A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 442

442. Ill-Fated Relationship

The detached house where Son Bin and his party were staying became bustling again with the arrival of late guests. Princess Gyeonghui and her entourage appeared with Son Bin and Wonju Hwawol. Accompanying her were the guard Cheonglang Sword Wi Gajin, the maidservant Hang’a, and Cheonghye Satae of the Emei Sect. Upon seeing them, No-gun immediately frowned.

“What? You guys are here too?”

No-gun said in a blunt tone. The atmosphere wasn’t welcoming, and Sasu-yeon and Dang Wora shared the same sentiment. The memory of the Hwangsan Beoncheonji scheme [a large-scale plot involving political and martial factions] that Princess Gyeonghui had instigated was still vivid.

Rustle.

It was then. Princess Gyeonghui bowed respectfully toward No-gun.

“I’m glad you returned safely, Elder.”

Her courteous gesture surprised Son Bin and the rest of the party. The Princess Gyeonghui they remembered was someone who would never bow to No-gun. No-gun couldn’t hide his surprise either.

“What’s going on? You?”

Princess Gyeonghui smiled lightly instead of answering. It wasn’t a fake smile or a sneer, but a very natural one. She turned to Sasu-yeon and Dang Wora.

“It’s good to see you both looking healthy. It was a very long journey, wasn’t it?”

Unlike her polite greeting, Princess Gyeonghui’s eyes sparkled sharply. She didn’t bow her head. Sasu-yeon also smiled quietly at Princess Gyeonghui’s challenging gaze and replied.

“Yes, it was a very long journey.”

Sasu-yeon looked straight at Princess Gyeonghui and said.

“But I didn’t expect to see you here. Shouldn’t you be at the Tang Clan?”

“The situation has changed.”

Princess Gyeonghui replied as if it were nothing.

“Don’t worry, I haven’t gone against Young Master Son’s wishes, Miss Sa.”

In contrast to Princess Gyeonghui’s gentle smile, Sasu-yeon’s expression slightly hardened.

‘Young Master Son?’

Originally, Princess Gyeonghui didn’t use honorifics with Son Bin. Of course, it wasn’t bad that she corrected her way of speaking now. But why did her tone particularly grate on Sasu-yeon’s nerves? Princess Gyeonghui, who had been briefly meeting Sasu-yeon’s sharp gaze, suddenly looked around and said.

“It’s not good to keep standing like this. Shall we all sit down?”

Princess Gyeonghui’s suggestion was timely. No-gun also nodded with a reluctant expression.

“Well, let’s all sit down for now.”

Son Bin’s party and Princess Gyeonghui’s party sat at a table in the detached house’s garden. Although it was a dark night, the soft lanterns illuminating the garden gave off a cozy feeling. Cheonghye Satae, a young outer affairs master [a sect member responsible for external relations] from the Emei Sect, sat next to Princess Gyeonghui, and Cheonglang Sword Wi Gajin stood behind Princess Gyeonghui as always.

Swish.

Cheonglang Sword Wi Gajin politely bowed to No-gun. No-gun simply nodded in response. But he couldn’t do that to Cheonghye Satae’s greeting.

“It’s been a while, Elder No-gun.”

Cheonghye Satae said, bowing respectfully. No-gun replied to her.

“Yes. Is Beopheo doing well?”

Beopheo Shinni is an outer affairs master of the Emei Sect and Cheonghye Satae’s teacher. She declared a three-year seclusion, taking responsibility for the Emei Sect’s leader participating in the imperial family’s Beoncheonji scheme. However, only Cheonghye Satae was released as an exception, considering she was in charge of outer affairs.

“Yes. My teacher is doing well.”

Cheonghye Satae replied with a calm expression. No-gun glanced at Princess Gyeonghui, the culprit of this incident. But Princess Gyeonghui’s face didn’t change at all.

Rustle.

Before they knew it, the maidservant Hang’a stood next to Princess Gyeonghui with a teapot from which steam was rising. She had prepared the tea in the meantime, probably because there was already hot water in the kitchen.

“I brought it because some good tea came in.”

Princess Gyeonghui said, looking around at her party. At her gesture, the maidservant Hang’a first poured tea for No-gun. Pour. When No-gun’s cup was full, the maidservant Hang’a then filled Son Bin’s teacup.

