Hey all,
So there's no chapter this week. I have a few things to do and couldn't get it in good enough shape to post. However, I did have a few things to say.
First, while I'm not surprised by the responses, both positive and critical, to Chapter 8 - Alone Time, I do want to address a few things:
Before anything else, I understand some readers don't like romance. I get it. It's not for everyone. To be blunt, tough. Romance is a part of this story. That does NOT mean there won't be action, fighting, horror, defeat, victory, celebration, defeat, or anything else that comes with a xianxia saga. It just means there will ALSO be romance included with the rest of the interpersonal relationships. Not having sexuality in this world would feel really disingenuous. Heck, this book alone is filled with attractive and very physical and hormonal young people in stressful situations and basically alone with each other without any supervision for up to four years. And you think nothing is going to happen? Really?
As far as the details go: If you reread chapter 36 of book 1, there are some discussions of relationships as cultivators. It addresses, in a very brief way, how cultivators look at sex in general as well as bi/gay relationships. That said, based on the feedback, I feel like I should probably throw in a sentence or two to address the fact that cultivators view relationships differently than mortals. I feel that those who called out that (mostly indirectly) are correct and that I should put something in there. So thanks for your comments on that. As for the Ai/Yu relationship thing, I am satisfied with how it is for now. Anything more would be a spoiler, which is against policy.
Also, comments that say it was a little "moderny" are possibly fair. I'll look into it but I'm not sure there is a solution. Intimacy scenes in even higher-quality Xianxia/Wuxia novels are pretty much trash. Just not a lot to go on IMO. All I can promise is to take a look at it.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
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Here are a few more notes for future chapters:
1. There were quite a few requests for a "family scene." I'll be honest, I went back and forth on that for a bit, did a draft, and frankly, it was boring. There just wasn't much there. Before you protest though, there WILL be a family scene in this book. And it will actually matter in regards to story progression when it happens. As always, I reserve the right to go back and add a chapter later. If I do, it will go up on Patreon when I'm ready for that.
2. I am going to rewrite chapter 3. It's waaaay too expositiony. I'll let you all know when I do that and again, it will probably be a patreon thing when that happens.
3. Please remember that everything I post on Royal Road (and will on Patreon, eventually) is only lightly edited. A deep edit and a copy edit are for in the future after the manuscript is complete. That said, I really value when you all catch the grammar stuff using the RR system. It helps clean up some of the mess. But making random comments like "This chapter really needs an edit" are unhelpful and demotivating. What goes up in RR is raw. Just a personal request.
4. I probably won't be able to post every week going forward. I'll do my best, but I probably won't. I will also be traveling a little for the holiday/new year, and won't be able to write or post during that time as I don't own a laptop. I can't provide detailed dates at this time, sorry. There are too many variables out of my control RE: travel right now.
5. In exchange for this not being a real chapter, I have decided to post a non-rendered draft of the cover of JP 3 below. I hope you enjoy the sneak peek. Let me know what you think.
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And that's it. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and new year. As always, I really really appreciate how you read and comment on my content. Thank you so much!
- Freedcats (aka D.I. Freed)