A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 438

438. Expulsion of Guests

The Tianshan Five Rogues were startled by Old Gun’s sudden entrance and overwhelming presence. His aura was so immense that even their arrogance couldn’t dismiss it.

“Who are you!”

The third of the Tianshan Five Rogues, Samya, questioned Old Gun. However, instead of answering, Old Gun lunged towards the nearest, the fourth, Saya.

Whoosh.

‘Gasp.’

The sound of the wind being cut made Saya inhale sharply, but he couldn’t avoid Old Gun’s palm striking his face. It wasn’t due to carelessness or drunkenness. For masters of their caliber, intoxication was merely for enjoyment. Therefore, it was purely a difference in skill.

Thwack.

With a dull thud, Saya’s nose bone and several front teeth shattered instantly. Old Gun’s palm shattered the protective energy Saya had hastily raised, striking his face directly like a massive iron wall. It didn’t end there. Old Gun’s palm, covering Saya’s face, didn’t stop and slammed Saya’s head into the floor.

Bang.

The chair shattered like straw, and Saya’s head was embedded in the stone floor. Thanks to the remaining protective energy, Saya’s head didn’t shatter, but it couldn’t withstand the shock caused by Old Gun’s palm.

“Cough.”

Saya suffered a concussion from the impact to his head and lost consciousness instantly. If he exerted more force, Saya’s head would have exploded, but Old Gun was already gone from that spot.

Whoosh.

Seeing Old Gun’s afterimage lunging towards him, Samya immediately drew his sword. And he swung the sword down at whatever blurry thing was rushing towards him.

Slice.

It split apart too easily. At the same moment Samya realized he had cut a porcelain liquor bottle, the liquor inside poured onto Samya’s face.

Splash.

‘Ugh.’

Samya immediately closed his eyes and protected them with his hand. It wasn’t poison; of course, it couldn’t be since it was the liquor he had been drinking, but who could guarantee it? Therefore, Samya’s response was correct. But in that short moment when he closed his eyes, another groan erupted from behind.

Thwack.

“Ugh.”

It was the fifth of the Tianshan Five Rogues, Oya. Old Gun had passed right by Samya and kicked Oya in the solar plexus. Unable to withstand the force in Old Gun’s kick, Oya spat out blood and flew away.

Thud.

Oya crashed into the wall and collapsed to the floor. He lost consciousness from a single kick. Samya, who hadn’t even wiped the liquor off his face, was furious.

“You bastard!”

Crackle. Samya’s sword emitted a large burst of sword energy. It was indeed worthy of being called an Outer Grandmaster, but Old Gun said with a cold gaze.

“You lot…….”

Swish.

Old Gun approached Samya without hesitation. Samya instinctively swung his sword, but his sword energy only futilely cut through the air and the wall beyond.

Crack.

Old Gun dodged the eerie sword energy that shattered the wall by simply tilting his head. And before he knew it, he was right in front of Samya’s face. Samya widened his eyes in shock, but it was already too late. Old Gun’s hand was already reaching Samya’s chest.

Thump.

Samya couldn’t even scream as he spat out blood and flew backward. Thud. Samya crashed into the wall and collapsed. The sword that had been emitting sword energy was no longer in his hand. It was already in Old Gun’s hand.

“Ugh.”

Samya didn’t lose consciousness. He groaned and barely managed to lift his head to look at Old Gun. All the fingers on Samya’s hand holding the sword were broken. In the moment he sent Samya flying with one hand, Old Gun had broken Samya’s fingers with the other hand and snatched his sword. Old Gun looked at Samya with a cold gaze and said.

“What was that you were saying?”

Thud. Old Gun approached the fallen Samya. Samya’s face turned white at the chilling aura.

“I, I am also an Outer Grandmaster!”

Samya shouted urgently. An Outer Grandmaster is more than just a master. The movement of an Outer Grandmaster is like the movement of the entire Jianghu [martial world]. The same goes for disputes. Therefore, if the opponent is also an Outer Grandmaster, they will know what a dispute between Outer Grandmaster experts means.

“You?”

Old Gun chuckled. He knelt on one knee and lowered himself, looking at Samya right in front of his face.

Flick.

