If you've found your way to this book, I want to express my deepest gratitude. Your willingness to join Hua Dailu and Zhu Zhaoming on their journey means the world to me, and I am so thankful to have you here as a reader.

  My story comes from a very special pce, shaped by my own unique background. As a child of both a Korean mother and an American father, I had the rare opportunity to live between two distinct worlds. This cultural blend has deeply influenced my writing, often drawing on the rich traditions and stories of my Eastern heritage. Growing up in the 90s as a Korean-American was an experience like no other. If you wanted to watch K-Dramas or C-Dramas back then, you’d have to visit a Korean grocery store and find that hidden backroom where someone’s son would be making VHS copies of the test dramas. The King of Chosun and The Return of the Condor Heroes (1995) were some of the first dramas that introduced me to these captivating worlds. Though I certainly wouldn’t recommend illegally pirating videos, this was a time before the days of streaming ptforms like Viki Rakuten and iQiyi.

  With all of that in mind, I want to share a little bit about the world you’re about to explore. This story is a romance fantasy, set in a fictional world that I’ve created. While I may not be an expert in Chinese history, Wuxia, Xianxia, or other specific genres, I am an avid fan who’s drawn inspiration from the cultural influences of my upbringing. This story is my way of weaving together the many things that have shaped me, and I am so excited to share it with you.

  A small note about naming conventions: In many Eastern cultures, names are traditionally written with the family name first, followed by the given name. This is known as "Eastern name order" or "family name first order." You’ll find this practice in:

  Chinese (e.g., Zhang Wei, where "Zhang" is the family name)

  Korean (e.g., Kim Seok-jin, where "Kim" is the family name)

  Japanese (e.g., Yamada Taro, though in Western contexts this may be reversed)

  Vietnamese (e.g., Nguy?n Th? Minh Khai)

  In contrast, most Western cultures follow the "Western name order," where the given name comes first, followed by the family name (e.g., John Smith).

  I hope this gives you a deeper understanding of the world I’ve drawn from and the story I’ve crafted. Thank you again for being here, and I hope you enjoy the adventure!