Just one day after the release of _Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes_, unbelievable rumors began to circulate within the Zhuge family.
“Is it true? Did I hear wrong?”
“I’m telling you, it’s true!”
“No way! Even if it’s Ho Pil’s new work, could that really happen?”
The Zhuge family is known for having a unique family style among the many martial arts families in the martial arts world. While other families equip their children with weapons, the Zhuge family hands them books and brushes first.
“Both literature and martial arts.”
With Zhuge Liang as their ancestor, the Zhuge family had a much closer connection to books than any of the orthodox families.
Of course, reading a lot was considered essential, and good quality books were always in high demand. Even when the elders warned against certain books, it only made some people more eager to sneak a peek at them.
It was natural that the avid readers of _The Rise of the Tang Family_ secretly thrived within the Zhuge family. Still, even they found it hard to believe.
The Elders’ Council, which banned Ho Pil’s novels, had seen the writer’s new work. It was news that was simply unbelievable.
“Look there! Don’t you see the list of those who passed the exam written there in big letters?”
“Are you serious? The Elders’ Council really watched _Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes_…?”
Unless, of course, they hadn’t seen the name of the Elders’ Council written in big letters.
“No way! When did they ever ban Ho Pil’s writings?”
“Could there have been a mistake?”
“When I heard from an acquaintance when the Elders’ Council showed up, they even got the exact number of stairs in the exam questions correct.”
“What? They were that diligent?!”
How hard must they have read to remember the number of stairs in the novel? While others were told not to read it, those in the council were memorizing the stairs.
Those who gathered upon hearing the rumors, after seeing the prominently displayed names, could only wear the same expression.
“The stubborn Elders’ Council actually watched _Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes_…”
“Doesn’t that mean it’s a novel even the Elders’ Council cannot easily dismiss?”
The Elders’ Council had seen it. That meant they no longer had to be discreet.
Everyone’s eyes turned toward the books being handed out by the Man Geum Battlefield people.
“So, does that mean we might see Ho Pil’s new work in the Zhuge family?”
“They definitely said the new work’s name was _Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes_!”
“Hurry up and line up!”
A book that even broke the stubbornness of the Elders’ Council. The rumors spread quickly.
What kind of novel could there be that turned the grand Elders’ Council into avid readers? The government even lost track of time while reading it.
The people of the Zhuge family, having heard the rumors, flocked together.
“Give me one too!”
“Me too!”
A never-ending line formed to receive _Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes_.
———
“What is the meaning of this?!”
Of course, the Elders’ Council wasn’t just standing idly by.
Inside the mansion where the Man Geum Battlefield people were staying, the members of the Elders’ Council barged in together.
“What could this possibly mean?”
“A list of exam passers! Why are you displaying it without telling us first?”
They intended to let the issue regarding the head of the family’s black-haired son-in-law pass quietly. But because the Man Geum Battlefield made their names public, everything turned to dust.
Elder Oh, with a flushed face, interrogated the Man Geum Battlefield representative.
“Exactly! Is there any need to make a fuss about this?”
“Are you trying to make fools of us?”
“It seems there’s some misunderstanding. This is a common practice at the Tea Bookstore when distributing _Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes_.”
The head of the inspection unit, Song Jeong-hak, answered with an awkward smile directed at the invading Elders.
It is common practice at the Tea Bookstore to write names down for confirmation of raffle tickets. Though, it was indeed intended to spread news far and wide, Song Jeong-hak was able to provide a smooth excuse thanks to Zhuge Hyang’s prior warning.
“They did this as a common practice at the Tea Bookstore?”
“Precisely! So, please write your names as we will give you one ticket each!”
“There’s no need for this!”
Elder Oh snatched the ticket and tore it to shreds, as if he was indicating that such an excuse was unacceptable.
“There was no need to go that far… If you truly don’t want it…”
“This scroll was personally requested by Master Kang for the Zhuge family… If they don’t want it, there’s nothing to be done.”
The inspection unit’s head nodded, seemingly resigned, and turned his head, the reason for his movement unknown.
Why did he turn his head? What was behind him?
The Elders’ Council followed the inspection unit head’s gaze and found something unexpected at the end of their line of sight.
“Wait a minute!”
“Yes?”
“Is that… a painting?”
“Yes, indeed.”
