“The Cheonghong Group, huh!”
There’s no world as outrageous as the martial arts genre when it comes to heroine preferences.
Even the authentic martial arts that came out over fifty years ago featured a groundbreaking master heroine, didn’t it?
From the childhood friend promised in marriage, to the sister-in-arms knotted through shared hardships alongside the master, and even the 120-year-old, hopelessly wishy-washy schoolgirl!
Since ancient times, it has been argued that in martial arts, if heroines possess charm, they can become true wives while ignoring all societal norms.
“How can you push two wives at once?”
“Cheonghong Yi-hwa is fine! Didn’t we see them agree? Let’s have the wedding together!”
“To cowardly push two as wives at once!”
So, isn’t it possible to list both the sister-in-arms as wives at the same time?
Just the other day, there was a debate on how a courtesan could ever become a wife, and now the Cheonghong Group is forming, proclaiming there can be two wives.
It’s a truly delightful scene.
“Cheonghong Yi-hwa is precisely the best woman our Cheonghong Group has been seeking!”
“Whenever I see Gu Suk-jung or Du Eung-hyang, I felt something was lacking, but Cheonghong Yi-hwa fulfills that!”
It seemed a new faction for wives would arise following the Sichuan Best Beauty Group and the Hubei Best Courtesan Group, but to appear on the very first day of the Da-seo-gak’s opening!
I had banned talk of the Tang Family Rise for a few days, yet it seems they gathered independently.
“Isn’t Cheonghong Yi-hwa less charming compared to the Sichuan Best Beauty?”
“Don’t be silly! Cheonghong Yi-hwa is both one and two! She’s one and yet she’s two! One’s charm may be slightly lacking, but the combination of both surpasses the allure of the previous two women!”
In trying to balance the weight of two heroines in one volume, the focus was on the charm arising from their sisterly bond rather than their individual charisma, leading to an unexpected united front in reality.
“If you’re going to push for a wife, then push for just one! How can you cowardly form an alliance!”
“The combination isn’t cowardly. It’s a strategy for dealing with powerful foes.”
“Ugh!”
“The Cheonghong Group is open to both new Da-seo-gak members and existing members.”
On the very first day of allowing discussions about the Tang Family Rise at the Da-seo-gak, the Cheonghong Group was keen on recruiting talents.
“The cold-faced female swordsman, Im Mi-ryeong, is even more attractive than the Sichuan Best Beauty.”
“Im Mi-ryeong harbors no feelings for other men! Then how about the lofty blossom? She’s not lower than the Sichuan Best Beauty!”
“Are you talking about that rogue, Un-hyeon? It was merely a feeling of admiration, not love. Think about it the other way around. The fascinating process of Un-hyeon’s heart being colored by Tang Jung’s ink was really amusing, wasn’t it?”
“Now that you mention it, it was quite delightful.”
“What did you just say?”
As a member of the Cheonghong Group caught the Sichuan Best Beauty Group’s member wavering, they seized the opportunity.
“When was the Sichuan Best Beauty a woman from ages ago? When you have a lofty character like that, come to the Cheonghong Group with the noble nature of Im Mi-ryeong!”
“If you join now, what membership number will you be?”
“Is this really what you’re going to do!”
A similar scene unfolded in the Hubei Best Courtesan Group.
“You’re betraying Du Eung-hyang!”
“Betraying? I’ve never betrayed Du Eung-hyang! My feelings for her remain unchanged!”
“Then why join the Cheonghong Group?”
“It’s simply that my affection for Im Min surpassed what I had for Du Eung-hyang.”
“That can’t be!”
“Are you a new Da-seo-gak member? How was the third volume?”
“It was really fun. Tang Jung’s exploits were splendid, and Im Min’s cuteness is…”
“A warm-hearted person who knows how to play the game for love, and a sister who is incredibly affectionate—join Im Min in the Cheonghong Group!”
It’s almost on the level of evangelizing for church membership. The Cheonghong Group was ardent in wooing new Da-seo-gak members and swaying existing factions one by one to grow its influence.
Of course, existing factions had no choice but to tremble at these actions.
“Traitors!”
Among them was the pink-haired, blue-eyed beauty, Im Ha-yeon.
“If there’s nothing else, let’s return to the arena.”
“Shouldn’t we intervene?”
“It’s not like they are grappling and fighting, they’re just having a healthy chat.”
It was already the third volume. The Da-seo-hwe was known to uphold the rules of the Da-seo-gak as long as emotions didn’t get heated.
Even if the atmosphere seemed to heat up due to the new members, with Im Ha-yeon and the Sichuan Tang Family’s martial artists present, no one would be so bold as to stir up trouble.
“But the Cheonghong Group is poaching talents!”
Im Ha-yeon said, her feet fidgeting impatiently.
