A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 146

146. A Voice Calling to Open Your Eyes

Soft light illuminated the tent, and warmth radiated gently from a small brazier.

“Is that okay?”

Old Man No looked at the ceiling. There was a round hole in the top of the tent, through which the night sky was visible.

“It’s atmospheric, but what happens when it rains?”

The round wooden frame and supports seemed sturdy enough to prevent it from collapsing. However, if it rained, there would be no avoiding the downpour.

“We can cover it when it rains.”

Namira said. She jumped up, went to the side, grabbed a rope, and pulled it. The thick leather moved, covering half of the round hole.

“Is that good enough?”

Namira puffed out her chest, looking proud.

“I see. Leave it open for now. It’s hard to breathe with so many people here.”

Old Man No ignored Namira’s grimace and looked around.

“But why is everyone gathered here?”

Old Man No asked, slightly annoyed.

As he said, many people were sitting inside the tent.

Old Man No, Seorin, Sasooyeon, Dangwora, Seomoksu, Orhan, the Twelve Blades of Bukhae, and even the Four Direction Generals.

Their gazes were all directed at the young scholar lying in the center. A young scholar still unconscious, Sonbin.

“It’s cramped. Shouldn’t you all go home? It’s night.”

Actually, it wasn’t exactly cramped. The tent surrounding Sonbin was larger than expected.

The maids had set up the tent almost instantly. At first, they seemed to be building a wall with a roughly woven wooden frame, but soon they raised the roof and covered it with leather to create a tent.

The inside of the tent was lined with white cloth, and the small brazier emitted heat without smoke.

Lamps hung here and there, illuminating the surroundings, making it feel like being moved into a large, cozy room. There was even a proper door.

Meanwhile, Old Man No, Seorin, Sasooyeon, and Dangwora continued to stay by Sonbin’s side. And in the afternoon, Orhan and the Twelve Blades of Bukhae returned. Orhan brought news that the Ice Emperor was safe and the Ice Empress had been captured.

As night fell, the Four Direction Generals also entered. The guards stood watch outside the tent, but with the large physiques of the generals inside, the spacious tent seemed small.

“Um, I think it would be better if everyone went back…”

Namira hesitated for a moment before conveying Old Man No’s words. But before she could finish, Altan of the North grumbled.

“I only came for a moment. I won’t even be able to rest tonight anyway.”

There was a mountain of work to be done. Cleaning up the chaos caused by the Ice Empress’s rebellion was the job of the Four Direction Generals.

After Namira conveyed Altan’s words, Old Man No looked at Orhan and the Twelve Blades of Bukhae and said,

“What about you? The Ice Emperor is safe and the Ice Empress is captured, right? Why are you still here?”

“There may still be remnants.”

Orhan replied quietly in the Southern dialect.

“The most important thing right now is the safety of the Young Palace Lord [Sasooyeon’s title]. If the Young Palace Lord stays here, we will not leave either.”

Her words were natural. Until the rebellion was completely quelled, the most important person was, in fact, the Young Palace Lord Sasooyeon.

But Old Man No knew that her words were just an excuse.

“You’ve swept everything away, what remnants are you talking about? Even if there were any, would any dare to come here?”

Old Man No grumbled.

“Young Palace Lord.”

Skinny Nerguui stood up and said. Young Palace Lord Sasooyeon turned her head. Nerguui’s face showed concern at her haggard appearance.

“I will go to the Ice Palace. And the Young Palace Lord should take care of herself.”

His voice was rather gruff. But Sasooyeon could feel the warm consideration within.

“Yes. Thank you.”

Her faint smile made her look even more pitiful, and Nerguui cleared his throat. He glanced at the unconscious Sonbin once before leaving the tent.

“That guy always says ‘Young Palace Lord, Young Palace Lord,’ but he always calls her that so stiffly in front of her… He’s quite shy for his age.”

Guntumur muttered to Nerguui’s retreating back. He also stood up from his seat.

“We will also be going, Young Palace Lord.”

He bowed to Young Palace Lord Sasooyeon, and Altan and Bayama followed suit. They also bowed to Sasooyeon and glanced at Sonbin once before leaving.

Thud, thud.

Only four people had left, but because they were such burly generals, it felt much more spacious.

As the tent became quiet, Orhan quietly asked Old Man No,

“How is he?”

It was clear who ‘he’ referred to.

“I don’t know.”

Old Man No replied, not taking his eyes off Sonbin.

