A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 3

Chapter 3. What Happened in Wuhan

The journey to Wuhan was straightforward, following the main road. There were no particularly scenic views or dangerous paths.

As a result, the occupants of the carriage grew bored from the first day. By the next day, some began to open up and talk.

Among them, the most enthusiastic was a merchant who had been peddling goods in Wuhan for several years.

“Wuhan is a truly great place. It has the Yellow Crane Tower, one of the three famous towers south of the Yangtze River. The view from the Yellow Crane Tower is truly something else, ha!”

The other passengers in the carriage, about seven in total, had apparently never been to Wuhan, as they listened intently to the merchant’s words.

“There’s also a wall with writings by Li Bai [a renowned Chinese poet of the Tang Dynasty] inscribed on it, so be sure to visit. It’s truly…”

“How is business in Wuhan?”

Someone suddenly asked the merchant. The merchant chuckled and replied.

“Oh, where is it easy these days? It’s all difficult.”

“But Wuhan has a large population and a lot of goods coming and going…”

“Ah, of course, that’s true. But do you think powerful people would leave such a lucrative place alone?”

The merchant shook his head as if the questioner didn’t know anything.

“Big merchant guilds have a tight grip on profitable areas, and the Nangong Family, one of the Five Great Clans of the Murim [martial arts world], has a branch in Wuhan.”

Sun Bin, who had been listening listlessly, perked up his ears at those words. He was already having trouble because of a strange martial artist, so a story related to the Murim piqued his interest.

“The Nangong Family and the big merchant guilds have joined forces to control the Wuhan commercial district. Well, even the Wuhan officials give way to the Nangong Family, so that’s all there is to it, isn’t it?”

Sun Bin, who had been listening, tilted his head.

‘I thought Murim people were just focused on honing their martial skills…’

It was somewhat disappointing to hear that they were colluding with merchant guilds to control commerce.

“Well, thanks to the Nangong Family, thugs can’t openly cause trouble, so in some ways, it’s a good thing. Oh, and if you go to Wuhan, be sure to visit the Cheonghwa Brothel. There’s a new girl who just came in…”

As the topic changed, Sun Bin turned his head.

‘Murim people…’

Sun Bin recalled the image of Sa Ja-hyeok. A strong physique, sharp eyes, and bold, unconventional actions. Sa Ja-hyeok was exactly the image of a Murim person that Sun Bin had in mind.

Much more so than the Nangong Family, who supposedly controlled the commerce of Wuhan.

“Well, it doesn’t matter anymore.”

Sun Bin muttered to himself, indifferently gazing at the passing scenery. Perhaps because it was the second day, his tension had eased, and the feeling of being chased had largely disappeared.

Leaving his body to the swaying carriage, Sun Bin was slowly getting closer to Wuhan.

***

The carriage arrived in Wuhan later than expected, around evening on the third day. The people who had traveled together for several days parted ways without a word, and Sun Bin checked into a cheap inn.

Riding in the swaying carriage was more tiring than he had thought, so after a simple meal, Sun Bin immediately fell asleep.

Clink.

A small sound was made as an old, empty bowl was placed on the table. After finishing his breakfast, Sun Bin sat in front of the empty bowl, deep in thought.

‘That martial artist must have set out to find me by now…’

Today is the morning of the fourth day. Sa Ja-hyeok, that martial artist, didn’t seem like someone who would make empty promises, so he probably started chasing after him by now.

‘Could he possibly come all the way to Wuhan?’

It seemed unlikely, but perhaps he could come as far as Wuhan.

‘The best thing would be to follow the Yangtze River to another province altogether… but that would cost a lot of money…’

It would be too much of a detour. It would be nice to take a leisurely trip along the Yangtze River, but the problem was that the money he had on hand was barely enough.

‘But if I head straight back to my hometown, that martial artist might follow me…’

The martial artist knew that he had tried to cross Mount Homun, so the direction from Wuhan to his hometown was roughly determined. If he ran into him on the road, he would be completely helpless.

Suddenly, Sun Bin recalled his deep, intense gaze and the scene of him smashing a large rock with his bare hands. Sun Bin shook his head.

‘That won’t do. I need to stay in crowded places for the time being.’

After thinking, Sun Bin made a decision.

‘Okay. I’ll just stay put in this inn for three days.’

