A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 128

128. White Breath

“All of the Northern Sea is astir.”

At the young warrior’s words, the old general with greying white hair frowned.

“So?”

Despite the curt reply, the young warrior did not lose his smile.

“People are saying that only a Guntumur from the South could defeat the Seventh Palace Lord.”

The old general, Guntumur from the South, chuckled.

“Unfortunately, I already have a beloved wife. Perhaps if my son were to challenge her, that would be another matter.”

The young warrior shook his head.

“It’s impossible. I cannot defeat the Young Palace Lord. No, among the young warriors, there is no one who can defeat her.”

Guyuk, Guntumur’s son, said nonchalantly. The sword of Sasu-yeon he had witnessed captivated him instantly. So much so that he could admit he could not defeat her without hesitation.

“Then the story is over.”

“The old monster, Tulker, has announced he will challenge her to a duel.”

“What?”

The face of Guntumur from the South contorted.

“Why would that old monster do that?”

“He says he has no desire to become the Seventh Palace Lord’s spouse. However, he cannot stand the idea that there is no strongman in the Northern Sea.”

“His words cannot be trusted.”

Guntumur said with a frown. The old monster, Tulker, is a master from the previous generation and the leader of a powerful tribe. He is older than Guntumur, but his greed knows no bounds.

“Yes. Everyone is saying the same thing. They whisper that if Tulker gets his hands on the Young Palace Lord, he will likely aim for the throne of the Northern Sea. Now that Bing-hu [Ice Lord] of the same tribe has fallen, they say he has stepped forward himself.”

“Tulker is capable of that.”

“That’s why I’m telling you about this, Father. They say it would be better to have Guntumur from the South than Tulker.”

“Hmm.”

Guntumur from the South groaned.

“Why me? Tell Altan from the North to do it instead. It’s well known that he cherished the previous Seventh Palace Lord, isn’t it?”

“He also has a wife. And his son, as you know, is about on par with me.”

“What about Nergui from the West? That guy pretends to be cold, but he would jump into fire without hesitation if it had anything to do with the previous Seventh Palace Lord. The reason he decided to remain a bachelor his whole life was to serve the previous Seventh Palace Lord. Even if that weren’t the case, what woman would want to live with that hot-tempered guy?”

Stories that no one else knew poured out one after another. However, the young warrior Guyuk was not surprised.

“General Nergui is preparing his troops. He shouted to his confidants that if Tulker were to become the Young Palace Lord’s spouse, he would lead the Thousand-Man Unit and personally cut off his head. Ah, this is still top secret. General Nergui’s confidant is a friend of mine.”

Guntumur’s face twisted. Guyuk smiled as he watched him.

“Aren’t you going to ask what General Bayama from the East said?”

“I don’t need to hear it to know.”
Guntumur said in a grumbling tone.

“He’s just like me. He’s not interested in who will become the Seventh Palace Lord’s spouse.”

Guntumur tapped the table with his finger.

“That guy, who only knew the previous Bing-hu to the bone, is probably grinning, thinking about how to put the Seventh Palace Lord on the throne of Bingje [Ice Throne]. A nasty guy who pretends to be fine on the outside while being rotten on the inside.”

Guyuk was still smiling. However, his surprise was by no means small.

“Why, are you surprised?”
Guntumur said to his son with a mischievous expression.

“Honestly, yes.”

Guyuk said.

“I thought you disliked the other three generals.”

“I do.”
Guntumur said.

“I don’t even want to look at their faces. And they feel the same way about me.”

Even if they happened to meet, they would not even glance at each other. So it was natural for everyone to think that the Four Direction Generals were not on good terms. And that was indeed the case.

“But we are.”
Guntumur from the South leaned back. Animal skin warmly embraced his large body.

“Also bound by the same oath.”

Guntumur’s eyes, with his fingers interlaced, were filled with regret.

To them, who were still young boys, the figure of the strong and beautiful previous Bing-hu was like a goddess of the Northern Sea.

Everyone said so. That the title ‘Empress’ suited her better than ‘Bing-hu’.

He still could not forget the request she made when she showed them the infant she held in her arms. No, he would never forget it in his life.

That small baby, struggling and kicking without even opening its eyes, the warm smile of the previous Bing-hu as she asked them to protect Ga-ryeo.

