A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 134

134. Closed Moon, Ashamed Flower

Sunbin and his group unpacked their luggage at the inn. The inn was certainly exotic, but it was filled with people from the south. Most were either merchants or martial artists carrying swords and sabers.

“Something’s strange.”

Nogun said, looking down at the inn’s restaurant. They had unpacked in their rooms—though Nogun barely had any luggage—and were on the stairs leading down to the restaurant.

“Why is it so quiet?”

“Quiet, you say?”

Sunbin asked.

“No, normally when guys with swords gather, it’s never this calm.”

“It’s not quiet, though?”

Seorin tilted her head and asked.

“It’s noisy right now.”

As Seorin said, the people filling the inn were chattering noisily. The sound of their stories and the general din made Seorin frown.

“It’s definitely strange.”

Sunbin said. Seorin turned her head to look up at Sunbin. Sunbin put a hand to his chin and said,

“This is foreign territory. Naturally, they’d be excited, and if they think they can grasp wealth and power, that excitement would be even greater. Moreover, they’re all confident in their martial arts. Yet, there’s no commotion or trouble anywhere.”

That was certainly true. There was no one picking fights for no reason, and no one causing a ruckus while drunk. It was noisy, but still.

“I’ve never heard that martial artists are such polite fellows…”

Nogun looked around the inn with a suspicious expression.

“Let’s go down for now.”

At Sunbin’s words, the group went down the wooden stairs, found seats in the restaurant, and sat down. The waiter quickly approached with a smiling face.

“Welcome!”

Nogun frowned and looked at the waiter.

“What’s with your accent?”

“What choo wish?”

The waiter didn’t answer Nogun’s question but smiled brightly and took something out of his pocket. Sunbin took it and examined it.

“This is sheepskin.”

On the surface of the thinly trimmed, fairly large sheepskin, various food names were written as if they had been branded on with something. The handwriting was crooked, and some strokes were missing, which made him chuckle involuntarily.

“It seems he wants us to order from this.”

“Looks like he doesn’t know our language well.”

Nogun said, as if he finally understood the situation.

“Knows. Knows. Doesn’t know much, but knows a liddle [little].”

“A liddle?”

Nogun chuckled. He took out an iron coin from his pocket and placed it on the table.

Clang.

The waiter’s expression brightened. It wasn’t the currency used here, but it wasn’t worthless either.

“I have something to ask.”

Nogun said.

“Which family has many sons but only one daughter?”

“Huh?”

The waiter tilted his head.

“A family with three hundred and thirty-six sons and one daughter.”

Dang Wola whispered beside him. Nogun frowned.

“It’s not about the number, it’s that this guy doesn’t seem to understand?”

“Ooh, knows. Knows. A liddle slower…”

“Three hundred, you know three hundred? And thirty-six sons and… Ah, never mind.”

Nogun gave up on the question, realizing that the waiter’s expression was already becoming vague.

“Just go get the food.”

Nogun pushed the iron coin towards the waiter. The waiter picked up the iron coin, bowed deeply with a bright face, and disappeared to take the order.

Thanks to the iron coin, they received food they hadn’t even ordered, which pleased Seorin and Dang Wola.

“By the way, there are a lot of people.”

Nogun said, lifting his teacup after finishing his meal. As he said, the inn was full of familiar southern attire. Of course, the outer garments were from the Northern Sea, like those of Sunbin and his group.

“There’s only one winner of the martial arts bride contest, so why are there so many people here?”

Dang Wola asked. She couldn’t understand it.

“It’s the same with the merchant guilds. I can understand the large guilds, but why are so many small and medium-sized guilds here?”

“Because it doesn’t end with just one person.”

Nogun replied. He took a sip of tea and continued.

“When a large merchant guild establishes itself in a new area, guilds that want to build cooperative relationships or receive work flock to it. No matter how large a guild is, it can’t handle everything alone.”

Sunbin nodded. Even a large merchant guild has limited resources and manpower to invest in one area. They have other business to attend to. Naturally, they need smaller guilds to cooperate with.

