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Translator: uly
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: The Scoundrel Fiancé of the Murim World - 3
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What I found in the dowry list was a metal that appeared in the game.
Changbai Pure Silver.
The description of this rootless metal, which made you feel like you should down a bowl of national pride just by hearing its name, was roughly this.
Changbai Mountain. That's what China calls Baekdu Mountain. Changbai Pure Silver is silver produced from Changbai Mountain, which has the property of reacting to demonic energy.
If you make a sword plated with this silver, it deals extra damage to Demonic Cult members. If you make it into an accessory, it becomes a tracking item that detects those tainted by demonic energy.
In other words, it's a fantasy metal with holy attributes from Baekdu Mountain.
As expected of Changbai Mountain. It's the symbol of national pride martial arts!
The place where Joseon's Taoist hermits and Gaima warriors frolic, and where the eccentrics of Changbai Mountain debate the world's number one master. What wouldn't be there? It's a place where even heaven and earth can split open and Chi You could appear.
I never thought this would be here.
Is it here because it's a Joseon-produced metal?
With this, I can secure 'plausibility' for my plan.
"Dolsoe."
"Yes, young master."
"Bring me some Changbai Pure Silver from the dowry."
As soon as he heard that, Dolsoe, who was holding the reins below, made an expression that said, 'Is this bastard even human?'
"Young master, if we pilfer that, we'll both die."
"No, I'm not saying I'll use it."
"Right. You wouldn't have any use for that. It must be for some top-class gisaeng in a pleasure house."
Hey, this bastard didn't even let me finish talking. Do I look like that kind of person?
Hmm... Digging through my memories, I did pilfer a lot of valuable things from the storeroom.
Hand over a silver coin and get the chest undergarment off. Hand over a gold coin and get the lower undergarment off too.
To a haughty gisaeng who says, 'A gisaeng sells dreams, not her body,' first put jade rings on all ten fingers and say it again.
'You will come to my quarters tonight.'
'...'
The haughty-looking gisaeng with trembling eyelids. Where would a mere gisaeng ever get such precious jade rings?
'Hmm. Are you hesitating?'
While saying that, I take one jade ring off her finger.
'You hesitated, so now it's nine. You will come to my quarters tonight.'
If she still hesitates, take off one more, making it eight.
'Sir...'
Complete conquest.
Wow, the more I dig through my memories, the more I realize he was truly an amazing bastard. It was a total flex life.
Just digging through the memories with women is almost like an AV video. It was a history of being a jerk to someone.
'Oppa, don't joke. Do you really like me? Ha... Fuck, seriously.'
A painful memory suddenly surfaced. But what's the point of reopening old wounds?
There were too many sins committed, so it was pointless to make excuses to Dolsoe. I just stated my purpose directly.
"I'm not trying to pilfer it. I want to give it to my fiancée."
"Changbai Pure Silver? Isn't it all going to the bride's family anyway since it's dowry?"
Dolsoe pressed on, as if questioning my strange excuse.
"No. I want to give her a ring made from that silver as a gift. The dowry is given by the family, not by me personally."
"If you pilfer it and give it to her, isn't that just the family giving it?"
"It's different because my sincerity is in it, man. Stop chattering and use my name to get the Changbai Pure Silver, then go to the most famous artisan in Liaodong Fortress and have him craft it into a ring."
"The pilfering part isn't the problem, but I don't know this area well."
"There are many people who came and went as attendants following father, so they'll know. Order an attendant, on my command."
"Understood. Please hold the reins again for a moment."
As he said that, Dolsoe handed over the reins.
"It needs to be made before we enter the Murong Family estate. Please."
If this goes well, I can add great plausibility to my plan. I asked with a desperate heart.
"Wow! You're getting married and even saying 'please' to me. I'll definitely get it done."
Dolsoe smiled and headed towards the dowry cart.
It should go well.
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In the depths of the Murong Family estate.
There was a woman there, opening a window bathed in moonlight and gazing at the sky.
It was a day with a truly beautiful full moon, but it couldn't compare to her appearance.
Even hair washed daily in calamus water wouldn't look softer than her dark tresses.
A gentle breeze brushed through her hair, and her body scent, like the fragrance of flowers, faintly spread.
Despite her beautiful appearance, her face reflected in the moonlight also looked somewhat forlorn.
Her name was
Murong Sang-ah.
She was Kang Yun-ho's fiancée.
"Young lady."
The leader of the Changbong Guard, her personal guard force, called out to her while kneeling on one knee.
"Has he arrived?"
Murong Sang-ah opened her mouth while still looking at the sky.
"Yes. I hear he has arrived within two days' distance."
"The letter sent to the Joseon high official hasn't gotten any response?"
"I heard there was movement from the Joseon court. However..."
"It will be impossible before the wedding day."
"... That is correct."
The leader's sorrowful voice flowed out.
"In the end... it seems we cannot stop it. Very well. The night is deep. You may go in."
"Young lady. There is one more thing to report."
"What is it?"
"Half of the Changbong Guard was disbanded today, and the remaining half is scheduled to be disbanded a few days after your wedding."
Changryong and Changbong. Those were the names of the guard forces created by Murong Bi and Murong Sang-ah's father for his two children.
Units created to protect the two family head candidates. In a situation where the family head had fallen unconscious, one of them being disbanded meant one side's power had completely ended.
"How is that possible without my permission?"
"It was decided by the proposal of the Acting Family Head, the Young Master, and approved by the Council of Elders, which gathered the direct bloodline members."
"My brother has made up his mind completely. Very well, I understand. I'll remember it for now."
Murong Sang-ah spoke calmly without even turning her head to the Changbong Guard leader.
"Yes. I shall take my leave now."
