The Warlock's Temptation

It hurts so much. I used to think that the melancholy of finishing a book could be relieved by reading a new one, but in just a few years, there have been no new books worth reading. Rereading this book only deepens my melancholy. It hurts so much.

Has Boss Huo retired from the martial arts world? His new book was shelved, and then there was no further news.

I read "The Wizard" a long time ago, probably in junior high school. I saw it on a book list on a bookstore after school, but I was too poor to afford it, so I just left it on the shelf. Later, when I had some spare money, I finally subscribed to the whole book. I've read "The Wizard" three times, and I'm still deeply moved every time I recall the text and plot. This book made a deep impression on me from the very beginning. A passage about subduing Xiaoshan during the Ghost Festival reminded me of the local legends about the festival. My mother would pick me up on the night of the Ghost Festival, saying that ghosts were playing on the road and that without an adult, I would be captured. I used to believe it, but perhaps it was just a nostalgic feeling after reading this passage. The first chapter introduced characters like Xiaoniu, Xiaoshan, and Eighth Master (ghosts), clearly defining the protagonist's identity and personality. The writing was clear and concise, without any unnecessary embellishment. The plot unfolded gradually, from praying for rain to entering the city, and then to becoming an official in the capital. The main and subplots developed very solidly. The trip to Ghost Island, where the protagonist fought his way through the rain for the Rain Maiden, was thrilling. The subsequent journey to Tianjiang brought together the foreshadowing and plot points, and the writing was also very evocative. It brought to life the sacred land I had imagined from Bai Xuege's novel: the playful witch, hidden secrets, a scroll of hell, a resurrected demon king, a turbulent martial world, and unresolved grudges. The beautiful story left a deep impression on me. However, the later parts of the story didn't hold my attention as much. That evening at the ferry crossing, Tao Huolong bought a bowl of vegetarian noodles from a food stall, sat in the wind, and sighed about the loneliness of the martial world and the tender feelings between men and women. Little did he know that a few years later he would become the chivalrous Ah San Ge, a hero in the martial world. When Eighth Master was peeping at Yuntai bathing, could he have imagined that years later, walking side-by-side with him, amidst blossoming flowers, would be this seemingly celestial man? The story of the martial world has passed; let the people tell the rest.

I've watched it three times, and it's still great.

Generally, the protagonist charges ahead recklessly, and everyone else retreats, resulting in a plot without any ups and downs. Even noble sentiments seem somewhat weak in the face of a predictable storyline.

Are you still writing? On which platform?

It feels like such an old novel. I remember reading a passage about praying for rain a while ago, and now when I look at the first page, it's from 2018! But then I realize it's 2026 now, eight years have passed. It just doesn't feel real. #(Hammer)