NOVEL NEXT Chapter 34
Gap-su’s banquet for his 60th birthday.
Many people gathered in Chilgok County for Gap-su’s 60th birthday banquet.
Associates of the group, nearby sect martial artists, postmen, and local officials all came to congratulate the group leader Lim Gap-su on his special day.
On such a festive occasion, even uninvited guests are treated kindly. Even the local beggars flocked to Gap-su’s banquet house for a bowl of noodles.
Back in my wandering days in the Central Plains, I often stopped by these banquets for a bowl of noodles. It was a shame I couldn’t come back disguised as someone else for an extra bowl with my black hair.
“Here’s a bowl of noodles!”
“Since this is the prestigious Gap-su Group, add a piece of meat~”
On the path inside the banquet house, I could see beggars munching on noodles outside.
Especially on days like this, beggars always gather. When else would they get a hearty meal? It’s not like they get that chance often.
“Did you hear? Lim Gap-su’s 60th birthday is in two days.”
“A week later, there’s a first birthday party in the rich family next door.”
The beggars have formed a sort of information network about banquets.
In a few days, they will share info about who among the rich in Chilgok County is having a 60th birthday, a first birthday party, or a wedding, adding to the gossip.
In fact, their information-sharing among beggars likely inspired the portrayal of an information guild for beggars in martial arts novels.
When there’s a banquet, countless beggars flock in front of the house. Those throwing the banquet have to feed them well to keep them in check.
If they try to drive the beggars away, it can turn into a mess. The beggars might bang on noisy instruments and disturb the festivities, hurling refuse at invited guests or picking fights.
No host wants to cause bloodshed on a joyous occasion. Thus, they discreetly offer a bowl of noodles or a few pieces of meat to send them on their way.
Even uninvited guests who came to celebrate get treated. It’s a matter of courtesy and tradition.
Of course, just because they don’t shoo away uninvited guests doesn’t mean everyone is welcome. Uninvited visitors only receive a simple meal before being sent off.
Invited guests or esteemed attendees are ushered inside to enjoy delicious food and rare sights while attending the main banquet.
“This way.”
Following the servant’s lead, I entered the inner banquet hall.
Guests dressed in fine clothes, reveling in delicious food and admiring rare sights.
I wish I could join them and enjoy the banquet, but regrettably, I was merely a rare sight myself.
“That concludes our performance!”
The acrobats’ show that was next to me wrapped up.
Given this is a martial arts world, even the circus has a different quality. The masters from the Murong Family were so swift with their blades that it hardly seemed impressive. But the performances they coordinated were praiseworthy.
Unintentionally, I found myself clapping for them from behind the stage.
Now they say it’s my turn? The pressure is on.
“Next is your turn. Go on out.”
The servant from the Gap-su Group called me.
“Yes. Going now.”
What pressure? I’m merely a rare sight. If other people are catered to, I should pull my weight.
“I am a storyteller from Joseon. Kang Mo (某).”
Snap! I dramatically opened my fan to draw attention before greeting the crowd.
“If you’re going to call a storyteller, shouldn’t you call someone from the Central Plains? Why bring in a barbarian?”
“Is the famed Gap-su Group out of storytellers?”
“I feel like I’ve seen you in the market a time or two?”
Some people recognized me, but many didn’t. I do frequent the market, but it looks like people have forgotten the current hotshot.
The reaction before I started was rather cold. Eyes saying, “Let’s see what you can do.”
“Today, I’ll share the tale of the famous Hamurin Prince from Chilgok County!”
I can’t change their perception in an instant. I had to make them enthusiastic with my skills.
“To be or not to be, that is the question!”
After days of eating well and recovering my strength with the Tonae Technique, I was in peak condition. My powerful voice snagged the attention of everyone in the banquet hall.
“The storyteller has a great voice!”
“I heard there’s a famous barbarian in the market these days. So it’s him!”
“My son suddenly heard it and said it was very entertaining. Maybe it’s worth the wait?”
Expectations, keep ‘em coming! Writers thrive on attention, and I haven’t had much in a while. I need to grab some now!
The story’s beginning unfolded just like in the market.
“But heavens, even if I were to kill those rascals, there’s no evidence, and I would be sentenced to death myself, being the prodigal who killed my mother and uncle. However, if I go to the scene of my father’s death and retrieve evidence, I can kill those rascals!!”
Originally, the next part was the most crucial in my tale.
“The wealth of the heir belongs to those dirty rascals. I can’t use filthy money for the sake of avenging my father. Oh heavens! Will you grant me travel expenses?”
Clang! This was where I utilize the Donation Technique.
The job of a storyteller is all about making a living, and this part about making money is crucial.
In the market, I would walk around the audience as my story progressed, waiting for money to fill my purse. But today isn’t the market.
