Chapter 128: A True Boss Is the World Itself

Subject matter is of paramount importance to any literary work. Why do authors consistently choose the same themes they have written about in their previous books? The answer lies in experience and an established readership. By opting for a familiar genre, the writing process flows more smoothly, and the author is guaranteed a loyal base of veteran readers to follow their work.

Even some of the evergreen, legendary authors in the web novel community dare not easily venture outside their established thematic boundaries when starting a new project. They cannot guarantee that their readers will remain as supportive as ever once they switch genres. This is a cold, hard reality. Most readers who enjoy your books are loyal followers of that specific genre; if your new book changes the subject and the type, these readers will inevitably consider whether or not to continue following you. Most choose not to; they prefer to wait—wait for the author to return to the genre they love.

Of course, there are always those in the author community who do not play by the rules. Take "The Great God," for example; he seems to have a penchant for pioneering new paths. From the "Good-for-Nothing" trope to the new "Xianxia" genre, no one can deny his capability. Now, another author is attempting to emulate The Great God, following in his footsteps. This person is "The Big Shot."

After "Battle Through the Heavens" was released, The Big Shot quickly followed the trend with his debut, "Martial Universe." The facts proved that The Big Shot was truly gifted in writing the "Good-for-Nothing" genre; his talent was in no way inferior to The Great God's. Before him, the web novel scene had never seen a follower-work that could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the original; The Big Shot could be called the first of his kind. After The Great God finished "Battle Through the Heavens" and shifted toward Xianxia, The Big Shot became the sole titan of the "Good-for-Nothing" genre.

Yet, at this very juncture, The Big Shot decided to depart, opting to write a Wuxia novel. Had The Great God not succeeded before him, countless industry cynics would surely have jumped out to declare, "The Big Shot's new book is doomed to flop!" Wuxia is an incredibly popular genre with a massive, formidable, and deeply entrenched reader base, filled with legendary authors. But The Great God had already set a fine precedent, shining brightly in the Xianxia genre—which everyone had doubted—by writing the new Xianxia classic, "Zhu Xian."

Some of The Big Shot’s readers expressed their continued support, some began to sneer and mock, while others remained silent, refusing to take a stand. Zeng Ying was among those who remained silent. She had been drawn into the "Good-for-Nothing" genre by The Great God, and after he shifted to Xianxia, she continued to support "Zhu Xian" while simultaneously picking up "Martial Universe." Zeng Ying was the type of reader who preferred a single genre, but The Great God’s work had left a profound impact on her, so she always supported his new books. When The Big Shot finished his old work, she was waiting for his new one, too.

However... instead of a new book, she first saw the promotional page for The Big Shot’s new work on Baidu Literature. Just reading the promotional tagline was enough to make Zeng Ying feel disappointed. The new book was not Xuanhuan; it was Wuxia. Was The Big Shot really trying to follow the path The Great God had taken? Xianxia and Wuxia might seem similar, but they were fundamentally different. Zeng Ying could barely tolerate Xianxia, but for some reason, she simply could not get into Wuxia. She had absolutely no interest in the genre.

Perhaps The Big Shot had become arrogant. Seeing the explosive popularity of The Great God’s Xianxia work, he likely assumed his own similar Wuxia piece would be just as successful. Zeng Ying only had one thing to say: he was overthinking it.

Despite having zero interest in the subject matter, when the new book launched that night, Zeng Ying clicked on it as if possessed. "I'll contribute a first-day view," she thought to herself.

However, after reading just a few lines of "The Return of the Condor Heroes," her expression darkened. "Traditional Wuxia?" For his first attempt at the genre, instead of choosing a fresh perspective, he chose traditional Wuxia. Was that all The Big Shot had to offer? Wuxia was a popular genre in the web novel world, but that popularity did not include traditional Wuxia. The genre had been written to death; there were already too many excellent traditional Wuxia novels on the market, and the field was dominated by legendary authors. It was a consensus among Wuxia writers that to stand out, one had to write a novel that was innovative. Traditional Wuxia was the exclusive territory of the masters; any author who wasn't at that level would die there, without exception. It required not just refined writing, but a specific, demanding readership.

