A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 446

446. The Path of the Martial Emperor

Swish.

The wind blew, and the reeds swayed. The reed field was now such a mess that it could hardly be called a forest, but even so, the reeds that had managed to remain standing swayed back and forth in the wind.

“Hmm.”

Old Gun groaned softly. The incredible sight he had witnessed a moment ago still seemed to flicker before his eyes.

‘What on earth should I call that…?’

He already knew about the Martial Emperor’s Sundering Moon Eclipse [a powerful martial arts technique]. He had seen it several times. But the Sundering Moon Eclipse that had unfolded from Sohn Bin’s White Dew a moment ago was on a completely different level from anything he had ever seen. Old Gun frowned and pondered for a moment before letting out a sigh. There was no point in thinking about something he couldn’t understand; it would only give him a headache. Shaking his head, Old Gun suddenly noticed the Soul-Seizing Blade standing next to him.

“Heh.”

Old Gun chuckled. The Soul-Seizing Blade wasn’t much different from Old Gun, his face still frozen in shock, unable to look away. Seeing that perfectly natural reaction, Old Gun slowly raised his hand and gently tapped the Soul-Seizing Blade on the back.

Thwack.

“Ugh.”

The Soul-Seizing Blade frowned and looked at Old Gun, as if asking why he had done that. Old Gun said to the Soul-Seizing Blade, who was staring at him with a puzzled expression, “Breathe.”

Only then did the Soul-Seizing Blade realize that he had been holding his breath for quite some time. As the Soul-Seizing Blade let out a long, sighing breath, Old Gun put his hands behind his back and strode towards Sohn Bin.

Clang.

Sohn Bin’s sword, White Dew, disappeared back into its scabbard. Then, Sohn Bin slowly raised his head. Buddhist Radiant Light and Azure Rain were lying a short distance away. As if swept away by a storm, they were sprawled out in a large X, completely unconscious.

“Are they dead?”

Old Gun suddenly asked from the side. Sohn Bin wore a gentle smile.

“That wouldn’t do. I can’t let Vice Lord Bi have his way.”

“True.”

Old Gun clicked his tongue.

“Judging by the fact that Vice Lord Bi sent these guys here without even informing you that they were coming, he clearly didn’t care whether they lived or died. Or perhaps…”

It suddenly occurred to him that one of Vice Lord Bi’s goals might be to dismantle the Outer Palace itself. But Old Gun quickly shook his head. That was too extreme of a thought.

Old Gun looked at Buddhist Radiant Light and Azure Rain, who were lying on the ground. The thick rosary beads were shattered and scattered everywhere, and Azure Rain’s sword, Lotus Blossom, lay carelessly nearby.

However, neither of them was injured at all. Not only were they without a scratch, but even their robes and Taoist garments were undamaged.

“But if we just let them live like this, it’ll only benefit them. What’s so great about doing these guys a favor?”

Old Gun grumbled, seemingly dissatisfied. Sohn Bin smiled and looked down at the fallen Buddhist Radiant Light and Azure Rain.

“Still, these two are worthy of being called Outer Palace members. That’s why he accepted them.”

‘He’ that Sohn Bin was referring to was Martial Emperor Sima Hyeok. At those words, Old Gun understood another reason why Sohn Bin hadn’t killed them. Sohn Bin wanted to leave the Outer Palace that Sima Hyeok had left behind, if possible, without making any major changes.

“And considering the case of Great Hero Namgoong Cheon, we can’t be too harsh on these two. It’s not like I’m trying to be a fair judge or anything.”

Of course, these cases were quite different from Namgoong Cheon’s. But since it was an event that had occurred in the Jianghu [martial arts world] martial world, it would be ridiculous to weigh the severity of the crimes like a strict judge.

“Alright. If that’s what you want to do, then do it.”

Old Gun nodded. If Sohn Bin wanted to do it that way, then that’s how it would be done.

“Oh, and…”

As if suddenly remembering something, Old Gun glanced back and continued, “I’ll take care of those pieces of trash.”

