Chapter 365 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

During Two Moons - Chapter 5 "They've probably started by now." The moon hung high in the sky. It was time for the Hao-moon gathering. Im Ha-yeon watched the moonlight streaming through the living room window, unable to hide the tremble in her eyes. "Ha-yeon Unni, I've done everything Kang Gongja mentioned." Arriving with a weary expression, Jegal Hyang slumped into a chair in the living room. "Great job. Would you like a cup of tea?" Im Ha-yeon brushed off her anxious look, along with the flour on her hands, as she spoke. "What were you doing, Unni?" Jegal Hyang asked, managing only a slight head turn at the unfamiliar sight of Im Ha-yeon. "I was making kimchi dumplings." Im Ha-yeon confessed, turning her gaze away shyly, focusing on the wooden board. "Dumplings?" "So that when he returns safely, we can eat them together." On the wooden board, quite appetizing kimchi dumplings were neatly arranged. "Kang Gongja likes dumplings?" "Not exactly that he likes them..." Im Ha-yeon shook her head quietly, her gaze lingering on the dumplings as memories seemed to engulf her. "...?" "It was the first food he ever bought me." The man who saved her life from a near-death crisis. He was the same man who had worried over her during her time as a runaway courtesan with nothing to eat, offering her the kimchi dumplings. Im Ha-yeon was kneading memories with Kang Yun Ho. "Oh..." "Isn't it amusing when you think about it? Kimchi dumplings, born in the Central Plains and made in Joseon, just like him." The food he once gave her. Dumplings resembling him. Im Ha-yeon crafted another dumpling, lost in the memories. Why kimchi dumplings? Dumplings are from the Central Plains and kimchi from Joseon. Does it have a deeper meaning? She couldn't say it to him, but having received such kindness for the first time in her life, she often pondered over the meaning of that single dumpling. He might have just been concerned about the daughter of his sworn brother, but little by little, like a cat warming up to kindness, she was opening her heart to him. 'Though I opened it too much and made a fool of myself.' Assigning too much meaning to trivial things, hurting over insignificant matters. Her chest would tremble at the sight of him, clinging to her pride, feeling inadequate and suffering. Every moment with him had completely transformed her. Having never cooked in her life, here she was, crafting memories with the hope for a man's safe return. Just as he had given her kimchi dumplings wishing for her safety, now she hoped he would return safely and share a meal with her. "...Actually, it was a dish created by our ancestors." Im Ha-yeon snapped out of her memories, lifting her head to the uncharacteristically grumpy tone of Jegal Hyang. Perhaps Jegal Hyang was a bit displeased, not entirely understanding why Im Ha-yeon cherished that particular memory with Kang Yun Ho. "Are you upset with me for saying that?" Im Ha-yeon reassured the sulking Jegal Hyang with a gentle smile, but Jegal Hyang still had something to say. "I am actually feeling a bit left out." Jegal Hyang stood up, bowing her head slightly as she spoke. "Miss Jegal?" "Kang Gongja only seems to pay attention to Ha-yeon Unni lately, and it feels like you two are getting along so well. Meanwhile, I remain in the same place, and it feels like he doesn't notice me as much. I look forward to it when Kang Gongja praises my drawings, but then he goes off to spend time with only Ha-yeon Unni, which makes me feel left out. I know I must sound terribly selfish, especially when Unni is facing a crisis. Argh, I just don't know anymore." Even Jegal Hyang had her concerns about romantic pursuits. She tried to hold back for Ha-yeon Unni's sake, but she couldn't help feeling uneasy as the relationship between the two deepened. It was just her considerate nature that made it difficult for her to express her feelings, so she bottled them up inside. That bottled-up emotion now spilled out with Im Ha-yeon's account of shared memories. