The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel-Chapter 235: Storm of the Tang Clan Volume 3 - 3

The Sichuan Tang Clan Took the Bookstore Owner Who Published Storm of the Tang Clan

Just what kind of novel is Storm of the Tang Clan? Why did the Tang Clan drag off its publisher, Kang Yun-ho? Could it be banned now?

Better read it while we still can.

The round trip from Yichang to Sichuan had taken several months. Looking back, I’d narrowly escaped death countless times. But now that I was back, I was seeing the kind of unexpected publicity money couldn’t buy.

In Yichang, there wasn’t a soul who hadn’t heard of Storm of the Tang Clan. Even those who had intentionally ignored it had ended up waving the white flag and picking up a copy.

And that wasn’t all. Word-of-mouth had spread to cities over a dozen days’ journey from Yichang.

Everyone who read Storm of the Tang Clan praised it. They all hoped the next volume would be released safely.

What had been months of life-threatening peril for me had been an agonizing wait for a single book in someone else’s life.

Now, Volume 3 of Storm of the Tang Clan was out.

And it was being escorted by the Sichuan Tang Clan.

“No cutting in line!”

The voice of a Sichuan Tang Clan martial artist rang out in front of Daseogak.

“Purple hair and green eyes! He really is from the Tang Clan, guarding Daseogak!”

“I told you!”

“So it’s true the Tang Clan read Storm of the Tang Clan and cried tears of praise?!”

“My friend’s in the Daseohoe. He said someone from the Tang Clan praised the book in person at Daseogak!”

“No way!”

“The Tang Clan guarding Storm of the Tang Clan themselves... just how good is this book?”

“No kidding. I want to read it so bad! Why won’t this damn line move?!”

Day two of Storm of the Tang Clan Volume 3 release. The endless line from yesterday stretched on again today, with no end in sight.

“Stone-grilled squid! Butter-roasted corn! Fresh puffed rice here!”

“Want a snack? Hey, do you have popcorn instead of puffed rice?”

“Consommé, onion, and caramel flavors. Which would you like?”

“Consommé?! You’re a man of taste! I’ll take that!”

“Coming right up!”

Rumors of the massive line from Volumes 1 and 2 brought in tons of street vendors. It was a total blue ocean for business.

“I’ve come for Storm of the Tang Clan Volume 3!”

While I was wondering whether to start charging stall fees or set up my own booth for Volume 4, customers just kept pouring in.

“If you’re here for Storm of the Tang Clan, please head directly to the counter!”

There wasn’t even time to let them stop and admire the display.

Like a lunch joint with only one item on the menu, I funneled customers straight to the counter so they could buy and move along.

“Manager Kang! The books are selling faster than the printers can churn them out!”

“I’ll send extra staff to the print room. Take staggered lunch breaks if you have to—but the press must never stop.”

“Yes, sir!”

I wanted to buy more presses. Even start a separate print shop. But printing presses were luxury assets—so expensive I saw stars just thinking about it.

So for now, the one old press I’d inherited from Baekga Bookstore was grinding away like a dutiful grandpa shouting “Respect your elders!”

I need to make enough money to retire that old man.

“Manager Kang!”

“Aren’t you all from the Daseohoe?”

The members of the Daseohoe approached me with solemn expressions. What now? Didn’t they all buy copies yesterday?

“Is it ready this time?”

“Ready? What do you mean?”

“Volume 4! When is it coming out?!”

“Ahaha... Volume 3 just came out yesterday.”

“Ghhkk! After all that waiting... why didn’t Master Ho-pil write Volume 4 in advance?!”

They groaned in despair.

You try surviving mad cultists, poison-crazed freaks, and Tang Clan assassins all out for your blood.

“‘As a proud heir of the Tang Clan, you must learn self-defense. Let us train you in the full martial arts curriculum.’” You think I had time to write Volume 4?

“So Volume 3 has to sell well again for Volume 4 to come out?”

“Of course.”

“Ugh! How long must we wait to see what happens to Tang Jeong, trapped in the Demonic Sect’s vile trap?!”

“Why couldn’t Volume 3 just be as good as we expected? Why did it have to be even better?!”

“Master Ho-pil's cliffhangers are turning into cliff-assassins!”

