Chapter 9
“You want to send a letter to Namchang? For what reason?”
“I’d like to send a novel I wrote to the White Scroll Antique Bookstore in Namchang.”
“Hmm? And what exactly are you planning to do?”
“Mother surely knows by now that I’ve received more wealth than someone my age should be given as mere pocket money.”
“Of course. You did something remarkable just last month.”
Though she hadn’t used much of it yet—perhaps due to the watchful eyes of Cheongsa sect—Jeong In-Hwa was well aware that her son had come into a sizable sum, something she’d heard directly from the family head Baek Mu-ryang.
“To get to the point, I want to try working with the White Scroll Antique Bookstore on a small project.”
“You want to try selling the novel you wrote?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Hmm…”
Though she had spent most of her life within the household, Jeong In-hwa was far from a foolish woman.
They say reading feeds the soul. Having spent so much time indoors, she had consumed countless books and was more than familiar with the ways of the world.
And from her perspective, making money by selling a novel was no easy task.
People of noble birth often didn’t care for fictional stories. And books made with expensive paper? Naturally, they came at a steep cost.
“I don’t think it’s the best idea, my dear. Your A Love Severed by Fate was certainly entertaining, but people would rather pay storytellers a few coins to hear a tale than spend a fortune on a book.”
“I agree with you.”
Those with light pockets preferred tossing a few coins at a storyteller over buying costly books.
As for the nobles, who cared deeply about appearances, they would rather line their shelves with Confucian classics than frivolous fiction.
Which is why selling light novels in book form wasn’t considered the wisest move.
However—
Yang-hwi was confident.
‘Ilpil Hwiso. All I have to do is follow his method.’
Roughly fifteen years from now, a writer would appear in the martial world under the pen name Ilpil Hwiso— Meaning “One-Stroke Flow.”
It was said he could write an entire story in one sitting. And he was the author of more than half the novels Yang-hwi remembered.
‘Even though he only wrote light novels, Ilpil Hwiso was still recognized as a great literary figure.’
Everyone agreed that his stories were so well-crafted, so gripping, they deserved to be passed down through generations.
The reason was simple.
His writings contained profound insight and were so entertaining that readers couldn’t stop even if they tried.
Ilpil Hwiso became so popular that even prestigious families competed to get his books and display them on their shelves.
‘He eventually overstepped his bounds and met his downfall, though.’
Using his fame, he seduced women left and right—even managing to charm the wife of one of the Five Great Houses. That was the end of him. He was executed—his limbs severed.
“Failures in youth are nourishment for growth. I want to try just once, so please allow me.”
Jeong In-hwa remained silent for a moment.
From the day she first met him, the child had shown exceptional wit.
That day, Baek family nearly faced ruin, and yet it was his strategy that saved them.
‘And as if that wasn’t enough, he showed immense martial talent.’
Even if it was just a third-rate style, martial ability was still martial ability. And yet Yang-hwi, in only a month, had earned the respect of all the martial artists in the household.
‘Even the Patriarch said he has the talent of the divine martial path.’
A child blessed with divine martial talent.
And now, if what he said was true—that he wrote the story she just read—then his literary gifts were no less extraordinary.
“Hwi,” she said gently.
“Yes, Mother.”
“Sometimes I wonder if you’re really just eight years old. You make me think perhaps a Daoist sage has reversed his aging and taken on the body of a child.”
It was a fair suspicion. Even Yang-hwi was aware that his actions were unusually ambitious for his age.
But—
‘If I want to raise our clan to the greatest in the land before my life ends, there’s no time to waste.’
That was why he continued to move in ways that stunned, impressed, and even confused those around him.
“Surely not. I’ve simply seen and heard more than most since I was born.”
“Yes, perhaps that’s all it is. Very well. I’ll send someone to Namchang, so prepare the letter.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
Having received her permission, Yang-hwi bowed deeply and left Jeong In-hwa’s quarters.
He then wrote the accompanying letter and handed both it and the manuscript to the family retainer heading for Namchang.
