Ch 368 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

Dawn was breaking. The people who skulked around the night streets like sewer rats had vanished, waiting for darkness to fall again. Yet today was unlike any other time. "Search everyone getting on the boats!" "What if you rummage through all the goods we need to sell?" "Shut it if you don't want to die!" The warriors of Doomoon brandished their swords, checking the color of people's hair and poking through their belongings, wielding a tyranny that none dared to challenge in front of sharp blades. Once the harbor is breached, they risk losing me from their territory. The warriors positioned in the harbor seemed desperate. "The ships won't sail today unless we allow it! Understand?" It's utter chaos. How many Doomoon members are there? For now, let's move according to the infiltration route given by someone from the Tumoon faction. The goal is to reach the docked ships unnoticed. "Bring all the black-haired bastards to me if you find them!" How am I supposed to break through this? I hid among the loading supplies near the docked ship, observing the situation. If I suddenly appeared, it would be like being prey surrounded by a swarm of ants. "Hey! You there! What are you doing?!" Is this my limit? I’ve been spotted. Should I escape? No. Moving recklessly in the enemy’s den would just spell disaster. "Are you talking to me?" I revealed myself with a voice that feigned ignorance as to why they were calling me. Though I'd lost the mask long ago, the wide-brimmed hat pulled down low hid my hair color and face. "Why is this guy here? Who let him in?!" "What is it?" The warrior glanced around, but nobody would admit to letting me through. I feigned innocence, taking gradual steps toward the docked ship. "Hey! Take off that hat!" "Who are you to ask me to take off my hat?" I staggered backward, pretending to be scared, but naturally, my step was toward the ship. "Are you deaf or something? Take it off right now!" "Ah, I understand." If I'm discovered within striking distance, a fight will break out. I slowly removed the hat. "Black hair? Found him! It's this guy!" Right. A suspicious black-haired man so close to the port. It's only logical it could only be me. Still, not every Doomoon member needed to focus on me, though. "What are you talking about? I'm trying to board, please let me pass?" Feigning nonchalance, I turned my body toward the ship but was blocked by a shout from the warrior behind me. "Think we wouldn’t recognize you without your mask?" A familiar face. Glancing sideways, I saw one of the men who was present when Mary 1 had made its noble sacrifice. "Seems there's some misunderstanding." Once more, I backed away. "Heh, little rat! If you can't see, I'll make it clear for you! This is the end of your antics!" "Come with us before we put some holes in you!" The warriors of Doomoon approached. Did they finally think the chase was over? Their faces flickered with relief, anticipation, and tension. Almost there. My body moved closer to the docked ship. I must not panic. Quickly activating the Sohyun Shimsang Technique. "The sun is rising, yet ruffians dare draw blades at the port." The muttered words were low, but with enhanced volume, it was enough to capture everyone's attention nearby. "A barbarian pretending to lecture. You think the ship will sail just because you board it?" "Heh, idiot. What, you think the captain will shout 'Let's set sail because this gentleman boarded!'" Did they notice my intent to get closer to the docked ship? The snickering Doomoon members encircled me. They were right. The ship won't just set off because I board it. How can I cross the river? The plan prepared in advance has gone awry. The enemy's pursuit is closing in like blades advancing relentlessly. Would a straw-hatted sailor suddenly appear and shout for me to get on board while I'm in trouble? But hoping for a miracle is for those without a plan. Should I throw a log and ride it across the river? Could I use Deungpyeongdusu to walk on water? With my martial arts skills, impossible. The warriors of Doomoon draw closer. But it doesn't matter. "What in God's name are you all doing!" The plan has already succeeded. The fierce voice echoed through the harbor, halting the warriors in their tracks. "What, what is that?" Doomoon's warriors looked toward the origin of the voice. The voice of anger came from aboard the ship. The warriors were bewildered by the sudden appearance of figures. Because. "Police officers? What on earth?!" The people on the ship were all police officers. "There are government boats regularly for the officials on the Yangtze." Did you think I'd gather attention with at random words through the Sohyun Shimsang Technique? It was intended for the police officers resting on board to hear. "Hah! Do you think the police will protect you? Since when did officials meddle in the affairs of martial artists...." "Isn't it Kang Po Gwae! We've been expecting you." The familiar face stepping off the ship with a warm welcome was Officer Jeong of the Dasuhoe. "Officer Jeong, thank you for coming so early." "Not at all. To hear about the Muyoung Shintu's appearance and immediately conduct investigations at dawn. Such extraordinary dedication!" "As the officer in charge of the Muyoung Shintu, it's my