The young lady remains calm even in this situation. The Changbong Guard leader thought that as he withdrew.
However, if the Changbong Guard leader could have seen Murong Sang-ah's face, he wouldn't have thought that. Like ripples forming on a calm pond bathed in moonlight, her face was also trembling with anger.
The problem began with the Murong Family's succession competition.
Murong Cheon was the family head who led the Murong Family's revival and enjoyed firm support from the Council of Elders and family members. Also, his appearance of missing his deceased wife and not remarrying earned him praise from people within the fortress.
When such a family head said he would give both his son and daughter a chance to become family head, not many opposed it.
Thus began the succession competition.
They say a tiger father has no worthy son? Indeed, both children began to rapidly absorb the Murong Family's martial arts and develop in both literary and martial aspects.
However,
If Murong Bi was a tiger cub to the tiger father, Murong Sang-ah was a dragon. Despite the five-year age difference, by age 15, she reached equal skill with her older brother, who was in his prime.
At 16, after a full day of sparring, Murong Sang-ah defeated Murong Bi for the first time.
At 17, after half a day of sparring, Murong Sang-ah defeated Murong Bi.
At 18, only one hour was needed. And even that seemed like Murong Sang-ah was openly holding back.
At 19. Murong Bi no longer sparred with Murong Sang-ah.
And Murong Bi chose a path other than training to become the successor.
'Father collapsed.'
No physician could restore father's consciousness. And saying his younger sister was still too young, it was decided that his older brother would act as Young Master only until father regained consciousness.
First, the older brother dismissed the person who had been father's close friend and chief steward for decades. And he invited personnel from outside.
There was opposition, but as the older brother began inviting suspiciously strong warriors as retainers, that opposition began to fade.
On top of that, relatives who supported her began to die mysterious deaths or turn away one by one. But even then, she didn't think those incidents were connected to her older brother.
As unfortunate events continued to happen around her, she devoted herself to martial arts training to forget the misfortune.
Finally, only when she reached a situation where she could no longer mindlessly focus on martial arts training did she realize. This matter must clearly involve her older brother.
She demanded an open sparring match with her older brother.
To beat him thoroughly and force him to spill the truth.
The Council of Elders. Bloodline members. Family members and retainers. In front of all the Murong Family people, she and her older brother stood.
Her older brother wouldn't be a match for her hundred moves. However...
She was overwhelmingly defeated.
"Hahahahaha! What a truly pathetic sight!! Just admit your defeat!!"
A hearty laugh that seemed to surge from the depths of his chest. Even drawing out all her abilities, she couldn't defeat her older brother. That day, she was defeated.
That day's defeat dealt a crushing blow to the faction that had pinned their hopes on her talent.
But conversely, I gained a clue.
The energy my older brother used that day.
That was the Demonic Cult's demonic energy.
Through the Changbong Guard leader and a few trustworthy people, I focused on finding evidence. But it was already too late. My older brother had sold himself to a barbarian family.
"Just how much did you hate me, older brother?"
The man my older brother chose was human trash. Trash who even treated his fiancée like a courtesan.
Later, gathering rumors, even calling him human trash was being too generous.
He enjoyed alcohol, women, and gambling, even hitting teachers who urged him to study. He caused all sorts of incidents, always trying to cover them up with money, and never apologized even once. A worthy son indeed.
I couldn't marry such a man.
So, I sent fabricated evidence to Joseon to frame his family for treason.
Though the evidence was flimsy, the opposing family was one that built wealth through smuggling. If an investigation was launched, there would surely be something dirty behind them.
That way, I could annul the engagement and buy more time. That's what I thought.
"There's not enough time."
If the wedding proceeds like this, I will become a married-out daughter.
The family will become my older brother's, father will pass away, and we will fall under the Demonic Cult's control.
I had to find a way to buy time.
----
"Young master, we're almost within a day's distance now."
"That's a day's distance from the underworld."
The closer we got to the Murong Family, the more gloomy I felt. Can I really succeed?
"Huh?"
"Some sage said marriage is the grave of life. By that logic, I'm currently heading to the underworld."
I brushed it off quickly.
"What grave? The lady you're marrying is so exceptionally beautiful that rumors have spread from Liaodong Fortress all the way to Joseon. It's not a grave, it's a garden of flowers."
"I don't need such a garden of flowers. I'd rather eat some Matdongsan."
Matdongsan in the envelope held in my father's hand when he came home from work. Dad, please buy some other snacks besides Matdongsan. Heh heh. Okay, I'll buy other snacks next time. He smiled awkwardly, but next time, Matdongsan was inevitably in the envelope again.
I'd rather have that Matdongsan I hated eating.
"Huh?"
"Never mind. It's nothing. But that procession ahead is coming towards us. Shouldn't we stop them?"
From afar, a procession on horseback approached, kicking up a dust cloud.
"Halt! Halt!"
The Guard Captain hurriedly went ahead and stopped the opposing procession. As the dust cloud cleared, warriors wearing swords appeared.
What is this? A band of mounted bandits? I don't know how to use a sword.
"We are people of the Kang family of Joseon! We are on our way for a wedding with the Murong Family! State your identity!"
Along with a few guard members, the Guard Captain loudly declared our identity to the other party.
It seemed too detailed, but it meant this:
Did you come here to do us harm?
We are the well-known Kang family of Joseon. Don't you know? Then do you know the Murong Family? If you can't handle the consequences, step aside. If you don't move, we'll be your gate to the underworld. Something like that.
Then, a person who seemed to be the representative of the other side spoke.
"Welcome. We are the Changryong Guard, the personal guard force directly under the Murong Family Head. We have come to escort Lord Kang Yun-ho and his party."
Ah.
So my gate to the underworld has arrived.