664 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

"So Hee. Soheeeee! Haha! So Hee!" In the inn where they returned after exterminating the bandits, Yukiko cheerfully called out her newly acquainted friend's name. "Don't say it too often." So Hee put down the piece of paper she had been reading and spoke to Yukiko with an expressionless face. Was it too hasty to have told her? Even Cheon Sohee felt a bit shy at the familiar yet unfamiliar feeling of her name being called. "It's good to hear your friend's name often! Or do you dislike it when a friend calls you So Hee?" Cheon Sohee, seeing Yukiko's overly happy face leaning towards her, turned her head away and murmured in a low voice unlike her usual self. "It's not that... at all." "Ha ha ha! Yukiko is much better than having a grim nickname or a harsh moniker! By the way, are you reading your brother's letter again?" Yukiko's gaze fell upon the paper Cheon Sohee was looking at. It was a letter from Kang Yoon Ho that she had brought with her. "Yes. He said he's established the Chosunin Hyangwoohoe, is working hard on business, and writing as well." "A leader, a businessman, and a writer. Truly the perfect husband material!" "Yes... that's Yoon Ho, my brother." Knowing that her beloved was working hard for her was the happiest news. It was natural for Cheonsal Seong's lips to curve into a rare smile. "Haha! So Hee, your face looks exactly like that of a girl in love!" "..." Even if she didn't mind too much, it was a little embarrassing for Cheonsal Seong to let her friend see those feelings. "Ladies. We've got a slight problem." The owner of the inn approached the two sitting at the table. "What is it?" "We've run out of ingredients. Could you perhaps manage with something else?" "What! You mean there's no tteok-twi-soon set...?" "Even offering just tteokbokki would be fine." Cheon Sohee said as if it were no big deal. Although she craved to devour the tteok-twi-soon after a tough job, it was also important to consider the townspeople's circumstances. "I-I'm so sorry. You helped us with the bandits and all, but with the snow blocking the roads..." "There's no tteokbokki either...?" It was a shock that none of the items were available. "Haha! Your expression is hilarious!" As Yukiko clutched her stomach with laughter, Cheon Sohee rose from her seat, as if no longer attached to the idea. "Let's go." To not be able to eat tteokbokki. Well. Since the bandits were dealt with, their business in this town was concluded. "You mean you're leaving so soon?!" "You're saying you'll leave after defeating the bandits? The delivery folks ran away as soon as the snow stopped!" Hearing that the heroines who subdued the bandits were leaving, the townsfolk, who had been observing, gathered around. They felt terribly apologetic that the heroines were leaving without accepting any reward and without even having the food they wanted. "Ladies! Please just let us know where you're from, and we'll think of a way to repay you later." "That... it's a bit awkward to say!" How could she admit they were assassins from Salmak? Yukiko smiled awkwardly, and her friend, observing quietly, tossed out a bright solution. "Chosunin Hyangwoohoe." "What! Yes, that's right! We're the Chosunin Hyangwoohoe! The lovely heroines! Okbun and Yukiko!" They were speaking of the group run by So Hee's brother. In a broader sense, weren't they also part of the Chosunin Hyangwoohoe? Yukiko quickly confirmed with confidence. "The Chosunin Hyangwoohoe? Is it like a group of people with black hair?" "Yes. Later, if any Chosunins come to the village, please don’t discriminate against them." Cheon Sohee nodded expressionlessly. What did it matter so much where one was from? As long as her brother's organization gained a better reputation, and any Chosunin visiting this village wouldn't be persecuted as a barbarian, that was enough. "The carriage is ready." "Are you really leaving now?" "Take care." "Live happily with your brother!" "Thank you!" After saying goodbye to the innkeeper's daughter, the two got onto the carriage they bought with the money collected from the bandits' camp. "To the innkeeper's daughter: It was nice to see you and your brother holding hands until the end." "Yes." They preserved someone's ordinary daily life. The events of that day were not repeated. Cheon Sohee’s gaze was exceedingly peaceful as she looked at the village disappearing out the window. "So Hee, don't worry too much about those strange dreams! Your brother will keep waiting for you." Cheon Sohee's eyebrows twitched slightly. Maybe she shouldn't have mentioned it to Yukiko. In the dream, her brother appeared, but there were strange, unsightly things surrounding him. Due to her uneasy heart, she probably confessed to Yukiko unnecessarily. 'Was it really a dream? Or the power of a Destiny Reverser?' Her brother's encouragement still echoed in her ears. It was certainly Kang Yoon Ho's voice. Could a person who defies heavenly destiny do such a thing? Even if it felt real, it didn’t matter if it was fake. Someone she thought she had lost everything for had become the most important person in her life. He was waiting for her. He was making efforts for her. That fact didn’t change. "It doesn't matter." "Huh?! What do you mean by that?" "I'll win over everything." Her voice was filled with unwavering certainty. ** "You called for me, my lord." A woman with hair like blazing flames entered the lord's office. Cheonsal Seong's master and the woman formerly known throughout the martial world as the Scarlet Rakshasa, Dan Seowol, had arrived. "Seowol, dear! You've come! I have something to show you!" Salmakju, Dan Seak, greeted his younger sister, Dan Seowol, with a delighted face. "What are you holding?" "The signature collection from author Hopil! Since my little sister didn't seem keen on getting it for me, I went ahead and contacted the Wuhan branch to obtain it myself." He had told her to produce a signature collection if she wished to send letters. Dan Seak boasted to his sister, eliciting every detail, and waved the signed collection from author Hopil proudly in front of her. "..." The gaze of the younger sister staring at