The Old Coot Draws Comics, What Does He Know About Hot-Blooded Shonen Manga?

Premium release begins July 19, 2024. Thanks for your support! At 26, Xi Siling works as a civil servant in the Registration and Management Department of the National Institute for Supernatural Ability Research. He is facing the greatest crisis of his life. A wanted sorcerer known as “the worst in history,” who seems to have come out of nowhere, has him by the throat and is asking him a question that makes no sense. “Why did you have to abandon me too?” Xi Siling: Huh? Do we know each other? Though he’s being strangled, he struggles to see the face beneath the wanted criminal’s white hair. He still can’t recognize him, so he cautiously asks: “Who are you?” The sorcerer laughs bitterly, apparently intent on killing him. At the last possible moment, a guy calling himself the [Shonen Manga System] stops time. “That’s Liuhuaqi. He was your junior when you were a mentor at the Supernatural Academy High School. He lost his ability after the midterm exams and was expelled. Later, during the interschool tournament, he defeated all the S-rank elites except you.” Xi Siling is stunned. “Wasn’t his hair black?!” Come on, man, you’re trying to kill me after ten years apart?! I never bullied you! “It’s a long story…” the Shonen Manga System replies, sounding a little exasperated. The manga Supernatural Boy Liuhuaqi is a “grand masterpiece” that took the artist [Southeast Northwest] ten years to draw. Originally intended as a hot-blooded shonen manga, it attracted plenty of readers at first with its warmhearted protagonist, delicate emotional writing, and stylish art. Then the artist started pulling all kinds of stunts. Because face-slapping power fantasies were popular, Liuhuaqi was forced to lose his powers, just so he could prove that no one should look down on a poor young man. Because tragic, beautiful characters were popular, Liuhuaqi’s happy family was forced to become a sacrifice to the clan’s ambitions, and he became a vessel for an evil god. Because villain protagonists were popular, Liuhuaqi began killing people for no reason, even his closest teammates. Because healing stories and dual male leads were popular, a beloved second male lead suddenly appeared, launching into a nonsensical “he runs, he chases” romance with Liuhuaqi. By this point, who could still remember that it was supposed to be a hot-blooded shonen manga? Even the artist couldn’t draw anymore and had no idea how to end it. So he went all in: the second male lead died, Liuhuaqi turned evil, and after killing everyone he knew, he destroyed the world. Thus ended this disastrous manga, serialized for ten years. As one “loyal” reader put it: “It’s so disgusting even a dog would turn its nose up at it. I want to beat the artist until he can’t tell east from west.” Xi Siling: …I’m a historian. This is an epic. So the world consciousness, unwilling to see the world destroyed, called on the higher-plane [Shonen Manga System] for help, hoping it could find someone to save the world. Xi Siling: I’m supposed to fight Liuhuaqi? Seriously? Shonen Manga System: You’ll win. There was no other choice but to pick him. Xi Siling was the only named character in the manga who hadn’t died yet. “Do your best, young man! Go back to the past, earn the readers’ ‘hot-blooded’ approval, outsmart the deranged old hack, change your death ending, and save Liuhuaqi and the world! Your chance is now!” Xi Siling: Haha, can I escape the manga first and punch that old hack? PS: The old hack won’t get to enjoy both fame and fortune. PPS: The old hack has already been beaten up. Kisses! Theme: Never give up hope