Post "v5c53: The Other Side of the Reunion" by "Torsten Hewson" from patreon

georppy

They are home safe

C

I still believe it would be to far a departure from the main story. To your points. Yes, I agree that Harems are a common trope in cultivation novels. I will point out that from the start, Jin left the sect to escape the cultivation tropes. I would also point out that slavery is also a trope of these kind of novels as well. Just because something is a trope does not mean its good. I agree. Harems have been referenced in the story, and none of the people who have had them are really good people. Xiulans' dad? He had never seen her really happy until she left and had seen Jin's way of life. The Magistrate of Crucible city? Wasnt he evil? i dont exactly remember. Zhang Li? Always collecting women, and it was pointed out that this was common for cultivators, and he was the worst. and I disagree that the ONLY concern was Jin taking another wife so quickly. As for your point about Big D already having a harem, I think that is a poor point unless you want to say that Rizu and other women who have been interested in Big D are on the same level as mindless chicken. I think we can agree that their is a diference between when Big D was coming into his sapience and now that their is really no difference between him and a human in mentality. I agree that Rizu does get Jealous, and why is that? She, and all the others for that matter, want what Jin and Mei Mei have. Which so far has been a singular treasured partner. Of course, she doesn't want to share Big D with other women. That's part of the reason I don't want to go the harem route. Yes, Big D started as a character that followed the classic cultivation novel, BUT he also gave a lot of that up when he decided that Jins way of living was the correct one and power at all costs is folly.

C

Any type of Love is precious, familial, spousal, and friendly. But in most cases, I would say that spousal love is more valuable than any other variety, with the exception of children. I want to be clear that this does not diminish the value or importance of other relationships, but it is how high a pedestal spousal love should be. As to your point of how come romantic love between multiple people can not be sacred or beautiful if all love is valuable? It can not be, it is impossible. Think of it this way: what has more value to a person, a participation trophy or a first-place trophy? It's obviously the first-place trophy because there is only one. If a contest announced that they were going to give the first-place trophy to the top ten people instead of the person who actually placed first, the value of the meaning of the trophy is diminished. In the same way, who would you say values their spouse more, the person who says "I will love only you and put you first above all others for the rest of my life" or the person who says "I will love you, but I will also love others people the same way and just as much as you?" Which is more sacred? I would say the one who treasures his wife the most and places her first above all others. As to your point about other cultures, I agree that legality and morality are not the same thing. Murder is not legal, but it would still be immoral if it were. At the same time, just because other people practice something does not make it moral or good either. More than half of all Yemeni girls are married before they hit puberty; this is both legal and an accepted custom there. I would say this is also immoral. Should I value this custom as something beautiful just because it is a common practice? No. and while I can value the people, I do not have to value their customs and practices.

Evander

I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. I'm pressure testing them because I'm curious that in the defense of your ideals I may learn something that could shift how I think. That said, I struggle with the concept that romantic love is the only love that must be singular for it to be considered sacred. As you've accepted, familial love can be shared between multiple people and is no less valuable. So, how do you come to the conclusion that romantic love between multiple people is not sacred and beautiful? Note, I mentioned polyandry which is where a woman takes more than one husband. Are these cultures/ideas less valuable because they are not practiced by everyone? I do not believe legal/illegality and moral are equivalent. To be clear, i do not believe that laws dictate morality. In the vast majority of the world (western world, Europe), Black people and women weren't considered people, but chattel. In some places this is still the case. Was that moral? I assume you'll answer no here. I hope that my curiosity here does not offend.