“It feels like Master Ho-pil cutting right into my heart!”

Cheers and groans, joy and agony all poured out from the Daseohoe. Honestly, the stronger the reaction, the better.

“Hahaha. If you want Volume 4, you’d better buy out Volume 3.”

If you enjoyed it, buy another copy. Help cover Kang Yun-ho’s debt.

“Grrrgh... Fine! Give me one of each. I’m buying again.”

The Daseohoe bought a full set each—one per person. That’s why loyal readers matter. Not just rereading—they buy collector’s copies, reading copies, and even proselytizing copies.

After taking a look around the war zone that was the first floor, I headed up to the second floor to catch my breath.

If the first floor was a battlefield, then the second was a martial dictatorship—one person zipped around like a bolt of lightning.

“In Volume 3 of Storm of the Tang Clan, Tang Jeong—”

“Silence!!!”

Whoa. Was that a D-rank palm strike? A pink wind flew in to shut someone’s mouth.

“Gasp! Miss Ha-yeon! What was that for?!”

“Look at the sign at the top of the stairs.”

[No discussion of Storm of the Tang Clan on the second floor for 3 days after release.]

“You’re saying we can’t talk about Storm of the Tang Clan in its very headquarters?!”

“Many people on the second floor haven’t gotten their copies yet. They’re here to read peacefully.”

Im Ha-yeon pointed to the quiet readers around her.

“How could you suppress free speech about Storm of the Tang Clan in Daseogak, its very birthplace?!”

“Y͟o͟u͟’l͟l͟ ͟r͟e͟s͟p͟e͟c͟t͟ ͟t͟h͟a͟t͟,͟ ͟r͟i͟g͟h͟t͟?”

Wow. Smiling with her mouth but screaming murder with her eyes.

“Ugh... Fine.”

The fury of a martial artist—and a beauty at that—was no joke.

“You’re working hard. Doing great.”

I gave her a small smile as she returned to the sales floor.

I really do have an eye for talent.

I’d been testing a few people with management duties just in case, but Ha-yeon was the ultimate five-tool player.

“I haven’t even read Volume 3 myself. I don’t want to hear spoilers from someone else.”

So that’s what it was.

Like a comic book hero who didn’t kill criminals but shattered their bones, Im Ha-yeon kept watch over the second floor with blazing eyes.

“In Volume 3, Tang Jeong—”

“Silence!!!”

No need to worry about Storm of the Tang Clan spoilers at Daseogak.

-------

“Good work, everyone.”

The third day of extended business hours came to a close. Despite the chilly air, my staff were drenched in sweat. I gave them a nod of gratitude.

“““Good work!”””

After exchanging farewells, the staff left in small groups with their usual companions. I really ought to give them a bonus next month.

“You’re not going home?”

I addressed Im Ha-yeon, who looked like she was rooted to the spot by a Cheongeunchu technique, staring blankly at Storm of the Tang Clan.

“Starting tomorrow, the Daseohoe will be allowed to talk about Volume 3, right?”

Her voice was low and heavy, eyes never meeting mine.

“It’ll get even busier from now on. I’m counting on you.”

“......”

She lowered her head, shoulders slumped.

It wasn’t payday yet. And though Storm of the Tang Clan Volume 3 wasn’t overly expensive, it wasn’t cheap enough for someone still borrowing dinner money to buy lightly.

Like how cinema staff suffer hearing spoilers for movies they haven’t seen, Im Ha-yeon would undoubtedly hear Storm of the Tang Clan spoilers from someone tomorrow.

There’s no greater cruelty than that for someone who’s been waiting for it.

Her expression flickered—anger barely held in check.

She really is a funny young lady. All she has to do is ask.

“Take it.”

I pulled the cleanest copy from the stack and handed it to her.

“This is...?”

“Volume 3 of Storm of the Tang Clan. A gift.”

“A... gift?”

She stared at me, then the book, then back again.

“Why so shocked? Acting like it’s the first gift you’ve ever received.”

You’ve worked hard as a manager. ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) Take one. Read it.

“I-I have gotten gifts before! From the gisaeng sisters!”

If she’s gotten one, she’s gotten one. Why shout like I hit a nerve?

“Read it tonight. Don’t be late tomorrow.”

