This novel took six years to write, from the start to its conclusion. I co-wrote the first few chapters with someone else, then finished it on my own.
During the summer break of 2008, I was eager to try writing, but also half-excited and half-afraid. The chance to work with Muyuke and write fanfiction about the Cult Leader was too tempting, so I pushed aside my hesitation and nerves and took the plunge. Strictly speaking, it was my first time writing fiction, and my first time experiencing the joy and power that writing could bring.
When I finally filled in the gaps in 2014, I looked back at what I'd written. Seeing how my younger, ignorant self had rejected a senior writer's sincere advice without a second thought felt like Huang Baiming passing up Wong Kar-wai. Even if I wanted to write Linghu Chong in a Qiong Yao style, the dynasties were different, so having him transmigrate would have made sense. I can blame it on being young at the time and doing whatever I pleased.
Looking back, I have a thousand things to say. If Brother Mu hadn't invited me to write this with him, who knows how many years it would have taken for the story, which had been stirring in my heart as little more than images, to finally take shape.
Because the writing spanned such a long period, with several years in between, Chong Chong's coy, Qiong Yao-style young scholar persona comes across more naturally in the later chapters.
After finishing the whole thing, I hardly ever looked at it again. There are still parts I can't bring myself to revisit, but reading it all today, I feel like it's half-finished, full of flaws, and yet so wonderful, hahaha! It's as if I've given them new life. I'm so happy to see how vividly alive they are on the page.
