The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel-Chapter 151: Temporary Closure - 5

"Yun-ho. How much do you know about handling poison?"

When I said to leave delaying the schedule to me, Hwa-rin nodded and brought up what might happen next.

“I’ve got some inner energy, so I have a bit of poison resistance. Why?”

Poison might seem like a universal trump card in a martial arts world, but actually, most high-level experts have ways of dealing with it.

— This cherry tomato... its weight changed while I stepped away.

Martial artists, with their heightened senses, can detect subtle differences in taste or smell and realize poison’s been used in an instant.

— As expected of fugu roe! A gem worth risking your life for!

Even without reaching the level of a Poisoned One, inner energy strengthens the body to the point where a normal person’s fatal dose might only cause temporary symptoms.

“You don’t know how to expel poison that’s already entered your body, right?”

“Well, I’m not a master or anything. I wouldn’t know how to do that with inner energy.”

The classic martial arts technique—expelling poison using inner energy.

Even if someone has strong resistance thanks to their cultivation, unless they’ve trained in poison arts specifically, they still have limits.

The most common method for detoxifying is using inner energy to force the poison out of the body.

“Once we get to the Sichuan Tang Clan, we won’t know what’ll happen. They might test your resistance to the poisons flowing in their bloodline.”

“If the legitimate heir’s on the verge of death, and I’m the only blood relative left, would they really go that far?”

“I don’t know. But they’re crazy enough that they might.”

Considering Hwa-rin ended up like this after trusting one of those lunatics, it’s hard to feel secure.

“Wouldn’t it be nice if I could just end it by eating pineapple pizza in front of them out of gratitude?”

I could even add extra pineapple toppings if they wanted. Might need to bring plenty of hot sauce and pickles, though. I sighed and muttered to myself.

“You never know what’ll happen. I’ll teach you how to expel poison if you ever get afflicted.”

That’d be useful. You never know what life throws your way. But there’s one problem...

“Isn’t that only possible for people with a lot of inner energy? I barely have enough to use even basic light footwork.”

“You mean you don’t lack the technique—you just don’t have enough energy to use it? That can’t be. You’ve got a few years’ worth built up.”

“Between two and three years?”

In a martial arts world, accumulating inner energy is like learning English.

If you train every morning and evening in clean mountain air for 60 years, you get one full “gapja” cycle.

Many sects advertise their internal energy techniques like cram schools: “Our method is 1.2x more effective than the standard manual!” “Ours is 1.5x but comes with occasional madness at higher levels!”

But no matter what, you still have to train every morning.

The child prodigies of prestigious sects build it up under strict regimens. But once they enter society, things change.

Their progress stalls, training becomes a hassle, they get busy with life, and no one nags them anymore. Eventually, they slack off.

Still, there are those who manage to train consistently. In the end, it’s all about willpower.

It’s like a working adult who, instead of turning on the computer to relax after a long day, opens a book to study English.

Even when life got hectic, I kept training in martial arts whenever I could.

“That’s less than I expected. You screamed about becoming a Barbarian Punch and beat up those bandits. I figured since you knew how to enhance your body with inner energy, you just didn’t know light footwork, but had plenty of energy.”

That’s thanks to a great teacher and some top-tier martial synergy.

“I might be low on inner energy, but I know how to use what I’ve got.”

“Then that’s enough. I’ll teach you a Tang Clan secret technique. You might not have much inner energy, but your control over it seems decent, so you’ll pick up the detox technique fast.”

“Ooh. But isn’t it dangerous to reveal a secret technique?”

“Come on. You’re playing the Tang Clan’s bastard son now. Learning a few of our martial arts won’t be a big deal.”

“Fair.”

If I get exposed, I’m dead anyway. If I don’t, no one’s going to complain about me knowing direct-lineage techniques.

“Sit down cross-legged and follow the energy formula I give you.”

“Got it.”

I followed Hwa-rin’s instructions and tried manipulating my inner energy. Was I supposed to detect anomalies in my body and gather energy to force them out?

I understood the basic idea, but it was harder than I thought.

“Think you can do it? It should be easy once you’re able to observe your own body clearly and pinpoint any issues. Once you understand the method, you won’t even need to sit down—you can use it on the move.”

