Chapter 2: The Wind and Cloud Comic
Hu Tao's attention was already completely captured by the comic. Whatever Su Han was saying, she couldn't care less. She waved him off absentmindedly, mumbling, "Mm-hmm, born with divine strength, very impressive…"
Watching the entranced girl, Su Han handed the other copy of the comic to Zhongli.
Zhongli looked slightly surprised. "For me as well?"
"Of course. Aren't we friends? Besides, this comic is pretty interesting, I'd like to hear your opinion on it."
"Not at all. Anything from Brother Su must surely be of fine quality."
Accepting the comic, Zhongli's eyes lit up the moment he glanced at the cover. Even without reading it, he could tell it was a masterpiece. Once he opened it, the story drew him in immediately. The depiction of Xiongba's imposing figure was even more majestic than in Su Han's narration.
In fact, the system had shortened the story. Otherwise, the TV version would have been far too slow-paced.
After the cuts, the plot became much tighter and more engaging.
Mud Buddha's prophecy, Xiongba's search for Wind and Cloud, scene after scene unfolded vividly in the comic.
Whenever Hu Tao reached an exciting part, she couldn't help clapping in delight. But when she saw Wind and Cloud suffering, she sighed in pity.
"Sigh, their lives are so tragic. But Nie Feng is so gentle, isn't he? Whereas Bu Jingyun, his parents died and he didn't even shed a tear. Does he even know how to cry? Maybe he turned into a Geo Slime or something. I heard Slimes can't cry."
The first volume was mostly about love, hatred, and vengeance, nothing too explosive, but Hu Tao was completely absorbed. Compared to any novel she'd ever read, this was on a whole different level.
By the time she reached the second volume, the story suddenly shifted gears. The pace quickened, and two major events arrived one after another:
Bu Jingyun losing his arm and gaining the Kirin Arm, and the Sword Saint descending upon the Under Heaven Assembly.
"As expected, this part's amazing! Zhongli, who do you think will win?"
"Probably the Sect Master, Xiongba."
Zhongli happened to be looking at the same scene. Though the Sword Saint was old, facing the legendary hero of the martial world, his every move still radiated invincible might.
Inside the grand hall of the comic, martial artists had gathered to celebrate Xiongba's birthday. When the Sword Saint appeared, panic spread like wildfire, how could mortal flesh touch a Primordial Spirit?
The guests who had just been drinking and laughing moments ago instantly became corpses strewn across the floor.
"So this is what Sword Twenty-Three is like, it's terrifyingly powerful."
"If I could master that sword art, then the next time I face monsters or demons, I'd only need a single thought to cut them down by the hundreds! Hehe…"
Hu Tao's eyes sparkled with excitement. Just the idea of separating one's spirit from the body to attack was thrilling. Physical attacks would be completely useless against her then!
But Su Han quickly poured cold water on her enthusiasm. "Hall Master, I suggest you don't learn that."
"Why not? It's such an incredible technique, who wouldn't want to learn it?"
"You'll see soon enough."
Annoyed by his interruption, Hu Tao rolled her eyes and went back to reading, determined to find out why she "shouldn't learn it."
A few pages later, when she saw the Sword Saint's physical body touched by Bu Jingyun and his Primordial Spirit instantly shattering, she broke into a cold sweat.
"Heavens! So that's why… No wonder you told me not to learn it. Sword Twenty-Three has such a deadly flaw. Thank goodness, whew! Dangerous stuff like that really isn't for this Hall Master."
Though Sword Twenty-Three was incredibly powerful, the fragile physical body was its greatest weakness. Once the body was destroyed, the practitioner was doomed.
Hu Tao liked the idea of using her spirit to fight, but dying in confusion like that? Definitely not worth it.
And thus, the first two volumes came to an end.
Watching Hu Tao exclaim and wave her arms around, Zhongli smiled and said to Su Han, "I suppose if one's body were strong enough, Sword Twenty-Three would still be quite formidable?"
