A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 472

472. A Visitor from the Zhuge Family

Son Bin, accompanied by Pilong Zhuge Lian, made his way to where the Zhuge family head was resting. Zhuge Guan, known as Iron Brush Zhuge Guan, remained unconscious in his bed.

“He hasn’t opened his eyes once since that day,” the elderly Zhuge Lian said, his voice heavy with sorrow as he gazed at Zhuge Guan. Iron Brush Zhuge Guan was Zhuge Lian’s nephew, but to the lifelong bachelor Pilong Zhuge Lian, Zhuge Guan was like a son. After the previous family head’s untimely death, Iron Brush Zhuge Guan had also treated Zhuge Lian as a father.

“Let me take a look,” Shin-ui said, stepping forward. He approached Zhuge Guan’s bedside and began his examination. The others stepped back to give him space. Son Bin looked at the unconscious Zhuge Guan, then turned to No-gun.

“What do you think, Elder No-gun?”

No-gun replied with his usual gruffness, “I don’t know.”

Son Bin had waited for No-gun’s anger to cool before asking him to come along. No-gun had initially refused, but Son Bin persuaded him, emphasizing the need for his experience and insight. Eventually, No-gun reluctantly agreed. In truth, No-gun was also curious about the nature of the ‘strange disease’ plaguing the Zhuge family.

“But at the very least, it’s not a commonly known method,” No-gun said, glancing at Dang Ah-wol. Dang Ah-wol shook her head.

“It’s not poison.”

“There’s no strange demonic energy either,” Seo-rin added without prompting. Then, tilting his head, he said, “Uh, but wouldn’t it be most accurate if Hyung [older brother/term of endearment] looked?”

Son Bin replied gently, “The human body is more complex than you think.”

Medicine wasn’t Son Bin’s forte. He was unsure of the consequences of his actions to save lives.

“So, it’s best for Shin-ui to examine him first, and then me.”

Seo-rin nodded. Just then, Shin-ui called out to Son Bin, “Bin-ah.”

“Yes?”

Son Bin went to Shin-ui’s side. The collar of Iron Brush Zhuge Guan, who was lying on the bed, was open, revealing his chest. Shin-ui had been checking his condition by feeling his pulse and listening to his heart.

“There are no significant external wounds, and the internal injuries aren’t life-threatening,” Shin-ui said, looking down at Zhuge Guan.

“But the blood vessels and energy channels throughout his body are a mess. They’re all damaged, and the flow is unstable and irregular.”

Pilong Zhuge Lian’s face hardened at those words.

“If he were conscious, he would be in terrible pain, as if the blood vessels throughout his body were being eaten away. Perhaps it’s fortunate that he’s unconscious…” Shin-ui continued in a low voice. “He won’t last long in this state.”

Pilong Zhuge Lian gritted his teeth and closed his eyes. Shin-ui’s words were practically a death sentence. Son Bin examined Zhuge Guan with a determined expression. Then, he slowly raised his hand and gently placed it on the heart of the prone Iron Brush Zhuge Guan.

Hoo-oong.

A fierce current raged within Zhuge Guan’s body. Surprisingly, the currents were so numerous that even Son Bin was taken aback.

‘This is…’

The countless currents rushed through Iron Brush Zhuge Guan’s blood vessels, each in its own direction. Son Bin immediately recognized the nature of these currents.

“That is the power of the Blood Jade,” Sarasvati’s soft voice said. Son Bin turned to see Sarasvati looking at him with profound eyes.

“The blood of countless people contained within the Blood Jade is running rampant inside these people’s bodies.”

Few understood her words. No-gun frowned immediately.

“The blood of countless people? How can there be other people’s blood inside one person’s body?”

Sarasvati answered quietly, “Or… should I say, life?”

“Life?”

No-gun frowned, even more confused. Perhaps Sarasvati’s vocabulary was still limited. But Son Bin knew that her words were true. The currents raging inside Iron Brush Zhuge Guan’s body were something that no single person could contain, whether it was blood or life.