Based solely on the fact that it was traditional Wuxia, Zeng Ying had already passed judgment on "The Return of the Condor Heroes." But since she had come to provide a first-day view, she felt she had to at least finish the first chapter. Suppressing her internal resistance, she continued reading.

The background of the story gradually unfolded before her eyes. One chapter, two chapters, three chapters...

"The lotus-picking girl by the autumn stream, narrow sleeves and light silk, revealing golden bracelets. Reflecting her face like a flower, her heart is as tangled as the silk threads. At the head of the Chicken-Foot Creek, the wind and waves rise late, mist heavy and smoke thin, her companion nowhere to be found. The sound of singing fades as the boat travels far, carrying the sorrow of parting to the banks of the Yangtze..."

At first, Zeng Ying was just skimming quickly, reading perfunctorily as if checking off a chore for a teacher. But when Yang Guo arrived at the Quanzhen Sect, she suddenly began to read with care.

"This is interesting!" She changed her posture, sitting up from the sofa and leaning back against the soft cushions to continue reading. Time slipped away, and chapter after chapter was turned.

"Quanzhen Sect..."
"Beggar Sect..."
"Martial Arts Alliance..."
"For the sake of national righteousness, resisting the Jin invasion."

A different kind of martial world. A different kind of emotion. Zeng Ying hadn't even realized it, but she—a person who never read Wuxia—had become completely engrossed. As the story unfolded and the chapters added up, she was utterly captivated.

She suddenly recalled the online comments disparaging The Big Shot's new book and the people who had mocked him. She felt an urge to drag them out and force them to open their eyes and see: was this the book they claimed was doomed to flop?

The Big Shot was incredible. Even though she had only read a few tens of thousands of words, Zeng Ying could conclude that this traditional Wuxia novel was no less impressive than The Great God’s new Xianxia work. Though it wore the skin of traditional Wuxia, it depicted a brand-new world of martial arts, and The Big Shot’s prose was remarkably steady. It was completely different from the style he had used in "Martial Universe"; it was as if he had become a different person, with not a shadow of his previous work remaining.

Writing a Wuxia novel like this requires solid fundamentals, excellent literary cultivation, rich prose, and an imagination as vast as a dream of the Jianghu. The Big Shot had achieved all of this, and he had far exceeded the passing mark. If you talk to The Big Shot about the Jianghu, he will tell you that he *is* the Jianghu. The characters he wrote were vivid and distinct, their origins reflected in their unique personalities.

Guo Jing, for whom the country was greater than all else; the Beggar Sect, the greatest faction in the world... who would have thought that beggars could become the most powerful organization? The Dog-Beating Staff Technique, the Toad Technique... all sorts of ingenious concepts filled the martial world, yet it remained meticulously crafted. This Jianghu was real—real enough to touch.

From this book, Zeng Ying also learned a truth: "The Jianghu is not just about killing and fighting; the Jianghu is about human relationships and worldly wisdom." This was entirely different from the Wuxia she had imagined; it had nothing to do with it. It shouldn't even be classified as traditional Wuxia. This was clearly a brand-new genre. It should be called... "Big Shot Wuxia."

"I'm following it. I must follow this book." Zeng Ying never expected that after avoiding The Great God's Xianxia, she would fall for The Big Shot's Wuxia. Before she knew it, she had finished all the available chapters. She came to her senses and rubbed her sore eyes, feeling a sense of lingering desire for more. Because Zeng Ying was an author herself, she read much faster than others, and by the time she finished the latest chapter, no other book reviews had appeared yet.

Meanwhile, in the temporary office shared by the Xuanhuan and Wuxia editorial departments at Baidu Literature...