A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 397

397. Changes

Victorious General Vikram Singh received a rapturous welcome. Not only did the lord of the territory greet him in person, but all the citizens of the great city of Lahore celebrated the triumphant general with flowers and music.

However, Sun Bin and his group were not among the welcoming crowd. They had quietly returned to Lahore a day earlier.

“What a shame.”

Looking out at the welcoming crowds filling the streets from the window of their lodgings, Hwang Bang-ju clicked his tongue.

“When you think about it, shouldn’t we be among that triumphant procession too?”

“Why bother?”

Roh Gun said dismissively.

“We’re just trying to spread the word to the Imperial Family and soothe public sentiment anyway. I have no desire to go out there and have my face known. Doing what we were asked is enough.”

“Still, it’s a waste, isn’t it? If we showed our faces at such a grand event, we could gain a lot of trust from the merchants here.”

Roh Gun gave a wry smile at Hwang Bang-ju’s words. He was a merchant to the core, after all.

“Vikram Singh gave you the right to supply some goods to the territorial army, didn’t he? You can make a decent profit from that, can’t you?”

Hwang Bang-ju’s steadfast presence on the ramparts of the Yeongchae fortress had left a good impression on General Vikram Singh. Thanks to that, Hwang Bang-ju was able to obtain the right to supply certain items to the local territorial army.

Of course, Hwang Bang-ju didn’t have any goods or a trading company. But with the rights, he could earn a considerable commission just by brokering deals with other suitable merchants.

“Well, that’s true, but it’s still a shame. As a merchant, missing out on such a good opportunity…….”

“I wanted to ride around town on a white elephant.”

Seo-rin, pressed close to the window, pouted and said enviously.

Indeed, riding a white elephant through the center of the great city of Lahore was an experience not everyone could have. Sa Su-yeon, Dang Wol-ah, and Geom-hee had already had that experience.

“Maybe there will be a chance in the capital later. Then you can ride with us.”

Sa Su-yeon said soothingly. Seo-rin’s face brightened instantly, and she leaped towards Sa Su-yeon.

“Really? Will you let me ride too, Sister?”

Sa Su-yeon smiled at Seo-rin, whose eyes were sparkling.

“Yes.”

“Hehehe.”

Roh Gun clicked his tongue as he watched Seo-rin laughing.

“Is it that great? That elephant is just a big animal. Whether it’s a horse or an elephant, they’re just different in size…….”

“But Grandpa wants to ride a white elephant too, doesn’t he?”

“……Ahem.”

Roh Gun cleared his throat at Seo-rin’s retort. Seeing this, Sa Su-yeon resolved to make sure Roh Gun got to ride an elephant.

“How did the children’s matter go?”

Roh Gun changed the subject. Sun Bin nodded and said.

“Yes. The lord of the territory has kindly agreed to be their legal guardian, and General Vikram has agreed to take care of Parsha and Gatra.”

Parsha and Gatra would stay in this territory for the time being. They couldn’t bring the children along on a journey to face monsters.

At the request of Sa Su-yeon, the young palace lord of Bukhae, the lord of the territory willingly became their legal guardian, and General Vikram Singh took on the responsibility of actually raising them after hearing Sun Bin’s request.

Sun Bin recalled the first time the two children met General Vikram Singh.

“You’re a general?”

Gatra, the boy, showed interest with sparkling eyes at the word ‘general,’ and General Vikram Singh seemed to like Gatra quite a bit.

This was because Gatra’s martial arts skills, taught by Sa Su-yeon and Dang Wol-ah, were quite excellent, at least for a child of his age.

“They are well-educated children.”

General Vikram Singh looked at Gatra and Parsha with a proud expression. Parsha, the girl, showed outstanding skills in writing and arithmetic, also thanks to Dang Wol-ah’s intensive teaching.

“With these children, rebuilding a family or establishing a new one would not be a problem.”

The children took the surname of a suitable family from the genealogy that Dang Wol-ah had brought. However, when the children became adults, they could have a completely new surname in the form of a ‘branch family.’

