Q&A: The Gui Xiang Incident

Q&A about Gui Xiang's incident

First of all, it's remarkable that a reader would read the book so attentively and write such a long review.

The author, Lao Bai, has always had weaknesses in his writing, particularly in the subtle foreshadowing and plot developments. These last few chapters haven't handled this well, and even after a day of reflection and attempts to make things more coherent, many readers still feel there are major plot holes. Therefore, I'm quoting reader 1823606706470961152's lengthy review to address these points (I will delete it if you feel it infringes on your rights). I welcome everyone to discuss this further.

Q1: The first abrupt thing is that Kang Rongquan attacked Gui Xiang for no reason. He wasn't among the younger generation who knew the secret. Da Bao told the younger generation not to spread it, but the second generation treated their elders' words like farts.

A1: This news is mentioned in Chapter Thirteen. It was leaked by the Yue Household through their own scheme, not because the younger generation didn't listen to Kang Dabao. Kang Rongquan is arrogant, a point I've foreshadowed in previous chapters. So, it's reasonable to assume the Yue Household deliberately targeted him to provoke him into acting impulsively. (Later, Yue Lin mentions that he was prepared to target various factions close to the Capital Region Faction, but Kang Rongquan simply took the bait too quickly.)

Q2: Then, Xiao Kang, in a moment of impulsiveness, thought of killing a Foundation Establishment cultivator himself, a mere farmer. But then he thought about the groundwork laid by Chen Ye in trying to kill Foundation Establishment cultivator, only to be captured in the end. If you were really smart, you could have committed suicide after being rescued, claiming it was all your fault and that your elders didn't know. But then you ended up stirring up trouble for those two brutes, Jiang and Yuan.

A2: First of all, Xiao Kang cannot be regarded as an ordinary cultivator. His combat skills are among the top tier of the second generation, perhaps only Duan Anle can compare to him. (This can be seen from the Hong Grade Cultivation Method, the Qi Refinement Ninth Layer, and Pei Que's words after the small competition, as well as his ability to capture the Ge Household's cultivator who had crossed the realm on his own.)

Unlike Chen Ye, Xiao Kang, although committing a crime of passion this time, knew that Kang Dabao and others were definitely plotting how to deal with Gui Xiang in private. However, due to various concerns, he kept quiet and waited for the right opportunity.

However, Kang Rongquan was young and impetuous and couldn't wait. But he didn't act recklessly. He had considered using poison and a honey trap, as well as disposing of the body after the deed was done. His motivation was also naive and simple: to help Pei Yi obtain the resources for Foundation Establishment.

So although he failed, it's clear he had planned this carefully, but his abilities were insufficient and he overestimated himself, leading to this outcome.

Q3: First of all, given the overwhelming evidence and the official law enforcement agencies' arrest, Chongming Sect directly confronted them head-on, raised his troops, openly rebelled and fought, killing several Foundation Establishment. How is this any different from an open rebellion?

Just because you think something's wrong doesn't mean you can disregard the rules? Sacrificing the entire sect for a mere second-generation heir—it's one thing for Yuan and Jiang to be brainless, but can't the shrewd Ye and Pei see through this?

He walked headlong into a trap, allowing the other side to convict him of murdering an official. What happened afterward? Doesn't that contradict the earlier events Linghu You?

A3: This is where I didn't control the plot well, but the reason why we all came out was not because of Kang Rongquan, but because we wanted to save Xue Linshanming's family.

Then, after a long delay in receiving news from Kang Dabao, and Jiang Qing being bewitched by Peng Xingyu, a False Core master from Five Old Mothers Mountain, only sent troops after being repeatedly urged by True Person Black Shoes (which shows that Black Shoes was indeed a de facto Supreme Elder within the Chongming Sect), this should be able to barely explain the actions of Double Brightness and others.

Q4: Some might think the author later explained that it was because he was framed, and that Gui killed first, making his actions somewhat understandable. But I'd like to ask in return: in a dynastic context, is imperial rule more important, or is individual might simply prevail?

From Kuang's perspective, blood revenge is a sign of disrespect for the king. Your disciple was killed, and instead of reporting it to the authorities, you secretly assassinated an official. Do you even respect the rules I set? Secondly, regarding the so-called "scheming," was the assassination of the official a fact?

The False Core Kuang, not having an omniscient perspective, only saw the fact that you openly defied the law and engaged in a blood feud after your attempt to avenge your family failed.

A4: In Kuang Liuting's eyes, killing an official is tantamount to rebellion, a crime that cannot be punished. This is beyond doubt. However, if there is a reason for the act and it involves scheming and struggle, then it is different. This point will be discussed later. If you still feel that this is not right, we will discuss it again.

Q5: Then, in order to break the deadlock, they keep giving Lao Hei a cheat code. They hyped up Lao Fei's Cultivation Method as incredibly powerful, but it turned out to be just an Ice Leaf. Lao Hei, a Golden Leaf from a remote area, is already ridiculous enough, and they're still giving him a new cheat code to take down Yue and Peng. He's only in the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage! Kuang couldn't even suppress Yue in the late stages. How do you explain this cheat code?

A5: There's no situation where the story can't be completed yet. Whether it's in the reader group, the previously deleted prologue, or the scene where Xue Wu appears, I've directly or indirectly stated that Lao Hei's trump card is of a high level. I'll elaborate on this later (it will take a while).

Q6: Now let's go back to Kuang. Without an omniscient perspective, wouldn't Peng have been foolish enough to tell Kuang about his later schemes? Even if he had, it would have been the same mistake, just trying to make things work out for the sake of making things work out.

From Kuang's perspective, Chongming Sect's juniors any different from the likes of the Liangyi Sect, who disrespect the emperor, failed in their attempt to assassinate officials, and instead of repenting when official law enforcement arrested them, first attempted to break them out of prison, then openly and violently resisted the law, killing several law enforcement officers in the Two Instruments Sect?

Kuang's previous persona was that he wanted to restore the king's rule and despised the likes of the Two Instruments Sect. So he spent a fortune to buy the horse's bones and promote the Chongming Sect, hoping to establish a benchmark of loyalty to the king. But he found that he was just like the rebels of the Two Instruments Sect. If you were Kuang, how would you feel?

The preceding text specifically foreshadows the Linghu You incident, emphasizing Kuang's character. Given this, how should Kuang deal with the Chongming Sect, especially since the other party has just rendered a great service and was fulfilling his duties in the course of official business?

A6: I don't think that after Kuang learned about this, he would feel that both sides were equally guilty, after all, Gui Xiang committed the murder first and the Yue Household plotted against him first.

However, I think my opinion on the Chongming Sect will indeed change. But Kang Dabao wasn't there when the incident happened, and Daoist Black Shoes was detained by Yue Lin, so there should be some loopholes that can be turned around.

In conclusion, I hope this has alleviated some of the recent dissatisfaction among my readers, and I am very grateful for everyone's continued encouragement and support for this book.

Lao Bai did handle many things poorly, and that's my problem.

It is regrettable that I am not capable of writing a work that will be applauded by all readers, and recently some readers who liked this book have indeed left.

Although I am powerless to help and deeply regretful, Lao Bai am still extremely grateful to every reader who has spent real money to read this far.

Lao Bai only had one thing to say: he would write it seriously.

I won't go into too much detail here; I'd better get back to writing.

I wish everyone a happy new year, filled with happiness and good fortune, just like Kang Dabao! Thank you again!