All-rounder Artist

"YangFeng" and other editors were reading "The Legend of the Condor Heroes". Being the chief editor of the Fantasy Department, Ol' Xiong naturally did the same.

Afternoon.

Five thirty.

The standard closing time for Silver Blue Books.

Except for those who needed to work overtime, employees from other departments gradually left until the floors were empty.

Only the Fantasy Department remained, including Chief Editor Ol' Xiong, none of whom moved. They all sat obediently in front of their computers, engrossed in the screens.

Their seriousness even made the passing company leaders nod in approval.

The work attitude and enthusiasm in the Fantasy Department are impressive, they've even learned to work overtime on their own!

If the leaders came in for a closer look, they would discover:

On every computer screen in the entire Fantasy Department, the content of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" was displayed.

In other words.

These people weren't working overtime at all, they were simply addicted to reading novels.

They hadn't even completed their basic work very well; most of their time was consumed by this unpublished novel, fully utilizing their editor status to laze around openly.

Fantasy novel editors, after all.

Reading fantasy novels during working hours, how is that not reasonable?

Suddenly.

The main door to the chief editor's office opened.

Ol' Xiong hurriedly prepared to go home.

If he didn't return soon, the "tigress" at home would suspect he was out partying with the general editor again.

However.

When Ol' Xiong saw that no one in the entire editorial department had left and that everyone was glued to their novels at their computers, he halted in his tracks.

"Ahem."

He coughed.

The Fantasy Department was dead silent; no one responded to him.

Ol' Xiong coughed louder, still no response.

Feeling his authority was being challenged, Ol' Xiong couldn't help but use his tried-and-true method:

"Meeting!"

Only then did people gradually look up, each of them complaining:

"Really, Chief Editor? We've already clocked out."

"I haven't finished the novel yet, Chu Kuang's writing is absolutely brilliant!"

"Chu Kuang's book brings back the excitement I felt reading martial arts novels in the past; it's an old theme, but Chu Kuang is Chu Kuang. You just can't stop reading after a few chapters!"

"I really like Huang Rong!"

"Huang Rong and Guo Jing are such a great match, though Huazheng is a bit unfortunate. I really enjoyed the segment with the 'Golden Saber Prince Consort,' but if I had to choose, it would still be Huang Rong. Chu Kuang writes romantic plots that are simply unbeatable, personally, I think Guo Jing and Huang Rong are the most perfect couple in martial arts history!"

"The East Heretic, West Poison, South Emperor, North Beggar, Central Divine, the Five Greats, and the Duel Atop Mount Hua setting are so high-class!"

"Then there's Mei Chaofeng's introduction of the 'Nine Yin Manual', and even skills like 'Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms' and 'Toad Skill,' all are classic martial skills settings, combined with 'Wumu Yi Shu' and such, Chu Kuang's martial arts novel is simply incredible!"

While complaining.

They even started to exchange reading insights.

All the editors were captivated by this novel!

At this moment.

One editor discussed with the person beside him:

"Where did you leave off? I was just reading the part where Guo Jing tries to steal the 'Wumu Yi Shu'."

"I'm ahead of you, let me tell you, later on Guo Jing becomes incredibly powerful, and he and Huang Rong..."

"Shut up!"

An editor attempted to spoil the plot.

Instantly, other editors glared at him.

Knowing better, this editor promptly shut his mouth.

Seeing everyone's reactions, and thinking about how he too had spent the entire day in his office reading the book, even having his assistant bring lunch there, Ol' Xiong had a quiet epiphany:

First, present you with a topic that initially seems unappealing, then make you willingly buy into it.

This point is still very much Chu Kuang.

Just like what a certain editor had just mentioned, this novel seems to revive the excitement of reading martial arts novels for the first time!

"Prepare the promotional preview."

"Weren't you going to have a meeting, Chief Editor?"

"That meeting just now was already concluded."

Ol' Xiong smiled faintly, then left the editorial department.