Even if Sa Ja-hyeok came to Wuhan, how would he know about this small inn? Sun Bin decided that staying put in this inn was the best option.

Sun Bin jumped up from the table. Once he made a decision, he felt relieved.

‘Well, when you think about it, it’s hard to come all the way to Wuhan.’

With a lighter heart, Sun Bin moved to his room.

However, his plan to stay put for three days had to be inevitably revised before that afternoon.

The historic capital of Wuhan was also famous for its heat.

∴

“Hoo.”

Sun Bin let out a long sigh of relief and subtly fanned himself.

“Still, it’s a little better now that I’m out.”

Sun Bin was currently resting under the shade of a tree. It was still hot and humid, but thanks to the breeze, it was quite cool in the shade.

“That cheap inn, it’s hot, cramped, smelly, and noisy… ugh.”

The inn where Sun Bin had decided to stay put for three days was truly the worst place. Because people looking for cheap drinks flocked to the small, cramped inn, it was also noisy.

The musty smell from the room also intensified as the heat worsened, making it impossible to stay there.

‘Even if he comes, it won’t be today anyway.’

That was the thought that suddenly came to mind. With that very persuasive thought, Sun Bin eventually came outside.

And he was slowly moving along the shade, looking around the capital of Wuhan as if he were on a leisurely tour.

“It’s a really big city.”

Beijing, where he had gone to take the civil service examination, was much bigger than this, but he didn’t have time to appreciate the big city because of the tension before the exam and the disappointment of failing.

Now that he was in a carefree state, he could leisurely appreciate the atmosphere of Wuhan. As Sun Bin looked at the people coming and going, he suddenly remembered what the merchant had said in the carriage.

“Now that I think about it, instead of staying here, should I go to the Yellow Crane Tower…”

The first thing that comes to mind when you think of Wuhan is the Yellow Crane Tower. And it would be nice to see the writing of Li Bai, who is called the “Poet Immortal,” on this occasion.

“It’s good to be intoxicated by the ink fragrance of the ancients.”

With a leisurely heart, Sun Bin moved towards the Yellow Crane Tower. It was late afternoon in Wuhan, when the intense sunlight was gradually fading.

***

The Yellow Crane Tower is one of the three famous towers south of the Yangtze River. The majestic flow of the Yangtze River, visible from afar, is a spectacle, but the view of Wuhan at a glance is also a must-see.

Sun Bin climbed the tall Yellow Crane Tower and felt the breeze blowing from the Yangtze River.

Swoosh.

‘It’s cool.’

Just when the sunlight seemed to be waning, the sky was already turning red. The Yangtze River was dyed red by the sunset, and the capital of Wuhan, spread out below, was also entirely colored red.

It was a sight that seemed to wash away not only the anxiety of the past few days but even the pain of failure.

For a while, Sun Bin enjoyed the cool feeling while feeling the breeze, and before he knew it, he was reciting poetry with excitement.

“The ancients rode the yellow crane and left, but only the desolate Yellow Crane Tower remains on the ground. Once gone…”

“Hey!”

A voice full of unpleasantness suddenly cut off Sun Bin’s poem. Sun Bin turned his head.

“Can’t you be quiet?”

Sun Bin frowned. There were four or so young people standing there, and one of them was speaking to Sun Bin with an unpleasant expression.

There were both men and women, and judging by the luxurious clothes they were wearing, they seemed to be from wealthy families.

Sun Bin was not in a good mood because the excitement he had been feeling was broken and a young person was suddenly speaking down to him. Sun Bin did not hide his unpleasant expression and replied.

“I apologize if I was disturbing you, but aren’t you being too rude?”

“What?”

The young man, who had been turning his head towards his group, glared at Sun Bin.

“What did you just say?”

One of the young women in the group said to the young man.

“Stop it.”

“No, wait a minute.”

The young man raised his hand as if to stop the young woman and looked at Sun Bin again.

“Hey, what did you say?”

‘Hey?’

Sun Bin’s mood worsened as he was openly spoken down to.

“I said you were being rude.”

“Huh, this ridiculous guy, where did he come from…”

‘Guy?’

‘Hey’ turned into ‘you,’ and now it was ‘guy.’ Sun Bin was now angry.

“You seem to be from a noble family; how about learning some more manners?”

Sun Bin glared at the young man as he spoke. The young man looked at him as if he was dumbfounded and then chuckled.

