A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 65

65. Countercurrent (2)

Whooong.

Tang Wola’s rampaging energy was terrifying.

Like a tormented beast running wild, the torrent sweeping through Tang Wola’s inner self bared its fangs directly at Son Bin.

‘Keuk.’

The destructive flow crashed towards Son Bin. It was at that moment.

“You reckless fool!”

A rough voice echoed, and simultaneously, someone appeared behind Son Bin. Before he could identify the speaker, large hands pressed against his back.

“Get a hold of yourself! Otherwise, everyone will die!”

Wooowoong.

Hot energy surged from the hands, reminiscent of Saja Hyuk’s invigorating touch in the snowy mountains.

Perhaps driven back by that energy, Tang Wola’s rampaging momentum faltered.

“Control your energy.”

The voice was surprisingly calm, a quiet whisper in Son Bin’s ear.

“You can do it.”

Whooong.

A massive flow enveloped Son Bin once more, and he understood what he had to do.

‘Don’t be distracted by complex changes or flashy techniques.’

Wooowoong!

Son Bin’s Hyeoncheon Daegangyeol [Profound Heaven Great River Art] pulsed again, flowing with dignity from his fingertips.

As if it were always there, as if it were the most natural thing, it moved through Tang Wola’s fierce, beast-like energy.

‘If you follow the great flow, everything will open naturally.’

Son Bin’s breathing deepened.

∴

Thud.

The girl’s slender body collapsed to the side. Following her, Son Bin knelt heavily on the ground.

“Hoo Woo Woo.”

Namak Nogun, behind Son Bin, slowly regained his breath. After a moment of silence, his rough voice broke the stillness.

“You crazy bastard. What on earth were you doing!”

His voice was angry, but lacked its earlier force.

“I wondered what you were up to, but such a reckless act! Are you in your right mind? If I hadn’t intervened, you’d all be a puddle of poison!”

Son Bin offered a wry smile at his genuine anger.

“What does this child mean to you that you’d risk your life for her?”

“We have no relationship.”

Son Bin said weakly.

“What?”

“We don’t know each other. We met for the first time on this escort mission…”

He omitted that the frail girl called herself a monster, a vicious blade of poison. It felt too harsh to say.

“But why…”

“It’s the same as with you, Nogun.”

Son Bin said with a faint smile.

Namak Nogun, who had been scolding him, now seemed as friendly as a grandfather chiding his grandson.

“What?”

Nogun frowned.

“Just as you saw something familiar in me, I saw something in this young lady that moved my heart. So, I helped. That’s all.”

Namak Nogun’s expression hardened slightly.

“But that doesn’t mean you should risk your life.”

“Didn’t you do the same, Nogun?”

Son Bin asked, looking at Nogun.

“Giving me energy could have endangered your life, couldn’t it?”

Son Bin could tell that Namak Nogun’s intervention meant risking being swept away by that torrent of death.

If Son Bin hadn’t succeeded, it wouldn’t have been just him and Tang Wola in danger.

“Hmph. That kind of thing can’t endanger this old man.”

Namak Nogun retorted, turning his head away. Son Bin smiled and turned towards the fallen Tang Wola.

“Will she be okay?”

“She’ll be fine.”

Namak Nogun said brusquely.

“Because you properly controlled the girl’s rampaging poison energy.”

Namak Nogun looked at Tang Wola. It was hard to believe such a vicious poison energy flowed within such a frail girl.

‘To endure that pain… this child is tenacious.’

Namak Nogun frowned. It must have felt like her heart was breaking, yet she endured it until the end.

“But where did you learn to control poison energy like that? Even someone well-versed in it wouldn’t dare try that.”

The vicious poison energy, once so terrifying, now flowed naturally with her inner energy, as if they had always been one.

“I saw it once.”

“Saw it?”

“Yes. A man called ‘The Fierce Tiger of Sichuan’ was using something called Poison Energy Gong [Poison Energy Skill]. I didn’t really understand it at the time.”

Son Bin said quietly.

“Later, while organizing the records, I roughly understood its meaning. Still, succeeding this time was quite an adventure.”

