A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 210

210. Unexpected Crisis

The place Bloodpeak led Son Bin and his group to was a small teahouse tucked away from the bustling main streets. Unlike the exotic buildings that filled the busy areas, this pavilion had a style that felt quite familiar.

“Welcome, Miss Bloodpeak.”

A gray-haired old man bowed to Bloodpeak, who returned the greeting with a smile.

“It’s been a while.”

At Bloodpeak’s greeting, the old man’s narrow eyes crinkled with a smile.

“We happen to have a good spot available. Please come up to the second floor.”

The old man led the way, and Bloodpeak and her group entered the teahouse, proceeding along a narrow, antique corridor.

Rustle, rustle.

“I like this place,” Bloodpeak said as she walked down the corridor. A subtle tea fragrance permeated the air, hinting at the teahouse’s age.

“It’s a place with a nice scent,” Son Bin said. Bloodpeak smiled faintly.

“Yes. They have many good teas here. But more than that…” Bloodpeak looked around the teahouse and added, “It reminds me of a place I used to frequent.”

“You used to?” Son Bin asked.

“Yes. I’m originally from the Golden Sword Sect of Hunan [a martial arts sect in Hunan province]. This Guizhou Province is quite unfamiliar to me as well.”

Guizhou Province and Hunan Province are geographically adjacent, but their historical backgrounds are quite different.

Hunan Province has long been integrated into the mainland’s history, but Guizhou Province was less developed and still perceived as the land of ethnic minorities.

“Ah, this place seems nice.” Bloodpeak said, looking at the spot the old man had guided them to. It was spacious enough for the whole group to sit, and the city of Guiyang was clearly visible through the large window.

“Wow, amazing!” The children, who had entered belatedly, looked around and voiced their admiration. Some examined every nook and cranny, while others were glued to the window, engrossed in the view outside.

Smiling gently as she looked at the five children, Bloodpeak suddenly asked Son Bin, “You have quite a large group. Are these children perhaps…”

“They are children from our Seowon [a type of private academy in Korea],” Son Bin replied with a smile. Bloodpeak looked momentarily puzzled but soon nodded.

“I see. You mentioned running a small Seowon in Cheongwon.” Bloodpeak remembered what Son Bin had said at Yewon in Hangzhou.

“Please, have a seat,” Bloodpeak offered. She ordered several teas and simple snacks from the old man, seemingly for the children.

As the old man bowed respectfully and left, Bloodpeak rose from her seat.

“It’s not our first meeting, but this is the first time I’m formally introducing myself. I am Geum Sa-ryeon of the Golden Sword Sect of Hunan. I am currently known as Bloodpeak.”

Swish.

Bloodpeak Geum Sa-ryeon bowed politely. However, Guigyeonsura, standing behind her, cast a wary gaze instead of offering a greeting.

“I am Son Bin.” Son Bin also rose from his seat and replied.

“This is Namak Old Man, and this is Divine Doctor.”

Namak Old Man simply nodded while seated. Divine Doctor didn’t even nod, staring intently at Bloodpeak’s face.

“Ah, I see,” Bloodpeak replied calmly despite Divine Doctor’s gaze.

“These are Miss Sa Su-yeon, Miss Dang Wol-ah, and Seo-rin.”

“Nice to meet you,” Sa Su-yeon rose from her seat and replied with a smile. Dang Wol-ah also stood up but merely nodded almost imperceptibly.

On the other hand, Seo-rin stood up and bowed quite maturely.

“I’m Seo-rin.” Son Bin smiled gently. Taking it as a compliment, Seo-rin grinned at Son Bin.

“These children are Hong-ah, Cheong-ah, Hwang-ah, Hwe-ah, and Nok-ah.”

The children, who had been busy looking around, turned their heads sharply when their names were called and looked at Son Bin with sparkling eyes. Bloodpeak couldn’t help but smile at the sight.

“They are adorable children.” Bloodpeak’s words were not just a formality.

On the way to Guiyang, the children had improved day by day.

Their skin had cleared up, and although it was hidden by the head coverings they wore, their hair had grown quite a bit. However, it was still short, making them all look like boys.

The biggest change was in their movements. Unlike before, when they were a bit clumsy and unsteady, they were now so quick that it was astonishing.

Once the introductions were over, everyone sat down again. Of course, Guigyeonsura remained standing behind Bloodpeak, unmoving.

“Thank you for accepting such a sudden invitation,” Bloodpeak said to Son Bin and his group.

