Note: I'll try to catch up a little but will probably be a few days behind the actual chapter updates from now on, especially since she's going to drop about 10k words when the novel goes into VIP.
When the coach stops in front of Shen Ni's house, Bian Jin wakes up to realise that she's been slumbering on Shen Ni's shoulder for quite a while, and hastily sits up. Shen Ni tells her that it's fine, and Bian Jin can pay her back by not making her sleep on the floor. Bian Jin replies, 'When did I ever do that?' They both flash back to their younger days, when Shen Ni used to insist on going with Bian Jin up some quite far off mountain peaks to look for medicinal herbs. Once Shen Ni got tired, Bian Jin would carry her on her back, and Shen Ni would fall asleep. Now though, Shen Ni has slept on the floor of their room every night since they got married. When the realisation of this hits them both, things get kind of awkward, and they both fall silent.
Once they go inside, Shen Ni insists on being the one to ask Cheng Zhe, Bian Jin's boss at the archive, if Bian Jin can have the next day off (Bian Jin had originally been intending to do this herself). Bian Jin gazes at Shen Ni, reflecting on the woman she's become, as Shen Ni speaks to Cheng Zhe over... her digital watch? Some other similar device? Cheng Zhe is, of course, only too happy to grant Shen Ni's request. Shen Ni hangs up (or does whatever the equivalent is) and tells Bian Jin that someone has arrogant as Li Shan probably won't pester Bian Jin again for the next little while after her lack of success today. Shen Ni then leaves for Firewall Construction HQ, and Bian Jin heads back to their room to rest. However, she's tormented by the images of her fallen comrade.
When Shen Ni returns, she grabs a few bites of dinner and heads straight into her workshop to continue crafting Bian Jin's new mechanical spine. There are two things which make this a particularly challenging task: first, the damage to Bian Jin's jade core, which is vital for allowing her to control the mechanical spine; and second, the fact that Bian Jin needs a super high-quality jade core to match her natural, and very very great, martial abilities. The jade core she currently has was crafted by their late shifu. With it, she was able to single-handedly kill a yinglong-level monster (mystical beast?). We're told that yinglong-level monsters are just a step below the legendary and terrifying, taixu-level monsters, not one of which has ever been seen in real life. Shen Ni intends to craft Bian Jin a new jade core as well. The jade core fashioned by their shizun might be powerful, but it's still not a match for Bian Jin, she thinks. Only a jade core crafted by her — Shen Ni's — own hands would be worthy of Bian Jin.
When Shen Ni finally stops for the night, she's exhausted. She walks out of her workshop into a freezing gust of wind, and decides to take a hot bath before going to bed. As she relaxes in the bath, she recalls an equally cold winter's day, when she was ten. She'd pestered Bian Jin to make her a snowman, not knowing that Bian Jin had suffered a serious leg wound the day before when she'd rescued some outer disciples from one of their enemies. Bian Jin had made her a big, beautiful snowman without even mentioning it. Shen Ni reflects that, had Bian Jin not rescued her on the battlefield, she'd probably have a prosthetic eye by now, if not worse.
Shen Ni also remembers that, when she woke up after the whipping Bian Jin had given her, she saw that Bian Jin had left most of a jar of very rare and precious healing ointment next to her. She reflects that Bian Jin had already shown her so much love even just as her shijie; she'd been greedy to want more.
Shen Ni then discovers that a packet of pear blossom-scented soap has been opened — it's hers, but she'd stopped using it as Bian Jin was sensitive to the smell. She then sees that Bian Jin's own unscented soap hasn't been used at all. Which means... that Bian Jin had been using her soap. Shen Ni takes out the piece of soap that Bian Jin had used and runs it slowly over her own skin, and thinks about how soft Bian Jin had felt in her arms last night, and how alone she is now.