Jemention

I think you may be discounting or missing a number of details in the story so far if you think it would be too much of a departure for the story for one of the core characters to have multiple partners. Technically one of them already has. I would point out the following: "Harems" are a historic fact for the culture usually associated with Cultivator stories, IE China. Historically it would not have been common per se for the general population but it would not have been unusual either, especially for powerful individuals. It shows up historically in quite a few cultures actually. Marriage also tended to be more about alliances and resources for the family unit as well. This has in fact already been referenced in the story in multiple ways. Both Cultivators and powerful "Mortals" have been referenced as having Harems. For two such examples, you can look at Xianghua's father who had a wife and at least one mistress/concubine and the Lord Magistrate in charge of the mortal administration of Crimson Crucible City referenced by Lu Ri as having 30+ wives iirc. Also consider the introduction of Xiulan to the village. The concern wasn't that Jin had another wife but that he had taken another one so quickly. The Core character that has in fact already had a harem is Bi De. He did after all have all of the Hens. Some of the writing while he was traveling around Azure Hills imply he was at least cuddling when he stayed in a strange coop while on the road. He has also been shown to have a bit of an issue here even in his human form. His instincts are definitely pushing him. Neither Bi De's nor Ri Zu's (or for that matter Yin's) animal forms are monogamous to start with, in addition, culturally the "Human civilization" they're in isn't strictly monogamous either. I'll note here as well that both Ri Zu and Yin became jealous back in book 4 when he made his comment about strange coops. It also works from a story perspective because it's still part of the subversion of normal tropes. The "Main Character" Jin is a perfectly normal farmer, instead its the chicken that has all the trappings of normal cultivator hero in such stories.

C

No. I said you can't put your wife first as you promised. Not that you can't love anyone else, and I hope you understand that the love for your wife and the love for your kids are very different kinds of love. So,no. My definition does not need an update. I hold a higher view of marriage than you.

Aaron W. Smith

I think that the balance is decent. Its a little Mary Sue at times, but the stakes seem real, and the danger real. That conflict makes the characters and the relief and camaraderie feel real.

Old Dog

Past ready here.

Idan tal

By your definition, you cant love your kids if you are married.. trust me, if they come from love then the little ones are sharing (or sometimes taking) the first place in your heart. So anyway, your definition of marriage needs an update.

C

Loyal means having or showing complete and constant support for someone. Can you do that in a harem? No. Its impossible, not all the time, you will always put one person over the other. Meiling has already said she is glad that Jin only has eyes for her, can he still do that in a harem? No. Meiling will have to give that up. Is that unwavering loyal and steadfast? No. Can you be entirly faithful and loyal to each other if you keep adding whoever you feel like to the relationship? No. Im not arguing that the story would not support a harem, but it was pretty clear that a harem was pretty much a cultivator thing. Cultivators take all the women they want when they want. You say "dont read about poly couples then dont," I agree, if it happens here, as I have said, I will step off the train. But I do get to voice my opinion. Dont like my comment? Ignore it. Im not "making a big stink of it", all I said was I dont like the allusion towards harems but I like the rest of the chapter. Everything else i have said has been in response to what others have said to me. There are a great many people who are happy that this story didnt have harems in it. I am allowed to agree with them and have the opinion that it improved the story.

Optimum Frog

A definition of faithful: remaining loyal and steadfast. Steadfast means to be unwavering. You can be loyal and unwavering to multiple things at once without detracting from either. That includes multiple people. That includes three people who consent to be in a relationship together. You can't argue that CF couldn't write that three characters in a polygamous relationship where it's entirely faithful and loyal between all three. You can't argue that marriage in this story doesn't support polygamy unless CF slipped it in somewhere that it's not legal. And you keep reiterating that you don't want to read a story with polyamorous main characters. Well, don't. Don't complain if it happens either here. Move on and read something else. Regardless, it's not happening so you shouldn't make a stink about it here.

mly85lc

So us there eny talk going one how farm's people are going to arm themselves after all this hostile going theyry way? Was personally thinking Peppa would benifict form warbow since her void acpect would make theyry hitting a target a devastating then at a naginata as wepon to protect Chunks side's form closer enemy's... mayde add few flying had fan's as defensive measures against projectiles.

Eric Hicks

There is also the train (steam engines) and the mail... and a suspiciously good magistrate for the area. And all of the sects in the area have joined together and many of the people in command of the joint efforts are here to help repel the attack.