He was referring to Ilya and Iyya of the Mount Hua Five Immortals. Sohn Bin readily nodded.

“Yes, please do.”

There was no reason to object since Old Gun was offering to do it. The Mount Hua Five Immortals were no longer of any interest to Sohn Bin.

Whoosh.

Old Gun leaped into the air and landed where Ilya and Iyya were lying. Looking down at them and clicking his tongue, Old Gun suddenly raised his head and looked at the Soul-Seizing Blade.

“What are you doing? If you’re just going to stand there, help me with this.”

The Soul-Seizing Blade, who had still been looking at Sohn Bin, turned his head.

“Old Gun, you’re more than capable of handling something like that on your own.”

At those blunt words, Old Gun frowned.

“Well, yeah, but this is your front yard. Shouldn’t you at least clean up a little?”

“Clean up? The stray dogs will take care of it anyway. Old Gun, don’t bother wasting your energy and just leave them alone.”

The Soul-Seizing Blade seemed to have no intention of helping at all. Old Gun frowned and looked down at Ilya.

“Come to think of it, I think someone was badmouthing Hwa Sa earlier.”

Twitch. The Soul-Seizing Blade’s eyebrows twitched for a moment. He groaned softly and said, “Suddenly, I feel like cleaning up tonight. Sometimes, that’s not so bad.”

Muttering with a serious expression, the Soul-Seizing Blade walked towards Old Gun. Old Gun chuckled and abandoned Ilya, turning his gaze to Iyya.

“By the way, did the trip go well?”

The Soul-Seizing Blade, who had approached him, asked casually. Old Gun replied indifferently, “Yeah, it went well. Oh, the Martial Emperor and Jade Dragon went somewhere together. They probably won’t be back for a while.”

The Soul-Seizing Blade nodded. Somehow, that seemed like something those two would do.

“When did you get back?”

“Not long ago. Actually, I haven’t even seen Young Madam’s face yet.”

Old Gun sighed, and the Soul-Seizing Blade’s expression hardened.

“Oh, isn’t that a little… dangerous?”

“…I guess so?”

Seeing Old Gun’s darkening expression, the Soul-Seizing Blade couldn’t say anything. There was nothing he could do to help anyway.

“Tsk.”

Old Gun clicked his tongue, looking down at Ilya and Iyya with a troubled expression.

“…Let’s just clean these guys up.”

Old Gun sighed and said that. The Soul-Seizing Blade, who had been standing silently, grabbed Ilya by the collar and lifted him up. Old Gun also hoisted Iyya onto his shoulder.

“Would you like to have some tea when we’re done?”

It was an attempt to cheer Old Gun up a little. But Old Gun shook his head.

“I can’t. I have to go to the Moryong Family as well. Yeon-ah went there first, so I need to check how things are going. Well, maybe nothing will happen.”

“Yeon-ah, you mean the Martial Emperor’s daughter?”

When Old Gun nodded, the Soul-Seizing Blade frowned.

“Will she be alright on her own?”

Four Outer Palace experts had come to deal with the Soul-Seizing Blade. If Vice Lord Bi were to attack the Moryong Family at the same time as the Soul-Seizing Blade, he would certainly not do it carelessly. But Old Gun chuckled.

“Don’t worry. She’s not someone who can be taken down that easily. Besides, she’s the Martial Emperor’s daughter, isn’t she?”

At those words, the Soul-Seizing Blade nodded without realizing it. He didn’t know much about Sima Yeon, but Old Gun said she was fine, and her eyes, which resembled the Martial Emperor’s, were enough to make even the Soul-Seizing Blade feel tense.

“If you’re bored, you can come with me.”

At Old Gun’s words, the Soul-Seizing Blade frowned. He had no particular connection to the Moryong Family or the Gentleman Sword Moryong Myung.

“I’m not particularly bored, and I don’t have any obligation to help the Gentleman Sword…”

“Is that so? Never mind then.”

But the Soul-Seizing Blade’s words were not over yet.

