Shivers ran down my spine in that moment.
Why is a dead person walking around in this world?
It’s not like I don’t have a guess. Clearly, someone could have died. For example, Kang Yoon-ho, who was probably going through his relationship feedback while sleeping in bed, or that rascal, Kang Yoon-ho, who had his body taken from him. But since I couldn’t show my feelings, I decided to ask.
“Ha ha. Grandfather, the person standing in front of me is alive. Dead people? Am I a zombie or something?”
Do I still look like a living person? This isn’t exactly the time for jokes, but I forced a smile and made a quip.
“So it’s even more mysterious. It’s been 50 years since I learned of the heavenly secrets, but I’ve never seen such a fate,”
Grandfather stroked his beard, deep in thought.
“What kind of fate is that?”
Get me in the loop here.
“You should’ve died last year. You were just a small, wretched star causing trouble for others, yet you were destined to die as fuel for another star.”
Ah! Is he talking about that rascal Kang Yoon-ho? That guy really died. I survived by dodging trouble!
“Seems like that other star wasn’t as promising as expected.”
“No, that’s not the issue. It was a dying star, but it was destined to do great things in this world. That fate was too certain. You were supposed to be its fuel. But looking at you now, you’re alive right before my eyes, and the dying star? It’s burning even more fiercely than before. How did this happen…?”
The fortune-telling grandfather stared at me with suspicious eyes.
I’m living my life well, Murong Sang-a. How about you? I’m doing terribly.
Turns out Grandfather’s no ordinary seer. I underestimated him, thinking he was just some old man reading fortunes by a shack. Someone like him could likely identify Murong Sang-a as that star and see that I’m the deceased Kang Yoon-ho.
In situations like this, it’s best to come up with an excuse to shake off suspicion.
“I’m sorry. I was actually inquiring about the birth date of a poor friend who died last year. Seeing someone with the appearance of someone of celestial grace sitting here, I was curious if you knew the circumstances of my friend’s unfortunate death. I sincerely apologize.”
I stood up from my chair and offered my apologies to Grandfather.
“Hmm, I see. No wonder it wasn’t a fate that was supposed to be alive. A friend, huh… that makes sense. It must have been a fate that was consumed without realizing it. Tsk, tsk.”
Grandfather clicked his tongue and fiddled with his tools.
Grandfather, I’m alive! I managed to trick you without realizing it. This old man isn’t a total fraud, but maybe he’s not that remarkable either.
Still, I think it would be worth hearing about my original birthdate fortune. I quickly calculated my original birthdate using the sexagenary cycle.
“I’m sorry. I was really worried about my friend’s fate. I’ll double the payment for the fortune, so please tell me my birthdate now.”
I recited the calculated original birthdate of the possessed Kang Yoon-ho. Grandfather fiddled with his tools again and smiled at me. Why is he smiling now?
“Hey you.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t even think about dreaming of holding an official position.”
“Huh? Why’s that?”
“If you speak carelessly as well and give too many thoughtless pieces of advice, you’re doomed to die. If you die from speaking the truth, it won’t be a grievance, but to die from thoughtless advice—now that’s truly a grievance.”
….
Suddenly, the detailed feedback I wrote for my dating simulation game popped into my mind. Wait, I thought a lot about that and filled it with anger! This old man seems half-fraudulent.
“I was actually curious if things would go well for me, so getting a death fate isn’t exactly helpful.”
“Ah! My mind! I was so fascinated by the fate before me that I got confused. Don’t worry about work. As long as you pass the past examination, you’re destined to succeed. You can even speak more. Don’t worry.”
That’s a relief.
Fortune-telling is all about hearing good stories, right? The idea of a destined success feels promising, and it boosted my mood knowing that this old man seems more reliable than the other charlatans.
“Pay your fee at the money box up front.”
“Yes. I will listen well and take my leave.”
I heard some unsettling news, but since it was kind of impressive, I was satisfied and left what I owed.
—
“Heavens!! If you lack travel money, we can’t even set off!!”
Already, it has been a week here! Orders for the storytelling business were booming. It’s not like selling silk robes or houses, but
I was able to enjoy hearty soup for three meals a day and have a drink in the evening, even trying to save some money! Gone are the days of dipping salt in a bun.
“Hey. I heard you’re spectacular with the Donation Technique, and it turns out to be true.”
I stopped by Mr. Wang’s fabric shop to exchange currency. It was late afternoon, yet oddly there were no customers around.
Maybe Mr. Wang had some free time and struck up a conversation. Usually, when I came to change money, he’d just do quick calculations.
“Did you see today?”
“I saw from a distance. It was remarkable. Lately, your name has been making quite a stir in the market.”
