A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 92

92. Wind, Sun, and Water

“Hmm.”

Savoring the aroma rising from the teacup, Namgung Cheon closed his eyes slightly, a satisfied expression on his face.

“A fine tea indeed.”

“It is. Not expensive, but I chose the leaves myself.”

Nogun’s sullen voice cut through the air instead of a reply.

“No, the tea doesn’t matter. Why did you come again? You show up first thing in the morning to eat all my food, and now you’re planning to settle in for good?”

“Settle in? I’m merely enjoying a cup of tea after my meal. And I couldn’t help coming in the morning. I didn’t get any late-night snacks yesterday, so I was hungry.”

“Really? Then you’ve eaten and had some good tea, so you can leave now, right?”

Namgung Cheon said, lifting his teacup with a leisurely expression.

“I haven’t finished my tea yet.”

“You wouldn’t leave even if you did.”

Namgung Cheon chuckled, his face crinkling with wrinkles.

“You’ve become quite perceptive, Senior.”

Nogun sighed and asked with a serious look.

“You said you’d come when you had no more attachments to the world, right? You can’t even pester me for a duel anymore, can you?”

Nogun had failed to defeat Son Bin, whom he had put forward as a proxy. Now, even if he requested a duel, he would only be told to beat that guy first, so he couldn’t bother Nogun any further.

“That was just about the duel. I simply came because I was hungry and bored.”

“Aren’t you busy?”

You came all the way from Namchang to Gwangju. Namgung Cheon, the former Thunder Sword, wouldn’t just come for fun.

“The smart kids take care of the work. When you get to my age, you have to step aside so the young ones can show their abilities.”

“You? As if.”

Nogun pursed his lips.

“A guy who can’t leave the family even if he dies is talking nonsense… You should gradually hand over authority to the kids too. If you’re not careful, you might end up getting backstabbed by your son while sitting in the outhouse.”

“What kind of blatant curse is that? I’m handing it over properly, I tell you.”

Namgung Cheon frowned and glared, but Nogun snorted and turned his head.

But still, Namgung Cheon didn’t seem to have any intention of returning, and Shinui, who was watching from the side, gave a bitter smile.

Nogun wanted to snap at him because he didn’t like that smile, but he held back. There was no need to make more enemies in this situation.

“By the way, it was true.”

“What?”

“Bin. He really was a Seowon [private academy] teacher.”

His gaze was fixed on Son Bin and the children. The sight of the children huddled together, reading aloud as if singing in unison, was like baby birds chirping.

Son Bin, who stood out among them, was reading with a stern expression, but he couldn’t hide the smile on his lips.

“Don’t try to act friendly and call him by his name so casually.”

Nogun said, throwing the words out as he looked at Son Bin surrounded by the children.

“And what nonsense are you spouting now after seeing it yesterday? That guy is a real teacher. A good teacher, too…”

Namgung Cheon glanced at Nogun at the voice that sounded somewhat wistful.

Not only Nogun, but Shinui and the veiled girl from the Tang family were also looking at Son Bin and the children.

Namgung Cheon looked at the children again.

It was just a scene of children and a teacher.

But Namgung Cheon couldn’t easily take his eyes off the scene either. Could he have had such a life?

“Hah.”

Namgung Cheon let out a chuckle without realizing it.

‘Somehow, only this place feels like another world.’

Nogun of the Southern Wilderness, Shinui, the Tang family’s young master of unknown origin, the young scholar with the sword of a True Man [a Daoist adept], and even himself, the former Thunder Sword.

Who would believe that these people were sitting together drinking tea?

Perhaps because the scene was so unrealistic, only this place seemed to be detached from the world he knew.

‘Well, sometimes things like this can happen. Like finding shade in the scorching heat and taking a break.’

As Namgung Cheon muttered to himself, he suddenly slapped his knee.

“Ah, so that’s what that means.”

“What?”

Nogun immediately interjected. Namgung Cheon smiled.

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

He took another sip of tea, looking at the children with a leisurely expression.

From that look, Nogun knew that he had no intention of leaving easily.

Shinui’s words that he would come more often suddenly came to mind.

“Tsk. So that’s what it means.”

“What is it?”

“It’s nothing.”

Nogun, who had been grumbling, suddenly asked.

“By the way, you didn’t bring any tails with you, did you?”

“I shook them off a long time ago. I took quite a detour, so they’re probably wandering around in a completely different place by now. They’re going to have a hard time.”

“Really?”

