A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 40

40. The Third Life-or-Death Decision (2)

Okryong turned around. Sonbin was behind him, but he didn’t care. Saja Hyuk stood before him.

The sky behind Saja Hyuk, standing on the white snowfield, was chillingly blue.

“I was the one who said you shouldn’t show any openings…”

Okryong said with a bitter smile.

“I’ve shown such an unsightly *moseup* [appearance/figure].”

*Parak.* [Sound of a fan opening]

Okryong raised his fan to cover his face, as if truly ashamed and hiding.

However, Saja Hyuk showed no reaction. His eyes, shining like flames, slowly moved from Okryong to Sonbin.

“How.”

Saja Hyuk asked Sonbin.

“Did you unleash that sword?”

Sonbin, still unable to rise and kneeling on one knee, smiled bitterly and shook his head. His hand, supporting him on the snowfield, was cold.

“I did not unleash it.”

At Sonbin’s answer, one of Saja Hyuk’s eyebrows twitched slightly. Okryong also turned his gaze to Sonbin.

“I merely placed the sword on the flow.”

Saja Hyuk’s eyebrow twitched, convulsing. Okryong’s brow also furrowed, understanding the meaning of Sonbin’s answer better than anyone.

Sonbin’s Okryong Yeokrin Cham [lit. Reverse Scale Strike of the Okryong Sword] was neither a coincidence nor an imitation. Although the stance was different, it was the true Okryong Yeokrin Cham.

“Did you master Hyeoncheon’s Resolution?”

Saja Hyuk asked. Sonbin shook his head.

“That’s impossible, isn’t it?”

Sonbin looked at Saja Hyuk.

“I only know the rough outline. The Hyeoncheon Daegang Resolution [Grand Outline Resolution of the Profound Sky], I mean. As you know.”

“Hyeoncheon Daegang Resolution.”

Saja Hyuk lowered his head slightly and murmured, repeating Sonbin’s words one by one.

“If it is called *Daegang* [大綱, lit. Great Outline], does that mean a great outline… So it was.”

Saja Hyuk said quietly, as if lamenting.

“Martial arts are profound and mysterious, and one must walk the path without deviating even an inch, and not neglect even the smallest thing. But for you, if you follow the great flow, the small things will naturally follow.”

Sonbin did not understand the meaning of Saja Hyuk’s words. No, the literal meaning was not difficult.

However, the true meaning within would only be known to Saja Hyuk himself.

“The Okryong Yeokrin Cham you unleashed.”

Saja Hyuk asked again.

“Ended in one and a half moves. If you saw the flow, why didn’t you complete the last move?”

Sonbin let out a hollow laugh.

“The flow ended there.”

To Saja Hyuk’s question, Sonbin replied.

“What should I say, it was more like a knot. I can’t explain it exactly…”

It was embarrassing for a scholar not to come up with the right word. Sonbin frowned and continued.

“Okryong Yeokrin Cham was not left unfinished, but was already completed with that. So I stopped. The flow had already ended, forming a knot.”

“Is that so?”

Saja Hyuk said. A sense of emptiness, like despair, was buried in his heavy voice.

“That’s what it was.”

After a moment of silence, Saja Hyuk turned to Sonbin again and said,

“Well done.”

It was just a short word.

But for Sonbin, it was the most reassuring word at this moment. Now Saja Hyuk had stepped forward.

“Since you have shown me three sword paths.”

Saja Hyuk said to Sonbin with a faint smile.

“I will show you three moves. The last move is still incomplete, though…”

Saja Hyuk’s smile deepened. His gaze slowly moved towards Okryong.

“Somehow, I feel like I can unleash it now.”

“Wait.”

At Sonbin’s voice, Saja Hyuk’s gaze turned back to him.

“That Lady Sa, she will be alive.”

Okryong’s eyebrows twitched. However, Saja Hyuk’s eyes were fixed on Sonbin.

“When this person attacked me, I could sense the intention behind the attack.”

Sonbin could feel Okryong’s sharp gaze turning towards him. But Sonbin continued.

“And I could also sense that Lady Sa would eventually be harmed. Although I couldn’t stop it…”

Sonbin’s expression was filled with self-reproach as he bit his lip. But he raised his head again and said,

“Still, at the last moment, I could reach out and give her something.”

“What?”

Saja Hyuk asked.

“Hwandan [a mystical pill].”

Sonbin replied.

“The one you gave me, the one that would save my life once.”

When Saja Hyuk told him to put the handle of Hoah in his chest while climbing the mountain, Sonbin remembered the Hwandan he had given him.

The Hwandan he had received just before the life-or-death decision with the Tiger of Sichuan, the one he could just keep in his chest, and if he swallowed it at the very last moment, it would save his life once. Sonbin had put that Hwandan in his chest along with the handle of the Hoah sword.

“Ha, Hwandan?”

Okryong said with a sneering voice.

