A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 374

374. Seeing Is Believing (2)

Tang Mun-won waited for the palace lord’s answer with determined eyes.

What answer would the Potala Palace Lord give to the simple and direct question, leaving no room for misunderstanding: ‘Are Young Master Son and his party dead?’

Swish.

A soft smile flickered across the palace lord’s lips. The palace lord replied in a calm voice.

“They are not dead.”

In that moment, Tang Mun-won’s heart began to race. But he must not get excited. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard such an answer.

“I heard rumors that they died in the Star Moon Valley in the west…….”

“That is not true.”

The palace lord’s answer was firm. Soon, a smile returned to the palace lord’s lips.

“They did not die, but departed to the distant West, following the light of the Mahavairocana.”

Even the Potala Princess beside her wore a pleased smile. However, Tang Mun-won’s heart was once again plummeting into the abyss of disappointment.

‘They departed to the distant West (西方) following the light of the Mahavairocana?’

The Western Paradise (西方極樂世界) is the well-known Pure Land of Amitabha. A utopia located in an extremely distant place, where believers who trust with a true heart are reborn after death.

In other words, the afterlife.

“Does that mean…….”

After composing himself for a moment, Tang Mun-won asked.

“Does that ultimately mean they are dead?”

In that moment, a bewildered light flashed in the young palace lord’s eyes.

“Did I not say they are not dead?”

“Then where are they now?”

To press so persistently would be clear rudeness even if the other party were not the Potala Palace Lord. But Tang Mun-won had to get an answer.

“Hmm.”

The smile on the palace lord’s lips slowly disappeared.

“I clearly said they departed to the distant West following the light of the Mahavairocana.”

“So, does that ultimately mean they are dead?”

Swish.

The young palace lord turned to the Potala Princess and asked something in the Tibetan language. The Potala Princess bowed her head and answered respectfully.

Tang Mun-won slyly asked the caravan leader who had accompanied him.

“What’s wrong? What are they saying now?”

The caravan leader replied with a pale face.

“H, how could you commit such rudeness?”

His expression was as if the sky had fallen. He couldn’t dare to raise his voice and whispered in a voice that sounded like he was about to cry.

“At this rate, we might get killed. They’re even doubting whether we’re really from the Tang Clan.”

At those words, Tang Mun-won’s heart sank. Not just rudeness, but suspicion of their identity?

“No, I was just trying to confirm accurately, why…….”

But no matter how much Tang Mun-won pleaded to the caravan leader, all he got in return was the caravan leader’s tearful expression.

A frozen silence flowed for a moment, and then the palace lord spoke to Tang Mun-won in a soft but firm voice.

“Did you say you came from the Tang Clan?”

To ask again about something they clearly knew was a clear expression of displeasure. Tang Mun-won quickly bowed his head.

“Y, yes. I certainly…….”

“Without mutual trust, one cannot believe even words carved in the sky.”

Despite her young age, the palace lord exuded great pressure. Even the seasoned Tang Mun-won was at a loss for words, stammering.

“The only reason I treat the Tang Clan with favor is out of gratitude and respect for Great Chieftain [a term of high respect, like ‘Chief’], nothing more and nothing less. Therefore, before you ask me, you should first learn to trust Great Chieftain.”

It was a rebuke not to touch the pride of Potala Palace, and at the same time, a stern warning not to treat Son Bin carelessly.

However, contrary to the palace lord’s intention, Tang Mun-won did not understand why he was told to trust Great Chieftain and immediately bowed his head.

“I, I will engrave it deeply in my heart.”

And Tang Mun-won had to retreat without saying anything more.

Clack.

After they had retreated, the young palace lord, left alone with the Potala Princess, let out a soft sigh.

“I was short-sighted.”

The young palace lord’s face was full of self-reproach.

“I just thought of him as his friend and opened my heart too much. I thought he was just confused by the rumors rampant in this land…….”

“It can’t be helped.”

The Potala Princess said comfortingly.