“Ah, thank you.”

Son Bin greeted, but the maidservant Hang’a didn’t answer. She quietly poured tea into the teacup placed in front of Princess Gyeonghui. The fragrant tea scent spread everywhere. As Princess Gyeonghui said, it was indeed good tea. Princess Gyeonghui, who had been savoring the rising tea scent for a moment, opened her mouth.

“I’m sorry for coming so late at night. But I came because there are things I personally want to confirm and things I must tell you.”

Princess Gyeonghui smiled at Son Bin and said.

“Thank you for listening to my request, Young Master Son.”

“It’s nothing.”

Son Bin waved his hand. He couldn’t be thanked for something like this.

“What is it that you want to confirm?”

Sasu-yeon’s soft but firm voice interrupted their conversation. Fragrant tea was also sloshing in the teacup placed in front of her. The maidservant Hang’a filled Sasu-yeon’s cup after Princess Gyeonghui’s, and now she was filling Dang Wora’s cup.

“Rather than that, let me tell you what I need to tell you first.”

Princess Gyeonghui turned her head toward Cheonghye Satae.

“Elder Sister.”

The party wore surprised expressions at the title. Princess Gyeonghui had once entered the Emei Sect as a lay disciple, but that was also just a part of the Beoncheonji scheme. It was very unexpected for such a Princess Gyeonghui to acknowledge Cheonghye Satae as her elder sister.

“As you may already know, Vice Sword Gongson Geuk has returned to outer affairs.”

Cheonghye Satae said in a calm voice.

“And immediately after that, he came to find me.”

No-gun’s expression immediately turned serious.

“That Vice Sword bastard?”

“Yes.”

Cheonghye Satae nodded.

“He suggested that I join him. He must have thought that I was hostile to Young Master Son because the Emei Sect was in seclusion.”

No-gun snorted.

“Hmph, that’s the kind of thought that narrow-minded bastard would have. He thinks everyone else is like him.”

The Emei Sect’s seclusion was ultimately a decision made by Beopheo Shinni herself to take responsibility for her mistake—though it wasn’t her fault. However, Vice Sword Gongson Geuk thought that the Emei Sect held a grudge against Son Bin like he did.

“I rejected his offer. Then he smiled and said this.”

—Do you think that brat will come back? Well, maybe that would be good. Then I can repay the humiliation I received without leaving a single trace. In front of that green brat, destroying everything he cherishes. Hehehe.

Closing her eyes, Cheonghye Satae quietly chanted a Buddhist prayer. Even now, she could see Vice Sword Gongson Geuk’s cold, calculating eyes.

“When he said that…”

Cheonghye Satae shuddered.

“…I was ashamed to say, but I felt fear.”

Even though she was young, Cheonghye Satae was an outer affairs master of the Emei Sect. The fact that she felt fear meant that Vice Sword Gongson Geuk’s regained power was not a lie.

“I already know that Vice Sword harbors a grudge.”

No-gun said indifferently. His inner strength, which was more precious than life to a martial artist, had disappeared because of Son Bin, so how great would his resentment be?

“I also know that he will definitely try to repay it. But he’s not the type to blindly lash out in revenge. Vice Sword is the type who will grit his teeth and wait patiently for the right time.”

Vice Sword Gongson Geuk was the former head of the Gongson family. Controlling his emotions was already familiar to him.

“Of course, that may be the case, but the energy I felt from him was very different.”

No-gun frowned at Cheonghye Satae’s words. Cheonghye Satae fiddled with her teacup.

“I felt an endless darkness and a very turbid emotion from him. In fact, I felt something similar in Hwangsan before, but it was definitely different.”

“Does it seem like he has relearned demonic arts?”

Cheonghye Satae shook her head at No-gun’s words.

“No. It’s not demonic arts.”

She had been with Son Bin’s party until the end in Hwangsan. Cheonghye Satae clearly remembered the demonic energy that Vice Sword Gongson Geuk had emitted at that time.

“What I felt was closer to the smell of blood.”

“The smell of blood?”

No-gun tilted his head.

