A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 98

98. Clear Stream and White Dew (2)

Woong.

The White Dew [Son Bin’s sword] cried. Son Bin held his sword, gazing silently ahead.

The wide riverside, bathed in moonlight, was bright enough to see even Old Man Jang River’s expressions, but the figure flying through the darkness remained unseen.

Only the sound of cutting through the wind was heard, a threatening whoosh.

Swoosh, swoosh.

“Indeed, it seems you have some skill to boast of,” Old Man Jang River said. He held the Clear Stream [his fishing rod weapon] as if extending a fishing rod over the river. In the darkness, his Clear Stream emitted a faint light.

“But it would have been better for you to lose your mind with that one move from earlier. Your clumsy skill will only torment you.”

As he spoke, Old Man Jang River drew back the Clear Stream he was holding.

Thwing.

The sound of something being stretched taut echoed from the darkness. Simultaneously, Old Man Jang River swung the Clear Stream towards Son Bin.

Whoosh—.

Woong.

With a sharp sound cutting through the darkness, and hearing the White Dew’s low cry like a warning, Son Bin spun around. Then, stepping forward into the empty space, he raised his sword diagonally from below.

Clang!

Sparks flew in the empty space.

Whatever had been rushing in from Son Bin’s blind spot vanished into the darkness, but Son Bin did not stop his sword.

Whir.

As if dancing, Son Bin spun around, and the White Dew, which had been pointing towards the sky, fell downwards.

The blue-glowing fishing rod, Clear Stream, was lunging at Son Bin right before his eyes. Behind the Clear Stream, Old Man Jang River’s narrow eyes emitted a sharp light.

Clang!

A sharp sound erupted as White Dew and Clear Stream collided. However, it was not a direct clash.

The Clear Stream, which seemed ready to crush Son Bin, was deflected by White Dew in a different direction than intended.

But instead of redirecting the deflected Clear Stream, Old Man Jang River increased its momentum even more.

Whooosh. Bang!

With a roar, dust billowed and small stones scattered.

Old Man Jang River’s Clear Stream, having lost its direction due to White Dew, struck the ground vaguely. The inner force contained within the Clear Stream collided with the ground, causing an explosion.

Whir.

Old Man Jang River rode the momentum he had created, lifting himself into the air.

It was hard to believe he was a skinny old man; he lightly rotated his body and landed softly in his original spot.

Thud.

“Not bad,” Old Man Jang River said, looking at Son Bin, who was still standing firm before him.

“Your inner force is pure, and your swordsmanship is flawless. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such clean swordsmanship. Especially the way you deflected my Clear Stream just now is truly commendable. Judging by how you don’t let your guard down for even a moment, it seems you have quite a bit of experience for your age.”

As he spoke, Old Man Jang River chuckled, a sharp glint in his eyes. “But the result is clear. How can I call you someone from the Outer Palace with this?”

Son Bin’s clothes were torn in several places, and his neat hair was disheveled.

He seemed to have been caught in the aftermath of the earlier momentum, but Old Man Jang River had not yet noticed that he had not suffered any direct wounds.

Swoosh.

With a low sound cutting through the darkness, Old Man Jang River said in a cold voice, “Regret always comes too late. Now you will have to bear the consequences of your choice.”

Thwing.

The hand holding the Clear Stream moved almost imperceptibly. With it, the sound of cutting through the wind grew stronger.

Whooosh.

A sharp and grating sound flowed out, as if the very space in the darkness was being torn apart.

In between, Old Man Jang River’s voice leaked out eerily.

“Casting the Clear Stream upon the blue waves, the whole world is caught.”

Whooosh.

Old Man Jang River’s shabby clothes fluttered as if caught in a storm. At the same time as the fishing rod in his hand emitted a deep blue aura, whatever was flying through the air began to gain momentum in an instant.

Thwack thwack thwack.

It cut through the darkness and rushed towards Son Bin. But the energy it carried was completely different from before.