“Uh, I don’t really understand what you’re saying, but Hyung will be able to do it anyway,” Seo-rin said honestly.

“Hyung healed Ah-wol Noona [older sister/term of endearment], and he healed Su-yeon Noona and Hwa-sa Noona too. I wasn’t healed, but Hyung hugged me tight. Hehe.”

Sarasvati smiled, looking at the cheerful Seo-rin.

“I know, Seo-rin Gongzi [young master/term of respect]. But it’s different from those cases.”

“Different?”

No-gun asked, frowning.

“Yes. Son Gongzi cannot harmonize the power of the Blood Jade with their true energy as he has done before.”

The smile vanished from Sarasvati’s face as she answered.

“Their bodies wouldn’t be able to withstand it. And you can’t take it out either. As long as the Zhuge family’s blood flows in their bodies, the Blood Jade’s blood will not leave them.”

At those words, No-gun’s face contorted. If that were the case, then Son Bin couldn’t save them either.

“Then…”

“But.”

Sarasvati looked at Son Bin and smiled softly.

“Raja [king/sovereign] can do it.”

No-gun frowned.

“What? You just said he couldn’t…”

No-gun realized the meaning of Sarasvati’s words.

“…So, you mean Bin can’t do it with his abilities, but Raja or whatever can?”

“Yes. He can do it,” Sarasvati answered, smiling. “He’s my Raja, after all.”

No-gun stared at Sarasvati with a frown, then clicked his tongue.

“Tsk.”

He felt like he had been played by Sarasvati. But Son Bin’s reaction was different.

“I see,” Son Bin said politely to Sarasvati. “Thank you for letting me know.”

Sarasvati bowed lightly to accept his thanks. Only then did everyone realize that she had been helping Son Bin.

Son Bin turned his head and looked down at Iron Brush Zhuge Guan. Once again, he placed his hand on his chest. Soon, something began to happen to Son Bin.

Shoo-ah-ah.

It was neither momentum nor internal energy. It was even less like the fog that Pilong Zhuge Lian had felt from Bi-geom [a type of sword].

What emanated from Son Bin now enveloped everyone like the wind and sunlight of a vast prairie blowing from afar.

“Ah…” Pilong Zhuge Lian sighed without realizing it. And the next moment…

Hoo-ook.

A huge blue energy rose up and filled Pilong Zhuge Lian’s eyes. It was a truly vast and warm energy. Zhuge Lian didn’t even realize that tears were welling up in his wrinkled eyes.

***

Tak.

Son Bin and his group left the room where the family head was lying. Pilong Zhuge Lian and Shin-ui did not accompany them. The rest was now up to Shin-ui, and Zhuge Lian wanted to stay by Zhuge Guan’s side a little longer, even though his nephew had only barely regained consciousness and couldn’t even hold a proper conversation yet.

“Please come this way,” the chief steward of the Zhuge family said. The elderly chief steward, with a head full of white hair, bowed politely and led the group.

Step, step.

The group followed the chief steward across a quiet garden.

“Is he okay now?” No-gun suddenly asked. Son Bin answered quietly, “Yes. But that’s all.”

Son Bin’s expression wasn’t very bright.

“It will only become clear after Shin-ui examines him, but the blood vessels and energy channels have suffered too much damage. It will be impossible to regain his previous martial arts, and even daily life will not be easy.”

He said it would be difficult, but in reality, it was nearly impossible. No matter how many elixirs and martial arts manuals he acquired, it would never be easy to revive the damaged blood vessels and energy channels.

“What about that Blood Jade’s blood or power?”

Son Bin answered No-gun’s question. “It will be fine. It will still be there, but it won’t have any more effect. In a way, it can be said to be a temporary fix…” Son Bin sighed softly. “That’s all I can do for now.”

“That’s all?” No-gun said seriously. “He saved his life, so that’s enough. You don’t have to feel sorry.”