“The smell of blood? That guy has spilled blood countless times, but he wouldn’t be someone who can’t even control that much, would he?”

Cheonghye Satae sighed softly.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know how to explain it because my knowledge is short. Anyway, it’s certain that Vice Sword didn’t learn demonic arts. No, he probably couldn’t learn it.”

No-gun nodded.

“Well, Bin completely destroyed it back then…”

The White Dew that Son Bin unleashed destroyed the core of the demonic arts that had formed in Vice Sword Gongson Geuk’s heart. Along with it, his inner strength was scattered and disappeared. Now he would never be able to learn demonic arts again. Cheonghye Satae also nodded. And she said absentmindedly.

“If it’s demonic energy, I felt it more strongly from his granddaughter.”

“What?”

No-gun frowned.

“Granddaughter? What are you talking about?”

Cheonghye Satae calmly explained.

“Vice Sword didn’t come alone. There was a young woman with a sword by his side, and Vice Sword said that she would soon be entering outer affairs.”

No-gun clicked his tongue. In the past, Hwanghak Jin-in had his disciple Seo Rin carry White Dew and Buljin and follow him. Maengho imitated that, and now even Vice Sword was following suit.

“If my memory is correct, she was definitely Gongson Ji, who was counted as one of the Hwangsan Five Flowers.”

The name Cheonghye Satae mentioned was not unfamiliar to Son Bin either. That was not because she was one of the Hwangsan Five Flowers, but because Son Bin had already met her several times.

“If it’s Gongson Ji…”

Dang Wora said softly.

“It must be Dansimhwa Gongson Ji. The granddaughter of Vice Sword Gongson Geuk and the woman who tried to slap Young Master Son’s cheek in the Hyeokryeon family.”

At those words, Sasu-yeon’s eyes widened. Then she immediately frowned.

“Young Master Son?”

“Ah, she didn’t hit me.”

Son Bin quickly said. But Sasu-yeon’s expression didn’t improve. Dang Wora continued in a quiet tone.

“It’s okay. Hwaryeon unni [older sister] hit her instead of Young Master Son in Hwangsan.”

Dang Wora’s words were also new to Son Bin. Dang Hwaryeon, Dang Wora’s sister, hit her instead of him? Son Bin was puzzled, but Cheonghye Satae said quietly.

“Then she must have a grudge against the Tang Clan.”

Gongson Ji, whom Cheonghye Satae saw, was a very venomous woman. She had felt that way in Hwangsan as well, but the degree was even worse when she was with Vice Sword.

“Hmph, that family’s personality won’t go anywhere.”

Listening to No-gun’s words, Son Bin sighed softly. In fact, his relationship with Gongson Ji went back even further. Gongson Ji was the woman who ridiculed the young master of the Namgung family and incited his anger at the Hwanghak Tower in Wuhan. At that time, Son Bin almost had his tongue and arms cut off. Fortunately, Sasu-yeon saved him, and thanks to that, he got to know her, but if not, it would have been a terrible ill-fated relationship.

“That’s all I have to say.”

Cheonghye Satae finished speaking. No-gun tapped the table with his finger and muttered.

“The smell of blood… I don’t know what it is, but it doesn’t look good.”

“But it’s strange.”

Sasu-yeon said, tilting her head.

“Then why is Vice Sword neglecting the Gongson family?”

“That’s definitely strange.”

No-gun tilted his head.

“Unless Vice Sword is bluffing like a madman, there must be some reason why he can’t come forward yet.”

“Reason?”

At Sasu-yeon’s question, No-gun said indifferently.

“Yeah. Maybe that strange power of his hasn’t been completed yet, or maybe he can’t control it properly. If he regained his inner strength in such a short period of time, there’s no way there wouldn’t be something like that.”

No-gun asserted. And at those words, Sasu-yeon and Dang Wora nodded. Wrong methods always demand a great price. In fact, Sasu-yeon herself would have been swept away by power if it hadn’t been for Son Bin. Dang Wora and Hwasa would have bet on the same fate as well.

“But it’s not all that optimistic.”

No-gun frowned and continued.

“You have to see that he has actually taken action. The fact that he brought in the Shaolin and Hwasan, the Zhuge family and the Namgung family, and even the Cheonsan Oro and the Kunlun Three Immortals into outer affairs means that he still has some confidence. Ah, well, of course.”

