Today I suddenly received a private message on the backend, notifying me that *Red Heart Inspecting the Heavens* would be released tomorrow.

I immediately went to my editor and said a lot of nonsense, about hard work, dedication, dreams, and whatnot, and managed to get it adjusted to next week.

Yes. It’s going to be released next week.

The word count is up, so it has to be released.

I really can’t imagine what kind of subscription results I’ll get with only 629 favorites.

Since signing the contract, I’ve only had two recommendations that were so unpopular they were freezing cold.

I asked the editor, “Why don’t you have faith in my book?”

In terms of structure and setting, I’ve created tens of thousands of words of settings and plot lines, and it definitely won’t collapse later.

In terms of writing style, I’m not inferior to anyone.

In terms of content, many readers have been genuinely moved.

In terms of diligence, I haven’t missed a single day of updates.

Even just looking at the data, I have over six hundred favorites and nearly three thousand recommendation votes. I’m quite satisfied with that.

I also have forty or so genuine rewards, including alliance leaders and helmsmen.

All of this is real data. If I were to pay a dollar for each vote, may I be struck by lightning.

Isn’t that better than those bots?

The editor said, “Your tracking data was too poor when you were recommended. And recommendations for Xianxia are really tight now.”

Okay. I understand. I get it.

I don’t mean to complain about anyone. Editors have no obligation to do anything for authors.

But it’s really hard to accept.

Am I not dedicated enough?

Am I not sincere enough?

After writing four thousand words every day, my whole spirit is drained.

The pacing is a bit slow, can’t I write slowly? Can’t I write more free chapters for readers to see? Without recommendations, can’t I accumulate readers little by little through word of mouth?

It seems not. It has to be released.

I don’t know what to say.

Some readers say that I write web novels to make easy money.

If I take on some soft articles, I don’t even have to use my brain, just click and publish, isn’t that a faster way to make money than writing this?

The only difference between web novels and physical books for me is the platform, that’s it.

I write novels with the same red heart and sincerity.

I don’t know how it turned out this way.

There have been too many blows. Too many people have hit me. Too many things have hit me.

I’m not invulnerable after all, I don’t have a Kun leather drum on me.

I’m really lost, frustrated, and starting to doubt myself.

Am I really not suitable for writing web novels?

I strive to build a real world, putting a lot of detail into the lives of ordinary people, is that really out of touch?

I write about every person, every city, and even every country, each with its own style and temperament, all different. Is that a waste of effort?

I design different combat systems for each person, striving to match their character, is that gilding the lily?

I pursue logical consistency and complete plots, refusing to write brainless stories, have I done something wrong?

I have no answers.

But everything in front of me seems to be forcing an answer on me.

……

I flipped through my novel again.

I have a “Red Heart Inspecting the Heavens Plot Outline” document, which contains various plot fragments. Over ten thousand words. Written ones, crossed out. Abandoned ones, moved to the back. Ones to be written, moved to the front.

Constantly supplementing and deleting.

I have a “Red Heart Inspecting the Heavens Resource Library” document, which contains various setting structures.

Just copying a table of contents should be enough to show the effort I’ve put in:

Detailed explanation of the Illusionary Realm of Emptiness, Detailed description of the Taoist system, Unified description of cultivation realms, Taoist arts levels and representative Taoist arts, Formations, Formation patterns, Divine powers, Merit system, Unified description of aquatic creatures, demons, fierce beasts, wild beasts, Records of cultivation methods, Records of divine weapons, Records of treasures, Records of strange objects, Monetary system, Map section (with approximate power distribution), Countries, Sects.

There’s also the timeline from the ancient era, the primordial era, the ancient era to the recent ancient era, the plot background, important historical nodes, and the process of historical changes.

Continuing to the present, the story of Red Heart Inspecting the Heavens begins.

I completed these settings like writing a thesis, is there no meaning to them?

Doesn’t the complete world they build seem magnificent?

Can’t the emotions I’ve invested in this world touch readers?

I don’t believe it.

I don’t believe it.

……

Since there are no recommendations, I’ll see if adding more chapters can increase the number of favorites before the release.

From now until the release next week.

For every hundred new favorites, I’ll add one chapter. I’ll add until my stockpile is exhausted.

I have at least ten chapters in reserve that I can add.

……

Perhaps it won’t be of any use.

I’m just doing my best to be myself.

That’s all I have to say.

I will definitely finish this story.

I won’t let down any reader who follows this novel.

Let the story of *Red Heart Inspecting the Heavens* begin with a red heart and end with a red heart.

——By Qing He Yi Shen, on 2019-12-05