A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 41

41. Jade Fan and Moon Split (2014.01.21.)

Beyond the silver peaks soaring towards the blue sky, snow fluttered like white breaths.

White breaths escaped from Son Bin’s mouth as he watched, but the two men facing each other on the snowy field showed no visible breath, as if even breathing was a hindrance.

However, the fierce energy of their collision was clearly revealing their presence to Son Bin.

Crack, crackle.

Blue sparks flew between the two. The snowflakes drifting in the air could not withstand the colliding intangible energy and shattered, emitting tiny blue sparks.

It was a beautiful sight, like ice particles sparkling under the sunlight, but Son Bin endured the chilling sensation that his skin would be cut by the sharp energy.

‘Good heavens.’

Son Bin muttered inwardly, as if sighing.

‘Such energy…….’

If it were the old Son Bin, he would not have understood this sight even if he saw it. He would have been crushed by the suffocatingly fierce energy, turning pale and collapsing.

But now, Son Bin could see it clearly. The sharp energy of Okryong, which seemed to cut through the entire body just by looking at it, was confronting Saja Hyuk’s unbelievably immense energy.

‘I stood against someone like that?’

Son Bin inwardly clicked his tongue anew. He had drawn a sword against such a person. Even he thought it was an absurd act, wondering what spirit had possessed him to do such a thing.

‘No, rather than me doing it…….’

Recalling the flow that had enveloped him, Son Bin shuddered slightly without realizing it.

When he calmed his mind and focused his consciousness following the Hyeoncheon Daeganggyeol [Profound Heaven Great River Art – a meditative technique], it was as if everything in the world had disappeared.

The only things that existed were himself, a single sword, and the immense flow that embraced and flowed around him.

As Son Bin himself had answered, it was definitely not something he had done. He had merely placed his sword on that flow.

And the insight that had allowed him to see that flow was now telling him how unbelievable the two people in front of him were.

To be honest, he even doubted whether it was appropriate to call them people.

Crackle.

A very small blue spark appeared and disappeared before Son Bin’s eyes.

It seemed as if the void was screaming, unable to withstand the colliding energies of the two.

Whoosh.

The next moment, without any warning, Saja Hyuk’s Moon Split began to move.

‘Moon Split Eclipse!’

Before Moon Split could even draw a circle, Son Bin intuitively recognized the meaning of the movement.

Kiiiiing!

The tightly opposed energies of the two shook violently, and the eerie sound flowing from Okryong’s Jade Fan changed to a piercingly sharp tone.

“Moon Split Eclipse, is it?”

Okryong said in a clear voice. It was a voice that seemed not to care at all that Saja Hyuk’s Moon Split was drawing a circle.

However, the sharp sound of his Jade Fan still echoed piercingly all around.

“That’s good. I wanted to experience Moon Split Eclipse at least once. I was curious to see if it could even scratch my Dragon Scale Wall.”

Whooosh.

Saja Hyuk’s Moon Split was almost completing its circle. And at the same time, Saja Hyuk’s figure began to fade from Okryong’s sight.

No, it wasn’t just Saja Hyuk. Everything visible was losing its light and fading away.

In that world, where it was as if night had suddenly fallen only on Okryong, only the round circle that Moon Split was creating shone like the moon in the night sky.

“This is.”

Saja Hyuk’s voice flowed out like a fantasy.

“Moon Split Eclipse, Lightning Flash Cut.”

The moment Moon Split completed its circle, moonlight poured down on Okryong. And Son Bin clearly saw it.

Okryong’s Jade Fan pierced through the energy of Moon Split pouring down like moonlight, accurately confronting Moon Split’s lightning-fast cut.

Kwaaaang!

A tremendous impact erupted.

Snow swirled and obscured the vision as if a blizzard was raging, and Son Bin’s clothes fluttered violently.

‘Ugh.’

The impact caused by the collision of the two was beyond imagination.

Just as Son Bin was struggling to secure his vision through the blizzard, the snowy field he was standing on vibrated softly.

Crumble.

A low and quiet, yet chilling sound echoed from deep beneath his feet.

‘A, at this rate…….’

Just as Son Bin, wondering if the ground would collapse beneath him at any moment, lowered his uneasy gaze, a gentle voice was heard.

“You.”

Son Bin immediately raised his head. It was because the owner of that voice was none other than Okryong.

“What are you looking at now?”

The voice, filled with a sense of disdain, was directed at Son Bin.

Through the scattering snow, Okryong’s sharp eyes were staring straight at Son Bin.

‘Gasp.’

Son Bin reflexively stepped back. But Okryong merely frowned.

“You’re supposed to be an observer and recorder, aren’t you? Is it okay for you to be doing that now? Just now, the Dragon Scale Wall I was so proud of…….”

Crack.

Okryong’s coronet shattered and scattered, and long black hair flowed down over Okryong’s shoulders.

