A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 15

15. White Dew (白露) and Broken Moon (破月) [These are likely references to specific sword techniques or styles.]

Saja Hyuk scoffed at Nodosha’s words.

“You’re the same.”

“Perhaps.”

Nodosha shrugged.

“I don’t know. I think I’m getting old.”

Nodosha shook his head and said,

“Nothing’s fun these days. There’s no one who can match me. Last time, some young punk who claimed to be the greatest swordsman in the world asked me for a duel. I made him dance all day long, but even that wasn’t much fun. The martial arts world isn’t what it used to be. Young people these days don’t practice their martial arts. I wonder what they’re doing. Tsk, tsk.”

“You did something awful. What’s so good about dancing with an old man like you?”

“Hmm, I don’t think so. He even rolled his eyes and seemed to enjoy it later on…”

“Hmph. Do you think I don’t know that once you’re caught by your White Dew, it’s not easy to even let go of your sword?”

“No. The reason that young man didn’t let go of his sword must be because he fell for my charm, don’t you think?”

Nodosha said with a smile.

“True charm doesn’t disappear even when you get old.”

“That’s what I said.”

“What does it matter?”

Nodosha stroked his beard leisurely and said,

“Truth is truth, no matter who says it. That little quibble about who said it first is just trivial.”

“As far as I know,”

Saja Hyuk said with a sneer.

“That’s what thieves usually say.”

“Hehehe.”

Nodosha laughed, staring intently at Saja Hyuk.

“When I’m like this,”

Nodosha said, still smiling.

“It feels like I can go back to that time anytime. To those nostalgic days when we exchanged swords for ten days and nights without rest.”

Swish.

The wind blew. After a moment, Saja Hyuk said.

“That’s an illusion.”

“Yes, it’s an illusion. Just a vain dream. Like our lives.”

Silence fell. The two men facing each other with their swords seemed to be looking at different places, and neither of them spoke. How long had it been?

“Well.”

Nodosha opened his mouth.

“It’s hard enough just standing here, so shouldn’t we just finish this? It’s been a long time since I’ve been rejected this much. White Dew might get sulky.”

Even Son Bin, a third party, could tell that his words were just an excuse.

Was the hardship he spoke of perhaps the pain of a past he couldn’t reclaim?

“I will.”

Saja Hyuk replied.

“It seems that Broken Moon’s patience has also run out.”

Swish.

The tip of Broken Moon pointed towards the ground.

Whooong.

Standing before the tremendous force pouring out of Saja Hyuk, Nodosha said quietly.

“Seorin.”

“Yes.”

The young man’s voice was full of tension, but Nodosha’s expression was gentle.

“Look. This is my friend’s blade.”

Son Bin noticed that his voice was trembling slightly. Unlike his gentle expression, Nodosha’s eyes were sparkling with vitality and joy.

“And this is my way (道) [Dao, often translated as ‘the Way,’ refers to a fundamental principle or path of life].”

Whoosh.

The stopped Broken Moon slowly began to move. As if to embrace the world, his black greatsword drew a large circle.

It was the beginning of Broken Moon Eclipse, Flash of Lightning. The moment that fateful circle, which seemed impossible to stop, was completed, moonlight poured down.

∴

Whooong.

Dry leaves scattered and flew up as if a whirlwind was blowing. Nodosha’s sword, White Dew, scattered blue light in all directions.

Swoosh, swoosh.

In the pouring moonlight, Nodosha moved dazzlingly as if he were performing a sword dance alone.

But each of his movements was, in fact, like a precarious tightrope walk on the boundary between life and death.

Each time his sword passed through the air, a sharp explosion occurred regularly.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Nodosha’s sword seemed to be striking something, or perhaps deflecting it slightly. And then, the final strike (一劍).

Koo-oong!

A heavy explosion that seemed to shake the ground erupted from his sword. At the same time, Nodosha’s body was pushed back.

Crack.

Nodosha’s body began to rotate, and his feet left complex traces on the ground.

Nodosha, who seemed to be swept away helplessly like a leaf in the wind, eventually succeeded in stopping.

Clang!

With a sharp sound, Nodosha’s movement stopped.

“Hoo.”

His hair was disheveled, and his beard was a mess. Traces of sharp blades remained on his clothes here and there.

But his sword, White Dew, was still blooming with blue light. Still.

“It’s terrible,”

Nodosha said, grumbling.

“How can you become stronger than you were back then? When I look at you now, I think everything we did that day was a waste of effort.”

“You blocked it.”

Saja Hyuk said slowly. He was looking at Nodosha with a slightly lowered posture. His black greatsword, Broken Moon, was pointing diagonally at the night sky.

“Yes.”

Nodosha said. His eyes were full of joy.

