The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

“Let’s release Volume 1 of Storm of the Tang Clan inside the Sichuan Tang Clan.”

I spoke as I looked at the towering stack of Storm of the Tang Clan novels piled in the corner.

There’s a lot. Once we added the copies Tang Pae’s group had brought to show the Tang Clan, the quantity was massive. I didn’t expect them to haul all of this in.

Even the peddlers traveling back and forth between Korea and China probably wouldn’t carry this much.

“This content is related to the Tang Clan’s secret history. While only someone like the Pavilion Head might catch on, are you sure it’s alright to distribute it?”

Tang Pae asked me in a concerned tone.

“With the Tang Geo-ho incident, it’s only a matter of time before the secret spreads throughout the entire clan.”

The incident caused by Tang Geo-ho was simply too large in scale. Especially the fact that dozens of the Lecher’s illegitimate children died during experiments—there’s no way to cover that up during the investigation of those involved.

Regardless of whether outsiders learn of the Lecher incident, the Tang Clan itself will soon catch wind of the rough details of what happened twenty years ago.

“Yes. Then, as Young Master Kang instructed, we’ll recommend Storm of the Tang Clan to the patients currently receiving treatment. But there’s one thing I’m curious about.”

Tang Pae looked at me, curiosity written all over his face.

“What are you curious about?”

“Why are you only releasing Volume 1?”

There’s always a reason.

*********

“How good can it be that even the Pavilion’s guards keep reading it in bed?”

“The book’s called Storm of the Tang Clan? What, another gloomy protagonist with a twisted personality from the Tang Clan?”

“It’s so popular in Yichang that you can’t even get a copy? Smut is still just smut.”

“Did you hit your head or something? Don’t you know martial arts novels are boring?”

“Well, it’s not like we can go outside anyway. I’ll give it a read out of boredom.”

Those who were recommended Storm of the Tang Clan by the Pavilion guards reacted pretty much the same. Martial arts fiction didn’t usually sell well. Or it was just seen as titillating fluff. No one had high hopes.

But had they actually read it? Kang Yun-ho spoke to the puzzled guards:

— Even on the battlefield, people look for entertainment. It’ll be hard to turn it down in a locked-down Sichuan Tang Clan.

Under normal circumstances, most would have declined if offered Storm of the Tang Clan. But right now, the Sichuan Tang Clan’s gates were tightly shut, and a storm of blood was raging within.

Even the innocent were holding their breath inside their rooms, trying to avoid notice—and in such moments, nothing passed the time like a novel.

“A swordsman risking his life to protect a woman?!”

“Tang Jeong totally deserves to win over the Most Beautiful Woman in Sichuan!”

“To make the Lecher flee with just a single line at that desperate moment? It’s more brilliant than Zhuge Liang playing the qin to make Sima Yi retreat—Playing the Zither to Drive Away the Enemy!”

“Ahem... I need tissues.”

Just as Kang Yun-ho had expected.

-----------

“Volume 2! Where’s Volume 2?!”

“Give us Hubei’s Top Courtesan!”

“Pavilion guards! You’ve seen the next volume, right? The Most Beautiful Woman in Sichuan appears in Volume 2, doesn’t she? Tell us she does!”

Countless members of the Tang Clan swarmed to the ward where the Pavilion’s injured guards were recovering. The crowding turned the sickbay into a battlefield.

The Pavilion guards looked on, dumbfounded, but chuckled inwardly. Of course, Storm of the Tang Clan would provoke that kind of reaction.

Just as Young Master Kang planned.

Tang Pae, recalling Kang Yun-ho’s instructions, addressed the gathered members of the Tang Clan:

“Volume 2 of Storm of the Tang Clan is in the possession of the author, Ho-pil.”

“Are you joking? Of course the author would have the next volume. I’m asking if Volume 2 is physically here, inside the Sichuan Tang Clan!”

“Of course, it’s ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ here.”

“T-Then give it to us!”

“The author, Ho-pil, has it.”

“Do you want poison in your medicine instead of herbs, friend?”

Tang Pae gave a bitter smile at the not-quite-a-threat and continued.

“You seem too agitated to understand. Ho-pil, the author, is here in the Sichuan Tang Clan. He’s being held in the Reception Hall.”

“The Reception Hall? Isn’t that the place sealed off by the Outer Court? Are you saying the author and Volume 2 are there?”

“Yes. The author, Ho-pil, is currently detained in the Reception Hall.”

“A writer of such a magnificent novel—why would he be imprisoned?!”

“I’m not sure either. In the meantime, please return the Volume 1 copies you’ve already read. Others are waiting for their turn.”

The Tang Clan members, looking devastated, returned their precious Volume 1 copies to the Pavilion guards.

To emphasize that there was nothing they could do, Tang Pae shrugged and redistributed the novels to those who hadn’t read them yet.

“What do you mean Ho-pil is detained?! And Volume 2 is with him?!”

