The combat strategy against the group of Fire Armor Beasts shows promise. Using stealth and mental attacks to pick them off one by one is smart. I hope future battles maintain this tactical depth instead of turning into a brainless spamfest of skills.
Wen Wan’s line “I’m just a concubine, the most I can hope for is to become the main wife. Compared to ambition, my life is more important” sums up her whole character philosophy. She’s not looking for glory, just survival and maybe some comfort. In a genre full of ambitious scheming women, she’s a breath of fresh air. She’ll cooperate when necessary, but she’s not going to kill herself trying to climb the social ladder.
The author can write some beautiful descriptive prose when needed. The boundary of the space is described perfectly. It shows a sophisticated writing style that balances the practical, spreadsheet-heavy stockpiling chapters perfectly. It gives the story a touch of class.
The interaction between Matt and Bai Mu when Matt tries to recruit him for permanent sewer work felt like a job offer from a sketchy foreman. Bai Mu turning it down but saying he'll come back if he's out of money is a realistic compromise. Matt's response "Then you won't get the full reward" shows that he's transactional but not resentful. I also liked how Matt distributed compressed food and Bai Mu eating it normally while others struggled not to throw up. It says a lot about his mental fortitude.