"Indeed. But after all, it's just a comic. Anyway, Hall Master, how about we discuss a business deal?"
"You want to sell the comic?"
"Of course. But you know how it is, I'm just one man, recently back from abroad, and I don't have any starting capital. If you trust me…"
"Trust you? Come on, we're family! But when are you updating the third and fourth volumes?"
Hu Tao cared little about money. What she really wanted was the next part of the story. She immediately agreed to help, but her focus was on the upcoming volumes.
Su Han glanced at the system and replied, "It'll probably take about two days."
"What?! Why that long? It's so good, you should start printing right now!"
Hu Tao didn't understand. Paper could be bought easily, so why couldn't he just continue printing?
Su Han spread his hands helplessly. "Ah, it's the printer. It's got… quirks. Basically, it won't print new volumes until six hundred copies of the current one have been sold."
"Alright then. How much money do you need? Just tell the accountant. With our relationship, I won't even charge interest. But once your business takes off, you better send more work our way."
"Deal. No problem."
Once everything was settled, Su Han got up to get started.
Watching him leave, Hu Tao put down the comic and sighed softly. "Zhongli… looks like that day has finally come."
"Just from Brother Su's words and manner, I could tell he's not one to live an ordinary life," Zhongli replied with a faint smile. "I believe he'll bring us many more surprises in the future."
Over the past three months, Zhongli and Su Han had shared many conversations, about Liyue's culture, business, even entertainment.
No matter the topic, Su Han could speak knowledgeably, and Zhongli had even once considered recommending him for an official post.
But Su Han had turned it down outright, saying that being an official was too tiring.
Looking back, Zhongli realized Su Han simply didn't want to deal with endless bureaucracy. A few pointers here and there were fine, but managing people all day? No thanks.
From renting a shop to hiring employees, Su Han worked tirelessly for the next three hours.
Thanks to the contacts he'd built over the past few months while running errands, nearly every merchant in Liyue Harbor knew him by now. And with the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's name behind him, everything went smoothly.
A few hours later, looking at the deed with his name stamped on it, Su Han finally exhaled in relief. His first shop was officially his.
But renting even a small shop in Liyue, where land was worth its weight in gold, was no small expense. By the time everything was settled, Su Han had spent a full one million Mora.
"Still, with that, all the preparations are finally done."
Su Han looked at the new storefront and breathed a long sigh of relief. Thankfully, the system came with built-in poster generation, saving him from hiring decorators. Creating posters only required paper and a bit of Mora.
For example, the enormous two-meter signboard he just designed had only cost ten thousand Mora, quite a bargain.
With everything ready, Su Han lay down on his bed, exhausted. As he stared at the system interface, he thought about tomorrow morning, when the comics would officially go on sale.
If the launch went well, he might even earn his first reward right away.
[System: Myriad Worlds Comic System (Permission Level 1 - Advance after selling 50,000 copies!)]
[Comic: Wind and Cloud (TV Martial Arts Version)]
[Permission: Level 1 (Can produce Volumes 1–2)]
[Requirement: Sell 600 copies to unlock subsequent content]
[Reward: Sell 600 copies to unlock first lottery draw. After five lotteries, receive one free treasure draw.]
[Treasure Pool: Randomly obtain martial arts techniques, treasures, pills, divine weapons, or mystical items from the Wind and Cloud world. With permission below Level 5, super-tier treasures will not appear.]
[Bonus: If the Host obtains a technique, it can be upgraded with points. Each sold comic grants one point. Treasures can also be strengthened using points.]
"No wonder the system said it could become powerful even as an entertainment type. This isn't just strong, it's insanely strong!"
Su Han was thrilled. Even martial arts-level rewards were extraordinary.
If he were lucky enough to obtain something like Feng Yuan's treasure, he'd already count as a powerhouse within Liyue, at the very least, he'd be able to protect himself.
And that was just from a martial arts comic.
What about a fantasy one? Or a cultivation comic?
Could he, one day, surpass even the Archons themselves?
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