Having a backup plan for any situation is crucial.
Just because I can play the part of the tiger cub doesn’t an I should assu everything will go smoothly. I have to imagine the worst-case scenario and prepare the best path through it.
What if I get found out? What happens if they realize I’m not really the tiger cub? Is there any way I can make it out of that alive? What can I do to survive and co back?
This is my one and only life on the line. No amount of preparation or scheming is too much.
So what can a black-haired barbarian like possibly use? After much thought, the answer I arrived at... was to leverage my fa in Yichang.
“Why is there a crowd here?”
A passerby asked, pointing at the people swarming around Daseogak.
“Sothing about Ho-pil’s writing being at stake.”
“Wait, is Volu 3 finally being released?”
“No, it’s worse! There’s talk of cancelling the serialization! Those bastards from the Sichuan Tang Clan are saying Storm of the Tang Clan is a problem and are here to drag the author off!”
“What?! What could they possibly have a problem with?!”
“My point exactly. Now Manager Kang is about to be taken in because of it!”
“Why Manager Kang?!”
“They say he’s protecting soone Daseogak is sheltering—soone he calls a kindred spirit. He volunteered to go in their place!”
“He’d go up against those scary martial artists?! I thought he was all about money, but turns out he’s got honor!”
“Ho-pil cried, knowing what might happen if he got taken. He said he’d stop writing until Manager Kang cos back!”
“H-he’s going on hiatus?!”
“Exactly. Daseogak is at risk of shutting down! Ho-pil’s gone silent! How could the Daseohoe stay quiet in this situation?!”
“Those damn bastards! You pieces of shit! Have you no sha?!”
“Sichuan Tang Clan should be giving them an award, not dragging them off!”
“I can’t accept Storm of the Tang Clan getting canceled! No way!”
The crowd kept growing around Daseogak as news of the serialization’s suspension spread.
“This was your doing, wasn’t it?”
The Vice Pavilion Head glanced around at the mob before narrowing his eyes at .
“Soone must’ve seen Tang Clan people blocking the shop yesterday. And since there isn’t a soul in Yichang who doesn’t know Storm of the Tang Clan, word spread fast.”
Did he think I’d sit still and do nothing? I shrugged with a shaless smile.
I started with Ho-pil’s official statent, then tipped off the Daseohoe readers, asking them to co surround Daseogak when the Tang Clan returned.
...Though I didn’t expect this big a turnout.
“Make way! The Chair of the Yichang Literary Society is passing through!”
As the Tang Clan warriors looked on, uncertain what to do with the swelling crowd, an elderly scholar erged.
“Who might you be?”
The Vice Pavilion Head questioned the man who seed to be leading the crowd.
“Hoho. Just a man who leads those in Yichang who love literature.”
The Chair of the Yichang Literary Society stroked his beard and stared calmly back at the Vice Pavilion Head.
“Wait—he’s the Chair?! Isn’t he a forr scholar of the Hanlin Academy?!”
“I heard he retired and rarely appears in public. I can’t believe he ca here!”
A Hanlin Academy scholar... That’s the emperor’s advisory institution and the imperial publishing bureau. When I begged the Daseohoe to find soone who could speak up against the Tang Clan, I didn’t expect soone this high-level to show up.
“...Tch.”
Even the Vice Pavilion Head seed rattled. He recognized that this man was too high a mountain to challenge.
“Even the emperor doesn’t stifle free speech. And yet, a noble clan like the Sichuan Tang dares commit such an act?”
“The well water does not intrude upon the river. It is a family matter.”
A fancy way of saying “this is none of your business.” The Vice Pavilion Head was warning them to stay out of Tang Clan affairs.
“Hahaha... That’s the very phrase I wanted to bury back when I still held office. So now when the well reaches into the river, everything just turns into well water, does it?”
The Chair looked over at after facing the Vice Pavilion Head, implying that oppressing civilians had never been part of martial tradition.
“He’s just a black-haired barbarian.”
He really won’t acknowledge as one of their own.
“He’s no barbarian. He’s a young man of Yichang. A man who knows honor.”
“That’s right! He’s been faithfully paying dues to the rchants’ Association!”
“Strict as he is, he always pays on ti and treats suppliers fairly!”
Once the Chair defended , even those who weren’t part of Daseohoe but knew personally started backing up.
I’m touched. Guess I didn’t run my business in Yichang half-heartedly. Though I did grease a few wheels here and there.
“We’re not taking him as a criminal. We simply wish to ask him a few questions.”
“It’s usually the ones with the most to hide who get questioned the most.”
