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iariaBook 4
+ Xie Lian finally leaving his bubble of denial/obstinant lalalala-ing of his feelings by (probably) admitting to himself his feelings for Hua Cheng was great. And all it took was making out with him for half a night! Also hard lol to Xie Lian getting hard (for the first time?) after being thrown around against Hua Cheng in a tight coffin for awhile.
+ Xie Lian admtting to Hua Cheng "only since meeting you have I rediscovered how simple it is to be happy" is so sad and yet so lovely.
+ The miscommunication was a lot especially at the beginning of this book. The worst bit was Hua CHeng dropping "Gege, want to get married?" (Lost in the moment?) and then when a stunned silent Xie Lian (who literally white screens for a moment) doesn't instantly offer encouragement or positivity in reply, IMMEDIATELY turns into into a joke, snickering and laughing as he (desperately) tries to wave it off. EXACTLY the wrong way to respond to that. It was very frustrating! I appreciate that Xie Lian was also frustrated by that even if he didn't follow up on the feeling.
I think it's mostly frustrating because I know this is going to have effects on their relationship into the future. And we see that a short time later when Hua Cheng smilingly offers Xie Lian "move in with me?" and while we know that he truely means it, that he would desperately love that above all else, because of how he dealt with the marriage slip up he has literally traumatized Xie Lian and Xie Lian ends up essentially ignoring the comment. Hua Cheng has really screwed himself here!
Between this and Hua Cheng telling Xie Lian about his beloved and Xie Lian living with that misunderstanding there is no way Xie Lian is ever going to confess his own feelings even if he finally will acknowledge them. Considering how much Hua Cheng has never brought forth his own feelings I literally have no idea how these two will ever actually get together. Divine Intervention???
+ The novel deciding to throw in 'passing spiritual power via the mouth' is delightful. It all culminating in Xie Lian and Hua Cheng basically passionately making out for a night was excellent. I hope Hua Cheng gets to remember it at some point.
+ Some 'Just Xie Lian Being Normal About Hua Cheng' moments I love - him being lost in the clouds thinking about how impressive Hua Cheng's black robes disquise was; Xie Lian's heart dropping and him getting violent at the idea of Hua Cheng dying as it causes a "deep, uncontrollable panic" that he couldn't even stand to hear of; Xie Lian getting jealous and unhappy over Hua Cheng being in love with someone else; Xie Lian coming across a half-naked and sweaty Hua Cheng and feeling like he was going to suffocate in reaction (because Hua Cheng is so stunning) and then immediately trying to hide him from anyone else's sight; Xie Lian thinking nothing of it if other men see he himself half-naked because they aren't Hua Cheng (who would be different of course); honesly just how often he gets distracted/hung up on how good-looking Hua Cheng is and how often he finds himself holding Hua Cheng.
+ I loved that Hua Cheng got Xie Lian's joke with his passphrase and also found it hilarious, and how good that made Xie Lian feel.
+ Little moment of the book I loved: Xie Lian realising that as a ghost Hua Cheng would be bothered more by the sun while they were tilling the fields and so he walks over and puts his straw hat on Hua Cheng instead.
+ I did not see the Ming Yi/Black Water Demon Xuan reveal coming. It was great. The whole backstory of how he came to be, of what Shi Wudu did, and He Xuan's slow-burn vengeance was all great. I loved the whole thing. I was absolutely not expecting Shi Wudu to get decapitated though! Yikes. Still, after everything I can't really blame He Xuan for it.
+ Poor Shi Qingxuan. He was a victim in this too, or if not necessaily a victim certainly an innocent, though granted one that benefited greatly.
+ A part of me really doesn't think that He Xuan will hurt Shi Qingxuan. Sure he's currently still riding high his vengeance. But also he spent centuries playing Ming Yi, and during that time he was Shi Qingxuan's claimed best friend. He knows Shi Qingxuan better then any one. He knows he's a good person, he knows he was innocent. I just don't buy that he has no feelings for him at all.
+ Another reason I loved the reveal - 'Ming Xi's' awkwarness in using his spiritual weapon given a better reason then sahame over it being a shovel.
+ No wonder Black Water Demon Xuan was so strong considering he had worshippers as Scholar He on top of those as Black Water. Did he also get all those worshipping Ming Yi too?
+ I'm really surprised that there wasn't more of an uproar over the reveal that a Supreme took over the life of a Heavenly Official for centuries. That is huge! And then he murdered a major god and kidnapped a well-loved other one. Also huge! So many huge reveals in a very little time. I'd have expected a lot more hysterics over it. At the very least shouldn't there have been hearings or even just a meeting where Xie Lian had to give his version of events since he was so wrapped up in it?
