A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 12

Chapter 12. The Road to Sichuan (1)

Swoosh.

The boat sliced through the river, moving steadily. Though not particularly fast against the Yangtze River’s current, the waves it created were strong and vigorous.

On that boat, Sohn Bin enjoyed a moment of long-awaited leisure, feeling the river breeze.

“Good.”

Just as Sohn Bin muttered that,

“Ugh.”

The unpleasant sound from beside him shattered his peace. He frowned and turned.

About half a dozen people were clutching the ship’s railing; some were practically hanging over it, while others had simply collapsed. Everyone’s face was pale, and they swayed as if about to fall at any moment.

They were suffering from seasickness on this long journey.

‘Tsk, tsk.’

After a silent word of sympathy, Sohn Bin moved his seat, worried his mood would be spoiled. After a few steps, he noticed a familiar person and stopped.

‘Huh?’

The middle-aged man, dressed smartly in luxurious silk clothes, possessed a large build, projecting an air of dignity.

His neatly combed-back hair and well-groomed beard had sparse streaks of white, but his distinctly handsome face made him look like a middle-aged man in his prime.

With the river breeze fluttering his clothes as he leaned leisurely against the railing, he looked every bit like a successful merchant or a high-ranking official enjoying a pleasure trip.

Sohn Bin gave a wry smile and approached him.

“What did you do with Pa Wol [his signature greatsword]?”

The handsome middle-aged man turned to Sohn Bin and replied,

“Nearby.”

The middle-aged man was none other than Sa Ja-hyuk. He was without his usual martial attire or the black greatsword, Pa Wol, that he usually carried. The long-sleeved outer garment completely concealed his impressive arms, making him look like a completely different person at first glance.

‘Clothes make the man, they say…’

Changing his clothes completely changed his impression. Where he once had an intimidating presence, he now had a dignified and likable one.

“It suits you quite well.”

It suited him so well that Sohn Bin was reminded of how shabby his own attire was.

“I simply found clothes that fit.”

Sohn Bin asked Sa Ja-hyuk, who replied calmly,

“Why are you wearing such clothes?”

“Because it’s bothersome.”

‘Bothersome?’

Sohn Bin tilted his head, wondering if changing clothes wasn’t more of a hassle. Sa Ja-hyuk continued,

“Any government soldier or navy that sees me immediately aims their spears. Passing martial artists ignite unnecessary competitive spirit and attack. Besides, there are many who approach with all sorts of hidden intentions, so how could it not be bothersome?”

‘Ah.’

Sohn Bin immediately understood.

Who wouldn’t be wary of a martial artist with a massive black greatsword, especially one exuding an extraordinary aura? If it were government soldiers or the navy, it wouldn’t be strange for them to draw their spears the moment they saw Sa Ja-hyuk.

The Yangtze River is a long river that crosses the continent. The ship would pass through numerous cities and towns, and each time it passed military installations or naval bases, it would be inspected.

Although it was a mere formality, Sa Ja-hyuk’s presence was enough to turn that formality into something serious.

‘He has such a strong presence…’

Sohn Bin smiled wryly, understanding the situation all too well, even though he hadn’t seen it himself. It was also obvious that any martial artist with surging blood would want to challenge Sa Ja-hyuk.

Rustle.

Sohn Bin took out a thin brush and a newly bound booklet from his pocket. He had already used up the previous booklet, so he had bound a new one in the early morning. This was already the third booklet. It was still shabby, bound with cheap paper, but that couldn’t be helped.

“So, is that why you’re wearing those clothes?”

“That’s right. Most people judge others based on first impressions or appearance.”

Sohn Bin nodded. Even to him, Sa Ja-hyuk’s impression looked very different, even though his inner self was still the same.

“Hmm, I somehow thought you would just overpower them with force.”

Sohn Bin said, diligently moving his thin brush.

“I discarded such childish thoughts a long time ago. The world…”

Sa Ja-hyuk turned his head to look at the flowing water. The blowing wind lightly shook his hair.

“…is not a place where one can live by force alone. And it’s not a world where I live alone.”

Sohn Bin paused his brush for a moment and smiled wryly. It was such an obvious statement, but hearing it from Sa Ja-hyuk made it feel truly new.

“There are many currents. And they are everywhere. Everyone is together in that current.”

Sa Ja-hyuk suddenly said, his gaze fixed on the flowing Yangtze River.

“But not many people see it. Even fewer people want to see the great current.”

“What exactly is that current?”

Sohn Bin asked. Sa Ja-hyuk chuckled.

“No one can speak of it. It can only be known by obtaining it with the hands and responding with the heart.”

‘Obtaining it with the hands and responding with the heart?’

Sohn Bin suddenly realized the expression was somewhat familiar.

