A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 436

436. Leaving Nanchang

A little before dawn, Sohn Bin went down to the inn’s restaurant and found an unexpected guest.

“Ah, I see. That’s really good news.”

Namgoong Hyang gave a graceful smile in response to Hyukryun Sehwa’s words.

“Of course, the marriage proposal itself hasn’t been formally withdrawn. But in reality… Ah!”

Namgoong Hyang, who was speaking, noticed Sohn Bin and her eyes widened. Hyukryun Sehwa, sitting across from her, also saw Sohn Bin.

“Ah, Young Master Sohn.”

Hyukryun Sehwa, with a bright expression, rose from her seat and slightly bowed to Sohn Bin. Namgoong Hyang, who had been stiff, quietly stood up following Hyukryun Sehwa. Sohn Bin quickly approached them and bowed.

“Did you sleep well, Young Lady Sehwa? It’s nice to see you, Young Lady Namgoong.”

The three exchanged light greetings. As Sohn Bin sat down with them, Hyukryun Sehwa explained.

“She came to deliver news from her family.”

“Ah, I see.”

Sohn Bin smiled softly at Namgoong Hyang and said.

“Thank you for going to such trouble…”

“Ah, no.”

Namgoong Hyang blushed slightly. Sohn Bin asked her.

“Then, did your business go well?”

The phrase ‘your business’ was quite ambiguous.

“Yes, thanks to you…”

Namgoong Hyang mumbled, and the quick-witted Hyukryun Sehwa quickly interjected.

“Young Lady Namgoong Hyang’s marriage proposal has been called off. The proposal itself may remain on paper, but at least Young Lady Namgoong Hyang will no longer be considered.”

Sohn Bin smiled. He already knew, but hearing it confirmed made him feel relieved.

“That’s a relief. I’m glad to hear that.”

Sohn Bin spoke to Namgoong Hyang as if comforting her, and her face flushed before she lowered her head.

“Ah… Yes. Th-thank you.”

Only then did Sohn Bin realize his words could be misinterpreted.

“No, I mean, that’s not what I meant…”

Hyukryun Sehwa looked at the embarrassed Sohn Bin and the shy Namgoong Hyang with a puzzled expression, when suddenly Sasukyeon’s voice was heard from behind.

“Ah, Young Lady Namgoong.”

*Thump.*

Sohn Bin stood up without thinking. Sasukyeon and Dang Wol-ah were already coming down the stairs. Behind them were Hyulbong Geumsaryun and Guigyeonsura, and No-gun was yawning and staggering down to the restaurant.

“Are you okay? Have you been well?”

Sasukyeon greeted Namgoong Hyang with a smile. Namgoong Hyang stood up from her seat.

“Young Lady Sa also looks healthy. I’m so glad everyone is safe.”

With tears welling up in her eyes, Namgoong Hyang politely bowed to the entire group.

“Ahem. Well, you’ve had a hard time too. Isn’t it before breakfast yet?”

No-gun said, implying she had worked hard because he knew about the previous night’s events. Namgoong Hyang just smiled. In fact, she hadn’t eaten anything, having stayed up all night in an emergency meeting before coming this early.

“Sit down. Let’s have breakfast together.”

No-gun said casually. Namgoong Hyang gratefully accepted, but there was something she had to do first.

“First, I sincerely apologize on behalf of my family to Young Lady Sehwa, who has suffered hardship because of this matter.”

Namgoong Hyang bowed deeply to Hyukryun Sehwa. Hyukryun Sehwa was taken aback.

“Please don’t. Young Lady Namgoong is not at fault at all. Rather, you helped me…”

Namgoong Hyang shook her head at Hyukryun Sehwa, who was trying to stop her.

“No. The head of the family will also convey his apologies separately, but I’m truly sorry.”

After saying that, Namgoong Hyang bowed to No-gun and Sohn Bin’s group as well.

“I apologize to you all as well. My family’s mistake has caused great trouble.”

No-gun clicked his tongue.

