No.
The one saying "no" wasn't the author of 'Strange Tales', Fanchen.
Nor was it the Midnight Talk editorial department.
It was the readers of 'Strange Tales'.
When the Supernatural Community was suddenly flooded with over a dozen posts attacking 'Strange Tales', the readers who loved the work immediately took notice.
At first, these readers didn't realize that the posts targeting 'Strange Tales' were part of a deliberate suppression campaign.
They thought maybe the work they had recommended simply wasn't to some people's tastes, so they got backlash.
Because of that, when they saw people spewing insults, they tried to explain, to defend the work.
But soon they realized, the more they explained, the more trolls appeared.
No matter how much they reasoned or clarified, the attacks just kept piling on.
Under normal circumstances, based on how things usually went in the Supernatural Community, these readers might've given up.
After all, they were just recommending a novel they liked.
Their enjoyment didn't mean others would feel the same.
And often, a work that they genuinely believed to be decent would end up buried simply because most people didn't like it.
But today wasn't like the past.
'Strange Tales' wasn't just some random story people brought up in passing.
Some works, some classics, carry an unparalleled power.
That power flows through the text, into the reader's mind, and then erupts from the reader's heart.
Even now, with the story under fierce attack, the readers who loved 'Strange Tales' remained absolutely resolute.
"I don't care how much you hate on it, I stand by 'Strange Tales'."
"Brothers, let's go, we've run into trolls, but we mustn't let them destroy a classic."
"Yeah! We've got to stand together. Think about it, how many decent works in the past were ruined by trolls like these? Now these same haters, these black-hearted flamers, want to ruin 'Strange Tales'. But if we unite, no matter how many of them there are, they won't succeed."
"Hahaha! This is awesome. I didn't expect so many people to love 'Strange Tales'! Let them come, even three thousand trolls won't stop us!"
"We hold the line! I refuse to believe that a classic like this can be smeared and buried by a few trolls running their mouths."
Hundreds of readers who had read 'Strange Tales', for some reason, at this moment, felt a powerful force awaken within them.
That force compelled them to stand their ground.
Suddenly, under the passionate support of these die-hard fans, the winds in the Supernatural Community shifted once again.
What had begun as an evil wind, a dark wind, a wind of slander…
Now transformed into a warm wind, a strong wind, a righteous wind.
The two winds battled from morning to night, then from night into the following day, neither side gaining a clear upper hand.
But the scales of victory had slowly begun to tilt toward 'Strange Tales'.
Because some of the onlookers began to say:
"Regardless of what 'Strange Tales' is actually like, the fact that it has so many supporters already says something. Instead of blindly trusting either side, I think I'll read it myself before making a judgment."
And after doing so, many of those spectators ended up joining the 'Strange Tales' camp.
But the war on the forum wasn't over.
When the first wave of attacks failed to achieve its goal, the second wave began.
Only this time, the strategy had changed.
It was no longer about directly hating on 'Strange Tales', instead, they used a much subtler, more dangerous tactic:
Killing with praise.
So-called "killing with praise" means: first praise, then destroy.
Raise you high into the sky, and then throw you down.
Even the strongest of people can be crushed this way.
Thus, the first step of killing with praise: excessive praise.
Once again, a series of unknown ID accounts began flooding the forum with dozens of posts.
These weren't attacks, nor were they slander.
There were waves and waves of over-the-top compliments.
"Those trolls who insulted 'Strange Tales', what a joke. 'Strange Tales' is the most iconic work in the supernatural genre in decades. And you call it trash? Please. If you ask me, 'Strange Tales' deserves a spot next to the Four Great Classical Novels. At the very least, it will be remembered for a hundred years."
"Exactly! Damn trolls in this forum just love to hate. Whenever they see a good story, they jump on it. 'Strange Tales' is the greatest supernatural novel in recent years, period."
"I'm backing 'Strange Tales' all the way. And that Zhang Yun guy, and his 'When Evil Spirits Rule'? Weak sauce."
"Hahaha, finally someone said it. Zhang Yun is just a punk. He only became a big name in the supernatural world by sucking up to Suspense World deputy editor Zhu Shi. Now he goes around calling himself the number one in the genre, acting like no one else matters. If you ask me, even just 'Strange Tales' alone is better than anything he's written."
"Could you be any blinder? Comparing Zhang Yun's work to Fanchen's 'Strange Tales'? Damn, that's an insult to 'Strange Tales'."
"Yeah. Comparing people like that just gets people killed. Comparing works, too, you'll see what's real literature. I used to think Zhang Yun's stories were decent, something to kill time with. But ever since I read 'Strange Tales', I realized Zhang Yun's work is just garbage."
It must be said, this tactic was vicious.
Not only did it elevate 'Strange Tales' to the heavens, but it also deliberately positioned Fanchen and Zhang Yun as rivals.
This was a dangerous signal.
In just moments, Zhang Yun's fanbase exploded.
"What the hell, 'Strange Tales' fans, you've gone too far. It's been all about your damn story these past few days. Can you give it a rest already?"
"Give it a rest, my ass. I think the author of 'Strange Tales' is just desperate for fame. Look at what his fans are saying, 'remembered for a hundred years,' 'once-in-a-generation masterpiece,' 'greatest supernatural work in decades'… Makes me want to puke. And what's worse, it's not just self-promotion, they're bashing Zhang Yun's 'When Evil Spirits Rule' too!"
"This guy must have a death wish. Doesn't he know how many fans Zhang Yun has? I guarantee you, in no time at all, the fans are gonna tear 'Strange Tales' to pieces."
"Everyone, boycott 'Strange Tales'! Boycott Fanchen! Let's push back!"
"Count me in. I don't even know what 'Strange Tales' is. I was thinking of reading it, but screw that now. If the author's such a jerk, how good can the writing be?"
"Yeah, exactly. That Fanchen guy is trash. A newbie acting all high and mighty. Not only does he boast about himself, but he also drags our Zhang Yun into it. What, you think name-dropping Zhang Yun will get us to read your book? Dream on."
"Zhang Yun truly is the number one in supernatural fiction."
With Zhang Yun's status in the genre and the fanbase he'd built over the past decade, even without saying a word, even without lifting a finger, his army of readers went on the offensive.
What's worse, since this now involved questions of character, even some people who weren't Zhang Yun fans began looking down on 'Strange Tales', and on its author, Fanchen.
What was going on?
How did it end up like this?
As the Supernatural Community suddenly turned into a place filled with people cursing 'Strange Tales' and condemning Fanchen for shameless self-promotion, many of the story's loyal readers were left stunned.
"When did we ever insult Zhang Yun?"
"When did we ever say 'When Evil Spirits Rule' was trash?"
It felt like someone had knocked them over the head with a club.
In that moment, the die-hard readers of 'Strange Tales' realized,
They had been set up.
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