Chapter 34
Translator: uly
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: The Black-Haired Storyteller's Crisis - 3
The sixtieth birthday celebration of Yim Gap-su, the leader of the Gap-su Merchant Group.
A great many people in Chilgok County flocked to the celebration.
Associates of the merchant group, martial artists from nearby sects, escort guards from security agencies, and even officials from Chilgok County. Numerous distinguished guests had come to congratulate Leader Yim Gap-su on his sixtieth birthday and to grace the occasion.
On such a celebratory day, it's customary not to turn away uninvited guests. Even the local poor crowded around the merchant group's feast house, hoping to receive a bowl of noodles.
Back when I was wandering the Central Plains, I too used to stop by such feast houses for a bowl of noodles. It was a shame that, being black-haired, I couldn't pretend to be someone else and come back for a second bowl.
"One bowl of noodles here!"
"You're the great Gap-su Merchant Group of the world, put an extra piece of meat on it~"
On the way to the inner area of the feast house. I could see beggars eating noodles outside.
Especially on such feast days, beggars always gather. When else would beggars get to eat their fill? There aren't many opportunities like this besides feast days.
'You know what? I heard Yim Gap-su's birthday celebration is in two days.'
'A week later, there's a first birthday party for the child of a rich family in the next village.'
Beggars have formed their own information network about feast houses.
They share information with each other about whose sixtieth birthday, first birthday, or wedding celebration is coming up in Chilgok County in the next few days.
In fact, the sight of beggars sharing information likely provided great inspiration for the character traits of information-gathering organizations like the Beggar Sect in martial arts novels.
On feast days, numerous beggars from the neighborhood flock to that house. The hosts, to prevent the beggars from causing a ruckus, had to provide them with a decent handout.
Trying to chase beggars away could lead to big trouble. If you try to drive them away recklessly, they bang on noisy instruments like gongs and disrupt the feast. They might also hurl filth at the invited guests or pick fights.
No host wants bloodshed on a joyous day trying to stop them. That's why, even if just a formality, they give out a few bowls of noodles or pieces of meat and send them on their way.
If uninvited guests come to offer congratulations, they are received. That is a matter of etiquette and custom.
Of course, not turning away uninvited people doesn't mean welcoming them all. Uninvited visitors are only given a simple meal and sent off.
Guests invited by the Gap-su Merchant Group or esteemed visitors are seated inside, treated to delicious food and rare spectacles, enjoying the main banquet.
"This way."
Following the guidance of the servant uncle, I entered the inner area of the banquet hall.
Guests wearing expensive clothes, enjoying delicious food, and watching rare spectacles.
I too wanted to be one of them, enjoying the banquet, but unfortunately, I was not a distinguished guest but the rare spectacle.
"Our performance ends here!"
The acrobatic troupe's turn before me had finished.
Perhaps because it's a martial arts world, even the circus acts are of a different quality. The masters I saw at the Murong Family moved so fast the swords were barely visible, so it didn't feel particularly impressive. But the coordinated tricks performed for the show elicited admiration on their own.
Without realizing it, I clapped for them from backstage.
My turn is after that? The pressure just multiplied a hundredfold.
"It's your turn next. Go out right away."
The servant of the Gap-su Merchant Group who had brought me here called me.
"Yes. I'm going."
Well, what's there to be pressured about, being a rare spectacle? If you've been treated, you should pay your dues.
"I am Kang, a storyteller from Joseon."
Snap! I elegantly snapped open my fan once in front of the people to draw their attention, then offered my greeting.
"If you're going to call a storyteller, call a Central Plains one. Why did they bring a barbarian here?"
"Did the great Gap-su Merchant Group of the world have no one to call as a storyteller?"
"That outfit looks familiar, like I've seen it once or twice passing through the market?"
There were a few people who seemed to recognize me, but many seemed not to. I do frequent the market these days. You don't recognize the recent star.
The reaction before the performance began seemed somewhat chilly. Looks that said, let's see what you can do.
"I will now tell you the famous recent tale of Young Master Ha Mu-rin!"
I can't change their perception all at once. The only way is to quickly get them fired up with my skills.
"To be, or not to be, that is the question!"
Having eaten well for a few days and recovered my body with the vomiting technique, I'm in peak condition. My voice instantly captured the attention of everyone in the banquet hall.
"That storyteller has quite a voice."
"I heard there's a famous barbarian in the market these days. Must be that guy."
"My son happened to hear it and said it was very interesting. Might be worth looking forward to, no?"
Please look forward to it. A writer is an animal that lives on attention, and I haven't gotten any for a while. Since I couldn't get any attention with my writing, I have to get it this way.
The content of the early part of the story progressed exactly as it did in the market.
"But, Heavens! Even if I kill those bastards, I have no evidence, and I will be executed. For I am an unfilial son who killed my mother and uncle. However, if I go to the scene where my father passed and bring back evidence, I can kill that bastard!!"
Originally, the next part is the most important section in my story.
'The Ha family's wealth is the wealth of those filthy bastards. To avenge my father, I cannot use that dirty money. Heavens!! Will you!! Grant me travel funds!'
