153

Chapter 153 - Journey to Sacheon - Part 1

"We're behind schedule, so let's take the quickest route."

As the Martial House Master announced this, the scenery swiftly transitioned from paved to unpaved roads.

"The carriage ride is quite uncomfortable."

What kind of carriage lacks shock absorbers? I could feel every bump and dip in the unpaved road through my seat as I spoke to Hwa Rin.

"Exactly. Since the official roads extend all the way to Sacheon, why not just use them? Why go through all this trouble?"

"We've delayed their schedule, after all. Since the official roads go through major cities, they probably can't stand any more delays."

"If we don't take the official roads, won't we end up encountering bandits like before? Even this place seems perfect for a bandit ambush."

Hwa Rin, remembering the bandits we met on our previous travels, showed a worried expression.

"That won't be a problem."

"Huh?"

"There aren't any bandits bold enough to mess with the Sacheon family."

Hwa Rin, it might seem uncertain to you since your hair is the only thing purple and you've grown up without the privilege of the Sacheon family's backing, but just being from a prestigious Martial Sect carries an immense amount of weight on its own.

"I'm still anxious."

"Don't worry. In a few more days, you'll feel it for sure."

Even leopards wouldn't bare their teeth amidst a pack of tigers.

In a world where not everyone has black hair and one's family can be distinguished by their hair color, a procession where everyone's hair is uniformly purple won't attract trouble from bandits.

Unless they have a death wish or the power to handle the Sacheon Family.

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"It truly is the case."

Hwa Rin marveled as not a single bandit appeared during our passage through the mountain, looking at me in astonishment. I smiled at her as if to say 'see?', but to be honest, it was surprising to me too.

When I traveled with Hwa Rin previously, we constantly worried about bandits and even encountered them a few times. Does everyone just hide away at the sight of purple hair, thinking it's a harbinger of some disaster?

Traveling without worries about bandits, guards, or death is truly comfortable.

Of course, separate from the comfort of the trip, there was something else that kept nagging at me.

"That black-haired kid, is he really the Clan Leader's illegitimate child?"

"Have you not seen him eat pineapple on pizza?"

"Even seeing that, I can't believe it."

"Who would've thought we had such scandal within our Clan."

"Could Dang Geoho have really done such things…"

"To think he fell victim to such a malicious experiment. Tsk, tsk."

"What's going to happen once the Young Clan Leader passes away?"

"Don't speak of such disrespectful things."

Suspicious glances and curious stares. The conversation buzzed around us as the clan's warriors talked about us for days on end.

We were invited here as guests, but I can't help feeling like an orangutan at a zoo.

Are you all done gawking? Is it your first time seeing a black-haired bastard? Instead of talking behind my back, say it to my face. I'd love to give them a piece of my mind, but as an introvert, I'd end up yelling 'you purple-headed brats!', so for the sake of image management, I held my tongue.

"If something's bothering you, why not come over and say it instead of talking loud enough for everyone to hear?"

Hwa Rin made her discomfort quite obvious to the chatterers. That's Hwa Rin for you! She does effortlessly what I cannot.

"Ahem."

As Hwa Rin, the hater of gossip, gave them a stern look, all but one of the warriors averted their eyes. Only one did not shy away from my gaze and soon approached me.

Finally, someone with the nerve to speak their mind!

"Did you say your name was Kang Yoon Ho?"

The warrior's demeanor was quite polite, which was a pass in my book considering illegitimate children often aren't treated as part of the family.

"Yes. Aren't you the warrior who purchased 'Dangga Pungwoon' from me?"

Now that I recall, this was the warrior who, moved by 'Dangga Pungwoon', spent a fortune and left with a copy. Could he be the root of all this trouble?

"I should have greeted you upon reuniting, but due to circumstances, it was delayed. So, are you the one who wrote 'Dangga Pungwoon'?"

"They must be here because of 'Dangga Pungwoon'."

"Dang Jung and the Clan Leader are, strictly speaking, different people. It's true I integrated stories I heard from my mother for various reasons."

We never intended to reveal the scandal specifically. We only mixed truth with fiction to ensure someone would come to our aid if we were in peril. While Dang Jung is based on truth, he's a fictional character.

That was something I needed to make clear once we reached the Clan.

"Aha! A fiction based on true events."

"More accurately, it's mostly fiction with a bit of truth woven in. After all, I've never actually met the Clan Leader."

