Originally, I didn't plan to open a single chapter, but I always felt that since it's on Sanjiang, I should say a few words...
So, let's start with something official~ Of course, it's not an excuse; these are truly my heartfelt words.
Thank you to my editor; although our communication combined probably doesn't exceed fifteen sentences, you truly took great care of me, a guy with extremely low typing efficiency and who's not very articulate. It's because of this that this book has achieved its current success. Thank you for your hard work~
Thank you to every one of my readers. Every comment, every recommendation ticket, and every slot on your bookshelf is precious. To have "Fourfold Split" occupy a place there is enough to make me joyful and excited. Thank you also for tolerating my occasional playful moments or digressions. In short, being able to write a story that everyone recognizes is truly a fulfilling achievement for me. My sincere thanks~
Thanks to comrade Blackhand, who wishes to remain anonymous, for helping me set up the reader group, helping me proofread typos, helping me design maps, and discussing the plot with me until the dawn of many next days. You should know that he did all this at the risk of his wife's fury~
By the way, the reader group number is: 226764250 (there's really no space in the introduction). Everyone is welcome to join and play.
And then, thanks to...
Uh, the more serious parts are really just the above content~~
Now, let me chat with everyone with a more relaxed mindset.
...(← Thanks to my good helper, comrade 'Quotation Marks')
...(← Thanks again)
...(Okay, I won't be playful anymore)
"Fourfold Split" is a surprise to me. I remember it was on a very memorable, effect-free, auspicious-sign-free, fox-screaming-free, wind-rain-thunder-and-lightning-free, big-shot-dream-free, very ordinary day...
I suddenly thought, "Ah! Let's write about a mentally ill person~"
And then the prologue came out just like that...
To have come this far step by step (actually, it's only 150,000 words so far) is incredibly hard for me to believe. What's even harder to believe is that there are still people who have accompanied me all the way to now, diligently controlling their overwhelming desire not to click the top right corner~
It's quite scary...
To be honest, for someone with severe procrastination, it's really scary, and quite stressful...
Very, very occasionally, looking at myself in the mirror, only able to write four thousand words a day, I always have to desperately press down on the coffin lid that suppresses my conscience, so as not to burst into tears...
Hmm, I've succeeded every time~
So, as I can't be more efficient, I can only repay everyone with as rich a story as possible~ I will treat every story, every character, every foreshadowing, and every chapter break in my writing with seriousness 【serious face】...
The gist of the above paragraph is that I really can't do any bursts of writing~ Please do not have any expectations of me!
Let's talk about something serious...
"Fourfold Split" is not an easy story to handle. In fact, I always feel like I'm simultaneously creating four works, and their styles differ quite a bit.
Mo Tan is also not an easy protagonist to handle; this mentally ill person almost constantly causes me trouble.
Every character gives me a headache, because I always want to make them as 'alive' as possible, flesh and blood, with a unique image in everyone's mind.
Not to mention, in the process of creating this subject matter, I have to constantly pay attention to countless potential logical loopholes, try my best to prepare for a rainy day, prevent problems before they arise, desperately slack off, be extremely vigilant, and be on edge... (Nothing got mixed in!)
So, it's really not easy...
But I will do my best to ensure the quality of the work, so that everyone can enjoy reading it. It would be even better if it could occasionally bring a knowing smile or make someone spit out their food~
I will also try my best not to stop updating, after all, I've already said it's hard to burst, and stopping updates would really be inappropriate...
I won't ask for votes. I haven't in the past, and I probably won't in the future, because I think reading is a pure and joyful thing, so I don't want to say anything superfluous to spoil that purity.
If everyone likes it, I'm already satisfied.
So, this single chapter will end here for now~
Actually, as I was writing, I suddenly realized I had a lot to say, but given that there will be a release announcement in the future, and a completion announcement in the extremely distant future, I'll just say this much for now.
So, thank you again, everyone. Thank you, editor; thank you to my current readers; thank you to my future readers.
Sanjiang Reflections: End (Don't complain about this last sentence; I really didn't mean to pad the word count, it's just a habit to write things like 'Episode X: End' and 'End'!)