Master of Fangcun方寸道主

Master of the Inner Dao

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*Up until today, I never thought someone could be shameless to this degree. But you’ve shown me.*

I’d already gone to bed, but when I woke up and saw your chat logs in the WeChat group, I tossed and turned and couldn’t get back to sleep.

Because the Angry Squid, me, is genuinely pissed right now.

> “I can understand ‘Sword Rises from the Great Tang’ — the first chapter did collide with yours.”

Those were your exact words in the WeChat group.

“Collided.”

Two airy little words, as if that alone could brush the whole thing aside.

Really?

Then let me walk you through this from the start.

Back when your book _Chusheng_ hadn’t blown up yet, readers were already telling me it “borrowed heavily” from _The Path of Longevity_.

I looked at it, and didn’t think much of it.

Because at that time, your results were nowhere near mine. We’re all web novelists trying to make a living. If a new author could borrow ideas from my book and do well, I was happy to see it.

Later, because of health issues, my writing state kept declining. I even had to stop updating for a while after being hospitalized.

Meanwhile, your numbers exploded.

Twelve Heavenly Kings title, 100k average subscribers, a Great God author in sight.

I don’t know how many times I got mocked: “Sunlight Manman, how’d you fall off so hard? Even someone who plagiarized you is doing that well.”

And I didn’t care.

Because I still thought you were “borrowing.”

If you could hit 100k subs, you must have some real skill.

Until your new book dropped.

I clicked open the first chapter, read it, and felt an uncanny sense of familiarity.

At first I thought my memory was playing tricks on me.

But then I saw the comments under the chapter, and realized I wasn’t the only one thinking it.

Isn’t this just the first chapter of _Sword Rises from the Great Tang_?

I couldn’t believe it, so I immediately opened _Sword Rises from the Great Tang_ Chapter 1 to compare.

Taoist child. Talisman water. Pun-based Daoist name. Sect slogan. Taking in a disciple. Taking the blame. Running away.

Pixel-for-pixel forgery!

No, “forgery” doesn’t even cover it.

It’s plagiarism.

“Plagiarism?”

For a second I thought I’d clicked into the wrong book. That I wasn’t reading your acclaimed work as _Heshou Yue Manchi_, but some unknown newbie’s novel.

I checked the title again and again.

_Azure Sun Immortal Sect_.

Finally confirmed it.

I don’t know what you were thinking. You’re a 100k-sub author on Qidian.

On release day, with all eyes on you, countless readers waiting in anticipation.

And you turned in _this_ as your answer sheet?

At the time I didn’t understand it, but I was busy writing my own new book, so I didn’t pay it much more attention.

Then the outrage started to snowball.

_Sword Rises from the Great Tang_ has 40–50k average subs too, and its reputation among readers is excellent. Lots of people have read it.

Within two days, news that _Azure Sun_ Chapter 1 was nearly identical to _Great Tang_ Chapter 1 spread widely among readers and author groups.

So readers started calling it out on their own, but it was quickly buried by the platform’s damage control.

There were even bootlickers trying to flip the narrative and muddy the waters.

I finished my evening draft, only to find readers already furious, the comment section in ruins.

Even then, I kept my restraint.

Because after all, you’re a 100k-sub author, and I’m only at 40k+.

Because _Azure Sun_ hadn’t yet crossed the line into plagiarizing _my_ book directly.

Because…

I tried to convince myself with all kinds of excuses. I just had the editor post a thread stating my position.

I had to get up early to write tomorrow, so I went to sleep for now.

Until I woke up and saw the screenshots from your WeChat group.

I spent hours thinking it through, and finally understood.

I overestimated you.

You’re not borrowing. You’re plagiarizing.

Nine years ago you were already copying from _Chief True Disciple_.

_Chusheng_ also copied.

And _Azure Sun Immortal Sect_ is still copying!

After being caught, you try to sweep it under the rug with two lightweight words: “collided.”

I ask you: what the hell does “collided” mean?

What the _f#ck_ does “collided” mean?

What the _f#cking hell_ does “collided” mean?

“I’ve got to focus on arguing instead of writing?” you say so breezily.

Write? I bet you’re off somewhere digging up more material!

