The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel-Chapter 122: Publication - 4

No one begins writing a novel expecting it to fail.

Writers agonize over every word and every idea because they want their work to be well-received—because they want readers.

A tower built with care may not crumble easily. But no matter how diligently built, if no one ever climbs it or even looks at it, it simply stands there—forgotten.

That feeling when a project you’ve poured your soul into fails. It’s a pain every creator must be ready to endure... yet one they’ll always wish to avoid.

“...It’s so-so.”

Sales of Storm of the Tang Clan on day one were underwhelming—not a clear failure, but far from a success.

I’d expected it to sell like wildfire from day one. Guess that was asking too much.

Hello, martial artists. This is Ho-pil, my pen name. Storm of the Tang Clan receives a warm welcome in Yichang. Your reactions and recommendations are now accepted as bookstore debt payment. Thank you always. Love martial arts.

I had imagined it would even get a feature in the martial world’s local paper, Jeobo, complete with a dazzling interview. Too bad.

“Hey, Yun-ho. Don’t be so down. I’m sure we’ll sell them all.”

Hwa-rin offered reassurance as she looked at me, her eyes filled with concern as I stared blankly at the books.

“Yeah. I hope so.”

“So quit worrying and just open the store already.”

“Yes, yes. Understood.”

I replied with an intentionally light tone, pretending I wasn’t worried at all, as I went to open the store.

“Holy—! W-What the hell?! Who are you people?!”

As I opened the door, I was met by a dozen or so men with worn-out faces—pressed right up to the entrance like a horde of zombies, ready to devour the first living survivor they saw.

“It’s open!”

“We’ve been waiting since before sunrise!”

“Sniff... I waited all night! Why did you open so late?!”

The—well, “zombies”—quickly rushed through the door and began roaming the store, searching like hungry scavengers.

“Where is it?”

“I can’t see it!”

“I definitely bought it here yesterday!”

“It’s gone!”

...What the hell is going on?

“Manager! Manager!”

As I stood there in a daze, one man rushed over with a desperate voice.

“Scholar Hwang? What’s going on?”

Even his face looked haggard, like a gamer who had camped out in front of a store for a long-awaited release—only to discover the game turned out to be a sleep aid.

“...Please.”

“Pardon?”

What does he mean please?

“Give me Storm of the Tang Clan, Volume 2!”

--------

“What do you mean you don’t have Volume 2?! It clearly said there’d be a next volume!”

“It’s a brand-new series. Only Volume 1 is out.”

I responded firmly to Scholar Hwang, who looked at me like I was hiding the books out back and lying about it. What was this, an urban legend? There's no such thing as an unreleased Volume 2 floating around.

“This can’t be. It can’t be!”

“I saw Volume 2 last night. I bought Volume 1 planning to get the second if it was good. Are you saying I spent the whole night hallucinating over nothing? No. No way. No way!”

“How can Volume 1 end, and there be no Volume 2? There has to be a copy somewhere!”

“She said the top courtesan in Hubei was waiting for me! I waited all night!”

Hearing my words, everyone who had bought Volume 1 yesterday began shouting, frantically rummaging through the shelves.

Were they all really waiting outside from dawn just to buy Volume 2?

I had to struggle not to burst with joy.

“Then when does the next volume come out?”

“Once Volume 1 sells out.”

I quickly composed my expression and answered Scholar Hwang’s desperate question.

“You mean we have to sell every single one of these before we can get Volume 2?”

“That’s right.”

At least 70—no, 80 percent of the stock had to go before I could print the next.

“How are we supposed to sell hundreds of copies...? No, no. It deserves to sell that well.”

“I’m not waiting that long! Hwang-gu, you bastard! This is all your fault! Why’d you show me this book so early?!”

Scholar Hwang and what appeared to be his friend started bickering.

“You were praising it yesterday and thanking me for the recommendation! Now it’s my fault?!”

“It’s absolutely your fault!”

“Just shut up and buy another copy. We need it to sell so we can get Volume 2!”

New novel chapt𝒆rs are published on ƒгeewebnovёl.com.

Scholar Hwang picked up a copy from the display and shoved it at his friend.

“Fine. I was going to buy it anyway.”

His friend bought it on the spot.

“Manager. I’ll take another one too.”

“Didn’t you already buy a copy yesterday?”

“Ahem. That’s...”

