Reverend Half Insanity

Then he wakes up, gasping for air, his body drenched in cold sweat. He bolts upright, his heart pounding as if it's trying to escape his chest. His hands tremble, but not from weakness—this time, it's from an overwhelming surge of energy, a fire burning in his veins that he hasn't felt in years. He feels alive, more alive than he has in decades, as if the dream had reignited something deep within him. His mind races with ideas, his body thrums with determination, and for the first time in what feels like an eternity, he feels unstoppable.

The doctor arrives, skeptical but curious. Tests are run, and the results are nothing short of miraculous. The cancer that had been eating away at him is gone—vanished without a trace. His pallor is replaced by a healthy glow, his sunken eyes now sharp and focused. The doctor stares at the charts in disbelief, muttering about medical anomalies, but he doesn't care. He feels reborn, as if the river in his dream had washed away not just his illness but his despair.

With this newfound vigor, he throws himself into writing. His fingers fly across the keyboard, the words pouring out of him like a flood. His new novel is raw, visceral, and unapologetically bold. It's a story of defiance, of a man who refuses to be broken no matter how many times the world tries to crush him. He pours every ounce of his pain, his anger, and his hope into the pages.

But the world hasn't changed. Slowly, he starts to gain small successes, but just as he begins to hope, another crushing blow strikes. His new novel, though well-crafted and compelling, is targeted by a powerful community that fears his resurgence. They see his potential and are determined to prevent him from overshadowing their own works. They flood forums, review sections, and social media with their venom.

And then come the followers of Fang Yuan. They swarm his comment sections like a relentless tide, their loyalty to Fang Yuan unwavering. Will Reverend Insanity ever be unbanned? Can you give us hints about its ending? Why not write a sequel instead? they demand. This new protagonist is weak, pathetic. Fang Yuan would never do this. Fang Yuan would never say that. Fang Yuan would do it in that way. They dissect every line, every scene, comparing it to Reverend Insanity and finding it lacking. They don't care about the new story, the new world he's created. All they want is Fang Yuan.

The new readers, those who might have appreciated his work for what it is, are driven away by the noise. They see the endless comparisons, the vitriol, and they leave, unwilling to wade through the toxicity. His novel, once brimming with potential, begins to sink under the weight of the comparisons and negative reviews from the big communities who are afraid of his success.

He tries to fight back. He writes long, impassioned posts defending his work, explaining his new vision, his new themes, his new characters. But it's no use. The followers of Fang Yuan are merciless. They show no interest in his new protagonist or the fresh story he is trying to tell. Instead, they endlessly compare the new characters to Fang Yuan, criticizing them for not living up to their expectations.

The bitterness grows, gnawing at him like a cancer. He begins to resent Fang Yuan, the character he once loved, the character he created. He hates the way Fang Yuan looms over everything he does, the way his followers refuse to let him move on. He hates the way they worship Fang Yuan as if he is their lord, while judging his other works through the lens of Fang Yuan. Most of all, he hates himself for ever creating Fang Yuan in the first place.

The years pass, and the cycle repeats. He writes, he hopes, and he is crushed. Each new novel is met with the same relentless criticism, the same comparisons, the same demands for Fang Yuan. His family, once his anchor, drifts further away. His son, now a young man, looks at him with disdain. How could you create someone like Fang Yuan? he asks. How could you glorify someone so cruel, so heartless? His wife, tired of the constant judgment and the whispers of their neighbors, leaves him. His parents, once so proud, now avoid him, ashamed of what he's become.

He becomes a recluse, isolated and alone. The neighbors whisper as he passes, their eyes filled with judgment. He's no better than Fang Yuan, they say. A monster, a manipulator, a man without morals. He tries to defend himself, to explain that he's not like Fang Yuan, but no one listens. The world has already made up its mind.

In his old age, he is a broken man. His body is frail, his spirit shattered. A new illness takes hold, and he has no money for treatment. His savings are gone, spent on failed novels and desperate attempts to keep his career afloat. He reaches out to relatives, friends, anyone who might help, but they turn him away, seeing him as if he is just like Fang Yuan—a man without morals.

Desperate, he turns to online donations. The money comes, but it's from the followers of Fang Yuan. Along with their donations, they critique his new works, pointing out flaws and suggesting changes. Their advice boils down to one thing: Follow Fang Yuan, or you are destined to fail.

Reading these comments, he feels a surge of rage so intense it makes his hands shake. These people, these so-called fans, are the reason he's failed. They're the reason his other works were overshadowed, the reason his family left him, the reason he's alone and dying. He feels disgusted taking their money, but he has no choice. He needs it to survive.

As his health deteriorates, the bitterness consumes him. He lies in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind filled with hate. He curses Fang Yuan, the character he created, the character who ruined his life. He curses the followers who worship Fang Yuan like a god, who refuse to let him move on. He curses himself for ever bringing Fang Yuan into existence.

In his final moments, his hatred burns brighter than ever. He thinks of the river in his dream, the relentless current, the unyielding determination. He thinks of the poem, the words that once gave him strength. But now, they only fill him with rage. Perseverance, he thinks bitterly. What good is perseverance when the world is determined to destroy you?

He dies alone, his last breath a curse, his final thoughts filled with hate—for Fang Yuan, for his followers, for the world that refused to let him escape his own creation.

Death wasn't the end for him.

He woke up in the strong, youthful body of Fang Zheng.

At first, he was shocked. Then anger took over, and he cursed out loud.

But soon, his anger shifted into something darker—excitement. A sinister smile crept across his face as cruel thoughts filled his mind. Revenge. He began plotting ways to destroy Fang Yuan's chances and crush him in the most merciless way possible.

Now, he's meticulously honing his plans and executing them with precision right here.