The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel-Chapter 121: Publication - 3

“How can a book be so good that it made my friend cause such a commotion?”

Scholar Hwang, having left his breathless friend to rest in the next room, stared down at Storm of the Tang Clan.

A man who never so much as glanced at a novel despite countless recommendations had come running in the middle of the night, desperate for the next volume?

What on earth was in this book?

The manager had called it a Colorful Chivalry novel. Was it really true that in Joseon, just releasing a book like this would make customers line up at the bookstore doors?

Heart pounding, Scholar Hwang opened to the first page of Storm of the Tang Clan.

“Hooh. The protagonist really is from the Sichuan Tang Clan.”

There had been other novels set against the backdrop of real sects and clans. But none had ever appealed to him. They were dull. Lifeless. But this—this was an erotic novel featuring a protagonist from the Tang Clan.

His curiosity piqued, Scholar Hwang began to read with growing anticipation.

The main character’s name was Tang Jeong.

He was a young man skilled in the Tang Clan’s signature techniques—poison arts and throwing weapons. Upright and brimming with chivalrous spirit.

“Hmm... a character like that usually isn’t very interesting.”

Hwang frowned slightly.

He could already predict where it was going. Doing good deeds, suffering, then doing more good deeds and getting hurt again. Like a stubborn bear walking into the same trap.

He never understood characters like that. The further the story went, the more frustrated he got.

If not for his friend’s reaction, he would’ve closed the book right then. But he pushed aside his doubts and kept reading.

“Oho! ‘The Most Beautiful Woman in Sichuan’!”

Do they really line up women and rank their looks in Sichuan? He’d never heard of such a thing. Must’ve been the author’s invention. A brilliant concept.

Following the overly upright main character came the appearance of the most beautiful woman in Sichuan.

The protagonist might be dull, but if he were to end up with such a woman, that’d at least be some fun.

Engrossed, Scholar Hwang kept reading.

Gu Suk-jeong, the Most Beautiful Woman in Sichuan. She was like a single blooming flower. Countless young warriors of the martial world had trembled before her full-blown beauty, throwing glances, offering their hearts—but she rejected them all.

[Excuse me. You dropped your handkerchief.]

[Thank you kindly.]

One day, the protagonist Tang Jeong picked up her handkerchief and received her thanks.

[You dare, from a clan that uses poison and throwing knives?!]

[How dare you hog the smile of Sichuan’s finest lady?!]

Tang Jeong also fell for her at first sight. But he knew his place. A plain face. And though he came from the greatest clan in Sichuan, their techniques were whispered about with disdain.

Even men better-looking than him, with stronger martial arts, had failed to catch her eye.

He couldn’t even dream of approaching her, much less harbor feelings. Tang Jeong suffered in silence.

“Krrk... He’s just like me, plain and pitiful.”

Scholar Hwang grinned sheepishly as he found himself relating to the upright but unremarkable protagonist.

He wanted to get closer to her.

With her in his heart, the protagonist achieved breakthrough after breakthrough in martial arts. Eventually, with his clan elders’ approval, he was allowed to venture into the wider martial world.

[A lecher appears in Sichuan!]

Countless women had already fallen victim ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) to this lecher. Tang Jeong, furious, began his pursuit. At last, he found the man just as he was about to violate another woman.

And that woman was—

“You son of a bitch! You dare try to defile the Most Beautiful Woman in Sichuan?!”

It was Gu Suk-jeong.

[You! How dare you touch her!]

[Young warrior, run!]

Tang Jeong barely managed to stop the assault. But the lecher had no intention of giving up.

[Hehehe... You dare interfere in this old man’s affairs? You must be new to the martial world and too green to know your place.]

This was no ordinary criminal. The man had slaughtered countless martial artists in his quest for victims. Tang Jeong was no match for him in terms of skill.

[My lady! I may lack the strength to guarantee victory—but if this lecher wants to get to you, he’ll have to take my life first!]

“Damn, now that’s a man! That’s how it’s done!”

The protagonist’s unyielding resolve might have been frustrating at times, but right now—it was exhilarating.

For Gu Suk-jeong, he began a battle he couldn’t possibly win.

She could do nothing but gaze at his broad back, as he stood between her and the predator, willing to give his life.

[You coward! All you can do is throw knives?!]

[And you, poisoning and attempting to rape a defenseless woman—have you any right to speak of cowardice?!]

