“What a leisurely day.”
Duke Dokmu returned to the Secret Garden, murmuring while feeling the evening breeze coming through the window.
She had spent her life busy in battles, martial arts training, and studying poisons. However, today was different.
Her achievements had deepened, and she no longer needed to devote herself solely to training. After the death of her husband, she didn’t need to pour time into research on infertility. She had even given her young disciple a day off today.
In the end, today was exceedingly leisurely.
“The Rise of the Tang Family, huh.”
Duke Dokmu didn’t have a hobby of reading light novels. She had lived her life reading martial arts books and medical texts instead.
Her late husband had once recommended a light novel to her, but she only read it for the sake of conversation with him. There had never been a light novel that truly touched her heart.
“I should hurry up and read this so I can return it tomorrow.”
This time, Duke Dokmu picked up The Rise of the Tang Family for the sake of conversation with her disciple. If she commend the fiancé a bit, she could strengthen her relationship with her disciple even more.
With just that level of expectation, she picked up the book.
“A love at first sight. Just the sort of thing that young kids would like.”
Duke Dokmu chuckled lightly at the scene where the protagonist, Tang Jung, fell in love at first sight with the best beauty in Sichuan.
Having experienced everything from love to marriage and widowhood, the sudden passion of love to her felt like the capriciousness of youth.
With a somewhat skeptical gaze, Duke Dokmu continued to read.
“Training with love as fuel. Ah, brings back old memories.”
A surprising scene triggered her memories. The image of Tang Jung dedicating himself to training with love as his motivation overlapped with scenes from her past.
After all, she had also become a half-human to return alive from the Great War and meet her husband.
“Tang Jung… a remarkably upright kid.”
Sometimes, when reading, people start with doubt and prejudice, and then unlock their hearts at exactly the right point.
For Duke Dokmu, it was Tang Jung’s training scene that did that for her.
“Tsk tsk. Knowing he might die, yet jumping in to save a woman. Foolish boy.”
Duke Dokmu clicked her tongue at the scene where Tang Jung leaped into danger to save the best beauty of Sichuan, the Color Demon. Understanding the level of difference is a martial artist’s fundamental quality. How reckless could he be?
However, a smile spread across Duke Dokmu’s face despite her tongue clicking.
“Yes. But precisely because of that, he’s a righteous one. A martial artist of the Great Sichuan Tang Family.”
Diving headfirst into the flames of injustice—such behavior had become rare among the young people these days, and Duke Dokmu couldn’t help but smile.
“Ah, little one! My skills are humble, and I cannot guarantee victory. However, if the Color Demon wishes to approach you, he must first take my life!”
“Whoa…”
Duke Dokmu sighed at a scene that would impress any man or woman alike.
“A fiancé who can say such things must certainly be melting my disciple’s heart.”
She saw the one who wrote these lines in Tang Jung. He was definitely a man skilled in melting women’s hearts. A man with an extraordinary knack for igniting passion within people.
She finally understood why her disciple praised her fiancé so frequently and chuckled to herself.
“Poison Kill Space? This must be my disciple’s unique martial arts technique, right?”
Duke Dokmu, who had spent her entire life dedicated to training and research.
“Ha! He boldly makes the Color Demon retreat! Well done! Good job!”
She couldn’t pull her mind away from the fun of The Rise of the Tang Family.
—
“Still haven’t read it?”
The next day, having read through the second volume of The Rise of the Tang Family, Duke Dokmu wandered around her disciple’s room with an unquenchable thirst.
“Yes. Not yet.”
“Why not?”
She had given her disciple time yesterday. A wistful tone slipped out of Duke Dokmu’s mouth before she even realized it.
“Huh?”
“Cough! I thought you’d already read it since it was sent by your fiancé.”
Realizing her mistake, Duke Dokmu hurriedly tried to clarify.
“I know most of the content already.”
The third volume of The Rise of the Tang Family was a rough draft finished before heading to the Tang Family. It was more important for Tang Hwa-rin to hear about Kang Yoon-ho from the Tang Clan than to read a book she already knew the contents of.
Of course, the thought of reading the book hadn’t crossed her mind since she was still reeling from the shock of hearing about Kang Yoon-ho.
“I see…”
A silence tinged with disappointment descended in the room.
What was going on? No way. Tang Hwa-rin realized the source of the discomfort in her master’s unusual demeanor.
“Could it be… you’ve read The Rise of the Tang Family?”
“Well… Ahem. It’s the first time I’ve stayed up all night reading a novel at this age.”
Duke Dokmu quickly admitted with an embarrassed look.
Admitting to staying up all night reading The Rise of the Tang Family was somewhat embarrassing, but since she had initially read it to share some talk with her disciple, she felt no need to hide it.
