The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel-Chapter 129: Storm of the Tang Clan, Volume 2 - 2

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 someone 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 Volume 2 of Storm of the Tang Clan—copies printed by other bookstores as punishment for violating the Merchant’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 Volume 2.

Which meant 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 same folks who had bought their copies first yesterday. There’s no way they came for tea before breakfast.

Behind the Daseo Society members, a long line had formed again—fewer than yesterday, but still a sizable crowd. Were they here to buy more copies of Volume 2?

But contrary to my assumption, the Daseo Society members didn’t even glance at the stack of Volume 2. They walked straight up to me.

“Give it to us.”

“...Excuse me?”

Give you what?

“Give us Volume 3!”

“Yes, give us Volume 3!”

“We’ve been waiting all night, dying to read it!”

Surrounding me with desperate expressions, the members of the Daseo Society pleaded. So they came because of the preview.

“Volume 3 isn’t out yet.”

I hid my satisfaction at another success and replied calmly.

“What do you mean it’s not out?”

“Volume 2 just came out—how could Volume 3 be ready already?”

“Grrgh... Why... Why is there no Volume 3?!”

“Then when will Volume 3 be released?”

“As before—it will only be released once most of Volume 2 is sold.”

I pointed to the towering stack of Storm of the Tang Clan Volume 2 behind me.

“No... This can’t be happening...”

“Why... why did you print so many?”

The members of the Daseo Society looked at the pile with expressions of despair.

“If only I could hibernate like a bear... To read Volume 2 and then have to wait for Volume 3...”

“If Author Ho-pil wasn’t going to release the next volume immediately, then he shouldn’t have made it so good! Why write something 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 mean 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 members continued to lament with tragic faces, one of them suddenly made a solemn declaration. Oh no—what outrageous statement is this going to be?

“What are you saying?”

Another member looked at him, bewildered.

“To incite such curiosity about the next volume and cut into people’s hearts—is that not the same as demonic cultivation? He sliced into my heart, I tell you—yes, sliced. He must have mastered Severing Demon Arts.”

Thankfully, it wasn’t meant 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 Volume 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 Volume 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 Volume 3 the very next day. That’s how successful Volume 2 had become.

“Excuse me, Shopkeeper. I’m looking for something.”

Of course, success also meant... strange customers 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 me, I’ll pay this much...”

Just as I feared, someone like this really showed up. The man showed me a promissory note with a sizable amount written on it.

“Sir. This is a bookstore.”

You come to a bookstore to find books. What do you think this is, some 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 someone 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 department.

“You mean I can get it from the Tang Clan?”

“Hard to say. But if you did manage to get your hands on it, I imagine someone from the Tang Clan would start chasing you like they did with Tang Jeong.”

“...Ah. Right. That was foolish of me.”

Looking deflated, the man quietly left the shop.

I’d better put up a warning notice before we get more customers like him.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

-------

Thanks to the back-to-back success of Storm of the Tang Clan Volume 2, the second floor of Daseogak had been packed to capacity for days on end.

Members 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 scheme, I thought he’d set up a Poisoned Killing Zone or something.”

“Same 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 me.”

“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 come up with such a technique. It must have felt just as innovative to the readers.

“Whew. Seriously, Volume 2 was insane.”

“Ho-pil. Even the pen name shines.”

“Waiting for Volume 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 same 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 some snacks for the Daseo Society as a service treat.

“I was satisfied with the latest volume, 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, ‘Come, 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 ashamed 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!”

“““Come! To my. Poisoned. Killing. Zone!”””

A few younger members of the Daseo Society struck what they believed were cool poses, shouting the line with gusto. Passing women shot them scornful looks.

Please, just let me die. Don’t do this. You’re writing your own dark past right now.

“What’s going on?”

Hwa-rin approached me as I stood with my head lowered, unable to bear witnessing the real-time creation of secondhand embarrassment 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 me 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 became for Tang Hwa-rin behind the scenes. From bookkeeping and inventory to printing and managing the staff—unlike me, who spent most of my time upstairs, Hwa-rin had her hands full.

“Come 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 me 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 women?!”

“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 members to Hwa-rin.

“I’m curious too.”

“Huh?”

“Why does Tang Jeong leave those women?”

“‘Leave’ is harsh. It’s not like he abandoned them. He’ll meet them again someday. 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 fame. 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 game. Pfft.”

Hwa-rin kept sipping her coffee, still grinning at me. 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 came 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 moment 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 same 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 member’s lips, came 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.