A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 193

193. Not Ashamed to Ask Those Below

The day after Son Bin and his group left the Seowon [a private academy, often Confucian, in Korea’s Joseon Dynasty].

Rustle.

While teaching the children, Jeok Se-hwa felt something strange. The child who voiced that feeling was Hodu, known for his curiosity and easily distracted nature.

“Huh? Teacher! We have a guest.”

Hodu said, looking toward the entrance of the Seowon. Jeok Se-hwa turned her head and was instantly surprised. A long-haired woman in white clothes was standing there.

“G-Geomhui Sojeo [Young Lady Geomhui, a respectful title].”

Jeok Se-hwa said with a surprised face. The barefooted woman, holding a sword preciously, was definitely Geomhui.

Thump.

Jeok Se-hwa immediately got up from her seat. She came down from the bamboo mat and stood with the children behind her.

“What… is it?”

There was wariness in Jeok Se-hwa’s voice as she asked.

Judging from Geomhui’s personality, she should have followed Son Bin. But she appeared here, even knowing that Son Bin wasn’t here.

“Old Man.”

Geomhui answered. It was a very brief answer, but it was enough to answer Jeok Se-hwa’s question.

“Ah, Old Man…”

Only then did Jeok Se-hwa remember what Old Man had said.

-If you feel something is dangerous, shout loudly, ‘The children are in danger!’ Someone will definitely appear.

The playful expression that Old Man had on his face at that time was vivid in her mind.

‘It was Geomhui Sojeo.’

She thought it might be Hyeokryun Wi Dae-hyeop [Great Hero Wi of the Hyeokryun Family], the previous Paegeom [Supreme Sword] of the Hyeokryun family, but it turned out to be Geomhui. Only then did Jeok Se-hwa let out a sigh of relief.

“But, shouldn’t you be following Son Gong-ja [Young Master Son, a respectful title]?”

“Okryong.”

Geomhui’s answer was short again this time, and this time, Jeok Se-hwa couldn’t understand it either.

Step, step.

The white-clothed Geomhui entered the Seowon. After taking a few steps, she stood there and slowly looked around the Seowon.

“You teach children here?”

“Yes.”

“What do you teach?”

“I teach them how to write for now, but actually, I teach them how to live through writing.”

Jeok Se-hwa answered with a smile. Geomhui was looking at the children. The children, huddled together, were looking at Geomhui with curiosity in their eyes.

“I don’t know anything. I know a little bit of writing.”

Geomhui turned her gaze to Jeok Se-hwa.

“Can you teach me?”

Jeok Se-hwa smiled softly. She already knew that Geomhui was a person far from common sense. Only then did Jeok Se-hwa realize why Geomhui had appeared.

“Of course. Here is…”

“You!”

Jeok Se-hwa’s words were cut off. Another woman’s sharp voice interrupted her.

“Why are you here?”

At the same time as the voice, a sharp murderous intent flew from the entrance of the Seowon. Jeok Se-hwa immediately looked at the source of the murderous intent.

“Don’t tell me you’re…”

A heavily made-up woman with a voluptuous figure was emitting murderous intent towards Geomhui.

She was dressed as gorgeously as a courtesan, but Jeok Se-hwa’s face had no choice but to harden for other reasons.

She was Hwasa, a master-level expert from the Demonic Sect.

“Hwa, Hwasa Sojeo.”

Jeok Se-hwa muttered in surprise. Following Geomhui, it was Hwasa. It was a completely unexpected visit for Jeok Se-hwa.

Rustle.

Geomhui slowly turned her head, and she said, looking at Hwasa.

“You’re not.”

Hwasa’s eyebrows twitched, but Hwasa let out a laugh—a very cold laugh.

“Hehehe. This unlucky bitch dares…”

Whoo-oong.

A force that couldn’t be compared to the one that had just flown in began to rise from Hwasa.

“So, you’re saying we should do it here?”

Clang!

