A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 336

336. Mountain Trek of the Masters

The valleys were as deep as the mountains were high. The group followed the winding path through the rugged, rocky valley deep in the Daesul Mountain Range.

Often, they had to traverse narrow ledges on the steep cliffs, so narrow that it was questionable whether they were paths at all.

The small horses, carrying their loads, moved nimbly along the narrow and treacherous paths covered with snow and ice, where even a slight slip could send them tumbling down.

Clang, clang, clang.

The sound of the lead horse’s bell echoed through the frozen white valley. The high and steep peaks of the Daesul Mountain Range stood like a folding screen, or a massive wall, on either side.

The group’s twelve horses had been reduced to six. In truth, the twelve horses were mainly prepared to carry the group members. With a young lady, an old man, and a boy among them, it was a natural precaution for Headman Hwang.

However, it turned out to be an unnecessary consideration. After assessing the situation, Headman Hwang drastically reduced most of the luggage and horses, explaining that if they were left with the villagers, the Tang Clan would retrieve them.

Currently, only the frail Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon, the scholar-attired young man, and Son Bin were riding horses. Son Bin had offered to walk, but realizing he was the slowest in the group, he obediently remounted his horse.

Clang, clang.

The scenery unfolding before them was more than amazing; it was awe-inspiring. The snow-covered valley deep in the Daesul Mountain Range, unseen by anyone, was truly a spectacle beyond the human world.

However, as one walked, even the most awe-inspiring scenery eventually became familiar. Therefore, on a typical merchant journey, it was common to simply move in silence, following the sound of the bell. This arduous path consumed a great deal of energy just by walking.

But the reaction of Son Bin’s group was different from a typical merchant journey.

“Brother!”

Seo-rin, with a flushed face, dismounted next to Son Bin. He had gone ahead to scout the path and returned.

“Yes, how was it?”

At Son Bin’s words, Seo-rin said cheerfully,

“The path ahead is fine. There are no places blocked by snow or broken paths. There was a place where the ice was quite thick, so I cleared it because the horses would have had difficulty passing through.”

“Thank you.”

Son Bin patted Seo-rin’s shoulder. He would have stroked his head as he used to, but these days, Seo-rin seemed quite grown up, so he was being considerate.

Seo-rin smiled, pleased with Son Bin’s praise. Watching this, Headman Hwang clicked his tongue inwardly.

That energetic boy, Seo-rin, was surprisingly not tired at all.

Not only Seo-rin, but no one except the frail Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon and the scholar young man Son Bin showed any signs of fatigue. This was a path that even the caravan people who went on merchant journeys every year would find tiring.

“Young friend, did you check the place I told you about?”

Headman Hwang asked Seo-rin. Seo-rin nodded.

“Yes. It was there as you said. It was amazing; the ground was warm!”

“That’s a relief. It seems it hasn’t changed from before.”

A warm place in the middle of winter was indeed a strange thing. Headman Hwang noticed Son Bin’s puzzled expression and shrugged.

“I don’t know if it’s geothermal heat, or hot springs, or the earth’s energy, but there is such a place. It’s not like I attempted a winter merchant journey without any thought.”

For a caravan leader, this was a matter of course. A caravan leader leading dozens of horses needed to know where to rest and where to spend the night. This was even more important in the snowy winter.

“Anyway, I’m glad we can rest.”

Son Bin nodded and said. No matter how skilled the group was, they needed to rest regularly to cross the winter Daesul Mountain Range. Especially considering Hyeolbong Geum Sa-ryeon, it was essential.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Clang, clang.

As Headman Hwang took the lead horse’s reins and urged it on, the horses obediently moved forward.

The path precariously winding through the deep valley was extremely dangerous.

Once, a horse slipped off the path and fell. Surprisingly, Old Gun leaped down in an instant and rescued the horse as it helplessly plummeted towards the steep valley.

Even though it was a small horse, he saved it from that tremendous weight without harming the horse.

Since then, Headman Hwang trusted Old Gun, at least when it came to horses. Even now, Old Gun was in the middle of the procession, checking the condition of the horses.

Crunch.

Headman Hwang felt small pieces of ice crumbling under his feet. Glancing down into the valley, he saw a fairly large pile of ice.

‘Seo-rin said he cleared the ice,’ so this must be what he was talking about. To do this alone without any tools, Headman Hwang couldn’t help but be impressed.

Clang, clang.

