The Author's Intent

If he could deliver Hak Yu and Yu Seong safely to Hwang Manor, at least one burden would lift from his shoulders. Several others, however, continued to press down on his heart.

Should I pass the Southern Splendor Immortal Art to Jang Hyeon-nam?

Seo Joo-cheon still had not found an answer.

What if he falls to demonic energy while cultivating it, the way Pyo Seon and Jang Hong did?

In the past, he would never have troubled himself over such a thing. He had known perfectly well that Jang Hyeon-nam, the protagonist, would reach the absolute peak through the Southern Splendor Immortal Art.

But ever since he had learned that the art could drag its practitioner into demonic deviation, everything had changed. That was why he had taken the transcribed copy — and why he still had not handed it over.

No. Jang Hyeon-nam is the protagonist. A protagonist cannot be the same as a supporting character. He has the will to overcome any hardship.

His head knew this and believed it. His heart, however, remained uneasy.

Leave it to Jang Hyeon-nam's fate?

That felt far too irresponsible, and it sat poorly with him. The crucial point was this: without the Southern Splendor Immortal Art, Jang Hyeon-nam could never reach the absolute peak — and if he failed to reach it, he might never fulfill his role as the protagonist at all.

So many variables had already sprung up that even Seo Joo-cheon, the author, had failed to anticipate. Whether a powerless Jang Hyeon-nam could overcome those countless hardships was anyone's guess.

When they halted the carriage briefly to rest the horses, Seo Joo-cheon examined Jang Hyeon-nam's profile.

Reading through the profile, Seo Joo-cheon caught the word attached at the bottom — Revision — and his brow furrowed.

They revised Jang Hyeon-nam too?

When he had searched Jang Hyeon-nam not long ago, there had been no revision section at all. For one to appear now meant the author had altered him recently.

Damn it. Which bastard is it?

Whoever this writer was, Seo Joo-cheon could not shake the feeling that they were gutting the original work. A light touch would have been enough. This revising author is clearly trying to tear the whole novel apart and rebuild it to their own tastes. Otherwise there would have been no need to lay hands on the protagonist's character.

Even so, he counted himself fortunate that the revisions were visible to him. If Character Search had hidden the changes, everything would ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠have kept going sideways without him ever knowing why.

Now I see it. Falling to demonic energy while cultivating the Southern Splendor Immortal Art was foreshadowing — a device to give Jang Hyeon-nam that hegemonic edge. And once this world became real, Jang Hong and Pyo ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Seon became the sacrificial lambs for it.

This was the sort of thing that drifted away from the author's intent, and there was nothing to be done about it. This world had been created as fiction, but Seo Joo-cheon's presence had made it real, and it no longer followed the scenario.

Then there was never anything to agonize over. For Jang Hyeon-nam's path going forward, I have to give him the Southern Splendor Immortal Art. One way or another, he is meant to become the hero who unites the Demonic, Unorthodox, and Black paths. If I withhold it, I am the one who wrecks the story.

The thought of someone ruining his own work made him angry, but this was a domain beyond his reach. Some things simply had to be surrendered. From the revising author's perspective, the original protagonist's temperament may well have seemed insufficient to conquer the Demonic, Unorthodox, and Black paths. A hero of Daoist character unifying the heretical and demonic ways would have struck them as implausible. So they had likely tweaked the Southern Splendor Immortal Art in order to paint him as a more dominating figure.

Truth be told, I created Jang Hyeon-nam's character that way myself — and then I struggled like hell trying to write him fighting the cold-blooded, savage masters of the Demonic and Unorthodox worlds.

Had he not, only recently at Soyo Martial Arts Hall, blamed himself for Jang Hong's death because his own people had not been ruthless enough?

And that, too, is because I wrote them that way.

Seo Joo-cheon understood it now. For the story to unfold as it should, Jang Hyeon-nam had to cultivate the Southern Splendor Immortal Art.

At last I can see what the new author wants.

The sudden rise of the Po Un character to a leading role had been a redefinition of relationships — so that Po ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Un, an Unorthodox martial artist, would help Jang Hyeon-nam.

And that is why a character who was supposed to appear in the middle of the story showed up out of nowhere in the early chapters.

Seo Joo-cheon let his gaze settle on Jeong Geum-sik. Jeong Geum-sik felt the look and smiled, faint and knowing.

