Chapter 335: Summary

Many readers might be wondering why Volume 5 is titled "The Wedge." In my mind, Volume 5 marks the beginning of the second part of *Qingshan*, serving as the prologue that opens this new section.

Undoubtedly, from the time Chen Ji first arrived in this world until the end of the Guyuan arc, that constituted what I defined as the first part. During this period, Chen Ji was a newcomer with no specific goals or attachments. In this section, he slowly familiarized himself with the world, grasping its principles. He made new friends, formed bonds, and discovered things he needed to do. During this part, Chen Ji was quite different from how he was before his transmigration. He wasn't as proactive, as the initiative always lay with others.

I’ve mentioned before that I considered writing something more straightforward and satisfying, where I could just let my thoughts flow without restraint. Of course, strictly speaking, I don't consider *Qingshan* a political intrigue novel. If I had to categorize it, I’d say it’s perhaps a wuxia story. Perhaps wuxia doesn't require such intense realism. However, personally, I’ve already written those types of stories. For this one, I wanted to take my time and explore other themes. Therefore, Chen Ji inevitably couldn't take the lead in the first part.

Strategy relies on information. For someone lacking key information, every step is an exploration. As the saying goes, a skilled player plans for the overall situation, while an unskilled player focuses on individual pieces. Someone who doesn't even understand the general trend will inevitably make mistakes no matter what they do. Before he grasped the situation, Chen Ji could only leverage the power of others—the Directorate of Ceremonial's Secret Intelligence Department and the Zhang family. But, most crucially, Chen Ji met many important people in this part. As I've said, the most important element I wanted to write about in this book is people.

Now, let's talk about the second part.

As the wedge for the second part, Volume 5 introduces Bai Li’s current situation, explores the progression of certain relationships, introduces new characters Chen Ji encounters, and delves into the volatile situation in the capital. It serves as the grand opening act for this section. After all, the capital is the main focus of this part, and dedicating pages to familiarizing readers with it is worthwhile.

In the second part, some characters who previously exited the story will reappear. Chen Ji will also embark on a new life path, forming new relationships. Most importantly, he begins to gradually understand this world. He starts to realize what he needs to do, or what... sacrifices he must make, to achieve certain goals. When these characters return, will they be friends or foes?

I’ve seen discussions about character relationships, but for me, it's too early to draw conclusions about many roles. Some seemingly positive developments might not turn out well, while some negative ones might one day save a life. The ending of this book, in fact, was foreshadowed in the very first chapter and the initial synopsis.

I was truly impressed when some readers discovered hidden Easter eggs and plot devices. For example, seeing the "Treasure Monkey" reminded them of the unidentified killer in Luocheng who murdered people and skinned their faces for the Crown Prince. That's very clever. However, there are also some very subtle plot devices that I believe you haven't guessed yet, haha. This is an alternative joy I discovered while writing *Qingshan*—the joy of being an author.

Lastly, I want to say that I am not an exceptionally talented author, and *Qingshan* cannot be considered a very mature novel. I am simply doing my best. I've also seen many readers pointing out flaws in the book and correcting grammar, which is great because it shows how much you care about it. Finally, I don't compare myself to other authors or my work to other books. If there must be a comparison, it's simply that others write better. Thank you all for your support.

Thanks again.