A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 478

Sunbin and his group passed through the middle gate and advanced to the deepest part of the great temple, the Heavenly Emperor Hall. In the fog, no more demons or demonic beasts appeared. The large black panther carried Seorin on its back, silently following the group.

Thud.

Nogun stopped and said in a low voice, “This must be the Heavenly Emperor Hall.”
A large palace, reminiscent of an imperial palace, stood before them. The thick fog could not hide its majestic appearance. However, Nogun recognized the Heavenly Emperor Hall not only because of the palace’s grandeur.

―Krrr.

The black panther lowered its head, expressing hostility. Numerous demons and wolf demonic beasts stood before the splendid Heavenly Emperor Hall, resembling an imperial palace.

―Kruk, krrrk.

The red eyes of the wolf demonic beasts glowed fiercely, a stark contrast to when they had fled at the black panther’s roar. The demons were the same. The number of demons filling the area around the Heavenly Emperor Hall was greater than before. And in the center of them, a woman in ornate clothing stood with her back turned.

Rustle.

With the sound of her dress dragging, the woman turned around. “Welcome.”
The priestess, Gongsun Zhi, said with a seductive smile.

“You are…….”

However, Gongsun Zhi could not finish her sentence. The person standing before her had completely captivated her attention.

Clang, clang.

The jade beads fell from her hand and rolled away. The sound of the beads echoed through the silence, but Gongsun Zhi did not care. No, she couldn’t care.

“……You.”

Gongsun Zhi’s voice trembled. It was an emotion she could not understand herself. An unknown longing and anger, affection and hatred for him, swept through her like a flame.

“You are…….”

Gongsun Zhi’s long eyelashes fluttered. The desire to be dominated by him, even if it meant groveling like a dog, and the unbearable urge to defile this noble being with her own hands, shook Gongsun Zhi. Gongsun Zhi could not understand the nature of these emotions.

“It’s been a while.”

Suddenly, Sunbin said quietly. And that voice awakened Gongsun Zhi from her shock.

Swish.

Gongsun Zhi raised her chin haughtily. It was an instinctive resistance that had guided her throughout her life.

“Hmph, what are you talking about?” The priestess Gongsun Zhi said, looking directly at Sunbin. “I don’t know you. If you want to get my attention, why don’t you say something sweeter?”

The somewhat sweet voice was the result of her inner desires seeping out, which she had not yet managed to suppress.

“Is that so?” Sunbin said with a wry smile. “I see. Then I will greet you again.”

Sunbin bowed politely.

Gongsun Zhi stared intently at Sunbin as he bowed. Sunbin raised his head and continued.

“I am Sunbin. I met you, young lady, with Elder Fisherman at the inn on the Yangtze River, and before that, I saw you at the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan. I also saw you at the Hyeonryeon family, and most recently at Huangshan. Although we didn’t exchange greetings then.”

The reason Sunbin remembered all the times he had met Gongsun Zhi was not because he was interested in her. Coincidentally, Gongsun Zhi was associated with unforgettable events for Sunbin. The Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan, where he first met Sasu-yeon, was one such place, as was the case with Janggang Eoeong [Yangtze River Fisherman]. It was also when Jeok Se-hwa became the adopted daughter of the Hyeonryeon family, and the same was true of Huangshan, although they did not exchange greetings directly.

“And these people are…….”

Gongsun Zhi interrupted Sunbin as he was about to introduce Nogun.

“I don’t need it.”
Gongsun Zhi said, looking directly at Sunbin. “I don’t want to know about anyone else.”

There was a subtle heat in her voice. Moreover, Gongsun Zhi’s gaze had not left Sunbin since earlier.

“Is that so?” Sunbin said with a wry smile. He was already used to her rudeness.

“Hmph.”

Gongsun Zhi snorted. And then she realized that her hand was empty. Swish. She reached out her white hand towards the jade beads that had fallen to the floor. Whoosh. The jade beads floated lightly into the air. And in an instant, they flew into Gongsun Zhi’s hand as if sucked in.

Clatter.

The jade beads made a sound in Gongsun Zhi’s long, white fingers. Gongsun Zhi, holding the jade beads, wore a haughty smile.

“Hmm.”

Nogun groaned softly.