“…But if it’s about thwarting Vice Lord Bi’s plans, that might be fun.”

Old Gun also chuckled. With that, the Soul-Seizing Blade’s accompaniment was decided.

Thud.

The two of them picked up Ilya and Iyya and left the area. It was right after that that Buddhist Radiant Light and Azure Rain, who had been lying on the ground, regained consciousness.

“Umm.”

Buddhist Radiant Light groaned softly. Sohn Bin turned his head and looked down at Buddhist Radiant Light and Azure Rain.

Rustle.

Buddhist Radiant Light raised his upper body, touching his head, and Azure Rain also slowly got up, as if regaining his senses.

“Are you alright?”

At Sohn Bin’s calm voice, the two of them raised their heads. Meeting Sohn Bin’s gaze as he looked down at them, the two of them simultaneously let out long sighs.

“Haa.”

Azure Rain closed his eyes, and Buddhist Radiant Light also chanted a Buddhist prayer. The result of the duel was all too clear. They had not even been able to withstand Sohn Bin’s single strike.

“Get up.”

At Sohn Bin’s words, Azure Rain and Buddhist Radiant Light stood up. The scattered rosary beads and the Lotus Blossom Sword lying over there caught their eyes, but the two of them slowly stood up and looked at Sohn Bin.

“…That was…”

Azure Rain asked in a trembling voice, “What was that?”

The moonlight pouring down on them, and the appearance of a giant blue dragon. They had never seen or heard of anything like that before. Just recalling that memory, which sent shivers down their spines once again, left Azure Rain and Buddhist Radiant Light speechless.

“It is the Martial Emperor’s Sundering Moon Eclipse. Though it is a little different…”

He didn’t give a detailed explanation. But that alone was enough of an answer for the two of them.

“Sundering… Moon Eclipse.”

Buddhist Radiant Light murmured softly. Azure Rain also let out a deep sigh.

‘Was this the world that the Martial Emperor saw?’

Only now could Azure Rain understand why he had been uninterested in the affairs of the Jianghu martial world. How could the Four Great Sects and Five Great Clans catch his eye when he had seen something like this? What meaning could there be in the orthodox and unorthodox factions? Swish. The wind blew. Buddhist Radiant Light and Azure Rain silently awaited Sohn Bin’s judgment.

“You two…”

Sohn Bin opened his mouth. It was a soft voice, but Buddhist Radiant Light and Azure Rain flinched without realizing it.

“Go back and wait.”

The two men’s complexions hardened. To go back meant that he would not take their lives immediately. But what did it mean to wait? Neither Buddhist Radiant Light nor Azure Rain could guess Sohn Bin’s intentions. But Sohn Bin said nothing more.

“…I understand.”

Azure Rain sighed and answered.

The word ‘wait’ could have many meanings depending on how it was interpreted, but at least one thing was clear.

Now, Buddhist Radiant Light and Azure Rain could not leave Mount Song and Mount Hua. The Shaolin and Mount Hua Sects were the same. Until he allowed it again, not only Buddhist Radiant Light and Azure Rain, but also the Shaolin and Mount Hua Sects could not participate in the affairs of the Jianghu martial world. With just one word, Sohn Bin had effectively placed the two pillars of the Four Great Sects under house arrest.

“…Thank you.”

Buddhist Radiant Light put his hands together and said to Sohn Bin. It was an inappropriate greeting to the person who had placed their sect under house arrest, but considering that Sohn Bin could have cut off the lineage of the Shaolin and Mount Hua Sects right then and there, it was rather natural courtesy. Sohn Bin bowed lightly in response to his greeting. But Buddhist Radiant Light’s words were not over yet.

“And someday…”

Buddhist Radiant Light looked straight at Sohn Bin and said, “I would like to compete with you once again.”

A strange light flashed in Sohn Bin’s eyes. But Buddhist Radiant Light’s shining eyes told him that he was speaking from the heart.

“I feel the same way.”

Azure Rain, who was next to him, also bowed and said. Sohn Bin wore a faint smile. And he straightened his posture and bowed in return to their greetings.

