<Chapter 9> 08. We’re Here to Escort You
Martial arts tournaments were a common occurrence in Murim.
Some were held for friendly competition, others offered valuable swords or secret manuals as prizes, and some were even organized to recruit fresh talent for the Murim Alliance.
They were a staple of Murim novels, a festive occasion celebrated by martial artists far and wide. But what if a tournament was held in your name?
“…Did I hear you correctly, Merchant So?”
Baek Su-Gyeong, who had been taking a break at a mountain temple, refining the plot for his next volume, was utterly shocked by the news So Ssang-Ah had brought him.
The Murim Alliance was holding a martial arts tournament in Heochang, Henan, their headquarters, to select his personal bodyguard.
Was that even possible?
“You can’t be serious.”
“I’m telling you, it’s true!”
So Ssang-Ah thumped her chest in frustration.
Baek Su-Gyeong sighed.
“Please tell me you’re joking. I’m already mentally exhausted from all the recent events.”
“So that’s why you closed the bookstore and came to this temple.”
“Do you have any idea how stressful it is to know that the entire Murim is hanging on my every word?”
The fate of Murim rested on his pen.
Was that even logical?
For a former nobody writer from modern-day Korea, this was an overwhelming amount of attention.
“But it’s true.”
“…This is insane.”
Baek Su-Gyeong let out a heartfelt sigh.
Why were they holding a tournament to select his bodyguard without even asking for his consent?
As he had mentioned before, tournaments were common in Murim, but this was different. His name was on the line.
This was a complete violation of his privacy.
Baek Su-Gyeong covered his face with his hand.
The mere thought of it gave him a headache. He needed some aspirin.
“I have no problem with them holding a tournament. It’s a normal occurrence in Murim. But why are they choosing my bodyguard without even consulting me?”
“Well, you see…”
So Ssang-Ah chuckled awkwardly, scratching her cheek.
“You ended Volume 5 on such a cliffhanger…”
“…Ah.”
Baek Su-Gyeong’s expression turned grim.
He had employed the infamous cliffhanger technique, leaving readers on the edge of their seats, desperate for the next installment. He had used it in both Volumes 4 and 5.
Volume 4 ended with the protagonist facing a formidable opponent, the tension building to a crescendo. The story then seamlessly transitioned into Volume 5, picking up right where it left off.
And Volume 5 ended with the protagonist engaging in a series of battles against a powerful evil faction.
“Are there people openly threatening to assassinate me?”
“…There are countless people clamoring for the next volume. I heard that renowned masters from all over Murim are flocking to this tournament.”
“Karma.”
Yes, this was definitely karma.
Baek Su-Gyeong shook his head.
“But having a bodyguard assigned by the Murim Alliance will deter those who try to exploit your name! It’s a good thing, right?”
“A wonderful thing, indeed.”
He thought he was getting used to this, but his stomach churned again.
Baek Su-Gyeong sighed.
“…A truly wonderful thing.”
He wanted to go back to his world.
That was Baek Su-Gyeong’s honest sentiment.
After confirming that notices for the bodyguard selection tournament had been posted even in the streets of Hubei, Baek Su-Gyeong fled back to the mountain temple and holed up in his room.
“Argh! This is driving me crazy!!”
He just wanted to live a normal life!
Why was the entire Murim obsessed with him just because he wrote a single novel?
He felt a wave of dizziness.
The attention was getting worse by the day, and he was starting to feel the pressure. He was even afraid of being assassinated for his writing.
“Stop sending me death threats!”
He had been working on Volume 6, but after seeing those posters for the bodyguard tournament, he couldn’t focus.
Baek Su-Gyeong was on the verge of a mental breakdown.
“Why are you doing this to me?! Why?!”
Thump, thump, thump.
He wished he could bang his head against the wall until he passed out.
Getting involved with martial artists was a surefire way to ruin any chance of a normal life.
He had already crossed that line by getting entangled with the Wudang sect, but this was different.
The Murim Alliance’s involvement was too much. He would wither under the weight of their attention.
