644 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

Nanjing. If you were to pick the most bustling city on the Yangtze River, Nanjing would undoubtedly top the list. No matter where one started on the vast waterways of the Yangtze, those who traveled along its mighty paths inevitably converged in Nanjing. Even a father and daughter setting off for the future after concluding a significant event in Wuhan, Hubei. "It seems we'll have to stay in Nanjing for a while." In a guesthouse in Nanjing. A middle-aged man quivered before a woman with the same pink hair as him. A seemingly ordinary father-daughter pair with a resemblance obvious to the eye. Yet anyone aware of their true identities would be astounded. The man was once a notorious thief who terrorized the martial world of the Central Plains, and the young lady, not yet of age, was Im Ha Yeon, the phantom thief who took Hubei by storm. "Didn't you say we had to hurry to the main headquarters of the Hao sect?" What could the father have done wrong to deserve such contempt? The woman, blessed with stunning beauty, responded coldly to her father. "It's winter. It's cold and snowy…" "It's just the two of us traveling; it shouldn't be a problem." "Well, ah... We need to send someone from the Nanjing branch ahead to the main headquarters, but it's winter..." "......" "Ha Yeon?" "Exactly! I suggested we hurry!" The daughter's brow furrowed, her composure slipping for a moment amidst the ongoing exchange with her father. "Ugh, no, that's..." "You went on about greeting acquaintances since it’s been a while since you traveled. Staying a few days after getting to the port! Visiting Anhui Province to pass the time, seeing the sights while there!" They had followed the Yangtze's flow down from Wuhan in early autumn; it shouldn't have been winter by the time they reached their destination. In sum, her father's extensive connections were the problem. Months following her father on their journey to the Hao sect headquarters, Ha Yeon held back her thoughts, assuming her father had a plan. Yet the outcome they faced left her no choice but to vent her frustration. "Haven't you become the Hao sect's leader? Meeting people is part of the work. Work!" "Is getting dead drunk and incoherent by morning also work?" "Ha Yeon, since you can't drink, your father has no choice but to drink on your behalf!" "But you seemed genuinely to enjoy it." "Ahem! Meeting old acquaintances after so long, I had to catch up over drinks." Wang Jong Ho, who had remained in seclusion for over a decade for his daughter's sake, was naturally delighted to meet familiar faces again. "See?" “They must also learn about the new leader of the Hao sect in the other branches!” Wang Jong Ho did have some defense. It was a significant event for the Hao sect to welcome a new leader, something other branches needed to be informed about. While visiting the branches, he took advantage of the hospitality, caught up with old friends, and boasted about his daughter. They even managed to create some memories by visiting scenic spots with her. Of course, the unanticipated winter blockades were not in the equation. "So, how long do we have to wait?" As Ha Yeon watched her remorseful father, she sighed softly. Right. What's done is done. In such moments, it's best to calmly plan ahead, just like her fiancé would. "About 2 to 3 months…" "......" "Ha Yeon?" "Let's go eat." If only she hadn't hurried and had a few more months next to her fiancé. With a patience rare for her age, she turned away without rebuking her father. —— “Ha Yeon. That special strawberry chocolate cream crepe looks delicious. Shall I buy one for you?” Wang Jong Ho, attempting to soothe his daughter's foul mood, pointed to some appetizing street food. "No, thanks." "You used to love it when you were little." Im Ha Yeon, observing her father’s drooping shoulders in disappointment, reminisced past memories. "Making it took time. When I waited patiently, it gave you and mom more time to talk together." In truth, she wasn't particularly fond of it. She simply treasured the time her parents spent together. A small trick a young girl played to savor the rare presence of her father. "Haha. You had such admirable thoughts even back then." It was a story from more than a decade ago. Wang Jong Ho still felt awkward learning it wasn't her favorite, but Ha Yeon's expression had softened substantially by then. After all, her father remembered even such small memories with her. She comforted her melancholic father with a gentle suggestion. "Dessert can wait until after a meal." Wang Jong Ho, bemused by his daughter's unpredictable distance, lapsed into thought. ‘I must set an example as a father.’ It had been a full decade. A time span long enough to alter the world, during which he could not be with his daughter. While there was a mutual desire yet an inevitable awkwardness between them, he resolved to bridge the gap as a father. But he hadn't expected such unforeseen incidents to strike during his efforts over the past months. In times like these, it was crucial to exhibit the reliable demeanor of a father. Wang Jong Ho reaffirmed his commitment. "Ha Yeon, let's stay in the most luxurious inn in Nanjing while we're here." "We don’t have enough funds in the purse for over two months in Nanjing." "Why worry about that in front of your father?" The father, wanting to give everything to his only daughter, presented himself confidently. "What?” “The whole world is your father’s purse.” “Surely not…” What nonsense is he spouting now? In the bustling heart of the marketplace, Ha Yeon didn't need to ponder deeply. A luxurious wallet was visibly within her father's grasp. "Look, let's spend this winter as luxuriously as a noble lady." Nanjing abounded with the wealthy. Though it’s been ages since he'd given up his pickpocketing days out of disinterest, there was little he wouldn’t do for his daughter. This winter, I'll spend it with my daughter in the finest inn. As a father, I’ll make up for everything I couldn't do for her. Wang Jong Ho, with an air of triumph, handed a silk purse to his daughter. "You dropped your purse." His daughter promptly returned the purse to its rightful owner. "Oh! Thank you! Such a beautiful young lady with an equally kind heart!" "H-Ha Yeon…" "I have a voucher he secretly gave me. For now, let's spend this winter using my fiancé's voucher." Of course, her father would be like this. Though it pained him, Wang Jong Ho couldn’t bear to tell his daughter how her gaze hurt him, as if he were a pitiful father. -- "It's so difficult! Dealing with my daughter is utterly challenging!" That evening, Wang Jong Ho lamented his woes over drinks with long-time acquaintances. "Brother, parenting is like this." "When your work has you out at night and sleeping by day, what else can you expect?" "That's precisely why raising kids is hard. I spent so much time abroad for my kids, and now they awkwardly greet me with ‘Hello.’" "Exactly. Our work inherently distances us from our children. Stay strong." They could sympathize. If you only saw them in this drinking session, they seemed like juniors comforting a senior figure, but really, it was a group of fellow thieves. "When I left, she was a little girl, only waist-high, but now she's a woman. Sometimes, I just don't know how to approach her." The more he saw of his daughter, the more guilt and regret washed over him. He yearned to be a good father but found it incredibly difficult to approach his now-grown daughter in that role. "Brother, usually in such instances, it's best to start with common interests. Didn't you say you're sworn brothers with her fiancé? Just listening to what she's passionate about is half the battle won." "That's the bigger problem." Wang Jong Ho let out an even deeper sigh at the mention of his son-in-law. "What do you mean?" "All her standards are based on her fiancé." "What?" "Comparing Dad to her fiancé—shouldn’t it usually be the other way around?!" Every time his daughter subtly gave him that look as if saying, ‘That’s not how he would do it,’ his heart skipped a beat. "Ah… You must have an excellent son-in-law." "He’s bound to become a great man someday. Definitely great." He thought of his son-in-law, who effortlessly took something he held dearly all his life. "Oh. Is he that exceptional?" "He possesses a remarkable business acumen, with the ability to captivate people with his writing, charm others with his speech, doesn't drink much, and when he must because of work, returns home punctually. He doesn’t womanize, is diligent, and endlessly devoted to his woman." "W-what is this?" "Damn it. The bar is set too high!" He wants to complain to his daughter. Not all men are like Kang Yoon Ho. A little drinking, perhaps some womanizing, and living freely—that's what men usually are. But what could he do? Having such an outstanding son-in-law came with both pride and frustration, a feeling truly understood only by fathers-in-law. "Haha! Even the most seasoned operatives can't outdo a daughter’s suitor." "It's because he's taken so much." I should have