It means I am supposed to use Jeong Geum-sik to seize the Yongcheon Sect.

When an author attached a character to someone of protagonist caliber, there was always a purpose. Seo Joo-cheon had taken Jeong Geum-sik's early appearance as a natural encounter born of variables in the living world. Seeing the revised story, he changed his mind.

If I follow the new author's intent to a point while unfolding the story I created, it should not be too much of a strain.

He finally had a sense of how he needed to move. And so, during a brief rest before they reached Seokcheon, Seo Joo-cheon called Jang Hyeon-nam aside. For now, he needed to follow the direction of the author's plot.

Seo Joo-cheon began with Jang Hong's story, so that Jang Hyeon-nam would understand. Why she had fallen to demonic energy. After listening for the better part of half an hour, Jang Hyeon-nam let out a long, heavy sigh.

"Ah… so that was it. That is why Hyung-nim did not move to stop Pyo Seon in earnest."

Thinking back, it had been strange. Seo Joo-cheon was Unorthodox, yes, but his chivalrous spirit ran deep — and yet he had merely stood and watched while Pyo Seon ran amok.

"At the time, I thought Hyung-nim simply trusted me. That only made me blame myself more. To think there was another reason entirely."

"Back then, I planned for Pyo Seon and Jang Hong to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠destroy each other. I believed that was the best course."

"This younger brother understands. Had it been me, I would have shown them mercy — and the damage would have been far worse."

"So put that matter from your heart, little brother. Jang Hong did not die because of you."

Jang Hyeon-nam did not answer. He only nodded.

Seo Joo-cheon came to the point.

"This is the secret manual that dragged Pyo Seon and Jang Hong into demonic energy. It is a martial art created by a martial descendant of Zhuangzi, who interpreted the sage's insights and founded this cultivation method. It is called the Southern Splendor Immortal Art."

Jang Hyeon-nam looked at the manual and asked,

"So this is the infamous manual."

A man who did not covet what belonged to others, he regarded the Southern Splendor Immortal Art with nothing more than quiet admiration.

"This elder brother wants you to cultivate it."

"Pardon? This martial art? Hyung-nim — you said yourself that cultivating this manual leads to demonic energy."

"I already explained. They grew greedy at the second stage — the Realm of Adaptation — and fell into qi deviation. Even an art brimming with the profound qi of a great Orthodox sect becomes demonic the instant you fall into deviation. I believe that if you cultivate this art, which holds Zhuangzi's insights, you will surely reach the Immortal Realm."

"If it is so precious, why give it to me instead of cultivating it yourself?"

There was no suspicion in his eyes. Only genuine curiosity.

"This elder brother's mental cultivation and martial arts are entirely of the Unorthodox school. I can no longer take up a Daoist discipline. But you have trained in the martial learning of the Wudang Sect. Taking up Zhuangzi's Daoist art as well will do you no great harm."

"I understand Hyung-nim's meaning. But I still do not see why this younger brother must cultivate this particular art."

Still unconvinced, Jang Hyeon-nam hesitated to accept the Southern Splendor Immortal Art.

"What did you say at Soyo Martial Arts Hall? That you would become stronger, did you not?"

"Of course I will become stronger. But whether this art will make a true master of me, as Hyung-nim says…"

In Jang Hyeon-nam's mind, a secret manual handed down at some minor martial hall did not look like much. He was also afraid of wasting years on it. To master a single discipline properly took at least three or four years of complete devotion.

"This manual is simply unknown to the world. Our sect has long held it to be greater than any other supreme technique. We simply never knew it was sitting at Soyo Martial Arts Hall. Had we known, we would have gone looking for it. I cannot say for certain — but if this manual ever surfaced in the jianghu, martial artists who have already reached a high realm would risk their lives to obtain it. The Southern Splendor Immortal Art is a secret already known among the absolute masters."

Jang Hyeon-nam, who knew little of jianghu affairs, believed the story Seo Joo-cheon was more or less spinning for him.

"Good heavens. To that extent?"

"If you trust me, then trust what I have just told you."

Jang Hyeon-nam asked,

"Then why does Hero Jeong know of this manual and feel no greed for it?"

"Because he does not know its true power either. Even if you choose not to cultivate it, take it back to your clan and examine it once. See whether it suits you. If you read it and find it is not a match, then it was never your fate."

"If Hyung-nim puts it that way, this younger brother will take it to heart and study it."