“I don’t know whether to say it’s good or bad… I still don’t know.”

Orhan looked at Sonbin. Still unconscious, his breathing was faint. Looking at him now, it was hard to believe that he was the one who had accomplished such an incredible feat.

‘That was truly…’

A new tremor ran down Orhan’s back. The pillar of blue flame that had cut through the dawn sky was still vivid in his mind. The overwhelming and brutal force that had neutralized the three thousand cavalry like gnats.

“He is the one who defeated three thousand soldiers alone.”

Orhan said quietly.

“He will be fine.”

“Three thousand soldiers… You still don’t understand.”

Old Man No said.

“Don’t understand what?”

Orhan retorted. Old Man No did not take his eyes off Sonbin as he replied,

“The amazing thing about this kid isn’t that he defeated three thousand soldiers. What’s truly great about this kid is…”

He paused for a moment. And then he said in a low voice,

“…that he didn’t unleash even a single fragment of that immense power destructively.”

‘Ah.’

Orhan understood Old Man No’s words at once.

When Sasooyeon had unleashed the same energy, the result had been overwhelming yet destructive violence.

Perhaps it was only natural. Because there was probably no one who could maintain themselves in the face of that immense power.

But Sonbin was not like that.

Although the three thousand soldiers had knelt, it was only because they had been swept away by an unprecedented force. Even in the face of that unimaginable, immense flow, Sonbin had carried out his will.

“And this sword.”

Old Man No looked at Baekro [Sonbin’s sword], which was placed next to Sonbin.

“If it weren’t for the sword of Hwanghakjin [a legendary swordsmith], even this faint breath would not have remained. No, perhaps…”

Old Man No couldn’t bring himself to say ‘we wouldn’t have even found the body.’ Because Sasooyeon and Dangwora’s shoulders were already trembling slightly.

“So it was this sword that saved him. Only this sword in the world could withstand his will.”

“The sword of the True Man.”

Orhan sighed quietly. Orhan had already heard about the sword of Hwanghakjin.

“This sword is that…”

Orhan’s gaze naturally turned to Sonbin’s sword, Baekro. The modifier ‘Immortal Sword’ felt newly significant.

“When I checked his pulse, what I felt was not just the absence of true energy.”

Old Man No said in a hollow voice.

“What I felt was… emptiness.”

“Emptiness?”

Orhan frowned slightly.

“What does that mean?”

“Right now, this kid…”

Old Man No sighed.

“Every meridian in his body, down to the smallest vessel, is perfectly open. There are no blockages, and not a single trace of impurities remains. He was swept away by that immense torrent. It’s as if this kid’s existence itself is gone. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he ascended to immortality right now.”

“That’s…”

Orhan felt the bewilderment that Old Man No must have felt. If what he said was true, Sonbin was now a being infinitely close to nature. And in Taoism, such a being is called an immortal.

A being who has transcended the limits and framework of humans. Immortals only frolic in the clouds and do not exist on the ground.

Orhan could understand why Old Man No had mentioned ascension to immortality.

“Then, if we infuse him with true energy…”

“No.”

Old Man No said firmly.

“I can’t guarantee that external true energy will be effective, and I can’t even imagine what kind of damage this kid might suffer in the process. Right now, he’s in a state where he might break just by being touched.”

Golden branches and jade leaves, cherished and treasured. A beauty that seems to break just by touching it, a transparency that seems to fade just by breathing. That utter pity.

That was the emotion that Orhan felt from Old Man No. Orhan understood why they never left his side, or rather, couldn’t leave.

“Twelve Blades of Bukhae.”

“Yes.”

The Twelve Blades replied as if they had been waiting.

“All of you, leave as well.”

“Yes?”

Orhan turned his head to look at the Twelve Blades.

“Forbid anyone from entering until the Young Palace Lord gives the order. The Twelve Blades will guard the perimeter to prevent anyone from daring to enter this place rashly.”

Her voice was low but firm.

“Yes.”

The Twelve Blades followed her command. As they left the tent, Orhan turned his head to look at Sonbin. He now understood why Old Man No had tried to send even one more person out.

“Then, all we can do is…”

“Wait.”

Old Man No closed his eyes.

“Just hope that the heavens will return this child to our side.”

His voice was almost despondent. And until then, Sasooyeon, Dangwora, and Seorin had not uttered a single word.