seen it coming when he wooed Cheonsal-seong. Daughter, though I couldn’t tell you, that young man’s skills with women were something else. Five fingers? More like five exceptional ones. Wang Jong Ho gulped down his drink, muttering nonsensical words. "What?" "Nothing. Just my karma. We need to reach the main headquarters quickly." The Hao sect disciples of Nanjing listened carefully to the industry legend speaking over drinks. "What about this approach?" "What approach?" "It’s something that's come up recently from above." —— “Climb over the wall?” The following day, Wang Jong Ho offered some hopeful news to his daughter. “Didn’t you arrive in Nanjing a bit too swiftly after becoming the leader? It seems there’s skepticism about whether you truly are the leader.” Besides the news from the Hao sect in Hubei, there were those who doubted Im Ha Yeon’s legitimacy. The reason the father-daughter duo was stuck in Nanjing wasn’t solely due to the weather. “That makes sense.” “Ahem! So I have spotted something significant.” “Is it really necessary to go to such lengths in Nanjing? If we stay here long enough, they’ll naturally find out, won't they?” True. It was why Wang Jong Ho initially suggested waiting 2 to 3 months. But he had further reasons to propose again. “Isn't it about time your body itches for action? Just think of it as a light stroll with your father at night...” Once rumors of the Phantom Thief spread in Nanjing, the headquarters would surely act. Besides, a leisurely nighttime stroll would strengthen the bond between father and daughter. This illustrated why mentors should heed their younger counterparts' advice. It had been months since his daughter engaged in Phantom Thief activities. Undoubtedly, she must be itching for it—a perfect justification, Wang Jong Ho believed. “I've never really thought about it.” The issue, however, was that Im Ha Yeon never had a penchant for theft. Having chosen the path of a thief to gain fame, not because she coveted others’ belongings, she harbored no attachment to stealing. “......” An awkward silence settled, broken by the arrival of the server with the food. “Here's the hangover soup.” “I didn't order that.” “I did. You came home after drinking again last night.” With an indifferent expression, his daughter pointed out that the soup was meant for him. “Ha Yeon...” “Eat up.” Im Ha Yeon silently observed her father, who appeared touched, as he took the spoon. It would be a lie to say the trip hadn't had its rough patches between them. Im Ha Yeon tried to understand her father's efforts to get closer. After all, she didn’t follow his every suggestion during their journey for no reason. A father who had spent his life wandering and a daughter raised in a regulated environment at the guild—it was a contrast. The chasm between a father and daughter who’ve lived vastly different lives couldn’t be bridged overnight. Though she reached her breaking point, she cherished this time crafted by the man she loved. “If the Nanjing branch asks for proof, I could provide it, but…” “No need. Let’s think of another way.” If his daughter disliked the idea, he wouldn’t force her. While they wrapped up their discussion and continued eating, a commotion erupted from a corner of the room. “Have you heard the news from Hubei?” “Oh! That Phantom Thief, right? I heard it caused quite a stir in Wuhan.” “Even after sending a warning notice, they were still robbed. What are the martial artists of Wuhan doing? The honor of the martial world has hit rock bottom!” Im Ha Yeon's shoulders twitched slightly. Her exploits had followed the Yangtze, and word had reached Nanjing. Suppressing the grin threatening to lift her lips, she tried to focus on her meal, but the conversation was too enticing to ignore. “Some black-haired constable, I hear? He's rumored to be the only worthy rival for the Phantom Thief.” “How could a mere black-haired barbarian be a rival? He must have just been trailing behind.” “Haha, maybe at night the thief couldn’t see him because of his black hair, and that’s why they call him a rival.” “Makes sense! Hahaha!” “…….” “Ha Yeon?” His daughter's spoon froze in mid-air. Her eyes blazed with a furious intensity, as though she’d heard the most forbidden insult. It was almost amusing to see such a vindictive expression on her lovely face. What words could he offer his daughter? As Wang Jong Ho pondered, the mouth of the thief who’d heard her lover insulted opened. "Give me a list." "What?" "I need to show them that no martial artist in Nanjing could do what he does."