“I was just so happy to see someone who seemed like him. But since disputes and conflicts never cease where people live, even if they are people from the Tang Clan, I can’t be sure that they are Young Master Son’s friends.”

“Yes, you’re right.”

The young palace lord frowned and said.

“If he were a friend of Great Chieftain, he would have received his letter, so I have nothing to say. If he is not his friend, there is even less reason to tell him.”

Not knowing meant he was unrelated to him. If he wasn’t his friend, there was no way she could carelessly reveal the affairs of Great Chieftain Son Bin to anyone else.

“To dare to try to hear from me that he is dead, I was so angry that I wanted to immediately expose their bottom line with the Immovable Wisdom King’s Light…….”

The young palace lord let out a soft sigh.

“To do so to the Tang Clan’s envoy would not be courteous to the other party.”

The Potala Princess nodded silently, agreeing with the palace lord’s words.

“Even if he is a friend of a friend, he does not necessarily become my friend, which is the unfortunate truth of the world. We should maintain trade with the Tang Clan, but we should be a little more cautious about forming deep relationships.”

Thanks to Great Chieftain Son Bin, it had been temporarily forgotten, but in fact, the Central Plains was by no means a good neighbor. Even in the Central Plains, no one had a good perception of Tibetan Buddhism.

Therefore, the princess’s words about being cautious about the relationship with the Tang Clan were absolutely right.

“That’s right. They are foolish people who try to judge everything with their short thoughts and greed, without knowing wisdom or compassion.”

The young palace lord sighed. Judging from the attitude of the Tang Clan delegation, it was clear that there were those who judged Son Bin only by his appearance and tried to belittle him according to their own interests.

The palace lord’s rebuke a little while ago, ‘Trust Great Chieftain,’ was also nothing more than advice to cherish Son Bin. What could be expected from the eyes of those who do not know true wisdom or compassion?

“I don’t know why Great Chieftain tries to live with such harsh people. If he came to this land, there would be plenty of women who would bear his children…….”

At those words, the Potala Princess’s cheeks flushed slightly. However, the young palace lord continued, seemingly just regretful.

“Foolish people do not try to listen even when the truth is spoken, and precious people are already gone even when trying to convey their hearts, so truly the world is a sea of suffering [苦海, a Buddhist term for the endless cycle of suffering and rebirth].”

The Potala Princess completely agreed with the young palace lord’s words. And with longing for someone who came to mind, the two were silent for a long time.

Tang Mun-won, who had barely retreated from the Potala White Palace, let out a sigh of relief. If he had made a mistake, he would have not only ruined the relationship between the Tang Clan and Potala Palace, but also risked his own life.

‘I was out of my mind for a moment.’

Here is the center of Tibetan Buddhism, Potala Palace. He was in a place notorious for bizarre martial arts and incomprehensible esoteric rituals.

From the perspective of the Central Plains, he had entered the heart of a terrifying foreign sect, but he had momentarily forgotten the situation due to their kindness and favor.

“Hoo.”

Tang Mun-won let out another sigh of relief. Although it ended a bit brutally, he had obtained everything he needed anyway. This was more than enough to make a contribution.

“What should we do? Shall we return to Chengdu now?”

The caravan leader who had come with him from Sichuan asked. He was still stroking his neck as if he couldn’t believe he had survived.

“Not yet.”

Tang Mun-won said, staring at the caravan leader. The caravan leader tilted his head.

“Then where are you going?”

“Westward.”

Tang Mun-won turned his head and looked at the high western sky.

“Let’s go to the Star Moon Valley where Great Chieftain died. Maybe something will be left behind.”

The caravan leader’s face contorted for a moment, but soon he replied with a bright expression.

“I understand. I’ll prepare right away.”

Tang Mun-won knew his feelings. It was a really long way from here to Star Moon Valley.

But it couldn’t be helped. If he returned like this, Chief Military Strategist Tang Hwa-ryeon would definitely ask whether he had gone directly to the site where he died, to the scene.

Knowing that all too well, Tang Mun-won had no choice but to go. No matter how far away that place was.

