A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 420

420. Voyage

Karachi was a bustling port city. Its beautiful harbor teemed with large ships and merchants from nearby Persia and India, as well as from distant lands with unfamiliar names, offering wondrous goods. Large merchant ships bound for the Central Plains were lined up, making it easy for Sohn Bin and his party to inquire about passage.

“You have to wait fifteen days to a month?”

Old Gun, waiting at their lodging, frowned.

“Oh my, this is good fortune!” Hwang Bang-ju joked. “I thought we’d be waiting several months. After all, it’s a long trip from India to the Central Plains, isn’t it?”

Indeed, ships traveling from Karachi to the Central Plains weren’t frequent.

“It’s going to Guangzhou, right?”

“Yes. Considering the sea route, merchant ships heading to the Central Plains will inevitably dock at Guangzhou. From there, they might even go further north to Hangzhou.”

From Guangzhou, Qingyuan [Sohn Bin’s destination] was just around the corner. It was as if they were being delivered right to the doorstep of the Seowon [private Confucian academy], which pleased Old Gun.

“Well, it’s good since that kid, Blood Peak, needs to rest anyway. Let’s take a break too.”

Blood Peak, Geum Sa-ryeon, was resting in her room, silently guarded by Guigyeon Sura.

“Wow! Then let’s all go sightseeing!” Seo-rin exclaimed with a bright smile. Sa Su-yeon and Dang Wol-ah’s sparkling eyes showed they felt the same way.

“Do you have money?” Old Gun asked.

Hwang Bang-ju grinned. “Don’t worry about that. It’s actually increased since we left Seojang. Some I earned, and some was given by the Empress…”

Dang Wol-ah had also taken some from the treasure vault of Yeongju. In terms of money, they had enough to settle down here.

“Actually, I prepared some Persian money too, but it’s become unnecessary. I should buy some useful things from the merchants from Persia.”

Old Gun chuckled at Hwang Bang-ju’s muttering. It seemed Hwang Bang-ju really wanted to visit Isfahan, the capital of Persia.

“Then, shall we go out?”

At Old Gun’s words, everyone’s eyes lit up, including Sohn Bin’s.

Staying in Karachi was more enjoyable than expected. Although a bit noisy, the freedom of this place, overflowing with diverse people, felt comfortable to Sohn Bin and his party, who were foreigners.

Whether the others felt the same way, they each spent their time leisurely, enjoying their stay in their own way.

Seo-rin spent her days exploring the streets, looking for wondrous things. Sa Su-yeon and Dang Wol-ah would stroll through the streets together or admire cute accessories.

Old Gun would wander around the streets and sometimes bring back exotic foods—in fact, everything was exotic to Sohn Bin and his party.

Sohn Bin mainly rested at the lodging or read Indian books. Hwang Bang-ju, of course, was enthusiastic about trading, securing rare items and feeling satisfied.

The condition of Guigyeon Sura and Blood Peak Geum Sa-ryeon also improved daily. After about fifteen days, Blood Peak Geum Sa-ryeon had fully recovered and was even able to ride around the market with Sa Su-yeon and Dang Wol-ah in her newly made wheeled chair, laughing.

The leisurely days in Karachi passed quickly, and soon the day arrived for the merchant ship heading to the Central Plains to depart. Saying goodbye to the beautiful port city of Karachi, which had provided the party with a precious rest, Sohn Bin and his party boarded the merchant ship and set sail for the Central Plains.

***

The ship that Sohn Bin and his party boarded was a very large merchant vessel, dwarfing even the large ship they had boarded on the Yangtze River. When all the white sails were unfurled, it seemed as if the sky above was entirely covered. Thanks to a timely wind and calm seas, the merchant ship carrying Sohn Bin and his party powerfully cut through the waves.

Splash.

Looking at the breaking white waves, Sohn Bin savored the cool breeze. Although mixed with salt, it was a welcome respite from the hot Indian climate. Just then, he overheard a conversation behind him. Though distant, Sohn Bin could hear them clearly.

“No way…”

A man who appeared to be an Indian merchant frowned.

“The Empress is going to be deposed? Don’t spread such nonsense.”

‘Empress?’ Sohn Bin’s ears perked up. Though spoken in Indian, Sohn Bin understood it well.

“Well, believe it or not, it’s up to you, but remember it’s a reliable story from the upper echelons of the imperial family.”

A man in Muslim attire shrugged. But the other man remained skeptical.

“That ‘upper echelon’ itself is suspicious… No, why would a perfectly fine Empress suddenly be deposed?”

“It’s a problem because she’s not perfectly fine.”

The man in Muslim attire frowned.

“Do you know how long it’s been since the Empress has shown herself?”

“Well… I don’t know.”

Of course, he wouldn’t. The man in Muslim attire lowered his voice as much as possible.

“Don’t be surprised. My relative who works in Lal Qila [Red Fort, the imperial palace] says that the Empress is no longer in the imperial palace.”

