Passersby witnessed a peculiar sight.
A man, clutching nine strings of cotton candy, walked along the road, seemingly unsure what to do with his hands and feet, looking constipated.
Beside him walked a beautiful woman with flowing long hair, licking a cotton candy with a beaming smile.
The scene looked comical, yet unexpectedly heartwarming. Many people turned to look, unconsciously breaking into maternal smiles.
"I want cotton candy too," a girl said, tugging at her boyfriend's sleeve as a couple passed by. "I want so many!"
The man said, "Don't think that guy has any good intentions. He's got so many cotton candy now, he'll use a few small balloons to buy them, you believe me?"
The girl said, "Isn't that a good thing? Try using them ten times yourself!"
The man was stunned by her words and quickly shut up.
Qiu Wuji's ears twitched, but he didn't look away: "What are small balloons?"
Chu Ge pretended not to hear. She wanted to strangle that guy; he was judging a gentleman by his own petty standards!
Did I want to use ten small balloons?
I didn't want to use small balloons at all.
Qiu Wuji didn't ask further. If you don't tell me, am I supposed to just go back and ask Baidu? She finished one cotton candy, then naturally took another from Chu Ge's hand and continued eating.
Chu Ge couldn't help but ask, "It seems like you're channeling your grief into appetite, the book probably flopped..." Qiu Wuji, his sore spot exposed, suddenly remembered something and glared at him dangerously: "Is it your will interfering, causing no one to read my book?!"
Chu Ge: "Emmm... my will was observing, but I didn't mean for it to flop, it shouldn't have caused any impact."
"Maybe it's your subconscious! It just wants me to flop!"
Chu Ge, holding his cotton candy, thought for a long time: "It shouldn't be that conscious thought, my observation was just to see what impact your book could have... Of course, maybe my subconscious thought it was better not to have any impact? I'm not sure... But if my subconscious thought could influence the facts, that's a bit of an exaggeration, right? After all, I didn't do anything."
Qiu Wuji didn't speak anymore, lowering his head to eat his candy.
Most likely, it had nothing to do with his subconscious; he really did flop, sob sob.
Qiu Wuji swallowed a cotton candy in a fit of indignation, then grabbed another, muttering indistinctly, "Is writing a book really that hard..."
"It's not that hard. Those big shots say anyone with hands can do it. This thing does require talent," Chu Ge said. "If you're really bothered by this, I'll add a setting for you. Just say you also have a talent for storytelling, and that'll be it."
"I don't want that!" Qiu Wuji said. "What I want is to break free from your influence, not to rely on your influence for everything! Don't ever try to force me to use your techniques again..."
Chu Ge smiled helplessly. "What about the things you comprehend and the breakthroughs in your cultivation within the original plot?"
Qiu Wuji didn't know how to answer for a moment, then said after a long pause, "Anyway, if I have something different from what you write, does learning to write a book myself count?"
"Definitely." Chu Ge thought that being able to eat ten cotton candies was already a good start... If you wrote that in a book, readers would criticize you for ruining your character.
Of course, maybe that wouldn't be enough.
Qiu Wuji then said, "Then...then continue teaching me how to write?" Chu Ge snorted, "Call me Master." Qiu Wuji glared at him.
This time, Chu Ge was very resolute, looking up at the sky and ignoring her.
Qiu Wuji glared for a long time before finally softening and softly saying, "Master~" Chu Ge nodded, "Teach, I'll teach you when we get back!"
...
"Your 20,000 words are indeed well-written, far surpassing many writers. But can you figure out the key reason why nobody is reading them?" Back home, the two sat in front of the computer, huddled together looking at the documents.
Qiu Wuji had completely forgotten how intimate their posture was; his mind was entirely focused on the matter at hand: "I used my divine sense to eavesdrop on some comments from mortals. They said it was just a mundane account?"
"Yes, too straightforward. For example, the protagonist leaves the mountain, sees a monster eating people, the protagonist rushes in and starts fighting, kills it, and that's it. Then he continues on his journey, sees another monster, and fights again… If you were in his shoes, would you enjoy hearing this kind of story?" Qiu Wuji retorted: "I read your Journey to the West, which is also about subduing demons and monsters. The highlight is how you deal with all sorts of different demons, isn't it? I just think…" "That's really good!"
