405 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

EP.406 Secret Garden - 8 “Even if she dedicate herself entirely to training here in the Tang family, there's no guarantee of success. And yet, you are asking her to go to the Moyong family far in the east? What is this madness?!” Dok Muhu Dang Ok-lan questioned Tang Gajoo with a face full of anger. She had come all the way to the master's office searching for a disciple who misplaced the third volume of the Tang Family's secret manual. To think she would overhear such an absurd command being issued. Unable to hold it in, Dok Muhu, who had been standing outside the office, finally spoke up. “The poison from the Tang family has intoxicated the head of the Moyong family. This could escalate into a significant issue in the martial world.” Tang Gajoo tried to soothe Dok Muhu by briefly explaining the incident that had taken place at the Moyong estate. “The family's elders should handle the family's problems. To send a child who has suffered enough because of the Tang family? Even as the head of the household, some things are just unacceptable!” “I understand. But do we have any other options?” “Let's say this child goes. It will take about a year and a half, wouldn't it? What if another family comes saying they were poisoned? Would you send her again?” “…….” Tang Gajoo could not reply swiftly. “Your sense of responsibility as Tang Gajoo is entirely understandable. But I cannot forget when you came to Secret Garden, expressing a desire to fulfill your duty as a father.” Both arguments, Tang Gajoo's and Dok Muhu's, stood valid. Ordering Dang Hwa-rin to embark on such a distant journey was undoubtedly harsh. But from a familial standpoint, there was another layer of complexity. The Sichuan Tang family, known for their proficiency with poison, had always been careful with their actions. The fact that their poison had been leaked and poisoned the head of the Moyong family could send ripples through the martial world. Dok Muhu, understanding the circumstance, recalled a few months ago when Tang Gajoo had personally visited Secret Garden. He wanted to imply, though subtly, that while the family matters are crucial, he should not view Hwa-rin as merely an alchemist but as a daughter-in-law. “Dok Muhu, Ma'am...” “Please, reconsider.” Dok Muhu humbly bowed her head to Tang Gajoo. It was as much an apology for her previous impoliteness as it was a request as Tang Hwa-rin's master. Regardless of it being phrased as a request, as long as Tang Baek-ho was the head, Dang Hwa-rin couldn’t refuse. Dok Muhu Dang Ok-lan, as Tang Baek-ho's aunt and Tang Hwa-rin's master, had created an atmosphere where she had the possibility to refuse. “In the worst-case scenario, the young master of the Moyong family might be a pawn of the Demon Cult. If that turns out to be true, the entire Moyong family could fall into the hands of the cult through our poison.” Tang Baek-ho, facing Dok Muhu with an awkward expression, revealed a concern he hadn’t yet shared. “The young master might be involved with the Demon Cult? Then who are these people from the Moyong family?” Even Dok Muhu couldn’t help but be shocked by the unexpected revelation as he looked at Tang Gajoo. “I hear that it was Moyong Cheon’s only daughter, Mo Yong-sang, who sent them.” “Mo Yong-sang?” The name was unfamiliar to Dok Muhu, causing her to tilt her head in curiosity. Not frequently leaving Secret Garden and mostly staying within the Tang family, it was a name she was not familiar with. Her disciple, on the other hand, was more savvy with rumors. “Mo Yong-sang? The Black Widow?” Having heard that name before, Tang Hwa-rin frowned. “Yes, in the martial world, she's unfairly dubbed with the derogatory moniker Tang Hui. Come to think of it, Hwa-rin, I've yet to hear your opinion. What do you wish to do?” Tang Hwa-rin regarded Tang Gajoo, who solicitously inquired about her opinion, with a look of regret. She fully grasped the current situation. As a martial artist of the Sichuan Tang family, should she run to the distant eastern Liaodong and thwart the Demon Cult’s plots, amending the deeds of Tang Gagyo? Or should she devote her time to training, for the fiancé waiting at I-chang? Tang Hwa-rin had been grappling with the elder's discussion, but one fact unbalanced the scale in her heart. “I refuse.” It was the fact that the invited person was Mo Yong-sang. In a resolute voice, Tang Hwa-rin declined. --- “You're asking me to help the woman who killed her husband? No way.” A brief silence fell over the master's hall. Tang Hwa-rin, indifferent to the quiet, revealed her usual candid nature, not seen in some