Foreword · Search heaven and earth

The editor messaged me this morning to say that the book is going live early this morning.

It's time to go live again.

How time flies.

It feels like it was only yesterday that I uploaded the new book—no, it feels like the last time I finished a book was only yesterday... That vibrant, flourishing state of all things competing for life still feels fresh before my eyes. How did it blink into existence as the launch day for this one?

Someone must have sped up my flow of time. I hope they step forward and confess; don't let me catch them, or they'll be in for a world of hurt.

Of course, it could also be that happy times are always fleeting... right?

But I don't feel like I've been particularly happy!

Facts prove that this damn life just passes by this quickly, regardless of whether you're happy or not. It's only when you're suffering that days feel like years. Take, for example—writer's block, writer's block, and more writer's block.

It's strange. Before uploading, I could easily write thousands or tens of thousands of words a day, and my stockpile would grow rapidly. But once the new book starts, life just goes downhill.

A small block every three days, a major block every five. Blocking back and forth, blocking away the old days, and blocking little Duo Duo until she's bald. Every day I walk on thin ice, trembling, just wanting to post on Moments to ask myself if I can make it to the other side.

God knows if I can; I certainly don't!

So I hesitate, looking forward and backward, feeling like I'm wasting my life when days drag on like years. Yet, when I look back, I find that my days were actually too full—so full that I sometimes find it hard to believe.

I often look back at the things I've written. Most of the time, I think, "Damn, this is good; how did I write something so amazing?" And more often than not, I'll roll around and howl, feeling like I'll never be able to write something that great again.

Sometimes, I'll focus on reading the plots I like because I still remember how happy those days were when I wrote them. There are other plots I subconsciously skip or ignore because those days weren't very smooth or were downright terrible.

I haven't kept a diary since I graduated from elementary school, but looking back at those stories now, I feel as if my unremarkable past is appearing before my eyes once again.

Updating is like turpentine; when it falls from the branches, it encapsulates the me of the past. After some time, those memories appear in the update list like neatly arranged amber.

When I wrote that chapter, Bai Ze had his birthday; when I wrote this one, Duo Duo was sick; I remember feeling so sad when I updated this plot; that plot was so difficult to write, I stayed up so late, but looking at it now, the effect is really good... All those trivial, fragmented past events are tucked into the gaps between the plots, hidden in corners I never noticed. When I look back, they jump out and appear before my eyes when I'm not paying attention.

Such distant things, and you all still remember them for me.

That's truly amazing.

This job still has some perks, doesn't it?

Ever since I started writing full-time, my life has become monotonous and dull.

After opening my eyes each day, I spend most of my time in front of the computer. Once I finish writing, I collapse into my chair, unable to move. I've given up socializing and going out; I don't interact with others, nor do I talk to anyone much. Over time, I've stopped taking the initiative to message people, immersing myself in my own little world every day. As time goes on, I've become like a transparent being.

Looking back now, while I feel a sense of loss, I also feel...

It's fucking great!

How can such a good thing exist in this world?!

What was I doing earlier? Oh, I think I started writing back then.

Thinking about it that way, it's even better.

When I was young, I often thought, "The world is so dark; I'm going to fight, fight, fight and overturn everything!" Now that I'm no longer young, I feel that although this world is a bit of a mess, at least I've found the place where I feel most at ease.

As long as I can write something, I feel happy.

If the readers like it, then I feel that gritting my teeth is worth it.

Of course, it would be even better if there were no daily update requirements. That life would be like a heaven where milk and honey flow in the rivers and the trees are laden with figs.

If I could write a book that readers would remember for a lifetime, then my life wouldn't have been spent in vain, right?

So, putting in more effort, gritting my teeth a bit more, and enduring it doesn't seem like much.

When I was fourteen, I imagined that after leaving my hometown and going to places I'd never been, I could live a life of accomplishment. I didn't know what a life of accomplishment was back then, but if possible, I wanted to achieve as much as I could.

Looking back now, I realize that in fifty years of life, doing one thing well is already quite extraordinary.

If I can do a few more things well, that would be truly impressive.

Looking at it this way, I don't seem as much of a failure as I thought. At the very least, I can support my family, take good care of Bai Ze and Duo Duo, and at least let Duo Duo live a life of "dog food freedom." Well, actually, Bai Ze and Duo Duo are the ones taking care of me... but I contribute too! At the very least, as the one being taken care of, I provide a lot of valuable emotional support, okay!

If life is a battle, then we'll go out and slaughter everything together. I'll be responsible for the "slaughtering" because I have a loud voice!

But aside from rambling about life, there's nothing left but work.

Writing, updating, writer's block—it's starting all over again.

It's foreseeable that the future will be this cycle, year after year, month after month. I hope that one day I can live a wonderful life of writing smoothly every day without blocks, but that's too far away.

If I'm blocked, so be it; I have to write even if I'm blocked.

If I have no inspiration, I'll go look for it. Wherever it is, I'll go—search heaven and earth. If it's nowhere to be found in either place, then I'll look somewhere else.

Big or small, I'll always find something.

If I can't find it, I'll keep looking, pretend I've found it, and grit my teeth to keep writing.

Now, Above the Mandate of Heaven is going live. Even though my stockpile is dwindling and the future is uncertain and nerve-wracking, after being anxious for so many days, I actually feel a sense of relief—a kind of satisfaction, like finally being sent to the guillotine after dragging it out for too long.

No need to hesitate anymore; the plan is set.

The journey with no end in sight has begun once again. Whether you're ready or not, you have to keep moving forward.

I hope luck and creativity will continue to favor me as they always have.

And I hope you all like my small achievement.

After a long passage of time, we meet once again at the starting point of our journey. Now, this Sky Rail flight, the Doomsday Train, is about to depart. Train Conductor Ji Jue has been waiting for a long time; please hold your tickets and board the train in an orderly fashion.

I sincerely hope you all have a pleasant journey.

I also hope that in the future, we may meet again at the final destination.

Thank you all!

Thank you!

Duo Duo and I both love you, truly!