But the Indian merchant frowned instead.

“Your relative is a stableman, isn’t he? What kind of upper echelon is that… No, more than that, the Empress isn’t in the imperial palace?”

“Shh. Your voice is loud.”

The Muslim man said, but the sea breeze was so strong they had to raise their voices to be heard.

“This is just a rumor, but they say that even mentioning the Empress is taboo in Lal Qila now. Because…”

Looking around, the Muslim man whispered something in the Indian merchant’s ear. The Indian merchant frowned, horrified, and then his eyes widened.

“Escaped?”

“Hey!” The Muslim man quickly stopped the Indian merchant. But Sohn Bin had already heard even the whisper. The Indian merchant looked around and lowered his voice.

“No, does that make sense? She has the most noble status in the empire, and even Shah [the emperor] would choose the Empress over the empire, cherishing her so much, so why would the Empress escape… Ugh, ugh.”

The Muslim man, who had blocked the struggling Indian merchant’s mouth, glared.

“Can’t you be quiet? If there’s a Mutasib [religious censor] here, we’re dead.”

To them, who strictly enforced Islamic rules and loyalty to the imperial family, disrespectful remarks about the Empress were an act of insulting the imperial family and could be severely punished.

“Ptooey, ptooey. No, why would there be a Mutasib on such a merchant ship? And when have they ever been quiet? The people who openly swagger around are the Mutasib, so what are you worried about?” The Indian merchant said, wiping his mouth. He even checked which hand had been used to block his mouth, as if very uneasy.

“But is that really true? Really, the Empress…” He trailed off, clearly aware that it was a disrespectful remark even without a Mutasib present.

“I don’t really know either. But Shah is said to be very disappointed and even fainted, so it doesn’t seem like a complete rumor… Did she have an affair or something?”

“Heo, to seduce the Empress… The other party must be some kind of Gandharva [a celestial being with irresistible charm]?”

“The affair is just what I said, who knows the real reason? Anyway, now the fight among the concubines vying for the Empress’s seat is very extreme in the imperial family.”

The Indian merchant nodded. The concubines, who had given birth to princes but were suppressed under Empress Saraswati, would not miss this opportunity. Their fight to take the Empress’s seat would be even fiercer in conjunction with the struggle over the succession to the throne.

“This empire will be noisy for a while…”

As the Indian merchant said, it was. The empire was already on the verge of fragmentation, and with the imperial family in turmoil, chaos was inevitable.

“So always be careful in everything. If you misjudge even a little, merchants like us will have our heads cut off in an instant.”

At the Muslim man’s words, the Indian merchant nodded firmly. Then, as if suddenly remembering, he asked.

“But if that’s really the case, isn’t the Empress in big trouble too? According to Islamic law, a woman who runs away from her husband…”

The Indian merchant couldn’t finish his words. The Muslim man shook his head.

“Even if it’s not running away, even if someone kidnapped her, the result is the same. If she spends the night with a man other than her father, male sibling, or husband, she is already considered to have lost her chastity. All that remains is to stone her to death.”

At those words, Sohn Bin flinched. Having overheard their conversation, Sohn Bin paused, then shook his head.

‘Maybe it won’t be like that.’

The imperial family wouldn’t reveal its own flaws. Perhaps the Empress would be announced to have died suddenly from illness, and everyone would mourn before an empty coffin and hold a splendid funeral. And Empress Saraswati would be forgotten without even her name remaining. That was the nature of power.

However, it was clear that the Empress had abandoned everything—not only the power and status that everyone coveted, but even her personal safety.

‘…I hope you are happy as you wish.’

Wishing her happiness on the path she had chosen, Sohn Bin suddenly recalled her words.

‘The empire is really over.’

Empress Saraswati had asserted that this empire had already collapsed. Even though it was unrelated to him, Sohn Bin couldn’t help but feel heavy-hearted when he thought of the countless people who would suffer as a result.

As if trying to shake off his complicated thoughts, Sohn Bin raised his head and looked around the ship. Then he suddenly saw Sa Su-yeon standing alone on the deck.

‘Ah.’

Sohn Bin smiled without realizing it. Just seeing her made him smile. Sa Su-yeon was covering her nose and mouth with a thin veil, yet she was already attracting tremendous attention on this merchant ship. Even now, her hair flying in the wind looked like a painting. Sohn Bin quickly walked closer to Sa Su-yeon.

“Miss Su-yeon.”

Sa Su-yeon turned her head. Her beautiful eyes smiled as she saw Sohn Bin.

“Ah, Young Master Sohn.”

Thinking her voice was like sweet music, Sohn Bin stood beside her.

“Were you taking in the breeze?”

“Yes.” Sa Su-yeon said, looking at the coastline in the distance. The merchant ship was sailing along the Indian coastline, with the Indian continent visible on one side and the vast sea on the other.