+ With this situation revealed it makes me again think of Xie Lian's extreme bad luck and while I considered the possibility before I'm positive now that Crown Prince Xie Lian's Good Luck fate was exchanged with someone else. The real question is: did he do it himself as a self-sacrifice and/or arrogant gesture (not truly realising the cost), or was it done to him? Could be either. Though thinking back there's a really great energy/synergy to the idea that Xie Lian gave his luck willingly to Hua Cheng and that's why he is as lucky as he is.
+ Okay I was wrong the whole Reverend of Empty Words had nothing to do with Xie Lian. New theory however: Pei Ming is right that Xie Lian brings with him change/chaos/ruin. Specifically fate (or whatever) is using Xie Lian in cleaning up the Heavens by revealing the corruption within.
+ I'm ashamed to admit it but I didn't realise Lang Ying was Hua Cheng until the skeleton step-litter arrived and "Lang Ying" caught Xie Lian and then stared at him silently and then I was like 'oh. of course'. Very much a duh moment. I went back to reread and I don't know how I didn't pick up on it sooner. I realised of course Lang Ying was acting weird but what he was really acting like was Hua Cheng! He ate Xie Lian's food and liked it! Is there any bigger tell then that?
+ I loved that Xie Lian set Hua Cheng up to reveal himself by asking him to do calligraphy, lol.
+ I really liked the Puqi villagers subtly interceding when all those cultivators turned up on Xie Lian's doorstep.
+ I like how much in this book we get to see Xie Lian, the Martial God. Him dealing so easily with the bone dragons was great. I liked him successfully sneaking into Shi brothers Palace. And him so quickly figuring out there was something off about Ling Wen and what it was. Basically I just like when he is competent and he very much was that all throughout this book.
+ Quan Yizhen is kind of adorable. I like him stubbornly trying to repay Xie Lian. Also Xie Lian seems to be losing friends too quickly so I'm glad he's making new ones.
+ It's fasinating how much my opinion of Ling Wen changes as we get to know more about her. Once again I found myself rethinking her character. I started feeling pretty positive towards her because she was kind to Xie Lian when others weren't and she tried to help. Seeing her as part of The Three Tumours made me pause and wonder if I'd misjudged. And now this. I do think there is something more here but I have no idea what. But she didn't want to kill anyone so I'm hoping whatever her story is it isn't one that's going to end in death.
+ Xie Lian calling Ling Wen out of habit when calling the Heavens to report on her was hilarious.
+ Xie Lian finally leaving his bubble of denial/obstinant lalalala-ing of his feelings by (probably) admitting to himself his feelings for Hua Cheng was great. And all it took was making out with him for half a night! Also hard lol to Xie Lian getting hard (for the first time?) after being thrown around against Hua Cheng in a tight coffin for awhile.
+ Xie Lian admtting to Hua Cheng "only since meeting you have I rediscovered how simple it is to be happy" is so sad and yet so lovely.
+ The miscommunication was a lot especially at the beginning of this book. The worst bit was Hua CHeng dropping "Gege, want to get married?" (Lost in the moment?) and then when a stunned silent Xie Lian (who literally white screens for a moment) doesn't instantly offer encouragement or positivity in reply, IMMEDIATELY turns into into a joke, snickering and laughing as he (desperately) tries to wave it off. EXACTLY the wrong way to respond to that. It was very frustrating! I appreciate that Xie Lian was also frustrated by that even if he didn't follow up on the feeling.
I think it's mostly frustrating because I know this is going to have effects on their relationship into the future. And we see that a short time later when Hua Cheng smilingly offers Xie Lian "move in with me?" and while we know that he truely means it, that he would desperately love that above all else, because of how he dealt with the marriage slip up he has literally traumatized Xie Lian and Xie Lian ends up essentially ignoring the comment. Hua Cheng has really screwed himself here!
Between this and Hua Cheng telling Xie Lian about his beloved and Xie Lian living with that misunderstanding there is no way Xie Lian is ever going to confess his own feelings even if he finally will acknowledge them. Considering how much Hua Cheng has never brought forth his own feelings I literally have no idea how these two will ever actually get together. Divine Intervention???
+ The novel deciding to throw in 'passing spiritual power via the mouth' is delightful. It all culminating in Xie Lian and Hua Cheng basically passionately making out for a night was excellent. I hope Hua Cheng gets to remember it at some point.
+ Some 'Just Xie Lian Being Normal About Hua Cheng' moments I love - him being lost in the clouds thinking about how impressive Hua Cheng's black robes disquise was; Xie Lian's heart dropping and him getting violent at the idea of Hua Cheng dying as it causes a "deep, uncontrollable panic" that he couldn't even stand to hear of; Xie Lian getting jealous and unhappy over Hua Cheng being in love with someone else; Xie Lian coming across a half-naked and sweaty Hua Cheng and feeling like he was going to suffocate in reaction (because Hua Cheng is so stunning) and then immediately trying to hide him from anyone else's sight; Xie Lian thinking nothing of it if other men see he himself half-naked because they aren't Hua Cheng (who would be different of course); honesly just how often he gets distracted/hung up on how good-looking Hua Cheng is and how often he finds himself holding Hua Cheng.