When Shen Ni steps into the bedroom, she sees that her pillow and blankets are no longer on the floor, but are on the bed. Even the fat little goldfinch plushie she hugs to sleep has been placed neatly beside the pillow. Bian Jin is lying on one half of the bed, her back turned. There's a hint of pear blossom scent in the room. Shen Ni, taking the hint, lies down next to Bian Jin, and is a bit at a loss as to what to do with the plushie. In the end, she decides to place it between the two of them, like a shield or screen, to make Bian Jin feel better.
Shen Ni has trouble getting to sleep, due to Bian Jin's presence. When she rolls over, Bian Jin suddenly asks whether she's having trouble sleeping. Shen Ni says yes, a bit, as she got used to sleeping alone when she was on the battlefield. Bian Jin, after a moment's silence, asks her, 'What about your lovers?' Shen Ni had almost forgotten about that lie — but she's able to cover it up easily enough by explaining that those were just flings.
Shen Ni then falls asleep — so soundly that she doesn't wake up even when Bian Jin gets out of bed. Bian Jin heads soundlessly outside, where sees a snow-white mechanical raven flying straight towards Shen Ni. She captures the bird effortlessly — and a faint, slightly staticky voice comes out of it. This, the text tells us, is the voice of Qin Wushang.
The voice says, 'I dreamed of you again, I dreamed you'd come back to my side, that we spent our nights in carnal pleasure, that you were willing to be food for the "demonseed"... Why do you need to stay in Chang'an for another year? If your darling little shimei knew your true face, would she still love you? She would only find you repulsive ... I'll come and look for you in Chang'an ... we will meet again...'
Bian Jin listens to the message quietly, then crushes the raven in her hand. She buries it under the snow by the flowerbeds. When she goes back into the bedroom, she gazes quietly at Shen Ni, and thinks: A-Yao, you're all grown up now, but you're still so foolish. She lifts her hand, about to stroke Shen Ni's face, when she sees that there's a cut across her palm, left by the mechanical raven's carcass. She hastily draws her hand back, thinking: These hands are too unclean; I can't touch her.
Bian Jin gazes at Shen Ni for a while. Outside, the snow falls more and more heavily, covering up all footprints, and silently burying all secrets, making it seem as if nothing had happened.
Only a jade core crafted by her — Shen Ni's — own hands would be worthy of Bian Jin Of course OF COURSE
Shen Ni then discovers that a packet of pear blossom-scented soap has been opened — it's hers, but she'd stopped using it as Bian Jin was sensitive to the smell. She then sees that Bian Jin's own unscented soap hasn't been used at all. Which means... that Bian Jin had been using her soap. Shen Ni takes out the piece of soap that Bian Jin had used and runs it slowly over her own skin shrieks This is a whole bunch of steps up from that old favourite, indirect kissing via food.
When Shen Ni steps into the bedroom, she sees that her pillow and blankets are no longer on the floor, but are on the bed. Even the fat little goldfinch plushie she hugs to sleep has been placed neatly beside the pillow AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
This, the text tells us, is the voice of Qin Wushang Is this our unhinged female emperor??? Also, that whole message... SO MUCH FOOD FOR SPECULATION.
These hands are too unclean; I can't touch her I am sure this isn't a metaphor for anything at all AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
oh man I am so behind (this is what I get for being pretty much entirely offline for a month, whoops), but going to do my best to catch up. A
Anyway, this chapter!
Feels like we’re getting into the weaponisation stuff for real now. The way it talks about Bian Jin’s talent, and the heights her battle-gift reached when their shizun had her fitted with a jade disc… the way it’s measured in what level of beast you could slay… the way it reads more like the forging of a weapon than the training of a person… *shovels it into my face like popcorn*
OKAY SO. *pins another red thread on the murder board* We were told that Black Box came into being the same year Shen Ni was born, right? And now we learn that Shen Ni’s and Bian Jin’s shizun was the previous super-amazing double-S-tier machinist. I don't know exactly where I'm going with this but I'm looking very closely at these dots to see if they connect somehow.