“Poison Energy Gong?”

Namak Nogun frowned, looking at Son Bin in disbelief.

“Yes.”

“And you saved this girl with that? A girl from the Tang family?”

“That’s right.”

Son Bin replied calmly.

“Ha.”

Suddenly, Namak Nogun let out a hollow laugh, which soon erupted into an explosion of laughter.

“Ahahaha! I can’t help but laugh at this. You saw through the ultimate Poison Energy Gong that the Fierce Tiger boasted about? And you saved a girl from the Tang family with that? Hahaha! Fierce Tiger of Sichuan! Your cruelty and deep scheming were all in vain. Your arrogance and conceit were all in vain! Woo-ha-ha, woo-ha-ha-ha.”

Namak Nogun’s laughter echoed through Mount Heng.

Birds flew up in surprise, and startled animals cried out. But Namak Nogun didn’t care.

“Well done.”

Namak Nogun said, placing his hand on Son Bin’s shoulder, his expression genuinely relieved.

“He should have been alive to see this. It would have been quite a sight. But well, it doesn’t matter anymore.”

Son Bin didn’t understand. He could only guess something had happened between Namak Nogun and the Fierce Tiger of Sichuan.

“I’ll buy you a drink later.”

“I should be the one buying the drinks.”

Son Bin said.

“You saved my life. How can I be satisfied with just one drink?”

“You say such cute things.”

Namak Nogun smiled quietly.

“Okay. Let’s drink all night sometime. Today is the happiest day of my life.”

The blue moonlight quietly illuminated his shoulders as he smiled.

*

*

*

Tang Wola did not regain consciousness easily, but her expression was peaceful, as if she were asleep.

Son Bin laid her in a comfortable place, covered her with a blanket, and veiled her face with muslin [a lightweight cotton cloth].

Eun Chobin and Jang Pyodu were surprised to hear she had lost consciousness, but relieved when Namak Nogun assured them she was fine. As he predicted, she woke up the next morning.

Pyeollorong, chek chek.

Tang Wola listened to the unusually clear birdsong, thinking quietly with her eyes closed.

‘Pretty sound… What kind of bird is that?’

Tang Wola opened her eyes. The blue sky shining through the swaying leaves greeted her.

A sky so clear and blue, it felt like seeing it for the first time. Tang Wola blinked slowly and raised herself.

Sarak.

The blanket and white muslin covering her chest slid down.

‘Where is this…’

Everything felt unfamiliar, yet not unpleasant. Refreshing, even.

―Are you awake?

The rough voice shattered her light mood. Jeoneum [telepathic communication] sending inner energy. Tension gripped her.

Tang Wola quickly raised the muslin to cover her face and looked around.

―Hmm. Seems like there’s nothing wrong with that much.

Tang Wola carefully scanned her surroundings, but saw no one.

“Who are you?”

She mumbled quietly, but the other party heard.

―It’s me. It’s not a pleasant thing for me to talk to you either, so there’s no need to show it so much.

Tang Wola realized the voice belonged to Namak Nogun.

―You’re finally here.

Jebak, jebak.

Someone approached with light footsteps.

“Are you awake?”

A familiar voice. Son Bin stood there. A wave of relief washed over her.

“How do you feel? Is your body okay?”

His words triggered memories of the previous night.

The image of his hand touching her head flashed in her mind, and her face flushed. She was grateful for the muslin.

“Ah, yes…”

‘Come to think of it.’

It was the first time she had slept so deeply, and woken without pain.

“I… how…”

―Heul. Don’t you remember what he did to you yesterday?

Namak Nogun’s voice interjected.

―Try moving your inner energy.

‘Inner energy.’

Tang Wola calmed her breathing, startled by the unbelievable truth.

‘H, how… inner energy…’

Inner energy was moving.

The fierce energy that had always destroyed her from within, the poison energy she barely suppressed while sacrificing her life, was now flowing like a quiet river.

―Remember how he controlled your poison energy yesterday. What was that flow like?

‘Flow.’

