Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: The Novel's Overwhelming Influence
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In a private room of a high-class tavern.
Chu Yong-wol poured the liquor with brimming confidence and offered the cup to her counterpart.
"Please, have a drink, Pavilion Master."
Her counterpart was the Pavilion Master of the Jade Flower Gang, one of Namchang's most ironclad factions.
The Jade Flower Pavilion Master accepted the cup with a troubled expression.
"Young Leader. I've already conveyed my stance. I hope you'll avoid requesting meetings like this."
The Jade Flower Gang made its living by crafting and selling jade ornaments as exquisite as flowers, just as its name implied.
In other words, they couldn't ignore the watchful eyes of the Baek Ui Sect, which had deep ties to Namchang's influential families.
"I understand. After today, I won't be the one initiating these meetings."
"I'll trust you on that, Young Leader. So, what's the purpose today?"
"I'd like to revisit the contract between our Merchant Group and the Jade Flower Gang."
The Baek Book Merchant Group had dealt primarily in books and writing implements up to now.
To expand their power further, they'd newly selected luxury goods—ornaments akin to books and paintings.
Thus, today's meeting was a crucial one for Chu Yong-wol, one that would determine the future direction of the Baek Book Merchant Group.
'It fell apart last time due to the Baek Ui Sect's interference, but today will be different.'
"Young Leader, I know the circumstances. Our gang has no choice but to mind the Baek Ui Sect."
The same response as before. But the outcome would be different this time.
"I know that as well. But would you take a look at this book?"
"Hm? This book..."
The Jade Flower Pavilion Master's eyes widened slightly.
Unlike ordinary books, it was embroidered with golden threads and blooming plum blossom patterns, clearly a priceless item at first glance.
And that wasn't all.
Considering the bold, heroic script of the title and the signature in the corner...
"Could this be a new work from One Stroke Writer?"
"Exactly right. And according to One Stroke Writer himself, it's a monumental masterpiece, the fruit of years of painstaking effort!"
One Stroke Writer hadn't released a new work in several years.
He'd been too busy with other matters to focus on writing, and Baek Yang-hui had judged it necessary to let the fame simmer until the name spread far and wide.
'But people don't know that.'
So Chu Yong-wol had transformed a novel born in less than two hours into a legendary work of years-long labor.
That way, people would anticipate it even more and value it highly.
"Would you like to read it? We can talk afterward."
The Jade Flower Pavilion Master was the head of artisans who crafted ornaments.
People often thought artisans were illiterate, but that was utter nonsense.
How could those who engraved famous poems onto jewels be illiterate?
Moreover, the Pavilion Master was a renowned literary aficionado in the area for his deep appreciation of writing.
He'd even seized the leadership position by leveraging the many who sought his calligraphy.
"Excuse me for a moment, Young Leader."
Watching the Pavilion Master eagerly dive into the book, unable to contain his curiosity, Chu Yong-wol couldn't help but smile.
Once he'd seen the contents, today's meeting was sure to end successfully.
About two hours passed like that.
The Pavilion Master laughed and cried, marveled and gasped in shock.
All while reading the book.
For an elder of his experience to show such feelings so openly, the book must have been exceptionally entertaining and moving.
"Whew... I finished it. Truly an outstanding novel."
"I think so too."
"Will you tell me why you showed this book to me?"
The reason was simple.
Chu Yong-wol picked up the book.
"This book contains many beautiful passages. What if we engraved those onto ornaments and sold them?"
"...Everyone from young to old would snap them up. Without a doubt."
In the Pavilion Master's view, One Stroke Writer's new work had more than enough pull to draw crowds.
He himself was practically itching to possess the book before his eyes.
"Wouldn't the sons of your major clients among the influential families think the same?"
"Hah. Indeed. Yes, they would. Now I see what you're aiming for, Young Leader."
Even if the Baek Ui Sect applied pressure, they couldn't block all the sons of numerous powerful families.
On the contrary, those youths would band together in defiance of the Baek Ui Sect.
"This is the power of literature. The force that unites countless people."
Just like how Confucius's words were still treasured after over a thousand years.
'Looks like we've won them over.'
With a bright smile, Chu Yong-wol decided to add the finishing touch.
"Pavilion Master, please accept this."
The Pavilion Master took the book with a puzzled look.
"Young Leader...?"
"It's a token of respect from the Baek Book Merchant Group to the Jade Flower Pavilion Master."
All first editions penned by One Stroke Writer held immense value.
Beyond their beautiful design, only they bore the author's signature.
And this novel was poised to become a timeless masterpiece.
The first edition of such a work?
'A priceless treasure...!'
Emotion welled up on the old Pavilion Master's face.
"To give me something so precious! I feel ashamed of bowing to the Baek Ui Sect's pressure before. I was blind to your noble ambitions and character!"
Chu Yong-wol humbly bowed her head in return.
"I look forward to working with you, Pavilion Master."
"What do you mean! This old man looks forward to working with you, Young Leader!"
After parting ways, Chu Yong-wol hurried to another tavern.
She had three meetings lined up today for contracts.
She'd presented One Stroke Writer's new work to all three counterparts, eliciting the same reactions and results as with the Jade Flower Pavilion Master.