You’re a 100k-sub author. In the site’s eyes you’re worth more than me. Others hesitate to speak up because of your numbers.

But what others won’t say, I’ll say!

What others don’t dare say outright, I’ll say!

100k subs — you don’t even respect that achievement yourself, and you want me to respect you?

You probably still don’t grasp the weight of those four characters.

Since Qidian was founded, only thirty-three books have earned it.

Hitting 100k average subs is basically the dream every web novelist fights for their whole life.

A novel that hits 100k must be damn good.

And an author who writes one must be even better.

That’s what almost every author and reader thinks.

So the moment you released a new book, it got that much attention.

And what did you do?

Your new book’s first chapter — that blatant copy, that “borrowing,” that plagiarism?

Did you ever cherish that title? Or do you not care at all, and only want money?

If you had even a shred of concern for your reputation, you’d never have written a first chapter this similar — then, when questioned, dismiss it with “collided.”

Collide my ass!

Shameless!

Plagiarism is plagiarism.

You dare to do it but don’t dare own it.

Be a whore and still want the chastity arch.

Even if you played dead?

Even if you just admitted it outright? I’d still respect you as a man!

If you don’t respect yourself, don’t expect others to respect you.

100k subs?

100k subs earned by plagiarism — what are you so proud of?

The first chapter you released on May 1st dragged those four characters off their pedestal.

The other 100k authors have something to say too:

“Xiao is a proper man, and he won’t be lumped in with the likes of you!”

In the past, when people mocked me, I kept my mouth shut and stayed silent.

Now, I’ve made up my mind:

“When the son surpasses the father, that’s a good thing!”

Don’t get salty.

As long as I’m the author of _My Simulated Path to Immortality_, and you’re the author of _Lurking in the Primordial Saint’s Demon Sect as Talent_,

I’ll be your eternal strict father!

Who told you to “borrow” — in reality, plagiarize — not just one, two, three, four, or five plot points from my book.

A plagiarism dog has to take it!

You had the chance to completely shake off the “plagiarism dog” label.

If you’d used your new 100k-author title to launch a new book, and finished one relying on your own work — even if you borrowed a little less — you’d be an untouchable hall-of-fame writer.

All the past would fade with time.

But you buried that chance with your own hands!

From the moment you officially released _Azure Sun Immortal Sect_’s plagiarized first chapter, you’ll never shake off the words “plagiarism dog.”

You say your golden finger is “collecting corpses and triggering entries,” which isn’t the same as my Fangcun Daoist Master collecting puppets and mastering abilities.

Fine, say that.

But you are _Heshou Yue Manchi_.

You’re a repeat offender!

Especially after seeing how blatantly you copied that first chapter, how could I not be scared?

I’m practically having a trauma response.

I’m afraid the plot I racked my brain over, burning countless brain cells to create, will just get “collided” into by you and pocketed.

In _Chusheng_’s afterword you wrote: “The only thing that bugs me is that this thing seems to have become a stereotype. Now no matter what I write, even if I rack my brain for it, everyone assumes I’m stitching things together. It’s kind of complicated.”

Don’t worry. Your feelings are going to get a lot more complicated.

No matter how brilliant a plot you write, no matter how well you do,

you’ll never shake off readers asking, “Did you copy that from somewhere?”

Once a plagiarist, always a plagiarist — and I admire your commitment to it.

Some readers don’t care, as long as the book’s good — they don’t mind if it’s copied.

But my readers aren’t like that.

Most readers aren’t.

My readers are outraged for me, standing up for me.

I can’t let them suffer in vain, or be wronged for nothing.

_Heshou_ copies, and my fanbase may be smaller than yours.

After I post this author’s note, I’ll probably face a flood of attacks from your fans.

I might even never eat off Qidian again.

I’m not without concerns.

But I’m still posting it.

For myself.

And more importantly, for my readers.

This author’s note might not stay up long.

But if it exists for even a moment, that’s enough.

So what if you have 100k subs?

Come taste the Angry Squid’s “Heaven and Earth Sharing Longevity” move!

— The Angry Squid
Written at dawn, May 3, 2026

*P.S.* No update today.

*P.P.S.* Whether there’ll be updates from now on… we’ll see how fate goes.