“The bad guys always cause the accident, and the wrong person apologizes. Anyway, sit down first.”

Namgoong Hyang bowed her head to thank No-gun and sat down. Warm teacups were placed in front of each person, and with the rising fragrance, the cold air of the early morning slowly receded.

“So, what will the Namgoong family do from now on?”

Namgoong Hyang smiled awkwardly and fiddled with her teacup. The Namgoong family had been in chaos the previous night. The family’s senior officials and elders, suddenly summoned, had faced the fiery anger of the former Thunder Sword, Namgoong Cheon. Several important decisions that could shake the family to its roots were made. Namgoong Hyang had come this early to deliver that information. Of course, the fact that she particularly wanted to see Sohn Bin was also a reason.

“The Namgoong family will temporarily suspend all external activities.”

Namgoong Hyang said quietly, holding her teacup.

“Attempting to directly clash with the Hyukryun family, defying the head of the family’s will, is a serious act of treason. Therefore, the Namgoong family will suspend all external activities and comprehensively review all decisions that have been made.”

In the Namgoong family, where the hierarchy is strict, Boo Cheongju Namgoong Il’s actions were absolutely unforgivable. Investigating the background and purpose was essential, and a comprehensive investigation was inevitable. The fact that they were taking this matter so seriously, even though it could be dismissed as an individual’s deviation, clearly showed how the former Thunder Sword, Namgoong Cheon, was handling it.

“And we will completely withdraw from the Gongson family’s territory that we have entered so far.”

No-gun frowned slightly, but the others widened their eyes in surprise.

“Completely?”

Namgoong Hyang nodded at Sasukyeon’s words.

“Yes. Completely.”

Suspending external activities and completely withdrawing from the Gongson family’s territory was a groundbreaking event. At this point, it could be considered a measure close to virtual seclusion.

“I understand what you’re saying, but…”

No-gun said casually.

“There will be a lot of internal backlash, right? No matter how much you use the excuse of treason, it won’t be easy to convince them. Perhaps the head of the family may step down, taking responsibility, which would be unprecedented.”

That was true. But Namgoong Hyang quietly replied with a firm expression.

“That’s something we’ll have to deal with.”

No-gun gave a bitter smile.

“Of course, Thunder Sword might be able to do something, but it’ll be a headache, right? I don’t want that Thunder Sword guy to come and bother me later, so…”

After letting out a deep sigh, No-gun said.

“Let’s do this. The Namgoong family doesn’t have to withdraw from the Gongson family’s territory. No, it’s okay to slowly take it over. Instead, include the Moryong family.”

“Yes?”

No-gun chuckled at Namgoong Hyang’s question.

“The Namgoong family has taken over the Gongson family’s territory, but there’s a lot of resistance from all over the place, right? The localism unique to the Gangbuk Murim [martial arts world of Gangbuk] is no joke.”

No-gun’s point was sharp. No matter how powerful the Namgoong family was, the Gangbuk Murim was not easy to deal with. Even if the Gongson family had yielded, gaining the obedience of local sects and martial arts centers was another matter.

“But the head of the Moryong family, Junjageom Moryong Myung [Jade Sword Moryong Myung], is highly respected in the Gangbuk Murim. So, outwardly, the Moryong family should step in to mediate, and you should pretend to accept it while taking practical benefits.”

The intelligent Namgoong Hyang immediately understood what No-gun was saying. No-gun glared as if pretending.

“Of course, you shouldn’t make the Moryong family a mere facade. The premise is that you must hand over real power. Got it?”

No-gun turned his head towards Sohn Bin.

“Is this okay?”

Sohn Bin smiled and replied.

“As you wish, Elder.”

*Rustle.*

Namgoong Hyang stood up from her seat and bowed deeply to No-gun and Sohn Bin.

“Thank you, Elder No-gun. Thank you, Young Master Sohn.”

This was nothing less than giving the Namgoong family a lifeline. It was natural for Namgoong Hyang, who understood the significance, to pay her respects. No-gun waved his hand.

