Chapter 12
Translator: uly
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Murong Sang-ah's Scoundrel Fiancé - 1
[Since when did you know?]
Suddenly, Murong Sang-ah's voice pierced my ear. It didn't feel like hearing a normal voice; it was more like listening to an online instructor's voice while wearing in-ear monitors.
[It's sound transmission. It's a martial art that prevents others from hearing the voice.]
So this is sound transmission. Sound Transmission or 'Jeoneum' for short, a technique created in martial arts stories to secretly convey a voice to another person.
Experiencing firsthand a technique I'd only read about in novels felt strange. So this is how it felt.
"Let us continue the examination. I will now write all the questions on paper for you."
Instead of the exam content, I wrote on the paper the story I originally intended to tell.
'I knew from the day I met you, Young Lady.'
[How was that possible?]
The time had finally come to take out the item that would add plausibility to my story.
'Among your entourage, there was someone who reacted to this.'
As I said that, I took out a beautifully crafted silver ring from my pocket.
[That is?]
'A ring made of Changbai Pure Silver, my mother's keepsake. It reacts to evil things, especially the demonic energy of the Demonic Cult.'
[Changbai Pure Silver... I've heard of it. It's said to be such a precious metal that even offering a hundred times its weight in gold wouldn't secure it.]
Was it really that expensive? Later in the story, I'd obtain it and thought it was just a convenient item for someone of lowly origins.
'I thought something was strange. A person from a prestigious family in the Central Plains marrying someone from an eastern barbarian family like mine.'
[The Kang family is also a prestigious family. You need not demean yourself so.]
Defending Kang Yun-ho's family? Is her favor subtly rising? A good sign. I nodded and wrote again.
'Investigating your circumstances, Young Lady Sang-ah, made it even stranger. I suspected you might be caught up in some plot. While harboring such doubts, on the day you arrived, several members of your entourage reacted to my mother's keepsake.'
[So among the members my brother sent along, there was a follower of the Demonic Cult.]
'Indeed. At that moment, all my questions were resolved.'
[Even so, you didn't need to say such things to me.]
Murong Sang-ah reproached me for the harsh words she heard that day. She still hadn't let go of her suspicions.
'It was to marry you.'
[Me?]
'I am a rake who likes alcohol and gambling. However, I am not a ruffian who mistreats women. But I thought someone among your entourage would report my behavior. And I believed that if Murong Bi thought his younger sister would have an unhappy marriage, he would hasten the marriage alliance even more. And indeed, he did.'
I am a Joseon rake, but a warm man to women. I subtly made my appeal.
[What reason do you have to marry me?]
Doesn't she ever look in a mirror? Even a male panelist who has advocated for non-marriage for over 20 years on a debate show would marry you on the spot if you were offered as a bride.
'I wanted to help.'
[I didn't need help. On the contrary, because of you, even the Changbong Guard is on the verge of being disbanded.]
To immerse myself in the act, I sighed softly and looked at her with a pitying gaze.
'Do you truly think so? Your father, who gave you a chance, is poisoned by a Demonic Cult toxin and may not last the day. Your brother, who has learned demonic arts, has now surpassed your level. The people who supported you now support Murong Bi. The Changbong Guard? What significance does one insignificant guard unit hold?']
Whether she was holding back anger, Murong Sang-ah's eyelids fluttered. Without waiting for her reply, I wrote again.
'From the moment the Demonic Cult entered the Murong Family, your fate was already sealed.'
Get a grip on reality, you fool. Does being pretty solve everything? Upon seeing the fact-laden writing, Murong Sang-ah's eyes blazed.
[Then what am I supposed to do? The people who cheered for me have turned away, those who supported me to the end met mysterious deaths, my father cannot rise, and the Martial Alliance is of no help!!]
'I am here, am I not?'
As if surprised, Murong Sang-ah's closed lips parted and her eyes widened.
Great! The hook is set!!
[Wha, what difference does your presence make?]
'Everything. There's a Joseon proverb that says with money, you can even command ghosts. With money, you can obtain masters, influence, and trust. With the Kang family's wealth, we can seize control of the Murong Family and eliminate the Demonic Cult followers.'
[You cannot buy the trust of martial artists with money.]
'The only reason something cannot be bought is insufficient payment.'
It's an arrogant statement, but showing this level of confidence is necessary to gain trust.
[Even if it were possible, wouldn't that just be the Kang family using me as a front to swallow up the Murong Family? If I become a married-out daughter, such a plan would be useless.]
I expected you'd say that. I have a plan prepared in advance.
'I will grant you a divorce.'
Murong Sang-ah's pupils shook violently.
[Did you say divorce?]
Yes. Divorce.
Unlike in Joseon, here, if you divorce, you can return to your maiden family. It's just that husbands rarely grant divorces.
'You should be the head of the Murong Family. How can we hand over the family to evil demons? I will stake everything I have to expel the Demonic Cult followers from the Murong Family. And when everything is over, I will divorce you without regret and return the Murong Family to you.'
In other words, I'm offering to play the role of the sweet romance fantasy male lead who gives you everything, heart and soul.
Murong Sang-ah read the writing two or three times as if she had misread it, then closed her eyes and trembled quietly.