time. “Hwa-rin.” “What? Did I say something wrong?” Despite Euigakju attempting to caution her words, Tang Hwa-rin had no intention of stopping. Her face held a peculiar hostility. “I’ve heard some rumors too.” Euigakju was somewhat taken aback by Tang Hwa-rin’s reaction, yet her animosity was predictable. “Some have to train for ten years to be with their fiancé on their first night, while that Black Widow supposedly beheaded her husband on their wedding night.” Tang Hwa-rin had to train for a decade for her wedding night, whereas Mo Yong-sang had allegedly slain her husband on theirs. Such contrasting tales. Tang Hwa-rin naturally found it difficult to view a woman on such an opposing spectrum favorably. “I heard her husband was a rebel from Joseon though.” Euigakju, in an attempt to sway Tang Hwa-rin’s sentiments, shared the circulating rumors. “So what? Isn't he still her husband? She could’ve escaped with him, or protected him, being from a foreign land. Isn’t that what a wife is supposed to do?” Instead of calming her irritation, Euigakju’s justification only fueled it. Tang Hwa-rin scoffed incredulously. “…….” “Do you know what Yun Ho did? Even if it meant facing death, he came to the Tang family for me. I told him to forget about me and find someone better, yet he vowed to wait. And now you want me to waste that time for a woman who killed her husband to save herself? Time that I could finally be with Yun Ho again?” Tang Hwa-rin’s chest surged with emotion. The intersection of a Joseon husband, a wedding night, betrayal, and trust seemed both similar yet disparate, stirring conflicting feelings within her. Tang Hwa-rin showed no intent to conceal her emotions. If she hadn’t mastered the poison technique, venoms might have seeped out in rage. “The publicly known facts might differ. There could be manipulation by the Demon Cult.” Once more, Euigakju sought to offer a defense for Mo Yong-sang. "It's true she killed her husband, isn't it? If someone like that can wear silk robes and live comfortably while claiming to be wronged, then I could do it too." Tang Hwa-rin scoffed, making it clear she saw no value in dealing with such a woman. "Hwa-rin!" "Enough. The disciple has made her stance clear, hasn't she?" With Euigakju appearing lost for words, and Dok Muhu ready to chime in, Tang Gajoo stepped in to moderate the situation. "Perhaps this Mo Yong-sang might also be a victim of the Demon Cult, like you. I understand your feelings, but try not to judge too harshly." "……." Tang Hwa-rin reluctantly nodded in agreement to Tang Gajoo's attempt at reason. "Hwa-rin, I realize I'm asking a difficult favor from you. But as Tang Gajoo, there are times when certain duties must be fulfilled. Mo Yong-sang is also a victim of Tang Gagyo’s actions. Could you reconsider?" Tang Baek-ho, carrying the weight of both his responsibilities as a head of the family and a father-in-law, implored her with gentle urgency. "I'll think about it." --- "Don't worry too much. Whatever is decided tomorrow, I'll step in and refuse on your behalf." Back in Secret Garden, Dok Muhu sought to reassure his despondent disciple. "Yes, Master. Thank you. And here's the third volume." Tang Hwa-rin forced a smile, handing over the book she retrieved from her room to her master. Dok Muhu looked at the volume with a delighted face, but discreetly watched his disciple with a tinge of sympathy due to the situation. "Ahem. So that's where it was." Tang Hwa-rin secretly laughed at her master’s unfamiliar demeanor and then returned to her room, bidding him amusing reading. "Moyong family. From Sichuan to Liaodong…." Tang Hwa-rin opened the window, gazing eastward into the sky. The distance is too great. Had it been nearby, her decision wouldn't be this complicated. Being asked to journey for over a year during a crucial period for training was an overwhelmingly harsh command. Furthermore, she disliked the person doing the asking. "Who is she to kill her own husband?" There were stories about her consuming all the wealth and becoming immensely rich after his death. In a world where betrayal by a grateful guest brings scorn, what about a wife betraying and killing her husband? Anyone would find it hard to see her kindly. "Money isn't everything. True happiness doesn't come from that." Tang Hwa-rin quietly lay down, covering herself with the blanket. The plush bed and soft blankets, offering a cozy resting place, welcomed her. These were the finest bedding laid out for the Tang family alchemist. While it was perhaps the most comfortable bed in her life, she couldn't find happiness there. "Yoon-ho…" Tang Hwa-rin reminisced about her life with her fiancé. The