A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 78

78. Retaliation with Justice (2014.05.31.)

The heavy tension weighed down on the banquet hall of the Pavilion of Prince Teng. Before the imposing aura of the Blood Dragon Gate warriors, a young man in splendid attire stepped forward.

Thud.

“I am Namgung Hoon of the Namgung Clan.”

With a commanding height and intense eyes, he declared, “If you desire a duel, I shall be your opponent.”

Befitting his bold demeanor, his expression radiated valor.

The eyes of everyone, including those who were cowering in fear, as well as all the young ladies and gentlemen in the banquet hall, turned to him. The younger generation of experts slightly frowned, feeling that they had been preempted.

“The young master of the Namgung Clan will be the first to fight,” Shinwol, a warrior of the Blood Dragon Gate, said, looking around at the younger generation of the Demonic Path.

“Who will break the Namgung Clan’s sword?”

“I will,” a young man with sharp eyes stepped forward, drawing his sword.

Clang.

“I am Lee Hoseon of the Guiju Pacheon Clan.”

The sword in his hand gleamed with a silver light.

Thud, thud.

“I’ve often heard the Namgung Clan call themselves the Sword King Family. I wonder if they truly deserve the title.”

“It’s not a sword worthy enough to bear the family name, but…”

Namgung Hoon met Lee Hoseon’s sharp gaze and grinned.

Swish.

Namgung Hoon’s sword was revealed.

“It’s more than enough to teach you a lesson.”

The two men’s gazes locked sharply. And in the next moment, Lee Hoseon’s sword lunged towards Namgung Hoon.

∴

Son Bin watched the clash between the two men, while also keeping an eye on the movements of the Blood Dragon Gate warriors. They were the ones orchestrating this situation.

Rustle.

Sensing someone approaching from behind, Son Bin turned his head.

“What on earth is the Blood Dragon Gate thinking?”

A very small voice, as if whispering, asked Son Bin. It was Jeok Seok-hwa.

“What do you think, Young Master Son?”

She was already standing behind Son Bin, watching the situation. When Sa Su-yeon looked back at her, Jeok Seok-hwa smiled slightly.

“Nice to meet you. I am Jeok Seok-hwa from the Hoyeon Martial Arts Center. This person is… well, you could say we are neighbors from the same village.”

“Neighbors…”

Sa Su-yeon repeated softly, then smiled faintly and replied, “I am Sa Su-yeon.”

“So you are Young Lady Sa. I am pleased to meet the renowned Pagyeong Sinnyeo [All-Knowing Maiden of Pagyeong].”

Clang, clang!

The sharp sound of clashing blades drew their attention back. Thanks to this, Son Bin missed the opportunity to answer Jeok Seok-hwa’s question.

Son Bin, unintentionally caught between the two young ladies, also turned his gaze to the duel.

Lee Hoseon of the Pacheon Clan was continuing his sharp offensive, but Namgung Hoon was effortlessly deflecting the attacks.

“As expected of Young Master Namgung Hoon,” Jeok Seok-hwa said softly.

“He seized an opportunity when Namgung Cheol suffered an accident. His position within the family is weak, but he is truly skilled. He is definitely one of the candidates for this Dragon-Phoenix Competition [a prestigious martial arts tournament].”

After Namgung Cheol’s duel ended inconclusively, the Namgung Clan gave Namgung Hoon the formal participation rights they originally held.

It was a golden opportunity for him, who had been pushed back due to his rank within the family, despite his outstanding skills.

“The match will be decided soon,” Sa Su-yeon replied softly.

To those who knew nothing of martial arts, it might have seemed that Namgung Hoon was being pushed back, but any of the younger generation of experts present could clearly see the difference in skill between the two.

Sa Su-yeon and Jeok Seok-hwa were not the only ones who thought the match would be decided soon.

“But, why on earth is the Blood Dragon Gate doing this…?”

It was the moment Jeok Seok-hwa frowned slightly and muttered.

Whoosh.

Lee Hoseon of the Pacheon Clan’s sword lunged towards Namgung Hoon’s eyes. It was an attack that relentlessly targeted only Namgung Hoon’s vital points, but Namgung Hoon was neither surprised nor flustered.

Clang!

‘Ugh.’

Lee Hoseon gritted his teeth. The shock transmitted through the sword seemed to shake his body from within.

‘Is this the true sword of the Namgung Clan?’

The sword of the Namgung Clan is neither flashy nor flamboyant. It doesn’t have any ingenious tricks to exploit weaknesses. However, flowing beneath the surface is an indomitable force.

The weight of history, accumulated over a long period, that shallow tricks can never reach. That was what was contained in Namgung Hoon’s sword.

‘But, I will win.’

Lee Hoseon of the Pacheon Clan was certain of his victory. No, his victory was as good as decided.

