Volume Two Preview: Rampaging and Raging

As a newcomer, I am quite hesitant to write things like previews or summaries.

Because whenever I think about putting pen to paper, a reader's voice always echoes in my mind: Are you telling me how to do my job, kid?

Far be it from me!

However, there are still a few things to clarify regarding the second volume. From this point onward, to avoid any unnecessary trouble, all historical figures appearing in this book will be referred to by pseudonyms, provided they remain identifiable. I hope everyone will understand.

That being said, Poet Zhang has already appeared in previous chapters, so his name will not be changed.

Furthermore, this book cannot strictly be considered a historical novel. To forcibly squeeze it into that genre is, frankly, cutting the foot to fit the shoe.

I am not deeply versed in history, and since you, my esteemed readers, are crouching tigers and hidden dragons, I naturally wouldn't dare to show off. But when we read a novel, isn't it ultimately just for a bit of fun?

If any kind-hearted reader wishes to impart wisdom, I will consider them a great teacher and a good friend. However, if one insists on splitting hairs—arguing, for instance, that Hua Tuo could not possibly have scraped the poison from Guan Yu's bone—then all the joy is drained away.

Most of the main characters in our book are fictional, and our stories focus primarily on the jianghu—the pugilistic underworld—rather than the imperial court.

…………

The first volume, Heavy Snow in Fengtian, has concluded. Its overall atmosphere carried a hint of desolation, which certainly suited the volume's title.

The second volume, however, is going to be lively!

Chaos and Disorder—in local dialect, this phrase can describe a scene of utter confusion and turbulence, or characterize someone's behavior as wild, reckless, and violent.

As you can tell from the very name, making it brilliant is no small challenge. It cannot be rushed; it must be unfolded gradually and narrated with meticulous care.

Originally, the end of the first volume coincided right with the critical juncture of going premium. However, my editor informed me that we scraped through into the third round of promotion, so we decided to postpone the paywall.

What can I say!

To repeat an old saying: Riding the favorable wind to soar straight up into the blue clouds, I owe it entirely to the support of you all!

…………

The final matter: I noticed some readers felt that Jiang Xiaodao's initial rescue of Hu Xiaoyan was highly irrational, even criticizing him as a self-righteous do-gooder.

Yet, I cannot help but vent a small grievance here: When on earth was Jiang Xiaodao rational in the first volume?

Ever since Chapter Two, when he preferred risking arrest just to go back and kick Erqiang, his personality had already been vividly laid bare.

Regarding his first act of saving a human sacrifice, I will only point out two things.

First, Jiang Xiaodao is a native, not a time-traveler. There is no calm and steady soul hidden inside his body.

Second, Jiang Xiaodao was approaching fourteen years of age at the time. Based on my own limited life experience, this age is remarkably dangerous. Do yourselves a favor and never provoke teenage boys, because they pay zero heed to consequences. No joke, they are utterly fierce! Street thugs emerge precisely from this age group! Over thirty years ago, underworld bosses loved nothing more than finding teenage half-grown boys, tossing them two packs of cigarettes, and watching them eagerly go out to hack people up for you, afterwards genuinely believing they had met a great and honorable big brother...

This is reality. At Xiaodao's age, rushing impulsively to save someone, or shooting a hook-man the moment his temper flares, is truly not exaggerated at all.

Xiaodao certainly suffered setbacks because of this, but to borrow Jiang Chenghai's words, anyone who can learn a lesson from a stumble is already exceptionally wise. He has to take a few hard knocks before he learns to remember, right?

I won't write such "analyses" in the future. Later on, this analysis section will also be deleted, leaving only the pseudonym disclaimer and the Volume Two preview.

After all, those who chase the latest chapters the moment they drop are friends willing to support me and treat me with respect; surely, they can tolerate these few words of complaining from me.

Right now, that reader's voice is still ringing in my head: Are you telling me how to do my job, kid?

Filled with trepidation!

So I will say no more.

As for the rest of the foreshadowing and symbolism, if we are fortunate enough for everyone to accompany this book all the way to its conclusion, let us save them for the afterword!

Thank you all for your hard work!