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize how much it affected you." Im Ha-yeon, too, felt remorseful for Jegal Hyang's sacrifice, so she immediately bowed her head in apology. "It's not easy to talk about it. I just don't want to be disappointed by Kang Gongja..." Wanting to be loved. Fearing rejection. For Jegal Hyang, who already found human relationships challenging, a romantic relationship with someone she liked was even more difficult. "....." Jegal Hyang's whispered words left Im Ha-yeon momentarily speechless. "I'm sorry, Unni." Feeling guilty for awkwardly unloading her emotional burden, Jegal Hyang bowed her head to Im Ha-yeon. "It's okay. It means you feel comfortable enough around me to talk about it." "Unni..." Moved by Im Ha-yeon's understanding expression, Jegal Hyang muttered. How can I console her? After some contemplation, Im Ha-yeon spoke up. "Alright. After this is over, I'll let you have Kang Gongja's attention exclusively for a while." "Really?" Joy spread across Jegal Hyang's face. Im Ha-yeon nodded with a hidden smile at the sight. "I promise. Come here and help me make dumplings. Let's make them together and earn his praise together." It was Jegal Hyang who proposed forming an alliance. She had led first, and now it was time to pull her sister along. Im Ha-yeon gently dusted Jegal Hyang’s hands with flour and spoke. "Heehee. Yes, Unni!" "They say in Joseon if you make dumplings beautifully, you will have beautiful children. They even hold bride contests for pretty dumpling-making, you know." If only he could return safely today, everything else would come together smoothly. She could dream of a future with him, beyond being a runaway courtesan. "Do you think Kang Gongja will be okay?" Jegal Hyang asked Im Ha-yeon with a worried look. "Once we finish making all these dumplings, we can fold origami cranes." Im Ha-yeon responded with a nod and a smile, suppressing the anxiety in her heart. "Should we also pray to Buddha?" "Let's do everything we can." Dumplings, origami cranes, prayers—anything would do. If he safely returned today, Im Ha-yeon thought she could pray to anyone. She, along with Jegal Hyang, wished fervently for Kang Yun Ho's safe return. --- "It's late." Gi-mun Hyang-ju, the host of the gathering and master of Gi-ru, addressed someone nobody welcomed with a single remark. "I had a lot to prepare. Gi-mun Hyang-ju seems even prettier since last I saw her." Do-mun Hyang-ju gazed intensely at me from behind the bamboo blinds as if ready to pounce, then offered a sly grin and greeted Gi-mun Hyang-ju. "Just take a seat." Gi-mun Hyang-ju gestured with her pipe to the only empty chair among the five available. Positioned diagonally across from me in the farthest spot—a deliberate arrangement by Gi-mun Hyang-ju. "Is that really my spot? I was hoping to socialize with some new faces." Do-mun Hyang-ju glanced slyly at Si-mun Hyang-ju, who was seated in front of me. "You know, I've gained some belly weight, so it’s hard for me to get up once I sit down." Si-mun Hyang-ju matched Do-mun Hyang-ju's playful slyness, patting her belly for effect. "Tsk, tsk. We can forgive Si-mun Hyang-ju, but why is our newcomer so glued to their seat? Shouldn't they move when a senior arrives?" Do-mun Hyang-ju strode towards my seat, seemingly ready to tear down the bamboo blinds blocking my view. Can’t they just sit down, give a token speech, and leave, like some relative trying to act superior at family gatherings without even offering a red envelope? It's troublesome. Do-mun Hyang-ju arrived with six warriors, despite only being allowed two bodyguards inside as the Hyang-ju’s escort. “Are the warriors around Gi-ru all under Do-mun Hyang-ju’s command?” I glanced past Do-mun Hyang-ju at Gi-mun Hyang-ju, who quietly tapped her pipe twice against the ashtray. I see. She's brought them with intentions for a fight if necessary. If I could just stall until dawn, we might stand a chance. But it seems Do-mun Hyang-ju plans to make a move sooner rather than later. "Do-mun Hyang-ju, please, let me guide you to your seat." Fortunately, an