A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 140

140. The Twelve Maids of Bukhae

The eyes of the former generation elders guarding the Ice Empress’s training chamber were resolute. They were ready to give their lives to protect this place.

Rustle.

Sarune turned her head. Seomoksu Oruhan and the Twelve Maids of Bukhae stood behind the former generation elders.

Of course, they knew Sarune. But at this moment, their eyes looking at Sarune were not much different from those of the former generation elders.

Swish.

No-gun slyly moved closer to Son-bin.

“Looks like they won’t let us in, right?”

Even if he didn’t know the language of Bukhae, he could read the atmosphere. Son-bin nodded.

“It seems so.”

“But we have to go in, right?”

“Yes.”

Son-bin said.

“We must go in.”

No-gun grinned.

“Then, leave this to me.”

While the two were whispering, Sarune called out to Seomoksu Oruhan with a pitiful expression.

“Oruhan!”

Oruhan did not answer. Her gaze towards Sarune was colder than ever.

It was a natural response for her. Sarune had entered this place, where the young palace lord Sa Su-yeon resided, with outsiders, and those outsiders were by no means ordinary.

“The Ice Queen has gathered warriors. Their number exceeds a thousand, and they have already set out towards this place.”

“So?”

Seomoksu Oruhan said in a cold voice. Sarune knew from her cold reaction that her ears were already closed. But she had to speak.

“This place is dangerous. We must tell the young palace lord to evacuate to the Ice Palace.”

“Then why did you come with outsiders?”

Sarune bit her lip.

“If I tell her, will the young palace lord evacuate?”

“No.”

Seomoksu Oruhan smiled lightly.

“There’s no way she would. Even if not just a thousand, but the entire Bukhae rose up against her, she would not retreat a single step.”

“That’s why that person is needed.”

Sarune looked straight at Oruhan and said.

“That person will be able to move the young palace lord’s heart.”

“I can’t believe it.”

Seomoksu Oruhan said.

“How can I believe your words when you have entered the forbidden grounds of Bukhae with outsiders? Perhaps the story of the Ice Queen’s thousand warriors is also a story you made up.”

“Such…!”

“Even if it is true that the Ice Queen’s thousand warriors are heading here as you say, it doesn’t matter.”

Oruhan said.

“The Twelve Maids of Bukhae and I will gladly open the way for her.”

It was her confidence and determination. Even if a thousand warriors rushed in, they would open the way without fail if it was the young palace lord’s command. Even if it meant sacrificing their lives.

“So go back.”

Seomoksu Oruhan’s words were not only directed at Sarune. Looking at Son-bin and his party with cold and arrogant eyes, Oruhan said.

“This place is not allowed for you.”

It was Seomoksu Oruhan’s final warning.

The moment Sarune’s eyes showed a hint of sadness, No-gun said.

“Are you Seomoksu Oruhan?”

Oruhan did not answer. No-gun smiled and said.

“It’s no use pretending you didn’t understand. I know you can speak our language.”

Seomoksu Oruhan’s sharp gaze glared at No-gun. Her sharp vigilance was largely due to No-gun.

“Who are you?”

Instead of answering, Oruhan asked. It was fluent Southern language.

“I am Nam-ak No-gun.”

At No-gun’s answer, Oruhan’s eyes took on a different light.

“I see. So you are the one…”

“Ah, no need for useless talk.”

No-gun said.

“Looks like you’re just telling us to leave, right?”

Sarune and Oruhan’s conversation was in the language of Bukhae. Of course, No-gun didn’t understand. But he roughly guessed the meaning.

“That’s right.”

Oruhan’s eyes were particularly bright.

“This place is forbidden. Even if we die, you cannot set foot here.”

Unlike her gentle appearance, her eyes were quite provocative. No-gun pouted.

“I heard it’s an emergency situation, so why are you trying so hard to protect this place? Looks like it’s just full of rocks and nothing special.”

“What…!”

“And your words are wrong.”

“What?”

It was the moment Seomoksu Oruhan asked back.

Koo-oong!

In an instant, the ground where No-gun was standing vibrated greatly. And dust exploded out.

Pa-ah!

Rocks and dirt burst out from behind No-gun, and at the same time, three people shot out like fan spokes towards Oruhan and the Twelve Maids of Bukhae.

Those three people were none other than Nam-ak No-gun, Dang-wol-ah, and Seo-rin.

‘Tch.’

A completely unexpected surprise attack. But instead of panicking, Seomoksu Oruhan was rather furious.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Woo-oong.

Her beloved sword, Ilseom (One Flash), which had already revealed its form, emitted energy. And it fell towards Nam-ak No-gun, who was rushing in.

However, just before colliding with her sword, No-gun’s figure disappeared from sight as if by magic.

Whoosh.

‘Oh no!’

Seomoksu Oruhan realized she had been caught off guard. Nam-ak No-gun’s actions, rushing in as if to die together, were a bluff.

Tap.

“See? I was wrong, right?”

Seomoksu Oruhan turned her head sharply. Nam-ak No-gun was standing there with a mischievous expression. With even the young scholar wrapped in his arms.

