The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel-Chapter 154: Journey to Sichuan - 2

Somyeon and dumplings—how traditionally martial arts of a menu.

A guesthouse that serves nothing but noodles and dumplings?

Sure, it's not like somyeon and dumplings don’t exist in this world.

Even I, after seeing some of the absurd dishes served in other inns, would often order somyeon or dumplings just to be safe.

But a place that serves only somyeon and dumplings?

GALL! This isn’t a martial arts dating sim!

Isn’t this just screaming to the heavens that something’s off?

And it wasn’t just the menu that felt strange.

‘He didn’t even hand us a menu, and the water was delivered by hand.’

The man had come directly to explain the menu options himself.

And no matter how empty the inn might be, bringing water out personally?

Water’s supposed to be self-serve.

Even the water wasn’t just plain—it was brewed tea, thoughtfully steeped with leaves.

This is way too suspicious.

It feels like watching an android or a reptilian pretending to be human.

Once I started looking at the guesthouse through that lens, there were so many little red flags.

When I looked up, I saw a clean rectangular patch on the wall.

The surrounding area was faded from sun exposure, but that neat rectangle was untouched.

There had clearly been a menu or something hanging there for a long time.

For a sun-bleached shadow like that to form, it had to have been there for quite a while—so why was it taken down?

‘They probably couldn’t serve the items on the menu anymore.’

Maybe they ran out of ingredients.

Maybe the cook changed.

Or maybe the entire staff was forcibly retired and replaced with people who can’t even cook properly.

Rather than admit they couldn’t prepare what was listed, they just removed the whole menu.

‘Bamboo leaf wine... that’s from faraway Shanxi. The fact that a remote village can serve it is bizarre.’

In a traditional martial arts setting, sure, every guesthouse has a bottle of bamboo leaf wine tucked in the back.

But in this world, it’s a rare drink that takes some effort to obtain.

Even when I asked the innkeeper about it, his reaction was awkward and unsure.

It looked like he’d been prepared to respond to menu questions—but the wine question caught him off guard.

His customer service was off.

The guesthouse, the more I looked at it, seemed oddly unkempt.

All ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) these little things that I normally might overlook just kept piling up in my head.

And if it’s not just me being paranoid... then what is it?

‘A guesthouse that’s a trap—a classic martial arts cliché.’

We only came here because both other roads were blocked.

It had already felt strange not to run into bandits on the way—

but what if the bandits were waiting here instead?

Maybe this whole place is a setup to catch off-guard travelers.

Or, in a darker martial arts twist, a place where they butcher people and serve them in dumplings.

‘It’s all just speculation. But it needs to be said out loud.’

If I’m overreacting, people will just laugh and move on.

But if I’m not...

This could be a matter of life or death.

“So you’re saying the guesthouse is suspicious?”

Hwa-rin asked without batting an eye, casually accepting the possibility that this was a trap.

“Yeah.”

Just taking my word for it without needing an explanation—Hwa-rin, I’m touched.

“Then let’s test it.”

She picked up the water glass I had stopped her from drinking earlier.

“Hey—!”

It might be poisoned! I reached out to stop her, but she held up a hand to signal it was fine... and drank the tea right down.

Maybe she’s got some kind of resistance?

Like a gourmet judge in a cooking manga, Hwa-rin swirled the tea in her mouth, furrowed her brow slightly, then swallowed.

“It’s not poison.” fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

“It’s not?”

Was I being paranoid?

Maybe there are guesthouses in this world that specialize in somyeon and dumplings.

Maybe... I’m the one who’s lost touch.

I was about to scold myself for being overly suspicious—

when Hwa-rin continued.

“Yeah. But it’s not normal tea, either.”

“...What do you mean?”

“It’s got a strong astringency. It’s not toxic, but the leaves seem to dull taste and smell.”

“A shallow trick to numb the senses before poisoning the food.”

The Escort Captain, who had been listening quietly, muttered under his breath.

“Yes. You wouldn’t use it alone to poison someone, but it’s a decent first step.”

Hwa-rin nodded to him and drained the rest of her tea.

“Tch. I knew it was suspicious how smooth everything was.”

The Escort Captain clicked his tongue and tapped his finger on the table.

Tap. Tap-tap-tap.

A rhythmic pattern.

At his signal, the relaxed looks on the other guards hardened instantly. Must be a code—an alert.

“The somyeon and dumplings are ready. I’ll be stepping out—I have some errands. Here’s the room key. Make yourselves at home.”

The innkeeper set the food before us and then vanished somewhere.

Tea like that doesn’t have to mean they’re trying to poison us.

Maybe it was the only tea they had.

Maybe it was to cover up cheap ingredients or bad taste.

But no one reached for their chopsticks. The guards were quietly tense.

Except Hwa-rin, who picked up her chopsticks and inspected the food with the calm confidence of a food critic.

