Volume-end recap, foreshadowing explained, performance report, and leave request
End summary + explanation of foreshadowing + report on results + leave request
Volume Two is finished. This is the longest volume I've ever written, and I'm filled with countless emotions.
The title of this volume: A Peerless Hero!
While it is about Wei Yuan, it is also about Xu Qi'an. Both of them are unparalleled talents, just of different types.
Overall, the framework of this volume is alright; I'm quite satisfied with it.
Back then, you thought killing the Prince of Zhenbei was too childish; so many characters were developed in the early stages, and they just died like that. You thought I was on the third level, but actually I'm on the fifth.
Later on, there are actually two main storylines: one is the storyline of Empress Joan of Arc, and the other is the storyline of Xu Pingfeng.
The two lines are actually interactive and closely related. While this writing style is enjoyable, it's also tiring and mentally taxing.
I spent hundreds of thousands of words on the storyline of Empress Joan of Arc. But I spent a full two million words on the storyline of Xu Pingfeng.
It tests both writing skills and the author's patience.
For example, the foreshadowing in Wei Yuan's story was actually laid long ago. Song Qing's human body refining and the wonderful uses of lotus seeds were also mentioned. When these two plot points were written, many readers were puzzled and felt that they were completely meaningless.
Now you understand, right?
Dean Zhao Shou once said Law Follows Speech Wei Yuan as he went to war, "Wei Yuan, you will return in triumph!"
The foreshadowing here is that after Wei Yuan's death, the carving knife and the Confucian hat brought back a wisp of Wei Yuan's soul.
That's what "triumphant return" means.
The remnant soul, combined with Song Qing's human body refining technique and the lotus seeds, is the key to Wei Yuan's resurrection.
Otherwise, why would Wei Yuan send Nangong Qianrou to Jianzhou to help?
This outline was set a long time ago. Therefore, when Wei Yuan died in battle, many readers clamored to abandon the book, and some even gave up. But I remained patient and waited until now to reveal the foreshadowing at the end of the volume.
This is the patience of an author. To those readers who abandoned the book, I can only say: Happy breakup!
Maintaining one's own ideas and outline is, in my opinion, the most basic quality of an author.
I said I'd write a "feel-good" story, and I definitely will. I haven't broken my promise.
Getting back to the main point, the second volume is definitely far superior to the first, with significant improvements in both its framework and plot.
The book also features many memorable scenes, such as the Buddhist School's magical duel, the execution of the Duke, the Battle of Yuyang Pass, the killing of Joan of Arc, and the confrontation between father and son. These plot points caused the book's subscriptions to surge, continuously breaking new records.
This proves that my creative philosophy is correct, and some of my ideas are also correct.
Of course, there are many shortcomings, such as insufficient control over some details, but there's really nothing that can be done. The update speed of online novels is simply too unfriendly to a book like "The Nightwatchers".
It's impossible to write something that's extremely detailed and flawless; no one can do that.
Quality and quantity are always inversely proportional.
Please ignore the minor flaws; you are all mature readers and should be able to filter out the details and loopholes yourself.
After finishing the second volume, I'm very happy to have created one character after another, and I'm glad that everyone likes them quite a bit.
Throughout the second volume, I tried my best to maintain a fast pace and create a better reading experience. In terms of plot, I also managed to make sure that everything was interconnected and foreshadowed.
The intricate plot of two million words is truly remarkable. You might want to take a look back; there are very few useless scenes that are just for showing off.
As a result, my hairline receded by several centimeters, and I gained a lot of weight. Because I ate sweets every day to replenish the energy my brain was expending, I developed cervical spondylosis and fatty liver.
Why do authors have so many problems? They're all occupational hazards. When you see an author taking leave due to health issues, please don't make fun of them. You might not know that they're suffering from aches and pains behind closed doors.
And another thing, there's a fake picture circulating in QQ groups, the one wearing a mask—I solemnly declare, that's not me.
This needs to be clarified: how could I possibly be that handsome? (laughs)
By the way, this book is already halfway done. Next, the Jianghu (martial arts world) arc will begin, the map will change, and various characters will appear. It won't just be about the capital anymore, which is a huge challenge for me.
Therefore, I need to take a day off to properly develop the outline and detailed outline. Well, I'm taking a day off for now, since I can't guarantee that the outline will be satisfactory.
By the way, let me report on the results. So far, the book has an average daily subscription of 71,000 and an additional 41,000 subscriptions. The chapter where the father and son confront each other garnered 45,000 subscriptions in 24 hours, which is the peak of the book so far.
Please don't let the books sit unread! I still want to reach 80,000 average subscriptions by the end of the year, no problem.
Judging from the starting point alone, without considering the channels or other factors, this achievement should place him among the very top-tier group.
For me, the biggest takeaway from this book is knowing how to write an outline and how to make the plot more compelling. After writing about the Nightwatchers, I realized that my previous writing relied entirely on Spiritual Qi.
When I was on "Sister Superstar," I was a newcomer, and I relied on my Spiritual Qi.
Fortunately, after that book was finished, I realized that this alone wouldn't be enough. To go further on the path of writing, I had to undergo a transformation.
Thus, the second generation of demons came into being. The second generation of demons was my attempt to explore the path of writing. The results were mediocre, but it was precisely because of the second generation of demons that the Nightwatchers had a solid foundation.
In addition, regarding the recent update, Yuewen has established Qidian University, inviting a group of writers to participate and exchange ideas.
As a "newcomer," I couldn't refuse. Where there are people, there is social interaction. I'm not a veteran like one of the Five Great Masters of the Central Plains, so it's hard for me to refuse. I hope you understand.
Similarly, I just met up with some top authors from Qidian in person. It's important to socialize. As a "newcomer," being too unsociable will lead to isolation.
So updates have been a bit slow lately, but these kinds of events only happen once or twice a year, and it's not going to be the norm. There's really no need to criticize me in the book reviews for getting arrogant or abandoning the book.
By the way, I'd like to ask for a monthly pass.
Goodnight everyone.