656 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

The Jegal family is playing schemes to gain Kang Yoon Ho as their son-in-law. “Could it be they stopped serializing ‘Wind of the Tang Family’ and started ‘Heroes of the Wind’ because of this?!” “They probably confirmed that your writing wasn't just a coincidence.” “What on earth are we supposed to do now?!” The news about the writing, which occasionally came from Mu Han, now seemed to be entirely part of the Jegal family’s conspiracy. “How dare they show such disrespect to our Tang family! Assemble a group and send them to the Jegal family right away!” It wasn’t too late. Even now, the insidious plots of the Jegal family should be thoroughly exposed. While the martial artists of the Tang family were fired up, they were only just beginning to realize the problem. “What are you suggesting we do by sending them?” “Even if we can’t call him an illegitimate child, we must assert the authority of the Tang family! Our family’s daughter was engaged to him first, how can they do such a thing?!” “He's about to obtain the heir position of Mangum Bank by his own ability. To secure that position, he needs to marry the golden daughter of the Jegal family. Do you think sending people would change anything in this situation?” “Are you saying there’s no justification?” Several people sighed deeply upon realizing the predicament. “The plots are typical of the Jegal family. It's a trap you can't escape once you're caught.” “Ha…” By marrying off their youngest daughter and making it a fait accompli, they offered Kang Yoon Ho the heir position at Mangum Bank. There was no way to escape or save anyone. It was a trap, but there was no reason to escape from such a trap. It was a strategy interwoven by layers. Just asserting the engagement due to the Tang family’s prestige was an exceedingly precarious situation. The martial artists of the Tang family shuddered again at the trap typical of the Jegal family. “This is frustrating.” “Tang Hwa Rin.” The eyes of the people turned to Tang Hwa Rin, who stood up from her seat. Tang Hwa Rin was supposed to be the most anxious, yet the martial artists couldn’t fully endure her fierce gaze. “What is this? I should have gone myself if it would end up like this.” In the end, the martial artists couldn’t say a word until she stormed out of the pavilion. —— "Are you back?" After returning to the secret garden, Tang Hwa Rin greeted her master with respect but found it difficult to smooth out her furrowed brow. "If I expected such a pathetic sight, I should have attempted an escape." Anger surged within her. Not long ago, her emotions would have been uncontrollable, and lethality would have seeped from her body. Fortunately, she had reached the point where she could suppress it internally. Breaking her own boundaries meant growing as a person. “Hwa Rin…” “No, I apologize. I didn't mean it that way.” Tang Hwa Rin bowed her head to her master, who had handled the aftermath of her accident a few days prior. “I heard it was an accident.” Dok Mu Hu inquired about her fiancé’s situation, mindful of his disciple who had managed to calm her mind after several days. “What kind of accident happens on both sides of one's waist? I joked that I'd turn a blind eye if he felt lonely, and he actually took that as a given? Did he think I wouldn’t notice if he flaunted openly?” “...” It seems her self-control isn't perfect yet. Dok Mu Hu refrained from replying to the disappointment in his disciple’s voice. Gently, they just grasped her hand, understanding her inner turmoil. Letting out a sigh at her master’s touch, Tang Hwa Rin finally shared the thoughts she had pondered alone over the past few days. “Although, upon reading all the letters… I began to think he had no choice, somewhat.” When she first learned he had two lovers, all sorts of thoughts clouded her mind. During her contemplation, the one thing that persistently pricked her eyes was her lover's letter. “Is that so.” “He wrote the letter in this utterly defeated posture. Hwa Rin, I’m sorry. Save me. He didn’t offer excuses, just recounted things he’d gone through… He must have really endured a lot.” The letter Kang Yoon Ho painstakingly revised over and over and sent to Tang Hwa Rin could be summed up in one phrase. 一 Hwa Rin, no matter how many excuses I think of, it all boils down to being my fault. The letter was a heartfelt apology filled with remorse. ‘Even if you're sorry, why didn’t you hide your true feelings with me?’ From rescuing a runaway courtesan to risking his life in a battle with the Hao Moon, and parting with a promise to reunite. How he felt at those times. What thoughts he entertained. How sorry he felt to her. Why he accepted what he did. It was as if, bowing his head, Kang Yoon Ho was confessing everything to her, facing her in person. “Ugh. Why did they leave Yoon Ho out in the open?” The first time, she was furious. The second time, a hollow laugh escaped. The third time, she thought it might have been an unavoidable situation and shook her head at the rising thoughts. By the fourth, fifth, and repeated readings. ‘It’s because I left Yoon Ho on his own.’ Had he attempted to conceal things, she'd have shuddered in betrayal. If there were any signs of dishonesty, her fury wouldn’t have subsided. However, Yoon Ho’s letter was sincere. Had Yoon Ho chosen to endure all that hardship alone, he would ultimately have crumbled. Because she wasn’t there, he inevitably had to rely on someone else for help. In the end, Tang Hwa Rin could only bring herself to lift the imagined visage of a bowing Yoon Ho. “The Jegal family planned conspiracies, which must have been difficult.” “That’s for the family to sort amongst themselves.” Jegal Hyang, was it? Yoon Ho swears she’s a good woman, but who knows. Whether she was truly a pawn in the Jegal family’s schemes, neither Yoon Ho nor she would likely know the intricacies. It’s an issue for the elders to settle themselves. Tang Hwa Rin’s interest lay elsewhere. “Are you referring to the courtesan?” “Im Ha Yeon. That pink thief!” Having stolen Yoon Ho’s heart so easily, Tang Hwa Rin expressed her animosity openly, almost baring her teeth. “...” “Pretending otherwise and then taking Yoon Ho’s heart? Ha! Yoon Ho might be a reliable man, but making him go through all that hardship and then running away? If I meet that thieving cat, I’ll definitely set her straight!” Never did she imagine another woman would implement the very strategy she concocted for winning Yoon Ho’s heart. The anger in Tang Hwa Rin was palpable. Out of all the hardships, being entangled with the Hao Moon was because of that thief of a courtesan. And yet, she had the audacity to steal Yoon Ho's heart? It felt as if a stray cat had snatched food right from under her nose. To offer such assistance and then not stand by Yoon Ho made it seem that she had her fill and left. Just wait until later. “Hrm, hrm!” Observing his disciple’s wrathful presence, Dok Mu Hu felt like it was akin to a fierce tiger being caught off guard by a seemingly innocent stray cat. They had to keep that thought to themselves. —— "Master. I’m here." On a day when the Tang family’s estate was fully graced by autumn, Tang Hwa Rin made her way to a place she had never visited before, summoned by the Tang family head. "Welcome, Hwa Rin. I thought it was only right for you to be present, so I called you here." “What is this place…?” Before her stood a small shrine. A building you might never notice unless you paid close attention, but upon closer inspection, it was clear it had been built with great care. “It’s a small shrine set up for Kang Yoon Ho’s mother, Hyang A.” “Ah…” Only then did Tang Hwa Rin realize why she had been brought there. “I will offer incense first.” The spot was discreet—out of sight from the rest of the family, yet easily accessible to the family head whenever he wished to visit. Hyang A's shrine reflected the heart of Tang Baekho. The three of them—Uigakju, Tang Baekho, and Tang Hwa Rin—quietly offered incense on the anniversary of the woman’s passing. “I sent word to the Jegal family. We will send people formally this winter.” The family head watched the burning incense in silence before speaking heavily to Tang Hwa Rin. “What are you planning?” “I intend to do my utmost for you.” “What about Yoon Ho?” “……” The family head’s mouth was once again closed tight. Tang Hwa Rin sighed inwardly, watching the family head. He appeared to wish to do something yet hesitated. She turned her attention back to the shrine. Tang Hwa Rin knew the truth, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t burn incense. At this point, she wasn’t even sure anymore. She was beginning to wonder if Kang Yoon Ho was keeping his birth secret from her. It mattered not what was true. ‘For Yoon Ho, I might just become the bad woman.’ Since she was Yoon Ho’s fiancée, she could stand by him. “For people like us, with nothing to lean on, the thought of making one mistake and falling straight down a thousand-foot cliff is a real one.” Tang Hwa Rin began to speak to the family head, much like one would to a lover. “…What?” “When living with Yoon Ho, we had debts to pay and lived day by day. But just because we make a mistake or fail doesn’t mean another opportunity will arise.” The chance to try again is only for those who have resources. Even though she had been frail, Tang Hwa Rin realized every day at Daseogak how privileged she had been. “I see what you’re saying now.” “Sigh. You say you understand, but those who are born with second chances don’t feel how vivid this reality is. Others are just enjoying our dance, while we’re dancing on a razor’s