Chapter 004
Martial arts lost its chivalry.
Trust forgot righteousness.
What is martial arts chivalry?
What is trust and righteousness?
Martial arts were created to protect people.
Chivalry means the heart that helps others.
Trust is the foundation of righteousness.
Righteousness refers to the integrity of facing injustice without turning away.
Without trust, there is no chivalry.
Good and evil depend on the heart.
Cultivating martial arts is cultivating the principles of being human.
If one has cultivated martial arts, one should not wield it recklessly.
Progressing from martial techniques to the martial way depends entirely on one's heart.
Weapons are ill-omened tools.
War goes against virtue.
In wielding weapons, it is right to never forget caution.
— From "Wudang Sword Hero," Volume 1
It wasn't unusual for the tale of the Wudang Sword Hero to become a topic of conversation in taverns throughout the Central Plains.
Sugyeong—the genius writer who appeared like a comet.
Wudang Sword Hero—a novel rumored to have been written in a fit of anger.
A story filled with bitter resentment toward the current martial world.
What shocked everyone was that the protagonist was the Wudang Sect itself.
And even more shocking—
Wudang imposed no punishment on Sugyeong.
In just three months, Wudang Sword Hero spread like wildfire throughout Hubei, then by word of mouth across the Nine Provinces.
Wudang disciples who had abandoned their swords picked them up once more.
Martial artists who once resembled little more than rogues began to change—slowly, but surely.
A transformation that swept across the Central Plains.
All because of a single book.
"It's a huge hit, Owner! A massive hit! I just visited Luoyang, and we couldn't keep up with demand!"
So Ssanga, visiting White Cloud Pavilion after a long absence, looked ready to burst with joy.
The handwritten copies of Wudang Sword Hero Volume 1 were selling like hotcakes.
That was good news.
It also meant Baek Sugyeong hadn't been wrong to save So Ssanga three years ago.
And yet—
His expression was anything but bright.
"Owner? Why do you look so unhappy?"
"I've got stomach pains."
It wasn't a lie.
Far from sending people to kill him, Wudang was sending disciples asking when the next volume would be released.
Was this reality?
Or a dream?
Even after eight years in the Central Plains, Baek Sugyeong couldn't tell.
So Ssanga grinned.
"I have plenty of medicine for stomach pain! If you're willing to pay!"
"No thanks."
Since she was the cause of his stomach pain, his expression soured.
After sipping cold water, the burning in his chest eased slightly.
He sighed.
So Ssanga suddenly spoke again.
"Oh, Owner! About what I mentioned before!"
"What?"
"The settlement money!"
His expression softened.
After Wudang Sword Hero began selling at a terrifying pace, they had signed an exclusive supply contract.
The copyright belonged to Baek Sugyeong.
That much had been clear from the start.
"The settlement money?"
"Yes! It sold unbelievably well! Didn't I tell you it would?"
"Honestly, I still can't believe it. No—I don't want to believe it."
His stomach churned again.
'I need Gaviscon… I really need Gaviscon…'
"Here it is! After deducting distribution costs!"
So Ssanga pulled out a plump money pouch.
Baek Sugyeong froze when he felt its weight.
"Heavier than I thought?"
"We were supposed to settle monthly, but I was too busy. I added extra as compensation!"
"Is this really okay, Guild Leader So?"
She puffed out her chest proudly.
"You don't need to look after me anymore, Owner Baek. It's all thanks to you!"
"It's only been five months."
"But you've already written up to Volume 3! Everyone's going crazy for it!"
Baek Sugyeong opened the pouch.
Gold glittered inside.
"…Gold?"
"Guild Leader So, is there some mistake?"
"Nope! All gold coins!"
"…All of them?"
"Of course!"
He counted them.
Exactly fifty.
'Am I dreaming?'
He pinched his cheek.
It hurt.
"…So it's not a dream."
"Of course it's not~"
Fifty gold coins.
Ten silver coins made one gold.
One hundred copper made one silver.
For someone who once struggled to earn even 500,000 won in royalties—
This was overwhelming.
So Ssanga smiled.
"I'm counting on the next volume too, Owner."
"I'll do my best."
He could earn money by writing.
The dream he couldn't fulfill in the modern world—
'I really need Gaviscon.'
...
After So Ssanga left, Baek Sugyeong locked the pavilion and headed out.
It had been two months since he'd last gone outside freely.
The streets felt strange.
Martial artists blended naturally among ordinary people.
But the biggest change—
"It… grew?"
Jeongnyeong Inn was no longer the modest place he remembered.
It was enormous.
Luxurious.
Crowded.
"Form a line!"
"Please wait your turn!"
His face went pale.
Then he saw the sign.
"The inn regularly visited by Sugyeong, author of Wudang Sword Hero!"
"Fully stocked with bamboo leaf liquor, dumplings, noodles featured in the novel!"
"30% discount with a copy of Wudang Sword Hero!"
"…W-what is this…"
Was this an inn or an execution platform?
And then—
"Bamboo leaf liquor?"
Why was Shanxi's medicinal liquor here?
After two hours in line, he entered.
The place was booming.
"Now I get why the heroes drink bamboo leaf liquor!"
"It's better than expected."
"This is a place Sugyeong frequents—surely it's authentic!"
…What?
He stopped a waiter.
"When did you start serving bamboo leaf liquor?"
"After Wudang Sword Hero became popular. We established direct trade."
"…Am I hearing this wrong?"
The waiter looked sincere.
Baek Sugyeong grabbed his neck.
"My, my blood pressure…"