Chapter 48
Translator: uly
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: The Return of the Black-Haired Storyteller - 1
Martial artists sometimes find themselves in life-or-death situations.
Imagine a martial artist surrounded by bandits or facing a deadly threat from a Demonic Cult expert. What is the best way to escape this crisis?
Drawing one's sword and slicing the opponent into seventeen pieces, or using the Sky-Treading Step to escape into the heavens would be the best methods, but a master of that caliber wouldn't even consider the previous situations a crisis to begin with.
So, what should a martial artist do in such a crisis?
A martial artist is surrounded by Demonic Cult members and is about to die.
He would declare himself thusly:
"I am Zhuge Nangong Zhengi."
"Is this bastard crazy? If it's Zhuge, it's Zhuge. If it's Nangong, it's Nangong. What kind of rootless surname is Zhuge Nangong?"
"My father is from the Zhuge Family and my mother is from the Nangong Family. I use this surname so as not to forget the grace of both my parents."
"Ugh. If it were just the Zhuge Family, we could handle it, but of all things! To have a mother from the Nangong Family as well. If we touch him, we won't be able to deal with the aftermath! Everyone, let's go back!"
And so, the martial artist easily escaped the crisis by revealing his surname.
The method to escape a life-or-death situation in martial arts stories.
It is precisely revealing one's affiliation.
Affiliations can include sects, escort agencies, merchant groups, families, and so on. Introducing oneself before a fight or shouting out the name of a technique even when busy swinging a sword are also part of this act of revealing affiliation.
Upon hearing the person's affiliation, if the opponent thinks they can handle it, they will swing their sword. Conversely, if a passerby hears it and thinks they can receive a favor in return, they might help.
That's how important affiliation is in martial arts stories.
In the martial arts world, if a person belongs nowhere and is weaker than you, there's nothing to hold you back. If killing them brings no repercussions, why hesitate? Even street beggars have a reason for forming gangs and establishing territories.
I am a barbarian in that martial arts world, with no affiliation, no hometown, no family, someone you can touch without any repercussions.
Even in the days when I worried about my next meal, many people picked fights with me because I was a barbarian, but lately, I've been making money from the storytelling job.
Now, to them, I must look like a treasure goblin or a walking portable wallet.
I've learned the Slippery Fish Technique, so I can knock down beggars or neighborhood thugs, but what if someone like the Azure Sand Gang shows up? Should I leave Chilgok County?
I fear the Azure Sand Gang, but there's no guarantee other places don't have people worse than them.
While I was worrying about that, The Heavenly Killing Star made an unexpected proposal.
"I'll become your guard warrior."
Did the Kang Yun-ho persona I worked on last night, longing for Cheon So-hee, work? The Heavenly Killing Star made an offer I could only interpret as goodwill.
It's a truly tempting offer.
If only the person who said it wasn't The Heavenly Killing Star.
"So-hee. I appreciate the sentiment, but I must refuse."
I refused immediately.
"Why?"
"Your brother doesn't want to see you swinging a sword."
Who's going to clean up the mess if you see blood and go crazy?
And if you're my guard warrior and go berserk, who do you think will be the first to have their head separated from their body?
Having the The Heavenly Killing Star bomb, which could explode at any moment, by my side is scary enough. Hiring her as a guard warrior is like taking out that bomb's detonator and inviting anyone to press it.
"You don't like me cutting people down?"
The Heavenly Killing Star placed a hand on her weighty chest and asked again.
"I don't want your hands stained with blood because of me. I'll just gratefully accept my little sister's kind heart for her brother."
Your brother is going out to work and will be back, so The Heavenly Killing Star, you just guard the house!
No, just get out of the house!
"......"
The corner of The Heavenly Killing Star's mouth curved up subtly.
What. Are you mocking me?
"If you understand, your brother is going out to work..."
"I won't cut people down. I'm good at martial arts too. Even if a situation calls for drawing a sword, I won't kill."
The peerless The Heavenly Killing Star was offering a compromise.
I said just go back to the The Assassin Guild. Why do you keep wanting to stay by my side?
"You really won't kill people?"
"Mm."
I can't even imagine a situation where The Heavenly Killing Star draws her sword and doesn't kill someone. You say you'll do that, but that's impossible for you. I can't do this either.
If I reject even the compromise and push her away too much, The Heavenly Killing Star might get upset. As a master of push-and-pull, perhaps I should show a magnanimous side now.