Though he's labeled an illegitimate child, caution in his demeanor is necessary. Being a bastard, he can't call the Clan Leader 'father' by status.

"Ah, I see. I have a request, if you wouldn't mind?"

"What is it?"

As I asked the warrior, he hesitated, looking at me.

Please don't tell me it's going to be one of those 'I'll tell you if you say yes.' That's the worst way to ask a favor.

Refuse without knowing what it is, and they get offended. Those types of people—I wish the law would force them to grant any favor, no matter what.

While I waited without outwardly showing my impatience, the warrior rummaged through his belongings and presented something to me.

Huh? This is 'Dangga Pungwoon'.

Surprised, I looked at the warrior who then spoke with a slightly flushed face.

"Could you possibly honor 'Dangga Pungwoon' with your autograph?"

An autograph?

----------------

It seems 'Dangga Pungwoon' was quite popular among the Martial House's warriors.

"Me too!"

"And I'd like one as well, please!"

"No! I bought the book, why should you get the autograph?"

"Man, I'll give you money next time!"

"No, I don't have the book with me!"

After one got an autograph, other warriors encircled me, holding out their books.

"This Cheonmo was moved reading 'Dangga Pungwoon'. This is truly what we're about. The other martial artists have the wrong idea about us."

One warrior cradled his autographed copy of 'Dangga Pungwoon' closely and said to me,

"Haha, is that so?"

I casually glanced at the Martial House Master, who was pretending not to pay attention to this side while actually keeping an eye on me. A few seemed to catch the implication of my gaze and started speaking.

"Don't hate us too much. There's a prejudice against black hair, but he's a good person."

"That's true. He may be a bit old-fashioned and frugal, but he is infinitely trustworthy."

"The Clan Leader wouldn't have entrusted his offspring's life to him if he weren't dependable."

It felt like I was being told, "Our child might not be able to do this, that, or the other, but he's a good kid at heart."

"I understand, but it's hard to control one's feelings."

Apart from what he did to me, he behaved quite in line with what one would expect from the orthodox faction. Had he not mentioned cutting off my head, I might have been moved to think there actually are righteous people in this world!

As I turned my head with a bittersweet expression, one warrior pointed to my chest timidly and spoke.

"Could we, perhaps, take a look at the third volume of 'Dangga Pungwoon' that you have on you?"

"I've promised the readers of Yichang. It will be published after everything is settled."

This is my life insurance. Like I'd show it for free.

"But will it be possible for the third volume to be published?"

One warrior asked me, sounding concerned.

"I can revise the content or change the future story arc if needed. I really want to publish the third volume."

It's not only my life insurance but my first hit in this world. If I can't complete it, I may have to change my pen name from 'Hofeel' to 'Erase'.

I must wrap this up successfully and continue producing acclaimed works in the future.

"That's right, what scandal are you talking about? We've all read it, and only the Martial House Master noticed anything. It was just like, 'Oh, is this it?' If Hofeel makes revisions, nobody will recognize it."

That's what I mean.

"Then, will we be able to read the third volume only after everything is over?"

The warriors looked at me with disappointment, and everyone around us stared at the book in my hands.

'This could be a bargaining chip.'

If it's not just one or two people who want to see it, there might be a way to leverage it.

"If we arrive safely at Dangga and once everything is settled, I will show it to you even before the Yichang readers."

"Really?"

The faces of the Martial House warriors brightened. Of course, I'll show you, but it won't be for free.

"In exchange, I'd appreciate if you said good things about 'Dangga Pungwoon' at Dangga."

You guys lift me up on a palanquin and wage a little public opinion campaign. Then I'll show you.

"That's no difficult feat!"

"Of course! Not just for 'Dangga Pungwoon', but we will speak well of Hofeel too!"

"'Dangga Pungwoon' is too precious to just disappear! We must say good things, naturally."

"Yes! I want to see the lovestruck rivalry between the two swordswomen that are like sisters!"

"Hahaha."

I have to survive for you to see the third volume. So, you lot become my shield.

I stoked their anticipation for the third volume while engaging them in conversations about 'Dangga Pungwoon'.

--------

The journey was smooth both in terms of martial prowess and improving relationships with my comrades. However, even on a journey so seamless, obstacles arise.

"The road is blocked here."

A landslide, perhaps, had obstructed the path we were meant to take.

"This detour is blocked as well!"

Even the alternative route we attempted was clogged with heaps of mud and fallen trees.

"This is an ominous sign. This is a common tactic used by bandits."