Old Gun held Samya’s sword in reverse grip. And he stabbed it down at Samya.

Stab.

“Aaaagh!”

The blade pierced through Samya’s right hand and into the stone floor. It didn’t end there.

Crack, crack.

“Kuaaaagh!”

The blade, breaking through the stone floor as it advanced, reached from Samya’s hand to his forearm. It was only a hand’s breadth away, but the wrist joint of Samya that lay in between was completely shattered.

“Ugh.”

Samya groaned in pain and despair. However, Old Gun, holding Samya’s sword, said with cold eyes.

“Who said you could?”

Samya can no longer be an Outer Grandmaster. Even if he somehow recovers from the wounds and internal injuries, the shattered wrist joint will never return to its original state. Old Gun lightly put strength into Samya’s sword.

Clang.

The sword broke, and the hilt rolled on the floor. But the front part of the blade was still piercing Samya’s arm and stuck in the floor.

“Keuh, hehehe.”

Samya groaned with a sound that was a mix of laughter and tears. As if his soul had left him due to the sudden events, his eyes had no focus. Old Gun clicked his tongue. Then, he looked at Samya up and down and muttered to himself.

“If I’m going to take the other two, I have to leave his arms, and if he’s going to walk out on his own, I have to leave his legs, and if I want him to blab about what I did, I have to leave his mouth, and if he doesn’t have eyes, he won’t be able to find his way, so I can’t do that either.”

As he spoke, Old Gun frowned.

“It’s annoying, should I just kill him?”

To Samya, Old Gun’s voice was both hope and despair. Old Gun was weighing Samya’s life and death right before his eyes.

“Ah, should I leave at least one eye?”

Samya’s face hardened instantly.

“I, I…….”

At that sight, Old Gun chuckled.

“Why? Are you coming to your senses now?”

At those words, Samya realized that he had been completely toyed with. Tricks didn’t work on Old Gun.

Swish.

Old Gun turned his head to look at Hwayue. The owner of Yewon, Hwayue, was still looking at Old Gun with an unbelievable expression.

“Are there any entertainers these guys touched or hurt?”

Hwayue shook her head. Old Gun frowned and clicked his tongue.

“Really? They’re lucky.”

Old Gun turned his head back to Samya. Even though Old Gun’s gaze had completely left Samya a moment ago, Samya couldn’t even think of retaliating. He knew that Old Gun’s blade-like aura was surging before his eyes.

“Since you didn’t hurt anyone, I won’t take your lives either.”

Old Gun said with a smirk.

“At this point, you guys can just change your birthdays to today. To save your lives twice, how could there be such a lucky day in the world?”

Old Gun’s words of twice were true. They had saved their lives twice, once when Old Gun didn’t use lethal moves and again when Hwayue shook her head.

Thud.

Old Gun stood up and stepped back. And he looked down at Samya and said.

“Get lost.”

Samya gritted his teeth. Now that it was clear that he had saved his life, anger and resentment surged up.

“This, this matter will definitely…….”

“Come to think of it.”

Old Gun interrupted Samya’s words.

“Even if you don’t have a mouth, you can write, right? Or are you illiterate?”

Samya knew clearly that he would use his hand without hesitation. Anger and resentment made him grind his teeth, but there was nothing Samya could do now.

Swish.

With his still-moving left hand, Samya pressed his blood points [acupressure points to stop bleeding]. And he pulled the blade out of his right arm.

Clang.

The blade rolled on the floor, and Samya staggered to his feet. He grabbed Saya’s collar, who was still unconscious, and hugged Oya’s waist with his injured arm. Until Samya left with Saya and Oya, Old Gun’s cold gaze didn’t leave Samya.

Thud.

Samya flew away and soon disappeared from sight, but anger still remained in Old Gun’s eyes. But Old Gun wasn’t one to be swayed by the remnants of emotions, so he lightly clicked his tongue and shook off the remaining anger.

“How did those guys even get to Yewon…….”

Muttering to himself, Old Gun turned his head and stopped. And he frowned. The owner of Yewon, Hwayue, was kneeling on one knee on the floor, paying her respects. Her fancy clothes were getting dirty on the floor stained with blood and food, but Hwayue didn’t care.

“……Thank you. Elder.”

