A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 443

443. Night of the Black Serpent Society

Deep in the night, the riverside, thick with reeds, was bathed in moonlight.

Swaaaa.

As the wind blew, the reeds rippled like waves in the sea. In the middle of that reed field, a man stood alone, arms crossed.

His large frame made the greatsword on his back look almost small. With roughly spiked hair and a thick beard, he was none other than Talhondo, the outer affairs master of the Kangbuk Black Serpent Society. Though a hint of white streaked his hair, his eyes still radiated an intense spirit. Swaaaa. The wind blew, and the reeds swayed like waves. At the same time, a low voice echoed from above.

“Hehehe, this is surprising.”

Talhondo raised his head.

Pararak.

A man descended from the sky, his white beard and clothes fluttering.

Sabak.

The reeds parted, and a Taoist with a long beard appeared before Talhondo. The elderly Taoist smiled and said.

“To think you’d come out to meet us like this.”

He wore a long, yellow Taoist robe and held a crooked wooden staff in one hand. The center of his head was bald, but his long sideburns, white eyebrows, and white beard gave him the appearance of a divine immortal.

“But how did you know we were coming?”

The elderly Taoist asked, seemingly curious. However, Talhondo was not fooled by his act.

“I didn’t come out to meet the likes of you.”

Talhondo said in an indifferent voice.

“You’re just disturbing my walk. So, don’t hide and show yourselves, Celestial Mountain Five Elders.”

The eldest of the Celestial Mountain Five Elders, Ilya (First Master), frowned. At the same time, another man appeared, cutting through the reed forest.

Sarak.

Wearing a long, blue-tinged Taoist robe, he was the second of the Celestial Mountain Five Elders, Iya (Second Master). Holding a horsetail whisk in one hand, he spoke with feigned anger.

“Hiding? Do you think we, the Celestial Mountain Five Elders, would fear the likes of you?”

Talhondo smirked.

“Getting angry when you were secretly hiding. But is that all of you?”

Sueuk.

Talhondo, who had been crossing his arms, lowered them and straightened his body. Already large, he stood like a mountain under the moonlight.

“I thought five would come, but why only two?”

Hoooong. The energy Talhondo emitted spread in all directions. The reed forest swayed back and forth in his aura.

“Hehehe.”

The eldest of the Celestial Mountain Five Elders, Ilya, laughed.

“Who said there are only two of us?”

In that instant, Talhondo’s eyebrows twitched, and he immediately turned his head.

Swaaaa.

Two figures were walking through the reeds, swaying in the wind. One was an elderly monk with a shaven head, wearing a Buddhist robe and holding a large rosary. The other was an old Taoist wearing a distinctive Mount Hua Taoist robe. But Talhondo already knew that they were not mere monks or Taoists.

“Bulgwang, and Cheongwooja…….”

Talhondo’s expression hardened for the first time. Rage boiled in his chest, but Talhondo only let out a small sigh.

“……Yes, it has come to this after all.”

He already knew that the Shaolin, Mount Hua, Wudang, and Emei, the four great orthodox sects, were hostile to him, a member of the unorthodox faction. So, this was bound to happen someday.

“But I never thought Shaolin and Mount Hua would join hands with the likes of the Celestial Mountain Five Elders?”

Talhondo did not hide his blatant sarcasm. Ilya and Iya of the Celestial Mountain Five Elders bristled, but Bulgwang and Cheongwooja remained unmoved.

“Talhondo’s Black Serpent Society is greatly disrupting the order of Kangbuk.”

Bulgwang said in a respectful voice, holding a thick rosary.

“The harm to good people is great, and the evil influence on the world is severe, so please understand that we have no choice but to guide you in this way.”

Talhondo smirked.

“Harm……. Well, we’re an unorthodox faction, so there’s nothing we can do about it. Sometimes we do dirty things and take wealth by force.”

Talhondo said with a sharp glint in his eyes.

“But we don’t openly devour like the Five Great Clans. I think the harm caused by the Five Great Clans is greater than ours, don’t you think?”

The greed of the Five Great Clans is endless. Bulgwang also knew that. Therefore, it was only natural that his expression hardened. Instead of the silent Bulgwang, Cheongwooja spoke in a low voice.

“The Five Great Clans at least claim to be orthodox. That kind of comparison is not right.”

Talhondo did not hide his mockery.

“Really? Then let’s just say we’re orthodox too. It doesn’t seem like what we actually do is any different anyway. Even our kids are good at swarming like this.”

It was blatant ridicule. Talhondo’s voice fell upon Cheongwooja, whose face was contorted.

“If you want to call yourselves orthodox, do as you please. But don’t divide the world as you please. What gives you the right to judge others?”

Talhondo’s voice was low and very heavy.

“If you want to do good, then do it as much as you want. But don’t force your standards on me.”

Talhondo said, not hiding his blatant disgust.

“It’s sickening.”

“Hoo.”

Bulgwang closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. After chanting a low Buddhist prayer, Bulgwang slowly raised his head.

