A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 307

307. Handling or Expansion (1)

As the fog cleared, the chaos in Huangshan was quickly brought under control.

Unlike when they were trapped in the mist, the sects were now psychologically more relaxed and able to make calm judgments. With a clearer view, they were more inclined to keep their distance and avoid conflict.

More importantly, no further clues about the ‘Hidden Treasure of Huangshan’ appeared. By the time they realized something was amiss, many sects had already withdrawn.

Eventually, before that evening, all the sects that had survived in Huangshan returned to the inn. The Great Four and the Five Great Families decided to leave Huangshan immediately that day.

“I should stay until tomorrow.”

Divine Doctor Shin Eui said, tending to the injured. Thanks to him, Son Bin and his group were able to see off those who were leaving.

The Emei Sect left Huangshan under the guidance of Beop-heo Shinni.

Jang Mun-in, Hye-wol, kept her face hidden under a deep bamboo hat, but Beop-heo Shinni visited Noh Gun and Son Bin before leaving to express her deep gratitude.

“See? I told you. Beop-heo isn’t that kind of person.”

Noh Gun said with a satisfied smile. However, no one remembered when Noh Gun had said that.

The Wudang Sect also visited Seo-rin and Son Bin before leaving Huangshan to pay their respects.

The Wudang Seven Swords, as well as Jang Mun-in Cheong-su Jin-in, and Seo-rin’s elder martial brother, Hyeon-heo Jin-in, also came.

The elderly Hyeon-heo Jin-in bowed deeply to Son Bin to express his gratitude.

Son Bin was flustered, unsure how to respond to the gesture, and Seo-rin hugged Hyeon-heo Jin-in tightly once more, bringing tears to the old martial brother’s eyes.

“Please visit us anytime, Martial Uncle.”

Cheong-yang Jin-in, one of the Wudang Seven Swords, said politely to Seo-rin.

“This Cheong-yang will strive to improve so as not to shame Martial Uncle.”

Noh Gun clicked his tongue quietly as he watched Cheong-yang Jin-in. He could tell from his eyes that Cheong-yang Jin-in had stepped into a new realm.

It was clear that he had gained a great deal of insight from the Seven Stars Sword Formation that Seo-rin had shown.

“Okay, thank you, Mister.”

Seo-rin waved with a bright face. The Taoists of Wudang bowed deeply to Seo-rin in respectful greeting.

The Hyeokryeon Family was silent, with only the former Sword Demon, Hyeokryeon-wi, bowing his head, but the Namgung Family came with Namgung-hyang and Namgung-soyu, along with the former Thunder Sword, Namgung-cheon, to bid farewell.

“Miss Namgung, I will inform you of the details later by letter.”

Son Bin whispered softly to Namgung-hyang. As before, Son Bin spoke close to her ear, causing Namgung-hyang’s face to turn red.

“Yes, I’ll be waiting.”

She replied with a soft smile.

Namgung-soyu also regretted their parting and asked them to visit again. Although she was not one of the Huangshan Five Beauties, she was very popular with some people along with Dang-wol-ah, and many were sad to see her leave.

Dang Hwa-ryeon, the strategist of the Tang Clan and one of the Huangshan Five Beauties, hugged Dang-wol-ah tightly before lightly waving to Son Bin and leaving Huangshan.

Surprisingly, the Zhuge Family was visited by Pil-ong Zhuge-ryeon, the family head Cheol-pil Zhuge-gwan, and Zhuge-gyeong, another of the Huangshan Five Beauties.

“Thank you so much.”

Zhuge-gyeong sent sparkling eyes to Hwa-sa and Dang-wol-ah, unable to hide her gratitude and admiration. She didn’t seem to mind that Hwa-sa belonged to the Demonic Sect.

Dang-wol-ah didn’t answer as usual, but Hwa-sa ended up saying, ‘Uh, sure, okay,’ to Zhuge-gyeong’s enthusiastic advances like, ‘Can I call you unni [older sister]?’ and ‘I really want to visit you.’

The Moryong Family was visited by the family head, Junja-geom Moryong-myeong, Cheol-geom Moryong-jin, and Moryong-rin, who regretted their parting.

Moryong-rin secretly said to Son Bin:

“There have been tremendous offers from the Zhuge Family and the Tang Clan.”

Moryong-rin added with a smile.

“There will be a big change in the balance of power among the Five Great Families in the future. I don’t know for sure, but maybe it’s thanks to you, Young Master Son?”

Son Bin gave an awkward smile. He could guess that what she said was related to the Gongson Family.

