701 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

"It's quite the good job! Truly remarkable!!!" In the Jin family of Ak-Yang, a middle-aged head of the family roared towards his son, who looked all but innocent as he faced his father's anger. "Father!" "I told you to threaten him just enough so he wouldn't try any more tricks. And yet you couldn't even manage that one task!" "When that black-haired barbarian scorned me...!" The young master naturally recalled the confident smile of Kang Yoon-ho. Why hadn't he struck once more? How could the proud young master of the Jin family be mocked by a mere barbarian? The humiliation and injustice of it felt like an itch he couldn't scratch. His hands trembled in agitation. "So, you're saying you couldn't stand it when the barbarian acted as if he were better than you?" "How could it be right? A black-haired boy as an heir!" "The head of Mankeumjeon must have lost his mind. It's typical at that age to start going senile. Is that why you came back with your tail between your legs?" "I showed him some backbone too!" Young master Jin puffed out his chest and boasted about asserting the might of the Jin family, yet all it did was elicit a sigh from his father. "The way you showed backbone has driven all the merchants in Ak-Yang's market toward Mankeumjeon." "I swung alright, but he just happened to dodge by coincidence." The boastful shoulders of the young master drooped considerably. "At such times, you should've shown your resolve by going as far as to cut off an arm!" "Really?" The arm of Mankeumjeon's heir? Could he really do that? Shocked at the suggestion, the young master sought confirmation, causing even his father's eyes to shake. "W-W-What I mean is, in theory! Your inability to handle matters properly is what's jeopardizing our place in Ak-Yang!" "Our opponent is Mankeumjeon!" "Because it's Mankeumjeon. Do you think you should offer your money, your women, or even your family to them? Never. Enough! I, your father, will show you how it's done." Is this what it takes to properly educate an heir? The father, exasperated by his son's antics, resolved to demonstrate through his own actions. "How will you do that?" "My son." "Yes, father." "From your grandfather's days till now, countless families have challenged the authority of our Jin family. Yet even when you lose control of your youthful vigor here in Ak-Yang, no one speaks against you. Do you know why that is?" "What is the reason?" The reason they silently shed tears even if his son mistreats women, and why merchants utter not a word against the Jin family's money-lending practices. Why no one dares challenge the Jin family. "Because when it's time to demonstrate our power, we never hesitate. Steward!" Because they unsheath their swords guided by profit, not by moral justification. "Yes, master." "When that fellow comes with his escorts, make sure he enters the inner courtyard alone." If the heir of Mankeumjeon isn't a fool, he'll surely come with escorts. But no matter. He has already nodded to poking his head into the lion's den. "There might be resistance." "Heh. It's merely a meal invitation. Why would armed escorts be necessary?" The Jin family's fortitude lay in their political might mixed with a smattering of preposterous rationale accompanied by brute force. "And the meal, as usual, will include deploying our family's martial escorts." "Wouldn't it be amusing if the black-haired barbarian has never even seen proper swordplay? We ought to display the Jin family's sword dance." A sinister smile spread across the master's face—one uncharacteristic for one known as a leader in morality. "I'll make the preparations." The steward turned to resolve business as usual. "Even though Mankeumjeon may be wealthy merchants, with mere financial dealings, they'll become acutely aware of the difference in strength between our martial family and theirs!" Even Mankeumjeon's heir would find himself trembling before the Jin family's sword dance, much like those who previously dared challenge the family's prestige. Jin family’s head proclaimed with bravado. A short while later. "May I come in?" "Ah, um, er, w-well, that is…" "You wouldn't dare turn away an unforeseen guest now that you're the Jin family." Even the Jin family's might had to reckon with a force of nature beyond their control. *** "Drink." Within the inner courtyard of the Jin family, Si Wang Elderen, as if a generous CEO rewarding his top-performing new hire, handed me a liquor bottle. "Thank you, I’ll drink it with gratitude." On an empty stomach, but no snacks were necessary. *Gulp, Gulp, Cough!* From the table, the sight of the garden was unobstructed, where all the Jin family warriors were bowing their heads. "Tsk. It seems there are plenty of low-standard warriors in the Jin family." "Isn't it a minor clan from Hunan?" Entering the inner courtyard without one's entourage. While they themselves were armed and ready? It's downright absurd. "Si, Si, Si Wang visiting our Jin family like this… I’ve personally brought a cherished 50-year ginseng liquor. Please have a drink." The head of the Jin family trembled in fear, much like a corrupt official shocked by an inspector’s surprise visit, trembling hands extending the bottle. "Who said I wanted a drink of your liquor?" "I-I-I’m sorry!!! Huh?" As soon as Si Wang Elderen frowned, the family head was so startled he dropped the bottle. What a waste. I swiftly moved to catch the falling bottle. "Allow me to pour you a drink. It's hard to believe such a reputed family's liquor tastes this terrible." "As if those who were brandishing swords were ever truly planning to welcome guests." Si Wang Elderen’s gaze drifted over to the warriors strewn about the garden. *Gulp... Gulp... Cough!