“Isn’t that what the ancient sages said about the Dao of Heaven [the natural order or way of the universe]?”

“Is that so?”

Sa Ja-hyuk said in an indifferent tone.

“It could be. The path that the current takes is also called the Dao [a fundamental concept in Chinese philosophy].”

After writing down Sa Ja-hyuk’s words, Sohn Bin asked,

“Anyway, you didn’t change your clothes to avoid that group of beauties, then.”

“That’s right.”

“Then are you perhaps avoiding someone else?”

Sa Ja-hyuk’s eyes flashed sharply.

“Why do you think so?”

At Sa Ja-hyuk’s question, Sohn Bin shrugged.

“If you were going to go against the Yangtze River from the start, there would have been no need to come this way, would there?”

If he needed a boat to go against the Yangtze River, he could have gone to the Yangtze River port closest to the Homun Mountain Inn. It would have been easiest to take a boat from Wuhan.

However, Sa Ja-hyuk did not do that. Instead, he had been moving around here and there without direction.

“Since there doesn’t seem to be any particular reason for the places you’re stopping, I thought perhaps you were trying to avoid someone following you. I also thought that changing your clothes might be for that reason as well.”

After a moment of silence, Sa Ja-hyuk said in a low voice,

“That’s right.”

“Who is that person?”

Sa Ja-hyuk’s eyes trembled slightly. It was a sight Sohn Bin was seeing for the first time.

“In this world…”

Sa Ja-hyuk said, as if sighing,

“…the only person I cannot defeat.”

Sohn Bin was surprised. He was surprised that there was someone Sa Ja-hyuk couldn’t defeat, but he was even more surprised that Sa Ja-hyuk would admit it so readily.

‘Just how strong is this person…’

Sohn Bin was curious. However, Sa Ja-hyuk firmly closed his mouth and said nothing.

The atmosphere was quite unusual, so Sohn Bin had to give up asking any further. It was clearly a very sensitive issue for him, and perhaps it was a part that should not be touched.

‘Hmm. Just who could it be? And why?’

Sa Ja-hyuk is avoiding someone. And that person is, probably, chasing after Sa Ja-hyuk. He’s curious about who it is, but he’s even more curious about the reason.

‘Could it be one of the people who are going to have a life-or-death battle? Judging by the atmosphere, it doesn’t seem like it…’

First of all, there’s no sense of tension in Sa Ja-hyuk’s attitude at all. So it can’t be that serious.

‘Still, you never know. This person is so unconventional.’

Unconventional. The fact that such a Sa Ja-hyuk is avoiding someone might mean that it’s quite a serious matter. But if Sa Ja-hyuk doesn’t tell him, it means he doesn’t need to know.

Perhaps because of that, Sohn Bin didn’t feel particularly uneasy. He was just curious about who it was and why.

After that, Sohn Bin didn’t give up his lingering feelings for a while and lingered with the booklet in his hand. However, Sa Ja-hyuk never told him anything.

***

Swoosh.

Clatter, clatter.

The carriage rattled through the pouring rain. All the windows were tightly closed, but the heavy rain relentlessly pounded against the shutters, making noise.

Because of the heavy rain, the carriage couldn’t pick up speed properly, so the inside was a bit noisy, but the atmosphere was more relaxed than usual with less shaking.

“We came all the way to Sichuan, but we can’t even see the outside.”

Sohn Bin said in a grumbling voice. After traveling up the Yangtze River and arriving in Chongqing, the two men took a carriage and entered the Sichuan region.

Sohn Bin exclaimed in admiration at the exotic atmosphere that was different from what he had seen until now, but soon the scenery disappeared into the darkness due to the pouring rain.

“Even the rainy, cloudy sky has its own deep charm, but we can’t even open the windows…”

Sohn Bin said with a sigh. The Sichuan region, with its many major historical events and unique culture, is also famous for its rugged mountains and unique spicy cuisine.

As Sohn Bin was setting foot in such a historical region for the first time, he couldn’t help but feel disappointed that he couldn’t see out the window.

“The climate here is humid and hot.”

Sa Ja-hyuk said in a relaxed voice. He was still wearing the long outer garment. As soon as he got off the boat in Chongqing, he got straight into the carriage.

“The food also tends to have a lot of spices, so it’s best to be careful about what you eat.”

“You’re not going to tell me about that group of beauties?”

Even at Sohn Bin’s sudden question, Sa Ja-hyuk remained calm.

“It’s something you don’t need to know, and there’s nothing good to know even if you did.”

“That young lady said that you planned everything that day, is that really true?”

“Did she say that?”

“She did.”

Sohn Bin nodded.

“You have a good memory.”

“Not as good as the records you hastily scribble down.”

Sa Ja-hyuk smiled wryly. Sohn Bin had reviewed his notes from that day and found that passage.