“Ha ha. That’s great to hear.”
The more rumors spread, the better. I’d be telling the same stories for a while anyway.
As a storyteller, it isn’t about telling different tales every time. If someone heard my story yesterday and shared it with others, but I change it up daily, they might just get disappointed.
With word of mouth, it’s better to stick with what the people want to hear. Hence, for the time being, I’ll be sharing the tale of the Hamurin Prince.
“Excuse me.”
As I was chatting with Mr. Wang, a swordsman wearing a heroic hat entered. Who is he?
“Aha!! Is that you, Yun Dae-hyeop?”
What? Yun Dae-hyeop? You mean the famous Yun Dae-hyeop?
“I have come to collect protection fees for the Sword and Spear Sect.”
What? A rival? I’m disappointed.
“Oh dear, has the date already come around? I should have paid a visit. I’m sorry for making you come all this way.”
“No, it’s tomorrow. I just stopped by while passing through. With you being busy, it’s better I come here now than waiting for the owner to make time tomorrow.”
“Oh, I see. Let me get it for you right away.”
Mr. Wang disappeared into the back, presumably to fetch the prepared money.
“Now I see, there’s someone here who’s been mentioned frequently lately.”
Yun Dae-hyeop shifted his attention from Mr. Wang, who had disappeared behind the shop, to me and acknowledged me.
“Greetings. I’m Kang Mo, a storyteller from Joseon. What an honor to meet the illustrious Yun Dae-hyeop.”
I hurriedly stood up to salute him.
“Ha ha. I heard you just arrived and already know my name?”
“Of course! A storyteller sells tales, but is also someone who must hear them faster than anyone else. Among those stories, I’ve often heard of your fame as the pillar of the Sword and Spear Sect.”
Truth is, I don’t know you at all. But you look impressive, so I’ll butter you up a bit.
“Is that so? Lately, I’ve been very active. I also heard about you. The tales of your barbarian punches being entertaining have reached me, and I’ve been meaning to hear a story for myself.”
Hey! If I say I’m a big deal, at least call me a Joseon person too. You’ve got the complimenting down, but also calling me a barbarian?
“Ha ha. When you come next time for a story, I’ll make sure to reserve a special seat for you.”
You just wait! I’ll get you to give me money with that Donation Technique. Not paying up? Then I’ll hold out until you do!
“I’ll look forward to it.”
As we ran out of things to say, Mr. Wang returned.
“Here it is! This month’s protection fee.”
“No need to even check the amount. Here, please sign this.”
Mr. Wang immediately signed a paper handed by Yun Dae-hyeop and passed it back.
“See you next month.”
Yun waved his hand and left the fabric shop.
“Thank you! Have a good trip!”
I bowed and then turned back to Mr. Wang.
“I see that the Sword and Spear Sect collects protection fees here.”
“Yes, all merchants in this area pay protection fees to the Sword and Spear Sect. It was founded by a disciple of the Mount Wu Sect, so they tend not to cross lines, which people appreciate.”
“Is the Black Knife also roaming around this neighborhood?”
The concepts of White Faction and Black Faction.
In martial arts, these terms often interchange between righteous and unorthodox sects, but they have slightly different connotations. The righteous and unorthodox relate to the direction of martial arts, while White and Black differentiate between legal and illegal means of making money.
Of course, the unorthodox earns money illegally, so the terms Black Faction and Unorthodox are often used interchangeably.
I hadn’t seen much of the Black Faction around here.
“They wander around occasionally. They’re not extraordinary folks, just some who learned a bit of martial arts and a few ruffians. They sometimes pickpocket passersby or merchants.”
“Speaking of which, do I also need to pay protection fees to the Sword and Spear Sect?”
Feeling uneasy about the Black Faction’s presence. When I had been broke, I was safe since I had nothing to steal, but now that I had a bit, it made me uneasy.
“No. You’re a storyteller, not a store owner. You’re closer to a traveling merchant. The Sword and Spear Sect doesn’t manage that far. If they start overseeing traveling merchants who occasionally sell items in Chilgok County, there’ll likely be more conflicts with the Black Faction. That’s why they don’t charge protection fees from them.”
So, only shops with regular income receive regular protection services? Those of us who are unpredictable aren’t protected.
“Thinking of the Black Faction makes me uneasy.”
“Be careful. The storyteller who used to sell tales at that spot got stabbed by those Black Faction punks and is no longer with us.”
“Seriously, I need to be so cautious! I’ll take my leave now.”
You could have warned me about that earlier! After saying goodbye to Mr. Wang, I headed back to my shack.
Hearing about the Black Faction made me nervous.
