Publisher Hai Tang Books revealed the cover and dust jacket for Vol. 1 of Devil Venerable Also Wants to Know, a danmei novel series by author Cyan Wing. No artist has been publicly credited by the publisher at this time.
Hai Tang also stated that the series author provided them with a “gossip piece” that is currently exclusive to their English release, and which will come included with Vol. 1 and its freebies when sales start.
Although fans on Twitter/X and Bluesky were pleased to hear updates on the release, some expressed their criticism regarding the volume’s back cover blurb, as well as the tone set by the cover art.
Regarding the back cover blurb, the text is a slightly abridged version of the novel’s first few paragraphs. Fans pointed out spelling and grammar errors (ex. “techiniques”, “Alter Master”), and also expressed their doubts about how well the section could serve as a sales pitch to new readers, as it does not describe what the series is about or provide any hooks. The original back cover blurb Hai Tang provided for Vol. 1 is quoted below:
Is the Devil Venerable comprehending cultivation techiniques…or reading Romance novels?
Seven days had passed since the Devil Venerable, Wenren E, had secluded himself in the Xuanyuan Sect headquarters. The door to his room remained firmly sealed. Alter Master Yuan, in charge of sect’s affairs, is at a loss. Devil Venerable had vanished without a word—no one knows when he’ll emerge, whether he’s been meditating on a new technique, or ascended to a higher stage. With no end in sight, should they start planning a celebration?
After much struggle, Alter Master Yuan finally decides to ask the Left Protector, Yin Hanjiang…
On the topic of the cover art, although the tragic scene depicted is shown and referred to several times throughout Vol. 1 as part of the main couple’s backstory, Devil Venerable Also Wants to Know is a lighthearted and comedic parody of the xianxia/cultivation genre. Fans expressed their concern that new readers would not be able to correctly intuit the book’s genre from the cover alone, which could negatively impact sales and the series’ future prospects.
A few days after their original announcement, Hai Tang made another post on Twitter/X and Bluesky regarding the back cover blurb, thanking fans for their feedback. They went on to explain that the original blurb was only a placeholder, but acknowledged that they should be more mindful in the future regarding what material they share as promotion. To assuage fan concerns about the quality of the translation, they promised to share a preview of the work once their internal proofreading rounds had concluded. The updated blurb Hai Tang provided as an attachment is a more polished version of the original, and is quoted below.
Is the Devil Venerable in seclusion to study cultivation manuals…or read Romance novels?
It had been seven days since Wenren E, the fearsome Devil Venerable of the Xuanyuan Sect, locked himself away in silent seclusion without telling anyone. Altar Master Yuan, left in charge of the sect’s affairs, grew increasingly troubled by the firmly shut door. Had the Venerable gained insight into new techniques? Made a breakthrough? Should they start preparing for a celebration when they didn’t even know when he would come out?
The only one Altar Master Yuan could beseech to find out was the Left Protector, Yin Hanjiang…
On the topic of the cover art’s tone, Hai Tang stated in a reply to a Twitter/X user that they would “explore ways to better reflect the story’s comedic nature.”
No release date has been announced for Devil Venerable Also Wants to Know Vol. 1 at this time. The publisher indicated that this information and preorders will be coming soon, which may mean that fans could see Vol. 1 on shelves by the end of 2025 or early 2026.
Devil Venerable Also Wants to Know (魔尊也想知道) is a danmei novel series written by Cyan Wing. It began serialization on jjwxc in 2019 and ran for 82 chapters (including extras). It has since been adapted into an audio drama, which is available on MissEvan.
DanmeiNews provides the following series summary:
Wenren E, the leader of a demonic sect, is the romantic runner-up in a torrid romance novel. He has no idea why the female lead is more attracted to the physically and mentally abusive male lead than she is to him—but frankly, he also wants to know why he’s supposed to like her at all. While investigating the matter by obtaining a copy of the book, he discovers that his loyal subordinate Yin Hanjiang is far more attached to him than he previously realized…