“In the end, we couldn’t protect her.”

The man from the South was like a nightmare. No one in the Northern Sea could defeat him. Not to mention them, who were still young men.

They were defeated, and Ga-ryeo left the Northern Sea. And the oath they had to keep, which no one else knew, disappeared.

‘That was the last time.’

Since then, the four had never met. Even if they passed by, they would not even glance at each other.

They only pondered the defeat of that day and devoted themselves to bone-carving training, and jumped into the battlefield without fear of death.

As a result, they became the Four Direction Generals of the Northern Sea. And Sasu-yeon, the granddaughter of the previous Bing-hu and the daughter of Ga-ryeo, returned to the Northern Sea.

“But, is it possible?”

Guyuk suddenly asked.

“It’s true that the atmosphere has changed. The martial arts competition to find the Seventh Palace Lord’s spouse has somehow become a competition to determine the strongest person in the Northern Sea. But as for the position of Bingje…….”

To sit on the throne of Bingje, one must have the support of large and powerful tribes. Which renowned warrior pledges allegiance to whom can also be a major variable.

This is because the Bingje is essentially the one who must rule over numerous Northern Sea tribes.

Therefore, the power struggle for the throne of the Northern Sea goes beyond the realm of individuals and becomes a clash between forces.
The owner of the throne is not chosen by martial arts competition. Just as the outcome of a war is not determined by martial arts competition.

“Why? Do you doubt it?”
Guntumur chuckled. But his eyes were not smiling.

“But Tulker has already smelled it. That old monster has instinctively realized that this is an opportunity.”

The winds of the Northern Sea have changed with the appearance of Sasu-yeon.

Leaving aside powerful tribes and political influence, the most primal impulse and the archetype of the Northern Sea that has been passed down since the beginning has revealed its form.

Sasu-yeon’s martial arts competition is already shaking the entire Northern Sea.

“To the strongest, everything.”
Guntumur from the South, one of the Four Direction Generals of the Northern Sea, said. It was a familiar saying to Guyuk, but it had never sounded so heavy as it did at this moment.

“That is the supreme law of the Northern Sea. Nothing is impossible. So, for the time being, we will watch. Whether this wind will become a storm and sweep through the Northern Sea, or whether it will end as a fickle breeze.”
Guntumur said with a stern face.

“The decision comes after that.”

But Guyuk could tell. Like the other three generals, his father, Guntumur from the South, had already made his decision.

“Have you heard that the Seventh Palace Lord Battle has been allowed in the Ice Palace?”

Guyuk said. The fact that the Seventh Palace Lord Battle has been allowed means that they can create an independent force. It means that pledging allegiance to the Seventh Palace Lord is allowed.

“Did it?”
Guntumur said in an indifferent voice.

“I’m not interested in such things.”

Normally, it would have sounded like he didn’t care about such political matters.

But now, it somehow sounded like ‘I will follow the Seventh Palace Lord regardless of such things,’ so Guyuk could only give a bitter smile.

* * *

Doo-doo-doo-doo.

The strong horses of the Northern Sea kicked off the ground and galloped across the great plains. Sasu-yeon, lowering her body, was riding her horse powerfully, cutting through the wind at the very front.

“Haa! Haa!”

In obedience to Sasu-yeon’s will, the huge hooves echoed across the earth. The wind of the great plains hitting her on horseback seemed to blow away the anxiety that had been hanging over Sasu-yeon like a dark shadow.

Sarune and Namira also followed Sasu-yeon without falling behind at all.

How long had they been running like that? Sasu-yeon slowly slowed down. Feeling much refreshed, Sasu-yeon patted the neck of her horse, which was breathing heavily.

“Thank you.”

Pooh-roo-roo.

The horse exhaled as if replying to Sasu-yeon’s words. In the meantime, Sarune and Namira approached Sasu-yeon.

“I see a village over there.”

Namira said. Sasu-yeon raised her head, but she could see nothing. Only low hills were sparsely visible in the endless plains.

But Namira’s words would be true. They had surprisingly sharp eyes.

“Shall we go? We might be able to eat something warm.”

“Yes.”

Sasu-yeon nodded at Sarune’s words.

She had come out at Sarune’s suggestion anyway. And as she said, it was definitely a change of pace. Sasu-yeon thought it would be nice to eat something warm.

“Haa!”

