A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 73

73. Fairness is Like a Blade

The next morning, Sohn Bin came down to the dining hall feeling less than refreshed.

He had tossed and turned, thinking about Lady Soo Yeon and the lack of a suitable vacant lot nearby to practice.

Moreover, perhaps because the accommodation was located in the city center, he could hear people chattering and music playing all night long.

The other members of the Hoyeon Martial Clan also looked tired, but their expressions were bright and cheerful, likely due to the excitement of Namchang’s glamorous city and the anticipation of the Yongbong Tournament.

Sohn Bin exchanged brief greetings with the group and sat down to eat. Perhaps because it was a commercial logistics city with abundant supplies, the food was quite diverse and delicious.

Feeling better after filling their stomachs, the group shared stories while eating, and the most talked-about topic was, of course, the hugging incident from the previous night.

Sohn Bin confirmed that not returning to the banquet hall yesterday was an excellent decision.

“It was quite a commotion,” Jeok Se-ho said, holding a teacup.

“All the young ladies in the banquet hall were curious about Sohn Gong-ja [a respectful title for a young master]. Until then, the Soh Eun Security Agency’s escorts were the main topic, but Sohn Gong-ja quickly changed everything. Haha.”

Sohn Bin gave a wry smile.

“But…” Jeok Se-ho’s voice lowered.

“Do you perhaps have any issues with Namgoong Cheol Gong-ja?”

‘Namgoong Cheol?’

Although it was the first time he had heard the name, the image of a young man reflexively came to mind—the young man from the Namgoong family with sharp eyes, whom he had met at Hwanghakru.

“If you’re talking about a Gong-ja from the Namgoong family, it’s not really a grudge, but there was a minor disagreement.”

“Is that so? Hmm.”

“Why, Oraboni [older brother]?” Jeok Se-hwa asked from the side, instead of Sohn Bin.

“Yesterday, the Gong-ja from the Namgoong family openly made some nasty remarks about that young lady and Sohn Gong-ja.”

“Nasty remarks? What kind?”

At Jeok Se-hwa’s question, Jeok Se-ho frowned.

“I don’t want to repeat such bad words myself, but it was the kind of thing that would make anyone who heard it angry.”

Jeok Se-ho merely described it as nasty remarks, but in fact, they were quite serious, explicit, and crude insults, to the point where even others who heard them frowned.

“Thanks to that, the atmosphere in the banquet hall was ruined. They say Namgoong Cheol Gong-ja of the Namgoong family is arrogant, and it seems the rumors were true.”

“Then, could he possibly come here to find us?” Jeok Se-hwa said.

Namchang is the Namgoong family’s territory. If he holds a grudge to the point of openly making nasty remarks, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to come here.

“No, he won’t be able to do that,” Jeok Se-ho said with a slight smile.

“Because of that, we didn’t have the chance to reveal that we are Sohn Gong-ja’s group. And fortunately, no one seemed to remember that Sohn Gong-ja came with us.”

Jeok Se-hwa nodded. Jeok Se-ho wasn’t so thoughtless as to reveal that they were together while the Gong-ja from the Namgoong family was making nasty remarks.

Besides, Sohn Bin had a plain appearance in her eyes. He wouldn’t stand out at all among the flashy and brilliant young men gathered as future leaders.

“Is that so? That’s a relief then. Anyway, Sohn Gong-ja, you should be careful for the time being,” Jeok Se-hwa said, looking at Sohn Bin with a smile.

“Jegal Hwi of the Jegal family and Namgoong Cheol of the Namgoong family. It must be a bit overwhelming to deal with them? But you have to face that level of hardship to win a beauty, don’t you think?”

Sohn Bin smiled wryly, thinking that Jeok Se-hwa was talking more than usual. It seemed she was greatly enjoying this situation.

“But who was that beautiful young lady? Seeing her with the Jegal family, could she be…”

“Huh? Didn’t you know yet?” Jeok Se-ho said. Jeok Se-hwa looked at her brother with a puzzled expression. Holding a teacup, Jeok Se-ho said casually, “They say she’s the Swordbreak Goddess. That young lady.”

