A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 473

473. Flying Sword Gongsun Ke

In the dark night sky, where even the starlight was faint, Flying Sword Gongsun Ke gazed down at Son Bin from above. Though Gongsun Ke’s appearance had changed, Son Bin recognized him instantly.

“Krrreung.”

Seorin lowered himself, growling sharply. Gongsun Ke’s sudden appearance triggered his instincts. Despite his fear, he carefully protected Son Bin’s sword and White Dew, which he had entrusted to Seorin for safekeeping.

“It’s okay, Seorin.”

Son Bin said softly, placing a hand on Seorin’s head.

Rustle.

At his touch, Seorin’s tense posture relaxed. Seorin looked up at Son Bin with worried eyes.

“…Hyung [older brother or respected older male figure].”

Son Bin smiled and stroked Seorin’s head. Seorin’s eyes calmed, but he remained wary of Gongsun Ke. Suddenly, Noh Gun’s booming voice echoed.

“Bin-ah!”

It was a lion’s roar. The tremendous sound shook the surroundings. It felt as if Noh Gun would appear at any moment. Flying Sword Gongsun Ke remained still, hands behind his back.

Whoosh.

As expected, Noh Gun flew toward Son Bin, ignoring buildings and walls, taking the shortest path.

Thud.

Noh Gun landed lightly in front of Son Bin.

“Are you okay?”

Noh Gun asked, glaring at Gongsun Ke. He kept his eyes fixed on Gongsun Ke. Before Son Bin could answer, two more figures landed to Son Bin’s left and right.

Sabeok, Sarak.

Sa Su-yeon and Dang Wol-ah arrived. Sa Su-yeon held her sword, Myeong, while Dang Wol-ah brandished Sowol in her small hands.

“Are you okay?”

Sa Su-yeon asked quietly, glaring at Gongsun Ke.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

Son Bin replied softly. Then,

“You too……”

A buzzing voice came from Flying Sword Gongsun Ke, floating in the air. Son Bin looked up. Noh Gun, Seorin, Sa Su-yeon, and Dang Wol-ah drew their swords, guarding against Gongsun Ke.

“You’re not alone.”

Flying Sword Gongsun Ke said, looking down at Son Bin with red eyes. Noh Gun frowned.

“What are you talking about? More than that, you……”

Noh Gun paused.

“You’ve gotten younger! What did you eat to look like that?”

As they had heard, Flying Sword Gongsun Ke’s appearance had changed. The wrinkles were gone, and he had no white hair. His physique was larger, making him look like a healthy middle-aged man in his prime. However, his intense aura and eyes made it questionable whether people would see him as human.

“You’re……, Noh Gun?”

Noh Gun frowned at Gongsun Ke’s reaction. It was as if he were a stranger. But then, Gongsun Ke smiled faintly.

“How pathetic. I wonder why the old me was afraid of someone like you.”

Swish.

Gongsun Ke, who had been putting his hands behind his back, raised one hand. Noh Gun, Seorin, Sa Su-yeon, and Dang Wol-ah flinched, but Gongsun Ke did nothing.

“Look.”

Gongsun Ke said, looking down at his hand. There wasn’t a single wrinkle.

“Isn’t it beautiful?”

Pfft. Noh Gun laughed.

“I don’t know what you ate.”

Noh Gun said, staring straight at Gongsun Ke.

“You should see a doctor. You seem to be in serious condition.”

Noh Gun sneered.

“Looking at his own hands and calling them beautiful—when did Flying Sword become a girl?”

It was a mockery that would have enraged him in the past. But Gongsun Ke’s reaction was unexpected.

“……Is that so?”

Flying Sword Gongsun Ke said, looking at Noh Gun. He slowly withdrew his hand and muttered, hands behind his back.

“Maybe.”

Even Noh Gun was speechless. He frowned and muttered.

“……This guy, is he really in serious condition?”

It was a joke, but no one laughed. Not even Noh Gun could relax his guard.

Swish.

Gongsun Ke suddenly raised his head.

“Come out.”

He said, looking at the empty air with fierce eyes.

“We don’t like to hide.”

‘We?’

Noh Gun wondered.

Whoosh.

As Gongsun Ke finished speaking, someone appeared in the air. Her long hair fluttered, and her white clothes flowed. Sword Fairy held her Ice Sword, its sharp light flashing.

Booook.

Sword Fairy’s blade fell toward Flying Sword, cutting through the air. It was an unexpected attack, but Gongsun Ke was not surprised.

“Hmph.”

Flying Sword Gongsun Ke waved his hand lightly. An unbelievable sight unfolded.

Jeojeojeok.

A red figure appeared from Gongsun Ke’s fingertips. Following his hand’s trajectory, a rough, bent, dark red blade like a giant scythe materialized.

“That’s!”

Noh Gun frowned, groaning. The distorted red blade seemed untrimmed. Everyone knew what it was.

It was a blade of blood, created by Blood Demon in the past with the Blood Demon Sword.

Clang.

A sharp metallic sound echoed. Flying Sword Gongsun Ke’s blade of blood and Sword Fairy’s Ice Sword collided.

Kagak.

