A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 327

327. Moonbreak and White Dew

Moonbreak surged towards Sohn Bin without hesitation. It was a truly admirable, pure, arrogant, and destructive force.

Swish.

Sohn Bin’s White Dew lightly met that force.

The moment White Dew and Moonbreak seemed to touch, Moonbreak twisted its power with tremendous force.

It was an absurd situation, like forcibly reversing a flowing river.

However, Moonbreak, and Saja Hyuk, were accomplishing it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Hwooong.

But White Dew didn’t simply back down either.

Although Moonbreak twisted the flow, White Dew fearlessly charged into the very center of that power, towards the single point where Moonbreak’s rough energy originated.

And the result erupted in a terrifying explosion.

Kwaang.

A tremendous impact, unimaginable as a clash between sword and saber, swept the surroundings.

Kwuh-gwah-gwah.

Scattered leaves flew like they were bursting apart, and dust billowed into the sky, obscuring the light.

Sohn Bin’s clothes and hair, standing in the middle of it all, also fluttered violently as if caught in a storm.

However, Sohn Bin still stood there, with the beautiful blade of White Dew held upright.

“Excellent.”

Saja Hyuk laughed. He too stood firmly on the ground, holding Moonbreak, as steadfast as a mountain.

“Indeed, you are worthy of being the master of White Dew. Or rather, I should say that White Dew has received your recognition.”

“You flatter me.”

Sohn Bin lightly bowed his head in response to the praise. However, his eyes were still fixed on Saja Hyuk.

“At this rate…”

Saja Hyuk said, as if muttering to himself.

“I can go even stronger.”

Sohn Bin was startled.

“You said you’d come on even stronger?”

Saja Hyuk furrowed one eyebrow.

“Of course. What you saw just now was merely a simple greeting.”

‘A simple greeting, he says?’

Sohn Bin was dumbfounded. If that was a simple greeting, then how intense would he be when he was serious?

“Are you afraid?”

Saja Hyuk suddenly asked. Sohn Bin raised his head. Saja Hyuk’s intense eyes were staring straight at him.

Eyes of a living warrior that made one forget everything just by looking at them.

“No.”

Before he knew it, Sohn Bin replied.

“I am not afraid.”

“Indeed.”

A smile spread across Saja Hyuk’s lips.

“Just as I expected.”

‘Haha.’

Sohn Bin gave a wry smile, thinking that if he met Saja Hyuk’s expectations just two more times, his life wouldn’t be worth living.

It was a moment when he understood more than enough why the experts of the Outer Palace, and the other three of the Heavenly Four Stars, regarded Saja Hyuk as so special.

Dugoon.

But at the same time, Sohn Bin was clearly aware that his heart was pounding uncontrollably.

The mere thought of the incredible spectacle that Saja Hyuk, and Moonbreak, would display sent elation coursing through his entire body.

“Then…”

Sohn Bin said in a slightly excited voice. An irrepressible heat flickered in Sohn Bin’s eyes.

“Come.”

Saja Hyuk laughed. And the next moment, Moonbreak and White Dew, containing their all, charged towards each other.

∴

With each pass of the sword, the moonlight flashed, and with each swing of the saber, an explosion erupted.

Not only the Twelve Blades of Bukhae, but even the experts of the Outer Palace couldn’t take their eyes off the two men’s clash. Talhon, in particular, twitched his shoulders as if he wanted to jump in at any moment.

There was probably no expert in the Outer Palace who didn’t understand that feeling. To them, this duel was like a wonder of nature that they could never encounter without heavenly luck.

“Are you alright?”

Nogun suddenly asked Sasu Yeon. Sasu Yeon, who had been watching the duel, sighed softly.

“Actually, it still doesn’t feel real.”

Her father, Saja Hyuk, was alive. And he had come to find her. Just as Sohn Bin had always said, so suddenly.

He was the father she had missed so much, but Saja Hyuk hadn’t said a single word to his own daughter. All she got was the silent gaze he had given her when he first saw her.

“But…”

Sasu Yeon said, then chuckled in disbelief.

“That’s just like Dad.”

Saja Hyuk had always been like that. So sometimes she resented him. But now she understood Saja Hyuk’s heart.

