A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 172

Creak.

The large pavilion roof of the banquet hall groaned ominously. Considering how many times it had been struck, it seemed on the verge of collapse.

However, few paid attention to the sound. The gazes of those who remained were fixed on one person: Sword Demon.

Step.

Son Bin rose and greeted Sword Demon with a slight bow.

“It’s been a while, Sword Demon.”

The title ‘Miss’ felt inadequate, but he didn’t know what else to call her.

Normally, he might call her a female knight, but she hardly embodied the word ‘knight’ anyway.

“Do you know me?”

Sword Demon looked at Son Bin as if seeing him for the first time. If the slightest flicker in her eyes could be called an expression.

“We met in the Snow Mountain.”

“I did?”

Rarely, Sword Demon’s eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

“Yes. You said something similar back then… that I smelled nice.”

Sword Demon stared at Son Bin for a long moment.

“That’s right.”

After a long pause, Sword Demon spoke, as if the memory had finally surfaced. She regarded Son Bin with renewed interest.

“I didn’t misjudge. You are indeed…”

“So.”

Swoosh.

Nam Ryuk-nogun swiftly stepped forward, interposing himself between Sword Demon and Son Bin.

“What do you want? You didn’t cause all this chaos just to say you came to the wrong place, did you?”

“I thought I had come to the wrong place.”

Nogun’s expression soured, but Sword Demon answered with unwavering calm.

“Until I found him.”

“Oh, my, my.”

A feignedly coquettish voice cut through the air.

“Too bad, but this older sister had her eye on that man first.”

Rustle.

Hwasa rose, a smile playing on her lips as she glared daggers at Sword Demon.

“I don’t tolerate line-cutting, you know?”

Sa Su-yeon frowned slightly, observing Hwasa. Sword Demon also glanced back at Hwasa.

But that was all. Sword Demon dismissed her with a turn of her head, as if Hwasa wasn’t even worth acknowledging.

Hwasa felt a surge of anger.

“Ha, these young ones these days have no manners. Where did you learn to…”

“Hold it in, Hwasa.”

Talhondo stopped Hwasa, whose eyebrows shot up in fury.

“What did you say?”

Hwasa’s voice was sharp, but Talhondo was focused on Sword Demon, not her.

Sword Demon had calmly cleaved Bulkwang Seonsa’s Hundred Step Divine Fist with a single sword strike and even forced Beopheo Shinni’s Zen Palm to retreat.

But Talhondo saw something else: the beast’s fangs gleaming behind that cold, detached gaze.

‘An untamed beast.’

That’s right. From the beginning, this beast had revealed its true nature, hadn’t it?

She possessed no basic common sense, not even a shred of human empathy.

‘A beast, huh.’

Talhondo chuckled humorlessly. It was futile to expect human compassion or reason from a beast, just as it was pointless to expect martial prowess from the outer circle at this moment.

“I said, hold it in.”

Talhondo spoke dismissively.

“There are plenty of others who will step up, even if you don’t.”

Hwasa wasn’t the only one who reacted to Sword Demon’s words singling out Son Bin. Nam Ryuk-nogun, Namgungcheon, Hyeonryeonwi, and even Moryongmyeong’s expressions shifted at her declaration.

Moreover, including Moryongjin, Sa Su-yeon, Dang Wora, and even Seorin from Wudang, there were nine outer circle experts present.

Everyone’s eyes held not just simple curiosity, but genuine concern for him. And there would be even more if you included the young ladies, including Wonju Hwawol.

“Humph.”

Only then did Hwasa grasp Talhondo’s true meaning and reluctantly sat down, though she still seemed displeased.

“He’s a popular guy.”

Talhondo muttered, glancing at Son Bin. But his gaze held more than just indifference.

“Seven String Zither.”

Sword Demon murmured, studying Son Bin as if unsure how to proceed in this unfamiliar situation.

But her hesitation was fleeting.

“If you come with me now…”

Sword Demon said to Son Bin, seemingly unconcerned with Nam Ryuk-nogun, Sa Su-yeon, and Dang Wora blocking her path.

“I won’t harm the people you cherish.”

Twitch.

Nam Ryuk-nogun’s white eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

Such a statement couldn’t be made without reason. Sword Demon had been carefully observing Son Bin’s words and actions all along.

“Don’t say that.”

A clear, feminine voice echoed through the banquet hall.

“You can never achieve what you want by resorting to that.”

The speaker was a beautiful young lady with an air of refinement. She stood tall and looked directly at Sword Demon.

“Who are you?”

The young lady bowed politely to Sword Demon. She seemed to possess no discernible energy, appearing delicate and fragile.