ally appeared to buy us some time. One of Gi-ru's warriors stepped in front of Do-mun Hyang-ju, gesturing politely towards a seat. "Hm?" "If you sit, we'll bring the refreshments right awa—urk!" The hand of the warrior, who had just gestured towards the empty seat, now lay severed on the floor. "Do-mun Hyang-ju!" "Who dares to obstruct the path of the assembly's elder? Gi-mun Hyang-ju, have you been busy grooming your face lately?" Is he out of his mind? Do-mun Hyang-ju calmly wiped his dagger, the very one he used to sever the warrior's arm, acting as if nothing was wrong. "What is the meaning of this?" Gi-mun Hyang-ju questioned, unable to hide her anger. "Oh, just helping out Gi-mun Hyang-ju with some teaching. Don't frown; it might cause wrinkles. Hey! Everyone knows that if you dare block the path of an assembly elder, you better be ready to lose a limb!" Do-mun Hyang-ju shrugged nonchalantly, mocking the room. "We understand!" Total chaos. Though the warrior from Do-mun obediently answered robustly, it couldn't warm the rapidly chilling atmosphere. Tension filled the room. Is this the start of an inner conflict? Among the tense gathering, Do-mun Hyang-ju approached the bamboo blinds with light steps. "Let’s see the new face of Hao-moon. I'm quite looking forward to it." The grip of the warriors tightened on their sword handles. It seemed they were prepared for a skirmish at the slightest provocation. With anticipation akin to a groom unveiling his bride at a wedding, Do-mun Hyang-ju excitedly rubbed his palms together, then lifted the bamboo blinds. Do-mun Hyang-ju expected to find someone to confirm before ordering the swords to be drawn. "...Black hair?" If it had been Im Ha-yeon instead of me, perhaps. As the bamboo blinds were raised, Do-mun Hyang-ju's sharp, predatory gaze became more discernible, even as it wavered upon encountering the unexpected. The Do-mun followers were all thrown off by this. Although Do-mun Hyang-ju's expression showed little change beyond his eyes, the surprise was visible in the reactions of his warriors. "I came to offer congratulations to the new Two-moon Hyang-ju, but the manner of celebration seems rather rough." There's no need to submit to the rude. I retorted to Do-mun Hyang-ju in a relaxed tone. "Despite being trained among those thugs, I do value manners quite a bit. I’m not one to easily forgive rudeness." At Do-mun Hyang-ju's slight gesture, his warriors released their grips from their weapons. "I was beginning to think you had no intention of meeting after the other Hyang-jus already exchanged greetings," I continued. Does someone who values manners show up late to an event anyway? Are they really hoping for a bow after arriving late and instigating such a mood? I'm baffled, to say the least. I subtly critiqued him. "Oh? Really? Did everyone exchange greetings already?" "Today's gathering was scheduled until midnight." Ma-mun Hyang-ju nodded and took a sip from a small cup. "I wasn't aware. Haha! I was wondering why our junior here didn't rush to greet me. Guess it's all my fault! My mistake for not arriving on time! Hey, who was in charge of today's schedule?" Though I was the one wearing a mask, the grin on Do-mun Hyang-ju's face felt more like a mask than my own as he queried his subordinate. "I-I-it was me." One of Do-mun Hyang-ju’s subordinates stuttered, forcibly stepping forward, visibly trembling. "It was you? I see." Once more, Do-mun Hyang-ju's sword slashed through the air. "Aagh!" Another arm fell to the floor for the second time that day. "Do-mun Hyang-ju!" "Seems my subordinate was a bit rude." Do-mun Hyang-ju shrugged, eyeing the gathering of Hyang-jus. "What is the meaning of this during a welcoming ceremony!" Ignoring Gi-mun Hyang-ju's outcry, Do-mun Hyang-ju waved the severed arm in front of me. "That's why I prepared a welcoming gift. There you go. Is it a welcoming present, or perhaps an apology gift? Do you feel like exchanging greetings now?" This lunatic. Whether he's twisted to the right or left with a tool, one thing's certain: he's completely unhinged.