The tale of the Taoist of Mount Wu, Un-hyeon.
Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.
“Is the protagonist a Taoist from Mount Wu? Then it’s not a colored heroic story, is it?”
Traditionally, Mount Wu avoids color. So, does that mean it’s not a colored heroic story like The Rise of the Tang Family?
Readers, having purchased books without a second thought thanks to the fame of colored heroic story author Ho Pil, couldn’t hide their astonishment.
“Wait! If it’s Un-hyeon, is he the hero mentioned in Volume 3 of The Rise of the Tang Family?!”
These are readers who bought Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes due to Ho Pil’s reputation. The mention of Un-hyeon, who was significantly featured in Volume 3, made even those ready to close the book reconsider.
Finally, the story of Un-hyeon begins.
A tale of a boy who doesn’t lose his dreams despite difficult circumstances. A coming-of-age story about overcoming trials with hard work to become a martial artist.
When Un-hyeon ultimately defeats the demon and gains fortune, people couldn’t help but admire.
“There’s another kind of fun compared to The Rise of the Tang Family!”
The boy who has now grown up. However, many readers nodded with a smile as he stepped into the world for a dream he couldn’t abandon.
——
“Truly frustrating!”
One member of the Tea and Book Club voiced their complaints on the second floor of the Tea Bookstore with a very frustrated face.
“What do you mean?”
“Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes! It’s so interesting, it’s frustrating! If it was just boring, I could’ve asked for the next volume of The Rise of the Tang Family sooner!”
“Haha! I agree! It was so exciting when the tension built up, and then the hero broke through the trials in an instant, I couldn’t help but grip my hands tightly!”
“I never imagined martial artists training would be this entertaining!”
“I thought stories of ruffians fighting each other would be dull! Indeed, it’s the work of author Ho Pil!”
“A secret cave of Mount Wu! I wonder how author Ho Pil came up with such an idea!”
Members of the Tea Bookstore began praising Ho Pil’s latest work, Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.
Of course, there were some who didn’t take it kindly.
“Tsk, tsk. What a fuss! In my opinion, The Rise of the Tang Family is still the best!”
“I didn’t even read it as a form of protest against author Ho Pil!”
“Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes was a failure. The Rise of the Tang Family is a hundred times more interesting… Huh?!”
Just as complaints were about to erupt from a few members of the Tea and Book Club, whispers from women in a corner of the second floor that had been hard to hear came through.
“Did you see Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes this time?”
“Yeah. I couldn’t bear to watch The Rise of the Tang Family, but Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes was so entertaining!”
“Un-hyeon is just too cool, isn’t he?! By the way, I heard there’s a connection to The Rise of the Tang Family.”
“Oh really? Should I read The Rise of the Tang Family…?”
“The woman who appears in The Rise of the Tang Family refers to the hero Un-hyeon. It’s probably happening around the same time.”
Before long, one member of the Tea and Book Club approached the two women. This was someone who had just said Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes was a hundred times more interesting than The Rise of the Tang Family.
“Oh, is that so? Then should I read The Rise of the Tang Family to understand Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes?”
“That’s right. There are people who said The Rise of the Tang Family is more interesting than Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.”
The two women looked curiously at the sudden appearance of the Tea and Book Club member.
“Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes is a masterpiece that author Ho Pil put his whole heart into. It’s fine to read The Rise of the Tang Family, but would you like me to explain it for you ladies?”
“Yes. That sounds great. Master, what kind of tea would you like?”
“If it’s tea bought by ladies, I’ll gladly drink anything.”
“Then I’ll order a caramel macchiato with whipped cream.”
“Thank you.”
The member of the Tea and Book Club took a seat next to the women with a shy expression. In the process, he didn’t forget to sit next to his preferred woman.
“That guy… Didn’t he just say The Rise of the Tang Family was the best?”
“Traitor! But why are there so many women on the second floor today?”
When the members of the Tea and Book Club looked around, they noticed an unusually large number of female patrons.
“Why do you think? It’s because of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes. Even women are lining up since it’s said to not be a colored heroic story.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Where are you going?”
All the members who had claimed they hadn’t read Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes stood up from their seats.
“Ahem. Let’s head downstairs for a moment!”
“You traitors! Let’s go together!”
The appearance of new female members. The members of the Tea and Book Club couldn’t resist the trend.
“Please line up! Line up!”
“We have enough stock! Don’t rush!”
The response after the release of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes exceeded my expectations.
“Is it selling better than you expected?”
“I thought it might not sell much due to a lack of mainstream appeal.”
