The Storm of the Tang Clan piracy incident was both a misfortune and a stroke of luck.
Thanks to the Daseo Society persistently publicizing the replication scandal, even if soone in Yichang hadn’t read Storm of the Tang Clan, there wasn’t a single person who hadn’t at least heard of it.
On top of that, because every single bookstore in Yichang had enthusiastically pirated and sold Storm of the Tang Clan, the book was able to spread widely throughout the city.
Even if Hwa-rin and I had spent all day printing copies on our worn-out press, we would never have been able to distribute that many on our own.
“Hwa-rin, I’ll handle this side.”
“I’ll take care of the other.”
Together with Hwa-rin, I was organizing copies of Volu 2 of Storm of the Tang Clan—copies printed by other bookstores as punishnt for violating the rchant’s Way. Thanks to yesterday’s record-breaking sales, we quickly restocked the empty tables.
We now held the exclusive publishing rights to Storm of the Tang Clan in Yichang. And we had more than enough supply of Volu 2.
Which ant all the popularity could now be turned into profit for Daseogak.
“Yun-ho, let’s open the store.”
“Got it.”
As soon as I opened the door, a group of unexpected people burst into the shop.
“Why didn’t you open earlier? Do you enjoy seeing people in agony?”
“Exactly! The man entrusted with spreading Storm of the Tang Clan to all mankind should be opening at dawn!”
“Aren’t you from the Daseo Society? What brings you here so early?”
These were the sa folks who had bought their copies first yesterday. There’s no way they ca for tea before breakfast.
Behind the Daseo Society mbers, a long line had ford again—fewer than yesterday, but still a sizable crowd. Were they here to buy more copies of Volu 2?
But contrary to my assumption, the Daseo Society mbers didn’t even glance at the stack of Volu 2. They walked straight up to .
“Give it to us.”
“...Excuse ?”
Give you what?
“Give us Volu 3!”
“Yes, give us Volu 3!”
“We’ve been waiting all night, dying to read it!”
Surrounding with desperate expressions, the mbers of the Daseo Society pleaded. So they ca because of the preview.
“Volu 3 isn’t out yet.”
I hid my satisfaction at another success and replied calmly.
“What do you an it’s not out?”
“Volu 2 just ca out—how could Volu 3 be ready already?”
“Grrgh... Why... Why is there no Volu 3?!”
“Then when will Volu 3 be released?”
“As before—it will only be released once most of Volu 2 is sold.”
I pointed to the towering stack of Storm of the Tang Clan Volu 2 behind .
“No... This can’t be happening...”
“Why... why did you print so many?”
The mbers of the Daseo Society looked at the pile with expressions of despair.
“If only I could hibernate like a bear... To read Volu 2 and then have to wait for Volu 3...”
“If Author Ho-pil wasn’t going to release the next volu imdiately, then he shouldn’t have made it so good! Why write sothing so addicting and not follow it up?!”
“Exactly. If it’s going to be good, then don’t make it so exciting! Ugh. Do you an we’re expected to wait indefinitely for the showdown between the sword-wielding beauties who are like sisters, fighting over Tang Jeong?!”
“Author Ho-pil is definitely a demonic cultivator!”
While the Daseo Society mbers continued to lant with tragic faces, one of them suddenly made a solemn declaration. Oh no—what outrageous statent is this going to be?
“What are you saying?”
Another mber looked at him, bewildered.
“To incite such curiosity about the next volu and cut into people’s hearts—is that not the sa as demonic cultivation? He sliced into my heart, I tell you—yes, sliced. He must have mastered Severing Demon Arts.”
Thankfully, it wasn’t ant with malice.
“How dare you accuse Author Ho-pil of practicing demonic arts! If he hears such vile rumors, he’ll be devastated. Can you handle the consequences if he stops writing because of that?!”
“Still, you can’t deny he’s carved into our hearts. Though calling it a divine technique would be too generous, and calling it a demonic technique too ominous... Let’s compromise and call it ‘Severing Technique.’”
“Sniff... Why... Why does he have to carve my heart with that Severing Technique...”
“Well, since we have to wait until these are all sold, let’s each buy two more copies of Volu 2 and go grab breakfast.”