Also I laughed at the fact that the stuffed toy she hugs at night is a 黄雀. Something something the mantis stalks the cicada but PLOT TWIST the oriole is too busy being spooned by Shen Ni to do anything about it.
WHOSE VOICE?? YOU WERE WILLING TO BECOME THE **WHAT NOW**?? And the sneer as she crushes the messenger bird???? Hello.
A-Yao…You’ve grown up so much. And yet you’re still so foolish. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!?!?!?!!?!?!?!!?!
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baihe_media2024-06-23 09:25 pm
Chapter 13
Once they go inside, Shen Ni insists on being the one to ask Cheng Zhe, Bian Jin's boss at the archive, if Bian Jin can have the next day off (Bian Jin had originally been intending to do this herself). Bian Jin gazes at Shen Ni, reflecting on the woman she's become, as Shen Ni speaks to Cheng Zhe over... her digital watch? Some other similar device? Cheng Zhe is, of course, only too happy to grant Shen Ni's request. Shen Ni hangs up (or does whatever the equivalent is) and tells Bian Jin that someone has arrogant as Li Shan probably won't pester Bian Jin again for the next little while after her lack of success today. Shen Ni then leaves for Firewall Construction HQ, and Bian Jin heads back to their room to rest. However, she's tormented by the images of her fallen comrade.
When Shen Ni returns, she grabs a few bites of dinner and heads straight into her workshop to continue crafting Bian Jin's new mechanical spine. There are two things which make this a particularly challenging task: first, the damage to Bian Jin's jade core, which is vital for allowing her to control the mechanical spine; and second, the fact that Bian Jin needs a super high-quality jade core to match her natural, and very very great, martial abilities. The jade core she currently has was crafted by their late shifu. With it, she was able to single-handedly kill a yinglong-level monster (mystical beast?). We're told that yinglong-level monsters are just a step below the legendary and terrifying, taixu-level monsters, not one of which has ever been seen in real life. Shen Ni intends to craft Bian Jin a new jade core as well. The jade core fashioned by their shizun might be powerful, but it's still not a match for Bian Jin, she thinks. Only a jade core crafted by her — Shen Ni's — own hands would be worthy of Bian Jin.
When Shen Ni finally stops for the night, she's exhausted. She walks out of her workshop into a freezing gust of wind, and decides to take a hot bath before going to bed. As she relaxes in the bath, she recalls an equally cold winter's day, when she was ten. She'd pestered Bian Jin to make her a snowman, not knowing that Bian Jin had suffered a serious leg wound the day before when she'd rescued some outer disciples from one of their enemies. Bian Jin had made her a big, beautiful snowman without even mentioning it. Shen Ni reflects that, had Bian Jin not rescued her on the battlefield, she'd probably have a prosthetic eye by now, if not worse.
Shen Ni also remembers that, when she woke up after the whipping Bian Jin had given her, she saw that Bian Jin had left most of a jar of very rare and precious healing ointment next to her. She reflects that Bian Jin had already shown her so much love even just as her shijie; she'd been greedy to want more.
Shen Ni then discovers that a packet of pear blossom-scented soap has been opened — it's hers, but she'd stopped using it as Bian Jin was sensitive to the smell. She then sees that Bian Jin's own unscented soap hasn't been used at all. Which means... that Bian Jin had been using her soap. Shen Ni takes out the piece of soap that Bian Jin had used and runs it slowly over her own skin, and thinks about how soft Bian Jin had felt in her arms last night, and how alone she is now.
When Shen Ni steps into the bedroom, she sees that her pillow and blankets are no longer on the floor, but are on the bed. Even the fat little goldfinch plushie she hugs to sleep has been placed neatly beside the pillow. Bian Jin is lying on one half of the bed, her back turned. There's a hint of pear blossom scent in the room. Shen Ni, taking the hint, lies down next to Bian Jin, and is a bit at a loss as to what to do with the plushie. In the end, she decides to place it between the two of them, like a shield or screen, to make Bian Jin feel better.