‘They might ignore it even after reading it—but if the Chu Yongwol I know is still the same, she won’t just brush it off.’
Yang-hwi was certain—once Chu Yongwol saw the manuscript and the letter, she would come straight to Baek Family Manor.
“If everything goes as planned, the Baek family won’t ever have to worry about financial competition again.”
The most common way for a martial clan to earn money was by forming contracts with taverns or brothels, supplying them with bodyguards.
But even aside from the fact that most of Baek’s retainers had limited martial skills, such an operation was off the table from the start.
“The taverns and brothels of Akan County are under the protection of black-path sects.”
Protection, in name only—truthfully, those establishments were practically owned by the underworld clans.
If the Baek family dared to get involved, those clans would see it as an invasion of territory and retaliate.
“Well, we’ll have to step into the escort business eventually, if only for the retainers to gain experience—but not yet.”
For now, it simply wasn’t feasible. Instead, they had to find new ventures to generate profit.
Because in the end, a great martial artist can’t rise without financial support.
In that regard—
“I need to pass down the martial arts I created soon.”
In his past life, Yang-hwi had wandered the martial world for over a decade as a rogue, and during that time, he developed two powerful techniques: Heavenly Harmony Art and Gaecheon Sword Art.
Even if the sword technique could wait, Heavenly Harmony Art had to be passed down as soon as possible.
Inner energy techniques are best practiced with the highest-quality methods as early as possible.
“I’ll need a good excuse. What could it be…?”
Claiming he invented it himself? Out of the question.
Even for a genius, it’s completely unbelievable that an eight-year-old would create a peerless technique.
That meant he needed to deliver it in a way that sounded plausible—without drawing suspicion.
“The best way would be to use someone else’s name.”
****
Excluding the main household, Baek Family Manor had twelve retainers.
Four of them came from families that had served the Baek clan for generations. The other eight were orphans of various ages, either rescued or raised by the Baek family from childhood.
“Master Hyeon-So, you’re training hard again today!”
“Master Hyeon-So, if anyone dares to disrespect you, just say the word. I’ll make sure they regret it!”
“Young Master, never forget—you are the future heir of this family.”
To them, Baek Heon-So was the only son of the family head Baek Mu-ryang—the heir to the house and their savior.
As such, Baek Hyeon-So had grown up showered in affection and expectation from the retainers.
Naturally, this made him crave praise and validation. He became the kind of child who wanted to live up to others’ expectations.
And who could blame him?
If he had only ever known warmth and approval, it might’ve been different. But he was forced to confront the limits of love early on—because of the existence of his younger sister, Baek Yeon-yeon.
She was everyone’s darling—the precious gem of the Baek household.
Even Baek Hyeon-So himself couldn’t help but adore her rather than be jealous. She was simply too lovable.
Which is why—
All that was left for him was to work harder, study more, and achieve things worthy of praise.
“You’ve gotten quite good at Gaecheon Sword Technique. Excellent work, my son.”
“Though you’re still young, your dedication is rare. You’re sure to become great one day.”
“Hyeon-So, you make us all proud.”
From the moment five-year-old Baek Hyeon-So first picked up a wooden sword, he never missed a single day of training.
Unlike his sister Yeon-yeon, who would whine to rest whenever she felt unwell, Hyeon-So had never taken a break.
Whenever things got tough, he reminded himself:
“I am the eldest of the Baek family. The future family head. The one who must lead everyone.”
That’s probably why—
When a stranger suddenly appeared and was introduced as his “older brother,” rejection came before acceptance.
“Why… Why is Father accepting him as a son, when I’m already here? And he’s not even a retainer!”
For a boy whose self-worth was built on others’ evaluations, Yang-hwi was a direct threat just by existing.
He was annoying. He was unpleasant. He was unwanted.
And when those feelings burst out of his young heart, he got hit.
“You impudent little brat!”
