NOVEL NEXT Chapter 12
[When did you find out?]
Suddenly, Murong Sang-a’s voice pierced my ears. It felt less like hearing a normal voice and more like listening to an online instructor while wearing kernel earbuds.
[It’s a transmission obstruction. It’s a martial arts technique that prevents others from hearing your voice.]
So, this is what a transmission obstruction is. This technique, abbreviated as ‘transmission,’ was created to secretly convey a message to an opponent in martial arts novels.
Experiencing a technique I had only read about in novels is quite fascinating. So this is how it feels.
“Let’s continue the test. From now on, I will write down all the questions for you.”
Instead of writing the actual exam content, I penned down what I originally intended to say.
‘I found out the day I met Soja.’
[How is that possible?]
Finally, it was time to pull out the item that would add credibility to my story.
‘I discovered that one of Soja’s party reacted to this.’
As I said that, I pulled out a beautifully crafted silver ring from my pocket.
[What’s that?]
‘A ring made from Zhangbai Silver, a keepsake from my mother. It reacts particularly to bad things, especially the magic of the Demonic Cult.’
[I’ve heard of Zhangbai Silver. It’s such a precious metal that even if offered 100 times its weight in gold, you can’t buy it.]
Was it really that expensive? I had thought it was just a convenient item with no real origin that I’d find while progressing the story.
‘I thought something was strange. How could someone of a high-ranking family in the Central Plains marry a barbarian family from the East?’
[The Kang family is also of high rank. There’s no need to belittle it.]
Defending the Kang family, are we? This is a subtly warming situation. Good sign. I nodded and continued writing.
‘Upon investigating Soja’s circumstances, it seemed even more peculiar. I suspected she was caught up in some plot. On the day she arrived, several members of her party reacted to my mother’s keepsake.’
[So there was a member from the Demonic Cult among those your brother sent along.]
‘Yes. At that moment, all my questions were answered.’
[But you didn’t have to tell me that.]
Murong Sang-a scolded me for the harsh words I had spoken earlier. She wasn’t quite convinced yet.
‘It was to marry you.’
[Me?]
‘I’m a reckless man who enjoys drinking and gambling. However, I’m not a rogue who treats women carelessly. But I thought one of your party would report on my true nature. And I believed that if Murong Bi thought her younger sister would end up in an unhappy marriage, she would rush the wedding. And indeed, that’s how it went.’
I’m a Joséon rogue, but a warm man to women. I subtly dropped that hint.
[What reason is there for me to marry you?]
Does she not look in the mirror? Even someone who has been a representative of anti-marriage for over 20 years on a talk show would jump on the chance to marry her!
‘I wanted to help you.’
[I didn’t need help actually. It’s because of you that even the Spear Peak Band is on the verge of disbanding.]
I took a small sigh to immerse myself in my performance and looked at her as if she was pathetic.
‘Do you truly think so? Your father, who granted you this opportunity, is on the verge of death due to the Demonic Cult’s poison. Your older brother, who learned martial arts, has surpassed your level. Those who supported you now endorse Murong Bi. The Spear Peak Band? Does one useless guard unit really matter that much?’
Murong Sang-a’s eyelids fluttered; perhaps she was holding back her anger. Not waiting for her response, I wrote what was on my mind again.
‘From the moment the Demonic Cult infiltrated the Murong Family, your fate was already decided.’
Wake up to reality! Is being pretty all you have? As I wrote my fact bomb, Murong Sang-a’s eyes blazed.
[So what do you want me to do? Those who supported me have turned away; those who stood by me have died mysteriously, my father can’t get up, and the Martial Arts Alliance isn’t of any help!!]
‘I’m here!’
Surprised, Murong Sang-a’s closed lips parted as her eyes widened.
Alright, let’s get this party started!!
[What difference does it make if you are here?]
‘Everything. There’s a saying in Joseon: if you have money, even you can control ghosts. You can acquire masters, power, and trust with money. If it’s the wealth of the Kang family, we can seize the Murong Family and eliminate the Demonic Cult members.’
[You can’t buy the trust of martial artists with money.]
‘The only reason you can’t buy anything is that you haven’t paid enough.’
It was an arrogant statement, but showing this level of confidence is essential to earn trust.
[Even if it’s possible, it would mean the Kang family would use me to swallow the Murong Family, right? What use would that plan be if I become an outsider?]
I knew she would say something like that; I had a plan in mind.
‘I’ll grant a divorce.’
Murong Sang-a’s eyes trembled violently.
[Did you just say divorce?]
Yes, divorce.
Unlike Joseon, in this place, if you divorce, you can return to your family’s household. The problem is that there are barely any husbands willing to do so.
‘You must be the head of the Murong Family. How could you let vile demons take over your house? I will bet everything to eliminate the Demonic Cult from the Murong Family. After everything has concluded, I will divorce you without regret and return Murong Family to you.’
So I’m hinting that I’d be the sweet protagonist who hands over everything.