“My name is Namgunghyang.”

“Do you know what I want?”

Namgunghyang smiled softly.

“How could I not? It is said that ‘those who have machines will surely have things to use them for’ [有機械者 必有機事], so when you broke into this place with a single sword strike, everyone understood your purpose.”

Sword Demon frowned slightly. She, who remained unfazed by the energy of the outer circle experts, showed a flicker of annoyance at Namgunghyang’s obscure quote.

“I don’t understand those words.”

“It means that people tend to solve problems by relying on the tools they have at their disposal, whether it’s a machine for shooting arrows, a frame for weaving, or even a single sword.”

Namgunghyang bowed lightly.

“I didn’t mean to trouble you with difficult words. I apologize for my carelessness.”

“It’s not difficult.”

Sword Demon said.

“So, do you know what I want?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me.”

Sword Demon’s voice remained calm.

“But if I don’t receive the answer I seek…”

Sword Demon’s gaze turned icy.

“There will be no further conversation.”

Sword Demon’s sharp energy threatened to engulf Namgunghyang at any moment.

The former Thunder Sword, Namgungcheon, couldn’t stand idly by.

“How dare you…”

Swoosh.

Namgunghyang’s small hand stopped Namgungcheon. Namgunghyang said:

“What you want is…”

Logically, it was easy to deduce Sword Demon’s desire. The reason for her sudden, violent intrusion could only be one thing.

To find a worthy opponent, someone who could push her martial arts to a higher level, just like the outer circle experts present.

But was that the answer Sword Demon truly sought?

Namgunghyang looked directly at Sword Demon.

“It’s someone who will complete your sword.”

Namgunghyang’s large eyes shone with understanding. She continued without hesitation.

“That’s why you carry the Half Sword, and that’s the meaning of refusing the Seonsa and Shinni.”

Sword Demon stared intently at Namgunghyang.

“That’s right.”

Blinking once, Sword Demon said, her intense energy dissipating.

“Then why can’t I get what I want?”

“Because your method is flawed.”

Namgunghyang’s eyes sparkled.

“You don’t truly know him.”

Sword Demon turned to look at Son Bin. His eyes were clear, like the sky seen from the Snow Mountain.

“Yes, perhaps you’re right.”

Sword Demon said in a low voice.

“So I’ll check.”

Whoosh.

In an instant, tremendous energy erupted from Sword Demon, and her Half Sword traced a dazzling arc.

“You!”

With Nogun’s roar, his So-ryeong Sword flashed.

However, before the silver trajectory and the blade of the So-ryeong Sword could even meet, two other trajectories shot out from Sword Demon’s left and right, aimed directly at Sa Su-yeon and Dang Wora.

Kwaaaang!

Three separate explosions erupted simultaneously.

Nogun’s So-ryeong, Sa Su-yeon’s Myeong, and Dang Wora’s So-wol deflected Sword Demon’s sword energy, but they couldn’t avoid being pushed back, even momentarily.

“Young Master Son!”

Sa Su-yeon shouted, but Sword Demon’s outstretched left hand was already aimed directly at Son Bin.

“If you don’t dodge, you’ll die.”

Sword Demon’s cold voice reached Son Bin’s ears just as her white finger flicked lightly.

Fing.

A small sound sliced through the banquet hall.

And Son Bin saw it: a slender shadow resolutely blocking Sword Demon’s eerie finger wind, like death itself.

‘Miss!’

That shadow was Moryongrin, Moryongsega’s precious daughter, who had leaped in front of Son Bin.

“Rin-ah!”

Her brother Moryongjin’s voice, and Sword Demon’s finger wind rushing towards her eyes.

Moryongrin gritted her teeth.

Kang!

Sparks flew in the air with a sharp sound.

Clang, clatter.

Moryongrin saw the iron piece falling to the floor and rolling away. She was safe. The iron piece had deflected Sword Demon’s finger wind.

“You’ll die if you don’t dodge?”

Nogun smiled and said, holding the So-ryeong Sword in his right hand and another iron piece in his left.

“Who says so?”

Bang!

With the sound of an explosion, the iron piece shot through the air. But Sword Demon didn’t dodge.

Whir.

As if performing a sword dance, she straightened her back and swung the Half Sword in a wide arc from top to bottom. The edge of the Half Sword met Nogun’s iron piece head-on.

Kaaang!

Nogun’s iron piece was blocked by the sharp edge of Sword Demon’s Half Sword and could no longer advance. But it couldn’t force Sword Demon to retreat either.

Thud.

A red-hot piece of iron, so distorted that it was unrecognizable, fell to the floor.

