Another Necessary Single-Chapter Post

I've seen many readers asking for the book club group number. I only mentioned it once before in the Qidian Author's Talk section, but I'm mentioning it again in this chapter for emphasis: the QQ group number is 850785216.

This chapter isn't just for sharing group numbers; I want to use it to say something.

The book is doing well now, and many people are reading it. The readership is much larger than before, which leads to some problems.

The following is just for fun.

On October 5th, a reader from the bookstore joined the book club group and messaged me privately with some questions, some about the books and some about me personally.

I've answered all the questions about the book. As for my personal life, I've said what I could. For the rest, I told this reader not to be so curious about my privacy, and that discussions about the book are best done in the group chat, not by messaging me privately.

Then I checked the group chat and sure enough, this reader was chatting with other members.

Actually, up to this point, aside from the other person's tone during the chat that sounded like a boss checking up on someone, their unnecessary curiosity about my personal situation, and harmless questions like "Some readers say you're gay, what do you think?", there wasn't anything particularly bad. Then I scrolled up through the group chat history and found that the reader's first message after joining the group was, "Is the author still alive?"

Then there are comments like, "Could it have already turned into a zombie?", "His dying wish was to finish writing his second book before he passed away?", and "The author is too afraid to come out at night and stays silently in his coffin." Perhaps they think these kinds of statements are humorous?

However, the book lovers in the book club didn't find this funny. Next, this reader commented on the book in the tone of a leader's speech, making both good and bad comments, which I accept.

Then he asked me when I would abandon this book, wondering if my part-time job was not enough to make ends meet, and when I would finally give up.

I'm speechless at this way of chatting; do you really want me to quit? Before this, this reader's way of speaking had already made many group members uncomfortable.

I've omitted some topics that aren't easy to write about here; I'll only cover the key points.

Offering suggestions is a good thing, but it must be based on existing knowledge. The following is an excerpt from the original text.

"1. How does the author connect the two plots and how do they link them? 2. What roles will they play? What will their emotional arcs be like? These are the two main aspects to analyze. Of course, if he forcibly introduces the amnesia by hitting someone with a stone, then disregard what I said. The author wouldn't be that bad, would they?"

The question is very good. This isn't directed at this particular reader, but I just want to use these words to show everyone the problems: the question is directed at the book (good), the process is filled in by the reader's imagination (okay), and the convoluted conclusion is about the author (confusing).

This is not an isolated case. Many readers have taken their own guesses about the plot as if it were something I had already written, and then drawn a confusing conclusion.

Below is a reader's question about Yu Xing. The root of the question is, "Yu Xing's unarmed Combat Power is SSS, and his Combat Power with a weapon is A. Why does he still need to use a weapon?"

A member of the group asked him, "When did the author ever write that Yu Xing was stronger unarmed than with weapons?"

He used Qu Xuanqing's example to prove his point, and I've quoted his original words, with the parentheses added by me.

"Yu Xing captured Qu bare-handed despite the significant difference in their skill levels (referring to the small sparring session between Yu Xing and Qu Xuanqing before heading to Fuhua City), right? It should be easy for Qu to take on two people in red, right?"

A group member said his viewpoint was incorrect, to which he replied, "No, no, no, viewpoints must be based on facts, and I have already stated the facts very clearly; the reference point is [the objective]."

His point is that Qu Xuanqing Yu Xing bare hands + Qu Xuanqing can easily beat two people in red = Yu Xing can easily beat two people in red with his bare hands. Therefore, Yu Xing's unarmed Combat Power is SSS, and his Combat Power with weapons is A. His eagerness to find weapons is contradictory.

Me:??? Goodness, at first glance it really does look convincing.

However, you don't even need to look too closely to see what the connection is between Yu Xing's strong fighting skills and his weak weapon handling!

First of all, it's true that Yu Xing is stronger in Qu Xuanqing (this is something I explicitly stated).