Especially in this place, where the reformist sect of the Cheonchuk religion [likely referring to a local adaptation of a major religion] was the majority, their original status didn’t matter.

“Even so.”

Dang Wol-ah said in a low voice. It was Dang Wol-ah’s plan to use the name of a vanished family and to have the lord of the territory, not the general, as their legal guardian.

“It’s good to be sure. People are more foolish than you think, and prejudice is always deeply rooted.”

It was also Dang Wol-ah who thoroughly trained Parsha and Gatra in writing, arithmetic, and martial arts. It was also she who bought them clothes that were a little too extravagant and entrusted the lord with more than enough wealth for their upbringing.

Thanks to this, Parsha and Gatra looked like well-educated children from aristocratic backgrounds to anyone who saw them.

“The children are currently at General Vikram Singh’s residence.”

Sun Bin said to Roh Gun, recalling Parsha and Gatra’s dignified appearance.

“When the general arrives, Parsha and Gatra will present him with a welcoming bouquet.”

That meant that Vikram Singh would officially become Parsha and Gatra’s guardian and caretaker.

Especially to the many relatives and local dignitaries waiting for General Vikram Singh’s return as a triumphant general, there could be no stronger declaration than that.

“Alright, so the children’s matter is settled.”

Roh Gun said, looking at Sun Bin.

“How are you doing now?”

No one could misunderstand the meaning of those words. Everyone already knew that a blue flame-like energy had poured into Sun Bin from the Water Demon God.

“I’m fine for now.”

“For now?”

Roh Gun frowned immediately. Sun Bin gave an awkward smile at his stern tone.

“Well, I mean, there’s nothing different from what you saw back then.”

After the monsters had retreated, Roh Gun had carefully examined Sun Bin’s condition. Dang Wol-ah and Sa Su-yeon, who had returned, had also stepped in, and just in case, they had even checked with Seo-rin to see if she felt anything strange.

All they got back was a ridiculous answer: ‘He’s just the same as usual?’

“I don’t feel any other abnormalities, and there were no problems with practicing swordsmanship.”

Just in case, he had even swung his sword. But nothing had changed.

“Hmm, if only the Divine Doctor was here, he would know more details…….”

In fact, Roh Gun’s knowledge of medicine was also considerable. But not as much as the Divine Doctor. Roh Gun clicked his tongue in disappointment.

“Isn’t there anything that can tell us for sure about this guy’s condition? Something that shows if something’s wrong, or if there’s been a change. It would be nice if there was something that showed it clearly in numbers…….”

“Ah, come to think of it.”

Sun Bin, who had unconsciously opened his mouth at a sudden thought, met the serious gazes staring at him.

“What is it?”

At Roh Gun’s urging, Sun Bin quickly replied.

“I had a dream.”

“A dream?”

“Yes. It was a dream of standing in an endlessly wide field.”

In that dream, Sun Bin was standing in a vast field. It was the very field he had seen from the Water Demon God.

The only difference was that huge, lush trees that seemed to reach the sky were faintly visible beyond the horizon.

The warm, gentle breeze and the sense of pride were still there. Instead of the longing that had been so painful, his heart was filled with happiness, and even after waking up, he had to smile for a while, intoxicated by the lingering feeling.

“It was a very happy dream.”

Even now, a gentle smile was blooming on Sun Bin’s lips.

“……Is that so?”

Roh Gun sighed softly. Seeing Sun Bin’s happy smile, he couldn’t push him any harder.

“What about that strange energy? Do you still feel it?”

Sun Bin nodded. The energy that had flowed in from the Water Demon God was still with Sun Bin.

“Rather than feeling it, I just know it’s there. It’s still there.”

“Any movement? Like, does it flow along the meridians [energy pathways in the body]?”

“No.”

The energy had no movement. It didn’t stimulate Sun Bin, and it didn’t bother him with strange changes.

To put it simply, it was very docile, like a small animal dozing off.

“It’s not like I have a sense that it’s somewhere in my body.”

“Is that so?”

If it was internal energy or a unique aura, such as poison or cold energy, Roh Gun couldn’t have failed to notice it.

But Roh Gun had found nothing in Sun Bin.