“Telekinesis, huh……, not bad.”

Telekinesis is the act of moving objects from a distance using internal energy. It is a technique that consumes a great deal of internal energy and is very difficult to control, but Gongsun Zhi performed it so easily. That meant that the priestess Gongsun Zhi’s internal energy was by no means ordinary.

“How is it?”
Gongsun Zhi said with a smile, holding the jade beads in her hand. “I heard that these small gems are treasures whose value cannot be measured. Some people would want to trade the world for them.”

Clatter.

The jade beads that Gongsun Zhi held up made a sound. Small gems with intricate patterns and scriptures engraved on them were shining blue in her hand.

“Pretty beautiful, isn’t it?” Gongsun Zhi said with a smile. Her eyes and red lips glowed seductively.

“Yes.”

Sunbin replied. He said with a faint smile. “They are very beautiful gems.”

“Hehehe.”

Gongsun Zhi laughed. She herself did not know why Sunbin’s words, which could have been merely perfunctory, made her so happy. The rebellious spirit that had filled her heart until just now had disappeared without a trace.

“I have a feeling that you and I will get along quite well.”
Gongsun Zhi said with a seductive smile. Swish. She raised the hand holding the jade gems and opened it wide.

“How about it? Won’t you come to me? If you want…….”

Gongsun Zhi’s eyes shone intensely through the gems. “I can give you not only these gems, but also the most honorable position in the world.”
Gongsun Zhi’s red lips moved, and a sweet voice flowed out. “And, me too.”

It was an extremely decadent yet supremely arrogant sight. Like an empress ruling the world, Gongsun Zhi stood before the Heavenly Emperor Hall and confidently extended her hand towards Sunbin. She did not care that there were demons and demonic beasts all around, nor did she care about the reactions of Nogun or the other members of the group. She didn’t even care that she and Sunbin were enemies. At this moment, only Sunbin, only his answer, mattered more than anything else to Gongsun Zhi.

“Damn it, that damn world.”

Nogun said grumbling. “Now everyone is saying they’ll give it away. What are you going to do with the world anyway? Do you want to prove how great you are? Or is it such a big deal to have your name left on one side of a history book?”

Princess Gyeonghui frowned slightly at the blatant words. But she did not open her mouth.

“I.”

Sunbin replied calmly. “Decline.”

The expression on the face of Gongsun Zhi, the priestess of the Demonic Sect, was crumbling miserably. It wasn’t because of Sunbin’s rejection.

“You…….”

What angered Gongsun Zhi was the look of pity in Sunbin’s eyes. A look she had never received in her life, a humiliating look that should never have existed.

Gongsun Zhi’s heart was falling into the abyss in an instant.

“You, dare.”

Gongsun Zhi bit her lip. Her eyes, which had been shining seductively, were now blazing with murderous intent, and veins bulged on her hand holding the gems. Crack. The unbreakable gems shattered in her hand.

“Dare, to reject me?”

Gongsun Zhi’s disappointment turned into anger in an instant. The anger, which burned as fiercely as the unknown longing for Sunbin, swallowed her up in an instant. Her eyes, which had been shining seductively, were literally flickering blue. Anyone would flinch in the face of that resentment. But not Sunbin’s group.

“The most honorable position in the world.”

Sasu-yeon, who drew her sword, Myeong, said with a cold look. “Is not something you can give.”

The coldness emanating from Sasu-yeon’s beautiful eyes was colder than the energy of Hyeoncheon Hanbinggyeol [Profound Heaven Cold Ice Art] contained in Myeong.

Tang Wora, who was standing next to her, was the same.

“That’s right. Also, the truly honorable position.”

Woong.

Tang Wora’s sword, Soweol, held in her hand, contained a green aura. It was none other than Wora Dokgigon [Moon Shadow Poisonous Sword Energy].

“It’s not something that woman is thinking about.”

Tang Wora’s voice, which flowed out from behind her veil, contained complete anger. Sunbin, who had never heard such a voice, was slightly surprised, but Seorin suddenly interjected.

“And if Hyung [Brother] wanted to do something like that.”

Seorin said, putting his hands behind his head. Hongjin Manri [Red Dust Thousand Miles], held in his hand, was already holding a blue aura.

