“Have you heard of it before?”
As Cheong-un exhibited a familiar reaction to the Tang Family Rise, one of the guard members asked.
“I momentarily confused it with another novel. I’m hearing about the Tang Family Rise for the first time today.”
Cheong-un shook his head slightly, then looked at the Tang Family Rise. It had a similar name to Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, which startled him for a moment, but it was a different book.
Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes was a novel written on cheap paper by hand. In contrast, the Tang Family Rise was clearly printed on high-quality paper with a printing press.
As Cheong-un turned to the first page of the Tang Family Rise, he saw Kang Yoon-ho’s signature on the inside cover. The handwriting projected a strong desire of a man for the heroic journey.
‘This is nothing like the handwriting in Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.’
Cheong-un’s mind immediately compared it to the script of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes. However, this signature was different from the hundreds of styles he had seen.
‘It’s a handwriting I’ve never seen before, but somehow it feels familiar.’
While familiar, it was not the same as the handwriting from Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.
A signature is just a scribble. It was natural that the casual signature he jotted down when requested by various people during his travels would differ from a neatly written script intended for a novel, but Cheong-un had no way of knowing that.
Cheong-un had a slight disappointment because he had hoped for something more. Just where did he see that writing? It was a new novel with a new author’s name, so it was just a guess that he might have seen a similar script somewhere.
“If you see it, you’ll get hooked immediately. It’s a truly amazing tale of a hero.”
As the guard member watched the Elder of Mount Wu examining the novel carefully, he chipped in as a fan.
“Absolutely. It’s a masterpiece that truly captures the essence of the Sichuan Tang Family. How could you even think of burning it?”
“Do you think I wanted to burn it?”
It was a novel praised by the people of the Sichuan Tang Family. Cheong-un’s curiosity grew. He wanted to read it right now. However, if he entered his guest room, it would be dark. Should he read a bit in front of the fire?
As the bookworm Cheong-un pondered, he overheard an unexpected conversation.
“In particular, the last intimate scene with the ‘most beautiful in Sichuan’ is truly a masterpiece. It’s something you could shout ‘The beauty of Sichuan’ about.”
“What are you talking about, my friend? The real beauty is Du Eung-hyang from Hubei.”
“Ha! What? That means you have no taste in women!”
“What?! You finished your sentence?”
Cheong-un looked at the two with a puzzled expression. An intimate scene? Isn’t that something that appears in adult novels rather than heroic tales?
“Is the Tang Family Rise perhaps not a heroic tale, but… a… adult novel?”
It couldn’t be, could it? Cheong-un asked the two, just in case.
“Are you not sure what genre this novel belongs to?”
“Master Kang clearly told me he wrote a story about heroes.”
“That’s correct. The protagonist, Tang Jung, is the best hero I’ve seen. But yes, this novel does have adult scenes.”
“What does that mean?”
There’s a hero, and yet it has adult scenes? Cheong-un couldn’t wrap his head around what they were saying.
“In Joseon, novels like the Tang Family Rise are referred to as ‘Colored Heroic Stories.’ They are tales from the Martial Arts World that also include suggestive scenes. Just take a look.”
The guard member opened to the later part of the Tang Family Rise, revealing the intimate scene between Tang Jung and the ‘most beautiful in Sichuan.’
“What the heck is this…?”
Cheong-un’s eyes scanned descriptions like ‘water peach’ and ‘slender willow waist,’ along with sticky and rich details.
“The highlight is the scene with the breasts, if I recall correctly. Let’s see… where could it be?”
“Ah, well, um…”
Cheong-un’s face, which had gone cold in the chilly wind, started to heat up again.
“You shouldn’t show such things to a practicing Taoist!”
“Oh dear! My apologies.”
One guard member, realizing the situation, chastised his friend, who promptly closed the book.
“So the Tang Family Rise is an adult novel…”
Shadows fell over Cheong-un’s face.
“Even if it has those scenes, I assure you it’s very entertaining. If you’re okay with it, I can lend it to you.”
The guard member offered the Tang Family Rise back to Cheong-un. However, this time, he couldn’t accept the book readily.
It might be okay for young Taoists to have a little freedom, but Cheong-un was a Taoist from Mount Wu, having ventured into the Martial Arts World for a heroic journey.
