“Did you really lend out Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes?”
As soon as Gilsan returned from dinner with the martial artists of the Zhuge family, he asked in surprise.
“Of course, I borrowed three volumes. They were thrilled!”
“Is it the new work by Author Ho Pil?”
“Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes! Now that I think about it, it does include the ‘wind and cloud’ from The Rise of the Tang Family!
“Are you interested? I just happen to have three copies for preservation, appreciation, and promotion, so I can lend them to you.”
“Really?!”
“Would I not lend a novel to the Zhuge family’s martial artists, who came all the way to Wuhan because of me? Take them.”
No one doubted why a guy who came just for a meal was holding three copies of the same novel; the books quickly left my hands.
“How amazing. To think The Rise of the Tang Family is a forbidden book in the Zhuge family.”
It is indeed amazing, I must say.
As Gilsan and I turned our gaze toward Zhuge Xiang, who was dozing halfway on the bed, she woke up with a start.
“Ah! It’s not exactly a forbidden book! The elders are upset because these sensational and exaggerated martial arts novels are making young people lazy about their training!”
“Not entirely exaggerated.”
After all, there are indeed places with poison gas and triple poison.
“Huh?”
Getting critiqued for accuracy as a writer made me unintentionally snap in a curt tone. Miss Zhuge asked back with surprise.
“Oh, no. The family elders said it’s not permitted. So, basically, there haven’t been many opposing voices due to just a book.”
“Right, right. It’s not like they’re punishing anyone who reads it. Everyone’s just careful not to show it.”
It was like how parents install youth protection programs on computers. Everyone manages to bypass it somehow, but you have to pretend not to have seen it.
“Thanks to that, this is going well. If things go smoothly, I can take my time getting to the Zhuge family.”
Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes was a hot new release that hadn’t been out for months. Thanks to the stubbornness of the Zhuge family’s Elders’ Council, the martial artists of the Zhuge family also looked like it was their first time seeing the book.
“What are you planning? Should we form a Tea and Book Club and persuade everyone to take it slow?”
Gilsan asked while sipping the alcohol he had brought without my notice.
“There’s something that can only be done with Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.”
“What? There’s something you can do with Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes?”
“A merchant lent three copies for free! Naturally, you have to get back twice as much!”
If a merchant freely gives something, you have to suspect their motives. They won’t do business at a loss.
I hope everything goes as expected.
“What are you…?! You’re wearing a face that looks like you’re plotting something devious!”
Seeing my smiling face, Gilsan frowned in surprise.
“No, we’re all just trying to relax. What plotting, huh?”
Plotting? Would a diligent, first-rate son-in-law like me really engage in any shady work?
“I mean, it sounds like it’ll be a lot of fun. Don’t worry too much! How about it? Want to have a drink too?”
Gilsan gave a thumbs-up with one hand and shook the bottle.
“Alright. Fine.”
I needed to clear my head and come up with an ‘operation,’ or should I say, a plan.
——
“G-Great Master Kang!”
Whoa, that startled me.
The next morning, bright and early, as soon as I opened the door, five martial artists from the Zhuge family rushed in as if they had been waiting.
They were the ones who borrowed the books yesterday. They were the night watchmen, I think. All of them looked tired, but their eyes were shining.
“Did you all really finish the books already?”
Since they approached the moment I opened the door, there was no need to ask. Listening to their reactions, filled with what they had to say, was a joyful experience.
As soon as my words ended, the responses from the surrounding martial artists erupted.
“Are you kidding? You really are Master Ho Pil!”
“From the protagonist of the Tang Family to the Mount Wu! The night watch was so much fun!”
“Seeing Un-hyeon dreaming of being a hero, reminded me of when I first practiced martial arts as a child!”
“And the fight against the demon! My heart was racing, I thought I was going to die! And there’s a secret cave!”
“I’m so glad.”
They all looked like they came back from another world. Perfect! This was the perfect reaction for my scheme. I nodded calmly in agreement.
“Glad? You’ve only increased my worries!”
The martial artist of the Zhuge family said with a teasing smile.
“Worries?”
“Now that we have The Rise of the Tang Family and Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, thanks to Master Kang, we now have two series to anticipate simultaneously!”
“Hahaha!”
“I can’t sleep wondering who the woman is that Un-hyeon meets on his first heroic journey! I need to sleep but can’t because I’m so curious!”
“I’m waiting for volume 4 of The Rise of the Tang Family, and when will Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes come out!”