“Shopkeeper! Can I buy ten copies?”
“For now, we’re limiting it to two per person.”
“Ugh...”
Day two of Volu 2’s release.
Once again, sales of Storm of the Tang Clan surged forward like a ship catching favorable winds.
------
Not just the Daseo Society—even other readers were asking for Volu 3 the very next day. That’s how successful Volu 2 had beco.
“Excuse , Shopkeeper. I’m looking for sothing.”
Of course, success also ant... strange custors started showing up.
“What book are you looking for?”
“It’s not a book... It’s that aphrodisiac. If it’s real, I’d like to buy it.”
“...What?”
“I won’t tell anyone. If you can get it for , I’ll pay this much...”
Just as I feared, soone like this really showed up. The man showed a promissory note with a sizable amount written on it.
“Sir. This is a bookstore.”
You co to a bookstore to find books. What do you think this is, so place where you order fried chicken and get drugs on the side?
“I know all about it.”
Know what, exactly? The man spoke with the confident air of soone filing a bogus complaint, thinking bluster would solve everything.
“You might want to try asking the Sichuan Tang Clan directly.”
I passed the buck like a ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) bureaucrat explaining that this isn’t their departnt.
“You an I can get it from the Tang Clan?”
“Hard to say. But if you did manage to get your hands on it, I imagine soone from the Tang Clan would start chasing you like they did with Tang Jeong.”
“...Ah. Right. That was foolish of .”
Looking deflated, the man quietly left the shop.
I’d better put up a warning notice before we get more custors like him.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
-------
Thanks to the back-to-back success of Storm of the Tang Clan Volu 2, the second floor of Daseogak had been packed to capacity for days on end.
mbers of the Daseo Society gathered in the space reserved for discussion and eagerly began to talk about the novel.
“Triple Poison, you say? When the protagonist said he had a sche, I thought he’d set up a Poisoned Killing Zone or sothing.”
“Sa here. I figured the Sichuan Tang Clan only did shady backroom plots, but to think the protagonist planned things so thoroughly and got out of that crisis...”
“When he said he’d already taken the poison, I thought maybe he was giving up on Du Eung-hyang. Scared the hell out of .”
“That scene where he used three kinds of poison to infect her, and then shouted, ‘You’re already poisoned!’—man. No words. Just chills.”
Yep, just as expected—the reaction to the Triple Poison scene was overwhelmingly positive. Even Hwa-rin, who wasn’t part of the Tang Clan, had asked how anyone could co up with such a technique. It must have felt just as innovative to the readers.
“Whew. Seriously, Volu 2 was insane.”
“Ho-pil. Even the pen na shines.”
“Waiting for Volu 3 is painful, but I hope this series keeps going just like this.”
“What if the next one’s not as good...”
“Silence! Losing faith is the sa as courting death!”
“You dare question Author Ho-pil?! Are you one of those chaos-stirrers we’ve heard about?!”
“I’m sorry! I—I won’t doubt again!”
They’re laying on the praise a bit thick. Embarrassing, really. Maybe I should bring out so snacks for the Daseo Society as a service treat.
“I was satisfied with the latest volu, but I do wish they’d ended it in the Poisoned Killing Zone that Tang Jeong trained for.”
“Hahaha! You really love that Poisoned Killing Zone, don’t you? No wonder you shouted, ‘Co, to my Poisoned Killing Zone!’ in the middle of the night and got caught by your little sister. That look she gave you—pure disgust.”
“H-hey! We agreed to keep that a secret!”
“Oh! I thought I was the only one!”
“See! I’m not alone after all!”
“Right, there’s nothing to be ashad of. That scene was iconic—who wouldn’t want to try it once?”
“Hahaha. True enough. A legendary line. How about we all try saying it together now?”
“Great idea! One, two, three!”
“““Co! To my. Poisoned. Killing. Zone!”””
A few younger mbers of the Daseo Society struck what they believed were cool poses, shouting the line with gusto. Passing won shot them scornful looks.
Please, just let die. Don’t do this. You’re writing your own dark past right now.
“What’s going on?”