Shrugging his shoulders, No-gun chuckled.

“Everything was messed up because Bin appeared. Look, even the Namgung family alone closed their doors as soon as Bin showed his face.”

Son Bin gave an awkward smile. It wasn’t like he just showed his face and it was over, and they didn’t actually close their doors. But as No-gun said, Vice Sword Gongson Geuk’s plan was ruined. The Namgung family, an important axis, had let go.

“When Vice Sword finds out that Bin is here, he’ll realize it. That expanding his power or anything like that is meaningless anymore.”

If he can’t do anything about Son Bin, everything will be in vain. Conversely, if he can defeat only Son Bin, then everything will be according to Vice Sword Gongson Geuk’s wishes.

“Then.”

Dang Wora said softly.

“The possibility that he will take impulsive actions has increased. If expanding his power is meaningless, then there’s no reason to target the Gangbuk Black Serpent or the Murong family first.”

“Conversely, isn’t there a possibility that Vice Sword will hide his appearance?”

Sasu-yeon said. But No-gun shook his head.

“That may be the case, but I don’t think so. He can buy some time, but he won’t hide completely. If he was going to do that, he wouldn’t have started at all.”

Cheonghye Satae also agreed with No-gun’s words.

“Yes. I don’t think Vice Sword will hide his appearance either.”

She was certain because she had seen Vice Sword in person. Vice Sword Gongson Geuk would never back down.

“Anyway, we’ll find out soon.”

No-gun said with a smirk.

“Because the news that Bin has returned will soon be known throughout outer affairs.”

Looking back at Wonju Hwawol, No-gun said.

“Right?”

Hwawol, who had been sitting quietly until now, nodded with a smile.

“Of course, Elder No-gun.”

It was good for Hwawol that Son Bin’s return was known as widely as possible. That way, the lords of Yewon who had other intentions would change their minds.

“First, let’s wait for his reaction. I hope he appears confidently in perfect condition…”

No-gun licked his lips.

“There’s no way it’ll be that convenient.”

No-gun’s words that he wanted Vice Sword Gongson Geuk to appear in perfect condition were very strange to Cheonghye Satae, Princess Gyeonghui, and Wonju Hwawol. But the other party members were nodding as if they agreed.

“I’m glad it was helpful.”

Princess Gyeonghui said in a clear voice.

“Then I’ll be on my way now. I wish you all good luck in martial arts.”

“Good luck in martial arts…”

No-gun said with a smirk.

“I think it’s already with us.”

No-gun’s smiling gaze was directed at Son Bin. Son Bin still gave an awkward smile and said nothing.

Rustle.

Princess Gyeonghui rose from her seat. At that sight, Son Bin said as if he had suddenly remembered.

“Ah, come to think of it, didn’t you say you wanted to confirm something?”

At Son Bin’s words, Princess Gyeonghui smiled softly.

“I’ve already confirmed it, Young Master Son.”

It was a rather light and soft voice. Son Bin was puzzled.

“Yes? What, when…”

At that moment, Sasu-yeon and Dang Wora saw Princess Gyeonghui’s gaze briefly turn to them. And the expression on Princess Gyeonghui’s face as she looked down at them was rather triumphant. As expected? Princess Gyeonghui said with a smile.

“It’s the same as when I left.”

The honorifics, the sense of distance, and the atmosphere were still the same. Perhaps that was exactly what Princess Gyeonghui had expected. She couldn’t even imagine this stubborn man causing an accident in the first place. But Son Bin didn’t understand what she meant by the same. Instead of answering, Princess Gyeonghui bowed to Son Bin and No-gun and turned her body. Cheonglang Sword Wi Gajin, the maidservant Hang’a, Cheonghye Satae, and Wonju Hwawol also bowed and followed Princess Gyeonghui.

Rustle. Rustle.

In that way, Princess Gyeonghui’s party left the detached house. But for some reason, Sasu-yeon and Dang Wora’s expressions were not very good for a while after that. Thanks to that, Son Bin had to quietly shut his mouth and sip his tea.

(Author’s words)

Princess Gyeonghui: You went far, but there was no progress?