741 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

The Barbarian Writer of Martial Arts Love Comedy Chapter 741 > North Rabbit - Web Novel Archive "Have you heard about the heirloom of the Jineombang?" "If it's their heirloom, are you talking about Ban Hwa Baek's painting?" "I heard that painting got stolen." "What?!" Ban Hwa Baek's painting is more than just a family heirloom; it can be considered a treasure. Naturally, news of its disappearance spread like wildfire. "There weren't any signs of a break-in. It's like the painting flew into the sky or sank into the ground. It vanished overnight." "My word! Just one of those paintings could let someone live in luxury for life. Who on earth could've stolen it?" "If they knew that, would the head of Jineombang be bedridden with shock?" "Tsk tsk. The thief must have found their fortune." In a world where even a single precious jade ring is irretrievable if stolen, losing such a rare and valuable artwork is unimaginable. The head of Jineombang is likely to remain in shock for a while, and someone's treasure trove will undoubtedly be replenished. Everyone who hears the news clicks their tongues, shaking their heads disapprovingly. "Hmph. Until they heard about a certain man, that is." "What's this about a man?" "Apparently, the head of Jineombang heard rumors about a famous man in the market and went to see him personally." "Could it be...?" A certain man flickered through the minds of those who heard the news. A novel that everyone has read recently—Jegal Seolok—based on a real man. "That's right. The Black-Haired Detective! I heard Kang Yun Ho found the culprit and even retrieved the stolen goods himself!" "What in the world!!! From Ho Mountain Pharmacy to Jineombang?" "There's also the ship murder case!" How many cases has he solved in just a few days? It's beyond astonishing—it's absolutely shocking. "Could it be that Jegal Seolok is not just a simple novel...?" Solving something once might be luck. Twice could be a coincidence. But the third time, it's true skill. And he solved the third case not in the infinite but in the city. As Jegal Seolok's unprecedented success continues, so does the fame of Kang Yun Ho. "These days, there are so many people lurking around ManGeumJeonJang just to catch a glimpse of the Black-Haired Detective!" The Black-Haired Detective's fame only continues to grow. ** Imagine an unexpected car accident one day. Even if the driver believes they were driving slowly, a vehicle weighing over a ton can easily kill a pedestrian. In other words, when mass and speed combine, a person can be overwhelmingly powerless. Similarly, imagine an elephant charging at you, believing you stole its entire fortune. What would happen if you had to endure that impact with your entire body? "Once again, today, it's me!" Kang Yun Ho. Age 23. He had become a rocket-man soaring through the sky. For reference, 23 is the Korean age, as the concept of Western age was introduced in modern times. Is this what it feels like to race through a clear sky? After a momentary thought, he slid through the air and rolled on the ground. In an instant, another attack could come, but he casually brushed off the dust and looked straight ahead. "Grrr!" "Ga Young! Pull yourself together!" The elephant charging at him was Ga Young. Drawn by the scent of his blood, Ga Young, losing her reason and running amok, had become a somewhat noisy morning routine. "Grrrrrr!" "I'll hold her, so quickly, give her the medicine!" The Si Wang Elder swiftly restrained Ga Young and urgently called out to him. "Could you please wait for a moment?" "Wait, you say?" Under normal circumstances, he would have given her blood mixed with the medicine, but today, he wanted to try something new. As usual, he faced Ga Young, her reason lost and glaring at him, spread his palm, and pointed downward as he shouted. "Ga Young, sit!" "Grrk?" "Sit! If you don't sit, you won't get any food!" "Grrrr." Good. She sits, as expected. It went as predicted. Having learned that complying with the command to sit loosens the restraints, she did as told. Now, to move on to the next step. He cautiously extended his hand toward Ga Young, infusing his voice with his energy. [Good. Ga Young, give me your paw.] "What are you doing, talking to someone who's lost their reason because of the scent of blood?" Si Wang Elder, I know it's exasperating, but please, just wait a moment. 'Sit' was a command to wait, while 'give me your paw' meant to break down her vigilance. He could make her obey through his energy, but could he ease her instinctive aggression? Slowly, he extended his hand toward Ga Young, who could bare her teeth at any moment. "Grrr." Her clawed hand cautiously layered on top of his palm. The wariness remained, but the aggression had significantly diminished. "What in the world...?" [That's right. Good girl.] "Grrring." He gently patted Ga Young's head. Her ragged breath calmed, and the murderous glint in her eyes disappeared. She seemed entirely focused on the sensation at his fingertips. "What... what did you do?" "I had a dog when I was younger." Whenever neighborhood dogs saw me, their tails would turn into propellers. They used to call me the dog trainer, as every dog that went through my hands became an exemplary pet. As a child, I even received plenty of snack money from neighbors to train dogs. "A dog?" "I wondered if a reward-based approach could work for someone who's lost their reason. Turns out, it's more effective than I thought." Ga Young's spirit is growing. Even though she lost her reason, I figured that she could follow commands if taught, and my guess was right. "Haha." "Don't be too impressed. With a trainer as skilled as I am, achieving this is pretty straightforward. Now, I'll give her the medicine." Just as he attempted to restrain his rising grin and was about to administer the medicine to Ga Young. "Grrk!" "Uh, Elder!" He