A guesthouse located on a road leading to the Zhuge family in Wuhan.
Those who came to the guesthouse for breakfast couldn’t help but be surprised by the martial artists occupying the tables.
Suddenly, it’s the Zhuge family’s martial artists.
The troublesome guests left saying they would come back later, while the awkward martial artists held their breath, wearing awkward smiles. Meanwhile, the silver-haired martial artists were making a ruckus as if they didn’t care.
Could something have happened nearby?
Those who weren’t part of the Zhuge family eavesdropped on their conversation, but the stories they heard were completely unexpected.
“Indeed, it was Writer Ho Pil!”
“Unhyeon really is an ideal role model for the righteous sect!”
“When little Unhyeon overwhelmed his opponents with the group from Mount Wu, my hair stood on end!”
“A secret manual from the late clan leader in a cave! How on earth did you come up with such an idea?”
“Did I go through all that trouble to save him for no reason?”
“Well done! Well done! How did you even think to fetch such a book?”
Boom!
Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.
All the martial artists from the Zhuge family were absorbed in discussing the book they had opened the night before.
“What on earth is it about?”
“Have you seen it all? Let me see it too!”
Just as those who hadn’t seen the book were about to clamour for their turn, one of the martial artists from the Zhuge family suddenly warned of approaching danger.
“Shh!”
“Oh my!”
“It’s noisy since morning.”
Hyun-won Dae, the clan leader, appeared with a frown, annoyed at his subordinates who were chattering foolishly from the break of dawn.
“Haha. Clan Leader.”
Though Zhuge Jak was displeased to see the carefree comrades delaying their schedule, he didn’t bother to ask about the topic of conversation.
The important thing was to depart quickly, not to chat with his subordinates.
“The schedule is way behind. Since we have lunch now, let’s move faster and hurry up the people from the Man Geum Battlefield. Understood?”
“Yes! Understood!”
Today, they had to travel even farther than yesterday. Zhuge Jak quickly turned to check if everything was well prepared for departure.
Unbeknownst to him, unfamiliar books were still passing around behind him.
———
“The horses are acting strange!”
During an early lunch, one of the subordinates reported an issue.
“They were fine this morning!”
Suddenly, the horses were staggering, and one was even refusing to go further. What was going on? Zhuge Jak looked at his subordinate irritably.
“It seems the guesthouse didn’t charge for horse feed this morning. The innkeeper of the guesthouse must have fed them incorrectly.”
“Let everyone dismount and walk.”
“While that’s possible for us, the Man Geum Battlefield’s horses are not in good condition either.”
The clan leader’s gaze shifted to the horses.
The horses ridden by Hyun-won Dae were in the worst condition, but the ones pulling the cart from the Man Geum Battlefield weren’t doing well either.
“Let’s look for a horse doctor in the village we reach for lunch.”
“Since it’s such a small village, it’ll be hard to find a new horse or a horse doctor. It might be better to designate a few subordinates to fetch a horse doctor from another village while we rest.”
“…We’ll stay in the village we reach today.”
Zhuge Jak frowned and told his subordinate to add more to the horse feed price at the next inn, but that was all he could do.
In reality, some of his subordinates had fed their horses something that wouldn’t cause serious issues, but Zhuge Jak had no way of knowing that.
———
“I’m sure I’ve distanced myself from it.”
While the subordinates went to find a horse doctor in another village, a martial artist from the Zhuge family who had participated in the cause quietly approached Hyun-won Dae.
“Once you join the Tea and Book Club, it’s for life. You don’t know that? Everyone’s decided to contribute to the cause. You just need to participate.”
“It’s true that I’m a fan of Chronicles of the Tang Family, but it was just a phase. What I just heard, let’s pretend I didn’t hear it and let me walk away quietly.”
Hyun-won Dae’s deputy spoke as if he had forgotten about the days when he was obsessed with a novel, wearing an expression devoid of attachment.
“Are you worried about what your superiors think now that you’ve become the deputy?”
“What’s so enjoyable about novels that just pander to the vain? You need to pull yourself together.”
Although anyone else might have been disheartened and retreated after being rejected by the deputy leader, his friend smiled at him instead.
He knew he could tear down the deputy’s pretentiousness in an instant.
“Well, you won’t get to witness the scene where the best beauty in Sichuan meets Tang Jung.”
“I’m not missing it; I’m refusing to see it!”