Nogun asked, relieved but still a little suspicious. Namgung Cheon said as if it were obvious.

“If the Sword Demon, no, the former Sword Demon knew about this place, he’d be overjoyed. How could I let him see that? There’s no way I’d tell him.”

At his resolute words, Nogun frowned.

“That twisted personality of yours never changes.”

Namgung Cheon, the former Thunder Sword, known for his generous nature, outstanding martial arts, and impeccable conduct, smirked.

“I can’t stand seeing others succeed.”

∴

As night fell, the intense heat of Gangnam began to subside. The children who had been playing went home early, and Tang Wora also returned after dinner.

But Namgung Cheon didn’t think about going back late into the night.

It was because of Nogun’s words after dinner, “Aren’t you leaving?” The quick-witted Namgung Cheon said, “Something’s up, isn’t it?” and stayed put as if he were going to live there.

Reluctantly, he subtly asked Son Bin for help, saying, “That guy isn’t leaving. Is it okay with you?” but Son Bin said, “I don’t mind,” and went out with Shinui, adding to Nogun’s frustration.

Nogun briefly considered whether to force him out, but he thought that would only make him cling on even more, so he had no choice but to give up.

“Haa. Follow me.”

After letting out a long sigh, Nogun strode out. Son Bin and Shinui had also left, so Namgung Cheon quickly followed Nogun.

Step, step.

“Where are we going?”

“Don’t ask. It’s frustrating.”

Nogun frowned.

“Hey, this guy is so lucky. Those who are meant to be, get everything.”

When you think about it, the Namgung family has benefited a lot from Son Bin. First of all, he prevented the tragedy at the banquet hall in Namchang. Although it wasn’t intentional, Nogun and Tang Wora also helped the Namgung family.

“What is it?”

“It’s nothing. And don’t teach the kids anything strange. What do you mean by telling them that money and power are the most important things in the world?”

“Then should I say ‘benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust’ [the Confucian virtues]? Children need to know the world. These days, money and power are the best.”

“That’s not important, it’s necessary. Can’t you distinguish between what’s important and what’s necessary? If you have too much, money and power are poison.”

“Oh, I didn’t know you were such a saint, Senior. But it’s also true that the world revolves around money and power.”

“The world you see is always like that.”

As the two were bickering, Namgung Cheon found himself standing in a familiar landscape.

Son Bin was standing in the distance, and Shinui, Nogun, and the veiled girl Tang Wora were watching him. Everyone’s eyes were on Son Bin, and the scene was so quiet and solemn that it felt almost reverent.

Namgung Cheon quietly took a seat next to Nogun.

“What’s going on…”

“Shh.”

Nogun said quietly, without even turning his gaze to Namgung Cheon. Although he was puzzled, Namgung Cheon turned his head to where everyone was looking.

The waves of the North River sparkled in the distance, and the young scholar was standing alone in a familiar pose.

‘Hmm.’

Namgung Cheon recalled yesterday’s duel. Who would believe that such swordplay could have unfolded from that young scholar who was so quiet?

Sparkle.

A white heron appeared under the moonlight. Although the distance was considerable, it was not difficult for Namgung Cheon to see the blade of the white heron or hear the low sword hum.

Whoo-oong.

And when that fascinatingly beautiful blade slowly began to move, Namgung Cheon couldn’t help but widen his eyes.

‘Gasp.’

Namgung Cheon’s face was contorted with astonishment. At the same time, all sorts of thoughts flooded in, but now was not the time to worry about such things.

The swordplay unfolding before his eyes was exactly what the Black Tortoise of the Northern Sky had shown him, which he could never forget even in his dreams.

Whoo-oong.

The blue blade shining in the moonlight rippled through the air like an illusion, and Namgung Cheon forgot everything. His world, his family, and his sword, which he had been with all his life.

∴

Clink.

How much time had passed? Namgung Cheon came to his senses at the sound coming from beside him. When he turned his head, he saw a small wine cup in front of him. A unique aroma faintly flowed over the swaying brown liquor.

“Did you see it?”

Nogun said in a blunt tone. But there was no sharpness in his voice.

“Congratulations. This is the wall you wanted to break so badly. Well, it’s still a long way off before you reach me, though.”

“Is this… okay?”

Namgung Cheon asked in a voice devoid of strength. He didn’t realize it, but there were obvious traces of tears on his wrinkled eyes.

