“Are you telling me to stop living as Ho Pil?”
You want me to quit being an author?
From a penniless beggar to the head of the Tea Bookstore. How did I get to this point? What kind of thunderous nonsense is this?
“I know your writing skills, but surely something more important takes precedence. If you become the successor, there will be lessons you must endure.”
“Elder, the reason I stand here today is that I have achieved fame through writing.”
“If your ability was only in writing, I wouldn’t have given you a chance at all.”
Man Geum-jeon said firmly.
“Elder!”
“I’m not underestimating your writing skills. I’m saying there are priorities. You can enjoy writing as a hobby when you’re older.”
“A hobby, you say?”
“I enjoy gardening myself. Few can keep up with me in Wuhan. But did I earn money by gardening? You will take full ownership of Man Geum Battlefield, and when you have some leisure time, enjoy it as a hobby.”
You’ll get a chair in a conglomerate. Save writing for later.
To anyone, it would be an enticing proposal. If I give up writing, I could become the top successor of the battlefield in Hubei Province.
If they don’t ask me at the Tea Bookstore, anyone would immediately agree.
But.
‘My goal is not to become the master of Man Geum Battlefield.’
I am the Reverse Heaven’s Decree.
How many times have I driven women away because of my shortcomings?
I need to raise my fame.
I must save So-hee. I want to meet Hwa-rin as soon as possible. I shouldn’t lack anything when seeking help from another heroine.
‘While the money from Man Geum-jeon is a goal, for me, money is just a means.’
Man Geum-jeon’s proposition isn’t wrong. In fact, it’s an unbelievable privilege. However, there is an insurmountable difference in perspective.
Man Geum-jeon wants me to earn money as a successor to continue the Man Geum Battlefield.
I want to earn money to become famous through writing.
I’ve already confirmed the reaction to my novel. All that’s left is to earn money and establish a Tea Bookstore across the vast Central Plains, which is larger than the Joseon Peninsula.
What should I do?
Of course, I could simply agree to the proposal.
‘If I stop writing to make my life easier, everything will go to waste.’
How many years would I need to take those successor lessons? Even after finishing the lessons, inheriting the Man Geum Battlefield could be far off.
Ignoring the help of a potential true heroine might be alright. If I get too caught up in the lessons, Hwa-rin might knock on the door.
But.
‘I won’t be able to save So-hee.’
Heavenly Killing Star. A destiny chosen by the stars. So-hee doesn’t have much time left. Before she loses her mind in the end, before the woman tormented by her fate reaches her doom.
I will save So-hee.
‘If I become the master of Man Geum Battlefield, I can spread my novel widely. But if I agree right now, I won’t be able to write.’
It’s a vague offer that I can neither firmly reject nor blindly accept. So what should I do?
‘I just need to persuade Man Geum-jeon.’
As Man Geum-jeon said, I’m not just good at writing.
Until I sign the employment contract for the job I’m considering, I am the employer, you see. Since the proposal has come, I need to turn it into an emperor’s contract, not a slave contract.
How should I persuade Man Geum-jeon?
A clue has been given. My thoughts are already sorted out.
“I don’t want to live on a path laid out by someone else.”
Let’s start by shaking things up.
—
“Are you saying you won’t live on a path laid out by someone else?”
Jang Noya frowned at me.
“Thank you for your kindness, Jang Noya. But I don’t want to just run blindly down a path made by someone else.”
I straightened my posture, clenched my fists, and said confidently.
‘Let’s start with the passion of youth.’
The biggest difference between me and Man Geum-jeon is, after all, age. Let’s emphasize that difference from the start.
Man Geum-jeon will think: This young man has no reason to refuse, so why is he rejecting? His only reason is that he doesn’t want to live according to someone else’s wishes.
The impetuousness of youth.
In Man Geum-jeon’s eyes, I become a young fool. I can’t deny I understand why he thinks that. I’m young. But it’s foolish.
Being young makes one foolish. He might think he can persuade me because of that.
“Someone’s anxious for a position they can’t catch.”
He admonishes me loudly, the elder, for trying to stray off the path.
As expected.