For some unknown reason, in the room with the open door, there hung a painting. It was the scroll of _Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes_ being gifted as part of the raffle.
“Oh!”
As they heard that it was the scroll from _Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes_, members of the Elders’ Council rushed into the room.
“This scene… could it be! A scene where Un-hyeon faces off against a demon?!”
“Yes, that’s correct. It’s the most dramatic scene from Volume 1.”
The Elders’ Council could not tear their eyes away from the tense confrontation between Un-hyeon and the demon depicted in Volume 1.
“So this is what Un-hyeon looks like? Just as I imagined!”
“It seems it must be painted by a master artist. You can feel the mastery radiating from the picture.”
“Hmm?”
“Why do you say that?”
“It’s a painting style I feel like I’ve seen somewhere before…”
One of the elders frowned, and the inspection unit head hurriedly stepped in to clarify.
“All official paintings at the Tea Bookstore can only be produced by an artist who has understood Ho Pil’s world. This painting is considered among the masterpieces.”
All the members of the Elders’ Council could only stare blankly at the painting after hearing the inspection unit head’s words.
In the painting, Un-hyeon stood near the foreground, soft but unfettered brush strokes, while the demon far in the background was depicted with rough strokes like a swaying malice.
With the brushstroke alone, one could clearly tell who possessed pure internal energy and who was the demon employing bizarre martial arts.
Not only that, but the background was detailed yet unobtrusive, focusing attention on the battlefield of the two. In this painting, there could be only one victor.
It was indeed fitting for a masterpiece depicting the climax of _Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes_.
“Truly… the strength of the demon and the righteousness of Un-hyeon radiate from this painting.”
As the members of the Elders’ Council admired the masterpiece, they naturally began to discuss _Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes_.
“Even in front of a demon stronger than himself, the spirit of a martial artist that will never succumb… Our grandson must see this!”
“Tsk. It is indeed a dramatic scene, but far too foolish. He should have taken a step back and called for the sect’s masters.”
“The moment the dream of the hero’s journey was denounced by the master. It would make sense for him to want to test his fate in light of the emergence of the demon!”
“Exactly! He must have viewed it as fate! To turn back would mean to compromise! Asking a child who’s lived to become a hero to take a step back? Did he even read the novel properly?!”
“Elder Oh. That kid… He’s been holed up in a room and has completely lost the basics of being a martial artist.”
“Are you saying I didn’t know that?! I’m worried that a good martial artist might die!”
Although the Elders’ Council had come in fury, they lost themselves in the admiration of the masterpiece, forgetting the very reason for their visit.
“It truly looks like a scene directly lifted from the novel.”
The inspection unit head smiled inwardly at the Elders’ reactions, carefully gesturing toward the edge of the painting.
“This painting is titled _Indomitable Might_. It was named directly by Ho Pil.”
“Ho Pil did that? So this writing is Ho Pil’s handwriting?!”
The gaze of the Elders’ Council collectively shifted. _Indomitable Might_. In one corner of the painting, there were words that appeared to be written without hesitation.
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Oh!”
“It expresses that one never succumbs to any form of violence. Truly fitting for Un-hyeon, standing before a demon.”
“Is that all? Un-hyeon does not yield. He finds a new path.”
To inform the Elders of a detail they hadn’t yet seen, the inspection unit head pointed to another corner of the painting.
“Isn’t that cliff at the right end…?!”
“The Eight Trigrams Swordplay… It seems that even at the dead end, there lies a path.”
The Elders’ Council couldn’t help but swallow hard.
_Indomitable Might_ does not culminate in the demon. Ultimately, the demon is but an obstacle. At the end lies the path leading to the cave where the previous clan leader rests.
_Indomitable Might_ did not simply depict a scene from the novel. It illustrated the path of a martial artist who refuses to yield.
“Although several paintings for the raffle have been released, this is the first to be named. Exclusively for the Zhuge family. Just one has been made.”
“It certainly deserves a name.”
It’s not just a mere painting. It encapsulates the meaning of _Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes_—the path a martial artist must take. If there’s a painting that should be hung in the martial artist’s room for constant viewing, it would be this one.
The thought passed through everyone’s mind in the Elders’ Council.
“It’s been quite a while since I felt my heart warm looking at a painting.”
“Master Kang wanted to give one to the Zhuge family and specially brought this painting,” the inspection unit head said matter-of-factly while subtly gauging the reactions of the Elders.
