Ju Chen
Today the Moon Servant Qui was extracted from the deepest chamber of Cave Inos. The ritual consumed an entire night of chanting and precise movements. The moonlight bent unnaturally through the cave mouth, shimmering on the cold stone walls. I can feel it strengthening my Strength Qui Aspect from four percent to approximately four point three four percent. My limbs are lighter, my mind sharper. It is a small gain, but any increase in power is precious.
Empress Xi Ping guided me through the extraction. Her presence calmed the swirling energy and kept my mind from tearing itself apart in the Qui turbulence. Her beauty is beyond this world, so radiant it drives me mad with longing. She has been a steadfast friend through countless trials. Though we are both rulers, emperor and empress of our respective domains, we have never married. We share a bond that feels deeper than vows, yet it remains unspoken, suspended in silence and stolen glances.
…
Ju Chen
The morning is cold, far colder than I have felt in months. Frost clings to the bamboo along the mountain paths. My breath emerges in faint white puffs, drifting upward before vanishing into the pale sky. I see some sort of faint glow in the distance. It flickers between the trees like a restless spirit. I cannot tell if it is real or a trick of my exhausted mind. Each step crunches on the icy ground. The stillness of the air presses against my ears until even my heartbeat seems too loud.
I pause and wonder if this emptiness will ever pass. Or if it will settle into me permanently, a quiet void with no warmth. The cold feels like a sign. Is it because of the Moon Servant Qui Fragment?
…
Ju Chen
My own village, Mountain Island Village, has decided to partake in the yearly fighting tournament held in Bang Chi Village, a few miles from here. For some context, Mountain Island Village was founded by Zheng Wei as a way to settle higher up in the mountains of Shenzhou Ever since then, it has been a tradition for our people to celebrate the founding of the village. January 1st every year is the day of the celebration. Isn't that fascinating? The first day of the year is also the day the village was founded.
Nonetheless, I am more interested in the tournament. We have never taken part in it before. It's going to be an interesting month.
…
Empress Xi Ping
I have longed for love for centuries the indescribable feeling of pure love. I had never experienced it until now. Emperor Ju Chen shows deep empathy and understanding, which is rare among emperors of the Hanlong Dynasty. I am certain he is the right one for me. Hopefully, we can grow stronger together and defeat anyone who tries to take this love away.
…
Elder Zhuan Su
The Qui is a hidden power sleeping in the deepest slumber of our own bodies. One can refine it and train it, though it is never advised. You must first learn how to awaken it. There are five different Aspects one can work on: Strength, Speed, Endurance, Intelligence, and Compassion. I believe that anyone who starts with decent levels in all of them, around the two to three percentiles, has truly been blessed by the heavens!
…
Ju Chen
In the deepest area of Cave Inos, the Empress and I finally found the Moon Qui Fragment left behind by a drunken elder hundreds of years ago. With this discovery, the two of us might be able to change our destinies. Perhaps it will strengthen every Qui Aspect or perhaps nothing will happen at all. We'll just have to wait and see while Elder Lu Ya refines it…
Authors Note: Writing this book entirely in a diary format is going to be very challenging. Most of the action scenes need to be spread out from a different point of view. If this isn't your cup of tea, I understand. Hopefully, you will give it a try.
I'd also like to note something important about the diary format: it will continue for a few more chapters before a narrator begins to take over the storytelling. Diaries will still appear occasionally, especially to capture personal thoughts or the aftermath of events. However, during scenes of intense action, battles, or fast-paced confrontations, a diary entry simply wouldn't make sense or do justice to the moment. Those parts will unfold in real time through a more traditional narrative style.
Consider this your heads-up so the transition doesn't feel jarring.