A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 74

The appearance of the Blood Dragon Clan instantly became a hot topic.

The fact that the Blood Dragon Clan, which had never openly participated before, was participating in the Gangnam Dragon-Phoenix Gathering was surprising in itself. Moreover, they were openly confronting the Namgung Clan in Nanchang, where the Namgung Clan was based.

“Thanks to them, no one is talking about Young Master Son anymore.”

Jeok Se-ho said with a bitter smile.

“Everyone is talking about the Blood Dragon Clan or the Namgung Clan. Everyone is wondering how the Namgung Clan will react…”

“Namgung Cheol will participate in the preliminary selection.”

Jeok Se-hwa said in a quiet voice.

“I heard that the head of the Namgung Clan was furious. Even those who used to defend the troublemaking youngest master couldn’t say anything this time.”

“Where did you hear that?”

At Jeok Se-ho’s words, Jeok Se-hwa smiled slightly.

“The women’s information network is quite fast. The Namgung Clan seems to be focusing more on the movements of the Blood Dragon Clan than that. The Hyeokryun Clan is the same.”

‘Blood Dragon Clan, huh?’

Son Bin searched his memory. He had heard about the Blood Dragon Clan from Eun Cho-bin of the Silver Arrow Escort Agency during an escort mission.

‘Wasn’t it the clan that the Hyeokryun Clan was keeping in check? From Yunnan…’

The word Yunnan brought back memories of the events at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as if they had been waiting for it. Son Bin shook his head.

“Come to think of it, it’s unusual for clans called Demonic to openly participate in the Gangnam Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. I heard that quite a few clans have come besides the Golden Sword Clan.”

“Strictly speaking, the Golden Sword Clan is somewhere between righteous and demonic. Just because they’re Demonic doesn’t mean…”

“No, the Golden Sword Clan’s case is the unusual one.”

Jeok Se-ho said.

“Originally, Demonic clans are vicious people who extort people with violence like bandits or river pirates, and even kill them without hesitation. So, you must not be careless or show them any sympathy.”

His words were full of concern for his younger sister. Jeok Se-hwa smiled.

“I know that much, brother. By the way, the preliminary selection will be quite heated this time. If many people from the Demonic factions participate…”

“Unexpectedly, there might not be any major upsets. Demonic martial arts are inherently shallow, so it will be difficult for them to make it to the formal matches. The only ones worth watching will be Geum Sa-yul of the Golden Sword Clan and Namgung Cheol, right? But Namgung Cheol will win anyway.”

“That’s right. His behavior is a mess, but his skills are real.”

‘A mess.’

Son Bin smiled wryly at Jeok Se-hwa’s blunt words. It seemed that Namgung Cheol’s reputation, at least among women, had hit rock bottom recently.

“More importantly, brother, isn’t it your turn for the preliminary selection today? Can you afford to be so relaxed?”

“The more important the time, the more important it is to remain calm.”

Jeok Se-ho lifted his teacup with a relaxed expression. Jeok Se-hwa smiled bitterly.

“Young Miss, are you not participating in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering?”

Son Bin asked.

“Me? I’m not going.”

Jeok Se-hwa shook her head with a smile.

“One bitter experience is enough.”

Jeok Se-hwa put down her teacup and smiled quietly. Her smile seemed to hold a deep story, so Son Bin didn’t ask any further and quietly lifted his teacup.

*

*

*

As the sweltering afternoon passed, the scorching sun clearly began to lose its intensity, and the cool breeze blowing from Poyang Lake calmed the rising heat.

The martial arts competition held in the wide open space in front of Tengwang Pavilion [Pavilion of Prince Teng] was quite crowded, even though it was just a preliminary selection and not a formal competition.

The spectators were everywhere, and the faces of the participants waiting for the competition were filled with tension.

“It’s hot. Are you alright, Young Master Son?”

“I’m fine.”

Son Bin replied with a smile to Jeok Se-hwa’s words.

