The Villain is Number One in the World

Early in the morning, Chloe Chen got up early.

Today, she had to go to the inn to pick up the account books. After boiling herself some plain porridge and having a little side dish, she wiped her mouth and left.

As usual, the inn was crowded. Being one of Bianjing's most famous inns, it attracted many guests with its excellent chefs.

The early spring weather was slightly cool. With her internal injuries, Chloe couldn't stand the cold, so she pulled her worn cotton jacket tighter. She thought the medicine she drank last night had worked well, and after taking care of the business, she'd brew another batch when she got home.

"Miss Chen, you've come. Here are the account books for the past few days."

The accountant handed her the prepared books.

Chloe skimmed through the pages but suddenly heard a group of guests at a nearby table chatting, their voices not at all quiet.

"I wonder who that heroic figure, the Swift Wind, is. To think they'd publish martial arts secrets like a novel in the newspaper!"

"Hey, have you tried it yet? I'll admit, I've secretly practiced it. I can tell my swordplay is definitely smoother!"

"Really? You dared to practice it? Aren't you afraid of getting into trouble? You're not some plant sent by the author, are you?"

"Get lost! I'm not treating you to drinks today!"

"Hahaha, just kidding! But seriously, I only took a quick look, didn't actually practice it. If you think it works, I'll give it a try when I get home…"

Noticing that Chloe had been distracted by their conversation, the accountant sighed. "That Swift Wind guy is really famous now. No one knows where he came from, but in just a few days, his name's everywhere on the streets. I heard many people have started practicing the Drizzling Rain Sword Technique. Have you tried it?"

"…I'm too weak to practice." Chloe replied casually, thinking: I can't exactly tell them I'm the Swift Wind, right? That'd be so awkward. Besides, even if she did tell them, they probably wouldn't believe her. It would be embarrassing if she tried to show off and ended up getting mocked. Maybe in the future, when the time is right, she'll make a grand reveal.

After politely excusing herself, Chloe left with the account books.

Along the way, she overheard many people mentioning "Swift Wind" and "Drizzling Rain," a clear sign that The Legend of the Greatest Martial Artist had become a huge hit. She moved through the crowd as though unaffected, her mind calm and free like the wind.

Questioning Sword Manor

The most direct result of the newspaper's massive sales was that the pre-printed copies were sold out in a short period of time. Due to uncertainty about the new story's popularity, the newspaper had been printed in the usual volume.

Now, kiosks were urgently requesting more newspapers, and with the story's growing popularity, even more new vendors were coming to ask for copies. The situation had become so chaotic that the editorial office was in complete disarray.

As the chief editor of the serialized fiction section, Zheng Xudong was feeling the pressure.

His subordinates kept reporting that they'd received pigeon post from different locations, urgently requesting more newspapers, and the data team frequently provided feedback saying there were shortages of newspapers.

It was a sweet burden!

"Tell them that we've already printed more! No need to panic!" Zheng Xudong shouted hoarsely, running toward the printing rooms. Inside, three printing rooms were working overtime, printing like mad. He approached the workers and asked, "How long will it take to finish the additional 20,000 copies?"

"We've printed 8,000 copies already. You can take those now. The rest will definitely be ready by tomorrow afternoon!" one of the workers replied.

This was the best they could do given their current capabilities. Since receiving the reprint order, the workers hadn't had a break, working nonstop with no time to eat.

There was no use in rushing them further. Zheng Xudong could only comfort them, take the 8,000 copies, and leave.

As he walked away, he thought to himself, Since The Legend of the Greatest Martial Artist is so popular, should I expand the Swift Wind's section from 3,000 words to 6,000 words?

At home, Chloe endured the bitter taste of the medicine before eating some preserved fruit to offset the flavor. After spending half an hour checking the account books, she sat on a wooden bench and began to write today's new chapter.

"Li Bangyi snapped a twig and, taking advantage of the fact that no one was home, began to practice alone in the backyard. The sound of the air being cut by his sword was sharp and clear. Unknowingly, his swordsmanship already had some form."

