The notion of "The King Revealed" remained purely a jest.
Primarily because tribal literature seemed rather subdued.
Thirty short stories vied for attention on the same platform, yet until the final day, the authors remained undisclosed. They refrain from divulging the identities of these authors until the last moment. Suffice it to say, these writers are all esteemed figures within the industry...
The approach adopted by tribal literature for this competition certainly piqued everyone's curiosity to the utmost!
As the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat.
While readers and short stories weren't felines, their curiosity rivaled that of any cat.
This tactic was undeniably psychological.
It's akin to someone starting a story but halting midway. Whether that sentence is crucial or not, listeners will be left hanging. Who wouldn't be intrigued when only half the information is revealed?
Many readers took to the tribal forum, speculating about the authors online and dissecting various aspects of the stories with technical precision.
And, naturally, the most curious about the first-place author were the readers themselves!
After a month-long competition, the outcome of this short game became apparent.
"The Death of a Small Civil Servant" emerged as the champion!
Consequently, discussions about the author of this tale buzzed with fervor.
In the speculations posted, nearly all prominent short story writers were mentioned by readers.
Regrettably, none had come forward to claim authorship.
Lin Yuan, naturally, noted his own ranking.
Frankly, he was rather surprised by "The Death of a Small Civil Servant" clinching the top spot. He had expected this story to at best secure third place.
While the story was commendable, its irony fell somewhat short compared to Naihe's tales.
Such deviations were inevitable.
In other words...
Had Lin Yuan lived in a darker era of feudal rule, perhaps this story would have carried deeper significance.
But presently...
In this age of Blue Star peace, the narrative seemed more like a "borrowed past to satirize the present" creative endeavor.
However, Lin Yuan didn't dwell excessively on this matter.
Since "The Death of a Small Civil Servant" claimed first prize, he simply had to wait for the prize money to arrive.
This waiting game didn't last long.
On the final day of April, tribal literature finally unveiled the list of authors.
To everyone's eager anticipation, the authors behind these stories were finally unmasked!
"Oh, wow!"
"So, it was Teacher Ping who wrote 'Miss'! I knew the style seemed familiar; Teacher Ping didn't own up to it earlier!"
"The second-place entry's deduction was penned by Lao Wang! He deliberately altered his style, leaving readers guessing."
"Qi Tong, known for 'Echo,' penned the fifth-place entry? I wasn't aware Qi Tong dabbled much in short stories. Surprising!"
"The eighth-place story was penned by Ye Ye!"
"Hahaha, I guessed the authors of three stories!"
"I got two right."
"There was a prediction post earlier; it was spot-on. The poster guessed eight, making them the most accurate predictor!"
The guessing game concluded, and the atmosphere among readers was jubilant.
Meanwhile, many readers and figures in the short story community learned the identity of the author behind "The Death of a Small Civil Servant" for the first time.
Their reactions were palpable.
Because a staggering ninety-nine percent of them hadn't anticipated Chu Kuang as the author.
"Chu Kuang?"
"He's the one behind 'The Death of a Small Civil Servant'?"
"The same author of 'Artificial Beauty'?"
"The one who penned 'The Gift of Maggie' last month?"
"I recall he gained fame with 'The King of Net,' so he's still dabbling in short stories?"
"Seems like some folks haven't been keeping up with the short story scene lately. 'The Gift of Maggie' was the hottest short story last month. The author is none other than this maverick!"
"His 'Artificial Beauty' during Chinese New Year was quite intriguing. Personally, I found it captivating."
"He's a rising star in the short story realm!"
"I assumed the author would be a seasoned figure, but it turns out to be a newcomer in our short story circle!"
Indeed, readers were taken aback.
They hadn't guessed Chu Kuang as the mastermind behind "The Death of a Small Civil Servant" because he was a relative newcomer to the short story scene. Furthermore, this work bore little resemblance to Chu Kuang's first two offerings!
In fiction writing, even when the author's identity is concealed, their signature style often leaves clues.
Take O. Henry, for instance.
His penchant for delivering unexpected twist endings is his trademark. The literary world refers to this style of conclusion as an "O. Henry-style ending."
Chu Kuang, however, defied categorization.
The disparity between his initial two tales and "The Death of a Small Civil Servant" was striking.
For this story, Chu Kuang adeptly employed the art of satire!
In doing so, he eschewed the narrative style of "The Gift of Magi" and its penchant for twist endings.
Is satire a more sophisticated form of art?
That's open to debate, but many readers found Chu Kuang's satire deeply compelling. "The Death of a Small Civil Servant" resonated with readers due to its astute commentary on various facets of life.
Thus, the general consensus was that the author possessed remarkable talent.
At that moment, the second-place writer, Wang Guojian, made a statement on the tribal platform: "Chu Kuang's victory with 'The Death of a Small Civil Servant,' much like 'The Gift of Magi,' showcases his mastery of twist endings. I eagerly anticipate Chu Kuang's future contributions to the short story genre. Here's to more surprises!"
Following suit...
Ping An, the third-place winner, remarked, "Chu Kuang is a newcomer making waves in the short story world!"
Likewise, more than a dozen participants among the thirty writers in the competition took to the tribal platform:
"The drastic shift in style between his earlier works and 'The Death of a Small Civil Servant' caught us off guard. While I admit defeat, 'The Death of a Small Civil Servant' is undeniably a brilliant piece."
"I'm thrilled to see such a talented newcomer emerge in the short story scene!"
"I've read all three of Chu Kuang's short stories. He's truly gifted to produce such exceptional works upon entering the field."
"My son was a huge fan of Chu Kuang's 'The King of the Net,' so I've known of this writer for some time. It's a surprise to lose to him in this short story competition. I wonder if my son is feeling dismayed or delighted at this moment. (laughs)"
At this juncture, in the Yinlan Book Library Magazine, You Rong, the editor-in-chief of "Fun Reading," slammed his fist on the table in frustration:
"Tribal literature has truly sprung a surprise!"