Chapter 113: Truth and Deception

The traditional Chinese editions of "The Four Great Constables Shake the East" and "The Four Great Constables Gather in the Capital," published by New Elegant Culture and Xianxian Culture respectively, have already circulated through Hong Kong and Taiwan to many Chinese communities in Southeast Asia. Both novels are of assured quality and have made a significant impact on the market.

They have successfully captured numerous fans among the Chinese diaspora in Southeast Asia.

However, aside from knowing that Zhang Tan is a young writer from Mainland China, readers knew little else about him. The publishers did not actively promote Zhang Tan; without a solid reader base, promoting him would only seem like a gimmick—high school students writing novels sounded somewhat far-fetched.

But with the accumulation of two novels, publicizing Zhang Tan’s age became a sensational point.

The report in the Yangcheng Evening News was soon picked up by newspapers in Hong Kong and Taiwan through New Elegant Culture and Xianxian Culture, attracting widespread attention from martial arts novel enthusiasts across these regions and Southeast Asia.

Readers who had enjoyed "The Four Great Constables" were all amazed upon reading the news.

“What? The Four Great Constables was actually written by a first-year high school student? That’s insane!”

“Fake news! These days, newspapers just manufacture eye-catching stories. They don’t even need to go to such lengths to promote a new book like ‘The Legend of the Condor Heroes.’”

“To be so young and write novels this well? Is he some kind of prodigy?”

“You can’t write authentic martial arts stories without experience. This has to be fake.”

“Is this the starting stage of a martial arts master?”

“Mainland China is the best at faking things. I don’t believe it.”

“Zhang Tan is my idol. When is the new book coming out?”

“My kid is eighteen and can’t even read properly, while Zhang Tan is only sixteen and already a published author. Sigh, I wish I could smack this ungrateful child!”

“If it’s like this now, what’s going to happen in the future?”

“‘The Legend of the Condor Heroes’—just the name sounds so full of the martial world. I want to buy it.”

Perhaps a single news article had limited influence and was only noticed by a few, but for Zhang Tan, it was undoubtedly a significant step forward. After a year of development, his reputation had crossed borders. People in Southeast Asia now knew who Zhang Tan was.

Attention gradually increased, and a bright future beckoned.

“Hey, Fatty, look at this news in the paper—Zhang Tan, the author of The Four Great Constables, is actually just a high school student in Mainland China,” said Mahua excitedly, pointing at a small newspaper in a classroom in Taiwan.

Wen Caile was stuffing a steamed bun into his mouth and swallowed hard before diverting his attention from the food. “What?”

Mahua exclaimed loudly, “The author of The Four Great Constables, Zhang Tan, is a high school student!”

Before Wen Caile could react, Siyan rushed over and snatched the newspaper. “Mahua, who are you trying to fool? A high school student? Do you take me for an idiot?”

After skimming through the paper, Siyan was stunned. “He really is a first-year high school student in Mainland China. Impressive! He’s leagues ahead of us.”

“How’s that possible? The Four Great Constables was written by a high school student?” Wen Caile took the paper and muttered, “Maybe it’s some Communist propaganda!”

Though skeptical, the newspaper clearly stated: Zhang Tan, born in 1986, currently attending a senior high school, just turned sixteen.

Wen Caile was at a loss for words.

Last year, he had stumbled upon "The Four Great Constables Shake the East" in a bookstore and instantly fell in love with Zhang Tan’s work. When Xianxian Culture published "The Four Great Constables Gather in the Capital," he was the first to wait outside the bookstore. Although he disliked Mainland Chinese people and, under the influence of former president Chen Shui-bian, was a staunch supporter of Taiwanese independence, he loved reading martial arts novels.

So he deliberately overlooked Zhang Tan’s Mainland Chinese identity. “When I’m shouting slogans for independence, I can openly skip classes, but privately, reading novels is more important,” Wen Caile confessed.

Yet, in the blink of an eye, Zhang Tan was already sixteen. Wen Caile was also sixteen this year.

Comparing the two, Mainland China’s sixteen-year-old Zhang Tan had already written novels and gained fame across the strait, while Taiwan’s sixteen-year-old Wen Caile could do nothing but read novels. This made Wen Caile feel like the younger generation in Taiwan was already losing.

“But that has nothing to do with me—I just want to read novels!”

Wen Caile’s momentary disappointment was soon replaced by excitement upon reading another part of the report: Zhang Tan’s new book, "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," was about to be released.

A strong urge to read it surged within him.

This impulse was fueled not only by his fondness for Zhang Tan’s martial arts stories but also by a touch of admiration. Knowing Zhang Tan had published a book at sixteen, Wen Caile could no longer maintain any sense of superiority over this Mainland Chinese “Communist.”

Society’s essence is that strength rules. Looking down on Mainland Chinese is because they are poor; admiring Zhang Tan is because his novels are excellent. It’s like how many Chinese dislike the Japanese, yet a crowd of anime fans worship Hayao Miyazaki.

It wasn’t just Wen Caile—Siyan and Mahua also felt a faint sense of admiration.

To verify the truth, the three of them decided to call Xianxian Culture’s publishing house to inquire about Zhang Tan.

The call was answered by a staff member who confirmed without hesitation that Zhang Tan was indeed a sixteen-year-old high school student—no fabrication at all.

“Wow,” Wen Caile could only utter that word to express his feelings, then hurriedly asked, “Is he not going to continue The Four Great Constables? The story isn’t finished yet.”

“The Four Great Constables will continue. Our publisher will keep cooperating with Zhang Tan to publish his novels. However, The Four Great Constables will be paused for a while because Zhang Tan needs to gather his thoughts. He is preparing to write a new book, ‘The Legend of the Condor Heroes,’” the staff member explained.

“When will you release ‘The Legend of the Condor Heroes’?”

“That depends on the situation. Our publishing house will arrange it as soon as possible and ensure everyone gets to see Zhang Tan’s new book in a timely manner,” the staff member said evasively.

In fact, the rights to the traditional Chinese edition of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" were fiercely contested. Seeing Zhang Tan’s novels sell so well, other publishers could not sit idly by and rushed to join the fray.

With the older generation of martial arts masters retiring or passing away—only a handful like Zhang Feifan and Li Tiebi remained—the martial arts novel market was in decline, desperately needing fresh content to revitalize and sustain its prosperity.

Zhang Tan’s emergence was undoubtedly the best choice.

The fierce competition was thus inevitable.

After hanging up, Wen Caile and his friends began to eagerly await "The Legend of the Condor Heroes."

“I’ll buy it the moment it comes out!” Mahua declared resolutely.

“It would be even better if it’s part of The Four Great Constables series. I’m already strongly captivated by Leng Xue. If I were a girl, I’d definitely marry Leng Xue,” Siyan said seriously.

Wen Caile scoffed, “You can offer him the ‘Rear Pavilion Flower.’”

Siyan gave him a sidelong glance. “If Leng Xue really existed, I’d dare to offer it.”

“Maybe ‘The Legend of the Condor Heroes’ will be even better. Heh heh, then no more condors—just shooting your Rear Pavilion Flower.”

“Then I’ll shoot you right in the face first!”

The group laughed and chatted like this, immersing themselves in discussions about The Four Great Constables and their anticipation for the new condor legend.