“…”
In an instant, the Elders’ gazes fixated on _Indomitable Might_ shifted.
“I, I’d like a raffle ticket.”
“You, really?!”
Elder Oh looked at his surprised friend.
“I’m getting one too. Something suggests it will win.”
“Right now…!”
“Yes. Here it is.”
“It would make a perfect gift for our grandson.”
“Of course. It’s a gift for our grandson. Don’t even think about it!”
Elder Oh was left with a blank expression, having no choice but to watch as the traitors scribbled their names on the raffle tickets.
“Uh….”
“Yes?”
“Do you have any extra raffle tickets? The one I tore earlier?”
He had no choice but to regret the mistake he just made.
———
“Hehe, as expected!”
A few days after distributing _Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes_, Zhuge Hyang smiled joyfully at the incoming good news.
“Using the painting as bait to promote the Elders’ Council names is brilliant.”
Jeon Gil-san admired his cousin’s scheme, praising Zhuge Hyang.
“Oh, it’s… nothing special. Hehe. It’s all thanks to Master Kang.”
Knowing that baiting with promotional items is trickery, Zhuge Hyang couldn’t help but recall Master Kang’s compliments about her painting and couldn’t contain her laughter.
I can’t believe it worked. It feels like I could fly to the sky.
“I guess it does seem to excel at making others feel embarrassed.”
“Ah, umm… that… that’s not exactly true. No, actually. It’s like putting myself in someone else’s shoes.”
Falling from the sky happened in an instant.
If Master Kang had been next to her, he would’ve thought Zhuge So-je was seeking even more compliments and would have continued to praise her. Unfortunately, sitting beside her was Jeon Gil-san.
“It’s surprising. I thought the Elders would immediately demand their names to be removed. Did the painting charm them that much?”
The painting, being a true masterpiece, only revealed its real worth more to those well-versed in novels and art, yet Jeon Gil-san was still amazed that the Elders had bent their stubbornness.
“It was just a minor irritation.”
“No, but still…”
“On the other hand, the Elders’ ban on Ho Pil’s novels! The embarrassment the fans of _The Rise of the Tang Family_ had to endure…!”
Zhuge Hyang spoke with a trembling voice, as if she were still struggling with a mix of emotions.
“W-what?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
“If things go like this, word-of-mouth for _Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes_ will likely spread well. But isn’t there a different, more important issue?”
Jeon Gil-san asked Zhuge Hyang with a concerned tone.
Kang Yoon-ho and Zhuge Hyang’s plan had definitely been going smoothly up until now. But all this planning required Kang Yoon-ho to successfully pass through the Hongcheonmirijin.
“Master Kang will definitely pass!”
Zhuge Hyang’s voice held not an ounce of hesitation.
“If it’s him, he should be able to do it…”
Zhuge Hyang merely nodded at Jeon Gil-san’s doubtful words.
I believe in Master Kang. So, I should no longer hide in a box. It’s time to wrap up our plans.
“Now it’s time to create a stage for Master Kang!”
———
“Have you heard the raffle news?”
In the shade of the Zhuge family training grounds, the martial artists of the Zhuge family welcomed their comrades rushing in, holding books instead of swords.
“_Indomitable Might_? Of course, I’ve heard!”
“I just finished training! If you didn’t get Volume 2, you better start studying for the exam!”
A martial artist pulled out a hidden _Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes_ from his bundle and yelled.
“That’s not it! Have you heard about the raffle location?”
“The raffle location? Isn’t it the same old pond again?”
“No!”
“Then what?”
“They said they’re holding it at the exit of the Hongcheonmirijin.”
“The exit of the Hongcheonmirijin? Wait a minute. There’s definitely…!”
“Yeah, the black-haired kid there has been looking to marry Zhuge Hyang.”
“Kang Yoon-ho, right? I’ve heard he’s the successor of Man Geum Battlefield. But why?”
Right now, the interest of the Zhuge family was not on the obviously eliminated black-haired guy, but rather, all the attention was focused on _Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes_.
How exciting could _Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes_ be? How did the Elders get so captivated by it? What would the contents of volume 2 be?
But one announcement drew everyone’s attention in the Zhuge family toward one person.
“The black-haired Kang Yoon-ho will pick the winner for _Indomitable Might_ when he comes out of the Hongcheonmirijin!”
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