Chapter 178 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

Chapter 178 - The Sacheondang House - 7 The elders were in an uproar at my shocking statement. "Is there really a way to save the Young Head of the Family?" "Our Sacheondang House and the Jegal Clan couldn't find a cure. What in the world are you talking about?" "Even the great Daerin Hermit couldn't get the Young Head back on his feet!" Well, of course, the Daerin Hermit wouldn't be able to. The very idea that there's a person the Daerin Hermit could save – does such a person even exist? In martial arts fiction, the Daerin Hermit is often mentioned as an extremely capable immortal of medicine. But in truth, he's a doctor of death who could smack even the Grim Reaper back and forth across his cheeks. A medic could carelessly lay down any patient and proclaim, "Even the Daerin Hermit couldn't save this one." With that single statement, whether the patient suffered a mere scratch or indigestion, the Grim Reaper would promptly pen their name in his Death Note under today's list of souls to claim. Merely mentioning it was a death flag in the martial world. "Do you claim to be a medical saint surpassing the medicine of the Sacheondang and Jegal clans?" Obviously not. I'm neither a shaman chanting for a medical saint's possession! Oversoul! nor can I use Anti Poison, nor am I like the revered Heo Jun, who employs the Mancheonhawoo technique. But there is a way. "I heard the Young Head fell into madness from practicing poisonous arts, tricked by the schemes of the Tanggeo Gang. Although he managed to confine the poison to a corner of his body, he still hovers at death's door." "So what are you getting at?" The council of elders frowned deeply as they gazed at me, wondering what nonsense this brat was spouting. "Hwarin can cure the poison." I spoke to them with confident assurance. "What do you mean?" "On the day we fought the Tanggeo Gang, there were some among our medical team who were also poisoned and on the brink of death. Among the poisons, there was one similar to the one used on the Young Head." Truth be told, it was a bluff. It might be the same poison, or it could be completely different. But from what I had heard from the medical team, the likelihood of it being a similar type of poison was high. "What happened to the poisoned member then?" "Right before Hwarin lost consciousness, while still an incomplete Master of Poisons, she extracted all the poison from within and even healed the wounds caused by the poison." "Is that true, Leader of the Medical Team?" The First Elder asked the leader of the medical team, who was present. Just need to persuade the First Elder's faction, and it's done. But seeing as the First Elder supports the Young Head and also chairs the council of elders, it's not going to be easy. I wondered how the leader of the medical team would respond. Hwarin did cure the poison, but from the perspective of the well-versed medical team leader, there could be a different interpretation. "It is true. That child, Dang Hwarin, has cured all our members of any poison they suffered from. If she, with her absolute control over poison, were to become a full-fledged Master of Poisons, the likelihood of healing the Young Head is high." The leader of the medical team looked at me as if to ask if his response was satisfactory. I simply nodded, wearing a slight smile, without saying a word. "Such abilities in a Master of Poisons?" "The Young Head might live?" "To offer the Inmyeonji Poison Sect’s token just like that, and to think that child might not become a full-fledged Master of Poisons!" "To give up one's position as heir and create a true Master of Poisons could save the Young Head... Such an offer shouldn't be dismissed lightly, right?" "So it seems the life of many has been sacrificed for naught." "Hoho! Do these people actually understand that the Inmyeonji Poison Sect's token is not given lightly?" With the leader of the medical team's endorsement, the council of elders busily exchanged words. If Hwarin can be saved, then the Young Head may live. This was my last card, kept hidden until the very end. I could have played it from the start, but the risk was too great. If I played this card too soon, the value of the dark-haired illegitimate child meddling in the succession issues would be completely erased. What remained then was only the value of Hwarin, with little assurance she could truly become a Master of Poisons, even if she consumed the Poison Sect’s token. In the end, this was a card I could only play at the very last moment, after weighing all the cards I had as an illegitimate child, Hwarin, the morality of the orthodox faction, everything on the scale. "One last question." The council seemed to have concluded their discussion and turned to me. "Ask, please." "Do you truly promise not to covet the position of successor for Sacheondang House hereafter?" "With a legitimate successor already in place, how could an illegitimate like me pose a threat? Once my woman has recovered, I will leave Sacheondang immediately, so do not worry." In the end, they kept doubting me, even as I tried to show respect with honorific language. I don't need the position