20. The writing style is very direct and visual. I can picture the scenes clearly—the dusty graveyard, the smoky main hall, the barren wasteland ruins. The author doesn't waste words on flowery descriptions but still manages to create strong atmosphere.
The story does a great job of handling multiple tones. It's tragic in the memories, heartwarming in the family scenes, humorous in Sheng Ze Xi's sarcasm, and tense in the Wen Zhiqing scenes. This tonal variety keeps the story from being monotonous. It's a sign of a skilled writer who can juggle different modes.
Shi Yong is a grade-A jerk. Driving a bear at the MC and watching him get mauled? And then he has the nerve to come ask for the loan repayment and try to buy the family bow. I really want to see Wang Xuan get back at him.
One thing I find slightly annoying is that the author tells us Wang Dong’s grades are good, he’s aiming for good colleges, but we never see him study or care about school. The day in the life scene has him eat breakfast, goof off with his girlfriend, do homework (offscreen), and sleep. That’s fine, but then you have the suspenseful government scenes, and the switch feels jarring, almost like two different stories glued together. It might work once both threads merge, but right now, it feels a bit clunky.
The first world being a Love O2O parallel is a bold choice. I grew up with that novel and drama, so seeing Xiao Nai as a married man with kids was jarring at first. But the author doesn’t idealize him—he’s possessive, perfectionist, and already showing cracks in his marriage with Weiwei. It makes the setup more believable. Bei Weiwei isn’t a villain either; she’s just a woman trying to protect her marriage. That grayness makes the story interesting, not a simple black-and-white affair.
I really like the idea of a water bear as the main character, it’s such a weird and original pick for a Naruto fanfic. The whole gnawing on tree bark daily routine in the Swamp of the Dead feels both hilarious and kind of sad, like the author wanted to show how stuck the protagonist is. The Slug Sage being this giant indifferent old woman who just slaps him around is great worldbuilding, it makes the sacred lands feel alive and dangerous.