A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 91

Thud, thud.

Though the surroundings were silent, the footsteps were relentless. The darkness of the night did not slow them down.

“Were you here?”

Namgungcheon asked jovially. Old Gun, sitting with a small wine cup, glanced up.

“You came?”

Namgungcheon scanned the area.

Shinui, holding a wine cup as he sat, and Dang Wora, standing and gazing into the distance, seemed uninterested in Namgungcheon.

They were simply looking at the North River under the moonlight.

“It’s a nice place. Ah, I’m fine with wine. I just had some.”

“I didn’t offer any,” Old Gun retorted, but Namgungcheon ignored him.

“But what are you all doing here? Are you watching that young man over there?”

Namgungcheon gestured with his chin towards the scholar standing alone under the moonlight in the distance.

“I don’t think he’s handsome enough to gather around and watch.”

Old Gun chuckled.

“Hmph, strikingly handsome? Well, he is beautiful.”

Namgungcheon’s expression tightened slightly.

“Senior, has your taste changed in the meantime?”

“Enough.”

Old Gun cut him off, seemingly unwilling to explain further.

“You have to spar, right?”

“I do.”

At the word ‘spar,’ Namgungcheon’s eyes sparkled.

“But judging by the looks of it, I don’t think Senior will willingly draw the So Young Sword.”

“You’re quick as always. Both now and then.”

“I had to be, to survive. So, who is my opponent? Is it that young lady?”

Namgungcheon’s eyes shone towards the veiled girl.

However, the veiled girl didn’t even glance in their direction.

“Isn’t he waiting over there?”

Old Gun said with a smirk, his eyes undoubtedly directed towards the young scholar.

Namgungcheon tilted his head.

“He’ll die, though, won’t he?”

Namgungcheon said without hesitation.

“Even if he has mastered sword techniques that could split the heavens and the earth, if his inner strength [internal energy or ‘qi’] can’t support it, it’s just a fancy sword dance. No matter how earth-shattering the divine skill is, if he can’t make it his own by crossing the boundaries of life and death, it’s just wearing someone else’s clothes forever.”

Namgungcheon glanced at the young scholar standing alone under the moonlight.

“That young man lacks inner strength and doesn’t seem to have much experience. At that level… he’ll die in one strike, right?”

“Hmph.”

Old Gun laughed.

“Just don’t die in one strike.”

Namgungcheon frowned.

“I’ve never known Senior to be good at joking…”

“Go.”

Old Gun said with a faint smile.

“I promised two spars, so even if you lose, I’ll give you one more chance to challenge him.”

Namgungcheon’s eyes shone sharply.

“Hahaha. If Senior says so…”

Whooong.

He chuckled, but Namgungcheon’s eyes were not smiling. At the same time, a fierce aura began to emanate from his entire body.

“I have no choice but to end it in one strike.”

Namgungcheon turned his head and walked towards the young scholar standing alone under the moonlight.

Thud, thud.

Watching Namgungcheon’s back as he walked away, Shinui asked quietly.

“Will he be okay?”

“He’ll be fine.”

Old Gun said.

“Two of the Heavenly Outer Four Stars are dead, and two have disappeared. Now, guys wriggling like that one will start to emerge from all over the world. You have to step on them at least once, so they don’t think of anything else. Besides, I can’t be the only one suffering, can I?”

Shinui frowned, but Old Gun just spoke as if he was enjoying it.

“Yeah, at least it has to be Lightning Sword level. This is a memorable first outer spar for that kid.”

Old Gun raised his glass. Namgungcheon’s back was visible reflected in the wine glass, and Sonbin’s waiting figure was also visible. And above them, the brightly shining moon.

“It’s starting now.”

Old Gun muttered quietly.

∴

Thud, thud.

With each step he took, the grass lay down as if swept by a strong wind.

The aura emanating from Namgungcheon was shaking the atmosphere like a storm, but Sonbin stood quietly, waiting for him.

Thud.

He stopped. Sonbin put his hands together and bowed.

“I am Sonbin.”

“I am Lightning Sword, and the outer world does not reveal names. Family and titles are meaningless; only martial prowess matters.”

Sonbin smiled.

“I am just a mere scholar.”

“A mere scholar.”

Namgungcheon laughed, but his eyes were still not smiling.

“What is the reason that a mere scholar dares to come to the outer world’s spar?”

“This is a small village, but it is a place where I live with precious people.”

Sonbin replied.

“So, I have to protect it.”

“Then wouldn’t it be better to lie down and pretend to be dead? Like an ordinary villager?”

What appeared on Namgungcheon’s lips was clearly a sneer.

“I can’t do that. My precious people are no longer ordinary villagers.”

Sonbin said with a smile.

“Yes, that’s right. They are not ordinary villagers. That’s why I’m here.”

Looking down at Sonbin with sharp eyes, Namgungcheon said.

