A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 227

227. Shared Suffering

Hwasa’s unleashed white palm shadows instantly blanketed the surroundings.

Hwasa’s pure white hand shadows covered every direction, leaving no gap. It was a truly unbelievably eerie sight.

Nogun and Sasooyeon, who were charging towards Hwasa from the left and right, paled. However, neither panicked.

Kwa Kwang!

With two explosions, Nogun and Sasooyeon leaped backward. As if they had anticipated the attack, they retreated lightly and easily.

Whoo Woong.

Hwasa’s countless white palm shadows didn’t extend far and vanished quickly. But Hwasa was already preparing her next move.

“Hmph, trying to escape….”

As Hwasa shouted sharply and reached a palm towards Sasooyeon, something close to the ground rushed towards Hwasa.

Pa bat.

A fast movement as if flying above the ground. It was Seorin.

“Ah, this time it’s a wolf pup?”

Hwasa sneered and immediately sent a palm strike towards Seorin.

Whoosh, Kwaang.

A pile of dirt soared up, but it only served to conceal Seorin’s figure.

“Yap!”

Paat.

Seorin, who had already arrived right in front of her, leaped towards Hwasa as if playing a prank.

But by then, Hwasa’s white hand was already prepared to meet Seorin.

Shwiik.

The pale woman’s hand fell towards Seorin. But what touched that white hand was a soft *buljin* [a tassel-like weapon] like an animal’s tail, Hongjinmanri.

Hwirik.

The *buljin* naturally wrapped around Hwasa’s hand.

There was no impact or explosion. For that moment, the terrifying Hand of Annihilation felt like an ordinary woman’s hand.

But the result was anything but ordinary. The soft *buljin* bound one of Hwasa’s hands as if it were a firm shackle.

Seorin’s *buljin* was by no means destructive, but its inner strength was surprisingly deep and vast, making it impossible for Hwasa to move.

Woong.

Hwasa immediately used her Spirit Absorption Art. But Seorin’s *buljin* didn’t even allow the Spirit Absorption Art to work.

“Aish, won’t you let go?”

Hwasa, realizing she couldn’t move her hand, became annoyed and tried to strike Seorin with her other hand. But Seorin was faster.

“Hooit!”

As if playing a prank, Seorin pulled the *buljin* wrapped around Hwasa’s hand.

Hwasa staggered and lost her balance for a moment.

“Sorry, sis.”

Seorin said with a truly apologetic expression in front of Hwasa. It was a face so cute that one would want to forgive anything.

“But *hyung* [older brother/term of respect] told me to do it.”

Booook.

Seorin’s hand, curled like a claw, lunged towards Hwasa’s chest. The energy at the tip of that hand was something even Hwasa couldn’t take lightly.

“Oh my, how lewd. Where are you trying to touch?”

Hwasa twisted her body, slightly glaring. It was a playful gesture with words like a joke, but it was a truly close call.

Jjieek.

The hem of Hwasa’s clothes was torn by Seorin’s fingers, revealing bare skin.

But Hwasa was already turning to Seorin’s side. Even with one hand tied, Hwasa’s movements were as flexible as a flower snake.

“Naughty kids should be punished, right?”

Whoo Woong.

Following that, Hwasa’s pure white hand struck towards Seorin’s side. Seorin immediately released the *buljin* and retreated.

Tat.

“Where are you going? Play with me.”

With Hwasa’s mocking voice, her body seemed to sway, and she quickly approached Seorin.

Hook.

With an eerie feeling, Hwasa’s hand lunged from below towards Seorin’s face.

Seorin immediately tilted his head back.

Pasak.

The hand brushed past Seorin’s nose. But a few strands of Seorin’s bangs, which he couldn’t avoid, crumbled like burnt paper at Hwasa’s fingertips.

“Hehe. How is it? This rude….”

Hwasa wore a bitter smile, but that smile was too early.

“It’s above you, sis.”

Seorin said with a bright smile.

“Above?”

Hwasa sensed something and immediately raised her head to look at the sky.

Pararak.

A slender woman wearing a veil was falling from the moonlit night sky.

In the moonlight, the woman’s shadow drew a graceful curve. Like a lunar fairy descending from the moon palace, the woman held a small sword at her fingertips, emitting an eerie green energy.

“Tsk.”

Hwasa immediately recognized that the energy was a threat to her. Clicking her tongue lightly, Hwasa immediately struck out a hand towards Seorin.

