Wuhan. Songlim Martial Arts School.
It’s not like all the common folks need to become Taoist masters or monks just to learn martial arts.
There was also a way to pay a form of tuition known as monthly fees at the martial arts school to learn some basic martial arts moves.
Although the school taught relatively simple martial arts, it was not uncommon for affluent parents to send their children to the martial arts school with their monthly fees so they wouldn’t just waste their time.
“Has everyone read volume 2 of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes?”
Of course, that didn’t mean the kids weren’t playing around.
“It was so interesting that I couldn’t focus!”
“Same here! I was worried that Colored Heroic Stories would be missing the ‘colored’ part and be like a chess piece missing knights and rooks, but it was more entertaining instead!”
The hottest topic among the youth at the martial arts school these days was Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.
With a sword as his guide, embracing a woman in distress and smashing villains, the novel left an enduring fire in the hearts of the youth.
“I thought the protagonist wouldn’t waver in his beliefs and would come across as frustrating. Yet, his bold actions made me feel respect.”
“Since he’s inherited the legacy of the previous sect leader, it’s only natural. A martial artist wanting to become a hero now has a proper reason, so there’s no hesitation.”
“When Un-hyeon extended his hand to Jin So-yu without hesitation, I felt my nose sting!”
One young man reached out his hand as if he were Un-hyeon, facing the imagined Jin So-yu before him.
“I was cheering loudly during the scene where he gains enlightenment in the death duel and breaks through the wall, but I got scolded by my mother. What about you?”
One of the officials asked another official who looked deep in thought.
“I was moved when the old boatman helped him.”
The pensive young man mentioned a scene other friends hadn’t anticipated.
“Are you talking about the old man who appeared when they had to cross the river and none of the martial artists dared to help?”
“Yeah. The martial artists are blinded by fame or indifferent, but here’s an ordinary boatman risking his life to help, which made me ponder.”
“Among those rascals, he was a true righteous man.”
“Seeing that scene, Ho Pil the author showed that even small actions can have righteous implications. It made me reflect on many things.”
“Indeed! That scene held such meaning!”
What is a martial hero?
When a book is fun, it makes you read it multiple times. And when you read it multiple times, it makes you think about the meanings contained within it.
The youth at the martial arts school forgot about their martial arts training and kept chattering about Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.
“What are you all doing!”
Of course, not everyone was pleased with that sight.
“Master Guardian!”
The arrival of the master guardian of Songlim Martial Arts School made the students tense up.
“You all are doing very well! Doing well! I told you to practice martial arts, and here you are, just messing around with trashy books!”
The students who only paid tuition and learned showed no motivation. The master guardian glared at them with a frown.
“It’s not a trashy book! It’s the new work of Ho Pil, containing the true tales of martial heroes!”
“Ho Pil? Isn’t he the famous author of erotic novels these days? Have you come all the way here just to read erotic stories?”
The master guardian’s expression grew even harsher.
“Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes is not an erotic novel. It shows what paths true martial artists should take and the directions they must pursue…”
“Enough! It’s probably just a piece written by some mediocre author who doesn’t even understand the essence of the martial arts world.”
“If you read it, I’m sure you’ll change your mind!”
“Exactly!”
“Please give it a read!”
As the master guardian criticized Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, the students surrounded him, defending the book.
“I don’t plan on reading it. It’s confiscated. I will send a letter to your parents, so be ready.”
“Y-yes…”
The master guardian scolded the relaxed instructor and went back to his office after confirming the students were practicing with wooden swords.
“What’s so interesting about this kind of book?”
The master guardian muttered as he placed the confiscated book on his desk.
Though he didn’t show it, he was somewhat surprised. Who would’ve thought that the students, who usually jumped at the chance to get up at a word, would act collectively.
I need to let the parents know about this. And to inform the parents, I need to know the contents of the book.
The master guardian didn’t trust the students’ words, but he opened the pages of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.
“Sales for Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes are increasing!”
Thanks to Im Ha-yeon and Jeong-Gal Hyang, I had bought time to write the book, but I couldn’t pour all my time into writing.
Jeong-Gal Hyang avoided meeting people, and Im Ha-yeon could only operate in the dead of night.
In the end, it was me who had to go around the shops.
“It seems to be spreading by word of mouth. Even female customers and martial artists bearing swords are buying.”
A manager of Da-Seo-Gak reported the current situation.
“That’s a relief.”