of the Young Head. I don't need a precarious position of the Young Head of the Sacheondang House, where I have to constantly fear when I might be discovered or killed. I'll become famous writing novels. With a face clear of any personal desires, I said to the council of elders. Did my words and expression finally get through? The brief moment as the council was about to reach a decision felt like an eternity. "Very well. The council agrees with the opinion of the Head of the Sacheondang House to permit the use of the Inmyeonji Poison Sect’s token on Dang Hwarin." At last, I succeeded. --------------------- Without looking back, I rushed straight to where Hwarin was sleeping, with the leader of the medical team by my side. "How is Hwarin faring?" Hwarin had been fine until just before we went before the council. But a patient's condition can change in an instant. With a heart full of anxiety, I asked the leader of the medical team, who was examining Hwarin. "The situation needs to be further assessed, but it's not too late. Your subordinates have taken good care of her." That was a relief. "Sigh. Your men have been at her side, tending to her without rest." I let out a small sigh and then settled into a chair, finally allowing myself to relax. It felt as though I had withstood a great storm with my bare body. I was happy to have survived, but it was draining, both mentally and physically. Had the situation not required checking on Hwarin's condition, one celebration of joy, and I may have collapsed right onto any bed. "Did you intend for this from the start?" After a while of observing Hwarin, the leader of the medical team asked me, glancing sideways. "As I told you on the day we met, all I need to do is protect Hwarin." I replied with a wry smile. To save Hwarin, I had used the forces of the Sacheondang House. I told this truth to the medical team leader when he visited the Daseogak. "That's right…" The leader of the medical team continued with a slightly bitter tone. "Ha ha. Are you disappointed that I'm not contending for the position of the Family Head?" Exhausted, I offered a tired jest back to the leader of the medical team. "..." The leader looked at me with a strange mix of frustration and feeling taken aback. Could it be? "Really?" "If you wanted it, I was considering supporting you." He had been prepared to that extent? It felt like a heavy blow. It was somewhat startling that someone who despised barbarians had set aside his prejudices and come to such a decision. What should I say? As I was searching for an appropriate response, I heard someone mumbling and pacing outside. "To think that I've grabbed onto a rotten rope. That I've chosen the wrong line..." The voice belonged to Tangpa, who was in a state of panic. Sorry, I've severed your rope. It looked like a two-person rope, so it probably couldn't support three. I shrugged my shoulders and spoke to the leader of the medical team. "That's never been my intention, so let that be. And please don't dismiss Tangpa. You might consider it betrayal, but without Tangpa, today, this place wouldn't exist." The prospect of Tangpa becoming the future Outer Head of the Family was now gone, but shouldn't I at least prevent him from becoming destitute out of a moral obligation? "I plan to make him work hard, but that's my intention." The leader nodded and looked disdainfully over the wall, presumably towards Tangpa. "Are we going to administer the Inmyeonji's Poison Sect token right away?" I glanced at the exquisite box the leader had set aside—the box that contained the token. With that, Hwarin could recover. "Her vital energy has been severely drained since she's been unconscious for a long duration. She shouldn't take it now." "Then what should we do?" "With my medical skills, I could create a battleground within her body by making the Yin energy of the Inmyeonji and the Yang energy of the Thousand-Year-Old Poria battle each other and annihilate themselves, but the battlefield, meaning her body, needs to be healthy first." "You mean we need to replenish Hwarin's vital energy, but how?" The medical team had taken good care of her thus far, and yet her vital energy was still depleted - was there a way? "Wait. It won't be long now." "Leader! It has been brought!" Simultaneous with the leader's words, we heard someone call from outside. "It's here. I'll stay, go and greet them." What's arrived? I nodded and headed out to the small garden outside the reception hall. ---------------- Once outside in the garden, I saw carriages loaded with luxurious boxes. "What's this?" The boxes looked familiar. Surprised, I showed a hint of recognition, and the member of the medical team, smiling broadly, opened one of the boxes and began to explain. "This is the precious Korean ginseng. We've had a hard time getting it in Sichuan Province for over a year, but we've finally secured some recently." Of course it's familiar. The contents of the box were the Korean ginseng that the rascal Kang Yoon Ho often dealt with. "Will ginseng be effective for Hwarin?" "There's hardly a more versatile panacea than ginseng. Even if we can't control the poison with Korean ginseng alone, it will play a significant role in