“It was short-sighted of .”
Cheong-un the young hero apologized imdiately.
When I gave him a confused look, unsure what he was talking about, Cheong-un continued speaking.
“After hearing what the Tang Clan people said, I realized—even if there are intimate scenes—it’s still a true story of a chivalrous warrior. They said Storm of the Tang Clan planted admiration for chivalry not just in the hearts of martial artists, but even in the people of Yichang. I must have been looking at it with too naive a perspective.”
Cheong-un lowered his head, clearly apologetic.
“You shouldn’t be the one bowing your head. There’s nothing for you to apologize for, Young Hero.”
Please, raise your head. Cheong-un. You haven’t done anything wrong. I hurriedly stood up from the bed where I had been sitting and stepped toward him.
“No, I must. If you’ve written sothing popular, I’m sure it would’ve been successful even if it were just ordinary erotica. But to keep writing about chivalry despite your circumstances... thinking of that makes it impossible for not to apologize.”
Once again, Cheong-un bowed his head to .
Sorry, man. Honestly, I didn’t expect an actual apology. I just thought easing the awkward tension between us would be enough. Didn’t think he’d go this far.
Granted, I did stir up public opinion. But you know how people are. Even when the stage is perfectly set, there are countless jerks who refuse to say even a simple “s-sorry,” stuttering instead, “W-what the hell? You were the one in the wrong!”—and all that crap.
And this ti, I was in the wrong. It would’ve been natural for Cheong-un to think, Why should I apologize to so black-haired barbarian? To so smut writer, no less? But to apologize right away like this?
“Then allow to apologize as well.”
I bowed in return to Cheong-un, who looked like he had no intention of lifting his head.
“...Pardon?”
“Standing before a hero I’ve long admired, I couldn’t bear to show my shaful flaws. I’m sorry I wasn’t honest about the full nature of my novel.”
It’s true the tension between us was sparked by Cheong-un denying , but I had given him the opening. In this kind of situation, admitting fault to ease each other’s burden is the best path forward.
“Everyone wants their rits seen and their faults hidden. You should bla for reacting so poorly to a minor flaw.”
Cheong-un glanced at again, then bowed his head once more.
“How could soone who owes a life debt bla his benefactor?”
Can’t we just call the mutual apologies even and move on? This righteous, well-mannered, handso hero from the great Wudang Sect keeps apologizing, and it’s starting to make uncomfortable.
“I’m the one who should be ashad. I criticized Master Kang without knowing a single thing about his circumstances.”
We just kept apologizing to each other.
Better than awkward tension, sure—but this cycle of mutual regret isn’t much better. At this rate, we’re about to end up like so drama where every fight ends in a twist on top of another twist and nobody’s happy.
I straightened my back, gently placed my hand on Cheong-un’s shoulder to help him stand, and spoke.
“Well then, since we’re both sorry, let’s agree not to bring up who was right or wrong anymore.”
“...You would really do that?”
At /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ my words, Cheong-un nodded with a grateful look on his face.
----------
If there’s one thing in this world that often breaks imrsion because it doesn't match the wuxia setting, it's the food.
But on the flip side, one of the things I appreciate for ignoring historical accuracy is the beautifully maintained plumbing system.
Maybe it’s because the ga designers wanted all characters to look squeaky clean at all tis—but in this world, all you have to do is turn a faucet in a guest room, and out cos water.
In proper wuxia, if you wanted to wash up at an inn, you’d be paying a fee per bucket of well water.
“The water was cold earlier, but it’s lukewarm now. If you’re planning to wash up, this might be a good ti.”
Of course, even with a working plumbing system, hot water is entirely up to the innkeeper’s mood.
Wanting to make sure Cheong-un could also bathe with warm water, I showered quickly like it was a military ti-attack during limited hot water hours, then called out to him.
“Ah! I-I’m fine, really.”
Cheong-un glanced at , then turned his head and faced the wall. I guess we may have reconciled, but being half-naked around each other is still a bit awkward.
“They might have turned on the hot water just briefly since the dinner hour has passed. If you don’t go in now, you’ll be stuck with cold water in this weather.”