"In that case, I have no reason to refuse. So-hee, will you become my guard warrior?"
"But there's a condition."
"Condition?"
"An assassin shouldn't work for free. Pay the hiring fee."
"How much should I pay?"
Why is she setting conditions after offering herself?
The storytelling job is similar to streaming. Just because a stream is fun doesn't mean everyone watching pays money. It's the same with storytelling.
In reality, the number of people who actually pay is limited, and if you demand too much money, public opinion turns sour rapidly.
You have to earn within appropriate limits to afford a life where you eat three meals a day and sleep under a roof.
How much should I pay?
About the cost of two meals is my limit...
Since I've survived a day on just one steamed bun and salt, if I really make a painful expenditure, I could manage up to the cost of three meals.
If she asks for too much, I'll have to haggle, saying she's a heartless little sister to her brother.
"Three cup noodles a day."
"Huh?"
For a moment, I thought I misheard.
"... Three cup noodles, I said."
The Heavenly Killing Star said, fidgeting while looking somewhere other than my face.
Hiring the peerless The Heavenly Killing Star as a guard warrior for three cup noodles?
Was taking my money pouch and spending the money actually groundwork for this proposal?
Well, it's not like I'll go to the Gap-su Merchant Group to perform every day, and how much could I earn daily anyway?
It seems like a hiring fee she came up with after considering my earnings.
"Haha. So-hee."
Moved with emotion, I spoke.
"Mm?"
"Instead of three cup noodles, let's make it one serving of tteokbokki."
"......"
The Heavenly Killing Star looked at me as if to say, 'What kind of guy is this?', with an incredulous expression, but I had no intention of backing down.
One serving of tteokbokki is cheaper than three cup noodles.
Give me a discount!
In the end, after a diplomatic tug-of-war negotiation worthy of Seo Hui, we dramatically reached an agreement: one serving of tteokbokki on normal days, with extra fried snacks added on days when work goes well, and left the inn.
"Mr. Wang! Hello!"
Dressed in my storyteller clothes, I visited Mr. Wang's fabric shop.
"You've come. Good morning. Who's the person beside you?"
Mr. Wang, perhaps with free time in the morning, welcomed me warmly.
"This is the guard warrior I've acquired this time."
"A guard warrior? Are you doing that well lately?"
Mr. Wang asked me with a surprised expression. Of course, you can't hire a guard warrior for just a few coins.
I made too big of a painful expenditure.
"How could I be doing that well lately? My hometown is Joseon, right? I happened to meet a fellow countryman, and thanks to hitting it off with him, I can get help for the time being."
"A fellow countryman, you say. With the straw hat, I couldn't tell, but looking closely, black hair. Is he from Joseon?"
"Mm."
"Mm?"
Mr. Wang's face immediately scrunched up.
"Haha. This friend isn't very good at speaking the language of the Central Plains."
"Ahem. For a moment, I thought this young friend's short answers meant he was a martial artist with a powerful backing."
Well, he does. There's an The Assassin Guild that can stab and kill any master's backing.
"I'm amazingly good at the Central Plains language, aren't I? This time, I promised that if this friend guards me, I'll help him a bit later when he tours the Central Plains."
"Ah, I see. So that's how it happened. You lack strength, so it's tough for you, and that friend can't speak, so it's tough for him. If you two combine your strengths, you'll be a good duo."
"Yes. We hit it off over that matter and decided to stick together for a while like this."
"I see. That's what's good about fellow countrymen. I've heard rumors that there are things like Joseon Fellow Countrymen Associations somewhere in the Central Plains where they help each other out, but there isn't one in Chilgok County, is there? It's nice to see you helping each other. By the way, what brings you here?"
I was about to bring up the matter, but since Mr. Wang asked first, the conversation will move quickly.
"I plan to resume my storytelling work starting today."
"That's good. A regular customer was asking earlier when you'd be out."
"So, about that... Could you possibly spread the word a bit that I'll be going to the open lot stage to do my storytelling work a little after lunchtime today?"
"That's easy. I'll spread the word right away."
"Thank you!"
"Finally, I won't have to hear 'where's that damn storyteller?' anymore."
Mr. Wang looked at me with an expression of relief.
"Haha. I'll work hard until people get tired of it."
"Good. Do your best."
I asked him again to spread the word, politely bowed to Mr. Wang, and left the fabric shop.
