Let’s win over the people of the Zhuge Family.
I need to make them read my Zhuge Seolrok. Before my father-in-law finishes his contemplation, let’s quickly gain the support of many.
I headed straight for the Elders’ Council.
“Are you asking to use all the printing presses of the Zhuge Family?”
“Yes, I would like to use all the printing presses in Zhuge Family to publish Zhuge Seolrok.”
With the authority I have, I can’t distribute it throughout the entire Zhuge Family.
The Zhuge Family is a historically significant clan. Naturally, it is larger and has more inhabitants compared to other clans.
I need the help of the Elders’ Council. If we can use all the printing presses of the Zhuge Family at once, I might just manage to meet the schedule as planned.
“Why Zhuge Seolrok all of a sudden?”
“I may not be able to sway your father’s heart, but I know how to sway the hearts of the people in the Zhuge Family.”
“So, you intend to steal the hearts of our clan’s people.”
I nodded at Elder Il’s laughter.
“Zhuge Seolrok will definitely have an effect.”
It’s a book that has even stolen the hearts of the Elders’ Council.
“Rather than acting recklessly, wouldn’t it be better to let us handle it and remain quiet? Pretending to reflect on our mistakes might be more beneficial.”
“When your heart settles down, our Elders’ Council will consider visiting directly.”
That’s a valid point. If we pretend to reflect on our mistakes and keep quiet, the situation might improve. If my mother-in-law and the Elders’ Council step in, it’s quite likely too.
However.
“Thank you for your consideration, Elders, but rather than sitting idle, I want to do everything I can.”
Father-in-law, I’m going to keep causing trouble in the future. I apologize. I’m not thinking of backing down from the start.
Rather, I should break your stubbornness.
“Are you planning to reveal your identity to the clan?”
“We’ve been silent regarding Ho Pil’s identity as well.”
Elder Oh asked me with a concerned voice.
It seems the Elders’ Council aren’t sure if I am truly Ho Pil, and since there’s a marriage issue involved, they haven’t been discussing it separately.
“A story set in the Martial Arts World written by a black-haired person. Surely, it’s not something to boast about yet.”
It’s still too risky to openly reveal my identity.
When people pick up my book from the shelf, the label of “A martial arts novel by a black-haired man” will stick. Even if they were to find out it’s a book written by the son-in-law of the Zhuge Family.
I replied with a bitter smile.
“Tsk. Indeed… if it were the Zhuge Family, it might not matter, but others in the Central Plains would look down on it. So what do you plan to do?”
Even the Elders’ Council seemed to resonate with my words, looking at me regretfully.
The people of the Sichuan Tang Family know that I am Ho Pil, but there are complicated issues involving my father’s son, the lone child, and the Demonic Cult; everyone is keeping quiet because of that.
On the other hand, what would happen if I were to reveal it to the Zhuge Family?
Of course, they would say our clan’s son-in-law is Ho Pil, and it would certainly leak out.
“I have a different idea.”
One day, there will come a time when it won’t matter what label is attached to the name Ho Pil. But that time isn’t now.
“There’s a way to avoid revealing my identity?”
“Yes, and there’s one more favor I’d like to ask.”
“One more?”
You said you’d support me, so I’ll ask for another favor.
“Thank you.”
“I will notify you immediately. Please stay inside for now.”
The Elders’ Council politely sent off Kang Yoon-ho, who departed, and returned to their chamber.
“In my lifetime, I’ve received all sorts of requests.”
Elder Lee chuckled while recalling Kang Yoon-ho’s request.
“That just shows how desperate he is. Since it’s his own work. We should help him out.”
“Who said they wouldn’t help?”
Elder Lee hurriedly defended himself under the sharp gaze of the other Elders. Since Elder Lee had opposed Kang Yoon-ho until the very end, the other Elders understandably reacted sensitively.
“At such a time, the elders of the family should be a solid support for the young ones.”
“Those kids, saying there’s absolutely no way they would let him marry.”
Elder Oh smirked as his friends nodded as if it were natural.
“Heh heh!”
“Tsk tsk. Those old men are just stubborn. After all, I tried to handle it nicely. Now it looks like they’ll have to repay the debt with interest.”
It would take a long time for the Elders’ Council to completely win over Kang Yoon-ho. Elder Oh thought about how Kang Yoon-ho seemed to have a distant attitude even while asking them for help.