“It’s really a big land.” Sa Su-yeon said, lightly brushing back her hair that had been disheveled by the wind. Like her words, India was truly vast. Traveling on this merchant ship made its size feel even more tangible. Sohn Bin, who had been looking at Sa Su-yeon’s profile, suddenly said.

“…Are you alright?”

“Yes? About what?”

Sa Su-yeon turned her head and looked at Sohn Bin. Even the veil couldn’t hide her beauty, and Sohn Bin’s cheeks turned red at her beautiful eyes.

“Ah, well, that…” After hesitating, Sohn Bin cleared his throat and carefully continued. “Your father suddenly passed away like that, I can’t imagine how much it hurts… No, I mean, that’s…”

As he spoke, it sounded like a ceremonial greeting at a funeral. But the words, already awkward, couldn’t be properly finished.

“…I’m alright.” Sa Su-yeon said in a low voice. When Sohn Bin raised his head, she smiled, looking straight at him.

“No, it would be a lie to say I’m alright. But…” Sa Su-yeon, speaking, turned her head. Looking at the coastline, she continued, “I may have already known. My father is a person who chose the duel over his own life—a life-or-death duel against those who took my mother’s life.”

Sohn Bin had no choice but to nod. He had witnessed Saja Hyuk’s life-or-death battle more closely than anyone else.

“And I’m already an adult.”

Smiling brightly, Sa Su-yeon turned to look at Sohn Bin.

“After all, children are meant to leave their parents’ arms and fly away someday. Sooner or later.”

Her words were right. Farewell comes to everyone. Although sad, it couldn’t compare to when she lost Saja Hyuk in the Snow Mountains before.

“So, I’m alright.”

Sohn Bin nodded. Sometimes forgotten because of her beauty, Sa Su-yeon is Saja Hyuk’s daughter—a woman with a stronger and straighter heart and eyes than anyone else.

“That’s right. They are meant to leave someday.”

At Sohn Bin’s words, Sa Su-yeon smiled softly and turned her head. But Sohn Bin’s words weren’t over.

“But, still…” Sa Su-yeon turned her head at Sohn Bin’s stammering voice. With slightly reddened cheeks, Sohn Bin avoided her gaze and continued, “D-don’t fly too far away. Because I… have to follow you.”

Sohn Bin’s voice grew smaller, as if ashamed. There was no manly spirit, and it was even unsightly depending on how you looked at it, but Sa Su-yeon’s face turned bright red at those words.

“…Yes.” A very small voice flowed from behind the veil. Sohn Bin raised his eyes. Her cheeks flushed, she lowered her head slightly and continued, “I won’t go far away, so that Young Master Sohn can reach me whenever he reaches out his hand…”

Sa Su-yeon’s embarrassment was so lovely. Sohn Bin hesitated. He wanted to wrap his arms around her slender shoulders, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He worried it might be rude, and Saja Hyuk’s voice suddenly rang in his ears.

Perhaps that was natural. Saja Hyuk’s words to Sohn Bin, calling him ‘friend’, were to entrust his precious daughter Sa Su-yeon to him. It was at that moment, when both were at a loss and only silence flowed, that a voice broke the spell.

“Excuse me, Miss.”

Both were startled by the sudden, fluent Central Plains language. A young man in gorgeous clothes stood before them. He lightly put his hands together and bowed to Sa Su-yeon.

“I know it’s our first meeting, but I was so happy to see someone from the Central Plains in this distant place that I dared to intrude.”

It was a greeting as if they had met by chance, but that couldn’t be the case. It had been more than five days since this merchant ship had set sail.

“Ah, I’m definitely not a suspicious person.” The man smiled, unconcerned that Sa Su-yeon was displeased. Rather, he spoke in a leisurely tone, showing off.

“As the young lady also has a sword, you may know, but I am from the Namgoong Clan.”

Only then did Sohn Bin realize the pattern embroidered on his collar was familiar. Though small, it was the Namgoong Clan’s emblem.

‘Ah!’

The Namgoong Clan was also familiar to Sohn Bin. The former Thunder Sword, Namgoongcheon, had stayed at his Seowon for a long time, and he had received much help from Namgoonghyang. Namgoonghun, who gave Sohn Bin the title of Jinryong Daehyeop [True Dragon Great Hero], and Namgoongsoyu, who gave him some instruction, were also members.

“Namgoong Clan?” Sa Su-yeon said sharply, her voice full of displeasure, but the man smiled triumphantly.

“Yes, the Namgoong Clan—the very Namgoong Clan that even the imperial family dares not touch.”

Sohn Bin, about to speak out of joy, paused, disbelieving what he had just heard. Both Sohn Bin and Sa Su-yeon looked at the man with surprise. But the man raised his chin and looked at Sa Su-yeon with a proud expression. In his eyes, the blatant greed made Sa Su-yeon’s eyes even colder.

(Author’s words)

Sohn Bin: (Seriously) But a friend entrusted his precious daughter to me, so I don’t know if I should do this…

Old Gun: Wasn’t that a meaning that you’ll be in trouble if you don’t touch her?