“Give us Volume 2!”

“You—! You’ve read Volume 2, haven’t you? Just tell me what happens!”

“See for yourself.”

“Aaaaargh!”

Soon, the sickbay echoed not with the groans of the ill, but with the cries of those starving for the next volume.

*********

“Young Master Kang. Storm of the Tang Clan is rapidly gaining popularity within the Tang Clan.”

Tang Pae gave his report, unable to suppress a grin.

“Seems like it.”

I spoke as I watched the Tang Clan members frequently pass by outside the window. The rumor that Volume 2 was in the Reception Hall must have spread like wildfire.

“Step aside. Entry to the Reception Hall is forbidden.”

“I just need a quick word. Can’t I stop by for a moment?”

“Only those with permission may enter.”

“Outer Court! Release Hubei’s Top Courtesan!”

“In these locked-down conditions, the only drug authorized by the Sichuan Tang Clan to dull the pain—no, the only narcotic they’ve approved is Storm of the Tang Clan! Let us read it!”

“We want Volume 2!”

This is the Sichuan Tang Clan, yet it feels like Daseogak.

The Outer Court’s troops were busy all day, trying to drive away the constant flow of people.

“People all over the Tang Clan are wondering why the author, Ho-pil, is being detained. Releasing only Volume 1 and drawing attention to the fact that we’re being held in the Reception Hall—it’s a brilliant scheme.”

“We need more than just the Elders’ Council to know we’re here.”

Only the Tang Clan Head and the Elders’ Council knew that we were imprisoned in the Reception Hall.

I have to flip the board. And to flip the board, people need to know why it’s being flipped. If someone shows up out of nowhere and upends everything, people just see them as a lunatic.

The Elders’ Council has detained the Tang Clan Head’s bastard child and a Poisoned One. The author, Ho-pil, is here. But why are they imprisoned? We want to read Volume 2—so why are they locked up?

The questions must keep growing.

“What should we do next?”

“This is just groundwork. Release the next volume. And continue with the plan.”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

*********

“Volume 2 of Storm of the Tang Clan! I wanted this so bad—snrk, sob!”

“There’s gotta be a one-night stand with Hubei’s Top Courtesan, right?”

Following Kang Yun-ho’s orders, Storm of the Tang Clan Volume 2 began circulating within the Tang Clan.

“Welcome to my Poisoned Killing Zone!”

“So you’ve read Volume 2 too! Now that—that’s what I call spine-chilling brilliance!”

“Triple Poison?! Who the hell is this author to come up with something like that?!”

“Those swordsmen just have to pull their swords and fight, but our Tang Clan? We can beat our opponent from the moment we choose the battleground! That was beautifully portrayed!”

“Why does Tang Jeong keep walking away from such goddesses?!”

“Because that’s the path of a chivalrous swordsman, isn’t it?”

“Don’t you think the Most Beautiful Woman in Sichuan had too little screen time? Hubei’s Top Courtesan was in the whole damn book. That’s straight-up favoritism for the main wife!”

“Hubei’s Top Courtesan is the main wife.”

“Are you picking a fight right now?!”

“Don’t fight! More beauties! More heroic deeds! Volume 3’s got two sister-like female warriors fighting over him—I’m beyond hyped!”

“Mom! I wanna be a hero like Tang Jeong when I grow up!”

“Darling! Have you lost your mind?! What are you showing our son?!”

“Now, now! Shouldn’t our boy grow up to be like Tang Jeong? Storm of the Tang Clan is the kind of book every Tang Clan man should read—it’s educational, I tell you!”

“Oh really? Then maybe I should see if you act like Tang Jeong at night, dear.”

“Sweetheart, I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

Having already conquered Yichang, Storm of the Tang Clan was bound to explode in the Sichuan Tang Clan too.

The only difference? As Volume 2 gained traction, strange rumors began spreading.

“Hey, did you hear that rumor?”

“What rumor?”

“That Storm of the Tang Clan is based on a true story.”

“You mean Storm of the Tang Clan is nonfiction?!”

“They say those kids sacrificed in that Tang Geo-ho incident—those illegitimate Poisoned Ones—they say the Poisoned One in the novel, the Lecher, is actually the real one.”

“So twenty years ago, the Poisoned One was the Lecher? Damn. So that’s what really happened.”

“I thought it was just a novel, but turns out it was based on fact.”

“Wait a minute. Then who’s Tang Jeong?”

“Who do you think?”

“You’re saying Tang Jeong is the Tang Clan Head?!”

“Looks like Storm of the Tang Clan is a record of the secret history from twenty years ago.”

“Who the hell is this author Ho-pil? To know about events from twenty years ago that were only just revealed...”

As the novel’s popularity surged, curiosity about Ho-pil soared throughout the Sichuan Tang Clan.

*********

“Storm of the Tang Clan is so popular now that there’s not a single person in the Tang Clan who hasn’t read it.”

