640 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

"Giving up on Hyang's marriage?! What on earth are you saying!" "It's just as I said. Hyang's condition is extremely dangerous right now." With the revelation that Jaegal Hyang could not control the Sanha Sajikdo, the family council was in an uproar. "I understand that she needs training to handle the Sanha Sajikdo. But to call off the marriage! Are you saying the elders have changed their minds about Kang Yunho?!" It hadn't been long since Kang Yunho was wholeheartedly accepted as a son-in-law. Jaegal Geuk could do nothing but vent his frustration at the elder council once again. "That cannot be!" "We would never reject such a fine son-in-law!" "We've seen his mettle through the trial and confirmed his sincerity! How could we ever oppose him?" Of course, the council was taken aback and quickly refuted the head's misunderstanding. "Indeed! If not for Hyang, I'd have wanted him for my granddaughter!" "What?! You greedy old man! Trying to push your granddaughter who looks just like you? My granddaughter is much more..." "Is this really the time for petty arguments!" "Explain, please." If this decision wasn't based on personal feelings, it was an even bigger issue. Jaegal Geuk, wearing a calm expression, addressed the council. "This isn't just about showing illusions to others. She can overlay reality with illusions as she desires." "If training and supervision are necessary, couldn't she marry within the family? We set up a new room for Kang Yunho and Jaegal Geuk's daughter within our clan, and if any inconvenience arises, we assist internally. Shouldn't this solve the problem?" How could he tell the child who saved his daughter by risking his own life to part ways? Jaegal Geuk proposed an alternative he had thought of. "Marriage isn't always blissful, you know. How can we proceed with the marriage when she can't control her powers, not knowing what might happen?" "But what's the harm when the two love each other so dearly?" "What if her emotions run wild during... an intimate night?" "......!" Jaegal Geuk couldn't help but be shaken by this unexpected rebuttal. "She's always been a sensitive child. Her imagination is boundless, so the Sanha Sajikdo might easily react." "Surely, there must be some solution." "Master. Do you think we'd bring this up without reason?" Even the council looked at him with troubled expressions. "......" Both head Jaegal Geuk and the council knew well how much Kang Yunho had endured. Yet the marriage to Kang Yunho and Jaegal Hyang must be postponed. A heavy silence fell upon the council chamber, burdened by the grim conclusion. "She's the master of a relic appearing since ancient times. This isn't something a few years of training can resolve. It will take no less than a dozen years..." "Master! Young Lady Jaegal Hyang!" The atmosphere in the room hit a peak of somberness. A warrior silhouetted against the doorway threw open the door to the council chamber. "Has something happened to Hyang again?!" Could it be that the Sanha Sajikdo had rebelled again? The head immediately questioned the warrior with a worried look as soon as his youngest daughter's name was mentioned. "They say the issue's been resolved!" "What?!" ** "What in the world happened here?" What do you mean "what happened"? My son-in-law resolved another issue. As soon as I resolved the issue with Jaegal Sojeo, I approached my father-in-law with a proud expression. "Father-in-law... Ahem! Father." "Call me father-in-law. How was Hyang's issue resolved?" Because my son-in-law is exceptional. By diligently building up my reputation, I finally succeeded. Naturally, this wasn't something I could openly speak about. Concerning a relic, how should I explain this? Of course, I had a reason prepared in advance. "I received a gift." "A gift?" "When I was trying to escape through the life gate at the end, the Sanha Sajikdo bid me farewell. Saying I did well." "Hyang mentioned something similar. She said it looked just like her but more malevolent-looking." Even the darker side of Jaegal Hyang was beautiful. If Hyang Mae learns duplication techniques in the future, and there are five Jaegal Hyangs, I hope one is included just for aesthetics. "Faulted by someone for thousands of years, I was merely given power?" While my thoughts wandered, the council sought answers. "The gift wasn't from the Sanha Sajikdo." I shook my head to correct the misunderstanding. "Not from it?" "The Sanha Sajikdo was already taken out by Jaegal Sojeo. Therefore, what was left wasn't the will of the Sanha Sajikdo, but something else entirely." "Something else?" A curious question arose as I walked the path of light. The Sanha Sajikdo belonged to Jaegal Sojeo now. So then, who created this world now, who was presenting me this gift, who was guiding me? Who was the voice behind it all? I asked the voice, reasoning through my own conclusion. "The creator of the relic." Upon my answer, the voice chuckled. There was no need to seek further answers. A woman's voice. An extraordinary voice. Like a mother seeing a very interesting man. Thus, the identity of Sanha Sajikdo was... "Yeo Hwa Nang Rang?" The progenitor of humanity, Yeo Hwa Nang Rang. Disbelief-filled gazes directed at me. “Remaining intent, divine jest, or something of the like.” It’s a common enough occurrence in martial arts sagas that after touching a treasure or famed sword, the soul or lingering intent of a previous owner remains. Never thought it would lead back to Yeo Hwa Nang Rang, the mother of humanity. "Gosh..." "If it's Yeo Hwa, perhaps it's about blessing the pairing of man and woman?" "She’s blessing their love!" "My goodness..." Whether my guess was true or not didn't matter. I rescued Jaegal Sojeo, after all. It served as the perfect explanation for the situation. Plus, with the blessing of Yeo Hwa Nang Rang for the couple. Rescuing a lover with divine intervention. The need for marriage was undeniable. Sealing the deal with style, positioning myself