[Did Ok-ryeon get hurt anywhere? Sit down. I’ll heal you.]
The Wind and Cloud Hero. The Shadowless Thief was found by Jin So-yu, who woke up due to a presence, while treating her wounds from battle alone.
[I’m fine.]
Now I must leave. The Shadowless Thief spoke while hiding the luggage she secretly stashed away at her feet.
I pushed too much in frustration. No matter how much I disguised myself and altered my voice, there would come a day when he could sense my true identity.
Un-hyeon. A man who lingers in my thoughts, oddly enough brings joy when he’s beside me, yet it’s time to part ways.
[Where do you often disappear at night? That orphanage you mentioned?]
It’s usually a blameworthy act for me to leave my post at night, but Jin So-yu casually asked while treating The Shadowless Thief’s wounds.
[Yes. I wanted to see how the kids were doing.]
[Starting next month, I’ll raise your salary. You should rest peacefully at night.]
[That’s fine.]
[Think of it as a donation to the orphanage. Just take it. It must be hard for you to take care of yourself with your salary. You really are amazing.]
[Ugh! I had a friend I couldn’t save when I was little.]
Why is she bringing this up? Is it because of the liquor I mistakenly drank instead of anesthetic? Have I unknowingly opened up to Jin So-yu?
Or perhaps someone from Un-hyeon’s image is resurfacing in my mind.
[Friend you couldn’t save?]
[Like Young Un-hyeon, our village was attacked by bandits. It’s a common occurrence, right? My childhood friend, while playing, pushed me away into the river to save me and took the stab instead. Thankfully, I lived.]
In truth, it wasn’t just playing house; it was playing war.
I made a wooden armor for my friend and playfully stabbed him with a wooden sword.
“You’re a girl; it’s not fair for me to hit you.” Despite feeling wronged, my friend played along, completely absorbed in the fun while the bandits approached unnoticed.
In the end, my friend sacrificed himself to save me. Would he have survived if it weren’t for the heavy rag I had thrown over him? He was a great swimmer.
A happy daily life can easily be destroyed.
The resentment towards evil people and the sacrifice of my friend. The sadness of losing family. The reason the woman who goes by the name Ok-ryeon became the Shadowless Thief, wandering in the night nights.
“A woman has chosen such a hard path. At this point, she could truly be called a hero, not merely a thief. But… I feel like I’ve read a similar story before… Ah!”
Is it because of the experience similar to Un-hyeon’s? The young man remembered something when he saw the tattered second volume in the corner.
[How interesting, I’ve heard a similar story before.]
[What?]
[About Un-hyeon. He said that when he was young, during a game of war, bandits attacked. The friend he was trying to save went missing, but he survived thanks to the wooden armor his friend made. Something like that.]
[…What?]
“Wait! No way! Are they childhood friends?!”
No way their connection is this deep? The young man turned the page in shock, only to feel despair.
“Why! Why! It’s the last page!!!”
[Next volume preview.]
[A small village attacked by bandits. That day gave birth to two heroes.]
[Could it really be Un-hyeon?]
[Somehow, Ok-ryeon seems suspicious.]
The Shadowless Thief realized Un-hyeon’s true identity. The love rivalry between the two women escalated.
[All this fuss over a thief and that faker!]
The masters of the faction watching Un-hyeon and The Shadowless Thief. Un-hyeon struggles in a tough battle.
[Can a Taoist Master from Mount Wu get married??]
While the Shadowless Thief is unable to sort out her feelings, Jin So-yu charges in once more. What will become of the three’s destinies?
“Ah, no! Why!!! Why does it end here!!! Next volume!!!”
Seeing the preview, the young man could only wail as usual.
———————
“Line up! Line!”
“It seems like there’s never a day without lines at the Tea Bookstore.”
The announcement for the release of Volume 3 of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes caused a stir around the Tea Bookstore.
“Is this the line to purchase Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes?”
“The line for the second floor of the Tea Bookstore!”
[What? Now even the wide second floor of the Tea Bookstore has a line?]
[That’s right! If you want to buy a book, get in line at the end over there!]
[But I can’t see the end!]
[I came early today, so I should be able to get it!]
[No way…!]
If you come to Wuhan, be sure to stop by the Tea Bookstore.
Following the success of The Rise of the Tang Family, people not only from Wuhan but also travelers visiting Wuhan queued from early morning to buy the book.
“Of course, it’s the author Ho Pil!!”
“To think he could express the worries of heroes in such a profound and interesting way!”
Naturally, the hottest reactions to Ho Pil’s latest book were at the second floor of the Tea Bookstore.
“My brother read Volume 3 of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes and ditched his studies to go to the martial arts academy!”
“Our martial arts academy’s master was crying, insisting that everyone must read Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.”
“It’s only natural, given how deeply and entertainingly the otherwise mundane story of heroes is presented!”
“Who would’ve thought the tales of martial artists could be this engaging! I might have to look up other martial arts stories too.”
