NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3
“I’ve used it all up.”
After writing all night, I had put my efforts into a book. I stared at the book I wrote for the ultimate survival strategy.
Who knew that the traditional book-making experience would come in handy like this?
Writers speak with their words.
For the plan I came up with to work, this book plays an extremely important role.
While the princess heroine in the story acts on instinct as a brute force heroine, Murong Sang-a was closer to a strategic heroine.
Somehow, I had to make sure Murong Sang-a read this book alone.
“I need to come up with a brilliant design.”
It’s almost like a gambler trying to swindle a mark. If you want to seat the mark at the gambling table, you need actors, players, and money lenders—so many people and efforts involved.
The problem is that the actor, the player, and the money lender are all Kang Yoon-ho.
And it’s not enough that I have to sit the main heroine at the table; it’s going to be a tough battle.
“Well, I just have to work hard.”
“Young Master, did you cough? Breakfast is ready, and we’ll depart once everyone has eaten.”
“Yeah. I’m going.”
I packed the scrolls into my bag and opened the door.
——————–
Murong Family.
Unlike other families that are generally Han Chinese, they are of Xianbei descent and are actually descendants of the Yan royal family from the era of the Five Barbarians and Sixteen States.
To Han Chinese, they may be seen as barbarians, but they are located on the outskirts of Yodong Province.
Even though they’ve established themselves in Yodong Province, no one would be brave enough to call a member of the Murong family a barbarian.
Given their location on the outskirts and the absence of other sects, the influence of the Murong family in Yodong Province was enormous.
Moreover, this area was also essential for traveling from Joseon to the Central Plains.
“Deputy Head, the fiancé of Miss Murong Sang-a has arrived, and he is three days away.”
The head of guards delivered the news to the office of Deputy Head Murong Bi.
“That was quick.”
There were already guests who had arrived, yet the actual groom was still three days away? That’s a blatant show of disrespect to the Murong family.
If this were a normal wedding, the Deputy Head would have probably thrown a huge fit.
“Apparently, it’s because Master Kang Yoon-ho caught the flu, so try to calm your anger.”
In reality, it wasn’t the flu; it was a hangover.
Having drank years’ worth of alcohol before departure, Kang Yoon-ho was now bedridden because of it.
The Deputy Head’s father couldn’t bear to say that his son was late for the wedding due to a hangover, so he passed it off as the flu.
“Tsk tsk. If he had trained in martial arts, he wouldn’t be so easily stricken with illness. When Master Kang arrives, I’ll have to teach him at least a simple inner cultivation technique.”
“They say Joseon looks down on military officials, so if he wishes to continue with his family’s duties, he probably won’t have the opportunity to learn martial arts, which means he likely won’t train at all.”
“Is that so? I’m not interested in the affairs of barbarian states. But I guess there’s a reason someone dealing in so much ginseng wouldn’t be trained in martial arts.”
Although he was a member of the Murong family, who were also considered barbarians, they had long been integrated into China for over a thousand years, so such notions were absent.
“If this marriage goes through, it will bring tremendous wealth to the Murong family.”
The Kang family was in dire need of protection from the increasing number of bandits. And the Murong family wanted the excess wealth flowing into the Kang family.
The best way for families to easily address each other’s shortcomings is indeed through marriage.
“Yes, that’s how it should be. Many have already fallen victim to this.”
“I never expected the barbarians’ guard warriors to be this strong. It really took me by surprise.”
The problem was that the bandits who had been attacking the Kang family were all hired by the Demonic Cult at the behest of the Murong family.
“Still, it’s a relief that things went according to the head guard’s plan.”
“It’s just the wisdom of a mere commoner. The true brilliance belongs to the Deputy Head’s scheme.”
“That girl Sang-a. She probably never thought she would be sold off like this.”
“Giving a precious head of house candidate away to a barbarian… your relatives probably didn’t accept it easily either.”
“Relatives should have some common sense. My father is comatose. I’m the Deputy Head now. The tide has already turned, right? And if we give them some of the money from the Kang family, it will be done.”
“Once Miss Murong Sang-a is married off, the only direct descendant left will be you, Deputy Head.”
“When that time comes, I won’t forget to repay the efforts of the head guard and the teachings.”
“Is there any doubt about that?”
Laughter echoed through the office.
