I need some time.
If I follow the opinions of the Murong Family’s Azure Dragon Terrace and set off right now, I won’t be able to achieve my plan.
I must somehow buy a bit more time.
To do that, I need to become that reckless Kang Yoon-ho.
“What, what is it?”
Standing in front of the young Azure Dragon Terrace warrior with an angry expression, the young warrior stammered as he spoke.
“What is it? What do you think I look like?”
“I thought you were Master Kang Yoon-ho.”
“Nope. Nope. You see me as a Barbarian.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Of course you do!”
“Master Kang, one of our warriors made a small mistake….”
The unit leader tried to intervene, but I raised my hand to stop him.
“Unit leader, should I point out the ‘small mistake’ you just mentioned? Or should I let this brat continue talking? Huh?”
I wrapped it up with casual language.
“…Please continue.”
“Hey, sword guy.”
I glared at the young warrior from the Murong Family.
“Yes.”
“What does your father do?”
When picking a fight, it’s essential to gather information first. If I provoke him and suddenly someone I can’t handle shows up, I’m in trouble.
“Excuse me?”
The warrior looked bewildered as I brought up his father out of the blue.
“What does your father do?”
I shouted loudly enough for the inn to hear. I wanted to see if his father was a thug or not. As I yelled, everyone around started to stare at us.
“He runs an apothecary in Yodong Province.”
Good. That means he’s not a thug.
“An apothecary? Hey, apothecary owners from all over the Central Plains are bending over backward to get Joseon ginseng in their shops. If I’m a Barbarian, then your father is a Barbarian’s lackey, right?”
“Please don’t talk about my father.”
The warrior’s face hardened at the mention of his parents. What are you going to do about it?
“Right. What wrong did your father do? He just worked his bones off to teach such a disrespectful son like you. He taught you so well, but you’re just showing off with a sword, acting all tough without knowing anything.”
This racist brat! Where are you learning those things?
“Enough!”
The warrior, clenching his teeth with suppressed anger, barely managed to let out his voice. He didn’t like it.
No matter what I say, he can’t touch me. Who would dare to challenge the direct lineage of the Kang family?
“Ouch. Scary. You guys ignore the laws of the Central Plains, so you’re Barbarians, and since you don’t know etiquette, you’re just a Barbarian. Confucius said even Barbarians can become sages through learning. But you’re from the Central Plains and don’t know etiquette and are just a complete uncouth brat. Isn’t that right?”
I hadn’t even learned that, but somehow it was lodged in my brain. My father, Kang Yoon-ho, would hit me while telling me that I had to study to not be treated as a Barbarian.
Before I knew it, everyone at the inn who had been eating was looking our way.
“Ugh!”
“This stupid Barbarian. Uneducated brat. Ah! Are you even aware of the Thousand Character Classic? Do you know how to write ‘Heaven’ (천), ‘Sword’ (검), ‘Yellow’ (황)? Or can you not even write one character? Should I teach you?”
The young warrior’s nostrils flared.
“You brat’s mad, huh? Well, why’d you provoke me?”
“I’m not mad. I’m not mad at a little child who just babbles like a girl.”
The warrior looked at the sword at my side with a glimmer in his eyes.
Oh, a provocation, huh? Want me to draw my sword?
No thanks.
I can’t fight.
Why should I fight on your terms?
“Yeah, I’m just a kid. That’s why I’m going to marry your Sang-a lady and become an adult. hehehe.”
I made a gesture with my hands to mimic a butt and shook my waist.
You better believe I’m going to do this with your idol.
The problem is I’ll probably get stabbed and die before I become an adult.
“Ugh!”
The warrior suddenly put his hand on the hilt of his sword. Uh-oh, am I in trouble?
Was mentioning the Murong Family’s idol Sang-a off-limits?
Fortunately, he must have been barely holding onto his sense, as he didn’t draw it. Thank goodness. Phew, that was close.
No, wait. Now I have to turn the tables!
“Hey! Where do you think your hand is going?”
“Uh, it wasn’t meant like that.”
“Hah. Captain of the Guard. This brat just tried to stab me, didn’t he?”
“It’s a scary thing to even say, but yes. I felt murderous intent.”
That was a close call. Those guys were really going to send me off to the netherworld.
“Quickly apologize for your mistake!”
The unit leader rushed to scold the warrior.
“I’m sorry!”
“Sorry? Sooooorry?”
The warrior’s face was right up against mine. Our noses almost touched. The warrior’s eyes were shaking uncontrollably.
“Hey.”
I lowered my voice, keeping it low and threatening.
“Yes.”
“I said if you’re sorry, keep your hands to yourself from now on. Got it? If you move, you’re going to be in trouble, and we all will be.”
“Y-yes.”
Slap!
I delivered a swift slap.
“Ugh!”
“You think it’s over? Not even close, you brat!”
I unleashed an unmerciful barrage of slaps.
In this atmosphere, no one in the inn could eat and everyone just stared at us.
In the quiet inn, the sound of flesh meeting hand rang loudly.
“Huff, huff.”
I was getting worn out from the continuous slaps first. What poor stamina, Kang Yoon-ho. If I survive, I need to build some stamina.
“Master, that’s enough.”
The unit leader quietly tried to stop me at the sound of my breathing.
“It’s not over yet. Hey, grab some chopsticks.”
I threw chopsticks at the warrior. He caught them in his right hand.
“Okay. You’re right-handed? Captain of the Guard, please cut off this brat’s right hand and package it up.”
Let me say again, I can’t wield a sword. Just package it up for me.
