Chapter 160: The Most Popular Writer

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The beauty of Mount Hua’s scenery needs no elaborate description.

After a grueling seventeen hours, Zhang Tan and Feng Ge finally completed a full circuit of Mount Hua, starting their ascent at seven in the morning and descending at eleven at night. Their bodies were utterly exhausted, yet their hearts burned with an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.

They began with over a dozen companions, but only the two of them returned.

The others had all abandoned the journey midway.

Even Feng Ge had contemplated quitting but felt too embarrassed to voice it; if he left, Zhang Tan would be left completely alone.

Back at the hotel at the foot of the mountain, Zhang Tan grabbed Feng Ge and went door to door, knocking on the rooms of those deserters who had already bathed and were tucked into bed, ready to sleep. With a disdainful tone, he declared, “For you, life is something to give up on, but for us, life is meant for perseverance!”

Of course, this was said in jest.

Primarily, Zhang Tan wanted to show off, to boast about his grand feat of conquering the entire Mount Hua in a single day.

Since his rebirth, he had grown increasingly free-spirited, his character sharpening with resilience and determination. Had this been his previous life, he might have quit halfway like others, but now, the very idea of giving up halfway never crossed his mind. Once he vowed to complete the entire Mount Hua trail, he exerted himself until he did.

Or rather, he possessed both the passionate vigor of youth and the steadfast endurance of a man in his thirties.

Without perseverance, passion alone renders work tedious; without passion, perseverance becomes irritable and rash. Only by combining passionate zeal with enduring patience can one see any endeavor through to the end and reap profound fulfillment.

“Youngness truly is a wonderful feeling!”

That night, lying in bed at the hotel, Zhang Tan quickly fell asleep.

He slept soundly until dawn, waking refreshed and invigorated, with no signs of fatigue on his body. Years of consistent training had greatly enhanced his resilience and recovery. In contrast, Feng Ge, who had accompanied him, was miserable—his body aching and restless.

“People often say writers sit at home all day, but Zhang Tan doesn’t look like that at all; his health is impeccable,” Professor Li Qiru remarked genuinely, observing the lively Zhang Tan and the exhausted Feng Ge.

Zhang Tan’s assistant, Ma Weiwei, couldn’t help but boast, “Our boss exercises every day. He even won the running championship at the school sports meet and broke records.”

“Keep it low-key, no need to flaunt past achievements,” Zhang Tan said with a playful wave of his hand.

After some playful banter in the lobby, it was time to get down to business following their day-long Mount Hua climb.

The first event of the Mount Hua Sword Forum was the awarding of the inaugural Zhang Tan Cup—The Wandering Pen Martial Arts Grand Prix, presenting first and second prizes.

The prizes were enclosed in red envelopes, personally handed out by Zhang Tan, the competition’s founder. As for the excellence awards, those were paid via bank transfer, so the recipients were not invited to the forum.

The travel expenses alone exceeded the two thousand yuan prize for the excellence awards.

There were five second-place winners: Bu Feiyan, Liu Jianliang, Shen Yingying, Yang Pan, and Shi Weihan—each receiving a ten-thousand-yuan red envelope.

The first prize went to the beautiful writer Cang Yue, who received a thirty-thousand-yuan red envelope.

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The top prize was not awarded merely because of her appearance but due to her outstanding writing. Not only did Zhang Tan grant her the award, but the other judges unanimously agreed.

After the Zhang Tan Cup awards, the formal Mount Hua Sword Forum commenced—a serious and broad discussion about the future direction of martial arts literature. Authors and scholars freely expressed their views. Editors from “Contemporary Legends: Martial Arts Edition” also participated, with someone designated to record the proceedings, making it resemble a government working meeting.

Zhang Tan held a pessimistic view of martial arts literature’s future. Having witnessed its decline firsthand, he knew that with the rise of online literature, martial arts stories struggled to survive, even verging on extinction. Yet, since it was only 2004, there remained a few good years ahead for the genre.

Mainland China’s martial arts writers could still catch the last wave of its twilight.

However, Zhang Tan was reluctant to voice this bleak truth.

Instead, he echoed several scholars’ opinions, suggesting the cultivation of new talent and the expansion of martial arts literature’s peripheral markets—generic but safe measures.

In contrast, Professor Han Yunbo from Southwest University held an optimistic view. At the forum, he said, “I have studied martial arts literature for a long time, from the old school to the revolutionary Northern Five Masters, then to the new wave pioneered by famous writers from Hong Kong and Taiwan in the 1950s. Martial arts literature has continually evolved.”

“The launch of ‘Contemporary Legends: Martial Arts Edition’ marked the rooting of Mainland China’s martial arts literature. Since then, a group of promising and distinctive writers has emerged—you all here present. Recently, I classified your works into two schools.”

“Xiao Duan, Yang Pan, Shi Weihan, Cang Yue... your martial arts stories have taken a path distinct from Hong Kong and Taiwan’s styles—urban chivalry, female martial arts, fantasy martial arts. Your style is rich, diverse, personalized, imaginative, and brisk in pace, filled with youthful vitality. I propose calling your style Mainland New Martial Arts.”

