The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

[When did you start knowing?]

Moyong Sang-ah’s voice suddenly pierced through my ears. It wasn’t like hearing a normal voice; it was more akin to listening to an online instructor through kernel earphones.

[It’s telepathy. A martial arts technique that prevents others from overhearing.]

So this was telepathy. Abbreviated as such, this technique was born in martial arts novels to communicate secretly with someone.

Experiencing a technique I’d only read about in novels was amazing. This was what it felt like.

“Let’s continue the test. I will write down all the questions on paper from now on.”

I wrote what I originally intended to say, not the test content, on the paper.

‘I found out the day I met the young lady.’

[How is that possible?]

It was finally time to lend credibility to my story.

‘Among the young lady’s entourage, someone reacted to this.’

I then pulled a beautifully crafted silver ring from my pocket.

[What’s that?]

‘A ring made of pure Jangbaek silver, a relic of my mother. It especially reacts to the evil aura of the Demonic Sect.’

[Jangbaek silver, I’ve heard of it. It’s so precious that not even 100 times its weight in gold could procure it.]

I hadn’t realized it was so valuable. I had thought it was just a convenient plot device without any significant backstory.

‘I thought something was off. A high-status person from the Central Plains marrying into a barbarian family from the East.’

[The Kang family also has high status. There’s no need to belittle yourself.]

She was defending Kang Yun-ho’s family. Was my favorability with her growing? That was a good sign. I nodded and wrote again.

‘The more I delved into young lady Sang-ah’s circumstances, the odder they seemed. I suspected she might be caught in a conspiracy. When the young lady arrived, some members of your entourage reacted to my mother’s relic.’

[There was a follower of the Demonic Sect among the people my brother sent.]

‘At that moment, all my doubts were resolved.’

[But you didn’t have to say those things to me.]

Moyong Sang-ah criticized the harsh words she had heard back then. She still hadn’t let go of her suspicions.

‘It was to marry you.’

[Me?]

‘I’m a rascal who loves alcohol and gambling. But I’m not a scoundrel who mistreats women. I thought someone from your entourage would report my behavior. And if Moyong Bi thought his sister was going to have an unhappy marriage, he would hasten it. That’s exactly what happened.’

I was a Joseon rascal but kind to women. I subtly made my appeal.

[Why do you have to marry me?]

Didn’t she look at herself in the mirror? A panelist who had been advocating bachelorism for over 20 years on debate shows would immediately agree to marry if it were her.

‘I wanted to help.’

[I didn’t need help. Instead, I’m in danger of even losing the Changbongdae because of you.]

I sighed softly, as if immersed in my role, and looked at her with pity.

‘Do you really think so? Your father, who gave you this opportunity, is suffering from the poison of the Demonic Sect. Your brother, who was your inferior in martial arts, has now surpassed you. The people who supported you now support Moyong Bi. Changbongdae? Whether such a guard unit exists or not, is that important to you?’

Moyong Sang-ah’s eyelids fluttered as if holding back anger. I didn’t wait for her reply and wrote my next words.

‘Your fate was sealed the moment the Demonic Sect entered the Moyong family.’

Get a grip on reality. Were you everything just because you’re pretty? Seeing the fact-bombing writing, Moyong Sang-ah’s eyes glinted.

[Then what do you expect me to do? Everyone who supported me turned away, and those who supported me till the end met with suspicious deaths. My father can’t wake up, and the Murim Alliance is of no help!!]

‘I’m here.’

Moyong Sang-ah was surprised; her lips parted and her eyes widened.

Good, she was taking the bait!

[What difference does it make if you’re here?]

‘Everything. There’s a saying in Joseon that if you have money, you can even command ghosts. With money, you can gain masters, power, and trust. With the wealth of the Kang family, we can take over the Moyong family and eradicate the followers of the Demonic Sect.’

[You can’t buy the trust of martial artists with money.]

‘The only reason you can’t buy something is that you haven’t offered enough money.’

My words were arrogant, but such confidence was necessary to gain trust.

[Even if that were possible, wouldn’t it mean the Kang family is using me to swallow up the Moyong Family? If I become an outsider after marriage, such a plan would be useless.]

I had anticipated this response and had prepared a plan.

‘I’ll grant you a divorce.’

Moyong Sang-ah’s eyes shook violently.

[Did you say divorce?]

Yes, divorce.

Unlike Joseon, here, after a divorce, one could return to their original family. It was just that husbands rarely offered divorces.

‘The head of the Moyong Family should be you. How can we hand over the house to these evil demons? I’ll bet everything I have to drive the followers of the Demonic Sect out of the Moyong Family. After everything is over, I’ll divorce you without regrets and return the Moyong Family to you.’

So, I shall play the sweet romantic lead who sacrifices everything for her.

Moyong Sang-ah read my writing several times as if she couldn’t believe it, then closed her eyes and silently trembled.

Don’t cry! Don’t cry! If I was acting like a sweet lead, quickly decide not to kill me.

Moyong Sang-ah quickly composed herself and looked at me again.

