A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 90

90. The Great Tree of the Carefree Land (2014.07.12.)

Nangong Hyang’s visit caused a stir in the Hoyeon Martial Hall. The arrival of someone from the Nangong Clan was unprecedented.

The martial hall was briefly tense, but the atmosphere quickly improved once the situation was explained.

They had heard that he was a man of integrity, so they had no reason to be upset. Moreover, the warrior from the Hyeokryeon Clan who accompanied him requested active cooperation, so there was no reason to hesitate.

After promising to inform them immediately if the former Thunder Sword, Nangong Cheon, were to visit, Hall Master Jeok Cheolgwan escorted Nangong Hyang out. Jeok Seho and Jeok Sehwa also showed courtesy to the esteemed guest, seeing Nangong Hyang off with smiles.

“Seeing how actively the Nangong Clan is cooperating with the Hyeokryeon Clan, it seems they are determined to get revenge on the Blood Peak Union. If the former Thunder Sword is coming…”

Jeok Seho murmured as he escorted Nangong Hyang.

However, Jeok Sehwa’s reaction was lukewarm. It was unexpected, considering how active she usually was in such matters.

“Well, I guess so.”

“Why? Is there something you’re worried about?”

Jeok Sehwa, who had been deep in thought, shook her head.

“No, it’s nothing. I’m going out for a bit.”

Before she finished speaking, Jeok Sehwa quickly left.

Her younger sister’s sudden actions weren’t unusual, so Jeok Seho simply shrugged it off.

∴

As Jeok Sehwa approached the gate of the humble Seowon [a private academy or Confucian academy], she paused at the sound coming from inside.

“That’s mine. Stop eating it.”

“Don’t be like that over just one candy, senior.”

“I don’t have a junior like you.”

“We’re all brothers within the four seas [meaning everyone is connected]. If you grabbed the sword first, you’re a senior… Ah, this is delicious.”

Jeok Sehwa carefully peeked her head around the gate.

Despite her cautious actions, the conversation stopped instantly, and Jeok Sehwa met the gaze of everyone present.

Among the familiar faces, a strange old man looked at Jeok Sehwa with a blank expression and asked,

“Who is that child?”

“Ah, young lady!”

At least Son Bin greeted Jeok Sehwa with a smiling face.

“Ah, hello.”

Jeok Sehwa greeted them with an awkward expression.

“Please, come in.”

At Son Bin’s words, Jeok Sehwa stepped inside.

There, she saw the host, Son Bin, No Gun, who was now more like an owner than a guest, Shinui, and the masked girl, Dang Wol-ah, along with the unfamiliar old man.

She noticed that Dang Wol-ah’s aura had changed quite a bit, but her curiosity about the strange old man was greater.

“This is Jeok Sehwa, young lady of the Hoyeon Martial Hall. And this person is No Gun’s junior…”

“I don’t have a junior like that!”

No Gun protested at Son Bin’s introduction. The white-haired stranger spoke with a nonchalant expression.

“But why are you here instead of Hyeongsan, senior? Namak No Gun should be guarding Namak [a famous mountain]. People will get confused if you’re just wandering around like this.”

Thanks to being next to Shinui, it wasn’t very noticeable, but he had a sturdy build that would put most grown men to shame. Such a man was chattering away like a little girl with a delighted expression.

“It’s my business. Besides, what place is off-limits to a two-legged beast? Don’t meddle in things you don’t need to.”

No Gun said, grumbling. The strange old man grinned.

“Well, it’s all good. I heard Paegeom went to look for you, senior, but it looks like he’ll be making a wasted trip. He must be fuming that he can’t have all the fun to himself, but now I feel refreshed. But how are you still the same as you were back then, senior?”

“Why, are you jealous?”

“Not really. I just thought it would be better if you were as vigorous as a young man.”

“What’s so good about that? You’d just be chasing after women and getting into more trouble.”

The strange old man narrowed his eyes and spoke with a seemingly serious expression.

“You shouldn’t lie about the past. You won’t get any until you’re old.”

“Ahem. Well, it’s not like there were that many to chase after…”

“Right? Then I’ll introduce you to a nice grandma, so how about a spar with me…”

“No.”

“Ah, why!”

“If I knew you were this kind of guy, I wouldn’t have agreed in the first place. You seemed decent back then, but why have you become such a clingy guy?”

“I was always like this.”

“What?”

The strange old man shrugged and nonchalantly ate a piece of candy.

“My specialty is pestering the people around me. I’m working my butt off while they’re just relaxing, and I can’t stand it. Thanks to that, the former Outer Azure Lord and Inner Azure Lord still run away whenever they see me. Hehehe.”

The old man laughed as if he was truly enjoying himself.

“So, how about a spar…”

“I said no!”

“Then I’ll keep coming until you do. Ah, now that I think about it, I should contact Paegeom and tell him to come here. He must be fuming after searching through the empty Hyeongsan. He must have had high expectations.”