“He would have already done it. He was a blue wolf in Bukhae [North Sea], a great leader in Seojang [West Tibet], and in Cheonchuk…….”

Seorin, who was speaking, tilted his head. “Wasn’t he anything in Cheonchuk [Ancient India]?”

Sunbin, who was listening, smiled wryly. It was not because of Cheonchuk, but because of the stories of Bukhae and Seojang before that.

“In Cheonchuk, you could have taken over me and the empire.”

Saraswati said with an elegant smile. “So I find it a little funny? If you’re going to talk about the world, shouldn’t you at least have an empire in your hands before you say such things?”

Princess Gyeonghui frowned again, but said nothing. It was because she already knew that her words about holding the empire were true.

“Ah, and.”

Saraswati chuckled. And she said proudly to Gongsun Zhi. “That’s not how you seduce someone. When I did it, at least Raja [King] was shaken for a moment.”

“Ahem.”

Sunbin quickly cleared his throat. “That never…….”

“I know.”

Sasu-yeon said quietly. Her gaze was not towards Sunbin, but towards Gongsun Zhi. “It was because of Dad. So, look at that woman now.”

Sunbin raised his head. And he saw that the eyes of Gongsun Zhi, the priestess of the Demonic Sect, were flickering blue.

“It’s all because of you guys.”

Gongsun Zhi said with eyes full of resentment. She was finding the reason why she was rejected from other people so naturally.

“Yes, I don’t need anyone else. They’re just a hindrance.”

Swish.

Gongsun Zhi raised her hand. The fragments of the broken gems were still held in that hand. Swish. It was a very light movement. As if shaking off something on her hand, Gongsun Zhi waved her arm. And at that moment, the remnants of the gems in her white hand rushed towards Sunbin’s group with tremendous force.

Kwa kwa kwak.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Nogun immediately drew his Soryeong Sword [Azure Spirit Sword] and stepped forward. At the same time as his sword began to emit a blue light, the priestess Gongsun Zhi said.

“Kill them all.”

Gongsun Zhi continued, biting her red lips. “Then he will change his mind.”

―Kwaaaang!

The wolf demonic beasts howled, and countless demons threw themselves forward all at once. However, Gongsun Zhi’s gaze was fixed only on Sunbin. Her eyes were burning like the fires of hell.

Kwaaaang.

Nogun’s Soryeong Sword blew away the remnants of the gems. Seorin immediately retreated, protecting Saraswati and Princess Gyeonghui. Tak.

“Sword Demon Nuna [Sister]!”

Seorin exclaimed. The Sword Demon descended from the air and landed next to Seorin. Although she had not yet drawn her sword, it was clear that she intended to protect Saraswati and Princess Gyeonghui.

―Kuaaaang.

The giant black panther roared loudly and pounced on the wolf demonic beasts. The roar echoed through the Heavenly Emperor Hall, but the wolf demonic beasts and the black demons did not stop.

“Haa!”

Sasu-yeon let out a sharp shout and shook her sword, Myeong. The energy of Hyeoncheon Hanbinggyeol contained in her sword swept through the demons like a storm.

Kwa kwa kwa kwak.

Tang Wora’s sword, Soweol, was also mercilessly cutting down the demons. Demonic creatures and demons were rushing towards Tang Wora like crazy, but Tang Wora, fluttering her veil and wielding her sword, did not back down at all. If they had not been demonic creatures or demons, they would have already been poisoned by Wora Dokgigon and rendered helpless.

“How is it?”

Gongsun Zhi said. Huge sounds were erupting from all directions, but her voice was clearly heard in Sunbin’s ears. “Are you finally thinking of looking at me now?”

Sunbin smiled wryly. “You can’t threaten my precious people that much. They are all greater than me.”

“Is that so?”

Gongsun Zhi smiled brightly. Gongsun Zhi was unbearably happy that Sunbin was looking at her now and talking to her. She couldn’t even think about the anger from earlier.

“There are still many demons. And there will be more and more.”

Gongsun Zhi said with a smile. And Sunbin could tell that her words were by no means false.

Whooook.

Demons were appearing from the fog. New demons were appearing, not the demons that were originally in front of the Heavenly Emperor Hall.