A Taoist from Mount Wu bringing home an adult novel would be just like a begging monk blushing while entering a courtesan house.
“I don’t read novels that may interfere with my training. I’m sorry.”
Cheong-un bowed his head in rejection and returned to his room.
His expression upon entering was filled with betrayal.
When I woke up and opened my eyes, I saw Cheong-un gazing at me intensely.
“Did I oversleep?!”
I quickly sat up and asked Cheong-un. Have I slept too late? Cheong-un was already neatly dressed in his clothes, ready to head out at any moment.
Looking at the sunlight streaming through the window, it was still early.
“No, you haven’t.”
Cheong-un’s denial came sharply. What’s the deal? Did I snore or something? I don’t snore.
“Then why?”
It felt like waking up during a class to find the teacher glaring at me, fuming over how long I’d be sleeping during class.
“You lied to me.”
“A lie? What do you mean?”
What’s he talking about? Cheong-un isn’t a heroine or anything; why would I lie? I just want to sleep for ten more minutes.
“The Tang Family Rise.”
With Cheong-un’s single statement, my remaining sleepiness evaporated like a Dempsey Roll.
“Aha-ha-ha.”
Oh, that? I hadn’t lied; I just kept a little secret. I chuckled awkwardly.
“It’s an adult novel, isn’t it?”
“Did you see it?”
I surveyed Cheong-un’s surroundings. I couldn’t see the Tang Family Rise. Had he found out from somewhere else?
“I caught a glimpse of the Tang Family folks burning unnecessary items last night.”
After quickly assessing the situation, I realized I was heavily contemplating in the morning.
You mean to say he only saw the suggestive scenes? If he learned that what he thought was a heroic story was actually an adult novel, that would be infuriating. But it wasn’t that the Tang Family Rise contained no heroism.
Rather than belittling him, I should state it outright.
“It only has intimate scenes; it’s still a story about heroes.”
I confidently told him that he was misunderstanding.
“Isn’t the latter half filled with nothing but intimate scenes?”
He said he just glanced over it. How far did he look?
“It was only added for public appeal. The real content is at the beginning.”
In truth, I thought both were important. How could a Colored Heroic Story lack color? In fact, some might even see the hero sections as mere preparation for the intimate scenes.
“Those who read adult novels claim that stripping away the adult scenes still makes it a masterpiece. But that ultimately means you still wrote an adult novel.”
No, there are truly exceptional works that can still be masterpieces even without the 19-plus scenes.
I wanted to shout out examples, but they were inappropriate under the current circumstances, so I held back.
“It was merely added to diversify the elements of humor. The desire for heroism exists genuinely throughout.”
“Truly great heroic novels don’t need intimate scenes to be interesting.”
“I like such novels too. However, they don’t necessarily sell.”
Do you know how much blood, sweat, and tears I shed trying to write martial arts novels in this world? The answer is Colored Heroic Stories.
“There might not be much popularity, but there will surely be someone who recognizes that book. Isn’t it a true writer’s job to nurture the heart of heroism in such readers?”
That was indeed true. Reality is also filled with people who write for accomplishments rather than for monetary gain.
“I see myself more as a scribbler than a writer. Even if I could write such books, they would take ages to sell at some corner bookstore.”
“However, someone will definitely pick up that book.”
Cheong-un’s expression turned thoughtful as if he remembered something.
“Guys like me will starve to death in the meantime. Besides, adding intimate scenes to my book was not only for popularity but also for realism.”
“Realism?”
Cheong-un tilted his head, puzzled. Did he not see where I was getting at?
“The righteous image of a hero would surely captivate any woman. Haven’t you experienced that while pursuing heroism, Cheong-un?”
“I don’t think so.”
“You just didn’t notice, but it surely was there. When you saved me, if I had been a woman, I would have fallen for you at first glance.”
“W-What are you talking about?”
Cheong-un stammered, sounding flustered, almost like me around women.
“A hero’s journey isn’t done alone. Someone nearby will be moved, fall in love, or harbor grudges. I merely wrote about that life of a hero amusingly. I hoped more people would reflect on heroism after witnessing such journeys.”
I just wrote about the wonderful aspects of being a hero. A recommended read for those pursuing heroism, if you will.
“Then, pursuing your goal like that wouldn’t be true heroism.”