Thinking that it was all just a casual remark, I was about to turn away when—
“Master, please forgive him this time.”
The leader of Azure Dragon Terrace calmly showed his authority and spoke in a low voice.
“Forgive? Unit leader, what did that brat just call me?”
Before I knew it, the term “Barbarian” had been directed at me, but there was no turning back now.
“It’s true he said something unforgivable. When we return to the main house, I will lock him in the punishment chamber for a hundred days. Please, soften your anger.”
“Unit leader. What was your name again? Murong… what was it?”
You’re not worth remembering, I said with that meaning.
“Murong Jin-soo.”
“Right, Murong Jin-soo. You’re from the Murong Family too, right?”
“Yes, though I’m distantly related.”
“But here’s the thing. I’m the one who is going to marry your family’s direct descendant, Sang-a. But you call me a Barbarian? Huh? Barbarian? Is this ending with me just getting insulted? No. This is disgraceful to my Kang family and also insults the honor of the Murong Family that I’m marrying into. Do you understand?”
“….”
How could the things said to one of the group hurt the honor of both families? While the unit leader looked baffled, I stood my ground.
“So, I’m saying I’ll graciously forgive with just one arm. Does that sound too pricey to you?”
Is your Murong Family’s honor that cheap? That’s how it might come across.
“….”
The unit leader could say nothing.
“Then, get the captain of the guard to package up that brat’s arm.”
“Yes, understood.”
The captain of the guard smiled faintly and immediately drew his sword.
“Unit leader! Unit leader!”
The warrior pleaded with tears to the unit leader.
“Master Kang!”
“Yes?”
Thud!!!
Suddenly, the leader of Azure Dragon Terrace knelt down so hard that the floor shook. Oh…. Then he immediately bowed his head.
“I am sorry! The responsibility for our Azure Dragon Terrace lies with me. The crime of dishonoring the Kang family and the Murong Family is entirely mine! I will join the member who spoke those unforgivable words in the punishment chamber! Please, forgive my anger!”
Oh wow! What spirit! The unit leader looked like he would do a full prostration if a plate were laid down beneath him.
“Are you the only one who is sorry?”
I scanned the other Azure Dragon Terrace members who had been watching the whole situation.
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
“[[[[[We apologize!!]]]]]”
All the members of Azure Dragon Terrace knelt down and bowed their heads.
“Alright. I’ll let you off this time. I’m going to rest at the inn for today, so let’s meet again tomorrow.”
With that, I went upstairs to our room while watching the Azure Dragon Terrace members bowing and our party smiling.
Ah, it’s hard to find time to plan.
————————————-
“It’s me, Dolsoi.”
Not long after I entered the inn room, Dolsoi came looking for me.
“Come in.”
“Wow! Our young master!”
Dolsoi appeared with a big grin, holding a bottle of alcohol in one hand.
“What is it, dude?”
“Do you know everyone was completely thrilled? The people who were bullied earlier were just drinking without any side dishes after seeing that scene.”
“That’s good.”
It was supposed to just buy time, but I had killed two birds with one stone, or rather, three.
“I came to raise a toast on behalf of everyone, would you like some?”
As Dolsoi shook the bottle, the sound of liquid sloshing inside could be heard.
“No thanks. We’ll be heading to the Murong Family tomorrow.”
“Oh… So, you’re a bit different this time compared to when you were drunk at your fiancée’s meeting.”
“If you’re going to say something foolish, get out.”
“Ah! Take this!”
As I was about to give Dolsoi the boot, he pulled something out of his sleeve—a small pouch.
“What’s this?”
“What do you mean? It’s the ring you ordered. I nagged saying we were heading to the Murong Family, and a few craftsmen attached themselves and made it in just a day.”
I accepted the pouch and opened it to find a beautifully crafted silver ring inside.
Good. I’m not late.
With this, I can create a reason.
But with just the ring and the book I wrote,
it’s still not enough.
“Dolsoi.”
“Yes, young master.”
“When we arrive at the Murong Family tomorrow, don’t come inside.”
“Excuse me? What do you mean?”
“I’m telling you not to attend my wedding.”
“No, young master! What terrible mistake have I made?”
Dolsoi’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I can’t tell you the details, but it’s crucial. Just don’t come in, and make sure to gather the list I’ll give you by tonight.”
“But we’ve come this far….”
“I’m only doing this to save you.”
Before I transferred, Dolsoi was one of the few friends I had.
If my plan goes well, that’s great, but if it fails, the Kang family may be killed.
“Here’s some gold I intended to use for expenses. And a note detailing what you need to gather and when and where to prepare it.”
I pulled out a pouch from my clothes and generously gave him some gold. One gold piece is enough for a family of four to live for a month. In a martial arts novel, using gold coins, silver coins, and copper coins instead of coins and money kind of made my mouth taste a bit sour.
“Young master, are you sure I can’t attend?”
He was genuinely distressed, thinking he must have done something wrong. Dolsoi’s face was serious.
“By the way, you can keep any extra money after spending what you need.”
“…. Who cares if I don’t attend that wedding. Ha ha. I will do my best!”
It’s just your wedding. Dolsoi immediately broke into a grin. Yeah, kid knows what’s important.
“Get out before you change your mind. If it seems like you’re short on manpower, get the others to help, and if you run low on gold, I’ll give you some Kang family tokens to use.”
“Sure! Sleep well!”
Dolsoi left the room looking after the gold.
Now, everything is prepared.
Finally, tomorrow I head to the battleground.
