A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 2

2. If No One Knows, It Didn’t Happen. 2013.09.07.

The scholar was so startled by what happened before his eyes that his face turned pale.

The sight of a large rock being shattered into pieces by a human fist was, at least for the scholar, unbelievable even when seen with his own eyes.

Moreover, the tone of the man who had committed such a brutal act was as if he had merely given a simple example.

‘Co, come to think of it…….’

It was this man who had brought him here. That incredible sense of speed wasn’t just because he was drunk.

‘He, he’s no ordinary person…….’

The scholar realized once again that the man before him was a fearsome individual.

“Ahem, ahem.”

After clearing his throat deliberately, the scholar spoke again.

“Wh, what business do you have with me anyway? What reason do you have for bringing me to a place like this?”

He tried to speak as if nothing was wrong, but his voice was noticeably less forceful than before.

“I brought you here because you were drunk, and my business is because of what you said.”

“Said?”

“Yes.”

The man said to the scholar.

“What do you mean when you say that if no one knows, it didn’t happen?”

The scholar frowned. Then, after thinking for a moment, he recalled the words he had uttered while drunk. Of course, only vaguely.

“Ah.”

The scholar said.

“It’s just as I said. If no one knows, how would anyone know that it happened?”

It was a statement that needed no explanation. However, the middle-aged man did not seem satisfied. The scholar sighed softly and continued.

“Are you familiar with the saying that something will shine forever in the Green History?”

“I am.”

“The Green History refers to the practice of recording history on green bamboo slips. If it were not for the historians who steadfastly recorded historical facts without yielding to the injustices of reality, how would later generations know the history of the distant past? How would we know that noble scholars shining with loyalty existed in this land, and how would we know that shameful traitors also existed?”

The scholar clenched his fist. As he spoke, he became engrossed in his own words.

“What is not recorded is forgotten and buried. But the scent of ink can travel a thousand miles, so what is recorded in the Green History is widely known to many people and becomes a lasting example for future generations…….”

“I see.”

The scholar, whose words were cut off by the man’s voice, frowned slightly.

“You are right.”

The man nodded his head vigorously in agreement, and the scholar deliberately cleared his throat.

“Ahem. Well, that’s…….”

“What is recorded and known is accepted as truth, and what is not is forgotten, dulled, and becomes as if it never happened. So your words that if no one knows, it didn’t happen are indeed correct.”

The man said, his eyes shining. The scholar had a strange premonition.

“Ye, yes. Anyway, if your question is resolved, I’ll be on my way…….”

The scholar didn’t even finish his sentence. The man looked at the scholar and said.

“I am called Saja Hyuk.”

At the sudden introduction, the scholar was momentarily bewildered, then awkwardly bowed and said.

“I am Son, with the given name Bin…….”

“Son Bin?”

The man who identified himself as Saja Hyuk chuckled.

“Well, whatever. You will now write a book.”

“A book?”

The scholar, Son Bin, tilted his head.

“Write a book? What do you mean…….”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Saja Hyuk smiled brightly. His smile was utterly innocent.

“A book that records everything about what I will do from now on… no, about me. That way, people will see the book and know that there was someone like me and that what I did was justified, wouldn’t they?”

Son Bin frowned. What on earth was this man talking about?

“So, you’re telling me to write your biography?”

“Biography? That’s a good word.”

Saja Hyuk said, his face lighting up.

“We can call the book ‘Saja Hyuk,’ no, ‘The Biography of the Hero Saja Hyuk.’ Hahaha.”

He seemed quite pleased with the title he had come up with, and he laughed lightly, but for Son Bin, who was listening, it was an absurd statement.

“Perhaps, are you still drunk?”

Son Bin said with a frown. Saja Hyuk, who had been laughing, looked at Son Bin.

“I also like that you have quite the temper. A scholar should have a firm spirit. Only then will his writing be full of vigor. But.”

Saja Hyuk picked up a rather large rock. And he held it out towards Son Bin.

“If you carelessly spout nonsense one more time.”

Smash!

The rock shattered in Saja Hyuk’s hand as if it were a rotten piece of wood.

“I will crush your knees like this rock. To match your name [Bin (膑) refers to a form of knee mutilation as punishment in ancient China].”

Saja Hyuk’s smiling face was utterly innocent. But to Son Bin, that face was no different from the face of a demon laughing.

“Do you understand?”

Saja Hyuk said. Son Bin, his face pale, could not utter a word.

***

That day, the amount of potential damages that Wang Pal, the old man of the Homun Inn, was about to suffer suddenly decreased. This was because the scholar and the warrior who had left the inn suddenly returned.

The middle-aged warrior had a satisfied expression on his face, and the scholar looked as if his soul had left his body, but in any case, Wang Pal, the old man, breathed a sigh of relief at the fact that the two were not freeloaders.

As if reading Wang Pal, the old man’s mind, the middle-aged warrior paid for the two people’s meals, drinks, and room fees.

