84: Move forward, dare to look back

Late at night. The lights of the Xinchao Magazine Agency had become the most stubborn beacon in the night of Jiangcheng.

On Wang De'an's desk, the ashtray was already overflowing, and the instant coffee in his mug had been refilled and gone cold time and time again.

He was sunk deep into his large executive chair, his eyes bloodshot, staring fixedly at the computer screen.

On the screen, the trending list of the Microblogging platform seemed to have been completely monopolized by "the human world is like a prison".

#Yang Jian Ascends to Godhood#

#the human world is like a prison Concludes#

#My Body is Hell, My Eyes are Natural Disasters#

...

Behind every entry, there was a bright red "Explosive" tag.

Wang De'an's finger hovered over the mouse, trembling slightly.

He wanted to close this glaring page, yet he couldn't help but refresh it over and over again, watching the emerging comments, the light in his eyes torn repeatedly between envy and anxiety.

"Editor-in-Chief, drink some water." Xu Lan walked in silently and placed a cup of warm water beside him.

Her complexion was equally haggard, and the dark circles under her eyes looked as if they had been painted on with ink.

"Look, just look at these comments." Wang De'an pointed at the screen.

"They are all saying that "the ferryman" is just small-scale romance, and that Jian Shen's scope has been completely crushed by that Dream Weaver."

Xu Lan looked at those glaring comments:

"Jian Shen's scope is too small; he's still talking about love that transcends life and death, while that Dream Weaver has already started reshaping the world order!"

""the ferryman" is just a fairy tale; "the human world is like a prison" is reality. I prefer something more cruel."

"What's the use of Tristan being handsome? Can he even beat one of Yang Jian's fingers?"

Her lips moved, but she didn't know how to comfort him.

They had finally made a name for themselves with "The Miracles of the Namiya General Store" and established a firm footing with the stunning opening of "the ferryman". Just as they were about to soar, they were caught off guard by this sudden "Hell Storm."

"This isn't fair." Xu Lan's voice carried a hint of a sob.

""the ferryman" has only just begun; how can they compare them like this?"

"Readers don't care if it's fair." Wang De'an slumped back into his chair and rubbed his brow.

"They only care about who brings the stronger impact. The ending where Yang Jian ascends to godhood is like a nuclear bomb, blowing everyone's emotions sky-high. By comparison, our little boat that has just set sail seems too insignificant."

The office fell into a deathly silence.

Xu Lan looked at the Editor-in-Chief's graying temples, felt a sting in her nose, and said softly:

"Editor-in-Chief, how about... we send an email to Jian Shen? Tell him the current situation, at least... at least let him know that we believe in him."

Wang De'an was silent.

After a long while, he slowly sat up straight, the anxiety in his eyes fading, replaced by a sense of determination to burn the bridges behind him.

"No." He shook his head.

"We cannot let him be distracted, and even less should we let him think we are questioning him. This battle belongs to our magazine agency, not to him alone."

He opened his email, created a new message, and set the recipient as "Jian Shen."

He didn't mention the storm online, just wrote:

"Teacher Jian Shen, sorry to disturb you late at night. I just want to tell you that no matter how noisy the outside world is, New Tide will always be your firmest harbor."

He stared at these words, took a deep breath, and was just about to click send.

At that moment, the computer emitted a crisp "ding-dong" sound.

A new email from "Jian Shen" popped into his inbox.

Wang De'an's breath hitched.

With trembling hands, he opened the email.

The content was very simple: only an attachment and a single sentence.

"Editor-in-Chief Wang, this is the new chapter of "the ferryman". Also, please help me post a sentence on the official Microblogging platform of "New Tide"."

Wang De'an opened the document titled "The Courage to Reverse" while barely breathing.

Xu Lan also leaned in, and the two heads squeezed in front of the screen.

...

"Dylan stood at the edge of the wasteland, with the relentless demons behind her and the bottomless black river in front of her. On the other side of the river was her hometown."

""I can't cross it." Dylan's voice trembled. "The river is too wide.""