Secondly, it's quite simple for Qu Xuanqing to defeat the woman in red, that's right, it's very simple, provided you have a sword or use a sacrificial offering.

Third, when Yu Xing and Qu Xuanqing were practicing, it was pure hand-to-hand combat Qu Xuanqing did not use a sword or any sacrificial offerings.

As a powerful figure at the Differentiation Tier, her sacrificial offerings and sword are the sources of her combat strength.

Yu Xing's strong fighting ability—where does that mean he's weaker when armed than unarmed? Where does this conclusion come from?

Qu Xuanqing wasn't carrying a sword when he fought Yu Xing!

It's very simple logic: unarmed, Yu Xing's combat power is 5, and Qu Xuanqing 4. With weapons and offerings, Yu Xing's combat power is 8, Qu Xuanqing's is 14 (these are not exact numbers, just examples). Yu Xing can't beat Qu Xuanqing, but that doesn't mean Yu Xing's Combat Power with weapons is lower than unarmed.

I happened to be in the group at that moment, so I told that reader, "This conclusion has flaws."

He said, "Did you see me say anything?"

Group member. "??"

Me: "??? You typed so many words, did a ghost type them if not yourself?"

He said, "Did you see what I typed?"

Okay, he probably does think he's funny.

In short, I think he really thought about this issue, so I explained it to him many times: the fact that Qu Xuanqing Yu Xing with his bare hands doesn't mean that Yu Xing is weaker with a weapon than with his bare hands.

He wouldn't listen, so I gave him an easier-to-understand example.

"In Yugi, a marksman is very strong when he has a gun. If he loses a close-quarters fight after losing his gun, it doesn't mean he's not a powerful marksman. Similarly, what if the person who beats the marksman without a gun is a mage? It doesn't mean he's weaker in hand-to-hand combat with a staff."

I thought I had been very patient; the other group members were listening and discussing. Then this reader said:

Are you sure the Yugi makes sense?

It originates from life, and while it can transcend it, it cannot be divorced from your sensory experience.

I'm really upset. This reader convinced themselves with their own logic, making a very simple problem so complicated, and then used that same logic to apply to me.

Isn't what I'm writing about supernatural themes? Do ghosts make sense? Do sacrificial offerings make sense? Can I have personal emotional experiences to draw upon???

As I said before, suggestions are welcome, but please don't overturn my original ideas or try to dictate how I should write it based on your own preconceived notions. If you're going to do that, then just leave your keyboard out there and let whoever comes up with their own ideas write the story.

Readers read articles, authors write articles; I think the relationship between the two should at least be equal.

Writing is my job. I have a proper job. I don't need to be treated like a dog, having to change my character settings just because someone says something, or apologizing just because someone insults me.

One of the group's admins couldn't stand it anymore and kicked the person out. What followed was the usual routine—the person joined the group, said the group members were all elementary school students, said my attitude was terrible, and then said he was quitting and should be kicked out.

I'm wondering why you came back if you weren't going to stay? Just to insult my other readers, calling them all elementary school kids? I'm the hostess! Can't I just speak politely? Do I have to be obsequious to you to be considered polite?

As he wished, the manager kicked him out again. A fellow reader told me to take screenshots of today's events as evidence, including all the other party's inappropriate remarks at the beginning, to prevent them from causing trouble in the comments section.

I was writing in the middle of the night when I checked the comments section. Sure enough, someone was stirring up trouble. They left several one-star reviews on the bookstore page and continued to criticize my readers, acting like everyone was bullying them.

Actually, I mainly use Qidian, so negative reviews on the bookstore don't affect me at all. But I just can't stand this kind of behavior from other readers who think everyone else is wrong and blame me. So, I held my breath and wrote this long chapter.

Goodness, that's equivalent to the word count of one of my usual chapters.

This matter has little to do with the other readers who are currently reading. If you've made it this far, just consider it gossip.

I haven't deleted his one-star comment; he's currently making a rant, and I've posted a screenshot of it. Feel free to check it out.