The reactions of the students and parents in the classroom are realistic in their panic. When the guns come out, they scream and run. That’s what real people would do. The story doesn’t have them act heroically, which is good. It makes the scene more believable despite the absurdity. The only strange part is no one calls the media or takes videos. Everyone just stands there waiting for the mayor. Convenient, but okay.
Li Yanqiao is my favorite kind of foil. He’s obsessed with cleanliness, paints grotesque disemboweled goats with meticulous precision (that detail about the paint tubes starting from the back ends — a neat freak’s signature), and reacts to Xie’s chaos with pure, speechless suffering. Him falling for the “smell my pants” trick and then kneeing Xie in the groin is both satisfying and embarrassing. But what I can’t get over is how he just… waited in the hallway? He hunted Xie down for mixing his paints? That takes dedicated grudge work. The handprints on his butt are iconic; the entire corridor saw them. And his reaction, the trembling voice saying “Get off me already”, makes him almost sympathetic. Almost. I appreciate that he slaps Xie instead of backing down. I’m hoping this rivalry turns into something more, but for now I just enjoy how each interaction makes both of them look worse. It’s a competition of self-sabotage.
One small detail I loved: the two guards outside the Cold Prison casually calling Liu He an "ungrateful b*tch." It really grounds the story in the perspective of ordinary disciples who can see what's happening more clearly than the powerful elders. Sometimes the people without power have the clearest view of injustice. These minor characters add texture to the world and make it feel more alive and three-dimensional.
The chapter really makes you consider the mother’s perspective: a woman who has given everything to a family for over a decade, had two children, worked in the fields, and is now cast away with nothing but a worn-out bag. It’s a stark reminder of how fragile a woman’s security was in that era. I kept wondering what would happen to her if she didn’t have her daughter or her own family to back her up. The story isn’t just personal drama; it’s a social commentary on patriarchal structures. I liked that depth.
2 The pacing of the story's time jumps is good. From age six to twelve, with a few key events in between. The author skips the boring parts. The "prodigy" reputation is earned, not rushed. And the old man's death at the right moment avoids dragging out the conflict. The transition from father to son feels natural, not forced.
Okay, the part where Fu Ziqi says “I don’t seem to have any money” and then admits she has no concept of money… that’s oddly relatable. She was a rebirthed grand national teacher, not a spoiled rich girl. I like that she’s aware of her own lack of worldly knowledge. But then why doesn’t she just ask Aunt Tao for cash? Plot hole?
Despite the tropey start, I liked that the previous body's stupidity was explained as being manipulated. Lin Zi as the traveler is refreshingly level-headed and proactive.
The Ruoxu Scripture internal technique is a nice piece of worldbuilding. Daoist origins, emphasis on endurance over burst – it explains how the original owner survived a multi-assassin ambush despite being weaker. It's good that the protagonist's foundation isn't just the cheat; he had skills. The description of blue smoke rising from the dantian gave me classic cultivation vibes.
There is a fine line between a reluctant protagonist and a whiny one. This protagonist *excels* at staying on the right side of that line. She complains, but she doesn't whine. She grumbles, calls things a hassle, but she always picks up the sword. Her motivation for saving the world? So new games come out. 'I must avoid such a situation at all costs.' It's hilarious and self-serving, but it's a motivation. It drives the plot forward. She's not saving people because of a justice boner, she's saving people because the system told her to, and maybe she wants a warm meal. This shallow, selfish motivation actually makes her MORE heroic in a way, because she has no reason to be brave other than it's the most optimal path to her comfortable life.
The chapter ends with Ling Chuan making some kind of tool from wood and charcoal. That's a good hook. He's clearly preparing for something—a weapon? A trap? It shows he's thinking ahead, which is smart for a soldier. I'm hoping this leads to a creative survival or combat scene later.
2 The writing style is straightforward with some poetic moments like the torches lighting up in the spiritual sea. The translation reads fairly smooth, though occasional phrases feel off (“snapped back to her senses” is used a few times). But overall, it’s easy to binge-read.