The Ice Sword and the blade of blood clashed. Sword Fairy twisted her body.

Pararak.

Her long black hair drew a circle in the air. Sword Fairy, her white clothes fluttering, landed lightly next to Noh Gun.

Tak.

Sword Fairy, having already sheathed her sword, stood protectively in front of Son Bin. As Son Bin was about to ask if she was okay, Gongsun Ke’s voice echoed.

“Not bad.”

Gongsun Ke said, looking at his red blade.

“To wound my Blood Scale.”

There was a small wound on the blade of blood. It was tiny compared to the distorted blade, but significant.

“But this isn’t your power.”

Gongsun Ke said, looking at Sword Fairy. Though Sword Fairy was at the peak of the Outer Sect, this was beyond human martial arts.

Swish.

As Gongsun Ke lowered his hand, the blade of blood faded into mist and disappeared.

“This is thanks to you. Isn’t it?”

Gongsun Ke, floating in the air, smiled faintly.

“Son Bin, I’m talking about you.”

Son Bin met Gongsun Ke’s red eyes.

Swish.

Son Bin stepped forward. He felt Noh Gun’s frown and questioning gaze, but he moved in front of Noh Gun and Sword Fairy.

“It’s been a while.”

Son Bin said calmly.

“Or perhaps, ‘Nice to meet you for the first time.’”

A different light flashed in Gongsun Ke’s eyes, but it was fleeting. Son Bin continued.

“In the past, I told you to think about how to live as a human being.”

Son Bin had said that while destroying Gongsun Ke’s Demonic Art in Hwangsan. He told him to consider living as a human, not as a master or martial artist.

“Is this.”

Son Bin said, looking straight at Gongsun Ke.

“Is this your answer?”

Gongsun Ke didn’t answer, but smiled thinly.

“Hehe. Yes, that’s it.”

Gongsun Ke said, his eyes shining with joy.

“That look is what I wanted, Son Bin.”

It wasn’t a smile. Gongsun Ke’s twisted expression was ridiculous, but no one laughed.

Sarak.

Gongsun Ke clenched and opened his hand, as if holding back an urge.

“Strange, strange.”

Gongsun Ke muttered to himself. His eyes shook anxiously.

“It wasn’t like this. This isn’t it. This is just…….”

Gongsun Ke, muttering incomprehensible words, looked at Son Bin.

“Who are you?”

Gongsun Ke’s voice trembled, not with fear.

“What are you that makes the world so full of meaning? Who are you that…….”

Gongsun Ke laughed. Noh Gun felt goosebumps at the eerie sight. So did Seorin, Sa Su-yeon, and Dang Wol-ah.

“Do you make us so happy?”

Sreung.

Noh Gun and Sword Fairy drew their swords. Sa Su-yeon and Dang Wol-ah instinctively drew their swords and stepped forward. Gongsun Ke spread his arms wide.

Chwaaaak.

Numerous blades of blood stretched out like whips from Gongsun Ke’s hands, covering the night sky and pouring down on Son Bin and his party.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Noh Gun shouted, swinging his sword, Soryeong.

Booook.

Soryeong, containing blue sword energy, tore through the air. Sword Fairy’s Ice Sword, Sa Su-yeon’s Myeong, and Dang Wol-ah’s Sowol flashed.

Kagagagang.

Sharp metallic sounds burst out. White Dew, held by Seorin, was already in Son Bin’s hand.

Sreuk.

The proud blade of White Dew scattered its beautiful light in the dark night sky. Son Bin drew the raised White Dew from top to bottom. It wasn’t a distance that would reach Gongsun Ke, but distance didn’t matter to his ‘One Flash’ anymore.

Chwajwajak.

Numerous blades of blood soared from behind Gongsun Ke and embraced him, like wings of blood.

Seogeok.

But the wings of blood were mercilessly cut off by White Dew’s ‘One Flash’.

Huddeuk.

Blades of blood fell, turning into red mist before touching the ground. Gongsun Ke laughed.

“Hehehe.”

Gongsun Ke had escaped the range of ‘One Flash’, blocking White Dew’s blade with wings of blood and stepping back.

“Amazing.”

Gongsun Ke said, looking at Son Bin. The blades of blood scattered like mist. The stench of blood was thick, but no one frowned.

“Indeed, you are more than I expected.”

Gongsun Ke’s red eyes shone with joy. Noh Gun felt goosebumps, not from fear, but from disgust. Gongsun Ke, looking down at Son Bin, suddenly frowned.

“But I don’t like this place.”

“What don’t you like?”

Noh Gun frowned.

“You invaded. You used murder. You ruined the Zhuge Family. So what’s not to like?”

Gongsun Ke invaded, but Sword Fairy attacked first. Gongsun Ke didn’t care.

“This place is not suitable for a battle that risks the fate of the world. This is not a place where we and he can fight.”

“Bullshit, nonsense…….”

Noh Gun began to speak.

Swish.

Son Bin stopped Noh Gun, nodding to ask for understanding. Noh Gun clicked his tongue, respecting Son Bin’s wishes.

“You.”

Jeobeok. Son Bin took another step forward. White Dew shone in his hand.