A storm-like force soared like a flame. Jeok Se-hwa shouted urgently.

“Stop! There are children here!”

“Children?”

Hwasa frowned, but she quickly realized the existence of the children.

When she discovered the round eyes of the surprised children, her storm-like momentum disappeared in an instant.

Hook.

“M-My bad. I didn’t know there were children…”

Hwasa, who had withdrawn her energy, even stuttered.

That appearance was very unexpected for Jeok Se-hwa. She thought that she was a heartless person because she was a master of the Demonic Sect.

“It’s okay. Thank you for stopping.”

Jeok Se-hwa, who was stroking her surprised heart, said, looking at Hwasa.

“So, what brings you here?”

“Oh, that’s… I was told it was okay to come…”

“I see.”

A smile returned to Jeok Se-hwa’s face. Hwasa seemed to have come to see Son Bin, but she had to deliver some unfortunate news.

“But what should I do? Son Gong-ja won’t be back for a while.”

“R-Really?”

Hwasa seemed quite disappointed, but Hwasa, who seemed like she would leave immediately, somehow fidgeted and opened her fan to cover her mouth. Then, she looked around the Seowon.

“Do you have any other business here?”

Jeok Se-hwa asked cautiously.

“No, it’s nothing…”

Hwasa, who was covering half of her face with a fan and stuttering, suddenly looked at Geomhui.

“But why is she here?”

Jeok Se-hwa hesitated for a moment. What should she answer?

“She said she wanted to learn how to write…”

The writing she was talking about was not letters, but books or sentences.

But those words unexpectedly gave Hwasa courage.

“Really?”

Hwasa’s eyes lit up.

“Hey, can I learn too?”

“Pardon?”

Jeok Se-hwa asked without realizing it.

“Hey, that’s what I’m saying. So, that’s…”

Hwasa, who was hesitating, bit her lip, and she turned her head and spat out quietly.

“Tsk.”

Clack.

Hwasa folded her fan and raised her eyes. Hwasa’s expression, looking at Jeok Se-hwa, was confident as if nothing had happened.

“Writing, you said you’d teach her too, right? So, I’m asking if I can learn too.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter, but…”

“Really?”

Hwasa’s face brightened. Jeok Se-hwa looked at Geomhui’s expression, but Geomhui’s expression didn’t change at all.

“But are you okay with it? Learning from me.”

She asked again, just in case. Hwasa nodded her head.

“It’s okay. No, I like it even more. It’s awkward to learn from a man.”

“Ah, yes.”

Jeok Se-hwa nodded her head. Anyway, she was relieved that there were no other intentions.

But her curiosity unknowingly raised its head slightly.

“But why are you trying to learn how to write? Hwasa Sojeo, you’re already a great master. You don’t need to learn how to write now, do you?”

Jeok Se-hwa’s voice was clear. Hwasa hesitated a little, but Jeok Se-hwa was the person who would be teaching her how to write in the future, and she was also part of ‘Son Bin’s’ group.

She didn’t blindly fear or antagonize her like other people. Moreover, she had already seen that she had the courage not to fear death, so she had some goodwill towards her.

“Well, it’s because someone seems to be ignoring me.”

“Hwasa Sojeo?”

Jeok Se-hwa asked back with surprised eyes.

Who on earth would ignore a master of the Demonic Sect? No, in the first place, was Hwasa the type of person to stay still even if she was ignored?

“It’s not so much ignoring, but not paying attention.”

Hwasa, who was muttering, sighed deeply.

“I think it’s because I don’t know anything. That person knows more than me… After all, men don’t like stupid women either.”

That was Hwasa’s personal point of view. There were many women who pretended not to know anything on purpose, and there were many men who liked such women, but Jeok Se-hwa didn’t tell her.

“So, you’re trying to learn how to write?”

“Yeah. Why, is it weird?”

In Hwasa’s eyes, which were frowning, there was a slight sense of unease. Jeok Se-hwa smiled.