Hwayue’s voice was trembling. Her slender shoulders and white neck were so pitiful that anyone would feel protective, but Old Gun smirked instead.

“Why are you suddenly acting touched? I’m Old Gun. You think I haven’t been doing business for a day or two?”

Old Gun looked around the room and said.

“The house is a mess. Well, think of it as the price for chasing those guys away and clean it up yourself. This much is okay, right?”

It wasn’t just okay. He had chased away three of the Tianshan Five Rogues, and Samya had effectively been kicked out of the Outer Realm. The walls were broken, and the tables and food were all smashed to pieces, but if this was the price, it was too cheap.

“Hoo.”

Hwayue lifted her head and took a deep breath. She put her hands politely on her knees and looked up at Old Gun with a resentful expression and said.

“You’re too much. Can’t we have a touching reunion at a time like this? You could at least put your arm around my shoulder…….”

Old Gun replied curtly to Hwayue, whose complaining appearance was rather charming.

“Me? Why? What for? If your shoulders are cold, put on a coat. Don’t tell me to do this or that.”

Hwayue frowned slightly at the firm answer, looking at Old Gun as if he was being too harsh. Even that appearance was pitiful and beautiful, but Old Gun’s eyes didn’t change.

“Bin is here too.”

“Ah!”

Hwayue’s expression changed instantly.

“……I knew it, he came.”

Old Gun clicked his tongue at the appearance of not hiding the emotions mixed with tears and joy.

“I knew it would be like this. Only a fool would be fooled.”

“That’s that, and this is this.”

Hwayue said with a sulky expression.

“To an entertainer, a ‘jieum’ [a soulmate or kindred spirit] is like a friend of the heart and cannot be compared to anyone else. Ah, of course, Elder Old Gun is also precious to me.”

‘Jieum’ means a friend who understands your music. It refers to the past performance of Sohn Bin and Hwayue, but it is also a metaphorical term for a friend who shares your heart and mind.

“Aren’t ‘jieum’ and ‘friend of the heart’ the same thing?”

Without paying attention to Old Gun’s words, Hwayue got up from her seat.

“A precious guest has arrived, and I haven’t even greeted him yet, I’ve been out of my mind.”

She wasn’t out of her mind, but she was going through a life-threatening crisis, but Old Gun didn’t bother to correct her.

“I’ll come see you soon, so please wait a moment.”

“Okay.”

Old Gun nodded. It takes time to get dressed again and redo her face. It takes even more time to calm her surprised heart. Old Gun was someone who understood that much. Hwayue left the room to return to her quarters. Then suddenly, she stopped and looked back at Old Gun.

“I’m glad you’re back.”

It was a very bright smile. Old Gun also smiled.

“Yeah.”

Filled with warmth in that gruff short answer. Hwayue, with a smile on her face, hurried her steps again. Because she shouldn’t keep the precious guest waiting.

***

Sohn Bin and his party were drinking tea in the detached palace garden. After a while, Old Gun returned and joined them. Old Gun didn’t say where he had gone, and the party didn’t ask. They were just enjoying the leisurely atmosphere of Hangzhou Yewon, which they hadn’t felt in a long time, and relieving the fatigue of their journey.

Rustle, rustle.

The party turned their heads at the sound of footsteps. An elegant and dignified beautiful woman was entering the detached palace entrance. Her soft silk clothes rippled like waves with every step she took. She was none other than Hwayue, the owner of Yewon.

“Ah, Owner.”

Sohn Bin got up from his seat. As the other party members stood up, Hwayue approached the party with a light step.

Rustle.

Owner Hwayue gracefully bent her waist and paid her respects.

“Welcome, precious guests.”

Sohn Bin, as well as the other party members, bowed to Hwayue in return. Sohn Bin smiled and said.

“It’s been a while, Owner.”

“Yes.”

Hwayue lifted her head and smiled.

“Nice to see you, Young Master Sohn.”

Hwayue, with a smile on her face, greeted Sa Soo-yeon, Dang Wola, Bloodpeak Geumsaryeon, and Guigyeonsura. And finally, she said to Old Gun.

“You’re still healthy, Elder.”

“It sounds like you’re saying you’re dissatisfied that I’m healthy?”

