JohnThomas

Xia Mo's voice breaking through the nightmare is the emotional core of this part. "Brother, no matter what others say, you are the best brother in my heart." It brings a smile to Chu Qiu's face that "not even Baidu can find." That's such a strange but sweet simile. She's his anchor, his reason to stay sane. Even though we barely see her, her impact is huge. I'm already shipping them, but I hope she's not just a motivational prop later on.

The betrayal by the scavenger merchant was predictable but still tense. The way they were drugged and left on a grass field screamed “reset button” for their journey, but it also highlighted how vulnerable they are. No plan survives first contact with greed.