“Yes. Someday…”

Sohn Bin replied with a smile, “I will make sure to do so.”

At that moment, Buddhist Radiant Light and Azure Rain could clearly understand. Although he was different from the Martial Emperor in many ways, Sohn Bin’s statement that he was ‘walking the path of the Martial Emperor’ was the unvarnished truth.

Buddhist Radiant Light and Azure Rain smiled. It was a bright smile that they had not worn in a long time.

***

After Buddhist Radiant Light and Azure Rain left, Old Gun and the Soul-Seizing Blade returned. Old Gun frowned when he learned that the two had left in the meantime.

“Did you already send them away?”

Sohn Bin replied with an awkward smile.

“Yes. I told them to go back and wait, so they will probably be quiet for a while.”

Old Gun clicked his tongue.

“Is that enough? You should have made them both enter the Repentance Cave for ten years and face the wall.”

“Repentance Cave?”

Sohn Bin tilted his head, hearing the word for the first time. It seemed to be a place to repent for one’s sins, but since it was a cave, it was clearly not a good environment. The Soul-Seizing Blade also asked Old Gun, as if curious.

“Come to think of it, do the Shaolin and Mount Hua Sects really have a Repentance Cave?”

“I don’t know.”

Old Gun replied indifferently.

“But they probably have something similar. Ugh, I should have taken this opportunity to crush the noses of those guys who only think they’re so great.”

The Soul-Seizing Blade gave a wry smile. Sohn Bin’s defeat of Buddhist Radiant Light and Azure Rain with a single strike was already more than enough to crush their noses.

“Did you just tell them to go back and wait, or did you say anything else?”

“They also said that they wanted to compete with me again someday.”

At those words, the Soul-Seizing Blade’s eyes flashed instantly. He also wanted to cross swords and sabers with Sohn Bin again someday.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Old Gun grumbled.

“That’s like giving them a reward. Those guys, I bet they were so happy that their mouths were splitting open.”

At Old Gun’s accurate words, Sohn Bin awkwardly glossed over the matter with a smile.

“More importantly, let’s hurry to the Moryong Family. I’m worried about Young Miss Sima.”

It was a natural thing for Sohn Bin to say, but Old Gun frowned as if asking what he meant.

“Yeon-ah? Why?”

“Well, because…”

It was only natural to worry about Sima Yeon. After all, four Outer Palace experts had come for the Soul-Seizing Blade, hadn’t they? But Old Gun muttered indifferently instead, “I might worry about the Kunlun Three Immortals, but there’s no need to worry about Yeon-ah. Maybe when we get there, there will only be ice sculptures left.”

Old Gun knew exactly about Sima Yeon’s changes in the Western Regions. Sima Yeon’s martial prowess in handling the Profound Heaven Ice Binding was already beyond the level of ordinary Outer Palace members.

“It’s like everyone around me is like that…”

Old Gun sighed deeply.

“Am I getting old?”

“You’ve been old for a long time.”

The Soul-Seizing Blade interjected without any tact. Old Gun glared at the Soul-Seizing Blade once before saying to Sohn Bin, “Anyway, let’s go. Well, at worst, the number of ice sculptures will only increase, right? It would be better if nothing happened.”

The three of them decided to leave for Wuhan right away. The horses that Sohn Bin and Old Gun had ridden were already exhausted, so the Soul-Seizing Blade brought the best horses from the Black Snake Stronghold. Old Gun wore a dissatisfied expression. His standards had become so high from seeing the warhorses of Xizang [Tibet] and Tianzhu [ancient India].

“Well, these are still pretty good horses. It seems like they’ve been taken care of meticulously.”

Old Gun finally wore a satisfied smile after examining the horses in detail. The three of them rode their horses towards Wuhan. Sohn Bin spurred his horse on, hoping that nothing would happen to Sima Yeon, Gentleman Sword Moryong Myung, and Iron Sword Moryong Jin.

(Author’s Note)

Old Gun is very busy in many ways.