A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 384

384. Sasu-yeon’s Wrath

Sasu-yeon, Dang Wora, and Geomhee, having parted ways with Son Bin’s group, galloped relentlessly through the moonlit night.

However, the horses soon reached their limit. As their speed noticeably decreased, Sasu-yeon and Dang Wora stopped their horses.

After stroking the necks of the panting horses and releasing them in a suitable place, Sasu-yeon and Dang Wora immediately began running towards the village with Geomhee.

Tat, shwiik.

The sight of the three women using their lightness skills [a martial art technique that allows one to move with great agility and speed] to sprint was as light as small birds flying. However, their hearts were anything but light.

‘Please.’

Sasu-yeon bit her lip, her heart filled with desperation.

The villagers have no means of resistance. No, even if they did, they wouldn’t resist.

In the customs that have governed their lives for thousands of years, they have learned only to comply and endure, hoping for a slightly better life in the next life.

Tak.

That feeling was not unique to Sasu-yeon. Dang Wora, too, was fluttering her veil and running towards the village with all her might. Beside her, Geomhee, embracing her Ice Sword, leaped forward expressionlessly.

How long had they been sprinting like that? Suddenly, Geomhee, running beside her, spoke.

“I see it.”

At that small voice, Sasu-yeon abruptly raised her head and saw red lights flickering beneath the dark mountain shadows.

It was the very village they had stayed in.

‘Ah!’

The light was definitely not from lamps. Seeing the light illuminating the entire village in an ominous manner, Sasu-yeon struggled to hold onto her heart, which threatened to fall into despair.

They had failed to catch up with the soldiers after all.

“……Not yet, it’s not,” Dang Wora suddenly said.

“That’s not the whole village burning. And the smoke isn’t that bad.”

Sasu-yeon’s eyes lit up, and she calmly examined the village.

Indeed, as Dang Wora said, the fire had not yet spread to the entire village. Moreover, smoke was rising only from some areas. In other words, the fire had only just begun.

“Let’s go!”

Sasu-yeon, who was already sprinting with all her might, summoned even more power.

Paat.

Like a sharp arrow, she shot towards the village where the flames flickered. And after a while, the tragic scene of the village revealed itself before them.

“Uwaaack!”

“Leave no one alive!”

The village was filled with flames, screams, and shouts. Sasu-yeon, just entering the village, saw a mounted soldier about to strike a fallen woman with his sword.

Peong.

There was no time or reason to assess the situation. Sasu-yeon instinctively unleashed a palm strike towards the soldier.

“Keuheok!”

The soldier, wearing armor and holding a sword, could not withstand the blow. He hadn’t even noticed Sasu-yeon’s approach in the first place, and he was sent flying, crashing into a wall.

Having dealt with the soldier in one fell swoop, Sasu-yeon landed in front of the woman who had fallen to the ground.

“Are you okay?”

In her haste, she didn’t even have time to use the language of Cheonchuk [an ancient language]. However, the woman was only prostrating on the ground, repeating something incomprehensible.

Sasu-yeon bit her lip and raised her head to look at the village.

Tadak, tadak.

A pungent smell and scattering embers, and amidst them, people gripped by fear and blades falling towards them. And screams erupting.

Death and madness were engulfing the entire village.

“What about the children?”

Turning her head, Sasu-yeon asked the woman in the Cheonchuk language, but the woman did not raise her head. She didn’t even seem to be thinking of escaping, even though the village was on fire.

Hwak.

Sasu-yeon roughly pulled the woman up. The woman, who had been closing her eyes, finally looked at Sasu-yeon with a surprised expression.

“The children!”

Sasu-yeon said with an intense gaze. The woman, who had been flustered, seemed to regain her senses and stammered.

“T-there, over there…….”

She raised her hand and pointed to one side of the village. As the soldiers approached, the villagers had evacuated the children to one place.

“I understand. You should escape quickly.”

“T-the children, the children…….”

“I will save them. So you should escape quickly.”

However, the woman looked bewildered and didn’t know what to do.

“Quickly!”

Sasu-yeon urged strongly, and only then did she begin to run frantically towards the outside of the village.

Kwang.

A loud noise and screams were heard from somewhere. It was probably Dang Wora or Geomhee.

Sasu-yeon gritted her teeth and immediately leaped in the direction the woman had pointed. Red flames were already engulfing the entire village.