“I’ve trained under waterfalls in the dead of winter. I’ll be fine.”
Wait, did he seriously train under a waterfall in winter? I’ve only dealt with fake martial artists so far, so hearing that from a real one kind of stunned .
I nodded at his words and changed into comfortable clothes before approaching my bed.
“...Why are there dumplings?”
A few dumplings were sitting on a plate on my bed.
“I was worried that Master Kang hadn’t eaten because he was concerned about Lady Tang, so I brought so.”
So that noise earlier—he must’ve opened the door, gone out, and co back.
“I appreciate the thought, but... I have no appetite because of Hwa-rin.”
I appreciated the gesture, but I really had no appetite. Hwa-rin was still unconscious, barely swallowing liquid food.
Will we even make it to the Sichuan Tang Clan? And if we do, can she even survive? The worry I’d shoved to the corner of my mind suddenly ca crashing down, taking my appetite with it.
I picked up the dumpling plate and set it on the nightstand.
“If you wish to protect Lady Tang, then you must also take care of yourself, Master Kang. If you have no appetite, consider eating as accepting my apology.”
Cheong-un, who had sohow already co to my side, held out the dumpling plate again.
I didn’t want to eat, but I couldn’t ruin the mood we’d just barely salvaged, so I took the plate.
“This is... well then, at least let pay for them. I’m grateful for your concern, but I can’t let you spend money on .”
“You needn’t worry. I didn’t spend any money.”
“...Did soone else in your party buy them?”
“No, it’s just—the innkeeper’s daughter said they were extras and gave them to for free.”
What nonsense is that? Extra food? In all my days scraping by as a black-haired barbarian, I’ve never seen a single free dumpling in an inn.
“She also said if the hot water doesn’t work, I can co to her room for help. Seems like the people in this backwater village aren’t so cold-hearted after all.”
Cheong-un gave an awkward smile.
So that’s what happened. I stared at Cheong-un for a mont.
That refined face you’d never expect to see in a place like this... I haven’t seen him naked, but given his martial training, he probably has that lean, sculpted body won go nuts for.
Jealous. What a life, being a flower-boy.
I bit into the dumpling. Maybe they made it special? It felt juicier than usual, like it had more broth packed inside.
“Tastes good.”
For so reason, I felt bitter inside, but I still looked at Cheong-un and said it politely.
“I’m glad it suits your taste.”
Only then did Cheong-un smile and nod, looking satisfied.
This takes back. Back in school, there was a friend who looked just like Cheong-un. On Valentine’s Day, his desk would be piled high with chocolates.
—“Hey, Yun-ho. Wanna have one?”
I’d stare at him enviously, and when he offered, I’d unconsciously nod and get a single chocolate.
That... that’s what they call an “innocent trap.”
—“Why the hell are you eating that?!”
Of course, the girl who gave him the chocolate saw eating it. She wailed like the world was ending. Even after we both apologized, I still got trash-talked behind my back. Just , not even him.
It was ridiculous. The guy felt so bad he ended up compensating with 20 hours of PC room ti and three instant ran als. A dramatic peace treaty, you could say.
“Would you like a dumpling?”
Snapping out of my mory, I looked up after finishing one, and saw Cheong-un staring intently at the dumplings.
“A-ah, no, I’m fine!”
Startled by whatever thought he’d been lost in, he waved his hands and quickly answered.
“Is sothing bothering you?”
“Ah, it’s nothing... It’s just that seeing those dumplings reminded of an old story I read about a Beggars’ Sect warrior.”
A Beggars’ Sect hero who liked dumplings?
“You an the Great Hero Gu-gai, who loved dumplings?”
“You know the tale of Hero Gu-gai?”
Cheong-un looked at with surprised eyes.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
“A writer is soone who writes, yes, but they’re also soone who reads a lot. Of course, I know the story of Hero Gu-gai.”
I rembered Gu-gai. Before I wrote Storm of the Tang Clan, I had read through many martial arts tales as part of my research.
