To Embers We Return (焚情) Read-Along: Chapters 11 to 20

[douqi]

Discussion of Chapters 1 to 10 can be found here.

The link to the novel on JJWXC is here.

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.

Comments

Re: Chapter 11

[neuxue]

Shen Ni asks if Bian Jin feels uncomfortable eating with someone else; Bian Jin replies no, not if the other person is Shen Ni.
THE NOT TO ME NOT IF IT'S YOU OF IT ALL

The strength of her hands was no match for what it had been at her peak, but it was still enough to crush a pile of wood bare-handed if she wanted
Shen Ni is going to need a practical demonstration of that. For… repair reasons. To see how much strength you’ve recovered. Or something. Of course.

Bian Jin’s flat refusal of the couples’ module when Shen Ni suggests it for dream-sharing makes me wonder if we’re going to see it implemented in a more… dubious way. Ordered by the emperor. Emergency situation due to overload. Etc. You see my vision. (whump. my vision is whump.)

But she couldn’t be sure whether, if Shen Ni entered her dreams, she would see that scene. Though she hadn’t dreamed of it in many years, she still feared the possibility
WHAT. SCENE.

Then we get some mysterious references to it being an absurd greedy wish and how it has to be locked away, and the reason is apparently 'something that glows with enough light to imprison her soul', and that being 'the tomorrow she's heading towards'.
I stared that this part for like 5 minutes with just ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!! scrolling across my brain the way I assume 2000s-hacker-style text scrolls across Shen Ni's screens. WHAT IS GOING ON?????

'I’ve heard that that Bian Jin can kill without blinking an eye'
So have I and I would like to humbly request that we be shown this at some point as well as told it. For science. Evidence to back up the claims and all, you understand.

Cui Ning what did you put in those cakes.

Bian Jin really delivering on that dramatic rainstorm entrance. 10/10 no notes. Did she look like that when she came to Shen Ni’s rescue on the battlefield? Inquiring minds want to know.

Re: Chapter 11

[douqi]

WHAT. SCENE.
WE NEED TO KNOW

I stared that this part for like 5 minutes with just ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!! scrolling across my brain the way I assume 2000s-hacker-style text scrolls across Shen Ni's screens. WHAT IS GOING ON?????
I KNOWWWWWWWWWWW. More fuel for the murderboard!!!

Did she look like that when she came to Shen Ni’s rescue on the battlefield? Inquiring minds want to know.
Chapter 1 does say she descended from the heavens, so I'm going to take that very literally.