A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 489

489. Secret Guests

The rear garden of the Seoan Yewon [a type of traditional Korean garden] was bustling with people. This garden, which was originally quiet, seemed cramped with the addition of the Bukhae people to the already large group of Son Bin’s entourage. Especially the children, with their surprising energy that never seemed to tire despite the long journey, were looking around and exploring everywhere. Though they would probably fall asleep as soon as nap time came.

“I’m sorry, Soju-nim [a respectful title for a female leader or hostess],” Son Bin said to Nanhyang, the Soju of Seoan Yewon. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for suddenly arriving with a large group and for the children running around the garden. Fortunately, the children were only looking at the garden stones and sculptures, not touching them. This was thanks to Soso’s sharp eyes and the five children of Dang Wora who quickly stopped them.

“It’s alright.” Nanhyang, a beauty dressed in splendid attire, smiled gently. She, who seemed more suited to the imperial palace than Yewon, spoke to Son Bin with a soft expression. “You don’t need to worry. I’m actually very grateful that you came here.”

Swish.

Nanhyang rose from her seat and bowed politely to Son Bin. The jade hairpin adorning her black hair, and the small jade beads hanging from its end, swayed and sparkled.

“I was the one who invited the current Okryong-nim [Jade Dragon, likely a title or name] to the Soju gathering at Yewon in Hangju, and I led her to join the Outer Affairs.”

Nanhyang said, her head bowed. Her voice was slightly trembling.

“Even though I knew she might endanger Son Gongja-nim [Young Master Son].”

Son Bin looked at Nanhyang, who was bowing her head, with a surprised expression. But it wasn’t because of her words.

“I see.”

A faint smile spread across Son Bin’s lips, who had been surprised by the sudden gesture. “But Soju-nim was trying to protect me, wasn’t she? The reason you didn’t greet me at the Soju gathering was to avoid revealing that the person who came here with ‘him’ was me, wasn’t it?”

There was no way Nanhyang wouldn’t know who the ‘him’ Son Bin was referring to. But Nanhyang didn’t answer. Only the faintly trembling jade beads told of her feelings.

“Please raise your head,” Son Bin said in a gentle voice. “You don’t need to apologize. Rather, I am grateful, Soju-nim.”

Nanhyang slowly raised her head. Looking at her glistening eyes, Son Bin suddenly looked around the rear garden.

“This place is still beautiful.”

Swoosh.

The tall trees that surrounded one side of the garden like a screen rustled in the wind. He had felt it before, but this was truly an impressively decorated garden.

“Yes. Just like then,” Nanhyang said quietly. She, too, already knew who Son Bin was thinking of.

“…Could I offer you wine again?”

At those words, Son Bin turned his head to look at Nanhyang. Her beautifully adorned eyes were sparkling just like then.

“No.”

Son Bin replied with a smile. “I’m sorry, but I’ll have to decline. I dare not be worthy enough to do so.”

Seeing the disappointment flitting across Nanhyang’s eyes, Son Bin quietly added.

“And ‘he’ also said that I should keep books closer than this place.”

At those words, Nanhyang let out a quiet sigh. With ‘him’ mentioned, there was no more room for discussion. Nanhyang gave a soft, but slightly lonely smile, and accepted Son Bin’s decision.

“I understand.”

“If it’s a substitute, though it’s a bit strange…”

Son Bin said with an awkward expression. “Could you play the Chilhyun-geum [a seven-stringed zither] for me again? Like you did then.”

The Chilhyun-geum that Nanhyang had played back then had left a deep impression on Son Bin. The reason he had asked Kang Rin and Kang Min to teach him the Chilhyun-geum when he met them was probably because Nanhyang’s Chilhyun-geum was so deeply etched in Son Bin’s memory.

“I would be happy to do so.”

Nanhyang bowed her head and accepted Son Bin’s request. As Nanhyang raised her hand as she had done then, the small bell hanging from her wrist rang.

Clink.