Story Time Compass

I very much like this thread. :)

C

In the majority of the world, polygamy is illegal, and marriage is a lot more than a legal contract or a tax break; to a vast majority of people, it is something sacred and beautiful, not just a contract but a promise to each other to put each other above all others through the good and the bad till death do you part. Which is what Jin promised to Mei Mei when they got married. I am not denying that harems are not common in stories; they will always be popular as its a common male fantasy, and are in every other japanese manga/anime and other stories. Even the Wheel of Time, the MC ends up with multiple parnters. I am not saying those stories are bad; I enjoyed them, BUT part of the draw for me in this book series was that there were no harems in the main crew. The author can do what he wants, It is his right, its his story, but for me personally it will feel like too much of a departure from what the story started out as, and will step off. As I have said before, if it were more clear from the beginning that this would be a harem story I would be more okay with it, but to me it was pretty clear that harems were something cultivators did, and Jin was going to have no part of it. CF can cook what ever he wants, I wont deny that he can cook, but I dont have to like everything he cooks.

Michael Dugan

Plus you have Meimei's healing elixir developed by being grown by a powerful cultivator and then refined by a dragon's lightning and a powerful spiritual doctor's medicinal Qi that heals wounds in seconds instead of days like the Seven Jewel Herb's usually does.

Evander

I'm curious where you got the definition for marriage. Marriage is a legal contract between two or more parties. There are cultures where people take on multiple partners. Polygamy and Polyandry are equally valid forms of commitment. There are entire genres of comics and book series that are dedicated to polyandry. Check out Laurel K. Hamilton's tremendously popular Merry Gentry series for main stream fiction or any of the dark romances where the heroine is juggling multiple partners. The stories are very popular. I'm not tied to any particular outcome in this story, but I respect that the author consistently makes space for different ways of being. This story is very inclusive and I would hope that because some of the characters subscribe to what some would consider a non-traditional form of love (non-monogamy) that people don't write the author off. Cf has consistently demonsreated the grace to handle nuaneed topics. Let him cook.

C

No. It would not be faithful to have Xiulan join the relationship. Marriage is a promise to the other person to put them above all others. It is not faithful to promise yourself to one person but then also say, "but now I am going to be equally loyal to another person." I doubt people would be okay with it if Mei Mei suddenly decided she wanted to bring in an extra husband. I would be more okay with it if this was set up as a harem novel from the beginning, But it wasn't set up like that, It was set up as a story about Jin going against cultivator norms, harems included. I have said this before, the author can do as he wishes, but for me, I will step off the story if it goes into harem territory. It would just be too sad for me to see the characters I love go down like that, and it would be really sad for me to think that the only characters who actually have a harem in the entire story would be the people on the farm. And I am not bashing the story, I literally said I enjoyed everything else. I am allowed to have an opinion and I am allowed to express that opinion.

Optimum Frog

Jin and Meimei (and Bi De/Ri Zu) would still be faithful to each other even if Xiulan (Yushang) joined them in polyamory. Being unfaithful means cheating (nonconsent with a partner) physically or emotionally. And it's okay for you to have differing opinions, but keep them to yourself unless it actually happens to Jin and co., unless you'd like a good faith discussion about it (which means not bashing someone else's opinion, despite how you feel). Don't go bashing the story when it's just the idea of something happening that's bothering you.

Jon Dough

Thanks for the chapter!!

Often Irrelephant

By that logic, an invasion of demons from the North looking for the super secret R&D base makes perfect sense. As does the hidden location.

Adam

I've been thinking about this a lot myself. There's even more evidence to support it, in the eyes of the Shrouded Mountain people--while at the Shrouded Mountain Bi De used a technique where he reinforced plants with qi and then absorbed the qi they gave off in return. It's not too far a stretch to think that his master is doing the same thing on a larger scale, living in an out-of-the-way place to perfect his spirit herbs after developing a technique to absorb qi from them even before they're harvested. Meanwhile from Jin's perspective he's growing all these things because the spirit herbs are tasty.

