The bald fat man's line "Hehe!" before revealing the CEO identity is a classic villainous laugh. I enjoy his character more than the main villains. He's loyal, arrogant, and slightly comical. The story could use more characters with distinct personalities rather than cardboard antagonists.
The stereotypical characters might be intentional for the genre: the sycophantic fat manager, the cruel teacher, the arrogant principal. They are archetypes. Readers of power fantasy expect these stock figures to be humiliated. If you’re looking for originality in character design, this story won’t provide it. But if you want a predictable satisfying revenge, it delivers.
The author’s notes at the end of the first excerpt are a great touch. They share the personal nightmare that inspired the Jingren — a flat, headless, porcelain creature with only a heartbeat pressing against your legs in bed. That’s a genuinely creepy image, and I love seeing the creative origin of the species. It makes the world feel more personal, less like generic copy-paste supernatural. It also raises questions: the Jingren we saw in the story have heads and mouths and can speak, while the dream creatures don’t. Are there different subspecies? Is the flat porcelain one more ancient? The author promises the dream is “even stranger” so there’s more depth to be explored. It makes me trust that the worldbuilding is deliberate and not just a plot device. Good authors reveal their weird inspirations, and this one made me more excited about the lore.
I felt a pang of sympathy for Qi Tai when he got bitter about the "inevitable war" and the fate of field agents. That moment of existential dread in an otherwise action-packed setup is what makes characters feel human. It's not all heroics; there's a deep, tired sadness about the era. That resonated with me.
My favorite part is when she beats up Huang Huzi in the woods. The description was graphic but hilarious: “dislocated his arms and chin, stepped on his back, fed him a pill.” And his soldiers outside cheering “it’s intense” not knowing their leader is getting owned. The dramatic irony is chef’s kiss. I also like that she didn’t kill him – she gave him a pill (poison? control?). That’s a classic villain move. Maybe she’ll use him as a puppet later. The author is setting up a recurring antagonist who is now under her thumb. That’s better than just killing him. I’m looking forward to future encounters where he’s terrified of her.
I’m starting to wonder about Xiaofang, the ex. We only got a brief mention—she dumped Wu An when he was expelled and started dating a guy from the next village. He beat the guy up, got sued, and spiraled further. But what’s her deal now? Is she still around? Does she feel any guilt? I’m not saying the story needs a revenge arc against her, but I’d like to see how Wu An handles running into her now that he’s trying to be better. Will he ignore her? Apologize? Just clearly move on? How the author handles that encounter could tell me a lot about the tone going forward.
Su Qinghuai crashing the wedding is a classic rescue scene. He is bleeding, he is dramatic, he reaches out his hand. It’s a stereotypical rescue fantasy, completely undercut by the creepy vibe that he is just as bad as the Mountain Lord.
I'm kind of obsessed with how Yi Qianqian holds her ground with Han Du'er. She doesn't play the victim or cry; she just shuts it down hard. "Don't call me Qianqian, I don't know you" is such a power move. You don't see many female leads this aggressive and unapologetic, and I love it.
The chapter ending with the apartment and milk tea is a nice breather after the intense opening. It helps establish the new world's normalcy. The detail about “no pearls” in the milk tea is a subtle character trait that humanizes the MC and the official. Small touches like that make the world feel lived in.
The marriage alliance plot is brutal. Lu Ye just wanted to cultivate in peace, and the Scarlet Cloud Sect basically sold him out for a gift. The way the Steward dismissed his protest made my blood boil. It’s a classic setup for a revenge arc, but it feels earned because Lu Ye didn’t do anything wrong—he was just convenient. I hate how the sect pretends to be noble but pulls this shady move. It makes me root for Lu Ye to come back and shove their hypocrisy in their faces. The emotional whiplash from him thinking he had a safe spot to being a pawn is handled well.