scratchy blankets, a bed that needed daily fluffing, the dusty attic. Lying in bed late at night, watching Yoon-ho write letters absentmindedly. For Tang Hwa-rin, who grew up in a wealthy household, it was an inconvenient place to sleep, yet those were the happiest days of her life. "I miss Yoon-ho…" She longed to see Yoon-ho’s sleeping face. She missed the times she’d poke his cheek, and he’d scowl momentarily before drifting back to sleep, which she’d watch, spellbound. She yearned to see Yoon-ho’s half-awake face, one only she could witness. "Asking to save her father when she's killed her husband?" Knowing the importance of parents, didn't she realize the importance of a husband too? It still angered her. Even without wealth, being with a loved one brings happiness, a happiness that woman probably would never understand. Sulking, Tang Hwa-rin found it hard to fall asleep. "Is there really more to her story?" Even though the woman was a stranger, Tang Hwa-rin couldn’t entirely harden her heart against her. Her thoughts wandered, blaming the deeper conspirators of this tragedy. "Tang Gagyo and the Demon Cult…" Could their machinations have truly ruined her life? She wondered if there was some misunderstanding. But what misunderstanding could there be, having actually killed her husband? Although sharing some commonalities, Mo Yong-sang, so opposed to her, remained a lingering concern in her thoughts. "What would Yoon-ho have done?" There was no need for deep pondering. "Annoying. Yoon-ho." The affectionate tone slipped from Tang Hwa-rin’s lips. Imagining the what Yoon-ho would say, she felt a mix of wanting to flick his forehead in reprimand, while knowing she’d follow him even into peril. After much contemplation, Tang Hwa-rin finally made up her mind. ----- "I'll help." The next day, Tang Hwa-rin, with her master, approached Tang Gajoo and declared. "What are you saying?!" "You've made the right decision. I will prepare the best of the Tang family to send alongside you." Tang Gajoo, not allowing Dok Muhu a moment of surprise, hurried to make preparations. "I'm not saying I'll go all the way to the Moyong family." Tang Hwa-rin shook her head as if both had misunderstood her intent. "You say you'll help, but you're not going?" Surely this wasn't some kind of joke. Tang Gajoo requested further clarification from his daughter-in-law. "I’ll make an antidote." This was the conclusion Tang Hwa-rin reached after contemplating throughout the night. "An antidote?" "I still carry within me the poison that affected the young master. I’ve learned how to neutralize it." The poison that once plagued the young master flickered in her hand only to vanish in an instant. "Astounding, though we've heard of the condition of being immune to poison, this is truly remarkable." To hold onto a poison thought neutralized within oneself. Tang Gajoo and Euigakju couldn't hide their astonishment at the capabilities of an alchemist. "With my abilities, the research notes left by Tang Gagyo, Euigakju’s and Master's assistance, crafting an antidote isn’t beyond our reach." To control the poison within others, swiftly identify, and prepare an antidote from absorbed poison. These feats were only achievable by a perfected alchemist in the martial world. "Indeed. Instead of intervening whenever Tang Gagyo’s poison disrupts, creating an antidote proves more sensible." Tang Baek-ho nodded, realizing it was a solution he hadn't considered. "I too will assist if Dok Muhu is agreeable. However, a significant amount of time has passed since Moyong Cheon was poisoned. There's no certainty the antidote will take effect." While agreeing with Tang Hwa-rin’s proposal, Euigakju did express a hint of concern. "If it truly proves ineffective, then I'll consider whether to go to the Moyong family or not. Even though the Moyong family is far away, news can be relayed quickly, right?" With methods like messenger pigeons or couriers, transmitting information could always be expedited. "Very well. If possible, that's preferable." "Master, then let me begin preparations immediately..." Tang Hwa-rin noticed the agreement on everyone's faces regarding her proposal and smiled. This was the solution she devised for a woman who might be a victim of the Demon Cult. However, she hadn't entirely finished expressing her thoughts. "But I'm not planning to give the Black Widow a free favor." "Hmm?" Facing the puzzled looks of the elders, Tang Hwa-rin lifted one corner of her mouth in a sly grin. "If even a bit of time with Yoon-ho is taken from me, I should get something in return." Tang Hwa-rin’s bold smile bore a resemblance to that of her fiancé in its audacity.