The Theory of Long Live

Time flies. Whenever people imagine the future or look back on the past, something is bound to stir their hearts.

A vivid imagination and deep emotions make life richer. Just like Qin Wan and Zhang Lang in the novel, from a distance, they seem to bear the marks of so many people.

In reality, a life like theirs would be downright bizarre. In the realm of imagination, though, it is a dream with a soul.

Life rises and falls, much like the lives of these two protagonists: there is righteous vengeance and betrayal, loyalty and treachery, farewells in the face of death, love and grief.

So often, the ideas we have when we're young are mercilessly battered by reality. So often, adult life is about climbing out of one pit after another, brushing off the dust, and then scaling the next peak.

Seen from a wider perspective, against the vast expanse of history, every person's life is like a brief, brilliant firework. Qin Wan and Zhang Lang simply gather the fleeting silhouettes of countless fireworks into life's bittersweet medley, reflecting the scheming and deceit that come with power. They are also the most dazzling essence of every firework, solving mysteries and overcoming every obstacle as they unite all of China.

No words can ever match the wonder of life itself. Yet, plain as they may be, words can serve as a spark, igniting a flame in a reader's heart. They might be a sweet, beautiful fairy tale, or a gripping murder-mystery game. How you understand them is up to you.