“Let’s go quickly.”

Tang Mun-won said with a sigh.

“The sooner we go, the sooner we come back.”

Even as he said that, Tang Mun-won had no great enthusiasm. He already knew that no other answer would come out anyway.

That very day, Tang Mun-won and his party set off for Star Moon Valley at the western end of Tibet.

As expected, it was a long way, but surprisingly, they could meet people often. They were all people making pilgrimages to Star Moon Valley.

The sight of them prostrating themselves with every step made Tang Mun-won feel more disgusted than impressed.

“If everyone is just making pilgrimages like this, who is raising the horses?”

It was a near lament, but the caravan leader answered diligently.

“W, women often do it, I hear. They raise horses, make salt, and gather medicinal herbs. I don’t know much about it, but they say that when women work, men take that and go to other villages to trade.”

At those words, Tang Mun-won frowned. There was no one who liked hard work, but even so, it was hard for him to accept that women were made to work while men went out to trade.

Anyway, Tang Mun-won went a long way to Star Moon Valley. The hospitality and kindness of the people were still the same, so much so that the Black Tortoise Squad members who came with him had nothing to do.

And finally, Tang Mun-won, who arrived at Star Moon Valley, had to gape at the ruins of the old kingdom located deep in the valley.

“What, what is this…….”

In the desolate Star Moon Valley, a mountain of flowers was blooming deep within.

The place that was originally a loess mountain peak was filled with colorful flowers. It was all the result of the endless offerings of pilgrims.

Even now, Tang Mun-won was surrounded by pilgrims prostrating themselves and chanting sutras towards the loess mountain peak. A true holy site (聖地) was before Tang Mun-won’s eyes.

“Heo.”

Tang Mun-won let out another exclamation.

“It’s even more spectacular at night, I hear.”

The caravan leader said, joining his hands in prayer. It was an action that Tang Mun-won couldn’t help but find annoying, but for the leader, it was probably just a matter of wishing for good fortune. Everyone else was doing it anyway.

“The lights lit everywhere are said to be as beautiful as a dream. People here wish for their prayers to reach Great Chieftain in the Western Paradise.”

Tang Mun-won clicked his tongue. Then he looked at the ruins of the old kingdom, where Great Chieftain had emitted the last light of the Mahavairocana.

The collapsed loess mountain peak and the massive amount of dirt covering the ruins. The place that would have been desolate and shabby was now beautifully covered like a flower blooming in the wilderness.

“I guess we can’t dig there?”

“Yes?”

The leader frowned and said as if he was dumbfounded.

“Dig? Here?”

“Yeah.”

When Tang Mun-won nodded, the leader sighed.

“How can we dig that? More than that, before that…….”

The leader, lowering his voice as much as possible, looked around and whispered.

“If we did, we’d be beaten to death by these people right away. These people may look gentle, but once they get angry…….”

Tang Mun-won was no longer listening to his words. He was just looking at the ruins piled with huge piles of dirt and the countless flowers covering them.

‘At this rate, I won’t even be able to find the body.’

Not only would he not be able to find it, but he would be lucky if he wasn’t beaten to death for daring to defile the holy site. No, maybe the masters of Potala Palace would rush in to destroy the Tang Clan for insulting Tibetan Buddhism.

“What should we do?”

One of the Black Tortoise Squad members asked Tang Mun-won, who was clicking his tongue, in a low voice. Tang Mun-won sighed. A sigh that he didn’t even know how many times he had sighed.

“It can’t be helped. We have no choice but to go back as we are.”

“Then the report…….”

“We have to do it.”

The most important mission of these people was to confirm the life or death of Tang Wol-ah. The right to trade that would bring huge profits and the relationship with Tibetan Buddhism were not more important than this.

“……What will you say?”

Perhaps it was an overstep. But Tang Mun-won didn’t care. If it was the Black Tortoise Squad, they were qualified enough to hear that answer.

“As I saw.”

Tang Mun-won replied in a calm voice.

“And as I heard.”

