After we landed, we immediately parted ways with Lao Jiang. Lao Jiang arranged a car to take us all the way to Sanya City and also arranged a hotel for us.
We stayed at the hotel for one day, and someone delivered the processed documents to us.
After all, identification documents are very important.
Because we entered Vietnam through "legal channels," our documents and exit records show that we shouldn't be in China now. If this loophole is discovered, it will cause trouble. Therefore, we need to find ways to close this loophole.
After finishing with the paperwork and documents, I had to take Xiluo and the others back to Canada as soon as possible. This time, I convinced Qiaoqiao not to come back with me.
"I'll give you two answers, you can guess which one is true." I looked at Qiao Qiao, half seriously and half jokingly: "First, I'm annoyed with you. You're too difficult to deal with, always bullying me, so I don't want to take you back to Canada." I smiled and continued: "Second, the things I do after I go back might not be safe. If I take you with me, I'm afraid you'll get hurt, and I'll be distracted."
Before Qiaoqiao could say anything more, I shook my head. Then I looked into her eyes and whispered, "Don't ask, and don't say anything. I don't know anything right now either."
This sentence is almost identical to what Qiaoqiao said to me in Vietnam...
We were saying these words on the hotel's beach. The bright Sanya sun shone on us, making it quite hot; this heat not only enveloped our bodies but also flowed through our hearts…
Then, Qiaoqiao looked up at me and gave me a bright smile...
That smile is so bright!
When we parted, I handed the mixed-race beauties to Aze and Mu Tou: "I already owe you a lot, but this girl helped me once, and I promised to cure her sister, so... I'll have to trouble you again." Then I smiled and said, "Anyway, you're my good friends, and you're destined to be annoyed to death by me for the rest of your lives."
Aze, still grinning, said, "Don't worry, I'm always happy to take care of beautiful women."
Wood simply nodded. Looking into his eyes, I said to him in a solemn tone, "Wood..."
"The original Xiao Wu..." I took a deep breath, "will be back! Soon!"
That night, Xiluo and I left Sanya, leaving behind my good friends, Qiaoqiao, the mixed-race beauty and her sister YOYO. We flew to Guangzhou, where we would transfer to another flight to leave the country and return to Canada.
I had originally considered not going back...
However, I have already chosen this path, so I must see it through to the end!
Isn't that right?
Part 1: A Man in the Martial World, Forced by His Own Will - Part 1 Summary
According to my writing plan, the first part is finished.
Yang Xiang has written over 800,000 characters and completed the first part of the book, which is full of awe-inspiring evil spirits. After finishing this first part, I have a lot to say.
I dare not say that this first book is particularly brilliant, but I must say that in the process of writing this book, I was constantly exploring and gradually experiencing some things that I had never experienced before.
The first part tells the story of Xiao Wu's early experiences, from his life in China, to his involuntary involvement in the underworld, his escape, his fighting, and finally, step by step, after his trip to Vietnam, he has laid a solid foundation.
His character has undergone a series of complex experiences, including trials, betrayal, being betrayed, bloodshed, family, friendship, and love. Xiao Wu's character has changed dramatically since his first appearance.
It can be said that he now possesses some of the conditions for success, or rather, for "rising to a higher position."
Just as Yang Wei said in the early days, Xiao Wu's original personality was not suitable for this circle at all because he was too kind.
However, by the end of the first part, Xiao Wu's personality had gradually lost those "weaknesses".
Many readers have noticed that the biggest constraint facing Xiao Wu right now is Eighth Master.
The character of Eighth Master is actually another "Brother Huan". Xiao Wu was betrayed by the first Brother Huan, and now he has met the second Brother Huan in his life. Can he change his personality and overcome this obstacle?
Life is cruel. In this world, it's either you eat others or others eat you! This principle is especially evident in the underworld!
I remember watching a gangster movie years ago, and there was a line in it: "Everyone wants to be the boss. Everyone wants to kill the current boss and become the new boss themselves..."
So... "When you're in the martial world, you're not in control of your own destiny"—these eight characters are the theme of my first book.
Huan Ge was helpless. To protect himself, he had no choice but to sacrifice Xiao Wu. No matter how much he admired Xiao Wu,
But faced with a difficult question: should I die, or should he die?
...When faced with such a problem, people are selfish...unless they are saints. And Huan Ge, he is not a saint. It's not that he's wrong, but in the world of gangsters, one is often caught in a difficult situation.
Jinhe was helpless; he knew his actions violated his principles. But his life belonged to Huan Ge, and he had to do what Huan Ge commanded. So he was going to kill Xiao Wu, but at the last moment, a sense of shared fate caused him to hesitate, and he spared Xiao Wu's life. He wasn't wrong. They were all just like everyone else in the martial world, often caught in situations beyond their control.
Tiger was helpless. He was just a simple underling who wanted to "climb the ranks". He had been loyal to Master Ba for twenty years, but in the end, he realized one thing: Master Ba would not easily relinquish his power.
In fact, no one would do the same.
It's like in a company, even if your department manager appreciates you, when your performance threatens his position... he'll definitely get rid of you without hesitation.
Tiger was helpless; he just wanted to secure a good future for himself. Call him selfish or cunning, but most people in this world ultimately think of themselves first.
Selfishness is human nature!
So, in this respect, he wasn't wrong; it's still a case of... being caught in the web of power and having no choice in the matter.
So, was Eighth Prince wrong?
No!
When a person becomes accustomed to wielding the power of life and death, accustomed to being in a superior position, they will inevitably make every effort to maintain what they have! No one is so selfless as to willingly give away what they possess...