immediately recoiled in surprise. Maybe the training wasn't enough. Ga Young, you shouldn't bare your teeth at a defenseless man. "I'll keep her subdued, so give her the medicine." ——— "Oof. My body aches." As the tension eased, the aftermath of his aerial spree hit his body immediately. "Instead of risking injury with clumsy attempts, why not just administer the energy calmly?" the Si Wang Elder suggested, looking at Ga Young who had now fallen asleep after her meal. "One never knows what may happen. I might have to take a long journey, or you might have to step away, Elder. We must prepare for those times." "That... makes sense indeed." "Ga Young recognizes me as her master. She won't randomly harm me, so if I train her, she will instinctively comply." While a rational Ga Young is a loyal personal maid, she's different when her reason is lost. She harbors the potential to become a bloodthirsty demon any moment. So, until her spirit fully matures, he had to learn how to handle her in the absence of reason. “I’ve seen Open Faction practitioners wielding cudgels to handle dogs,” the Elder remarked. “It’s usually better to manage with rewards and punishments.” “….” Si Wang Elder's brows furrowed. "Elder, I understand your concerns. However, my voice infused with energy works as a kind of leash, so I only need to manage enough to withstand Ga Young's actions." He could see why the Si Wang Elder reacted skeptically. Given that the Open Faction's Tagubong technique started as a way to treat dogs, it's natural to feel uneasy if you've witnessed the brutality of it. But Elder, those tales don't concern me. I'll use blood and voice as substitutes for rewards and punishments. "If you can master the Jade Mask Protective Technique, it's possible." Of course, there was a way, but it wasn't without its issues. "It was only a problem because I was flung into the air; the injuries aren't serious. However..." "You're still inexperienced." "My energy consumption is too high, isn't it? At best, I can manage two or three uses with what I have." The new Jade Mask Protective Technique is something akin to being divided into active and passive skills. The base defense is always elevated, but when energy is channeled, it allows one to barely endure a full-bodied charge during a dive. The severe energy drain is the crux of the problem. "Originally, it’s a technique permitted to the heirs of the household." "Well, I suppose I'll have to look for some miracle elixirs to remedy that." My internal energy is at best second-rate, perhaps a bit below average. In contrast, heirs are usually at least first-rate, so feeling the lack of internal energy is natural. "Is there a need for such a thing?" Si Wang Elder sneered at my complaining, much like a seasoned martial artist viewing a novice fixated on the wrong approach. "Sorry?" "The reason why you lost half your energy using the Jade Mask Protective Technique was because you channeled it throughout your body to block Ga Young's charge." "Well, with a tiger rushing at you, wouldn't you automatically do that?" Elder, you haven't seen Ga Young when she's serious. The impact was like being hit by a cannon shell. Seeing my puzzled expression, Si Wang Elder took a few steps back and gestured. "Come at me with everything you've got." "Like how Ga Young charges?" "I won’t use any internal energy. Give it your all." Having learned the Shadow Technique, if I charged at full speed, I might catch even Si Wang Elder off guard. "I'll give it a try. …Huh?" A fleeting hubris was abruptly flipped on its head. "Does it seem like I used any significant force?" "What on earth…?" Indeed, I didn't sense any internal energy. I thought I was running straight, but like a train on rails, I bypassed Si Wang Elder, naturally veering away. "No matter how strong, if you meet a rain of rising blades head-on, wouldn't you be pierced through even if you had an iron body? Merely deflecting the direction of force can let you evade the rain." "I'm aware of the concept of deflecting force, but isn't the difference too striking? It seems quite dangerous." Because trying to confront the force head-on would result in being thrown off. I understand the theory, but we're dealing with a tiger here. Starting from a disadvantageous position, not giving your all could make you prey in a moment's miscalculation. "The Jade Mask Protective Technique exists for just that purpose." The Elder offered an incredibly straightforward solution to my concern. "Pardon?" "It's an external technique developed to counter weaponry. It was crafted to address unfavorable battles from the onset." "Indeed…" "The Jade Mask Protective Technique is not armor but a martial art. Minor mistakes will be absorbed by the technique. What you need to do is reinforce and protect only the minimal areas with energy, and with that momentum, overpower your opponent." Humans can’t beat weapon wielders barehanded. Yet, there’s a clan that made the impossible possible and rose as the top martial sect of Ho Nam province. Jade Mask Protective Technique. An external qi technique that turns bare hands and fists into both shield and weapon. It’s a martial art refined over a lifetime by the Five Lords of the Inner Plains. Though my stage is foundational, the martial art I possess is such that it can be deemed unique and unparalleled. "Against a charging force, you say." "The movements of a child who’s lost reason are no different from those of a beast. So learn it." Footprints pressed into the earth. Where should I brace to endure the attack? How much distance should I move? Where should my weight shift? "Elder." "So, are you afraid?" The martial artist before me is called one of the Five Lords of the Inner Plains, and the martial art I grasp was perfected by them over a lifetime. And before me lies the path the Si Wang Elder has walked. "Mal Hak humbly seeks to learn." "Very well. Come." It was a golden opportunity.