Even though he said that, No-gun’s expression wasn’t good either. Who would have known that the Zhuge family, considered one of the Five Great Families in the Jianghu Murim [martial arts world], would be in such a miserable state?

Meanwhile, the group arrived in front of a classic detached house. The chief steward, who had guided the group, stopped and said politely, “Please rest here for a while, and Pilong-nim [term of respect] will come.”

Sreuk.

The elderly chief steward bent over and bowed his head. The group was puzzled by the sudden courtesy, and the chief steward said in a trembling voice, “Thank you… for saving the family.”

That sight made Son Bin’s heart ache again. Son Bin quietly shook his head. “No. More than that, where are the others?”

The family head wasn’t the only one who had collapsed. Even now, countless members of the Zhuge family were groaning in pain.

“Are you already going to see someone else?” No-gun frowned immediately. He knew it was no small feat for Son Bin to save Zhuge Guan, but he was suggesting examining others right away without even resting properly.

“It’s not allowed,” No-gun said firmly. “You just saved the family head. Besides, didn’t we just arrive at the Zhuge family today? No matter how urgent it is, you have to take care of yourself first and then do what you have to do.”

“But…”

“It would be good to do as the Elder says,” Sa Su-yeon said. She, who had been quiet until now, also spoke to Son Bin with a firm look. “Son Gongzi is more important to us. And after Shin-ui finishes his examination, there may be things to discuss, so it’s not too late to start after that.”

Even though it may sound harsh, her words were right. Above all, it would be better to start after listening to Shin-ui’s examination results and discussing them thoroughly. Seo-rin nodded diligently from the side as if he agreed, and Dang Ah-wol’s eyes, visible beyond the veil, also conveyed the same sentiment.

“I understand,” Son Bin nodded. His heart was heavy thinking about the people who were still suffering, but he couldn’t ignore the wishes of his precious companions.

“Hehehe.”

Son Bin turned his head at the laughter he suddenly heard. Sarasvati was looking at Son Bin and his group with a soft expression.

“That’s good,” Sarasvati said with a faint look in her eyes. “It’s a really enviable sight. That’s why Raja is so warm-hearted.”

Son Bin cleared his throat but didn’t deny her words.

“But don’t worry too much,” Sarasvati said, looking at No-gun and the others. “There will be no more fainting like before.”

At those words, No-gun sighed deeply, remembering the time when Son Bin had collapsed in Bukhae [Northern Sea/Lake Baikal].

“Of course. I was so worried at that time… Huh?” No-gun, who was nodding, suddenly frowned and asked Sarasvati, “But you, how did you know about those things?”

It wasn’t just the Bukhae incident. When he thought about it, she had spoken earlier as if she knew how Son Bin had treated Sa Su-yeon or Dang Ah-wol.

“Well…” Sarasvati smiled slightly and answered gracefully, “Raja told me.”

“I did?” Son Bin was startled. But Sarasvati smiled as if it were natural and asked back, “Yes. Raja did. How else would I know?”

“Uh…” At that confident answer, Son Bin rummaged through his memories, wondering if he had forgotten something. But even after thinking about it again, he had never told her.

He hadn’t even considered that she might have seen Son Bin’s memories, just as he had seen her memories when he took the ‘splinter’ from Sarasvati.

“Tsk,” No-gun clicked his tongue. “Why did you have to tell her all that? Well, it’s not that I don’t know how you feel.”

“No, I…” Before Son Bin could answer, No-gun entered the detached house.

“It’s okay, Hyung,” Seo-rin smiled brightly and said. “My teacher said that all men have a bluff in them.”

“No, that’s…”

“Grandpa, let’s go together!” But Seo-rin also entered the detached house, not listening. Son Bin, who was staring blankly at the backs of Seo-rin and No-gun, suddenly turned his head, and Sa Su-yeon showed a somewhat awkward, understanding smile. Son Bin was so dumbfounded that he couldn’t even speak properly.

