A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 448

448. Gōngsūn Zhī, the Dānshīnhuā [Red Spider Lily, a flower symbolizing separation and death]

Deep into the night, Dāng Clan’s young Chief Military Strategist, Dāng Hwaryun, remained in her office, poring over documents. Her outstanding abilities and decisive drive, combined with her youth and beauty, would normally be assets, but tonight Dāng Hwaryun’s expression was far from pleasant. Problems were erupting on all sides, constantly tormenting her.

Rustle.

Dāng Hwaryun frowned, examining the document in her hand. Most of the issues concerned the Dāng Clan’s covert efforts to expand into Gangnam [area south of the Han River in Seoul] and Gangbuk [area north of the Han River in Seoul]. The reason these efforts, which had been progressing smoothly, were now faltering was clear: other large clans and aristocratic families, specifically those aligned with Bigeom Gōngsūn Geuk, were blatantly obstructing them.

Swish.

Dāng Hwaryun put down the document and picked up a small brush. She wrote a few words on the paper.

Rustle, rustle.

As her long, white fingers moved, elegant sentences flowed from the tip of the brush.

Thud.

With the brush stopping, one problem found its solution. Having finished writing, Dāng Hwaryun put down the brush. However, many more problems awaited her attention.

‘Still……’

Dāng Hwaryun sighed softly and reached for the teacup beside her.

Clink.

Lifting the teacup, Dāng Hwaryun wore a gentle smile. Unlike her face, weary from overwork, her eyes sparkled with vitality.

‘Because Wǒr-ah [term of endearment] has returned.’

A letter that had arrived from the Seowon [private Confucian academy] a few days ago brought her news that was more joyful than anything else. Even though problems were erupting from all sides, it was enough to give her hope. Of course, even if that weren’t the case, Dāng Hwaryun would never have been discouraged.

“Tsk.”

Dāng Hwaryun, who had brought the teacup to her lips, frowned and clicked her tongue. The tea, once hot, was now cold. Just as she raised her head to call for someone,

“Chief Military Strategist.”

A low voice came from outside the office. It was one of Dāng Hwaryun’s direct subordinates. Before Dāng Hwaryun could answer, the subordinate continued.

“We are under attack.”

“What?”

Thump. Dāng Hwaryun frowned and immediately rose from her seat. She opened the office door and stepped outside. The subordinate bowed his head to Dāng Hwaryun.

“The enemy is small in number, and their identity is unconfirmed. The patrolling warriors discovered them, and the White Tiger Squad is responding, but… they are outmatched.”

Dāng Hwaryun’s expression hardened. The White Tiger Squad was the elite of the Dāng Clan. Although their strength had diminished after the reorganization, they, along with the Golden Dragon Squad and the Silver Sword Squad, were the main force of the Dāng Clan in name and reality. That the White Tiger Squad was outmatched was alarming.

“What is the intruders’ objective?”

“We have not yet determined it.”

Dāng Hwaryun bit her lip. Just then, the Deputy Chief ran down the hallway with hurried footsteps. Tap, tap, tap, tap.

“Ch, Chief Military Strategist!”

The Deputy Chief, flustered, bowed his head in respect, even in his haste to reach Dāng Hwaryun.

“I’ve already heard the report about the intruders.”

At Dāng Hwaryun’s cold words, the middle-aged Deputy Chief shook his head vigorously.

“No, now, fire… The intruders have set fire to the Grand Assembly Hall!”

The Grand Assembly Hall was where the Dāng Clan’s major and minor affairs were decided. Although not a grand building, it symbolized authority to the people of the Dāng Clan. And now, unidentified intruders had set it ablaze.

‘How dare they.’

Gritting her teeth, Dāng Hwaryun turned to her subordinate.

“The Golden Dragon Squad and the Silver Sword Squad?”

“They are on emergency status, guarding their assigned areas. However, many personnel are dispatched outside, leaving vacancies.”

Force was often necessary to resolve the Dāng Clan’s problems, so vacancies were inevitable. Dāng Hwaryun frowned slightly, lost in thought, then continued.