Maids appeared and placed the black Chilhyun-geum and stand, and the playing children also gathered around. They were immediately interested as something seemed to be starting. Son Bin, who had wanted the children to listen anyway, smiled contentedly. The children sat in a circle around Nanhyang, a little apart from her, their eyes shining. That sight was so cute that Son Bin smiled again.

Tiring.

Nanhyang lightly plucked a string, and slowly placed her fingers on the Chilhyun-geum. Nanhyang’s white fingers, which had been silently lowered, began to race across the strings.

Tiring, tiring, ting.

It was the same as then, but a completely different feeling performance. The melody containing Nanhyang’s heart filled the small rear garden, and the other members of the group also stopped talking and listened.

Thud.

The performance ended. Nanhyang rested her hand on the strings and closed her eyes tightly. The lingering sound of her Chilhyun-geum still lingered in people’s ears.

“Beautiful.”

The first to speak was Son Bin. Since he had asked her to play, it was polite for Son Bin to express his impressions first.

“Soju’s melody is like…”

He was about to express his impressions with literary embellishments, which he hadn’t been able to do before, but No Gun’s voice suddenly cut off Son Bin’s words.

“By the way, how did you guys get here from Bukhae?”

Son Bin stopped speaking with an awkward expression, and one of the Bukhae Twelve Bi [likely a group of warriors or officials] replied to No Gun.

“We came with Orhan-nim, didn’t we?”

“No, not to Yewon,” No Gun said, frowning. “Why did you come all the way to this distant place? And you’re a general of Bukhae. Is it okay for you to come and go like this? Did they let you through at the border?”

“Goodwill makes everyone friends.”

The answer came from the skinny, wrinkled Nergu. He raised his teacup and said calmly in clumsy local language. “Especially goodwill expressed in wealth, very direct goodwill.”

No Gun frowned. He, too, knew the situation in the border area, which was half lawless. Unless it was a large-scale trade or armed group that the state strongly controlled, it was easy for a few people to pass through. That’s why personal smuggling was rampant.

But still, the other party was one of Bingje’s Seven Stars and the Four Direction Generals of Bukhae. It was absurd that such people were wandering around as they pleased.

“But still…”

“Bukhae has started trading with this place,” one of the Seven Stars, holding a luxurious wine glass, interjected in the conversation. “So isn’t it natural that they want to know about this place? Of course, we also have some knowledge, but it is very important for a high-ranking person with decision-making power to come and see it in person.”

The Seven Stars’ words were natural. No matter how much knowledge they had about this place, there were many things that could not be conveyed through books or writings. For example, the unique atmosphere or customs of this place were things that could not be understood without seeing them.

But No Gun didn’t believe the Seven Stars’ words.

“As far as I know, the decision-making power for Bukhae trade is held by someone else, isn’t it?”

As No Gun said, the decision-making power for Bukhae trade was virtually held by So Gongju Sa Suyeon [Young Princess Sa Suyeon]. And the practical work was handled by Sa Suyeon’s head maid, Sareuna.

“Well, anyway.”

But the Seven Stars nonchalantly brushed off No Gun’s criticism. She took a sip from her fragrant wine glass and smiled. “The wine here has various charms, so it’s really good. We only have mare’s milk wine all the time, and we only drink until we’re drunk, so it’s not fun at all. It’s also good to taste food with wine. Ah, this is delicious.”

No Gun frowned at the Seven Stars’ bright appearance as she picked up a snack. And he noticed that the other Four Direction Generals’ expressions were not very good either.

It didn’t take long for No Gun to realize the truth of the matter.

“You guys… did you come to play?”

The skinny Nergu frowned and avoided No Gun’s gaze, and the burly Altan silently held up his wine glass. Guntumur, who had tiger-like eyes, also remained silent. There was no way they couldn’t understand No Gun’s words. The Four Direction Generals knew the language of this place.

“Ahem.”

Bayama, with his dignified charm and gray hair, cleared his throat. “The Seven Stars’ words are not wrong.”

Bayama said with a smile. He was quite fluent in the language of this place. “In Bukhae, when we drink alcohol, we only drink alcohol. Once we start drinking, it is courtesy to each other to drink until we lose consciousness.”