Talhon-do returned to Hwa-sa’s side but left Son Bin with a simple message, ‘Going,’ as Gwigyeon-su. Son Bin fully understood his feelings about leaving Hyeol-bong behind.

Cheong-hye Sa-tae led the Ja-hye Sect and left for Beijing. Before leaving, Cheong-hye Sa-tae earnestly asked Son Bin to take care of Gyeong-hui Gun-ju [Princess Gyeong-hui].

“I will bear the karma of my junior sister. So, I beg you.”

Gyeong-hui Gun-ju had collapsed and couldn’t even come out of her room. Shin Eui said it was a shock caused by fatigue and exhaustion.

In fact, except for her status as a Gun-ju, she was just an ordinary woman, so it was understandable.

Of course, that didn’t mean that Hwa-sa, who ‘doesn’t hit the weak but makes exceptions for the unlucky,’ would forgive her.

Cheong-rang-geom Wi Ga-jin and the maid Hang-ah were also being treated like Gyeong-hui Gun-ju, due to the aftereffects of blocking the attacks of the seven Outer Sect masters.

Janggang Eo-ong, who had helped the Wudang Sect, also rejoined them.

“Aren’t you going home?”

Noh Gun scolded him, but Janggang Eo-ong was nonchalant.

“Wherever there are carp is my home.”

So, it meant that he didn’t care whether it was the Janggang River or the Bukgang River in Cheongwon. Noh Gun grumbled.

“That’s why you don’t have a woman.”

Of course, Janggang Eo-ong was not shaken in the slightest.

The Gongson Family had already disappeared before people even withdrew, and when even the Mount Hua Sect and Shaolin left, most of the sects made the same decision.

The sudden appearance of the twelve young ladies and their exotic appearances were a bit of a topic, but the atmosphere had already subsided.

As the sects loaded the injured onto carriages and began to leave Huangshan one by one, the crowded inns quickly became deserted.

Only a few small sects remained, unable to completely let go of their lingering attachments, but anyone could tell that this commotion was over.

Thus, the chaos surrounding the ‘Hidden Treasure of Huangshan’ came to an end, leaving behind quite a bit of gold and countless injured, though not nearly enough to be called a ‘treasure.’

*

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*

The prairie stretching across the northern part of the continent.

In a place closer to a dry wasteland than a prairie, due to the abundance of rocks and stones, a huge number of tents had been set up.

Unlike the tents of ordinary nomads, these were hunting tents set up by warriors of the Northern tribes, with spears and bows gleaming everywhere.

It was a common thing that any adult Northern warrior would have, but they also set up the same tents when war broke out. And in fact, hunting was also excellent combat training for the Northern tribes.

Moreover, the bigger problem was the number. The sight of a huge number of tents, well over tens of thousands, clustered together was so magnificent and vast that it was like a city had been built in the wilderness.

They were all tents of various Northern tribes gathered from all over.

The trained hawks circling in the sky and the hundreds and thousands of hunting dogs gathered here and there were enough to make people feel intimidated.

Ttagak, ttagak.

An old man with a gaunt face and a white beard, Nerghui of the West, rode up on his horse.

A general with a burly look, Altan of the North, standing by the bonfire, spotted Nerghui and greeted him.

“Yo, Nerghui. Did you do a lot of hunting?”

Ttagak, tak.

Nerghui of the West, one of the Four Direction Generals of the Northern Sea, dismounted and answered curtly.

“Is this the time to be hunting animals?”

“Then what else? Unless there’s a war, all we can do is hunt. If we don’t do it now, when will we?”

Altan poked the roasting meat with the short spear he had slung over his shoulder. A skinned deer was being roasted whole over a dying bonfire.

“This is good, isn’t it? Maybe because it’s a place where we haven’t hunted for a while, but the meat is really plump.”

Altan of the North smiled contentedly.

It couldn’t be helped. This was a border area, so large-scale hunting that could provoke the South was, in principle, prohibited.

Thanks to the abundant game, other tribes were also out hunting all day long. As a result, the smell of roasting meat and feasts never stopped at night.

“Altan, what about the North? Why are you here?”

Nerghui, with his gaunt face, said to Altan with a displeased expression. Altan shrugged.

“I have a good son. I’m old now, so I’m going to take this opportunity to hunt and spend my old age leisurely.”

“Leisurely old age.”

Gun-tumur of the South, a general with a sturdy build standing behind him, said, looking at the roasting deer. He didn’t even greet Nerghui.

“You’re talking to someone who’s too busy to even go hunting. If you’re so leisurely, help me.”