“Who is it!”

“Stop there!”

The sight of Sasu-yeon sprinting through the village soon caught the eyes of the soldiers. However, Sasu-yeon ignored them and ran on.

If she found soldiers about to strike someone with their swords, she would swing her hand without stopping, sending them flying.

Peoeok.

“Keuak.”

She couldn’t even check who she had knocked down or who had been lying there. Gritting her teeth as she passed the bodies of people scattered everywhere, Sasu-yeon sprinted towards the place where the children were said to be.

It was when Sasu-yeon turned the corner of the burning street. The figures of small children lying on the ground under the flickering light came into Sasu-yeon’s sight.

And the frowning face of a mounted soldier extending a spear towards those fallen children.

Jjaeng.

At that moment, something broke within Sasu-yeon’s heart. Along with it, the sound of her sword, Myeong, seemed to be heard from a distant place.

Huuk.

There was no sight of her drawing her sword. Sasu-yeon swung her sword, Myeong, as it was. A blinding white flash erupted from Myeong’s blade, engulfing the soldier who was extending his spear in an instant.

Kwang.

When the explosion subsided and the flash disappeared, the figure of the soldier holding the spear was no longer there.

Sasu-yeon sheathed Myeong and landed beside the fallen children.

“Kids!”

The fallen children were not just one or two. And among them were Parsha, who had followed Son Bin, and her brother, the playful Gatra.

“Parsha! Gatra!”

Sasu-yeon called out, but the children did not open their eyes. Sasu-yeon hurriedly checked the children’s pulses. Gatra seemed to have tried to protect Parsha until the very end, lying on top of her as if to shield her.

‘Ah ah.’

The children were alive. Sasu-yeon was endlessly grateful at that moment to someone, whether it was the gods or fate, for saving these children.

Sasu-yeon calmly checked the condition of the other children. The children had only lost consciousness. They had probably been hiding in their homes and collapsed after coming outside due to the smoke.

“Who are you!”

Ttagak, ttagak.

At the sudden sound, Sasu-yeon raised her head. Soldiers with swords and spears were approaching Sasu-yeon.

The look in their eyes, revealed beneath their helmets, was already fierce. It was because they had seen Sasu-yeon running without caring about being noticed and had already knocked down several soldiers.

Unlike the lord’s warriors, they were fully armed. The gently curved blades and sharp spear tips gleamed ominously in the light. Some were already stained with blood.

“To dare attack the empire’s soldiers! Are you the mastermind behind these rebels?”

“Only death awaits the rebels!”

The soldiers shouted, pointing their spears and swords at Sasu-yeon. Attacking Sha’s army was a great crime that could not be washed away even with their lives. The thought of capturing her was not even in their minds.

Sarak.

Sasu-yeon slowly rose from her spot. It was an extremely simple and natural movement, but the soldiers couldn’t help but be startled. They felt a cold wind from her as she stood up.

Huuuung.

The wind was blowing. Sasu-yeon’s black hair fluttered, covering her face, and the scattering embers danced and flickered around her.

“You are the soldiers of this country?”

Her voice was extremely cold. The chill that settled down just by listening made the soldiers tense up.

“That’s right! We are Sha’s…….”

Hook.

The wind that blew from somewhere fluttered Sasu-yeon’s hair. At that moment, Sasu-yeon’s beautiful face, her breathtaking beauty, was revealed.

‘Heok.’

The soldiers literally stopped breathing. The flames, intensified by the wind, blazed behind her.

“If so.”

Sasu-yeon’s red lips slowly uttered the words.

“You shouldn’t be like this.”

The beautiful Sasu-yeon’s eyes were emitting streams of coldness. It wasn’t just momentum.

“If so, you should be protecting them. These people, and these children, you should be protecting them.”

Sabak.

Sasu-yeon took a step forward. At the same time, white frost spread from her toes in all directions.

Sasaasak.

None of the soldiers realized that change, which could never have happened in this place. Their gazes were fixed on Sasu-yeon’s cold eyes.

Originally, Sasu-yeon had saved her life by accepting the coldness as her own due to Son Bin. That coldness became one with Sasu-yeon’s true energy, strengthening her inner power just by breathing.

However, it was never a good thing. Like Shin-ui’s warning, her coldness affected not only her inner power but also her thoughts, emotions, and even her nature.

What had prevented that was the warm affection of people.