"On this day, Li Bangyi took his sister to the fields to help their parents. On the way, they ran into the local bully, Qi Zhentian."

"Qi Zhentian had once learned martial arts at the local dojo and had even served as a bodyguard for a wealthy family. However, he was expelled for his unclean conduct and had since resorted to petty crime."

"Hey, isn't that Li's little sister? What a coincidence! You've been staying indoors for some time. Big Brother Qi has been missing you!"

"Qi Zhentian ignored the scrawny Li Bangyi and leered at Li Caixia's chest with a disgusting gaze. Li Caixia lowered her head and bit her lip, her expression full of humiliation."

"Li Bangyi realized, to his horror, that his sister had been harassed by Qi Zhentian for quite some time!"

"Seeing Li Bangyi charge forward, Qi Zhentian sneered. A mere barefoot farmer—what gave him the courage to challenge him?"

Questioning Sword Newspaper had now published four issues in a row, and The Legend of the Greatest Martial Artist was a full-blown success. The story was now circulating all around Bianjing.

People even greeted each other on the streets with, "Have you practiced the Drizzling Rain Sword Technique? How far along are you?"

Of course, there were also many people discussing the plot.

The novel was thrilling, with ups and downs in every chapter. The cliffhangers kept people on the edge of their seats, making it hard to wait for the next installment. With the compelling martial arts techniques added in, it became even more exciting and widely talked about.

After receiving numerous letters from readers demanding that the story be extended, Zheng Xudong's earlier musings on whether to lengthen the story were immediately put aside.

Yes! It must be extended!

Why not take advantage of this incredible response?

Zheng Xudong had never expected such an explosive reaction. He had initially only guessed that the story might become popular, but he had no idea it would blow up like this!

And the hype wasn't just limited to Bianjing—other cities that received the Questioning Sword Newspaper were also caught up in the frenzy.

The success of the newspaper had directly led to an increase in sales.

"Mr. Zheng, a letter from the Swift Wind!" One of his subordinates handed him a thick letter.

Zheng Xudong took it eagerly.

The newspaper had set up a special, fast, and secure communication channel for the Swift Wind, using not pigeons, but trained eagles—a step up from the usual pigeon service.

After opening the letter, he read through the contents and was taken aback.

Over the course of their correspondence, they had developed a strong relationship of trust. He had even met the author once.

It was then that he discovered that the heroic "Swift Wind" he had imagined as a strong, dashing man was actually a frail, sickly young woman.

This revelation was completely unexpected!

But no matter her physical condition, her ideas and writing were more than enough to make up for it. Zheng Xudong increased her payment to 150 wen per 1,000 words and even offered her a better place to stay.

However, Chloe had declined the offer for a better living arrangement, despite understanding that she was a rising star. She had a clear plan: there wasn't enough benefit yet, and exchanging her rising value for a living situation would be premature. She'd wait until she was in a stronger position before making such demands.

—Like right now.

After The Legend of the Greatest Martial Artist became a major success, she wrote to the newspaper requesting a bodyguard. She wanted someone skilled enough to protect her.

The Drizzling Rain Sword Technique was only the beginning—a test run. There would be more advanced techniques to come, including swordplay, spear techniques, knife skills, fist techniques, palm techniques, leg techniques, lightness skills, internal martial arts, and more.

For now, people could contain their desire to try it out, but as more techniques were revealed, the demand would only grow.

That's why she needed a bodyguard—not just for her own safety, but for the safety of the newspaper. If something were to happen to her, the paper would not only lose but would face the wrath of its readers!

As she put the letter aside, Zheng Xudong sighed deeply.

What a "Swift Wind"! It was no wonder she had declined the offer of a better house. She was waiting for this exact moment. It was clear that she had a long-term vision, while he had been too shortsighted.

As an editor, he needed to learn to see

things from the author's perspective.