Shen Ni has trouble getting to sleep, due to Bian Jin's presence. When she rolls over, Bian Jin suddenly asks whether she's having trouble sleeping. Shen Ni says yes, a bit, as she got used to sleeping alone when she was on the battlefield. Bian Jin, after a moment's silence, asks her, 'What about your lovers?' Shen Ni had almost forgotten about that lie — but she's able to cover it up easily enough by explaining that those were just flings.
Shen Ni then falls asleep — so soundly that she doesn't wake up even when Bian Jin gets out of bed. Bian Jin heads soundlessly outside, where sees a snow-white mechanical raven flying straight towards Shen Ni. She captures the bird effortlessly — and a faint, slightly staticky voice comes out of it. This, the text tells us, is the voice of Qin Wushang.
The voice says, 'I dreamed of you again, I dreamed you'd come back to my side, that we spent our nights in carnal pleasure, that you were willing to be food for the "demonseed"... Why do you need to stay in Chang'an for another year? If your darling little shimei knew your true face, would she still love you? She would only find you repulsive ... I'll come and look for you in Chang'an ... we will meet again...'
Bian Jin listens to the message quietly, then crushes the raven in her hand. She buries it under the snow by the flowerbeds. When she goes back into the bedroom, she gazes quietly at Shen Ni, and thinks: A-Yao, you're all grown up now, but you're still so foolish. She lifts her hand, about to stroke Shen Ni's face, when she sees that there's a cut across her palm, left by the mechanical raven's carcass. She hastily draws her hand back, thinking: These hands are too unclean; I can't touch her.
Bian Jin gazes at Shen Ni for a while. Outside, the snow falls more and more heavily, covering up all footprints, and silently burying all secrets, making it seem as if nothing had happened.
Tech watch: Creepy mechanical raven
Named men: 5.5
Reverse Bechdel passes: 0
Re: Chapter 13
Of course OF COURSE
Shen Ni then discovers that a packet of pear blossom-scented soap has been opened — it's hers, but she'd stopped using it as Bian Jin was sensitive to the smell. She then sees that Bian Jin's own unscented soap hasn't been used at all. Which means... that Bian Jin had been using her soap. Shen Ni takes out the piece of soap that Bian Jin had used and runs it slowly over her own skin
shrieks This is a whole bunch of steps up from that old favourite, indirect kissing via food.
When Shen Ni steps into the bedroom, she sees that her pillow and blankets are no longer on the floor, but are on the bed. Even the fat little goldfinch plushie she hugs to sleep has been placed neatly beside the pillow
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
This, the text tells us, is the voice of Qin Wushang
Is this our unhinged female emperor??? Also, that whole message... SO MUCH FOOD FOR SPECULATION.
These hands are too unclean; I can't touch her
I am sure this isn't a metaphor for anything at all AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Re: Chapter 13
Anyway, this chapter!
Feels like we’re getting into the weaponisation stuff for real now. The way it talks about Bian Jin’s talent, and the heights her battle-gift reached when their shizun had her fitted with a jade disc… the way it’s measured in what level of beast you could slay… the way it reads more like the forging of a weapon than the training of a person… *shovels it into my face like popcorn*
OKAY SO. *pins another red thread on the murder board* We were told that Black Box came into being the same year Shen Ni was born, right? And now we learn that Shen Ni’s and Bian Jin’s shizun was the previous super-amazing double-S-tier machinist. I don't know exactly where I'm going with this but I'm looking very closely at these dots to see if they connect somehow.
Also I laughed at the fact that the stuffed toy she hugs at night is a 黄雀. Something something the mantis stalks the cicada but PLOT TWIST the oriole is too busy being spooned by Shen Ni to do anything about it.
WHOSE VOICE?? YOU WERE WILLING TO BECOME THE **WHAT NOW**??
And the sneer as she crushes the messenger bird???? Hello.
A-Yao…You’ve grown up so much. And yet you’re still so foolish.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!?!?!?!!?!?!?!!?!