The horses moved without much difficulty. Suddenly, the thought crossed Headman Hwang’s mind, ‘If I had known it would be this easy, I should have brought some goods to trade.’

Before long, the group arrived at a place suitable for rest. It was a slightly recessed rocky shade, a strange place where the wind didn’t enter and even green grass sprouted.

“It’s really warm.”

Sa Su-yeon said, amazed. Whether it was geothermal heat or the mystery of nature, this place seemed untouched by winter.

With practiced skill, Headman Hwang brewed tea and added a generous amount of yak milk curd to make a thick milk tea.

The oily tea had a unique taste, but they had become accustomed to it. No one complained as they ate salted meat and cake-like things made from mixed grain flour.

Dang Wol-ah, who treated any food with reverence, was of course included, and Seo-rin even liked it, saying it had a unique taste. Although they couldn’t eat as much as they wanted because there wasn’t much.

“But those people… Huh!”

Headman Hwang, who was glancing at Sa Ja-hyeok, was startled. Sword Lady had appeared next to Sa Su-yeon before he knew it.

“Oh, my! You scared me. Why don’t you appear a little more gently?”

Headman Hwang stroked his chest as if he was really surprised. The first evening, when Sword Lady appeared, Headman Hwang was so surprised that he turned pale.

He said that he thought she was a virgin ghost from Daesul Mountain. Well, it was no wonder that he was surprised by Sword Lady’s appearance with her white clothes and loose hair. Even Son Bin was startled at first.

“I’m surprised every time I see her. She’s like a ghost.”

“Sword Lady is a good person.”

Calling a young lady a ghost was harsh. Son Bin wanted to talk about Sword Lady’s good points.

“Of course, her personality is a bit unique, but she always takes the sword seriously. Besides…”

“Besides, if you look closely, she’s quite pretty.”

Old Gun, who was sipping milk tea next to him, said casually.

“But with that atmosphere…”

Old Gun shook his head as he spoke. Headman Hwang nodded in agreement, and Son Bin had nothing to say. Because Old Gun’s words were true.

“Actually, the atmosphere over there is just as formidable.”

The ‘over there’ that Headman Hwang was talking about was Sa Su-yeon. She was looking at the surrounding scenery with Dang Wol-ah and Sword Lady, talking about something.

“Huh? Sa Su-yeon?”

Son Bin was surprised by the unexpected words. Sa Su-yeon’s atmosphere was scary? This was the first time he had heard that.

“First of all, she’s too pretty.”

Headman Hwang said definitively. That was true. Even here in the Daesul Mountain Range, her beauty was shining like snowflakes.

“She’s so pretty that it’s almost too much to dare to look at her. So who would step forward? Except for crazy people who believe they are the center of the world…”

His words were quite persuasive. When you think about it, wasn’t the reason she gained the titles of ‘Gangho’s [Martial World’s] First Sword Beauty’ or ‘Destroyer Sword Goddess’ because there were so many problems like that? Of course, Sa Su-yeon had subdued them all.

“Besides, don’t you feel the energy of ‘Don’t touch me’? She’s excessively pretty, extremely skilled, and even cold… Any ordinary man wouldn’t be able to get close.”

‘Is that so?’

Son Bin tilted his head.

Of course, he admitted that she was very pretty. And when he thought about it, Son Bin seemed to have had that impression at first. The impression that she was someone living in a different world from him.

But in fact, she had quite a few clumsy and cute sides. She knew how to blush, sometimes shed tears, and sometimes stammered or panicked.

“Well, I used to hear that I was handsome…”

Headman Hwang muttered like a lament. In Son Bin’s eyes, he was still handsome.

“The best thing is for people to meet their match and live happily. People’s popularity and praise are nothing but fleeting when you look back on them.”

Headman Hwang’s words, as he touched the prayer beads, felt somewhat lonely.

“That’s right. You’re right.”

Son Bin, who was nodding, looked at Headman Hwang’s prayer beads and asked,

“Is that from Seojang?”

Headman Hwang looked down at the old prayer beads he was holding. The pattern and color engraved on the prayer beads were unique, so it was definitely not a common shape.

“That’s right. I’m not a disciple of Buddhism, but it has some meaning to me…”

Headman Hwang trailed off. Son Bin didn’t ask any further. It was never polite to dig up someone else’s unwanted past.

Old Gun, Son Bin, and Headman Hwang sat side by side, sipping warm tea. The smell of the awkward milk tea now felt quite familiar.