“There’s still much to learn even in old age, isn’t there?”
“Hmph! A black-haired one may be fine, but does he have the talent to back it up?”
In a situation where the other Elders were at a loss for words, only a few could offer awkward excuses.
“Right. Isn’t it better than the Tang Family idiots who let treasure slip right in front of them?”
Elder Sam chuckled bitterly as he glanced at his friends and brought up an unexpected topic.
“The Tang Family, you say? What are you suddenly talking about?”
“Can’t you see it? That Kang Yoon-ho was an abandoned child?”
Kang Yoon-ho being an abandoned child? Isn’t he a son confirmed on the family tree? Everyone’s gaze was drawn to Elder Sam, intrigued by this fascinating story.
“Go on, tell me more.”
“The fact that he has a different father means he was abandoned with his mother, and looking at Kang Yoon-ho’s hair color, the reason for his abandonment must be…”
“Because he has black hair?”
Elder Sam nodded.
“Given how the Tang Family despises black-haired people, it’s almost certain.”
“So, he was not a hidden child but an abandoned one. Yet their relationship doesn’t seem that bad.”
“He must have realized he had violet blood flowing in him, even if he had black hair.”
To acknowledge an abandoned child back into the family as their own… The Elders’ Council was quick to understand the reasoning.
“Tang Family’s Rise?”
“Though Kang Yoon-ho isn’t a martial artist, could it be that the historical references within his work belong to one written by a martial artist of the Tang Family?!”
“They probably thought blood won’t lie. In reality, it’s his own acquired talent.”
Kang Yoon-ho’s literary talent blossomed while working as a scribe. The Elders’ Council recalled their earlier conclusion.
“Once he wrote about the Tang Family’s Rise, suddenly he became known as one of our own. The son of the Tang Family Head.”
“Tsk tsk. Just like those crafty Tang Family types!”
It seemed the Elders’ Council frowned at the idea of even Kang Yoon-ho being dragged into the Tang Family.
“And not writing the next volume is just like them! No matter what, it’s an excuse that they fell out of love with the Tang Family.”
“The reason he wrote Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes instead of the Tang Family’s Rise is because…!”
“We only have to repay the interest, but the Tang Family can’t even recover the principal.”
Eventually, some of the Elders began to understand the situation and their eyes widened.
“Haha! That’s a fitting end for those gloomy Tang Family types who throw poison everywhere!”
The figure of Kang Yoon-ho appeared in the minds of the Elders’ Council.
Born as a son of the Tang Family but an abandoned child. He fully developed his talents, returned to the Tang Family, and chose to leave after treating his fiancée.
The Tang Family was no longer necessary for Kang Yoon-ho.
Now, it was the Tang Family that was in a hurry.
How could they abandon Ho Pil? A strange sense of similarity yet a more unfortunate sight caused a smile to linger on the lips of a few Elders.
“Perhaps it’s an opportunity.”
Elder Oh’s eyes sparkled.
“What?”
“What I’m saying is that he’s a child full of ups and downs. Shouldn’t we support such a child?”
Elder Sam also nodded, understanding Elder Oh’s words.
“Right. We may not have chosen the blood, but we can choose the wife.”
“You guys…?”
The other Elders were in a similar strong mood.
“What does it mean that the in-laws are so great? We must become a support for a child who’s been abandoned by the Tang Family and has nowhere left to rely on.”
“They say it’s like meeting a hanging lotus. If we see our son-in-law as our own son, in fact, we would then gain yet another son of the Zhuge Family.”
“A son of the Zhuge Family. Ho Pil Kang Yoon-ho…?!”
It was quite an enchanting story.
“With his literary talent, business acumen, and deductive skills, Kang Yoon-ho is far more Zhuge than the gloomy Tang Family.”
“Yes, indeed!”
“Rather than a son of the Tang Family, he’s the son-in-law of the Zhuge Family. A son-like son-in-law…”
It was a captivating resonance.
“Even if the Tang Family calls him their bloodline, Kang Yoon-ho denies it, but if he is the son-in-law of the Zhuge Family, he would nod.”
“Ugh.”
A strange sense of victory wafted through the Elders’ Council.
“If that’s the case, we must somehow get the marriage approval from the family head.”
“Show endless love from the in-laws!”
“Someday, the next volume of Zhuge Seolrok!”
