Apology, senescence, humility, and a stubbornness that knows no fear of death.

First of all, I would like to apologize to everyone, as I need to take a leave of absence today.

Yesterday was May Day, and I drank myself into a stupor last night. As a result, I have spent the entire day feeling dizzy and nauseous, with my stomach in complete turmoil, suffering from both vomiting and diarrhea.

I had a great time drinking last night, but I am paying the price today.

I had intended to push through and write a few thousand words because I remember promising to keep updating throughout the holiday, but after sitting at my computer for a while, I simply couldn't hold on.

It is not that I do not want to write; it is that I am truly unable to.

I am truly sorry, and I apologize to you all.

Tomorrow, I will post ten thousand words, and I will increase my output over the coming days as a small, humble gesture of compensation. I hope you can understand.

I dare not even ask for monthly votes; given my performance, I feel too embarrassed to bring it up. Please do as you wish—if you are willing to vote, I appreciate it, and if not, I fully understand.

To be honest, I feel a bit melancholic, as I have suddenly realized that I am truly starting to get old. Back when I was young, no matter how much I drank, a single night's sleep would leave me feeling full of vitality the next day. But now...

Sigh, I am, after all, an "old man" fast approaching thirty.

The subscription numbers for this book are decent, though the monthly vote rankings are much lower than before. I had expected this. After all, this is a brand-new genre for me—one I have never written in before.

If I were merely chasing money, I would be writing a sequel to "Evil Magic Law" or "The Evil One"...

Before I started this book, I said that it was a dream from my childhood, a humble attempt of sorts.

That is all it is.

Therefore, I am willing to sacrifice some popularity and income for it.

In the end, I still thank you all for your support and your critiques.

Please, to the readers who like me, believe this: I am still the same Xiao Wu. Even though I have aged a few years and am nearing thirty, Xiao Wu is still Xiao Wu—that somewhat stubbornly reckless Xiao Wu, the one who would rather hit a brick wall than compromise.

If you are still willing to read the stories written by this "old man," then this "old man" will keep on writing.

—Tiao Wu