The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel-Chapter 132: Storm of the Tang Clan, Volume 2 - 5
“Why... why is it so interesting?”
Scholar Hwang’s younger brother mumbled as he clutched his head, hanging it low.
It’s fun. The protagonist is cool, and the young ladies are charming. The story moves with thrilling tension, and the love story with the lady is beautiful.
“Pull yourself together. I’m a member of the Yichang Literary Circle. These vulgar novels are supposed to be boring!”
The Yichang Literary Circle—an association of critics and readers boasting history and tradition in Yichang.
A gathering that appreciated ancient sages’ sayings, classical novels, and poetry. When it came to literature, this was the most prestigious group in all of Yichang.
Scholar Hwang’s younger brother shook his head, trying his best to deny the appeal of Storm of the Tang Clan. Even if there were undeniable truths that contradicted his efforts.
He had started reading the book at sunset. But now, he could hear morning birds chirping outside.
His disheveled waistband, haggard face compared to last night, and the suspicious crumpled piles in the trash bin—despite the hands clutching his head in agony—made it obvious to anyone how deeply he had been immersed in Storm of the Tang Clan.
“I must calm my heart. I need to cleanse my soul with the classics!”
He was simply bewitched. His literary sensibilities, honed in the Yichang Literary Circle, had temporarily faltered. He would purify his clouded heart with the wisdom of the ancients. In haste, he pulled his favorite classical works from the bookshelf.
Rigid sentence structure. Tightly packed writing. Layers of metaphor in every character. Not just each sentence, but even a single word required deep context and reflection on ancient wisdom.
The more you chew on it, the more the flavor seeps out, and it becomes truly entertai—
“It’s so bo-ring! ...Ack! D-Did I just throw a book?!”
Startled, Scholar Hwang’s younger brother picked up the classical novel he had just hurled across the room. He’d been too agitated. It couldn’t possibly be boring. It was just too full of metaphor to focus on with a distracted mind.
It simply wasn’t the right book. Another book surely would be. Among the many packed on the shelves, there must be one more interesting than Storm of the Tang Clan.
He searched eagerly through the bookshelf, but in the end, couldn’t find one. Instead, he found his gaze drawn back to Storm of the Tang Clan resting on the desk.
What’s so amazing about a righteous protagonist defeating evil and sharing passionate nights with a beautiful lady?
What’s so impressive about a hero who might seem dull at first, but shows unshakable resolve and brilliance when protecting the weak?
What’s so charming about the women who love him? Get a grip. Pull yourself ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) together.
No. Even with effort, the Most Beautiful Woman in Sichuan continued to flicker before his eyes.
The scene where the Most Beautiful Woman in Sichuan, with a loving heart full of longing for her beloved, embraces him with her chest—it was truly, truly...
He felt a sudden rush of blood to his lower half.
“Brother, are you awake?”
“B-Brother!”
Startled like a student caught watching indecent videos, he responded with a jolt to the voice from outside his door.
“Come have breakfast with me.”
“Of course! Ah, I-I mean...”
He still hadn’t calmed the blood rushing below his waist because of the Most Beautiful Woman in Sichuan, so he couldn’t properly straighten his back.
“Is something wrong?”
“N-No. I’ll just tidy up my bedding before I come.”
“You never care about that stuff. Fine, then.”
Scholar Hwang replied with a slightly puzzled tone before walking away from the door. The younger brother let out a deep sigh of relief once the footsteps faded, then looked down in dismay at his still uncooperative lower half.
‘Why? Whyyyy? Why won’t it go down! My brother is waiting! R-Right! Let’s read a classic for a moment.’
He pulled out a moralistic novel about living a modest life and tried reading it, savoring each line.
Though it was a book he’d once found deeply moving, today, it served only to quell the blood surging below his waist.
-------
“So. What did you think of Storm of the Tang Clan?”
Scholar Hwang sat at the dining table, looking at his younger brother with expectant eyes. The younger brother had borrowed Volume 2 the night before.
“It was more readable than I expected.”
His younger brother replied with a blank expression.
“More readable?”
“For people who aren’t as well-read as I am, I suppose it’s entertaining enough.”
He spoke like someone casually evaluating a time-killer of a film.
