Chapter 129 - The Tang Family's Wind and Clouds: Volume 2 – Part 2
The piracy incident involving 'The Tang Family's Wind and Clouds' was both a misfortune and a blessing.
Thanks to the Literary Association continuously publicizing the piracy incident, there was hardly anyone in Yichang who hadn't heard of 'The Tang Family's Wind and Clouds,' even if there were some who had yet to read it.
Moreover, all bookstores in Yichang had actively resorted to illegal duplication of 'The Tang Family's Wind and Clouds,' which allowed my book to spread extensively among the public.
Even if Hwa Rin and I had toiled all day with an old printing press, we wouldn't have been able to distribute the book throughout Yichang to such an extent.
"Hwa Rin, I'll take care of organizing this side."
"I'll do the opposite side."
Together with Hwa Rin, I sorted out copies of 'The Tang Family's Wind and Clouds: Volume 2' that we printed as a penalty for the other bookstores that broke the wholesale agreement. Just yesterday, we hit a record high in sales which enabled us to quickly restock the empty tables.
Now that I had secured copyright of my book in Yichang and there was a plentiful stock of Volume 2.
I could now convert the popularity of 'The Tang Family's Wind and Clouds' into profits for Dasuhoe.
"Yoonho, let's open up the shop."
"Got it."
As soon as I opened the door, unexpected individuals dashed immediately into the store.
"Why haven't you opened earlier! Do you enjoy seeing people in agony?"
"That's right. The person who should spread 'The Tang Family's Wind and Clouds' among the people should open the shop at dawn!"
"Aren't you from the Literary Association? What brings you here so early in the morning?"
These were the same people who were the first to buy yesterday. It didn't seem likely that they had come for morning tea before breakfast.
Behind the Literary Association members, there was a queue of people that, while not as extensive as the day before, was still lengthy. Perhaps they had come to purchase more copies of Volume 2.
Contrary to my expectations, the members of the Literary Association didn't head towards the pile of 'The Tang Family's Wind and Clouds: Volume 2,' but approached me instead.
"Please give it to us."
"Pardon?"
Give what?
"Volume 3! Give us Volume 3!"
"We stayed up all night longing to read Volume 3!"
Surrounded by the members of the Literary Association, they pleaded with desperate expressions. They had come after seeing the preview of Volume 3.
"Volume 3 is not out yet."
Hiding the joy of my success, I replied calmly.
"What do you mean it's not out?"
"Volume 2 has just been released; how could Volume 3 be ready?"
"Argh, why is there no Volume 3?"
"When will Volume 3 come out then?"
"Like the last time, only after almost all of Volume 2 is sold."
As I pointed toward the mountainous pile of 'The Tang Family's Wind and Clouds: Volume 2', I explained.
"No, this can't be happening..."
"Why would you stockpile so many?"
The people from the Literary Association gazed at the pile of Volume 2 with faces filled with despair.
"If only I could hibernate like a bear. To think, after reading Volume 2, one must wait for Volume 3!"
"If the author Ho-phil can't release the next volume immediately, then he might as well not write so enticingly. After writing such an engaging story, why wouldn't he release Volume 3!"
"That's right. If it's going to be this engaging, then it ought to hurt. Sigh. To wait indefinitely to see the two beautiful female swordsmen duel over Tang Zheng!"
"Ho-phil truly must be a practitioner of the devil's arts."
The Literary Association members lamented with forlorn expressions, when one man declared resolutely, evidently perturbed by the prospect of waiting.
"What on earth do you mean?"
Another member of the association asked, looking perplexed.
"Keeping us in suspense so heartlessly, tearing out our hearts with curiosity - how is that different from an evil technique? Since he has gouged out my heart, indeed, it must be - he has mastered the Severing Devil Technique."
Fortunately, the proclamation didn't come from malevolence.
"Nonsense! How can you say that author Ho-phil has learned devilish techniques? If you spread such vile rumors and author Ho-phil gets struck by them again, are you confident you could handle it?"
"But still, you can't call the technique that gouges out our hearts the Severing Divine Technique!"
"Argh. I acknowledge that. It's too cruel to be a divine technique and too brilliant to be a devilish technique – let's compromise and call it Severing Righteous Technique."
"Alas, why, why must he torment us with the Severing Righteous Technique!"