Gun-tumur is the Four Direction General in charge of the South, this area. Whenever something happened in this place where many tribes gathered, they would look for him, so in fact, he was the busiest person here.

“That’s why I’m grilling meat for you.”

Altan retorted in a curt voice.

“And it’s not you who’s busy, it’s your son, Guyuk.”

Guyuk is Gun-tumur’s son and a warrior in charge of practical affairs. Guyuk was the one who was really busy, working without a break.

“Where’s Bayama?”

Nerghui, with his gaunt face, asked again. Bayama is the Four Direction General guarding the East. He was also here.

“Ah, did you come to find Bayama? He’s probably with Bingje? Because Sarne is there.”

Altan said, checking the meat.

“Sarne?”

“Why, you know. The head maid who commanded the Ice Palace back then. Bayama is courting her these days.”

Nerghui frowned.

“That guy? I thought he had no one in his eyes except for the late Bing-hu.”

“He didn’t declare himself a bachelor like you.”

Gun-tumur joined in, continuing Altan’s words.

“Head Maid Sarne… Is that the woman who rejected Bayama’s courtship?”

“What? Is that true?”

Altan, who was grilling the meat, turned his head and looked surprised. Bayama of the East is the object of envy of all the women in the Northern Sea with his mature charm.

Gun-tumur nodded.

“Yes. Of course, Bayama hasn’t given up yet, they say.”

“Uahahahaha. Bayama’s expression must have been quite a sight. Her name is Sarne? I should send her a gift for doing a good job?”

“She won’t accept gifts.”

Gun-tumur stared blankly at the meat and muttered to himself.

“Right now, other tribes are trying to meet Sarne even once. There are so many gifts pouring in that she’s refusing them all.”

“What? Why? She’s pretty, but not that pretty, is she?”

Gun-tumur chuckled at Altan’s words.

“It’s just not your taste. Anyway, Sarne is in charge of trade with the South. That’s why everyone wants to meet her and hear about the secret to maintaining trade with the South.”

Since the start of full-scale trade with the South, the Northern Sea has become richer than ever before. Moreover, there was almost no arrogant behavior from the South, which the Northern tribes were worried about.

It was only natural for other tribes around them to want to know the secret to how they were trading.

“Thanks to that, our Ice Palace’s influence has also grown. Everyone wants to interact with us somehow.”

The Northern tribes are originally independent. Because of this, they were divided into countless tribes and unable to establish a proper nation.

It was only natural for them. Why would they need to go under someone when there was an endless prairie under the sky?

However, the success of the Northern Sea Ice Palace stimulated them. In the midst of all this, this hunting festival, opened in the name of the Blue Wolf, was enough to bring them together.

The name of the legendary Blue Wolf, who unified the Northern tribes, was something that could never be ignored even after so many years.

“Huh?”

Altan, who was grilling the meat, frowned as he looked towards the distant prairie. Then he soon smiled.

“I wondered what it was, but it’s the Southerners. I heard that a pretty high-ranking guy was coming this time?”

Something like a small dot that was barely visible was running across the prairie. It was a group of cavalry raising the flag of the South. Altan was able to distinguish it even though it was barely visible.

When the Northern tribes gathered here, the South was naturally in an uproar. At first, a general’s envoy came, and then an envoy sent by the Great General in charge of the North came.

The envoy demanded that they disband immediately in an arrogant manner, but when Bingje said, ‘If I cut off your head and send it back as an answer, would you learn some manners?’, he became speechless.

The Northern border is close to the Empire’s capital.

If an accident were to occur due to his mistake, it would be a great crime that would result in the execution of his entire clan. Moreover, the large-scale force gathered beyond his expectations was enough to shut his mouth.

“Did they come again? I don’t know why they keep coming if they’re not going to believe the answer even if we give it to them.”

Nerghui, with his gaunt face, clicked his tongue as he looked at the small dot. Envoys had come several times, but Bingje’s answer was always the same.

A traditional large-scale hunting festival of the Northern tribes.

That was the answer.

However, the Southern envoys did not believe that answer. No, it had to be said that they couldn’t believe it. This was the first time that so many troops had gathered on the Northern border.

“From a military point of view, it can’t be helped. Nerghui, if you were the Emperor of the South, would you believe it? That we’re just gathering like this to hunt?”

Gun-tumur of the South said. Nerghui frowned and turned to look at Gun-tumur.

“I don’t believe it. So we have to fight. What’s the point of sending envoys like that?”

The large-scale hunting that takes place every year is a tradition of the Northern tribes. Moreover, once it starts, it usually lasts a hundred days.

However, there is no reason to do that tradition in a dangerous border area. So it was only natural to suspect that there was some intention.