Since they paid for my story upfront, no need for 30-second ads!
“The wealth of the heir belongs to those dirty rascals. I can’t use filthy money to avenge my father! I will depart with the money collected for my father’s birthday gift!”
Cue applause! Thanks for paying up! Don’t forget to leave a like and subscribe!
I hastily passed over the parts where I need to use the Donation Technique and continued my story.
“Uncle! Confess your sins to my father above!”
Pointing my fan toward the empty air representing my uncle, I said with a bold demeanor.
“Already poisoned, and you talk so much! I will personally take your head!”
I lightly turned my body to mimic my uncle’s cunning words, holding the fan like a sword while making a gesture of lunging toward the imaginary Hamurin Prince.
“Ha! That won’t work!”
I lightly parried and posed to strike at his neck.
“That’s impossible! How could you overpower me so easily! What sorcery do you use?”
Usually, I’d move around a lot in the market, but here, I did less, focusing on making overpowering movements.
“Oh. To be able to subdue someone so easily? Wasn’t uncle the greatest warrior of the heir?”
“It seems the Hamurin Prince’s skills have progressed.”
“Seems our Hamurin Prince undertook rigorous training to reach such achievements.”
Nope.
It was just that there were many martial artists here.
In the market, audiences enjoy a nice flashy flourish, but here, they’re all experts. How ridiculous would it look for me to swing my fan in front of them?
Fortunately, my intentions came across well.
It appears that being understated while decisively overwhelming my opponent seems to make me look better.
“I have reached the seventh star of the Ha Family sword technique.”
“Impossible. No one has ever reached the seventh star in the Ha family.”
“The vengeance for my father! My piety towards him! My vendetta against you! All led to my martial achievement!”
“Spare me. I will bury the corpse of your dead mother and quietly retreat!”
“You should have decided to do that before killing my father!”
I acted out the motion of beheading. Ever so slightly showing my back to the audience, I mimicked wiping the blood off my fan.
Typically, you’d kill face-to-face, showing your back is the norm.
“Whoa!”
“Have you finally achieved your vengeance?!”
“You killed your stepmother and avenged your uncle!”
“But the Hamurin Prince is likely in danger now.”
“The Hamurin Prince is poisoned…”
“No way he dies lamely after avenging!”
You got that right, guests. Hamurin bites the dust. The tale of the Hamurin Prince is a tragedy.
“Ugh! Is this how I die, poisoned?”
I intentionally wobbled and went down on one knee.
“No!! Why die after avenging my father’s grudge!!”
“Ah! Such a sad tale on a joyful day!”
The audience began to sigh. Some of the female guests looked like they were about to cry. Makeup’s gonna get wrecked.
Several of the invited guests couldn’t bear to hear more and covered their eyes.
But wait, hold up! This isn’t going to end tragically.
An invited guest said it was too much tragedy on a festive occasion, and offered to pay more to switch it to a comedy.
“I must use the toxin-resistant item left by my father, the Avoid Poison Pearl!”
I pretended to use the all-purpose poison-resistant item from martial arts novels, the Avoid Poison Pearl.
“Ah, so there was an Avoid Poison Pearl among the heir’s artifacts.”
“Of course! It wouldn’t do to end on a tragedy! If it had ended tragically, I’d have kicked that storyteller’s backside!”
“Haha! That’s a bit much!”
“I’m serious.”
“……”
Hearing that made me break out in a cold sweat for a moment. SO glad I modified the ending.
“Ugh. The poison has receded. I achieved my vengeance. Before I turned thirty, I reached the seventh star of the Ha Family sword technique. Oh heavens! My departed father! Please watch over me from above! The Ha family will rise as the greatest household in Joseon!!”
With my hands raised to the heavens, I concluded the story.
“Whoa! That was fun!”
“I was much more engrossed than with the acrobats earlier!”
“Such a captivating tale from Joseon!!”
Receiving thunderous applause, I could step off the stage. Even I think I acted well today. Good conditions really do matter.
As I stepped off the stage, a servant from the Gap-su Group welcomed me.
“I’ve never seen a storyteller like you before!”
The servant exclaimed excitedly, patting my shoulder.
“Haha. You flatter me.”
“Not at all! I’ve invited countless storytellers to our banquet, but I’ve never seen anyone tell a story as deliciously as you!”
“Thank you.”
I genuinely felt I performed well today. An all-out effort!
“I’ve placed your compensation in this pouch here.”
The servant handed me a pouch of money. Ooh, there’s a lot. This is about as much as I’d make in a month in the market.
“The group leader was very pleased! They’ve set up a banquet table for the entertainers in a small banquet hall. Feel free to eat and drink well, and stay another day.”
“I’ll enjoy it!”
With nothing more to worry about, I guess it’s time to celebrate and have some fun!