In the meantime, Sa Su-yeon also entered the detached house, followed by Dang Ah-wol, who bowed slightly to Son Bin and followed Sa Su-yeon. He didn’t even know why Dang Ah-wol was bowing, but Princess Gyeong-hui, who was also wearing a veil, passed by with a chilly atmosphere.

“As expected…” Sarasvati said with a smile from behind Son Bin, who was staring blankly at the backs of the group. “It’s a really enviable sight.”

Sarasvati was smiling brightly as if she was sincere, but Son Bin’s expression was contorting.

***

Shin-ui’s examination results were similar to Son Bin’s expectations. However, the prediction that daily life would not be easy was slightly different.

He said that it would be possible to return to daily life if proper treatment and recuperation were combined. It may seem like nothing, but it was something that only Shin-ui could say.

Son Bin and Shin-ui’s full-scale treatment began the next day. The treatment itself wasn’t a long process, but it wasn’t something that could be done quickly. Shin-ui had to examine each person’s condition, have a brief consultation with Son Bin, and then prescribe the subsequent treatment.

Because of this, even though Son Bin and Shin-ui worked from dawn until late at night, it took several days to treat all the people of the Zhuge family.

It was late at night when they finally treated the last patient.

Click.

When Son Bin came out of the room, Seo-rin, who had been waiting outside, immediately beamed and hugged him.

“Hyung!”

Son Bin smiled and hugged Seo-rin. Seo-rin had been guarding the front of the room where Shin-ui and Son Bin were treating people.

“Is it all over?”

“Yes. It’s all over,” Son Bin said, stroking Seo-rin’s head. When he finished treatment late at night and saw Seo-rin’s smiling face, it felt like all the fatigue of the day was gone.

“Where’s Shin-ui Grandpa?”

“He said he still has something to do. He’ll probably be out in a bit.”

Son Bin suddenly looked around.

“But, where are Su-yeon Sojeo [young mistress/term of respect] and Ah-wol Sojeo?”

Seo-rin wasn’t the only one who had been guarding the front of the room. Sa Su-yeon and Dang Ah-wol had also been there. Although they were just quietly drinking tea, it was quite a support for Son Bin.

“They went to prepare something delicious!”

Son Bin smiled at Seo-rin’s words. It seemed that they were trying to prepare dinner because they knew it would be over today. In fact, Son Bin was still more familiar with cooking, but still, sincerity was important.

“And Sarasvati Noona and Gyeong-hui Noona said they would come too.”

Seo-rin’s titles were strange. Calling Sarasvati Noona might be at her request, but Seo-rin was calling Princess Gyeong-hui as he pleased. Seo-rin was probably the only person in the world who called Princess Gyeong-hui Noona. What was even stranger was Princess Gyeong-hui’s reaction, who was displeased but didn’t particularly stop him.

“Really? Everyone must be busy…”

Sarasvati and Princess Gyeong-hui were investigating all kinds of documents and data in the Zhuge family. The justification was to find the cause of this situation and secure anything that would be helpful for future treatment, but in fact, it was no different from surveillance.

But since Pilong Zhuge Lian had already accepted it, and all the other people in charge had collapsed, there was no one to stop it.

“But everyone said they would come.”

Seo-rin’s eyes sparkled with anticipation for delicious food. Son Bin smiled without realizing it.

“Okay. Then with Shin-ui-nim [term of respect]…”

The moment Son Bin spoke, his expression hardened. At the same time, Seo-rin also raised his head with sharp eyes.

Woo-oong.

Son Bin turned his head. In the dark night sky, a middle-aged man in a fancy dress was floating in the air, dimming even the starlight.

“As expected,” a buzzing voice flowed from his mouth. He said with a faint smile, “Is this your choice?”

Looking down at Son Bin with red eyes amidst the spreading stench of blood, he was none other than Bi-geom Gongsun Guk, who had burned the Gongsun family and plunged the Zhuge family into suffering.

(Author’s words)

I’m sorry for the late update.