Even though the hottest time had passed, the weather was still hot. If it weren’t for the shade, the sunlight would have been quite intense. The reason why colorful canopies and parasols were spread out everywhere was probably because of that.

“Haa!”

Chaeng!

Energetic shouts and sharp sounds never ceased from here and there. The preliminary selection for the martial arts competition was being held simultaneously in several matches.

‘Oh.’

A young man’s sharp swordplay caught Son Bin’s attention.

A young man with shining eyes and tightly closed lips, who still had a youthful air about him, was unlike his appearance; the inner strength contained in his sword was not light, and he was almost unilaterally driving his opponent.

‘That young man is quite good… Ah.’

Son Bin, who was watching, made a pitiful expression.

The opponent who was being pushed back showed a weakness, and the young man did not miss the opportunity and thrust his sword, but that weakness was actually a trap. The match, which seemed to have been decided, was suddenly reversed.

It was an unfortunate mistake, but a match is a match. The young man acknowledged his defeat and came down from the martial arts stage.

However, his expression, as if he was gritting his teeth and holding back tears, was so pitiful that Son Bin felt sorry for him.

“That’s a shame.”

Jeok Se-hwa said.

“But in the martial arts world, experience sometimes overwhelms skill. That kind of thing happens quite often… Why?”

She was talking, but she looked at Son Bin with a puzzled expression. Son Bin was looking at the martial arts stage with a suspicious expression.

“Why did that young man lose just now?”

“Yes?”

Jeok Se-hwa, who was asking back, soon smiled.

“As you saw…”

“But if he hadn’t stopped the last sword strike and continued to develop it in this way…”

Son Bin moved one hand like a sword.

“The outcome would have been the opposite. I don’t know why he gave up on that.”

‘Give up? Did he?’

Jeok Se-hwa tilted her head and looked at the martial arts stage. She had also watched the match just now, but she didn’t get that feeling at all.

However, the martial arts stage where the match was over was already empty, and there was nothing to confirm Son Bin’s words.

“Rather than that, from the very beginning… Huh?”

Son Bin, who was talking, suddenly felt someone’s gaze. Son Bin looked around.

‘Ah.’

Two young ladies on the other side suddenly met Son Bin’s eyes. They were young ladies he didn’t know at all, but judging from the martial arts uniforms they were wearing, they seemed to be waiting for their turn in the competition.

The young ladies, who were talking to each other, glanced at Son Bin.

‘Surely they’re not talking about me.’

They looked this way, but they might not be looking at Son Bin. It could just be his imagination or excessive self-consciousness. But somehow, he couldn’t shake off the uncomfortable feeling.

“Ah, it’s my brother.”

At Jeok Se-hwa’s quiet voice, Son Bin turned his head. Jeok Se-ho’s figure can be seen on the martial arts stage where Jeok Se-hwa’s gaze reached.

Unlike his usual gentle appearance, Jeok Se-ho’s appearance on the martial arts stage was as heavy as a rock. An extraordinary aura settled in his two eyes.

“Young Master Jeok Se-ho’s aura is very sincere.”

“Actually, my brother passed the preliminary selection last time and even went up to the formal matches.”

Pride settled in Jeok Se-hwa’s eyes.

“But he couldn’t overcome the wall of the Five Great Families and the Four Righteous Sects. He lost in the first formal match.”

Jeok Se-hwa muttered as if to herself.

“Even if he was a promising talent in the sect, he becomes just one of the common people here. So, it might be better not to come at all. Because you give up before you even try.”

Son Bin, who was listening, also felt bitter. It was because he remembered the memory of passing the civil service examination and feeling proud of being called a talented person.

“Ah, it’s starting.”

While Son Bin was lost in thought for a moment, Jeok Se-ho paid his respects to his opponent. And soon, the two people’s martial arts competition began.

∴

Whoo-oong.

“Tsk.”

An old man with a white beard clicked his tongue. The wind blowing from Poyang Lake scattered his white hair and white eyebrows.

