Episode 3. What happened in Wuhan 2013.09.10.
The road to Wuhan was a simple journey that simply followed a large canal. There was no particularly spectacular scenery to see, and it was not a particularly dangerous road.
Thanks to this, the people on the carriage had to suffer from boredom from the first day, but as the next day passed, people began to speak out little by little.
And the person who was the most excited among them was a merchant who had been selling bundles in Wuhan for several years.
“Wuhan is a really nice place. There is also Hwanghaknu, one of the three famous pavilions in Gangnam. “The view from Hwanghaknu is really amazing.”
There were about seven other passengers in the carriage, and they were all listening to the merchant as if they had never been to Wuhan.
“There is also a wall with Lee Baek’s writing engraved on it, so be sure to visit it sometime. Literally… … .”
“How is it doing business in Wuhan?”
Someone suddenly asked the merchant. The merchant responded jokingly to those words.
“Oh my, is there anything easy these days? “It’s all difficult.”
“But when it gets to Wuhan, there are a lot of people and supplies coming in and out… … .”
“Oh, of course it should be. But would powerful people leave a place where such money is made?
The merchant shook his head and said, as if he didn’t know anything.
“Big merchants are tightly controlling the places that make money, and in Wuhan, there is a branch of the Namgung family, one of the five major families of Wulin.”
Sonbin, who was listening intently, pricked up his ears to what he said. Even though I was having a hard time because of a strange warrior, the story about martial arts piqued my interest.
“The Namgung family and big merchants are joining hands and tightly controlling the infinite commercial area. Well, the officials of Wuhan also said that they would give up on the Namgung family, so they didn’t say everything they said?”
Sonbin, who was listening, tilted his head.
‘I thought martial people were people who only practiced martial arts… … .’
It’s somewhat disappointing that they are colluding with the top to control the commercial world.
“Well, in a way, it’s a good thing because thanks to the Namgung family, scoundrels can’t openly install it. Oh, by the way, if you go to Wuhan, be sure to visit Cheonghwagi Tower. A new girl came in these days… … .”
When the topic changed, Sonbin turned his head.
‘He’s a martial artist… … .’
Sonbin thought of Sajahyeok. A strong physique, sharp eyes, and bold and unconventional actions. Sajahyeok was exactly the same as Sonbin’s martial artist.
Much more so than the Namgung family, which is said to dominate the infinite commercial area.
“Well, it doesn’t matter anymore.”
Sonbin muttered as he indifferently cast his gaze at the passing scenery. By the second day, the tension had eased and the feeling of being chased had disappeared.
Leaving his body to the shaking carriage, Sonbin was getting closer to infinity little by little.
***
The carriage arrived in Wuhan around evening on the third day, later than scheduled. The people who had been on the journey for several days parted without saying goodbye, and Sonbin unpacked his luggage in a cheap guest cup.
Riding in a carriage and rocking around was more tiring than expected, so after finishing a quick meal, Sonbin immediately fell asleep.
Sweet.
An old empty bowl is placed on the table and makes a small sound. After finishing breakfast, Sonbin was deep in thought with the empty bowl in front of him.
‘Now that warrior must have gone out to look for me… … .’
Today is the fourth morning. The warrior named Lion Hyeok is not one to lie, so he would have probably started chasing after him by now.
‘Could it reach Wuhan?’
It may seem impossible, but it may also seem like it could reach infinity.
‘The best thing would be to follow the Yangtze River to a completely different province… … It costs a lot of money to do that… … .’
It spins too much. It would be nice if we could cruise the Yangtze River like this, but the problem is that the Lao Tzu that we have at hand is difficult.
‘But if we head straight to our hometown, it seems like that warrior might follow us… … .’
Since the warrior knows that he tried to cross Mt. Homun, the direction to go from Wuhan to his hometown is roughly determined. If you happen to run into one on the street, you won’t be able to move at all.
Suddenly, Sonbin remembered his deep and intense eyes. And the scene where he smashed a large rock with his bare fists. Sonbin shook his head.
‘No way. Anyway, I have to stay in a crowded place for a while.’
Sonbin thought about it and made a decision.
‘good. ‘Let’s just stay in this room for three days without moving.’