When I handed her the book, she stared at it and me again—then hugged Volume 3 to her chest like something precious.

“Th... thank you.”

She bowed her head low and ran out of Daseogak like she was fleeing. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

-----

The Day Discussion of Volume 3 Was Finally Allowed

“Ghhhhhh—! It’s just... beyond words!”

“Master Ho-pil must be crazy. What kind of human writes something like this?!”

“Watch your mouth! How dare you speak so lightly of Master Ho-pil?!”

“Don’t fight. Let us all gaze reverently upon the name ‘Ho-pil’ and be humbled.”

“Ugh! It’s blinding!”

“I feel like I’ve gone blind!”

“I’ve read Volume 3... now I can die without regret.”

“You mean you don’t need Volume 4?”

“Just kidding!”

Daseogak was packed wall to wall.

“I’ve read countless books in my life, but no one unfolds a story like Master Ho-pil!”

“He always relieves the tension just when it’s getting too much! When someone’s in danger, he charges in like a hero and saves the day!”

“And the women! I was worried when two new ladies appeared, but they were both perfect! Incredible allies and ideal wives!”

“Right! And the love scene—uh...”

“Ahem. No words needed.”

------

“Hero Tang Jeong is so dreamy...”

Im Ha-yeon gazed into the air like she was strolling through a field of flowers.

“Save your dreams for bedtime.”

“Ghk!”

She scrunched up her face like she’d just caught her reflection grinning like an idiot during a loading screen in a mobile game.

“Did you sleep at all?”

Dark circles clung to her eyes.

“Storm of the Tang Clan is not a book you surrender sleep to.”

So... no sleep.

“Seriously! Sigh... How does Master Hp-pil write this stuff...”

And there she goes, drifting off again.

“If you can’t focus on your shift, I’ll start docking points.”

“Ghk! That’s harsh! ...Fine, I’ll focus.”

I barely managed to pull her out of her dreamworld when a voice rose from the Daseohoe section.

“Tang Jeong is too much! Two women are throwing themselves at him and he only thinks of the ones in his heart?”

“That’s what makes him amazing! Despite Gu Suk-jeong and Du Eung-hyang in his heart, he’s not tempted even when the Blue and Red Flowers seduce him!”

“He loves both women equally—that’s the point.”

“Hmph.”

Im Ha-yeon let out a snort of derision.

“Something wrong?”

“They’re all wrong.”

She smirked, lifting one corner of her mouth.

“What do you mean?”

“Tang Jeong mentions Du Eung-hyang one more time than the Most Beautiful Woman in Sichuan. That means, in his heart, the Courtesan of Hubei matters more!”

You counted that in the middle of the night instead of sleeping? You’re seriously a Du Eung-hyang diehard.

“What’s the meaning of this?!”

As I stood there stunned by her dedication, a sudden outcry erupted from the Daseohoe.

“We were only giving friendly suggestions!”

“You lying bastard! Still trying to play dumb?!”

What now?

Im Ha-yeon and I rushed toward the commotion.

“It’s only been a few days since Volume 3 released. What’s going on?”

“Listen, Manager Kang! This punk here, at the Most Beautiful Woman in Sichuan Fan Table, said that Im Mi-ryeong—who helped Tang Jeong—is more attractive!”

“What?”

“And your side’s no better! We just caught this bastard saying Im Min is more charming than the Courtesan of Hubei!”

“How dare you try to steal our people! Who are you really?!”

At the sudden commotion, even those seated at the Courtesan of Hubei’s table began to speak up.

“They caught us.”

“If only we’d recruited a few more...”

“What in the world...”

The Daseohoe could only gape as each faction revealed the emergence of a third power.

“We’ve been quietly biding our time.”

They gathered from both the Courtesan of Hubei and the Most Beautiful Woman in Sichuan factions, grinning ominously.

“What is this...?”

“Two may fight, but one unites them both. The tide has already turned.”

“No. You don’t mean—!”

“That’s right. We are the Unified Blue-Red Flower Faction—those who support the Blue and Red Flowers together as the true main wives. Join us.”

Storm of the Tang Clan had set Yichang ablaze.

With the arrival of the Unified Blue-Red Flower Faction, the Daseogak Literary Society split into three, like legs of a boiling tripod.