“I get the concept, but I don’t think I can pull it off right away. Hwa-rin, could you do energy guidance for me?”

She guides the flow of energy, and I follow. It’s how every martial artist who’s taught me did it. I asked her to do the same.

“Energy guidance? Do you think I’m some kind of grandmaster?”

Hwa-rin stared at me, baffled.

“You can’t?”

What’s with her? For someone like Tang Hwa-rin, there shouldn’t be anyone her age who can compare.

“It’s not just me. No one our age can do that. If you try to guide someone’s energy recklessly, it can twist their meridians or lead to qi deviation. I can observe your qi flow, but energy guidance? That’s master-level stuff.”

So... like the difference between giving parking tips from outside the car and actually giving someone a driving lesson.

“But I heard someone could do it.”

I knew two specific people who could.

“You must’ve heard some nonsense. For someone our age to do energy guidance, they’d have to be a genius with grandmaster-level potential and total mastery over energy flow. No way anyone like that exists.”

“I see.”

I’d forgotten for a moment that the two people who taught me martial arts are practically among the top talents in this world.

Turns out I’ve had a lot of lucky encounters. Ate ginseng like candy, learned synergistic martial arts, met amazing teachers... That’s practically protagonist-tier fortune.

In reality, I’m just a barbarian novelist.

“Don’t be too disappointed. Let’s try this instead.”

Noticing I was sulking, Hwa-rin pulled out a liquor bottle from somewhere and handed it to me.

“You want me to get drunk and forget my worries?”

“What are you talking about. Alcohol’s just another kind of toxin. Drink it, and try expelling it.”

Ahh, I get it now. Like in wuxia novels, when the protagonist has the inner power to expel alcohol but lets himself get tipsy for fun. That method.

I took the glass and had a sip.

“This is good. Where’s it from?”

Sweet, just the right amount of bitterness—excellent balance.

“The... the Chief Steward gave it to me.”

Hwa-rin avoided my eyes as she poured more, looking strangely shy.

“Huh? Why’d he give you that?”

“H-he said to use it when things got frustrating...”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Stop asking pointless stuff and just eat some snacks!”

Hwa-rin shoved a strip of jerky into my mouth, dodging the question.

So the Chief Steward gave her this to drink when she was stressed at work? But it’s too sweet, and the alcohol content doesn’t seem that high.

Still, it was so good, I kept drinking.

“This doesn’t feel that strong. I don’t think it’s working... huh?”

“Careful.”

As I tried to stand up, I lost my balance, and Hwa-rin caught me.

Wait. This is stronger than I thought. The taste made me let my guard down. Is this one of those sneaky sweet drinks from back home?

“I already gave you the formula, so practice again tomorrow. You’ll get drunk easily today—too much has happened.”

Seeing me lose control of my body, Hwa-rin sounded worried.

“This is important! How could I put it off? I have to do it now. Help me sit—let’s try again.”

“...Because it’s about your friend?”

Why does she sound upset? I thought I explained it reasonably, but maybe the fact that I’d risk my life over a friend still bothers her.

“It’s our lives on the line too—and my friend’s unjust death. With such a huge obstacle in our way, we don’t have the luxury of hesitating. We need to use tricks and push through if we have to.”

“So when obstacles arise... you use underhanded tricks?”

Hwa-rin’s eyes widened slightly at my words.

“Yeah.”

I nodded, and Hwa-rin lowered her head, watching me thoughtfully.

What’s with that look?

“...Then should I help you use a trick?”

Her voice was calm—but carried the weight of a decision.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“What... what are you doing? Hwa-rin? What are you—?”

Tang Hwa-rin loosened the front of her robe slightly and slipped the fabric just °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° off her shoulder. With that simple motion, the curve of her shoulder gave way to a breathtaking canyon—dangerously suggestive.

“If your blood flows faster, you’ll feel the intoxication more strongly...”

Hwa-rin averted her eyes in embarrassment.

“Wait—no, I mean...”

Okay, yes. The blood is circulating faster. Especially toward my head. The drunken haze hit hard all at once. But Hwa-rin, the problem is... when blood rushes like this, it also rushes somewhere else for a man.

And yet, Hwa-rin clearly wasn’t planning to stop here.