She had seen the vivid love letter that he had sent to her mother, Garyeo, as well.

“But what on earth happened?”

Sasu Yeon’s eyes calmly sank. She turned her head to look at the previous Jade Dragon.

The previous Jade Dragon was standing alone, a little away from the others, watching the duel. With his jade fan covering his mouth, he did not hide his discomfort, as if something displeased him.

“How can he be alive? And how did Dad…”

Sasu Yeon couldn’t finish her sentence. The previous Jade Dragon’s chilling voice, saying that he had cheated death, still rang in her ears.

“If I had to say, it would only be the Great Art of the Blood Demon.”

Nogun said. Sasu Yeon turned her eyes to look at Nogun. Nogun said with a serious expression.

“As far as I know, that’s the only thing that fits the expression ‘cheating death.’ But the Great Art of the Blood Demon has too many risks.”

The Great Art of the Blood Demon not only required a great deal of blood and sacrifice, but even if it succeeded, there was no guarantee that it would be the original self.

“Besides, how can there be no price for defying the heavens? Even the Blood Demon eventually lost his reason and self-destructed into a beast craving blood.”

Sasu Yeon’s complexion changed. Nogun furrowed his white eyebrows.

“But I don’t see any signs of that at all.”

If he were a Blood Demon, there was no way Nogun wouldn’t recognize him.

Perhaps he was hiding it with his extraordinary abilities?

Nogun looked at the previous Jade Dragon with sharp eyes, but he was still just the Jade Dragon. As always.

“Will Dad be okay?”

Sasu Yeon asked. She was overcome with concern that the previous Jade Dragon might have done something to her father, Saja Hyuk.

“He’ll be fine.”

Nogun replied to Sasu Yeon with a wry smile.

“Isn’t he the Martial Emperor?”

The answer was really vague, but it was also a very obvious conclusion.

He was the Martial Emperor. Even if he were a Blood Demon, he couldn’t do anything to him.

But Sasu Yeon couldn’t completely shake off her worries. She couldn’t lose her father again.

“…If you want to get down to it, there is something strange.”

Nogun suddenly said. He looked at the previous Jade Dragon and continued.

“This is the first time I’ve seen him listen so obediently. Besides, his personality seems to have changed a bit…”

If it were the old Jade Dragon, he would have said, ‘There’s too much trash,’ and killed half of the people here, or rather, everyone except for the few he acknowledged.

“Bin gave the Jade Dragon a beating in Seolsan, so is he acting like this because he acknowledges Bin in his own way?”

That was Nogun’s own standard. That’s what Nogun would do, of course.

Sabeok.

“He seemed to be selecting.”

The voice belonged to Dang Ah Wol. She approached quietly, wearing her veil.

“Selecting?”

Nogun asked back. Selecting meant picking out according to specific criteria. Dang Ah Wol nodded.

“Yes. Sasu Yeon, you felt it too, didn’t you?”

Sasu Yeon recalled the moment when the previous Jade Dragon’s gaze had turned to her a little while ago. And his reaction, as if he was smirking.

‘Come to think of it.’

At the time, she just thought he was mocking her as usual, but after hearing Dang Ah Wol’s words, it seemed like there was a clear intention.

“Why? What for?”

Nogun asked. Dang Ah Wol quietly raised her eyes and looked at the previous Jade Dragon.

He was frowning as if he was displeased and watching the duel, but in reality, he was only looking at one person.

“Perhaps we will know soon.”

The previous Jade Dragon and Saja Hyuk were moving together. Dang Ah Wol was certain that they had a clear reason and purpose.

“And perhaps, we may be going on a long journey.”

“A journey?”

Nogun asked back with a puzzled expression. Dang Ah Wol nodded.

“Yes.”

Sarak.

Dang Ah Wol turned her gaze. And she looked at the duel between Sohn Bin and Saja Hyuk that was unfolding under the moonlight.

White Dew and Moonbreak were unleashing a truly incredible spectacle. But Sohn Bin’s expression, standing in the middle of the duel, looked happier than ever.

“If Master Sohn goes, we will have to go too.”

It was just a vague feeling. But Dang Ah Wol was clearly certain.

“Wherever that may be.”

