The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

“I heard you’ve observed the martial arts of the Moyong family. How was it?”

The next day, Moyong Sang-ah requested a meeting and came to my room.

“The martial arts were truly mysterious. However, my brief exposure made it hard to grasp their depth.”

I diplomatically expressed, ‘I could see something flashy, but I couldn’t see it clearly.’

“Hehe, it’s not a martial art that someone like you, who hasn’t trained in martial arts, could easily understand.”

Moyong Sang-ah grasped the hidden meaning of my words and smiled slightly. Ah, she looked good when she smiled. She resembled a flower before, but with just a smile, she seemed to bloom even more.

Wait, what did she just call me?

“Miss, what did you just call me?”

“We’re soon to be married, so I thought it better to refer to you as ‘oraboni’ rather than ‘young master.’ Is that strange?”

Moyong Sang-ah said this, her face tinged with a slight blush.

“No, no. It’s not strange at all.”

Oraboni, a term used in martial arts novels to denote a fiancé or beloved, was now being directed at me.

“Then I will call you ‘oraboni’ until we get married.”

It was challenging to stay focused with such a stunning beauty referring to me as ‘oraboni,’ but I mustn’t misunderstand.

The term ‘oraboni’ was used for a loved one and also for a fiancé.

“It’s a bit embarrassing, considering I’m about to take you as my wife, that I can’t understand martial arts,”

I feigned embarrassment while scratching my head slightly.

“How can it be shameful not to know martial arts? Martial arts are just one way to become a righteous person. You, oraboni, are an admirable man even without knowledge of martial arts. In fact, I feel somewhat ashamed for being slightly skilled in martial arts and taking pride in it.”

Why was she suddenly showering me with praise? It was making me uneasy.

“Haha, hearing you say that does cheer me up a bit. But I’m also worried that if a sword were to come at me suddenly, I might not be able to see it.”

We were going to be in the same boat. We would match each other’s pace. I might get stabbed by a sword. So, you understand what I mean, right? Just take care of it.

“Do you wish to learn martial arts?”

Yes, that.

“It’s difficult for me to learn martial arts, as I must be appointed to an official position. But I would like to experience it once.”

I should just taste it. A mere taste. If I ran away to the Central Plains, I would swallow it.

“…Alright. There might be a situation, so I’ll teach you a simple evasion technique.”

Moyong Sang-ah hesitated for a moment before nodding. Finally, would I be able to learn internal energy techniques?

“Should we learn it here?”

“Let’s go to my personal training ground. I’ll teach you there.”

“Let’s get up then.”

I turned to leave the room.

“Wait, please wait a moment.”

Suddenly, Moyong Sang-ah called to me to stop. Did she need to take something?

Turning back, I saw Moyong Sang-ah looking at my arm. I looked puzzled, and her cheeks reddened slightly. Moyong Sang-ah looked down shyly and took a small breath. What was with her?

As if she had made up her mind, she nodded slightly and spoke.

“I, I will guide you.”

Then, suddenly, Moyong Sang-ah linked arms with me.

Why was she doing this? It was too friendly all of a sudden.

“In Joseon, this is how a wife walks with her husband.”

Which Joseon walked like this?

“We’re in the Central Plains; it might be troublesome if people from the family see.”

“My personal training ground is just ahead; only a few maids wander around.”

“Still, it’s not right…”

She was too close. Her chest was touching.

My arm was wrapped around Moyong Sang-ah’s arm and chest, like a sausage in a hot dog bun.

Undergarments in the martial arts world were not made of the same material as modern bras. When she linked arms with me, the touch of her chest was too distinctly felt through the slightly thick cloth.

It was too stimulating.

“Let’s go.”

Moyong Sang-ah ignored my words and led me to the training ground.

---

“The technique I will teach you is a simple evasion skill that the direct bloodline of the Moyong family learns before they begin practicing the advanced internal energy techniques.”

After the embarrassing walk ended and we had calmed our flushed faces, the martial arts training began.

“Do I need to read a secret manual first to learn it?”

“In the Moyong family, this evasion technique is taught when the direct bloodline reaches a certain young age. It’s easier to learn physically than through text and has been proven to be safe.”

“I see. Will learning it build up internal energy in my body?”

Just learn this, and you’ll be a martial arts master. Master it in 180 days!

“It won’t build up internal energy.”

“My understanding of martial arts is limited, but isn’t an evasion technique supposed to build up internal energy?”

“Most do, but this particular technique prepares the body for learning advanced internal energy techniques.”

“Ah.”

I wanted to learn most of the internal energy techniques.

“If you learn the general internal energy techniques, you can’t become an official due to the accumulation of energy in the body. However, this evasion technique will improve your health and physical abilities, making it easier to react to a sudden, blind attack.”

“Good. Teach me.”

There was no chance I would become an official, but I agreed to learn to avoid arousing Moyong Sang-ah’s suspicions.

“First, let’s start with the cross-legged sitting position.”

Here it was. The cross-legged position. The national rule of posture in martial arts novels.