"That is enough. Whether you cultivate it or not is entirely your choice."

"Yes, Hyung-nim."

Pressing him too hard would only breed resistance, so Seo Joo-cheon had found a reasonable middle ground. Jang Hyeon-nam and the Southern Splendor Immortal Art were a bond that could not be left out of the story. One way or another, Jang Hyeon-nam would have no choice but to cultivate it.

That was his fate.

"This village is Seokcheon."

Sanho-ong Hak Yu stood at the village entrance and swept his gaze around. An assassin's habit — the instinct to catch even the smallest change.

We've finally reached Seokcheon. Once I deliver Yu Seong and Hak Yu to Hwang Manor, the Karma Mission will be complete as well.

Seo Joo-cheon had been tense the entire way here, and he was grateful that nothing had gone wrong. If the Slaughter King's subordinates had kept launching ambushes, it would have been a genuine headache.

That was when the White Salt Blade, Jeo Pung, approached with four martial artists at his side. He had been sitting in the pavilion at the village entrance, which meant he had been waiting for them.

What is he doing here? Has he come to kill Jang Hyeon-nam? Out in the open like this?

Jeo Pung's sudden appearance after they had parted at the Tang Clan branch had been nagging at him.

"Well met! Hero Po. Hero Ham. Young Hero Jang. To meet again after parting at the Tang Clan branch."

The White Salt Blade, Jeo Pung, clasped his fists toward Seo Joo-cheon, Ham Cheon-yeong, and Jang Hyeon-nam.

Jang Hyeon-nam, seeing the man they had parted from so abruptly, greeted him with open warmth.

"Hero Jeo. To meet you here."

Ham Cheon-yeong, who had traveled with him and exchanged theories of the sword, smiled as he returned the greeting.

"I trust you have been well, Hero Jeo."

Seo Joo-cheon clasped his fists and answered in kind.

"I hope you have been well. Were you waiting for us, by any chance?"

Jeo Pung nodded.

"I was. This Jeo Pung has been waiting half a day."

He put a slight boast into it, as though the waiting itself were some great feat. Then the White Salt Blade looked over those traveling with the Shaanxi Four Chivalrous Heroes.

"You have companions, I see."

Jeong Geum-sik and Sanho-ong, both of them carrying no ordinary presence, had caught his eye. Jeong Geum-sik stepped forward with a look of mild interest.

"I am just a wanderer who goes by Jeong Rang."

"Ah, so it is Hero Jeong. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Jeo Pung turned his gaze to Sanho-ong Hak Yu. An Unorthodox martial artist like Jeo Pung read Hak Yu's presence far more clearly than those trained in the Orthodox schools, like Jang Hyeon-nam. The moment he felt Hak Yu's aura, the fine hairs on his arms stood on end.

"I am called Hak."

The tone made it plain he had no wish to introduce himself properly, and Jeo Pung's eyes narrowed a fraction. He was, after all, the White Salt Blade — not some bottom-rung wanderer in the jianghu — and he felt himself being dismissed. This was not the place to press the matter, however, so he smoothed his expression and spoke.

"I came out to meet Hero Po in order to make him an offer of recruitment."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I have of course heard the rumor that the Shaanxi Four Chivalrous Heroes are being invited to the Yongcheon Sect as mere Instructors. Instructors — for martial artists who performed such brilliant service against the Undying Demon? Is that even conceivable? If you come to our Yeosan Sect, we will not treat the Shaanxi Four Chivalrous Heroes as Instructors. We will receive you at the rank of Hall Master."

Hall Master sat above Township Master and below Regiment Master — a station the Shaanxi Four Evils could never have dreamed of reaching. Above Regiment Master came Pavilion Master, then Palace Master, and above that Institute Master, the highest organ of all. It was a rank system every Unorthodox sect held in common.

Then a bewitching voice rang out without warning.

"Ohohoho! I hadn't expected Regiment Master Jeo to steal a march on me already."

A woman appeared, dressed in martial robes that emphasized her figure much as Kang Chu-mi's did, a folding fan in her hand. Her long, clean limbs were beautiful enough to feel almost bracing, and a thick air of decadent allure hung about her face and her entire presence.

The White Salt Blade, Jeo Pung, took one look at her and his expression crumpled.

"Hmph. So Regiment Master Song has arrived."

Seo Joo-cheon immediately attempted a Character Search on the woman.