“Do you think she can survive being pierced through the chest by the Sword Demon’s Ice Sword with just a Hwandan? Her blood vessels would have burst, and she would have died spitting blood.”

“Aren’t you alright?”

Sonbin looked straight at Okryong and replied. Okryong’s wound left by Baekro only showed red bloodstains, and the bleeding had stopped long ago.

“If you can do it, Lady Sa can definitely do it too. Because she is the only genius recognized by that person.”

Sonbin’s eyes were directed straight at Saja Hyuk.

“Isn’t that right?”

“That’s right.”

Saja Hyuk replied.

“Although she is no longer the only one.”

Sonbin couldn’t hear the words Saja Hyuk murmured properly.

But Sonbin could clearly know. Now his work was over.

‘No, isn’t it that it’s not over, but it’s finally back to normal?’

Sonbin let out a sigh of relief. Now all that was left was to watch.

*Hwee-ing.*

The wind blew on the snowfield. White snowflakes flew up, and the surroundings sparkled like an illusion. But the two people facing each other said nothing.

“In the end, we’ve come face to face again like this.”

Okryong opened his mouth first. A soft, beautiful voice that seemed to captivate women flowed from his lips.

“After that Okryong Yeokrin Cham, I decided never to compete with you in martial arts again.”

“Me too.”

Saja Hyuk said.

“I decided not to duel with you until I completed the Payeolsamsik [Three Forms of the Cleaving Sword]. No, there was no need to duel. I thought you could understand just by looking. I thought only you in the world could understand the meaning of Payeolsamsik.”

“Huh, the meaning of Payeolsamsik?”

Okryong replied with a mocking voice.

“Of course, I know. The meaning of such childish swordsmanship. Not a heartless sword, but a compassionate sword, not an overbearing sword, but a gentleman’s sword, or maybe a non-killing sword? Ah, not non-killing. You’ve already killed Hwanghak and the Tiger.”

*Pallak.* [Sound of a fan fluttering]

Okryong’s fan fluttered lightly.

“You acknowledged Hwanghak and the Tiger. But I didn’t. I already knew that they couldn’t compare to you and me.”

Okryong said, glaring at Saja Hyuk with sharp eyes.

“Hwanghak has been pursuing the Dao [the Way] all his life and has been called noble, but the moment he knew that you had taken a step closer to the ultimate Dao, he lost his composure. The Tiger was easier. You acknowledged him in your own way, but all he felt was endless frustration, anxiety, and envy. It was enough to move them with just a few words.”

Okryong gave a thin smile.

“And her death… well? Was it what I expected, or was it just a coincidence?”

“You haven’t answered my question yet.”

Saja Hyuk said. His deep eyes stared straight at Okryong.

“Why did you do that?”

“Why?”

Okryong chuckled.

“Did you ask why? Isn’t it obvious?”

Okryong’s eyes blazed like flames.

“To prove who is the true *gangja* [强者, lit. strong one/powerful one] between you and me! To reveal which is the truth, the path you chose and the path I have walked, your Payeol that has eliminated the blade and my Okseon [Jade Fan] that has sharpened the blade! Can there be any other reason for a martial artist? For a martial artist…”

*Pallak.* [Sound of a fan fluttering]

Okryong, who had been spitting out words like shooting them, covered his face with Okseon.

“Can there be any other reason?”

Okryong’s eyes were like throwing daggers.

“Is that so?”

Saja Hyuk murmured quietly.

“Then now is the time.”

Saja Hyuk said, slowly raising Payeol.

“It’s time to put an end to the long duel.”

“Huh.”

Okryong sneered.

“You must have already heard? That I am the only one who can save your life.”

Okryong looked at Saja Hyuk with cold eyes.

“But still, you’re going to duel with me? If you kneel before me now…”

Okryong said with arrogant eyes.

“I can save you. Because I am the only one in the world who can eliminate the Cheonhyangnu [Thousand Fragrance Dew] flowing in your blood.”

“Didn’t I already say?”

Saja Hyuk replied.

“There is nothing I want in this world anymore.”

“Yes, you did.”

Okryong chuckled.

“I’m glad.”

Okryong said, looking straight at Saja Hyuk.

“That you are still the same. Still trapped in childish fantasies, the same foolish *moseup* [appearance/figure] as then.”

“I’m glad too.”

Saja Hyuk said.

“That I can show you what she showed me.”

“If you can.”

Okryong said.

“Try it.”

*Hoo-oong.*

A strong force emanated from the Okseon he was holding. It was as if countless blades were extending from the blue fan he was holding.

However, Saja Hyuk calmly faced that force.

“Do you know?”

Okryong said with a smile as sharp as his force.

“That the people here call you the reincarnation of the Blood Demon.”

“Blood Demon?”

“Yes.”

Okryong said with a smiling face.

“Because the path you have passed has been stained with blood without exception.”

*Shwee-ik.*

Okryong drew his fan diagonally upwards. Although it was a distance that could not be reached, the force extending from Okseon tore through the air with a sharp sound and struck Saja Hyuk.