“I blocked your Broken Moon Eclipse. Me, and my White Dew.”

Saja Hyuk’s eyes were conflicted. He slowly lowered Broken Moon.

“Then.”

Broken Moon, which had been slowly descending, moved horizontally, drawing a level line.

“We’ll have to go to the next one.”

‘Next?’

Son Bin, who was listening, tilted his head.

‘What’s next?’

It was the moment Son Bin was thinking that.

Saja Hyuk’s greatsword, Broken Moon, which had been moving horizontally, was suddenly pointing at the night sky. Like a flag raised straight to the sky.

“It’s an honor,”

Nodosha said with a smile.

“To be the first opponent of Broken Moon Second Form.”

“Yes.”

Saja Hyuk, who held the greatsword Broken Moon straight up, said.

“This is Broken Moon Second Form, Moonlight All Over the Sky (月光滿天).”

Whoosh.

The next moment, blue moonlight filled the sky and the earth.

∴

Blink, blink.

Son Bin blinked his eyes.

‘What is it? Did I lose my mind for a moment? No, that can’t be.’

That couldn’t be. Since the duel between the two men began, all of Son Bin’s nerves had been focused on it.

So much so that he forgot to breathe at the crucial moment when the tension was at its peak.

He clearly saw and heard Saja Hyuk saying ‘Moonlight All Over the Sky’ just now, and his greatsword Broken Moon pointing to the sky.

But what is this scene unfolding before my eyes?

‘When, or how…’

The scene before his eyes was very simple. Saja Hyuk was standing, and Nodosha was slowly falling. That was all.

But the problem was that he didn’t even know how this happened, or when it happened.

Thud.

Nodosha’s body fell to the ground helplessly. Son Bin glanced at the young man.

His expression was also one of astonishment, as if he didn’t understand the scene before him.

But that was only for that moment.

“Kuaaaa!”

At the same time as confirming that Nodosha’s body had fallen to the ground, a sound like a beast’s cry erupted from the young man’s mouth.

And the next moment, his body shot out like an arrow towards Saja Hyuk.

Swoosh.

“Hmm.”

Saja Hyuk let out a low sound as he looked at the young man rushing towards him.

He grabbed the greatsword Broken Moon, which he was holding in one hand, with both hands and lightly drew it upwards.

Clang.

The result was decided in an instant. The young man could not avoid or overcome the attack of the greatsword Broken Moon.

The young man’s small body seemed to float in the air for a moment, then plunged to the ground as it was.

Thud.

Before his body even touched the ground, the young man had already lost consciousness. The Buddhist prayer beads he was holding rolled away, and silence fell again in the empty space.

“Ugh.”

A groan came from Nodosha, who had fallen. He struggled to get up from his side.

“Cough.”

Nodosha’s body staggered as he stood up. But Saja Hyuk was only looking down at him with indifferent eyes.

After staggering a few more times, Nodosha barely managed to stand on his own two feet. He no longer held a sword in his hand.

Nodosha, who had been silent for a while as if catching his breath, said.

“Thank you.”

Nodosha said in a voice that seemed about to break. His gaze was directed towards the fallen young man.

“You saved that child.”

“Didn’t I tell you?”

Saja Hyuk replied.

“That I will never become like you.”

“You did.”

Nodosha laughed helplessly.

“You have always been a person who keeps his word. I… I couldn’t.”

Nodosha’s eyes were filled with complicated feelings.

“Cough.”

Suddenly, Nodosha coughed violently. He raised one hand to cover his mouth, but before he knew it, his hand and white beard were stained red with blood.

“Oh, it seems I’m going to go before you.”

Nodosha looked at his blood-stained hand and smiled. He raised his head and looked at Saja Hyuk.

“Don’t you have something to ask me?”

Saja Hyuk was silent for a moment.

“Yes.”

Nodosha smiled.

“That’s a relief. I happen to have a favor to ask too. Tell me.”

Saja Hyuk gritted his teeth. Slowly, he said as if spitting it out.

“Why?”

Anger flashed in Saja Hyuk’s eyes. It was the first time since the duel that he had shown such a pure and passionate look of anger.

“Why did you do that? What…”

Gritting.

Saja Hyuk gritted his teeth.

“Why you!”

Saja Hyuk said as if shouting.

“Why? Hehe, cough.”

Nodosha let out a hollow laugh. Then suddenly he covered his mouth and coughed violently. His clothes were stained with blood.

“Hoo-oo.”

After taking a long sigh, Nodosha said. His eyes were directed far beyond Saja Hyuk.

“Do you remember that day when you showed us the three forms of Broken Moon, Broken Moon Three Forms?”

Saja Hyuk silently glared at Nodosha. Nodosha said.

