649 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

"Kuh, keh. I made a bit of a fool of myself for a moment there. Anyway! Remember that!" The serial publication of "The Dang Family's Saga" is indefinitely suspended. The shocking news caused an uproar in the family's hall, but eventually, it settled down. Kang Yun-ho is an outsider. It is not something the Dang family is obliged to help with. However, given the moral responsibility that lies with the Dang family, should Kang Yun-ho seek assistance, they can show sincerity. With this conclusion, the meeting came to an end. "......." Of course, not everyone was content with this conclusion. "Hwa-rin. It's time to leave." In the now empty hall, Dok Mu-hu urged his disciple, who remained motionless, still staring at the family head, but Dang Hwa-rin stood her ground. "Do you have something to say?" When the family head, Dang Baek-ho, finally acknowledged her, Dang Hwa-rin stepped forward as if she had been waiting. "Yun-ho will resolve this well." "If you're telling me not to worry, I understand." "No, I'm asking you to be concerned." "Hwa-rin?" Her voice was surprisingly bold, enough to startle even her mentor. In the Sichuan Dang family, the authority of the family head is absolute. Even the council of elders is merely an advisory body to guide the head’s decisions. Despite her mentor's shock, Dang Hwa-rin continued to speak to Dang Baek-ho with an unyielding expression. "Normally, Yun-ho and I would face this together. But right now, Yun-ho is fighting alone. The situation that unfolded is Yun-ho’s responsibility, but the fact that we aren't together to face it isn't Yun-ho’s fault, nor mine." Because the Dang family forcibly separated us. Despite the astonished gazes surrounding him, the family head smiled at his daughter-in-law. "The Dang family must help them reunite." "He'll manage fine on his own. But still, please take an interest." "......I understand." "Thank you. Mentor, let's go." Having said everything she needed to, Dang Hwa-rin gave a polite bow and took her mentor's hand, turning to leave. Despite her mischievous appearance, her hand trembled subtly with concealed anxiety as she clung to her mentor. "She’s quite the audacious daughter-in-law." Ui Gak-joo addressed his lord with an amused voice. "Sometimes a man needs a partner who can speak the words he cannot." A woman his son risked his life to protect wasn't chosen lightly. As the father thought of his daughter-in-law, who had the qualities to become the household's matron, he allowed himself a small smile. Z2dKbDJFSCtSbEo3WFlpUEN0eDQxVUhwK0lOWGRRcCs5QVlVQWw5SElwOGYweHVwRU9rQUVOSC9SamdwdHVXNg "May I ask what you intend to do about this situation?" "I plan to respect the boundary." Dang Baek-ho's voice was resolute. "......." "You seem displeased, which is unlike you." "Aren't you capable of redrawing the boundary itself?" "I'm not talking about the Dang family's boundary. I'm talking about the boundary that child drew." The family head, Dang Baek-ho, shook his head quietly as he spoke. "Are you referring to the boundary Kang Yun-ho drew?" "He’s someone who left everything behind for a lover. He understands better than anyone what happens within the Dang family’s protection. He’s the one who distanced himself from his own bloodline." "My lord." "Even when faced with the possibility of being cast out, he chose not to return to the Dang family, but to continue his path indefinitely. Shouldn't a father respect that?" Dang Baek-ho's voice carried an undertone of resolve mixed with bitterness. The will of Dang Baek-ho is the will of the Dang family. If the family head wishes to cross the line, it means the Dang family will cross that line. Such an action would create more chaos than last year's events. Walking away from the Dang family for his fiancée isn't the path his son would want. ‘My son, how far are you willing to sacrifice for your love?’ The father could only watch from beyond the boundary, his view obstructed by the path his son had chosen—a path he had never taken. "If that is your wish……." "However." The family head interrupted his close aide and turned towards him. They had struggled together since their youth. They often believed they'd made the best decisions, only to feel endless regret. The deep wrinkles were an emblem of irretrievable regret. "A father's faith in his child and the worry for that child don’t necessarily need to be separated, do they?" Nevertheless, the wrinkles did not solely symbolize regret. "The Westward Guard is expanding in Hubei Province. I’ll instruct them not to spare any support for the branch in Wuchang." Even if they don't move within the line, there are ways to prepare alternative paths. The experiences etched into those wrinkles meant they no longer needed to ask each other what was meant. "I ask for your favor." —— "Ouch!" A sharp pain pricked Hwa-rin's finger, and she irritably pushed the silk bundle aside, rubbing her finger. "This is something I haven't seen before." Dang Ok-ran glanced at the discarded silk bundle and asked. "You did tell me to find a hobby. Something I was interested in." "And suddenly, embroidery came to mind?" It's a fine hobby. Although imagining her pupil sitting gracefully and embroidering was something she couldn't quite picture. Dok Mu-hu remained silent, pondering whether it was his own prejudice, but the silk bundle left tossed aside was telling. Hwa-rin immediately understood the meaning of her mentor's gaze and offered a wry smile as she explained. "…When I was living with Yoon-ho." "Hmm?" "We had no money. We had debts to pay, and we needed to keep Dasogak running. Once, while he was working, Yoon-ho's clothes got torn, and we couldn't afford new ones. Yoon-ho was at a loss, so I confidently offered to sew it myself. But…" "It didn’t go well, did it?" "Despite how I seem, I was raised as a rich girl. How could I do something I'd never done