It was a bit unexpected that the middle-aged warrior paid for the scholar’s expenses as well, but it was something that Wang Pal, the old man, could only welcome.

But as the saying goes, good things never last. Wang Pal, the old man, who had fallen asleep in peace, had to wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of something breaking.

∴

Crash!

The old and large inn door made a loud noise and shattered like a piece of paper. And the scholar Son Bin had to roll down the shabby inn hallway along with the door.

“Tsk, tsk.”

Saja Hyuk clicked his tongue and walked out with his hands behind his back. But his face did not show any regret at all.

“Didn’t I already say it was useless? Why is it that people don’t try to understand until they’ve experienced it themselves…… Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

Saja Hyuk, who was clicking his tongue and speaking, looked down at Son Bin and said.

“Did you think you could escape my notice by sneaking out in the middle of the night?”

Son Bin got up from the floor. His already shabby clothes became even dirtier.

“Hmph, that’s what I want to say to you.”

Son Bin, who had risen from the floor, spoke without being intimidated by Saja Hyuk’s force.

“Do you think you can control others by unconditionally suppressing them with force?”

“Huh, look at this guy.”

Saja Hyuk said, as if he was dumbfounded.

“The guy who tried to run away in the middle of the night is quite bold.”

“Although I lack the strength to do so, there is nothing wrong with my actions!”

Pfft. Saja Hyuk scoffed.

“Those who do cowardly things always say that. Does that mean anything can be justified as long as you attach a justification to it?”

“Even the ancient sages hid to escape threats to their lives. Bowing down for a moment is never a disgrace.”

“Bowing down for a moment is not a disgrace…….”

Saja Hyuk smiled faintly.

“Those who bow down for a moment will always bow down again. I call such people cowards.”

Son Bin’s face turned red in an instant.

“Don’t insult me recklessly.”

Saja Hyuk continued without paying attention.

“And there is one thing you are greatly mistaken about right now.”

“Mistaken?”

Saja Hyuk said to Son Bin, who was frowning.

“That is, you think you can escape from me. Now that I have already decided, you can never escape from me.”

Son Bin shook his head.

“You are truly arrogant. As if you are some kind of…….”

“Try it.”

Saja Hyuk said. Son Bin stopped speaking for a moment and looked at Saja Hyuk.

“I mean, try to see if you can escape from me.”

Son Bin frowned.

“What do you mean…….”

“Let’s do this.”

Saja Hyuk said with a faint smile.

“For the next three days, I will not move an inch from this inn. During that time, you can run away, hide somewhere, do whatever you want.”

Son Bin, wondering what he was suddenly talking about, looked at Saja Hyuk. Saja Hyuk looked straight at Son Bin with his intense eyes and said.

“You can appeal to the royal law that you value so much, or you can ask someone else for help. You can call a large sect or a hidden master, whatever you want. But keep one thing in mind.”

Saja Hyuk grinned.

“After three days, I will find you again.”

Son Bin felt a chill run down his spine for a moment. He felt that this man would definitely do it.

“You can go now.”

Saja Hyuk gestured towards the outside of the inn with his chin.

“Are you serious?”

When Son Bin asked, a strange light flashed in Saja Hyuk’s eyes. He had expected Son Bin, who was already trying to run away, to rush out as soon as he finished speaking.

“I am.”

“Hoo.”

Letting out a small sigh, Son Bin roughly dusted off his dirtied clothes with his hands. Then he moved his steps towards his room.

“Aren’t you leaving?”

Saja Hyuk asked with an interested look.

“I will.”

Without stopping his steps, Son Bin said curtly.

“But it’s the middle of the night now, so the road is dangerous. You said you wouldn’t chase me for three days, so I’m going to rest well from now on and leave after having a hearty breakfast tomorrow morning.”

Thud.

Son Bin entered the room and closed the door.

“Hehe.”

Saja Hyuk chuckled. Looking at Son Bin’s closed door, he entered his room with a satisfied smile. Thanks to the broken inn door, the inside of the room was clearly visible, but Saja Hyuk didn’t care.

Thanks to this, the person who became restless was Wang Pal, the inn owner, who was hiding and watching this scene.

‘Oh, what should I do? Should I change the room?’

He was worried, but he didn’t dare to talk to that scary warrior.

But if he left it as it was, he was worried that he would cause trouble for making him sleep in a broken room.

Wang Pal, the old man, who couldn’t do this or that, was hesitating while hiding like that for a long time.

***

The next morning, Son Bin came down to the inn early and had a meal. Saja Hyuk also came down and ordered a meal.

Wang Pal, the old man, yawned repeatedly thanks to a sleepless night and made the meals for the two of them. It was a more elaborate meal than usual, but no one appreciated it.

Son Bin and Saja Hyuk sat apart from each other and ate silently without saying a word. After finishing his meal, Son Bin approached Wang Pal, the old man, with a small bundle and settled the bill.