[Young Master]

Young Master.

Had she finally upgraded me in her mind from someone to kill, a family-destroying scoundrel, to a dog?

Feeling thrilled about my sudden rise in status, Moyong Sang-ah continued to send telepathic messages.

[If you’re wrong, Young Master, you could be killed. Why would you, who have not learned martial arts, plan such a dangerous thing? I want to know the real reason.]

Because I was supposed to die on the wedding day anyway, so I was just issuing empty promises.

But I couldn’t tell her the truth, so I started writing out a different reason.

Misunderstanding.

Everything was a misunderstanding. Moyong Sang-ah couldn’t easily calm her startled heart. Kang Yun-ho had indeed been hiding his true self.

‘I wanted to help.’

But at the same time, anger rose secretly within her. Although he said he wanted to help, the fact that he tried to take advantage of her in a crisis hadn’t changed.

[I didn’t need help. Instead, I’m in danger of even disbanding the Changbongdae because of you.]

Being good at martial arts and understanding people’s hearts are clearly different things. But her words also contained self-loathing for not realizing the man’s intentions, even though she was considered a genius.

‘Your fate was sealed the moment the Demonic Sect entered the Moyong Family.’

Her anger grew as she read the calmly written fact.

It was true. Even if they broke off the engagement, not much would change. She had nothing but a half-strength Changbongdae left around her.

She didn’t even know how far the followers of the Demonic Sect had infiltrated the Moyong Family. The situation had already tipped. She just hadn’t accepted it yet.

Realizing the fact she had been ignoring, Moyong Sang-ah poured out the deep resentment in her heart.

[Then what do you expect me to do? Everyone who supported me turned away, and those who supported me till the end met suspicious deaths. My father can’t wake up, and the Murim Alliance is of no help!!]

‘I’m here.’

For a moment, his words were like a warm ray of sunshine in Moyong Sang-ah’s cold, wounded heart.

[You being here, what difference does it make?]

But she was tired of relying on such faint hopes. Her heart, too deeply wounded, tried to ignore that warmth.

‘Everything. There’s a saying in Joseon that if you have money, you can even command ghosts. With money, you can gain masters, power, and trust. With the wealth of the Kang family, we can take over the Moyong Family and eradicate the followers of the Demonic Sect.’

[You can’t buy the trust of martial artists with money.]

‘The only reason you can’t buy something is that you haven’t offered enough money.’

She had never heard such arrogant words before. But if the person saying them was on her side, it was a different story.

Really, with the Young Master’s will and wealth, it might be possible. As the saying went in Joseon, if you had money, you could even command ghosts. But there was one major flaw in his words.

[Even if that were possible, wouldn’t it mean the Kang family is using me to swallow up the Moyong Family? If I become an outsider after marriage, such a plan would be useless.]

‘I’ll grant you a divorce.’

Kang Yun-ho’s words pierced deeply into Moyong Sang-ah’s heart. They were so unexpected that she had to respond.

[Did you say divorce?]

Here, even if husbands hated their wives, they would not divorce. They just used separate rooms or took concubines.

A husband offering a divorce was a statement rarely made. While a husband could decide on a divorce, it implied that the man was pitiful, unable to handle his wife and was running away.

But Kang Yun-ho was willing to bear such a stigma to offer her a divorce.

‘The head of the Moyong Family should be you. How can we hand over the house to these evil demons? I’ll bet everything I have to drive out the followers of the Demonic Sect from the Moyong Family. After everything is over, I’ll divorce you without regrets and return the Moyong Family to you.’

In Kang Yun-ho’s determined eyes, Moyong Sang-ah felt his sincerity.

Yes.

In fact, she might have already given up in her heart.

She pretended to be resolute in front of the Changbongdae, but she knew she couldn’t alter the already slanted situation. She couldn’t heal her father. She couldn’t exact revenge on those who died in her support.

To keep from falling apart under this reality, she fought hard, but despair was slowly overtaking Moyong Sang-ah.

Even if the marriage ended in vain, what would change?

She hadn’t confessed to anyone, but her anxiety and despair were mounting.

It was her own problem, yet she longed to abandon herself.

The one who hadn’t abandoned her wasn’t herself, her family, or her subordinates…

[Young Master.]

It was her fiancé.

[If you are mistaken, Young Master, you could be executed. Why would you, who have never learned martial arts, concoct such a perilous scheme? I need to know your true motive.]

He paused for a moment, then began to write his response with deliberate care.

‘I was born the son of an interpreter and became versed in the language and commercial customs of the Central Plains. But let me reveal something.’

She had read books hanging in the market streets.

Tales of noble swordsmen from distinguished families confronting evil.

But the reality was different. Even noble families didn’t rise against injustice with their swords. They only unsheathed their blades against those who threatened themselves or their lineage.

A hero was nothing more than a legend in tales.

That was her belief.

With a wide smile at his younger self,

He revealed the remainder of his message.

‘What finer venture is there than rescuing a damsel in distress?’

Here, she had found her own hero.