# 1762
Chapter 1755: Volume Summary 5
The fifth volume has concluded, and San Jiu is rushing to write this summary before moving on to the next chapter~~~
This volume's word count actually exceeded even Volume 3's "Evil Metropolis"... This was unexpected for San Jiu, but it couldn't be helped—there was simply too much story to tell in this volume.
The volume is titled "Those Who Came Before," and the "we" refers to three groups of people: first, the [Einherjar] Squad appearing at the volume's beginning; second, the [Nightfall] Squad; and third, the original "pieces" spanning two thousand years... Of course, the most important element is the separation of [Nightfall].
All feasts must come to an end, and eternal companionship exists only in dreams—how much more so for [Nightfall], where each member carries a different mission?
From Baili Pangpang's awakening during the Battle of Chennan Pass, to Jiang Er's death, to An Qingyu's betrayal, to Cao Yuan's death, and finally to Shen Qingzhu's return... [Nightfall] has experienced countless separations and reunions, with members constantly leaving and returning.
When Lin Qiye finally stood atop Mount Jiuhua, becoming the seventh Supreme Commander of the Night Watch of Great Xia, only "拽哥" (Zhuai Ge / Captain) remained by his side.
But this is precisely the growth Lin Qiye was meant to undergo.
Was Lin Qiye impressive during the blood-soaked Battle of Chennan Pass? Absolutely! With multiple god representatives, Ame-no-Murakumo, and the Asylum of the Gods as his trump card, he swept across the battlefield as a heroic youth—the legendary [Nightfall] Captain!
But could he be considered a true powerhouse?
No.
Back then, he was at best a exceptionally talented young person.
To carry the banner of humanity and become someone who shapes humanity's fate, that wasn't nearly enough—his mental fortitude was still lacking far too much...
He needed to experience more: the departure of brothers, the death of comrades, the betrayal of those he trusted most, the disappearance of the one he loved. He had been toyed with by formidable enemies and lost everything he once relied upon.
Perhaps many other books of this genre would avoid, San Jiu has written about all of it—because from the very beginning, this book's purpose was never simply to be "satisfying."
After countless moments of confusion, pain, and despair, after two thousand years of沉淀 (accumulation/sedimentation), the Lin Qiye of today has finally taken on the appearance of a "powerhouse"... Of course, being strong doesn't mean being invincible, and the next volume won't be some invincible protagonist fantasy either. Lin Qiye has simply ascended to a higher place to continue his story.
In this volume, San Jiu also wrote two romantic subplots with considerable depth... This is the part San Jiu struggles with most. Many people have told me that if I can't do it well, I shouldn't write romance scenes. So many books without female leads these days are still perfectly entertaining, right?
Ehh... but I've always felt that a story without love feels incomplete, because humans are emotional beings. If a character doesn't experience even a flicker of love, they can only be considered a tool for advancing the plot, not a living "person."
So despite the constant criticism, San Jiu has been diligently learning and exploring the romance threads. An Qingyu and Lin Qiye's relationship was given considerable attention, and it should be better than before, right?
Now, let me briefly discuss the other two groups.
The [Einherjar] Squad didn't take up much of this volume, but San Jiu has already portrayed each member in varying degrees of detail—because they represent not just individual characters, but snapshots of different eras within the "Sword of Miracles" setting.
We'll discuss Huo Qubing and Gongyang Wan later. From the turbulent era represented by Nie Jinshan, to the era of development represented by Li Kengqiang, to the near-modern era represented by Tang Yusheng, to the modern era represented by Wang Qing—each of their existences corresponds to an era that exists beyond the pages of this book yet is truly part of the "Sword of Miracles" world. Their presence expands the book's worldview and gives the Night Watch deeper gravitas.
The "before" here also refers to the contrast between the era they lived in and the era when the main story unfolds.
Then there are the first "pieces" from two thousand years ago—Huo Qubing and Gongyang Wan, who held up that ancient and perilous age.
Two thousand years ago, Lin Qiye met Jialan, the Jade Pool chaos erupted, the Bureau of Evil Suppression was established, the Black King was born, and the chess game began... They were pivotal to this story and crucial turning points for humanity.
This volume alone spans over 800,000 words, condensing the past and future of a group of people. In terms of both temporal scope and depth of context, it surpasses any previous volume.
Honestly, at this word count, San Jiu is getting more and more exhausted, but still pulls at every hair on head trying to make the story better. After all, readers who have followed this far are truly dedicated fans??????💪????
Alright, there's only one volume left!
This final volume's length will probably be relatively short. San Jiu expects to wrap up at just over 4 million words. This long marathon that's lasted almost two years should finally reach its conclusion.
The final volume's title is "Under the Nightfall"... As for its specific meaning, San Jiu won't spoil it—those who know, know.
The next time I write a summary should be at the book's completion. All you dedicated readers who have followed this far, let's meet at the grand finale~~