“This, something like this…”

No one gives something like this away for free. Namgung Cheon, who knew the meaning of it, was at a loss for words. He didn’t even realize that it was the first time since he had come to his senses that he was stuttering.

“It’s okay. Because that guy said it was okay.”

Nogun said in a wet voice.

“Because he’s that kind of guy.”

Nogun’s gaze was already on Son Bin, who was standing far away under the moonlight.

Namgung Cheon also turned his head to look at Son Bin.

The young man standing quietly was no different from before, calm and empty, but the meaning that figure gave to Namgung Cheon was no longer the same as before.

Swaaa.

A breeze suddenly swept past Namgung Cheon. As if realizing the coolness, goosebumps rose all over his body.

Step, step.

Namgung Hyang raised her head at the sound of footsteps echoing through the veranda. Her grandfather, Namgung Cheon, was walking from afar. Namgung Hyang quietly knelt and paid her respects.

“Have you returned safely?”

“Yes.”

Namgung Cheon’s voice was somehow different. Namgung Hyang raised her head and saw her grandfather’s expression for the first time in her life.

She couldn’t put her finger on it, but his wrinkled face seemed to be glowing.

“Did something good happen?”

Namgung Hyang asked, judging that it wasn’t a bad thing, even though she couldn’t understand it.

“Something good… No.”

Namgung Cheon said, as if muttering to himself. His gaze was directed far away, as if tracing old memories.

“I should call this a serendipitous encounter.”

‘A serendipitous encounter!’

Namgung Hyang’s complexion changed at his lightly thrown words. She was also the daughter of a martial arts family. She knew what that short word meant.

And also that Namgung Cheon was not the kind of person to say such words carelessly.

Rustle.

Namgung Hyang rose from her seat and knelt again. Her white hands touched the cold veranda floor, and her fair forehead gently rested.

“I humbly congratulate you on your great achievement.”

Namgung Cheon accepted her bow. Considering what he had obtained, he deserved to receive the obeisance of everyone in the family, so it was only natural for him to receive Namgung Hyang’s bow.

“What do you think?”

Namgung Cheon asked, looking down at Namgung Hyang, who was still bowing her head. His aura was like Mount Tai [a sacred mountain in China, symbolizing stability and reverence], but it was calm and composed enough to feel even a subtle softness.

“If something is more valuable than anything else in the world, but it is given equally to everyone, as a member of the family, what should I do right?”

“There is nothing you can do.”

Still bowing her head, Namgung Hyang answered without hesitation.

“The fact that you asked me for instructions means that you know it would be better to eliminate it in terms of the family’s interests, but you couldn’t bring yourself to do so. And the reason is, as you said, because you judged it to be more valuable than anything else in the world. Then there is nothing you can do. Rather, we should follow that will. Just as all things obey the wind, the sun, and the river.”

“Huh.”

Namgung Cheon let out a low sigh.

“I knew you were bright, but I didn’t know you could read people’s minds and even understand the principles of heaven.”

“That’s not true. It’s just a vague guess.”

Namgung Hyang said quietly.

“The wind, the sun, and the water…”

Namgung Cheon muttered to himself and said.

“How is the Hyeokryun family’s matter progressing?”

“Lord Bucheong is a wise and thoughtful person. I think he will bring a good conclusion.”

“That means you’re not satisfied.”

Namgung Cheon gave a bitter smile.

“I can read the meaning of your words.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Be patient and wait.”

Namgung Cheon said, looking down at Namgung Hyang, who was bowing her head.

“Although it may come slowly, your days will be very long.”

Namgung Hyang’s shoulders trembled slightly. He was now called the ‘Former Thunder Sword,’ but the weight of his words was by no means small. He had spoken about Namgung Hyang’s future.

“Go in and rest. And from tomorrow, there’s no need to wait.”

“Yes.”

Namgung Hyang answered quietly. Then, just as Namgung Cheon was about to close the door, he suddenly turned to look at Namgung Hyang.

“Ah, right. Do you have a wine cup or something? Preferably something small and not flashy, but with some flair.”

“Yes?”

Namgung Hyang asked, unintentionally, at his unexpected words, but Namgung Cheon waved his hand.

“No, it’s nothing. I’ll find it myself.”

Clack.

The door closed. Namgung Hyang quietly stood up. She bowed towards the already closed door and quietly turned around.

Shuffle, shuffle.

With the sound of soft footsteps, she quietly retraced the meaning of Namgung Cheon’s words.

Numerous thoughts and possibilities came and went, but one thing became clearer and more certain.