A little past lunchtime. I arrived at the open lot where I used to do my storytelling work, for the first time in a while.
"There he comes!"
"It's been too hard to see the face of the guy who does the storytelling!"
"I heard that Im Gap-soo laughed so hard at that storyteller's tale that he died?"
"Hey, you! How can you say such things about the dead? From what I heard, he died of overexertion."
"So the assassin was a lie?"
"He died from... overexertion in bed, so anyway, it's overexertion, isn't it?"
"Hehe. That's right!"
I asked Mr. Wang to spread the word, but I didn't expect this many people to gather.
I thought there wouldn't be many people since it's been a while, but the place was bustling. Mr. Wang is suspiciously well-connected.
"There's a barbarian with him I haven't seen before."
"Is it a man? A woman?"
"He's wearing a sword. Is he a martial artist?"
When I appeared with The Heavenly Killing Star, people started to get curious about her. The Heavenly Killing Star was wearing a straw hat and men's clothes, making it hard to distinguish her gender.
"So-hee. If any problems arise, I'll ask for your help. For now, try to stay somewhere inconspicuous."
I quietly instructed the woman beside me. The Heavenly Killing Star doesn't need to stand out in front of people.
"Mm."
As soon as I said that, The Heavenly Killing Star disappeared into the crowd.
I climbed onto the stage alone.
There are so many people. This seems to be the most crowded among the days I've done storytelling in the market. The effect of doing well at the Gap-su Merchant Group and the rumors spreading widely must be significant.
Where is The Heavenly Killing Star?
I scanned the audience. No matter how much I looked, I couldn't see The Heavenly Killing Star. I thought I'd just need to find the straw hat, but it's not visible. Is it the assassins' stealth technique? Amazing.
"Start quickly! I have to go to work!"
"Tell us the story of Young Master Ha Mu-rin too!"
"Barbarian! If you tell a different story, you'll get rotten food thrown at you!"
"Ha Mu-rin! Ha Mu-rin!"
"Why the delay? You're not playing tricks, asking for money from the start, are you?"
As I stood on the stage and hesitated, the audience immediately urged me to start the performance.
This is madness. I need to start quickly before people climb onto the stage.
I took a deep breath and announced the start in a loud voice that could be heard to the back of the crowd.
"Greetings! I am the storyteller from Joseon, Kang Mo! Today! For those who have been waiting for me, I will tell the story of Young Master Ha Mu-rin."
Snap! I stylishly opened my fan, signaling the start of the performance.
"That fan looks kinda cool."
"Kang Mo! Kang Mo! Kang Mo! But is his name really Kang Something? Do barbarians name themselves like that?"
"Enough with the greetings! Tell the story quickly!"
When I said I'd tell the story, the atmosphere of the eagerly waiting audience heated up even more.
You need to be a bit quiet to start.
I folded my fan again and stood still, bowing at a 45-degree angle. As I remained bowed, people gradually began to quiet down.
Maybe I can start the story now.
Just as I was about to start the story, I heard the sound of a scuffle from right in front of the stage.
"Let me through to the front!"
Someone started pushing through the crowd to get to the front.
"Hey! I've been waiting here for so long, are you trying to take my spot?!"
"Let's... watch it together."
"What kind of bastard is cutting in?!"
"Let's focus on the story! Who is that jerk?!"
Who's this rude person trying to get to the front?
'Huh? Why is that bastard here?'
The person who came to the front row, pushing through the audience, was an unexpected figure.
"Ah, isn't this the Great Hero Yun of the Changgeom Sect! Please, come to the front row."
"Thank you."
Great Hero Yun.
The warrior from the Changgeom Sect I encountered on the day I was desperately fleeing from the Azure Sand Gang bastards.
That day, hoping for his goodwill, I asked for help, but all that flew my way was mockery.
'How could we uphold the banner of our sect by wielding a sword for a mere barbarian's pittance?'
Even when I said I'd give him money to help me, he coldly refused, saying he wouldn't take a barbarian's money.
The cold expression on that Yun What's-his-face's face as I was dragged away like a dog by the Azure Sand Gang bastards that day came to mind.
An old wound in my heart throbbed.
So, you who looked down on me also wanted to hear my story?
Instantly, a brilliant idea flashed through my mind.
Yes. Using that method would be fun.
Yun What's-his-face.
Today, you're done for.