Writer of the novel behind 'Guardians of the Dafeng' on how he crafted Xu Qi An

"I've been binge-watching the drama these past few days. As the author of the original work, even I can't stop following the updates, and every day I just look forward to the 6 p.m. broadcast," said Mai Bao Xiao Lang Jun, the author of the web novel "Da Feng Da Geng Ren" (The Night Watchman of Dafeng), which inspired the drama Guardians of the Dafeng, in a recent interview with local reporters.  

Guardians of the Dafeng tells the story of a modern-day office worker, Yang Ling, who unexpectedly finds himself in the fantasy-filled world of the Dafeng Dynasty. There, he goes by the name of Xu Qi An (Dylan Wang), a Copper Gong tasked with solving cases for the people of Dafeng. Utilizing the knowledge and skills from his life in the modern world, including scientific knowledge and deductive reasoning, he successfully cracks a series of bizarre cases, earning the reputation of a master investigator in Dafeng. 

In 2020, "Da Feng Da Geng Ren" by writer Mai Bao Xiao Lang Jun broke numerous online literature records and sparked a trend of blending detective fiction with the xianxia genre. 

In the 3.8-million-character-long Chinese web novel "Da Feng Da Geng Ren", Mai Bao portrays the sharp wit and wisdom of Xu Qi An as he solves a series of bizarre cases, showcasing a variety of clever investigative techniques. 

Before writing the novel, Mai Bao spent six months studying history like a student preparing for the college entrance exams and delved into how to craft compelling detective and mystery stories.

When writing "Da Feng Da Geng Ren", Mai Bao Xiao Lang Jun aimed to create Xu Qi An, the male protagonist, as a character full of positive energy but also grounded and having flaws. 

"Xu Qi An has many flaws, but he also has a passionate side and a deep sense of justice. He never hesitates when faced with big moral dilemmas [of what's right and wrong]. I wanted to portray the transformation of his thoughts and the awakening of his convictions," the writer explained.

Mai Bao designed Xu Qi An's backstory in the novel as a young police academy graduate who worked as a police officer before resigning to go into business. After unexpectedly entering the Dafeng dynasty, Xu Qi An rediscovers the passion and sense of justice he once had as a police officer.

When Mai Bao Xiao Lang Jun wrote the "Yunzhou Case" in "Da Feng Da Geng Ren", he depicted Xu Qi An standing alone against the rebels. This marked a turning point where Xu Qi An began to develop a sense of connection to certain people and organizations in this unfamiliar fantasy-filled world, and was willing to risk his life for them. Eventually, Xu Qi An chose to abandon the pursuit of status and wealth, instead prioritizing justice. These elements reflect the core spirit of the character that the writer wanted to portray.

The author deliberately gave Xu Qi An many flaws to make him appear more "human" and relatable, rather than a stereotypically perfect protagonist. 

"On the surface, Xu Qi An seems skilled at navigating social situations, but deep down, he never bows to authority. He has his own beliefs and a strong sense of justice."

In recent years, there has been a surge in suspense and detective-themed dramas in China. When Mai Bao Xiao Lang Jun wrote "Da Feng Da Geng Ren", he integrated detective elements with xianxia themes, rather than adhering to the traditional style of detective fiction.

"However, incorporating supernatural elements made writing detective stories even more challenging. It was a painful task because I had to ensure that the investigative and case-solving processes were logically coherent. That's what sets it apart from conventional detective fiction," he explained.

Because "Da Feng Da Geng Ren" was serialized online, Mai Bao often had to complete a set amount of work in two days which might take others a month to write. The mental and creative energy required was several times greater than what's usually required.

Since writing detective fiction isn't the same as writing light-hearted, feel-good stories, there can't be any logical loopholes, and each case must subtly connect with future ones, laying down clues for later. "It strained my mental energy and was a very painful process," he admitted.

He believes that the main theme of "Da Feng Da Geng Ren" is centered on suspense and unraveling mysteries. The first 2 million Chinese characters focus on detective cases, with each case contributing to a larger scheme. By the time the story reaches the 2-million-character mark, all the previous clues and details are tied together. The subsequent almost 2 million characters shift toward unraveling the worldview of the book, involving higher-level strategies and broader frameworks.

Xu Qi An's story features a clear growth arc, which Mai Bao feels can offer inspiration to young professionals.

"Xu Qi An rises steadily and becomes successful as a Night Watchman because of his strong skills and competence. This shows that as long as you have the ability, you can succeed anywhere and find your footing."

The writer also mentioned that every choice made and challenge faced by Xu Qi An reflects his commitment to justice and his beliefs. He hopes the audience can feel this spirit. "Every iconic scene is a process of the protagonist 'training his heart,' and the choices he makes at crucial moments are, in fact, battles for the ideals he believes in."

Additionally, Xu Qi An's interpersonal skills greatly contribute to his success in the workplace. Mai Bao Xiao Lang Jun mentioned that his new work, "Lingjing Xingzhe", features a protagonist with some similar traits to Xu Qi An. Both characters have excellent interpersonal skills and hold firmly to their core principles. "The world of the jianghu [the social backdrop of many Chinese wuxia, xianxia, and gong'an stories] isn't just about fighting and killing. It's about human feelings and connections."

In Mai Bao's view, web novels must have a deep moral value and cannot simply be pure escapist entertainment. "The many excellent works I came across in my youth made me realize that a great novel is not just a feel-good story; it must also have, at its core, strong moral values."

The rise of online literature is closely tied to the changes in contemporary societal views. Mai Bao transitioned from the financial industry to become an online writer. He noticed that contemporary readers' needs are gradually changing. Nowadays, readers are not only concerned with the entertainment value of works but also place greater importance on the depth of the story and the reflection of values. This means creators not only need rich imagination but also keen social observation, in order to find a balance between the complexities of human nature and emotions.

In the interview, Mai Bao Xiao Lang Jun also expressed his satisfaction with the adaptation, especially the addition of comedic elements to the drama. These elements made the entire show light-hearted and enjoyable, allowing the audience to find moments of humor even amid the suspense. "I can watch the drama every day, and I even laugh every day. In a sense, the adaptation is a success."  

Sources: China Youth Daily, Jiefang Daily, Shang Guan News