Son Bin’s heart, who had unhesitatingly risked his life for her, the children’s bright smiles and unwavering trust, and the soft and gentle expressions of the Seowon [a type of private educational institution in Korea during the Joseon Dynasty] people.

Those sunshine-like people were sustaining her.

The immense coldness that had flowed in while assimilating with the Ice Spirit of the North Sea could have turned her into something other than human thousands of times, but the warmth they had conveyed allowed her to remain as a woman.

That warmth has now been shattered.

“It shouldn’t, be like this.”

Huuuung.

A cold aura emanated from Sasu-yeon. The wind, as if it would cut the skin, was starting right from her.

Her silken hair slowly fluttered, dancing in the air. And it wasn’t just her hair that was scattering.

Sarak, sarak.

It was like small snowflakes. Sasu-yeon’s unimaginable coldness froze the surroundings, and the moisture in the atmosphere condensed into crystals.

The crystals, so small and beautiful that they were almost invisible, gathered together and gradually took shape. At first like dust, then like small snowflakes, and finally like scattering flower petals.

Sarak, sararak.

Countless ice petals slowly dancing in the air. They were more beautiful and sharper than ever, reflecting Sasu-yeon’s emotions and will.

“Heo, heoeok.”

The soldiers finally came to their senses. But by then, the surroundings were already covered with white, shining ice petals, ice blades.

“Absolutely.”

Jabak.

Sasu-yeon took another step on the frost-covered ground. At the same time, tremendous fear began to weigh down on the soldiers. An overwhelming fear that they had never felt even on the battlefield where blood and death were rampant.

“A-attack!”

It was a spasmodic reaction. Like the instinctive struggle of humans facing despair and fear.

But in front of Sasu-yeon, it was already meaningless.

“I will not forgive you.”

Sasu-yeon said with cold eyes. And she raised her hand.

Seuk.

The moment that white and slender hand, as if made of snow, was raised, her coldness burst out like a storm.

Kwagwagwak.

It was no longer just simple coldness or wind. The scattering ice petals became sharp blades, sweeping everything away.

Neither words, nor people, nor sharp spears and blood-soaked swords, and even the burning houses, were no longer meaningful in the face of that stern storm of judgment.

Kwagwagwag.

Everything around her disappeared without a trace in an instant, but the storm swirled around Sasu-yeon, increasing its momentum. As if it was just the beginning, a low voice flowed out from above the storm of ice blades that was gradually growing.

“Sanghyo, Iljeol [Supreme Ice Severance, First Form].”

Kung.

A huge sword appeared in the air. The large, pure white sword that appeared in the night sky fell straight towards Sasu-yeon.

Kwang.

Geomhee’s Sanghyo Iljeol, which directly hit the center of the storm, did not give any shock to Sasu-yeon. No, it couldn’t.

Kagagagagak.

The huge sword body created by Geomhee’s Sanghyo Iljeol was blocked by Sasu-yeon’s hand. Still white and slender, in that one hand.

“Why, are you interfering?”

Sasu-yeon, standing in the center of the storm, raised her head and looked up at Geomhee. At her, who was looking down at herself from the end of Sanghyo Iljeol.

“……Stop here.”

Geomhee also replied with an expressionless face.

“If you go further, you will regret it.”

Sasu-yeon bit her lip. The cold storm raging within her was telling her not to stop. But Sasu-yeon already knew. That Geomhee was right.

“If you go…….”

Geomhee blinked and continued.

“You can never come back. Like me.”

Sasu-yeon couldn’t answer. She slowly closed her eyes. The raging coldness slowly began to subside along with it.

Hook.

The huge sword body of Sanghyo Iljeol disappeared, and Sasu-yeon slowly withdrew her hand.

Sarak, sarak.

The storm of cold ice blades also disappeared. The ice petals, like blades that had been destroying everything, slowly slowed down and eventually turned into small snowflakes and disappeared.

As if nothing had ever happened from the beginning.

Ttak.

Geomhee, who had sheathed her sword, landed lightly next to Sasu-yeon. The frost was gradually disappearing even from the ground where her toes touched.

Hwik.

Dang Wora landed next to the fallen children. The children were unharmed. Sasu-yeon, who had become extremely cold and ruthless, had protected the children even in the midst of her rage.

“Huuuu.”