“Ugh.”

No Gun groaned. He felt like he understood why the people around him ran away.

“Once.”

“Three times.”

“No way.”

“Then twice. I can’t go any lower.”

“Are you the owner here? Whatever, fine. Come tonight.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

The old man grinned.

“Thank you. It seems Hyang-ah has sent someone to look for me, so I’ll be going now.”

No Gun frowned, wondering what he was talking about, but the strange old man turned to Jeok Sehwa and said,

“Am I right? Young lady of the Hoyeon Martial Hall.”

“Close enough.”

Jeok Sehwa said with a slight smile. Then, she bowed her head and politely paid her respects.

“It’s an honor to meet you. Great Warrior Nangong Cheon. I am Jeok Sehwa of the Hoyeon Martial Hall.”

The strange old man, former Thunder Sword Nangong Cheon, nodded lightly in response.

“Does Hyang-ah know about this place too? No, she wouldn’t. If she did, she would have come here herself with her personality.”

“Yes. Young Lady Nangong Hyang thought that you might come to the Hoyeon Martial Hall, Great Warrior.”

“That child has an uncanny sense. Even though she doesn’t know anything about martial arts…”

Nangong Cheon clicked his tongue and muttered. He had been on his way to the Hoyeon Martial Hall anyway. But when he discovered No Gun, he immediately changed his plans.

“Don’t tell Hyang-ah for the time being. And tell my father that I’ll visit him someday, so he should diligently hone his sword.”

Nangong Cheon’s appearance was full of dignity as he spoke. It was hard to believe that he was the same old man who had been playfully bantering with Namak No Gun just moments ago.

“I will.”

Jeok Sehwa said in a graceful manner, bowing her head.

“Alright. Then I’ll come tonight, senior.”

Nangong Cheon got up from his seat. Then, he suddenly looked at Son Bin and subtly approached him.

“You should work hard too.”

A low voice. Nangong Cheon’s eyes gleamed sharply.

“Having flowers in both hands isn’t always a good thing for a man. If it were me, I wouldn’t even go near that silver-haired lady… But if that’s your taste.”

“Excuse me?”

“If you recklessly indulge yourself when you’re young, you’ll suffer when you’re old.”

Nangong Cheon patted Son Bin on the shoulder with a look of pity.

While Son Bin was bewildered, wondering what he meant, Nangong Cheon strode out the door.

The remaining people were speechless for a moment, feeling as if a typhoon had passed through.

“He’s an interesting person.”

The one who spoke was Jeok Sehwa of the Hoyeon Martial Hall.

“He’s not an interesting guy.”

Namak No Gun said bluntly.

“He’s known to have a generous personality, outstanding martial arts, and impeccable manners, but he’s the kind of guy who would cross a sea of blood without batting an eye for the sake of his family.”

‘Generous… doesn’t seem like it?’

As Jeok Sehwa tilted her head, Namak No Gun frowned and continued.

“There’s no such thing as a sane family head, but that guy is the worst of them. You could say he’s a masterpiece created by the Nangong Clan with all their heart and soul. He’s the most human-like, but that’s why he’s the worst. If he didn’t know that there was a heaven above heaven [meaning someone stronger], he would have already tried to paint the world with blood. Not that I care if the world is painted with blood or not.”

“If he’s such a person, why did you allow the spar?”

At Son Bin’s question, No Gun grinned.

“When you see a guy like that, don’t you just want to crush his pride?”

“I don’t really…”

“Hehe, is that so?”

No Gun laughed.

*

*

*

Jeok Sehwa widened her eyes as she spotted Nangong Cheon walking along the long veranda [a roofed, open-air gallery or porch] with one side open to the garden.

“Grand…”

She stopped herself from calling out to Nangong Cheon. Then, she quietly straightened her clothes and waited for Nangong Cheon to approach.

Step, step.

Nangong Cheon approached with an overwhelming presence that seemed to fill the tall and ornate veranda made of luxurious wood. It was as if Mount Tai [a sacred mountain in China] itself was moving.

Rustle.

Nangong Hyang knelt down and lowered her head. She didn’t care that this was a veranda.

“Have you returned safely?”

“Hmm.”

Nangong Cheon nodded lightly.

“Does the Tang Clan have an Outer Affairs-level expert that we haven’t identified?”

He asked, looking down at Nangong Hyang, who was still bowing her head.

“No. But I cannot definitively say that they do not. It is the Tang Clan, after all.”

“I suppose so. It’s the Tang Clan.”

Nangong Cheon stared into the distance for a moment before asking again.

“A guest from the Tang Clan came here before, didn’t they?”

“Yes. It is Dok-in (Poison Blade), said to be the Tang Clan’s hidden blade. Revealing his existence to us is interpreted as the Tang Clan showing their trust in this secret agreement.”

The visit was only known to a select few within the Nangong Clan. Nangong Hyang wouldn’t have known either if it weren’t for Nangong Cheon. Nangong Cheon himself didn’t attend, saying he wasn’t interested in such things.