No Gun was dumbfounded. It wasn’t because the topic of conversation had gone astray.

“Don’t tell me you’re drinking alcohol with snacks? That thing that only the Juseon (酒仙) [Wine Immortals] do?”

He didn’t know what Juseon meant, but anyway, Bayama nodded. No Gun clicked his tongue. He had been to Bukhae, but he had never heard such a story. In the first place, No Gun didn’t enjoy drinking that much.

“This is also delicious? Ah, I was going to eat that!”

The Seven Stars complained, looking at the food placed in front of Seo Rin and Dang Wora. But Seo Rin and Dang Wora were not the type to give up food. Seeing the Four Direction Generals’ expressions darken again at that sight, No Gun sighed.

“You guys are really something… Tsk tsk.”

The wariness had disappeared somewhere along the way. No Gun sent a look of sympathy to the Four Direction Generals, filled with the sorrows of employees who had an absurd superior.

“Um, Son Gongja-nim.”

At Sa Suyeon’s quiet voice, Son Bin turned his head. Sa Suyeon asked Son Bin with a worried expression. “Is it really okay?”

Son Bin smiled. “It’ll be fine. After all, they’ll be guarding the military bases and important places. If they just came to visit this place, there won’t be any problem at all.”

“No, that’s not it…”

Sa Suyeon shook her head and said. “I’m just wondering if my grandfather might come too.”

Son Bin’s expression changed.

“Re-really? Then first, let’s clean the Seowon [private Confucian academy], no, we can’t have him stay at the Seowon…”

“How can Bingje [likely a title or name] come?” No Gun said, throwing the words out. “It’s not like the emperor is disguising himself and making a tour, no matter how you look at it, that’s not it. And Bingje is old. When you get old, it’s hard to go out and play.”

It was a remark that had no respect for Bingje at all, but no one said anything.

“Why aren’t you eating, Grandpa?”

A small voice suddenly came from next to Nergu. The skinny Nergu, who was holding a teacup, turned his head. When Nergu’s eyes met hers, the small girl flinched. But the girl, Aeng Aeng-yi, didn’t cry or run away.

“…This is delicious.”

Rustle.

Aeng Aeng-yi took out a small candy from her arms and handed it to Nergu. The wrinkled Nergu frowned slightly, but Aeng Aeng-yi didn’t even avoid his gaze.

“Oh, amazing?”

The burly Altan next to him exclaimed. “A child talking to Nergu, isn’t that the first time in his life?”

Son Bin was also surprised. It was the first time he had seen Aeng Aeng-yi, who was always quiet and hiding behind Soso, speak first. Noticing those feelings, Hyeokryun Sehwa said to Son Bin in a small voice. “Aeng Aeng-yi especially liked Elder Eoeong.”

Hyeokryun Sehwa smiled and continued. “She said he looked exactly like her deceased grandfather.”

‘Ah.’

Only then could Son Bin understand. Nergu, who was skinny, wrinkled, and looked neurotic, had a similar impression to Eoeong. So Aeng Aeng-yi felt rather friendly towards Nergu.

Still, Son Bin couldn’t take his eyes off Aeng Aeng-yi. He was worried that Nergu might reject her curtly. Perhaps because other people and children had similar feelings, they were looking at Aeng Aeng-yi and Nergu with tense expressions.

Swish.

Nergu, who had been silent, stretched out his hand without a word and took the candy from Aeng Aeng-yi’s hand.

“Hehe.”

Aeng Aeng-yi smiled brightly, and Nergu coughed slightly.

“Ahem.”

Anyone could tell that Nergu was hiding his awkwardness. And as if that was a signal, the children began to flock to the Four Direction Generals.

“Who is your grandfather?”

“Where did you come from? Did you come from far away?”

The children quickly surrounded the Four Direction Generals. It was the first time they had ever experienced this, as they had never been close to children, and the children would stop crying just by hearing the names of the Four Direction Generals.

“Oh, well, this is…”

The burly Altan was openly flustered. It was because he had never been surrounded by children either. But Altan was rather ordinary to the Seowon children who were already familiar with Talhondo.

