A Declaration of Gratitude and Reflection on *Oriental*’s Release

First, I’d like to take this opportunity to clarify a fact: despite my self-appellation ‘nú jiā’ – a term typically used by women – I am, in fact, a pure man, and my sexual orientation is entirely normal. This particular habit of self-address likely originated from my previous work, *Blade Spirit*, where I referred to myself as ‘this humble Daoist’ to align with the protagonist and foster a sense of immersion for readers. As it stands, the appearance of ‘Miss Dongfang’ as a self-appellation in this current work is still some fifty to sixty thousand words away.

As I write these words, the scene of *Blade Spirit*’s initial release still vividly plays out in my mind. Who would have thought, who would have ever thought, that a colossal failure like myself, having stumbled for thousands of miles, would manage to see a second book released for VIP access within the year? It was quite a coincidence, actually. Around August, when I received the news that this book could go VIP, I was simultaneously overwhelmed with the frantic process of applying for a second degree in real life. In a way, having two books go VIP simultaneously felt much like pursuing a dual degree. The only difference, however, is that this book’s release was swift and decisive, while my dual degree application forms are, at this very moment, still God knows where, circulating in some forgotten office corner at the university, completely gone without a trace. From another perspective, this truly reflects how unreliable universities can be, their abysmal efficiency plainly evident.

Well, after all that rambling about this and that, since this is a declaration of gratitude and reflection, let’s talk about *Oriental* itself. The outline and core settings for this book, surprisingly, have been in place for a long time, possibly even predating *Blade Spirit*. If, by chance, any of you happen to have witnessed my abandoned work, *Wuxia Fans in Love*, which I entered into a competition during my ‘Second Campaign,’ you might discern some faint echoes within the pages of this novel. Of course, *Oriental* draws more heavily from the renowned works of the great Jiangnan, but with the addition of martial arts elements woven into what would otherwise be mundane campus life. It must be said, though, that in terms of its university prototype, the university in *Oriental* certainly falls short compared to Bianjing University. I wonder if I’ll encounter any alumni here on SF who can guess the true identity of my alma mater. The first one to correctly name it – not by its original name, but by the commonly understood moniker – will earn an extra chapter from me!

By now, I’ve been writing for over three months in total. During this period, I’ve managed to maintain ‘double perfect attendance’ almost every month, accumulating nearly six hundred thousand words. I must admit, this has likely been a small peak in my writing career. However, with the summer holidays ending and the new semester beginning, I’m now entering, or rather, on the cusp of, my graduation season. I worry if I’ll be able to maintain this pace afterwards, but I will certainly do my utmost.

Many of my esteemed readers have mentioned the issue of slow pacing in my books; I just saw another comment about it even today, as I release this very statement. Perhaps, one might say, this phenomenon is inextricably linked to my current ‘fragmented writing’ style. I used to be the sort of writer who would churn out over ten thousand words in a single sitting before taking a break (as seen in *Blade Spirit*, ‘Volume One: Past Events’). Now, I’ve switched to writing smaller amounts daily, and I’m still somewhat unaccustomed to it. (Though, I’ve been doing this for five or six months now, so how can I still have the nerve to say I’m unacustomed?) Regardless, I will gradually learn to master the pacing better, so please, my dear readers, rest assured.

As for the other widely criticized aspect of this book, it seems to be the protagonist’s martial arts. Across two consecutive books, my pen seems to have a peculiar knack for producing these ‘weak-to-strong’ protagonists. However, Miss Dongfang here is quite different from Su Qianxing from *Blade Spirit* next door. Primarily, I’d say it’s due to my own stubbornness; I simply feel I’ve chosen a perfectly apt plot point, and so, despite knowing that many readers have felt a bit frustrated and stifled, I’ve continued to write in my own way. This is a flaw in my character, one that has been pointed out since my very first serialized book on SF. Yet, I’ve always been captivated by the thrill of an explosive payoff (a deeply ‘addicted’ fan of *Attack on Titan* and *Tokyo Ghoul*), which is why I’ve accumulated and suppressed these ideas, persisting in my writing. So, in a somewhat willful manner, I hope all my esteemed readers can support me until I reach that ‘self-righteous’ plot point, and then you can denounce my literary sins! I promise, dear readers, you’ll see it very soon! Therefore, I humbly offer my sincerest thanks for your unwavering support.

Regarding the matter of the book going VIP, it feels a bit like erecting a ‘chastity arch’ – a touch disingenuous, perhaps. While *Blade Spirit*’s VIP release was long-anticipated, *Oriental*’s arrival brings with it not only joy but also a degree of guilt. After all, many of my regular readers aren’t SF VIP members, and my eagerness to have *Oriental* go VIP genuinely concerned me; would I lose some readers who had grown to love this book? In a sense, it was this very guilt that drove me during this last month. Despite being utterly overwhelmed and exhausted by the chaos of returning to school, teaching, conducting research, and applying for my degree, I simply couldn’t bear to halt *Oriental*’s updates. After all, what happens once it enters VIP is beyond my control, but at least during this final month, I’ve done my utmost. (Of course, if you suggest the ‘full attendance bonus’ played a part, I can’t entirely deny it, especially since the bonus doubles if I maintain six thousand words daily after going VIP…) Ah, but let’s not dwell on it any further. Any more would just sound overly sentimental, wouldn’t it? Let’s stop here, stop, stop!

Finally, in a manner akin to writing a thesis, it’s time to thank the relevant organizations and individuals. My gratitude goes to SF, to all the editors, to all the friends on the forum whose paths I frequently cross, and to all of you, my esteemed readers, who often visit here and, like me, deeply love light novels, the ‘two-dimensional’ world, and that dream-like realm. And, of course, I must thank our very own Miss Dongfang!

May you all be blessed with ten thousand fortunes. This humble Daoist offers a profound bow. Please believe that this book will absolutely not disappoint any of you, my esteemed readers.

With the tale now told, let us consider this the closing of the show. I offer three bows and nine kowtows, expressing my deepest gratitude for your unwavering support and affection.