Chapter 118: A Blazing Momentum

After the class reshuffle, Class 4 of the second year gained many unfamiliar faces.

The homeroom teacher was Li Shengnan, a woman in her thirties or forties.

It was said she was going through menopause.

At that moment, she wore a stern expression and spoke with authority: "Based on your exam results, choose your own seats. Those who are tall, please be conscious and avoid sitting in the front rows or the center. I will call out names; when I call yours, bring your desk inside."

Cao Yuchuan ranked near the top and discussed with Zhang Tan, “Detective, I’ll take the seat in the second-to-last row on the right; I’ll save a spot for you next to me.”

“Alright.”

Then Cao Yuchuan persuaded Zhu Dandan to sit in front of them.

In the liberal arts exam, Cao Yuchuan was thirty-second, Zhang Tan forty-seventh, a close difference. Shortly after Cao Yuchuan settled, Li Shengnan called Zhang Tan’s name. Zhang Tan moved a desk into the classroom and took the seat Cao Yuchuan saved, in the second-to-last row by the window. However, this window no longer had classmates passing by, as it did not border the corridor.

Soon after, Zhu Dandan’s name was called. Zhang Tan patted Cao Yuchuan, “Go help move her desk.”

Obediently, Cao Yuchuan ran over and helped Zhu Dandan move her desk.

Then Tao Jing, a former classmate, also carried her desk over. Zhang Tan peeked and asked, “Tao Jing, are you sitting here?”

Tao Jing shared a dorm with Sixth Jing and had grown considerably taller over the year, probably around 1.7 meters. She was average-looking and studious, rarely seen playing, always arriving early to study.

“Yeah,” Tao Jing replied, struggling a bit with the desk piled high with books.

Zhang Tan, true to his gentlemanly style, waved his hand without lifting a finger: “Cao Yuchuan, hurry and help move that desk.”

Cao Yuchuan, a reserved young man with great enthusiasm for anything involving girls, jumped up excitedly at Zhang Tan’s reminder and helped move Tao Jing’s desk as well.

Thus, a slightly worn but familiar little circle was formed.

Tao Jing replaced Gao Jie.

For the next two years, they would often be together.

Listening to Cao Yuchuan and the others happily gossiping, Zhang Tan stretched and momentarily drifted in thought: “Class reshuffled… settle down, study, write.”

Life returned to a steady rhythm.

As the saying goes, “A small recluse hides in the wilderness; a great recluse hides in the city.” At Shuangdun Middle School, Zhang Tan was a prodigy, a standout in his classmates’ eyes. But since the news wasn’t widespread and Zhang Tan didn’t flaunt his talents, he seemed only slightly more capable than ordinary people, never surpassing the bounds of common perception.

He was impressive, but not overwhelmingly so.

Outside of school, however, things were far from peaceful.

—

Zhang Tan’s name reversed is Tan Zhang.

The name Tan Zhang caused a sensation in the martial arts world.

The “Legends of Past and Present: Martial Arts Edition” had serialised “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” in three instalments totaling ninety thousand words. Initially, the first instalment didn’t create much of a stir. Its reception was even weaker than that of “The Four Great Constables,” which launched with relentless, pulse-pounding action that left readers breathless.

“The Legend of the Condor Heroes” began plainly, with straightforward narration and no embellishments—just telling a story in a calm, steady manner, as if recounting a true tale without anything startling. The characters felt like real historical figures.

Guo Xiaotian descended from Liangshan hero Sai Rengui Guo Sheng, and sworn brother Yang Tiexin was a descendant of the famed general Yang Zaixing of the Yue Army.

It was like a historical epic.

Readers unfamiliar with Zhang Tan or who hadn’t read “The Four Great Constables” might find this a gently told story—readable, but not particularly thrilling.

Those who had read “The Four Great Constables” and held high expectations for Zhang Tan were somewhat disappointed, feeling he’d lost the sharp edge he had when writing that series.

However, it was only the first installment, barely the beginning.

So, readers were told to wait and see.

This explained why the initial response was lukewarm, more subdued than expected.

But as the second and third instalments serialized, the story fully covered the first three chapters: “Storm and Snow Surprise,” “The Seven Freaks of Jiangnan,” and “Desert Wind and Sand.” The narrative moved swiftly and cleanly, thoroughly establishing the opening and deeply portraying the entangled relationships among the characters.

