653 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

"Sigh... Haaah." The oppressive heat of summer had gradually subsided, with subtle signs of the changing season creeping in at night. It was a day when early autumn, prevalent in other regions, had yet to make its presence known here. In the forbidden garden of the Tang family, where access was strictly prohibited, a woman's sigh of disappointment drifted out. "It feels like the ground could give way." Tang Okran, the Poisonous Dance Empress, addressed her disciple who couldn't conceal her frustration. "I thought I had it, but I let it slip again." Tang Hwarin, filled with regret, scuffed the dirt beneath her shoes. How many months had it been already? Though she no longer pricked herself with the embroidery needles, Tang Hwarin was still hitting a wall. If not for her newfound enjoyment in embroidery which calmed her mind, along with her master’s assistance, she would have been utterly lost. She needed to continue growing to meet Yoonho. Yet, facing a wall that she couldn't overcome left her feeling anxious. "That's the nature of the warrior's wall. Once you've climbed it, it seems trivial, but looking back, it's stained with the blood and tears of countless warriors." It was a barrier even those who spent their lives gazing at the heavens struggled to surmount. "Tsk. It feels like I'll die if I fall while climbing." "That won't happen." The Poisonous Dance Empress firmly denied her disciple's petulant remarks. "What?" "Aren’t I here? Don't hesitate to climb because of fear of falling. I’ll catch you no matter what happens." The disciple met the unwavering gaze of her master that was directed solely at her. The Poisonous Dance Empress’s single accepted disciple well into her years — her regard for her only disciple contained a mix of guidance and stern reprimand, prompting an involuntary smile. "......" "Why do you ask?" "Hehe. It's nothing. I suddenly understood why Sir Master (師夫님) waited for you all this time." She's charming even now. She must have been incredible in her youth. I should take the opportunity to learn how she managed to keep her husband on a leash even from afar. Tang Hwarin's eyes sparkled. "Nonsense." The Poisonous Dance Empress awkwardly cleared her throat, dispelling her disciple’s awestruck gaze. "I don't want to keep Yoonho waiting too long." Wasn't Yoonho suffering alone all this time? Business ventures, new creations, even his Poquae (bounty hunter) activities... News of Yoonho had been constantly reaching Tang Hwarin’s ears over the past few months. Delighted by the success of the man she loved, yet she couldn’t help but feel a heavy burden. "I doubt a man as busy as he is would even think of waiting." "Hehe, that's true, too." Amidst his hectic work, he might barely have the energy to think about a woman. Tang Hwarin nodded with a smile but soon returned to a more solemn expression. "Lately, you seem lost in thought more often. Is there something else troubling you?" The Poisonous Dance Empress, recalling how frequently her disciple's eyes clouded over recently, inquired. Though she shook her head each time, as if trying to dispel the thought, it seemed to persist. "It's just... I'm worried about something." After some deliberation over her master’s question, Tang Hwarin finally opened her heavy heart. "Why don't you tell me?" "The old Mang Geumjeonju. You see, back when I met him, he mentioned something strange to Yoonho..." The test from Mang Geumjeonju. While others dismissed it as a casual favor from Mang Geumjeonju, believing Yoonho was favored, there remained a troubling memory nestled in Tang Hwarin’s heart. "Something strange?" "He asked whether Yoonho would ever want to meet his granddaughter." "That's the first I've heard of that." "I thought it was an inconsequential joke. You know how elders sometimes say such things. But..." "Is it because the test of Mang Geumjeonju makes you suspicious?" Bitterly smiling, Tang Hwarin nodded. Yoonho. You might have brushed it off casually, but did you know the seriousness in Mang Geumjeonju grandfather's eyes? I was honestly a bit anxious back then. So overjoyed when you refused. "I'm not doubting Yoonho, but something about Mang Geumjeonju grandfather unsettles me. It felt genuinely unsettling at the time. Being far from Yoonho makes me overthink everything." It's needless worry. But no matter how much she tried to dismiss her concerns, the doubts persisted. "That's an illusion." "This might be why I'm unable to climb over the wall, right?" It's a wall difficult to scale even when solely focused on the sky. Perhaps being unable to overcome it was inevitable after all. "But that’s precisely why you must try to climb." "Hehe, that’s true." Because he’s waiting. It was a shared understanding that transcended time and age, something only the master and disciple of the Tang family could comprehend. "Here, take this." As her disciple's training drew to an end, Tang Okran retrieved something from her pocket. "This is...?" "A letter to resolve your delusions has arrived for you." A letter delivered to Biwon. There’s only one person in this world who would send a letter to Tang Hwarin. A letter from Kang Yoonho had finally arrived. "Eek! Why didn’t you tell me sooner!" Would she have been able to train today had she known? The Poisonous Dance Empress simply refrained from saying so and chuckled. "I’m heading out, so let's conclude for today… She’s already gone." Before even she could realize, her disciple had quickly vanished, leaving only a vestige behind. —— "Miss, is there something good happening? Your face seems brighter than usual." "Yes! Yes! I’ll tell you later!" A letter from Yoonho had arrived. How long had it been? It’s one thing to be busy, but isn’t this too much? Greeting Sibi, Tang Hwarin quickly retreated to her room, nearly throwing herself in. "It's one thing to be busy, but making someone wait..." There was no intent to blame him. She understood he was busy. Undoubtedly, he wanted to avoid making her worry by waiting for the right moment to send the letter once everything settled. She understood everything. It just made her a bit uneasy. "The Romance of the Wind and Cloud Hero, and all sorts of thoughts crossed my mind." Tang Hwarin cautiously placed the letter on her desk. It's been ages since a letter has come from Yoonho. She couldn’t just skim through it casually. Steadying her racing heart, Tang Hwarin began releasing her concerns, as if Kang Yoonho was right before her. "Kang Yoonho. About Muyeong Shintu..." Tang Hwarin's gaze lingered on the Romance of the Wind and Cloud Hero. Kang Yoonho and Muyeong Shintu—she understood they were entangled because of the novel. However, the rumors she was hearing were certainly unsettling. The renowned bounty hunter, Kang Yoonho. While others were amazed at Kang Yoonho's talents, Tang Hwarin privately had her own worries. "Muyeong Shintu, it's not a woman, is it?" It's strange. No matter how much she thought about it, something felt off. 