‘Today, I will defeat the Namgung Clan, and I, Lee Hoseon, will open a new chapter in the history of the Pacheon Clan.’

“Haa!”

With a sharp shout, Lee Hoseon charged towards Namgung Hoon. There was no fear. Because behind him was the Blood Dragon Gate.

“As expected, is this the limit of the Demonic Path?”

Hanwol, a warrior of the Blood Dragon Gate who was watching the duel, said softly. At this rate, the duel would soon be decided. Perhaps not in the way the Blood Dragon Gate wanted.

Ping.

The moment Hanwol’s hand twitched very slightly coincided with the clash of the two men’s swords. And at that moment, an entirely unexpected shock shook Namgung Hoon’s sword.

Clang!

“Ugh.”

The shock transmitted through the sword completely overturned Namgung Hoon’s insides. Losing his balance, he staggered backward. Lee Hoseon did not miss this golden opportunity.

Whoosh.

Lee Hoseon’s blade drew a sharp curve towards Namgung Hoon’s neck.

However, Namgung Hoon’s sword, honed over a long period, moved instinctively as if alive at the moment of life and death, blocking Lee Hoseon’s sword.

Clang!

Namgung Hoon’s sword flew into the air. And Lee Hoseon’s sword rested on Namgung Hoon’s neck.

“With such skill, you dare call yourselves the Sword King Family?”

Lee Hoseon did not hide his scorn.

“H-how could this…”

Namgung Hoon’s face was distorted. He still couldn’t understand the strong shock he had felt at the moment of the final clash. But the result was as clear as the gleaming blade before his eyes.

“Beg for your life,” Lee Hoseon said.

“Then maybe I’ll spare you. I am very generous, unlike you.”

His blade was already slowly cutting into Namgung Hoon’s neck. Red blood began to flow down his blade.

“Ah…”

A sigh escaped from someone’s lips. The faces of the Righteous Path’s younger generation of experts also hardened, and Hanwol, a warrior of the Blood Dragon Gate, was leisurely enjoying the scene.

However, the moment his gaze reached a scholar, Hanwol couldn’t help but frown.

‘Huh?’

The scholar’s gaze was fixed directly on Hanwol.

At this moment, when everyone’s attention was focused on Namgung Hoon and Lee Hoseon, the scholar’s eyes were staring directly at Hanwol. As if questioning Hanwol’s actions.

‘That guy, could it be…’

No one had noticed Hanwol’s movements. Not even Namgung Hoon, who had been attacked, or even Shinwol, who was right next to him. Only after seeing the result would they have realized Hanwol’s trick.

But the young man dressed as a scholar was glaring at him as if he had clearly recognized it. Hanwol’s eyebrows twitched.

“Kill him,” Namgung Hoon said, gritting his teeth.

“I would rather die with dignity than live in humiliation.”

“Is that so? Then I have no choice.”

Lee Hoseon did not hesitate at all. It was the very moment his sword was about to cut Namgung Hoon’s neck.

Fling!

With a sharp burst of energy, a silver thread shot straight towards Lee Hoseon.

“Heok.”

Lee Hoseon was greatly shocked and hurriedly twisted his body, but the silver thread was already right in front of his eyes.

Thwack.

“Keugh.”

Blood spurted from his shoulder. Lee Hoseon’s sneering face contorted in pain.

“W-what are you doing? You…”

Lee Hoseon glared at Sa Su-yeon with venomous eyes. A long silver chopstick was shining in her white hand raised near her chest.

“\”Retaliate with justice.\” It is said to answer hatred with righteousness, so one straight[直] silver chopstick[銀櫡] for your hidden weapon is a fitting response.”

“Hidden weapon!”

At her words, the atmosphere inside the Pavilion of Prince Teng’s banquet hall turned cold.

“And, to you as well.”

Ping.

As soon as her slender white finger moved slightly, a silver thread was already flying straight towards Hanwol.

Clang!

It was the sword of the warrior Shinwol that blocked the silver thread. Shinwol glared at Sa Su-yeon as if to kill her.

“You bitch, how dare you…”

“I like it,” Hanwol said. He looked at Sa Su-yeon with a leisurely expression.

“Better than those who talk about righteousness without skill or insight. Pagyeong Sinnyeo, was it?”

His eyes added a sharp edge.

“Fight her, Shinwol.”

“As you wish.”

Shinwol bowed lightly and turned towards Sa Su-yeon.

Step.

Sa Su-yeon was about to step forward, but Son Bin stopped her.

“No, Young Lady Sa.”

Even if others didn’t know, Son Bin knew. Her condition right now was definitely not good. Sa Su-yeon, who was looking at Son Bin with surprised eyes, smiled faintly.

“They intend to kill everyone here,” she said.