“It’s the same with the winner of the martial arts bride contest. Would they want to enter Ice Palace, which is full of Northern Sea natives, alone? It’s obvious they need someone they can trust. That’s why everyone is staying. It’s like how small and medium-sized sects gather around the Five Great Families.”

Everyone nodded at Nogun’s explanation. Only Seorin didn’t understand.

“It’s like when a wolf catches prey, and other wolves linger behind,” Nogun said grumbling. Only then did Seorin exclaim, “Ooh!” and nod vigorously.

“Anyway, who should we ask…”

Just as Nogun said that,

Swish.

Someone pushed aside the thick curtain of the inn and entered. And as if they had made a promise, Sunbin and his group all turned their heads towards the entrance.

“Oh, my.”

The old man who had just entered the inn said with a smile.

“I never expected to meet you here.”

The gentle, scholarly old man said. His neat white hair, well-groomed beard, and the folding fan in his hand made him look like a noble scholar.

Sunbin, Dang Wola, and Seorin couldn’t take their eyes off the old man. The moment he entered the inn, his aura unknowingly enveloped the place.

“Damn it.”

Nogun’s face crumpled.

“Why are you here…”

In the meantime, a dozen young warriors followed the old man into the inn. As Sunbin was thinking that he had seen the attire somewhere before, someone in the inn recognized them.

“The Zhuge Family!”

‘Ah.’

Only then did Sunbin realize. He remembered seeing people wearing similar martial attire at the Floating King Pavilion, the venue for the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

“You guys go up first.”

The scholarly old man said. The Zhuge Family warriors bowed respectfully and went upstairs. They didn’t forget to look at Sunbin and his group with sharp eyes as they went up.

“The Zhuge Family has already passed, they say?”

“As expected of the Zhuge Family…”

As the warriors disappeared upstairs, the quiet people began to murmur again.

Swish.

The Zhuge Family’s old man took a seat in front of Nogun.

“It’s been a while. How have you been?”

The old man said in a gentle voice. But Nogun’s frowning face didn’t ease.

“Why are you sitting down without permission? Who told you to sit?”

It was a clear order to leave, but the old man smiled even more brightly.

“That personality hasn’t changed at all. Should I stand, then?”

Swish.

The old man stood up. The lean old man was taller than he looked, giving the feeling that a pillar had been erected in front of him. Nogun’s face twisted.

“Ugh! It’s distracting. Just sit down.”

“Thank you.”

The old man smiled and sat down. Then, he turned his head towards Sunbin and his group.

“I’m late with introductions. I am Zhuge Lian, the poor writer of the Zhuge Family.”

Sunbin looked surprised.

“Are you perhaps Scholar Zhuge Lian?”

The old man, Zhuge Lian’s, eyes took on a different light.

“How do you know me?”

Thump.

Sunbin stood up from his seat.

“Scholar’s brushstrokes may seem weak and flowing, but their force is like Mount Tai [a sacred mountain in China, symbolizing stability and strength].”

Sunbin said, looking at Zhuge Lian.

“I am honored to meet Scholar. Scholar’s Calligraphy Collection was the most popular in our academy.”

Sunbin put his hands together and bowed respectfully.

Clatter.

Philong Zhuge Lian also stood up from his seat and returned Sunbin’s bow.

“I am embarrassed that you praise my poor writing so highly. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Sunbin and Philong Zhuge Lian smiled at each other. Nogun looked up at the scene and muttered something quietly. Zhuge Lian looked down at Nogun and smiled at Sunbin.

“He’s this kind of friend, but please take care of him. He may be rough with his words, but his heart is quite tender. And if you know him, he writes quite well too.”

“What was that?”

Nogun said, annoyed.

“No, rather, I am always grateful.”

Sunbin bowed his head. Knowing that his words were sincere, Nogun simply closed his mouth and turned his head.

“By the way, what brings you here?”

Zhuge Lian asked Nogun, sitting back in his seat.

“I heard you left Namak. Even Yewon didn’t know where you were, so I never expected to see you here in the Northern Sea.”

Zhuge Lian grinned.