If this had been a typical duel between martial artists, it would’ve ended in a few moves. But this was the Tang Clan.

“The fight scene is so well written, it’s believable a real Tang Clan martial artist wrote it.”

Tang Jeong maintained his distance, calmly aiming for pressure points with throwing knives. The moment an opening appeared, he struck a key acupoint.

[Kahahaha! You think this old master can be stopped by child's play?!]

The lecher batted the knives away like leaves on the wind, closing in fast. It was a moment of life and death.

“No!”

Was he going to fail after all? Scholar Hwang couldn’t stop himself from shouting.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

[Children’s games? You dare call the martial arts of the Tang Clan child’s play?]

Despite Scholar Hwang’s growing concern, the protagonist laughed off the accusation with calm confidence.

[Kgh! When did you scatter caltrops—?! No... my body?! You! You poisoned me!]

[Poison techniques are the Tang Clan’s domain. And yet here you are, using a half-baked excuse for poison arts and acting all high and mighty.]

[Grrk! You little bastard!]

[Welcome... to my Poisoned Killing Zone.]

Such composure! The lecher found himself genuinely flustered.

Unnoticed, the protagonist had already laid out a field of caltrops. Who knew what would come flying next from his hidden arsenal? The throwing knives he launched curved through the air with impossible angles, as if they had minds of their own.

And now he’d declared this space a Poisoned Killing Zone. That meant he still had cards up his sleeve.

The lecher couldn’t even tell what kind of poison was now flowing through his veins.

Should he risk everything to claim the Most Beautiful Woman in Sichuan? The decision was heavy, but not slow. There were plenty of women in the world. The lecher retreated swiftly.

[I was just bluffing because I had nothing left... but it worked.]

“This protagonist—he’s got real guts!”

So poison arts and throwing techniques could be this badass? And with that level of wit and presence of mind? Scholar Hwang realized he had unconsciously clenched his fist.

Though he’d already been enjoying the story, Storm of the Tang Clan was just getting started.

[My lady has been afflicted with an aphrodisiac! It’s a poison that arouses lust and causes the body to burn with heat—soon after, the bones and internal organs begin to melt. It can be cured either by an antidote... or by intercourse. And the lecher has the antidote.]

An aphrodisiac?! Scholar Hwang flipped the page in shock—he’d never heard of a poison like that in his life.

[If you have a lover nearby, please say so. I will carry you to him myself.]

[Until just moments ago... I had never held a man in my heart.]

[Then... what do you propose we do?]

“Damn it, don’t just stand there! Just undress her already!”

He was cool earlier with that righteous act, but now he was frustrating again. Come on, it’s an erotic novel! Of course you’re supposed to undress the woman!

Surely they’re not going to part ways here... Scholar Hwang leaned in, eyes straining, flipping to the next line.

[But... just now, I found a lover.]

[What are you saying?]

Gulp. Scholar Hwang swallowed dryly.

[Please... I beg of you, take my first.]

And thus, the act began.

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“Ohohoho! This is... this is insane! Completely insane! It’s not even the man who undresses the woman—she undresses herself! What kind of development is this?! Madness! Hehehehe!”

A fantastical poison—an aphrodisiac. And because of it, the Most Beautiful Woman in Sichuan herself begs the protagonist. The thrill was intoxicating.

[Though we came together tonight, this was no better than rape. She desired me because of the drug, not because she loved me. I will capture the lecher and return to beg your forgiveness.]

After a night of pleasure, the protagonist trembled with guilt. Without waking her, he departed in silence.

[My love... where are you? My love!]

“No! You idiot! Why are you running away?!”

Scholar Hwang shouted, his voice shaking with outrage. Rape? He seriously thought that was rape?

“Even after she sobered up! She... she did that thing... with her chest! For you!”

The fact that she’d done that—with her chest, no less—the Most Beautiful Woman in Sichuan! And yet he still thought it was rape?!

Scholar Hwang felt like crying. Both from his chest... and from below.

Thankfully, one page remained. Whether his tears came from above or below, he had to see it through.

“A preview for the next volume?”

He read the teaser—and, like his friend before him, had no choice but to shout the same words.

[The protagonist enters the most prestigious pleasure house in Hubei. Inside awaits a courtesan who has never allowed anyone to touch her, a woman so valuable that merely calling her name costs a fortune... and she has been drugged with an aphrodisiac.]

“Next voluuuuuuuume!!”