“But I never imagined you would be here…”

“Before that,” Divine Doctor’s heavy voice interrupted Bloodpeak.

“Since when? What are the symptoms? Have you received any treatment?”

Bloodpeak gave an awkward smile.

“You don’t need to worry about my health. Right now, we should first…”

“Is there anything more important than life?” Divine Doctor’s eyes flashed sharply. It was clear he would not back down, and Bloodpeak sighed softly.

“I am well aware of my condition. So, Divine Doctor, you don’t need to say any more.”

“Even if you won’t last more than three years?”

At those words, everyone’s expression hardened. Even Guigyeonsura, who rarely showed any change in expression, bit his lip. However, Bloodpeak smiled instead.

“You truly are Divine Doctor. Others were saying one year, or at most two, but you’ve extended my life by a year.”

It was a conversation about her own life, yet Bloodpeak’s voice was so calm.

“Then conversely,” Divine Doctor frowned and said, “What if it could be cured?”

This time, Bloodpeak’s expression changed.

“What, what do you mean?” Her voice trembled slightly. It was inevitable.

“I mean there might be a way. A way for you to regain your health like a normal person,” Divine Doctor said, looking straight at Bloodpeak. Bloodpeak couldn’t speak easily. It was Guigyeonsura, standing behind her, who answered Divine Doctor.

“What does that mean?”

Thud.

Guigyeonsura stepped forward, standing next to Bloodpeak. His hand was already on his sword, and his voice was laced with killing intent.

“Speak. If you dare to deceive our lord…”

“Stop.”

Bloodpeak’s small, white hand stopped Guigyeonsura. And Guigyeonsura could not push away the small, white hand that blocked him.

“My lord.” Guigyeonsura, gritting his teeth, barely managed to utter a word.

Bloodpeak also closed her eyes as if she could no longer maintain her composure.

And when she opened her eyes again, there was no more confusion in her gaze.

“Now is not a good time.”

This time, Divine Doctor’s brow furrowed.

“Not a good time? Even when your life could be saved?”

“Yes,” Bloodpeak replied quietly. “Because right now, I need to save the lives of many others, more than my own.”

The eyes of Bloodpeak Geum Sa-ryeon, who looked small and frail, did not waver in the slightest.

Divine Doctor realized that this was not a young woman’s caprice. Just as he had dedicated his life to saving lives, Bloodpeak was risking her life to save others.

“Haa.” Divine Doctor sighed. After clenching his teeth for a moment, Divine Doctor looked up and stared straight at Bloodpeak.

“I hope your choice doesn’t miss the opportunity.”

“Thank you for understanding,” Bloodpeak bowed to Divine Doctor. But Divine Doctor did not return the bow.

“Bin-ah.”

Click.

“Yes, Divine Doctor.” Son Bin answered as he rose from his seat. There was no explanation, but Son Bin already guessed what Divine Doctor was implying.

Thud, thud.

Son Bin approached Bloodpeak, who was seated at the head of the table. Guigyeonsura frowned and stepped forward, but Bloodpeak stopped him again.

“Miss Geum Sa-ryeon,” Son Bin said to Bloodpeak Geum Sa-ryeon with a respectful attitude. “May I hold your hand for a moment?”

“My hand?” Bloodpeak’s eyes widened, making her look quite cute, unlike her usual somber demeanor.

Outwardly, she looked to be about the same age as Seo-rin, but it was difficult to guess, as there were cases like Dang Wol-ah, whose growth was delayed.

Moreover, she was said to have congenital pulse severance syndrome [a rare condition affecting blood flow], making it even more difficult.

Puzzled, Bloodpeak turned her eyes to Divine Doctor. Divine Doctor nodded silently with a stern expression.

“W-well, just for a moment…” After hesitating for a moment, Bloodpeak blushed slightly and extended her hand. Her small, white hand trembled slightly.

For a young lady like a flower to hold hands with another man, especially in such a public place, was not an easy thing to do in many ways.

The eyes of the group were all focused on her hand, and Guigyeonsura furrowed his brow and glared at Son Bin.

“Ahem, excuse me for a moment…” As the atmosphere became like this, Son Bin also felt awkward.

In the silence, Son Bin cleared his throat a few times and was about to take Bloodpeak’s hand.

“You don’t need to worry,” Sa Su-yeon’s voice broke the silence. Everyone’s gaze turned to her, and Sa Su-yeon gave Bloodpeak a soft, gentle smile. “Our Young Master Son learned some simple medicine from Divine Doctor. He only wishes to check the young lady’s pulse, so you don’t need to be so nervous.”