“Yes?”

Jeok Se-hwa had a blank expression for a moment. Jeok Se-ho smiled at his sister’s reaction.

“Swordbreak Goddess. The very Swordbreak Goddess who made all the prominent future leaders of Gangho [the martial arts world] kneel and instantly saw through even the most famous techniques, whose sect and name are unknown.”

“Could it be…”

“If you don’t believe it, go ask the Jegal family.”

He spoke as if it were nothing, but Jeok Se-ho’s gaze lingered, enjoying his sister’s flustered reaction. Her flustered appearance was quite rare.

“Come to think of it, didn’t you say you wanted to meet her at least once? The Swordbreak Goddess. Good for you, you saw her yesterday.”

“Swordbreak… Goddess? That very Swordbreak Goddess?”

Jeok Se-hwa couldn’t hide her flustered expression. And without realizing it, she turned her head to look at Sohn Bin.

Sohn Bin quietly avoided her gaze and brought the teacup to his lips.

Slurp.

In the silence, the sound of Sohn Bin sipping tea echoed softly.

∴

Jeok Se-hwa’s words that he should be careful for the time being were by no means a joke.

Sohn Bin just thought so, but Jeok Se-hwa was seriously worried about Sohn Bin. Jeok Se-ho was also cautious.

“The opponents are too much. Not all of the Five Great Families are like that, but Namgoong Cheol is famous for being arrogant and having a bad attitude. What’s worse is that there are people who protect and even subtly encourage such Namgoong Cheol. I don’t know what they’re thinking in such a prestigious family.”

“Just because someone has great martial arts skills doesn’t necessarily mean they have a great personality. There are many people who think that suppressing others with force is the essence of dominance and the most efficient method, especially martial artists,” Jeok Se-ho said. As if he suddenly remembered something, he said to Jeok Se-hwa, “Jegal Hwi Gong-ja is still okay, isn’t he? There aren’t any particularly bad rumors about him.”

“Oraboni, that person’s nickname is Fallen Flowers, Flowing Water.”

“Fallen Flowers, Flowing Water?”

“It’s a sarcastic way of saying that he’s been with so many women that the fallen flowers are countless. Maybe it’s because of his handsome appearance and family background, but rumors about women never stop. And yet, there are so many women who are desperately hoping that he will be different with them; it’s really pathetic.”

“Hmm, is that so? Well, there are men who are proud of that kind of thing.”

What men see and what women see are different.

“What’s clear is that you can’t expect a noble personality from either of them. It’s better to be especially careful for the time being,” Jeok Se-hwa said, turning her head towards Sohn Bin.

“I’m sorry. I recommended this as a way to repay your kindness, but I didn’t know it would turn out like this,” she said, bowing her head towards Sohn Bin. Her apology was sincere. Sohn Bin shook his head.

“No, I’m the one who’s sorry for causing you so much trouble because of me.”

Jeok Se-hwa smiled. “Not at all. As a small to medium-sized martial arts clan, we’re quite used to this kind of situation.”

It’s not easy to navigate as a small to medium-sized martial arts clan, especially in the world of martial arts, where the logic of power is considered legitimate.

It was fortunate that it had nothing to do with the Hyeokryun family.

“So, I’m sorry, but it would be best if Sohn Gong-ja didn’t go to the Deungwang Pavilion for the time being.”

“Ah, but…”

“Don’t worry,” Jeok Se-hwa said with a bright smile. “When the Swordbreak Goddess comes, I will definitely let you know. She’s someone I’ve always wanted to meet.”

“Thank you,” Sohn Bin said, bowing to her. Jeok Se-hwa also returned the greeting lightly.

“It’s frustrating, but let’s watch the situation for a while. If something else happens, your story will soon be forgotten,” Jeok Se-hwa said. “It probably won’t take long. The Yongbong Tournament is always a place where accidents happen.”

Jeok Se-hwa’s point was correct.