“But if you know that, why don’t you kneel down and ask them? This is not your place to step in.”

“I can’t do that either.”

Sonbin said quietly.

“Because I am the master of this place.”

A strange light flashed in Namgungcheon’s eyes.

“Do you want to take responsibility for your life? That intention is worthy of high praise. But if you don’t have the ability, it’s just recklessness.”

“Things that must be done should not be avoided, even if the ability is insufficient and leads to failure.”

Sonbin said.

“The books I have read all my life have been saying just that. Although I only realized it recently.”

Namgungcheon knew that the young man in front of him would never back down.

Namgungcheon sighed softly.

“You may be a scholar, but your will is no less than that of a martial artist. Your spirit is higher than those who hold swords all over the world, so I will highly value it and spare your life.”

Sreung.

A shining sword appeared. The moonlight flowing on the blade was fluid and unhindered, indicating that it was an excellent sword.

“This is my new sword, Heavy Rain. After lightning flashes, the sky pours rain.”

“It’s a good sword.”

Sonbin nodded and reached out to draw his sword.

Seung.

With a small sound, the Immortal Sword White Dew appeared. Its noble figure shone blue under the moonlight.

“This sword is…”

“Immortal Sword White Dew.”

Namgungcheon said before Sonbin could finish speaking.

“Haha, are you the successor of Hwanghak Jinren’s teachings?”

[Inheriting the teachings meant receiving deep enlightenment or the essence of martial arts from a master.]

Sonbin shook his head.

“I was only asked to pass on the sword.”

That was not much different of an answer to Namgungcheon. Being asked to pass on the sword was considered no different from inheriting the teachings.

“Now I know why Old Gun passed the spar on to me. Then I shouldn’t dare to treat you carelessly.”

Namgungcheon raised his sword. With a chilling sound, a blue aura began to settle on his sword, Heavy Rain.

Woo Woong.

“I am glad to see the Jinren’s sword here. I hope you are stronger than I think…”

Namgungcheon smiled. It was a genuine smile, completely different from before.

“I sincerely hope so.”

Paang.

As soon as he finished speaking, Namgungcheon disappeared. With a sound like something exploding, Namgungcheon’s sword rushed towards Sonbin.

However, Sonbin stood there without moving.

Woong.

White Dew quietly began to weep and slowly drew a soft trajectory in the air.

The movement seemed very slow compared to Heavy Rain, but when White Dew faced Namgungcheon, the tip of Heavy Rain was exactly in front of it.

Hoong.

A small sound was heard when White Dew and Heavy Rain met. It was a faint sound like the wind blowing, but the wind instantly shook the pouring Heavy Rain.

Hoo Wook.

The eerie blue aura with a distorted trajectory brushed past Sonbin’s eyes, but Sonbin was neither surprised nor agitated.

Although it was only a momentary gap, there was an insurmountable distance between Sonbin and the flow of Heavy Rain.

Shwik.

Although the sword path was distorted, Namgungcheon was not flustered. As if he had been waiting for it, the trajectory of Heavy Rain instantly changed direction and rushed towards Sonbin again at a sharp angle.

But White Dew landed between Heavy Rain and Sonbin again, like dew falling silently on a flower petal.

Piing.

A faint sound rang out, and the trajectory of Heavy Rain was distorted again.

This time, it was not just the sword path that was shaken.

The distortion that started from the tip of Heavy Rain, the sword’s edge, amplified as it passed through the sword’s body, and when it reached Namgungcheon’s hand, it had become a raging torrent like a waterfall.

“Keuk.”

Namgungcheon groaned, but White Dew was still not leaving the tip of Heavy Rain, as if the two swords were stuck together.

‘Dangerous.’

Namgungcheon sensed it. The White Dew that landed on the tip of his sword moved like a fluttering flower petal, but in reality, it was like a raging torrent that could not be resisted.

If this continued, he would be like a chariot rushing towards a fortress wall, that is, destroyed by his own power.

“Haat!”

Resisting the flow like a predetermined fate, Namgungcheon momentarily erupted his inner energy.

Kwang!

The sword tips separated, and an explosion rang out. Sonbin and Namgungcheon both stepped back as if they had been bounced away.

Papa Pak.

Namgungcheon rotated his body like a top. Grass and soil flew up, and his sword indiscriminately scattered energy.

Kwagwagaak.

The place where they had been standing was a mess, as if a storm had swept through.

Namgungcheon lowered his body and stopped only after touching the ground with one hand. He himself could not easily withstand his own inner energy that he had momentarily exploded.

“Hoo.”

Slowly catching his breath, Namgungcheon raised his head.

And he saw that Sonbin was still standing there.

Sonbin’s eyes were calm as if nothing had happened. The White Dew in his hand shone like a noble flower under the blue moonlight.

“Keuk Keuk.”