“Prepare everyone to gather at the Grand Assembly Hall immediately in case of emergency.”

The subordinate’s eyes lit up. Gathering them meant abandoning other places – important places that the Golden Dragon Squad and the Silver Sword Squad were meant to protect during an emergency. However, Dāng Hwaryun didn’t retract her words. Sensing his doubts, she said with a cold look,

“Perhaps there will be no need to protect other places.”

She didn’t elaborate. If the Dāng Clan’s White Tiger Squad couldn’t handle a small number of intruders, the possibilities were limited.

‘The Outer Affairs.’

Dāng Hwaryun suspected the intruders were likely from the Outer Affairs [a group of martial arts experts]. She knew this could be the greatest crisis facing her and the Dāng Clan.

Swish.

Having spoken, Dāng Hwaryun turned without hesitation. The Deputy Chief asked urgently,

“Wh, where are you going?”

Dāng Hwaryun answered without looking back.

“To the Grand Assembly Hall.”

“Yes?”

The Deputy Chief’s question was natural. The intruders were setting fire to the Grand Assembly Hall, yet she was going there? The subordinate warrior also objected.

“It’s dangerous. It’s better to avoid it now……”

Thud. Dāng Hwaryun stopped and turned her head.

“I told you, perhaps there will be no need to protect other places.”

A faint smile touched her lips.

“Then at least I should see their faces myself, shouldn’t I?”

It was a captivating sight that caught the eyes of the warrior and the Deputy Chief. But the smile soon disappeared. Dāng Hwaryun turned her head with a cold expression and began to walk towards the Grand Assembly Hall.

Swish.

The subordinate warrior bowed his head and disappeared to immediately convey orders to the Golden Dragon Squad and the Silver Sword Squad. The Deputy Chief, left alone, didn’t know what to do and hurriedly followed Dāng Hwaryun.

“Ch, Chief Military Strategist!”

The Deputy Chief shouted, but Dāng Hwaryun didn’t look back. She moved towards the burning Grand Assembly Hall without hesitation.

***

Flames engulfed the Dāng Clan’s Grand Assembly Hall. Fortunately, there was no wind, so the fire didn’t spread, but the historic wooden building was already consumed by flames and thick smoke. Crackle, crackle. The Grand Assembly Hall, symbolizing the authority of the Dāng Clan, was burning, but no one dared to extinguish the fire because of the unidentified intruders standing in front of it.

“Hehe, what are you all doing?”

An old man, stroking his long, white beard, spoke calmly as he looked at the surrounding Dāng Clan warriors. The old man, dressed like a Taoist, said,

“Why don’t you put out the fire quickly? At this rate, your Grand Assembly Hall will burn down completely.”

He clicked his tongue as if sorry. He was the second of the Gūnlún Three Immortals [a trio of powerful Taoist cultivators], Jìguān Dì. But he was the one who had harmed the Dāng Clan warriors and set fire to the Grand Assembly Hall. The Dāng Clan warriors gritted their teeth, but no one dared to attack Jìguān Dì. Even thirty elite warriors of the White Tiger Squad couldn’t subdue the intruders, and many were seriously injured in the fighting.

“Hmph. Dāng Clan, Dāng Clan, but in the end, this is all they amount to.”

Another elderly Taoist opened his mouth. He was the third of the Gūnlún Three Immortals, Shuǐguān Dì, with a fierce look in his eyes. Shuǐguān Dì sneered at the White Tiger Squad warriors, then glanced back and said,

“We didn’t even need to come out, did we?”

His gaze was directed at a young woman in fancy clothes. The woman, dressed in luxurious red silk, wore sparkling hair ornaments and accessories. She looked like a precious daughter of a noble family out for a stroll, but no one mistook her for a naive young lady.

Hoo-oong.

An eerie aura subtly flowed from her, and her eyes shone viciously under the flames. The Gūnlún Three Immortals, as well as the White Tiger Squad warriors, dared not disregard her.

