When Does the Next Volume Come Out?
"When does the next volume come out?"
In the heart of the Murim Alliance's most secure stronghold, the Alliance Lord's office. Jang Hyo-un's face, usually composed as he reviewed documents detailing the alliance's critical affairs, was tinged with irritation today. It was because of the report just delivered by a messenger from the Divine Eye Pavilion.
"Baek Su-gyeong has arrived, and here I am wrestling with this pile of papers!!"
He genuinely wanted to summon the Samadhi True Fire and burn them all. Forcing himself to stare at documents whose contents refused to sink in, Jang Hyo-un grumbled inwardly. No matter how much of a devoted reader of Wudang Sword Hero he was, he was first and foremost the leader of the Murim Alliance. He had duties that demanded priority. Dropping everything to meet Baek Su-gyeong would be unbecoming of an alliance lord.
Of course, despite such rational thoughts, his expression grew more disheveled as time passed.
"Argh! I can't take this anymore!"
Flinging the papers aside, Jang Hyo-un sank into his grand chair and pressed his forehead firmly.
"Baek Su-gyeong is here, and I'm stuck like this—it's lamentable. If only I weren't this damned alliance lord!"
Being the Murim Alliance lord was, as always, a headache of a position. An alliance uniting countless righteous sect factions from across the jianghu. With so many delegates from each sect—and just the elder-level representatives numbering more than one could count on two hands—it was no wonder it was called the Murim Alliance. Even five people gathered could spark disagreements that deepened into emotional rifts in an instant. What chance was there of harmony among thousands clashing together?
Thus, most of the documents piling up on Alliance Lord Jang Hyo-un's desk were requests to mediate disputes born from inter-sect emotional squabbles.
"Wudang again."
Jang Hyo-un clicked his tongue. Ever since Wudang Sword Hero swept through the jianghu, young aspirants flocking to join Wudang had drawn ongoing scrutiny from rival Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Schools. Several factions wary of Wudang's rising power kept it in check.
With a traditional powerhouse like Wudang gaining momentum from the novel's popularity and expanding its influence, there was every reason for vigilance.
"Shaolin has taken a step back, while Huashan and Qingcheng react fiercely... Ha! What to do about this?"
Shaolin, upheld alongside Wudang as the twin pillars of the jianghu, had no complaints. But Huashan and Qingcheng were different. The World's Foremost Daoist Sect and Divine State's Premier Daoist House—Wudang, inheritors of the orthodox Daoist sword tradition, were riding the wave of Wudang Sword Hero's momentum not just to ascend the heavens but to soar beyond. It was no surprise that fellow Daoist sword sects like Huashan and Qingcheng overreacted.
"Two sects already overshadowed by Wudang's prestige—hard to call it mere hypersensitivity."
Jang Hyo-un scratched his forehead. Who could have imagined a single novel like Wudang Sword Hero would unleash such a massive storm in the jianghu? It had disciples picking up their swords again and multiplied the number of youths seeking to join Wudang several times over—purely its merit. Whispers even circulated in Wudang that they should formally thank Baek Su-gyeong for it.
Gazing down at the documents with a face full of dissatisfaction, Jang Hyo-un sighed.
"...What a headache."
Picking up the papers again, he knew he couldn't just burn them all, no matter how tempting. As he forced his focus onto the incomprehensible contents, a knock echoed at the Alliance Lord's office door.
Jang Hyo-un turned his gaze.
"Who is it?"
"It's me, Alliance Lord."
"The strategist? Come in."
With Jang Hyo-un's permission, Jegal Yu entered. No different from usual, but Jang Hyo-un caught a faint gleam of excitement on his face. Setting the documents aside naturally, Jang Hyo-un looked at him.
"What is it, strategist?"
"Baek Su-gyeong has arrived, and we've just escorted him directly to the Reception Hall."
"I know that already."
Jang Hyo-un's face soured slightly, as if chiding Jegal Yu for meeting Baek Su-gyeong while he was buried in work. At the blatant displeasure on Jang Hyo-un's face, Jegal Yu gave a wry smile.
"Even if you look at me like that, there's nothing I can do about it."
"I know."
Grumbling, Jang Hyo-un set the papers down.
"Did the teacher say anything else?"
"He was very pleased with Jinwoon's statue. He praised it highly."
"Hm? Haha! As expected of Baek Su-gyeong!"
Delighted to hear Baek Su-gyeong had praised the statue of Jinwoon the Great Hero, Jang Hyo-un burst into hearty laughter. It had been worth hounding Cheon-gongsa's Cheon-gong Professor Sailyun to place it right at the entrance to the Reception Hall. Stroking his chin with a pleased expression, Jang Hyo-un asked,
"Anything else?"
"He seemed not to fully grasp—or perhaps unwilling to acknowledge—the true value of Wudang Sword Hero. Like he knows but wants to deny it."
"Hmm, didn't he call himself a mere mortal?"
"Yes, that's right."
A mortal—plain and simple, a commoner with no special abilities. Someone who would be swept away by the jianghu's waves in an instant if thrown into it. Jang Hyo-un pulled Wudang Sword Hero from the bookshelf beside his desk.
"Hmm, and such a person wrote this novel... Fascinating. Didn't military affairs investigate his background?"
"Nothing particularly noteworthy. Aside from long service at Luoyang's Yongmun Escort Bureau, he's a complete mortal with no martial arts training."
"Yet his knowledge of martial arts and the vivid stories in this novel feel all too real."
"Perhaps drawn from his escort bureau experiences."