A destructive force that seemed ready to shatter everything in its path. Carrying that eerie energy, it was lunging straight at Son Bin.

He could neither block it nor dodge it.

Just when it seemed like everything would end, Son Bin quietly closed his eyes.

Swish.

At that moment, everything disappeared as if by magic.

The threatening sound of the wind tearing that had been ringing in Son Bin’s ears, and the sharp energy emanating from Old Man Jang River’s Clear Stream, vanished without a trace.

At the same time as the majestic flow of the Great River Art of Mysterious Heaven [a martial arts technique] embraced Son Bin, all the phenomena that had been deceiving his eyes and ears lost their color, and the world revealed its true form to Son Bin.

Something small and thin flying towards him, yet carrying a destructive force. And following behind it, Old Man Jang River lunging at him with the blue energy of the Clear Stream in his hand.

Everything was revealing its true nature to Son Bin in detail. And the next moment, one flow emerged before Son Bin with perfect clarity.

Woong.

Son Bin placed his sword upon that one stream, which seemed as fragile and soft as silk thread.

Slowly, but without any hesitation.

Son Bin thought that the faint warmth of the White Dew in his hand felt very comforting.

Rustle.

There was not even a sound. To the old man’s eyes, the movement of the White Dew seemed too slow, and Son Bin, with his eyes half-closed, seemed to have given up on everything.

But the moment the tip of the White Dew quietly landed like dew on the old man’s other companion, the Blue Wave Straight Needle [a projectile launched from the Clear Stream], which was filled with destructive energy, everything changed.

Thwack thwack thwack.

‘Gasp!’

Old Man Jang River, who had been rushing towards Son Bin, could not believe his eyes.

Clearly, the Blue Wave Straight Needle that had been shot towards Son Bin was now lunging towards Old Man Jang River himself.

‘H-How… No, how could this be….’

It was not deflected by force, nor twisted by a clever technique.

The moment he sensed the Blue Wave Straight Needle touching the tip of Son Bin’s sword, it was already flying towards him as if by magic.

As if Son Bin had shot it at him from the beginning.

It was a bizarre experience, as if the old man’s perception, no, the world itself, had been twisted for a moment.

‘Tch.’

But now was not the time to worry about such things.

The slender Blue Wave Straight Needle was flying straight towards Old Man Jang River.

Carrying a destructive force that seemed ready to shatter everything in its small body.

Whir. Step.

Drawing the Clear Stream far back, Old Man Jang River quickly twisted his body and floated into the air.

The inner energy transmitted to the Blue Wave Straight Needle through the Heavenly Silk Thread [the line of the fishing rod] twisted the needle’s trajectory, and Old Man Jang River was able to narrowly avoid the Blue Wave Straight Needle by a hair’s breadth.

Thwack thwack thwack.

The immense energy carried by the passing Blue Wave Straight Needle created a sharp shockwave, tearing Old Man Jang River’s coat like the claws of a beast.

‘Tch.’

But Old Man Jang River did not stop. Rather, he poured all his inner energy into the Clear Stream and struck down at Son Bin.

“Take this!”

Woowoong.

As if answering the old man’s will, the Clear Stream cried in his hand, emitting streaks of blue light.

However, the moment the Clear Stream, filled with tremendous inner energy, fell towards Son Bin, the old man realized that Son Bin was not there. No, it seemed that there had been no one there from the beginning.

Kwaaaang!

A deafening explosion erupted. Like a beast roaring to prove its strength. But it was only the last struggle of a dying animal.

Whoosh.

Cutting through the dust, Son Bin appeared before Old Man Jang River. And the sword White Dew in his hand fell from above to below so naturally.

Rustle.

At that moment, Old Man Jang River saw it.

He saw the world splitting in two before his eyes.

*

*

“Still alive?”

Old Man Jang River snapped out of it at the blunt, perfunctory question. Only then did he realize he had been spacing out.