“Don’t tell me you’ve finally decided to get married?”

“What?”

Nogun’s eyes narrowed.

“What nonsense are you spouting when we’re both old? Are you, pretending to be noble, thinking of getting remarried? Coming all the way to this distant Northern Sea.”

“Haha, what’s wrong with my age? It’s the perfect age to love.”

“Not funny.”

Nogun glared at Zhuge Lian with a serious face. Zhuge Lian coughed awkwardly.

“Ahem. Actually, the family decided to send someone to the Northern Sea martial arts bride contest.”

Philong Zhuge Lian continued.

“But what kind of place is the Northern Sea? It’s not a place to jump into just because the benefits are great. I came along in case there are any risks. To prepare for the worst-case scenario, so to speak.”

“Hmm. That martial arts bride contest?”

“Yes. But it won’t be easy.”

“Not easy? It’s unusual for you to say that.”

Nogun said mockingly. But Zhuge Lian’s expression was serious.

“Oruhan was standing next to the young palace lord who is holding the martial arts bride contest. 섬옥수 [Seomoks] Oruhan, the only outer grandmaster in the Northern Sea.”

“섬옥수 [Seomoks] Oruhan, you say.”

Nogun’s eyes also changed.

“I’ve heard the stories…”

“Even you can’t take him lightly. But the bigger problem was the Ice Palace’s young palace lord.”

“Young palace lord?”

“That child…”

Philong Zhuge Lian’s eyes changed.

“Was different.”

“Different? How so? You have to explain properly for me to understand.”

Nogun asked, pressing him. Zhuge Lian smiled.

“Alright. I’ll tell you slowly.”

*

*

*

Thanks to the quick response of the cooperative Maun Merchant Guild, the Zhuge Family group arrived in the Northern Sea relatively early. And they were able to hear detailed stories about the current situation.

As befitting one of the top five merchant guilds in the world, the Maun Merchant Guild had already maintained close relationships with the central administration of the Ice Palace.

“But that relationship is precarious?”

“The relationship is as good as broken.”

A middle-aged man said to Zhuge Lian with a friendly smile. They were sitting next to a large martial arts arena, waiting for the start of the martial arts bride contest.

“Third Palace Lord Ajai has been eliminated from the power structure. If things continue like this, a lonely old age awaits the Ice Queen. Or a miserable one.”

The middle-aged man, who had maintained a close relationship with the Ice Queen, spoke coldly.

“We brought her things that were hard to find and poured investments into her, but in reality, we’ve lost even the principal. Still, thanks to the esteemed guests from the Zhuge Family, we were able to recover some of it, which is fortunate.”

To secure the Zhuge Family’s supreme master, the Ice Queen gave up a lot. Of course, most of it flowed to the Zhuge Family, but the benefits gained by the merchant guild were not small either.

“If you defeat the young palace lord as things stand, it would truly be a blessing in disguise…”

“Hmph, do you dare to look down on the Zhuge Family?”

The middle-aged warrior, Fierce Tiger Sword Zhuge Gyun, said with an unpleasant expression.

He belonged to a collateral branch of the Zhuge Family, but he was confident that his martial arts skills were second to none.

In fact, he wasn’t far from the truth. A supreme master of sword energy manifestation was the dream of all martial artists.

“How could I ever do that? Please forgive my foolishness.”

The middle-aged man bowed deeply.

“It’s just that the young palace lord’s fame is so earth-shattering…”

Philong Zhuge Lian was intrigued.

‘The young palace lord…’

There are many hidden masters in the Jianghu [the martial arts world], but those are a kind of accidental variable and exceptional cases.

If the Namgung Family and Hyeokryun Family of the Five Great Families are tied up and even the Tang Clan doesn’t move, then the only remaining competitor is the Gongsun Family. Zhuge Lian predicted that.

But when he arrived in the Northern Sea, the atmosphere was completely different. The biggest obstacle was the young palace lord herself.

It was already cute that she had no rivals in the Northern Sea, and it was even certain that she would sit on the throne of the next Ice Empress.

It was like the target he thought was just a trophy from the martial arts competition turned out to be the most threatening, unmatched general.