* Some warriors collapsed as if overwhelmed by the mere act of breathing, clutching their chests in shock, even foaming at the mouth. Could this be the sheer presence of Si Wang Elderen's aura? Having experienced it once myself, it felt like a tiger was grasping my heart. Well, such are experiences one must regard with reverence. When you almost meet your end at the hands of distinguished families like Moyong, Danga, Jegal, and Eonga in turn, you tend to come to your senses eventually. "May I inquire? The relationship between you two, what is it?" "And what do you think it is?" I replied nonchalantly, not even bothering to meet the gaze of the family head, as I engaged in an unruffled toast with Si Wang Elderen. The sound of the Jin family head's mind whirling was audible. "You're not even worth my concern." The open disregard and contempt on my face surely left them wondering. The family head, looking like he had made up his mind, opened his mouth with a grievously wronged expression. "Even if you are Si Wang, such actions are still unacceptable! In the last political war, it was our Jin family who stepped forward for the safety of Ak-Yang! Now, you involve yourself in a mere scuffle over interests?" He implied Si Wang should stay out of it. As if asking why an elder would interfere in a commotion among children, they twisted their own wrongdoing into something grand, pretending that a senior of the martial world was meddling in a petty turf war. It was the sly cunning typical of those foxes who scheme in the shadows. Nonetheless... "Once, those who ran like cowards at the mere whisper of the 'Unorthodox Sect' now claim they acted out of some great sense of justice, fifty years later. Shameless." But no matter how the fox schemed, he was up against a tiger he could never best. "W-What do you mean by that...?" "Sounds like a juicy tale for the table." "One day, a certain head came asking about the affairs of the Orthodox and Unorthodox. A disciple of the Hengshan sect, no less." "Seems they liked digging shafts and concocting schemes behind the scenes even back then." No wonder they were dismissed as insignificant. It's telling they were unusually vicious for a supposed Orthodox lineage because of their lack of roots. "Hmph." Si Wang Elderen seemed amused by the tales of a bygone era, sipping his drink with satisfaction. "Strong Mind (Kang Gongja)! You come here under the guise of a dinner invitation to insult your host!" Of course, the family head wouldn't be nearly as amused, hearing slander against his ancestors. "It seems the Jin family's meals involve using swords and spears instead of spoon and chopsticks." If they wished to posture, they should first remove the scattered weapons. "We merely prepared large knives and forks for a Western-style arrangement." "...Must have been quite a substantial dish." Even I was taken aback by their sheer audacity. "Kang Gongja. It seems we have a simple misunderstanding between us." The head of the Jin family, realizing his approach was wrong, now spoke almost pleadingly to me. "A misunderstanding, you say." "Why not clear this tense atmosphere, and talk honestly next time? Surely, this isn't an issue worth such trouble." He attempted to coax and placate. Let’s step back for now. Aren't our emotions too heated? There must be some major misunderstanding. Let's gather our thoughts and meet again. When the head of the Jin family speaks, who in Ak-Yang could refuse? However. Saying it's an unfavorable situation now, and asking to fight properly next time, do you think I’ll retreat? I advance instead. "You call it a mere misunderstanding when my friend's blood-soaked writings, which I risked my life to protect, were tossed into a muck heap?" I strengthen my justification for today. This isn't just some petty power struggle. It's about insulting a man's life-risking value. While one side dismisses it as youthful folly, the other cannot retreat from the gravity of the situation. "No, that is..." What will you say now? I offer vicious choices. Claiming it's a misunderstanding. As soon as you do, the mastermind will be revealed. It's an attempt to evade responsibility, and the Jin family cannot escape blame. Naturally, Si Wang Elderen right here will linger in your thoughts. Should you apologize? How could you apologize to a young black-haired whelp? Even an apology poses problems. Today's invitation was all about addressing the issue with Yanwang Tea. An apology would strip you of all justification regarding Yanwang Tea. They are at an impasse, unable to proceed with any decision. The head of the family couldn't decide, his face changing by the moment, but ultimately, it mattered not. "Like father, like son." The one making decisions wasn't the head of the Jin family. I also gave a wry smile at Si Wang Elderen's comment. "Even when given a chance, it seems they fail to seize it." "Come in." At Si Wang Elderen's words, as if on cue, martial artists burst in with fierce momentum. "Did you call for us?!" "Why are the warriors from the Eon family here?!" The Jin family’s head looked bewildered by the sudden entrance of Eon family warriors, but it didn't matter. "Break things moderately." Because the train had already left the station. All that remained now was to accept the outcome. —— The warriors of the Eon family are generally quite robust. To put it nicely, they appeared manly, and to describe it plainly, it felt like a group of bears or wild boars roamed the place. With bodies large enough that just brushing against their shoulders could mean more than a few broken ribs, they charged at the building’s pillars. "Hahaha! Over it goes!" *Crack!