Clear Stream [likely referring to his sword or a specific martial art technique] was still in his hand, but his arms hung limply, and his knees were touching the ground.

‘Heh heh, serves you right. But even I wasn’t that bad.’

Old Man No was still standing far away, but his voice was as clear as if he were whispering in his ear.

Old Man Jang River raised his head.

“Are you alright?”

The young man before him asked quietly.

“You, just who are you…?”

The words wouldn’t come out. He wanted to ask who he was, how he could unleash such swordsmanship.

But no words came. He could only be amazed and shocked by the swordsmanship that had unfolded before his eyes, unable to even speak properly.

—That is the Dao [the Way or Path, referring to a principle or skill] of the Martial Emperor.

Old Man No answered for him, as if reading his mind.

—The one you’ve wanted to see so badly your whole life, but never could.

Old Man No’s voice was trembling slightly.

—That is the Dao of the Martial Emperor.

“The Dao of the Martial Emperor.”

Old Man Jang River repeated blankly.

—After seeing that, can you still say the Sword of the True Man is not fit for him?

Old Man No’s voice was laced with laughter. But the old man didn’t even have the strength to get angry.

“Can you get up?”

Son Bin asked. His face was a little flushed, but otherwise calm.

“You said… you were entrusted with the sword by the True Man?”

His voice was strained. But Old Man Jang River had to ask.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then you are…”

“That’s not it.”

Son Bin said with an awkward smile. He could quickly tell what Old Man Jang River was misunderstanding.

“I haven’t received any teachings from the True Man, nor have I inherited his will. I just…”

Suddenly, the face of the gentle old Taoist came to mind. He was clearly the opponent who had fought a life-or-death battle with Saja Hyuk, but somehow he couldn’t bring himself to hate the old Taoist’s carefree expression.

“I merely received a small favor from him, following human sentiment.”

Old Man Jang River stared straight into Son Bin’s eyes. There was no longer the same coldness in those narrow eyes. He was just looking quietly.

“So you’re not a disciple of the True Man, nor have you inherited his legacy? You just received a favor according to human sentiment?”

“Yes. So the orthodox and unorthodox factions have nothing to do with me.”

Son Bin answered quietly but clearly.

“What is your relationship with the Martial Emperor of Mysterious Heaven?”

For a moment, a faint longing settled on Son Bin’s face. Son Bin replied.

“I was his companion on the path.”

“A companion…”

Old Man Jang River quietly repeated the word.

Generally, martial arts are referred to as the Martial Dao, and the mindset of a martial artist is also referred to as the Martial Dao.

But ultimately, the Martial Dao is the absolute truth that a martial artist seeks and aims to reach throughout their life. Therefore, to be a companion of the Martial Emperor means to walk the same path as the Martial Emperor of Mysterious Heaven.

“Then you are one who seeks to walk the path that the Martial Emperor of Mysterious Heaven walked?”

‘The Martial Emperor’s Path.’

The moment Son Bin heard Old Man Jang River’s words, his eyes widened.

‘Ah, so that’s it.’

It was like a sudden realization for Son Bin.

Since leaving the snowy mountains, or rather, since meeting Saja Hyuk, something vague had gradually taken root in his heart, and today it had finally become a clear word.

That was what made Son Bin pick up his sword every night, and that was what made him live a life he wasn’t ashamed of.

That was why he didn’t even feel attached to the past exams he had clung to so much, and it made him look at something different from what the world wanted.

Without even realizing it himself, it had become a clear signpost in Son Bin’s life, like a shining star.

That was to reach the path that Saja Hyuk had shown him.

“Yes.”

Son Bin answered quietly. Suddenly, the three stances Saja Hyuk had shown him, the Dismembering Moon Three Forms, came to mind. And his towering figure as well.

Could he really reach the same realm as him?

Son Bin smiled bitterly.

“I dare not say I can, but what can I do since I’ve already seen it?”