∴

Outside, the Twelve Blades paired up in twos. And they formed a perimeter around the tent. The night breeze had become quite chilly, but it was nothing to them.

“Will he be okay?”

One of the Twelve Blades asked, and the girl standing next to her replied,

“He’ll be fine.”

“I’ve actually seen something like this before when I was little…”

“When you were little?”

“Yeah.”

She nodded.

“Someone who was very, very respected in our tribe passed away. So the elders and the chieftain took off their outer garments and laid them down like this. There were so many other adults that the stack of clothes was very high. About as tall as me, I guess?”

She gestured to her eye level as she spoke.

“So what happened?”

“They set it on fire, didn’t they?”

The girl who was listening frowned.

“They said it was to return to the soil and wind of the Great Plains. Well, I guess so. Since they had passed away.”

The girl who was speaking shrugged.

“But that person, even though he’s still alive, he seems like he’s passed away.”

They had also heard the conversation between Old Man No and Orhan. But they hadn’t fully grasped the meaning.

“Don’t say unlucky things.”

The girl who was listening scolded her.

“That can’t be. That person is…”

She couldn’t finish her sentence and trembled slightly. Even now, thinking about that time sent shivers down her spine. It was unimaginable that someone who had shown such magnificent power could collapse.

“Well, he’s such an amazing person that the Young Palace Lord chose him. He’ll eventually get up.”

For a slightly different reason, the girl next to her said.

“I didn’t notice it at first, but now that I look at him, he’s quite handsome, and he also has the feeling of a frail scholar… Ah, I’m jealous. I wish I had a man like that.”

The girl who was listening couldn’t help but sigh, but she had no intention of interfering with personal preferences. The words ‘Even after seeing that spectacle, that’s all you can say?’ almost came out of her mouth.

“Haa.”

She sighed once more without realizing it and looked up at the night sky.

‘There are so many.’

The night sky of the Great Plains was full of stars. Following a vast flow that she did not know, the stars were slowly flowing.

*

*

*

‘You’re quite something now, too.’

A voice as nostalgic as a dream was heard. It was a voice that Sonbin could never forget or mistake.

Sonbin raised his head. He was standing in front of him. He wanted to see his face, but he couldn’t see it properly. Everything was hazy as if surrounded by fog, and his whole body felt unnatural as if it were being held back.

But he could clearly feel his presence, which was incomparable to anyone else.

‘Well done.’

A short, weighty word flowed out. Nostalgia and a lump in his throat filled him with that one word. A sorrow that he had never known before suddenly welled up from the depths of his heart.

—I…

He wanted to pour everything out, but his voice didn’t come out, perhaps because his throat was choked. Or perhaps there was no need to say anything. His one word was more than enough to compensate for everything.

‘I have a lot to say to you.’

Thud.

His large, weighty hand rested on Sonbin’s shoulder. He couldn’t even see his face properly, but he could clearly tell that he was smiling.

‘So…’

He said. In a voice as warm and gentle as that day.

‘It’s time to wake up now.’

Blink.

Sonbin opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a black circle with something like grains of sand sparkling. It looked like a round black plate placed in the middle of a white cloth.

‘What is it?’

Sonbin blinked and stared at it, and then he suddenly realized that it was like a window open to the night sky. Looking closely, he could see the round window frame made of red wood.

He was staring blankly at something unfamiliar when he suddenly heard a voice.

“Son… Young Master.”

It was a voice that seemed about to break. Sonbin turned his gaze.

A nostalgic and still beautiful face was there.

Sonbin thought that her surprised, rounded eyes seemed to shine like starlight.

“Young Master Son.”

“Brother Bin!”

“Bin!”

Welcoming voices were heard in succession. Suddenly, Seorin’s face came down from above and filled Sonbin’s vision. Only then did Sonbin realize that he was lying down.

“Why am I…”

Sonbin reflexively tried to get up.

“No!”

“Lie down.”

“Don’t get up.”

“Should I hold you down?”

Several voices poured out in an instant. And Sonbin’s attempt to get up was thwarted, and he had no choice but to lie back down.

Thud.

Four people’s hands were touching Sonbin’s chest. Sasooyeon’s white hand, Dangwora’s slender hand, Old Man No’s wide hand, and Seorin’s flexible hand. Along with that, the eyes of the four people stared intently at Sonbin.

“Um…”

Sonbin said with an awkward smile.

“I want to get up.”

“Are you alright?”