It was the first time in his life he’d ever heard such harsh words. The “duel” that followed was nothing short of a beating in disguise.
That day was forever etched into Baek Hyeon-So’s mind.
Because Yang-hwi’s very presence was a shock. A disruption.
And that disruption didn’t end with the first day.
“Hyeon-So. The first form of the Gaecheon Sword Technique depends on linking lower-body strength smoothly through the stance.”
On the very day he first held a sword, Yang-hwi had already surpassed him.
“When practicing Sixfold Harmony Art, no matter how hard it is, you must push your body to the limit. That’s the only way it truly trains you.”
Not only sword techniques—Yang-hwi mastered Sixfold Harmony Art in just a few days, and then started giving what felt like condescending advice.
“He’s just showing off that he’s a genius. He wants to take away my praise.”
At first, that’s exactly what Hyeon-So believed.
But it didn’t take long for Baek Heon-So to realize… it wasn’t like that at all.
— “That’s right. That’s how it’s done. Well done, Hyeon-So. Truly excellent. You’re your father’s son.”
The brother who praised him without restraint, saying he was just like the person he respected most in the world—Father.
— “Little brother, you’re the thickest pillar holding up the Baek family. The burden on your shoulders may be heavy, but I’ll be right beside you to help carry it. So let’s do our best together, alright?”
A brother who saw the weight of expectations Baek Hyeon-So had silently borne alone—and offered to share it.
— “Everyone, take these. This is a special reward, given in gratitude for your service to the family.”
Father suddenly handed out money to all the retainers. And that money? It had been brought in by Yang-hwi.
And apparently, that reward was just a small portion of what he had earned.
It was an incredible feat—something Baek Hyeon-So could never hope to achieve on his own.
Jealousy.
That’s what you feel when someone you consider an equal pulls ahead of you.
But when that person’s abilities don’t just surpass yours—but rise to a level you can’t even comprehend…
You can’t even bring yourself to be jealous.
What fills that emotional void instead… is respect.
‘Hyung-nim… Yang-hwi hyung-nim…’
This was a profound shift from Yang-hwi’s past life.
In his previous life, Yang-hwi was a nameless orphan—once a beggar.
He’d been starved for affection, and drunk on the approval of having a family.
So while he’d cherished Baek Hyeon-So as a little brother and part of his newfound family, he hadn’t considered the younger boy’s emotional state—hadn’t realized he needed more than care. He needed understanding.
But this life was different.
Now, he spent most of his days with his younger siblings, fulfilling the role of a proper older brother in both word and action.
“So… this is what being a Hyung feels like.”
If you’ve never had an older brother, you can’t possibly know what one means or how important they can be.
That’s why, when Yang-hwi first appeared and claimed to be his older brother, Baek Hyeon-so’s instinctive reaction had been jealousy and rejection.
But—
—“Why did I sneak that silver piece? Obviously to buy something tasty for my adorable younger siblings!”
Watching Yang-hwi, Baek Hyeon-so began to truly understand what a brother meant—how comforting and reliable such a person could be.
Unlike parents, whose age and generation created a natural distance, a brother was someone close in age…
Someone you could trust more than anyone else… someone you could lean on without fear.
And for Baek Hyeon-so, Yang-hwi had become exactly that.
That same Yang-hwi—the brother who had stunned everyone from the very first day with his outrageous feat of subduing the local black-path gang.
The brother who brought a new surprise every single day.
…Had done it again.
“Ilpil Hwiso! The moment I received the letter sent to our White Scroll Antique Bookstore, I came running!”
A young woman, just past twenty by the looks of her, dressed head to toe in luxurious silks.
And beside her—Yang-hwi, grinning from ear to ear.
Watching this bizarre scene unfold, Baek Hyeon-so could only sigh inwardly.
‘Hyung-nim has pulled off something outrageous again… or should I say, something wildly clever.’
“Ilpil Hwiso! Show yourself, oh great author who has gifted this young maiden with the tale of the Eastern Lands!”
---The End Of The Chapter---
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