What a pure-hearted old-school hero he is.
“I did my utmost best with what I could. I don’t know how you’ll think about it, but I hope you don’t feel too offended.”
I asserted I had done my best as a writer before getting up to wash my face.
Cheong-un gazed at me, his face laden with dissatisfaction, without acknowledging or denying what I said.
————–
The awkward silence with Cheong-un continued throughout the day.
I couldn’t ask to change the room arrangements while traveling.
‘I do want to maintain a good relationship with the hero…’
That said, I didn’t feel the need to apologize for writing the Tang Family Rise or to adopt a humble posture. However, since I had to protect Hwa-rin, there was no reason to maintain an uncomfortable relationship.
If so, I’d just have to steer him closer.
“I heard you burned the belongings of the deceased.”
I said to set the stage for a conversation with Cheong-un about the members of the guard I met last night.
“Not belongings, just unnecessary items that took up space.”
“That included my book.”
“That was… ha ha.”
The guard member wore an embarrassed expression as if realizing what he had said.
“You did well. When I publish the third volume, I must burn it too as a last reminder.”
I had no intention of scolding him over this. After all, there are customs that entail burning possessions of the deceased. I would instead praise them for having done the right thing.
“I wanted to see Tang Jung’s heroic journey. The deceased would have been pleased.”
“Yes. That’s the right move. By the way, did either of you speak ill about my novel?”
I hastily turned to the main point.
“Pardon?”
“What do you mean?”
“I think Cheong-un has developed bad feelings toward my novel after hearing your comments.”
I stated it as if an underling had overheard gossip among his superiors.
“No, that’s not—”
“While I don’t believe that’s the case, I worry that my writing of the Tang Family Rise may have sparked some negative feelings.”
These folks currently believe I’m the illegitimate child of the Tang Family leader. It wouldn’t be in their interest to sever ties with me.
“No way! That can’t be!”
Exactly as predicted, both of them waved their hands in surprise.
“Then, could you subtly speak well of it? It would be nice to maintain a good relationship with heroes like Cheong-un.”
“Yes.”
“Leave it to us.”
That way, I could overhear the guard members praising the Tang Family Rise to Cheong-un from a distance.
—————
After a day of travel, I arrived at another inn in a different town.
When my order arrived, I stared at the food blankly for a while.
“Is the combination pizza not to your liking? Should I get you some hot sauce?”
“It’s not that.”
“We don’t have pineapple pizza, but since you’re from Joseon, should I order bulgogi pizza for you?”
That sounds tempting.
“That’s not it either.”
I shook my head sadly.
“Then what is it?”
“Eating this delicious combination pizza reminds me of the time Hwa-rin and I almost ended up on the streets due to debts. Since we had no money at that time, we’d share a piece of bread.”
To be precise, I was saving money on food to invest in renovation costs. I gazed longingly at the pizza while observing Cheong-un’s expression.
His expression appeared somewhat gloomy. It was evident that my rough life had made an impression.
“Did that really happen?”
“Yes. The success of the Tang Family Rise has allowed me to enjoy delicious food. But now that Hwa-rin is unconscious, I suddenly feel down.”
Thinking of Hwa-rin causes my appetite to vanish in an instant. Although she’s just unconscious and has no major issues, I cannot help but feel heavy-hearted.
I need to see her face again soon.
“Hwa-rin will wake up.”
“Yes. She should. I’ve eaten well, so I’ll get up and check on her now.”
I stood up and headed back to the guest room.
—————
The uncomfortable atmosphere felt unwanted by Cheong-un as well. As I needed to protect Hwa-rin, I wanted to keep a good relationship with Cheong-un.
I had laid down the groundwork first.
It was a genuinely tough decision I had to make. I too wanted to write heroic tales. However, I’ve compromised with the world. I made sure to communicate that with him.
Also, the members of the guard must have sung praises for the Tang Family Rise. If he still dislikes it after this, that’s just too bad. I might need to either remain as we are or switch rooms.
After washing up and sitting on the bed, Cheong-un entered the guest room.
What now? I waited patiently, maintaining my composure until Cheong-un sat on the bed.
After briefly glancing at me for a while, Cheong-un finally spoke.
“Could you spare some time for a talk with me?”