“Was that child strong?”

“No.”

Nangong Hyang replied.

“His knowledge of martial arts and manuals is truly genius-level, but his capabilities are such that he cannot even properly control his own body. He is like a living embodiment of extreme poison, and his lifespan is said to not exceed this year.”

Nangong Cheon stroked his chin. Logically speaking, the possibility of them being the same person is infinitely low.

But for some reason, he had a bad feeling.

“Was the Tang Clan’s expert here?”

Nangong Hyang asked quietly.

“Yes.”

Nangong Cheon said.

“I couldn’t confirm it, but it’s clear. There’s only one place in the world that could create a monster with such intense poison. I thought the Fierce Tiger wouldn’t disappear so easily…”

Nangong Cheon said with a bitter smile.

“He was a child who was more frightening in the future than he is now. Killing him on the spot would have eliminated future troubles, but the old man is holding on… Tsk.”

“The old man you speak of…”

“Namak No Gun was there.”

Nangong Hyang’s expression changed slightly.

“Here in the Hyeokryeon Clan?”

“No.”

Nangong Cheon replied briefly and looked down at Nangong Hyang, asking.

“If the Tang Clan’s Outer Affairs-level expert, Namak No Gun, and Shinui are together, what does that mean?”

Nangong Hyang was silent for a moment. But it wasn’t long.

“The Tang Clan never loses. You cannot move Namak No Gun unless you are strong. Shinui is only bound by the art of healing. Therefore, there is only one thing that can bind the three of them together.”

Nangong Hyang quietly moved her lips.

“However, everything in the world finds shelter under the shade of a great tree. Transcending profit and loss, strength and weakness, life and death, the only thing that can move people is the Great Tree of the Carefree Land.”

The Carefree Land refers to a vast, empty field where no vested interests can exist.

A perfect utopia and sometimes a world of complete nothingness.

The word that expresses somewhere beyond this world, somewhere that is not even known to exist, is the Carefree Land.

“A great tree in a vast, empty field…”

The tree is truly enormous, but it is said to be useless as timber to the point that carpenters do not even look at it.

Because it is useless, it is not cut down, and so it does not harm others, but only becomes a shade for all things to rest.

That is the great tree, Daesu, said to be in the Carefree Land.

“Your words are sometimes so profound that even I cannot fully understand them.”

Nangong Cheon looked down at Nangong Hyang with calm eyes.

“I apologize.”

“But one thing is clear. That is, you mean there is a great figure there who can encompass all three of them, right?”

“That is correct.”

“But there was no one who seemed like that?”

Nangong Cheon said, tilting his head.

“The young scholar’s inner strength was quite pure, but he didn’t seem particularly useful. The little ones were just kids you can find anywhere. Wouldn’t it be more plausible that Namak No Gun is raising the Tang Clan’s girl as his disciple? Although, given that old man’s personality, I don’t think that’s possible.”

“But…”

Tap, tap, tap.

The sound of someone running urgently along the veranda interrupted Nangong Hyang’s words. Nangong Cheon turned his head. A maid from the Hyeokryeon Clan was approaching with hurried steps.

“Hmph. The Hyeokryeon Clan is on fire. Well, I guess they would be.”

Nangong Cheon winked at Nangong Hyang and said.

“I used a little bit of my power to surprise them, since there were so many who were openly eavesdropping, thinking it was their own home. Their ears must be ringing, so they probably won’t be able to hear anything for a while.”

It’s not just that they won’t be able to hear anything for a while.

The tremendous energy that Nangong Cheon unleashed towards them in that instant was such a shock that the weak ones would have vomited blood on the spot.

But Nangong Cheon just smiled as if he had played a little prank.

“Get up.”

Rustle.

At Nangong Cheon’s words, Nangong Hyang quietly stood up.

“Either way, we’ll find out tonight. It will be fun to wait and see whose words are right.”

Tap, tap, tap.

The maid, with a pale face, quickly bowed to Nangong Cheon.

“Are, are you alright?”

“Alright? Is there any reason why I wouldn’t be?”

“No, well, that is… there was a tremendously loud noise from somewhere…”

“Didn’t hear it? Maybe there was some dry thunder somewhere?”

“St, still…”

“More importantly, about the welcoming banquet hosted by the family head today, will there be any pretty singers? I’d like to see a bunch of pretty girls come out and dance. That’s the latest trend these days.”

As Nangong Cheon spoke as if he was flirting, the maid was so flustered that her face turned red.

Watching her, Nangong Hyang murmured inwardly.

‘The Great Tree of the Carefree Land is originally useless.’

Suddenly, she imagined herself sitting in the shade of a large tree.

A place where a gentle breeze blows and the leaves whisper softly.

But that is a dream. A dream that is too sweet and too far away.

‘It’s hot.’

Nangong Hyang turned her head and looked at the garden.

The hot sunlight of Gangnam was shining intensely.