“He’s being taken as a guest.”
“These days you drag guests away in rope and don’t even give them a horse? I heard you were planning to make him walk.”
The Vice Pavilion Head said nothing, but glared at instead. What? Even if you’re not using ropes, you still planned to walk out. I can’t even use light footwork—I want a horse or a carriage, damn it.
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
“And would you believe that?”
“...Ha. And if I don’t?”
The mont the Vice Pavilion Head let out a sliver of killing intent, the air around us turned icy. Martial artists are terrifying like that—even among a crowd, they can feel like a tiger among rabbits.
The Chair, unfazed by the pressure, held his ground. But if this went on any longer, sothing was bound to happen.
“Greetings. I’m humbled by your concern and honored by your presence.”
Perfect timing. I stepped forward with a smile.
“It’s only natural to step forward for the young man who brought fresh wind to Yichang,” the Chair said, looking at with worried eyes.
“This entire incident... I believe it’s the result of overlapping misunderstandings. And misunderstandings, if left alone, only deepen. Before that happens, I intend to go to Sichuan myself.”
“That’s too dangerous. Stay here—I’ll make you my guest. I’ll give you a room.”
Becoming his guest ant receiving his official protection—under the na of a forr Hanlin scholar. An imnse offer.
“This concerns my close friend. Ho-pil’s words are my words. My words are Ho-pil’s. I want to handle this before misfortune befalls him.”
I struck my chest and made a determined expression.
“...Hoo. One is ready to risk his life for friendship. The other embraces the pain of parting with a soulmate. So be it.”
He turned to the Vice Pavilion Head.
“Will this suffice?”
“I have disciples in Sichuan’s capital. I’ll make sure they’re inford. And if he doesn’t return in ti...”
The Chair’s gaze sharpened.
“...then I’ll make my moves outside Sichuan.”
Anywhere outside Sichuan ant the imperial capital.
“...That won’t happen.”
The Vice Pavilion Head stepped back slightly, clearly not wanting things to escalate that far.
“I hope not. And Manager Kang... I look forward to seeing you return and selling Volu 3 of Storm of the Tang Clan once again.”
He gave a final look and turned to go.
I’d secured one line of defense.
If I get exposed as a fake cub, and they try to kill , the image of the Hanlin scholar will surely flash through their minds.
I need a second failsafe.
What is the Tang Clan most afraid of? Why are they so desperate to hide the Lecher incident?
Public opinion. That’s it.
As a righteous clan walking a tightrope of honor, they’re obsessed with their reputation and sensitive to public backlash.
Even if my act as the cub fails, I need to keep them from swinging the sword too fast—force hesitation through pressure.
Ti to create the situation they fear most.
I turned to the crowd of Daseohoe mbers and shouted:
“Everyone! I’m Kang Yun-ho, manager of Daseogak! Storm of the Tang Clan Volu 3 is here!”
I pulled the manuscript from my robes.
“Ooooooh!!”
“I was planning to release Volu 3 soon. But due to the current situation, I must postpone its publication.”
“WHYYYYYY?!”
“Just publish it before you go!”
“If I release it now, Ho-pil says he’ll never write again! So instead—we’ll temporarily close Daseogak! And once I return—I’ll release Volu 3! Please wait for —and for Volu 3!”
“Ughhh... then... I guess we have no choice...”
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
“The Tang bastards! We’ll see this through till Manager Kang returns alive!”
“If Volu 3 doesn’t co out—we’re marching to burn down the Sichuan Tang Clan!!!”
“DAMN RIGHT!!!”
If Daseogak shuts down and the popularity of Storm of the Tang Clan fades, people might stop caring about what happened to the black-haired barbarian dragged off by the Tang Clan.
To prevent that, I brought out Volu 3.
The volu was already complete. But thanks to the Tang Clan, people couldn’t read it.
Even if the hype around Volu 2 died down, the hunger for Volu 3 would twist into resentnt toward the Tang Clan. People would keep talking, keep gossiping.
At least until my life-or-death outco was decided.
“You really just do whatever you want, don’t you?”
The Vice Pavilion Head, who had been watching the whole ti, finally spoke.
“We live in a world where soone gets their neck wrung even though they didn’t do anything wrong—just for being a black-haired barbarian. If I don’t put out so kind of promise, who knows what might happen if Volu 3 doesn’t co out?”
“You won’t be able to publish it anyway.”
“That’s for and the Clan Lord to discuss. It’s not your decision to make.”
I have no plans to end the series. I will publish Volu 3. One way or another.
“Not backing down at all, are you. Let’s see if you’re still so smug once we’re in Sichuan.”
