Whoook.

A powerful aura instantly swept through the surroundings. Not only Shin-ui and Jeok Se-hwa but also the children were more surprised than anyone else.

“Eek.”

“Uwak.”

“Hey, you crazy bastard!”

No-gun shouted and jumped up. Then, he waved his arms strongly from side to side.

Flap, whoosh.

As if by magic, the aura disappeared. The surprised children looked at No-gun, wondering what was going on, and No-gun looked down at Hyeon Ryeon-wi with a distorted expression. It was strange to say he was looking down since Hyeon Ryeon-wi was so large.

Sreuk.

Hyeon Ryeon-wi slowly stood up. The intense aura from just now was gone, but his deep eyes were blazing like flames.

“Where is it?”

He asked, looking down at No-gun in a heavy voice. It was as if he was facing a giant bear. But No-gun grinned.

“Sit down.”

No-gun sat down first with a thud. Looking up at Hyeon Ryeon-wi, who was still standing, No-gun said again,

“Aren’t you going to sit down?”

Sreuk.

Hyeon Ryeon-wi slowly sat down. But his eyes were full of heat, as if they would burst out at any moment. His whole body was trembling slightly, visible even through his clothes.

“Do you want to do it, or not?”

“I do.”

Hyeon Ryeon-wi answered. No-gun clicked his tongue.

“You answered quickly. Would it be nice if you were always like this? Anyway…”

After clearing his throat once, No-gun said,

“There are conditions.”

Hyeon Ryeon-wi didn’t say anything. No-gun continued,

“Just once. But you have to keep your mouth shut about this duel, or rather, you always keep it too closed anyway, but anyway, don’t ask for a duel again. It makes a lot of people uncomfortable.”

Still, Hyeon Ryeon-wi said nothing.

“You can’t come here either. It’s too cramped with you here. Do you understand?”

No-gun said, glaring. Hyeon Ryeon-wi didn’t move for a while. And after a long time, he slowly opened his mouth.

“Can’t it be twice?”

No-gun sighed.

“Okay, okay. Let’s make it twice. Opportunities should be given fairly. Twice, is that good?”

Very slowly, Hyeon Ryeon-wi nodded.

“When do you want to do it? Ah, right now…”

No-gun glanced at Son-bin. Son-bin shrugged. It meant that he couldn’t take out Baekro right now.

“I will come at night.”

Hyeon Ryeon-wi said. No-gun, who hadn’t expected him to speak first, was surprised.

“I promised my wife to have tea together in the evening. After that, I will come.”