Brayden

By that logic then the monkeys of (don’t remember the name) crstyal mines don’t count either but I see what you mean

Laura Hemly

But he's not their dog. Fa Ram isn't his home -- yet. Although I suspect Ti Gu will end up with a dog of her own soon!

Laura Hemly

I think they mostly joke about it because it annoys Xiulan as much as you, C. I just ignore it. If that's the worst thing in CF's writing, it's a pretty minor sin!

Laura Hemly

You're not alone, Aaron. I consider the fight chapters as merely unimportant setup for the lovely slice of life that folllows them! (As long as nobody is killed,obviously.)

Laura Hemly

Probably. She's already in the Profound realm, as I recall, so she's probably able to ignore a lot more than mortals like us.

Tony

I wonder the ideas the guests will get about what FaRam is supposed to be. If one thinks about it, the place seems to have too many secrets and special things to be just made on a whim or simple luck. They harvest too many good herbs, produce, honey and even wine, for cultivators and have too many spirit beasts, to not be some kind of farming research facility or a special farming cultivation style being developed here. I can imagine even the most worldly people being blown away by some of the things they have and develop, Herbs that would probably have Cultivators wandering for years and taking many risks being grown by dozens if not more, special techniques to cleanse demonic Qi and defensive formations in near towns. That and the fact that the Demonic cultivators sending a fill kill squad to destroy them and them not losing a single member. One can easily imagine this being an offshoot or a specialized Sub-sect headed by the Grandson of Shen-Yu and his very powerful and dangerous wife. It' s faraway from any other sects in a place that most cultivators would avoid and full of treasures, exactly the kind of place one would think would be the perfect place for a research site... just like the one they just left in the North.

BlueMage Theneras

"Bi De jumped of* Shen Yu's flying sword". Of to off. Tyfc!

Isak Mark

I'm imagining Jin having to explain to Tigu that true strength is turning your enemies into friends.

Nemoboi

I think this one is in need of editing, to clarify the pronoun game in some places. A lot of people are meeting and I had to read some things twice to know who "he"/"she" was

leopard eye

Jin: Sorry dude my trees got burned down. Spooks: Noooo

Walter R.

but didn't have Yushang have most of here ribs broken? Did she get healed in the meantime? or is she just hopping aound with the broken ribs?

Alex Ingraham

Good point

ChaosAndBunnies

I imagine Young Master Forest Sweeper could learn quite a bit from Master Field Plower.

Old Dog

As always, thank you for the chapter. Such a great way to start my day.

Old Dog

With the harsh political rhetoric, it is a balm to the soul.

Gwyn

Awesome, I'm gonna need a dozen chapters of this wholesome slice of life injected right into my veins, keep it coming please CF.

C

Normally I agree. But it has been alluding to the fact that she may end up big D's harem. So now, for me, even joking about it puts a damper on the story for me.

C

It's a harem if there is more than 1. And I (and many others) still think it's gross even if "they all like each other" . You can be fine with it, but part of the appeal of this entire story was that there were no harems and he was a faithful to his wife.

C

I hope not. I would rather remain faithful to each other.

Justin

Ughhhh I really am enjoying this meeting. But damn it's going to take ages to get everything sorted at this pace. I accept/love it. Looking for a good reaction when a certain fish fly's home.

Winston Smith

Quack

Raymond Howard

i hope there is atleast a move in the direction of poly with jin and meiling bring in xuilan

Aaron W. Smith

You know . . . I like these chapters as much,no, more than the fight chapters. Thank you. This is such a GOOD feeling chapter!

Just A Dude

Even without Cultivation, if you get into the wilder parts of the urban jungle you have to make sure you mind your p's and q's because someone could drop your ass just because you didn't give them enough respect. All Cultivation does is ensure that there's no real centeal legal authority to keep that kind of thing in check.