“It’s okay. It’s not like I gave up my own things, so there’s no need to thank me. Sit down quickly.”

As Namgoong Hyang sat down, No-gun turned to Hyukryun Sehwa and asked.

“More than that, what are you going to do? Are you going to formally protest to the Namgoong family through the Hyukryun family?”

At those words, Hyukryun Sehwa smiled and said to Namgoong Hyang.

“That would also put Young Lady Namgoong Hyang in trouble. The Hyukryun family will not formally protest. However, we will request some agreements regarding Gamju [a type of alcoholic beverage] in the future.”

“If you do that, we will be grateful. The agreement on Gamju will proceed without any problems.”

With this, Gamju was handed over to the Hyukryun family. No-gun, listening to Namgoong Hyang and Hyukryun Sehwa’s conversation, frowned.

“Well done. Now the two of you are handling the Gangnam Murim [martial arts world of Gangnam] like you’re kneading dough.”

Both Namgoong Hyang and Hyukryun Sehwa blushed slightly. Sohn Bin carefully said to No-gun.

“Elder, that expression is a bit…”

“What’s wrong with it? It’s better than saying it’s a fixed game. Well, I just did something similar, so I can’t say anything.”

No-gun shrugged and drank his tea. Hyukryun Sehwa, giving a wry smile, asked Namgoong Hyang.

“Then, will you go back to your previous job?”

“Yes. That’s what will happen.”

Namgoong Hyang’s position in the family was as a scribe. It was a position with no authority, but if it was a scribe who accompanied the head of the family, the meaning was different. The head of the family’s scribe was a key position that could grasp all the affairs of the Namgoong family and sometimes give opinions to the head of the family. Of course, this was impossible without the head of the family’s trust and permission.

“Then we can still exchange letters like now.”

“Of course. Ah, right.”

Namgoong Hyang, answering, said as if she had suddenly remembered something.

“Even if you didn’t ask, the General Military Officer of the Dang Hwa-ryun [Dang Clan’s Hwa-ryun military division] sent a letter this morning. The content was just a short sentence, ‘They have returned.'”

“Huh? Already?”

No-gun widened his eyes. He thought it would take longer for the news to reach Nanchang because Dang Wol-ah had sent the letter when she left the Seowon [academy].

Namgoong Hyang smiled and said.

“Because it’s such important news.”

If she hadn’t met Sohn Bin in person, how much comfort and strength would that one letter have given Namgoong Hyang? She might have held the letter in her arms and cried. Namgoong Hyang, fiddling with her teacup, suddenly asked.

“Is Young Lady Sehwa also going to Yewon?”

Hyukryun Sehwa shook her head.

“I have to go back to my family. Actually, I should have returned directly from Gamju, but…”

Sohn Bin had said he would hold the Namgoong family responsible because of her, so she, the person involved, couldn’t return to her family. Hyukryun Sehwa accompanied Sohn Bin to this place. All she did was wait at the inn, but…

“In a way, it’s a good thing. With this, the matter of the Ilsim Martial Arts Center is completely finished.”

The headmaster, instructors, and chief manager of the Ilsim Martial Arts Center were taken into custody, but the real problem was the supporting force behind them, the Namgoong family. Hyukryun Sehwa had solved that difficult problem and even obtained Gamju as a reward, so she was returning to the Hyukryun family with great achievements.

“Don’t overdo it.”

Suddenly, No-gun said to Hyukryun Sehwa.

“As I said, take care of your body and take it easy. People should live to govern work, not be chased by work.”

“Yes, Elder.”

Hyukryun Sehwa bowed her head and replied.

“Even if I don’t, there are many people who can do the family’s work, so I’m going to take a break after finishing this matter.”

“Okay. They praise you as a rising talent, but once you quit, they don’t even look at you. Don’t worry and just take a break.”

Hyukryun Sehwa gave a very comfortable smile.

“Ah, and if you go to Seowon, Seorin will be there, and maybe there will be a strange woman. And a bodyguard.”

