- Male protagonist: Lin Yanqiu, who was born in a poor family in the south of the Yangtze River. He has been obsessed with calligraphy since he was a child. Under the guidance of a hermit mentor, he is good at seal script, official script and regular script. He is especially good at the original brushwork that combines the "skinny gold style" and the "Lanting style". He has a gentle personality on the outside and strong on the inside. He knows how to tolerate and have character. He uses the pen as a blade and ink as a strategy.
- Core conflict: the collision between the literati's character and the rules of officialdom, the balance between calligraphy talent and political ambition, the confrontation between the counterattack of a humble family and the strife of the powerful.
- Theme: Build the world with pen, cultivate oneself with ink, stick to the original intention in the ups and downs of the official career, use calligraphy talent to lever the gears of destiny, and write the road to success for the poor literati.
- Era background: The ancient times (similar to the combination of Tang and Song Dynasties), literary style prevailed, imperial examinations valued literary talents, there were many official factions (Qingliu, powerful ministers, relatives), calligraphy was not only a literati quality, but also a social media and political tool.