Guntumur and Bayama, with his dignified charm, were the same. The Four Direction Generals, who were instantly surrounded by children, looked visibly flustered, but they certainly didn’t look like they hated it.

“There’s nothing we can do about it,” No Gun said with a smirk. “When you get old, you miss affection.”

Still, not everyone would be like that. Son Bin was grateful to the Four Direction Generals and recalled the things the children had given him.

How much precious things the children, who came to him without fearing anything, had given him.

“Yes.”

Son Bin said quietly. “They are really kind and warm children.”

The reason why tears welled up in Son Bin’s eyes as he spoke was something only the people of Seowon could know.

Son Bin slowly raised his teacup. A cozy warmth was filling the quiet and beautiful rear garden.

***

A few days later, Son Bin’s group, who had toured the historic metropolis of Seoan with the Bukhae group, decided to leave Yewon. The Bukhae group, including the Seven Stars and Orhan, planned to stay in Seoan longer and then visit the famous Shaolin Temple.

“Shaolin Temple… Then we should be a little careful, right?”

No Gun frowned and told the Four Direction Generals what to watch out for in the Gangho Murim [martial arts world].

“First of all, when you go down the road, bandits will definitely appear, laughing while saying ‘Kuhahaha’. And when you go to an inn, strange guys will definitely pick a fight with you. Then don’t bother with the circumstances and just…”

Son Bin, who was listening, gave a wry smile.

“Um, instead of that, things like etiquette when visiting temples…”

“What are you talking about! This is the wisdom of Gangho,” No Gun continued, not even pretending to listen. “And important rumors are always gossiped about by nameless guys in inns, so listen carefully to the conversations around you. Oh, and always be careful of the elderly, children, and women.”

That was well-known advice in Gangho Murim, but Guntumur frowned.

“Then we’ll have to be careful of everyone, right?”

“Of course,” No Gun nodded. “What do you think this place is? Welcome to Gangho Murim, you country bumpkins.”

No Gun laughed, chuckling. Son Bin couldn’t help but laugh.

Sa Suyeon separately entrusted the Seven Stars with a letter of regards to Bingje, which was probably to help the Seven Stars. Sa Suyeon’s letter would be a clear justification for the Seven Stars and the Four Direction Generals as well.

“Goodbye!”

“Goodbye! I’ll visit Seowon later, So Gongju-nim!”

Sa Suyeon and Son Bin’s group left Seoan’s Yewon, receiving the noisy farewell of the Seven Stars and the Bukhae Twelve Bi, and the silent farewell of Orhan and the Four Direction Generals at the same time.

Clatter, clatter.

“Teacher! Where are we going now?” Soso, who was sitting in the carriage, asked Son Bin. Son Bin, who was sitting next to No Gun, turned his head and said to Soso. “We’re going to Chengdu in Sichuan.”

“Chengdu?” Soso tilted her head. Even the famous Chengdu in Sichuan was just an unfamiliar place name to Soso.

But Son Bin had a way to make Soso understand right away.

“It’s where Teacher Wora’s sister lives.”

“Really?” Soso quickly smiled and was happy. While the story about the next destination spread among the children, Son Bin looked at the passing scenery with a comfortable heart.

It was unexpected, but meeting the Bukhae group was a pleasant thing. In particular, he was even happier that Sa Suyeon’s face had brightened up.

Clatter, clatter.

Sitting in the gently swaying carriage, Son Bin leisurely enjoyed the passing scenery.

***

Son Bin’s group, who arrived at the Dangmun [likely a clan or sect], were naturally welcomed. However, Son Bin, who was led separately by the Chonggwan [likely an official or guide], had to face the furious Dang Hwaryeon alone in front of the Yeongbinggwan [guesthouse] located deep inside the Dangmun.

“Yes?” Son Bin asked back with a surprised expression. However, Seolgeom Dang Hwaryeon, the young chief strategist of Dangmun and Dang Wora’s sister, frowned.

“Didn’t you hear me? Right now…”

Dang Hwaryeon lowered her voice as much as possible and whispered in Son Bin’s ear. “Your guests have arrived. They’re waiting for you inside that Yeongbinggwan.”