Here, I won’t say no. I’ll say I want to write. I must not deny again. Establishing conflict for persuasion now would be low-level.
What I need to say is something else.
“Elder, I wasn’t an orphan from birth. I lived quite comfortably as a child.”
Twisting the angle of conflict. Not facing him directly. I turned my gaze to the window and spoke.
“I had my suspicions about that. What skills could you possibly develop from the bottom?”
With a sorrowful expression, I gazed out the window, letting a tear slide in a way that seemed unintentional. Acting as someone who can’t forget the sadness they’ve carried, no matter how much time passes.
“Burying my parents in my heart and staying alone in this world, I found myself thinking: When I die, who will bury me?”
I mumbled with a lonely expression.
“…….”
Man Geum-jeon stared at me wide-eyed, seemingly at a loss for words.
Good response.
After all, when daughters marry off, they become outsiders. For Man Geum-jeon, losing his only son means losing someone to bury him.
I dig into that fact.
Adding a story to the impetuousness of youth. Man Geum-jeon is a person who has lost his only son. Creating common ground between us.
“Having children and creating successors is all one needs. That’s the duty of those left behind.”
“I’m not living just to bury someone’s name in my heart. I want to walk my own path.”
I gently shook my head.
You took me in because you don’t have a successor, right? To carry on the name of Jang Noya. I don’t want to walk the path laid out for me as a young person.
Establish genuine conflict while hinting at the backstory.
“Is your path to be chased by commoners and nearly die?”
Finally, the anger of Man Geum-jeon burst forth.
“I have walked my path and left my people behind.”
“……!”
“The Joseon people who once doubted me now trust and follow me as Club Leader. You called them commoners, right? Now they are my friends. There are even those who trust me like a grandmother.”
Business is about leaving people behind. Using words he once cherished, I probe into his feelings.
I might feel a bit sorry for Gi-mun Hyang-ju, but as long as I don’t call her grandma in front of her, it’s fine, right?
“Wanting to walk your own path and leave people behind, is that what you’re saying? That can also be done even if you become my successor.”
That’s true. But I shook my head and brought up the main point.
Why I absolutely cannot give up writing.
“I want to leave my name behind.”
“My name?”
“No matter how much time passes, how the country changes, and how the world turns upside down, I want everyone to remember my name.”
I will never give up writing. The words I thought were the foolishness of youth transformed into passionate reasoning.
“You mean you will give up the successor position to write?”
“No, I will do both.”
“What did you say?”
I continued, feeling the bewilderment radiate from Man Geum-jeon with respect.
“You might not understand my feelings now. No matter how many times I say I want to write, you won’t be convinced. So I’ll prove myself in front of your grandchildren.”
“Prove yourself?”
“I will show that I am fit to be Man Geum-jeon’s successor. I will not just be someone who can follow your will; I will become your one and only successor. So, when that time comes, please regard me as I am.”
I too have lost precious people.
In his old age, the elder finally seeks a successor to bury him in his heart, but I want to be remembered in the hearts of countless people.
I still have a bright future ahead of me.
Please see and understand. I am not beneath you as a founder and successor; I want you to see me face to face.
“Huh.”
A gasp escaped Man Geum-jeon’s lips in awe.
“If you agree, I too will accept your proposal.”
One day, I will carry on your name.
Please accept my proposal, filled with the passion of youth.
—
“Man Geum-jeon, Master Kang has left.”
“……I’ve been bested.”
Man Geum-jeon spoke with a mysterious expression, as if he were both laughing and crying.
“It must be the youth. How could a man achieve great ambition without ambition and spirit?”
The Head of Guards, who had overheard their conversation outside, chuckled.
“In my youth, the ambition I held was this Man Geum Battlefield. I was a big deal among the commoners.”
Man Geum-jeon, recalling the young man who spoke of something greater than anything he would achieve, smirked wryly.
“Does Master Kang not suit your taste?”
“No. I envy that commoner who has already left.”
“What?”
“I have to be prepared to get beaten when I meet that commoner later.”
“Elder, if you say that…?”
“Bring my daughters. I need to set the stage.”
On Man Geum-jeon’s face, the Head of Guards saw a satisfied smile.