+ I loved that Hua Cheng got Xie Lian's joke with his passphrase and also found it hilarious, and how good that made Xie Lian feel.
+ Little moment of the book I loved: Xie Lian realising that as a ghost Hua Cheng would be bothered more by the sun while they were tilling the fields and so he walks over and puts his straw hat on Hua Cheng instead.
+ I did not see the Ming Yi/Black Water Demon Xuan reveal coming. It was great. The whole backstory of how he came to be, of what Shi Wudu did, and He Xuan's slow-burn vengeance was all great. I loved the whole thing. I was absolutely not expecting Shi Wudu to get decapitated though! Yikes. Still, after everything I can't really blame He Xuan for it.
+ Poor Shi Qingxuan. He was a victim in this too, or if not necessaily a victim certainly an innocent, though granted one that benefited greatly.
+ A part of me really doesn't think that He Xuan will hurt Shi Qingxuan. Sure he's currently still riding high his vengeance. But also he spent centuries playing Ming Yi, and during that time he was Shi Qingxuan's claimed best friend. He knows Shi Qingxuan better then any one. He knows he's a good person, he knows he was innocent. I just don't buy that he has no feelings for him at all.
+ Another reason I loved the reveal - 'Ming Xi's' awkwarness in using his spiritual weapon given a better reason then sahame over it being a shovel.
+ No wonder Black Water Demon Xuan was so strong considering he had worshippers as Scholar He on top of those as Black Water. Did he also get all those worshipping Ming Yi too?
+ I'm really surprised that there wasn't more of an uproar over the reveal that a Supreme took over the life of a Heavenly Official for centuries. That is huge! And then he murdered a major god and kidnapped a well-loved other one. Also huge! So many huge reveals in a very little time. I'd have expected a lot more hysterics over it. At the very least shouldn't there have been hearings or even just a meeting where Xie Lian had to give his version of events since he was so wrapped up in it?
+ With this situation revealed it makes me again think of Xie Lian's extreme bad luck and while I considered the possibility before I'm positive now that Crown Prince Xie Lian's Good Luck fate was exchanged with someone else. The real question is: did he do it himself as a self-sacrifice and/or arrogant gesture (not truly realising the cost), or was it done to him? Could be either. Though thinking back there's a really great energy/synergy to the idea that Xie Lian gave his luck willingly to Hua Cheng and that's why he is as lucky as he is.
+ Okay I was wrong the whole Reverend of Empty Words had nothing to do with Xie Lian. New theory however: Pei Ming is right that Xie Lian brings with him change/chaos/ruin. Specifically fate (or whatever) is using Xie Lian in cleaning up the Heavens by revealing the corruption within.
+ I'm ashamed to admit it but I didn't realise Lang Ying was Hua Cheng until the skeleton step-litter arrived and "Lang Ying" caught Xie Lian and then stared at him silently and then I was like 'oh. of course'. Very much a duh moment. I went back to reread and I don't know how I didn't pick up on it sooner. I realised of course Lang Ying was acting weird but what he was really acting like was Hua Cheng! He ate Xie Lian's food and liked it! Is there any bigger tell then that?
+ I loved that Xie Lian set Hua Cheng up to reveal himself by asking him to do calligraphy, lol.
+ I really liked the Puqi villagers subtly interceding when all those cultivators turned up on Xie Lian's doorstep.
+ I like how much in this book we get to see Xie Lian, the Martial God. Him dealing so easily with the bone dragons was great. I liked him successfully sneaking into Shi brothers Palace. And him so quickly figuring out there was something off about Ling Wen and what it was. Basically I just like when he is competent and he very much was that all throughout this book.
+ Quan Yizhen is kind of adorable. I like him stubbornly trying to repay Xie Lian. Also Xie Lian seems to be losing friends too quickly so I'm glad he's making new ones.
+ It's fasinating how much my opinion of Ling Wen changes as we get to know more about her. Once again I found myself rethinking her character. I started feeling pretty positive towards her because she was kind to Xie Lian when others weren't and she tried to help. Seeing her as part of The Three Tumours made me pause and wonder if I'd misjudged. And now this. I do think there is something more here but I have no idea what. But she didn't want to kill anyone so I'm hoping whatever her story is it isn't one that's going to end in death.
+ Xie Lian calling Ling Wen out of habit when calling the Heavens to report on her was hilarious.
