The Tang Dynasty's Bureau of Strange Affairs

[You can find my upcoming novel of the same type, The Unknowable Ming Dynasty, on my author page. If you're interested, feel free to add it to your favorites first (づ￣ 3￣)づ]

Blurb:

During the reign of Emperor Dezong of the Tang Dynasty, the emperor issued an edict establishing a special Bureau for Handling Strange Affairs under the Directorate of Astronomy, to deal with the bizarre incidents cropping up everywhere. As the years passed, people found the bureau's name too cumbersome, and simply called it the Strange Affairs Bureau, or... the Ghost Affairs Bureau.

Before Li Haowen joined the bureau, it had already gone through seven chiefs, none of whom had met a peaceful end. His first mystery to solve after joining was the cause of his predecessor's death.

Li Haowen: Thanks for asking, but I'm just an ordinary time transmigrator, a person with multiple personalities, someone with reading difficulties, and... a foodie.

His colleagues at the Strange Affairs Bureau: Don't worry, we're all just as "ordinary" as you.

Although the bureau had a bizarre atmosphere, Li Haowen, ever eager to learn, soon adapted to his new job.

But he quickly realized that the "Tang Dynasty" around him wasn't the Tang Dynasty he knew...

The world's underlying logic was tending toward endless chaos;

Mad beliefs and worship were becoming widespread;

Ancient and mysterious powers were gradually awakening...

The Tang Dynasty was increasingly filled with chaos, distortion, mutation, and ill omens.

Confronted with an inscrutable past and a future shrouded in mist, Li Haowen and the Strange Affairs Bureau searched desperately through the river of time for the source of the world's transformation. Perhaps there lay the Tang Dynasty's only way out.

*

Years later, Li Haowen had become the Tang Dynasty's number-one heartthrob, the most popular protagonist in tales of adventure, and the model for door-god portraits.

Asked about those strange and wondrous experiences, Li Haowen always answered modestly: "It wasn't me who saved the Tang Dynasty. It was the 'Tang Dynasty.'"

Reading Guide

1. A Tang-style tale of the strange mixed with Lovecraftian horror. The world combines myths and legends, strange tales, folk customs, the Classic of Mountains and Seas, and the Cthulhu Mythos. That's quite a mix, so see the author's note in Chapter One for details. The tone is light, not heavily Lovecraftian, with the occasional refreshing moment. Feel free to add it to your favorites!

2. The story takes place in a parallel Tang Dynasty, which differs from the historical one. The protagonist can deceive time and use history to his advantage.

3. This novel will be premium starting December 11. There will be a 10,000-word update then. Thank you all for your continued support.

A recommendation for a friend's upcoming novel:

Becoming the Number One Music Cultivator Through My Terrible Singing by You Wei Xue Li

One-line summary: Huh? How did all of you become useless?

Theme: As long as you're willing to work tirelessly, you can overcome every obstacle and achieve goals beyond the reach of ordinary people.