Lots of people ask me what cultivation is, and what makes a martial arts story. The answer is just four words: “Keep the dragon hidden.”
Perhaps it's a broken sword and a death, with a thousand people seeing the sword off to its burial; perhaps it's a crown prince slaughtering everyone in an entire household to deceive the emperor; perhaps it's a humble son-in-law with far-reaching connections laid in secret; perhaps it's leaving the palace in the snow and becoming a saint in a single day; perhaps it's accidentally killing the one you love, splitting your mind, and muddling through half a lifetime; perhaps it's dying years ago while the world remains caught in your schemes; perhaps everyone hides their true abilities, until all become rulers of their age...
The board is covered with intricate plots. Keep the dragon hidden.