Tang Mun-won, who was looking at the loess mountain, sighed once more. After all, no answer would come out even if he worried about it here. There was nothing more he could do.

“Let’s go.”

Tang Mun-won said, looking at the loess mountain that was blooming like a flower.

“Our work is over now.”

The Black Tortoise Squad member bowed his head slightly and obeyed his command. All that remained was to cross Tibet and return to the Tang Clan.

With news that Chief Military Strategist Tang Hwa-ryeon would never be happy about.

* * *

Clatter, clatter.

A splendid carriage was running towards the Tang Clan. The warriors guarding the main gate of the Tang Clan were momentarily nervous, but not very surprised. That was because a small flag representing the Tang Clan was fluttering on that splendid carriage.

Clack, clack.

The carriage, which had reduced its speed, stopped in front of the main gate.

Click.

At the same time as the carriage door opened, an old vice-chief with white hair bowed his head. It was not the vice-chief who was usually in charge of receiving guests, but the old vice-chief who had retired from the front lines.

Rustle.

The person who came out of the carriage was an old woman with a gentle impression. However, the warriors of the Tang Clan who saw her bowed their heads and paid their respects all at once.

That was because she was the head of the largest faction of the Tang Clan, Tang Un-yeong, the younger sister of the former Clan Lord, Tang Baek-ho.

“Welcome, Tang Un-yeong.”

The old woman Tang Un-yeong responded to the vice-chief and the warriors’ greetings with a soft smile. Who could recall her sharp and scary eyes from her gentle appearance?

“You look good.”

Tang Un-yeong responded with a smile to the vice-chief’s words filled with old affection.

Rustle.

In the meantime, two people appeared from inside the carriage. A young lady with a neat and simple feeling, and an old man with a fairly sturdy physique with short hair mixed with white and black.

“Welcome to the Tang Clan.”

The elderly vice-chief politely paid his respects to the two. The young lady, Hyeokryeon Se-hwa, politely responded to the greeting, and the old man with a sturdy physique, Shin-ui, nodded lightly.

“Please follow me. The Chief Military Strategist is waiting.”

Following the vice-chief, the three disappeared inside. The carriage also left, and the Tang Clan returned to its usual appearance as if nothing had happened.

Thud, thud.

The vice-chief guided the three people at a fast pace. After passing through the splendid and antique corridors and cloisters that spoke of the Tang Clan’s power, they reached a door with no special features.

“Chief Military Strategist.”

The old vice-chief said quietly, and an answer was immediately heard from inside.

“Let them in.”

The vice-chief opened the door without a sound and bowed to the three.

“Thank you.”

The old woman Tang Un-yeong said that to the old vice-chief and stepped inside.

Clack.

At the same time as the door closed behind her, Tang Hwa-ryeon, the Chief Military Strategist of the Tang Clan, raised her head.

“Welcome.”

Tang Hwa-ryeon said with a tired expression. She was standing with both hands on a large table, and several documents were scattered haphazardly on the table.

“I’m sorry to have you come like this. But I had no time to leave my seat.”

“No, it’s okay.”

Thud.

The old woman Tang Un-yeong took off her coat and stepped forward. She, too, was more interested in the things on the table than Tang Hwa-ryeon’s greeting.

Hyeokryeon Se-hwa, who was behind her, quickly took Tang Un-yeong’s clothes, but Hyeokryeon Se-hwa’s gaze was also fixed on the table. Shin-ui was the same.

“Is this it?”

“Yes.”

At Tang Un-yeong’s words, Tang Hwa-ryeon bit her lip slightly and answered.

The old woman Tang Un-yeong, the neat Hyeokryeon Se-hwa, and Shin-ui, who frowned, could not take their eyes off the table.

“These are the letters from Young Master Son and his party that I have received from Tibet so far.”

Those all-too-familiar handwritings were the letters sent by Son Bin and his party from Tibet.

In the end, tears began to well up in Hyeokryeon Se-hwa’s eyes at the sudden surge of longing.

(Author’s words)

I think Son Bin should be prepared for a back smash when he returns.