Old Man No asked. His furrowed brow and sharp eyes made his voice sound like an interrogation.

“Uh, well…”

He didn’t seem to be in any particular pain. Sonbin said.

“I think I’ll know if I get up?”

“Get up slowly and carefully. Okay?”

Sonbin gave a wry smile. He told him to be slow and careful, but what was with pushing him down before that?

“I understand. So first, the hands…”

While he was unconscious, Sonbin’s clothes had been loosened as much as possible. Thanks to that, the four people’s hands were directly touching Sonbin’s bare chest.

Sasooyeon and Dangwora quickly removed their hands. Judging from the way they hurriedly turned their faces, they seemed quite embarrassed. Seorin removed her hand only after Old Man No nodded.

Rattle.

Sonbin got up. The thin cloth covering his body flowed down, and he felt something hard on the hand that was supporting him on the bed.

Sonbin turned his head. He thought it was the floor of the bed, but somehow there were fancy decorations attached here and there.

‘This is…’

“How is it? Are you okay?”

Before he could continue thinking about the bed, Old Man No asked. Come to think of it, the elderly woman who was called Seomoksu Orhan was also staring intently at him.

“Ahem.”

Sonbin roughly adjusted his wide-open collar. And he quietly moved his body here and there.

“I think I’m okay?”

He didn’t feel anything particularly strange. He didn’t have any pain either. He seemed a little weak, but that was only natural. Controlling the rampage of the Myriad Ice Essence was by no means a light task.

“Let’s see.”

Old Man No carefully placed his fingers on Sonbin’s wrist. His attitude was so cautious that Sonbin was rather puzzled, but Old Man No’s expression was serious.

How long had it been? Old Man No, who had been silent, tilted his head and looked at Sonbin. Sonbin stared back at Old Man No with wide eyes. Old Man No sighed.

“Well, anyway, it seems like you’re okay since you’ve regained consciousness…”

At that moment, unfamiliar girls suddenly rushed in.

“He’s regained consciousness?”

“Really? Are you okay?”

“Can we come in?”

It was pointless to ask if they could come in when they had already come in, but no one said anything.

Seomoksu Orhan quietly sighed, but decided to just let it go.

‘It can’t be helped. Anyone who saw that spectacle…’

It was none other than that Sonbin who had awakened. If they heard this news, even the Four Direction Generals would probably rush over right away.

“Are you okay?”

“Are you hungry?”

“How could you do that?”

“What’s your relationship with the Young Palace Lord?”

The girls surrounding Sonbin poured out questions.

Sonbin couldn’t help but be flustered by the sudden influx of unfamiliar girls. Moreover, they were all speaking the language of Bukhae.

Sonbin was at a loss. He could tell that there was no hostility in their sparkling eyes, but he still didn’t know what to say.

“Uh, well… Who are these young ladies…”

Several girls who knew the Southern language openly showed their disappointment.

“What, don’t you know us?”

“Ah. I guess he doesn’t remember. I’m disappointed.”

Sonbin didn’t know what to do in the sudden situation. He could understand the words because it was the language of the South, but he didn’t understand what they meant.

“You brats! Can’t you be quiet? Everyone, step back!”

Old Man No threatened. But the girls pretended not to hear and didn’t care at all.

They were constantly chattering to each other, not hiding their blatant curiosity towards Sonbin. At least Delbe and Naran had stepped back a little, but they couldn’t take their eyes off Sonbin either.

“Tsk, tsk, these young people these days have nothing to fear. Tsk, tsk.”

Old Man No grumbled, but the girls were still surrounding Sonbin.

Sonbin, who had no idea what was going on, was flustered by the sudden and unfamiliar attack of the girls. Thanks to that, he didn’t even realize that Sasooyeon was quietly leaving the tent.

Rustle.

Sasooyeon came outside. She felt like she wouldn’t be able to hide the overflowing tears any longer if she stayed there. Right now, hot tears were streaming down her cheeks.

“Thank you.”

Sasooyeon whispered like that.

“Really, thank you.”

More than the fact that he had come all the way to this distant Bukhae, more than the fact that he had endured the rampage of the Ice Soul in her place, she was more grateful than anything else that he had returned safely at this moment. So much so that she couldn’t even express it in a few words.

Drop, drop.

Sasooyeon covered her face with her hands. Her unexpressed feelings flowed down and soaked the land of Bukhae.

The dawn sky was slowly brightening over her faintly trembling shoulders.