“Heh. I see. Well, you are part of the Literary Circle, so you’re different. I was hoping to hear your thoughts on Hubei’s Top Courtesan Du Eung-hyang this morning, but that’s a bit disappointing.”
“Ha! Hubei’s Top Courtesan, you say? Du Eung-hyang is indeed charming, but her blood carries the mark of Joseon. Compared to that, what of the Most Beautiful Woman in Sichuan? That single blossom-like beauty. That gentle heart that wholly embraces a man’s soul. R-Really, she’s...”
“Younger brother?”
“Ah! It’s nothing!”
“Haha. You look rather worn down. Well, everyone’s like that after their first time with this book.”
Scholar Hwang looked at his brother with a knowing expression, as if to say he understood everything about what had happened overnight.
“I’m not obsessed with Storm of the Tang Clan. I mean, it’s a good book, sure. But it’s far too provocative.”
The younger brother responded bitterly, displeased by his brother’s all-knowing look.
“There are some provocative parts. But that’s not all there is to the novel. That’s part of its charm. And you were drawn in, weren’t you?”
“Guh. Fine. Yes.”
“Haha. Then admit it and come with me to Daseogak’s reading group.”
“I can’t admit it just yet.”
“You can’t? But you liked it.”
“It might just feel novel because it’s a new kind of story. Or it could be my youthful impulses clouding my judgment. That’s why I plan to reserve judgment until I speak with my mentor.”
“Your mentor? You mean your senior in the Literary Circle?”
“Yes. I heard he returned late last night from Wuchang. I plan to take Storm of the Tang Clan to him and get his objective critique.”
“If it’s good, just say it’s good. Must you go such a roundabout way? Younger brother, if you’re planning to write a bad review for the morning bulletin, I wouldn’t be pleased.”
“That’s a matter for the Literary Circle. I’ll report back after receiving the mentor’s fair evaluation.”
“I see. Still, I hope you won’t speak poorly of it.”
After finishing his meal, Scholar Hwang’s younger brother left the house.
--------
Before visiting his mentor’s home, Scholar Hwang’s younger brother stopped by a bookstore.
“A true protagonist should be like Tang Jeong.”
“When is Ho-pil going to release Volume 3?”
Even though this wasn’t Daseogak, the bookstore buzzed with talk of Storm of the Tang Clan.
“The main wife has to be Du Eung-hyang, right?”
“Of course! What Sichuan girl could ever compete for the main wife’s spot with Tang Jeong?”
Obviously, the rightful main wife is the Most Beautiful Woman in Sichuan, Gu Suk-jeong.
He wanted to say something for a moment, but voicing disagreement with strangers wasn’t the conduct of an adult—nor of a proper scholar.
Swallowing his opinion, he picked up a few classical novels.
“The scene where Tang Jeong unleashes the ‘Throwing Knives Space’ was brilliant. You really should give it a read.”
“I’ll have to check it out too.”
It’s not Throwing Knives Space, it’s Poisoned Killing Zone.
How could he recommend Storm of the Tang Clan so confidently without even knowing the name of the protagonist’s martial arts technique? No. Calm down. You mustn’t interfere. He struggled to keep his composure.
“In Volume 2, he spreads poison powder and launches poison-laced throwing knives—those three layers of poison stacking up, man, it’s just amazing!”
“He only used two, so why is it three poisons?”
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
“Oh? Wait. Were there two kinds of poison on the throwing knives?”
“Aha.”
“It’s because Hubei’s Top Courtesan, Du Eung-hyang, had already spiked the wine with one.”
In the end, he couldn’t hold back.
“That’s right! That’s it!”
The man who had been speaking clapped his hands as if he’d just remembered, nodding eagerly at Scholar Hwang’s brother’s interruption.
“And it’s not ‘Throwing Knives Space.’ It’s Poisoned Killing Zone.”
“Hahaha. Is that so? I must’ve skimmed that part too fast—guess I forget terms like that easily.”
The man scratched his head awkwardly, embarrassed by the correction.
“You don’t skim-read key scenes... Never mind.”
Scholar Hwang’s younger brother nearly snapped back but barely restrained himself.
“You’re reacting so strongly... Are you with Daseohoe, by any chance?”
“No. I don’t belong to any group like Daseohoe.”