“It seems we cannot guide you through dialogue after all.”

Bulgwang said in a sighing voice. Talhondo laughed at him.

“There’s always been something I’ve been curious about.”

Talhondo said, looking at Bulgwang with an interested expression.

“Aren’t you ashamed of telling such obvious lies? If I were you, I’d die of cringe before I could even say it.”

Bulgwang said nothing. The conversation was already over.

“Talhondo, you villain!”

The one who shouted was Iya, the second of the Celestial Mountain Five Elders. Talhondo turned his head.

“Who do you think you are to speak so carelessly in front of us!”

Talhondo frowned.

“What’s wrong with this guy? Did he eat something bad?”

Iya’s expression twisted at the blunt words. Talhondo said to Iya.

“You shouldn’t interfere carelessly, unless you want a hole in your chest so you can’t even breathe properly.”

It was the kind of language that street thugs would use, but the energy contained in his voice was by no means a joke. Iya, the second of the Celestial Mountain Five Elders, trembled with anger at the insult.

“You, you dare to insult the Celestial Mountain Five Elders…….”

“Hehehe. There’s no need to get so angry at those words, Second Master.”

The one who interrupted Iya was Ilya, the first of the Celestial Mountain Five Elders. He stroked his beard with a seemingly relaxed expression and said.

“After all, that guy is going to die here today.”

Talhondo scoffed. At that moment, a subtle sneer flashed across Ilya’s eyes.

“Come to think of it, you recently took a young girl as your wife, didn’t you?”

Ilya could clearly see Talhondo’s eyes change at that moment. Ilya continued with a meaningful smile.

“It’s amazing. Talhondo, the master, has formed a marital bond, and with a young girl at that. Her name was Hwasa, wasn’t it?”

Talhondo was silent. He felt like he wouldn’t be able to control himself if he opened his mouth. That sight made Ilya even more pleased.

“A gold digger……. A very pleasing name. I’m personally very curious to know what kind of woman could melt the heart of Talhondo.”

Ilya licked his lips. A subtle voice flowed out from between his glistening lips.

“Did she have gold trim around it?”

“Enough.”

The heavy voice belonged to Bulgwang.

“Hwasa is also a member of the outer affairs. I will no longer tolerate insulting the outer affairs with vulgar words.”

Ilya’s white eyebrows twitched at Bulgwang’s words. He looked visibly displeased, but Ilya said nothing more. He only suppressed his anger and held onto the humiliation. Bulgwang, who chanted a Buddhist prayer, looked at Talhondo with deep eyes.

“However.”

Bulgwang said with a low sigh.

“We cannot simply leave Hwasa alone either. She has already taken too many lives, and the Minor Arts and Soul-Sucking Skill that Hwasa possesses are evil martial arts that should not exist in the world. It is unfortunate, but Hwasa is…….”

“Hehehe.”

Talhondo laughed.

“Look, there’s no one who can handle Hwasa. Even I could barely endure it. Hwasa only follows me and Old Master No because she feels like it. There’s no one in the world who can tell Hwasa what to do…….”

Talhondo, who was speaking with a smile, suddenly stopped.

“No, there is one person.”

Talhondo tilted his head and frowned. Recalling the one person Hwasa called ‘Oppa’ [Korean term for ‘older brother’ used by females], Talhondo muttered with a serious expression.

“……Come to think of it, should I call him Hyung-nim [Korean term for ‘older brother’ used by males] ?”

It was half a joke, but at that moment, Talhondo was smiling without realizing it at the sight of the young scholar who flashed before his eyes.

“Ahem.”

Cheongwooja’s cough broke Talhondo’s reverie.

“If the night is long, the dreams are long as well. Let’s end this, Bulgwang.”

“I understand.”

Bulgwang slowly nodded and stared intently at Talhondo. Although he belonged to the unorthodox faction, Talhondo was once a person who pursued the path of martial arts like Muje. He was practically the owner of the Black Serpent Society, yet he even gave up that position. That memory made Bulgwang want to say one more thing.

“……I don’t know if this will be any comfort.”

Bulgwang said in a low voice.

“The Five Great Clans will also soon receive retribution according to their karma.”

“Master!”

Cheongwooja said in a surprised voice, but it was already water under the bridge. The eyes of the two Celestial Mountain Five Elders also changed in an instant.

‘Tsk.’

Cheongwooja clicked his tongue inwardly at that sight. But Bulgwang, regardless of him, looked at Talhondo and said.

“So please go in peace, Benefactor.”

Bulgwang’s cold gaze seemed to foretell Talhondo’s fate. He had no intention of letting Talhondo live. However, Talhondo mocked Bulgwang’s goodwill.

“I’m going to say this because I think it’ll be comforting too.”

Hooo wooook.

A chilling aura began to spread in all directions, centered on Talhondo. The reeds scattered, and a sharp killing intent covered the surroundings. Talhondo hadn’t even reached for his sword yet.

