Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village

Mangyang, having heard from Geukho about the novelist Feng Menglong, said,

"He's someone who excels at composing poetry and prose, and he's well-versed in the classics. He has a particular interest in vernacular novels and enjoys great popularity, so your recommendation is spot on."

"Then I should go find Feng Menglong in Obyun."

"But hold on a moment."

Mangyang stopped me as I tried to rush off to Obyun by any means necessary, staring at me intently before speaking.

"Baek Woong. What do you think it takes to write well or tell jokes effectively?"

"Huh?"

I tilted my head at the sudden question.

"If I were a teacher, I wouldn't bother teaching someone like you. It wouldn't improve no matter what."

"..."

Pinpointing my half-hearted response, Mangyang continued.

"Humans are more inclined to listen to stories that feel close and relatable. For example, tales of martial arts, sorcery, or treasures would stick in your ears perfectly... but what about court intrigues among women, the chaotic political history of the Great Ming Empire, or pithy sayings related to appearance, speech, writing, and judgment? Would those interest you?"

I shook my head firmly.

"They wouldn't."

"Why not?"

"Because they have nothing to do with me..."

"Exactly. In recent decades, short stories and wild tales have emerged as new forms of narrative and gained massive popularity because they grasp the essence of what makes stories engaging. In other words, they use relatable styles that resonate with the common folk. Plus, the current era is perfectly suited for novels to flourish."

"What do you mean?"

"The most popular novel in the world right now is Water Margin. You've read it, right?"

I nodded vigorously.

"It's incredibly fun!"

The tales of heroes like Song Jiang, Lu Zhishen, Wu Song, and Li Kui brimmed with vibrant excitement and heroic spirit. Water Margin was the first novel I ever encountered. While wuxia novels dealing with the martial world had their own appeal, they didn't always connect with everyone, so Water Margin reigned supreme in popularity.

"Water Margin was originally banned by an emperor several generations ago. However, the previous emperor lifted restrictions on novels and comedic tales, revoking its banned status. On top of that, as urban economies outpacing rural ones, demand for novels surged."

"Huh? Economy?"

"Precisely. City dwellers grow wealthier and live better lives, while rural folk struggle. You know that well enough, don't you? The Ming Empire's wealth has concentrated even more in cities as the currency stabilizes and the socioeconomy develops. That's increased the number of affluent people who can live comfortably without farming. Li Shizhen authored the Compendium of Materia Medica, spreading medical knowledge to the masses, while Xu Guangqi advanced fields like astronomy, calendrical science, mathematics, surveying, agriculture, sericulture, and physics. Even painting has progressed to divine levels, with rumors of Wu Men's Shen Zhou and Wen Zhengming's mastery."

"..."

"As long as the emperor and the Embroidered Uniform Guard avoid tyranny, this is the most culturally and economically prosperous era in Ming history—a time when the people live in peace and contentment. It's all thanks to the previous emperor stabilizing the chaos and implementing benevolent rule, allowing a non-essential cultural pursuit like 'novels' to thrive like never before."

"Hmm, I see."

"Food supplies are stable too. Relief grain reserves are well-prepared, and natural disasters like floods are handled effectively. The palace may be rotten, but mid- and low-level officials are quite capable. For instance, there hasn't been a single major famine or catastrophe causing a massive population drop in the last fifty years."

Was I living in such a great time? Bewildered, I countered Mangyang.

"But... I've always been dirt poor and struggling... Mount Tai and Henan are overrun with beggars and the destitute. It's only recently that I've seen the bright, beautiful Ming Empire you describe."

"Poverty isn't something even the emperor can fully eradicate. No leader or ruler in this world can create an era without wealth gaps. Besides, you've always been at the bottom, so their plight stands out more to you. They stay poor generation after generation."

Mangyang continued.

"Haven't you noticed? Bustling places like Luoyang and other major cities are thriving—people eat well and live well there. Plenty view the starvation of lowly commoners or beggars as someone else's problem, a world apart. It's just a matter of which class you belong to and how you look at it."

I understood Mangyang's point. Or rather, it felt like hearing in words what I'd already sensed. But it wasn't pleasant, so I muttered bitterly.

"...It's unfair."

"Heh. Even if you succeed in toppling the [Former Ruler], you won't create a world where everyone is equal and happy. Somewhere in this world, someone is always suffering."

I shook my head at Mangyang's words.

"I'm not aiming that high. As long as I prevent the future of total ruin, someone else can handle the rest."

"That's the right answer. We just need to do our part."

Mangyang seemed satisfied for some reason. Then he got to the point.

"Anyway, with an environment so ripe for novels, it's not hard for you to pose as a novelist. The challenge is writing a work with the popularity and skill to satisfy the Great Sage Equaling Heaven."

"How do I improve my writing skill?"

"Listen well. There are three key elements to writing well: extensive reading, extensive writing, and extensive reflection. Recognize these first to build a foundation."

I tilted my head.

"Read a lot, write a lot, think a lot?"

"Exactly."

"Will that really make me good?"

"Not necessarily. Writing is a talent, and the gap between the gifted and the ungifted is vast. Even with relentless effort, only a tiny few become masters."

"..."

When Mangyang immediately negated it, I said in bewilderment,

"Then why mention the three elements?"

"Even without talent, effort following those elements can raise your skill to a certain level. That's why you need to work hard at them."

"I haven't written anything yet, so how do I know if I have talent?"

When I grumbled, Mangyang smiled faintly.

"You'll find out by trying. So let's start writing practice with me today."

"Huh? What about finding Feng Menglong or other novelists in Obyun..."