“I even looked for a page that fell from the last scene of volume 1!”
All the martial artists from the Zhuge family burst out in frustration mixed with longing.
Great. This was the reaction I had been waiting for. Before everyone could calm their disappointment, I opened my mouth again.
“I can take away one of your worries.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Volume 2 of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes has already been released.”
“……!”
“Are you saying there’s a second volume?”
I nodded in response to the surprised looks from everyone.
“Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes volumes 1 and 2 were released simultaneously.”
“Then! Could it be…?”
The eyes of everyone, filled with disappointment and frustration, transformed into excitement.
“Yes. I have it.”
“Woah!”
“M-Master Kang. No, Master Kang! If it’s not too much trouble…”
“If you want volume 2, I can certainly lend it to you.”
There was no need to hear what they were going to say. I happily replied while smiling.
“Really?!”
“It’s so clear from your first impression that you’re quite elegant! I thought the head of the family had some misunderstandings about you!”
Good. They all looked at me with expectant faces, as if they could soon see the next volume. Of course, I had no intention of just giving them volume 2.
If they were this excited, they should be ready to work hard now, shouldn’t they?
Exactly how I’d planned.
“There’s just a little problem with lending it out.”
As I shifted from a smiling face to one mixed with regret and worry, I lowered my gaze intentionally.
“A little problem?”
“I don’t actually know where volume 2 is.”
“What? What do you mean by that?”
“I didn’t hold onto it. When I asked the fellows, they said they packed it away in the back of the cart’s storage.”
I subtly directed my gaze out the window at the waiting carts. The storage area of the cart was, of course, tightly packed and bound with various items.
Now that I had raised their expectations, it was time to present a formidable obstacle. A hardship that would be difficult to resolve.
“T-That…”
“Aren’t we on our way to meet my father-in-law? Since we have so much stuff to carry, it’ll probably take quite some time to untie everything.”
Just look at that cart. Finding a novel in that mess would be tough, right?
“Ah…”
A sigh escaped from the lips of the Zhuge family’s martial artists.
“Is there no solution?”
“If you say to untie the luggage, it seems like we can find it, but you know how it is. If we start out now, we’ll be rushing until sunset.”
I subtly sought their agreement, presenting the hardship of the situation, making them understand little by little.
“…”
“No matter how skilled they are, we can’t have the young ones suffer by telling them to untie all the luggage just to find a novel.”
You can all see it looks hopeless, right? How long will it take to find that? It’ll be dusk soon, and everyone should be resting, so if I tell the guys to look for it, how difficult would that be?
Right?
I blocked any escape for words.
In front of the speechless martial artists, I played the role of a good-natured senior. If they dared to voice any objections, the martial artists from the Zhuge family would suddenly become the bad guys.
“That’s… valid.”
In the end, all the Zhuge family members could do was resign. A few martial artists drooped their shoulders as if disappointed, letting out a soft sigh.
“Of course, there are no solutions, but…”
Once the situation was settled, I would now present the only glimmer of hope.
“What solution could there be?!”
The martial artists of the Zhuge family all looked at me with bright eyes.
“If we don’t eat our lunch while scrambling on the street like yesterday, but instead stop by an inn to leisurely enjoy our lunch, we could ask the fellows to unpack and look for it.”
If you all could find time, it wouldn’t be impossible. I feigned an expression of longing.
If someone would just help me with a little issue, I would let them read the book. But who would help me with that?
I looked at them as if I were not expecting anything.
“That’s….”
Right. I can understand their reluctance. They had already been scolded by the head, and it would be hard to bring it up again.
But you see.
“I know. I can see you have a schedule. It’s really unfair of the head. I’m fine, but to be eating on the street with the youngest daughter of the head of the family, that’s just crossing the line, don’t you think?”
“Our head only followed the command of the chief…”
“What a pity. If only someone would say to the head that Miss Zhuge might complain later, then the chief might actually have a problem on his hands… Isn’t that right?”
If someone would just give a heartfelt suggestion, it’d be over. But who would do that?
“…”
No answers came. But their eyes still held onto their longings.
“Master Kang. We are ready to depart.”
“I’ll be on my way now. You all take care.”
I left without a second glance.
It was they who wanted to see volume 2, not me.
——
“Master Kang! We’re stopping at a village soon. We’ll eat and take a break before we move on.”
Before the sun was high in the sky, the inspection chief delivered the good news.
“Not eating on the roadside like yesterday?”