Kwaang.

An impact sound that was hard to believe came from a barehanded collision. Seorin used the recoil to create distance as if he had been waiting for it. From the start, he had no intention of dragging it out.

Boo Wook.

With the sound of silk tearing, a green energy fell above Hwasa’s head. Hwasa spun around in place and thrust one hand above her head.

Kwaang!

The green sword energy and Hwasa’s white hand collided.

“Keuk.”

Pook.

With Hwasa’s groan, her feet dug about an inch into the ground. Unlike its short length, Dang Wora’s Sowol pressed down on Hwasa with tremendous force.

In terms of inner strength, Geomhee was superior to Dang Wora. However, Geomhee’s and Sasooyeon’s inner strength had the same yin-cold nature as Hwasa, making it difficult to inflict significant damage on each other.

On the other hand, Seorin, Dang Wora, and Nogun were different. In particular, Dang Wora’s poison skill was not compatible with Hwasa. Therefore, Hwasa was receiving a greater impact than when facing Geomhee or Sasooyeon.

“This annoying she-cat!”

Hwasa, grinding her teeth, raised another palm towards Dang Wora.

Jeojeojeok.

Hwasa’s white hand fired a huge palm strike right in front of Dang Wora’s eyes. Dang Wora immediately soared upwards.

Peong.

Hwasa’s huge hand shadow soared futilely into the night sky, and Dang Wora slowly fell from the moonlight.

Pallak.

With fluttering clothes, Dang Wora landed lightly on the ground like a feather.

But Hwasa had no time to watch. Two swords, Soryeong and Myeong, were charging towards her again.

Kwagwagwak.

“Ah, really!”

Pa bak.

Hwasa crossed her hands once, then thrust them left and right towards the two.

Kaang.

Hwasa’s pure white hands blocked the two swords. But Soryeong and Myeong had no intention of retreating this time.

Kiiiing.

Woowoong.

As the two swords gained momentum, Hwasa’s hands began to glow white.

“Are you really going to do this?”

Hwasa said, glaring at Sasooyeon. Nogun was on the opposite side, but Hwasa didn’t even glance in that direction.

“Ah, is it because of that *oppa* [older brother/term of endearment]?”

Hwasa gave a subtle look, as if surprised or teasing.

“Don’t worry. I won’t take him away. I’ll just play with him for a bit and give him back. Well, he might be a little broken.”

Hwasa chattered non-stop while facing Nogun and Sasooyeon at the same time.

Sasooyeon couldn’t help but be amazed at the sight. Hwasa didn’t budge an inch while facing Nogun and Sasooyeon, no less.

Nogun’s words that the night was her world were by no means false.

‘One of the two strongest women in the Outer Sect, they say.’

Despite her frivolous words and actions, Hwasa blocked Geomhee’s Sanghyo Iljeol and faced Nogun, Sasooyeon, Seorin, and Dang Wora.

Even though Geomhee and Nogun had no intention to kill, it was a level that could not be underestimated.

‘At this rate.’

It was almost as if Hwasa was stronger than Geomhee. But Sasooyeon soon abandoned that thought after seeing Hwasa’s red eyes.

Hwasa was collapsing.

Her bloodshot eyes and the crimson blood vessels running through her body were telling the story.

“Are you going to keep stopping me like this?”

Hwasa asked, chattering. Her red eyes were even eerie. But Sasooyeon could clearly see.

Hwasa’s limit was not far off. No one knew what would happen when that limit was exceeded.

“Fools never change.”

Suddenly, a cold voice was heard from above. Hwasa raised her head.

“I told you, I’m the one stopping you.”

Pararak.

Geomhee was falling from the dark night sky. Her white clothes fluttered in the wind, making a sound. And Hwasa could clearly hear Geomhee’s low voice.

“Sanghyo Iljeol.”

With a calm voice, Geomhee’s Bangeom instantly transformed into a huge sword.

Jeojeojeok.

The huge white sword falling towards the earth. The blue shining sword edge was pointing straight at Hwasa.

“Haha!”

Hwasa laughed like a hollow laugh. But the next moment, tremendous cold energy burst from Hwasa’s hands.

Peong.

“Tsk.”

“Heut.”

Sasooyeon and Nogun retreated with short groans. Sasooyeon reflexively took a stance to prepare for the subsequent attack, but there was none.

“I told you too, right?”

