Chapter 9

“A letter to Nanchang? Whatever for?”

“I wrote a novel of my own, and I would like to send it to the Baekseo Antique Bookstore in Nanchang.”

“Oh? And what do you intend to do with it?”

“Are you aware that Father gave me an allowance far too substantial for someone my age?”

“Of course I am. You accomplished a great deed for our family a month ago.”

Though they had yet to spend any of that wealth openly for fear of drawing the Cheongsa Gang’s watchful gaze, Jeong In-hwa had already heard from the patriarch, Baek Mu-ryang, that a considerable fortune had come into their hands.

“To put it simply, I wish to pursue a small business venture with the Baekseo Antique Bookstore.”

“Are you hoping to sell the novel you wrote?”

“That is my intention.”

“Hmm…”

Though she had spent most of her life secluded within the inner quarters, Jeong In-hwa was far from a foolish woman.

Reading, as the saying went, was nourishment for the mind. Having devouring countless volumes during her long, quiet hours indoors, she was remarkably well-versed in the ways of the world.

And to her mind, turning a profit by selling novels was no simple matter.

People of high station had little taste for popular fiction, yet bound books crafted from fine paper were terribly expensive to produce.

“As your mother, I do not believe this is a wise venture. Entertaining though Lover’s Fate at the Precipice was, common folk would rather spare a few coppers to hear a storyteller than purchase a bound book.”

“I agree completely.”

Those with meager coin would far rather toss a few coppers to a street performer than pay a fortune for an expensive volume in print.

The nobility, fiercely mindful of their dignity, filled their study shelves with the esteemed works of Confucius and Mencius, never stooping to adorn them with wild tales and trivial writings.

Selling wild tales and trivial writings in book form, then, seemed a fool’s errand.

However.

Yang-hwi was confident.

‘Ilpilhuiseo. All I have to do is follow his method.’

Roughly fifteen years from now, a scholar writing under the pen name Ilpilhuiseo would burst onto the scene in the murim.

Renowned for spinning entire narratives in a single sweep of the brush, he would author more than half the novels Yang-hwi had ever read.

‘Ilpilhuiseo was hailed as a great literary master, despite writing nothing more than wild tales and trivial writings.’

Everyone acknowledged it: Ilpilhuiseo’s writings held a value worth handing down through generations for all to read avidly.

The reason was simple.

Every text he penned resonated with an inscrutable, profound energy, while weaving a narrative so endlessly entertaining that readers were powerless to look away.

His fame reached such heights that procuring his books to grace private libraries became the height of fashion even among prestigious households.

‘Though he met his ruin after repeatedly overstepping the bounds of decency in his arrogance.’

He had traded on his prestige to toy with women far and wide.

In the end, his folly led him to seduce the mistress of one of the Five Great Families, and he met his death with his limbs severed.

“I believe failure experienced at a young age becomes nourishment for growth. I wish to give it a try, so please grant me your permission, Mother.”

Jeong In-hwa fell silent for a moment.

From the moment they first met, this child had displayed an extraordinary wit.

The Baek Clan had nearly faced a catastrophic crisis that day, only to escape disaster through this child’s clever scheming.

‘And as if that were not enough, he displayed immense martial talent.’

Though merely Third-rate, a martial family was still a martial family. Yet in the span of a single month, Yang-hwi had won the acknowledgment of every retainer under their roof.

‘My husband even said he possesses Heavenly Martial Talent.’

A boy blessed with Heaven-sent Martial Talent.

What was more, if he had truly conceived and drafted the story she had just finished, his literary talent was no less than his martial talent.

“Hwi-ya.”

“Yes, Mother?”

“I genuinely wonder if you are truly eight years old. It almost makes me suspect a Taoist Sect immortal underwent Reversion to Youth and took on the appearance of a child.”

It was only natural she felt that way; Yang-hwi was well aware that his actions were quite hasty.

However.

‘If I am to elevate the clan into the World’s Greatest Family before my life ends, time is short.’

That was why he relentlessly pushed forward, inviting astonishment, admiration, and even suspicion from everyone around him.