“Maybe one of you might survive.”

Talhondo’s voice contained an extremely thick killing intent. But neither Bulgwang, Cheongwooja, nor Ilya and Iya of the Celestial Mountain Five Elders were afraid. No matter how great Talhondo was, he could not face four masters of the outer affairs at the same time.

“Hehehe.”

The eldest of the Celestial Mountain Five Elders, Ilya, laughed at Talhondo.

“At least it’s certain that it won’t be you.”

Ilya said, licking his lips.

“Talhondo, you will die here today, and I’ll send your gold digger to your side soon. Well, she might be broken after I touch her a little.”

Talhondo did not respond to Ilya’s words.

Seuk.

Talhondo’s hand slowly reached for his sword. At the same time, a tension like a hair trigger covered the surroundings. It felt like swords and blades would fill the night sky at any moment, but that was when it happened.

“What the hell.”

A voice filled with annoyance popped out from the middle of the reed forest. The moment was so exquisite that even Talhondo, not to mention the Celestial Mountain Five Elders, Cheongwooja, and Bulgwang, flinched.

Sabak.

An old man appeared, parting the reed forest. Because he was not very tall, only his shoulders were barely visible above the reeds, but the moment everyone saw him, their faces changed.

“Why is there trash everywhere I go?”

The old man grumbled, parting the reed forest, and with his hands behind his back, he frowned and said.

“Is this the kingdom of trash? When did it become like this? Huh?”

The old man, with a face full of annoyance, was none other than Namgung No-gun (Southern Demon Old Master). A heavy silence fell. Cheongwooja and Bulgwang were surprised and speechless, and the first and second of the Celestial Mountain Five Elders could not hide their astonishment, as if they could not believe it.

“What’s wrong?”

No-gun said, frowning.

“You looked like you were about to start a sword fight a moment ago, so why are you just standing there? Aren’t you fighting?”

No-gun, who was speaking, smirked.

“Don’t tell me you’re embarrassed now? What kind of shyness are you feeling at your age? Fight quickly. What are you saving those good swords for?”

Bulgwang finally came to his senses at the incessant sarcasm.

“Namgung No-gun…….”

“Yes, it’s me.”

No-gun said, shining his eyes.

“Why? Did you think I wouldn’t come forever?”

Eudeuk.

The one who broke the silence was the uncomfortable sound that came from Ilya’s mouth. He did not hide his blatant hostility towards No-gun.

“I didn’t expect to meet you here, Namgung No-gun.”

No-gun frowned.

“I didn’t know either. I didn’t think you wouldn’t even know we were back.”

At that word, everyone’s faces changed in an instant. To be exact, it was because of the word ‘we’ that No-gun said.

“Muje is not here.”

No-gun said with a deeply furrowed brow.

“Do I have to tell you even this? Bi-geom (Flying Sword) that bastard, he really didn’t tell you anything.”

No-gun said, clicking his tongue.

“It seems you guys are disposable pawns.”

That couldn’t be true, but it was inevitable that doubt brushed past the minds of Bulgwang and Cheongwooja, and the two Celestial Mountain Five Elders.

No-gun clearly appeared in this place intentionally. That meant that No-gun had already grasped the situation, and if he had that much time, then Bi-geom should have known about No-gun’s return.

“Hmph, that can’t be…….”

The second of the Celestial Mountain Five Elders, Iya, tried to deny it, but No-gun’s next words immediately followed.

“Then have you heard that I’ve smashed the third, fourth, and fifth of you Celestial Mountain Five Elders……. Ah, it’s annoying to say. Anyway, those losers?”

At those words, the two of the Celestial Mountain Five Elders widened their eyes. No-gun shrugged.

“I tried to hit them gently, but I don’t know if they’re dead or alive. But well, at least one of them might be alive, right?”

Anyone could tell that he was deliberately speaking in a way that mocked their conversation a little while ago. Ilya and Iya gritted their teeth.

“The fact that you have appeared here.”

No-gun turned his head at the heavy voice. Cheongwooja, the outer affairs master of Mount Hua, said to No-gun.

“Is it safe to assume that you are on Talhondo’s side?”

Cheongwooja’s eyes were cold. Depending on the answer, he was determined to antagonize even No-gun. Looking at that gaze, No-gun smirked.

“Why would I be?”

Bulgwang and Cheongwooja, and the two Celestial Mountain Five Elders, had a strange light in their eyes.

“As I said before, I just came to watch the fight.”

No-gun said firmly, but no one believed those words.

“Then why…….”

“But.”

No-gun interrupted Cheongwooja’s suspicious voice.

“I didn’t say I came to watch you guys fight each other.”

It was something no one could understand, but No-gun was already smiling.

Sabak.

With a small rustling sound, a man appeared between the reeds. The young man, dressed as an ordinary scholar and wearing a sword at his waist, was none other than Sonbin, the one who walks the path of Muje.

(Author’s words)

It’s not good enough to be pleasing to the eye.