"Not entirely. First, it establishes a long-term expectation of the Journey to the West, making you anticipate the hardships and obstacles they will encounter along the way. Second, each event isn't a direct confrontation, but rather has its own subplot."
"For example?"
"Take the example of the True and False Monkey Kings. What happened? Who was the real one? And how was the truth revealed? It's a complete process of suspense. Classic works not only have depth, but their narrative techniques are also top-notch. Only when the story is interesting can it endure." Qiu Wuji's eyes began to swirl.
"Then, a story needs ups and downs, contrasts. If you just go in and fight, and then win the next one, that's boring."
"So you have to lose, and then find a way to win? That's ups and downs, but what about contrasts?"
"Hmm... For example, people love to see the innocent become alluring, the lewd become naive, the holy become corrupt. That's what makes them memorable. If your protagonist is the same from beginning to end, and the monsters they face are all ferocious and vicious, that's boring..." Qiu Wuji thought for a long time, then said quietly, "Those who write 10,000 words a day are doomed?"
Chu Ge: "?"
Qiu Wuji: "..." The two stared at each other for a long time. Chu Ge covered his face: "Is this your idea of applying knowledge to new situations? Okay, you're not an idiot."
Qiu Wuji hugged his piggy pillow and remained silent.
Both masters thought their disciple was an idiot, so they settled the score.
"How about this," Chu Ge hesitated after thinking for a long time, "Forget about making up stories, really, just try describing what has already happened, how about that?"
Qiu Wuji sighed, "Write an autobiography?"
"Something like that. I know you're not content with just completing a world in a book; you want to create your own. But for now, this can be a learning experience. Nothing can be rushed. You've already practiced for ten thousand years, what's one more book?"
Qiu Wuji said quietly, "That kind of thing can only exist as a side story, how will it make money?"
"I'll give it to you." Chu Ge repeated a topic he'd mentioned before: "Working for a capitalist is not as good as working for me, isn't it all work?"
"That's a family business…"
"No, a writing studio is a legitimate business! You can call me boss." Qiu Wuji was both amused and exasperated. You're addicted to stacking buffs, aren't you?
But then again, in ancient times, it was common for apprentices to work for their masters. Thinking about it this way, learning to write books from him, working for him to write side stories, and practicing at the same time—it seems pretty normal, an acceptable solution.
Besides, he seems to be getting richer and richer now. Supporting another person doesn't require him to rely on credit cards like before, so he doesn't need to rush to find ways to supplement his income… But he's also my disciple. How can a disciple not need to work?
Qiu Wuji asked, "Then why don't you help me with chores while you're learning cultivation?"
Chu Ge scratched his head: "What cultivation work do you have for me to do? You even complain about the new medicine I give you."
Qiu Wuji was dumbfounded, and forced himself to say, "Even to show filial piety to Master, I have to help! There's always something I haven't thought of!"
"Uh…" Chu Ge cautiously said, "Then… should I give Master a shoulder massage?"
"Get lost!"
"Then… you give Master a shoulder massage?"
A moment later, Chu Ge was lying on the ground covered in bumps, and Qiu Wuji tossed his ponytail and went out to buy groceries.
What a masochist.
But… writing his own autobiography?
Thinking about it seriously, it seems quite interesting. After all, my past isn't in his book.
Qiu Wuji walked slowly, his thoughts drifting into distant memories.
At the beginning of his cultivation journey, many fellow disciples pursued him…and some even pursued him while he was wandering the martial world.
Back then, he was single-mindedly focused on the Dao and ignored them.
Time has passed swiftly; looking back over ten thousand years, they have all passed away.
He thought he had seen through all these things…
But now… Chu Ge yearns for Qiu Wuji.
Will you still be there in the next ten thousand years?
"If I didn't want to figure out how to be together forever, I wouldn't even want to think about any special abilities." Chu Ge's words echoed in his mind again.
Perhaps…he will be there.
Others cultivate primarily for immortality; only he does so for Qiu Wuji.