——
Two days’ journey from the Murong family.
I had written all night and hadn’t slept a wink, so I was dozing off on my horse.
Feeling like I would fall, one of Yoon-ho’s close servants grabbed the reins for me.
Ah, I can just tell this guy.
“Hey, I have something for you to do.”
I made an offer he couldn’t refuse. In a tone that made me feel like I was in a noir film, I spoke to Dolsoi, who always took care of Yoon-ho’s back.
“I can’t hear you.”
Dolsoi said carelessly without even looking my way.
“Hey! Hey!”
“I can’t hear you. My ears won’t work until we arrive at the Murong family.”
“No, Dolsoi, how many bottles of alcohol have I given you and how much meat have I cooked for you? Are you really going to be like that?”
Of course, I didn’t directly give it. But since it was all from Kang Yoon-ho, it’s kind of the same, right?
“Young Master, I was really told by the elders to be careful. If something happens to you, you might have a few issues, but I’ll be dead!”
I guess the old man had a stern talk with him. Well, given he’s always the one watching Yoon-ho when he gets into trouble, it makes sense.
So normal words wouldn’t work on him.
But that doesn’t mean I’m out of options.
“Dolsoi.”
“Yes?”
“I heard you’ve been seeing Ok-bun lately.”
Before departing for the Murong family, I had already heard from the household servants about Dolsoi getting cozy with the neighbor Ok-bun.
“……. Why do you ask?”
“Well, since you’re in a relationship with Ok-bun, what’s going to happen to Mae-hyang waiting for you in the pleasure district?”
The household servants might only know about him and Ok-bun, but I know about last night’s rendezvous with Mae-hyang too.
“No way! Are you really going to tell Ok-bun?!”
“Surely~ I wouldn’t~ do that~.”
I teased him by wiggling my eyebrows.
“……. Fine. What do you want me to do?”
Dolsoi sighed and looked at me.
“Let’s take a look at the list of betrothal gifts.”
These are the gifts that a man sends to the bride’s family when marrying. I needed that list.
“Young Master, if you touch the betrothal gifts, your head will be at risk, not just a bruise!”
“Ok-bun would probably at least want to break your legs?”
“……. I’ll get it. But you promise not to touch the betrothal gifts.”
“Depends.”
“Young Master!”
“Okay, okay, just bring it.”
So Dolsoi brought me the list of betrothal gifts.
Let me see.
“Just as I thought, there’s a lot of ginseng.”
Ginseng made up a major part of the betrothal gifts.
During the Joseon Dynasty, ginseng was a vital export product that was crucial for the national economy.
It was almost at the level of semiconductors today. Ginseng produced in the country was of little efficacy, while ginseng from Goryeo was highly sought after for its effectiveness.
In fact, Japan even minted special silver coins for ginseng trade, and far off in Southeast Asia, Goryeo ginseng was considered a state gift from the king to his subjects.
It wasn’t some fake elixir found in martial arts novels; Goryeo ginseng was treated as a genuine elixir in the Asian sphere.
But this isn’t the past; this is a martial arts dating sim.
So, what kind of properties does this practically miraculous ginseng have?
What else? It restores HP, replenishes MP, and increases maximum MP—all-purpose item indeed.
If the protagonist gets hurt, it’s ginseng. If they want to enhance their inner strength, it’s still ginseng. I’ve seen so much ginseng it’s getting tiresome.
Are they advertising for ginseng or something? Is this product placement?
I wonder if the scenario writer doesn’t know there are other elixirs besides ginseng?
This really makes me think that the scenario writer’s research is quite lacking.
Anyway, sending such ginseng as betrothal gifts in a martial arts family is undoubtedly a wise move. It would be great for strengthening the family’s power and easy to liquidate.
“This isn’t what I’m looking for.”
While playing the martial arts dating sim, various items appeared to strengthen the protagonist.
If this family has enough money to buy the Murong family’s heroine, surely there must be some items I’ve seen among them.
I need to hope that there might be some items essential for survival.
With that hope in mind, I began looking through the items.
Let’s see. Silk, jade, pearls, silver…. these will all just end up being taken by Murong Sang-a anyway.
Not this junk.
Oh?
“Why is this here?!”
There was an item on the betrothal gift list that I never expected to find. An item that will perfectly execute my cunning plan for swindling the heroine, no less.