cleverly. "Indeed, it seems like nothing else but Yeo Hwa Nang Rang's power." As the room burst into surprise and chatter, Sajangronim, who had expertise in mystical arts and relics, entered. "Sajangronim! How is Hyang's condition?" Clearly concerned about his daughter's state, the father-in-law immediately sought an update. "It's exactly as I said. While further observation is necessary, her condition has significantly improved. There's no longer the risk of suddenly collapsing or accidental manifestations." "Really?!" As expected, it was joyous news. "Then, that means the engagement issue is also..." As I was about to ask confidently if the issue was resolved, Sajangronim shook his head. "Training within the family remains necessary." "What? Didn't you just say she was alright?" "Just because the sword can be sheathed, it doesn't mean one can let go of it completely." "Ah..." It felt like cold water had been thrown on my hopeful expectations. ——— "Are you saying nothing has changed?" I'm telling you, Kang Yunho just unleashed an energy attack! With powers amplified tenfold, courtesy of Yeo Hwa's techniques. This seems extreme. "There's no need to be so gloom. Training doesn't have to take place solely in Dohwa Village. You're free to go out if you wish." Sajangronim replied with a wry smile, seeing my inability to hide my expression. "Does that mean Jaegal Sojeo and I can return to Muhan?" "If you're alright with one condition." "A condition?" "If you can acquire a relic infused with mystical energy, and surround it with meticulously constructed protective formations by the Jaegal clan, then living in an environment akin to Dohwa Village shouldn't be a problem." "Isn't that, in essence, saying it's impossible?" This felt like a cooking show where the host casually suggests, "Today, we'll make dragon tail soup. I'm sure everyone has some leftover dragon tail in their fridge." His tone was impishly annoying. "What do you mean by that?" "Pardon?" "Look at your father-in-law's face." At Sajangronim's hint, I turned to see my father-in-law. Why was he smiling mysteriously? While I stood baffled, my father-in-law spoke with a calm and untroubled expression. "It seems we'll have to make your new home quite grand." "Father-in-law?" "We should make sure you're taken care of given the hardships you've faced." "Naturally, we don't want our daughter's married life to be too harsh." Only then did I fully grasp the situation. I was standing in the realm of Hubei's largest martial clan, the Jaegal clan. If it wasn't something deemed entirely impossible in the martial world, the Jaegal clan would find a way to make it happen. "Does this mean the issue with Jaegal Sojeo is resolved?" "Hyang will need to train within the clan for now. Gathering a new relic and constructing a replica of Dohwa Village, while building the residence, is no small feat." "Do you know how long it might take until she can gain full control?" "I can't offer guarantees, but I doubt it will take more than a handful of years." "A maximum of 5 years of training, then." Five years. It seemed a long time for training, but it didn't matter. It meant I could return with Jaegal Sojeo. No farewells this time. "Is the conversation concluded?" "You may enter now." Before I had even enjoyed the good news, an unexpected visitor appeared in the council chamber. "Euigakju?" —— "Someone might think you’re part of the Jaegal clan." Euigakju Tang Mu Gi remarked with a hint of reproach as soon as he saw me. Right, dealing with the after-effects of my health and Jaegal Sojeo's issue, meeting him had slipped my mind. "Haha. It's just... I was too unwell to find time." I didn’t forget. Really. As I laughed awkwardly, Euigakju smirked knowingly. "Enough of that." "Tang Mu Gi, what brings you here unexpectedly?" My father-in-law inquired, curious about the sudden guest. "I've spoken with the elder council regarding the specifics." "The elder council?" My father-in-law cast a querying glance at Sajangronim, who had opened the door. "This isn't just a family issue—it's about Kang Yunho as well. We need to send someone to the Tang clan to clarify misunderstandings once the weather clears, so we discussed the details." "Is this visit related to the recent incident?" Upon understanding the situation, my father-in-law looked at Euigakju with a slightly softened gaze. "Indeed." "I’ll personally send someone to apologize and discuss the marriage. The elder council has agreed to represent us, so please be patient." Regarding my situation, my father-in-law couldn’t adopt a completely confrontational stance with the Tang family. While resolving an important family matter, he maintained a gentle demeanor toward the guest. "It’s about the marriage issue." Though Euigakju's expression was as firm as when he first arrived. "Are you perhaps trying to obstruct the marriage?" My father-in-law's brow furrowed slightly. "Putting aside who obstructed whom first, I’ve heard your daughter requires several years of training." "And how does that concern you?" Euigakju didn't immediately respond but turned his gaze to me, with an expression asking if I intended to accept both Hwa Rin and Jaegal Hyang as wives. I nodded without hesitation. Sighing deeply, Euigakju finally revealed his purpose for coming. "I hope you can be content with an engagement for now." "Euigakju, what do you mean?" "Kang Yunho. There's a fact I intended to withhold if the situation didn’t progress to marriage." "What is it?" Asking us to only have an engagement, not a full wedding, was unexpected. While I did intend to be cautious about the marriage with Jaegal Sojeo, given past experiences and the need for permission, the Tang family was a different matter. Why was the Tang family not fully opposing the marriage but suggesting just an engagement? Did they know something they were withholding? "It’s because..." The news that emerged from Euigakju’s mouth caught me entirely off guard. “Hwa Rin advanced in level because she was angry at me…?”