boosting Miss Hwarin's vital energy." So it's the universal panacea of the martial arts world, Korean ginseng. It's good to see it again after a long time. I wandered around the box with a sense of unexpected pleasure, inspecting it closely. Hmm? There's something I haven't seen before? "Moyong Clan's seal is stamped on the box." The lock of the box bore the seal I had seen associated with the Moyong Clan. "You recognize it? It’s stamped with the seal of the Moyong Clan, but it is indeed Korean ginseng. The distribution of Korean ginseng faced troubled times for over a year, and supply to the Central Plains has been cut off. Recently, the Moyong Clan has taken control of one of the distribution channels for Korean ginseng and is now supplying to the orthodox factions." "So the seal serves as a guarantee of quality then?" Made in Korea. So is it like an import and quality endorsement from the Moyong Clan? "Yes, exactly. There are so many counterfeits on the market, these days only boxes with this stamp are recognized as quality Korean ginseng. There wouldn’t be a bold enough fraudster to fake the Moyong Clan’s seal. How could they even think of such a thing. Well, that explains why they would think of eating their own husband." "Um..." I was momentarily speechless at the unexpected mention of a woman's behavior that I thought would not be discussed at Sacheondang House. Did they think I wasn't aware? The member of the medical team continued to explain enthusiastically. "Have you not heard the rumors? About the Moyong Clan's poison widow." "I have." Seen it, touched it, even tasted it. "How can there be such a wicked woman? As soon as she heard that her husband was entangled in treason, without hesitation, she split his head open on their wedding night." No, she couldn't. She cried her eyes out saying she just couldn't. "It's different from what I heard in Korea. Seems like the rumors are a bit exaggerated." "Is that so? I guess it's to be expected for stories to be twisted or exaggerated traveling almost ten thousand li by foot from Sichuan to Liaodong. It always did seem a bit strange. There were even rumors saying men are so quick to get their heads split open by her without realizing, charmed by the poison widow's appearance. Does that even make sense? Rumors say the poison widow is the most beautiful woman in martial arts, with the looks of a fairy descended from the heavens. The distance must be adding some absurd exaggerations." "That's not an exaggeration." "What?" "Ahaha. No, it's not." I smiled awkwardly and pretended not to hear. Even if a blonde girl were to come out and be subject to debate, for now, in these settings, she is indeed the unparalleled beauty of the martial world. "Anyway, that poison widow has taken control of the ginseng distribution from Korea, so the Korean ginseng supply, which had been unstable for a while, is now flowing again. Until recently, we couldn't even see Korean ginseng in Sichuan Province, but now we've managed to get it through the Moyong Clan." "Does the Moyong Clan have a branch in Sichuan Province?" I asked, slightly tense, trying to conceal my concern. Surely not. The Moyong Clan would be trouble. "No, as far as I know, we communicate through several messenger agencies and merchant groups. Anyway, with this, Miss Hwarin should regain her consciousness. I'll take the ginseng to the Leader of the Medical Team first." "Thank you. I'll leave it in your hands." I watched the medical team member carry the ginseng away and, instead of following immediately, I stood for a moment looking at the ginseng boxes. 'She's living well.' I thought of a woman far away in Liaodong Province. Perhaps by now, she'd forgotten about me and was busily hunting down members of the Demon Sect. She did seem to be living vigorously. In the original story, she leeched off some of Kang Yoon Ho's fortune, but she didn't take control of any part of the ginseng distribution rights. Was it that in these nearly two years, through the documents I handed over that night, she had seized a portion of the ginseng distribution rights that Kang's family owned? 'It's a strange fate.' My decision that day and her efforts until now had reached Hwarin. With the Korean ginseng, Hwarin's chances of recovery had increased. It looks like my choice that night was the right one. Pleased, I allowed myself a satisfied smile before returning to Hwarin. ----------------- After taking the Korean ginseng for several days, a hint of color began to return to Hwarin's pale face. Indeed, it's the budget-friendly panacea responsible for Korea's foreign exchange earnings! Only the highest quality Korean ginseng. "She'll wake up within a few days." The Leader of the Medical Team relayed the news to me with a relieved expression. "You've done well." "..." The Leader of the Medical Team stared intently at me, observing my gaze as I examined Hwarin's complexion. Why is he looking at me like that? "Is something the matter? Do you have something to say?" As I looked at the Leader, a worrying look seemed out of place on his face. Why the unease? "There is something you too must now be aware of." The Leader began to share news I wasn't particularly eager to hear.