Seorin remained at the Seowon to prepare for any eventuality. But the words ‘strange woman’ and ‘bodyguard’ made Hyukryun Sehwa bewildered. Then suddenly, Sohn Bin said.

“Will she still be there? I think she’s already gone back…”

The strange woman No-gun was talking about was Sarasvati. He said that because he didn’t think she would still be at the Seowon, but No-gun shook his head.

“Who knows? Maybe she’s already taken up a room. Hwasa is surprisingly kind and will let her sleep well if she has nowhere to go.”

Sasukyeon, next to him, suddenly said as if she had remembered something.

“Ah, come to think of it, she said she was planning to create a maritime merchant group. She was asking if there were any Jungwon [Central Plains] merchant groups that could cooperate?”

No-gun frowned.

“After pirates, now a merchant group? No, is she going to sell what she collected by pirating through the merchant group?”

At those words, Sasukyeon gave an awkward smile.

“It’s not like that, I think she’s thinking of a full-fledged merchant group.”

No-gun tilted his head.

“Really? What is she going to sell? Isn’t she going too far after quitting the Empress?”

The people surprised by the conversation were Hyukryun Sehwa and Namgoong Hyang. Hyukryun Sehwa widened her eyes and asked No-gun.

“Pi-pirates and… Empress?”

No-gun shrugged instead of answering and looked at Sohn Bin. Hyukryun Sehwa and Namgoong Hyang’s gazes naturally turned to Sohn Bin. Sohn Bin, suddenly feeling at fault, said with an embarrassed expression.

“No, I can’t help that…”

“Young Master Sohn.”

Hyukryun Sehwa sighed deeply and said.

“You went to a faraway country and brought someone else again?”

Sohn Bin felt wronged. But before Sohn Bin could say anything, the waiter arrived with a lot of food. Fortunately or unfortunately, the topic was glossed over. Throughout breakfast, the group’s faces were filled with comfortable smiles.

That day, Hyukryun Sehwa left for Gwangju. It was another farewell after only a few days, but her expression was bright. Namgoong Hyang paid her respects politely and returned to her family. She also had a lot of work to do.

Sohn Bin’s group headed to Yewon in Hangzhou along the Yangtze River. Now it was time to check what had happened in external affairs in the meantime.

***

A few days after Sohn Bin’s group left, there was a small commotion in Nanchang. It was about Gongson Gye, the young master of the Gongson family, who was staying in the Namgoong family. The marriage was indefinitely postponed, and the atmosphere of the Namgoong family was not good, so Gongson Gye was going crazy with frustration.

Unable to bear it, he came out to Nanchang despite the Namgoong family’s vice-chief’s dissuasion. The bustling streets of the metropolis Nanchang soothed Gongson Gye’s mood, but the Namgoong family’s guards’ interference was unwelcome, especially to Gongson Gye, who had always lived as he pleased. He blatantly shook off the annoying Namgoong family’s guards.

‘Hmph. How dare those things tell me what to do…’

He felt good thinking he had struck a blow against the Namgoong family. Gongson Gye threw himself into the splendid nightlife of Gangnam that unfolded before his eyes.

“Oh my, what a handsome young master.”

A woman from a brothel, dressed seductively, smiled at Gongson Gye. Gongson Gye, who entered the largest brothel in Nanchang, wore a satisfied smile. He wasn’t wearing a coat with the family’s crest, but there were many women willing to sell smiles to Gongson Gye, who was young, handsome, and rich.

Gongson Gye, in a good mood with fragrant fine wine, delicacies, and the smiles of beautiful girls, got heavily drunk after a long time. His plan to bury himself in the scent of young and beautiful courtesans and relieve his pent-up lust and dissatisfaction was ruined by young men he accidentally bumped into while going to the restroom.

*Thud.*

Drunk Gongson Gye frowned and spat out a curse as a habit.

“What? These bastards… How dare you block my way?”

“Bastards? This son of a bitch speaks beautifully?”

It was a trivial quarrel that often happened in brothels. However, the young man who bumped into Gongson Gye suddenly threw a punch.