“It’s based on a true story—one that explains why the clan is currently under lockdown. Of course it would blow up.”

Exactly what I aimed for. There’s a reason mockumentaries, docufiction, and “based-on-a-true-story” movies do so well.

Right now, the biggest scandal inside the Tang Clan is the Tang Geo-ho incident.

Under normal circumstances, the novel would’ve had modest success. But combine that with the Tang Geo-ho fiasco and the sealed-down Sichuan Tang Clan? Not reading it is a loss.

“Everyone’s wondering who could’ve written something like this. So... is it time?”

Tang Pae asked with an expectant gleam in his eyes.

The time had come. I nodded and spoke:

“Reveal my identity.”

The author imprisoned in the Reception Hall—Ho-pil. The man who wrote about a secret buried twenty years ago.

It was time for the world to find out who he really was.

“Did you hear? Ho-pil is supposedly Du Eung-hyang’s son.”

“What nonsense is that? Ho-pil is Du Eung-hyang’s son?”

“Before Tang Jeong left, didn’t he spend a night with Du Eung-hyang? She must’ve gotten pregnant.”

“Hold on. Tang Jeong is the Tang Clan Head, isn’t he? Are you saying Ho-pil is the Tang Clan Head’s illegitimate son?”

“Shhh! Keep your voice down!”

“You’re the one shouting now. My God—so Tang Jeong didn’t take Du Eung-hyang with him in the end?”

“Doesn’t make sense. A man like the Clan Head could’ve had ten wives and no one would’ve blinked. Why did he abandon her?”

“Exactly. Having multiple wives and concubines is seen as proof of ability—no one criticizes it. So why?”

“Then Storm of the Tang Clan was written by Ho-pil to vindicate his mother?”

“That might be it.”

“Then what happens to the succession line? The Young Clan Head is still in critical condition after qi deviation, and now an illegitimate child appears?”

*********

The popularity of Storm of the Tang Clan gave birth to rumors. The rumors led to shocking revelations. And those revelations only fueled the novel’s popularity.

Inside the locked-down Sichuan Tang Clan, the novel and its gossip were spreading like wildfire.

“One of the warriors guarding the Reception Hall is a friend of mine. He said Ho-pil is being detained because of the whole illegitimate Poisoned One scandal.”

“You mean the children sacrificed in Tang Geo-ho’s experiments?”

“Yeah. Apparently one of them survived. But the Elders’ Council refuses to let the kid receive treatment.”

“Refuses treatment? After all those Tang Clan illegitimate children died, they won’t even save the one who lived?!”

“I don’t understand it either! And here’s the real shocker—they say Volume 3 of Storm of the Tang Clan won’t be released.”

“What?! Why not?!”

“They say the book wasn’t written for his mother, but to save his Poisoned friend. But now that the friend is dying... he says there’s no point in writing anymore.”

“Storm of the Tang Clan Volume 3! Nooooo!”

“What the hell is the Elders’ Council doing?!”

“They’re probably in bed with that bastard Tang Geo-ho!”

“Even if they’re not, they’re no different!”

A scandal caused by the Tang Clan’s direct line. Resentment toward the Elders’ Council, which locked down the clan.

Under normal circumstances, people would’ve waited silently for the storm to pass. But once it seemed the Council was also in the wrong, the people couldn’t hold back.

“Give the Tang Clan child the Human-Faced Poison Pellet!”

“Give us Volume 3 of Storm of the Tang Clan!”

“Free the author Ho-pil!”

“Don’t turn your back on the child who came to us for refuge!”

*********

“When people want to hide something, you’ve got to make sure everyone finds out.”

I looked out the window at the commotion and smiled faintly.

The Elders’ Council probably thought we were just two illegitimate brats. Sure, succession was involved, but with no one backing us, they assumed we were nothing.

If they kept it under wraps and made sure no one found out, they wouldn’t have to kill us outright. Just leaving us to rot would be enough.

Of course, not every elder was in agreement. They were locked in a tug-of-war over whether to use the Human-Faced Poison Pellet. But that was an internal struggle—just among themselves.

To them, Hwa-rin and I were just pawns on their gameboard.

So then, how do I avoid becoming a pawn?

“Flip the board before they can play.”

Let everyone know that the Tang Clan Head’s illegitimate child has appeared.

This is the Sichuan Tang Clan. A righteous sect.

Twenty years ago, they abandoned Hubei’s Top Courtesan, Hyang-ah. They abandoned her child, Ho-pil. Now, they’re letting Tang Hwa-rin—who was sacrificed by the Tang Clan—waste away.

If no one cares about these illegitimate children, they can be quietly erased from the board.

But if the righteous sect upholds justice and morality, and if enough public opinion forms within the clan...

Then the board can no longer be moved in secret. It won’t be theirs to control anymore.

Alright then, Elders’ Council. What now?

“Young Master Kang! Someone from the Elders’ Council has arrived!”

Of course. You were bound to show your face.