I'm totally hooked on where this is going. Will the ancestors protect the baby? What will Third Aunt Mo do to help? And what exactly is this Yin Yang Fate? I'd definitely keep reading to find out. This opening chapter did its job perfectly.
I wish the story had shown a bit more about the other young mice’s personalities before they died. They were just “brothers and sisters” without names. That would have made the massacre more impactful. As it is, I felt more for the elder rats fighting outside than the unnamed babies.
The dialogue sometimes feels stiff and scripted. "We were blinded by greed. We won't dare again." sounds like a bad movie line. The mother's long speech about her son's character also feels very written, like the author inserted a thesis. On the other hand, Yu Kai's casual questions – "Mom, are you being kept?" – feel natural and funny. The fat man choking on water is a great comedic beat. The contrast between formal and informal dialogue adds texture.
On the downside, the chapter is a bit slow if you're used to action-packed starts. There's no fight, no crisis, just a lot of internal monologue and setup. For some readers, that might feel boring. But for me, it works because it invests in the character first. I care about Wang Li's goal because I understand his past and present. The introspective style reminds me of slice-of-life cultivation stories like "Rebirth of the Urban Immortal Cultivator" but with a lighter tone.
The story has a light yet suspenseful atmosphere. Even during fights, I don’t feel overly tense because Zhang usually has an answer. The fox immortal arc might change that, since it’s a different kind of threat. I appreciate that the story is easy to digest; I can read many chapters without getting tired.
Madam Dongyang's own backstory adds depth to her character. She lost two children before Jingyun, had concubines popping out sons, and was pressured to raise one as her own. She knows what it's like to be in a vulnerable position in a family. That's why she's not a cruel mother-in-law. She says, "the one who suffers from a wicked mother-in-law's actions is not the daughter-in-law but my own son." Wise.
Some readers might be overwhelmed by the number of characters introduced in the first two chapters. We have at least fifteen named characters across three worlds, plus the system spirit, plus minor ones like Tian Tiezui (who had one line). It's a lot to take in. But for someone like me who plays all three games, it's a joy. I love recognizing each face and imagining their reaction. The author probably expects a certain audience—people familiar with Hoyoverse. For them, this is pure fan service done well. For outsiders, maybe not so much.
Some scenes are graphic, like the birth and burial, but they fit the story's harsh tone. It makes the stakes feel real.
The historical setting adds a lot of tension. The constant fear of being "reported," the importance of "background," the way people judge others based on family history—it's all very oppressive. The story doesn't romanticize the era, which I appreciate. The Northwest feels bleak and hard, and the characters' survival instincts are sharp. It makes An Min's fight for freedom feel even more urgent.
The description of the Lingxiao Sect is very grand but clearly a shadow of its former self. "Layers upon layers of jade white stone steps". "Verdant mountain ranges". But the reality is "dilapidated" and "less than a hundred brats". It makes the setting feel like an abandoned theme park that just needs some love.