“Hwa-rin.”

I called out to her, my tone heavy with concern.

“It’s fine. It’s not like that bastard Geo-ho’s deadly poisons that are hard to detect. I can tell what kind of toxin this is.”

That’s not what I meant, Hwa-rin.

I know you might be fine—you’re a Poisoned One—but it’s hard to watch a friend risk eating something laced with poison and not worry.

She either didn’t know or didn’t care. Like a connoisseur, she tasted the noodles and broth carefully.

“They made the somyeon quite spicy. Looks like there’s a sleep toxin in here. High purity. The intense flavor helps hide the drowsiness. Not bad.”

Poison is a seasoning to you now?

She spoke like she was identifying a secret ingredient in a fine dish.

“So it is poisoned...”

If it’s a sleep agent, the plan was probably to wait until everyone passed out before striking.

“What about the dumplings—wait, what?”

“Do we really need to taste them?”

I stopped her hand before she could reach for one and looked over at the Escort Captain, who was already holding a silver needle.

We don’t know what kind of meat they put in there, Hwa-rin. Let’s not find out.

“Neurotoxic paralytic. Class C.”

So the dumplings were poisoned too.

“Shall I bring the innkeeper in?”

Vice Pavilion Head Dang-Pae quietly asked the Escort Captain for orders.

The Escort Captain shook his head and raised a hand.

One of the guards saw it and nodded, then quickly and quietly began to search the building.

“Too few people for something this bold.”

I muttered under my breath. You don’t try poisoning the Tang Clan unless you’ve got a death wish or brass balls the size of boulders.

“I don’t sense anyone hiding in the guesthouse. The real enemy must be elsewhere in the village.”

They probably wanted to wait until we were asleep before making their move.

No need to hide inside the building for that.

The problem is, even if the village only has a few houses, we don’t know how many enemies are lurking inside.

A heavy silence settled over the group.

“There’s no one here, but I sensed a thick smell of blood coming from a remote spot.”

One of the guards reported quietly after finishing his sweep. That means there’s already been a victim.

“Damn. That people capable of such unspeakable crimes exist... Their actions are vicious—and they’ve clearly done this more than once.”

The Escort Captain clenched his jaw at the mention of blood.

“What’s your decision?”

“We could storm off now, twist that bastard’s neck, and hit the road.”

“It’ll be night soon. If we’re pursued, things could get ugly.”

I don’t doubt the Tang Clan’s strength, but we don’t know how many enemies we’re dealing with.

A chase in the dark could put me in danger.

“Or we could pretend nothing happened and leave quietly. That would require some acting, but if that’s the route, you’ll need to take point.”

“Hmph.”

“Normally, we’d punish anyone involved in such atrocities immediately.

But we’re on a mission. And we have two guests to protect.”

The Escort Captain glanced at me with a look that practically screamed this is your fault.

Passing the baton to me now, huh?

Well, fair enough. I am the illegitimate son of the Clan Head, and Hwa-rin’s a Poisoned One experiment.

Both of us are precious cargo the Tang Clan must deliver safely to Sichuan.

All the guards turned to me, silent.

They want to know what I think.

What should we do?

If the smell of blood is real, we’re not the first victims.

Someone else might be next.

But is it worth risking our lives to deal with this?

If I just turn my head away, I can pretend it’s not my problem.

Just because I can wield power doesn’t mean I have to.

For a moment, I remembered the days when I wandered the central plains, hungry and despised as a black-haired barbarian.

What are you even thinking?

In this situation, there’s only one thing to say.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“To have strength and still turn away is unjust. To see evil and stay silent is to side with it.”

You people are from the orthodox sects, aren’t you?

If you ignore this, you might as well throw away your precious righteousness. Why even ask?

I braced myself for a scolding, expecting to be called foolish for not understanding what was truly important—and looked toward the Escort Captain.

...What? Contrary to my expectations, the Escort Captain was smiling at me with pride.

The other guards, who had also been watching me, nodded quietly with approving smiles.

“Yes. You're right. As a pillar of an orthodox sect, we cannot overlook such evil.”

The Escort Captain spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear, still wearing that proud expression.

The guards all nodded in unison at his words.

“We’ll wait for nightfall. Everyone to your rooms.”

We headed to our rooms, preparing to crush the bastards who planned to strike under the cover of darkness.

---------

“How did you notice?”

Why am I in the same room as the Escort Captain, of all people?

Ignoring Hwa-rin and the others, he looked straight at me and asked.

“A predator doesn’t care if the grass rustles—but a deer, which feeds on that grass, always listens. I felt something off. And when I paid attention, the inconsistencies became obvious. That’s all.”

Because the main dishes were somyeon and dumplings. Yeah... not something I could say out loud, so I danced around it.

“Drifters in the martial world always think they’re the predators, and grow careless. Compared to them, you’ve got a good attitude and sharp instincts.”