Murong Sang-a read what I wrote two or three times in astonishment, then closed her eyes and trembled quietly.
“Ugh.”
Don’t cry! Don’t cry! If I’m like the sweet male lead, just sign already so I don’t die!
Murong Sang-a quickly composed herself and looked at me again.
[Master.]
Master, huh.
Has Murong Sang-a’s thoughts elevated from kill this guy, to destroy him, to this jerk finally worthy of recognition?
While I was ecstatic about the dramatic leap in status, Murong Sang-a continued sending transmissions.
[Be careful; Master could be killed. I truly want to ask how you, who haven’t learned martial arts, have devised such a dangerous plan.]
Because I can’t take it anymore and will go out while I’m at it on the wedding day!
But since I can’t say that, I began to write down another reason.
Misunderstanding.
It was all a misunderstanding. Murong Sang-a couldn’t easily calm her astonished heart. Indeed, Kang Yoon-ho had hidden his true self.
‘I wanted to help you.’
However, alongside the surprise, a quiet anger started to swell. Saying he wanted to help doesn’t change the fact that he was trying to take advantage of her when she was in danger.
[I didn’t need help. You’re the reason even the Spear Peak Band is on the verge of disbanding.]
Mastering martial arts is one thing, and understanding a person’s heart is entirely different. But her words carried a self-hatred that came from being a genius who couldn’t even comprehend the inner thoughts of a mere man.
‘From the moment the Demonic Cult infiltrated the Murong Family, your fate was already decided.’
The calm tone of that writing made her even angrier.
It was true. Even if they broke the engagement, it wouldn’t change much. There was nothing left around her except a half-formed Spear Peak Band.
She didn’t even know how far the Demonic Cult had spread within the Murong Family. The situation was already tilted; she just couldn’t admit it.
Realizing the painful truth she had been ignoring, Murong Sang-a poured out her resentment deep within her heart.
[So what do you want me to do? Those who supported me turned away; those who stood by me have died mysteriously, my father can’t get up, and the Martial Arts Alliance isn’t of any help!!]
‘I’m here!’
In that moment, his words reached into Murong Sang-a’s cold heart that had been wounded and shut off.
[What difference does it make if you are here?]
However, she was exhausted from hoping for something so naive. Her heart had been too scarred to easily accept even a glimmer of hope.
‘Everything. There’s a saying in Joseon: if you have money, even you can control ghosts. You can acquire masters, power, and trust through money. If it’s the wealth of the Kang family, we can seize the Murong Family and eliminate the Demonic Cult members.’
[You can’t buy the trust of martial artists with money.]
‘The only reason you can’t buy anything is that you haven’t paid enough.’
A statement she had never heard before. But if the one saying it was on her side, the story would be different.
Indeed, with the Master’s will and wealth, it might just be possible. As the saying goes, if you have money, you can control ghosts. However, there was one huge flaw in his statement.
[Even if possible, that would mean the Kang family would use me to swallow the Murong Family, right? What use would such a plan be if I become an outsider?]
‘I’ll grant a divorce.’
Kang Yoon-ho’s words pierced into Murong Sang-a’s heart. It was so unexpected that she could only respond with disbelief.
[Did you just say divorce?]
Here, husbands seldom suggest divorce even if they hate their wives. They often just live separately or take concubines.
The husband can decide to divorce, but saying it means he’s a foolish man who couldn’t even handle one wife and chose to run away.
Yet Kang Yoon-ho proposed to grant her a divorce, taking on that stigma with open arms.
‘You must be the head of the Murong Family. How could you let vile demons take over your house? I will gamble everything to eliminate the Demonic Cult from the Murong Family. After all is done, I will divorce you without regret and return the Murong Family to you.’
Kang Yoon-ho’s resolute gaze conveyed his sincerity.
Indeed.
Deep down, maybe she had already given up.
Although she pretended to be composed in front of the Spear Peak Band, nothing was set to change the tide. She couldn’t cure her father. She couldn’t avenge those who died supporting her.
In order not to crumble under this harsh reality, she had tried to struggle with minimal resistance, but despair was gnawing at Murong Sang-a little by little.
Even if the wedding was annulled, what would change?
A burden she had never spoken of grew heavier, as anxiety and despair continued to swell within her.
Although this was her own battle, she didn’t want to give up.
[Master.]
Her fiancé.
[Be careful; Master could be killed. I truly want to know how you, who haven’t learned martial arts, have devised such a dangerous plan.]
He thought for a moment and began to carefully write down his response.
‘I was born the child of a blacksmith, learning the ways of the Central Plains and the trade of merchants. But you know…’
He had read a book hanging in the marketplace.
A story about a swordsman from a noble clan raising his sword against injustice.
But reality wasn’t like that. Even those noble clans wield their swords only against those who harm themselves and their sect.
The true adventurer was nothing more than a legend from stories.
That’s how he thought.
And with that thought, he smiled brightly at her.
‘There’s no greater trade than saving a woman in need!’
There, she had her very own hero.