“How could that be, Mother? I have simply seen and heard more than others since the day I was born.”

“Yes, I suppose so. Very well. I will dispatch someone to Nanchang, so prepare your letter.”

“Thank you, Mother.”

Having obtained her blessing, Yang-hwi offered his respects and left Jeong In-hwa’s room.

He then drafted an accompanying missive and handed it, along with the book, to the retainer departing for Nanchang.

‘Someone else might ignore it even after reading it, but the Chu Yong-wol I know would never do that.’

Yang-hwi was certain: the moment Chu Yong-wol laid eyes on the letter and the book, she would make straight for Baek Manor.

‘If everything goes according to plan, the Baek Clan will secure a source of wealth without having to worry about competitors.’

The most common way for a martial family to earn money was escort work, contracting with taverns and courtesan houses to provide martial artists.

However, putting aside that most retainers possessed low martial prowess, the Baek Clan could not create a funding source that way in the first place.

‘Most taverns and courtesan houses in E’an County are under the protection of Black Dao Factions.’

Going beyond simple protection, it was safe to say they were effectively owned by Black Dao Factions.

The moment the Baek Clan tried to get involved, the Black Dao Factions would consider their territory invaded and bare their fangs.

‘Well, there are ways around it, and if only for the retainers’ experience, we will eventually have to expand into escort work.’

Since it was impossible right now, he had to launch a new business to generate profit.

For an outstanding martial artist could never be born without abundant financial backing.

In that sense.

‘I also need to pass on the martial arts I created as soon as possible.’

The Harmonious Heavenly Dual Origin Art and 108 Sky-Covering Swords that he had created while wandering the murim as a vagabond for over a dozen years in his past life.

Setting aside the sword technique, the Harmonious Heavenly Dual Origin Art at least had to be passed on urgently.

For internal energy was best cultivated as early as possible with a superior Mental Method.

‘I need a proper excuse. What would be good?’

Claiming he had created it himself was out of the question.

No matter how genius one was, creating an peerless Divine Art at eight years old made no sense.

That meant he had to pass on the martial art in a way that was more believable and wouldn’t arouse suspicion…

‘Using someone else as a proxy will definitely be best.’

* * *

Excluding the patriarch’s family, there were twelve retainers residing at Baek Manor in total.

Four of them came from vassal families that had served the Baek Clan for generations, while the remaining eight were orphans—regardless of age—who had been saved by the Baek Clan or raised as retainers from childhood.

“Young Master, you are training hard today as well!”

“Young Master, if anyone dares look down on you, please tell me. I will thoroughly flog them!”

“Young Master So, never forget for even a moment that you are the pillar destined to carry on the family.”

To them, Baek Heon-so was the only son of the patriarch Baek Mu-ryang and the eldest son of the direct line who had saved their lives; thus, ever since he was born, Baek Heon-so had grown up shouldering all the affection and expectations of the retainers.

This shaped the young Baek Heon-so’s personality into one that enjoyed and desired praise by meeting others’ expectations.

In truth, it could not be helped.

If expectations, affection, and praise had been abundant, it might have been different, but he was forced to realize that wasn’t the case due to the existence of his younger sister, Baek Yeon-yeon.

His sister, Baek Yeon-yeon, was the beloved darling of everyone in the Baek Clan.

Even Baek Heon-so himself could not help but dote on his sister who monopolized everyone’s love, rather than feel jealous of her, so that said enough.

Therefore.

All that remained for Baek Heon-so was to diligently work hard, study, gain achievements, and earn praise through them.

“You already execute the Sky-Covering Sword Technique quite well. Splendid, my son.”

“A pillar of the family is eagerly awaited like a day feeling like three years, but since Young Master So is so diligent, he will surely achieve great success.”

“So-ya, I am truly proud of you.”

Ever since he first held a sword at the young age of five, Baek Heon-so had never skipped a single day of training.

Unlike Baek Yeon-yeon, who would whine about wanting to rest on days she didn’t feel well, he had never rested once.

