431 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

EP.431 Tanghui - 14 “Sir, Turška is complaining that he's not the only one his tribe is trading with.” Even after gaining new insights through meetings and partings, daily life does not vanish. Moyong Sang Ah listened attentively to the wave of tasks approaching her. “Remind him that I am merely opening the demon market, not conducting the trades. If he wants to appear at the market next time, he'd better heed this warning.” “Sir, the officials are expressing concerns over the demon market opening for the first time in decades, particularly regarding foreign tribes.” “Let them observe. They will understand the reason. If they seem to be expecting bribes, give them what they want. Turn the corrupt officials into our allies.” The biggest issue, as expected, was the demon market. Opening it for the first time in decades, and with it not being one run by the Moyong family, meant there were many details to attend to. “Sir, we've received communication from the Joseon commerce department. They wish to discuss the ginseng trade.” “Is there a problem with ginseng supply?” “They wish to adjust the trade terms: decrease the portion paid in gold and silver and increase the raw silk used for producing silk fabrics.” “When is the next trade scheduled?” “In a month.” “Tell them immediate matching of the requested quantities is not possible. However, if they show sincerity by providing a quantity of red ginseng suitable for long-term storage, we can discuss matters further.” “What do you mean by discuss further?” “I recall we have a business that recently expanded in Sichuan. The brocade from that region is among the most expensive in the central plains, so let's procure the raw silk from there and charge the Joseon traders a high price. In business, if they want something, we should make sizable gains from it.” “I—I'll get right on it!” Although trade with Joseon was already fully established, one could not become complacent. They are groups willing to take any risk for their benefit; thus, finding a mutual agreement point where everyone is satisfied was crucial. “Sir, it seems we need more instructors for Chuseondang.” “There are some martial artists from the branch family who recently declared their support for me. They haven't been involved in family affairs for a long time, so tell them to shake off the dust and get back to work.” Recruiting new talent and securing support within the family was not something that could be neglected. Moyong Sang Ah focused particularly on selecting instructors. The demon market, Chuseondang, Chang Bong Group, commerce affairs, investigation unit, martial arts training, family affairs, and more. Tasks did not arrive sequentially at a leisurely pace. “Sir!” Moyong Sang Ah was the owner of Chang Bong Group. While subordinates could simply carry out their given duties, Moyong Sang Ah, being in the position of decision-maker, always had to make the final call. “Sir!” There were few people she could trust and delegate to. There were no buffers. To deal directly with countless significant issues, Moyong Sang Ah first sacrificed her sleep. “Sir!” “Sir! Regarding the matter from before...” The decisions that needed to be made continued to surge forth. “Sir? Miss?! Miss!!” Her consciousness blurred in a fleeting moment. —— “A doctor! Is there a doctor out there? The miss has collapsed!” Upon regaining her senses, Moyong Sang Ah realized she had momentarily lost consciousness. How long had she been out? She glanced around her surroundings. Chang Bong Dae Joo was urgently calling for a doctor. Fortunately, it hadn’t been long. “I’m fine.” Moyong Sang Ah grasped Chang Bong Dae Joo's arm with difficulty and spoke. “Miss! Please stay down! Doctor!” “Don’t call them, I'm just tired.” Had Chang Bong Dae Joo ever been so terrified? Moyong Sang Ah spoke in the calmest voice she could muster. “There might be an ailment!” “Are you planning to announce to everyone that the owner of Chang Bong Group fainted merely from fatigue?” At this rate, he seemed ready to summon every doctor in Shenyang. Moyong Sang Ah managed to get up from the floor and rebuked him. “But, sir.” As Moyong Sang Ah, with some effort, sat in her chair, Chang Bong Dae Joo spoke with a somewhat calmer expression. “I know my own health best. Chang Bong Dae Joo, you look quite exhausted yourself.” “I noticed you lacked sleep recently, but I didn't realize it was this serious. It is my lack of loyalty.” Not