“Ha ha. People who read Yoon-ho’s novels often say that.”
Tang Hwa-rin giggled, covering her mouth with her hand.
“It feels like I’ve returned to those days full of youthful vigor.”
She thought it would be just a light novel, but she couldn’t put it down until she finished it. Duke Dokmu was genuinely impressed.
“Would you like to borrow the third volume?”
“Would you really let me?”
A glow of excitement spread across Duke Dokmu’s face.
“Of course! Here you go.”
Her master praised her fiancé’s writing, and Tang Hwa-rin happily handed her the book.
“Looks like this won’t work.”
Duke Dokmu opened the first page of the third volume but soon returned it to Tang Hwa-rin with a disappointed expression.
“Huh?”
“This book was made just for you, wasn’t it? How could I, as your master, possibly lay hands on a precious gift from your fiancé?”
[I’ll be waiting at the Tea Bookstore. Filled with love. Kang Yoon-ho.]
The first page Duke Dokmu opened was filled with words of love. The one who first reads this book shouldn’t be her. She immediately returned the book.
“Master…”
“Enough. Don’t make such a sorrowful face. I’ve already sent word through my servant that I, Duke Dokmu, want to read the third volume of The Rise of the Tang Family. If nothing major happens, I’ll get it back.”
“Yes.”
“Right. There comes the servant. If I had known this, I wouldn’t have had to say anything.”
As the two turned their heads to look out the window, they saw a servant running toward them.
“Duke Dokmu!”
“Why is your hand empty? Did you come just to convey a message?”
Seeing the servant without a book, Duke Dokmu asked in surprise.
“That’s… I asked for Duke Dokmu’s share.”
“You asked?”
“The Elder Councilman heard that and ordered me to deliver a message.”
The servant bowed his head, looking very embarrassed.
“That one? What did the Elder Councilman say? Speak plainly.”
Duke Dokmu and the Elder Councilman were like old friends who had fought together during the Great War, and now, what nonsense had he said to the servant?
Seeing Duke Dokmu looking at him as if he could say anything, the servant nodded as if he had made up his mind and opened his mouth.
“‘You brat! They say it’s dangerous to learn thievery at a late age. I’m also waiting with bated breath here, so how dare you cut in line? You too, stand in line on release day like I did!’ he said.”
“……”
Even the Elder Councilman is waiting? A look of confusion crossed Duke Dokmu’s expression. Then, without realizing it, her gaze shifted to the book in her disciple’s hands.
“Should I borrow it again?”
“Uhhhhh.”
Duke Dokmu found it hard to maintain her composure in response to the tantalizing offer.
—
“It’s in here.”
Knock knock. Tang Family Head Tang Baek-ho answered the knock on his office door without a care.
“Guard Unit Leader Tang Mu-ki. I’m coming in.”
“Come in.”
“You’re reading The Rise of the Tang Family, I see.”
The Guard Unit leader smiled knowingly and addressed the family head.
“I read it right after returning and was just reading again.”
Tang Baek-ho didn’t take his gaze off the book.
“Is there anything wrong with the content?”
“No issues regarding the Color Demon. They changed the background to Demonic Cult origins.”
“That’s a relief.”
The Guard Unit leader nodded in assurance.
As long as the origin of the Color Demon was changed, there was nothing to worry about. After all, The Rise of the Tang Family was a fictional story reconstructed as a narrative inspired by past events.
“By the way, what’s going on?”
“Some of our family’s martial artists have been so obsessed with the new release that they’re crying for help, claiming they’ll be joining the Green Forest Alliance. The Tang Clan asked for help, so I came to check it out.”
“Tang Clan must have had a tough time. I should call them and offer my congratulations.”
Only then did Tang Baek-ho remove his gaze from the book, smiling at the Guard Unit leader.
“He needs to endure a bit more to come to his senses.”
“Ha ha.”
“How should we move forward with the release of the new book?”
“……”
The Guard Unit leader’s question did not elicit an immediate response from Tang Baek-ho.
Why is he hesitating? It seems like there’s something on his mind, the Guard Unit leader thought.
“Head, is there perhaps another issue?”
“Have you told that boy about my story from 20 years ago?”
The Tang Family Head had spoken to Kang Yoon-ho about himself and Hyang-a. Was there something weighing on his mind? The Guard Unit leader nodded.
“I shared what was necessary to some extent.”
Tang Baek-ho looked back and forth between the Guard Unit leader and the book, a hesitant expression on his face as he broached a topic.
“…Did you happen to mention the story of the woman swordsman?”
“What do you mean by that?”
The Guard Unit leader asked back in surprise.