Dang Ah Wol would be where Sohn Bin was. She would cherish what he loved, she would hurt when he was sad, and she would be angry when he was angry.

Forever.

Dang Ah Wol smiled quietly behind her veil. The smile caressed her small heart with warmth and tenderness.

∴

Saja Hyuk’s Moonbreak was truly incredible. He attacked with methods that Sohn Bin couldn’t even imagine, but always with confidence.

‘Indeed, he’s amazing.’

Sohn Bin couldn’t help but admire him.

He was just entrusting himself to the flow. But Saja Hyuk’s Moonbreak skillfully guided that flow, and sometimes twisted it with overwhelming power.

Like a trainer subduing a huge beast, Saja Hyuk unleashed a barrage of attacks towards Sohn Bin with tremendous force.

Kwaaaaa.

Sohn Bin watched the arrogant and destructive force that was rushing towards him even now.

It seemed as if Moonbreak, and that power, would swallow him up at any moment, but Sohn Bin did not let it steal his attention.

There was only one thing he needed to see.

Only the small, shining stream hidden within that destructive power. Sohn Bin did not miss it.

Perhaps life and death would be decided in an instant.

But Sohn Bin didn’t care. He was just so happy that this moment had been given to him, that he could face Saja Hyuk’s Moonbreak.

Swish.

The blade of White Dew, more beautiful than ever, moved in a fluid line.

A sensation as if Sohn Bin himself and White Dew had become one.

The next moment, Sohn Bin was certain that he had accurately captured that flow. And he watched as that overwhelming and destructive force vanished as if it were self-destructing from its own power in an instant.

Kwah-gwah-gwah.

A huge force lost its direction and burst out, violently fluttering Sohn Bin’s hair and clothes.

But Sohn Bin felt his heart filling with a sense of fulfillment and elation that could not be compared to anything else.

A smile appeared on Sohn Bin’s lips.

Hwoo woong.

The great saber Moonbreak drew a large circle in the night sky and returned. Saja Hyuk raised his head.

“Amazing.”

Saja Hyuk’s intense eyes were shining. A smile, like Sohn Bin’s, spread across his lips as well.

“Even if you say that…”

Sohn Bin smiled as he slowly withdrew the extended White Dew.

“It doesn’t sound like a compliment at all.”

The truly amazing person was Saja Hyuk.

He had always admired him. But he had never felt his overwhelming ability as keenly as he did now. He had never been as grateful for his existence as he was now.

“Is that so?”

Saja Hyuk laughed.

“Then now.”

Hung.

Sohn Bin knew the meaning of the low sound that Moonbreak made.

“It’s my turn to ask about Moonbreak Eclipse.”

“Gladly.”

Sohn Bin replied, his eyes shining.

“I will answer.”

Woong.

White Dew cried out. And a sword and a great saber, as if they had promised, stretched their blades towards the ground.

The next moment, White Dew and Moonbreak drew circles in the air and slowly began to rise towards the night sky.

The appearances were different.

Saja Hyuk’s Moonbreak drew a truly huge and overwhelming circle, while Sohn Bin’s White Dew was drawing a soft and delicate circle.

The postures and the feelings conveyed were completely different. But anyone who was watching them could clearly tell.

That something truly unbelievable was happening before their very eyes.

Woong, hwoo woong.

In the cries of Moonbreak and White Dew, everyone from ordinary people to the experts of the Outer Palace felt goosebumps.

“Good heavens.”

Nogun groaned.

He had already seen the Moonbreak Eclipse that Sohn Bin unfolded once. Sohn Bin had unfolded Moonbreak Eclipse against the Blood Demon who had awakened through the body of Guigyeon Sura.

But even Nogun couldn’t be sure that the Moonbreak Eclipse that had been unfolded at that time was the same as this one now. The Moonbreak Eclipse that was unfolding now was that much more alien and overwhelming.

“This is…”

Nogun couldn’t continue his words. Perhaps the existence of Saja Hyuk, who was standing in front of Sohn Bin, and his Moonbreak Eclipse, had even changed Sohn Bin’s?

Like two completely different beings meeting and reacting explosively, transforming into something completely different.

Hwoo woong.