Hwasa said, looking up at Geomhee. Tremendous energy was swirling in Hwasa’s hands, revealing its presence, with Nogun and Sasooyeon out of her mind.

Kwagwagwak.

With the momentum she created, Hwasa’s clothes were torn and her hair fluttered as if caught in a storm.

Not only that.

Hwasa’s red eyes were now so red that it was impossible to distinguish her pupils. But Hwasa didn’t care at all.

“You’re so annoying.”

Hwasa said with red lips. And she raised both hands straight up towards the falling giant sword.

Kwaaang!

Hwasa’s energy and Geomhee’s Sanghyo Iljeol collided head-on. Following that, a tremendous sound, light, and storm-like momentum swept through the forest.

‘Heut.’

Sasooyeon raised her hand to protect her face. Nogun also frowned and covered his eyes with his hand.

After a while, the result of the collision revealed itself before their eyes.

Kukukuku.

Hwasa’s two hands were in a tense confrontation with Geomhee’s Sanghyo Iljeol.

The momentum emanating from Geomhee’s giant sword was tremendous, but the momentum swirling in Hwasa’s two hands was by no means something that could be allowed to a person.

“Kekekeut.”

Hwasa laughed.

“You’re…… really determined?”

She couldn’t speak as lightly as before. Geomhee was looking down at Hwasa with cold eyes, but she didn’t open her mouth.

“Going all the…… way? You…… idiot…….”

Jabak.

Hwasa involuntarily turned her gaze at the sound of small footsteps.

It was definitely not a situation to pay attention to other things, but an impulse that Hwasa herself couldn’t understand made her turn her gaze.

And Hwasa found Sonbin walking slowly towards her.

“Oh my, *oppa*?”

Hwasa said in a clear voice.

“Have you finally…… Keuk, changed your mind?”

Jeobeok, jeobeok.

Sonbin walked slowly towards Hwasa. The tremendous momentum created by Geomhee and Hwasa swirled like a storm, refusing Sonbin’s approach.

“But it’s a little difficult right now? If you come closer…… you might get hurt.”

Hwasa raised the corners of her mouth as if trying to make a seductive smile. But to Sonbin, it looked like she was about to cry.

Jeobeok.

Despite Hwasa’s warning, Sonbin didn’t stop. Nogun and Sasooyeon, who were watching, as well as Dang Wora, Seorin, and even Sineui, didn’t stop Sonbin.

It seemed that only Hwasa was concerned about Sonbin’s safety.

“I said it’s dangerous…….”

It was the moment Hwasa frowned.

Whoo Woong.

Sonbin stepped into the momentum of Hwasa and Geomhee.

It was as if he was walking through nothing, or as if the storm-like momentum was rather accepting Sonbin.

Jeobeok, jeobeok.

Sonbin walked straight towards Hwasa. Only then did Hwasa cast her gaze on the beautiful sword in his hand, Baekro.

The blade of Baekro, which made it clear at a glance that it was more than just a precious sword, was shining arrogantly under the moonlight.

“Ah, you didn’t come to play with me?”

Hwasa said to Sonbin, pretending to be cheerful.

“You were waiting for this moment. I knew all along that everyone except me was of one mind.”

Hwasa could understand everything at once.

The successive offensives starting with Nogun and Sasooyeon, followed by Seorin and Dang Wora, and Geomhee’s Sanghyo Iljeol, which had to be faced head-on.

All of this was to distract Hwasa’s attention and drive her to a dead end at the same time.

And Sonbin’s Seongeom Baekro would end all of this. By taking Hwasa’s life with that beautiful blade.

“*Oppa*, did you…… come to kill me too?”

Hwasa’s eyes were clearly smiling. But what was flowing down her eyes was red blood.

“No, I didn’t.”

Sonbin said quietly. He slowly raised his left hand. There was nothing in that hand.

“Please forgive my rudeness.”

Sonbin said in a soft voice. Hwasa stared blankly at Sonbin with her red eyes.

Meanwhile, Sonbin’s fingertips touched Hwasa’s exposed shoulder.

Pa babak.

Sonbin touching Hwasa was like exposing himself to the tremendous momentum of the two people in a tense confrontation.

The momentum of the two, which had been looking for a place to burst out, gathered in an instant, and Sonbin’s clothes were torn without exception.

Chwaak.

Not only that. The capillaries in his arm began to burst, and Sonbin’s arm instantly began to turn red.