“Most people think that others are similar to themselves. That child is the same. Living in conspiracy and schemes, she always gets into the habit of suspecting that way. That’s just her delusion. But, it’s clear that I provoked them first that day.”

“So you mean it’s true that you induced the martial arts contest. Why did you do that?”

“Didn’t I tell you? I’m interested in strong people. And, I needed to show you too. I just didn’t know it would become more of a hassle than I thought.”

Sa Ja-hyuk said.

“But it will be over soon.”

Sa Ja-hyuk’s tone was definitive. He seemed certain that he wouldn’t have to worry about that issue, at least.

“Is that person who’s looking for you strong?”

Sa Ja-hyuk’s face suddenly darkened.

Sohn Bin was inwardly startled, wondering if he had hurt his pride, but he didn’t show it. After a moment of silence, Sa Ja-hyuk quietly opened his mouth.

“Strong, you ask? Yes, strong.”

Sa Ja-hyuk said.

“If there is anyone among all the people in the world who can be called a genius of martial arts, it is only that child. If I had shown that child the Hyeoncheon Daoist Method [a specific martial arts technique] like I did to you, she might have already devised a countermeasure.”

“Countermeasure?”

Sohn Bin quickly took out his booklet and brush.

“It refers to a method of specifically neutralizing a particular martial art by exploiting its weaknesses. It’s nothing special in itself, but it exerts an absolute effect on at least one martial art.”

“There’s such a thing?”

“Knowing the weaknesses of a martial art is often something that even the person who has trained in that martial art doesn’t know. It’s impossible without a fundamental understanding of that martial art and a flash of genius.”

“Hmm.”

Sohn Bin nodded, moving his brush.

“You think very highly of that person.”

“Is that so?”

Sa Ja-hyuk gave a wry smile.

“Maybe so.”

Swoosh.

Clatter, clatter.

Sa Ja-hyuk didn’t say anything more.

Amidst the sound of the carriage and the sound of the rain, Sohn Bin quietly closed his booklet, and after a while, the carriage entered Chengdu, the largest city in Sichuan Province.

***

There was no sound of birds or insects. There was no unique smell after the rain stopped.

But perhaps it was Sohn Bin’s imagination. All of his senses were now entirely focused on Sa Ja-hyuk’s movements unfolding before his eyes.

Whoosh.

Sa Ja-hyuk’s Pa Wol finished its last movement. The black greatsword, which had been shimmering as if savoring the afterglow for a moment, quietly disappeared into its scabbard with a low sound, as if it had finished its work.

Clang.

Thud.

Sa Ja-hyuk stood in the middle of the empty clearing where the moonlight was pouring down, quietly savoring the afterglow. The blue moon, which had been obscured by Pa Wol’s light, once again cast its light on Sa Ja-hyuk’s sturdy back and shoulders, and only Sohn Bin began to get busy in that desolate clearing.

Whirr, whirr.

Sohn Bin’s thin brush, which had been still until then, raced across the empty booklet, writing down sentences in a single stroke. He had to write down the afterimages left by Sa Ja-hyuk’s sword before they disappeared from his mind.

Thud, thud.

Sa Ja-hyuk walked towards Sohn Bin.

“Did you see it?”

“Wait, wait a moment.”

Sohn Bin raised one hand to stop Sa Ja-hyuk’s words. Even so, the other hand holding the thin brush continued to race across the booklet without stopping.

“Hmm.”

Sa Ja-hyuk silently looked down at Sohn Bin.

Rustle, rustle.

Sohn Bin’s thin, fleeting script, which was difficult to even recognize properly, filled an old booklet in no time and then moved on to the next page, filling more than half of it before stopping.

“Hoo.”

Sohn Bin breathed out with a satisfied expression. After waiting for the ink to dry for a moment, Sohn Bin turned the page and read the sentences he had written from the beginning.

“It’s done.”

“It’s getting longer.”

Sohn Bin looked up at Sa Ja-hyuk, wondering what he meant, and Sa Ja-hyuk said,

“My Dao [personal martial philosophy] doesn’t change, so why are your sentences getting longer?”

Sohn Bin shrugged.

“It seems like there’s more that catches my eye. Isn’t that a good thing? It means that I’m finally starting to see something.”

“That’s not true.”

Sa Ja-hyuk shook his head.

“Seeing a lot is different from seeing correctly. If you can’t see the majestic great current, no matter how many changes and techniques you see, you haven’t seen it correctly. No, rather.”

Sa Ja-hyuk said.

“Your eyes are obscured and your judgment is clouded because you can see complex changes and flashy techniques. Everything becomes simpler as it becomes more refined and pure. What is truly genuine should be able to be held comfortably even in a child’s handful of hands.”