Granted, it wasn’t exactly fun—the depiction of the Beggars’ Sect was too filthy and a bit too realistic for my taste—but I distinctly rembered laughing at the idea that even in this world, soone could be so obsessed with dumplings.
“The tale of Hero Gu-gai isn’t popular, especially among the stories of the Beggars’ Sect. And the book’s hard to co by... You’ve read it?”
Cheong-un looked at with faint suspicion, as if testing . That expression—like when you’re watching a strear pretend to be an otaku and you’re thinking, You’re just a poser, aren’t you? I see right through you.
Well, I can’t bla him. Martial arts stories aren’t very popular in this world. Saying you’ve read an obscure one might naturally raise eyebrows.
“I’m a writer, but I’m also a bookstore manager. Of course I’ve read it.”
There’s a lot of unsold inventory at Daseogak because martial stories don’t sell well. I decided not to add that bit.
“Soone who’s read the story of Hero Gu-gai... Honestly, this is my first ti eting such a person!”
There was a strange excitent in Cheong-un’s voice. With soone this thrilled, I figured I should match his energy.
“It wasn’t exactly a bestseller, just like his unpopular nickna ‘the Dog Beggar who begs for dog at.’ But if you follow his actions, he was undoubtedly a chivalrous man. Especially the part where he storms into a corrupt sect bleeding the local rchants dry, and beats the sect master senseless for refusing to share dog at—now that was cathartic.”
“Yes, exactly! That’s one of my favorite parts too!”
Cheong-un suddenly leaned in, his face alight with excitent, like a classmate who thought no one would ever appreciate his obscure decades-old favorite work, only to discover his deskmate was a fellow fan.
“...Haha.”
Too close, man. I forced a smile to subtly convey that, good-looking or not, a man’s face that close was uncomfortable.
“Ah! I—I’m sorry.”
Realizing he had overstepped, Cheong-un stepped back slightly, though he couldn’t quite hide his excitent.
“No need to apologize. It’s only natural to be happy when you et soone who shares your interests.”
I offered the courtesy of eating another dumpling before getting ready to lie down.
“Um, actually...”
Even after I lay down, Cheong-un didn’t move.
“Do you need sothing?”
“If it’s alright with you... may I trouble you to talk a bit more about Hero Gu-gai’s story?”
He hung his head low as he asked, as if embarrassed to admit he wanted to talk about a novel. If he was that ashad, he could’ve just stayed quiet—so this must really an a lot to him.
So this is Cheong “The Orthodox” Un, and yet... this side of him is unexpected.
He must admire heroes deeply, and has probably been starving for soone to talk to about an unpopular hero story. As soone who’s once obsessed over niche content myself, I get it.
I should stay on good terms with Cheong-un. I don’t know how far he’ll accompany , but if he stays as a companion, he might stick around longer.
And to get Hwa-rin safely to the Tang Clan, I’ll need all the help I can get.
“Of course.”
I stayed up talking with Cheong-un until my eyelids grew heavy.
---------
Half-asleep, I heard the sound of running water.
“Hmmh... hm-hmm~.”
It started as a low hum, then rose into a lighter, pleasant nasal tune. Sounded like soone was in a good mood.
'Is Cheong-un finally washing up?'
It could be him—but given we’re being hunted, it might also be an intruder. After all, there are thieves who sneak into other people’s rooms, steal their money, fill their bellies, and even use their bathwater with fancy bath bombs before vanishing.
Of course, any intruder bold enough to be caught by would need to restart their training from the basics.
“Young Hero Cheong-un, are you by chance bathing?”
I forced myself fully awake and deliberately projected my voice clearly and firmly.
It was a trick I’d used since my days as a vagabond. Even if I couldn’t get up, just making my presence known would often be enough to startle would-be thieves into fleeing.
If it’s Cheong-un, he’ll answer calmly. If it’s an intruder, they’ll probably panic, thinking their stealth failed against my keen instincts.
'Well? Who are you?'
“ K-Kang Master? I thought you were asleep...”
The voice that answered—flustered and caught off guard—was, to my surprise, none other than Cheong-un.
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