It was a terrible sight, but Hwasa was rather surprised in a different sense. It was unbelievable that he was only at this level even after receiving the two people’s inner strength head-on.

Sarak.

While Hwasa’s eyes widened with a surprised expression, Sonbin was already embracing Hwasa’s shoulder. It was as if Hwasa was leaning slightly into Sonbin’s arms.

“Now is the time.”

Sonbin said as if whispering in Hwasa’s ear.

Paang.

At the same time as Geomhee withdrew her inner strength, she soared upwards as if bouncing off. And at that moment, Hwasa felt her own runaway inner strength draining away in an instant.

It was neither scattering the inner strength nor forcibly taking it away.

It was like a child who had lost its way finally finding the path to its home, such peace.

‘Ah ah.’

Hwasa’s body lost strength. She was released from the cruel violence that had been running wild inside her, which she herself could not handle.

Tteolseok.

Hwasa, who had lost her strength, fell forward as it was. Thanks to that, she naturally leaned into Sonbin’s arms.

She couldn’t move a single finger. No, she didn’t want to move. Her eyes were already closed, but she didn’t want to open them again.

Even if she couldn’t open her eyes forever, that was what she wanted.

Woowoong.

A low sword sound was heard. And she felt something huge revealing itself from Sonbin’s sword.

But Hwasa didn’t care. Everything felt unreal, as if it was happening far away.

Hoo Woowoong.

With an unfamiliar sound, Hwasa slowly lost consciousness. It was a sweet rest that she had felt in a long time.

∴

Woowoowoong.

A pale light soared towards the dark sky.

“Be careful!”

Nogun shouted as if warning.

Sasooyeon, Dang Wora, and Seorin had already lowered their bodies and scattered their inner strength. This was because it was not the first time they had experienced this.

The five children were lying flat on the ground behind Dang Wora. Seorin was reassuring the frightened children next to them.

On the other hand, Geomhee was just standing calmly and looking at the light. The light was reflected on the Bangeom in her hand, flickering.

Hoong.

The mysterious phenomenon didn’t last long.

The light that had soared from Sonbin’s Baekro crumbled like countless fireflies and disappeared into the darkness.

“Son Gongja [Young Master Son]!”

Hwirik.

Sasooyeon moved first. Sasooyeon embraced the staggering Sonbin and Hwasa.

“Thank you.”

Sonbin looked up at Sasooyeon with a faint smile. Sasooyeon bit her lip.

Sonbin’s left arm, which had been embracing Hwasa, was a mess. Sasooyeon carefully laid the unconscious Hwasa on the ground.

“Sineui-nim [Master Sineui].”

Sineui was already approaching before Sasooyeon called out. Sasooyeon said to Sineui.

“Please take a look at Son Gongja-nim [Young Master Son].”

“I’m later.”

Sonbin said, looking at Sasooyeon.

“If you don’t treat Hwasa Sojeo [Young Lady Hwasa] now, it will be more difficult next time.”

Sasooyeon also knew. Now that Hwasa had poured out all her yin energy, it was the best time to treat her.

She was worried about Sonbin’s condition, but Sonbin would not move until Hwasa was treated.

“Okay.”

Sasooyeon nodded. Hwasa’s energy corresponded to extreme yin, and naturally, Sasooyeon taking the lead would have the least impact.

“Then the preparations…….”

“I’ll do it.”

Sabak.

Sasooyeon raised her head at the voice heard from behind.

Geomhee was walking slowly. Her Bangeom had already concealed its appearance in the scabbard in her arms.

“You?”

Sasooyeon frowned slightly.

Geomhee came to Hwasa’s side and quietly bent her knees.

“I owe the fool snake something.”

Sasooyeon couldn’t understand. She was wondering if Hwasa and Geomhee had a relationship when Geomhee’s voice continued.

“My Sanghyo Iljeol was taken from her.”

“What does that mean?”

Sasooyeon asked. Geomhee stared blankly at Hwasa’s face and replied.

“Hwasa is the first, and I am the second.”

“What are you talking about?”

Nogun, who had already approached, said. His face was stiff.

“Experiment.”

Geomhee said quietly.

“Okryong said so.”

The ‘Okryong’ she was talking about was clearly the previous Okryong. Sasooyeon couldn’t hide her surprised expression, and a chilling sound leaked from Nogun’s mouth.

Eudeuk.

Nogun’s expression, biting his teeth, was more distorted than ever.