Even if Da-Seo-Gak advertised heavily and used Ho Pil’s recognition, worries couldn’t be helped.
Un-hyeon, wanting to be a martial hero, might appear more frustrating than Tang Jung from The Rise of the Tang Family.
Creating situations of constant crises and overcoming them with both boldness and intelligence seemed to pay off.
“Manager, I have something to say.”
The manager spoke cautiously to me.
“What seems to be the problem?”
“I think you may need to request additional prints of The Rise of the Tang Family from the Yichang printing house.”
“Is it not for Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes?”
“It’s because Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes is becoming popular that The Rise of the Tang Family’s word-of-mouth is spreading even more. Though Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes is doing well, it’s not even comparable to The Rise of the Tang Family.”
As expected.
I didn’t want to show it, but I couldn’t hide my bitter smile. As an author, seeing the new work overshadowed by the previous work was not the best sight.
Of course, I hadn’t failed to predict this situation.
“What if we add more emotional exchanges with women, just like in The Rise of the Tang Family?”
“Y-yeah, I agree.”
Im Ha-yeon and Jeong-Gal Hyang also provided advice, but I shook my head.
“The Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes is the story of the martial world that I wanted during difficult times.”
A novel written from a slum. Questioning why this world needed martial arts and drawing the martial world I had imagined.
Though my life has improved compared to two years ago, I didn’t want to change the significance behind writing Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.
Moreover, since it was a novel to supplement the narrative of The Shadowless Thief, I decided to maintain my pride, no matter how much I promote it.
“I will send a separate letter to Yichang.”
“Manager Kang!”
“What’s the matter?”
“I think you need to come down to the first floor!”
Why did they call me with such a shocked expression? I descended to the first floor with a staff member.
“Is this the manager?”
A middle-aged martial artist?
Seeing his neat attire, he didn’t seem to be someone there to cause a ruckus. It didn’t seem like the guards hired from Man Geum Battlefield were wary of the situation either.
What was going on?
“You are a martial artist, I see. I am Manager Kang. What brings you to Da-Seo-Gak?”
“I am Im Mo, the master guardian of Songlim Martial Arts School. I wish to purchase several volumes of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, but they said I couldn’t.”
“Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes is limited to two copies per person.”
“That’s troublesome. I can’t stand in this long line every day. Is there any way to buy dozens in one go?”
“Why would you want to do that?”
I doubted whether he was trying to resell Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes at the martial arts school.
Sometimes merchants would request bulk purchases promising to sell on behalf, but since it was selling too well, we were turning down their requests for more supply.
“I’d like to buy books for the children coming from the martial arts school as educational material.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s truly an outstanding novel. I believe it will help more than me preaching about the mindset of martial artists a thousand times by letting them read this book just once.”
“Are you saying you want to use this book for educational purposes?”
I looked at the master guardian in disbelief.
There’s no such martial hero who extends his hand without weighing his own benefit to the weak.
There’s no martial artist who disregards differences in hair colors and pulls out a sword to help those in trouble.
This world isn’t the martial world I know. That’s why I wrote Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.
Hoping that someone would read this novel and feel even a little inspired.
Yet, when someone appears asking, “Can I buy this as an educational book?”
I had no reason to refuse.
The continuous success of The Rise of the Tang Family and Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.
Thanks to that, not only Da-Seo-Gak in Yichang but also Da-Seo-Gak in Wuhan became busy, yet there were those who gazed upon the situation with dissatisfaction.
“Our Wuhan Tea Book Club that we created is in a precarious position.”
On the second floor of Wuhan Da-Seo-Gak. One of the members of the Wuhan Tea Book Club spoke as if holding a secret meeting.
“It doesn’t seem there’s any room to step in at the tea bookstore right now, rather.”
Another member, looking around the completely packed second floor, spoke.
“That’s the problem. How did we create the Wuhan Tea Book Club? We traveled back and forth to distant Yichang to get new books because of Man Geum Battlefield and gathered like-minded people over a long time.”
Members that were mostly early members of the Wuhan Tea Book Club who collaborated before the Wuhan Da-Seo-Gak was formed filled the scene.
“I’ve done countless visits to Yichang for your safe return, Manager Kang, and for the third volume of The Rise of the Tang Family.”
These members, gathered back when The Rise of the Tang Family was prohibited in Wuhan, deserved recognition for their passion.
“Indeed. But look at that sight.”