before?" Just because she had watched servants do it a few times, she somehow believed she could do it too. Dang Hwa-rin placed her hands on her hips in frustration but couldn't hide her embarrassment. "Wanting to score some points with the man you like, you must have felt really stuck." Her heart was far ahead of her clumsy hands. Hwa-rin chuckled as she recalled the fond, albeit challenging, memories. "Heh, heh. That's right. In the end, my attempt resulted in a poorly sewn, haphazard outfit. He had to wear it the very next day, and it was hardly presentable to anyone. I felt terribly sorry, but Yun-ho wore it as if it was perfectly fine." Her fidgeting fingers paused as she prepared her excuses. For some reason, that day, she couldn't take her eyes off Yun-ho working. Dang Hwa-rin’s eyes lit up, reminiscent of someone recalling their most cherished memories of a beloved person. "He's quite the man." "And that's why I’m angry." Hwa-rin pursed her lips, suppressing a budding smile. "Are you upset because you can't sew?" "It's because Yun-ho didn't reach out when there was trouble." No matter how much I trusted him to take care of Dasogak. Why did he try to shoulder everything alone? Dang Ok-ran opened her mouth with an understanding expression at the sight of her disciple’s pouting face. "Men tend to let their pride get involved in the most trivial matters. When working together could solve it, they don't want to cause unnecessary worry for their partner." "I wish he’d just give up and come back. If we ask the Dang family, they might open a bookstore for him in Sichuan, who knows?" I know it won't happen. But I wish he would come back. I want to meet him right now. Hwa-rin spoke as if confiding in her mentor. "……." "The man I love isn't someone who’d falter at a mere adversity, though." He's always so capable, huh. Really. Her voice was gruff, but it was filled with unwavering faith. "Sometimes supporting silently can be helpful in such situations." "That doesn't suit my temperament." "So that's why you spoke up to the family head?" Hwa-rin grinned at her mentor's astonished look. "While Yun-ho is dealing with his pride, I ought to do what I can. Embroidery included." Hwa-rin lifted the silk bundle once more. All she could do now was worry. But she didn’t want to worry in silence. Let’s surprise Yun-ho with a new hobby when we meet again. Hwa-rin grasped the silk bundle firmly. "Ouch!" Of course, her heart was ahead of her capabilities, just as it was back then. "……Let me see that." Her mentor just smiled quietly at the disciple she cherished like a daughter. ————— "It's been resolved." News regarding Kang Yun-ho from Wuchang arrived sometime later. "Really?!" "What happened?" The warrior who brought the news about Kang Yun-ho from Wuchang had to start reporting immediately in the family hall without a moment's rest. "It appears that Man Geum Jeonju offered Kang Yun-ho a test, promising to wipe away all of Dasogak's debts if he passed." "A test? What kind of test?" "He was told to start a new venture, using money provided, and to earn a satisfying amount of money from it." Dang Baek-ho stroked his beard, puzzled by the unexpected story. "It's an enigma. It's neither vengeance for a grandson-in-law nor something else. Why would Man Geum Jeonju do such a thing?" “That is…” "It seems Dang Hwa-rin was right." Ui Gak-joo, who had been silently listening, spoke up. "About calling him a close friend of her maternal grandfather?" "When it seemed like the granddaughter of a close friend was in trouble, he seems to have lent a helping hand." I see. So that’s what it was. The creditors went rampant due to the Dang family's matters, and Man Geum Jeonju bought the debts out of concern for his friend's granddaughter. Ui Gak-joo’s explanation made sense. Dang Baek-ho nodded in agreement, but not all his questions were resolved. “If that’s the case, just repaying the debt would have sufficed. Why insist on this business venture?” For helping a friend's granddaughter, it seemed unusual. It almost forced him to take that test somehow. “In the world of merchants, nothing comes for free.” "Indeed, he's known for being a quirky merchant. That might be the case." "Though recently called the 'Gentleman Merchant,' he was once called the 'Money Demon.' Who can guess the whims of such a character?" Who can comprehend the caprices of a big merchant? "I’ve heard tales of him with Jinju Eonga." As one of the top merchants in Hubei Province and the father-in-law of a member of the Zhuge Family, even Dang Baek-ho had heard a few famous anecdotes. "Given that Kang Yun-ho has caught Man Geum Jeonju’s eye, we can probably wait and see." A test, huh. The family head let out a sigh mingled with relief and concern. While things weren't spiraling out of control, he found it hard to set aside his worries. "I know that boy’s skill with words, but a business venture? How is he supposed to do that alone in an unfamiliar land?" Even the sons of prominent families frequently ventured into business and failed. Let alone his own child, who doesn’t share the same advantageous background. Without the backing of the family, he’d face harsh prejudice in that foreign land. How could he be expected to start a business? "I’ll speak again with the Westward Guard." It was when Ui Gak-joo, sharing the same concerns, was about to speak to the family head. "But it seems... there is no need to worry." The warrior, who had been eagerly awaiting the right moment to continue their report, cautiously interjected. "Eh?" "It seems Kang Gongja has gathered people to rely on by himself." "What do you mean?" "He has united the Koreans in Wuchang, risen to a leadership position, and has begun a delivery food business using trained pigeons. The response has been overwhelming!" As the warrior spoke, detailing Kang Yun-ho's activities starting with the Korean Fellowship Society, his accomplishments spilled forth.