The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

Ultimately, watching the martial arts turned out to be a failure.

“Usually, we don’t show our martial arts practice to non-family members, but since you’ll soon be married into the Moyong Family, we’ll allow you to witness the great Moyong Family’s martial arts.”

I sat in one of the Moyong Family’s practice arenas, ready to witness their martial arts.

Since the elite guards of Moyong Bi, the Changbongdae, were either in confinement or on leave, other Moyong Family warriors appeared.

“The origin of the Moyong Family’s martial arts dates back over a thousand years, starting from the Yan Dynasty’s royal family…”

This letter, which first began in England and took a year to complete…

One of the Moyong Family warriors began explaining in front of me how historically significant and impressive their martial arts were.

It felt like I was watching a home shopping show host.

Before selling a product, they explained why it was so great and why you should buy it. Couldn’t they just show it to me?

Well, they had to explain it enthusiastically. Look at the Namgung Clan. Wow! Changgungmuaegeombeop! Wow! Jegwanggeomhyeong!

What about the Sichuan Tang Family? This was the Sichuan Tang Family’s Muhyeongjidok! And that’s Mancheonhwa’u! The famous martial arts of renowned families didn’t need explanations. They spoke for themselves.

The Namgung Clan with swords, the Sichuan Tang Family with poison, the Hebei Peng Family with knives, and the Jegal Clan with formations. In martial arts novels, families often had distinct attributes, but the Moyong Family always seemed vague.

The martial arts of the Moyong Family often lacked character, which was why they were frequently in the second league whenever the great or eight families were mentioned.

That was why character and naming were important in fantasy or martial arts. The Moyong Family lacked that.

No, the Moyong Family did have a character. They were descendants of a foreign nation and were often traitors. They played the villain well.

“First, I’ll show you the ‘Starting Form’.”

Here it was. The Starting Form.

It was like a 30-second commercial for martial arts, flashy but not aggressive. The Starting Form of the Moyong Family was indeed spectacular.

If they filmed it and used it for an advertisement, people would line up to join the Moyong Family.

“Wow!”

“Now, let me show you a simple sparring demonstration.”

Seeing my impressed expression, the warrior who had demonstrated the Starting Form called another to prepare for sparring.

“Hyah!”

The two exchanged blows with real swords, not wooden ones, engaging skillfully in offense and defense without injuring each other.

Hmm.

Hmm…

Hmmmm!

I felt like a commentator at the World’s Greatest Martial Arts Tournament. They were moving so fast that my eyes could barely follow.

Even in this martial arts world, Kang Yun-ho was just a commoner. I thought maybe focusing hard would reveal hidden internal energy and enhance my vision, but it was useless. It just seemed to add wrinkles to my face.

“That’s all for today.”

The demonstration ended, and both warriors looked at me expectantly for praise.

Clap, clap.

“Well observed. Truly the profound martial arts of the Moyong Family! My understanding has expanded!”

It was hard for a commoner to truly appreciate the martial arts of masters. I had learned a lot. Applauding, I continued to shower praises on the Moyong Family’s martial arts.

After the demonstration, I briefly greeted the guests attending the Moyong Family’s wedding and then returned to my room.

“Should I learn some martial arts while I’m here?”

In this martial arts novel world, I should at least learn some martial arts. Thinking of ways to do so, I drifted off to sleep.

How long had it been since she last cried like today?

Moyong Sang-ah thought it seemed like a distant memory, almost forgotten.

She felt as though she were adrift alone on a deserted island at sea. Alone in that desolate place, overwhelmed by loneliness and distress, her body and mind began to wear thin.

Doing everything by herself, the act of walking confidently on her own neared its limit. Then, one day, her fiance descended from a large ship to help her, extending his hand.

She couldn’t contain her tears at his final words.

She had so terribly misunderstood her fiance. How could she have so misjudged such a righteous man? Moyong Sang-ah felt a deep shame.

As Moyong Sang-ah wept, Kang Yun-ho approached in surprise and attempted to wipe her tears with his sleeve. She felt warmth in her heart at his awkward attempt to comfort her, followed by his hesitant withdrawal.

When her tears had lessened, Kang Yun-ho boldly produced an ointment from his pocket and began to apply it to Moyong Sang-ah’s face.