Nodding, Jang Hyo-un eyed Jegal Yu.
"In any case, he's an eccentric. Isn't he?"
"Indeed."
With Jegal Yu's agreement, Jang Hyo-un slotted the book back and turned.
"Is the teacher in the Reception Hall?"
"Yes."
"I must see him."
Jegal Yu's gaze flicked to the mountain of documents stacked before Jang Hyo-un. He couldn't demand they all be handled immediately. Sure, some were important, but eighty percent were petitions for mediation in petty squabbles—none urgent.
Jang Hyo-un looked at Jegal Yu.
"Do something about those documents, strategist."
"I'll instruct the Divine Eye Pavilion to filter out the nonsense."
"That would be perfect."
Tsking his tongue, Jang Hyo-un strode out of the office. He sincerely wished the pointless emotional dispute petitions would stop. Wouldn't it be better to swing his sword a few more times instead of wrestling papers all day?
His steps quickened into a brisk pace, heart light at the thought of meeting Baek Su-gyeong and discussing his works.
He resembled a massive tiger. A burly hero with the bearing of a Mountain Lord—that was Baek Su-gyeong's first impression of Jang Hyo-un.
Not even carrying a sword, yet his title boldly included "Sword Venerable." According to Kang Yu-pyeong, he was a transcendent master who wielded sword prowess even barehanded. In wuxia novels, peak experts were a dime a dozen. This man was a step above, a super-peak master.
...Good thing I didn't include realms like the Flower Realm.
Putting in Flower Realm, Manifest Realm, or Life-Death Realm might inspire real attempts to reach them—and that scared him. That was Baek Su-gyeong's honest sentiment. The very concept of the Flower Realm had only solidified after a certain novel exploded in popularity, shaking the market. Before that, no firmly established realms existed beyond peak. Most lumped them vaguely as "absolute realms" or the like.
In 80s-90s wuxia, "absolute realm" might appear, but not "Flower Realm." There was something similar like the Realm of Entering Divinity and Creating Transformations, but it wasn't called Flower Realm. That term was shorthand for Harmony Realm anyway.
"I'm Baek Su-gyeong."
"I am Jang, humbly holding the seat of Murim Alliance Lord. I sincerely welcome your visit, teacher."
At Jang Hyo-un's words, Baek Su-gyeong gave a wry smile. At the center of a world where swords and blood, violence ruled over righteousness and justice. Cloaked in the name of righteousness, they weren't so different from demonic cults or unorthodox sects.
At least Wudang Sword Hero's positive influence had reduced how often they drew blades compared to before—that was a small mercy. Taking a shallow breath, Baek Su-gyeong met Jang Hyo-un's gaze.
It's suffocating.
Like facing a massive tiger head-on, an immense pressure emanated naturally from Jang Hyo-un's entire being. For a mere mortal, exposure to a martial artist's killing intent or aura was profoundly shocking. Only because Jang Hyo-un was holding back could Baek Su-gyeong remain conscious.
"Thank you for your warm welcome, Alliance Lord."
"Hahaha! I've been counting the days to meet you, teacher."
Jang Hyo-un boomed with laughter. His eyes fixed on Baek Su-gyeong.
"Or should I call you my old master?"
"I'm not that old yet."
Jang Hyo-un roared even louder at Baek Su-gyeong's retort. It wasn't wrong. "Old master" literally exalted an aged teacher.
"Can't call you little master, can I?"
"Baek Su-gyeong is name enough."
Baek Su-gyeong smiled.
"I heard you've captured several of those copyist thugs who pirated my books. I can't thank you enough."
"Ha! It wasn't for reward or payment—just righteous action as it should be."
"I never imagined the Alliance Lord himself was such a avid reader of my books."
Stroking his chin, Jang Hyo-un chuckled deeply. He was now a fervent fan of Wudang Sword Hero, but when a Wudang elder first introduced it to the alliance—dismissing it as not even a martial manual—he had been among those who scoffed. Better to focus on training than read some book, he'd thought back then.
"Honestly, at first I dismissed it—what good is a book that's not a martial manual?"
"You're frank."
"Haha, no hiding it from you, teacher."
Growing serious, Jang Hyo-un said,
"But after reading Wudang Sword Hero, my mind changed. What were you thinking, teacher, embedding Musang's teachings in a book?"
"Teachings?"
Baek Su-gyeong was the baffled one now. Teachings? He'd just thrown in some half-baked insights as filler— it was a generic modern wuxia novel with no real enlightenment to offer.
A chill crept up his spine.
...No way.
Baek Su-gyeong's eyes wavered. It couldn't be. Denying reality desperately, Jang Hyo-un's voice reached his ears.
"Thanks to you, I recently broke through a wall. No—without Wudang Sword Hero, I couldn't have overcome the barrier blocking my path."
"Pardon?"
Like a bolt from the blue. Staring in shock, Jang Hyo-un wore an odd expression.
"You seem to think Wudang Sword Hero is just a novel, teacher..."
No, it is. A novel dashed off in a fit of pique. A projection of the jianghu he loved most. And from that, enlightenment?
Baek Su-gyeong's face paled. This could spiral worse than imagined.
"...Teacher Baek?"
Wonder flickered in Jang Hyo-un's eyes at Baek Su-gyeong's sweat-drenched pallor. He was just expressing gratitude—why the ghostly face? Still, pressing on, Jang Hyo-un opened his mouth.
"So, when does the next volume come out?"
The question every author dreads. Baek Su-gyeong froze white as marble.
Save me!!
A silent scream echoed in his rigid mind.