Nostalgia and Sentimentality

Regarding the recent introduction of certain elements from *Evil Spirit*:

Here is an explanation:

First, there is no need to worry that the two books will become connected. I am only borrowing a few elements from *Evil Spirit*; the main stories of the two books will not intersect. *The Heavenly King* is not a sequel to *Evil Spirit*, either. Readers who have never read *Evil Spirit* need not worry that they will be unable to understand this book, nor is there any need to read *Evil Spirit* for that reason. I will ensure a smooth reading experience and will not allow the content of *Evil Spirit* to make *The Heavenly King* confusing to new readers. I am an experienced author by now and would not make such a mistake. Of course, anyone interested is welcome to take a look as well. I daresay that book was not badly written.

Second, many readers are concerned that the characters in *Evil Spirit* have no supernatural abilities, and that their appearance in *The Heavenly King* might create confusion. Let me guarantee one thing first: the characters from *Evil Spirit* will not appear on a large scale, and even if they do appear, they will not be supernatural beings. What has already been established will remain established. There will not suddenly be a Chen Yang who can use supernatural powers. As for bringing a character back, one thing matters above all: whether the character has a role to play. The ability to use supernatural powers cannot determine everything. Take Wood from *Evil Spirit*, for example. He cannot fight or kill, yet I could still write him into a very compelling role. I will not ruin the images of the characters from the earlier book. I treasure them more than anyone else does, after all—they are my own creations. I treasure them more than anyone else.

I am only using certain elements—such as the “ring” and “luck”—to serve as narrative threads.

Third, the inclusion of some elements from *Evil Spirit* comes partly from certain plot arrangements and partly from my own nostalgia. However, nostalgia will appear only occasionally. As Old Xu said to Chen Xiao, “If you are nostalgic every day, that is just affectation.” So it will be enough for one or two characters to make an occasional appearance and move readers for a moment. This book will not become a sequel to *Evil Spirit*. After all, this book is called *The Heavenly King*, and its protagonist is Chen Xiao!

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*The Heavenly King* — “Nostalgia and Affectation”

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