Should I carry a phone book with me or something?
The sun hadn’t set yet, so surely I wouldn’t run into any Black Faction members on the way, right?
Well, it isn’t like it was a year ago. Even if one or two of ‘em tries to start a fight, I’ve got the Tonae Technique to handle it.
That probably wouldn’t happen, but if I do encounter the Black Faction, I’ll throw either a Barbarian Punch or a Steamed Bun Punch and run!
—
“Hey, where are you rushing off to?”
Ah.
—
On the way to the Chilgok County shantytown.
In a place only frequented by widows, orphans, and the impoverished, an old man has been sitting by his stall for a week.
Anyone could easily tell this old man was doing fortune telling. Behind him was an old, worn-out banner with the character for “fortune” (占) written powerfully. However, it was unlikely many would come all the way here seeking their fortunes.
Not many people worried about their future when they were struggling to get by for their meals today.
Only a few passersby, like a storyteller who had hit it big on their first performance, a merchant who unexpectedly earned more than usual, and a few curious souls, had asked the old man about their fortunes.
“The esteemed guest has finally arrived, and now it’s time to meet the ghostly guest, yet they do not come.”
The old man wasn’t sure who the esteemed guest was. He merely sat here reading fortunes as directed by the heavens.
“A fellow destined to prosper through words and writing, two merchants destined to flourish, and one who will thrive and fall by the sword.”
Of those he had encountered in a week, this was the only interesting fate he had seen.
There were no individuals worthy of being called an esteemed guest.
Yet, the fortune said he had met one already, so it must have been one of them.
“The great Cheon Gi-ja fails to recognize the esteemed guest. What an extraordinary twist of fate.”
Cheon Gi-ja.
The old man was seen as one who could glimpse the secrets of the heavens in the Central Plains. Originally, many high-ranking officials and martial arts masters would bring treasures to meet someone as elusive as he.
“I’ve encountered those with unusual destinies, but they were all dead.”
A guy born under a wretched star who was destined to perish as fuel for a dying star. It was odd for someone like him to seek the future of a man with such a fixed fate.
“I’ve never seen such a definite fate in my life.”
In the last 50 years of peeking into heavenly secrets, Cheon Gi-ja had never encountered anyone with such a solid fate.
If there exists a being that created this world, this man was undeniably designed to die last year. So certain was his death’s fate.
“That star is burning fiercely.”
As the sun set and darkness enveloped the surroundings, Cheon Gi-ja cast his gaze to the heavens. While ordinary people couldn’t see it, the fierce burning star was visible to Cheon Gi-ja.
For some reason, that star was burning even more fiercely than the one originally destined to die. Its blazing intensity seemed to threaten to incinerate neighboring stars.
“With such a fierce blaze, there’s no way he could still be alive.”
The man who was supposed to have died last year could very well be the one standing before him. Yet, looking at the star burning with such intensity, it was hard for Cheon Gi-ja to entertain such thoughts.
“Suppose that man was the esteemed guest…”
What if…
What if that man, who was supposed to die according to the heavens’ decree, has somehow managed to survive and is fulfilling the destiny he was meant to complete?
“Have I actually seen the Reverse Heaven’s Decree?”
A lightning bolt of realization sparked in Cheon Gi-ja’s mind.
Reverse Heaven’s Decree.
One who stands defiantly against the fated path ordained by the heavens and boldly counteracts it is known as the Reverse Heaven’s Decree.
“It’s not a mere hardship, but a decree set by the heavens. Could such a fate actually be defied?”
Cheon Gi-ja often advised individuals on crises in their futures. However, that advice was concerning small personal predicaments, not about the potential to counter the heavens’ ordained fate.
Going against heaven’s will would certainly invite divine retribution. (逆天而行应天谴)
Because of that, no one could go against heavenly principles. That was the common sense Cheon Gi-ja had known for 50 years.
But what if…
“What if one could achieve a destiny meant to be solved in death, while still living to fulfill it?”
Then the heavens might no longer reprimand him. In fact, they might bless him instead.
For someone who accomplished a heavenly mission that could only be resolved in death while still alive, how could they be scolded?
“He truly was the Reverse Heaven’s Decree. I’ve been in the presence of the Reverse Heaven’s Decree.”
Cheon Gi-ja looked up at the sky.
A tiny star.
One that had left the orbit of a fiercely burning star, now standing alone. On closer inspection, he spotted that star.
The starlight was faint.
It may remain small until the light fades entirely.
However, if that star possesses a will… if it desires to shine brighter…
“Having deviated from the heavenly order, it can now alter its fate, the fate of the nation, and the fate of the world.”
It can change the fate of the world.