"The new volume will only come after these books are sold, so let's buy two more copies of 'The Tang Family's Wind and Clouds' each and then go have a meal."
"Manager! Can't we buy ten copies each?"
"For now, it's limited to two copies per person."
"Argh."
On the second day of 'The Tang Family's Wind and Clouds: Volume 2's release.
The sales of 'The Tang Family's Wind and Clouds' continued to surge ahead like a ship catching a favorable breeze.
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Not only the members of the Literary Association, but other readers also came the next day eagerly seeking Volume 3, such was the grand success of 'The Tang Family's Wind and Clouds: Volume 2'.
"Excuse me, Manager. I'm looking for something."
Of course, this success led to the appearance of some rather peculiar customers.
"What book are you after?"
"It's not a book... You know, that spring medicine. If it really exists, I'd like to buy some."
"What?"
"You know. I'll keep it a secret from others, so if you can get it for me, here's how much I'm willing to pay..."
As expected, that type of person has shown up. The man showed me a note with a quite substantial sum written on it.
"Sir, this is a bookstore."
Bookstores are for finding books, not like those places where you order chicken and they deliver drugs too. Why are you looking for spring medicine here?
"I know what I'm talking about."
You know what, exactly? The man, like a troublemaker who thought insistence would solve everything, spoke to me with presumptuous confidence.
"Perhaps you should inquire with the Sacheon Tang Family."
I deflected responsibility with the finesse of a public servant redirecting a caller to another department.
"If I ask the Sacheon Tang Family, can I get it?"
"Well, I'm not entirely sure, but if you obtain the spring medicine, you may well have Tang Family members after you like Tang Zheng."
"Ah... Right. I was being too shortsighted."
The man left the shop looking disappointed.
I need to put up a warning sign before these types of clients increase.
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Thanks to the successive triumphs of 'The Tang Family's Wind and Clouds: Volume 2,' the second floor of Dasuhoe was packed every day.
Members of the Literary Association gathered in the space designated for conversation, starting discussions about 'The Tang Family's Wind and Clouds.'
"To think of it as a triple poison. When the protagonist talked about having a strategy, I thought he had a space for poisoning prepared in advance."
"I felt the same way. When they said the Tang Family, I expected only some sordid little conspiracy. But to witness our protagonist navigate through crises with such elaborate schemes..."
"When it was revealed that he'd already neutralized one poison, I thought maybe he had given up on Du Yingxiang. It really took me by surprise, you know."
"The scene where he shouts, 'You are already poisoned by my triple toxin!' was truly astounding. Words were not needed."
The reaction to the triple poison is indeed positive. Even Hwa Rin, who is not a member of the Tang Family, had asked how such a poisoning technique could be conceived. The readers must have found it equally astonishing.
"Good grief. Wasn't Volume 2 content insanely good?"
"Ho-phil. Even the pen name seems to shine, doesn't it?"
"Waiting for Volume 3 is tough, but I hope it continues just like this."
"What if the next volume isn't as exciting…"
"Hold! To lose one's 'faith' is tantamount to death itself."
"To doubt author Ho-phil! Are you perhaps the infamous sower of discord you hear about in whispers?"
"I apologize. I, I won't doubt anymore."
Being overly praised is embarrassing. Business is booming; maybe I should offer some refreshments to the Literary Association members as a service.
"While I'm satisfied with the latest plot, I was a bit disappointed that Tang Zheng didn't finish things with the poisoning space."
"Hahaha. You really love the idea of poisoning space, don't you? Well, that's why you've been saying 'Come at night, to my poisoning space!' only to be caught by your sister and receive her contemptuous gaze."
"Th-that... you promised to keep that a secret."
"Oh! I thought I was the only one."
"Indeed! So, I wasn't the only one."
"That's nothing to be ashamed of. It's an iconic moment worth imitating at least once."
"Hehehe. Well said. Truly a classic line. Why don't we all try to imitate it together this time?"
"Sounds good! One. Two. Three!"
"""Come at once. To my poi.son.ing.space."""
A few younger members of the Literary Association struck what they believed to be a cool pose and cried out 'poisoning space.' Women passing by cast contemptuous glances at their performance.
Please spare me. Don't do this. You guys will also have your dark histories one day.
"What are you doing?"