Caithdean SValerient

Thanks for the update!

Bluebag

Um I vaguely remember that and I think it was just roughousing? These are also cultivators who regularly spar with each other. Jin has never, ever used corporeal punishment. And clearly does not believe in that. Defeating enemies is a completely different matter.

Beggar of Freedom

Divines bless your kind heart!

Mark Greenberg

I know it's hard to spotlight everyone when such large groups meet, but I hope to see Ba Be and Spooks together. Jin's household only has three obvious spirit animals present; Ba Be, Chun Ke and Miantiao with Ba Be currently the largest, similar in size and body plan to Spooks. Also looking forward to their reactions when a dragon arrives!! Although Bi De's friends have seen pictures of Wa She and so shouldn't be too shocked.

Katie Howe

Yeah, that didn't sit right with me either.

Juli Freixi

Thanks a lot for this great chapter!!

leopard eye

Can't wait for the Yushang, Ti Gu interactions. I have this image in my head of two cats circling one another and then jumping into a play fight. Then before you know it platonic cuddling one the floor in front of the hearth.

Demian Buckle

Thank you for the Chapter.

Adam

Always love Yushang's perspective.

Laura Hemly

You don't really need to post typos & such here; Casualfarmer and the people he names with each proofed chapter will be editing it. And then CF & fellow editor types will be editing -- and in CF's case, rewriting occasionally -- when the book is going to publication. So it will be well edited; just not this evening. I assume CF wanted to get us the chapter this evening so put it here before the editing.

Angua de Blubb

Did he pressure a lot of folks into it, though? Seriously asking, I don't know. The only clear reference I remember is Yun, Gou and Yao Che while building the house, as retribution for their teasing. I read that one more as "goofing off with the boys", but I could be misremembering?

Grahf

I wonder if Nezan could end up as of of Tianlans subordinate spirits rather than fully revived from his core. If Jin is contributing most of the energy to restoring the core that would be a significant connection that could maybe enable it. It might be a choice for Nezan that would enable him to be strong rather than have to rebuild his strength from a very low level or spend everything to somehow regenerate his body.

Idan tal

Come on, he got the rat and maybe the rabbit, nothing else. Like Jin got Meimei and maybe Lanlan (with her father, his grandfather and Meimei herself blessing it). That no harem. Even here when a dude get 2-3-4 wives it’s still ok as long as they like each other.

Angua de Blubb

"At least her act still worked… mostly. Some people were getting harder to read, as they stopped treating her like a Young Mistress and instead a Sectmaster. She may have to rework her entire act, and that made her soul leave her body just a little bit." - v4c80.2: The Wheel Keeps Turning Part 2

Angua de Blubb

In the dandelion's end of autumn chapters, Xianghua's Pov also mentions how annoying it is that people's reactions to her as a sect master are different to before, so she has to relearn stuff and probably come up with a new 'act' before long. Just three small sentences in-between the rest of her thoughts, showing the effect on her whithout blowing it up, since for her it's just something 'normal' in her life, not worth further remarking on. I really liked that :)

Fluffy druid

Or begin the Morning.

Rakkis157

Next chapter, judging by a post on the discord

Featherweight

Yingwen and Fenxian making good use of their ‘every one gets one’ one here.

Angela Roberts

If you're a crack addict then I don't even know what I am! Having discovered this genre bc of BOC, I've read a lot and keep coming back to it bc it's the best! I've told myself I have to be patient and *not* reread the whole series before the fourth book comes out. Eesh!

Angela Roberts

That feeling of relief, yeah!

Brayden

Shaggy two is a dog

CUI13

Horse and Dog, unless they count Fox for dog, right?

Neil H

I could also see it as "palace" though, indicating her assumption that they must have come from an exquisite place.

Angel

Agreed, I’ve always thought the way he represents her autism and face blindness is absolutely beautiful!!!

Angel

I’m not ashamed to say I’m on my 5th read through! The story creates a feeling state I want to perpetuate, and has helped calm my nervous system to a place of safety. It’s exactly like a warm hug from your loving, very funny best friend!

