An Author’s Predicament and Unexpected Encounters

…..

Zhuang Xun paid little heed to his surroundings. He simply held a pink fox by the scruff of its neck as he ascended a tall building in Taiyang City.

From this vantage point, the entirety of Taiyang City stretched below him, a tapestry of structures laid out with intricate precision. Its design spoke of a profound strategic brilliance, as if mirroring the arrangement of celestial stars.

Indeed, it appeared to be a fortress, simple to defend yet formidable to breach.

To conquer such a city, the most astute strategy would be to dismantle it from within.

“Don’t run off recklessly anymore…”

Zhuang Xun gently placed the fox on the crimson-lacquered wooden railing before him, his gaze fixed on the descending sun.

“We are at the dawn of a chaotic era. If that wandering mortal cultivator were to set their sights on you again, few would be willing to intervene and save you.”

“They might even deem you a demonic creature and kill you without a second thought.”

…..

“Hmph…”

The pink fox let out a disgruntled murmur, its gaze seeming to question, ‘And what about you?’

“My moral compass is rather flexible, unlike those who scream for a demon’s head at first sight…”

Zhuang Xun stroked its soft fur, savoring the plush, cat-like sensation beneath his fingertips.

“You’re barely a century old, a mere three-tailed fox, considered inferior even among your own kind…”

“Without the aid of spiritual artifacts, you can’t even form a demon core, much less achieve human form…”

“Are you not, then, merely a lamb awaiting slaughter?”

……

“Stay by my side, and at the very least, I can protect your life.”

Zhuang Xun’s expression was serene as he watched the first few stars emerge in the distant sky.

Beneath his hand, the pink fox seemed to accept its fate, lowering itself and twitching its delicate, rosy ears twice.

It seemed…

…that being stroked and cared for by him,

…was not so bad after all.

****

The sun slowly sank, a vibrant dance of black and red across the horizon.

Beyond Taiyang City, several auras rapidly approached, swiftly descending upon a forest a li outside the suburban limits.

“Remember, the objective of this mission is to eliminate the Taiyang City Lord and dismantle the city’s protective grand formation.”

“Go.”

Leaves fell without a sound, and their shadows moved in unison.

Thus, several unseen dark figures silently infiltrated Taiyang City.

****

On the bustling streets, teeming with flowing figures.

Two men in purple robes cautiously approached Xuanyuan Luoshui, asking, “Grand Elder, are we truly returning just like this?”

“I am returning. You two shall remain in the mortal realm and continue with your designated tasks.”

“But we still don’t know the opponent’s strength. We fear unforeseen complications,” one of the purple-robed men said.

Xuanyuan Luoshui took a graceful step, and the surrounding scenery seemed to freeze.

“Shangwu, Shangwen, this is your sole opportunity to ascend to the inner sect…”

“Should I intervene, it would undoubtedly affect the sect’s internal assessment of you.”

…..

“Moreover, this trial is meant to be exclusively yours.”

The Heavenly Dao Forbidden Curse remained a forbidden incantation, even in ancient times.

To lift it, one must return to the Dao Sect to uncover more relevant ancient texts and information.

With that, her figure dissipated into the void, leaving no trace behind.

Everything around them instantly reverted to normal.

…..

The two men stood rooted to the spot, silent for a long moment.

Suddenly, Shangwen nudged Shangwu’s elbow. “Brother, why don’t we go look for that Taoist friend we met today?”

“You see, it’s our first time experiencing the mortal realm, and we’re unfamiliar with the place.”

…..

Shangwu nodded thoughtfully. “Indeed, I believe that Taoist friend is quite extraordinary…”

“Otherwise, the Grand Elder wouldn’t have suddenly seized him for a lecture…”

“And our brother wasn’t injured afterward either.”

“So, perhaps…”

“We should seek him out?”

The two exchanged a glance, then nodded, a strange smile blossoming on their faces.

Their mutual objective was confirmed in that instant.

****

Night descended.

Zhuang Xun lay sideways against the railing, cradling the pink fox in his arms. He listened to the gentle breezes rustle the strands of hair at his temples.

The moonlight was faint, casting an ethereal glow upon the world, peaceful and unburdened.

He turned his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the myriad flickering lights of countless homes, the vibrant essence of human life.

“Sigh…”

“Damn it…”

“Why aren’t these two brothers pursuing the evil cultivators? Why are they getting closer and closer to me instead?”

Zhuang Xun rose, leaning on the red-lacquered railing as he scanned his surroundings.

The pink fox, which had been on the ground, leaped onto his shoulder, joining him in observing the capital city as it succumbed to the night.

“I only hope these two brothers don’t mess things up.”

According to the original novel’s plot, Qin Zhaoyu would lead four late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators to infiltrate Taiyang City. Their mission: assassinate the Taiyang City Lord and sabotage the city’s protective grand formation.