In the pain that threatened to overwhelm her, Tang Wola remembered a stream of clear water flowing through her inner self.

When that energy flowed through her body, calming the fierce poison energy and showing her the path, the ferocious beast finally calmed.

Sarak.

Tang Wola raised a hand, recalling that flow, and slowly moved her energy.

Woong.

It was a small change, but enough.

Her fingertips began to be dyed a transparent jade color, according to her will.

“Young lady.”

Son Bin’s worried voice startled her. He looked at her with concern.

―Did you say there was nothing you could give?

Namak Nogun’s voice chuckled.

―But there will be a lot to repay. Heul heul heul.

“Are you okay?”

Son Bin asked again.

“I, I am…”

Tang Wola couldn’t continue. Tears welled up as she looked at Son Bin, who seemed flustered.

*

*

*

Basseurak.

“Heok! Wh, what! Who’s there!”

The leader of the Sodo Gate [Evil Sect] frowned at the surprised voice from behind.

“Someone shut that bastard’s mouth.”

He said, annoyed.

“And don’t bring him next time.”

“I’m sorry.”

The subordinate said quietly, stepping back. The commotion subsided, and the subordinate reappeared.

“It was nothing. Probably a wild animal…”

“I know.”

The leader said curtly.

“It’s probably nothing. Who would dare move first in this situation?”

He glared ahead. A glimpse of clothing showed through the bushes, indicating another sect encamped there. And not just there.

“It’s more crowded than a marketplace. Damn it.”

An exaggeration, but it reflected his feelings. You could run into someone with a sword just a few steps away.

Everyone with a sword in the Gangnam Murim [Jianghu Martial World] seemed to have flocked to Namak, creating vigilance and tension.

Basseurak.

This time, the sound was real. As the subordinate reached for his sword, a low voice spoke.

“I’m back.”

The leader’s eyes twinkled. Another subordinate appeared through the bushes.

“What did they say?”

The leader asked bluntly. The subordinate answered immediately.

“They agreed. The distribution ratio is half and half, and other issues will be handled separately.”

The leader’s expression softened.

“That’s a relief. Good. Any other information?”

“They’ve also allied with about three other sects, including the Twin Swords Sect. They hinted it would be okay.”

“Twin Swords Sect?”

Another subordinate frowned. The Twin Swords Sect was constantly in conflict with the Sodo Gate.

“They’re allied with those guys. Won’t that be a problem later?”

“Problem? What problem?”

The leader sneered.

“No one has an answer right now. Whoever gets the treasure, a free-for-all will break out. We need alliances, even with empty words. We didn’t join hands with the Twin Swords Sect; no need to worry about the alliance partner across the bridge. It’s better if they let their guard down. We’ll hit them when we get the chance.”

The subordinate smiled bitterly.

“I see. I hope that opportunity comes.”

“So, we’ve agreed with five sects?”

“Five. The most we’ve ever cooperated with. Will a real alliance form?”

The leader chuckled.

“Alliance? Do you know why the righteous sects despise us as heretics? We can’t unite. We’re still thinking about stabbing each other in the back. Who would join an alliance? Creating an alliance or league like the righteous sects is a dream, unless we’re being eaten up.”

The subordinate nodded.

“Well, the righteous sects have already gathered.”

“Probably. Anyway, when are the Soeun Escort Agency guys coming? They said five days; they should be here. Today is the sixth.”

“We don’t know their definition of five days. If the rumors are true, they’ll be here today or tomorrow…”

He stopped as the surroundings became noisy. The other sects, pretending to hide, began to move.

Pasak.

“Leader! Something big!”

A guard rushed over.

“The Soeun Escort Agency has appeared!”

“What? This is the main road. Where did they appear from?”

“It seems they came down from Mount Heng. Something noisy is happening there…”

“You ssaeng [son of a bitch].”

The leader cursed and jumped up.

“Everyone move! If you’re late, there’s nothing left!”

The Sodo Gate hurried towards Mount Heng, ignoring the other sects. The treasure of the Tang family, which they had waited for, had finally appeared. Greed dominated their minds.