“How could that be? As the saying goes, ‘Not ashamed to ask those below,’ it is not a shameful thing to ask those below even if you don’t know something.”

“That’s right! That’s it.”

Hwasa opened her eyes wide and said to Jeok Se-hwa.

“I want to talk like that too.”

What she admired was not the content but the form. Anyway, Jeok Se-hwa nodded her head.

“Okay. But there’s a condition.”

“Condition?”

“Yes. Never fight in this village. That’s the condition.”

Hwasa shrugged her shoulders.

“That’s easy enough…”

“You can’t fight with Geomhui Sojeo either.”

This time, Hwasa’s eyebrows were distorted.

“If she attacks me, I can’t help it.”

“Does that mean Hwasa Sojeo has no choice?”

“What?”

Hwasa asked back at the unfamiliar words. Jeok Se-hwa looked straight at Hwasa and said without hesitation.

“It sounds like Hwasa Sojeo is being swayed by the other person’s decision, not her own. Which is more important to Hwasa Sojeo, her own will or the other person’s actions?”

Those were words that could be heard as rude to a master of the Demonic Sect, but Hwasa didn’t get angry.

“Of course, it’s my will.”

“Then, promise me.”

Jeok Se-hwa answered firmly.

“Hmm. Okay, I understand. I won’t fight in this village, according to my own will.”

“Geomhui Sojeo, do you understand too?”

Geomhui nodded her head very slightly at Jeok Se-hwa’s words.

Looking at that appearance, Hwasa thought, ‘As expected, smart women are different.’ No one had ever spoken to her like this before.

Jeok Se-hwa also let out a sigh of relief inwardly. She couldn’t protect the Seowon if she was swayed by Hwasa or Geomhui. Her gamble seemed to have worked out well, fortunately.

“But you two, do you have a place to stay?”

Jeok Se-hwa asked, looking at Geomhui and Hwasa. Hwasa shrugged her shoulders.

“I’ll stay anywhere.”

It was an attitude that she didn’t care at all. Geomhui seemed to be the same, not even answering.

Jeok Se-hwa sighed.

“There’s a house with an empty room nearby.”

Who knew what would happen if Hwasa or Geomhui roamed around Cheongwon? Hwasa seemed to be the type to never tolerate people picking fights with her, and above all, weren’t the two of them masters of the Demonic Sect?

If they even flicked their fingers once, it would be a disaster in a small city like Cheongwon.

“You can stay there.”

That house was Dang Wora’s mansion. It was a place that Dang Wora had already told Jeok Se-hwa that she could do whatever she wanted with.

“I don’t want to be alone with her.”

Hwasa pouted her lips, looking at Geomhui. Jeok Se-hwa sighed again. It would be a big problem if the two of them were left alone and clashed.

“Then I’ll stay with you for a while. Would that be okay?”

Neither of them answered, but the problem seemed to be solved for now.

Jeok Se-hwa felt tired again. It felt like two immature girls had increased instead of adults.

“Teacher! Are these sisters learning with us too?”

Soso asked from behind with an excited voice. Jeok Se-hwa turned her head and smiled.

“Yes. They’re your older sisters, so you have to listen to them and treat them well, okay?”

“Huh? Not older sisters, but aunts…”

Hodu’s thoughtless words were blocked by Soso. Soso and Aeng-aeng answered in unison with a strong voice.

“Yes!”

Soso and Aeng-aeng’s eyes were full of anticipation.

*

*

*

“The Chief Strategist has departed for the main family.”

“Hmph.”

Dang Hu-gwang, the Naedangju [Inner Hall Lord, a high-ranking position within the Dang family] of the Dang family, snorted.

“You keep calling her the Chief Strategist. Such a young girl.”

The Vice Head’s face, who delivered the news, turned red at Naedangju Dang Hu-gwang’s rebuke.

“I definitely don’t mean that I sincerely acknowledge her…”

“So, is that poisoner, Wora or whatever, finally coming back?”