After exchanging glances, the editors began discussing "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" again.

Since Chu Kuang had left the Fantasy Department, it had been a long time since everyone had engaged in such a heated discussion about a single novel.

That evening,

Silver Blue Books finally released a teaser for Chu Kuang's new book.

Of course, Chu Kuang's novel needed pre-launch promotion. The publisher revealed the title "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," and did not hide the novel's genre from the readers.

Martial Arts!

Following this announcement, Silver Blue Books was prepared to face public skepticism.

Who didn't know how unpopular martial arts novels were these days?

Except for the Zhao people, hardly anyone was interested in the martial arts genre.

However,

To Silver Blue Bookstore's astonishment, readers did not express much skepticism.

The comments section had a surprisingly unified front:

"Used to it."

"Just as expected."

"The same old trick again."

"You think I'd fall for that?"

"Classic old rascal style, those who know, know."

"Does Silver Blue actually think we'd be surprised?"

"Does the old rascal think we'd distrust him?"

"I don't believe..."

Okay, we actually don't trust! Indeed, there were various suspicions, but we can't say them out loud; it's better to keep these things in your heart, admitting them means losing!

Martial Arts!

Nobody anticipated that Chu Kuang's new book would delve into martial arts—a genre that makes everyone frown upon hearing it!

However,

Considering who Chu Kuang is, nobody felt surprised anymore—the old rascal wasn't new to this game!

The forever willful old rascal!

Only the newly joined Zhao people looked completely baffled, feeling like readers from other continents seemed quite experienced?

What does "Used to it" mean?

What does "Those who know, know" imply?

A Zhao person couldn't help asking, "Mysterious riddlers, just scram, could you clearly explain how you got used to it?"

The Blue Star Merger.

It had been more than a month since Zhao Continent joined the merger, and everyone knew how averse readers from other continents were to martial arts.

What's strange is:

Chu Kuang, a widely known author across the Qin, Qi, Chu, Yan, and Han, suddenly started writing martial arts novels, even for the first time, but readers from various continents didn't show much resistance.

Have we misunderstood?

Not just us Zhao people, readers from Qin, Qi, Chu, Yan, and Han actually quite like martial arts novels?

Netizens from other continents explained:

"You Zhao people will get used to it too. This Chu Kuang, nicknamed 'old rascal,' is the most infuriating author in the whole Blue Star literary circle. His purpose in writing is to provoke the readers; the more a genre is disliked by the readers, the more he'll write about it. In his books, the more the readers like a character, the more likely he's going to kill that character off. He even tries to join the ranks of examiners to throw extremely tough and unfair questions at everyone during college entrance exams. To put it simply, as long as the readers are unhappy, Chu Kuang is thrilled!"

Zhao people: ???

Blue Star has authors who deliberately antagonize their readers?

This author is quite famous in Qin, Qi, Chu, Yan, and Han, isn't he?

A Zhao person mocked, "Such a weird author still has an audience; seems like some readers are really undiscerning. Who knows which fools are supporting him? That just makes the readers the author's sons. Anyway, we Zhao people firmly oppose such authors. In our Zhao Continent, readers are always the authors' dads; if Daddy Reader isn't satisfied, then the author's son has to obediently tone down!"

Qin Continent: …

Qi Continent: …

Chu Continent: …

Yan Continent: …

Han Continent: …

We, from Qin, Qi, Chu, Yan, and Han, intended to educate you newcomers with a friendly attitude, and you still curse at us!

Zhao Continent, right?

Heard you like martial arts novels?

Just wait, you'll be crying soon!

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ps: Recommending a new book "Rebirth of a Thousand-Face Actor," the author has rich experience in writing entertainment; those interested might take a look, then continue to ask for monthly tickets. Went to bed at around 10 pm last night, and started getting up at 5 am today to write; probably won't wake up this early in the future, should wake up around 7 or 8 am once the time adjustment is completely back to normal.