“No, the payment was already made by that gentleman yesterday…….”

Wang Pal, the old man, took it, but he held the money in his hand and looked at the middle-aged warrior with a troubled expression.

“Why would I receive from someone else for what I ate and what I slept in? And that guest said he would stay here for three more days! So keep that in mind.”

Son Bin put emphasis on the words ‘three more days’ on purpose. And he glanced at Saja Hyuk’s reaction.

However, Saja Hyuk was slowly eating with a leisurely expression. Wang Pal, the old man, looked at the two of them and awkwardly took the money in his hand. Son Bin walked towards the inn entrance with a seemingly leisurely pace.

Ting.

With the sound of a small bell, Son Bin left the inn. Wang Pal, the inn owner, who was standing in the middle, looked back and forth between the inn entrance and Saja Hyuk, and asked in a cautious tone.

“Um, guest. Is there anything you need…….”

“Hmph.”

Saja Hyuk stopped eating and smiled.

“Interesting. It’s been a long time.”

“Yes?”

Wang Pal, the old man, asked back at the incomprehensible words, but Saja Hyuk did not answer. Thanks to this, Wang Pal, the old man, had to stand awkwardly until Saja Hyuk finished his meal.

Ting.

Son Bin, who came out of the inn with the sound of the bell, walked a few more steps leisurely, and as soon as he thought he was far enough away from the inn, he immediately started running.

Taptaptap!

‘Quickly!’

Son Bin gritted his teeth and ran. He was heading not towards Homun Mountain, but in the opposite direction towards the village he had passed a few days ago.

‘If I cross Homun Mountain on foot, I’ll spend the whole day. Besides, the mountain path is a single path.’

Son Bin boldly gave up the path he was originally going to take.

Considering the amazing ability that the warrior had shown yesterday, he could be caught up in an instant even after three days if he trudged across Homun Mountain.

‘I have to go back to the village. And take a carriage to another big village. And from there, take a carriage to a bigger town or city!’

If he goes to a big city and hides among the people, no one will be able to find him. In this inn, he is the only scholar, but if he goes to a big city, there are plenty of people like him.

If it’s a big enough city, he won’t even need to hide. How could they find him among so many people?

‘It’s a bit painful to spend money like this…….’

It costs money to take a carriage and go through cities. For Son Bin, whose wallet is light, this expense is definitely painful. Son Bin, who was frowning, gritted his teeth as if he was determined.

‘Anyway, what I need now is unconditionally fast legs! And the uncertainty of where to go!’

Taptaptap!

The bundle shook wildly behind his back. Son Bin grabbed the shoulder strap tightly with his hand and kept running like crazy. He was out of breath quickly, but Son Bin did not slow down his pace.

It was because he felt like the terrifying warrior named Saja Hyuk would rush in from behind right now. In that way, Son Bin left the inn, sprinting with all his might in the opposite direction from Homun Mountain.

∴

Thanks to his diligent running, Son Bin was able to take a carriage leaving the village that morning.

He arrived at a slightly larger village around noon that day, and he immediately boarded a carriage heading to Wuhan, saying that there was one.

Only after getting on the carriage to Wuhan did Son Bin let out a sigh of relief.

“Hoo.”

When he sighed in the carriage, the other passengers glanced at Son Bin. But Son Bin wiped the sweat with his sleeve and leaned back with a comfortable expression.

‘I’m going to live now.’

Wuhan is a historic city and the capital of Hubei Province, so there are a lot of people.

In addition, Wuhan has been called a metropolis connecting to nine regions as a transportation hub for both land and water routes since ancient times.

The carriage was said to arrive in Wuhan in two days, so by the time Saja Hyuk left the Homun Inn, Son Bin would be in the middle of the metropolis of Wuhan.

The metropolis of Wuhan, which is connected to nine provinces.

‘Damn it.’

Son Bin muttered inwardly, shaking in the carriage.

‘I ended up spending money unnecessarily because of some crazy bastard.’

What Son Bin was riding was closer to a shabby freight wagon. There was no roof, the carriage rattled, and the horse was old, so it wasn’t very fast.

But with Son Bin’s wallet situation right now, this is the best he can do.

‘Wuhan…….’

Wuhan is a historic city with many historical sites. In fact, if he had enough money, Son Bin would have no reason not to go.

‘It’s also a place I’ve wanted to go to at least once…… Anyway, I’ll have to eat only noodles for a while.’

“Damn it.”

Son Bin muttered without realizing it. He didn’t even think about lunch, so he was hungry late.

Still, thinking that it was fortunate to have escaped from the crazy bastard, Son Bin indifferently looked at the passing scenery.

Clatter, clatter.

With the monotonous shaking of the carriage, Son Bin, who had been sleepless and nervous since morning, was overcome with drowsiness.

Before long, Son Bin soon began to nod off. Anyway, the carriage carrying Son Bin was hurrying along the road towards Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province.