Insertnamehereokokipressedokok

I'm looking forward to a Spooks POV. "Ayo, Master Jin? Y'all got summa that maple? I need a fix bad, man..."

Will Gossage

Yushang's line read in my mind was the same as, "Victory for Vegeta!"

Kreylix

I know. There were more than posted about.

Kreylix

My favorite of the post battle chapters. However, I have to say I wish all of them were longer. (With this one, Meimei taking charge of the wounded.)

BelligerentGnu

Yeah, no fucking branches. Pressuring people into accepting stick beatings remains the single shittiest thing Jin's done this entire series. Maybe the *only* shitty thing.

SamHawke

I'm pretty sure CF confirmed Xiangha is autistic, her father also is autistic just to a lesser degree

Laura Hemly

He did say it was unedited. That stuff would be caught in editing.

Laura Hemly

It just occurred to me that when Yushang and Han and all taste the Fa Ram rice, they are going to realize where the gold rice they were served in the SMS opening banquet came from. And they're going to give Bi De, Ri Zi, and Yun Ren a heaping serving of shit for not telling them after they became friends. 😅

Kreylix

one outcome. Both of them stumbled along behind her. Victory for Yushang! (make this just one para, not 3)

BelligerentGnu

Holy shit, you're right! I completely missed that first read through. Good catch, and good on farmer!

Kreylix

two of them. He nodded. Yushang Suggested edit: two of them. Bi De nodded and Yushang (and just one para, not 3)

BelligerentGnu

Dude. There's harem, there's polyamory, and there's teasing between close friends. These are three very different things. In this case, it's very clearly the third.

Laura Hemly

Xianghua's neurodivergence really makes me think about how challenging it must be to deal with such issues. My daughter deals with being a dwarf, and being 4'2" (127 cm) in a world of much taller people isn't easy, but it has to be easier than what you guys deal with.

Kreylix

“Aren’t you two coming?” She asked. she (not a new sentence, not a proper name) “It might be for the best if we do not.” Yingwen said. , not .

Alex Ingraham

I've cried literal tears of happiness from these last two chapters alone lol

V01D

“What kind of PALACE” - should that be ‘place’? Also, ‘jumped OFF’

Patanahi

Thanks for the chapter CF! Love it.

Patanahi

I’ve been doing the exact same too 😭, re listening to the audiobooks then the latest chapters .

Laura Hemly

The audiobooks are wonderful! But I also reread everything up to and including the just-written chapter to lengthen the enjoyment while waiting for the next book/audiobook pair to publish.

Laura Hemly

Oui, tout ses chapitres sont trop court

Trevor Mergen

Thanks!

Kasinki

Nooooo wheres the shrouded mountain pov? Makes sense that theirs will take longer and harder to write but mannnn T_T Well this chapter is warming regardless. More of it please! Thank you for your hard work, CF!

Alex Ingraham

"His smile faded slightly. Yushang froze at the sudden shift in atmosphere. Both men instantly went to a knee. 'Lord Rou. We have no excuse for not following your directive.' Yingwen said, like a man talking to his executioner." Holy shit, this bit viscerally captures how dangerous life as a cultivator can be when someone way stronger than you is around, no matter how nice that stronger cultivator normally is...

Alex Ingraham

"Victory for Yushang!" I dunno why, but I thought this line was hilarious! Actual tears in my eyes 😂

Alex Ingraham

@Auralia Try the audiobooks and have Travis Baldree reread them to you over and over again! lol You get to hear BOC read by an awesome narrator and AS YOU'RE DOING OTHER THINGS! I love it lol

Aki_Iokua18

Looking forward to the slice of life coming up.

C

Yep. Still not a fan of the allusion toward a gross harem, but I enjoyed the rest of the chapter.

Often Irrelephant

It does! Except the singing requires more alcohol and risqué mule references.

