More epic than the myth

"When writing about those who are no longer with us, you must treat them as living. You owe them that respect, to write in a way that, if they could read it, they would not call your words nonsense," says Miao. "I think during the entire year of 2024, when I was creating the book, I immersed myself in the world of Wukong, and even felt he was with me."

Qiu says that, currently, historical studies also tend to place greater emphasis on ordinary individuals, tracing their stories to reflect the broader narratives of their eras.

"Although ordinary people rarely made decisions that could directly alter the course of their era, they demonstrated incredible courage and tenacity, which is very precious in my eyes," says Miao.

"I hope to bring luster to stories like these, long buried by history, and to carry them into people's collective memory because such stories belong to everyone," she adds.