“And it’s not just demons.”

―Krrrreung.

Wolf demonic creatures came running from the fog. The demonic creatures and demons, shining red in their eyes, rushed towards Sunbin’s group without hesitation. Like swarms of bees rushing blackly at an intruder.

Sunbin’s expression also hardened. Although they were masters of the outer family [martial artists], this kind of melee was definitely dangerous. Moreover, this place was enemy territory. It was impossible to know what preparations had been made. Just as Sunbin, sensing the danger, was about to call Nogun.

“Are you trying to avoid it? Can you?”

Gongsun Zhi said in a sticky voice. She smiled seductively at Sunbin and said. “The real thing is this.”

Swish.

Gongsun Zhi raised both arms. Whoooooook. A tremendous force poured out from her. Her ornate clothes fluttered as if caught in a storm. At that moment, Sunbin saw it. Something black was rising from the roof of the magnificent Heavenly Emperor Hall standing behind her in the fog.

It was a terrifying sight, like a black grim reaper slowly rising.

“Hehehe, how is it? Isn’t it beautiful? Especially those little flames.”

Gongsun Zhi said with a smile, but Sunbin didn’t hear it. Sunbin remembered the appearance of the black objects and the small flames that were sparkling as if clinging to it.

It was the Hwatan [Fire Pill] that had fallen towards Sunbin’s group in Huangshan.

“Elder Nogun!”

Sunbin turned his head and shouted urgently. However, Gongsun Zhi’s clear voice blocked the words.

“It’s too late.”

Whoooooong.

The black Hwatan covered the area around the Heavenly Emperor Hall. Nogun and Sasu-yeon also noticed it, but they could not do anything because of the constantly rushing demonic creatures and demons.

“Damn it!”

Tat.

At the same time as Nogun shouted, the Sword Demon flew into the air. Seorin also clenched his teeth while holding the Buljin [Unmoving Staff] and threw himself.

At that time, Gongsun Zhi’s voice echoed in Sunbin’s ear.

“Humans are really interesting. With such crude weapons.”

Sunbin turned his head. Gongsun Zhi was smiling at him with red eyes.

“They can be good or evil, gods or demons.”

Swish.

Sunbin drew his sword, Baekro [White Dew]. The beautiful blade of Baekro revealed its appearance.

Kwaang.

The Hwatan exploded overhead. It must have been the result of something the Sword Demon or Seorin had done, but Sunbin did not look back. Taking a step forward, Sunbin drew Baekro as it was.

Shwiiik.

A blue light began to cut through Gongsun Zhi. However, Gongsun Zhi sneered. Swish. Gongsun Zhi’s body moved backward as if sliding. It was a smooth movement that was hard to believe that she was controlling so many Hwatan with telekinesis.

Kwang, kwaang.

“That’s already…….”

Gongsun Zhi said with a smile in the midst of the exploding sounds. But her words could not continue.

Sabak.

When Sunbin’s foot took another step, the distance between him and Gongsun Zhi had already disappeared.

‘Heok!’

Gongsun Zhi was shocked. Sunbin appeared in front of Gongsun Zhi as if he had been there from the beginning. No, perhaps Gongsun Zhi felt joy. It was because she had clearly confirmed with her own eyes that the person in front of her was an existence that exceeded her expectations.

However, Sunbin, who approached Gongsun Zhi, was raising the beautiful blade of Baekro upwards as it was.

“Hmph!”

Gongsun Zhi immediately struck down Baekro’s blade. It didn’t matter that she had nothing in her bare hands. She was confident that her magic could even block the sword energy of a master.

Swish.

However, Gongsun Zhi’s hand passed through the air in vain. Gongsun Zhi missed the extremely simple sword path, which was neither a strange move nor a flashy change.

‘No way!’

Gongsun Zhi was shocked again. However, Baekro’s haughty blade was already looking down at her from above. And the next moment.

In front of the falling blade of Baekro, Gongsun Zhi saw the world split in two.

It was the sword of Ilchoban Sik [One Style Initial Form], Okryong Yeokrin Cham [Jade Dragon Reverse Scale Strike], which silenced the previous Okryong.

(Author’s words) Everyone already admitted that Sunbin was shaken by Saraswati’s words.