“The moment we saw it, we realized that as long as you are there, no one can surpass you. If you complete the last Broken Moon Third Form after Flash of Lightning and Moonlight All Over the Sky, we will be forever under you.”

Nodosha smiled bitterly. Saja Hyuk said with an angry look.

“Were you guys just that kind of people, just caring about hierarchy?”

Nodosha shook his head with a smile.

“No, no. Actually, it doesn’t matter who is above or below. It’s not that kind of problem.”

Nodosha said.

“The problem was that your Broken Moon Three Forms was like a huge wall blocking our way. As long as your Broken Moon Three Forms exists, no one can move forward, such a huge wall of despair. In fact, after that day, it was so hard for me to pick up a sword again. Very…”

He turned his head and looked at the fallen young man.

“Very, hard.”

Nodosha looked at Saja Hyuk. His eyes were directed straight at Saja Hyuk.

“That’s why we did it. No one had to be first. That’s what we did.”

Saja Hyuk met Nodosha’s gaze head-on.

Gritting.

Saja Hyuk gritted his teeth, but he didn’t say anything more.

“I have a favor to ask.”

Nodosha said.

“Can you take care of this child?”

Nodosha’s gaze towards Saja Hyuk was shining like a clear night sky.

“He’s a child who has barely learned to be human. I know I’m not qualified to ask you this…”

The Taoist looked at the fallen young man. His eyes were filled with warmth.

“He’s a pitiful child.”

“Pitiful?”

Sparks flew from Saja Hyuk’s eyes.

“How dare you say such a thing in front of me? Especially you!”

Saja Hyuk shouted. It was a sight that Son Bin had never seen before.

“How dare you to me!”

Whooong.

Saja Hyuk’s greatsword Broken Moon rose. Nodosha closed his eyes.

It seemed that Broken Moon would fall on Nodosha’s head right now, but neither Nodosha nor Saja Hyuk moved.

Swish.

The wind blew. After a while, Broken Moon slowly disappeared into its scabbard.

Sreung.

Nodosha opened his eyes.

“I can’t do that.”

Saja Hyuk said in a dry voice, looking away after putting away Broken Moon.

“Is that so?”

Nodosha looked into Saja Hyuk’s eyes. Nodosha’s eyes blurred as if he had discovered something in those eyes.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Nodosha muttered to himself. Nodosha looked at the fallen young man. After a moment of silence, Nodosha suddenly raised his head.

“You.”

“Yes?”

Son Bin, who was suddenly called, answered with surprised eyes. Nodosha smiled.

“Yes, you. Come here.”

Nodosha gestured and called Son Bin.

Son Bin, flustered, glanced at Saja Hyuk, but Saja Hyuk was looking elsewhere and remained silent, as if it had nothing to do with him.

“Hurry.”

At Nodosha’s urging, Son Bin moved awkwardly. As he approached, Nodosha smiled.

“What’s your name?”

“I, my surname is Son, and my name is Bin…”

“Son Bin. That’s a good name. What do you do?”

Somehow, he had a familiar tone, like an old man in the neighborhood. But this Nodosha is no ordinary person. Son Bin answered carefully.

“I’m preparing for the civil service examination, but I failed this time…”

“Oh, the civil service examination. Then you are not a certified candidate now? You must have read a lot of books.”

“Y, yes, but…”

“Then, would you like to teach someone?”

“Yes?”

Nodosha smiled.

“It’s not difficult. I don’t want you to make him a scholar like you, but just teach him how to live as a human being.”

Son Bin glanced at the fallen young man. It was obvious that the person Nodosha was talking about was this young man.

“But I…”

“Ah, I know. You’ll be busy following this friend for a while. I’m not asking you to do it now.”

Nodosha said.

“I’m just saying that if you have some time later, or if you happen to meet him by chance, please do so. Later, I mean.”

Nodosha, smiling, looked like just a kind old man in the neighborhood.

‘Hmm.’

Son Bin thought. The story of having some time later or meeting by chance is like chasing after a cloud with no promise.

Just like a perfunctory greeting, meaningless and impossible to happen.

‘If that’s the case…’

This Nodosha is no ordinary person. Son Bin doesn’t have the confidence to refuse in front of Saja Hyuk like that.

Son Bin’s conclusion came out simply.

“I understand.”

Son Bin nodded obediently.

“I will.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Nodosha grabbed Son Bin’s hand.

Son Bin was startled. It was because Nodosha’s hand was thinner than he thought, and because his hand was stained red with blood.

“By the way, would you please bring me my sword?”

‘Sword?’

Son Bin turned his head following Nodosha’s gaze. A sword, which Nodosha called ‘White Dew’, was lying on the floor.