Although Im Ha-yeon and Jeong Gyeol praised it, I had predicted the worst-case scenario of a terrible failure.
I never expected a novel that no one read would become a hit. Honestly, it’s a bit shocking.
“Looking at the ledgers, male customers have decreased, but female customers have increased!”
“I never considered female readers.”
“After all, The Rise of the Tang Family contains adult scenes. Female readers might enjoy it but find it hard to express openly.”
“Is that so?”
Hwang Seong, the leader of the Hu Buk’s Golden Courtesans’ League, saying that surprised me.
“Ugh! It’s relative. Sure, it’s interesting. But ultimately, the courage to pick up a book must be there.”
Indeed, there were a few female members in the Tea and Book Club, but most were male.
“I secretly got a copy without my parents knowing.”
“See? For female readers, simply picking up the book at the stall is challenging.”
I don’t blame them. When I bought a book with a suggestive cover, I stuck it in with a study guide just to be discreet.
I ended up buying it, though.
“The strength of the colored heroic story potentially worked against it. Who would have thought that removing color would widen the readership?”
“Ho Pil is already so famous. Plus, if Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes is interesting, it’s easier to recommend.”
Im Ha-yeon added that since women often gather in groups, word spreads easily.
Thanks to unexpected female customers, Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes was doing well in sales, but it wasn’t a time to just sit back and relax.
“Despite being an unexpected variable, it still doesn’t quite match the level of satisfaction compared to The Rise of the Tang Family.”
It truly lacks something.
While the mainstream appeal of the colored heroic story has been reduced, the consumption base may have widened, but the sales volume itself remained similar.
“Stories from the Martial Arts World aren’t popular. It’s a positive situation; we could just keep publishing until the second volume, right?”
It’s possible to promote under Ho Pil’s name and write interesting stories. However, changing readers’ perceptions overnight and getting them to confidently pick up the book at a stall is no easy feat.
Is this the best I can do?
“We can ponder understanding and nodding along after trying all possible avenues. For the first volume, let’s push for as many sales as we can to introduce The Shadowless Thief in volume two.”
One should give up when no more strength remains.
Is there any way to increase the sales of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes? I should think carefully once more.
“Do you have any specific ideas in mind?”
“I have one.”
After deep thought, I nodded.
“What if we offer limited edition copies like The Rise of the Tang Family?”
“Limited editions are only valuable when they’re rare. It will work, but it won’t have the same effect as The Rise of the Tang Family.”
Ho Pil’s The Rise of the Tang Family. The Rise of the Tang Family’s Ho Pil. Although Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes has been released, it’s still early to separate Ho Pil’s fame from it.
Even if we were to release a limited edition copy of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, it would be challenging to evoke a response as significant as the limited edition of The Rise of the Tang Family.
“What should we do then?”
There is a way.
With a face that absolutely wouldn’t accept rejection, I slowly approached the woman before me.
“This time, I think it’s time for Miss Zhuge to take on the burden.”
“Me?”
*
“Have you heard the news!”
Yichang. One member of the Tea and Book Club visited a friend’s house.
“If you came to ask me to join you for a visit to the Tea Bookstore because Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes is interesting again, you should go back.”
The host, his friend, replied with a grumpy face.
“Are you really going to turn away a friend who came to visit since the morning?!”
“It’s upsetting to see so many Tea and Book Club members who can’t keep their integrity! Just the other day we were having a serious discussion about who the true partner of The Rise of the Tang Family is. Now you’re talking about Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes?”
Before anyone knew it, the Tea and Book Club was now blooming with talk of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, bringing in real flower-like female members, changing the atmosphere significantly.
Of course, there were also steadfast fans of The Rise of the Tang Family who refused to touch Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes until the very end.
“Tsk, tsk. Enough of this! We don’t have time to waste! Let’s hurry to the Tea Bookstore!”
“I said I wasn’t interested in Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes! Wait, what’s pulling you along?!”
Eventually, the host couldn’t deny his friend’s persistence and headed to the Tea Bookstore.
“Look over there!”
The Tea and Book Club member pointed at the Tea Bookstore, urging his friend to look.
A giant poster there featured news from Wuhan.
“Ho Pil’s new release commemoration giveaway? What’s that?”
“They say if you buy Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes from today, they’ll give you a raffle ticket. If you win, you’ll get a scroll with a scene chosen by Ho Pil!”
“A scroll of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes? Are you saying I should buy Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes and ask for a raffle ticket? I have no interest in it!”
“Tsk, tsk. Wasn’t it said to be by author Ho Pil?”
“Wait, does that mean The Rise of the Tang Family too?”