Young martial artists full of vigor, gathered together with their pride soaring to the sky, inevitably led to accidents.

And that accident came surprisingly early and in a completely unexpected form.

*

*

*

That night, the banquet continued at the Deungwang Pavilion.

The banquet hall, filled with the laughter and music of young future leaders, grew even more heated, but it turned cold with a single groan.

Thud.

“Keuk.”

At the same time as a warrior guarding the entrance was thrown into the banquet hall, a group of young martial artists entered.

Thud, thud.

With their appearance, the laughter and chatter of the young people began to subside, and soon even the music stopped.

“Ugh.”

The fallen warrior couldn’t regain his senses and groaned, and one of the young martial artists who had just entered said mockingly, “What’s with the atmosphere? Shouldn’t it be more enjoyable since it’s a place where the young Yongbongs [dragons and phoenixes, referring to talented young individuals] of the world have gathered?”

The young man spoke loudly as if to show off. However, people’s gazes were directed at the people standing behind the speaking young man rather than the young man himself.

Because the martial uniform with a large red dragon drawn on it was that of the Yunnan Blood Dragon Gate.

“Blood Dragon Gate?”

“Why are they…”

The young men whispered. As if answering them, a middle-aged martial artist stepped forward.

“Are you people from the Blood Dragon Gate?”

He was a warrior from the Namgoong family in charge of this place.

Even if it was in charge, it was just a matter of stopping the young people from arguing. That was before the Blood Dragon Gate warriors entered.

“That’s right,” a warrior said in a low voice. Despite being young, his eyes were so sharp that they were eerie.

“This is a place where participants of the Yongbong Tournament gather. You guys…”

“Isn’t the Gangnam Yongbong Tournament open to anyone with a recommendation from a sect?”

The middle-aged warrior frowned. No matter how he looked at it, the young man, who appeared to be a young man, was treating him with contempt as if it were natural.

“Or are you saying that you can’t recognize our Blood Dragon Gate as a sect?”

The young man’s eyes gleamed eerily again.

“You’re right,” the middle-aged warrior said, subtly raising his energy. “However, I have not received any contact regarding the Blood Dragon Gate’s participation. Even if your participation is legitimate, I cannot allow you to attend today.”

The middle-aged warrior glared and said. As the young man said, the Yongbong Tournament was open to anyone, but the Blood Dragon Gate had never participated even once.

Besides, it wasn’t convincing to say that they were just attending the banquet while exuding such a murderous atmosphere.

“Hmph,” the young Blood Dragon Gate warrior snorted.

“That’s a cowardly excuse. Do you wait for the family’s permission every time you swing your sword?”

The young man’s insult was blatant. The middle-aged warrior’s face hardened.

“I’ve decided to go back as it is today. But there’s something I have to do before that.”

The middle-aged warrior frowned. “Something to do? I clearly said I wouldn’t allow you to attend…”

“Not me,” the Blood Dragon Gate warrior said, turning his gaze. “It’s his job.”

The person his gaze was directed at was the very young martial artist who had entered the banquet hall and raised his voice for the first time. Unlike them, the young man, who was not wearing the Blood Dragon Gate’s martial uniform, raised his voice again.

“Namgoong Cheol! I know you’re here! Where are you, Namgoong Cheol!”

He shouted at the young men filling the banquet hall. People’s gazes turned to Namgoong Cheol, the Gong-ja of the Namgoong family, and the young man’s eyes met Namgoong Cheol’s.

Smirk.

The young man smiled. “You’re still the same, Namgoong Cheol. Are you holding a new woman by your side in the meantime? It’s amazing in some ways. Even a dog in heat wouldn’t do that.”

“What?” Namgoong Cheol’s eyebrows furrowed at the sudden outburst. The young ladies next to him also felt insulted, and their faces turned cold in an instant.

“You, who the hell…”

“Can’t you remember? Well, there’s no way you could have remembered with that head of yours. You’ve never even read a book.”

“You bastard!” Namgoong Cheol, enraged, jumped up. But the young man didn’t care.

