“Hey, did you hear the news?!”
It was a somewhat different morning. A martial artist from the Zhuge Family hurriedly came to visit his friend with a frantic expression.
“What’s going on so early in the morning?”
The friend carefully set down the instrument in his hand and looked at the martial artist.
“What’s this? I heard beautiful melodies that I’ve never heard before right from the doorway. Are you playing the violin instead of the seven-stringed guqin?”
“It’s Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. It’s a violin piece expressing the seasons that the famous musician Vivaldi experienced while traveling across the Central Plains. The age of the seven-stringed guqin is over. You should listen properly while you’re here. This is my favorite among the spring, summer, autumn, and winter…”
“This isn’t the time for that! I have some incredible news!”
The martial artist cut off the information he didn’t particularly want to hear. Contrary to the superficial praise offered as a courtesy, his friend’s violin skills were honestly not that good.
“What is it then?”
The martial artist couldn’t hide his excitement as he shouted at his friend.
“Hoh Pil’s new work is coming out!”
“Hoh Pil’s new work?! Is it the fourth volume of ‘Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes’?!”
“No! They say it’s a completely different novel.”
“Then I’m not interested.”
Surprisingly, the friend turned away with a disinterested look.
“Even though it’s Hoh Pil’s new work?!”
The martial artist asked in surprise.
“It’s that time when I have to practice hard for the spring competition. I don’t have time to waste being lazy with a novel.”
“But you read ‘Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes’ quite well.”
This friend was always pretending he was doing something else when others were having fun. The martial artist smiled as he said.
“I-I only took a little break to cool my head!”
“How strange. I heard someone read ‘Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes’ and couldn’t hold back their blood, dancing a sword dance under the moonlight.”
“Ha! W-Were there really such young friends these days?”
The martial artist decided to put the wedge in for his friend, who was desperately trying to hide his embarrassment.
“The sword that’s been gathering dust in the corner is shining brighter than the instrument you’re currently using.”
The friend hurriedly hid the sword the martial artist was pointing at, but it was already too late.
“Ah, whatever! There’s no time!”
With that skill, the outcome seemed obvious. Instead of saying it aloud, the martial artist decided to bring up something that would definitely catch his friend’s interest.
“Isn’t the main character of Hoh Pil’s new work someone from our family?”
“What?!”
“Zhuge Seolrok. They say the title of the new work is ‘Zhuge Seolrok.’”
The whirlwind that had already swept through the ‘Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.’ In the Zhuge Family, it was said that there was no one who didn’t know Hoh Pil. For that author to spotlight someone from the Zhuge Family!
Naturally, the Zhuge Family could only be turned upside down.
“Why is author Hoh Pil doing this?”
Even his friend, who had been pretending not to care, could only show a shocked expression.
“Surely, he realized that in writing stories about the martial world, the Zhuge Family is far more intriguing than those Tang Family folks.”
“Hoh Pil knows a thing or two! But whatever, I’ve been satisfied with ‘Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes,’ so now it’s time to focus on competition practice.”
While it was surprising for him to be interested, he decided to hold back for now.
“You might change your mind if you step outside!”
The friend pointed outside with a look that said this was not the end.
“What?”
“Follow me.”
The friend left the house, frowning at the martial artist’s insistence.
What on earth could cause such a commotion? The martial artist pointed to a notice board, and the friend couldn’t help but widen his eyes in disbelief.
“What’s this? Why are the names of the Elders here?”
“[If you’re part of the Zhuge Family, this is a must-read book you must always keep by your side. – Elder Qi, Zhuge Gan.]”
“[If there’s only one book to read in a year, it would be this one. – Elder Lee, Zhuge Jun.]”
“[Zhuge Seolrok. Hoh Pil’s new work. Available for sale today.]”
“They say the Elders’ Council has given it high praise… about Hoh Pil’s new work.”
“The cranky Elders’ Council praised Hoh Pil’s new work?”
“They’ve already read it thanks to ‘The Rise of the Tang Family’ and the main character from the Zhuge Family, and they all recommended it, saying they marveled at it.”
“It’s hard to even get a single recommendation from the Elders, and now they’ve all recommended it?”
It was utterly unbelievable.
Who were the members of the Elders’ Council of the Zhuge Family? They were prominent figures representing the Zhuge Family.
Even though they had stepped back from the frontlines to act as advisors, no one could disregard their reputation.
In a world where countless martial artists step out to make names for themselves, using their aliases, to think that the Elders’ Council, who held a significant reputation, would endorse something!
Anyone who looked at the notice in the Zhuge Family would find themselves questioning their vision.
“How about it? Is your interest piqued now?”
“This is clearly not an ordinary matter!”
The excitement began to show on his friend’s face, which had been pretending to be calm all along.
“They say they’ll start selling this afternoon… Oh? Where are you going?”
“Is this even the time for that? I need to get in line quickly!”
Without needing to hear more, the friend turned his steps toward the Man Geum Battlefield.
“Hey! Go together!”
The martial artist moved swiftly along with a laugh, realizing he had no choice but to follow his friend.
*
“A new work that the Elders’ Council praises!”
Just as I expected. Hoh Pil’s new work. A review bearing the name of the Elders’ Council. The effect of the advertisement was immediate.
“They say it’s a novel that every member of our family must read.”
“The Elders’ Council outright saying it’s a must-read is something I’ve never seen before!”
“Hey, what’s with the sneakiness in line?”
“I-I asked you to save me a spot!”
“Even being the head of the family doesn’t let you do this!”
“The novel is well prepared! Just wait in line properly!”
“It’s a success.”
So many people. Just how many silver-haired folks are there? I remarked at the long queue, resembling a silver dragon stretching into the distance, and said to Gil-san.
