A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 84

84. Welcome

As soon as it was confirmed that Sasu Yeon had regained consciousness, Son Bin and his group decided to leave Namchang immediately. It would have been better to let her rest a little longer, but Jeok Se-hwa shook her head.

“It’s better to get out of here as soon as possible.”

She said firmly. Not only the Namgung Clan but also the Murim Alliance [a coalition of martial arts clans] had stepped in. Moreover, they had not yet found the Blood Dragon Gate and the late-stage masters of the Demonic Sect. The situation was not good.

“In this kind of tense atmosphere, you never know what sparks might fly. Shouldn’t we avoid the storm? The roads around Namchang are a bit heavily guarded, but it won’t be a problem for you. Ah, Divine Physician might need to hide a bit.”

“There’s no need for that.”

Divine Physician, who seemed easy to recognize due to his large physique, said calmly.

“I’m full of empty fame, and there aren’t many who actually recognize me. If I wear a moderately fancy outfit, they’ll probably think I’m a merchant or a government official.”

That was probably because Divine Physician’s appearance was so dignified.

Son Bin smiled wryly, recalling the case of Saja Hyuk.

“We’re leaving without even saying goodbye to Young Master Jeok Se-ho.”

Before leaving the inn, Son Bin said in front of the door. Jeok Se-hwa smiled and replied.

“Don’t worry. I’ll explain it well to my brother.”

Son Bin politely bowed to her.

“Thank you, Miss. Really, in many ways…….”

Son Bin’s gratitude was sincere. Thanks to her invitation, he met Sasu Yeon. Moreover, if it hadn’t been for her advice, he would have definitely faced various difficulties.

Jeok Se-hwa seemed a little surprised by Son Bin’s serious eyes, but soon smiled again and said.

“You’re welcome.”

Her head ornament sparkled in the light as she smiled slightly and bowed her head.

“Then, we’ll be going now…….”

“Young Master Son.”

Jeok Se-hwa called out to Son Bin, who was about to leave. Son Bin turned his head.

“We are still neighbors, right?”

Son Bin looked puzzled at her question. His face seemed to say, ‘Why are you asking such an obvious thing?’

“Yes, but…….”

“And my younger sibling is still your disciple.”

Son Bin’s expression brightened then. Son Bin nodded and replied.

“Of course. Joong-oh is a very precious disciple.”

That was a truth he could say as a teacher without an ounce of falsehood.

Jeok Se-hwa gave a faint smile.

“Thank you. Then, I’ll see you at the academy.”

Son Bin nodded and got into the carriage. Jeok Se-hwa remained motionless for a long time, until their backs disappeared into the bustling streets of Namchang.

Clatter, clatter.

A rather fancy carriage pulled by two horses was passing through the main road.

The carriage, with its wide awning shielding the sunlight, seemed as if it was out for a leisurely tour, and the people riding in it were leisurely looking at the surrounding scenery or enjoying the cool breeze.

Except for one person, the coachman.

“Damn it. Why can’t anyone drive a carriage?”

“I’m sorry, Old Master. If you’re tired, I can try…….”

Son Bin said, not knowing what to do. The person holding the reins was Old Man Namak. Old Man Namak, who was grumbling, scolded Son Bin.

“Are you going to bury it next to the road again? Lifting the carriage wheel once is enough.”

At first, Son Bin held the reins, but the result was disastrous. The horses simply wouldn’t listen to Son Bin.

Old Man Namak, frustrated, took the reins, and his skill was astonishing. Even when sprinting at full speed, the carriage felt very stable.

“Don’t exaggerate.”

Divine Physician said in a heavy voice. He was sitting with Old Man Namak on the driver’s seat.

“What’s so hard about holding those reins? If you’re old, you should have some weight as a person.”

“What’s so hard about holding those reins?”

Old Man Namak glared at Divine Physician.

“Then you drive it, you bastard!”

Old Man Namak threw the reins he was holding at Divine Physician. Divine Physician, who was sitting next to him, didn’t even blink and caught the reins.

“I will.”

“What?”

Old Man Namak frowned. Divine Physician, who he thought would be flustered, wrapped the reins around his hand. He looked quite plausible, and the carriage followed the road without any problems.

Clatter, clatter.

“What? You knew how to drive a carriage?”

“No, I don’t.”

Divine Physician replied in a calm voice, staring straight ahead.

“Then how are you holding the reins…….”

“I watched what you were doing.”

“What?”

“More than that, the horses seem to be going sideways.”

“Kuheok!”