“You planning to drag away now?”
I glanced at the crowd of Daseohoe mbers that hadn’t dispersed. Surely not—he wouldn’t, right?
“Tch. I’ll give you one more day. Get yourself a carriage.”
The Vice Pavilion Head clicked his tongue and vanished into the crowd with a glare, visibly displeased.
--------
The next day, we made ti to visit the Chief Steward.
“I heard the rumors. If you leave the bonds here, I’ll handle the debts for now.”
He was the sa man who had tried to settle the debts even when Hwa-rin’s grandfather passed away, and again when her mother ran away.
There was no one more trustworthy to handle things while we traveled to Sichuan.
“Thank you.”
“When a debtor is absent for an extended period, it’s not just the money—they suffer credit damage too. You’ll need to return as soon as possible.”
“I’ll do my best.”
I’ve made decent money up to this point, but not enough to survive a long journey comfortably. I need to resolve this Tang Clan matter before funds run out or creditors co knocking.
“I’d love to send you off with a drink, but I suppose the situation doesn’t allow it.”
“Let’s drink when I return. The liquor you gave Hwa-rin last ti was excellent.”
“...Wait. You drank that?”
The Chief Steward looked shocked and turned to Hwa-rin, who lowered her head like a guilty child and averted her gaze. He sighed in disappointnt.
Wait—was I not supposed to drink that?!
“Haha. It was so good, I’d love to drink it again. I’ll bring you two bottles next ti.”
Well, it’s already in my stomach. All I can do now is repay the favor properly.
“Phew... It is good liquor. My wife, back when we were young—she once made drink it while teasing with that coy smile... that girl who never looked like a woman before suddenly...”
“Haha...”
We shared a few stories and laughter with the Chief Steward, then left his residence.
-------
“Debts are settled, paperwork is done, all the letters sent out. I guess that’s everything.”
Since I didn’t procrastinate, everything was wrapped up quickly—fast enough that we could leave °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° right away.
“...Wasn’t this stuff supposed to be my responsibility, not yours? But how could I even...”
What’s with her today?
As I walked with Hwa-rin—who kept muttering cryptic lines—toward Daseogak, we ran into so mbers of Daseohoe heading in the opposite direction.
“Let go!”
“Manager Kang! There you are.”
“Thanks again for yesterday. But, uh... why is that guy tied to a fra?”
The guy bound to a carrying fra looked familiar—one of the regular Daseohoe mbers.
“We’re dealing with a troublemaker.”
“...Excuse ?”
“Right after you gave us hope with Volu 3, this guy starts spewing crap about how we’ve been used.”
“Haha...”
“He’s saying: ‘It’s just two volus! Why all this fuss? Ho-pil’s ghosted us because he couldn’t figure out the next part, and that Kang guy’s just milking us for money before he runs off.’ That kind of nonsense.”
“That’s rough...”
Like I knew soone was going to threaten with a sword to stop writing. I wanted to release Volu 3, damn it.
“To not understand the great vision of Author Ho-pil! We of the Daseohoe cannot tolerate such heresy!”
One mber pointed angrily at the man in the fra.
“Let him go. Please. I really don’t want people getting hurt over a novel.”
Reader argunts turning into murder cases? That’d get the local magistrate involved, and Storm of the Tang Clan would be forcibly canceled for disturbing public morals. I’m not letting that happen.
“We’d never bring sha to Ho-pil’s na. No one’s getting hurt.”
“Haha. Then I’m relieved.”
“But... this troublemaker isn’t a person.”
“...Ah.”
“Just kidding! I’m joking!”
The Daseohoe mber clapped on the back and laughed when my face stiffened.
“I trust you’ll handle it sensibly.”
“Don’t worry! We’ll turn this troublemaker into a true believer! Let’s go, everyone!”
“Let go! You can’t punish for speaking the truth!”
“This fool still doesn’t get it! We already know water’s the answer, so let’s start with that!”
“Just keep going straight and you’ll hit the Yangtze River! Let’s move out!”
Please... let nothing go wrong.
--------
The day of departure ca.
“This should be good enough, right?”
“Yeah.”
Hwa-rin and I stared somberly at the placard posted outside Daseogak.
[Daseogak – Temporary Closure] – Away on business with the Sichuan Tang Clan.
“Get in the carriage.”
At the Vice Pavilion Head’s words, we turned and climbed aboard.
Will I make it back?
I’d done all I could to prepare.
Now it was ti to see whether I’d return as a tiger cub... or as a broken man.
Let’s go.
To the Sichuan Tang Clan.
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