I mentioned to Hwa Rin while we watched others attempt to navigate the detour.

"Huh?"

"They block the detour with debris and wait at a spot that benefits them for combat. It's a classic bandit strategy."

Although the Sacheon family is escorting us, so it shouldn't be a major problem, it's still unsettling.

The two blocked paths are wide enough for carriages to pass through with ease. If they've gone so far as to block roads this large, it could signify the presence of a sizable bandit group.

"Everyone, stay alert!"

The Martial House Master also seemed to think the situation could turn dangerous, as he shouted a warning to his companions.

The Dangga warriors were on high alert as they traversed the mountain paths.

"A village? Maybe it was just a regular landslide?"

Following the only remaining path led us to a small and secluded village hidden in the mountainside. Could it be a slash-and-burn farming village? But some of the buildings looked quite solid for that.

"Welcome."

Entering the only two-story building in the village, which was a guesthouse, a bushy-bearded man greeted us.

The owner of the guesthouse, I presume. Such a remote village probably doesn't have many small shops around.

"Everyone must be hungry. Get everyone a plate of Carbonara."

The Martial House Master made sure everyone was seated before ordering the food from the man.

"Carbonara? What is that?"

The remote village apparently didn't know what carbonara was.

"Do you not know what carbonara is in this guesthouse? Then, how about aglio e olio? Serve that instead."

"Haha..."

The man laughed uncomfortably, showing a pang of reluctance.

"What kind of guesthouse doesn't have aglio e olio? Then, do you serve rice soup? Any rice soup will do, bring that."

"We don't sell rice soup."

"A guesthouse that doesn't serve rice soup! Then what do you serve?"

A guesthouse that neither serves pasta nor rice soup. Surely it can't just serve boiled potatoes.

"We can prepare noodle soup for everyone."

The dish the guesthouse owner mentioned was noodle soup, a staple on the traditional martial arts world's menu.

"Noodle soup? Tsk, what kind of food is that... Well, serve that then."

The Martial House Master looked displeasedly at the man before taking his seat.

"We also have dumplings. How about dumplings?"

Dumplings sound good. The journey is getting long; no way we're ending it with just noodle soup, right?

It wasn't just me thinking this. Hearing about dumplings, the Dangga party looked expectantly at the Martial House Master.

"Bring the dumplings as well."

Sensing the unspoken pressure, the Martial House Master nodded and ordered the dumplings.

"Place an order for noodle soup and dumplings for everyone!"

"Wait a moment!"

The Martial House Master grabbed the man's sleeve, stopping him in his tracks.

"Yes?"

"You said one dumpling for three people?"

"Ah, I see. Oh, I understand."

The party members' expressions briefly crinkled in a way that might go unnoticed by the Martial House Master, but soon after, they wore a look of resignation, as if to say, 'well, that's how our leader is,' before waiting for the food to arrive.

A long-awaited stop at a village guesthouse on our lengthy journey to Sacheon.

Everyone seemed pleased to rest under a roof after several days, but I couldn't relax my face.

Something is off.

A guesthouse that doesn't serve pasta or rice soup, only noodle soup? What's going on? It feels like the genre has suddenly changed.

"Here's some water."

The guesthouse owner brought glasses of water over to the waiting people from Dangga.

"Thank you. By any chance, do you have bamboo leaf liquor?"

"Ah, that, um, we might have some. Shall I look for it?"

Suspicious.

Extremely suspicious.

How does a guesthouse skip over aglio e olio and rice soup but serve noodle soup and dumplings, and have bamboo leaf liquor as a drink option?

A sense of unease envelops my entire body.

"I'll let you know if I think of it later."

I sent the guesthouse owner away and began to survey the surroundings.

It's as if I'm the only one with two eyes in a world of cyclops, and the problem is, I appear to be the only one realizing that the cyclops are unusual.

Am I overreacting? No. Think about it, Kang Yoon Ho. Something feels off. Look for something out of place. Desperately scan the surroundings. There's no reason to skip a simple aglio e olio in favor of serving noodle soup.

Noodle soup and dumplings? And bamboo leaf liquor

is a premium alcohol. It's not something you would find in a village like this.

It's as if someone with no experience running a guesthouse is blabbering whatever comes to mind...

Aha.

"Hwa Rin, don't drink that water."

I raised my hand to stop Hwa Rin, who was about to drink the water.

"Huh? Why?"

"I think we've fallen into a trap."