Han Yunbo spoke eloquently, praising Xiao Duan and the others before turning to Zhang Tan: “Li Qiru once compared your ‘Four Great Constables’ to Han Yu’s role in Tang Dynasty literature—reviving a decline and leading an army, pioneering a whole new school. This is no exaggeration. After the publication of ‘The Legend of the Condor Heroes,’ you truly established a martial arts faction.”

Zhang Tan smiled but interjected modestly, “Professor Han is too generous.”

“Not at all. Your martial arts stories inherit the spirit of the Hong Kong-Taiwan new wave but are stylistically unique—distinctive form, intricate plots, detailed descriptions rich with humanity and chivalry. The phrase ‘The greatest chivalry is for the country and the people’ resonates deeply and shakes the ages. Among Mainland Chinese martial arts writers, you stand apart, leading your own school.”

Though humble, the attendees couldn’t help but feel their blood stir.

To found a school—what a grand and exhilarating achievement.

Zhang Tan felt the same.

He was an ordinary man but proud to bear the title of pioneer in martial arts literature—it lifted his spirits and sharpened his talent.

For scholars, renown across the lands is the ultimate pursuit.

How to achieve fame?

Through mutual praise—when you praise me and I praise you, the acclaim grows until it becomes a celebrated truth. More praise cements the title, and others can’t help but look upon it with respect.

The Mount Hua Sword Forum ended joyously for all.

Meanwhile, at the same time as the forum, a smaller yet more prestigious event was underway far away in Beijing.

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On the afternoon of January 6, 2004, eleven scholars, experts, representatives from China Central Television, and media figures gathered in the fourth-floor conference room of People’s Literature Publishing House. Together with five organizations—“Chinese Literature Selections,” the “Chinese Contemporary Literature Research Association,” the “Southern Metropolis Daily,” the “Southern Literary Forum,” and Xinlang.com—they held a joint ceremony witnessed by over a hundred media outlets.

They selected the “Chinese Literary Figures of 2003.”

To promote the development of Chinese literature, expand the influence of outstanding writers, shape their public personas, unearth literary news resources, and strengthen cooperation between literature and media, these five organizations had jointly held this awards event since 2002.

This was the second iteration of the Chinese Literary Figures awards—a collaborative effort by China’s literary and media circles. Hundreds of media outlets nominated candidates for the annual literary figures, and renowned scholars and critics voted to select one winner in each category.

Last year, Wang Meng was named China’s Literary Gentleman, and Zhang Jie was named Literary Lady.

This year, the candidate list was announced on Xinlang.com in December, with online voting open to the public.

There were eight award categories: Literary Gentleman, Literary Lady, Fastest-Progressing Writer, Most Popular Writer, Most Promising Young Writer, Most Controversial Writer, Writer Most Suited for Film and Television, and Most Promising Online Writer.

Zhang Tan was undoubtedly on the candidate list. In fact, there was debate among media outlets about which category he best fit—Popular Writer, Young Writer, or Film and Television Writer. Ultimately, the organizers placed him in the Most Popular Writer category, where he led in online votes by a margin greater than all other candidates combined.

Finally, the organizers submitted the top five nominees in each category to the eleven experts for final selection.

Under the watchful gaze of reporters’ cameras, the committee chair and president of the Chinese Contemporary Literature Research Association, Zhang Jiong, pushed up his glasses and read the list with deliberate gravitas.

“Ba Jin was a great and prolific literary master.”

“His literary career spanned two centuries. Nearly eighty years of writing marked his arduous pursuit of truth and exploration of life—also a microcosm of twentieth-century Chinese cultural development. His novels, such as the ‘Torrent Trilogy’ and ‘Cold Night,’ are classics in modern Chinese literature. In his later years, works like ‘Random Thoughts’ reflected a return to simplicity in language and profound, contemplative thought. Especially notable was his relentless quest for truth and unyielding humanistic spirit, which nourished generations of intellectuals. His vast literary works and miraculous life will forever stand as an indomitable monument of this era.”

“Therefore, the 2003 Literary Gentleman award goes to—Ba Jin.”

“...The Literary Lady award goes to—Yang Jiang.”

“...The Fastest-Progressing Writer award goes to—Han Dong.”

When he reached the Most Popular Writer category, Zhang Jiong glanced at the reporters before continuing:

“Martial arts literature is an important branch of Chinese literature, with a vast readership. In 2003, thanks to the novel ‘The Legend of the Condor Heroes,’ martial arts fiction regained popularity. Zhang Tan’s works are renowned for their grandeur and orthodoxy, embodying the chivalrous spirit of serving country and people. His popularity reflects his literary talent and is the best reward from readers.”

“Therefore,”

Zhang Jiong adjusted his glasses once more before announcing,

“The 2003 Most Popular Writer award goes to—Zhang Tan.”

(To be continued.)