“From what I’ve heard, since Miss Zhuge is with us, it seems they won’t be eating on the street all the time. The weather’s getting chilly, and it sounds like a conversation was had among the Zhuge family people.”
“Is that so?”
So they finally brought it up. I nodded knowingly.
“I’ll send someone ahead to make sure you can eat and rest as soon as you arrive.”
“Thank you.”
Once the inspection chief nodded and left, the two people in the cart looked at me in astonishment.
“Is this actually happening?”
“Whoa!”
When Miss Zhuge clapped her hands softly toward me, I puffed out my chest with pride.
Right. Bringing the youngest daughter of the family and making her eat outside the whole time would be crossing the line. They should have done this much sooner.
“Not yet. For a relaxed trip, I need to get more.”
“Don’t tell me you’ve got another idea?!”
At Gilsan’s question, I chuckled. I had secured lunch, but still not enough.
I want to eat lunch, rest, and if possible, not reach the village until nightfall. I want to rest and take it easy on my journey.
So, there’s still more to be crafted.
“Originally, monopolized markets can be quite terrifying, you know.”
——
“There’s no volume 2 of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes? What do you mean by that?!”
At the inn where we arrived for lunch.
I made a point of putting on a regretful expression as I delivered the bad news to the people of the Zhuge family.
“It seems the fellows forgot where they placed it. They packed it, but with all the luggage, it’s not easy to find.”
With several carts in tow, finding the book wouldn’t be a cakewalk.
“Such nonsense!”
“It’s definitely among the luggage. At this rate, it looks like every time we stop at an inn, we’ll have to unpack.”
“To repackage everything will take an immense amount of time!”
“If we hurry, everyone will get exhausted. Just to show you a novel, I feel bad making the fellows suffer.”
I answered with a face full of concern for the younger fellows, like a good-natured senior. I intentionally created an atmosphere of giving up.
“It’s not like our chief is someone we can easily convince. We barely persuaded the chief this time around. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow.”
The martial artists of the Zhuge family pleaded, as if wanting me to understand their hardships.
Good. This was their level of desperation.
I deliberately closed my eyes and frowned theatrically. I’m a benevolent senior. I don’t want to burden the younger fellows right now. But refusing their request is too difficult.
I pretended to struggle with the decision in front of the Zhuge family members. Then I said:
“It’s not that there aren’t any options.”
I forced the words out.
“Options?”
“Quietly, everyone, come this way.”
Feigning caution as if someone might be eavesdropping, I led the Zhuge family members to a prepared spot.
“W-What’s going on?”
I had it thought out. Reaching into my bag, I sneakily pulled out something and handed it to them.
“Here, take a generous quantity, one for each of you.”
“Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes volume 1? Why…?”
You must be wondering why I’m handing out volume 1 instead of volume 2.
You all keep asking to see volume 2, right?
I’m suggesting a method here.
“We’ll create allies.”
“Allies?”
“If more people are eager to see the next volume of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, then naturally, there’ll be more who want to take their time going there, right?”
“……!”
“No matter how stubborn the chief is, would he dismiss the opinions of the entire crew?”
I would turn the martial artists of the Zhuge family into die-hard fans of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes. Then, naturally, they would all want to see volume 2.
“Even so, isn’t it a bit unorthodox…?”
I’m not saying to spread a bad influence. Presenting the book isn’t something to be ashamed of.
“Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes isn’t just a tale of the Tang family, nor is it about the Zhuge family. It’s the story of Mount Wu, who has good relations with them. What’s to be ashamed of? Surely you’re not saying this book isn’t interesting?”
“Not interesting! Who could ever say that about Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes! It’s truly a remarkable piece!”
All the martial artists from the Zhuge family nodded in silence.
“I too want to show volume 2, absolutely. However, once I enter the Zhuge family, the situation will change. Surely you all know I won’t have time to promote Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes then?”
“Y-Yeah, that seems right.”
“We’re already in this together. Together as allies for Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.”
I whispered quietly. What you want is different from what the chief wants. He’s the enemy to us. The one who obstructs our enjoyment of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes. I’m sacrificing for you now.
“An ally…”
“And the more allies we can create, the better.”
Let’s build up our forces. We aren’t doing anything wrong. We’re just wanting to enjoy a relaxed journey and lovely readings.
All you have to do is help me out.
Expressions of contemplation flickered across their faces. I shook the copy of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes volume 1, with nothing but selfless intent.
“Fine. Then let’s give it a shot.”
Someone suddenly grabbed the copy of volume 1.
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