Why did the author miss days of updates?

His three-month-old son became ill and required hospitalization; the author and his family spent several days at the hospital caring for the baby.

Many readers were concerned about the author's health, but here he clarifies that it was his child who was ill; he has a history of kidney stones but downplays that as a manageable condition.

What is the new update schedule?

Starting August 2nd, Tomato will post one chapter on Fridays and Saturdays, and two chapters on the other five days of the week, totaling 12 chapters per week — the same pace as his earlier novel *Swallowing the Starry Sky*.

An Announcement to Fellow Daoists

551 words

These past few days, Tomato has been unable to update. I apologize to everyone.

Let me explain in detail.

It wasn't that Tomato was sick. Rather, Tomato's child was sick and hospitalized. At the time, my wife, the baby, and I were all at my in-laws' place. We first went to the county hospital, but they didn't have much experience. Time was tight, so we took a car directly from the county hospital to Yangzhou Subei Hospital. Subei Hospital isn't particularly strong in pediatrics either, and their experience was insufficient. Although we spent several hours there, in the end they still sent us to Nanjing.

That night, we rushed to Nanjing Children's Hospital.

At the hospital, it was more waiting in line, more examinations... We didn't get everything settled until one or two in the morning. The Nanjing Children's Hospital is simply too crowded. There weren't even any rooms available; we had to stay on open-air beds in the main hall.

...

Little Tomato is only a little over three months old now. Caring for a child of this age is already very tiring, let alone in a hospital. These past few days have been hardest on my wife. Little Tomato needs to nurse, so she's by the baby's side almost twenty-four hours a day. My parents have been working hard too, helping to soothe the baby. We often have to hold the baby, or else it fusses. As for diaper changes and such, it's one thing at home, but at the hospital, there's not even a place to rest...

My main role was running errands: going to buy food and drinks, and communicating with the doctors. Occasionally I'd take a shift holding and soothing the baby.

These past few days, the whole family has been revolving around the baby. Everyone is exhausted.

After a few days in the hospital, Little Tomato has already improved. We've now returned to Yangzhou; we just need to recuperate at home. We'll go back for a follow-up check-up in a few days.

...

These past few days, Tomato has been mentally exhausted as well. I had absolutely no mood or energy to think about the novel. I only started to relax after getting home.

Regarding Tomato's updates.

Tomato will gradually get back on track...

I'll rest well today to eliminate the fatigue. Starting tomorrow, August 2nd, I'll gradually resume. Tomorrow and the day after, one chapter each. After that, I'll start doing two chapters...

...

Tomato has decided to follow the update schedule from Swallowing the Starry Sky back in the day. At that time, I rested one day a week and released two chapters for the other six days! Tomato has decided that, starting tomorrow, Desolate Era will have one chapter on Fridays and Saturdays, both at noon, and on the other five days, one chapter at noon and one in the evening! All in all, I'll maintain a pace of 12 chapters each week, the same as Swallowing the Starry Sky.

Tomorrow happens to be Friday...

...

Also, in the review section, a lot of people are concerned about Tomato's health. Tomato is doing alright. The kidney stones aren't a major issue. Everyone need not worry. Just make sure to drink plenty of water and exercise every day.

(To be continued.)

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Reading Guide Decoding

The Man Behind the Myth: Tomato’s Family Hiatus

Cultural / Xianxia Notes

The "Author’s Note" (作者的话) Tradition: In the Chinese web novel ecosystem, it is standard practice for authors to post candid, non-fiction updates about their personal lives during hiatuses. This transparency builds a deep parasocial bond with the readership, who are accustomed to treating the author as a real person with real struggles, not a faceless content engine. Tomato’s note is a textbook example: it explains, apologizes, consoles, and even pre-empts speculation about his health.
The 12-Chapter Week as a Gold Standard: For veteran readers of Chinese web novels, Tomato's announced rhythm of "five double-update days plus two single-update days" (totaling 12 chapters weekly) is a beloved benchmark of reliability. His reference to Swallowing the Starry Sky (吞噬星空) signals that he is returning to a proven, disciplined formula that his audience already trusts.
Tomato’s Authorial Persona: I Eat Tomatoes (我吃西红柿) is one of the most successful and respected authors in the Chinese web novel sphere. His open, down-to-earth communication style — referring to his child as "Little Tomato" and joking about kidney stones — is a key part of his brand. This note reinforces his image as a hardworking family man, which in turn deepens reader loyalty.

Chapter Overview

Tomato breaks the fourth wall in this brief but heartfelt interlude, stepping directly from the role of author into the personal life of the man behind the legend. This is a calm, candid letter to the Desolate Era community, explaining a sudden absence. The cause isn't writer’s block or illness, but a universal trial of fatherhood: his infant son, "Little Tomato," fell ill, triggering a harrowing multi-hospital journey from a county clinic all the way to the Nanjing Children’s Hospital. The tone is weary but grateful, contrasting the chaos of emergency-room logistics with the quiet relief of recovery. Crucially, Tomato outlines a new release schedule inspired by his earlier hit, Swallowing the Starry Sky — a promise of twelve chapters per week, with one rest day. He also reassures readers about his own health, addressing concerns about kidney stones with a parent’s pragmatic calm.

Key Plot Points

The Cause of the Hiatus: Tomato’s three-month-old son, "Little Tomato," fell ill, requiring multiple hospital transfers from a county clinic to Nanjing Children’s Hospital.
The Emotional State: The author is transparent about mental and physical exhaustion, describing around-the-clock childcare and logistical stress but expressing gratitude for his family’s collective effort.
Recovery and Return: The baby has improved and the family has returned home. Tomato announces a gradual return to writing, starting with single chapters before ramping up.
The New Schedule: A formal announcement of a weekly rhythm: five days of double-updates (noon and evening), two days of single updates (Friday and Saturday), totaling twelve chapters per week (matching the Swallowing the Starry Sky era).
Personal Health Update: Tomato addresses fan concern about his kidney stones, downplaying them as a manageable condition that requires hydration and exercise.

Reading Guide

This is not a chapter of xianxia action. It’s a meta-textual breather arc — a real-world bridge connecting the mythic realms of the Three Realms to the very human reality of a writer’s life. Approach this as a moment of appreciation for the person behind the epic. The exhaustion and relief conveyed here make the promised 12-chapter schedule feel like a genuine gift rather than an obligation. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a cultivator of grand stories must put down the brush to tend to a crying baby, this is your answer. Take a moment to appreciate the author’s transparency and know that when Ji Ning’s sword next flashes, it will be fueled by a few nights of hard-won sleep.

Quick Q&A

Lore recap (TL;DR) drawn from this chapter's Cultural / Xianxia Notes — same text as the FAQ structured data on this page.

Why did the author miss days of updates?: His three-month-old son became ill and required hospitalization; the author and his family spent several days at the hospital caring for the baby.
Is the author sick?: Many readers were concerned about the author's health, but here he clarifies that it was his child who was ill; he has a history of kidney stones but downplays that as a manageable condition.
What is the new update schedule?: Starting August 2nd, Tomato will post one chapter on Fridays and Saturdays, and two chapters on the other five days of the week, totaling 12 chapters per week — the same pace as his earlier novel *Swallowing the Starry Sky*.