“Right, how important is that? After all, the main wife is the top courtesan from Hubei.”
“Are you trying to provoke me because you think I like the best beauty in Sichuan? I’ve dealt with worse. Empty tricks won’t work on me.”
Though it was clear that the deputy leader was already flustered, his friend chose not to mention it and continued speaking.
“True. She’s only briefly mentioned in one volume. Hardly more charming than any of the characters from her faction. Why should I linger on it?”
“…Go and grab your weapon.”
“Cough!”
“No, this is too hard to endure…”
The deputy’s fist trembled. He glared at his friend as if he had been severely struck.
“Don’t do that! Read it and think it over. It’s Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes! It’s Writer Ho Pil’s latest work! Not just any old stuff, but a tale about Mount Wu.”
The deputy leader hesitated for a moment as he gazed at the book his friend held out.
It was the new work of the writer he respected. It wasn’t the new book he had been eagerly anticipating from the Tang Family Chronicles, but it was a novel everyone was excitedly discussing.
The temptation was hard to resist.
“Fine. Just a peek. But don’t ask me to delay the schedule again.”
“Of course. Take a look.”
His friend nodded approvingly as he handed the book to the deputy leader.
He wouldn’t mind even if he refused now.
“…The next volume!!!”
All the members who finished reading the book reacted the same way.
———
“Deputy Leader, why do you look so tired?”
“Ah, well! It seems I’m still recovering from travel fatigue.”
The deputy leader flinched at Zhuge Jak’s question.
“Everyone seems to be suddenly feeling unwell. Have you been sneaking off without me knowing?”
Zhuge Jak raised a suspicious gaze at the subordinates. They had just taken time off for half a day, yet everyone looked unusually exhausted.
“Well… everyone’s probably showing fatigue from the strenuous schedule to keep up with Man Geum Battlefield’s group joining us.”
“Tsk, tsk. They’re showing fatigue over just this much.”
The deputy leader was scrutinizing Zhuge Jak, cautiously bringing up a suggestion.
“How about we rest at the guesthouse before sundown today?”
“Deputy Leader, didn’t I say there’s no time?”
“Haha. Well… the people from Man Geum Battlefield also seem to be getting fatigued. It might be good to give them some allowances.”
They’d been running harder today than they had rested yesterday. However, no matter how much rest a person takes, a martial artist was on another level compared to regular folks.
Zhuge Jak could not easily dismiss the deputy leader, who was usually unyielding with his suggestions, now pointing out the tired state of the people from Man Geum Battlefield.
“It seems that problems keep arising due to our tight schedule.”
A black-haired man didn’t miss the opening when Zhuge Jak hesitated.
“Kang Yoon-ho…!”
The black-haired man approached with a mischievous grin, seemingly unaffected by Zhuge Jak’s contempt.
“If you keep pushing for a strenuous schedule, continuous problems will keep emerging. Whether you run away or take a bit of leisure, we will ultimately reach our destination.”
“The head of the family has commanded.”
“He didn’t order it as head of the family, but as your father-in-law who is angry, right?”
There was no need to follow literal commands. Some martial artists from the Zhuge family, who had quietly been listening to Kang Yoon-ho’s words, nodded in agreement.
“Now…!”
Just as Zhuge Jak was about to raise his voice, more subordinates crowded in.
“That’s right! Clan Leader. I’d like to move a bit more slowly.”
“What is this nonsense?”
Zhuge Jak asked the gathered subordinates, taken aback. What was happening? How could everyone rally behind Kang Yoon-ho? He couldn’t let this slide easily. Just as he was about to scold, someone else intervened.
“Being in a hurry leads to fatigue, causing mistakes and more unnecessary issues.”
“Deputy Leader?”
Even the deputy leader was stepping in.
“I’m just offering my advice as the deputy leader. We aren’t pushing along a criminal, right? Regardless, Master Kang is the successor of the Man Geum Battlefield. While we may not be able to present him with the utmost courtesy, we should at least present a facade of taking him along properly.”
“That’s right!”
“We think the same!”
“What on earth is this….”
Seeing the deputy leader stepping in as if he had made up his mind, Zhuge Jak panicked and struggled to regain control of the situation.
A black-haired man secretly chuckled at his bewildered expression and gestured for his last weapon.
“I, I toooo!”
Hiding behind Kang Yoon-ho, Zhuge Hyang just peeked her head out and spoke to the clan leader.