“Why did you attack the Zhuge Family?”

It was a sudden question, but Gongsun Ke answered.

“Well? I don’t know either. Why I tried to destroy this place.”

“What?”

Noh Gun frowned.

“What are you talking about? You…….”

“The Zhuge Family, I don’t care about them.”

Gongsun Ke cut off Noh Gun’s words.

“Not anymore.”

Noh Gun understood. As long as Son Bin was there, the Zhuge Family’s fate was meaningless to Gongsun Ke.

“This crazy bastard.”

Noh Gun couldn’t hide his anger. It wasn’t about the Zhuge Family.

“Are you harming lives that don’t matter for something that doesn’t matter?”

“Lives that don’t matter…….”

Gongsun Ke smiled.

“Are you talking about something like this?”

Chwaaaak.

Numerous blades of blood stretched out from Gongsun Ke’s fingertips, hitting the Zhuge Family’s building behind him.

Kwagwagwak.

The blades pierced the roof like paper. Son Bin flinched, but Sword Fairy spoke.

“It’s okay.”

Kwareureureu. The building began to collapse. The pillars and beams were cut off.

“There’s no one there.”

Sword Fairy said quietly.

“Everyone escaped. And Shin-ui too.”

Son Bin sighed in relief. He wondered why Sword Fairy was late, but she had evacuated people.

It wouldn’t have been possible if Gongsun Ke hadn’t been distracted by Son Bin. Without Son Bin, the Zhuge Family would have been gone.

Kureureung.

The Zhuge Family’s antique building collapsed, raising dust. Gongsun Ke’s blades scattered like mist.

“Lucky.”

Gongsun Ke muttered, looking at the collapsed building. He would have recognized those with the Zhuge Family’s blood, but Son Bin had suppressed the Blood Jade, so he couldn’t.

“Why did you save the Zhuge Family?”

Gongsun Ke asked, turning to Son Bin.

“These are your enemies and those who betrayed you.”

His voice echoed.

“Well.”

Son Bin said calmly. He didn’t know if betrayal was appropriate, but the Zhuge Family had become his enemy.

“I don’t know either. Why I helped the Zhuge Family.”

Gongsun Ke frowned. Son Bin’s answer seemed mocking, but Son Bin continued.

“But my precious people wanted it. And my heart wanted to do so.”

Son Bin answered without hesitation.

“So if it wasn’t for these people, the Zhuge Family would have meant nothing to me. Not only the Zhuge Family, but the whole world.”

Son Bin said, looking straight at Gongsun Ke.

“I didn’t know that these people would become such precious meanings. So even if they are irrelevant to me right now, how can I not cherish them?”

“Hehe.”

Gongsun Ke laughed quietly. He saw the eyes that had been filled with fear and vigilance begin to shine with life at Son Bin’s words.

“As expected, I can’t understand.”

He shook his head.

“Your answer means nothing to me. In the first place, what does a person mean?”

Gongsun Ke looked down at Son Bin with his hands behind his back and arrogant eyes.

“But you are different. Even if your words mean nothing to me, your death will not.”

Gongsun Ke said with sparkling eyes.

“Come to Mount Tai [a mountain in Shandong province, China, of great historical and cultural significance].”

“Mount Tai?”

Noh Gun frowned. Gongsun Ke continued with arrogant eyes.

“The human emperors are said to have performed sacrifices to heaven and earth there after gaining the world.”

Gongsun Ke referred to the Bongseon ritual [an ancient Chinese ceremony performed by emperors to communicate with heaven and earth]. It includes the Bongrye (封禮), where the emperor offers sacrifices to heaven, and the Seonrye (禪禮), where sacrifices are offered to the earth. It is a ritual passed down since the legendary era, performed only by the emperor who received the mandate of heaven.

“After defeating you there, I will declare to heaven and earth that I have become the master of the world.”

Gongsun Ke said arrogantly.

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Noh Gun retorted.

“What Bongseon? It’s just a play on words for your satisfaction.”

Gongsun Ke wouldn’t offer sacrifices to heaven and earth. His mention of Mount Tai and the Bongseon ritual was just for his own satisfaction. But if Gongsun Ke won, the result wouldn’t end with just words.

“And why should our Bin go just because you tell him to? Why would Bin go to a place where he doesn’t know what you’ve done?”

Noh Gun’s point was obvious. But Gongsun Ke laughed.

“Didn’t I already say that the world has begun to overflow with meaning?”

Son Bin realized the meaning and his face hardened. Gongsun Ke looked at Son Bin and smiled.

“If you don’t come to Mount Tai, you will see the things you loved crumble one by one. And I am sure that will be a very enjoyable thing for me.”

Hooook.

Numerous blades of blood soared from Gongsun Ke’s body. He floated into the night sky.

“Climbing Mount Tai may not be easy. I’m not the only one who wants to meet you.”

Gongsun Ke said with a bitter smile. He was like a god of death spreading his wings of blood.

“Just as a peerless singer needs a suitable stage, I will prepare a stage suitable for you.”

Gongsun Ke looked down at Son Bin with sparkling eyes.

“A stage suitable for the death of a hero.”