noticing the state of his lord’s health was disgraceful as Chang Bong Dae Joo. Moyong Pyeong lowered his head toward his lord. “I know you’re overextending, too. The sudden increase in work due to the demon market is the sole reason, so don’t blame yourself too much.” “Then please, rest early today.” Chang Bong Dae Joo made a suggestion filled with concern in his voice toward Moyong Sang Ah. “There’s still work that needs to be done.” Moyong Sang Ah firmly shook her head. “I fear a disaster may occur.” “This is my responsibility to bear.” As the ultimate decision-maker of Chang Bong Group, if she stopped, the group would halt. Moyong Sang Ah, regathering her composure, continued reading the finalized documents. “Sir....” Chang Bong Dae Joo could only be at a loss for words in response to her unwavering resolve. Was it a sense of duty? Guilt? Whatever the reason, without their leader, Chang Bong Group could not have grown to this point. Chang Bong Dae Joo could only gaze at his leader with a sense of pity. “I will attempt to handle tomorrow’s matters tomorrow.” Moyong Sang Ah, noticing Chang Bong Dae Joo continued to quietly stare at her, decided to compromise a little. There is no need to crumble trying to resolve everything immediately. One may not delay tasks, but the art of momentarily waiting was learned through the sword. “I shall have a physician prepare the best ginseng tonic.” “Do as you see fit.” ———— “Oh, Miss?!” “I'm tired. Everyone should leave for today.” Perhaps it was because Moyong Sang Ah was ending her day unusually early. Her maids, who should have been at work, looked at her, startled, like surprised puppies. Moyong Sang Ah, concealing her lack of energy to speak further, dismissed her maids with a detached expression. Once they had left, she collapsed onto her bed. It was not long after the room had been aired out, perhaps explaining why the blankets felt cold. “Sigh.” A sigh filled with countless worries and concerns escaped from Moyong Sang Ah's beautiful lips, lips from which not a single worry seemed capable of emerging. It was inevitable. Moyong Sang Ah was the one who decided. Unlike tasks that could be resolved by writing down numbers, scribbling notes, or wielding a sword, she had to pour endless thought into each decision and present a clear, decisive demeanor before her subordinates. How much deliberation went into what appeared to be a straightforward decision. One must consider both the risks and the benefits. She had to ponder the repercussions of her decisions. Even after returning to her room, she could not simply lie in bed, ensnared by her thoughts. Sometimes, she would startle at the sound of birds in the dawn, realizing she had only managed a brief nap. “Am I doing well?” Her voice, brimming with worries and anxieties, shattered the silence of the still room. Urgent tasks were concluded. However, the disappearance of decisions did not eradicate her worries. Unresolvable questions plagued her. “Am I doing okay?” There was only one person who could answer. Moyong Sang Ah stared vacantly at the wide bed she lay on alone. A bed too vast for just one person. It was expected. This bed was changed two years ago. In her lifetime, the bed had been allowed to only one man, her single love. “Sang Gong... am I doing okay?” No response came. She lay alone on a bed meant for two, a bed that had lost its everlasting partner ready to lend a shoulder when weary, to offer a chest to lean on when struggling. You are doing well. The whisper of love that used to soothe her in sleep was no more. On that bed, no hardships, burdens, or loneliness found resolution. Her empty heart remained unfilled. It shouldn’t be filled. What was allowed to her was merely to surrender to her fatigue and slip into slumber. Moyong Sang Ah felt her consciousness dimming under the relentless grip of exhaustion. —— It felt like walking on clouds. ‘A field of flowers?’ Blossoming spring flowers unfolded before her. Moyong Sang Ah found herself enraptured by a scene that seemed like Shangri-La. Somehow, it was a familiar spring. A happy spring. A nostalgic spring. A remarkably familiar spring. Yes. It resembled the spring of that day. ‘The wedding.’ The happiest moment in her life. The day she gained the most precious half of herself. It mirrored the spring of that day. Moyong Sang Ah gave no thought to why she was here or how she got there. It was like the happiest spring of that unforgettable day. A smile of happiness, rare to see now, formed on her face. Moyong Sang Ah ambled gently, admiring the riotously blooming flowers. A picturesque spring day that could captivate anyone. Yet, with each step she took, her expression inevitably darkened. No matter how beautiful a spring day. No matter if it mirrored that day. The absence of the one who ought to be there grew ever larger. “There you are.” Moyong Sang Ah’s heart clenched. It couldn't be. Her heart thudded violently. Though she doubted her ears, there was no mistake. The voice from behind was one she could never forget. Was she allowed to turn back? Was she worthy of turning back? Moyong Sang Ah, drawn by an instinct beyond deliberation, turned around. “Sang Gong?” “Why the startled face?” An unforgettable voice. A face etched deep in her heart. Her eternal love. Her unerasable mistake. Sang Gong stood before her with a puzzled look. ‘It’s a dream.’ Only then did Moyong Sang Ah realize where she was. It is said that when one is overwhelmingly troubled and pained, they dream of the time they were happiest to survive. If that's true, this must be the memory of the happiest moment in her life. “What is it?” A voice so gentle approached her. A warmth that wrecked her heart with love. It's a dream. She knew it was a dream. Yet, in front of Sang Gong’s face, which she longed to see, Moyong Sang Ah didn't know what expression to wear. “Don’t cry.” I cannot cry. I won’t cry. I have no right to cry before Sang Gong. Moyong Sang Ah could find no words as tears slipped out uncontrollably. “Ah…” A hand, so tender and warm, reached for her face. Moyong Sang Ah looked at her husband in surprise. I want to hold him. Even now, I want to hold him. I want to say something, anything, in his embrace. But instinctually, Moyong Sang Ah knew. She mustn’t reach out. She mustn’t move. Once she moved, knowing it was a dream, it would break. Sang Gong’s touch was palpable. The warmth that soothed her sorrow, like the caring hand of a person who worried about her even in passing. ‘If only… Sang Gong’s hand…’ If only I could touch even his fingertips. Moyong Sang Ah, overwhelmed with emotions, cautiously moved her hand toward her love. She felt Sang Gong’s dependable hand. A touch she longed for desperately. She felt an intense gratitude, yet she had to bear the consequence of her actions. ‘No!’ The dream began shattering. The dream started to collapse. “Sang Gong…!” In her shocked heart, she did something she shouldn't. The world falling to pieces drew inexorably closer. No. No. Please. “What?! What is this?!” Sang Gong sensed the anomaly. If she moved any further, the dream would break immediately. The only thing left for Moyong Sang Ah was to watch in helplessness. ‘Again.’ Why did she always end up breaking things? Why was she doomed to commit the worst errors? No matter how much she tried or pondered, it seemed to reach this conclusion. Moyong Sang Ah met Kang Yun Ho's eyes. In this false world, the eyes of that unforgettable man somehow retained their vividness. Once again, I've destroyed your world. Because of my mistake. Please, at least curse me. Kang Yun Ho quietly watched the anguished Moyong Sang Ah and then opened his mouth. “Be strong.” “……!” The world turned into flowers. An unforgettable love turned into petals. Moyong Sang Ah’s tears, just as inescapable, did not cease until the world faded away. —— “Sang Gong.” Moyong Sang Ah touched her eyes as she got up from her seat. Her startled heart did not easily calm. Moyong Sang Ah clutched her chest, then realized an anomaly with her left hand. The ring she hadn't removed due to fatigue. Jang Baek-sun’s ring shone more brightly today. It was a sheen she felt she was seeing for the first time. “Was he... really here?” It could merely be the early morning light making it shine. Yet, it didn’t feel like an ordinary dream no matter how much she pondered. A ring left to remind her of him, the one she forgot to take off due to fatigue. Once from an assassin of the demon cult, Once from the most exhausting day. “Is Sang Gong watching over me?” Because he had protected her. “Sang Gong...” Moyong Sang Ah tenderly wrapped her left hand with care. Spring days no longer exist. That happy spring day will not return for her. However— 一 Be strong. Was it just a simple dream? Or did he visit briefly? In the end, it didn’t matter. The courage to face tomorrow, the voice of a loved one resides in her heart. The end of everything, standing before Sang Gong someday, for now, that alone was enough.