Dang Hu-gwang asked, cutting off the Vice Head’s words.

“I think so. Dang Un-yeong went with her, so she wouldn’t come back empty-handed.”

“Of course, she wouldn’t come back empty-handed.”

Dang Hu-gwang said, not hiding his mockery.

“When the two of them come back, the entire Dang family will be handed over to that Chief Strategist girl.”

“Pardon?”

The Vice Head opened his eyes wide as if he couldn’t believe it.

“But Dang Un-yeong went to confirm the poisoner who mastered the Poisonous Energy Art…”

Thump.

Dang Hu-gwang slammed the table.

“Do you believe such ridiculous words? It’s something that no one has done except for Dang Baek-ho, the previous Head of the family. And you’re saying that a girl who’s just a poisoner has done it?”

“But just in case…”

“There’s no such thing as just in case!”

Fire flashed in Dang Hu-gwang’s eyes.

“Do you know how many attempts Dang Baek-ho made to pass on the Poisonous Energy Art? This is a typical political tactic! Throwing out a shocking topic and taking the lead, and then, in the end, vaguely concluding the original problem! Of course, behind the scenes.”

Gritting sounds leaked from Dang Hu-gwang’s mouth.

“They’ll be making dirty deals with petty tricks.”

Being swayed by such words was playing into Dang Hwa-ryeon’s scheme. Dang Hu-gwang could see it clearly.

“W-What kind of deal…”

Dang Hu-gwang clicked his tongue.

“Don’t you still know? Think about it. They’re confirming the poisoner, but in reality, Grandmother has had a long meeting alone with that Chief Strategist girl. Do you think the two of them would do such a thing without any thought?”

The Vice Head was startled. There was no way the two of them would do such a thing without a reason, unless it was a momentous event that would determine the fate of the Dang family.

“Grandmother has backed out. No matter what excuse or reason she gives, she’s trying to hand over the Dang family in the end. A poisoner who has mastered the Poisonous Energy Art? That’s just a ridiculous excuse.”

Naedangju Dang Hu-gwang said, grinding his teeth. The Vice Head was confused.

“T-That can’t be.”

“Then watch. See what those two say when they return to the Dang family. You’ll know when you see it.”

Both the Vice Head and Naedangju Dang Hu-gwang were silent, and after a while, Naedangju Dang Hu-gwang asked.

“What about the Silver Sword Unit?”

“H-Half of the unit, led by the Daeju [Unit Leader], is in charge of guarding Dang Un-yeong. And the other half, led by the Boodaeju [Deputy Unit Leader], seems to be staying in that area.”

To be exact, it was guarding the entire group rather than Dang Un-yeong, but it was obvious that saying that would incur Dang Hu-gwang’s wrath.

“The Dang family’s Silver Sword Unit is just guarding? Moreover, guarding a place where there’s nothing is their mission? Everyone’s out of their minds.”

Dang Hu-gwang bit his lip. He tapped the table with his finger.

“I don’t think this will work.”

Hu-gwang said as if he had made up his mind.

“We have to return the Dang family to its original state. I can no longer tolerate a girl who doesn’t know anything running wild.”

It was a word full of terrible prejudice.

But Naedangju Dang Hu-gwang’s eyes were shining as if he had received a noble mission.

“But how…”

The Vice Head’s question was extremely realistic. No matter how great the cause, it was useless if it was not possible.

“Hmph.”

Naedangju Dang Hu-gwang laughed.

“Dang Baek-ho didn’t just leave behind the Poisonous Energy Art.”

Dang Baek-ho had many secrets. Even within the Dang family, there were many of his dark shadows that were not known. What was entrusted to Dang Hu-gwang was also one of them.

The Vice Head’s complexion turned pale at once.

“B-But that has already been discarded…”

“But it can be used once.”

Hu-gwang said.

“And once is enough.”

His eyes were gleaming.

“To return the Dang family to its original state.”

The Vice Head’s complexion was already turning blue, but he couldn’t say anything more.