A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 13

13. A Good Rain Knows Its Season

Saja Hyuk’s words resonated with Son Bin. Already moving his brush, Son Bin said,

“Is that also a key to the Hyeoncheon [Profound Heaven]?”

“It is.”

“Hmm, I agree with that. The better the writing, the more concise and clear it is.”

Writing down Saja Hyuk’s words, Son Bin said,

“I’ve been writing too many Palgogmun [a highly structured and regulated form of writing used in civil service examinations], so I think I got a little carried away with the fun of creating sentences as I pleased.”

“Palgogmun?”

Son Bin gave a bitter smile.

“It’s a sentence format used in the civil service examination. The rules are so strict that even a slight mistake leads to failure. Because of that, I’ve ended up focusing only on the form and appearance of the sentences rather than their meaning.”

“There are such cases in martial arts as well.”

Saja Hyuk said.

“But I rather like strictness. In learning martial arts, a weak foundation leads to futility, and ignoring the importance of small things ultimately prevents one from reaching a fundamental understanding.”

Son Bin moved his brush again, quickly writing down Saja Hyuk’s words.

“In that duel, what did you see?”

Suddenly, Saja Hyuk’s voice was heard. Saja Hyuk was looking at Son Bin as he asked. The duel Saja Hyuk was referring to was probably the one with Wi Gajin.

“I don’t know well.”

Son Bin said.

“Still, your last strike seemed like the Hyeoncheon Sword Technique.”

“So, you mean everything else didn’t seem like the Hyeoncheon Sword Technique?”

Lightly blowing on the humble booklet to dry the ink, Son Bin replied absentmindedly.

“The rest… well, it felt a bit stifling.”

Saja Hyuk smiled faintly.

“It’s called the Lightning Flash Strike (閃電一刀).”

“Lightning Flash Strike?”

Son Bin asked back.

“Like the Moon-splitting Eclipse.”

‘Lightning flash’ refers to a momentary flash of lightning, signifying extreme speed, but Son Bin tilted his head.

‘Was it really that fast?’

Thinking that it felt rather leisurely and relaxed, Son Bin wrote ‘Moon-splitting Eclipse Lightning Flash Strike.’ Then, after waiting for the ink to dry for a moment, he closed the booklet.

Tak.

“Spend tomorrow alone.”

Son Bin looked up at Saja Hyuk. Saja Hyuk’s gaze, looking up at the sky, was chillingly calm.

“I understand.”

Son Bin nodded. He could clearly sense that Saja Hyuk’s life-or-death duel (生死決) was approaching.

***

Son Bin woke up early in the morning as usual. He opened the window, took in the cold morning air, and looked at the exotic scenery in the distance.

‘Sichuan.’

He was standing in that famous region, which held countless histories and stories.

Son Bin leisurely gazed at the dawn of Sichuan. It was not yet clear because the morning twilight had not yet faded, but rather, it felt like looking at a light ink wash painting.

After admiring the scenery for a while, Son Bin washed his face with the prepared water and tidied his clothes. Then, he sat down and quietly began to read the scriptures he always read.

Chirp, chirp.

How much time had passed? Suddenly, the early morning birdsong is heard from outside the window. Son Bin quietly closed the book and got up from his seat.

Thump.

The outside of the window was already quite bright. Looking at the scenery of Sichuan in the distance, Son Bin recalled the events of last night.

‘Life-or-death duel…….’

A life-or-death duel is an event where someone must die. Saja Hyuk himself said that he would definitely kill. But it still feels vague to Son Bin and does not touch his skin.

After traveling up the Yangtze River to Chongqing, he drove a carriage and entered Chengdu. This will probably be the place of the first life-or-death duel.

The reason Saja Hyuk told Son Bin to spend today alone was probably to prepare for that life-or-death duel. Above all, his chilling gaze tells us that the life-or-death duel is imminent.

‘Why is he trying to have a life-or-death duel?’

There must be an unusual reason. The deep look that Saja Hyuk sometimes shows when talking about life-or-death duels is not just because of his desire to win.

Thinking about the duel with Wi Gajin, he is definitely not the type of person who kills his opponent for no reason.

‘He asks me to record why he is having a life-or-death duel, but he doesn’t tell me…….’

Son Bin sighed quietly.

‘Still, it’s better to wait a little longer.’

It is better to wait for the words to come out naturally than to rashly ask directly. From the beginning, what Son Bin decided to do was not to dig up and find out, but to watch and record.

‘Come to think of it, did he say that the more refined and pure you become, the simpler you become?’

Saja Hyuk’s words from last night came to mind.

Son Bin immediately rummaged through his luggage and took out all the books he had recorded so far. There were already three books, starting with the old book from the beginning. Considering that it has been less than a month since he met Saja Hyuk, it is quite a large amount.