Sasu-yeon let out a long sigh and quietly opened her eyes. Her eyes had already returned to their former appearance.

“Parshaa!”

At the sudden voice of a boy, Sasu-yeon quickly turned her head. Gatra, who had woken up, was surprised and shouted when he saw his fallen sister, Parsha.

“Parsha! Parsha!”

While Dang Wora was treating Parsha, Gatra didn’t know what to do. In fact, Gatra had been in more danger. That’s why Dang Wora had treated him first.

Sabak.

Sasu-yeon moved towards Gatra and said in a small voice.

“……Thank you.”

To Sasu-yeon, who was passing by, Geomhee replied calmly, embracing her sword.

“You’re welcome.”

Sabak, sabak.

“O-Oppa [an affectionate Korean term for ‘older brother’ used by females]?”

Parsha also woke up. Gatra hugged Parsha, who still had a bewildered expression, tightly.

“Why, why are you suddenly like this?”

Parsha, who was flustered, tried to push him away, but Gatra didn’t let go. Parsha, who had a troubled expression, raised her head when she found Sasu-yeon approaching.

“Ah, Sister…….”

Gatra also turned his head and looked up at Sasu-yeon. Gatra’s face was covered in tears.

Sasu-yeon bent down and lowered her body, then quietly reached out her hand.

“You did well.”

Slowly and carefully, Sasu-yeon stroked Gatra’s head. She wanted to smile, but she couldn’t. So she could only barely say this.

“……Thank you. Thank you for holding on.”

Gatra, who was already covered in tears, grabbed Sasu-yeon’s neck and hugged her tightly. And only then did he start crying, as if fear and sorrow had overwhelmed him.

“Uwaaaang.”

How great must have been the fear that he had to endure with this small body? Sasu-yeon bit her lip and hugged Gatra tightly. The small child felt even smaller.

In Gatra’s cries and tears, the lost warmth was slowly spreading in her heart.

* * *

General Bahadur and the lord’s warriors persistently followed Son Bin’s group. Usually, they would chase for a while and give up, but General Bahadur pursued Son Bin’s group, even using the method of changing horses.

“Oh, he used his head a bit?”

No-gun admired as he saw the pursuers changing horses.

Bahadur had half of the lord’s warriors dismount and drove their empty horses along with them. When the horse they were riding got tired, they would switch to another, relatively less tired horse.

It was a method that one could not think of unless they were familiar with the operation of cavalry. Thanks to this, the distance between Son Bin’s group and the pursuers was gradually decreasing.

“Yeah, follow us hard. That way, we’ll have the satisfaction of running away.”

No-gun turned around and grinned.

“Bin, is your horse okay?”

Even while running, No-gun was constantly pouring inner energy into the other horses. Thanks to this, Son Bin’s group’s horses, although they were struggling, were still able to maintain their speed.

“Yes. I’m fine.”

Son Bin, who answered, turned his head and checked the distance with the pursuers.

“They won’t give up, will they?”

“Don’t worry.”

No-gun replied.

“The more greedy a guy is, the more he can’t give up the prey in front of him. Especially if the opponent is turning their back and running away.”

Listening to those words, Son Bin quietly looked at the pursuers. His eyes were more calm and cold than ever.

Dududududu.

“The horses are reaching their limit.”

At his subordinate’s report, Bahadur frowned.

“And we will reach the territory border shortly. The lord’s warriors are uneasy.”

“They are just guys to be sent back anyway.”

The old man, Shekh, who was riding next to him, said. Despite the intense pursuit, his appearance was not disturbed in the slightest.

“Take over the empty horses. They are no longer useful.”

Bahadur and Shekh already knew what the strangers were aiming for. They thought that if they left the territory, the lord’s warriors would not follow and would give up the pursuit.

But there is something the strangers don’t know. If they leave the territory and go a little further, they will find a military camp where the imperial army is stationed. If they pursue them to that place, they will become rats in a trap.

“Follow Shekh’s words.”

Bahadur ordered his subordinate. The subordinate immediately fell back and conveyed his order.

Dududududu.

Son Bin’s group came into Bahadur’s view as he raised his head.

Eudeuk.

Bahadur gritted his teeth as he looked at them running away at regular intervals, as if mocking them.

‘Certainly.’

Bahadur’s eyes flashed sharply. He never had any intention of giving up on the strangers from the beginning.

(Author’s words)

Everyone has a plan.