From beginning to end, the story of Sword and Fairy was a tragedy.
He was clearly just a young shop hand dreaming of making money, yet he had to shoulder the fate of the common people. In the end, for the sake of the common people, he sacrificed his own lifespan.
Eldest Miss Tang of the Tang family, Tang Xuejian, lost everything. Even her very self was nothing more than a tool created to harbor the yearning of others. She had finally found her own happiness with great difficulty, only to be set to lose it again. Just like losing her grandfather, she would become lonely once more.
Long Kui's thousand-year wait, only to be separated from her brother by death once again.
Zixuan and Xu Changqing, a romantic destiny spanning three lives and three worlds, yet they could only agree to stop loving each other, drink the Forgetfulness Water together, and forget one another in the jianghu.
Thinking of this, Yun Jin's tears could not stop falling, dripping tick-tock onto the book pages.
For a moment, she choked with sobs.
...
Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Second floor study. The alley wind passed through, blowing the candle flame so it crackled and flickered, dimming and brightening in turns.
"To save the common people by sacrificing one's self—this lives up to the word 'Gallant.' I didn't expect that the young lady named Fang Qiu could interpret the words 'Immortal' and 'Gallant' so well."
Zhongli closed the book, nodded slightly, and added: "It is just that this ending is perhaps too desolate..."
He stood up and walked to the window, looking at the night scenery outside. Another gust of wind blew past, lifting the hair at his temples and making the tree leaves rustle.
The night outside the window was just right, holding the unique quietness of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
"Mr. Zhongli, have you eaten dinner?"
Hu Tao was sitting on a small pushcart, her small head resting on the handle, quietly reading Sword and Fairy. Hearing the movement on the second floor, Hu Tao immediately raised her head and spoke.
"Not yet."
Zhongli shook his head.
"Interested in going to grab a meal together?"
Hu Tao asked with a smile.
"That would be fine."
Zhongli nodded.
"Then come down first, I'll tidy up."
Hu Tao got up from the cart, then pulled the cart all the way into Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
As she walked, she muttered with a smile: "I didn't expect that this group of people actually all bought Fang Qiu's book; not even a single set was given away."
"Hehe, I remember when I recommended Fang Qiu's books to them, they all looked reluctant. Now I don't even need to recommend it, they went and bought it themselves. In that case, won't I be able to save a sum of money next time?"
"Speaking of which, how about I push this cart of books to promote business tomorrow? Giving a set of Sword and Fairy with every order placed seems like a pretty good idea."
Hearing Hu Tao's self-talk, Zhongli couldn't help but smile gently.
He seemed to be one of those people Hu Tao mentioned who were initially unwilling to read Fang Qiu's books.
That being said, that young lady named Fang Qiu has indeed improved at god-like speed.
Clearly, what she wrote before was not even up to standard.
However, he did not suspect that Miss Fang Qiu was using a ghostwriter.
Setting aside that over thousands of years, he had seen many who achieved enlightenment in a single day or honed a sword for ten years.
Just speaking from universal rationality, given the terrifying sales of Fang Qiu's first two books and the high praise from readers, which ghostwriter would be stupid enough to ghostwrite a third one?
Wouldn't it be better to go to Ruiyue Publishing House oneself and submit a manuscript to make a name for oneself?
Why would one bow beneath another to be a small ghostwriter?
He walked back to the table and placed the set of Sword and Fairy he was reading onto the antique shelf.
And on the antique shelf, there were already Fang Qiu's Your Lie in April and The Eternal. Now, a set of Sword and Fairy was added.
After putting away the books and extinguishing the lamp, when he arrived downstairs, Hu Tao had been waiting for a long time.
"What does Mr. Zhongli want to eat? It's my treat!"
Hu Tao smiled and said.
"Xinyue Kiosk or Liuli Pavilion."
Zhongli said indifferently.
"Let's go to Wanmin Restaurant, Xiangling should be back from the construction site too."
Hu Tao ignored Zhongli's statement and said.
"Chef Xiangling? That is also acceptable."
Zhongli nodded and said.
When Xiangling is on duty at Wanmin Restaurant, one should head straight for Wanmin Restaurant for a meal, rather than Liuli Pavilion or Xinyue Kiosk.
"By the way, I heard Yixin say that you also bought Fang Qiu's book. Have you finished it?"
Hu Tao said.
"Finished it."
Zhongli nodded. He was not the least bit surprised that this child would bring up this matter.
Rather, Hu Tao treating him to dinner was precisely to talk about this.
"Do you have any thoughts? Tell me, I'll tell Fang Qiu later."
Walking towards Wanmin Restaurant, Hu Tao said.
"The overall quality is excellent. It can be said to be a rare, extremely hard-to-find good book. Compared to the two books Your Lie in April and The Eternal, the narrative of Sword and Fairy is grander, and the story line is more three-dimensional. Through the main plot, a considerably large world background has been constructed."
Zhongli said.
"What else, what else?"
Hu Tao asked with a smile.
"The most surprising part should be the character development. The protagonist Jing Tian grew from a petty thug greedy for small gains all the way into a great hero who sacrificed himself to save the common people. Also, characters like Tang Xuejian, Xu Changqing, Zixuan, Long Kui, and others were all sculpted well."
"It is not like in other books, where righteous people are only righteous, and evil people are only evil. Whether human or immortal, how can there be pure flawlessness? Moreover, human nature is inherently complex. Only with many facets and growth will the characters in the book become three-dimensional, making people feel that this is a living person, not a tool to drive the plot."
"Furthermore, the character growth in Fang Qiu's book is not dry or awkward, but changes imperceptibly through one event after another..."
Zhongli pondered for a moment, then said.
"Mn, what you said makes a lot of sense. I understand."
Hu Tao nodded.
"Director, do you really understand?"
Zhongli smiled and asked.
"Of course. After listening to your analysis, I feel like I can write too. Someday when I have time, I'm going to ask Fang Qiu for advice and expand the story of my Hilitune into a novel. Maybe it can also sell big. At that time, I can even advertise our Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's business."
Hu Tao nodded confidently and said.
"Director, as you wish."
Zhongli smiled faintly.
The two chatted sporadically about Fang Qiu's book. Besides the merits, Hu Tao also noted down some shortcomings Zhongli mentioned.
Just like that, they walked all the way to Wanmin Restaurant.
"Hu Tao, Mr. Zhongli, are you here to eat?"
Xiangling asked.
"Yeah, your business is pretty good today."
Hu Tao found a seat and sat down, saying with a smile.
"It's okay. What dishes do you want to order?"
Xiangling asked while serving tea for Hu Tao and Zhongli.
"The usual set."
Zhongli said after sitting down.
"The usual? Alright. Uh, by the way, Mr. Zhongli, today's ingredients include Springvale Forest Boar meat. Do you want to replace the Salt and Pepper Tofu in the set meal?"
"No need to switch. Serve both."
Zhongli picked up the tea, took a shallow sip, and said.
"Alright then, you guys wait a moment."
Xiangling said with a beaming smile.
After saying that, she turned and trotted into the kitchen, beginning to busy herself.
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