Old Man Namak quickly grabbed the reins. It was only for a brief moment that it seemed to be going well, but one of the horses, distracted by the grass on the side of the road, was already straying to the side.

The horse that was going well was also drifting to the side, so if this continued, the carriage would go off the road.

“Whoa, whoa!”

When Old Man Namak pulled the reins, the horse snorted as if dissatisfied.

However, it obediently moved along the road without further resistance. The carriage, which seemed to be going off the road, also moved along the main road again.

“This bastard…… if you can’t do it, you should say you can’t. Why did you accept it!”

“I said I couldn’t. You’re the one who handed it over.”

Divine Physician said. His expression was so confident that Old Man Namak’s face turned even redder.

Old Man Namak turned his head and said to Son Bin.

“How long has it been since we left Namchang, why is this bastard still riding here?”

Son Bin gave an awkward smile. It was Divine Physician who answered this time as well.

“I said I would go.”

He still stared straight ahead. The only change was a slight frown.

“That guy’s treatment method made me think a lot. Since I have to avoid those annoying clans for the time being anyway, I thought it would be okay to be with that guy. I have to take care of Yeon-ah too.”

“You’re going to be with him?”

Old Man Namak’s face contorted. Old Man Namak looked at Son Bin again.

“Are you okay with that?”

“Yes.”

Son Bin replied. However, Old Man Namak’s frowning face did not ease.

“But, there are no rooms.”

“Doctors are welcomed everywhere. You don’t have to worry about a place to stay.”

Divine Physician said. But Old Man Namak still had a suspicious expression.

“You, last time you said something like that…….”

“The horse is going sideways again.”

Divine Physician suddenly said. The carriage was already straying to the side. Old Man Namak quickly pulled the reins.

Son Bin was just restless with a sorry heart, but a faint smile was spreading on the faces of Sasu Yeon and Dang Wol-ah, who were leisurely looking at the scenery.

“It’s a convoy from Soeun Trading Company!”

A fairly large convoy, making a loud noise, set out from Cheongwon.

Soeun Trading Company is by far the most notable among the trading companies in Gangnam [region south of the river] these days, so their voices were full of pride. Not only the guards but even the porters’ eyes were shining.

“Shall we hurry a little?”

“Yes, Acting Head.”

The head guard bowed his head at Eun Cho-bin’s words.

“Increase the speed! All porters get on the carriages!”

At the head guard’s words, the guards and porters moved in an orderly fashion. The convoy began to race along the main road at a rapid pace.

Then suddenly, the head guard spotted a carriage coming from the opposite side.

“It’s a carriage. I don’t see any markings, but……. Shall we proceed as is?”

In most cases, when encountering a fast-moving convoy, the other party would move aside on their own. There was no need to pay attention to the other party unless they were particularly raising their flags or had markings.

However, Eun Cho-bin, the acting head of the trading company, shook her head.

“Slow down. Even if the convoy is important, we shouldn’t force harm on others.”

Eun Cho-bin, judging that they could pass each other sufficiently if they passed slowly, gave the order. The head guard immediately conveyed her order, and the convoy began to slow down.

Clatter, clatter.

The approaching carriage slowly came closer. Eun Cho-bin, who was about to pass with a light greeting, suddenly widened her eyes.

“Stop the convoy!”

“Stop! Stop the convoy!”

The head guard immediately carried out her decision.

“Whoa, whoa!”

The carriages and horses immediately stopped in their places, and a thick cloud of dust rose. Eun Cho-bin immediately got off her horse and approached the other carriage. The other party had also already stopped.

“Young Master Son.”

“Manager Eun!”

The person who got out of the carriage with a welcoming face was none other than Son Bin. He still called Eun Cho-bin ‘Manager’ as before. Eun Cho-bin couldn’t hide her joy.

“Have you already returned? How is Se-hwa…….”

Eun Cho-bin, who was turning her head to find her friend’s appearance, then saw Old Man Namak and Dang Wol-ah. Eun Cho-bin immediately put her hands together and bowed.

“You two are here as well. Have you been well?”

Dang Wol-ah lightly bowed her head, and Old Man Namak replaced his greeting with a snort.

It might have seemed rude, but that was enough for Eun Cho-bin. Eun Cho-bin knew what kind of people they were. Moreover, Dang Wol-ah was the benefactor who had revived her fallen father.

“These people are…….”

Eun Cho-bin turned her gaze. A gray-haired old man with a dignified physique and a beautiful young lady like an ice sculpture were sitting there.

Despite the cold feeling, she was such an outstanding beauty that Eun Cho-bin admired her inwardly.