“How can individual preferences be dictated? Everyone shares the love for the Tang Family Rise. If a hubbub breaks out, then we can intervene; take this.”
I handed Im Ha-yeon a bundle.
“Why tea leaves?”
Im Ha-yeon looked at the bundle I’d passed, tilting her head in confusion.
“I brought back some decent black tea leaves, claiming we have confidence in brewing high-end tea. Are you unsure?”
They were nice black tea leaves, to the extent that it elicited a remark from the supplier about their higher-than-usual price.
“Don’t treat someone from a distinguished family lightly. Just wait.”
With a confident face, Im Ha-yeon approached the tea utensils and began brewing the tea.
The elegant back of the beauty in a snug black qipao brewing the tea was simply mesmerizing, leaving anyone speechless.
After a short wait, she brought the tea to me with skilled movements.
“Oh.”
“Delicious, right?”
Very delicious indeed. It surely was worth the price. Or perhaps her skills were that different.
Seeing my surprised face nod in affirmation, Im Ha-yeon shrugged as if to say, “See?”
“Make a few more cups for me.”
“By the way, why tea?”
“Isn’t black tea reddish?”
“Yes?”
Leaving Im Ha-yeon adorned with a puzzled expression, I carried an appropriate assortment of snacks into the silent battlefield.
“Cheonghong members, you’ve worked hard.”
I approached the gathered members of the Cheonghong Group, sporting a sales smile.
“Manager Kang? Were we too rowdy?”
“No. I brought some complimentary snacks in support of the Cheonghong members.”
“Snacks? Sounds great. Is this a new menu?”
I nodded, gazing at the Cheonghong Group.
No matter who the readers prefer as a heroine, they’re all fans of my novel.
If I were just an author, I would have been satisfied at this point, but as the manager of the Da-seo-gak, Kang Yoon-ho, I could not let this opportunity slip by.
I pointed at the red black tea and bluish snacks, opening my mouth.
“Yes. These are made with high-quality ingredients by a talented artisan. The name is Cheonghong Set.”
The votes for wives should definitely be based on money.
“Cheonghong Set?”
“How can we gauge how many people like Cheonghong Yi-hwa without putting it out, fairly like the other candidates?”
“Are you saying that by purchasing this set, we can discover who the author, Ho Pil, thinks is the main wife?”
“Yes. The Cheonghong Set is priced higher than other sets, but given that there are two, the vote will be treated as double!”
Since it was the late start for the wives’ candidates, a special double event should be held to fuel their enthusiasm, right?
“Give me the Cheonghong Set here!”
“The taste of the black tea is incredible!”
“I won’t be outdone. Give me two Sukjeong tea sets!”
“I’ll take three Hyang-a coffee sets here!”
Demand creates supply, and supply generates sales.
The new wives’ set from the Da-seo-gak lifted its sales even more.
—————-
At the Da-seo-hwe, it wasn’t just a fight over who the wife was.
As new stories published, discussions about the third volume became even more active than the battle for wives.
One of the highly discussed topics was a crucial secret revealed in the third volume.
“Could the Color Demon actually be a member of the Demonic Cult?”
The identity of the Color Demon, who utilized martial arts similar to that of the Tang Family, turned out to be a member of the Demonic Cult.
“I had already suspected it.”
The Tang Family’s martial artist set down his enjoyed black tea and spoke to the gathered Da-seo-hwe members.
“Are you saying you figured it out already?”
“He has remarkable martial skills but an abnormal obsession with lust. Doesn’t that seem strange?”
“I just thought he was a madman, but now that I think about it, it does seem odd.”
“It’s one of the characteristics of Demonic Cult practitioners. Most think if you learn Demonic Arts, you’ll go crazy or lose your mind and kill, but there are other side effects, too.”
“What are those side effects?”
“It becomes hard to control one’s desires. Some go mad from being unable to control their urges, while others slowly lose their sanity. Ultimately, the way they think gets modified to align with their desires.”
“So, in simpler terms, they become sophisticated madmen?”
“Ha ha. That’s right. No matter how obsessed one gets with lust, if there are people aiming to kill them, they usually avoid it. Yet, if the Color Demon has a target woman he desires, he rarely lets that obsession go. It could be said to be a classic symptom of someone who has mastered Demonic Arts.”
“So the Color Demon was driven mad by the Demonic Arts due to lust.”
“Furthermore, there was another piece of evidence that the Color Demon was connected to the Demonic Cult.”
“What kind of evidence are you referring to?”
As the Tang Family’s martial artist noticed that all eyes were on him, he awkwardly cleared his throat and spoke up.
“Ahem. One common method Demonic Cult members use to stir chaos in the Jianghu is imitating the martial arts of prominent righteous sects or leaving similar traces.”
“I’ve heard of that. Since Demonic Arts can be tracked, they often leave traces of righteous sect martial arts to incite conflict between them.”