“It’s like, just as I’m here, it feels like it’s there too, but I don’t know how to explain it.”

Sun Bin was very frustrated because he couldn’t think of a suitable expression. As a scholar who had read books and a teacher at a private academy who taught children, this was a shameful thing.

“A feeling-like feeling? Is that what you mean?”

Hwang Bang-ju interjected. Sun Bin gave a wry smile. He wondered what a feeling-like feeling even meant.

“It’s not that, it’s more like existence, or being…….”

Seo-rin, who was listening to Sun Bin’s words, tilted her head.

“It sounds like you’re saying the same thing, though?”

“Is, is that so?”

Sun Bin felt like he had been hit by Seo-rin’s surprisingly insightful words. Roh Gun suddenly said to the embarrassed Sun Bin.

“You said you can still see it, right?”

“Yes.”

Swish.

Sun Bin lightly raised his hand. Then, a blue flame-like energy wrapped around his hand and gently rose.

Whoosh.

The energy responded instantly to Sun Bin’s will.

There was no need to think or concentrate. It was as natural as moving his hands, opening his eyes, and breathing.

It felt as if he had gently touched a small animal, and it had opened its eyes wide and was looking at Sun Bin with curiosity.

“Hmm.”

Roh Gun said with a frown.

“I can’t see it.”

The slightly flickering blue energy was clearly visible in Sun Bin’s eyes. But the only person who could see it was Sun Bin.

“I can’t see it either.”

“Me neither.”

Sa Su-yeon agreed with Roh Gun’s words, and Seo-rin shrugged and nodded.

“I know you wouldn’t do this, but you’re not joking, are you? Like, a joke that only smart people understand and laugh at……. Something like that.”

Even Hwang Bang-ju said that. Sun Bin felt wronged.

“Didn’t you see it clearly back then, Director Hwang?”

“No, I did see it back then…….”

He had definitely seen it. Not only Hwang Bang-ju but also General Vikram Singh and the other soldiers had seen it as well.

How could he forget the sight of that blue flame-like energy pouring towards Sun Bin like a storm?

But after that, the only person who could see that blue flame-like energy was Sun Bin. So, in fact, Seo-rin, Sa Su-yeon, and Dang Wol-ah had only heard Roh Gun and Sun Bin’s words.

“This is really something.”

Roh Gun clicked his tongue.

“Still, there’s clearly a change, so we can’t just ignore this…….”

No one could accurately explain what had happened. But one change that had occurred as a result was clear.

Sun Bin could now sense the Gate of Naraka [a gate to the underworld] opened by the Heavenly Demon.

It was still vague, like a blurry shadow.

“Well, anyway.”

Roh Gun sighed.

“The next place to go is decided.”

Sun Bin’s expression turned serious at those words. Sa Su-yeon was the same. On the other hand, Seo-rin and Hwang Bang-ju had expressions of anticipation, their eyes sparkling. Dang Wol-ah simply nodded silently.

“Yes.”

Sun Bin nodded in response.

The Water Demon God had told Sun Bin to ‘go to the heart of the empire’ as his last words. He had also said that ‘the one who guides the way’ was waiting for Sun Bin there.

He didn’t know what ‘the one who guides the way’ meant. But it was clear what ‘the heart of the empire’ referred to.

“We are going to the Imperial Capital.”

The living heart of the empire that moved the vast empire. Where else could be called the heart of the empire if not the capital of the empire where the emperor and his imperial family were located?

“The Imperial Capital……. Well, it’s a place we had to stop by anyway.”

Roh Gun shrugged. Since he had accepted the request of the lord of this territory, he had to go to the Imperial Capital anyway.

“It’ll be bigger than here, right? And there’ll be lots of elephants?”

Seo-rin said, her eyes sparkling.

“Is it just elephants!”

Hwang Bang-ju looked at Seo-rin and replied in an excited tone.

“The Imperial Capital of the empire is where merchants from the ends of the earth gather with all sorts of rare goods! Not only are there splendid ornaments and beautiful works of art, but also treasures and beauties from foreign lands that you’ve never heard of, and strange beasts are said to be scattered on the streets!”