‘Certainly, the sentences become longer and the rhetoric becomes more ornate as you go further back.’

Looking through the records, Son Bin nodded.

‘Still, I need to fix a lot of the front part, right?’

Even though he had just recorded it himself, the sentences seemed somehow clumsy and strange.

Son Bin took out a fine brush and opened the book he was currently using. Then, he wrote down the contents that he thought needed to be corrected separately. This method is more effective than directly correcting the original.

Swish, swish.

Son Bin slowly reread the old writings he had recorded. While frowning and nodding in the middle, Son Bin continued to write down the contents that needed to be corrected. In the end, Son Bin could not put down the book all morning.

***

‘Wow.’

Son Bin exclaimed.

Chengdu is large and bustling. As the most prosperous city in Sichuan, the streets were overflowing with people and goods. Moreover, the appearance of the people passing by was quite different and foreign from what Son Bin had seen so far, so Son Bin was busy turning his eyes here and there.

The attire of the women passing by was also slightly unique, attracting attention.

‘So this is Chengdu, Sichuan.’

Son Bin realized for the first time that he was in Sichuan. Perhaps it was because of the excitement of having free time after a long time. After spending so much time watching the streets and people of Chengdu, Son Bin suddenly came to his senses.

‘Wait, instead of doing this here, I should go to Wuhou Shrine (武候祠) [a memorial temple dedicated to Zhuge Liang, a famous strategist], or Thatched Cottage (草堂) [the former residence of the renowned poet Du Fu].’

Wuhou Shrine is a shrine dedicated to Zhuge Liang, and Thatched Cottage is where Du Fu, who is called the Sage of Poetry (詩聖) [a title of great respect for Du Fu], lived in seclusion. Both places are must-see attractions for people visiting Chengdu, Sichuan.

‘Um, first…….’

Son Bin thought about where to go. Wuhou Shrine is better as a spectacle, but Thatched Cottage, named after the Sage of Poetry Du Fu, cannot be ignored either.

‘Wuhou Shrine is a place created for entertainment purposes, so I should go to Thatched Cottage first.’

If the people of Chengdu had heard Son Bin’s thoughts, Son Bin would probably not have been able to avoid being beaten that day. This is because Zhuge Liang and Wuhou Shrine have a special meaning to the people of Chengdu.

Even though he is a person from a distant past and there are no actual relics.

Fortunately, Son Bin’s thoughts did not come out of his mouth. Walking leisurely through the bustling and complex streets of Chengdu, Son Bin moved towards Thatched Cottage.

“Hoo, it’s hot.”

Son Bin fluttered the white feather fan (白羽扇) [a fan made of white feathers, often associated with Zhuge Liang] in his hand. The white feather fan, made of feathers, which was commonly sold on the street as the one Zhuge Liang used, created wind, but the humid and hot climate showed no signs of subsiding.

Step, step.

Son Bin fluttered his white feather fan and entered the bamboo forest path. The bamboo forest path looked quite charming, but it seemed cooler.

Swaaaaa.

As expected, as soon as he entered the bamboo forest path, the bamboo made a sound in the wind.

Bamboo, which grows everywhere in Sichuan, formed a forest in this Thatched Cottage, and the slender bamboo leaves swayed all at once in the wind, as if the passing wind could be seen.

‘The atmosphere of Thatched Cottage is good.’

Listening to the cool wind sound that seemed to wash away the heat, Son Bin lowered his white feather fan and moved leisurely.

As he entered the forest, the bamboo, which seemed to cover the sky, blocked all directions, unlike when viewed from the outside. Even though it was clearly the same climate, it became so cool that it felt rather cool.

Swaaaaa.

The wind passing through the bamboo forest makes a sound again. Son Bin walked very slowly, half-closed his eyes, and enjoyed the atmosphere of the blue wind.

As he was immersed in the atmosphere, a line from a poem by Du Fu, called the Sage of Poetry (詩聖), flowed out of Son Bin’s mouth.

“Good rain knows its season and falls…….”

It was then.

Rustle.

Something fragrant faintly brushed the tip of Son Bin’s nose. The scent that passed by in an instant was a scent that was unfamiliar but at the same time remained as a strong impression in one corner of his memory.

‘Huh?’

Son Bin opened his eyes. And he discovered the figure of a young lady walking from the other side of the bamboo forest. Along the small path that stretched out between the walls of bamboo that seemed to block the sky, she was slowly moving her steps.

Swaaaaa.

The blue wind passing through the bamboo sways her long hair. Lightly touching her disheveled hair with one hand, she was indifferently looking at the bamboo forest with her deep eyes.

As with everyone who visits Thatched Cottage, the sword hanging on her waist gently swayed as she moved slowly.

Son Bin stopped in his place without realizing it. His gaze was fixed on her as she walked.