“That’s right. The moment the Color Demon cornered Tang Jung was just like a Demonic Cult member revealing their true self after hiding their Demonic Arts till the end.”
“The reason the Color Demon utilized a martial art similar to the Tang Family’s was precisely because of that! The author, Ho Pil, truly had the intricacies of the Martial Arts World in mind.”
“The author is exceptionally talented.”
That was actually a scene I added because I intended to package the Color Demon as a member of the Demonic Cult from the Sichuan Tang Family.
The reason I got dragged into the Tang Family was that they dug up the Color Demon incident from 20 years ago.
Without revealing that the Color Demon was actually a poisoner created by the Tang Family, I shifted the identity to a member of the Demonic Cult that showed similar symptoms.
In fact, the one creating the poisons had collaborated with the Demonic Cult, so it’s not like I was completely innocent.
“I’m impressed that you resolved concerns raised by the family operationally during a pivotal scene.”
While I was eavesdropping from a corner, the Tang Faction approached me, eyes filled with admiration.
“The family head would be pleased, too.”
“Whether he’s pleased or not, it matters little. Please do your best to clear up any misunderstandings regarding Demonic Cult issues.”
“Indeed. Lately, my subordinates have fully joined the Da-seo-hwe and are actively participating.”
Is that as far as it goes?
I actually preferred that. The longer the Tang Family’s members stayed at the Da-seo-gak, the greater the upward trajectory for the sales of Tang Family Rise and the second floor of the Da-seo-gak would be.
It’s enough to make me think I could soon pay off my debts.
“What are you doing doing nothing?”
As Im Ha-yeon approached with a busy expression, the Tang Faction glanced at her sideways, narrowing his eyes and chuckling.
“Oh! By the way, I’ll keep the qipao a secret.”
Leaving behind the puzzled-looking Im Ha-yeon, the Tang Faction stepped away to attend to security duties.
That sounds fine. Just as I was about to say, I suddenly lost my words.
Thinking about it, there’s no need for that to be known even among the Tang Family, is there?
—————-
“A wives’ set? Isn’t it a bit too pricey?”
As the sales at the Da-seo-gak soared skyward daily, and the new Da-seo-hwe members increased, it was inevitable that complaints would arise.
“Who asked you to drink it?”
“This is why we should screen new Da-seo-hwe members before accepting them.”
“Tsk tsk. Why do these troublemakers grow so quickly?”
“We need to get our hands on a new broom to sweep away these troublemakers.”
The Da-seo-hwe members were quick to express dissatisfaction to new members as if this wasn’t their first complaint.
“No, listen here. How long do we have to keep ordering this set?”
“Until the wives are decided.”
“It will turn into a never-ending war if we keep ordering without knowing how many volumes are left until completion.”
I wish the sales of the Da-seo-gak would keep rising indefinitely.
“Don’t order, then. I will.”
“I’m not saying I won’t as a new Da-seo-hwe member. I just mean it doesn’t need to get heated.”
“Others think the same as you. But if we stop, the opposing side will take the lead; how can we stop?”
“Just one set a day. Isn’t that enough for anyone? If you agree, I’ll buy a set for all Da-seo-hwe members.”
This new Da-seo-hwe member seemed to have a well-padded wallet.
“Hmm. One set per person…”
“If other factions are ordering the same way, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
That makes sense.
The Tang Family Rise will continue to be serialized, and the number of heroines will only increase.
Who will be the main wife? A money-based election to decide the primary wife.
Instead of an endless fight that enriches the Da-seo-gak’s coffers, it would be wise to come together and each buy just one.
If one finds the marketing too cunning, he might just see the DA-seo-gak members forming alliances to reach an agreement.
“I’ll take it as you agree, and I’ll place an order. Manager Kang!”
But you see…
As the manager, how could I let that slide?
“Yes. I’ll post this announcement quickly and receive the orders.”
I made a big announcement for everyone to see and turned around.
“What announcement is that… Huh!”
“What is this?”
“No way?”
The members of the Da-seo-hwe gazed at the announcement in shock.
I’m aware I gained a reputation for my marketing prowess.
Even though rumors circulated that I took care of employee welfare and supported poor writers, talks of marketing schemes would inevitably follow.
So, what should I do?
[The Tang Family Rise – Side Stories. Sichuan Best Beauty Edition, Hubei Best Courtesan Edition, Cheonghong Yi-hwa Edition. Upcoming Release.]
“I made a special request to the author, Ho Pil, this time.”
Creating temporary stops in an endless scheme will just suffice. Manager Kang Yoon-ho asked author Ho Pil to do so.
“…The side story length may also depend on popularity?”
I decide the portions of the heroines I’m promoting.
What do you think? Can you resist?
With a triumphant smile, I questioned the astonished Da-seo-hwe members.
“How many Cheonghong Sets will you be ordering?”