“Ah, I see.”

For a young lady like a flower, being held by a man and having her pulse checked by a doctor were worlds apart.

Only then did Bloodpeak relax and have a comfortable expression. Perhaps because of that, she temporarily forgot the question of ‘why Son Bin, not Divine Doctor, was checking her pulse.’

Son Bin also felt much lighter and grabbed Bloodpeak’s wrist. Thanks to this, he did not see Sa Su-yeon and Dang Wol-ah exchanging light glances.

Swish.

Bloodpeak Geum Sa-ryeon’s slender, white wrist rested on Son Bin’s hand.

Son Bin quietly wrapped his hand around her wrist. He said he was checking her pulse, but he wasn’t really checking her pulse.

‘Hoo.’

Son Bin quietly composed himself. And as always, it revealed its appearance before Son Bin’s eyes.

Whoosh.

The vast, majestic flow and the small flows that appeared and disappeared. The countless flows were drawing a beautiful, fantastical picture before Son Bin’s eyes. And Son Bin saw that there was one small, faintly shining light in the middle.

‘I see.’

Son Bin was able to confirm what kind of person the person he was holding hands with was. And at that moment, Bloodpeak Geum Sa-ryeon was also looking at Son Bin.

‘Ah.’

She couldn’t take her eyes off Son Bin’s face. Her pulse severance syndrome, which had taken everything from her, the one gift that the illness she was born with like a heavenly punishment had given her, was allowing her to look straight at Son Bin at this moment.

Swish.

The time that seemed like it would last forever ended quickly. Son Bin quietly released Bloodpeak’s hand.

“Are you alright?” Son Bin asked softly, looking at Bloodpeak, who was looking at him. She didn’t even seem to notice that her hand had been released.

“Ah, yes.” Bloodpeak hid her hand in her sleeve as if she was embarrassed. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and a faint smile appeared on her lips. Bloodpeak looked up at Son Bin and said, “As expected, we are…”

But her words could not continue.

Bang, crash!

With a loud noise, the door leading to the hallway was shattered.

“What’s going on?” Nogun frowned at the scattering fragments. In the meantime, a dozen masked men rushed in through the broken door.

“Don’t move!” The masked men, who had their eyes covered with masks, drew their swords and blades and said in rough voices.

Their weapons gleamed sharply, but no one in the group was surprised. Even the five children were just sparkling with interest.

“Tsk, did you come to the wrong place?” Nogun said with a voice mixed with annoyance.

It was understandable. The masked men who had entered were obviously not very impressive at a glance.

Their eyes gleamed quite a bit, but at best, they were just the kind of people who caused trouble in the streets. Nogun could subdue them all in an instant with one hand.

“What? Why are there so many?” The masked men who had entered were also flustered. He looked around at Son Bin’s group and suddenly discovered Bloodpeak and Guigyeonsura and his eyes lit up.

“There they are.”

That short word, spat out while grinding his teeth, was the signal.

“Ta-ha!”

“Haa!”

The masked men rushed towards Bloodpeak without hesitation. The fact that she was just a small, frail woman seemed to mean nothing to them.

But their swords could not reach Bloodpeak. It was because Guigyeonsura, who was standing behind Bloodpeak, stepped forward.

Whoong.

Guigyeonsura’s sword flashed a crimson light, and a tremendous gust of wind swept through the room.

Kwaang.

“Keuk!”

“Heok!”

The masked men who had rushed in were thrown back as if they had crashed into a giant stone.

Guigyeonsura glared at the thugs and took one step at a time.

Thud, thud.

“How dare you…”

Guigyeonsura was furious. Normally, he wouldn’t have cared about such a sloppy attack. He would have just thrown the ignorant rabble out the window.

But was it because of Son Bin’s presence, which constantly stimulated his vigilance?

Or was it self-reproach for not being able to do anything?

Guigyeonsura was angrier than usual, and he was wavering that much more.

“Arang! You must not kill them…” Bloodpeak, realizing Guigyeonsura’s feelings, rose from her seat. And at that very moment, Nogun’s eyes flashed.

“Be careful!”

Poong.

Something exploded at Bloodpeak’s feet, and a thick cloud of smoke rose. It instantly filled the wide room.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Whoosh.

As Nogun waved his hand, a strong wind blew away the smoke. But Bloodpeak was no longer there.

“They’re by the window!” Sa Su-yeon shouted. Just as Seo-rin was about to leap, something exploded from the window frame, emitting a tremendous light.