“It’s been utterly smashed to pieces, you know.”

Okryong’s face was smiling as he spoke.

But Son Bin could not smile. Okryong, who was looking at the frozen Son Bin, let out a bitter laugh.

“Why? Are you afraid I’ll kill you? Or take you hostage? That’s impossible. With that person in front of me…….”

Okryong turned his head. Saja Hyuk was standing beyond where his gaze reached, still covered in snow.

“There’s no room for doing anything else.”

Still, Son Bin couldn’t relax. Perhaps displeased by that appearance, Okryong said in a voice mixed with annoyance.

“Don’t misunderstand. I never had any interest in your life from the beginning. The same goes for that girl. No matter who dies besides that person, no matter how many die, it means nothing to me. So, you should open your eyes wide and think about recording accurately.”

Okryong’s eyes were so sharp that they seemed to penetrate into Son Bin’s heart.

“I’ll read it later, recalling today. If I don’t like it, I’ll gouge out your eyes first. Do you understand, Son Bin?”

His red lips formed a chilling smile.

“That’s the only thing worth looking at in you right now, isn’t it?”

Rustle.

Okryong turned his body and slowly walked towards Saja Hyuk. As his white hand raised the jade fan, a sharp sound began to ring out again.

Kiiiing.

“You taught him quite well.”

Step by step.

Okryong spoke to Saja Hyuk as he moved.

“There’s a subtle, profound energy in his eyes? So that’s why he could see the flow of the Okryong Reverse Scale Strike [a powerful attack]. But that’s all there is to it.”

Stomp, stomp.

Saja Hyuk also slowly walked towards Okryong. The black greatsword Moon Split in his hand cried out softly.

Woo Woong.

“If I had known he was in such a state from the beginning, I wouldn’t have given up my shoulder so easily. But that’s unavoidable, isn’t it? Who could have imagined that someone who wields such a sword would be in such a state?”

“I didn’t teach him.”

Saja Hyuk replied.

“And I haven’t learned it either.”

Okryong made a surprised expression.

“You’re saying he realized it instantly without teaching or learning? Oh my. Those noisy things from the Shaolin Temple [a famous Buddhist monastery known for its martial arts] foam at the mouth and shout about sudden enlightenment, they’d be quite happy to hear that. I’ve heard about it, but it’s my first time seeing it in person?”

“Originally, the flow is everywhere, and the path knows its own way. If you open your eyes, what fills the sky and the earth is the Dao [the Way, the fundamental principle of the universe], and those who walk the path with sincerity will surely reach its ultimate. He simply did that.”

“That’s a great change. Weren’t you always the one who walked the path of martial arts step by step, with such sincerity?”

“Yes. I am.”

Saja Hyuk replied. His gaze swept over Son Bin.

“But he walks with big strides, leaping forward. The name ‘martial artist’ might be more fitting for that friend.”

“Really? That’s really…….”

Swish, Okryong’s cold gaze glanced at Son Bin.

“An unimaginable compliment, isn’t it?”

Okryong’s lips formed a thin smile.

“I’m intrigued. If I have time, I’d like to slowly look into that child’s head later.”

Son Bin felt a chill run down his spine at that voice. His words about looking into his head somehow felt like they had a literal meaning.

“No.”

Saja Hyuk said in a calm voice.

“You will no longer be allowed any time.”

“Allowed time? I don’t care about such things.”

Okryong’s red lips smiled.

“It’s very enjoyable, isn’t it? So many things I want to do. And the fact that your Moon Split Eclipse is exactly as I expected. Surely, I wouldn’t have been able to handle your Moon Split Eclipse back then.”

“You’re not saying that’s not the case now?”

“I’ve become stronger. No, I had to become stronger.”

Okryong replied.

“Because I was sure you would come.”

The wind blew, and Okryong’s hair fluttered. Black hair, longer and more beautiful than a woman’s, scattered like waves on the pure white snowfield.

“Is that so?”

Saja Hyuk replied in a calm voice.

“Then, let’s find out.”

His Moon Split was slowly raised to the sky. His Moon Split stood up like a flag towards the blue sky.

“How much stronger you’ve become.”

“You can look forward to it.”

Okryong lightly licked his red lips.

“Okryong Ascension [Okryong’s ultimate technique] is quite strong, you know.”

Before his voice could finish, blue light filled the snowfield.

‘Moonlight All Over the Sky!’

Son Bin swallowed his breath. Moon Split Eclipse, Moonlight All Over the Sky was unfolding.

Whooooong.

The world was slowly moving as if in a dream.

The scattering snow was frozen in the air, scattering light, and Okryong’s hair rippling in the air was also frozen in the air like a lie.

And ‘that’ was unfolding majestically before Son Bin’s eyes.

At first, it felt like a faint energy was spreading subtly.

That energy, which started from the Moon Split raised towards the sky, quickly took control of the space and began to create a majestic flow.

