Since then, Liang has divided his time between teaching college students and writing scripts. He has penned more than 20 television and online projects, including Faith Makes Great (2021), an anthology series that explores the 100-year history of the Communist Party of China, and Macao Family (2019), which portrays the development of Macao in the 20 years since its return to the motherland through the perspective of a local family.

Speaking about his research focusing on modern Chinese literature, as well as the art of movies and TV series, Liang explains that his experience in scriptwriting and participating in TV show production has greatly enhanced his ability to teach his students.

A seasoned scholar, who has published more than 20 books and over 60 academic papers, Liang reveals that he once immersed himself in the rich tapestry of martial arts tales. The genre, somewhat exclusive to China, boasts a host of acclaimed writers, from Li Shoumin, better known by his pen name Huanzhu Louzhu, to Wang Dulu, whose novel inspired Ang Lee's Oscar-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and Louis Cha, the late master who became a household name writing under the moniker Jin Yong.

Noting that martial arts tales written by these novelists have been adapted many times on screen, Liang analyzes that the new wuxia stories by the younger generation of writers, mostly in their 20s and collectively referred to as "Chinese mainland new wuxia novelists", have not yet gained sufficient influence, partly leading to a decline in the popularity of the genre over the past decade.

Moreover, according to Liang, there is the rise of another, hybrid genre, xianxia, which combines elements of fantasy and martial arts to portray immortal heroes and celestial beings, that has also significantly affected the market share previously enjoyed by traditional martial arts tales.

"Deep within the hearts of most Chinese wuxia fans lies a vast realm of chivalrous righteousness. If The Ingenious One can prove that martial arts literature still possesses vigor and vitality, then it will justify the effort and dedication we have put into its creation," says Liang.

A sequel to the drama, featuring the same cast of characters, has been scheduled for production and scriptwriting is currently underway.

Contact the writer at xufan@chinadaily.com.cn