And what if this attention spread beyond Murim, encompassing the entire continent?
“Sigh…”
Baek Su-Gyeong rubbed his forehead, letting out a long sigh.
His reddened forehead was a testament to his frustration. He just wanted to write in peace, but now that The Wudang Sword Hero had become the center of attention in Murim, that was no longer possible.
“Why is my impulsive writing so popular…?”
Baek Su-Gyeong vented his frustration by punching his pillow.
How did celebrities and famous authors cope with this kind of pressure? He knew that once you had a dedicated fanbase, they would stick with you no matter what, but…
He had never been a famous author. This overwhelming attention was giving him heartburn.
“But I can’t stop writing.”
Baek Su-Gyeong rolled over, staring at the ceiling.
He briefly considered ruining the plot to drive away his readers.
Destroying the story would inevitably lead to a decline in readership.
He knew some readers sent angry messages to authors, but he had never experienced it himself.
However, he couldn’t bring himself to sabotage his own work.
His life was at stake.
“If I ruin the story, they’ll probably kill me…”
Murim was a lawless place.
Powerless individuals like him were at the mercy of martial artists. The Murim Alliance was probably trying to protect him by assigning him a bodyguard, but he couldn’t understand why so many people were making decisions about his life without his consent.
Of course, he was partly to blame for using the Wudang sect’s name without permission.
Humans were inherently hypocritical creatures.
‘…This is a mess.’
That was Baek Su-Gyeong’s conclusion.
“Should I go to Heochang?”
He had spent a considerable amount of time in Henan while working as a porter, but he hadn’t traveled much since settling in Hubei.
His experience in Henan was limited to his time at the trading company in Luoyang.
Baek Su-Gyeong stroked his chin, sitting up on his bed.
“This requires some thought.”
He would need a bodyguard to travel to Henan, where the Murim Alliance headquarters was located. And he had other preparations to make.
It was best to keep the bookstore closed and extend his hiatus. He could also use this opportunity to observe the bodyguard tournament firsthand.
It would be a research trip of sorts.
Witnessing the scenes he had only written about in his novel might spark new inspiration. After all, Baek Su-Gyeong was a writer at heart.
“Master Su-Gyeong, are you in there?”
“Head Monk?”
Baek Su-Gyeong opened the door, his face etched with curiosity. He saw the head monk standing beside a man clad in black.
“Who is this gentleman?”
“…Forgive my intrusion.”
The man in black clasped his hands in a formal greeting.
Witnessing this gesture in person was different from reading about it in novels.
He held his hands together in front of his chest, his left hand open and his right hand clenched into a fist, the open hand covering the fist.
It was called baoquan (抱拳), literally “wrapping the fist.”
It was the most common greeting in Murim.
“I am Gang-Yu-Pyeong of the Murim Alliance’s Hubei branch. I’m here to escort you, Master Su-Gyeong.”
“Excuse me?”
Why was the Murim Alliance involved?
Baek Su-Gyeong’s expression turned bewildered.
The reason for Gang-Yu-Pyeong’s visit was simple.
He had been ordered by Jang Hyo-Un, the Alliance Leader, to escort Baek Su-Gyeong to Heochang. The Hubei branch was tasked with ensuring his safe and comfortable journey.
It was a high-handed decision, made without any regard for Baek Su-Gyeong’s opinion, but he had resigned himself to his fate.
He had finally accepted that he had no control over his life in this world.
“…We’re approaching Heochang.”
Baek Su-Gyeong nodded vaguely at Gang-Yu-Pyeong’s voice from outside the carriage.
They had left the bustling city of Hubei and were now entering Heochang, the heart of Henan and the location of the Murim Alliance headquarters.
The carriage, specially commissioned by the Murim Alliance, was incredibly comfortable.
It was a luxurious vehicle, crafted with the finest materials, offering a smooth ride and impressive speed.
The fact that Baek Su-Gyeong, a mere scholar, was allowed to ride in such a carriage was a testament to the high regard the Alliance Leader held him in.
According to Gang-Yu-Pyeong, this carriage was usually reserved for high-ranking officials of the Murim Alliance.