"Hngk"
Don't cry! Don't cry! If I were a sweet male lead, you'd quickly make me promise not to kill you.
Murong Sang-ah hurriedly composed herself and looked at me again.
[Young Master.]
Young Master, huh.
In Murong Sang-ah's heart, have I finally been promoted from 'bastard to kill', 'bastard to exterminate three generations', 'son of a bitch'?
As I was moved by the rapid rise in status, Murong Sang-ah continued her sound transmission.
[This is something that could get you killed if things go wrong. Young Master, you who have not learned martial arts, for what true reason did you plan such a dangerous undertaking? I wish to ask.]
Because I die on the wedding day, so I'm issuing promissory notes left and right.
But I can't tell the truth, so I began to write another reason.
******
Misunderstanding.
Everything was a misunderstanding. Murong Sang-ah couldn't easily calm her startled heart. It was true. Kang Yun-ho had been hiding his true self.
'I wanted to help.'
However, along with the surprise, anger quietly welled up. He said he wanted to help, but the fact that he intended to take advantage of her in crisis didn't change, did it?
[I didn't need help. On the contrary, because of you, even the Changbong Guard is on the verge of being disbanded.]
Excelling in martial arts and understanding people's hearts are clearly different matters. But those words also contained self-loathing for the woman called a genius who couldn't even discern the inner thoughts of a mere man.
'From the moment the Demonic Cult entered the Murong Family, your fate was already sealed.'
The calmly written facts made her even angrier.
It was true. Even if the engagement were annulled, not much would change. Around her, besides the half-strength Changbong Guard, she had nothing.
She didn't even know how far the Demonic Cult followers had spread within the Murong Family. The tide had already turned. She just hadn't been willing to admit it.
Upon realizing the fact she had been desperately ignoring, Murong Sang-ah poured out the resentment from deep within her heart onto him.
[Then what am I supposed to do? The people who cheered for me have turned away, those who supported me to the end met mysterious deaths, my father cannot rise, and the Martial Alliance is of no help!!]
'I am here, am I not?'
Instantly, his words came to Murong Sang-ah's wounded, closed-off, cold heart like a ray of warm sunlight.
[Wha, what difference does your presence make?]
But she was tired of clinging to clumsy hopes. Her heart was too wounded, so she tried hard to ignore that warm sunlight.
'Everything. There's a Joseon proverb that says with money, you can even command ghosts. With money, you can obtain masters, influence, and trust. With the Kang family's wealth, we can seize control of the Murong Family and eliminate the Demonic Cult followers.'
[You cannot buy the trust of martial artists with money.] tl/note: then give it to me lol
'The only reason something cannot be bought is insufficient payment.'
An arrogant statement she had never heard before. But if the person saying it was on her side, the story was different.
Truly, with the Young Master's will and wealth, it might be possible. As the Joseon saying goes, with enough money, you can even command ghosts. However, his words contained one major flaw.
[Even if it were possible, wouldn't that just be the Kang family using me as a front to swallow up the Murong Family? If I become a married-out daughter, such a plan would be useless.]
'I will grant you a divorce.'
Kang Yun-ho's words pierced Murong Sang-ah's heart. It was such an unexpected statement that Murong Sang-ah had to ask again.
[Did you say divorce?]
Here, no matter how much a husband hates his wife, he doesn't divorce her. He just uses separate rooms, takes a concubine, or fools around.
A husband saying he will grant a divorce is not something said lightly. While the husband can decide on divorce, divorcing means the man is a pathetic fellow who couldn't handle one wife and ran away.
But Kang Yun-ho told Murong Sang-ah he would grant a divorce even if it meant bearing such disgrace.
'You should be the head of the Murong Family. How can we hand over the family to evil demons? I will stake everything I have to expel the Demonic Cult followers from the Murong Family. And when everything is over, I will divorce you without regret and return the Murong Family to you.'
From Kang Yun-ho's resolute gaze, Murong Sang-ah felt his sincerity.
Right.
Perhaps in her heart, she had already given up.
She pretended to be dignified before the Changbong Guard, but she couldn't change the already shifted tide. She couldn't cure her father. She couldn't avenge the people who died supporting her.
To avoid crumbling under this reality, she struggled minimally, but despair was gradually consuming Murong Sang-ah.
Even if the marriage fell through, what would change?
Though she told no one, anxiety and despair kept growing.
Her own affair, a situation where even she wanted to give up on herself.
The one who didn't give up on her wasn't herself, her family, or her subordinates...
[Young Master.]
It was her fiancé.
[This is something that could get you killed if things go wrong. Young Master, you who have not learned martial arts, for what true reason did you plan such a dangerous undertaking? I wish to ask.]
He thought for a moment, then began to write his answer carefully.
'I was born the son of an interpreter and learned the language of the Central Plains and the ways of trade. But you see.'
He had once read a book hung in the marketplace.
A story about a swordsman from a renowned orthodox sect raising his sword high against injustice.
But reality isn't like that. Even renowned orthodox sects don't raise their swords against injustice. They only raise them against those who harm themselves and their sect.
Chivalrous heroes are merely legends in stories.
That's what he thought.
To that version of himself, he smiled brightly and,
showed the rest of his words.
'What business could be as worthwhile as saving a woman in crisis?'
Here, was my own chivalrous hero.