Even if Lion Hyuk comes to Wuhan, how will he know about this small guesthouse? Sonbin decided that it was best to stay still in this guest room.
Sonbin jumped up from the table. Once she made her decision, she felt relieved.
‘Well, if you think about it, it’s hard to get to infinity.’
With a lighter heart, Sonbin walked to his room.
However, his plan to stay still for three days had to be revised as it did not arrive that afternoon.
Wuhan, a city with a long history, was also famous for its heat.
∴
“Phew.”
Sonbin let out a long sigh of relief and gently fanned his hand.
“But now that I’m out, I’ll be able to live a little longer.”
Now Sonbin was resting for a while under the shade of a tree. It was still hot and humid, but thanks to the wind blowing, it was quite cool in the shade.
“That damn cheap room, it’s hot, narrow, smelly, noisy… … Ugh.”
The guesthouse where Sonbin decided to stay for three days was truly the worst place. It was noisy as people looking for cheap alcohol crowded into the small and narrow room.
The musty smell coming from the room also became more intense as the heat got worse, so I couldn’t stand it.
‘Even if I come, it’s not today anyway.’
This is exactly what occurred to me at that time. The thought was so convincing that Sonbin eventually came out.
And he was slowly walking along the shadows, looking around the great island of Wuhan as if he were taking a cruise.
“Wow, it’s a big city.”
Beijing, where I went to take the national exam, was much bigger than this, but due to the tension ahead of the exam and the disappointment of failing, I had no time to feel like a big city.
Now that I am in a helpless situation, I am able to leisurely enjoy the atmosphere of infinity. Sonbin, who was looking at the people passing by, suddenly remembered what the merchant said in the carriage.
“Now that I think about it, rather than doing this here, let’s go to Hwanghakru… … .”
When you think of Wuhan, the first thing that comes to mind is the Yellow Crane Tower. Also, it would be nice to take this opportunity to look at Li Baek’s handwriting, which is called Siseon (詩仙).
“It’s good to be intoxicated by the scent of ink from the past.”
With a relaxed mind, Sonbin walked towards Hwanghakru. It was late in the afternoon in Wuhan, when the sunlight that had been shining brightly on her was gradually starting to fade.
***
Hwanghakru is considered one of the three most famous pavilions in Gangnam. The proud flow of the Yangtze River seen from a distance is spectacular, but the view overlooking Wuhan at a glance is also not to be missed.
Son Bin climbed the high Yellow Crane Tower and felt the wind blowing from the Yangtze River.
Shoot!
‘That’s cool.’
The sunlight seemed to have waned, and before I knew it, the sky was turning red. The Yangtze River caught the setting sun and turned red, and the large island of Wuhan stretching out beneath the eyes also turned red.
It was a sight that seemed to wash away not only the anxiety of a few days but also the pain of failing.
Sonbin, who had been enjoying the cool feeling of the wind for a while, recited a poem in excitement without realizing it.
“In ancient times, people rode on yellow cranes and left, but only the lonely Yellow Crane Tower remained on the land. I went there once… … .”
“hey!”
A voice full of displeasure suddenly cut off Sihyeon’s verse. Sonbin turned his head.
“Can you please be quiet?”
Sonbin frowned. There were three young people standing there, and one of them was talking to Sonbin with an unpleasant expression.
There was a mix of men and women, and judging by the luxurious clothes they were wearing, they looked like children from wealthy families.
Son Bin can’t be in a good mood because the excitement that had been rising for a while has been broken and a younger person suddenly treats him poorly. Sonbin answered without hiding her displeased expression.
“I’m sorry if I disturbed you, but isn’t that too rude?”
“what?”
The young man who was turning his head towards the group raised his eyes towards Sonbin.
“What did you say just now?”
One of the young women in the group said to the young man.
“stop it.”
“No, wait a minute.”
The young man raised his hand as if to stop the young lady, and then looked at Sonbin again.
“Hey, what did you say?”
‘hey?’
Sonbin’s mood also worsened as he was openly criticized.
“I said it was rude.”
“Huh, where did this ridiculous guy come from… … .”
‘bloke?’
‘Hey’ changed to ‘Hey’ and now it’s ‘Nam’. Sonbin is also angry now.
“Looking at you, this is your precious child. How about learning some more manners?”
