Collective Demands for More Updates

Li Changle had been practicing the guitar. After discovering that his memory had improved, he found that as long as he practiced diligently, his guitar skills seemed capable of recovering at lightning speed.

Moreover, techniques he had never been able to master before no matter how much he practiced—things like vibrato, string bending, and other small tricks—now came naturally to him. This was far more interesting than writing novels.

For the past few days, Li Changle had been hopelessly immersed in the guitar. Aside from updating Legend of Sword and Fairy 1 with six thousand words every day,

and saving another ten or twenty thousand words daily, he put down all work and focused entirely on playing guitar. He did not even cook anymore. It could be said that he had reached the point of forgetting food and sleep.

The office of Ruyi, a junior editor at the Chinese Web Novel Platform, had become the Legend of Sword and Fairy Readers' Alliance. Every day, everyone waited for updates.

After reading them, they discussed the plot together and casually guessed just how outrageous this novel's results would be after it went premium.

For an entire week, they had given up urging for updates. Everyone could tell that this author called Li Xiaoyao seemed to be the laid-back sort.

Six thousand words every day, without fail. No amount of urging worked. He did not check Penguin Social or private messages...

Legend of Sword and Fairy 1 had reached the part where the Wine Sword Immortal first met Li Xiaoyao and forcibly made him learn the Sword Control Art. As soon as the Wine Sword Immortal recited his Sword Control Art, the office exploded.

Riding the wind upon my sword, I come, To banish demons from heaven and earth.

With wine, I roam in joy and ease; Without it, I am mad all the same.

One drink drains rivers and seas; Another swallows the sun and moon.

A thousand cups cannot make me fall— I alone am the Wine Sword Immortal.

One particularly chuuni editor immediately recited it aloud in the office. His lips trembled as he waved his arms about.

"This is the Xianxia I've always dreamed of..."

No one in the office laughed at him. Everyone agreed with what he said. This was what Xianxia ought to be—heroic enough to reach the clouds, free and unrestrained.

With just that poem, they could already picture a rakishly handsome middle-aged man with a small mustache, messy hair tied back, an unparalleled Divine Sword strapped to his back, and a gourd hanging from his waist.

He needed only one sword to slay demons and uphold justice. He always looked carefree and unserious, always seeking drunkenness. His capacity for drink, like his Sword Control Technique, was unfathomable.

Too cool!

As long as you saw this poem, reading this book would be worth it! Wasn't this way more satisfying than those brainless Power Fantasy Novels full of posturing and face-slapping?

The urge to demand more updates, which had been lying dormant in everyone's minds, stirred to life again. They had to make this author write more!

Everyone looked at Ruyi. Ruyi pulled a miserable face and shook her head.

"Don't look at me. I can't even get in touch with this Li Xiaoyao anymore. I want him to update more too..."

Ruyi's adorable little face had turned as bitter as a melon. Everyone was thoroughly disappointed.

The members of the Chinese Web Novel Platform's Legend of Sword and Fairy alliance were not the only ones anxious. The readers were clearly even less patient than the editors.

"That's it? Eighty thousand words, and it's already gone?"

"I've reread it over and over several times! This novel is so good, and I love Li Xiaoyao's personality... Why can't he update more?"

"Riding the wind upon my sword, I come, to banish demons from heaven and earth—this is fucking awesome! Wine Sword Immortal forever!!"

"Why is this bastard author also named Li Xiaoyao? What the hell."

"Bastard author, update already!"

"Update!"

"Update +1"

"This is the first time I've read such a heroic poem in a novel. I can practically see how dashing the Wine Sword Immortal is in my mind. He's so fucking cool!"

"A poem this cool is becoming my Penguin signature starting today!"

"You're way too chuuni..."

"Then what's with your Chinese Web Novel Platform bio?"

"Can something a scholar does be called chuuni?"

For a time, the comment section was filled with cheerful energy.

The comment section for The Legend of Sword and Fairy 1 was buzzing. Most of the comments were urging for updates or praising the novel.

An eighty-thousand-word novel had directly climbed to first place on the new book rankings. Ruyi estimated that it would likely remain there until the novel went premium.

"Why hasn't this book gone premium yet? Hurry up and put it behind a paywall! This young master wants to tip you—tip you heavily! And then urge you to update!"

"Fellow Daoist speaks wisely!"

"Please, put it behind a paywall!"

"I came to the review section for three things: urge for updates, urge for updates, and fucking urge for updates!"

"Can sending Razor Blades urge updates? Can Monthly Tickets urge updates? If neither works, can Razor Blades plus Monthly Tickets urge updates?"

"I have a friend who really likes this book and wants to know the author's contact information and address..."

Legend of Sword and Fairy 1 rapidly became popular on the Chinese Web Novel Platform at an unbelievable speed. A new book that had not even gone premium was more popular than books in the top ten of the Monthly Ticket rankings. It was absurd.

Li Changle knew nothing about any of this. Having practiced guitar nonstop lately, his fingers had started getting injured by the strings. He sighed.

Until his fingers developed calluses, he was probably stuck with the pain.

Practicing guitar was truly painful and joyful at the same time. The pain was physical, while the joy was spiritual.