After running a little further, a small village appeared as expected. They were surprised by the sudden visit of outsiders, but soon relaxed their guard after seeing Sarune and Namira’s attire.

“Please wait a moment.”

Namira said that and went to an old man who appeared to be the village chief. While they were talking, Sasu-yeon noticed that children were gathering around her.

“They are the children of this village.”

Sarune said.

“I guess we’re a novelty to them.”

The children’s eyes were all sparkling with curiosity. But they didn’t come close. Sasu-yeon gave the children a light smile.

The children’s faces lit up with Sasu-yeon’s smile. But they quickly hid behind the other children, embarrassed.

‘How cute.’

The children’s clothes and faces were dirty, but their bright eyes sparkled like stars.

In the meantime, the number of children gradually increased. It was as if all the children in the neighborhood had come, and considering the size of the village, there seemed to be a lot of children.

Moreover, now not only children but also women and men were gathering.

“Oh, oh.”

Sasu-yeon turned her head at someone’s trembling voice. An old woman with wrinkles all over her face was crying as she looked at Sasu-yeon.

“Young, Young Palace Lord…….”

Her voice was not properly connected as if her throat was choked. But it was enough to make others recognize Sasu-yeon.

Sarak.

“Young, Young Palace Lord!”

One person knelt down. And people all followed suit.

“Young Palace Lord.”

“Young Palace Lord.”

Everyone, old or young, male or female, put their hands together and knelt down. The village chief who was talking to Namira was also the same.

The children were bewildered by the sudden situation, but quickly knelt down at the urging of the adults.

“Sarune, tell them to get up.”

Sasu-yeon said from horseback with a bitter expression. Sarune quietly bowed her head and obeyed Sasu-yeon’s command.

At Sarune’s voice, people slowly stood up. Their faces were filled with surprise and emotion.

“Young Palace Lord.”

Sasu-yeon lowered her gaze at the touch of a skinny hand that suddenly touched her hand. The old woman who first recognized Sasu-yeon was holding Sasu-yeon’s hand tightly.

“If it weren’t for the Young Palace Lord, we would not be alive today. We…….”

She couldn’t continue her words as if her throat was choked. The Young Palace Lord she was talking about must be referring to Sasu-yeon’s mother.

However, her tears were full of warm affection, and even Sasu-yeon’s heart felt touched.

She is a stranger and a stranger. But why are these people welcoming her so defenselessly?

Why are they holding her hand so warmly and shedding tears for her mother?

While Sasu-yeon was unable to say anything for a while, a woman carefully approached Sasu-yeon.

“Young, Young Palace Lord.”

What she was holding in her arms was a young baby. The woman, who came closer, gently handed the baby wrapped in a shabby blanket to Sasu-yeon.

After hesitating, Sasu-yeon carefully reached out and took the baby at the woman’s smile.

The baby hadn’t even opened its eyes properly yet. A weak little baby that only twitched with its small hands and feet, weak and soft and so precious.

“They want you to bless them.”

Sarune said with a warm gaze.

“This is this woman’s first child. It’s a girl.”

“A girl…….”

Sasu-yeon looked at the baby in her arms. What should she say?

Suddenly, she remembered the time when she was combing the hair of the little girls at Sonbin’s Seowon [private academy]. The healthy and energetic children, always smiling and running around, were vivid in her mind.

“This child…….”

Sasu-yeon said. In her own language, not the language of the Northern Sea.

“May this child have long and beautiful hair fluttering in the wind of the great plains. And…….”

She wanted to say something more, but she couldn’t think of anything else. Namira, who had come next to her, quietly conveyed Sasu-yeon’s words to the woman. The woman was very moved.

“Long and beautiful hair symbolizes longevity and good fortune.”

Sarune said.

“This woman is really happy.”

As if hearing Sarune’s voice, the baby moved. The small and fragile life twitched its helpless hands and feet as if trying to prove that it was alive.

When the baby’s mother looked anxious, Sasu-yeon handed the baby back to the woman. She took it preciously and said something with a smiling face as she looked down at the baby. The smile was so warm.

‘Baby…….’

Looking at the baby who had fallen asleep again, Sasu-yeon suddenly thought of Sonbin. Maybe it would be nice to live with him here in the Northern Sea. To ride horses with him in the vast plains, and then.