“It can’t be helped.”

The young woman said in a clear voice.

“What can we expect from the barbarians of Sichuan [province in southwestern China] in the first place?”

The moment her bright red lips formed a sneer, the Dāng Clan warriors were captivated. Even in this grave situation.

“Hehe.”

The young woman, aware of the gazes, smiled with satisfaction. She was Dānshīnhuā Gōngsūn Zhī, the granddaughter of Bigeom Gōngsūn Geuk and one of the Five Beauties of Mount Huáng [fictional mountain], who could disarm warriors with a single smile. But her appearance now was different. Her charm, which once swayed reason, was now a ghastly seduction mixing fear and pleasure.

“Hehehe.”

Shuǐguān Dì laughed heartily, but his gaze subtly scanned Gōngsūn Zhī’s figure reflected in the flames. The revealed figure and feminine curves stirred his greed, but he couldn’t reveal it openly. The woman before him was someone he couldn’t handle, even with all his might.

“Then instead of us being like this……”

“No, wait here.”

Gōngsūn Zhī cut off Shuǐguān Dì’s words. The other party was one of the Gūnlún Three Immortals, belonging to the Outer Affairs, but even he was beneath her notice.

“That b*tch will definitely come here.”

Gōngsūn Zhī’s eyes shone coldly. She bit her lip slightly and continued.

“And anyway, no one but that b*tch will know about the legacy.”

“Ahem.”

The second of the Gūnlún Three Immortals, Jìguān Dì, cleared his throat, worried that Gōngsūn Zhī might reveal their purpose.

“Miss, such words……”

“Why?”

Gōngsūn Zhī looked at Jìguān Dì with a smile.

“Shouldn’t I say it?”

Facing that fatal smile, Jìguān Dì felt his inner energy shaken and his lust boiling.

‘Gasp. Such a thing……’

It wasn’t just Jìguān Dì. Not only the elite warriors of the Dāng Clan, but also Shuǐguān Dì, couldn’t take their eyes off Dānshīnhuā Gōngsūn Zhī.

Whirr.

The flames blazed in the Grand Assembly Hall. Even in that intense heat and smoke, people’s gazes were fixed on Gōngsūn Zhī.

“Hehe.”

The laughter came from the first of the Gūnlún Three Immortals, once called Taepyeong Seonsa and now Cheongwān Dì.

“My foolish brothers can’t handle it, so Dānshīnhuā, please withdraw your power.”

It was a polite tone, unlike the usually arrogant Cheongwān Dì. But Dānshīnhuā Gōngsūn Zhī smiled even more deeply.

“Really? I didn’t do anything?”

Cheongwān Dì gave a bitter smile. Her claim of doing nothing might be true. The bewitching energy flowing from her wasn’t intentional, but a natural emission of her demonic energy, like breathing.

“Rather than telling me what to do, shouldn’t you resent your own inadequacy for not being able to handle even this much?”

Dānshīnhuā said with cold eyes. In the world of martial arts, where power reigns, her words were correct. But enduring the bewitching energy that shook even the experts of the Outer Affairs was too much to ask.

“Hehehe.”

Cheongwān Dì laughed again, but his mood was uneasy. Dānshīnhuā Gōngsūn Zhī had rejected his request, not even admitting responsibility, let alone withdrawing her power.

‘Tsk.’

Cheongwān Dì clicked his tongue inwardly, unable to say more. Fortunately, at that moment, the person they awaited appeared.

“Ah.”

Dānshīnhuā Gōngsūn Zhī turned her gaze. Someone was approaching.

Step, step.

The young woman approaching without hesitation was Dāng Hwaryun, the Chief Military Strategist of the Dāng Clan. Flames rose in the Grand Assembly Hall, intruders and Dāng Clan warriors confronted each other, but her steps were unwavering.

“Chief Military Strategist! It’s dangerous.”

A warrior of the White Tiger Squad shouted.

Thud.

