648 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

"Dasuh Pavilion has fallen into the hands of Man Geum Jeon Ju?!" "What will happen to Tang Ga Pung Un then?" The anticipation for the fourth volume of Tang Ga Pung Un was high, but what came instead was unexpected news, causing chaos at the Sichuan Tang household. "Is it really true that there has been some misfortune concerning the disciple’s betrothed?" As Tang Ok Ran opened the door and entered the family head’s hall, it was far more tumultuous than usual. "Dok Moo Hoo." The household head, Tang Baek Ho, greeted his aunt warmly, yet his eyes were reminiscent of a captain bracing for a storm with no solution in sight. "My disciple eagerly awaits her husband’s news, yet she receives such dire tidings. What on earth is happening?!" "You’re not the only one wanting answers, so keep your voice down." Tang Ok Ran turned unwillingly toward the familiar yet unwelcome voice. "Elder Il Jang? Why are the old folks here?" Old members from the elder council were crowded in the family head’s hall, a rare sight unless truly significant events were afoot. As Dok Moo Hoo glared at the familiar faces, the elders exchanged uneasy glances, offering only empty seats with nervous coughs. "Ahem! Have a seat." "Tell us in detail what you brought from Yichang." As soon as Dok Moo Hoo was seated, the household head, Tang Baek Ho, immediately inquired from the bringer of news. "Dasuh Pavilion is the inheritance from Tang Hwa Rin's maternal grandfather. It was passed down on the condition of debt repayment, yet it seems Man Geum Jeon Ju seized it under the pretext of debts." "This is hard to understand. Was Tang Ga Pung Un not selling well?" "Sales were prosperous. There was a queue every day because of Tang Ga Pung Un. However..." The martial artist who brought the news from Yichang hesitated, glancing at the family head warily. "Is there another reason?" "Well..." As the martial artist continued to hesitate, an exasperated voice erupted from the elder council. "Why do you hesitate?!" "Speak without reservation." Is it truly that difficult to explain why it was seized, and why the money wasn’t repaid? Faced with the elders’ angry gaze, the martial artist finally spoke, seemingly left with no choice. "It’s because of us—the Sichuan Tang family." "…!" The family head’s hall turned icy. "What do you mean by that? Are you saying it’s our fault?" "The situation became tangled due to the Dok In incident. They say because Tang Hwa Rin’s mother was killed by traitors, the debt was transferred to Kang Yoon Ho." Indeed, this was the reason cited to Kang Yoon Ho by Man Geum Jeon Ju. "Heavens." "In addition, it seems the arrangement to forcibly bring her into Tang’s household worsened creditor anxiety." "They must have thought the debtor could flee at any moment." "Yes, that seems to be it. With the actual debtor, Tang Hwa Rin, staying at the Tang house, their suspicions must have doubled." "…" A heavy silence enveloped the family head's hall. Man Geum Jeon Ju was making absurd claims. There must be other motivations. While the situation felt outrageous to Kang Yoon Ho, the Tang family viewed it differently. Six months ago, repeated massive storms hit the Sichuan Tang family. A traitor birthed within the Tang family, the love child of the family head, and now even Tang Ga Pung Un. The people of the Tang family knew the name of the individual who faced the storm alone and left. Kang Yoon Ho. The man who dared to leap into the tiger’s den to save a woman. He could have had it all but chose to abandon everything for her, forsaking his position as the Tang family head’s secret child. The son who abandoned everything has now lost even what he had. All because of the Sichuan Tang family that gave him nothing. "I am ashamed." Throughout the report, the family head uttered a single bitter comment. "F-family head…" "What’s that boy, Kang Yoon Ho, doing now? Does he perhaps seek refuge with the Seocheon Escort Agency?" "He departed for Wuchang, where Man Geum Jeon Ju is, likely trying to resolve this on his own." "As expected from him…" Indeed, he is my son, someone possessing the same audacity as I did in my youth. The family head’s mind flickered with the memory of his black-haired son who he couldn’t forget. "Is there anything else to report?" As the family head’s lineage was on the brink of being left out in the streets due to the family’s mistakes, everyone was eager for more information. "This is the final news from the Yichang branch of the Seocheon Escort Agency. They said they’d report any developments after resolving the incident in Wuchang." "Until we hear more from Wuchang, we should keep this matter a secret from the disciple." Dok Moo Hoo nodded quietly, murmuring to himself. "From Hwa Rin, you mean?" "It’s better than her worrying over an unresolved matter." Her heart was already troubled. Adding news of her betrothed might break her spirit. Let’s not let her leave the garden for the time being. Once the situation is resolved, we will tell her then. With this promise in mind, Dok Moo Hoo forgot one critical fact. "What do you mean Yoon Ho is in trouble?!!!" Unfortunately, today was the day the disciple was allowed to venture outside the garden to seek a hobby. ---------- Z2dKbDJFSCtSbEo3WFlpUEN0eDQxWEl2SkZzNFRvbkE0TWV6M3ExWDZUTnZqYmcrZDk5U1RTT3lMalRiK3pidQ "That can't be true." There was concern that Dok In might go berserk. While those gathered in the family head’s hall were alert to any unexpected developments, Tang Hwa Rin just shook her head calmly upon hearing the situation. "I understand it’s shocking news. However, from Yichang, they assured us..." "No. That’s not what I meant. Others might misunderstand, but there’s no way Man Geum Jeon Ju would do that. There must be a misunderstanding." Tang Hwa Rin’s voice