“Didn’t I tell you to be careful not to get caught if you stare too much? You can’t ignore that guy’s senses, you know?”

“I didn’t ignore him. I just looked.”

A girl wearing a veil said in a low, quiet voice. Namak Old Lord, the old man with a white beard, clicked his tongue.

“Just looked? If you look like that twice, even the pillars of Tengwang Pavilion will be pierced.”

Namak Old Lord grumbled.

“I heard there were a lot of people, so I wasn’t going to come, but you’re openly grabbing my ankle. What is this? I have to watch in hiding.”

“I didn’t say I wasn’t coming.”

Veiled girl, Dang Wol-ah, still answered in a quiet voice. Her veil fluttered in the wind.

“I just asked if there were a lot of people. Old Lord, you said you didn’t need annoying kids, right?”

“I said I didn’t need them, but I didn’t say I wasn’t coming.”

Namak Old Lord said gruffly.

“If I show up in a place with so many people, it’s obvious that it will be annoying and troublesome. But I publicly declared that if anyone tries to harm that guy, I will smash them to pieces, so I have no choice but to come, even if it’s annoying and tiring.”

Namak Old Lord glanced down. Son Bin was engrossed in the martial arts competition. A smile crept across the old lord’s face as he looked at him.

Whoo-oong.

The wind blowing from Poyang Lake made a sound as it swept past the blue roof of Tengwang Pavilion.

The wind blowing from the roof of Tengwang Pavilion, which soared high as if to pierce the sky, was strong and rough, but it was not a problem for Namak Old Lord at all.

Even the dizzying height that seemed to cause dizziness just by looking down was nothing to the old lord.

“You’ll get caught again if you do that.”

“Am I you?”

Namak Old Lord scolded. Even so, he lowered his posture slyly.

“By the way, why did you inform the guys hiding in the next village of your destination?”

“Are you talking about the Hidden Sword Unit [a secret unit, name is a play on words]?”

“Whether it’s the Hidden Sword Unit or the Golden Sword Unit, the tail only got longer because all those guys followed.”

“They’ll be waiting outside Nanchang, so it doesn’t matter. They won’t do anything unless I order them to. And, it’s not the silver (銀) character, but the hidden (隱) character.”

“What does it matter what the character is? Anyway, taking on such shackles yourself is poison to a martial artist.”

“It’s okay.”

Dang Wol-ah said in a low voice.

“Because that’s not a shackle, it’s affection. And if it’s poison, I’m used to it.”

The Hidden Sword Unit is not a problem. She didn’t want to worry her sister, Snow Sword Dang Hwa-ryun. So, she informed the Hidden Sword Unit leader of her location.

Because they were there, she had already guessed, even if Namak Old Lord hadn’t told her.

“What a strange affection you have.”

Namak Old Lord grumbled.

“Dragon-Phoenix Gathering… Tsk.”

Namak Old Lord glanced down at the martial arts competition and clicked his tongue. The heat of the martial arts competition for the preliminary selection was in full swing.

“I don’t like it. At this rate, only the result of the match will remain. Martial arts (武道) is not walked like that.”

Dang Wol-ah didn’t say anything. The rough wind was fluttering her veil, but she was just silently looking down.

“By the way, you. Has your Thousand-Geun Drop [a powerful martial art technique] improved a lot in the meantime?”

The sound of Namak Old Lord speaking didn’t reach her ears at all.

∴

Kang!

The sword that had left its owner’s hand with a sharp sound flew into the air.

“Keuk.”

The young man’s face contorted. The hand that dropped the sword was torn, but the pain of defeat was greater than that.

“It was a good match.”

Jeok Se-ho sheathed his sword and paid his respects. The referee’s declaration was not yet made, but the match had already been decided.

“Brother won.”

Jeok Se-hwa said in a small voice. Her hardened expression finally relaxed.

“It was a good match.”

Son Bin said.