"Tristan stood beside her, calmly watching the churning black river water."

""Everyone must cross their own river of souls." He said. "I can only take you this far.""

""But I'm scared." Dylan's tears fell. "I can't do it alone.""

"Tristan was silent for a long time. He turned around, his back to the hometown Dylan longed for, and faced the endless wasteland filled with demons."

""Then don't go across.""

"Dylan was stunned."

""Everyone tells you to bravely move forward, to traverse the darkness and reach the light." Tristan's voice was very soft, yet it was like a pebble thrown into a dead-still lake. "But sometimes, daring to stop in place, or even daring to turn back, is an even greater courage.""

""Because traversing the wasteland is for the sake of going home. If going home brings you pain, then what is the meaning of the other shore?""

"He reached out his hand, pointing to the path Dylan had come from."

""Go back." Tristan said. "Return to the place where you died, return to the root of your pain. This time, it's not to escape, but to see clearly what exactly you are afraid of.""

""I... can I?""

""You can." In Tristan's eyes, the only light of the wasteland was reflected. "Because you are not alone.""

"Dylan looked at his outstretched hand, then looked at the bottomless black river. She suddenly understood."

"True ferrying is not about crossing to the bright other shore, but having the courage to move against the current, to return to the starting point of the darkness."

Wang De'an and Xu Lan gasped almost simultaneously.

One tells you that you can only rely on yourself.

The other tells you that you are not alone.

This is not a question of scope at all; these are two completely different, yet equally profound philosophies!

"Quick! Quick!" Wang De'an stood up abruptly, his face flushed with excitement.

"Xu Lan, typeset it immediately! Rush publish this chapter! Promote it using all the magazine agency's channels!"

He quickly logged into the official Microblogging platform of "New Tide", his fingers clattering on the keyboard.

He found the comment section that had been overrun by "Dream Weaver fans", did not reply to anyone, but simply posted the sentence Jian Shen had asked him to, in his official capacity.

""Xinchao Magazine Agency" V: "Moving forward is courage; daring to turn back is a miracle. Because God will also accompany you through hell once more." — Jian Shen"

As soon as this post was published, it was like a drop of cold water falling into a hot frying pan.

The previously one-sided public opinion showed a subtle hesitation.

Those readers who were immersed in the huge impact brought by Yang Jian's ascension to godhood, upon seeing this sentence, felt a certain softest part of their hearts being gently poked.

Yang Jian's ascension to godhood was to end hell.

Tristan's reversal was to accompany you through hell.

One is a grand, messianic sacrifice.

The other is a small, guardian-like companionship.

"Damn... why am I crying? I didn't even cry when Yang Jian ascended to godhood, but I suddenly couldn't hold it together when I saw this sentence."

""Moving forward is courage; daring to turn back is a miracle... Teacher Jian Shen, oh my God! This is true healing!""

""Damn it, I'm broken. I always thought that only by running forward desperately could one be considered successful. So, it turns out that stopping to look back at the wounds is also okay?""

""If Yang Jian is the lonely king, then Tristan is the gentle god. I... I want both! I want both of them!""

The wind was quietly shifting.

Wang De'an watched the comment section change from "Jian Shen come out and take a beating" to "Kneeling before Teacher Jian Shen."

Watching the shifting tide in the comment section, he let out a long breath.

That breath carried away all his fatigue and anxiety, leaving only the relief of having survived a disaster.

The position had been held.

Xu Lan looked at his exhausted yet excited appearance, her eyes turning red:

"Editor-in-Chief, we... fought a beautiful battle."

Wang De'an smiled, a smile mixed with fatigue, ecstasy, and a hint of relieved lingering fear.

"Yes."

He exhaled a long puff of smoke; amidst the swirling smoke, his eyes were clearer than ever.

He looked at the simple name "Jian Shen" on the screen and said nothing more.

Yet, from his silence, Xu Lan understood the unspoken words.

It wasn't a simple "Thank goodness for him."

It was that this person named Jian Shen could not only ferry Dylan in the novel, but he had also ferried them through this storm of public opinion.