Chapter 3: The Scoundrel Fiancé of a Murim Dating Sim (2)

“I’m done.” I stayed up all night writing and bound the pages into a book. I stared at the book, my last-ditch strategy for survival. Who knew my experience in traditional bookmaking would come in handy? A writer speaks through their work. For my plan to succeed, this book needed to play a pivotal role. If the Princess Heroine in the story was a physical powerhouse driven by instinct, Moyong Sang-ah was more of a strategist. I had to find a way for her to read this book in private. “This has to be meticulously planned.” It would take the kind of effort a card shark puts into conning a sucker at a gambling table. To pull it off, one needed actors, a pro player, and a financier. It took a lot of people and a lot of work. The problem was that I had to play the actor, the pro, and the financier—all as Kang Yunho. And the goal wasn’t just any sucker; it was one of the main heroines herself. Pulling this off will be one hell of a challenge. “Well, I’d better give it everything I’ve got.” “Young Master, did you call? Breakfast is ready. We’ll depart as soon as you finish your meal.” “Yes. I’m coming.” I packed the book into my belongings and opened the door. The Moyong Clan. Unlike other clans of Han descent, they were of Xianbei origins, former rulers during the chaotic Sixteen Kingdoms period, specifically of the Yan state. Regarded as barbarians by the Han, they were situated in Liaodong Province, on the fringes of China. Although they were in Liaodong, no one dared call a member of the Moyong Clan a barbarian to their face. Due to their isolated location and lack of competing factions nearby, the Moyong Clan’s influence in Liaodong was immense. This position was also strategic for those traveling from Joseon to the Central Plains. “Young Lord, I have news that Young Lady Moyong Sang-ah’s fiancé will arrive in three days.” The chief steward reported to Moyong Bi, the young lord of the Moyong Clan, in his study. “He sure is taking his sweet time.” Some guests had already arrived, yet the groom was still three days away. What an insult to the great Moyong Clan. If this were an ordinary wedding, Moyong Bi would have unleashed his fury against such impudence. “Young Master Kang Yunho fell ill with a severe cold, so please don’t let it upset you too much.” In reality, it wasn’t a cold but a hangover. Kang Yunho, having realized he wouldn’t have the chance to drink for a while, consumed enough alcohol to last years and ended up bedridden because of it. His father, too embarrassed to admit that his son was late to his wedding due to a hangover, reported it as a cold instead. “Tsk, tsk. If only he had practiced martial arts, he wouldn’t have fallen ill so easily. When he arrives, I should gift him a basic internal Qi cultivation manual.” “Joseon frowns upon martial arts; learning them can cost someone a government position. If his family wants to maintain their interpreter roles, he’ll likely never learn martial arts.” “Is that so? I have little interest in the affairs of barbarians. Still, there must be a reason for a family that handles so much ginseng not to practice martial arts.” Although Moyong Bi himself was of “barbarian” descent, over a thousand years in China had erased that identity from him. “This marriage will bring significant wealth to the Moyong Clan.” The Kang family, recently plagued by raids, needed martial strength to protect themselves, while the Moyong Clan desired the immense wealth the Kang family possessed. Marriage was the most efficient way for both families to secure what they lacked from the other. “Yes, indeed. It’s a shame so many of the cult’s people had to be sacrificed.” “Who would have thought those barbarian guards would be so skilled? It was quite unexpected.” The raiders targeting the Kang family were, in fact, martial artists secretly employed by the Moyong Clan under orders from the Demonic Cult. “Still, everything went according to the steward’s plan. We’re fortunate.” “It was just the wisdom of a mere servant. The true genius lies with you, Young Lord.” “That Sang-ah… she probably never expected to be sold off like this.” “The idea of giving a valuable heir to a barbarian must have been hard for the elders to accept.” “They should’ve realized the truth sooner. Father is in a coma, and I’m the young lord. The balance of power has already shifted. Once we use the Kang family’s money to polish our reputation, it’s