Long black hair, simple martial arts uniform (武服) [traditional clothing worn by martial artists], unadorned accessories. And a sword hanging on her waist. She was the very person who had saved Son Bin at the Infinite Yellow Crane Tower.

He was glad. But beyond that, he couldn’t think of anything. While Son Bin was standing there like that, she slowly approached. Her eyes, which seemed to be lost in thought while looking at the bamboo forest, were deep and dark.

Squeak, squeak.

She, who was walking from the opposite side, soon discovered Son Bin, who was standing still looking at her. A look of doubt and vigilance flashed across her eyes for a moment, but her eyes sparkled softly. Perhaps she also remembered Son Bin.

“Ah…….”

He tried to say something, even a greeting, but his voice did not come out properly. He couldn’t even think of what to say.

In the meantime, she, who had come closer, nodded very slightly towards Son Bin.

It was really a moment, but Son Bin clearly saw her gaze soften and her red lips slightly curve. It felt like his eyes were brightening.

Rustle.

The moment passed like a flash. She does not stop walking and passes Son Bin as if it were the wind.

‘Ah!’

Son Bin thought. He couldn’t let her pass by like this. He had to say something. Son Bin quickly turned his head.

Swaaaaa.

The bamboo forest made a sound again. The wind gently flutters her black hair and clothes.

Squeak, squeak.

She slowly walked away, but Son Bin did not call her. No, he couldn’t call her. It was because her back looked somehow sad that he didn’t dare to call her.

In the meantime, she slowly and surely moved away, eventually disappearing into the bamboo forest.

“Haaa…….”

Son Bin let out a long sigh as if lamenting.

‘Should I have said something? Anything…….’

He felt regret. He thought he should have said something, but she just passed by with a simple nod. That means that she thought that was enough.

‘It’s not easy to pass by someone you met in Wuhan at Thatched Cottage in Chengdu…….’

When he thought about it, she didn’t give any special meaning to saving Son Bin from the beginning. Didn’t she just call herself Jiangxia Suyeon (江下水煙) [literally “River Below, Water Mist”] without even telling him her name properly?

‘Water mist under the river…….’

Like the water mist that disappears without a trace when the sun rises, is that why she passed by like that?

Her figure had already disappeared, but Son Bin could not go this way or that way and continued to stand there for a while. Only the blue wind passing through the bamboo forest occasionally made a sound.

***

Swoosh.

Pulling up the curtain, Son Bin entered the inn with tired steps. Son Bin, who collapsed on the table in front of him, picked up the teapot on the table and filled the empty teacup.

Gurgle.

The teacup was filled with a small sound. It was already cold tea, but cold tea was rather welcome in the hot and humid climate of Sichuan.

Bang.

Without even having time to savor the taste or aroma, Son Bin drank the tea and put down the teacup.

Tak.

“Hoo.”

Son Bin let out a long sigh.

‘I couldn’t meet her after all.’

Frowning, Son Bin blamed himself.

‘Foolishly, that’s why I should have said something at first.’

Son Bin, who had been standing in the bamboo forest for a while, later seemed to come to his senses and set out to find her. He ran in the direction of the bamboo forest where she had disappeared, and searched here and there for Thatched Cottage.

Thatched Cottage, which used to be a temple, was larger than he thought, so it took a long time just to search around the small lake, the pavilion, and here and there. He was soaked in sweat from walking around in the hot weather, but in the end, Son Bin could not find her anywhere in Thatched Cottage.

‘Foolishly.’

Why couldn’t he greet her happily when he first saw her? Why couldn’t he stop her? He blamed himself, but in fact, he was not confident that he could greet her even if he was in such a situation again.

Perhaps it was a good thing that she just passed by like that. Rather than being recognized as an annoying person to her by talking to her for no reason.

“Hoo.”

Even if he thought so, he couldn’t help but feel regret.

In the meantime, the clerk came and took his order. Son Bin, who was well past mealtime, ordered a Sichuan-style dish that seemed appropriate. It was spicy tofu and noodles with soup, and the spicy soup created a unique taste unique to Sichuan.

But Son Bin, who was troubled, could not properly savor the taste.

‘Will I be able to meet you again?’

While eating or not eating properly and sitting at the table thinking, someone suddenly sat down in front of him. It was a person with such a large physique that it completely blocked his view.

Thump.

It was Saja Hyuk.

“Rest.”

Saja Hyuk said that out of the blue. His eyes were deeply sunken.

“Today may be a difficult night.”

That was all Saja Hyuk said, but Son Bin intuitively realized it.

‘Life-or-death duel!’

He felt as if he had been hit on the head and came to his senses. A martial arts competition that risks lives, where someone must die, is about to begin. The first, and possibly the last, martial arts competition.

Gulp.

Son Bin swallowed without realizing it.