her brother was icily sharp. "Seowol, is this really the trivial thing you called me for, interrupting a busy person? If you don’t mind, watch your murderous gaze, or should I just end it?" "I never threw such a look at you." Salmakju Dan Seak clicked his tongue as he looked at his sister. "This is why I should have married you off. I thought a good man would come along eventually, but now there's nothing but a spinster's temper as the years pass...” "I’ll take my leave." As Dan Seowol turned to leave without hesitation, Salmakju hastily took something out. "There's news." "What kind of news?" "About your prospective match." "..." "Stop giving me that deadly look as if you're about to kill! You know, your brother is the Salmakju." "Joking is enough." Salmakju knew that one more joke would lead to a thrown knife, so he smiled bitterly and got right to the point. "News came in from Wuhan. They said it's urgent, and I thought you should see it too." News from Wuhan. If Salmakju personally handled it, it likely concerned one man only. "Is it about Kang Yoon Ho?" "It's rare for the guys below to send urgent news about Kang Yoon Ho. Let's take a look together." Even to Dan Seowol, known as the Scarlet Rakshasa, this was certainly strange. What could it possibly be that warranted an urgent message unrelated to Salmak? She took a peek at the urgent message her brother unfolded. [Hopil. Kang Yoon Ho. Engagement with Jegal Hyang, the youngest daughter of Jegal Geuk, the patriarch of the Jegal clan.] "What is this...?" "Ugh." Even for Salmakju, who'd seen many storms, this was an unexpected piece of news in the report. "This can't be. The match for my disciple is a heavenly fate!" Scarlet Rakshasa's brows furrowed deeply. Unbelievable. The idea that a prestigious family like the Jegal clan would take someone with black hair as a son-in-law was surprising enough, but Kang Yoon Ho was supposed to be her disciple's fiancé. "Oh, it’s because you still believe in this fate nonsense that you haven’t married at your age..." "Commander!" "Alright, alright! I’ll stop—please, enough with the murderous glares as if you’ll cut down your brother." "I need to see for myself." How could this be? There must be some mistake. Dan Seowol seemed ready to storm out of Salmak immediately. "What are you planning to do? Declare the wedding void and snatch the groom away?" "That's...!" It's the brother's job to calm his sister. Salmakju Dan Seak spoke with a calm voice, restraining his sister. "Given the circumstances, the Jegal clan probably recognized Hopil's talent. Honestly, I, too, want to see my sister act boldly for love, but stealing away your disciple's fiancé just doesn’t seem the right way, does it?" "This cannot be right!" "But you’re not entirely wrong." "What do you mean by that?" "They mentioned an engagement, not a wedding. The fact that they are not immediately moving to marriage means the groom has managed to secure some concession." An engagement implies permission for marriage, but there’s no wedding news yet. There must be a reason why the marriage isn’t taking place. Salmakju's judgment sharply analyzed countless scenarios from a short report. "That means..." "Fortunately, Cheonsal Seong is on a long-term mission, so let's watch the situation for now." Let's keep this secret from Cheonsal Seong for the time being. Dan Seowol had no other argument against Salmakju's suggestion. ** "The mountain stronghold was overthrown?" In the village vacated by the black-haired warriors, a crowd visited the inn where Cheon Sohee and Yukiko had stayed a while later. "Yes, two black-haired female warriors appeared out of nowhere and subdued the bandits. Thanks to them, we barely escaped what could have been a pillage!" The innkeeper recounted the event proudly to the imposing martial artists who had paid a visit. "That's impossible." The leader of the group, who seemed to be in charge, wore a cold, stern expression. "Pardon?" "That's no ordinary hideout, especially with Baek Hochae's leader Bae Il-eung. There's no way a couple of women could defeat them. Are you lying?" The position of a chief among the 72 Lulin tribes is not granted by chance. Only the strongest of the Lulin crowd, who have climbed to the top, can hold it. To be taken down by just two female warriors seemed utterly unbelievable. "No, no. It was definitely the two warriors from the Chosunin Hyangwoohoe who cleared out the bandit stronghold." An even more unbelievable story flowed from the innkeeper's mouth. "Th-the Chosunin Hyangwoohoe? Are you saying they really came from there?" In an instant, the fierce look on the man’s face changed to one of shock. "Yes, they asked us not to mistreat any Chosunin passing through the village before they left." "Could it be...? I see." Why were these fierce martial artists equally surprised? Although curious, the innkeeper knew the key to longevity was not getting intertwined with martial folks. After a simple nod, he retreated swiftly. "The Chosunin Hyangwoohoe? How could this be?" "Looks like Chief Secretary’s words were true." The Huabingang. While the newly-formed elite units were specially nurtured by the Viceroy Su, the leader of the Suppression Corps understood the situation immediately and informed his subordinates. "Do you mean that rumor?" Having let go of everything and returned as a recluse, the wise Viceroy, in an effort to awaken Huabingang’s consciousness, introduced a close aide. The pupil envied even by the great Viceroy himself—Mu Young Sin Tu. And one more. "Indeed. The Head said that he’s secretly grooming an elite and creating his own private organization." The head had formed a new faction. "Is it the Chosunin Hyangwoohoe...?!" This was the name of another group leading strikes in Wuhan and acting as the Head’s hands and feet. "Recently, I heard they recruited Samangom Jo Cheol. Could it be that they've prepared a sword to hunt down defectors of Huabingang?" "Indeed, it’s just like the Head!" The Head had personally handled the traitors. "We can’t stay idle. Even he is preparing for the future. Let’s quickly report this to Secretary Su!" To those destined to establish a great party, exhilarating news had arrived.