“To understand the world is knowledge; to grasp human nature is art.”

This time, the appeal wasn’t through gripping battles but purely through storytelling and the characters’ intertwined destinies.

Was it successful?

Absolutely—a resounding success. Especially from the second instalment onward, which began the second chapter “The Seven Freaks of Jiangnan.” The seven freaks appeared, along with Qiu Chuji of the Quanzhen Sect. Each character vividly sprang to life on the page. Conflicts intensified sharply, and the story became truly captivating.

By the third chapter, the protagonist Guo Jing appeared, winning the favor of Temujin and Toghrul. The Mongol and Jin dynasties clashed, weaving another thrilling episode.

“I thought it would be mediocre, but who knew it was unparalleled; with just the opening of ‘The Legend of the Condor Heroes,’ Tan Zhang has already earned the title of master,” said Professor Li Qiru of Renmin University, lavishly praising the serial in a special review for “Legends of Past and Present: Martial Arts Edition.”

If a scholar like Li Qiru held it in such high esteem, ordinary readers were naturally amazed.

The magazine’s mailbox was nearly overwhelmed.

“Strongly demand at least sixty thousand words per instalment; thirty thousand is too little, not enough to satisfy. I can’t eat if I don’t read ‘The Legend of the Condor Heroes’ every day.”

“Bao Xiruo is so detestable. Because of her, the Guo and Yang families were ruined. In the end, she even sided with the Jin dogs! Doesn’t she know her husband Yang Tiexin hated the Jin dogs the most? Truly a disgusting woman. Encountering such a person is a family’s misfortune.”

“The Seven Freaks of Jiangnan are wonderful. Tan Zhang really brought them to life. I adore them.”

“This... this, Jebe or whoever, is going to teach Guo Jing to shoot the condor? Could it really turn into a war novel?”

“Master Jiao Mu’s death was such a pity.”

“I’ve read it back and forth five times already. How many more times must I wait for the continuation? Hurry up! Hurry!”

“Hurry with the serialization or we’ll send you blades!”

Seeing so many reader letters and nonstop phone calls, Wang Conglun couldn’t stop smiling, his voice even louder than usual: “Xiao Li, quickly gather a team, select some reader letters, and let’s do a ‘Legend of the Condor Heroes’ reader response section next issue.”

“Okay, boss,” said Li Qiuyu, busy nodding while reading letters.

After giving instructions, Wang Conglun was about to leave when Bi Wanzhen and Xu Dan called out: “Boss, good news from sales. This issue has sold out, many booksellers called asking for extra copies, and next month’s orders want to double.”

“Ha ha, excellent!”

“Boss,” Xu Dan continued, “can you urge the author? The mid-month issue’s manuscript from Tan Zhang hasn’t arrived yet. I’m dying to read it.”

Wang Conglun frowned, “Work hours are for reviewing manuscripts! If you want to read the rest, go buy the physical book at the bookstore yourself.”

Once Wang Conglun entered his office, Xu Dan made a face and muttered quietly, “That’s exactly what I plan to do. Since the manuscript isn’t here, I’ll buy the book… As a martial arts novel editor, I actually have to buy the books of the authors I review. That’s just not right!”

Though unreasonable, he had no choice.

After work, Xu Dan went to Yucai Bookstore and bought the first and second volumes of “The Legend of the Condor Heroes.” Each volume had 150,000 words, so together, 300,000 words, covering the first ten chapters, up to the reunion of the reluctant couple Guo Jing and Huang Rong.

On the bus, Xu Dan eagerly began reading.

Having edited novels for a couple of years, especially martial arts, he usually skimmed through at lightning speed. But this time, he read “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” word by word with great relish. The plain, unadorned prose grew increasingly intriguing.

When he got off the bus, still wanting more, he hurried home to finish the book.

He was deeply drawn in by the characters Guo Jing and Huang Rong—not only them, but every character was full of personality and charm.

As he prepared to get off, he noticed another passenger also deeply engrossed in “The Legend of the Condor Heroes.”

“The Legend of the Condor Heroes” was destined to become a sensation!

Xu Dan felt proud to be connected to it.