* * *

The climate of the Daesul Mountain Range was unpredictable. It was common for it to suddenly darken and snow, or for strong winds to blow that seemed to blow everything away.

Suddenly, clouds would gather and completely cover the surroundings, and snow would swirl so much that you couldn’t see in front of you, and then the next moment, a clear blue sky would appear as if nothing had happened.

Headman Hwang knew such changes like a ghost in advance. Sometimes he rested in cozy rock crevices, and sometimes he covered himself with fur and clung to the cliffs to avoid it.

If it weren’t for his guidance, even the greatest masters would not have been able to handle it. Even the world’s Sa Ja-hyeok and the former Jade Dragon silently followed his words.

Crackle, crackle.

In the place guided by Headman Hwang, the group was spending the night covered in fur coats. Feeling the subtle warmth from the lit bonfire, people chatted.

Son Bin, who was holding hot milk tea in his hands and savoring the warmth, suddenly asked Old Gun,

“Will it be okay?”

“Huh? What?”

Old Gun, who was also holding milk tea, asked back.

“I mean, the Outer Affairs [Political and influential group].”

Old Gun chuckled.

“Why? Are you worried now?”

“It’s not that, but I was wondering if it would have any impact on the Seowon [Private academy].”

“Well, nothing will happen right away.”

Old Gun said, sipping milk tea. Old Gun secretly liked milk tea.

“Now that Emperor and the former Jade Dragon have reappeared, it will be quiet for a while. Even if you and I are not there, no one will have strange thoughts.”

Son Bin tilted his head.

“Strange thoughts? There’s no one who would do that during the Outer Affairs…”

The former head of the Gongson Family, who had openly revealed his ambition, had lost his martial arts by Son Bin. Cheonsugeom Neung Cheon-hwa only cared about Emperor and was not particularly interested in Outer Affairs.

The remaining people in the Outer Affairs, at least in Son Bin’s eyes, were not particularly dangerous people.

“You can trust people, but you can’t trust organizations.”

Old Gun said quietly.

“Organized groups eventually move for their own interests, and individuals are not free from that. Especially the guys in the Outer Affairs have a greater responsibility for their affiliated groups than anyone else. If the situation changes, it is very common for them to make decisions that are different from their own intentions for the sake of their sect or family. Even if they are masters of the Outer Affairs.”

Son Bin understood Old Gun’s words.

It seemed that the masters of the Outer Affairs could do whatever they wanted, but they were also responsible for the survival of their sect or family.

Even though it seemed that the Outer Affairs reigned over the Murim [Martial arts world], depending on the situation, the Outer Affairs could be shaken instead.

“What kind of situation would that be?”

At Son Bin’s question, Old Gun shrugged. It was unlikely that there would be such a big deal that would shake the Outer Affairs.

“Then how should we prepare?”

“Well, we can just send a letter.”

Old Gun said, throwing wood into the bonfire.

“When we arrive in Seojang, just send a letter saying we arrived safely. If they know we’re okay, they won’t be able to act rashly.”

Son Bin nodded. The fact that Emperor Sa Ja-hyeok and the former Jade Dragon were still alive had also been confirmed by the former Thunder Sword and the former Overlord Sword.

If they sent news that they had arrived safely, the Outer Affairs would not be shaken as Old Gun said, and even if such a situation arose, it would be a sufficient deterrent.

“But where did Emperor go? I can’t see him every night. He’s not going somewhere to eat alone, is he?”

Son Bin smiled bitterly. Old Gun himself said that he ‘sincerely respected Hwanghak and Emperor,’ but looking at his actions, it seemed that he was only scolding him, let alone respecting him.

“Isn’t he going somewhere to train because the moon is bright? I can’t do it in a place like this…”

Sa Ja-hyeok would not be unable to wield the Destroying Moon Sword anywhere. But Son Bin was different. The Daesul Mountain Range was a very high area, so if Sa Ja-hyeok and Old Gun hadn’t helped him, he would have suffered greatly from altitude sickness.

“Is that so? I’m bored, so should I go for a walk around here?”

Old Gun got up from his seat and disappeared into the darkness. Looking at his nonchalant appearance, you would even forget that this was the middle of the Daesul Mountain Range.

As Old Gun left, Headman Hwang, who had been sitting silently, asked Son Bin,

“Do you have a Seowon?”

“Ah, yes. It’s a small Seowon, but it’s quite a nice place. The children are very kind.”