“Maybe you might know.”

Sword Demon said, looking directly at Nogun.

“But I’m still not satisfied.”

Sizzle.

A section of the floor was scorched by the heated iron piece, and thin smoke rose.

“Young Miss Moryong!”

Son Bin hadn’t witnessed the exchange between Sword Demon and Nogun. Confirming Moryongrin’s safety was paramount.

“Are you okay? Why would you do that…”

Son Bin’s voice held a hint of anger. He was upset by Moryongrin’s reckless actions.

“Ha, haha.”

Moryongrin let out a weak laugh.

“This is… scarier than I thought?”

Her face, as she turned to look at Son Bin, was pale.

Swoosh, pat.

Sa Su-yeon and Dang Wora immediately positioned themselves on Son Bin’s left and right. Sa Su-yeon asked:

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine, but…”

Thud.

Moryongrin’s body staggered, as if her legs had given way. Son Bin, who was answering, immediately supported her.

“I’ve become a ridiculous sight. Unable to stop her and terrified like this…”

Moryongrin offered a bitter smile, but she couldn’t help it. When she sensed Son Bin was in danger, her body had moved instinctively.

She hadn’t even registered why Namgungcheon, Hyeonryeonwi, and Seorin remained still. She only remembered throwing herself towards Son Bin without thinking.

In retrospect, Namgungcheon, Hyeonryeonwi, and Seorin might have anticipated that Nam Ryuk-nogun would launch the iron piece.

As a result, Nogun had successfully blocked Sword Demon’s attack, rendering Moryongrin’s act of self-sacrifice a futile gesture.

“Why did you do such a dangerous thing?”

Son Bin asked Moryongrin with a stern expression. What if she had been hurt?

“Why…”

Moryongrin gave a bitter smile.

“I told you.”

Turning her head and looking directly at Son Bin, Moryongrin said quietly.

Her complexion remained pale, but her eyes shone with unwavering resolve.

“I said I would give you even my life.”

“Yes?”

Son Bin didn’t understand. But memories slowly surfaced.

During his first visit to Moryongsega, she had pleaded with him to save her family.

―If there is anything you wish for, I will gladly give it to you, even if it is my life.

“It wasn’t me who saved Young Miss’s family.”

Son Bin said. Strictly speaking, it was Moryongrin’s brother, Iron Sword Moryongjin, and her father, Gentleman Sword Moryongmyeong.

“I already said it, it’s the same.”

Moryongrin said in a cold voice, her composure returning.

“It ended up being a ridiculous sight, though.”

Moryongrin rose to her feet with a sneer, but she staggered again and nearly lost her balance.

Because the image of Sword Demon’s energy rushing towards her eyes remained vivid in her mind.

“Young Miss.”

Son Bin tried to support her again, but Moryongrin refused his help.

“I’m fine.”

“You.”

Moryongrin and Son Bin looked up at the cold voice. Sword Demon was staring directly at them.

“Why didn’t you dodge?”

Normally, anyone would have dodged at the same time as Sword Demon’s warning, covering their head, rolling on the floor, or, in rare cases, throwing themselves in the way like Moryongrin.

But Son Bin hadn’t moved.

What surprised him was that Moryongrin had blocked his path, not because of Sword Demon’s finger wind.

“Because I knew you wouldn’t harm me.”

Son Bin answered quietly.

“You said you wanted me, so there’s no way you’d kill me.”

Moryongrin felt a fresh wave of shame. If Son Bin’s assessment was accurate, then what did her actions signify?

“I could have really killed you.”

“But you didn’t.”

Sword Demon and Son Bin’s eyes locked. Sword Demon said quietly.

“Yes, then.”

Swish.

As Sword Demon’s figure blurred, Son Bin shouted:

“Seorin!”

“Yes!”

Seorin shouted cheerfully. At the same time, the Buddhist monk’s staff he was holding, Hongjinmanri, pulsed with energy.

Wooong.

“Iyap!”

Seorin swung Hongjinmanri towards the charging Sword Demon. A soft, yet powerful energy spread outwards in all directions.

Whoooong.

It felt like a heavy gale.

Drdrdr.

The debris scattered throughout the banquet hall slowly shifted. Sword Demon also struggled against the force of Hongjinmanri.

Tat.

Sa Su-yeon and Dang Wora also understood Sword Demon’s intentions. They immediately rushed towards her.

However, Sword Demon simply raised her hand above her head.

Kwaang!

A section of the roof exploded with a deafening bang. Countless fragments rained down, obscuring Sword Demon.

But Seorin wasn’t fooled.

“I can see everything! You’re over there!”