'As expected of Young Master. Things are falling into place so easily!'
The Baek Ui Sect's influence and pressure?
Compared to the storm of One Stroke Writer's new work, it was mere drizzle from a clear sky.
The novel was sweeping through Namchang with typhoon force.
To the point where it was the topic of every conversation.
"Have you read One Stroke Writer's new work?"
"Of course! I rushed to order it the moment the Baek Book Merchant Group sent someone!"
"What a masterpiece."
"All his works are, but this one feels like he really put his soul into it!"
As could be seen from how fame becomes authority, popularity was power.
The more people talked about One Stroke Writer's new work, the broader the Baek Book Merchant Group's options as its distributor became.
Trade requests that had been cut off due to Baek Ui Sect pressure were now flooding in!
"The Baek Book Merchant Group's momentum lately is no joke."
"I'm feeling it too. Thinking of doing business with them next."
"You too? Well, it's the group One Stroke Writer trusts with contracts."
"Great minds think alike! Hahaha!"
And that wasn't all.
One Stroke Writer's fame had finally crossed the Yangtze.
"Heard the news? Apparently, a novel from Gangseo Province is all the rage south of the river."
"South of the river? Great writers are usually north of it. Guess I should check it out."
What had been limited to Gangnam near Gangseo was now spreading to the north bank, teeming with renowned literati and lofty scholars.
The results were no different from Gangnam.
"Unbelievable!"
"Just a novel, yet such beautiful prose!"
"And the plot! My heart raced the whole time; I'm exhausted now!"
Rumors spread. Fame resounded.
The four characters "One Stroke Writer" became a topic across the land.
Even reaching Shaanxi in the north.
"Sect Leader! This novel is making waves among the people lately!"
"A novel, huh. I should read it."
In the Mount Hua Sect Leader's quarters in Shaanxi.
The Mount Hua Sect Leader took the book and began reading.
The guest drinking tea beside him joined in.
After finishing the novel...
"Hundred Palms."
"Speak, Yang-so."
The two men—the Mount Hua Sect Leader and the Zhongnan Sect Leader—looked utterly baffled.
"We..."
"...are on bad terms...?"
"Since when?"
"Mount Hua and Zhongnan are like brothers...?"
A minor side effect of One Stroke Writer's book.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Damn it! Damn it!"
The Baek Ui Sect Leader slammed the desk repeatedly.
It was force enough to break a normal person's hand bones, yet the wooden surface splintered and shards flew everywhere.
The Sect Leader ordered his reporting subordinate to continue.
"So what happened?!"
"Well... Upon hearing of One Stroke Writer's new work, we tried to distance ourselves from the Baek Book Merchant Group and Baek Clan Manor once more, but... it sparked collective backlash instead."
"One Stroke Writer! That damned One Stroke Writer!"
To think a mere literati could turn the situation like this.
Did this even make sense?!
"What? They dare defy our sect over mere desire to read and keep a novel? Are they all insane?!"
The subordinate simply bowed his head.
While inwardly thinking:
'Mere? It's... ridiculously entertaining...'
Even the Baek Ui Sect Leader had already read One Stroke Writer's new work.
Which only fueled his rage and boiling frustration.
"Damn it! If this went well, we could've claimed One Stroke Writer as our sect's asset!"
The reason the Baek Ui Sect Leader had chosen the Baek Book Merchant Group as his first check against the Baek Clan Manor.
To seize Namchang's top literati, One Stroke Writer.
With coaxing and appeasement, regular writings could've made him a great fortune.
But he'd botched it, diminishing the Baek Ui Sect's influence instead.
'One backlash makes the rest easier. More will watch their step now.'
If the powerful families that were once the Baek Ui Sect's power base turned to join the rising Baek Clan Manor?
The sect's decline was only a matter of time.
In a way, the fate of the entire sect hung in the balance.
"Someone come here."
"Yes, Sect Leader."
"Secretly send people to the underworld gangs."
Having issued the order, the Baek Ui Sect Leader glared with flashing eyes toward where Yeongnak Street lay.
'I can't hold back any longer.'
The time for restraint had passed.
It was time to employ any means necessary.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Little Brother! Big trouble!"
Gu-ak came rushing in, panting heavily. He'd been commanding the resident Baek Ik Pavilion members alongside the Heaven-Covering Escort Bureau's escorts to guard Yeongnak Street.
"What is it, Brother Gu?"
"Namchang’s underworld gangs are mobilizing en masse!"
"Then just smash their heads in."
"There are too many! They're demanding tribute across all of Yeongnak Street!"
Baek Yang-hui tapped his teacup thoughtfully before asking again.
"Nothing like this has happened on Yeongnak Street before."
"With our Baek Clan Manor fully entering Namchang and new rivalries forming, they're trying to assert dominance from the start. Their momentum is fierce."
Something absent from the Baek Ui Sect's Yeonghwi Street now plagued the main family's Yeongnak Street.
What this signified was crystal clear.
'So this is their move.'
He'd been pondering how to put the final punctuation on things, and here they handed him a perfect bad move. How thoughtful.
With that thought, Baek Yang-hui grinned wickedly.