“We set foot here and you didn’t die. I’m right, aren’t I?”

Rustle, whoosh.

As soon as No-gun’s words ended, a veiled lady and a young pretty boy landed next to him.

Seomoksu Oruhan looked around. The Twelve Maids of Bukhae could not hide their embarrassment. They had allowed not only the veiled lady but also the young pretty boy to pass through without stopping them.

“Why, are you upset? Because you were suddenly caught off guard?”

Looking at Oruhan, who was gritting her teeth, No-gun said.

“But the most important thing to be careful of after being caught off guard is…”

Koo-oong.

Once again, the ground vibrated. And dust exploded from where No-gun was standing.

Pa-ah!

Cutting through the wind, three people rushed towards Oruhan at the same time. A blue, eerie energy was swirling in their hands. It was two swords and one hand.

‘Oh no.’

A master of external affairs with accurate insight would target Oruhan first. It was too obvious, but a completely unexpected move.

‘Tch.’

Oruhan gritted her teeth. Her response this time was even slower than before. Oruhan hurriedly crossed her arms to prepare for the impact. Her sword, Ilseom, flashed as if to protect Oruhan.

“Oruhan-nim!”

This time, the Twelve Maids of Bukhae did not stand still. Realizing that the three people’s target was Seomoksu Oruhan, they threw themselves to help Oruhan.

Whoong, hoo-oong.

A wind sound that tore through the ears brushed past Oruhan. Oruhan, who was prepared for the impact, could not grasp the situation for a moment. But before she could finish thinking, No-gun’s sharp energy fell towards her sword.

Kwaang!

The two swords collided and an explosion erupted. Oruhan was helplessly pushed back by the impact. And two more explosions erupted from her left and right as she was pushed back.

Kwak!

“Agh.”

Hearing the screams of the Twelve Maids of Bukhae flowing into her ears, Oruhan gritted her teeth and rotated her body.

Pa-ba-bak.

The momentum that had been pushing Oruhan back dissipated and her body stopped.

Oruhan immediately assessed the situation. The Twelve Maids of Bukhae, who had lost their balance and were being pushed back, were also straightening their bodies and landing in a position similar to Oruhan.

Tap, ta-dak.

Like Oruhan, they also did not seem to have any particular injuries. But their faces were filled with embarrassment.

The veiled lady and the pretty boy, who had been rushing towards Seomoksu Oruhan, had passed by Oruhan in an instant and pounced on the Twelve Maids of Bukhae.

“Oh my god.”

One of the twelve maids muttered without realizing it. Even though they were caught off guard unexpectedly, the veiled lady and the pretty boy had pushed back all of the Twelve Maids of Bukhae with a single move.

Oruhan bit her lip and raised her head. Nam-ak No-gun was standing in front of her with a leisurely expression. Holding his sword in his hand, the sword that had helplessly pushed her back.

“Do you understand now?”

No-gun said with a sly smile.

“The most dangerous thing at the moment you think you’ve been caught off guard is to be caught off guard again. It’s obvious what kind of response a flustered opponent will make. So if you think the situation is out of control, the wisest decision is to retreat immediately without regret.”

Even while listening to No-gun’s leisurely words, Seomoksu Oruhan could not let her guard down. Because of the thought that she might be caught off guard once again.

‘Nam-ak No-gun.’

Seomoksu Oruhan gritted her teeth. His martial arts were beyond what she had thought.

In an instant, they broke through herself and the Twelve Maids of Bukhae. And with a single move, they pushed them back.

“Ah, and while we’re on the subject, let me say one more thing.”

No-gun grinned.

“From now on, we will protect this place.”

Woo-oong.

A slightly short sword in No-gun’s hand scattered blue energy.

“No one can pass.”

Woong.

No-gun’s sword, So-ryeong, cried out happily. A heavy and cold silence fell between the confronting two camps.

“Ah, excuse me.”

Suddenly, Seo-rin called out to No-gun, breaking the silence. No-gun frowned.

“Why?”

No-gun answered without taking his eyes off Oruhan. Seo-rin said with a troubled expression.

“We have to stop them, but we can’t kill them, right?”

No-gun answered as if he was dumbfounded.

“What do you think Bin-ie [referring to Son-bin] will say if we kill them?”

“Woong.”

Seo-rin frowned and tilted his head.

“I don’t think she’ll like it. Hyung [older brother] is just like Master when he talks…”

“Yeah. Seriously, where did that guy come from? Is it because he’s holding the same sword that his personality is so similar?”

No-gun sighed.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to do what I want because of that guy. I can’t even remember the last time I killed someone.”

“You dealt with the Five Fiends in Hyeong-san.”

Dang-wol-ah said quietly. A short sword in her hand was swirling with eerie energy.

“It hasn’t been long.”

No-gun distorted his face. And Seomoksu Oruhan’s face also distorted. She couldn’t understand what they were doing in front of herself and the Twelve Maids of Bukhae.

But she couldn’t move rashly. It might be another trick to induce her carelessness.

“But I’m not good at not killing. I’ve never done it before.”

Seo-rin said, looking at the Twelve Maids of Bukhae.