“The one… you know, the cold-faced woman swordsman I met while chasing the Color Demon.”
“Cold-faced? Ah! I remember. We accompanied each other briefly due to the Color Demon. She was so beautiful that everyone thought to strike up a conversation, but she had a very strong wall up.”
The Guard Unit leader recalled the woman swordsman immediately upon hearing the Tang Family Head’s words. Even 20 years later, she was a beauty whose cold face still stood out in memory.
But what does this have to do with The Rise of the Tang Family’s third volume?
“Is that all you remember?”
Tang Baek-ho asked, sounding slightly inquisitive.
“I also remember her gaze often falling on you, Head.”
Years had dimmed his beauty, but Tang Baek-ho still had an appearance that could make many women swoon back in his youth.
The Guard Unit leader smiled wryly, thinking that while everyone had been focused on the same woman, she had only gazed at one man.
“Ah, was it really you?”
Tang Baek-ho approached the Guard Unit leader with a face of betrayal.
“Huh?”
“How could you say such a thing! Or rather, if you’re going to tell, tell it accurately!”
Betrayal, confusion, awkwardness. With a mixture of emotions, the Tang Family Head pressed the Guard Unit leader for an answer.
“What do you mean by that?”
“What the hell? It was a one-night affair. She crept into my chamber while I was young and full of blood, how could I refuse?!”
Tang Baek-ho’s voice was filled with the injustice of the situation.
“Did something like that really happen?!”
The Guard Unit leader couldn’t hide his astonishment at the secret from over 20 years ago.
“What’s worse, it was before I met Hyang-a! The timeline doesn’t add up! It’s in the order of Volume 1, 3, then 2! They were the same person! Of course I had company, but it was one person!”
“Head? Please calm down.”
Seeing the normally composed Tang Baek-ho clutching his head in distress made the Guard Unit leader uneasy.
“Do I look calm? What will my son think of me? He said he only thought of his mother, and now he’ll misunderstand that I’m a man who’s been cheating!” You! What are we going to do about this?!”
“I’ve never said such a thing. This is the first time I’m hearing about it today!”
The Guard Unit leader waved his hands frantically, insisting this was the first he had heard of such a thing.
“Who then?! No, that’s not important. We need to correct the misunderstanding. Should I write a letter pointing out the timeline? I should say there’s been no other incidents since I met your mother? What if she refuses to accept my letter and says our relationship ends here?”
It was unnecessary for misunderstandings between a father and son to deepen. Even if the scars couldn’t heal, he had hoped to gently watch over their distance, maintaining a semblance of closeness.
But who could have guessed that his son might harbor such a ridiculous misunderstanding? The Tang Family Head was stomping his feet in frustration, unable to maintain his composure.
“Head, it’s just a small misunderstanding.”
The Guard Unit leader tried to calm the Tang Family Head.
“It would be painful to be remembered as a father who abandoned his mother, but it must never go beyond that. We must think of a plan together!”
The Sichuan Tang Family. Family head, Tang Baek-ho.
A renowned master in the martial arts world and a notable figure, the family head of the Sichuan Tang Family held an undeniable authority that none under him could oppose.
Yet, he too was a father.
—
“Have you calmed down?”
“Huh. I’ve shown a foolish side.”
The Tang Family Head finally managed to steady himself and collapsed into his chair.
“Worrying about kids is never-ending. If I get the chance, I’ll visit myself to clear up this misunderstanding.”
“I appreciate it. You’re the only one I can rely on.”
After reading his son’s new work last night, the Tang Family Head had been sleepless with worry. Finally relieved by the Guard Unit leader’s words, he nodded.
“Then what should we do about The Rise of the Tang Family?”
“Let it be distributed. The content itself poses no issues.”
He had heard that the third volume of The Rise of the Tang Family was completed before his son arrived at the Tang Family. Perhaps he hoped for his father to notice the content, who knows.
The Tang Family Head accepted without hesitation, only concerned about his son’s well-being, as the content of the book posed no issues.
“I’ll get it delivered right away. And I have one more thing to tell you.”
“What is it?”
Aside from The Rise of the Tang Family story? Perhaps the Tang Clan’s group had something to say about his son.
The Tang Family Head listened carefully to the Guard Unit leader’s words.
“A martial artist from our family who just returned from the foreign lands witnessed something very intriguing outside the provincial capital.”
“An intriguing sight?”
He asked back, genuinely intrigued. Was it related to his son’s story? The Guard Unit leader, a cautious man, wouldn’t speak lightly.
As the Tang Family Head waited for the answer, the Guard Unit leader shared an unexpected piece of news.
“The Murong Family’s martial artists are coming.”