edge.” She remembers it vividly. When they published ‘Wind of the Tang Family’ Volume 1 together. They proceeded together with the determination to hold hands and fall off the cliff if they failed. “It must have been tough.” Here was the opportunity. The family head was showing empathy. Tang Hwa Rin’s eyes focused. It was the perfect time to use the rhetoric she had learned from being alongside Yoon Ho. “It’s not really that. I don’t know if I should say this, but Yoon Ho and I talked about how we wished we had someone to rely on.” I wish I had a father. It wasn’t something the family head of Tang wouldn’t understand. “Is that really what he said…?” No, he never said that. Tang Hwa Rin watched the family head’s startled reaction. Kang Yoon Ho, just because you made mistakes doesn’t mean we can’t bear the responsibility together. “The matter with the Jegal family. This all happened because Yoon Ho didn’t have anyone to rely on.” “Hwa Rin.” “Yes, yes, I overstepped. I apologize.” Tang Hwa Rin quickly bowed her head at Uigakju’s urgent interjection. Finding that vision overlapped with one where a woman sought help but was blocked, the family head couldn’t keep silent. “Alright. You're the only one who could say this.” “I’ll be going now. Oh, and also.” “Yes?” After distancing herself a little, Tang Hwa Rin looked back at the family head. Well, what does it matter? After all, he is technically my father-in-law. Whatever you're pondering... Let’s just do it. Like Yoon Ho. She’d employ the irrefutable argument that inevitably worked on the family head. “Yoon Ho. It seems he ended up saving the runaway courtesan.” “…” The family head could not utter a word, watching Tang Hwa Rin’s figure fade away. He merely observed the dissipating smoke from the incense in front of the shrine with a pained expression. “I can’t lift my head in front of Hyang A.” In the end, once the incense had burnt out, the family head spoke as if resolving himself. “Family head.” “Summon the elders for a meeting.” ——— “Family head. What’s the sudden matter?” “Is it because of the Jegal family? But we agreed to send people formally.” Tang Baekho. Despite the elders’ questions, he momentarily closed his eyes, recalling his last conversation with his son. 一 At times when I feel like I’m left alone in this world, I’ll look westward from Eui-chang in Hubei Province. Isn’t that enough for us? 一 I’ll sometimes look eastward, too. Why had his troubled son not looked westward? His proud son rescued the runaway courtesan without repeating his mistakes. Yet why was he, deluded, attempting to repeat the mistakes of the past? “I intend to add Kang Yoon Ho to the genealogical records of the Tang family.” To become a father not ashamed before his proud son, Tang Baekho spoke out. “…!” In the family assembly, there was an unexpected uproar. “Family head, what did you just…?” “How absurd! This was already settled!” “The heir of the family will remain unchanged. However, this means we will no longer treat him as illegitimate.” An illegitimate child cannot be added to the genealogy. Since they are not the offspring of a legitimate wife, they cannot qualify as an heir. However, the intent was to officially recognize Kang Yoon Ho as the blood of the Tang family. "That's unheard of!" The proposition immediately met with opposition from the elder council. One concession might lead to pursuing heir status. Yet, even this was within Tang Baekho's expectations. "We seek legitimacy." "Legitimacy?" "The Jegal family aims to snatch away our prized author. Don't we need a valid reason to reclaim him?" "Even so!" "This is a disaster!" Just as the atmosphere of the family assembly was heating up, a martial artist burst into the chamber. "What is the meaning of this interruption during the meeting!" "Urgent news has arrived from Mu Han regarding Kang Yoon Ho and our honored author!" "What happened?" As a flash of lightning struck the assembly, thunder soon followed. "Right after being confirmed as the heir to Mangum Bank, he was forcibly taken by the Jegal family!" "What did you just say…!" To be taken immediately upon becoming the heir. Was it as predicted? There wasn’t even time to be shocked as the happenings continued to bombard the assembly. "And there's another piece of news from the Jegal family!" "What now?!" "They've declared 'Wind of the Tang Family' a banned book." "…!" Without a moment to organize his emotions amid the rapid onslaught of information, the family head asked in a calm tone. "Is there anything more to report?" Could it be that the family head had prepared for this entire scenario? Or was it mere coincidence? Was this really the only way forward? There was no need to hesitate further. Adding Kang Yoon Ho to the Tang family geneology and organizing a delegation to the Jegal family were actions put in motion without delay.