Hwa Rin approached me as I was earnestly bowing my head, unable to bear listening to the Literary Association members who were actively refreshing their embarrassing histories in real-time.
"I was listening to the response to 'The Tang Family's Wind and Clouds'."
"Is it good?"
Hwa Rin asked in a teasing voice.
"Of course, it's good."
The favorable response of the readers always sets the author's heart dancing. I grinned and replied confidently.
"I'm pleased, too."
Seeing me smile, Hwa Rin also smiled before heading to the coffee brewer.
"Let me do it. You take a break."
"I can manage."
"You're working hard all the time. Take a break when you can."
As Dasuhoe gets busier, it's Hwa Rin who's bustling behind the scenes. From bookkeeping, stocktaking, printing work to managing the staff. Unlike me, who spends most of the time on the second floor, Hwa Rin has a lot on her plate.
"What do you mean? We share the hard work."
Despite the workload, you downplay it. Hwa Rin took a seat beside the bookshelf and watched as I prepared the coffee.
"Here. Coffee. I made it strong."
"Thanks. What are those Literary Association people talking about now?"
Hwa Rin took the coffee and gestured with her chin toward where the Literary Association members were.
"For the life of me, I cannot understand why the protagonist rejects those beautiful women and departs!"
"I agree. To have had the Most Beautiful Woman of Sichuan and the First Sword Maiden of Hubei within his grasp, why would he chase after the demoness?"
"That's true."
I relayed to Hwa Rin the excited chatter of the Literary Association members.
"That makes me curious too."
"Huh?"
"Why does Tang Zheng leave those women behind?"
"Leave behind? He never left anyone behind, that's too harsh to say."
It's as though they believe he'll never see those women again when they're all destined to meet someday.
"Anyway. Why does he do that?"
"Tang Zheng is a knight-errant. If he had wanted a life of ease, he wouldn't have pursued the demoness. Concerned that the secret arts of his clan had leaked and innocent people were being harmed, he put his own happiness aside for a while to chase the demoness."
A knight-errant must prioritize certain values over wealth and fame. Though wearing the guise of the libertine knight, this is after all a martial arts saga. Do you understand, Hwa Rin?
I earnestly answered Hwa Rin's question with a serious face.
"Chuckle. You sound so much like a knight-errant when you talk."
Hwa Rin, finding my sudden seriousness amusing, interrupted her coffee drinking to laugh.
"Ordinary folks like me can't make such choices, but true knight-errants must have values they hold above their own happiness."
"You talk a good game. Chuckle."
Hwa Rin found something hilariously amusing as she looked at me and sipped her coffee. I'm a bit embarrassed. I feel like I've exposed my inner geek, which I've managed to hide well since coming to this world.
I kept my composure even when my modern friends thought that the ninja manga protagonist's finishing move was a Gum-Gum Punch.
"Are you finished talking?"
"Yes, finished!"
As I was coping with my embarrassment, a shout erupted from where the Literary Association members were sitting.
"This bastard!"
"What do you mean 'this bastard'?"
The Literary Association members all stood up and grabbed each other's collars. Not just a few, but a whole group of them were acting up.
"Hwa Rin!"
"Yes!"
With fists about to start flying any moment in a tense situation, Hwa Rin and I hurriedly rushed to break up the impending scuffle among the Literary Association members.
"Everyone seemed so amiable a minute ago. Why has it come to this?"
Hwa Rin and I managed to separate the Literary Association members into two groups, positioning ourselves between them to find out the cause.
"Listen to this, Manager. I can't believe such ignorant fools have been attending the same meetings as us all this time."
"Who's going to speak first! These vulgar bastards!"
"This guy!"
"Fight, huh? Shall we have a fight?"
"What in the world is causing this?"
Blocking the members with both arms, I asked again for the reason. What in the world is going on?
An indignant member of the Literary Association spilled an unexpected cause.
"These friends of mine, or rather these bastards! They're arguing that Tang Zheng's legitimate love interest is not Gu Sook-jeong, the Most Beautiful Woman of Sichuan, but that wench Du Yingxiang!"
"What? 'Wench'? Did you just brazenly disrespect the name of his legitimate consort?"
"A courtesan claiming to be a consort? Know your place!"
An unexpected reason for discord within the Literary Association.
The Battle for the Position of Legitimate Consort.
That day, the Literary Association instantly split into two factions.