Namgungcheon laughed. It was not a situation to laugh at all, but he could not stop the laughter from flowing out on its own.

“Is it only going to touch the collar?”

Sonbin gave a bitter smile.

Some of Namgungcheon’s sword energy, which seemed to have been scattered indiscriminately, was accurately aimed at Sonbin, and the sword energy left traces on Sonbin’s clothes.

Thanks to this, Sonbin’s clothes, which were cut off here and there, were no longer worthy of being called clothes.

Sarak.

Sonbin fastened his disheveled collar with one hand. But that didn’t improve much.

“Seeing that you don’t even blink an eye at my sword, it seems like you’ve been through quite a few battlefields. That’s amazing at your age.”

Even though his clothes were torn, he didn’t try to avoid exposing himself any further. Even though Namgungcheon’s sword energy brushed past his eyes, he didn’t waver.

Overcoming the fear of death is something that can never be done except by those who have faced and overcome that fear.

“I didn’t make it through on my own, but it was quite a battlefield.”

Sonbin said with a bitter expression.

“I see.”

Sreung.

Namgungcheon sheathed his sword, Heavy Rain. Unexpectedly, Sonbin also sheathed his sword.

Sarak.

The shining sword of White Dew disappeared, and silence fell again on the empty space.

Namgungcheon stared intently at Sonbin. Then he suddenly said.

“You are the True Dragon.”

“Pardon?”

Instead of answering Sonbin’s question, Namgungcheon asked again as if throwing it away.

“It was twice, right?”

“Pardon?”

Namgungcheon laughed.

“You keep asking back since a while ago. Are you already going deaf even though you’re still young? Anyway, I’ll go for today. I get sleepy these days if I stay up all night because I’m old.”

With those words, Namgungcheon turned his body.

Sonbin thought that everyone gets sleepy if they stay up all night, but anyway, the spar seemed to be over.

Thud, thud.

Namgungcheon walked to where Shinui and Old Gun were sitting.

“Why? I said I’d give you one more chance?”

Old Gun said teasingly. Namgungcheon answered with a serious face.

“I can’t do it now. I have a lot of things to do before I die. When I have no more regrets in the world, I’ll come back then.”

“Hmph, will there ever be a time when you have no regrets? As long as the Namgung family exists, that day will never come, right?”

Namgungcheon turned his head and looked at Sonbin, who was still standing alone in the distance. Then he suddenly said as if throwing it away.

“Tell him not to go to Wudang [a mountain range in China known for its Taoist temples and martial arts schools].”

“Why?”

Old Gun asked. Namgungcheon said in a low voice.

“The atmosphere is not good these days. Even if he brings White Dew, he won’t see a good sight.”

“Tsk. I knew it. Looking at what they’re doing these days, it’s quite a sight. They should prostrate themselves and say, ‘Hwanghak entrusted the sword,’ and ‘We’re just waiting for your disposal’… Tsk.”

Namgungcheon turned his body and walked into the darkness. Old Gun said as if throwing it towards his back.

“Don’t come again! It’s annoying.”

“I’ll come again.”

Thud, thud.

Without looking back, Namgungcheon raised one hand and said.

“If I’m bored.”

The voice soon disappeared into the darkness.

When it was certain that he had left, Old Gun raised his glass and muttered with a triumphant expression.

“Now that guy won’t bother me for a while. Hehe.”

“Will he?”

Shinui said quietly next to him.

“I think he’ll come more often.”

“What? He can’t spar anymore, so why?”

Shinui brought the glass to his mouth instead of answering. Dang Wora, who was standing silently, was still looking at Sonbin.

*

*

*

“Have you returned?”

Namgung Hyang knelt down and paid her respects. It was late at night, but she was waiting for Namgungcheon in front of his residence.

“Yes. Was there anything unusual?”

“No.”

Namgung Hyang replied with her head bowed and in a graceful posture. Looking down at her, Namgungcheon smiled. The mind that seemed like a storm was quietly calming down.

“You are the best.”

“Pardon?”

“No. It’s late at night, so go back and rest.”

Namgung Hyang paid her respects and carefully stood up.

“Ah, right.”

Namgungcheon, who was about to enter the room, suddenly stopped and looked back at Namgung Hyang.

“You’ve already had your coming-of-age ceremony, right?”

“Pardon? Ah, yes.”

Namgung Hyang was momentarily embarrassed by the sudden question.

Namgungcheon looked up and down at Namgung Hyang again. A still young lady with black hair swaying was standing in a graceful manner.

“Yes, you are the best.”

“Pardon?”

Namgung Hyang asked back without realizing it. But Namgungcheon went into the room instead of answering. His grumbling voice leaked through the door.

“But don’t they give late-night snacks to guests here?”

Namgung Hyang stood there with a bewildered expression at his incomprehensible behavior. But Namgungcheon did not come out again, and that day ended like that.