It was a sitting posture where you crossed your legs and placed your feet on your thighs.

Why was this so uncomfortable?

Once I tried the position, my hips and thighs screamed in agony. Was this what martial artists did daily? Were they actually yoga masters?

“Oraboni.”

Moyong Sang-ah called to me gently as I struggled.

“What is it? Is my posture wrong?”

“To teach you internal energy techniques, I need to perform Jin Gi Do In, and for that, you must take off your top.”

She should have mentioned that earlier. Jin Gi Do In was a method of infusing one’s internal energy into another’s body to assist with their training.

It was akin to a driving school’s on-road training. An experienced instructor not only guided the path of internal energy within the body but also drove it for you, making it easier to adapt to the evasion technique. It was a cheat key, in a way.

Naturally, infusing internal energy into someone else’s body was extremely dangerous and could only be performed by a highly skilled instructor. Was that even possible? Genius Moyong Sang-ah! Thank you!

I quickly removed my top to prepare for Jin Gi Do In.

“…you have a good physique for someone who hasn’t trained in martial arts.”

I used to roam around outside a lot, so staying in shape was necessary. Sitting in an office and writing at home led to a hunchback and a belly.

Moyong Sang-ah placed her hands on my back. The touch of a beautiful woman’s hands on my bare skin sent a slight chill through me.

Was this how the internal energy was transmitted?

I closed my eyes and concentrated.

Moyong Sang-ah’s hands moved across every part of my back. Her fingers softly caressed the wing bones and traced along the spinal erectors. It was ticklish.

“It’s… it’s firm…”

Before long, Moyong Sang-ah began to massage my back thoroughly with both hands.

Was the internal energy being transferred now?

Why didn’t I feel anything?

Perhaps Kang Yun-ho lacked the talent for martial arts.

“Miss, I can’t feel the internal energy.”

I was sorry, perhaps I lacked the talent.

“Ah! Now, I will begin the Jin Gi Do In.”

What had she been doing until now? Suddenly, I sensed a warm energy emanating from my back.

Was this internal energy?

“Internal energy techniques normally involve accumulating energy in the lower abdomen, or Dantian, through breathing, and then circulating it throughout the body. However, this evasion technique is different. Instead of storing energy in the Dantian, it briefly gathers and propels it throughout the body and meridians to train the body.”

I felt a warm sensation below my navel. So, this was the Dantian.

The process of energy spreading from the Dantian through the major channels to the entire body was so miraculous, it almost warranted a song.

Our bodies possessed an invisible power, akin to the energy of the sun. No, energy came from outside, so maybe it’s not so hidden.

“Slowly feel the flow of internal energy and move with it. I’ll lead for now, so try to take the initiative.”

I concentrated and searched for the energy that entered my body with each breath. Was it really inside me? I was skeptical as I painstakingly observed my body.

Found it.

If the energy Moyong Sang-ah infused into me was a 5-ton truck, the energy I managed to gather was like a tricycle.

Move, tricycle. Don’t run away.

The tricycle seemed displeased with my command and didn’t move as I wished. Such a small thing, yet so prideful. From now on, I’ll call you the Blue Spearhead.

‘Go, Blue Spearhead! Show the power of the biggest rascal in Joseon on a tricycle!’

The energy didn’t move as easily as I wanted, but since the 5-ton truck had cleared a large path, it began to follow that route.

It didn’t spread throughout my body like the energy Moyong Sang-ah had sent, but it did make some progress toward the main path.

I didn’t manage to move it like a car on a highway, but I did succeed in coaxing the tricycle out of the yard.

“I did it.”

“Congratulations. With regular practice, your body will become healthier.”

It was regrettable that internal energy wasn’t accumulating in my body, but learning this evasion technique was still beneficial. It would be useful in my life in the Central Plains.

“By the way, what is the name of this evasion technique?”

There must have been some name like Yook Geun Kyeong or something.

“It’s better you don’t know the name.”

“Why is that?”

“Originally, it was an evasion technique only taught to the direct line of the family head. I taught it to you because it’s the best for you to learn, but you’re not supposed to know it. Knowing its name might put you in a difficult situation if you’re questioned later. If that happens, just say you don’t know the name of the technique I taught you.”

So, the original name was like ‘Moyong Family Head Direct Line Internal Energy Technique, Master it in 180 days,’ or something?

“Is it alright to teach me such a precious technique?”

“… Aren’t you my fiancé?”

Why was she embarrassed? So, she was giving me such precious things because I said I’d divorce her later.

“That’s kind of you. Now, I must prepare for tomorrow’s wedding.”

I needed to prepare thoroughly to escape in perfect condition.

“Oraboni.”

Her voice carried a slight wistfulness.

“Yes?”

“Nothing. I will dress beautifully tomorrow to match you at the wedding.”

Moyong Sang-ah seemed embarrassed by her own words and averted her gaze.

“Ha-ha. I look forward to it. Then.”

I would diligently prepare for my escape.

Finally, tomorrow…

It was the day of reckoning.