“Really, what a thing… Hey, you.”

The young man put his hands on his waist. And only then did Sun Bin realize that he was wearing a sword.

It was a sword with delicate decorations on the scabbard and handle. The young man seemed to notice that Sun Bin’s gaze had reached the sword, and a sneer appeared on his face.

“Did you see it now? Tsk tsk. But you have to take responsibility for what you’ve done, right?”

His face was full of the confidence of a winner. It was an attitude that seemed like the conclusion had already been reached. It was at that moment.

“Oh my, but what that scholar said is right, isn’t it?”

Another young woman in the group said with a smile.

“Young Master Gongsun!”

The young man frowned and turned to look at her. The sharp-looking young woman, dressed in luxurious silk clothes, slightly covered her mouth with her sleeve and said.

“He’s a person who recites elegant old poems without hesitation. Although his appearance is a bit shabby…”

She glanced at Sun Bin’s attire and smiled slightly.

“Even someone like that is saying that Young Master should learn manners. Shouldn’t you take this opportunity to listen carefully? Ah, well, Young Master Namgung usually… heh, avoids writing, so he probably doesn’t know.”

The young man’s face crumpled. And Sun Bin’s face also crumpled.

‘Why is she doing this?’

No matter what was going on, that young woman was trying to make things big. She was trying to humiliate that young man by using Sun Bin.

And the backlash would definitely fall on Sun Bin.

“Young Lady Gongsun.”

The young man’s voice was low, but the anger filled in it was clear.

“You will regret what you just said.”

The young man turned his head and looked at Sun Bin.

“And you. You have to take responsibility for what you’ve done.”

His eyes, looking at Sun Bin, were filled with murderous intent. Sun Bin stuttered without realizing it at his sudden murderous intent.

“Wh, what responsibility are you talking about?”

“If I let you go like this, what would they think of me? Even though it was something you did without knowing, you provided the excuse, so you have to take the appropriate responsibility.”

His voice was low, but his anger was smoldering. It was an unreasonable anger directed at the wrong person.

“Since you dared to speak carelessly to a member of the Namgung Family, I will cut off your tongue and one of your arms as an example.”

Sun Bin shuddered. He could tell that the young man’s words were not empty threats.

“Young Master Namgung, stop it.”

The young woman who had stopped the young man earlier said.

“It’s not good to vent your anger on a weak scholar. It’s not something that suits the name of the Namgung Family.”

“Young Lady Moryong, what suits the name of the Namgung Family is something I decide.”

The young man said.

“And I must cut off that guy’s tongue. So I will show what happens to those who speak carelessly to a member of the Namgung Family.”

The young man’s gaze was directed at the sharp-looking young woman as he spoke. And the young woman was looking at that gaze with a sneer.

Whirr.

The young man turned his body and approached Sun Bin. And he slowly drew his sword.

Sreung.

The silver shining blade revealed its fierce appearance.

“Wh, what are you doing? Are you not afraid of the hwangbeop [imperial law]?”

“Hwangbeop?”

The young man chuckled.

“Hwangbeop will say that I am justified. You provoked me first and rushed at me, so it is only natural that I drew my sword, isn’t it?”

“Th, that’s ridiculous…”

“It is.”

The young man said.

“Everyone will say so.”

Sun Bin looked around urgently. The people who had been there just a moment ago were nowhere to be seen.

Everyone had either left early or was standing far away, glancing over.

That was the same for the young women in front of him. The young woman who had made things big had an interesting look in her eyes, and the young woman who had been stopping him was now looking at the young man with an expression as if there was nothing she could do.

No one was helping Sun Bin, or even feeling sorry for him.

‘Oh my god.’

Sun Bin was suddenly overcome with the feeling of being abandoned alone in the world. And a sense of oppression as if all sides were blocked came over him.

It was the same feeling as when he had been kicked out of the government office a while ago, and even more desperate.

Step, step.

The young man was slowly approaching with the blue-edged sword. And Sun Bin, even he thought it was pathetic, couldn’t think of anything.

With a face as white as a sheet, he was just staring at the approaching blade, feeling as if a sharp energy was tightening his whole body.

“Blame your tongue. A careless mouth always brings disaster.”

The approaching young man’s sword went diagonally downwards. And it was about to be drawn upwards.

“That won’t do.”