“Heochang…”
He had traveled extensively throughout Murim during his days as a porter, but he had little experience with Heochang.
His later years as an appraiser had kept him mostly in Luoyang, limiting his knowledge of other cities.
Heochang was originally known as Xuchang.
It had flourished under Cao Cao, who had chosen it as his capital due to its proximity to his power base in Yanzhou. However, his son, Cao Pi, had renamed it Heochang and moved the capital back to Luoyang, leaving Heochang to fade into obscurity.
Despite its decline, Heochang was still a bustling city.
“Are those all fields, Hero Gang?”
“Yes, they are. Is this your first time in Heochang, Master Su-Gyeong?”
“Indeed. I spent some time in Luoyang.”
“Heochang was once a rival to Luoyang in terms of prosperity. It was the capital of the renowned Cao Cao, after all.”
Baek Su-Gyeong felt his spirits lift slightly as he chatted with Gang-Yu-Pyeong.
The scenery outside the window was unfamiliar and intriguing.
Vast fields stretched out before him, dotted with farmers tending to their crops. Looming in the distance were the imposing earthen walls of the city.
The walls, constructed from countless baked clay bricks, seemed to gaze down at him as their carriage approached.
“Halt!”
“State your identity!”
As their carriage passed through the city gates and approached the main entrance of the Murim Alliance headquarters, they were stopped by guards.
The guards, often portrayed as the most unfortunate characters in Murim novels, stood vigilant at the gates, scrutinizing every visitor. They were the first line of defense, yet also the most vulnerable in times of attack.
Gang-Yu-Pyeong’s voice rang out.
“Gang-Yu-Pyeong, First-Class Warrior of the Murim Alliance’s Hubei branch. I have escorted Master Su-Gyeong here.”
“Show us your identification token!”
The sound of rustling fabric reached Baek Su-Gyeong’s ears as Gang-Yu-Pyeong retrieved his token.
“Hmm! Confirmed!”
“You may pass!”
Their carriage passed through the gates without incident.
They continued for a short distance before coming to a stop. Gang-Yu-Pyeong’s voice reached Baek Su-Gyeong once more.
“We have arrived.”
The carriage creaked to a halt, and the door swung open.
Baek Su-Gyeong, spotting Gang-Yu-Pyeong bowing respectfully, stepped out of the carriage with a hint of unease. He was surrounded by powerful martial artists, any one of whom could easily snap his neck.
He had entered the heart of the righteous Murim, the headquarters of the Murim Alliance.
“I will escort you to the Reception Hall.”
Gang-Yu-Pyeong led the way, his movements confident and familiar.
Baek Su-Gyeong, glancing around, pulled out his notebook. He needed to record his observations of the Murim Alliance headquarters, in case he ever needed to describe it in his writing.
As someone who had spent most of his life confined to a limited space, taking notes was essential.
He jotted down his impressions as he followed Gang-Yu-Pyeong, his steps faltering as he spotted something peculiar.
“Hero Gang.”
“Yes, Master Su-Gyeong?”
“When was this erected?”
Baek Su-Gyeong pointed at a statue near the main path leading to the Reception Hall.
It was a life-sized sculpture of a man.
He held a sword in his arms, a hawk perched on his shoulder, and a black hat adorned with a prominent yin-yang symbol on his head.
His sharp eyebrows framed eyes that radiated unwavering determination and righteousness.
The reason Baek Su-Gyeong couldn’t ignore this incredibly lifelike statue was simple.
It looked eerily familiar.
“Ah, that’s the statue of Hero Jin Un. I heard it was erected about three months ago.”
“Did I hear you correctly?”
Gang-Yu-Pyeong tilted his head in confusion at Baek Su-Gyeong’s question.
“Is something wrong?”
Baek Su-Gyeong’s face contorted as if he had been stung by a bee.
They had erected a statue of his fictional character?
‘This is insane!!’
It seemed this crazy world had no intention of leaving him alone.
Ok this is another level 🤣🤣🤣
😂😂