Even though there were no flashy techniques, Jeok Se-ho’s sword, backed by long training, overwhelmed his opponent from beginning to end. The match was decided from the start.

“Young Master Jeok Se-ho’s swordplay…”

“Ooh!”

Son Bin’s words were interrupted by the cheers that suddenly arose from the side. Son Bin turned his head. There was a young man who was a little familiar.

“He’s here.”

Jeok Se-hwa also said in a low voice, as if she had seen him.

“Namgung Cheol.”

The young man with a sharp impression, who was smiling and raising his hand as if to show off, was none other than the young master of the Namgung Clan, Namgung Cheol. He had appeared in the preliminary selection martial arts arena.

People cheered for him as he appeared wearing a flashy martial arts uniform. Jeok Se-hwa frowned.

“As expected, this place is Namgung Clan’s territory. Just because he’s a member of the Namgung Clan, he receives such cheers.”

Unlike the people’s friendly reaction to Namgung Cheol, the gazes of the young people participating in the martial arts competition were not so favorable.

It was partly because Namgung Cheol’s reputation was not good, but he was a wall and a competitor that everyone here had to overcome.

“Look. The martial arts referee is rather waiting for him.”

Namgung Cheol’s first opponent was already on the martial arts stage. The referee who judged the martial arts competition was also already on the martial arts stage, but he did not urge Namgung Cheol.

In the meantime, Namgung Cheol took off his flashy coat, held his sword in one hand, and went up to the martial arts stage. And he lightly paid his respects to the people who were cheering for him.

“Waa!”

The people’s support was one-sided. The face of the opponent who was waiting was distorted, but he gritted his teeth and paid his respects to Namgung Cheol.

“Nice to meet you. I am from Yangju…”

“Ah, I don’t need it.”

Namgung Cheol raised his hand and interrupted him.

“You’re going to end here anyway. I won’t even remember your name.”

Namgung Cheol’s eyes were full of blatant contempt. The young man gritted his teeth.

“I’ll make you regret those words.”

“With your skills?”

Namgung Cheol smirked.

“Just because you’re standing on the same martial arts stage, do you dare to think you’re equal to me? You need a little bit of a stinging lesson.”

Seureung.

Namgung Cheol’s sword revealed its appearance. His sword, which looked extraordinary at a glance, sparkled in the sunlight.

The young man who faced him also did not back down. He controlled the rising anger and drew his sword.

“Come.”

Namgung Cheol beckoned with his finger.

“I’ll give you a chance. The first and last unique opportunity.”

Eudeuk.

The young man gritted his teeth. However, now that he had been insulted to this extent, he could not back down.

He held his sword with both hands and took a breath, then charged towards Namgung Cheol with an energetic shout.

“Haa!”

Pisik.

Namgung Cheol smiled as he looked at the figure. And he slowly raised his sword.

Woowoong.

His sword began to weep softly.

Kaaang!

The sound of impact erupted as the swords containing their energy collided. The opponent’s face was already distorted in just one clash. And the match was decided soon after.

Chwaak.

“Aaaagh!”

The young man covered his face with both hands. Blood was flowing between his fingers.

“D, doctor!”

The martial arts referee shouted in a flustered voice.

A doctor was on standby in case of an emergency, but there were rarely cases of such serious injuries. This was not a life-or-death battle, but a martial arts competition.

“Hmph.”

Namgung Cheol lightly swung his sword to shake off the blood.

“Every time you look in the mirror from now on, you’ll be reminded of your place.”

Tak.

Namgung Cheol, who had sheathed his sword, turned around. A young man with cold eyes was standing below the martial arts stage, looking at Namgung Cheol. It was Geum Sa-yul.

“And you’ll be like that soon too, trash.”

Namgung Cheol said with a bitter smile.

Geum Sa-yul did not say anything with a stiff expression. Behind him, young men wearing martial arts uniforms with blood dragons engraved on them stood silently like grim reapers.