However, unforeseen complications would arise, as three peak Golden Core evil cultivators would interfere with their plans.

Moreover, the evil cultivators’ techniques were not only exceedingly bizarre, but their physical bodies resembled wraiths rather than true mortal flesh.

Ordinary spiritual artifacts and talismans would be utterly incapable of harming them in the slightest.

In an instant, the evil cultivators would swiftly eliminate the other Foundation Establishment cultivators, plunging Qin Zhaoyu into a desperate battle.

This would provide the Taiyang City Lord with the opportunity to activate the city’s protective grand formation.

Under the dual pressure of the evil cultivators’ threats and the grand formation, the already gravely wounded Qin Zhaoyu would resort to her trump card: the exotic flames from beyond the heavens.

She would slay two evil cultivators, gravely injure another, forcibly shatter the protective grand formation, and then escape the scene alone.

Yet, precisely because she cut the grass without uprooting it, the person behind the Divine Swallow Kingdom’s sovereign would take notice of her.

This, in turn, would trigger a series of tragedies concerning her.

It would also unveil a complex web of grievances, loves, and hatreds between the protagonist and the various heroines of the mortal realm.

As for the ultimate outcome, naturally, it would be a joyous one for all.

After all, writing tragic “knife-fics” doesn’t earn much money; it’s far simpler and quicker to just have the male and female leads share some sweet moments.

Zhuang Xun was well aware of the reasons behind this.

In such a restless and busy society, most people lead ordinary, arduous lives.

During their leisure, they yearned for relaxation, for ways to bring themselves joy and happiness.

Who would willingly seek out depressing “knife-fics” that only weigh down the heart?

It would be akin to deliberately seeking unhappiness, wouldn’t it?

However, he couldn’t rule out the existence of those who enjoyed tragic stories.

After all, readers were countless, and their tastes just as varied.

Yet, he couldn’t cater to such a wide spectrum; he could only follow the prevailing trend.

He needed to earn a living too; there was no shame in that.

But he was getting sidetracked.

Regardless, he intended to cut this novel’s plot short soon after the protagonist ascended to the Soul Transformation stage.

This was an undeniable fact.

After that point, Zhuang Xun would be utterly unaware of the sequence of characters or plot developments that would unfold in this novel world.

By then, she would likely be confronting various gods, Buddhas, and immortals from across the heavens.

Therefore, he sought to accelerate the plot as much as possible, to pave the way for her in advance, allowing her to grow more swiftly.

After all, she was a character born from his pen. Regardless of gender, she deserved a little extra care and consideration.

“Taoist friend, to be enjoying the scenery here with your spirit beast, you truly possess a refined leisure.”

A smooth, rather flashy voice drifted from behind him, leaving Zhuang Xun inwardly speechless.

“Why aren’t you two following your Grand Elder? What brings you to me?”

“It’s rather embarrassing to admit…”

“My brother Shangwu, why can’t you just say it directly? Why beat around the bush so much with something like this?”

Shangwen, being more straightforward, moved to stand beside Zhuang Xun and began, “Actually, Taoist friend, to be frank, we also have our own trial missions to complete…”

“The Grand Elder accompanying us was perhaps just a matter of convenience…”

“Moreover, this is our first time venturing out into the world for cultivation…”

“So, we were hoping to ask you, Taoist friend, to guide us.”

…..

‘So, they were two novice cultivators entering the mortal world for the first time.’

‘No wonder they seemed a little… dim-witted.’

“It appears both of your cultivations are higher than mine, are they not?”

“Cultivation realm doesn’t represent everything. Character and comprehension are equally important…”

“They can even surpass cultivation realms in significance.”

Shangwu recalled the Grand Elder’s casual conversation with them during their journey and explained.

“And you, Taoist friend, have wandered the mortal realm for a century and garnered significant attention from our Grand Elder…”

“Presumably, your experience is vast, your knowledge extensive, and your innate talent and comprehension are undoubtedly exceptional…”

“You simply possess a carefree spirit, preferring to roam freely among mortals.”

“Exactly! Taoist friend, your demeanor and appearance are both extraordinary. By following you, we are certain to gain much experience.”

…..

‘Damn it…’

‘Who taught these two?’

‘The way they’re blowing smoke…’

‘If I weren’t actually like that, I almost would have believed them.’

‘Still, on a different note…’

‘I don’t recall ever planning such peculiar characters in my novel…’

‘A shift in the timeline?’

“Very well, if you two brothers can withstand a certain test, I will agree to your request…”

“Oh? A test?”

“Indeed.”

Zhuang Xun turned, a slight smirk playing on his lips, and a peculiar glint flashing in his eyes. He waved a hand, gesturing for them to follow.

“Come on, I’ll take you to see something… interesting.”

****