“They are people who will be staying with us in Cheongwon for a while.”

“I see. Welcome to Cheongwon. It’s small, but it’s a good place.”

“Thank you.”

Following Divine Physician’s heavy voice, the beautiful beauty replied. Eun Cho-bin asked Son Bin again.

“Where is Se-hwa? Didn’t she come with you?”

“She had some business to take care of and came first. Are you on a convoy trip right now, Manager?”

“Yes.”

Eun Cho-bin looked back at the convoy. Her eyes were filled with a subtle pride as she looked at the convoy, which was raising its flags proudly and standing in formation.

“It’s all thanks to you, Young Master.”

Eun Cho-bin said, bowing to Son Bin again. Son Bin was flustered and tried to stop her, but Eun Cho-bin did not stop. She raised her head and smiled brightly.

∴

Clatter, clatter.

Eun Cho-bin couldn’t easily take her eyes off the carriage of Son Bin and his group as it moved away.

“Acting Head.”

The head guard called out in a low voice. The stopped convoy was waiting for her order.

“Let’s go.”

The convoy began to move, and Eun Cho-bin also turned her head and rode her horse, her voice still sounding regretful. Dust rose again on the main road, and the sound of horses’ hooves and carriages spread.

“Are you alright?”

The head guard asked with a worried look from the side.

“I’m fine.”

Eun Cho-bin smiled. It was a truly bright smile that the head guard hadn’t seen in a long time.

“We’re lucky. I have a good feeling about this convoy for some reason.”

Eun Cho-bin said, looking at the straight main road. The wind was lightly blowing her hair.

“It’s the teacher!”

“Wow!”

“Teacheeer!”

The children who found Son Bin abandoned what they were doing and rushed in as if they were competing.

Old Man Namak and Dang Wol-ah were quietly watching, while Sasu Yeon was clearly surprised. The situation itself with so many children was unfamiliar to her. Divine Physician just frowned.

Dodo doo doo.

Son Bin quickly bent his knees and opened his arms to hug the running children. Son Bin’s face was full of smiles as he was surrounded by the children in an instant.

“Yes, have you all been well?”

“Yes! I’ve been well!”

“I’ve finished my homework too!”

“Me too!”

“You copied it!”

As the children raised their voices, the small yard became noisy in an instant.

“Grandfather teacher is here too!”

“The rice-eating sister is here too!”

“You idiot. I told you to say smart sister.”

“Good heavens! More guests have arrived!”

The children ran wildly between Old Man Namak and Dang Wol-ah, and Divine Physician and Sasu Yeon. Still, as they were familiar faces, the children flocked to Dang Wol-ah and Old Man Namak as well.

Old Man Namak snorted and turned his head at the sight of those sparkling eyes looking up at him.

“Have you been well?”

It was Jang-ah, who was always dozing off, who politely greeted Old Man Namak. Old Man Namak turned his head and stealthily reached out and stroked Jang-ah’s head.

“Oh, yes.”

Jang-ah smiled brightly as if pleased with Old Man Namak’s answer.

“Um, these children are…….”

Sasu Yeon, who was distracted by the surrounded children, asked. Old Man Namak answered.

“These are that guy’s little ones.”

A smile was already on Old Man Namak’s lips as he stroked the children. It was because the other children who saw him stroking Jang-ah had flocked to him.

“By the way, do you know how to read?”

“Yes?”

Sasu Yeon asked back at Old Man Namak’s words. Old Man Namak smiled and said.

“Sometimes these guys ask out of the blue, and if you can’t answer properly, whatever it is, you’ll probably be ignored a bit.”

Sasu Yeon was flustered. At that time, someone poked at Sasu Yeon’s sleeve. When she lowered her head, a pretty girl was looking up at Sasu Yeon with sparkling eyes.

“Excuse me.”

“Uh, me? Why?”

“Did you come to marry the teacher too, sister?”

“What?”

Whack.

Sasu Yeon’s face turned red in an instant. Soso’s face became gloomy when she saw that.

“Another sister. Ah, this won’t do. The competitors keep increasing…….”

“I, I too…….”

Another girl stammered from behind, but Soso didn’t even pay attention to Aeng-aeng.

“This one is okay. This one is fine too…….”

Next to her, Divine Physician was already muttering, touching the children one by one. Some children laughed, saying it tickled, and some children froze in surprise at the sight of the large Divine Physician.

“And you…… cut back on snacks a little. Your breath stinks.”

Divine Physician said, frowning. Gye-gu’s face, who liked to eat, turned into a crying face.