"Approaching them without basics will just earn you a bellyful of scorn. They're not only novelists but masters of classics, jokes, and essays. You need fundamentals to even study under them."

"Got it."

While cultivating elixirs in the Yellow Mountain wilds using the Art of Shifting Earth with Mangyang, I practiced writing with him in the hut. Every day, he brought military tales, wild stories, and novels; I read diligently, even invoking the Yang effect of the Yin-Yang Separation Technique, and wrote daily.

But upon seeing my writing, Mangyang pointed out the issues.

"As expected, your reading experience is lacking—vocabulary is sparse, and the prose lacks logical flow... Books aren't commonplace, so you must pack ample meaning into limited space."

"It's tough..."

"Fortunately, papermaking has advanced recently, and printing with movable type is straightforward, so it's not that hard."

For about a month, I trained under Mangyang. I felt I now understood writing much better than before. That's when a message arrived from the Pure Language Office via Zhuge.

[Come here for a bit. It's almost done.]

[Done?]

[I've erased Zhuge Bu's personality completely.]

[......!!]

[Time to put him to use.]

I froze momentarily. The moment had come to wipe Zhuge Bu's personality, leave his memory blank, and use him like a slave. Thoughts flashed of how to extract value from him equal to the Anonymous Death Ritual Scroll.

Flash!

I went to Zhuge. There, the man resembling Zhuge Bu knelt on the floor. Zhuge said,

"A fragment of his mind remains, but it's only a matter of time. Once resistance fades, his memories will vanish completely. Then apply the Yin-Yang Separation Technique to turn him into a perfect puppet."

Stagger.

Moments later, Zhuge Bu collapsed forward. Zhuge cast the technique on his head and told me,

"Now he'll recognize you as his master."

With Zhuge Bu's eyes glazed over, I addressed him.

"I am your master."

"...Master?"

"Obey my commands absolutely."

"Understood... sir."

Zhuge Bu responded blankly. Once the brainwashing finished, Zhuge said,

"While we're at it, let's implant more martial arts and sorcery into him. If he can kill Zhuge Yuryong when needed, that's ideal."

"..."

I understood Zhuge's scheme fully. But brainwashing his own nephew to behead his brother—even with deep grudges—was no light matter. It underscored Zhuge's madness, devoid of any humanity.

Teaching brain-dead Zhuge Bu the Thunder God Style martial arts fell to Geukho, while Cheon Woojin handled sorcery. As Zhuge Bu matters wrapped up, I spoke to Cheon Woojin.

"Cheon Woojin. Speaking of which, how's progress on accessing the [Records of the World]?"

"Hmm... Not well."

"Huh?"

"I know it exists, but not how to reach it. Same as you not knowing how to meet the Martial God."

"Just ask Elder Mangyang."

"Damn it, think before you speak. He's not in a position to reveal something that massive to me."

Cheon Woojin snapped irritably.

"Unless it's a situation requiring a new guardian, even Master won't share such a huge secret."

"What? Then what's the point of telling me?"

"That's not it. Knowing alone is enough. I admit you helped."

He turned away sharply.

"Oh, right—I have somewhere to go. I'll be away for a while."

"Where to?"

"Somewhere to check."

With that, Cheon Woojin vanished using the Earth Contraction Technique. I didn't know his plans, but he was capable, so no worries.

"Well, he'll show up when the time comes."

Flash.

I returned to Mangyang for more writing studies. After over another month of training, he finally said,

"Your basics are solid now. Let's go meet Feng Menglong."

Mangyang and I visited novelist Feng Menglong in Obyun. He was a white-haired elder with the sharp, clear gaze typical of scholars. Upon arriving, Mangyang clasped his hands in greeting.

"It's been a long time."

"Oh! Isn't this Zhuge Hyun?! How many years has it been...!!"

"About five years, I believe."

"Ha ha, come in, come in."

Feng Menglong welcomed Mangyang warmly.

"Your father was the world's greatest strategist and genius, and his sons were so talented they were called the Twin Dragons of the Zhuge Family. You were once the idol of all literati in Luoyang."

"That was long ago. Now I live in seclusion as Elder Mangyang."

"I see... Some story there, I suppose."

"I serve the man beside me, Baek Woong, as my liege."

"Hmm?"

As Feng Menglong's expression turned peculiar, Mangyang said,

"Please teach him how to write novels."

"Hmm... I'm not particularly skilled at teaching."

"It needs to be a work that spreads not just in Luoyang but across the world."

Feng Menglong looked troubled.

"Hmm... I'll give it a try, but I never imagined you'd take something as trivial as novels so seriously. You know novels are trendy but lowly regarded, with classical studies as the true pursuit."

"I beg you."

"Very well. I'll do my best."

I began learning novel-writing under Feng Menglong. When I shared my planned work and theme, he said with interest,

"A story of the Monkey Immortal traveling to the Western Heaven of Tianzhu? Alongside the Tang Dynasty's Tripitaka Master?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Sounds fun... Do you have more details?"

"I've only outlined it."

"Hmm. Try drafting something rough."

I scraped together ideas on the spot and created. After reading my roughly 5,000-character plot summary for a while, Feng Menglong said,

"Your writing is quite clumsy... You weren't originally a scholar, were you?"

"No."

"...You need fame quickly, right?"

"Yes."

Feng Menglong pondered deeply before saying,

"No choice then. Let's all head to Luoyang."

"You have a way?"

"Do you have money?"

"Plenty..."

"With this skill, you couldn't write anything fun or famous even in death..."

Feng Menglong said sourly,

"We'll scour Luoyang's geniuses to ghostwrite the novel. Spread some rumors, and it should work out."

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