Before he knew it, the cries of Moonbreak and White Dew were no longer two separate sounds. And Nogun could feel the destructive result it would bring with terrifying clarity.

“Evacuate!”

Nogun shouted as if screaming. But the warning was a little late.

Moonbreak and White Dew completed the circle as if by fate. And the next moment, merciless moonlight poured down on the earth.

∴

“Hooo.”

Sohn Bin slowly took a breath. The tip of the White Dew in his hand trembled.

It couldn’t be helped. Just now, he and White Dew had unfolded Moonbreak Eclipse with all their might.

Against Saja Hyuk and his Moonbreak, no less.

“Hmm.”

Sohn Bin raised his eyes at Saja Hyuk’s heavy voice. Saja Hyuk was standing there, holding his great saber Moonbreak.

“I didn’t know Moonbreak Eclipse had such a flaw.”

Sohn Bin gave a wry smile at his calm voice.

Moonbreak Eclipse was about loading the sword with the flow of cause and effect. The only way to block it was to accept the result and resist with all your might.

You couldn’t avoid it. You couldn’t turn it back. That was the result that Moonbreak Eclipse brought.

But what would happen if Moonbreak Eclipse was unfolded against each other?

Perhaps even Saja Hyuk didn’t know. That was because he was the only person in the world who could unfold Moonbreak Eclipse. And today, Saja Hyuk and Sohn Bin were able to see the result for themselves.

Moonbreak Eclipse disappeared.

To be precise, the result ceased to exist. But that didn’t mean that nothing happened.

The aftermath of the overlapping Moonbreak Eclipse was tremendous. Moreover, the momentary void of cause and effect caused the aftermath to burst out even more explosively.

It was like, only Sohn Bin’s feeling, but it was a destructive power comparable to Moonbreak Shift.

“Are you alright?”

Saja Hyuk asked Sohn Bin.

Sohn Bin let out a hollow laugh. It was absurd that the person who had created this was saying such a thing. Of course, Sohn Bin himself was half responsible.

“I’m fine.”

The aftermath was tremendous, but it was only about the surroundings. Sohn Bin and Saja Hyuk were able to experience a moment as calm as ever, like the eye of a storm.

“Then now.”

Saja Hyuk said in a matter-of-fact tone.

“I will ask about Moonbreak Shift.”

Sohn Bin nodded without hesitation.

“I understand.”

“What do you understand?”

Suddenly, Nogun’s brusque voice was heard.

Sohn Bin turned his head. And he discovered Nogun’s distorted eyes glaring at him.

“Are you going to kill us all?”

“Yes?”

Sohn Bin couldn’t hide his surprised expression.

The surroundings were truly a mess. Scars that had deeply scratched the earth, as if made by a huge beast, stretched out from the two of them as the center.

“What is this…”

Not only that.

The experts of the Outer Palace, including Nogun, had their hair and clothes all disheveled, as if they had come out of a storm.

Everyone had drawn their swords and sabers, and Seorin was holding her Buddhist whisk, and Hwasa was shining her hands white.

“You should at least say something!”

Hwasa was rarely angry with Sohn Bin. That was because if they hadn’t protected the others, something really bad would have happened.

It was fortunate that there were many experts from the Outer Palace, but thanks to that, they had no choice but to endure the aftermath of Moonbreak Eclipse without being able to avoid it.

“If we duel just two more times, there won’t be anything left in the world.”

The experts of the Outer Palace fully agreed with Nogun’s words as he sighed and muttered. The aftermath caused by the collision of Moonbreak Eclipse was that terrifying.

The only people who were fine were the previous Jade Dragon and Geomhee, and even Nogun and Hwasa couldn’t hide their disheveled appearances.

In the midst of all this, Dang Ah Wol’s veil, protecting the five children, was firmly in place.

“I guess.”

Saja Hyuk said with a wry smile.

“We’ll have to postpone Moonbreak Shift until next time.”

A look of regret flashed in Saja Hyuk’s eyes. Sohn Bin felt the same way. His heart was still pounding.

“Then later…”

“It can’t be later either.”

It was Sasu Yeon’s voice that interrupted Sohn Bin’s words. Sasu Yeon said to Sohn Bin in a firm voice.