The part where I use the Fundraising Method.
Storytelling is all about making a living, so isn't the money-making part the most important?
If this were the market, I would walk around the audience and not progress the story until the money box was full. But today is not the market.
They paid for my story in a lump sum, so there's no need for a 30-second ad.
"The Ha family's wealth is the wealth of those filthy bastards. To avenge my father, I cannot use that dirty money. This money I saved myself for my father's birthday gift! I will depart with this money!"
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I glossed over the parts where Young Master Ha Mu-rin should have used the Fundraising Method and moved the story along.
"Uncle! Confess your sins to my father in heaven!"
I pointed my fan at the imaginary uncle in the air and spoke with a dignified attitude.
"You, who are already poisoned and about to die, have a lot to say! I'll slit your throat myself!"
I turned my body slightly to express the uncle's cunning tone. Holding my fan like a sword, I made a gesture of charging at the imaginary Young Master Ha Mu-rin.
"Hmph! Useless!"
I lightly parried the sword and took a stance aiming for the neck.
"Impossible! There's no way a wretch like you could subdue me so easily! What sorcery have you used!"
Originally, in the market, I move around a lot, but here I used an acting style of subduing with minimal movement.
"Huh. To be subdued so easily. Wasn't Uncle the greatest warrior of the Ha family?"
"It seems Young Master Ha Mu-rin's martial arts have progressed."
"Young Master Ha Mu-rin trained with bone-grinding effort and has reached such an achievement."
No.
It's just because there are many martial artists here.
Market audiences are impressed if you swing things around coolly, but here it's a world of experts. How laughable would the swordplay I perform with a fan be?
Fortunately, my intent got across.
In fact, subduing an opponent with minimal, precise movements seems to look more impressive.
"I have reached the seventh star of the Ha family sword technique."
"Impossible. The seventh star. No one in the Ha family has ever reached the seventh star."
"My father's grudge! And my filial piety towards my father! My hatred for you! They created this martial arts achievement!"
"Spare me. I will bury the body of your stepmother, who killed herself, and retire quietly!"
"You should have decided that before you murdered my father!"
I made the motion of beheading him in one strike. I turned my back to the audience and made a finishing motion as if wiping blood off the fan.
Originally, killing in one strike and showing your back is the standard.
"Ooh!"
"Has he finally taken revenge?!"
"The stepmother died and he took revenge on the uncle!"
"But Young Master Ha's life must be in danger now."
"Young Master Ha is poisoned..."
"Surely he won't die meaninglessly after taking revenge?"
You're right, guests. Ha Mu-rin dies too. The story of Young Master Ha Mu-rin is a tragedy.
"Ugh! Poisoned, to die like this."
I deliberately staggered and put one knee on the ground.
"No!! Why do you die after avenging your father?!"
"Huh! Such a sad story on a joyous feast day!"
The audience began to lament. A few of the female guests are about to start crying. Your makeup will run.
A few of the invited guests couldn't bear to watch any more of this story and covered their eyes.
But, this doesn't end as a tragedy.
A paying member said showing a tragedy at a celebration was too much, and offered more money to change it to a comedy.
"I must use my father's keepsake, the Poison-Avoiding Pearl."
I pretended to use the Poison-Avoiding Pearl, the all-purpose poison-resistance item of martial arts novels.
"Huh. So the late Ha family head's keepsake included a Poison-Avoiding Pearl."
"That makes sense. It couldn't end as a tragedy. If it ended as a tragedy, I would have kicked that storyteller's butt!"
"Haha! That's quite the joke!"
"It's no joke."
"..."
For a moment, hearing that, I broke out in a cold sweat. Good thing I revised the ending.
"Ugh. The poison has been cured. I have achieved my revenge. I reached the seventh star of the Ha family sword technique before turning thirty. Heavens! My late father! Watch over me from there! Now the Ha family will stand tall as the greatest family in Joseon!!"
I looked up at the sky, raised both hands, and concluded the story.
"Ooh! That was fun!"
"I was much more immersed than during the earlier acrobatic troupe!"
"Joseon's stories are really interesting!"
Amidst the audience's applause, I was able to come down from the stage. Even I think the acting was flavorful. This is why you need to be in good condition.
As I came down from the stage, the Gap-su Merchant Group servant greeted me.
"I've never seen a storyteller as good as you before!"
The servant uncle patted my shoulder enthusiastically with an excited voice.
"Haha. You praise me too much."
"Not at all! The Gap-su Merchant Group has invited numerous storytellers to its banquets over the years, but I've never seen anyone tell a story as flavorfully as you!"
"Thank you."
Even I think today's acting went well. It was a performance of all my heart and soul.
"Here, I've put your fee in this money pouch."
I received the money pouch the servant uncle handed over. Oooh, it's a lot. This much is what I'd earn working in the market for a month.
"The group leader was very satisfied! We've prepared a wine table for performers in a small banquet hall. You can stay and sleep one more day, so eat and drink to your heart's content."
"I will enjoy it."
Now that I have nothing else to worry about, shall I celebrate and enjoy myself excitedly?