At her words, the faces of everyone in the banquet hall hardened.

“Duels are just a brief amusement anyway. So, I have to go out now.”

Sa Su-yeon said to Son Bin.

“This time, I will definitely protect you.”

Step, step.

Leaving Son Bin behind, Sa Su-yeon stepped straight forward.

Swish.

Her cold blade was revealed. At the same time, Shinwol’s other sword was revealed. Shinwol, who wielded twin swords, was already emitting a low wail.

“Pagyeong Sinnyeo… I’ve wanted to meet you,” Shinwol said with a bitter smile.

“Let’s see if your renowned skills live up to the name.”

Whoosh.

The moment the words ended, Shinwol’s figure disappeared in an instant. Sa Su-yeon drew her sword, making a large semicircle.

Clang!

Sparks flew, and Shinwol was thrown backward.

“Keugh.”

Shinwol’s face, who had crossed his two swords to block her sword, was distorted. But there was no change in Sa Su-yeon’s expression.

She was simply looking at Shinwol with cold eyes, as if nothing had happened.

“Ooh.”

Exclamations flowed from people’s mouths. This was because Sa Su-yeon’s sword, which had soared into the sky, was emitting a blue aura.

Woowoong.

‘Young Lady Sa…’

Son Bin clenched his teeth with a hardened face. The blue aura surrounding her sword was clearly weaker than he remembered.

“You bitch!”

Shinwol gripped his twin swords and charged again. Sa Su-yeon said with cold eyes,

“There is one thing I realized after holding a sword.”

Whoosh.

Her sword moved towards Shinwol, drawing a blue trajectory.

“Those who carelessly utter harsh words rarely have a heavy sword.”

Whiririk.

Shinwol’s twin swords rotated strangely, aiming for Sa Su-yeon’s weak points. The illusions created by the two swords were very flashy and complex.

However, Sa Su-yeon’s sword fearlessly pierced through the trajectories of the twin swords and lunged straight towards Shinwol.

Thwack.

Red blood splattered. Sa Su-yeon stepped back lightly.

“Keuheuhe.”

Shinwol laughed. Red blood was flowing from his drooping shoulder, but he didn’t seem to feel any pain. His eyes gleamed with madness.

“To dare push me this far. Today, I will…”

“Stop, Shinwol.”

A low voice cut off Shinwol’s words. In an instant, Shinwol’s gaze, filled with murderous intent, turned to Hanwol.

“It’s not time yet.”

Hanwol met Shinwol’s gaze, gleaming with madness, with a calm expression. Shinwol gritted his teeth. And slowly lowered his head and stepped back.

Swish.

Hanwol stepped forward. It was a dignified aura, like a high-ranking official.

“Pagyeong Sinnyeo. You appeared in Gangho [the martial arts world] like the wind, deciphering all the famous techniques and defeating countless younger generation experts, right? I’ve heard quite a few stories about you,” Hanwol said, walking out slowly as if taking a stroll. His martial uniform, with a red dragon painted on it, began to flutter slightly even though there was no wind.

“A young master of the pinnacle of sword energy manifestation, whose sect is unknown and whose name is not known. With that mysterious appearance, it can be said that there is no one among the younger generation who can compare to you. And…”

Whoosh.

His figure lunged straight towards Sa Su-yeon. His sword, which had already revealed itself, was falling towards Sa Su-yeon.

Woowoong.

‘Ugh.’

Sa Su-yeon’s complexion changed. His sword, wrapped in red sword energy, was completely blocking Sa Su-yeon’s movements.

The only option was to confront it.

But that was also the choice Sa Su-yeon wanted to avoid the most right now.

“Young Lady Sa!”

Son Bin’s voice was heard like a hallucination. Just like that day in the snowy mountains.

Woowoong.

The blue sword energy surrounding her sword intensified. And collided with the opponent’s sword.

“Haa!”

Clang!

The sound of an explosion echoed through the banquet hall, and the force of the collision swept around.

“Kyaa!”

“Ugh.”

In the midst of the screams of the startled people, the moment Sa Su-yeon’s figure was seen being thrown back, Son Bin was already throwing himself towards her.

“Young Lady Sa!”

Crash.

The moment Son Bin’s hand caught Sa Su-yeon, the two of them couldn’t overcome the force and rolled across the floor. Tables and dishes shattered with loud noises.

“Ugh!”

Sa Su-yeon vomited blood. Her and Son Bin’s clothes were stained red, and Hanwol’s voice was heard from behind.

“And, your body is not in normal condition right now, right? To the point where a doctor has to be by your side at all times to take care of you. So, in a clash of internal energy like this…”

Hanwol said with a smile.

“It’s enough to mess up your internal energy.”

Woowoong.

His sword was emitting an eerie red energy.