“Are you going to collapse again? Master Sohn.”

‘Ah.’

Sohn Bin realized what Sasu Yeon was saying. He didn’t have the inner strength to unfold Moonbreak Shift right now. Unfolding Moonbreak Shift in Hwangshan was only possible because it was Hwangshan, as he had told Nogun.

‘But.’

However, Sohn Bin somehow felt like he could do it. He felt like he could do anything, not just Moonbreak Shift, as long as Saja Hyuk was standing in front of him.

Even if it was the incomplete Moonbreak Three Forms.

Seuk.

But Saja Hyuk was already putting away Moonbreak. Sohn Bin also sheathed White Dew in regret.

Sohn Bin could only imagine that the shining blade of White Dew seemed to be complaining about something.

“But what’s going on?”

Sohn Bin suddenly asked. Something must have happened, seeing that the young Jade Dragon had come in a hurry and even Blood Peak and Guigyeon Sura had followed.

“How did you get all the way here…”

“The Heavenly Demon has opened the Gate of Naraka [Naraka is the hellish realm in Buddhist cosmology].”

It was a truly unexpected story. When Sohn Bin stared blankly, Saja Hyuk continued.

“I heard it’s because of the Great Art that Jade Dragon unfolded.”

It sounded like an explanation, but it didn’t make any more sense. But Sohn Bin realized what was going on.

Of course, he didn’t understand the meaning of the words Heavenly Demon and Naraka.

However, he understood that the previous Jade Dragon was the kind of person who would calmly commit something terrible in the world to save Saja Hyuk.

“So what are you going to do?”

“I’ll have to go.”

Saja Hyuk replied calmly. It was as if it was nothing, but that couldn’t be the case. Otherwise, Saja Hyuk and the previous Jade Dragon wouldn’t have moved.

“Will you come with me?”

For a moment, Sohn Bin wondered if he had misheard. Saja Hyuk, of all people, was asking Sohn Bin’s intentions?

But the next moment, Sohn Bin was already nodding.

“I will go.”

He didn’t know what was going on, or where it was. He didn’t know how long it would take. But the answer had already been decided. Even before Saja Hyuk asked.

“Hmm.”

Saja Hyuk nodded as if he expected it. He didn’t even care that the experts of the Outer Palace who were listening were in shock.

“Did you write the book?”

“Ah, that’s…”

Sohn Bin mumbled. He had lost all the records, let alone written them.

“That’s good.”

“What is?”

“I’ve been thinking about it.”

Saja Hyuk frowned, stroking his chin.

“The title ‘The Biography of the Hero Saja Hyuk’ sounds a bit childish. Doesn’t it seem like an incompetent person is putting on airs?”

Sohn Bin let out a hollow laugh. In fact, if it was Saja Hyuk’s story, it didn’t matter what the title was.

But Sohn Bin agreed with Saja Hyuk’s point.

“Well, the title is important. It determines the first impression of the book…”

“How about Martial Tome (武書) [A tome dedicated to martial arts]?”

“Martial Tome?”

Sohn Bin frowned at the sudden title, but Saja Hyuk continued in his unique, heavy voice.

“Also, Hyeoncheon’s Teachings is worthy of ascending to the sky and playing on the clouds, so it would be good to call it Flying Heaven Martial Tome (飛天武書) [A martial tome that flies to the heavens].”

Sohn Bin sighed. ‘Flying Heaven Martial Tome’ had a suspicious ring to it just from the name, and in some ways, it felt like a scripture from a strange religion.

Besides, when people said Flying Heaven (飛天), they would think of ‘celestial maidens’ in Buddhism rather than ‘flying up to the sky.’

“It’s not good.”

Sohn Bin said firmly.

He thought that it would be better to simply name it ‘Documents,’ which meant records, rather than writing a book with such a suspicious title.

Of course, he didn’t really mean it.

“Is that so?”

Saja Hyuk frowned as if he didn’t like it. It was clear that he hadn’t expected Sohn Bin’s firm refusal.

“Let’s go.”

Sohn Bin said to Saja Hyuk, who was contemplating.

“Because there’s a lot to talk about.”

There were so many things he wanted to say and had to say. Not enough even if he stayed up all night.

“Let’s do that.”