Tatat.

Seorin shot straight towards Sword Demon. A chilling blue energy swirled around his fingertips, which were clenched like claws.

But that was precisely what Sword Demon wanted.

“No!”

Son Bin shouted, but it was too late.

With a slight twist of her body, Sword Demon spun in the air, evading Seorin’s fingertips. Ignoring Seorin, she rushed towards the space he had vacated, where Jeok Se-hwa and Namgunghyang were standing.

“Not so fast!”

“Eum!”

Namgungcheon’s sword, Ho-woo, and Hyeonryeonwi’s great sword, Mubong, materialized.

Booong.

The two swords, different in size, simultaneously sliced through the air horizontally, an attack that threatened to cleave Sword Demon into three pieces.

Whir.

However, Sword Demon didn’t falter. She dropped to the ground, flying between the two blades.

Flutter.

Strands of Sword Demon’s severed hair danced in the air, but Ho-woo and Mubong couldn’t stop her.

With unbelievable agility, Sword Demon had slipped between Ho-woo and Mubong.

“Keuk.”

“Eum.”

By the time Namgungcheon and Hyeonryeonwi regained their footing, Sword Demon’s Half Sword was already resting on someone’s shoulder.

“Ah.”

The one offering an awkward smile and a troubled expression was Jeok Se-hwa.

“I’m sorry. It turned out like this.”

Jeok Se-hwa said to Son Bin. With the Half Sword aimed at her neck, Sword Demon looked at Son Bin.

“How about this? Is this method also wrong?”

There wasn’t a trace of hesitation in Sword Demon’s expression. If anything, she seemed genuinely curious.

But her Half Sword could sever Jeok Se-hwa’s slender neck at any moment, just as she had stabbed Sa Su-yeon in the chest with a sword in the Snow Mountain.

Silence descended, but it was short-lived.

“Cut me.”

‘Young Miss!’

Son Bin’s eyes widened. The voice belonged to Jeok Se-hwa.

Jeok Se-hwa turned her head.

Swish.

The Half Sword grazed Jeok Se-hwa’s skin, and blood welled up. But Jeok Se-hwa remained unfazed.

“Do you think you’re the only woman who lives with her fate hanging by a single blade?”

Jeok Se-hwa said, looking directly at Sword Demon.

Her eyes shone with determination, captivating Sword Demon’s gaze for a fleeting moment, like magic.

“Heum!”

“Taha!”

Namgungcheon and Hyeonryeonwi seized the opportunity.

Kwaang.

With a resounding explosion, Sword Demon’s body was launched into the air.

But neither Namgungcheon nor Hyeonryeonwi paid her any attention. Their attack had already served its purpose: saving Namgunghyang and Jeok Se-hwa.

Whir, thud.

Sword Demon landed back in the banquet hall. Only then did Jeok Se-hwa breathe a sigh of relief.

“Haa, I really thought I was going to die.”

Jeok Se-hwa said to Namgunghyang. Her face, which had remained indifferent even with Sword Demon’s Half Sword at her throat, was now flushed with excitement.

“It would have been truly dangerous if it weren’t for Young Miss Namgung’s advice.”

The moment Sword Demon rushed towards Seorin, Namgunghyang had quickly whispered to Jeok Se-hwa:

―Never show weakness.

She hadn’t understood the meaning at the time. Looking back, Namgunghyang had foreseen Sword Demon’s actions.

Namgunghyang smiled.

“I simply advised you not to show weakness, but your spirit is truly remarkable.”

“Spirit.”

Jeok Se-hwa offered a wry smile.

“It’s just… stubbornness.”

Slightly raising her hand, Jeok Se-hwa examined her wound.

Blood was seeping out, but it wasn’t serious. Rather, Son Bin’s stern expression was more concerning.

Jeok Se-hwa muttered softly.

“I can’t be the only burden.”

“Well done.”

Jeok Se-hwa looked at Hyeonryeonwi with surprise at the sudden, deep voice.

“Indeed, a daughter of a martial arts family.”

The face of the former Overlord Sword, Hyeonryeonwi, remained expressionless, but it was undeniably a compliment.

“Thank you.”

Jeok Se-hwa bowed to Hyeonryeonwi, who remained silent.

“You’re a foolish person. I told you that you can’t get what you want that way.”

Namgunghyang’s calm voice echoed through the banquet hall, or rather, the space that was no longer a banquet hall.

“But.”

Namgunghyang’s expression suggested she was on the verge of tears. This was the outcome she had dreaded most, and she had strived so hard to prevent it.

“You succeeded in moving him.”

Step.

One step, Son Bin stepped forward.