Yes, some might say that the Eighth Prince is cunning, but as someone in a high position, he has to employ many methods. Maintaining balance and controlling subordinates is not a simple matter. He needs to mobilize his subordinates to work for him, but at the same time, he will not tolerate anyone who threatens his position.
This is reality.
So, Eighth Master wasn't wrong either; he was also caught up in the world of martial arts, unable to control his own destiny.
When writing novels, what I dislike most is stereotypical characterization.
I've always believed that if readers can easily distinguish between the villain and the hero while reading a novel...
Those kinds of people with evil faces, whose faces practically scream "I'm a bad guy"...
This is not a novel.
In novels, plot is the primary consideration, but characters are equally important.
In this book, there are characters like Huan Ge, Jin He, Eighth Master, Tiger, or Xiao Wu... I believe these characters are all very well-developed!
They are not wrong. Everyone has their own pursuits and things they need to strive for. They are all working hard for their own goals.
But in this world of martial arts... if you don't eat people, people will eat you!
There was no other choice!
That's why there's fighting and talk of "it's your life or mine."
Having written this book to this point, I believe I have done my best to express what I wanted to say. I believe most readers should be able to understand my intentions.
I am a writer who enjoys thinking, and when I write, I like to incorporate some of my own thoughts into my work.
This is my attitude towards writing.
The kind of book where the protagonist is strong, then gets stronger, and then even stronger... constantly leveling up on the path to strength, until he becomes invincible... honestly, it's actually quite easy to write.
Most online novels, whether fantasy or magical realism, are essentially based on the "online game" formula. The protagonist constantly defeats enemies, levels up, gains experience points, and becomes stronger... while occasionally flirting with women in his spare time. In the end, he becomes invincible, and the story concludes...
I couldn't write a book like that, to be honest... and I wouldn't stoop to writing one.
A novel without a soul is not a novel. I have tried my best to create a soul theme for this book; at least in the first part, I think I have tried my best to express it.
Of course, perhaps my writing skills are insufficient. I have tried my best to write many things, but I cannot make everyone understand them perfectly. This is a problem with my skills, so please forgive me.
However, I can proudly say: I put my heart into it! This effort, whether successful or not, has always been approached with a very serious creative attitude towards my work and my readers.
Besides the point mentioned above, another thing I want to write about in the first book is human nature.
In fact, what I call human nature is simply a matter of "emotion".
It includes both family affection and friendship.
Many readers say that the most successfully portrayed element in the first book is the friendship among the "Four Jackals".
Of course, it's a shame that Qiaoqiao can't maintain a purely "friendship" relationship for the time being, haha...
These four people are a strange combination, and also a wonderful one.
Actually, the first part only introduced each character's personality, but each character has a story behind them.
Why is Wood so taciturn?
Why is Aze so promiscuous?
Why did Qiao Qiao like women before?
These are their stories, which I will write about in future stories.
Xiao Wu is the protagonist, and he also bears the focus and responsibility for all the conflicts in the book.
His familial love came from his master. His master planted a seed of "kindness" in Xiao Wu's originally cold heart. Otherwise, we would never have seen Xiao Wu; he would have fallen into depravity long ago.
Huan Ge, on the other hand, was a dream that Xiao Wu had originally pinned his hopes on through "family." Xiao Wu regarded Huan Ge as an older brother, a father, and even a substitute for his "master." But in the end, the dream was shattered.
The shift in the characters' personalities creates a somber tone for the plot.
So, in the first few hundred thousand words, there were many funny scenes. But later on, I deliberately avoided those scenes.
Actually, I also enjoy writing witty and humorous passages. I consider myself quite good at comedic writing. I could fill my novels with parodies. But that would ruin the overall style of my work. That's why the recent tone has been a bit gloomy... Of course, when things are suppressed to a certain degree, they will naturally explode.
In terms of love, Xiao Wu is, for the time being, a person who is at a loss in my heart.
Does he love Yan Di? Honestly, it's hard to say. His feelings for Yan Di mostly stem from this simple girl who gave him a simple life and a sense of family. This is precisely what Xiao Wu lacked growing up, and what he longed for most. This kind of "love" is mixed with too many other elements.
Did he love Fang Nan? It was more of a pity and helplessness. It was a kind of pity, sympathy, or perhaps "soft-heartedness" he felt for this thirty-year-old woman.
And what about Qiao Qiao?
This is the highlight of the first installment, and the female lead I put a lot of effort into developing. Looking at it now, Qiao Qiao's popularity is something I never expected. Hehe…
But at least in this respect, I succeeded.
Qiaoqiao was the only one among these women who "understood" Xiaowu the most, because her relationship with Xiaowu developed on the foundation of friendship. She had spent several years objectively understanding Xiaowu's personality from a friend's perspective. She was the one who saw things most clearly.
I would even say that among Fang Nan, Yan Di, and Qiao Qiao, I believe that Qiao Qiao loved Xiao Wu the most.
Yan Di loves Xiao Wu largely because of feelings of gratitude and a desire to repay kindness.
Fang Nan wrote it very clearly: at the beginning, Xiao Wu was a "substitute".
Let me tell you, my wife, who's now dancing, was originally my friend. Our friendship blossomed into love. I feel very happy because we're two people who understand each other so well; being together gives me a sense of mutual understanding and companionship. Hehe… However, my wife doesn't have Qiao Qiao's fierce temper, nor does she have any of Qiao Qiao's "special hobbies"! Hmph!! Anyone who dares to talk nonsense, watch out…
The character Xiao Wu endured numerous hardships in the first season, and in the second season, everything about him will see a leap forward and improvement. Where he will ultimately go remains to be seen!
As for what many people are looking forward to, Xiao Wu's triumphant return to China... of course, that's the main event!