One who has seen the sea cannot be satisfied with a lake. Having seen Saja Hyuk, with what could Son Bin be satisfied?

A faint smile was already on Son Bin’s face instead of longing. Old Man Jang River felt a chill at that smile, as if he were looking at some distant place.

‘Ah.’

The ultimate Dao cannot be dared to be spoken of. Even one who has reached the pinnacle of martial arts can only say that they have barely seen the edge of it.

But this young man before his eyes says that he has already seen it.

‘Was that so? Had he already seen it?’

He felt that his defeat was an inevitable result at this moment.

He could fully understand how such swordsmanship was possible for this young man who seemed so ordinary.

Because he was one who had already seen it. The Martial Dao that he himself could not even grasp the edge of.

“Heo.”

Old Man Jang River raised his head and let out a low, long sigh towards the night sky.

After being like that with a hollow expression, Old Man Jang River suddenly lowered his head.

“Elder!”

Son Bin couldn’t stop him. Old Man Jang River bowed his old head towards Son Bin.

“It is a grave sin to oppress an innocent person with hasty preconceptions.”

Old Man Jang River said.

“Especially if it is done in the name of the orthodox faction, it is even more terrifying. Anyone can say that violence stemming from evil and greed is wrong, but violence done in the name of righteousness and chivalry blocks even that judgment.”

Old Man Jang River, full of white hair, did not raise his head in front of Son Bin.

“I have committed a sin against you with my foolish judgment, so you judge me as you see fit.”

Son Bin could only smile bitterly at those words.

Suddenly being asked to judge him was even embarrassing. But Old Man Jang River’s sincerity was so deeply conveyed that he couldn’t dare to answer lightly.

“How can I judge you, Elder? Please stop now…”

“No.”

Old Man Jang River said, still with his head bowed. His thin nape was gaunt under the moonlight.

“The only one who can judge a sinner is the one who has suffered the damage of that sin. So there is no one who has the right to judge me other than you.”

Son Bin was speechless. Old Man Jang River’s words were fundamentally about law and justice. And this was a quite profound and complex topic academically.

An ordinary person would say, ‘I am not a judge,’ but Son Bin, on the contrary, had nothing to say because he knew too much.

‘This, this isn’t a civil service exam, but suddenly such a difficult topic…’

However, he couldn’t have a difficult debate with Old Man Jang River here.

As Son Bin was at a loss, Old Man No’s voice was suddenly heard.

“What are you doing? If you’ve won, hurry up and finish it. Why are you dragging it out?”

“Well, the Elder…”

Son Bin complained to Old Man No, and Old Man No sighed.

“Just say, ‘No, it was a good match’ and end it. If you deal with that guy’s words one by one, only I’ll get frustrated. He’s so stubborn that the only ones who deal with him are the fish in the Jang River. Tsk.”

Old Man No told him, but Son Bin was still at a loss in front of Old Man Jang River, who had his head bowed.

Old Man No shook his head at that sight. How could anyone guess that he possessed the Dao of the Martial Emperor from seeing him so flustered?

‘That’s not all.’

What’s amazing is not only the Dao of the Martial Emperor that he possesses.

The Tai Chi sword that Son Bin had unleashed against the Blood Dragon Gate warriors seemed to be far short of Hwanghak Jin-in’s level at first. But when he faced the former Thunder Sword Namgungcheon, he quickly drove him into a corner.

Then now, he silently shakes that tricky Cheongpa Jikchim [likely a specific martial art technique or sword style] according to his will without even a sound. So much so that even someone like Old Man Jang River doesn’t even notice.

“I thought only that kid was growing like crazy, but that guy is the same. What else is he realizing while fighting someone like Old Man Jang River? No matter how much I fight, I don’t see anything.”

He muttered as if grumbling, but Old Man No’s voice contained a subtle joy.

Dang Wola quietly smiled. Son Bin’s figure, struggling to somehow lift Old Man Jang River, who still had his head bowed, was filling her eyes.

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