* A sound that shouldn’t emerge from anything other than a tree branch came from a building pillar. "Run!" "Wow. They must have sucked merchants dry, judging by how solid these pillars are." "Move aside! These thick columns seem perfect for practicing palm strikes!" *Boom!* Like bears marking trees, the pillars crumbled in chunks. The destruction of the Jin family’s exterior happened in an instant. "What… what is this madness!!!" It seemed like they’d been bombarded. The Jin family head cried out in a hollow voice as he surveyed the chaos of the wrecked courtyard. "Haha! Can't you see what's happening?" The Eon family warrior, looking as if he was thoroughly enjoying himself, sweating for the first time in ages, laughed and responded. "We may have caused Kang Gongja some disrespect! But isn't this conduct unbecoming of martial principles?!" "Did you think it'd end easily after drawing swords against a guest of the Eon family?" "A guest of the Eon family?" The family head's eyes turned to me. Yes, I'm a guest of the Eon family. You didn't know it, but that's the truth. "Pretend ignorance." "W-We had no idea!" "Whether you knew or not is irrelevant. What’s crucial is realizing that had I erred today, I might not be among the living." Rather than debate the truth, I opted to escalate the issue. I placed my drink down, staring at the Jin family head. "I heard it was not to the death." "Unless no merchants have died by the Jin family’s careless blades, then you may say that." "…" A merchant can die by a blade wielded playfully. Though I remain unscathed, nonetheless, for the crime of threatening the life of a guest of the Eon family—accept your punishment. "Here it comes." I pulled out a document from my pocket. "What is that?" "As of this moment, all of Jin family's Yanwang Tea securities will be transferred to Mankeumjeon. In return, Mankeumjeon agrees to ensure the principal is preserved, as per this contract." "What?!" "Why so surprised? Mankeumjeon intends to alleviate the suffering of Ak-Yang's merchants from exorbitant loan interests. Even as part of the Orthodox, shouldn't the Jin family assist in this effort?" Go ahead and run your enterprises or live off tenant farming as you wish. We won't interfere. But stay out of our business. It was a blatant command to depart. "Do you think such vile actions will be tolerated?" The Jin family head's face hardened dangerously. "Given the extortion of Ak-Yang's merchants, it seems you're in no position to talk." "Very well! Let's see what you can do! You might be seeking a petty revenge under Si Wang's might, but do you think Hengshan Sect will stand by idly after this?" "Hengshan Sect..." "Si Wang! You may be a guest of the esteemed Eon family, but my sect will not overlook this incident!" His eyes were nearly bulging out in rage. The Jin family head, as if he had nothing left to lose, raised his voice even to Si Wang Elderen. Unable to make use of Yanwang Tea and already thoroughly humiliated, he would want to rally any means at his disposal to attempt a reversal. "I think you're under a grave misapprehension. I'm not here seeking revenge. In fact, I'm diligently working to salvage the situation for the Jin family, a pivotal pillar of the Ak-Yang Orthodoxy." This was the perfect moment to deliver the words with a business-like smile. "What nonsense are you spouting...!" "If you don't believe me, I'll open the door for you. Send someone to the Hengshan Sect right now." To let them realize that nothing they attempted would change the situation. "What?" The Hengshan Sect. Even if their power had waned, they were once part of the Nine Gates. If they overtly took issue with the Eon family, even Si Wang Elderen would face difficulty. If they had only one form of backing, that is. "In the meantime, I will visit my in-laws and inform them that the Jin family tried to claim my life." I took out something jade-colored from my robe. An object no warrior in the martial world should fail to recognize. A thing one needed to recognize if they wished to survive. TGloWlBtWUkwZWhUWHNtSC9RL1BOZ2N6Wng4VHVuTmRRS2UvbmExTGcrRXlacUQ1YVhlS2dYWit0ZUNZN3lyKw "Th-That's?! Th-The... Jegal family's jade token?" "Apologies for the late introduction." Feeling quite pleased under the influence of the liquor, I sauntered forward. "......" The stunned Jin family head. The young master of the Jin family hiding in a corner. And the warriors finally gathering their senses to look my way. I made no attempt to conceal the Jegal family's jade token dangling from my wrist as I introduced myself. "Successor of Mankeumjeon and son-in-law to Jegal Geuk, the head of the Jegal family. Kang Yoon-ho." "No, this is... what...?" Do you realize now who you've provoked? Do you understand who you recklessly swung your swords at? "Would you truly like to try facing this black-haired Kang Yoon-ho?" With those words, I had said enough.