“Haha. Then you must be a future Daseohoe member.”
“I have no intention of joining.”
“People like you always say that—and then they end up joining.”
“I—I said I won’t! I am a proud member of the Literary Circle! How could I possibly stoop to joining Daseohoe!”
His voice rose with intensity.
“Why so angry over something like that?”
“...I apologize. I lost my composure for a moment. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have somewhere to be.”
With people around starting to glance at him, Scholar Hwang’s younger brother backed away and hurried out of the bookstore.
“ Tsk tsk. Just how much must he like Storm of the Tang Clan, to react like that.”
“Don’t they say strong denial is just a form of affirmation? You’re seeing more and more scholars like that these days. I think I’ll have to read it myself now.”
They watched him disappear down the street with pity in their eyes.
-------
“Master, are you heading out?”
Upon reaching his destination, Scholar Hwang’s younger brother saw his mentor just stepping out the door.
“It’s been a while. I was heading out to pick something up.”
“Not sending a servant?”
“Heh. For things like this, a bit of movement helps shake off travel fatigue. Anyway, what brings you here?”
“Well... I have a book I’d like you to evaluate.”
Scholar Hwang’s younger brother couldn’t bring himself to admit directly that he wanted his mentor to critique an erotic martial arts novel. He averted his gaze.
“A book, you say?”
He reached into his robe and nervously fingered the two volumes of Storm of the Tang Clan.
His mentor would surely judge it properly. Someone older, whose eyes wouldn’t be clouded by lust or youthful vigor, would give a clear, sharp critique.
But... was that really the right thing to do?
His mind kept trying to deny the novel, but in his heart, it had already taken root. Did he really need someone else to validate how enjoyable it was?
Tang Jeong, the prodigy of the Sichuan Tang Clan. Gu Suk-jeong, the Most Beautiful Woman in Sichuan. Du Eung-hyang, Hubei’s Top Courtesan. If his mentor mocked them, said the story was shallow and dull—would that make it so?
He was torn.
“What’s troubling you?”
His master’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He looked up.
Yes. He was a proud member of the Yichang Literary Circle. Reading such a lowbrow novel was not something to boast about.
He had to get it evaluated.
“This is the book.”
He held out Volumes 1 and 2 of Storm of the Tang Clan.
“Well now... isn’t this Storm of the Tang Clan?”
His master clearly recognized it.
“You know this book?”
“Of course I do. In fact, I was just heading out to buy Volume 2.”
“...Pardon?”
“I heard Daseogak’s stock is low these days. I didn’t expect you to bring it to me. You’re truly my disciple!”
His mentor looked at him with pride.
“You’ve already read Volume 1?”
“As a member of the Literary Circle, how could I not?”
“I thought you didn’t read this kind of popular fiction...”
“Heh. 'Review the old to understand the new.' How could a teacher cling only to the old and turn a blind eye to the new? You were just always so stiff that I didn’t read it in front of you.”
“I... I see.”
His mouth hung open as he stared at his mentor in disbelief.
“I refrained from judging based on Volume 1 alone. But now that Volume 2 has received praise, I must read it today and write my review promptly.”
“Ha... haha.”
To think even his mentor acknowledged it. Strangely, he felt as though he had been recognized too.
“So. Was Volume 2 good?”
His mentor glanced at him while lifting the book.
Storm of the Tang Clan.
A novel even his mentor, the representative of the Literary Circle, acknowledged.
His judgment hadn’t been wrong. His impressions were valid. He no longer needed to deny it.
In that case, there was only one thing left to say.
“The best novel I’ve read in recent memory—no, in my entire life.”
At last, he admitted his feelings.
******
Life was truly busy these days.
In the morning, the doors of Daseogak opened, and all day long they sold tea and coffee. During spare moments, they tidied up the store, and in the evening, they helped Hwa-rin with the printing.
At night, even sleep was sacrificed to draft the outline for Volume 3.
And now, something had happened to add even more urgency to that life.
“Yun-ho! Storm of the Tang Clan just got reviewed in the Yichang bulletin!”
“Bring it here. Let’s see what they had to say.”
An article had been published in the Yichang regional paper, under the name of the Literary Circle, evaluating Storm of the Tang Clan.
