New Release! '<em>Murim Solver Jin Hoseong</em>!'
The vast square in front of Danga Sangdan headquarters.
I'd skipped breakfast that morning and come out especially early. Just a few months ago, this was the historic site where the reader alliance, led by that terrifying genius girl Hwangbo Suyeon, had raised torches in a fierce protest. But the dawn scenery today was qualitatively different from that brutal demonstration.
An even greater crowd—several times larger—had flooded into the square like mad. There were so many people, there wasn't even room to set foot. Shoulders pressed seamlessly against shoulders, forming a horrifying density like one massive lump of flesh.
Why had such a horde gathered at this ungodly hour? The answer lay in the red posters that had gone up simultaneously a week earlier at the entrances of major inns across Nakyang and on bulletin boards in the bustling streets.
We thank all readers for your patience. Exactly one week from now, author Yeol-gong's new work will make its debut at the square before Danga Sangdan headquarters.
The first chance to witness the beginning of Yeol-gong's grand epic! We ask for the passionate interest of our devoted readers.
This short, provocative notice had turned all of Nakyang—plunged into collective depression after the finale of Regressor Sword God, This Life Fist King—into a boiling furnace in an instant. During that agonizing week-long wait, the bustling streets were plastered with talk of Yeol-gong's new work.
What would the new story be about? What mind-blowing concept would smash our brains this time? Hundreds of reading groups gathered day and night, veins bulging in heated debates. And the thousands who had flocked here, carrying that insane happy anticipation and dopamine withdrawal, perfectly embodied the desperate hunger of my readers for fresh pages.
At last, the promised time approached. The sky hung heavy, as if snow might dump any second. A chilling morning breeze sliced at Nakyang noses. Yet the vast square before Danga Sangdan's massive headquarters burned hot with the crowd's fervor, mocking the cold and the hour. They ignored the bone-piercing winter chill, bundled in thick furs and beast hides, eyes blazing like predators as they poured out fervent discussions to the end.
"Hey, brother! What kind of insane story do you think the author will drop this time?"
A skinny man at the front of the line, hands callused and scarred, blew on them for warmth and spat excitedly at his neighbor.
"Obviously a way hotter, bloodier revenge tale that crushes the last one's legacy!"
The bearded uncle from Chwiseonru—who'd vehemently denied the Gam Uhyeok betrayal theory, veins popping in his neck—replied, arms crossed, snorting confidently as he unleashed his wild speculation.
"I guarantee it won't be some cliché sword or fist this time!"
His voice boomed over the square's din. But before he finished, a man from behind shot back.
"No way! I think totally different from your outdated ideas!"
Raising a finger like his intel was gospel, he ranted to the crowd.
"I dare say Yeol-gong made an unorthodox evil from the unorthodox sects or demonic cult the protagonist!"
Gasps rippled at the bold claim.
"A story shattering the righteous-unrighteous divide! That's the brutal saga that suits Yeol-gong's mad pen!"
"Ooh... a demonic cult protagonist? My dantian tingles just thinking about it!"
The thousands packed into the square unleashed dozens, hundreds of their all-nighters' worth of brain farts nonstop. Boiling like volcanic ash in the cold from sheer hype and curiosity.
Even I, who'd rolled in the web novel ecosystem for a decade earning eight figures a year in my past life, could only stick out my tongue at these murim readers' blind, fanatical passion.
Kkiiigiiik.
Thud!
Just as the crowd's mad heat and shouts warmed the frigid air, Danga Sangdan's massive iron gates groaned with heavy friction. They swung wide, spilling the inner shadows into the world.
"Ooooh... it's opening!"
"The gates! The new book is finally here!"
The roar of thousands shredded the morning silence, shaking Nakyang's skies. From the deep shadows beyond the thick gates, heavy footsteps thudded as hulking figures surged out. Danga Sangdan's elite guards—mountainous builds, bodies scarred head to toe, faces twisted in menace. The kind who'd normally reek of blood in back alleys, separating debtors' bones from flesh.
But this morning, those brutal pot-lid hands cradled not gleaming swords or dripping maces. No—they held neatly bound books of premium sturdy paper, fresh ink still fragrant, stacks upon stacks of the massive new release.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The musclebound brutes hauled out wooden carts, carefully stacking the novels on the massive pre-built sales platform like sacred altars.
The sight of that beautiful, deadly tower of print drew gasps. Their eyes, enslaved by fresh dopamine, had long lost reason, gleaming feral and unfocused like starved beasts.
Danche Ryeong. That ruthless loan shark queen must've kidnapped every decent copyist in Nakyang for this perfect launch, working them day and night. Her savage capital and obsession had conjured a miraculous thousand-copy first print, towering proudly in the square's heart.
Among those fierce Danga brutes, one overwhelmingly visual giant stepped forward, stealing all eyes. The third squad leader of the guards—deep voice, huge frame. The bastard who'd gotten massive spoilers from me, won our bet, and strutted. Assigned as MC of this historic debut, he lorded over the crowd with supreme arrogance, chest puffed like a mountain, sucking in the crisp dawn air.
"Readers! From the bottom of our hearts! You've waited so long!"
The crowd gulped in unison at his gravelly roar. Not a blink as they fixed on his lips, square falling into heavy silence despite the thousands.
"The second masterpiece from great author Yeol-gong, staked on Danga Sangdan's fate, that will shake the world!"
He hoisted the steaming first volume, ink still fresh, high overhead. All eyes locked on the cover.
"We reveal that great title right here, right now!"
My decade of web novel mastery, remixing modern fantasy's spiciest clichés into perfect murim bibimbap. No frustrating sweet potato plots—just head-smashing catharsis from page one, pure soda refreshment.
Its title was…
"Wooooaaahhh!"
"Murim Solver! 'Solver'—my blocked dantian's clearing already!"
"Jin Hoseong! Long live our new hero, great hero Jin Hoseong! Long live author Yeol-gong!"
The cheers rocked Nakyang. Sales exploded. Brutes swept up the money rain, mechanically shoving books into eager arms.
Thus, my ambitious new work rode Yeol-gong's overwhelming name value and Danche Ryeong's flawless promo to perfection. A thousand lovingly copied first editions sold out in under half a shichen—a miraculous triumph.
"Kuhahaha! Got it! I snagged volume one!"
Men clutched books like supreme fortunes, dashing the square howling mad joy like peak experts.
From an alley shadow, I watched the fantastic capitalist festival, fists clenched, cheering inwardly.
Eheraadiya! This one's a mega hit too!
So thrilled, I squatted giggling, dancing in my mind.
And at the square's front. The snow-skinned girl in elegant white martial robes, who'd tossed silver first and grabbed her copy. Hwangbo Sega's precious jade, my novel's scariest fanatic devotee, Hwangbo Suyeon. Joy twisted her pretty face into a beastly roar unbecoming her.
"Wooooaaahhh!"
Thus, my second work in the murim world, Murim Solver Jin Hoseong, made a smashing debut. The better-than-expected response kept my grin glued. Utterly unable to imagine what chaos this book would unleash…