Sonbin said, glaring at the young man. The young man looked at him as if he was dumbfounded and then laughed.
“By the way, mine. All sorts of things… … Hey, you.”
The young man placed his arms around his waist. And only then did Sonbin realize that he was wearing a sword on his waist.
It was a sword with delicate decorations on the scabbard and handle. The young man must have noticed that Sonbin’s eyes were focused on the sword, and a sneer appeared on his lips.
“Have you seen it now? Tsk tsk. But he must take responsibility for what he has done, right?”
The composure of a winner was evident on his face. It was as if the conclusion had already been reached. It was that moment.
“Oh, but is what that civil servant said correct?”
Another young lady in the group said with a smile.
“Polite Soje!”
The young man frowned and looked back at her. The sharp-looking girl, dressed in her rich silks, covered her mouth slightly with her sleeve and said:
“You are a person who recites classical old poetry without hesitation. Although it looks a little shabby… … .”
She glanced at Sonbin’s outfit and smiled slightly.
“A person like that also says that Confucius must learn manners. Shouldn’t we take this opportunity to take note of it? Oh, by the way, Prince Namgung usually writes… … Hehe, you probably don’t know since you stay away from me.”
The young man’s face crumpled. And Sonbin’s face also crumpled.
‘Why are you doing that?’
I don’t know what’s going on, but that young lady is trying to make a big deal out of it. They are trying to use Sonbin to insult that young man.
And it was clear that the spark would definitely fall on Sonbin.
“Polite Soje.”
The young man’s voice was low, but his anger was clear.
“You will regret what you said just now.”
The young man turned his head and looked at Sonbin.
“and you. “You must take responsibility for what you have done.”
The look in his eyes as he looked at Sonbin was lifeless. Sonbin stammered without realizing it because of his sudden death.
“Wh-what responsibility?”
“If I send you away like this, what will they think of me? Even if you did it out of ignorance, you provided the excuse, so you should take appropriate responsibility for it.”
His voice was low, but simmering with anger. It was irrational anger directed at the wrong person.
“You used your mouth carelessly towards someone from the Namgung family, so I will cut off your tongue and one of your arms as an example.”
Sonbin was creepy. Because I could see that the young man’s words were not lies.
“Prince Nangong, stop it.”
The young lady who first stopped the young man said.
“It’s not nice to take out your anger on a weak student. “Such a thing is not worthy of the name of the Namgung family.”
“Moyong Sojeo, I decide what is worthy of the name of the Namgung family.”
The young man said.
“And I must cut out his tongue. So, I will show you what happens to someone who speaks carelessly to someone from the Namgung family.”
The gaze of the young man speaking was directed towards the young lady with a sharp look. And the young lady was looking at that gaze with a sneer.
Swish.
The young man turned and approached Sonbin. And he slowly drew his sword.
Sreung.
The silver blade of the sword revealed its razor-sharp appearance.
“W-what are you doing? “Aren’t you afraid of the imperial law?”
“The Imperial Law?”
The young man chuckled.
“The imperial law will call me just. “Since you challenged me first and attacked me, wouldn’t it be natural for me to draw my sword?”
“Oh, that’s ridiculous… … .”
“do.”
The young man said.
“Because everyone will say that.”
Sonbin urgently looked around. There were so many people just moments ago, but now there was no one in sight.
Everyone was either leaving early or glancing from a distance.
The same was true for the girls in front of him. The girl who had made a big deal of it had rather interesting eyes, and the girl who had tried to stop him was also looking at the young man with an expression as if she had no choice.
No one helped Son Bin or even sympathized with him.
‘oh my god.’
In an instant, the feeling of being abandoned alone in the world came over Sonbin. And then a heavy pressure came over her, as if everything was clogged.
It was the same and even more desperate feeling than when I had been kicked out of the government office not long ago.
Jerk, jerk.
The young man slowly approached holding a sword with a black edge. And Sonbin, he couldn’t think of anything, to the point where he was so pathetic that he even thought about it himself.
Feeling as if a sharp energy was constricting my entire body, I could only stare at the approaching blade with a white face.
“Let your tongue murmur. “A careless mouth always brings disaster.”
The sword of the approaching young man went down diagonally. And it was just about to be drawn upwards.
“That’s not possible.”
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martial arts,
