The authors and creators of donghua
The engineer who industrialised fantasyBorn in 1986 in Changsha, Chen Rui, known as Er Mu, was a civil engineer before writing Release That Witch, a novel in which a reincarnated prince launches the industrial revolution with the help of witches.
Career
A fan of science fiction and the history of industrial development, Chen Rui spent years on online literary forums before taking the plunge. At the time he worked as a civil engineer.
In 2016 he began Release That Witch (放开那个女巫) on Qidian. The novel, around 3.37 million characters long, gathered more than five million recommendation votes and became one of online fantasy's great properties. He then left engineering to write full time.
The novel was adapted into a manhua, then a donghua in 2026. Er Mu has since launched a new novel, Tian Dao Fang Cheng Shi (天道方程式).
Life and behind the scenes
His former job shows in his novel: Roland, the reincarnated prince, builds steam engines, roads and factories with an engineer's precision.
Style and themes
Er Mu blends fantasy with the "development novel": the pleasure comes as much from watching a town rise from the ground as from the fights against the Church and the demons. The tone is light and funny, and the witches, each with her own power, form a very endearing cast.
Their works on Donghua Fan
The donghua adapted from Er Mu's novels, with their guides, characters and watch orders.
Other works
- Tian Dao Fang Cheng Shi (天道方程式), his new novel
Trivia
- He was a civil engineer before becoming a full-time writer.
- Release That Witch gathered more than five million recommendation votes on Qidian.
- The 2026 donghua adapts only the beginning of the novel.
Donghua Fan's take
Er Mu wrote the most satisfying novel for curious minds: you learn as much as you enjoy. Release That Witch proves an engineer can make people dream.
— Spidermas, for Donghua Fan