“I searched every bookstore in a desperate hope and found no novels like Ho Pil’s!”
Wuhan is where all novels from Hubei Province converge. Fans from the Tea and Book Club visited bookstores, yet none could satisfy their thirst for stories.
“Do I have to wait for the next new release then! Why did I read Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes now! How long do I have to wait!”
“Looks like this friend is a newcomer! That’s why we have the Tea and Book Club! Let’s chat together!”
The more you read, the thirstier you become, as if you were drinking seawater.
There weren’t even any substitute novels. The only way avid readers could quench their burning thirst was to gather and discuss the stories.
“Un-hyeon was charming, but this time the Shadowless Thief was really captivating.”
Members of the Tea and Book Club began to mention The Shadowless Thief, another protagonist of Volume 3 of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.
“A thief, but still a hero. A Shadowless Thief like her could definitely be called a hero, right?”
“Right. She behaves in such a unique way that she could be called a phantom, but there’s definitely a heart caring for others behind it.”
“Isn’t calling a thief a hero a bit much?”
“A virtuous thief. She may be a thief, but she does good deeds. As the Shadowless Thief said in the story, even if she bears a bad reputation, she never hesitates to lend a hand to others; she may not be a hero, but she surely is a virtuous thief.”
She’s unlike ordinary thieves. She helps the needy and judges the wicked rich. The Shadowless Thief in the story and the one in reality seem like thieves who cannot be considered evil.
Everyone in the Tea and Book Club nodded in agreement.
“A virtuous thief. I wonder if the one terrorizing the rich in Wuhan shares the same mindset?”
“That’s likely. But I bet he’s a hairy old dude.”
“Hey, it could also be a pretty woman!”
“Why is it that Ho Pil’s novels feel like they could all be true?!”
“Hahaha!”
Ho Pil’s latest release brings energy to the Tea and Book Club. With a series of new releases, the Tea Bookstore became a hotbed of their discussions, just like a blazing furnace.
But the furnace hadn’t heated up completely yet.
“Hey, did you hear that news!”
A member from the Tea and Book Club burst through the door, looking for friends.
“What news?”
“The story has become reality!”
The man didn’t just bring news to the Tea Bookstore; he had news that would send shockwaves through all of Wuhan.
*
“Response is spectacular.”
“There’s discussion about the hero’s troubles, and the introduction of the phantom thief. I spent a lot of effort on this, so I’m relieved.”
A delicate love rivalry, the hero’s struggle, advice from the heroine and aide, a power-up event through enlightenment, secrets from childhood—each fun element from various genres of martial arts and phantom tales condensed into a single volume, and I’m satisfied.
“If it were up to me, I’d want to lock her in a room to just write.”
Is it me as an avid reader? Or me as The Shadowless Thief? Ha-yeon So-ja looked at me as if lost in thought.
“Is Ha-yeon So-ja in the same room too?”
“Ugh! Wh-what are you talking about!”
Seeing Ha-yeon So-ja’s face flush as if she had swallowed a whole pepper, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
If only I could just write and let my fame and money rise on their own.
In reality, to raise my fame, I have to think about the promotional effect of The Shadowless Thief and write stories. I also need to make money to improve my resources. If a heroine asking for help appears right before me, I must run around busily.
There’s not much time left to sit quietly at my desk.
“I planted the bait in Volume 3 as planned. Given the great response, it’s now Ha-yeon So-ja’s turn.”
I took out a black paper from my drawer and began folding it.
“This is not just empty fame, but an achievement. If it goes as you envision, no one will be able to deny it.”
“It won’t just go the way I think; it’ll go the way we think.”
No matter how detailed my plan is, it’s impossible without Ha-yeon So-ja’s skills.
“Can the phantom thief truly achieve this…?”
“It can be done. This is just a phantom thief. If successful, she’ll become a thief without precedent in the Central Plains’ history.”
“Then if you say that, it must be true.”
“Because Ha-yeon So-ja can do it.”
It really is just a matter of time. We looked at each other, confident for a moment.
“Let’s prepare. The beginning is with that thing in hand, right?”
“That’s the one that will scare all the rich in Wuhan.”
We smiled at what I held in my hand.
If I commit virtuous thievery and spread the rumors at the Hao Sect, will the Tianmen acknowledge me?
If they don’t acknowledge me, what do I do? Let’s get ready.
Ever since writing Volume 2 of Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes, the plan has been in the works ever since I decided to make Ha-yeon So-ja The Shadowless Thief.
‘To become the Phantom Thief, there’s no need to raid Mount Wu, or scale the walls of the Je-gal family.’
In Hubei Province, or rather the entire Central Plains, the most renowned thief will be created by my hands.
I threw the black paper airplane out of my hand.
A feat no one in Central Plains history has ever attempted.
An unprecedented act no thief would dare to try.
That’s right, the notice of The Shadowless Thief’s next heist.
The black paper airplane soared through the azure sky.
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