“That’s exactly it!”
“Let’s start with the request we received!”
We had to make Kang Yoon-ho the son-in-law of the Zhuge Family.
“Master Kang! You’ve arrived!”
“Thank you all for your hard work.”
After confirming that the printing presses were running as per the orders of the Elders’ Council, I went to meet those at the Man Geum Battlefield who were distributing Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes along with Gil-san.
“Why are you out here when it’s chilly? The printing just started, so it’ll be a day or two before Zhuge Seolrok comes out, right?”
Since Gil-san is the son of the bookstore owner, he’s quite knowledgeable about this. Even if all the presses are running, it’ll take time for the ink to dry and for the binding to turn it into a book.
Well, if nothing major happens, it’d be a time to rest.
“I’m going to start promotion first.”
If Ho Pil’s new work is coming out, advertising is a must.
“Promotion? Isn’t it going to be widely known as soon as they know it’s by Ho Pil?”
That’s true. Since Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes is a hit, Zhuge Seolrok’s success is almost guaranteed too.
“I’m running out of time. I have no idea when my father’s decision will come. I need to ensure that everyone in the Zhuge Family reads Zhuge Seolrok as soon as possible.”
Before the decision is out, I must swindle public opinion to my side very quickly.
“Oh right. We need to wrap it up before my uncle makes his decision. What should we do?”
Everyone in the Zhuge Family needs to know about the release of Zhuge Seolrok. Furthermore, they need to read it.
How should I do this?
“There’s always a way.”
“Huh?”
“Master Kang! I’ve brought it!”
“Here he comes.”
The martial artist I saw in the morning came with a bundle of papers. He brought it back faster than I expected.
“A bundle of papers? What’s all this?”
“Take a look.”
This is my secret weapon.
[Zhuge Seolrok. Beyond your imagination. – Elder Oh, Zhuge On.]
[If you are a member of the Zhuge Family, this is a must-read book you should keep close by. – Elder Seven, Zhuge Jong-u.]
[If you’re only going to read one book in a year, it should be this one. – Elder Lee, Zhuge Se-mun.]
[Tang Jung and Un-hyeon. But representing this era is Zhuge Seolrok. – Elder Il, Zhuge Seung.]
“What is this…?”
“I asked the Elders’ Council to leave reviews for book promotion.”
Let famous people read the book and ask for reviews. Then, use those reviews as advertisement slogans.
In the real world, this is a common promotional method, but in this world, it’s quite an innovative advertising style.
“So this is all?”
Gil-san. Your guess is right. Reviews from the entire Elders’ Council. All are slogans to be used for promotion.
“Hearing that a new work by Ho Pil is coming out, and that it’s being praised by the entire Elders’ Council, known for their exacting standards, must be hard to resist!”
“The Elders’ Council gave their permission? Since they’re putting their names on it, that must have been a tough decision.”
I thought I would be turned down. But they readily agreed.
While it has lost some shine in modern times, the fact that someone sponsors with their name isn’t a trivial matter.
The Elders’ Council is promoting Ho Pil’s new work under their names.
It will surely have a significant impact within the Zhuge Family as well.
“If we can get assistance, we should gladly accept it.”
“They say those who love each other tend to resemble one another. You both are doing something similar.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at Gil-san’s observation. Miss Zhuge also did something similar for me.
“Is there anyone in the Zhuge Family who writes well and can write various styles? I was wondering if we could create a room with the Elders’ reviews.”
I asked the person who handed me the Elders’ reviews.
The people from the Man Geum Battlefield are good at it, but since writing alone can take years of training, the people of the Zhuge Family would probably be better,
“It’s fine.”
“Huh?”
“We anticipated this at the Elders’ Council and have written a hundred copies.”
Behind the martial artist, there was a large box piled high with papers.
“The Elders’ Council? A hundred copies each?”
Did I hear that wrong? Did the Elders write down all the advertising slogans individually on paper?
“Use as much as you like, and if you’re short, feel free to ask again. They even said if the slogans aren’t to your satisfaction, just ask again.”
“Hahaha…”
“This is Kang Yoon-ho. You’ve really won their hearts.”
Was the Elders’ Council’s word truly not a lie? I shook off the slight feeling of astonishment and called the people from the Man Geum Battlefield.
“Let’s start right away.”
It’s time to let the Zhuge Family know about Zhuge Seolrok.