The host’s disappointed expression changed in an instant.
“Yeah. They say if you win the raffle, you can choose one of the displayed pictures! Look at the crowd around that area.”
“Seriously?! Quickly, let’s check it out!”
The friend hurried through the crowd toward the front row.
What his friend witnessed was a painting so exquisite that even a famous artist’s work would leave anyone astonished. You could feel the meticulous care put into it.
“Look! The man in that painting must be Tang Jung!”
“That woman is the best beauty in Sichuan! Truly an unprecedented beauty!”
“That’s definitely Du Eung-hyang! Just like the top courtesan of Hubei!”
“There’s also a scene from Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes!”
The people of Yichang were shocked to see paintings drawn by Jeong Gyeol, requested by Kang Yoon-ho.
Though not large due to the sheer quantity, Jeong Gyeol’s skill was unmistakable, leaving everyone in awe.
The friend in the front row, unable to contain his amazement, nearly buckled at the sight of one painting.
“Is that… is that the Poison Kill Space of Tang Jung?”
“Where? What?! It truly is!”
“Three different scenes of the Poison Kill Space…”
“Can you distinguish them?”
“If I can’t, how can I claim to be a member of the Tea and Book Club? Wow. The Poison Kill Space scene! To see what I’ve only imagined right before my eyes!”
“Look at the stamp of the Tea Bookstore. That means both Ho Pil and Manager Kang recognized it!”
“The official of the Tea Bookstore, Ho Pil’s illustrated work…”
I want it. I really want it. But the friend’s mood quickly darkened.
“Why the long face? Did you not like it? If you’re bored, just come over. You’re not acting like yourself.”
“I really want it. I truly want it. But the thing is…”
“Hmm?”
“It’s a raffle. I can’t possibly win a simple dice game.”
“Tsk, tsk. Look at that poster over there.”
The Tea and Book Club member pointed to the poster again, concerned about his friend.
“If you read Volume 1 of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes and write a review, they’ll choose from those.”
His friend couldn’t tear his eyes away from the poster in shock.
Simply drawing people in with a raffle is a low-tier tactic.
With many literati in the Tea and Book Club, they’d be encouraged to write reviews.
If endorsements from famous individuals are available, we should select them right away. The reviews can be published in the news and advertised, spreading the word to many.
This was another strategy from Kang Yoon-ho.
“They say it will also be published in the news! What do you think? With your writing skills, are there any obstacles… where did he go?”
“Give me one copy of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, no three!”
Before he knew it, his friend was already at the stall.
“While you were slow as a sloth earlier, buy one for me too!”
His friend ended up returning with a copy of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes that he had absolutely sworn off.
Let’s be honest, it probably wouldn’t be as fun as The Rise of the Tang Family. What fun is there in a colored heroic story without color? It’s a novel for guys only chasing after women.
I’ll read enough, or just to the point of getting the scroll from The Rise of the Tang Family and then stop reading.
With that resolve, he opened the first page of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.
“Damn! This is just as interesting as The Rise of the Tang Family!”
—————
The Tea and Book Club in Yichang regained its vitality with the release of Ho Pil’s new work.
“Little brother, why are you suddenly looking gloomy after enjoying the story? Is something wrong?”
Hwang Seong, one of the pillars of the Tea and Book Club, asked his gloomy younger brother in a corner.
“It’s a problem when both novels are great,” the younger brother frowned in distress.
“What do you mean?”
“Now we have to wait months for the next volume to come out. It might even take half a year.”
“There’s a debt to repay from Man Geum Battlefield, so I assume the next would be Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes Volume 2.”
“Yes. But what about after that? I love Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, but I want to see the best beauty of Sichuan, Gu Suk-jung again! But now I don’t know whether Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes next volume or The Rise of the Tang Family Volume 4 will be released first.”
As a member of the Best Beauty of Sichuan League, the younger brother couldn’t hide his agony.
“Indeed. If things go wrong, we might not see the fourth volume until next year.”
Hwang Seong’s expression darkened too.
It’s true that Ho Pil writes quickly. It’s astonishing that he’s released four books since his debut a year ago.
However, Ho Pil is also known for declaring yearly breaks. Will the next volume come out quickly?
What if he releases just one a year or every few years like other authors? How can we endure an uncertain wait?
A gloomy cloud settled over the two brothers’ hearts.
“Hey, everyone! Come down! I have amazing news!”
But the brothers’ worries ended there.
“Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes Volume 2 will be released in four days?”
The news from Wuhan blew away the brothers’ worries in one go.