Often Irrelephant

Xianghua has a LOT in common with my autistic daughter. Smart as hell, stubborn as a mule, and supremely confident in her own ability. She isn't 100% face blind, but it takes a lot of repeat exposure and effort to distinguish people - somewhat better now that she's an adult. She's also prone to what we jokingly call resting autism face - just completely blank and expressionless - she still has to explain to people she has real feelings, her face just doesn't show it in a way neurotypical people expect. She also learned to mimic other people's expressions and inflection, but the flat expression and voice make her absolutely deadly in social deduction games. It's also hilarious when she suddenly goes from 0 to 11 anytime a game requires role playing - none more hammy. Lastly, the bedroll scene was how we got her to read BoC - she understood exactly what was happening when Xianghua went flat expression and then went and fired up her celestial leaf blower. "I see - she's using autisic poker face." I think she finished three audiobooks and caught up online in the last two weeks.

Philldoran

That’s a perfect comparison

Dwayne Parker

Oof. Big cast must be a pain to handle.

Dirk Gent Lee

Xianghua is always a hoot

Npad11111

Haha. Understandable. I do that everytime a new audiobook drops. I'll reread the whole thing again.

Auralia

If you’re a crack addict then what can I call myself? I’ve been rereading the last volumes over and over while I wait

Brayden

I asked this in a different chapter a while ago but I was wondering if you will be doing something with the 12 zodiacs I think all your missing is surprisingly the horse what I think would be awesome would some sort of famine or death apocalypse horse but flipped like there be 4 horses that are for creation Like peace, Life, Abundance, and Maybe Saint for pestilence or protector I don’t know

Andrew Denton

The sort of chapter that you read, and then immediately re-read. It's like being hugged by joy.

Logan

I... I NEED the next chapter!

Net

C'est trop court, ce chapitre.

Andrew Denton

Ah. I see you are a man of culture as well.

CringeWorthyStudios

I know, right? Face blindness is a whole thing that most people don’t even think about and Xianghua’s is done really well. It’s the whole “you seem familiar but I don’t recognise you and I don’t know where I know you from.” Honestly, I couldn’t describe my own mother’s face beyond eye and hair colour even on pain of death.

Laura Hemly

Happy sighs...

ResidentCyborg

In some of her flashback chapters, she narrates how she can’t tell people apart by their facial features and often has to rely on social context and things like clothing, and that it has been this way since she was little and could never tell which cousin was which but was chastised for it before she learned to mask it. So it isn’t explicitly called face blindness, but it definitely matches the description. But Xianghua has a lot of neurodivergent traits written very well and that is just one of them.

Sean Ulrich

She has trouble recognizing faces and the emotions behind those expressions. She amps up her own expressions and tone to get a bigger rise out of people. Makes it easier for her to tell what others are feeling.

KnightRider007

Yup. A nice call-back to her established face-blindness

Trish Brown

Awesome chapter x

Npad11111

Xianghua has face blindness?! 😱

Npad11111

Why do these chapters fly by so damn quickly... I feel like a crack addict.

ResidentCyborg

Thanks for the chapter :) I am always glad to see disability representation done well, so I just wanted to add a comment that I recognize and appreciate that you were consistent with Xianghua’s face blindness this chapter when she saw Yingwen again, and then wrote Gou Ren being respectful and accommodating of her impairment without judgement. It means a lot to see that kind of disability rep in the wild for me, as someone with similar disabilities.

Anthony

Aaaand, now I'm ready for Christmas to be here

Raraki Kraken

It feels so short!!!

WarStrider72

Fa Ram giving off The Last Homely House vibes

Homeless One

What a nice update to end the night

Thomas Brusilovsky

Yay!

WarStrider72

A Yushang chapter! I always like her perspective! Bath time with the boys and revenge using the smacky branches!

Sean Ulrich

I like how Xianghua confirms with Gou Ren before accusing Yingwen. She probably had trouble recognizing him, so she just wanted to double check. Those kind of details are great!