Whenever it was tough, he repeated to himself:

I am the eldest son of the Baek Clan. I am the next patriarch. I am the person who must lead everyone.

Perhaps that was why.

When told an unknown boy had become his older brother, rejection came before welcome.

‘I’m right here, so why are they accepting him as a son instead of just a retainer!’

To a boy who sought his own worth in others’ judgment, Yang-hwi’s very existence felt like a threat.

He was displeased, resentful, and disliked him.

And when he showed those feelings in his young heart, he was beaten.

-You arrogant little brat.

A shocking remark heard for the first time in his life. And a whip of love disguised as a spar.

The events of that day were still strongly engraved in Baek Heon-so’s mind.

Because the boy’s very existence was a shock and an anomaly.

And.

Such shock and anomaly were not confined merely to the first day.

-So. In the first form of the Sky-Covering Sword Technique, it is important to freely connect the power originating from the lower body.

On the day he held a sword for the first time, his brother surpassed him.

-When executing the Harmonious Six-Combinations Art, even if it’s hard, you must put maximum strain on your body. That’s the only way to temper it properly.

Not just the sword techniques, but he also mastered the Harmonious Six-Combinations Art in a matter of days, and then offered pointers and critiques.

‘He’s showing off that he’s a genius. He’s trying to steal my praise.’

He had thought so at first.

However, he soon realized that was not the case.

-That’s it. That’s how you do it. Well done, So. Truly splendid. Just as expected of Father’s son. His brother showered him with unstinting praise, invoking their father, the man Heon-so revered above all else.

-Brother, you are the thickest pillar of the Baek Clan. The weight on your shoulders must be heavy, but I will help you a lot by your side, so stay strong. Got it? His brother offered comfort, offering to share the crushing weight of expectation that Heon-so had silently endured in his young heart.

-Everyone, accept this. It is a special reward given out of gratitude for all your service to the clan.

Suddenly, Father distributed money to all the retainers, and that too had been brought in by his brother.

And the distributed money was reportedly only a tiny portion of it.

It was an incredible feat that Baek Heon-so could never have accomplished.

Jealousy.

An emotion directed when an opponent considered an equal steps ahead.

When an opponent shows a presence that goes beyond superiority into transcendence, one cannot even dare to feel jealousy.

And the emotion filling that vacant space was precisely…

Respect.

‘Brother… Brother Yang-hwi…’

This was a vast change, different from Yang-hwi’s past life.

In his past life, Yang-hwi was an orphan and a beggar boy.

Thus, he had been starved for affection and intoxicated by familial recognition.

Because of that, while he held Baek Heon-so dear as family and a brother, he had failed to look into his inner thoughts and care for him.

However, this life was different.

Spending most of his day with his brother and sister, he faithfully fulfilled his duty as an elder brother.

‘So an elder brother… feels like this.’

Someone without an elder brother cannot know what kind of presence or meaning an elder brother holds.

That was why Baek Heon-so had also felt envy and rejection when Yang-hwi first appeared claiming to be his elder brother.

However.

-Why did I swipe the silver? Naturally to buy our siblings delicious food!

Looking at Yang-hwi, Baek Heon-so was realizing what an elder brother meant and how reassuring a presence he was.

Unlike parents who belonged to a different generation, an elder brother was close despite being family.

A presence more reliable than anyone else, whom one could even lean on.

In Baek Heon-so’s heart, Yang-hwi was taking root as such a presence.

That very Yang-hwi.

The brother who had accomplished the unbelievable against the Black Path Band from his very first day at Baek Manor, and made him feel astonishment day after day.

He had pulled off another stunt.

“Ilpilhuiseo! The moment I received the letter sent to our Baekseo Antique Bookstore, I rushed right over!”

A woman with a face looking barely past twenty, draped in silk from head to toe.

Seeing his brother grinning foolishly back at the woman, Baek Heon-so thought to himself:

‘Brother has accomplished another bizarre… remarkably clever feat.’

“Ilpilhuiseooo! May the writer who bestowed Dongbang Seoto upon this maiden quickly reveal himself!”