Hwang Bang-ju, who had never been there himself, said, spitting as he spoke.

“That’s not all. The finances accumulated in the Imperial Family are so enormous that people here say they could buy the whole world.”

“Wow!”

Seo-rin opened her mouth wide and widened her eyes. Roh Gun frowned and muttered, ‘Such nonsense…….’ but Sa Su-yeon and Dang Wol-ah also didn’t look displeased.

No, in fact, they were sparkling with anticipation as much as Seo-rin.

‘Hehe.’

Sun Bin smiled as he watched them. In fact, it was by no means a simple trip, but everyone would have expectations for a splendid and unfamiliar metropolis.

Sun Bin quietly looked down at his hand.

Whoosh.

A small blue flame rose on the palm of his hand. But no heat was felt at all.

‘The one who guides the way…….’

He didn’t know who it was. But it was clear that the existence was not simply someone who would teach Sun Bin the way. No, it would not even be friendly to Sun Bin.

The ‘one who guides the way’ that the Water Demon God spoke of must be another Demon God.

Buzz.

Sun Bin stared at the small flame that was quietly rising on his hand.

Like a small animal with wide eyes looking up at Sun Bin, the blue flame flickered there.

***

Sun Bin and his group, who were leaving the great city of Lahore, were seen off by the lord of the territory and General Vikram Singh.

Gatra and Parsha, standing with Vikram Singh, saw off Sun Bin and his group in the guise of respectable aristocratic children.

Parsha hugged Sun Bin’s neck and teared up, but she still held it in well. Gatra also did not lose his dignified appearance until the end. Although his eyes turned red as he tried to hold back his tears.

“The world is not easy.”

Sun Bin hugged Parsha and Gatra and said quietly. How could these children, Parsha and Gatra, not know the meaning of those words?

“But someone I respect said this: ‘Some people find the will of heaven in that difficulty.'”

“The will of heaven?”

Gatra blinked and asked back. Sun Bin nodded.

“Yes. The will of heaven [天命, Tianming – Mandate of Heaven].”

He didn’t bother to explain. It would be too complicated for the children.

But Parsha and Gatra looked at Sun Bin with serious eyes, as if something had touched them. Their small, young eyes were shining brightly.

Sa Su-yeon, who was wearing fancy clothes and covering her eyes with sparkling veils, also hugged Parsha and Gatra tightly. Her beautiful eyes were also filled with tears.

The children’s expressions were tense in front of Dang Wol-ah. That was because Dang Wol-ah was the one who had sternly educated the children.

“This isn’t the whole world.”

Dang Wol-ah said softly to the nervous children.

“The world is wider than you think, and there are many good people. So, if you ever think you can’t stand it…….”

Dang Wol-ah gently stroked the children’s heads.

“You can run away. Remember what I told you, right?”

Parsha and Gatra nodded with serious expressions.

Sun Bin didn’t know what Dang Wol-ah had told the children. It might be something that would shock Sun Bin, but whatever it was, it would surely be for the children’s sake.

Seo-rin hugged Gatra and Parsha with a bright expression, and Hwang Bang-ju also patted the children’s shoulders. Roh Gun also silently stroked the children’s heads.

In front of Geom-hee, who didn’t change her expression at all, the children bowed their heads in greeting, feeling somewhat scared. The children had also seen Geom-hee saving the villagers.

“Okay, let’s go.”

At Roh Gun’s words, Sun Bin and his group boarded two elephants. Sa Su-yeon, Dang Wol-ah, Geom-hee, and Seo-rin rode the white elephant, and Hwang Bang-ju and Sun Bin rode the elephant behind.

Roh Gun grabbed the reins of the white elephant himself. And he slowly began to drive the elephant.

Thump, thump, thump.

The bodyguards went ahead, and the elephants of Sun Bin and his group slowly began to cross the great city of Lahore.

Parsha and Gatra waved their hands and saw them off until Sun Bin and his group were out of sight. Amidst the cheers of the people who had gathered, Sun Bin and his group left Lahore.

(Author’s words)

Ugh, the fire dragon in my right hand is raging!