Dang Hwaryeon continued, her voice full of annoyance. “How can you tell them to come here without saying anything to me? Do I look very easy to you now?”

That was really an unfair thing to say.

“No, I didn’t do anything…”

Son Bin covered his ear with one hand and stepped back because Dang Hwaryeon’s whispering in his ear was ticklish and awkward.

Dang Hwaryeon frowned.

A coldness settled in her already sharp eyes.

“Then what on earth is going on? If it’s not you…”

Lowering her voice again as much as possible, Dang Hwaryeon said as if a lion was growling. “Why is the Gungju [Princess] of Potala Palace here? With the Potala Gongju [also Princess] and Myeongwang [likely a powerful protector or deity] both together!”

Gritting her teeth, Dang Hwaryeon looked like she was about to grab Son Bin by the collar right away. In fact, she was justified in doing so from her point of view.

If it became known that Dangmun had a close relationship with the Seojang Potala Palace, suspicion and wariness would pour out from the entire Gangho Murim at once. Dangmun, which already had a bad reputation, would be immediately subjected to speculation that they were plotting some kind of scheme. Of course, they were still actively plotting as always.

“Who did you say?” Son Bin asked again as if he couldn’t believe it. But the answer came not from Dang Hwaryeon, but from the Yeongbinggwan.

“It’s us, Dae Sinjang [Great Protector].”

Thud.

Son Bin and Dang Hwaryeon turned their heads at the same time and faced the bright smile of a young boy walking towards them. His clothes were from this place, but his short hair, which looked like a child monk, and his eyes with a subtle golden hue, were impossible to not recognize.

“We have come, Son Bin, the incarnation of Gandharva [a celestial musician] and my friend.”

That young boy was none other than the Gungju of Potala Palace, the pinnacle of Seojang and called the owner of all Bodhicitta [enlightened mind].

“Gungju-nim!” Son Bin said with a surprised expression.

The young owner of Bodhicitta smiled. And behind him, a woman with a refined beauty appeared.

“Gongju-nim?” Son Bin was even more surprised. She was none other than the Potala Gongju, the lotus flower blooming in the sea. She was also wearing the clothes of this place, and perhaps because of Son Bin’s taste, she looked much more beautiful than before.

“Son Gongja-nim…”

The Potala Gongju was already welling up with tears as if her emotions were overflowing.

“Hwalbul [Living Buddha] made a prophecy.”

The young owner of Bodhicitta said with a smile to Son Bin, who was surprised. “‘You will meet if you go,’ he said. So we stopped by for a while. We would have missed each other if we had been off by just one day.”

Only then could Son Bin grasp the situation. But no matter what, it was by no means an easy thing. Who in Seojang or Gangho Murim could imagine the Gungju and Gongju of Potala Palace coming all the way to Dangmun?

“Ah, right.”

The young owner of Bodhicitta turned his head. “These people have also come.”

Son Bin, who was still unable to escape from his surprise, raised his head and gave a wry smile without realizing it.

Behind the huge Budong Myeongwang [Immovable Wisdom King], who always stayed by the Gungju’s side, hiding his red robes with a long coat, the Aeyeom Myeongwang [Love-Entwining Wisdom King], who still exuded a seductive charm, was raising her hand towards Son Bin. Aeyeom Myeongwang, who had learned it sometime, said to Son Bin in the language of this place.

“Hehe, we came because you didn’t come even after waiting. How is it, are you happy?”

The pronunciation was a bit awkward, but the dizzying sexiness overflowing in her voice was still the same.

But Son Bin couldn’t say anything because Dang Hwaryeon, who was standing behind him right now, was glaring at him as if she was about to eat him alive.

“…Ah, yes.”

Barely maintaining his manners, Son Bin said that. It wasn’t just a feeling that a chill was suddenly running down Son Bin’s body, who was stuck between Dang Hwaryeon and Aeyeom Myeongwang, who were glaring at each other.

(Author’s words) The feeling of a puppy caught between a dragon and a tiger.