Scholar Hwang averted his gaze awkwardly. His friend grinned and whispered an explanation.

“Hwang-gu here—his room light was on all night. This morning, the guy’s cheeks were sunken, and the book... let’s just say it was suspiciously sticky. The pages wouldn’t even turn. You should’ve seen his face. Looked like he was caught doing something illegal. Hahaha.”

Ah. So that’s why...

“You bastard!”

Scholar Hwang shouted in uncharacteristic embarrassment.

“What, were you trying to impregnate the book?”

“You’re dead! Manager, give me one—no, three more copies!”

“To impregnate three more times?”

“One for preservation, one for appreciation, one for evangelism!”

“Three Most Beautiful Women in Sichuan will be impregnated tonight!”

“Shut up!!”

I did my best to hold back a laugh as I rang up his four copies, watching Scholar Hwang’s face turn scarlet.

“Would’ve been better not to read it at all. To live a life without Volume 2 of Storm of the Tang Clan!”

“Ugh! We don’t have time to despair! We must spread the word—how else are we going to see the top courtesan in Hubei?!”

“Right. The more people we tell, the sooner we’ll see Volume 2. Let’s defend the next volume!”

“I’m buying another copy!”

“I will see the courtesan of Hubei! Give me one too!”

The morning customers each bought another copy, swearing to praise the book and spread the word far and wide.

Thanks to them, I sold as many books in the first hour as I had all day yesterday.

—

“...It’s really happening.”

After the whirlwind of customers had passed and the bookstore finally quieted down, I stood staring blankly at the noticeably diminished pile of Storm of the Tang Clan.

This was a success.

This time, I had truly succeeded.

So I could do it after all. I just had the wrong direction before. I can make it as a writer in the Central Plains. I can raise my fame stat.

As the memories of everything that had led me to this point flashed through my mind, my chest tightened. I turned away from the front and placed a hand against the wall, hiding my face.

“Yun-ho. ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) Are you okay?”

Hwa-rin approached from behind, her voice filled with concern.

Without looking at her, I raised one hand to stop her.

Just a moment. I just need a moment.

The road ahead is long. And I’ve only taken the first step.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

--------

Once the buzz around Storm of the Tang Clan started spreading, the sales steadily climbed. By morning, more and more customers were walking in asking for Volume 2.

“Has Volume 2 of Storm of the Tang Clan come out today?”

“No, not yet.”

“Will it be out tomorrow?”

“No.”

“You keep saying ‘No, no’—do you even know how to say ‘Yes’?”

“Yes-no.”

“Ugh. Why won’t Volume 1 ever run out?! So many people are buying it!”

Well, that’s because we keep printing more.

“Hey now, no need to get snappy. Manager, is there at least a projected release date? If you told me Storm of the Tang Clan would be out in a week, I feel like I could start being happy from today!”

“Then I’m afraid happiness will be out of reach for the foreseeable future.”

I was sorry for the readers, but I had to strike while the iron was hot. The books were selling faster than we could print them, so we’d run out eventually... but not yet.

“Damn it. I’m going up to the second floor for some tea.”

“I’ll join you! I heard there’s a group up there that gathers to talk about Storm of the Tang Clan!”

“Entry fee, please. You can go in once that’s settled.”

I took their entry fees and headed up with them to begin the day’s work.

In one corner of the Daseogak second floor, Scholar Hwang, his friend, and a few other regulars had already taken their seats at the discussion tables.

“Storm of the Tang Clan. I thought it was going to be a dry martial arts story. But it’s absolutely gripping.”

“I thought it’d be boring too, but those tense battle scenes really had me sweating. I’d believe it if you told me it was written by a real Tang Clan member.”

“And that’s not all. Normally, in these kinds of books, even when the hero kills the villain, that’s just it. But here? He took the woman! And not just any woman... it was the Most Beautiful Woman in Sichuan!”

“When a man puts his life on the line for her, how could she not fall for him? I’d fall for Tang Jeong too if I were a woman.”

“That moment when the flower every man failed to pluck turned around and offered herself to the protagonist... I, Jang Ga, had never been so excited in my life.”

“And that final lovemaking scene... who’d have thought the Most Beautiful Woman in Sichuan would do that with her chest. With such generous volume, too! It felt like the author had seen it all firsthand and just described exactly what he witnessed.”

Dear readers... a young lady just walked past, frowning.