‘This can’t be.’

Son Bin was shocked. Now Son Bin could understand how tremendous what Saja Hyuk was doing was.

Saja Hyuk was now creating a flow himself. It was an absurdly great feat, like a human moving the providence of nature.

‘No way.’

Saja Hyuk was now accomplishing that impossible feat.

As if moonlight was quietly illuminating the world, the flow created by Moon Split was completely dominating this place.

Within this space, nothing could escape the fate determined by Moon Split. Only the moonlight created by Moon Split filled the sky.

Kiiiiing!

At that moment, a sharp sound rang in Son Bin’s ears.

No, it wasn’t just ringing in his ears. That sharp cry was directly digging into Son Bin’s chest and ringing.

‘The Jade Fan…….’

The source of that feeling that resonated in his chest was Okryong’s Jade Fan.

In that space dominated by Moon Split, the Jade Fan was vibrating like a scream, as if resisting the predetermined fate.

Kiiiiiiing.

The reverberation flowing from the Jade Fan was gradually increasing. Along with that, the flow of that space dominated by Moon Split began to distort.

The energy that started from the Jade Fan wrapped around Okryong and formed a bizarre shape like a dragon.

The moment even Okryong’s figure was swallowed into that shape, Son Bin saw it. A smile was blooming on Okryong’s lips.

‘Okryong Ascension!’

At that moment, the energy of the Jade Fan in the shape of a dragon soared towards Moon Split. And Moon Split and the Jade Fan collided.

Kwaaaaang!

A deafening explosion erupted. A pile of snow soared as if a volcano was erupting, and the atmosphere vibrated and shook.

A tremendous wind swirled as violently as a storm, unable to grasp the direction.

‘Ugh.’

If Son Bin hadn’t been crouching down, he might have been swept away by the wind. Even now, he had to lower his body to avoid losing his balance.

The vibration echoing from beneath his feet was even bigger and deeper than before. Now it wouldn’t be strange if this snowfield collapsed at any moment.

But Son Bin had no time to worry about such things. It was a problem that could never be taken lightly, but he had to see how the clash between the two had concluded before anything else.

Whooooong.

The wind blew, and his vision opened. Although snow was still swirling thickly like fog, Son Bin could clearly see the two standing.

“Good heavens.”

That was all Son Bin could say. It was because Saja Hyuk’s appearance had changed so drastically.

Whooooong.

The wind fluttered Saja Hyuk’s hair. His hair was scattered and disheveled like Okryong’s.

That wasn’t all. His clothes were torn here and there to the point where they could no longer be called clothes.

Through the torn clothes, red bloodstains were visible on his body here and there, as if a beast had scratched him.

New bloodstains like beast’s claws were drawn on Saja Hyuk’s face, and blood was flowing down.

“Sa…….”

Son Bin, who was about to call Saja Hyuk without realizing it, paused.

Even amidst the bloodstains and the disheveled hair, Saja Hyuk’s eyes were still shining intensely.

“How is it?”

A melodious voice, like singing, echoed on the snowfield. Okryong, not hiding his happy expression, said to Saja Hyuk.

“I’ve become stronger, haven’t I?”

Okryong’s long hair fluttered in the wind. Sharp bloodstains were newly drawn on his sculpted face, which would make even a beauty pale.

His clothes were also torn here and there, and long red marks were revealed beneath them.

But Okryong didn’t care at all. The result of the collision was obvious to anyone.

“Can you kill me like this? Actually, you, aren’t you getting weaker? No, maybe…….”

Okryong laughed.

“Are you already dying?”

His laughter flowed on the snowfield where the wind had subsided.

“Don’t worry. Soon you will be reborn as the Blood Heaven Demon Emperor. And once again, we will have the world at our feet together. Just thinking about it…… is very thrilling, isn’t it?”

Okryong shuddered slightly.

“That won’t happen.”

Saja Hyuk said. Saja Hyuk declared like a stern judge delivering a sentence.

“You will die.”

“Really? I’ve said it several times already…….”

Okryong said mockingly.

“Try it.”

“I will.”

Saja Hyuk replied. And he grasped Moon Split with both hands.

Swish.

Moon Split stood guarding Saja Hyuk’s front. It was an extremely ordinary posture that felt no energy or even intimidation. It just looked like he was holding Moon Split towards Okryong.

But Okryong didn’t say anything. His red lips, which seemed like they would pour out mockery at any moment, were silent at this moment.

“This is Moon Split Three Forms…….”

Moon Split disappeared from Okryong’s sight. And with it, everything disappeared. The sky, the earth, and even the snow mountain disappeared.

There was no energy, no feeling. As if mocking Okryong’s senses, everything except himself hid.

And Okryong saw it.

In that place where everything was empty, all that remained for him was only despair, fear, and a distant meaninglessness.

“Nameless.”

Saja Hyuk’s voice was heard faintly, like a dream.