“Miss?”
“Could we go a bit slower, please?”
Could it be that Miss Zhuge Hyang was expressing dissatisfaction? With Kang Yoon-ho, the deputy leader, and the subordinates suddenly rising in solidarity, Zhuge Jak felt he had to panic.
Could it be that Miss Zhuge Hyang orchestrated this thing?
Zhuge Jak had no choice but to be tense. Though Miss Zhuge Hyang usually kept quiet, she was a direct descendant of the Zhuge family and had enough power to move despite disregarding the chain of command.
The clan leader’s mind raced. He had spoken unthinkingly to Miss Zhuge Hyang, and if she harbored any complaints against him now, who knew what might happen later?
After moments of hesitation, Zhuge Jak reluctantly opened his mouth.
“…Understood. We will slightly delay the schedule.”
Finally, Zhuge Jak had to give in.
“Everyone, thank you for your hard work. Here’s the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.”
Indeed, people must win the hearts of the masses. I gathered the martial artists from the Zhuge family who worked the hardest to pass on the promised book.
“The third volume?! There’s a third volume along with the second one?!”
“Yes, Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes has up to three volumes. I thought I’d better give it first to the members of the Tea and Book Club who worked hard.”
One has to offer rewards greater than initially expected to feel a sense of accomplishment.
“Master Kang….”
No need to look so moved. I understand as well. When I go to the bookstore to buy a book, if I see a new release I’ve been anticipating, I’m thrilled.
Of course, that thrill can turn to disappointment as the publication cycle drags on and I eventually never see the release.
“Take it and read. You don’t have to return it.”
“Thank you. But is the rumor true?”
“What rumor?”
“That I heard Master Kang is Yoon-ho from the Tea Bookstore.”
What are they talking about? These people. I thought they only heard about the living arrangements with Miss Zhuge, but it seems they hadn’t heard much about me.
“Yes, that’s correct. I’m Kang Yoon-ho.”
As I smiled and nodded, the martial artists from the Zhuge family widened their eyes.
“Indeed, we were right! The black-haired friend of Writer Ho Pil!”
“The black-haired merchant who risks his life for Writer Ho Pil!”
“I feel embarrassed and don’t know where to put myself all of a sudden.”
I mean, Ho Pil and I are close. We share stories about romance and even our dark pasts, we’re very good friends.
As I acknowledged it, one martial artist looked at me with a serious expression.
“Is it true? That the reason the fourth volume of the Tang Family Chronicles hasn’t released is because of Master Kang?”
“Ah, well….”
“Indeed! Your friend was almost killed by the Tang family, so Writer Ho Pil must be mad at you!”
What nonsense is circulating about?
It seems the fans are creating weird theories since three volumes of the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes are out, while the fourth volume of the Tang Family Chronicles is not.
“The fourth volume of the Tang Family Chronicles is also scheduled to be released soon. The rough draft is already finished.”
I’ve nearly completed it. If I hadn’t been dragged here, I would have prepared the fourth volume for publication.
“Oh…!”
“Really?!”
“As long as I can safely return to the Tea Bookstore, that is.”
I wanted to return before rumors spread that the author had gone on a long hiatus after being transported to a fantasy world or that the author had secretly become the poisoner the Tang family prepared.
“Oh….”
A collective sigh of mixed disappointment escaped from the martial artists of the Zhuge family.
“The tale of Master Kang is well known among the readers of the Tang Family Chronicles. Surely, the head of the family would view it favorably.”
“I, I think it’ll be tough.”
“…….”
How angry must the father-in-law be?
What was the worst that could happen? I spent nearly a year cohabiting with the most pampered child of Hubei Province without receiving my father’s permission while witnessing all that I shouldn’t have.
…Looks like I’m truly going to have to prepare for my demise.
“So, what I’d like to ask the members of the Zhuge family Tea Book Club is this.”
While preparing for the possibility of no longer living.
“What is your request?”
“Just one very small favor.”
——
There’s a saying I’ve engraved in my heart while living.
It doesn’t matter whether you go slowly or quickly. As long as you don’t give up along the way, you’ll eventually get to your destination if you’re not on the wrong path.
Whether someone pushes you or you play tricks and take your time, as long as you reach your destination, that’s what matters.
But, you know…
“Zhuge family!!!”
Why does the distant sight seem more like the gates of hell than a destination?