“Wow, did so many people live in the Zhuge Family? It looks like they’re all gathered here.”
“That just shows how amazing Hoh Pil’s novels are.”
Seeing the line that grows longer with each new release naturally makes you feel a sense of pride.
Gil-san scoffed at my words and spoke up.
“My, how brazen. Better cover your face with gold paint or something.”
“Don’t you think it shines even without the gold paint?”
I couldn’t help but feel giddy.
“Come on…”
“Why is Hoh Pil releasing ‘Zhuge Seolrok’?!”
“Huh?”
What was going on? Was there someone who didn’t like the new work? I heard a furious voice from somewhere.
“After ‘The Rise of the Tang Family’ and now ‘Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes,’ stopping the serialization and coming out with a new work?!”
What was that? My expression turned serious in response to that justified fury.
“Stopping the serialization? That’s what you call it to write multiple works!”
“Multiple works or not! What kind of novels stop serialization after the third volume?!”
“Readers, come on. It’s only a long hiatus, okay? I’m not putting the novel on hold due to a block; there were circumstances!”
“Everyone’s waiting in anticipation, and now you’re going to throw a wrench in it? Just get in line!”
“The more I’m excited, the more worried I feel. Am I going to read ‘Zhuge Seolrok’ only to find it ends after three volumes?”
“Think positively. Other writers might take years to put out a volume, but Hoh Pil puts out three to four a year.”
“Exactly, exactly.”
In my case, it’s not a hiatus; that’s normal serialization. In this world, it’s a blessing even if you get one volume in a year. I accidentally nodded my head with unease.
“Kang Yoon-ho, what are you doing?”
There’s this too.
“Yes, he puts out quite a lot, so what’s with the anger?”
The man’s furious voice didn’t fade away.
“If I were to compare it to a tavern, it’d be like going to a tavern known for delicious pepperoni pizza! When I finally get there, the innkeeper says he’s tired of making pepperoni pizza for three days and now he’s going to sell bulgogi pizza instead, would I feel good about that? I want pepperoni pizza!”
“Ah, good analogy.”
“Totally makes sense.”
“Readers, you can’t lose. Why are those who defend you nodding in agreement?”
“The most irritating part is that both bulgogi pizza and pepperoni pizza are delicious. In fact, the pizza right in front of me looks even more delicious!”
“What do you think?”
Gil-san observed the situation, then asked me with a wry smile.
“If I were to compare to a tavern, it’d be like… serving a seasonal menu due to lack of ingredients…”
“Ah, you sure are bad at analogies.”
“Ugh.”
Should I throw in some pineapple pizza for good measure?
“People are even saying that Hoh Pil can’t count to four these days.”
“Of course, ‘The Rise of the Tang Family’ is three volumes and ‘Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes’ is three volumes, so it’s understandable!”
“So that’s why you have three fiancées?”
“……”
I couldn’t answer Gil-san’s question.
When I return to Wuhan, I’m definitely going to write the fourth volume of ‘The Rise of the Tang Family.’
*
“I’m number one!”
“That crazy guy, did he camp out in front of the stall in this weather?!”
With the cheers of the members of the Tea and Book Club from the Zhuge Family, who stayed up all night in front of the stall, ‘Zhuge Seolrok’ flew off the shelves.
“Hoh Pil’s new work!”
“Don’t let anyone touch it until I come out of my room!”
“It’s said to be an even greater novel than ‘Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes’! Just what kind of story could it be!”
“A must-read for the Zhuge Family!”
Those who purchased ‘Zhuge Seolrok’ opened the pages with expressions soaked in anticipation, no matter how long they had to wait.
“I finally got it.”
“Even so, do you think it’ll be more fun than ‘Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes’? I’m only reading it because a family member is the main character.”
Of course, there were those who were skeptical.
“Did you get the book for your son?”
“Are you saying my son should be studying, so you ask my husband to get it for you?”
“Good job. Give it to your son as a gift later.”
“I’ll have to read it a bit first, so I can have a conversation with my son.”
There were those who opened the book without much expectation.
But.
“What about the Shadowless Thief? What about the Samma Family?! Why are those who were exterminated showing up?!!!”
“Why is there no preview for the next volume? It can’t be the end, right?!”
“No way! How can you end a novel like this?!”
“Dad, if you’re done reading, can I have it now?”
“Did I finish reading it already? This can’t be happening! Please! This can’t be happening!!!”
“Next voluuuuuuuuuume!!!”
The reactions to the last page of ‘Zhuge Seolrok’ were the same.
——-
“Of course, the reactions to ‘Zhuge Seolrok’ are good, but what’s next? Can you move people without revealing your identity?”
The enjoyment of the book is guaranteed. But Yoon-ho’s marriage issues are quite something else. Jeon Gil-san couldn’t shake off his doubts and asked his friend.
The friend smirked, raising one corner of his mouth.
“I’ve already prepared everything in the book.”
“You’ve done your preparations in ‘Zhuge Seolrok’?”
Seeing his friend’s triumphant face showed confidence. What kind of trickery has he pulled?
“Check out the latest issue of ‘Zhuge Seolrok.’ Look at the last page.”
Jeon Gil-san opened ‘Zhuge Seolrok’ as handed over by Kang Yoon-ho and immediately saw something odd.
“The last page? Huh?! There’s no mention of a conclusion!”
– The End –
It should have clearly been written there.
The first edition that Kang Yoon-ho distributed to his father-in-law and mother-in-law, and to the Elders’ Council. The mention of a conclusion that should have been in that first edition was absent.
Instead, something else was written.
When everyone was lamenting the lack of a next volume, the last thing to see was:
[My work. In celebration of Detective Kang Yoon-ho’s engagement.]
[Hoh Pil.]
At that moment, Kang Yoon-ho’s intention was laid bare.