Whack.

Sasu-yeon’s face turned red just thinking about it. It was then.

―But will he come?

A small voice spoke as if whispering. A faint anxiety hidden in one corner of her heart raised its head.

―He has them, doesn’t he?

Sonbin has people he loves. Nam-ak No-gun, who always cares for him, the kind and beautiful young lady Dang Wora, who only looks at him, and the eight children who make him smile.

Even the divine horse that Sasu-yeon relied on is now with him. Will he abandon all of that and come here to this unfamiliar land, the Northern Sea, only for Sasu-yeon?

―Think about it coldly.

Her heart sinks into a dark and cold abyss.

―There’s no reason for him to come. Maybe he’s already forgotten you. Because he’s happy there.

“No, he will come.”

Sasu-yeon shook her head strongly. And she said in a firm voice.

“Definitely.”

Sasu-yeon bit her lip. Her red lips were pressed together.

“So, until then, I can’t lose. No matter what happens…….”

―I have to win.

‘I have to win.’

“Like the white breath rising under the dawn sky.”

Sasu-yeon woke up from her thoughts at someone’s voice. The voice that flowed out like a song soon became numerous voices and echoed under the blue sky.

“Even if the night is cold and lonely, may his light be with you.”

Tightly.

Sasu-yeon clenched her fist. She bit her lip and strongly pulled on the reins.

“Haa!”

People were startled. Even the horse seemed surprised for a moment at Sasu-yeon’s sudden action, but the loyal horse immediately kicked off the ground.

“Young Palace Lord!”

Sarune and Namira, who were surprised, hurriedly followed Sasu-yeon. But Sasu-yeon didn’t look back.

“Haa! Haa!”

Sasu-yeon shouted sharply. The armor covered in indifference began to crack and creak. Sasu-yeon wanted to leave this place as soon as possible. With that one thought, Sasu-yeon rode her horse.

Tta-gatak, tta-gatak.

The heavy hooves kicked off the ground, and the small village quickly disappeared into the distance.

The wind of the great plains gently caressed Sasu-yeon’s cheeks, but Sasu-yeon’s beautiful eyes, with her teeth clenched, looked as if she would burst into tears at any moment.

* * *

The old monster Tulker stood proudly on the martial arts arena.

A sturdy physique that would intimidate even a decent young warrior, and an overwhelming presence that filled the martial arts arena just by standing there. And arrogant eyes that looked down on everyone.

Even if there are those who ridicule him as an old monster, no one dares to insult Tulker to his face. Before being the leader of a large and powerful tribe, Tulker’s martial power was one of the best in the Northern Sea.

The gently curved scimitar in his hand, ‘Sea of Blood,’ was crying as if urging the martial arts competition.

Standing alone on the martial arts arena like that, Tulker was unsparingly showing off his well-being.

Sarak.

Tulker turned his head. His opponent, Sasu-yeon, the Seventh Palace Lord from the South, was appearing.

‘Hmph. Indeed.’

A faint smile appeared on Tulker’s lips. People see her mother in Sasu-yeon. That tender and frail little girl who was loved by all the Northern Sea people.

But the Sasu-yeon that Tulker sees now is none other than the figure of the previous Bing-hu.

The woman who was better suited to be called ‘Empress’ than ‘Bing-hu’, and the woman he could never forget, who was looking at Tulker with cold eyes like now.

“Are you Ga-ryeo’s daughter?”

Tulker said to Sasu-yeon. Sasu-yeon’s cold eyes turned to Tulker. But Tulker could see that there was a turbulent anger beneath those cold eyes.

The fact that she is so easily shaken by a single word means that she is still young. Tulker smiled sincerely.

“Today, I will let you know that there are strong people in the Northern Sea.”

Tulker said, puffing himself up.

―Hmph.

Tulker frowned. There was no sound. But it was clear that he had heard a sneering sound.

Seureung.

Without a word, Sasu-yeon drew her sword. At the same time, a chilling energy began to spread thickly over the martial arts arena.

Woong.

A subtle sound arose from Sasu-yeon’s sword. There was no surging blue energy, no overwhelming momentum. However, her blade, shining snow-white as if frost had fallen, was pointing straight at Tulker.

And the next moment.

Hook.

A white energy, as if in agreement with Sasu-yeon’s will, enveloped her and rose up.