Part 1: Why I'm Writing This
Some time ago, a veteran webnovel author mentioned me in passing while answering a question on Zhihu. It was a small vote of confidence.
Someone tagged me to take a look, so I was quite pleased to read the post.
The unpleasant part came in the comments.
I saw a complete stranger comment, "I suspect Red Heart Patrolling the Heavens is using fake votes to climb the rankings."
In fact, this person didn't know me at all and had never read Red Heart Patrolling the Heavens. He hadn't even opened the book's fan rankings.
This was how he answered when I challenged him. He said, "I really haven't read your book. I don't have time to look through it. But a lot of people on some website are saying that."
A lot of people were saying it, so he treated it as fact and felt free to repeat it whenever and wherever he pleased.
I was furious.
But when I thought about it later, I wondered: Why were "so many people saying it"?
Who started this rumor?
And who spread it?
There was always a source. Or, as many readers had asked, "Did Qing He Yi Shen offend someone?"
I'd always known the answer.
I hadn't said anything before because I thought writing itself was what mattered most. I shouldn't let snakes and rats distract me.
But then, while I was resting, I suddenly saw that little piece of rat droppings, and it ruined my mood for the whole day.
That day, I was furious. I really wanted to write an article like this, sort through everything that had happened, and make clear who was right and who was wrong.
But my condition wasn't good at the time, and even updating was difficult. I