Pieces he had been unable to play before now came effortlessly to him. Li Changle was no longer satisfied with an acoustic guitar, so he bought an Electric Guitar, an Effects Pedal, speakers, and a pile of other equipment.

Thinking that his injured fingers had slowed his writing speed, he realized that while he used to be able to save ten or twenty thousand words a day, he could now barely save six thousand.

It was best to play it safe. What if he ran out of saved chapters later? He seemed to remember that Legend of Sword and Fairy 1 had quite a few readers a few days ago.

After thinking it over, Li Changle simply posted a Single Chapter Announcement to explain the situation.

Thank you, everyone, for supporting The Legend of Sword and Fairy 1. Because I injured my fingers practicing guitar these past few days, my writing speed and efficiency have dropped. Therefore, daily updates will be reduced from 6,000 words to 3,000 words. Once my fingers recover, updates will return to normal. Thank you for your understanding!

After posting the Single Chapter Announcement, he also attached the latest three-thousand-word chapter. He had plenty of saved chapters, but they were for later. Releasing a massive update now would not benefit him in any way. Maintaining daily updates was already good enough.

When the editors and countless readers saw that two chapters had been updated, they were instantly delighted and hurriedly clicked in—only to realize something was wrong. It was actually a Single Chapter Announcement!

And it was an announcement saying there would be fewer updates!

He had injured his fingers playing guitar, so updates would be reduced for the time being...

How did he have the nerve to say that?! The editors were heartbroken, while readers filled with complaints.

Even the editors could not stand it anymore.

"Why does he still have time to play guitar? Shouldn't his top priority be updating twenty thousand words a day?"

"What a neglect of duty..."

"This is too much!"

"Does anyone know where he lives? I'm going to smash his guitar."

"There can't really be a webnovel author who injures his hand playing guitar and stops updating, right? No way, right?"

The editors were already like this, and some readers lost their minds even more completely.

"Even his excuses are pathetic. I have never seen such a shameless man!"

"Who knows where the author lives? I'll bring a knife and persuade him to write properly instead of neglecting his duty."

"Fuck, you love guitars, huh? I'll smash it for you..."

Wave after wave of comments flooded the comment section. Li Changle did not see any of them. Every day, he opened the Chinese Web Novel Platform backend only to write.

When he got tired of writing, he rested, then posted the chapters scheduled for release that day. After that, he never checked the backend again.

So he barely saw Ruyi's private messages, let alone Penguin Social. He did not even have Penguin Social installed on his computer anymore.

He had no idea he had already incurred public wrath. Even if he knew, Li Changle would not care. There was no way he would work overtime just because others wanted him to.

If he had to become a workhorse, a writing robot, he would rather not. What meaning would life have then?

The phone in his hand rang. Li Changle glanced at it. The caller ID said Mom. He froze. He had been in this world for nearly three months.

He had nearly forgotten that he had parents in this world too. It seemed he had never taken the initiative to call them.

"Hello, Ale? Are you feeling better?"

His mother's voice came through the phone. He had not dared tell his parents about his previous injury because he was afraid they would worry.

He had only said that he had been tired from job hunting lately and was not feeling well. His parents had immediately sent him several thousand yuan more and told him to rest first, that finding work was not urgent.

"I'm much better, Mom. Don't worry. I have a job now too."

"It's good that you have a job. Do you still have money on you? If you're short on money, you have to tell your father and me..."

Listening to his mother's endless words of concern, Li Changle felt warmth in his heart.

"Ale, if you're free this weekend, come home and visit. You haven't been back since graduating..."

"Okay, Mom. I'll come home this weekend."

"Alright, alright. Then I'll make preparations. This week, I'll make your favorite Chicken Soup."

Hearing that Li Changle would be coming home that week, his mother spoke happily over the phone. Li Changle felt a little sad as well.

His family was not exactly poor, but they were not well-off either. His parents were ordinary workers. They had bought a house a few years ago and were still paying off the mortgage.

He also had a younger sister in college. Even while supporting her studies and repaying the home loan, his parents still gave him several thousand yuan every month for living expenses.

"I need to work hard and make money..."

With a sigh, he felt that he could not simply lie flat anymore. He put down his guitar and chose to work hard at writing. He would earn money first, then think about taking it easy.

Early on the weekend morning, Li Changle headed to the high-speed rail station and boarded the train home. His home was in a small city an hour away from Yangcheng by High-speed Rail, so getting back was convenient.

When he arrived home, he found that his mother had been waiting for him early in the morning. Seeing Li Changle return, she said happily,

"Ale, you're back! Why have you gotten thinner after just a few months? Have you eaten? Eat something first. I'll go to the market at noon, and tonight I'll make you a big feast."

Lu Chengying looked at Li Changle with a face full of smiles. Feeling his mother's care, Li Changle was deeply warmed as well.

He smiled and replied, "Mom, I'm not hungry. I ate on the way back. Where's Dad?"

"Oh, your dad still has to work today. He won't be back until tonight..."

Li Changle's father was called Li Zhenning. He was a minor manager at a factory and was usually quite busy.

Li Changle nodded and began looking around. It was a simple three-bedroom apartment, but it felt very warm to him.

He had been in this world for nearly three months, and this was his first time returning to this home, yet he did not feel the slightest sense of unfamiliarity.