'Yoonho isn't the type to pursue something he has no interest in.' To the point people dubbed him a notorious bounty hunter, he was working incredibly hard. Why? It was unlikely to be for money, as that seemed strange. Yoonho was kind-hearted. Could there be...? A woman's intuition sounded the alarm. Even in the Romance of the Wind and Cloud Hero, something felt off about the vivacious character of Muyeong Shintu, as if it were based on a real person. "Mang Geumjeonju Grandfather's test was given with benevolent intentions, right?" What's this about a granddaughter? He’s engaged to Yoonho. Mang Geumjeonju Grandfather wouldn’t do such a thing. As her mind swirled with concerns she'd harbored for months, Tang Hwarin quickly shook her head to clear them. These assumptions were baseless. Regardless of the circumstances around him, Yoonho wouldn't stray because... Even a beauty doesn't sway a man's heart if his mind is elsewhere. Tang Hwarin recalled a conversation she once overheard among the martial artists of the Tang family during a walk. It wasn't a sentiment that applied to her situation. She lowered her head, contemplating the source of her boundless confidence. 'Anyway, he has an unyielding love.' With the pinnacle right here in the Sichuan Tang House, why would he desire anything else? Finally dispelling all her misgivings, Tang Hwarin opened Yoonho's letter. Typically, it would have been a letter brimming with her beloved man's updates and affections, but this time, the content diverged. "Kang!!! Yoon!!! Hooooo!!!" The letter was an honest account from Kang Yoonho about parting ways with Yim Hayon and everything that had transpired. "Not just one, but both! How could you!!!" ————— A wrathful presence descended upon the Sichuan Tang family estate like a devastating storm. "Miss!" "Move." Hearing the commotion, Tang Pae, the deputy head of the Clan's martial sector, and other Tang martial artists swiftly gathered around her. "Miss Tang Hwarin! Where are you headed?" "To Hubei Province. To Wuhan." Her anger transformed into a palpable menace. Despite the flock of dozens of martial artists, none dared to open their mouths easily against her seething aura. 一 Gulp. The very sound of someone swallowing anxiously was audible. "Why are you going there?" "I'm going to deal with Yoonho." "...Please, let’s calm down." "Tang Pae." Her icy words pierced Tang Pae, who was desperately trying to dissuade her. "Y-Yes, ma'am!" "Why didn’t you ask why I’m going to deal with him?" "..." "So you knew as well, didn’t you?" "Eeeek!" Could the venomous aura also chill? Those in the know from Yi Gak went pale in an instant. "You were in on this too?!" "It's a misunderstanding!" "A misunderstanding? You turned a blind eye to Yoonho cheating while on his way back from Yichang?!" To think that the martial artists of the Tang family just stood by quietly watching. The very thought was enough to make her explode. "She was stunningly beautiful! We merely thought it might help with the business at Thesagak!" "We’re innocent! Technically, it wasn't a dating situation. There was merely a subtle spark between them!" "Yes, indeed! She was a truly pure beauty who loved the Tang family’s prestige!" "Sure. Why not introduce her as well?" "We’re sooooo sorry!" Despite their desperate efforts to rectify the situation, it was much too late for the Tang family martial artists. "I should have known from when he wrote in his novel that 'the more, the merrier' applies to bosoms like that!!!" Why did it feel like every character had two women vying for attention in both the third volume of the Tang Family's legacy and the Romance of the Wind and Cloud Hero? While one perfect chest is good, was he seeking more? Concluding that further conversation would be a waste of time, Tang Hwarin moved forward. "Stop her! We must stop her!" "Form the impregnable line!" "Even a venomous mistress like her shouldn't be able to break through this formation!" Confident that the impregnated formation, which had proven effective even against the cultists before due to its bloodless efficacy, would hold, the Tang family martial artists might have taken it too lightly. "Why should I have to climb over a wall?" Tang Hwarin retorted. "What?" Her anger surged to its peak. When was the last time she had been this furious? The venom within her responded to her anger. The venom coursing through her body spurred into a frenzy. Her vision blurred. Though undeniably a dangerous situation, for the venomous mistress, it felt akin to being within a comforting womb. Hot, yet cold. Calm, yet seething. There stood the wall. A wall insurmountable even when she watched the skies. Her mind boiled over, yet chilled in its ferocity. The interplay of yang and yin, the thousand-year-old poison and human face venom coursing through Tang Hwarin's veins. She desired to reach Yoonho, but could not climb over. Why obstruct her? All because of you, Yoonho strayed. She decided she wouldn’t climb over this worthless wall. Why should she move dictated by the wall? Simply— "I'll break it." She'd break it. The massive wall shattered. Her status swelled. The rank of a venom mistress soared. As if it had always been thus, as if the wall had never existed. As if it was only natural. "What are you doing!?" "I'll give you time." Through her now brightened vision, Tang Hwarin spoke to the Tang family's martial artists. "Ah! My stomach suddenly hurts?!" "Is this Chilbopoon?! How?!" "If you move now, you'll still make it to the lavatory." The venomous mistress, Tang Hwarin, shattered the wall in response to her fiancé’s infidelity. It was summer.