NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14
Viewing the martial arts ultimately ended in failure.
“Originally, the Murong Family does not show their training to anyone outside, but since you’re soon to be joined in marriage with the Murong Family, I shall show you the martial arts of the Great Murong Family.”
I decided to watch the Murong Family’s martial arts in one of their training halls.
Since the elite members of the Murong Family’s guard unit, the Azure Dragon Terrace Guard, were either on duty or leave, other warriors from the Murong Family appeared.
“The origin of the Murong Family’s martial arts began in the royal court of the Yan dynasty over a thousand years ago…”
This letter began in England and, over the course of a year…
One of the Murong warriors stepped forward and started explaining how deep the history of the Murong Family’s martial arts was, and how grand they were in front of me.
Hah!
It was just like a home shopping host.
Before selling the item, they’re telling you how amazing it is and why you need it. Can’t they just show it?
To be fair, this martial art deserves such a thorough explanation. Just look at the Namgung Family. Wow! Changgung Moae Sword Technique! Wow! Emperor Sword Style!
What about the Sichuan Tang Family? This is the Four Thousand Tang Family’s Formless Poison Technique! That is the Four Thousand Tang Family’s Ten Thousand Heavenly Blossoms! There’s no need to explain famous martial arts from the martial arts world. It’s just obvious.
The Namgung Family is about swords, the Sichuan Tang Family is about poisons, the Hebei Peng Family is about spears, and the Zhuge Family is about formations. Generally, the martial families in martial arts novels get one power attribute each, but the Murong Family always seems ambiguous.
The martial arts of the Murong Family were quite lacking in fundamental power due to its vague character. So even when the top five families or the eight great families are mentioned, the Murong Family is usually in the second league.
That’s why in fantasy or martial arts, character and naming are important. The Murong Family lacks that.
No, the Murong Family does have character. They’re from a different ethnicity and tend to betray people easily. They excel at playing the shadowy villain role.
“First, I will show you the Starting Pose.”
Here it comes. The Starting Pose.
It’s flashy but not aggressive, like a 30-second commercial for martial arts. I referred to the Murong Family as the second league but, indeed, the Starting Pose was flashy.
If they filmed that and turned it into an ad, there would probably be an overwhelming number of applicants wanting to join the Murong Family’s warriors.
“Oooh.”
“Now, I’ll show you a simple training spar.”
As I wore an impressed expression, the warrior who displayed the Starting Pose immediately called over another warrior and took up a stance for a duel.
“Hyah!”
The two exchanged blows with swords. They weren’t using wooden swords; they seemed to be using real blades, yet they exchanged attacks without leaving a scratch on each other.
Hmm.
Umm.
Uuumm!
I felt like a commentator at the World’s Best Martial Arts Tournament. They moved so quickly; I couldn’t properly follow the fight with my eyes.
Even in the martial arts world, Kang Yoon-ho was just an ordinary person. I thought that maybe if I focused hard, my hidden internal power might surface and I’d gain strength, but that had no effect at all. It seems I’d just end up with more wrinkles on my face.
“That’s enough.”
After their demonstration ended, the two looked at me, hoping for praise.
Clap clap!
“I saw well. Truly profound martial arts from the Murong Family! My perspective is widening!”
Ordinary people find it hard to gain insight into the martial arts of masters. My common sense had expanded. I clapped and praised the Murong Family’s martial arts.
Once the martial arts demonstration was over, I briefly greeted the guests attending the Murong wedding and then returned to my room.
“Should I learn some martial arts?”
I entered a martial arts fantasy world, so shouldn’t I at least learn one? I pondered methods and fell asleep.
How long has it been since I cried like this?
Murong Sang-a thought it must have been so long ago she’d forgotten.
She felt like she had been drifting alone on an isolated island. In that empty place, she felt lonely and in pain, both physically and mentally exhausted.
Because she had to do everything by herself, pretending to be composed while walking was reaching its limits. But one day, a big ship arrived, and a brother came down to lend her a hand.
She couldn’t restrain her tears at the last words he had spoken.
She had misunderstood him so greatly. How could she have misjudged such a honorable person? Murong Sang-a felt ashamed of herself.
As Murong Sang-a shed tears, Kang Yoon-ho hurried over and wiped the tears with his sleeve. In that moment, he hesitated, wondering whether to embrace her or not, and his awkwardly lowering hand warmed her heart a bit.
As Murong Sang-a’s tears began to subside, Kang Yoon-ho boldly took out an ointment from his pocket and started applying it to her face.
[What is this?]
When Murong Sang-a looked at him in surprise, Kang Yoon-ho hesitated, contemplating writing something, then opened his mouth.