“I am Geum Sa-yul of the Geumgeom Gate.”

“Geumgeom Gate?” Namgoong Cheol frowned. He seemed to have heard of it, but he couldn’t remember. However, there were people who remembered the name.

“If it’s the Geumgeom Gate, it’s a cult in Honam…” someone muttered. The young man, who identified himself as Geum Sa-yul, stared straight at Namgoong Cheol and said, “Yes, I don’t care what you call us. But,” he gritted his teeth.

“No one has the right to defile my sister’s purity and drive her to death. Not even you, Namgoong Cheol!”

“Sister?” Namgoong Cheol, who was frowning, suddenly remembered someone—the image of a young lady who looked very similar to the young man who was angry in front of him.

“Ah, that bitch from Honam,” Namgoong Cheol said mockingly. Flames sparked in Geum Sa-yul’s eyes. The other young ladies who were watching also frowned.

“What, you were her brother? Then you should have taken better care of your sister. She was the one who wagged her tail first.”

“Y, you…” Geum Sa-yul couldn’t continue speaking due to anger. It was the moment when his trembling hand reached for his sword.

“Stop,” a low voice stopped his hand. It was the young warrior from the Blood Dragon Gate. “I can’t allow anything more than that.”

Geum Sa-yul gritted his teeth. He wanted to draw his sword right away, but he had to take his hand off the sword because now was not the time. Soon, that time would be waiting.

“Come to the preliminary selection,” Geum Sa-yul said to Namgoong Cheol, gritting his teeth.

The preliminary selection is the first martial arts competition of the Yongbong Tournament. Only a few who pass this preliminary selection can qualify for the official competition.

“I’ll be waiting.”

“Why would I?” Namgoong Cheol said mockingly, sneering. “Don’t you know? The Five Great Families and the Four Great Sects have the right to participate directly in the official competition without preliminary selection. Preliminary selection is for trash like you.”

“Y, you bastard…”

The Blood Dragon Gate warrior’s voice rang out again at the moment Geum Sa-yul was about to get angry again. “Does that mean you’re afraid?” That voice was directed at Namgoong Cheol.

Namgoong Cheol retorted as if he was dumbfounded. “What?”

“Or are you scared? Are you afraid that it will be revealed that your skills are worse than trash?”

Thud!

Namgoong Cheol slammed the table. The large table made a heavy sound, and the dishes clattered sharply.

“Watch your mouth. You are…”

“The Blood Dragon Gate’s warriors never avoid challenges under any circumstances. The Namgoong family claims to be a family of swords, but are they just cowards who only know how to hide behind the power of their family?”

“You bastard!” It was the middle-aged warrior of the Namgoong family who shouted. The middle-aged warrior immediately drew his sword at his words insulting the family—or rather, he was about to.

Swish.

But his sword couldn’t even escape its sheath because the Blood Dragon Gate warrior’s sword was already aimed at his neck.

The blue blade was gently touching his skin.

“If you draw your sword now, this place will become a sea of blood. Do you want that?”

‘Oh, my god.’

The middle-aged warrior couldn’t answer because he couldn’t even sense how the warrior’s sword had moved.

Before he knew it, a blue blade was placed on his neck. With just a flick of his hand, his neck would fall off.

“If you want to prove yourself, come to the preliminary selection. Then everything will be over.”

Shwing.

The Blood Dragon Gate warrior sheathed his sword. After winking at Geum Sa-yul, he turned around as he was. Geum Sa-yul also followed them.

Thud, thud.

“Wait!” The middle-aged warrior of the Namgoong family stopped them.

“D, does the Blood Dragon Gate… mean to antagonize the Namgoong family now?”

“Antagonize?” The Blood Dragon Gate warrior smirked. “All deaths are equal before a sword, whether it’s you who claim to be righteous or those you despise as cults. So I just want fairness,” he said.

“Absolute and merciless, like a sword.”

With those words, they left the banquet hall, leaving behind only a ruined atmosphere that could no longer be called a banquet hall.