over.” “Once Young Lady Moyong Sang-ah is married off and becomes an outsider, the position of clan head will be yours.” “When that day comes, the clan and the cult will remember the steward’s service well.” “It would be an honor.” Their laughter echoed through the office. Two days from the Moyong Clan. Having stayed up all night writing, I kept nodding off on horseback. I was so unsteady that one of the slaves close to Kang Yunho took the reins to prevent me from falling. Right, I could enlist this guy’s help. “You. I need you to do something for me.” It was time for an offer he couldn’t refuse. With a tone reminiscent of a noir film, I called out to Dolswe, who had always cleaned up after Kang Yunho’s messes. “I can’t hear you,” Dolswe replied indifferently, not even glancing my way. “Hey! Hey!” “I can’t hear you. My ears won’t hear a thing until we arrive at the Moyong Clan.” “Come on, Dolswe. How many bottles of wine have I shared with you? How much meat have I lined your stomach with? And now you act like this?” Not that I did, but Kang Yunho did, so technically, it’s true. “Young Master, the Head gave me strict orders. If you cause trouble, you might get away with just a few bruises, but I’ll be dead on the spot!” He must have gotten a serious scolding from Kang Yunho’s father. Considering Dolse was always by Kang Yunho’s side when he got into trouble, it was justified. This meant no ordinary request would sway him. But I had a way. “Dolce.” “Yes?” “I heard you’ve been seeing Okbun these days.” Before leaving for the Moyong Clan, rumors had reached me through the household staff that Dolswe had gotten close to Okbun. “What of it?” “Oh, I was just thinking about Mae-hyang, the gisaeng waiting for you at the gisaeng house.” The servants only knew about his fling with Okbun, but I knew he had also been with Mae-hyang the following day. “You wouldn’t… You’re not going to tell Okbun, are you?” “Come on, would I do that?” I teased, raising my eyebrows. “Haa… Fine. What do you want me to do?” Dolswe sighed and finally looked at me. “Show me the list of dowry items.” The list of gifts a groom’s family sends to the bride’s family—I needed that list. “Young Master, if you tamper with the dowry, it won’t just be a few bruises; you’ll lose your head!” “And if Okbun finds out, you might lose your middle leg.” “…I’ll get it. But promise me you won’t touch anything in the dowry.” “We’ll see.” “Young Master!” “Fine, fine. Just bring it here.” With a resigned sigh, Dolswe brought me the list. Let’s see. “As expected, it’s full of ginseng.” The dowry primarily consisted of ginseng. During the Joseon era, ginseng was so valuable that it could support the national economy and was a major export product. Today, it would be on par with semiconductors. Ginseng native to the Central Plains was said to be less effective, and people sought out Goryeo ginseng for its superior medicinal properties. 1 Japan even minted special silver coins for ginseng trading, and in Southeast Asia, Goryeo ginseng was a gift from kings to their officials. Unlike fictional miracle herbs in martial arts stories, Goryeo ginseng was treated as a panacea in East Asia. But this wasn’t the past—it was a Murim Dating Sim. So, what could ginseng do here? What else? It was a cure-all that restored HP and MP and even increased max MP. The protagonist would use ginseng to heal injuries, increase internal Qi, and more. It was consumed to an almost absurd degree. Did this game get sponsorships from a ginseng company? Product placement, maybe? Or perhaps the writer just didn’t know any other miracle herb? It was a detail that highlighted the writer’s poor research skills. In any case, sending ginseng as part of the dowry to a martial arts clan was certainly a smart move. It could boost the Moyong Clan’s power or be converted to cash easily. “But that’s not what I’m looking for.” While playing the dating sim, I remembered numerous items the protagonist used for power-ups. If the Kang family was wealthy enough to buy out the Moyong Clan heroine, surely some of those items might be on this list. If there were any items essential for survival, I needed to secure them. I skimmed through the list with such hope. Silk, jade, pearls, silver bars… everything destined to be seized by Moyong Sang-ah anyway. Not this junk. Wait. “Why is this here?” There was an item on the list that I hadn’t expected at all. An item that would make my plan to outwit the heroine foolproof.