“If I hit them softly, they won’t be able to stop me, and what if I hit them hard and the pretty sisters die? I don’t think I can do it?”

At Seo-rin’s words, the expressions of some of the Twelve Maids of Bukhae changed. Even in this situation, they didn’t seem to dislike being called pretty.

“Why can’t you? You have Hongjinmalli [Red Dust Ten Thousand Miles].”

No-gun said, throwing it out.

“This?”

Seo-rin took out a Buddhist whisk from his chest. Long and luscious tail-like hairs fluttered softly from the end of the whisk.

“Yeah. Hit them with that. Think of it as dusting off the dust, gently but boldly.”

Seo-rin, who was fiddling with Hongjinmalli, slowly raised his inner strength. Then, the whisk vibrated faintly and each hair began to emit a blue light.

Woo-oong.

“Wow.”

Seo-rin widened his eyes as if amazed. Seo-rin swung the duster-like whisk around.

Hoo-oong.

A soft yet oppressive energy spread in all directions. It was an energy that even Seomoksu Oruhan could not dare to underestimate.

Seo-rin’s inner strength was also admirable, but what was surprising was that such a majestic energy was contained in a whisk that was not even a weapon.

No matter what it was made of, that whisk was undoubtedly an object that defied the common sense of the world.

“This complicated world is like being full of red dust, so it is called Hongjin (紅塵) [Red Dust].”

No-gun said.

“But even if the foolishness of the world is full of the world, there is a meaning of non-killing (不殺生) [abstaining from taking life] to shake off their vain desires.”

Hoo-oong.

The soft and majestic energy created by Seo-rin’s whisk fluttered Oruhan’s white hair.

“That is Hongjinmalli (紅塵萬里) [Red Dust Ten Thousand Miles].”

Hoo-oong, hoo-oong.

As if he liked it quite a bit, Seo-rin was still swinging Hongjinmalli around. No-gun frowned.

“Are you even listening?”

“It’s good? I really like it. I can do it without killing with this.”

Instead of answering, Seo-rin said something else. Seo-rin’s appearance, smiling brightly, was enough to shake the hearts of some of the women in that place. Although the content was eerie.

“If you still don’t understand, remember what Bin-ie used to do.”

No-gun said as if grumbling.

“If you do as Bin-ie used to do, everything will be fine.”

With an innocent expression, Seo-rin nodded vigorously.

“Ah, and when dealing with many people…”

“What are you doing?”

A sharp voice cut off No-gun’s words. It was Seomoksu Oruhan. No-gun looked at Oruhan as if wondering what she was talking about.

“Are you trying to mock us now? How can someone of your stature do such vulgar things…”

“What, didn’t you know yet?”

No-gun grinned.

“I’m stalling for time.”

“What?”

Oruhan didn’t understand for a moment. But soon, she realized that the young scholar was not visible. That scholar who was clearly with No-gun when he first passed by Oruhan.

‘Oh no.’

Oruhan looked inside the stone tomb. But the scholar is no longer visible. She completely missed him. Without her knowing, she was caught off guard once again.

“Iik!”

The Twelve Maids of Bukhae also realized what Seomoksu Oruhan had realized. Their momentum, realizing that they had been completely played by the opponent, changed in an instant.

Hoo-woo-ook.

Oruhan and the Twelve Maids of Bukhae raised sharp energy. But No-gun’s expression, looking at that sight, was only leisurely.

“Are you finally ready to attack? Then I’ll say it one more time. This is very important.”

No-gun smiled.

“No one can pass.”

Woo-oong.

No-gun’s sword, So-ryeong (小鈴) [Small Bell], cried.

*

*

*

Son-bin walked into the stone tomb without looking back. Believing that No-gun, Dang-wol-ah, and Seo-rin would stop them, Son-bin’s steps were not disturbed in the slightest.

Step.

“This is…”

Son-bin stopped and muttered without realizing it.

A huge stone door with ancient patterns carved on it stood in front of Son-bin. It looked more like the entrance to an ancient tomb than the training chamber of the successive Ice Empresses.

After carefully examining it, Son-bin reached out his hand. He felt a chill like ice from the stone door that touched his fingertips. Son-bin gave strength.

Gurrung.

The huge stone door surprisingly slid open easily.

Hwa-ah!

A cold wind flowed out from inside the door, scattering Son-bin’s hair. And what Son-bin saw was a huge passage leading to the underground. No, it was closer to a cave than a passage.

Step.

Son-bin stepped inside. Large stone steps continued on the gently curved floor of the huge cave. Something shining was embedded in the walls at regular intervals.

‘Is that what they call night-shining pearls?’

The dotted lights were like a path leading to the abyss, which was rather eerie. But at that moment, the emotion that filled Son-bin’s heart was not fear.

‘Sa So-jeo [term of endearment] is in a place like this…’

Sa Su-yeon is below this. Alone, lonely in this cold place.

His heart ached when he thought of her.

Step.

Son-bin moved his feet without hesitation under the faint night-shining pearls. A faint explosion sound was heard from behind Son-bin, who was disappearing into the darkness.