However, the only answer Bingje gave to the envoys was: ‘We are just following the Blue Wolf’s designation of the hunting grounds.’

The Southern envoy had to grit his teeth and retreat at that religiously charged answer. If they were to insult their traditions, a full-scale war would break out that day.

Since then, envoys have been coming and going almost every day. They are trying to see if there are any special movements, such as preparations for a surprise attack, while simultaneously using persuasion and pressure.

“It’s meaningless to only stimulate the South’s vigilance here. Let’s cross the border right now…”

“Cross the border?”

Altan, who was grilling the meat, let out a hollow laugh. That was no different from a full-scale war.

“Why are you so impatient when you’re always plotting insidious schemes? You need to calm that temper of yours. You were the first to get angry last time, too…”

Nerghui frowned and glared at Altan.

“I don’t do that for just anything.”

“Ah, yes, yes. You’re right. Nerghui of the West is calm and thoughtful. Except when it comes to the Young Palace Lord.”

Silence flowed.

The ‘Young Palace Lord’ that Altan mentioned is none other than Sa Su-yeon. The granddaughter of the late Bing-hu, the daughter of the late Young Palace Lord Ga-ryeo, and a woman who is already openly called the ‘Empress of the Northern Sea’ among the people.

“Tsk.”

Altan clicked his tongue.

“I misspoke. Even I would have no choice but to get excited when it comes to the Young Palace Lord.”
The reason why all the Four Direction Generals are gathered here is also for that reason. When Altan admitted his mistake, Nerghui opened his mouth quietly.

“This is not the time for us to be doing this here. We need to check immediately whether the Young Palace Lord is safe and why the Blue Wolf gave this order. What if something happens to the Young Palace Lord?”

That was the reason why Nerghui ran here. Gun-tumur wanted to tell him that it was a ‘request’ rather than an ‘order,’ but he stopped because he thought he was just splitting hairs.

More than anything, he fully sympathized with Nerghui’s feelings.

But there’s nothing they can do. Unless a war breaks out, as Altan said.

“What could happen?”

Altan muttered. It was a short sentence, but no one could refute it. Everyone clearly knew who was with the Young Palace Lord Sa Su-yeon right now.

The Blue Wolf, Son Bin.

Even if all four Four Direction Generals were combined, they could not surpass that one person. All four Four Direction Generals knew that. But even so, their feelings for the Young Palace Lord were no less than that.

“Still, it’s always better to have more people.”

Nerghui said that and got back on his horse.

“Haa!”

Ttagadak, ttagadak.

Nerghui, riding his horse, immediately spurred his horse towards the tent where Bingje was. Watching his back, Altan clicked his tongue.

“He’s busy all by himself. Come to think of it, Chilbi came with Bingje, is something wrong?”

Gun-tumur, who was staring blankly at the roasting meat, replied.

“There’s nothing special. Maybe she’s thinking of going to the South on this opportunity. Chilbi is a very unique person. That side is going to burn. Turn it over.”

Chilbi is young, curious, and free-spirited. The only reason she followed them here would be that she wanted to go to the South.

“Going to the South? Euicha.”

While Altan was turning over the large deer that two or three strong men would have to lift, Gun-tumur continued.

“If Bingje allows it, it’s not a difficult thing. When the work is done, she can just slip in with the merchants.”

“Really? Hmm, the South…”

Gun-tumur asked, watching Altan, who was muttering and lost in thought.

“Do you want to go?”

“What?”

Gun-tumur shrugged at Altan, who was looking at him with an absurd expression.

“If Chilbi goes, you can go with her as a bodyguard. Anyway, everyone has left the Four Direction Armies to their sons or successors…”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Altan said as if it wasn’t even worth mentioning. His reaction was natural. It was unprecedented for a Four Direction General of the Northern Sea to go to the South.

The repercussions that would occur if his identity were revealed in the South were also not insignificant. More than anything, Bingje would not allow it.

Altan silently stirred the meat. Gun-tumur chuckled as he watched him. He said it was nonsense, but it was obvious what Altan was thinking right now.

“Okay, it’s done.”

Altan stuck a large chunk of meat on the end of his spear and held it out. However, Gun-tumur stared at Altan and answered nonchalantly.

“Ah, I don’t eat meat these days. My son told me not to.”

Altan’s expression immediately crumpled. It was understandable. It took quite a long time to slowly roast the meat over a gentle fire, melting the fat.

“Why are you telling me that now?”

However, Gun-tumur said with a brazen expression.

“It smelled good.”

Altan’s burly expression was becoming even more distorted.