Dāng Hwaryun stopped. But she was too close, within easy reach of the Gūnlún Three Immortals.

Swish.

Dāng Hwaryun examined the intruders. She didn’t recognize the Gūnlún Three Immortals, but she frowned at Dānshīnhuā Gōngsūn Zhī.

“You are definitely a daughter of the Gōngsūn family.”

At those words, Gōngsūn Zhī smiled. Even though the bewitching energy emitted by her demonic energy should have shaken Dāng Hwaryun’s reason, Dāng Hwaryun’s expression remained unchanged.

“It’s so nice that you remember me.”

Between Gōngsūn Zhī’s smiling red lips, she gritted her teeth.

“The great Chief Military Strategist of the Dāng Clan, I mean.”

It was blatant sarcasm, but Dāng Hwaryun turned her head and looked at the Dāng Clan warriors. The sight of the injured and bleeding warriors clearly showed a fierce battle. The warriors of the White Tiger Squad, the elite of the Dāng Clan.

“Hoo.”

Dāng Hwaryun sighed softly. Gōngsūn Zhī watched with a satisfied expression.

“So.”

Dāng Hwaryun said, turning to the Gūnlún Three Immortals.

“Who are you three?”

“We are the Gūnlún Three Immortals.”

The third, Shuǐguān Dì, replied with an arrogant smile.

“Are you Seolgeom [Snow Sword] Dāng Hwaryun?”

“That’s right.”

Dāng Hwaryun stood upright and answered.

“What business do you three have with the Dāng Clan?”

“We are……”

“It’s nothing much.”

Gōngsūn Zhī’s voice cut off Shuǐguān Dì’s words. Shuǐguān Dì frowned, but said nothing.

“I came because there are a few things I need to take.”

Dāng Hwaryun turned her head and looked at Gōngsūn Zhī.

“Things to take…… I know there’s nothing to return to the Gōngsūn family?”

“Oh my, you don’t seem as smart as I thought?”

Gōngsūn Zhī smiled, her eyes slowly emitting a sharp murderous intent.

“Don’t you remember?”

Everyone felt a chill at her voice. Jìguān Dì and Shuǐguān Dì were no exception.

“You slapped my cheek in Huángshān [Yellow Mountain].”

Gōngsūn Zhī said with a smile, but the murderous intent flowing from her eyes was palpable, sending a cold chill down their spines.

“Did I?”

Dāng Hwaryun smiled for the first time. She looked straight at Gōngsūn Zhī and said,

“I don’t dwell on unpleasant things. What’s the point of remembering slapping a rude b*tch?”

Gōngsūn Zhī’s eyes narrowed. Dāng Hwaryun’s words were a blatant insult.

“Besides, I thought you were far from becoming a human back then……”

Dāng Hwaryun said with a cold gaze, filled with sincere disgust.

“Now it looks like you’ve stopped being a human altogether?”

She was now the Chief Military Strategist of the Dāng Clan, but Dāng Hwaryun was also a rising star in the martial arts world, called Seolgeom. She couldn’t be ignorant of the sinister demonic energy Gōngsūn Zhī exuded.

“That’s right. Can you recognize it?”

Despite Dāng Hwaryun’s unpleasant gaze, Dānshīnhuā Gōngsūn Zhī’s smile deepened.

“But it’s amazing. I know that the Dāng Clan’s inner cultivation method is not related to Buddhism or Taoism, but to notice it at once……”

Gōngsūn Zhī said with a smirk.

“Was there something about demonic arts in the legacy left by Maengho [fierce tiger]?”

Dāng Hwaryun’s expression hardened. The reason she had resisted Gōngsūn Zhī’s bewitching energy was revealed.

“Indeed.”

Gōngsūn Zhī smiled.

“It’s worth coming all the way here, isn’t it?”

Gōngsūn Zhī said with a sneer. Her voice, standing before the burning Grand Assembly Hall, echoed ominously, as if flowing from a deep abyss.

(Author’s words)

Gōngsūn Zhī is fearlessly taking on a scary older sister.