One Tea Book Club member glared discontentedly toward the place where the women were sitting.
“Sister, are you going to write a review too?”
“Of course. I want to aim for the first volume’s scroll.”
“You have a writing master, so you might be able to do it. What are you aiming for?”
“I want the scroll of young Un-hyeon from volume one.”
“Oh my! Sister, you have such a taste?!”
“No, that’s not it… It’s just that it stimulates my protective instincts.”
“Ho ho. That’s the same thing.”
“What a delightful sight.”
One member stroked his beard, looking at the beautiful women chattering.
“What? Delightful? Is that foolish act of being lost in pictures instead of analyzing the writing?”
“Isn’t it true that you have been polishing your own review for a fortnight to get a scroll?”
“T-that’s different! I’m writing to get recognized by author Ho Pil! Those ladies are only interested in the scroll rather than the actual work!”
“I don’t think so…,”
“You’re telling me that after going through tough times together in the Tea Book Club?”
“We should accept some new blood. I’ve heard that the Yichang Tea Book Club welcomes anyone without discrimination.”
“Accepting everything without discretion will just turn into muddy waters.”
“Muddy waters? It seems like this place is the only muddy water where there are just men.”
At those words, other Tea Book Club members nodded.
“I missed the times when we had constructive discussions. Remember the time when we announced that the number one courtesan of Hubei, Du Eung-hyang, was the official romantic interest of The Rise of the Tang Family and labeled others as impostors?”
“Wait, I haven’t heard that before? Who decides who the official romantic interest is?”
Oops. If I’m not careful, that hasty announcement of the official romantic interest could change. Feeling a sense of crisis, the Tea Book Club member quickly changed the subject.
“Anyway, this Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes is a problem. It’s fun, but I feel like Ho Pil made some reckless choices compared to The Rise of the Tang Family.”
The disgruntled member pointed at the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes in his hand, probably without realizing that it was the “reckless choice” he was referring to.
“Are you cursing Ho Pil?”
The faces of the members darkened instantly.
“I knew you would eventually cross the line and betray us.”
“Is it time now to use the Yichang-style purge method?”
“I learned this from Hwang Seong of Yichang. Everyone, prepare yourselves.”
The Tea Book Club members glared at him as if they could tear him apart right there.
“N-no, it’s just… I wanted to discuss the character issue of The Shadowless Thief. It’s a reckless choice Ho Pil added for the sake of popularity.”
The disgruntled member hurriedly spoke.
“The righteous thief?”
“Isn’t it ridiculous that a scoundrel who doesn’t plan to work just takes other people’s belongings and distributes them to the poor?”
“Is that so? Haven’t you heard of those bandits in the northeast of Hubei causing troubles and the officials are losing their minds over it? Isn’t it possible?”
“Ha! This guy knows one thing but misses the mark by a mile. Bandits normally act like that. But this isn’t your average thief.”
The disgruntled member raised one side of his mouth.
“Bandits can do that, but thieves can’t, right? What does that even mean?”
“Think about a bandit lurking in a mountain. To prevent landslides, they would plant trees, pave paths, and collect stones while charging for passage. So, is that it for the forest activities?”
“Is there anything more to collecting tolls?”
“Bandits also drink, hug women, and need provisions, so they need to get along with the nearby villagers. They’d do something to gain their favor. What you heard must’ve been a much exaggerated rumor.”
“I don’t think that’s the case, from what I heard…”
“Alright, enough of that. Anyway, bandits can go like that, but a thief is different. It’s unnecessary for a thief to do all that. For a meticulous author like Ho Pil to throw in such a reckless element… Tsk tsk.”
The times when The Rise of the Tang Family was around were much more enjoyable.
Newcomers reading Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes as they entered Da-Seo-Gak can’t call themselves true fans of Ho Pil. And how could Ho Pil write Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes just to cater to those newcomers?
Men grumbled while criticizing Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.
“It would be nice if a notorious thief would rob rich people and share it with the poor.”
“That’s probably why the author made it. He created a character who’s only possible in fantasy to achieve success. Tsk tsk.”
“Wait…”
“Hey!”
Just as another member was about to speak, a Tea Book Club member burst in through the second-floor door.
“What’s the matter?”
“Did you hear that news?!”
The face of the hurriedly entered member was filled with disbelief.
“What news?”
“L-last night!”
“Last night?”
“The infamous thief, The Shadowless Thief, has appeared!”
