If This Keeps Up, I Won't Die a Natural Death
"Black Brush Party…."
Baek Su-gyeong set down his teacup with a frown at the name of the group illegally copying and selling his Wudang Sword Hero. The name itself—Black Brush—practically screamed illegality. Jegal Yu explained.
"They're the ones copying and selling your novel without permission, sir. The Alliance sent men to capture some, but they were just a fraction. There are even rumors they're tied to Haomen."
"Unbelievable."
He meant it—no joke. Haomen, the underworld network of the unorthodox, involved in this? Why?
"Of course, I understand some of your readers can't afford to buy outright. But that doesn't excuse piracy."
"…You're right, Divine Strategist Jegal."
There were no rental libraries in this era. Bookstores like his Baekun Seogwan handled both sales and lending, collecting fees for upkeep. No dedicated rental shops meant a gap, but running free public libraries? Tricky in this world.
Baek Su-gyeong narrowed his eyes, lost in thought.
"Master Su-gyeong…?"
"No clever solution comes to mind."
"What are you pondering?"
Jegal Yu looked puzzled, perhaps thinking he fretted over the pirates' punishment. But Baek's mind was elsewhere.
"Chop off the wrists of every Black Brush Party scum—they'd deserve it as thieves of your great work."
"Those rotten bastards need nothing but a dog's guillotine."
Profiting off his work without paying a dime? Baek Su-gyeong wasn't the forgiving type. Folks like Innkeeper Jang or the Alliance had bought legitimately or shared his friendship, but mass-producing black-market copies for cash? Unforgivable. It hurt not just him but So Ssaang-a's business too.
"It's not their punishment I'm worried about."
"Then…?"
"How to help those too poor to even borrow my books."
"Ah."
Jegal Yu sounded surprised, as if the thought hadn't crossed his mind. No taxpayer-funded public libraries here—drawing the imperial court's eye could launch him straight to Andromeda, especially with newspapers already lurking unpredictably. No thanks.
Fantasy novel tropes aside, my book won't spark a printing revolution, right?
God, please no. He just wanted a normal life. Plain and simple—that was his one wish.
Why'd I ever write Wudang Sword Hero…?
Too late for regrets. Without it, he'd have died a quiet bookstore owner, tangled in nothing murim-related. Who could've predicted the backlash from that impulsive scribble? Even he hadn't.
In a world short on entertainment, rumors spread like wildfire once ignited. The problem? An unknown like him rocketing to fame off one book. Sudden rises like that never ended well—rivalries brewed, and "checks" turned to sabotage. He'd learned that the hard way in his modern life.
"You see what we overlook, sir. I'm impressed."
"No need to flatter."
Honestly, it was just his modern perspective. Any Earth transplant living ordinarily, far from martial arts, would think the same. He wasn't special—just a former writer playing bookstore owner, craving normalcy.
"But, Divine Strategist Jegal."
"Yes, sir. Speak."
"What's this rumor of Haomen links to the Black Brush Party? I haven't heard."
Jegal Yu nodded.
"We suppressed it to avoid disrupting your writing."
"…The pirates are disruption enough."
"Haha, true. But for a group that sprang up so fast, they're organized and widespread—hard to eradicate at once."
Baek Su-gyeong furrowed his brow. Already this big?
"My strategy division suspects the Black Way's involvement, so we're watching Haomen closely."
"Wait…."
His head spun. He pressed a hand to his forehead.
"Haomen from the Black Way… unorthodox factions? Why would they…?"
"What's the Black Way's nature? For them, money, survival, victory—that's the code."
"Hm."
As a former wuxia author, he knew. Unlike the orthodox's honor, righteousness, and alliances, the unorthodox defined justice as winning, surviving, profiting. That's why their alliances differed starkly from the Murim Alliance.
Baek Su-gyeong looked up from his teacup.
"So they see Wudang Sword Hero as profitable."
"Yes. That's our prediction."
"Does your division predict that?"
"You underestimate its impact, sir. Wudang Sword Hero isn't just any novel."
Jegal Yu's face grew serious.
"Your book revived a declining Wudang—with one volume."
"Pardon…?"
What nonsense? Baek gaped, stunned.
Jegal Yu continued.
"You hadn't heard? Since it boomed, applicants to Wudang have surged exponentially. Surely you've caught wind."
"I was holed up in the mountains writing—news travels slow."
Parked in a temple, avoiding the city's dust, of course he'd miss it. Even So Ssaang-a's updates were just about the tournament.
Baek rubbed his forehead.
"So Wudang Sword Hero sparked Wudang's unexpected revival? That's the gist, Divine Strategist?"
"Precisely. The Nine Great Sect elders are clamoring for private audiences with you—desperate for even a word."
Cold sweat trickled down Baek's spine.
"Th-that's…."
"As expected. Burdensome for a non-martial like you."
Jegal Yu's words hit home. Word had reached him of Alliance warriors gaining insights from his half-baked philosophy-stuffed novel. Leader Jang Hyo-un's "benefits" had trickled down, naturally. But now… sweat poured.
"Ha, haha. Y-yeah."
He stammered awkwardly, smile forced. Murim revered enlightenment—manuals passed insights, birthing masters. His worst fears were materializing.
"Oh, right. Word is Wudang found a lost practical technique."
"What?"
Baek's jaw dropped in disbelief.
"A lost technique?"
"Yes. Searching Wudang Mountain based on your novel, they uncovered a sword manual left by Sword Immortal Hyeonun Jin-in, former Wudang's Fifth Elder."
Great. Baek clutched his head.
Oh no. So much for peaceful days—Wudang's hounding me forever.
"Why are they doing this to me?!"
Baek wailed.
Once Baek calmed, Jegal Yu resumed.
"We're investigating the Black Brush Party's backers, but Haomen's cell structure makes it tough. We only nabbed minor players—things could drag."
"Never imagined one book dragging in the unorthodox. My shoulders ache."
Baek looked drained. Every release seemed to explode massively. Wudang's boom was bad enough; a lost technique nearly made his mind blank again.
At this rate, my sanity's toast.
He sighed, hand over his face.
"I just want a normal life, but it eludes me."
"You've fame beyond that luxury, sir."
"…I know."
Should've skipped Wudang Sword Hero. Regret gnawing, he sipped his tea—the fragrant brew, familiar after eight years like coffee, soothed him. Slurp.
"Wish we'd hack off every Black Brush wrist we catch."
"Can't—most are powerless commoners. We'll coordinate with the magistrates."
"I see."
A group like the Alliance had official ties. Despite court-murim tensions, the throne monitored the jianghu. Alliances eased that; mutual aid was the reality. Martialists even joined imperial guards, forming elite like the Brocade Guards.
Hoping that's not here.
Clinging to hope his novels hadn't reached the palace, Baek set down his cup. Imperial entanglement? Unthinkable. Lifetime scrutiny? Hell no.
Jegal Yu said, "With Black Way ties, we'll bolster your protection."
"Muk Yeong suffices."
"If you insist…."
Worry creased Jegal's brow. One book reshaping the jianghu—this man's moves tipped sect balances. Wudang soared; control him, upend murim. His novel proved it. Yet he seemed indifferent.
Tsk. Need Dark Shadow Pavilion shadows on him.
Resolving to reinforce guards, Jegal rose.
"Rest, sir. Call a servant for anything."
"Ah, yes. Safe travels, Divine Strategist."
"No wandering without guards. Promise that."
"…Understood."
Face uneasy, Baek nodded. Life in Xuchang would chafe.
Watching Jegal depart, Baek sighed.
"If this keeps up, I won't die a natural death."
It felt all too real. Grimacing irritably, he ruffled his hair.