*Pow.*

“Cough!”

Gongson Gye’s eyes flashed. From then on, it was one-sided. The drunk Gongson Gye was beaten in front of the brothel’s guests without any chance to react. Even if he was drunk, it was strange that Gongson Gye, the son of the Gongson family, was beaten like a dog, but the drunk Gongson Gye couldn’t make such a judgment. The brothel’s guards belatedly ran over, but Gongson Gye had already been dragged to a secluded place by the young men.

“Tsk.”

One of the young men spat, looking at Gongson Gye, who had lost consciousness and collapsed in the back alley of the brothel.

“That son of a bitch should know his place, how dare he to my sister…”

*Gnash.*

The eyes of the young man grinding his teeth were overflowing with a murderous aura. Another young man standing next to him looked down at Gongson Gye and said.

“Should we take this opportunity to make him unable to function as a man? Daring to be rude to my sister in the middle of the family, this son of a bitch deserves to die.”

His eyes also emitted murderous intent.

“No. That will cause a big problem. It’s not a good thing for my sister either.”

It’s a world where the woman who was insulted is often blamed. That matter must never be known or reach the ears of the elders. In fact, the reason Gongson Gye was able to attempt such a thing in the middle of the Namgoong family was because he knew this public perception better than anyone else.

“Then do we just end it with this? At least we should cut off one of his limbs…”

“There’s no need to do that.”

The oldest of them, the young man who had meticulously planned this, said. It was nothing for him to ask the brothel to match his mood and feed him strong alcohol to get him drunk.

“Just give him a lot of humiliation. Then the rest will be taken care of by the Gongson family.”

“Aha.”

The young men’s eyes sparkled. They knew the family’s dynamics well.

“But that’s not enough to relieve my anger. The sin of daring to touch my sister…”

The young man muttered, grinding his teeth. His eyes were filled with burning anger.

“Make him regret it for the rest of his life.”

*Crack.*

With a dull sound, Gongson Gye, who had lost consciousness, twitched and convulsed. The next day, Gongson Gye was found sprawled on the side of the road in Nanchang, wearing only his underwear. His appearance, reeking of alcohol and beaten to a pulp, was typical of a drunkard. Passersby clicked their tongues or frowned and passed him by. The fact that the young man was Gongson Gye, the young master of the Gongson family, was revealed only after the warriors from the Namgoong family came by.

Gongson Gye’s disgrace spread throughout Nanchang instantly. Many people had seen the drunk Gongson Gye arguing with the young men, and the story of him causing a commotion in the brothel became the subject of ridicule.

The Gongson family also heard this news. They were furious that Gongson Gye, sent to urge the marriage, was drunk in a brothel and beaten. But since he had shaken off the guards himself, there was no basis for protesting to the Namgoong family. In the end, Gongson Gye and Gongson Cheuk had to return to the Gongson family in a hurry.

*Ttak, ttak.*

“Tsk, what kind of disgrace is this?”

Inside the carriage, Uncle Gongson Cheuk said with a displeased expression. But Gongson Gye couldn’t say anything. Not only was there no room for excuses, but he couldn’t speak properly because his pronunciation was slurred due to his broken front teeth. Because his words were unclear, even the lower-ranking members of the Namgoong family ridiculed him behind his back. Gongson Cheuk clicked his tongue, looking at him unable to answer.

“…I will defend you as far as my strength reaches, but don’t expect too much.”

That was a final notice. The Gongson family does not allow second chances. There would be no one to defend Gongson Gye, who had neither completed his assigned task nor avoided tarnishing the family’s name. Perhaps Gongson Cheuk would pass the blame entirely to Gongson Gye, let alone defend him.

*Gnash.*

Gongson Gye gnashed his teeth with his remaining molars. Anger and humiliation consumed him, but there was nothing he could do. In that way, the people of the Gongson family left the Namgoong family. Instead of urging the marriage, they left with only shame.

(Author’s words)

That’s why you should always be careful in unfamiliar places.