“Of course not.”

Hwayue smiled. The party sat back at the garden table with Hwayue.

“How have you been?”

At Sohn Bin’s question, Hwayue smiled.

“I’m always the same. Did you finish your work well?”

“Yes. And…….”

Sohn Bin hesitated for a moment. But he couldn’t hide the story about Saja Hyuk from Hwayue.

“His Majesty has left for a distant place.”

Hwayue’s face hardened for a moment. Sohn Bin realized what she was thinking and quickly said.

“No. He just left for a really distant place. He probably won’t be back.”

Only then did the tension disappear from Hwayue’s face. Instead, a deep loneliness settled in her eyes.

“……I see.”

Hwayue was silent for a moment. But soon Hwayue smiled.

“That’s like him. Ah, what about the former Jade Dragon?”

“Yes. He left with him.”

Hwayue smiled.

“The former Jade Dragon has finally fulfilled his lifelong wish. I’m a little jealous, you know?”

Sohn Bin agreed with her words. In fact, Sohn Bin himself had thought so. Hwayue, who was fiddling with her teacup, suddenly said.

“Are you going too, Young Master Sohn?”

As expected, Hwayue is sharp. Thinking so, Sohn Bin smiled.

“No. I’m not going.”

Hwayue looked at Sohn Bin for a moment. And she smiled and said.

“That’s a relief.”

The two were silent for a moment. Then suddenly, Sohn Bin asked.

“Has there been anything unusual in the Outer Realm?”

“By ‘anything unusual,’ you mean after you left for the Western Regions?”

When Sohn Bin nodded, Hwayue fell silent for a moment. She quietly answered as she fiddled with her teacup as if organizing her thoughts.

“The news that His Majesty and the former Jade Dragon had returned shocked the Outer Realm. But there were almost no actual changes. Because Young Master Sohn was already there.”

The thought that the Emperor might return was already in the corner of the minds of all the masters of the Outer Realm. Moreover, Sohn Bin, ‘the one who walks the path of the Emperor,’ had virtually pacified the Outer Realm, so the return of the Emperor and the former Jade Dragon was certainly surprising news, but it couldn’t bring about big changes.

“The problem was after you left for the Western Regions, the whereabouts of the two disappeared, and rumors spread that Young Master Sohn had died.”

Owner Hwayue continued in a calm voice.

“Without even trying to figure out the truth of the rumors or watching the situation, new figures suddenly began to enter the Outer Realm. As if they had been waiting for it.”

At those words, Old Gun frowned. He could see why the third of the Tianshan Five Rogues had claimed to be an ‘Outer Realm’ master.

“Moreover, what’s unusual is that they all had grudges or were hostile to the Heavenly Outer Four Sages a long time ago. No, to be precise, I should say to His Majesty and the Yellow Crane Master. The former Jade Dragon and the Fierce Tiger have so many enemies everywhere…….”

“So, who entered the Outer Realm?”

Old Gun interjected abruptly. Hwayue nodded and answered.

“Three of the Tianshan Five Rogues entered the Outer Realm. No, now it’s two.”

Hwayue threw a smile at Old Gun, but Old Gun snorted and pretended not to know.

“And the Kunlun Three Immortals also entered the Outer Realm.”

Sohn Bin had never heard of the names Tianshan Five Rogues or Kunlun Three Immortals. But Old Gun frowned at those words.

“Those things?”

Old Gun said unpleasantly. From that reaction, Sohn Bin could sense that they weren’t very good people. But before Sohn Bin could ask about them, Hwayue’s words continued.

“Also, the Flying Sword Gongsun Geuk of the Gongsun Family…….”

“Why him again?”

Flying Sword Gongsun Geuk had his inner energy completely destroyed by Sohn Bin in Huangshan. Old Gun’s question, as if he was annoyed, was natural, but Hwayue’s following words were something even Old Gun hadn’t expected.

“……has returned to the Outer Realm.”

Old Gun frowned. His expression was as if he had heard a bad joke, but Hwayue’s expression was still serious.

“What?”

Old Gun’s belated reaction was representing the feelings of the rest of the party.

(Author’s words)

After being away for a long time, the accumulated garbage was bigger than I thought.