“It’s alright, feel free to say anything. You are the most knowledgeable person about the situation in the Northern Sea right now.”

Zhuge Lian said with a gentle face, and the middle-aged man’s face brightened. He bowed to Zhuge Lian and said,

“I understand.”

Fierce Tiger Sword Zhuge Gyun still had a dissatisfied expression, but he couldn’t say anything. Who would dare to object to the words of Philong Zhuge Lian, the former family head’s older brother and the strongest master in the Zhuge Family?

‘It might be interesting.’

Philong Zhuge Lian thought so. But he also had the underlying thought that no matter how high the young palace lord’s martial arts were, how high could they be?

It didn’t take long for that thought to be shattered.

“Waaah!”

“Ooh!”

Suddenly, cheers erupted from the crowd. Philong Zhuge Lian raised his head. The young palace lord in question was coming down the Ice Palace’s huge staircase.

Swish, swish.

The soft, flowing hair swayed lightly with her movements, and a sword hanging from her slender waist sparkled.

The simple clothes, without any fancy decorations or flamboyant patterns, subtly revealed her beautiful curves, further accentuating the young palace lord’s femininity.

But what instantly stole everyone’s attention was the young palace lord’s beauty.

Even the Ice Palace, which boasted an overwhelming sense of oppression, and even the vast Northern Sea, were no longer in sight. The moment they saw the young palace lord’s face, as cold as if frost had fallen, everyone had no choice but to stop breathing.

‘Heo.’

Even the elderly Zhuge Lian couldn’t hide his admiration.

‘They say flowers are ashamed and the moon hides…’

The sentence he had only thought of as rhetoric seemed to come alive before his eyes at this moment. No, rather, the young palace lord was so attractive that even countless modifiers would not be enough.

“This is… quite beautiful.”

Zhuge Gyun said next to him. He was pretending to be nonchalant, but an undisguised greed flowed from his eyes as he looked at the young palace lord.

‘Tsk.’

Zhuge Lian clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘I’ve told him so many times to maintain a pure heart.’

It wouldn’t reach his ears. He was still young, full of confidence, and at an age where he couldn’t control his desires.

“At this point, we must win.”

Zhuge Gyun said. But he wasn’t the only one who had made that resolution. Perhaps everyone in this place was thinking the same thing.

Swish.

The young palace lord stopped. And the wind blew.

Whoosh.

Her hair fluttered in the wind. And the young palace lord was looking down at everyone with those cold and arrogant eyes.

Even Philong Zhuge Lian couldn’t shake the feeling that he was looking up at her at this moment.

“Young Palace Lord.”

“Young Palace Lord.”

The Northern Sea natives who had been cheering knelt down and bowed their heads. Their appearance, with their hands gathered on their chests, was so reverent that the people from the south couldn’t hide their bewildered expressions.

Swish.

The young palace lord’s white hand was lightly raised upwards. She said,

“Rise.”

The clear voice of a woman flowed out. Her voice, as if whispering lightly, was clearly heard by everyone here.

But what it contained was a dignity that made one bow their head involuntarily, and a chill that even Zhuge Lian found chilling.

‘Hmm?’

Suddenly, Zhuge Lian realized that the young palace lord’s face was somewhat familiar. He hadn’t recognized it properly because of her overwhelming impression, but her current appearance was exactly the same as someone Zhuge Lian remembered.

‘That child…’

Zhuge Lian frowned.

‘Isn’t she the girl who was with Shinui when they came to the Zhuge Family?’

*

*

*

“What?”

Nogun frowned.

“Who did you say she was?”

“Hmm. I couldn’t help but be surprised either.”

Philong Zhuge Lian said.

“The Northern Sea’s young palace lord was the very child who came to the Zhuge Family with Shinui. Her name was… perhaps Broken Sword Divine Maiden Suyeon?”

Nogun’s face hardened. Dang Wola’s movement of lifting her teacup also stopped. Seorin, who still didn’t understand, raised her head to look up at Sunbin.

Sunbin’s expression was stiffer than ever before.