duty." "Wh-what is this...." "Kang Po Gwae, please board. The government ship departs soon." There's no need to draw a sword against those wielding them. I only need to play the best card I can. The police might not be able to arrest martial artists, but martial artists can't recklessly cut down police either. Relishing the dumbfounded looks from the Doomoon men, I confidently boarded the government ship. *** "You say you've been living with Kang Yoon Ho the whole time? It wasn't the Gimon sheltering him?" Inside the blood-splattered room of Giru, the Hyungju of Doomoon wiped his blood-soaked sword absent-mindedly as he questioned. "Yes, y-yes! The Black Haired Po Gwae would sometimes visit with him!" Amidst a sea of corpses, the lone surviving courtesan trembled as she answered. "Damn those scoundrels, denying it to the end only to be in cahoots with them." A huge setback. The Hyungju of Doomoon let out a bitter laugh, feeling like a fool. This wasn't his first time perusing a rigged gambling table. However, it was his first time feeling this thoroughly deceived. While Doomoon Hyungju had unraveled numerous scams and ended up chopping off the swindlers' arms, today, those who fooled him weren't before his eyes. Danwangwi raised his sword, which resembled a guillotine, to soothe his sullied mood. "Please spare me. I've told you everything I know!" Sensing her impending doom, the courtesan begged desperately, her hands and feet growing weary. "You've outlived the others by now, haven't you?" Danwangwi decapitated the tear-and-snot-smeared courtesan, finding some small solace for his unresolved anger. "What happened to the Gimong Hyungju?" As Doomoon Hyungju wiped his sword once more, he inquired of his subordinate waiting in the background. "They've vanished. The main forces of Gimong aren't visible either. Finding their tracks now that daylight is upon us seems unlikely." "That sly fox has impeccable instincts. What about that fake Muyoung Shintu, Kang Yoon Ho?" He longed to see her grovel at his feet, but he wasn’t one to lose sight of priorities. "Turns out, that barbarian has a knack for fleeing, giving us a hard time." "It was undoubtedly the Muyoung Shin Art he was practicing. Did the woman teach him, or was it truly passed down from the predecessor?" "If Tumoon recognized him as a legitimate heir, it would certainly be the latter." The loyalty of Tumoon’s leadership to their previous Hyungju was well-known. If the black-haired barbarian were a fake heir, Tumoon would never have endorsed Kang Yoon Ho. Doomoon knew more about Tumoon than anyone, especially since they needed the support of Tumoon's vanished Hyungju. "They seemed infatuated, but perhaps she had sought refuge under her father's heir from the start." "Doomoon Hyungju!" As Danwangwi processed the revelations, a subordinate responsible for pursuing the fake Muyoung Shintu entered with urgency. "Did you catch them?" "Well…" "Well? Weeeell? Not like it's going to be good news, is it? Am I wrong?" Doomoon Hyungju tapped the subordinate's chin with the flat of his sword as he spoke. "The black-haired Po Gwae boarded a government-operated ship and crossed the river… urgh!" The subordinate was slammed into the wall by a kick fueled by Doomoon Hyungju's rage. "And you just watched?" "The soldiers disembarked from the government ship and directly protected the black-haired Po Gwae, leaving us no choice!" The subordinate knelt desperately to avoid ending up like the corpses in the room. "So you’d say there’s no choice if this sword went into your gut?" "I apologize. A pursuit team has been dispatched and will bring him back." "And if you fail, there’ll again be no choice?" "I-I'll do my utmost!" "What kind of past life grudge do I have with that barbarian? Why is he so hell-bent on thwarting me from start to finish?" Kang Yoon Ho. A name he was sick of. Just as Kang Yoon Ho loathed Doomoon Hyungju, the latter would grit his teeth in equal measure when thinking of him. "Dawn is upon us, Hyungju." These shady dealings must be done out of sight. Engaging in conflict in broad daylight would force the neutral factions to intervene. Doomoon Hyungju’s subordinate advised him as prudently as possible. "I know! I know! Damn it! That barbarian! Send that courtesan’s head as a greeting gift if you find Gimong Hyungju. And let them know we’ll go after them next if they interfere with us." "Are you considering targeting Im Ha Yeon? It's a place entangled with two factions. Reckless actions might..." If he had returned to the estate where Kang Yoon Ho resided, things would be complicated. It's the residence of the youngest daughter of the Jegal clan and is guarded by Mancheonjong. If they meddled, they'd provoke both factions simultaneously. "Gather those who have nothing to lose. Offer them whatever money they want." "Hyungju, you can’t be serious?!" "If you can scoop all the stakes but lose because you're missing one card, wouldn't that be frustrating?" For Doomoon Hyungju, it's a gamble with life on the line. Surrendering would mean losing everything. In Danwangwi's eyes, the gambler's crazed gleam shone through. "…I'll prepare." "Right. Let's see it through to the end." To gain everything or lose it all. There's no option for surrender now. The madness of one who stakes their life on the gamble is far from over.