[What’s this?]

Startled, Moyong Sang-ah looked at him, and Kang Yun-ho hesitated, unsure whether to write or speak.

“Congratulations on passing the test. Now, only the wedding remains. This is tiger balm, good for bruises. It wouldn’t do for my soon-to-be wife to have scars.”

Kang Yun-ho carefully treated Moyong Sang-ah’s cheek, slightly swollen from being struck by Moyong Bi.

The warmth and affection in her fiance’s touch on her cheek made Moyong Sang-ah’s heart, still damp from tears, feel somewhat defenseless. Thus, she placed her hand on the back of Kang Yun-ho’s as he applied the ointment.

The man’s hand was so rough. Yet, for some reason, it felt reassuring and safe.

“If you put your hand there, I’ll have trouble applying this.”

His awkward, blunt words made her hesitate, yet Moyong Sang-ah’s hand remained in place.

“Miss,”

As she recalled a moment that had made her heart flutter, the Changbongdae leader appeared.

“What brings you here, Changbongdae leader?”

“I’ve tried every means in Joseon, but can’t seem to get through.”

The thing she had been trying to ignore suddenly came to the surface.

“What about the Kang family’s rebellion?”

“As sad as it is… It seems the evidence has not been dismissed.”

“That’s good.”

She would have committed a grave sin. Moyong Sang-ah felt relieved at the Changbongdae leader’s words.

“It’s too early to give up. In Joseon, they secretly capture all the rebels at once for a thorough crackdown. The lack of news might be because of that.”

Disappointed by Moyong Sang-ah’s expressionless face, the Changbongdae leader tried to comfort her.

“There’s no need for comforting impossibilities, Changbongdae leader.”

“Miss… I’m sorry. I failed in my duty.”

“It’s alright. If I end up married and expelled from the Moyong family, come to the Kang family. I’ll use my power to take you all in.”

The Changbongdae would be a great asset in their counterattack against the Moyong family.

“If that comes to pass, I’ll go to the Kang family.”

“Alright.”

Moyong Sang-ah turned her head to look outside.

“…. I’ll take my leave now.”

Filled with regret, the Changbongdae leader left without lifting his head.

She almost ruined everything. Moyong Sang-ah sighed softly in relief.

To think she almost destroyed the family of the man who had risked his life for her. That must never happen.

The scant evidence against the Kang family’s rebellion, which had worried her, turned out to be a blessing. It seemed Joseon had dismissed the evidence of rebellion, so now she could proceed with Kang Yun-ho’s plan. What a relief. Moyong Sang-ah felt reassured.

“I should prepare for the wedding.”

With the wedding only two days away, she couldn’t believe it was really happening. As a bride from within, unlike a groom from outside, she had little to do until the wedding day, which also made it feel unreal.

What should she do?

She needed to familiarize herself with the wedding procedures first. Any mistake during the wedding would inconvenience him. Should she practice makeup, which she had never cared for? No, the maids would do the makeup on the wedding day.

What to do? Moyong Sang-ah’s heart began to flutter. At the center of that excitement was a man.

He was truly a good man.

Handsome and upright. He might have enjoyed a somewhat dissolute life due to his family’s wealth, but wasn’t drinking and merrymaking a man’s virtue?

He had had a few problems with others, but that also meant he didn’t easily bend his beliefs. Such a man would not easily give up his resolve to save the Moyong family.

She might not have the fortune of elder brothers, but perhaps she was lucky in husbands.

While rationalizing to herself, a worrying thought suddenly crossed her mind.

“He has a lot of experience with women.”

Even though he said he would save the Moyong family, what if he didn’t like her? The thought made her anxious, even though she believed Kang Yun-ho wasn’t that kind of man.

While worrying, her eyes fell on the [Joseon Women’s Behavior Guide] she had thrown away last night.

“Yes, this…”

If she was to marry into Joseon, she needed to act like a Joseon woman.

[Discreetly clingy. When walking arm-in-arm with the husband, intentionally press the chest close. It pleases the husband and seduces him at the same time. However, only women with enough volumecan do this, so it’s best done by those who can.]

The night was still young. Studying the conduct of Joseon women would surely help him.

And so, Moyong Sang-ah began to read the [Joseon Women’s Behavior Guide] she had thrown away last night.