This kind of commentary did feel like reading the reader comments online, which was fun... but I wish they’d remember there are female customers in Daseogak.

I should probably separate the discussion areas better—or get some soundproof panels or partitions.

“Sigh... I want to read Volume 2 so bad.”

“Honestly, I’ve been coming to Daseogak every day just to check how much of Volume 1 has sold.”

“Oh? You too? We’re of the same mind! I’ve found a true comrade. Coffee’s on me today. Manager, two iced Americanos, please!”

My shoulders almost flew up into the clouds. I held them down with effort and threw myself into another bustling day in Daseogak, all thanks to Storm of the Tang Clan.

--------

In a quieter moment...

I opened the door to the print room.

“Hwa-rin. How’s it going?”

I called to Hwa-rin, who was working alone to print more copies of the book. Seeing her doing it all by herself filled me with guilt.

She had volunteered for printing duty during the day, saying it was better that way because of her face. Still... guilt is guilt.

“Why’re you here? Go do your job.”

She looked up and scolded me.

“I came to give you something to eat. You must be hungry.”

I held up a simple snack in my hand.

“Give it here—ah! Shit.”

Hwa-rin reached out instinctively but her hands were covered in black ink.

Why is she hiding her hands behind her back like that? It’s not like it’s embarrassing. But with her hands like that, she couldn’t eat... and ink’s not easy to wash off either.

“Want me to feed you?”

“Wh-what?! Where did that come from?”

“Relax. Don’t be so defensive. It’s just a bite-sized snack—I’ll put it in your mouth.”

“...Fine.”

Why are you closing your eyes? Hwa-rin raised her chin awkwardly, clearly embarrassed.

“Open your mouth.”

“Aaah.”

One by one, I fed her the snacks. She chewed, puffing her cheeks like a baby bird being fed by its mom. Actually, no—it felt a bit more awkward than that.

“This is kinda embarrassing...”

I couldn’t hold it in anymore and said it out loud. I mean, isn’t this the kind of thing couples do?

“Shit. You think I’m not embarrassed too?”

She glared at me as she retorted.

“Then say something if you are.”

“You’re the one who offered to feed me.”

With a slightly flushed face, she lightly smacked my chest with her fist.

“Well, that’s true. Hahaha.”

I scratched the back of my head in embarrassment, trying to laugh it off.

“Heh... you dumbass.”

“How’s printing going?”

I changed the subject quickly, glancing at the growing stack of Storm of the Tang Clan copies.

“I’m doing my best, but the type keeps breaking or wearing down. I think after today, we won’t be able to print more until the next batch of type comes in.”

“Thought so.”

It’s a structural limitation of movable type. The alloy is soft, and with the press applying direct pressure, the type wears down fast.

There are improved plate presses that avoid those issues, but those are high-end tech in this world—still rare.

Even in Yichang, one of the more developed cities in Hubei, no one seems to own one of those. Maybe someday, I should open my own print shop.

“Sorry, but I’ll have to rely on you through the end of today.”

“Helping you like this is all I can really do. Don’t apologize.”

Hwa-rin looked at me with a hint of bittersweetness.

“You don’t have to think of it that way. Want me to feed you more?”

I joked, grinning.

“Idiot. Just bring me those gloves by the entrance and get back to work.”

She gave me a light push, face still faintly red.

“Alright, alright. I’ll bring them.”

If she needed gloves, she should’ve just said so earlier. I handed them over and returned to work.

-----

But what if the stock runs out before the next batch of type arrives?

That worry didn’t last long. Suddenly, the number of customers coming in to buy Storm of the Tang Clan dropped dramatically.

“What’s going on?”

Had the initial craze finally hit its peak? But the drop was too sudden. The popularity couldn’t have died out that fast...

Was there a reason?

“Is this that famous Storm of the Tang Clan people in Yichang are talking about? Should we grab a copy too, bro?”

“Nah. No reason to buy it here.”

What did he mean by that?

“Excuse me, sir. Just now—what did you mean?”

I approached to confirm what I’d heard.

“Oh, ha ha. It’s not that I’m not buying the book. Just not here.”

“That’s exactly what I was asking about.”

“Well... the thing is, another bookstore nearby is selling Storm of the Tang Clan for way cheaper than here. Sorry, but if it’s cheaper somewhere else, there’s really no reason to buy it here, right?”

...They’re selling my book... at another store?!