“Congratulations on passing the exam. Now only the wedding is left. This is a tiger balm good for bruises. It wouldn’t do for my soon-to-be spouse to have blemishes.”
Kang Yoon-ho carefully applied the balm to Murong Sang-a’s swollen cheek, which had become slightly puffy from being hit by Murong Bi.
Murong Sang-a felt warmth and tenderness in the touch of his hand on her cheek. Her heart, drenched with tears, began to feel a little exposed. So, she placed her hand on Kang Yoon-ho’s hand applying the balm.
A man’s hand feels so rough. But for some reason, it feels reassuring and comforting.
“Umm… If you keep your hand there, it’ll be hard to apply.”
His blunt remark in his flustered state, but Murong Sang-a didn’t move her hand.
“Miss.”
Feeling shy but reminiscing about the heart-fluttering moments, the Great Lord of Spear Peak approached.
“What brings you here, Great Lord of Spear Peak?”
“I’ve been trying to reach out to various sources in Joseon, but I’ve had no contact.”
The issue she had been trying hard to ignore suddenly surfaced in her mind.
“So, what’s the situation regarding the Kang Family’s rebellion?”
“It’s a heartbreaking matter… but it seems the evidence has been silenced.”
“Is that so?”
Thank goodness. She almost committed an irreversible crime. Despite the anger I should have felt regarding the Great Lord of Spear Peak’s words, Murong Sang-a felt relieved.
“It’s still too early to give up. Joseon apparently captures all the traitorous groups at once, secretly and simultaneously, to wipe them out. The lack of news may be due to that reason.”
The Great Lord of Spear Peak, thinking Murong Sang-a’s expression was disappointment, tried to comfort her.
“There’s no need to console me with words that lack possibilities, Great Lord of Spear Peak.”
“Miss… I’m sorry. My incompetence has failed to lead us to success.”
“No, it’s fine. If I end up being chased out of the Murong Family after marriage, please bring me to the Kang Family. I will use all my strength to accept everything.”
The Great Lord of Spear Peak would be a great help in counterattacking the Murong Family.
“If that happens, I will go to the Kang Family.”
“Alright.”
Murong Sang-a turned her head to look outside.
“…I’ll take my leave now.”
The Great Lord of Spear Peak left with his head hung low in shame.
I nearly ruined everything. Murong Sang-a let out a small sigh of relief.
To think she might have extinguished the family of the brother who risked his life to save her. Such a thing must never happen.
The evidence regarding the Kang Family’s rebellion was scarce, and instead of worrying, it had turned out to be a blessing. Luckily, it seems the evidence of rebellion in Joseon has been silenced, so now she can proceed with everything as per the brother’s plans. Thank goodness. Murong Sang-a felt relieved.
“I need to prepare for the wedding.”
Even with two days left until the wedding, she hadn’t felt it would truly happen; it had not settled in. Unlike the groom coming from outside, the bride does not have much to do until the wedding day, which further contributed to the lack of reality.
What should she do?
First, she needed to familiarize herself with the wedding ceremony. If she messed up during the wedding, it would be an inconvenience for the brother. Should she practice her makeup, which she had previously ignored? No, during the wedding, the maids will handle the makeup.
What should she do? Murong Sang-a’s heart began to flutter. In the midst of that excitement, there was one man.
The brother is truly a good person.
He has a handsome face and a noble character. Although he has enjoyed somewhat of a decadent lifestyle due to his family’s wealth, isn’t it a man’s virtue to indulge in drinking and merriment?
He has had a few issues with others, but that just means he stands by his beliefs easily. If he’s that type of man, then his determination to save the Murong Family won’t easily waver.
Even if she has no luck with older brothers, it seems she has luck with husbands.
As Murong Sang-a circles around rationalizing herself, an uneasy worry suddenly crossed her mind.
The brother has a lot of experience with women.
Even if he said he would save the Murong Family, what if, perhaps, he didn’t find her appealing and thus decided to change that resolution? She thought that Kang Yoon-ho couldn’t possibly be that kind of man, yet unease crept in.
As she worried, her eyes caught the Joseon Woman’s Handbook tossed aside from last night.
“Ah, this…”
If she were to marry into Joseon, shouldn’t she behave like a Joseon woman?
[Coquettishly leaning against the husband while walking creates a closeness between their bodies. This can make the husband feel good and simultaneously entice him. However, since not many women have the volume to pull this off, it’s best to be done only by those who can.]
The night is still long. Studying the demeanor of a Joseon woman would definitely help the brother.
Thus, Murong Sang-a began to thoroughly read the Joseon Woman’s Handbook that she had tossed aside last night.