The Escort Captain’s voice was softer than usual—almost warm.

Why the sudden compliments? This guy who’s always had it out for me is being nice now? I’m breaking out in hives.

“...Thank you.”

Maybe he’s trying to warm up to me before we reach Sichuan.

“Of course, once the food was served, everyone would have noticed anyway.”

He scoffed, as if to say all this preparation was unnecessary.

And just when I thought he was being sincere...

“You could’ve just said ‘good job’...”

“But still. What you said... it reminded me of someone from my youth.”

He cut me off and spoke with a nostalgic tone.

Is he talking about the Clan Head?

“If you live in the Central Plains as a black-haired barbarian, you witness countless injustices. You’ll see people turn away, even when they have the power to help. I once swore to never turn away if I found myself on the other side of that situation.”

“Chivalry, justice, honor—they’re all wonderful ideals. But in the martial world, helping one person usually earns you ten enemies.”

“And bearing that is exactly what makes one worthy of being from an orthodox sect.”

His eyes widened slightly at my response. He stared at me for a long moment, as if remembering someone... or trying to find someone within me.

Maybe he’s heard those exact words before.

“...Yes. You’re right. But one cannot act on their own sense of justice without considering the world around them. And if such a person exists—there must also be someone beside them to say the hard things.”

He bowed his head slightly with a bitter expression. Sounded personal.

“For someone like that, the Escort Captain has quite the good reputation.”

“Haha... you’re getting cocky now. Still, even if I say unpleasant things, I’ve always acted in a way that wouldn’t bring shame to my sect.”

Was it the compliment? For once, his tone lacked the usual hostility—even when calling me cocky.

“Yun-ho. Get ready. The Sleep Incense is rising.”

Looks like it was time.

From the doorway, Hwa-rin signaled that the soporific incense was starting to take effect.

I covered my mouth with a cloth and began quietly reciting the breathing technique she taught me to repel the poison.

---------

A couple hours past midnight. That’s when it began.

The front door creaked open, followed by noisy voices from downstairs.

“Hey, big bro! These Tang Clan guys weren’t anything special after all!”

“This time we used stuff you can’t even buy with money! They’re all deep asleep by now!”

“Let’s go see what color blood the Tang Clan bleeds—purple or red!”

Their triumphant boasting ended right there.

“...Wh-what the—?”

Because the entire escort team had opened their doors and stepped out.

“You dared use poison against the Tang Clan? How laughable.”

“B-Bro... I think we’re screwed—! AAAAAAH!”

“There’s only one reason to still be awake at this hour. Wipe them out.”

The Escort Captain raised a hand, delivering the bandits’ verdict.

“Please! Spare us!”

“I-I can’t breathe!”

“It itches! It itches! Oh, it feels so good—!”

“GURK!”

One-sided. Like pest control.

By the time a pale light began to creep through the windows, the screams had faded.

So many corpses. When we stepped outside, they were strewn everywhere—too mutilated to even determine the exact cause of death.

Let’s just call it “sudden nocturnal overexertion.”

“Status report.”

The Escort Captain stood among the bodies, listening to Dang-Pae’s report.

“We have several lightly injured, but no serious casualties! Most of the attackers relied on throwing weapons and poison. We’ll just need to stop at a nearby city for restocking.”

The Escort Captain nodded, then approached the innkeeper—the same man from earlier—and grabbed him by the collar.

“Your evil ends here.”

Damn. That line was cool.

Sounded like something a final boss would say before delivering a finishing move.

Was he about to pull off a fatality? I’m not good with gore...

But the innkeeper, surprisingly, showed no fear—and said something unexpected.

“Shit... They said you guys were weak ‘cause you’re the medical division! Can’t believe I trusted orthodox bastards. Goddamn scum.”

“...What are you saying?”

What the hell does that mean?

It wasn’t coincidence—they targeted us?

Why?

“What do you think, asshole? You think we’d attack you for no reason? It’s all because of your goddamn family squabb—GAAAK!”

A throwing knife flew out of nowhere and pierced his throat.

“Who’s there?!”

The Escort Captain and his men all turned toward the direction it came from.

A part of the village still untouched by dawn.

From the shadows, black-clad figures emerged—faces concealed.

I don’t like this.

Masked figures in black never bring good news.

They stopped at a distance, silent—

and from their center, a single man with violet hair stepped forward, face uncovered, walking with pride.

“It’s been a while, Escort Captain.”

“You... what are you doing here?!”

The man kept approaching, unfazed by the Escort Captain’s shock.

His gaze was fixed on one person—and as the first light of dawn touched his face, I saw it.

I’d never seen the man before.

But I knew that face from the stories. From Hwa-rin’s hatred.

The man who wore the body of a tiger but smiled like a venomous serpent.

“Why else? I’ve come to take back what I so carefully created.”

It was Tang Geo-ho.