Afterword:

Hello there, lovelies! First off, I would like to take the time to personally thank each and every one of you for reading through until the very end. Every read, vote, and comment really means the world to me. I spent a long few days writing until the late hours of the night in order to finish this, fueled only by my motivation to get the main plot points done before my deadline. But, despite all the setbacks and lack of time, I was able to complete it. While this story has lots of room for improvement in a number of aspects, I am overall satisfied with the way it turned out. 

However, I will not take even half the credit for the motivation behind this work. I could not have finished this story without the help of my lovely mother and her neverending support. She has graciously put up with my cramming over the past few days and has been nothing but understanding and encouraging. I couldn't have completed this story without her here to back me up. She was even the first person to introduce me to this wonderful genre, and, for that, I can't thank her enough.

I must also give my sincerest gratitude to all of the danmei (Chinese BL novels) authors whose novels I have read over the past few months. Because of these talented souls and the works they poured their hearts into, I have been able to maintain my fervor for danmei and the wuxia genre in general. From them, I have learned much about Ancient Chinese culture and history, the inner workings of cultivation and martial arts, and just what lengths some will go for their loved ones. Without even one of them, this story would not have been possible.

I honestly never expected this work to go far; after all, it is the first story I have finished in quite some time, not to mention my first foray into the wuxia genre. Imagine my shock when I woke up one morning to find this story landed 3rd place in lgbtq's "Coffee & Pride" contest for the English language. I sincerely extend my gratitude to every single person who has supported me in my endeavors, as well as all the support I have gotten for this work. Truly, there are no words in any language I could possibly use to accurately convey my overwhelming sense of thankfulness.

This will not be my last work. Far from it, actually. Stay tuned for the next short story I have in store for you beautiful beings!

I wish from the very depths of my heart that each and every one of you can face each new day with a smile, knowing that you are loved, you are valid, and you are enough. Thank you so much for all your love and support, and I hope to see you again soon.

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Glossary

● Chi -  A length of measurement equivalent to about 33.333 cm or 13.12 in. Also known as a Chinese Foot.

● Cultivation - The Daoist principle that mortals can extend their lifespan and gain supernatural powers through the use of martial arts, swordplay, and meditation, often with the ultimate goal of immortality or, in some cases, godhood.

● Shifu - Roughly translates to "Master." Used by a disciple, student, or apprentice to address their teacher or mentor.

● The Dao - Also known as The Tao. Refers to the road or path taken to one day reach enlightenment and heightened wisdom. From a cultivation standpoint, this could refer to the end goal of cultivation, that being immortality or godhood.

● Xiao- - Roughly translates to "Young" or "Little." This is often used to address a younger person with whom the speaker is familiar or affectionate.

● Guan - A type of Hanfu headwear often worn by higher Chinese officials and esteemed cultivators.

● -Ge - Roughly translates to "Older Brother." Used to address a familial older brother or close friend.

● Sect - Refers to a subgroup composed of individuals following the same religious, political, or philosophical belief. In this instance, it refers to a group of individuals that practice cultivation together.

● Five Eternal Pains - Also known as The Five Punishments. Refers to the physical penalties used to punish criminals during pre-modern dynastic China. The five pains include tattooing (changed to branding), removing the nose, removing the right or left foot (changed to removing the limbs), castration, and the death sentence.

● A- - A term of endearment attached to a given name, most often utilized by parents and close friends.