Hwa-rin approached as I stood with my head lowered, unable to bear witnessing the real-ti creation of secondhand embarrassnt courtesy of the Daseo Society.
“I was listening to their reactions to Storm of the Tang Clan.”
“Are they good?”
Hwa-rin asked playfully.
“They’re great. Of course.”
There’s nothing that makes a writer dance like a positive reader response. I gave a proud, faint smile as I replied.
“I like it too.”
Hwa-rin smiled back at after seeing mine, then walked over to the coffee machine.
“I’ll get it. You take a break.”
“I can make it.”
“You’ve been working hard. Take it easy while you can.”
The busier Daseogak got, the more hectic things beca for Tang Hwa-rin behind the scenes. From bookkeeping and inventory to printing and managing the staff—unlike , who spent most of my ti upstairs, Hwa-rin had her hands full.
“Co on. We’re in this together.”
She must be exhausted, yet she spoke so lightly. She sat on the chair by the display and watched brew the coffee.
“Here you go. Brewed it strong.”
“Thanks. What are the Daseo Society folks rambling about now?”
Hwa-rin accepted the coffee and gestured with her chin toward the noisy crowd.
“I just don’t understand! Why would the protagonist walk away from such beautiful won?!”
“I agree! He already has the Most Beautiful Woman in Sichuan and the Top Courtesan of Hubei in his arms! Why chase after the Lecher?!”
“That’s what they’re saying.”
I relayed the excited voices of the Daseo Society mbers to Hwa-rin.
“I’m curious too.”
“Huh?”
“Why does Tang Jeong leave those won?”
“‘Leave’ is harsh. It’s not like he abandoned them. He’ll et them again soday. Saying he abandoned them forever is too much.”
“Still. Why?”
“Tang Jeong is a chivalrous warrior. If he were just a man who wanted an easy life, he wouldn’t be chasing the Lecher. He’s worried that the Tang Clan’s techniques and ideals being leaked might end up harming innocent people. So he gives up his own happiness for a while and goes after the Lecher.”
If you call yourself a hero, you have to uphold a value higher than wealth or fa. It may wear the mask of erotic chivalry, but at its core, this is martial arts fiction. Got that, Hwa-rin?
I responded to her question with a solemn face.
“Pfft. You really talk like a chivalrous hero.”
Hwa-rin broke into laughter mid-sip, apparently amused by my sudden seriousness.
“I’m just an ordinary person—I could never make a choice like that. But for a hero, it makes sense. Putting higher values above your own happiness.”
“Talks a good ga. Pfft.”
Hwa-rin kept sipping her coffee, still grinning at . A bit embarrassing. It felt like I’d been exposed—my tightly sealed inner martial arts nerd slipping out in this world.
I even managed to stay silent when my extrovert friends called that rubber-punch guy from the ninja manga the strongest.
“You done talking?”
“Yeah, I’m done!”
Just as I was composing myself, a loud yell ca from the Daseo Society’s table.
“You bastard!”
“What did you say, bastard?!”
The entire Daseo Society leapt to their feet and started grabbing each other’s collars. Not just one or two—everyone.
“Hwa-rin!”
“On it!”
It looked like punches were about to fly. Hwa-rin and I rushed over to break up the chaos.
“You were all getting along a mont ago—what happened?!”
We barely managed to separate the group into two factions, then asked what the hell was going on.
“Listen, Shopkeeper. I can’t believe I’ve been sitting in the sa society as people who don’t even know the basics of this novel!”
“Says the bastard! Filthy plebs!”
“You son of a—!”
“You wanna go? Huh?!”
“Please, what is this even about?!”
I held them back with both arms and tried once more to get an answer. What was going on?
And then, from one angry mber’s lips, ca a reason I had never anticipated.
“These punks—no, these bastards! They’re saying Tang Jeong’s rightful partner is that woman Du Eung-hyang and not the Most Beautiful Woman in Sichuan, Gu Suk-jeong!”
“What?! Did you just call Lady Gu that?!”
“You think a courtesan can be a proper partner?! Know your place!”
I never saw it coming.
The Great Waifu War.
That day, the Daseo Society split into two irreconcilable factions in the blink of an eye.
Reviews
All reviews (0)