*Kaang!*

Okseon’s force was blocked by Saja Hyuk’s Payeol, making a sharp sound. But at that moment, countless Binghonji [Ice Soul Needles] shot from Okryong’s hand, aiming for Saja Hyuk’s openings.

“Everyone died.”

*Hoo-ook.*

Saja Hyuk’s Payeol emitted force and drew a diagonal line in the air. At the same time, countless explosions rang out on the snowfield.

*Kwagwagwagwang!*

“The people you met, the places you stayed, all of them.”

Okryong’s voice echoed in the air. He had already soared into the air and was falling down towards Saja Hyuk.

*Shwee-ik.*

With a chilling force, Okryong’s fan fell from top to bottom. And in response, Saja Hyuk’s black greatsword Payeol soared towards the sky.

*Koo-oong!*

With a heavy sound, the snowfield beneath them shook once again.

‘Ugh.’

Feeling the shaking ground, anxiety gripped Sonbin.

‘Surely, not again…’

It was a snowfield that had already collapsed once. It was natural that it would be structurally weakened.

If it continued to be impacted like this, there was no guarantee that it would not collapse again. No, it would definitely collapse.

“Did you kill them?”

“Well? At least I try to keep my word.”

*Pee-pee-ping.*

Okryong’s Binghonji tore through the air. Saja Hyuk’s Payeol once again tore through the air.

*Kwang!*

“Ah, but not all of them. There are still some who haven’t died. They’re smart. They knew that the place they were standing was a path of blood and quickly pulled themselves out. But not everyone has such luck.”

*Shwee-ik.*

Okseon flew through the air. Like a blue blade cutting through the air, Okseon scattered its force and cut through all directions.

And the black greatsword Payeol cut down that blue trajectory from top to bottom.

*Kwang!*

Another explosion rang out on the snowfield.

“Still, some villages chose futile resistance. They didn’t succeed. It’s a pity you didn’t visit the city. You might have been able to create a legend of blood that would shake the world. Well, you didn’t really care how many people died, did you?”

*Hwik.*

Okseon flew straight towards Saja Hyuk’s face. Saja Hyuk lightly moved his head, *beoseonada* [벗어나다, evade/escape] from its trajectory.

With a hair’s breadth between them, Saja Hyuk avoided the force of Okseon cutting through the air.

But a thin bloodstain was finally drawn on his cheek.

“That’s still the same.”

Okryong said, moving his red lips.

“Not caring about seeing blood. It’s really attractive, you know?”

*Shwee-ik.*

The force of Payeol *gyeokhada* [격하다, intense/fierce] the air and *galla nagatda* [갈라 나갔다, split apart] the space where Okryong was standing.

Okryong moved one foot slightly to avoid that force, but he could not avoid the bloodstain being drawn on his white cheek.

“Like me.”

A drop of blood flowed down along the bloodstain. Okryong lightly *jjigeo naetda* [찍어 냈다, dabbed/picked off] that blood with his long, white fingers.

“Yes, I’ve decided.”

Okryong’s tongue *haldatda* [핥았다, licked] that blood.

“If I *sokbakhago jeapage* [속박하고 제압하게, bind and subdue] you again, I will call your *byeolho* [별호, epithet/nickname] the Blood Sky Demon Emperor. The Blood Emperor who rains blood like rain wherever he goes. The Blood Sky Demon Emperor.”

“That will not happen.”

Saja Hyuk said, holding the black greatsword Payeol straight.

*Woo-oong.*

Payeol *unda* [운다, cries/weeps] in a low voice. A *gangmaeghan* [강맹한, powerful/fierce] force that made Sonbin, who was watching, *osseukhada* [오싹하다, feel chills], was *julgi julgi ppeodeo nagago isseotda* [줄기줄기 뻗어 나가고 있었다, spreading out in streams] from Payeol as if it would *maeul* [메울, fill/cover] the entire snowfield.

“Payeolsamsik will take your life.”

“That’s a really thrilling thing to say?”

*Kieee-ing.*

The blue fan held in Okryong’s hand began to make a sound like a scream.

At the same time, a force sharper than a blade began to *sotguchyeo oreugi sijakhanda* [솟구쳐 오르기 시작한다, begin to surge/erupt]. So much so that Sonbin, who was watching, had the *chakgak* [착각, illusion/delusion] that his skin would be *beil* [베일, cut/slashed].

*Pajik, pajik.*

The two forces collided, *banjjaginda* [반짝인다, sparkling/glittering] light in the air. Just with force, the small snowflakes *gadeukhan* [가득한, full/filled] in all directions were *buseojyeo nagago isseotda* [부서져 나가고 있었다, being shattered/broken apart].

“I already told you, didn’t I?”

Okryong’s red lips *soksagyeotda* [속삭였다, whispered] as if *yuhokhada* [유혹하다, seducing/tempting].

“Try it.”