Headman Hwang nodded, holding the teacup in both hands.

“What does it matter if it’s small? It’s a happy thing to have your own business. If it’s a Seowon, the prospects are good too.”

The expression ‘business’ was a bit awkward, but Son Bin thought nothing of it. Headman Hwang, who was looking at the bonfire, continued.

“It’s strange. I used to want to succeed so much, and I wanted to do great things that others couldn’t do, but now I just feel so happy that I can do my job.”

Son Bin sympathized with Headman Hwang’s words, which were like a monologue.

In the past, Son Bin would not have even noticed a neighborhood Seowon, but now he was happy and joyful just thinking about the children.

Headman Hwang, who was muttering, suddenly asked,

“But how did a Seowon teacher get to know such masters? I don’t know the Murim well, but they are really amazing masters.”

“It was a coincidence.”

Son Bin replied with a smile. When he thought about it, it was really a great coincidence. So much so that he thought it might be fate.

“I needed someone to record the martial arts competition.”

“So, it’s like a personal secretary.”

Headman Hwang nodded and said,

“It’s similar. No, that’s exactly what it is.”

At that time, he had a kind of stubbornness that he didn’t want to lose to Sa Ja-hyeok. So he was happy when he called himself a ‘companion’.

It’s different now. He knew how great he was, deeply respected him, and had built up a considerable amount of affection.

But even so, calling him ‘Great Man’ or using honorifics now felt somehow distant, so he was reluctant to do so. He did call him ‘Emperor’ when talking to other people.

“I was once a promising talent in the Sichuan merchant world.”

Headman Hwang said, fiddling with the prayer beads on his chest.

“Expectations were high, and I had ambition. So I wanted to succeed in something that others couldn’t do. But…”

Headman Hwang sighed softly.

“In the end, everything was decided by Daesul Mountain. Living and dying.”

Crackle, crackle.

Headman Hwang looked at the burning bonfire with a lonely expression. Son Bin quietly watched him.

How could others know the pain of losing everything in a single failure?

Now, the best consolation for him would be to listen silently.

Above Son Bin and Headman Hwang, who were sitting silently, the peaks of Daesul Mountain, shrouded in darkness, were looking down on them.

* * *

Several days had passed since the group entered the winter Daesul Mountain Range. During that time, the group passed through high peaks and deep valleys.

Today, they were walking along a slightly gentle slope along the mountainside covered with snow. But if you turned your head even a little, the peaks of the Daesul Mountain Range, like giant giants, stood as if they would pierce the sky.

“The terrain seems to be getting gentler these days.”

Daesul Mountain was still the same. But there were hardly any deep valleys, and sometimes there were even flat places. The path the group was walking on now felt like a slightly steep hill. Except that there was a huge mountain range right next to it.

“That’s because we’re getting closer to Seojang. It’s not that the mountain is getting lower, but that the land is getting higher. But we must not be careless. We don’t know what’s under that snow.”

Son Bin nodded. Because it was covered in snow, he couldn’t know what was underneath. If he strayed from the path, he could encounter unexpected dangers.

“Besides, when Daesul Mountain…”

Rumble.

A ominous sound was heard. It sounded like thunder rumbling in the distance, but Headman Hwang’s face turned pale in an instant.

“Oh, my god.”

Headman Hwang said with a pale face.

“In the end, like this…”

“Yes?”

Son Bin asked back. He didn’t know what Headman Hwang was suddenly talking about. But Headman Hwang raised his head and looked up at Daesul Mountain with a miserable expression.

Son Bin naturally turned his head to follow him. And he saw that a part of the towering mountain began to collapse downwards like a lie.

“It’s coming.”

Headman Hwang’s miserable voice was heard next to him, but Son Bin couldn’t look back. The huge pile of snow that was collapsing was about to cause a huge avalanche and began to rush towards Son Bin’s group from afar.

Kwa kwa kwa kwa.

“We’re done for.”

Headman Hwang’s hollow voice was drowned out by the increasingly loud sound of the avalanche.

In front of the white torrent that was pouring down on the group from above, Headman Hwang’s gaze began to be dyed with despair.

(Author’s words)

(What the young ladies said when Old Gun, Son Bin, and Headman Hwang were watching)

Dang Wol-ah: Can I eat that blue leaf?

Sword Lady: That’s bitter.

Sa Su-yeon: That’s right. It’s bitter.