brimmed with certainty. "You know him?" The master asked the disciple for further explanation. "He was a close friend of my maternal grandfather’s. He even assisted us with the debt settlement." "Why would someone like that do this?" "Man Geum Jeon Ju wasn’t the one originally holding the debt. If this happened, there must be another reason.” "Another reason... Do you have any idea what it might be?" "Well... No." Something seemed to flash across Tang Hwa Rin's mind momentarily, but she shook her head as if dismissing the thought. "The reason, perhaps... Could it be?" "Tang Mu-gi, is there something on your mind?" Family head Tang Baek Ho inquired when he noticed a realization dawning on Tang Mu-gi, the chief of the medical division. "Kang Yoon Ho had a clash with Man Geum Jeon Ju’s grandson." "I’ve heard about the printing press bid incident. Could it be?" "It might be possible it's a vengeance issue." A not uncommon occurrence in the martial world—when a shameful grandchild gets scolded, the grandfather intervenes personally. It was an embarrassing affair, but not unheard of. "Did they dare such a thing even knowing he’s a benefactor to the Tang family? With what confidence?!" "If it’s Man Geum Jeon Ju, he does have strong backing. Isn’t he Je Gal Geuk’s father-in-law?" "Such disrespect should have been nipped in the bud! What were the martial artists protecting Kang Yoon Ho doing?" Once again, the blame circled back to the Tang family. Whether it was guilt toward the illegitimate child or rebukes aimed at subordinates, grievances were voiced everywhere. "I will send someone at once, family head." If true, this was not a matter to take lightly. As the medical division chief sought orders from the family head, someone abruptly rose. "What do you mean by that?" "Elder Il Jang." Elder Il Jang, who was vehemently against Kang Yoon Ho when he came to the family, spoke firmly to the medical division chief. "He’s a child we severed ties with." "Elder Il Jang! You’ve heard everything! Regardless of not wanting recognition as the Tang family’s child, the situation is what it is!" "My ears are fine. And you, Mu-gi, must consider the situation." "What do you mean by that?" "Did he ask for help?" "That’s..." "It’s a child who left of his own accord. He’s not some child left to wander by a river. Should we intervene when he hasn’t even asked for help?" Kang Yoon Ho is no longer a child of the Tang family. Detached from the family’s shadow, why should the family step in to assist? Elder Il Jang’s reasoning was sound. "There is such a thing as moral obligation." The medical division chief retorted, not hiding his vexation. Though he was a close aide to the family head, the situation warranted questioning his conduct. Yet Elder Il Jang merely chuckled as if this worked in his favor. "I agree with helping on moral grounds." "…!" Those gathered in the family head’s hall stared at Elder Il Jang with shock as if struck by a hammer. How could Elder Il Jang support helping when he had been so fervently against Kang Yoon Ho? "Why are you all so surprised? I’m against acknowledging Tang Yoon Ho as an heir. I, too, am a keen reader eagerly awaiting more from the writer Kang Yoon Ho." "I will continue listening." The medical division chief took a step back, signaling a willingness to hear more. "Kang Yoon Ho is an outsider. We’re not supposed to step in and help. Wasn’t that the agreement? But listen." "…." "If the writer Kang Yoon Ho seeks assistance, we can aid him, not as family, but as the Tang family assisting a writer. Only to the extent of helping an outsider." Know the boundaries. Kang Yoon Ho is an outsider, wasn't that the consensus? Elder Il Jang was stressing the standards. Rather than actively, assist morally. Instead of directly using force, start with formal complaints. Help economically when aid is sought, rather than settling debts. Family head, don’t overstep. There’s an heir issue at stake. Avoid complicating resolved matters. Elder Il Jang’s words were a kind of counsel to both the medical division chief and the family head. "It sounds like a lot of wordplay." Of course, there was one woman who took the words with great displeasure. "Hwa Rin." "Why not just help? How difficult is it to clear a debt?" Regardless of heir matters, political skirmishes, her beloved was in danger and should be helped. To Tang Hwa Rin, the adults’ battles were just childish. "Step back." "Master!" Family head Tang Baek Ho, hiding a satisfied smile at his bold daughter-in-law, looked over at Elder Il Jang. "As always, thank you for the wise counsel. We’ll move morally, keeping an eye on developments." What level of moral obligation can a father extend to a child? Tang Baek Ho didn't specify. "Don’t worry too much. Writer Kang Yoon Ho has Tang Ga Pung Un, doesn’t he? Even if Dasuh Pavilion is seized, there’s a priceless treasure in his mind that can’t be taken. Things will surely resolve positively." Elder Il Jang beamed, pleased that the family head understood. Despite his duties as a house elder, he was an avid reader who cherished the personal collections of Kang Yoon Ho’s manuscripts. With stories that couldn’t be stolen from Kang Yoon Ho, how could there be a major issue? "But…" Elder Il Jang had perhaps thought too lightly of the situation. "…?" "Man Geum Jeon Ju has seized the selling rights to Tang Ga Pung Un. Until the matter is resolved, they’ve prohibited its sale." "What?!" "Then what happens to the fourth volume of Tang Ga Pung Un?" "It’s been indefinitely postponed." A gasp swept through the family head’s hall, the air as tense as a tinderbox waiting to ignite. "… I’m going to Man Geum Jeon Ju immediately." Elder Il Jang was the first to move. "Elder Il Jang! Please control yourself!" "Let go! Let go of me! The Man Geum Jeon Ju people have crossed a line!"