“Get down!” With Son Bin’s cry, Seo-rin immediately twisted her body.

Kwaang!

The window frame and the surrounding walls were shattered in an instant. Along with the pouring debris, a choking smoke quickly filled the room.

“Are you alright?” Son Bin quickly shouted.

“I’m fine,” Sa Su-yeon replied, covering her mouth with one hand. She had already moved Divine Doctor to one side.

The five children were also huddled together next to Dang Wol-ah, still just sparkling their eyes and not looking scared.

“Where’s Seo-rin?”

“I’m okay, Brother Bin!” Seo-rin, who was closest, had already retreated to the back.

Son Bin breathed a sigh of relief. The destructive power didn’t seem to be very strong compared to the sound.

Gritting.

Guigyeonsura gritted his teeth. The window frame where Bloodpeak had disappeared, as well as the surrounding walls, were completely shattered, and there was not even a trace of their original form. This meant that they had been preparing for this for quite some time.

Moreover, he had not noticed the existence of the ominous beast.

Even if he had lost his composure, and even if he had been focusing all his attention on guarding against Son Bin, who was frighteningly unnoticeable, this should never have happened.

Guigyeonsura bit his lip until it bled, blaming himself.

“Hey, what’s all this all of a sudden?” Nogun clicked his tongue. He dusted off his clothes, which had become a mess with dust, and looked out the window. And after glancing at the sky, he turned to Guigyeonsura.

“Tsk, I knew this would happen. How can you protect others if you can’t even control your own nature properly? You’ve blinded yourself with your own anger, so you’ve even lost the person you were supposed to protect.”

Nogun’s words were devastating to Guigyeonsura. Guigyeonsura gritted his teeth. And he was about to throw himself out the window.

“Where are you going?” Nogun reached out and stopped Guigyeonsura, saying. Guigyeonsura replied as if spitting it out.

“I must find the young lady.”

“Without even knowing where she went?” Guigyeonsura gritted his teeth.

“I will search all of Guiyang, no, all of Guizhou Province.”

Nogun let out a dumbfounded laugh.

“Why, are you going to kill even the person you’re trying to save now?”

Swish.

Guigyeonsura turned his head so sharply that it made a sound.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean, think a little. You stupid bastard.” Nogun turned his head and looked at the masked men lying on the floor. The masks that had been covering their faces were long gone, and they all had dazed expressions, having dropped their swords and blades.

“I don’t want to see their faces. Get rid of them, Seo-rin.”

“Yes!” Seo-rin jumped up and threw the sprawled thugs out of the hallway. The thugs, who were much bigger than Seo-rin, flew like bundles of straw.

“Where are the silver chopsticks?” Nogun asked Dang Wol-ah. Dang Wol-ah nodded silently.

“Good.”

It was a short word, but Guigyeonsura did not miss its meaning. Nogun’s words were clearly about Bloodpeak’s whereabouts.

“Do you know where the young lady is?” Guigyeonsura asked Nogun. He was visibly anxious.

“This guy still hasn’t come to his senses.” Nogun frowned and said to Guigyeonsura.

“If you don’t come to your senses, your young lady will die. So, get your act together. Got it?”

Gritting.

Guigyeonsura gritted his teeth so hard that it made a sound.

Nogun’s words were all correct. But how could he get his act together now?

Guigyeonsura, who had been silent, asked.

“What, what must I do?”

Nogun smirked.

“Good. You’re finally starting to come to your senses. As the saying goes, the right question gets the right answer, and acknowledging one’s ignorance is the beginning of wisdom.” Nogun said with a leisurely expression.

“First, call the owner and ask them to change the room. And have them bring what we ordered.”

Guigyeonsura couldn’t hide his confused feelings. He should be checking on Bloodpeak’s safety right away, so what was with the tea?

However, Nogun didn’t care about Guigyeonsura’s expression. Casually stroking his beard, Nogun said, “Anyway, for now, we have to wait.”

Looking at Nogun, who seemed somehow pleased, Son Bin gave a wry smile.

Just a moment ago, Nogun’s telepathic message to the group just before Bloodpeak disappeared was still vivid in his ears.

—Wait for now. No matter what happens.

Nogun clearly said that to Son Bin in a clear voice. Nogun had noticed something.

Of course, he must have said something separately to Dang Wol-ah, Sa Su-yeon, and Seo-rin as well.

Son Bin shrugged. He didn’t know what he was thinking, but it seemed like he had no choice but to follow Nogun’s wishes now.