“I’ll hold your hand and help guide your qi flow. C-Come on, sit.”

The Grand Canyon was approaching.

“No, that’s okay. I—ah...”

Startled, I stood up too quickly—and with the alcohol kicking in, I lost my balance and stumbled right toward Hwa-rin. She gasped and instinctively caught me.

“Eep!”

My face... made contact with the mighty canyon.

My nose burrowed into it. I could feel the scent of a place no one else had ever reached. Unbelievable. I’m not even the protagonist of Storm of the Tang Clan, yet here I am, living out one of those scenes.

If I breathe now, will a thunderous echo bounce off the cliffs? They say this is how you die a happy man. If I go out like this, I won’t have any regrets.

Hwa-rin, push me away so I can apologize properly. Why aren’t you pushing me? Is she frozen?

Thump-thump. Her heartbeat raced—and in sync, so did mine.

I could feel it clearly now—how the alcohol inside me was numbing my brain.

“Hwa-rin. I figured it out.”

After a beat of silence, I slowly raised my head and looked at her flushed face.

“Wh... what?”

“Thank you. For everything.”

To keep things from getting awkward, I gently stroked her cheek. Her skin was burning hot.

“H-huh? H-huhh?!”

Hwa-rin’s jaw dropped.

“Let’s sleep.”

“W-what, just because you say sleep, d-does that mean I’m going to just—sleep?!”

Does she not want to? But even as she said that, she lay on her bed and shot me glances without pulling up the covers.

So... are we sleeping or not?

“It’s cold. Cover yourself. I’m going to sleep now too.”

“Wha...”

She looked at me with a flushed face, clearly not understanding what was going on.

“I’ve figured out how to expel toxins now. So let’s sleep.”

Without another word, I climbed into bed and pulled up the blanket.

Just like she said, once you gain awareness of the changes in your body, the method becomes easy. I was able to flush out the alcohol in no time. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

Nice. I feel one step closer to being a real martial artist.

Hwa-rin stared blankly at me... then, as the truth slowly sank in, her face scrunched up like a crushed piece of paper.

“You...! You really are the worst kind of bastard!!”

Only then did she lash out at my earlier cheek touch, snarling and yanking the blanket over herself.

Huh. She’s not turning her back to me tonight. Guess she’s actually mad.

I should probably apologize tomorrow once she’s cooled off.

-----

“Be ready to depart in the morning.”

As usual, the Vice Pavilion Head came to find me late at night.

“Couldn’t you give us one or two more days? There’s still so much to handle.”

I’d been scrambling since morning to prepare, but there just wasn’t enough time.

“What could be more important than this right now?”

“I heard we don’t even have a carriage arranged yet. Both Hwa-rin and I need protection, and it’s best if our faces aren’t exposed. Let me handle logistics while we try to find a carriage.”

I’m not the only one with work to do, you know. Let’s just agree to compromise and take one or two clean days.

“We can find a carriage along the way.”

Great. He’s not listening at all.

The Vice Pavilion Head glared at me without even glancing at the murmuring crowd nearby or the eyes watching us from the shadows.

“Can’t you yield just once?”

“You were the ones who called us.”

I sure as hell didn’t call you.

It’s not like I messed with a Ouija board in a horror movie and accidentally summoned spirits. I didn’t roll the dice wrong in a sketchy-looking board game and get isekai’d into this world. That would’ve at least made sense.

I stared him down silently, continuing our battle of nerves.

“Vice Pavilion Head!”

Just then, a Tang Clan martial artist burst in, panting.

“What is it?!”

“It’s urgent. You need to come outside right away!”

The warrior pointed toward the gate, clearly alarmed.

“I don’t know what it is, but let’s go together.”

Actually, I do know what it is—but I followed the Vice Pavilion Head out of the Daseogak gates anyway.

“Are those the Sichuan Tang Clan bastards?”

“He’s one of them! That guy’s from the Tang Clan!”

“They delayed the release of Volume 3 of Storm of the Tang Clan!”

“They’re trying to shut down Daseogak! Unforgivable!”

“Boo! Sichuan Tang Clan, go home!!”

“What the hell is this...”

What awaited us outside the bookstore was a massive wall of Daseohoe readers, surrounding Daseogak from all sides.