idk how people cant see how Jiujin did that on porpouse so that the kids can be under the princess, like that poison bottle just came out at the right time XD.

Suddenly, Jiujin getting sandwormed has moved from the "crime against humanity" portion of my book to the "morally justified precaution" chapter.

This isn't a feel good moment where the protagonist gains an adoring slave that worships the ground they walk, nor is it a moment of complete dehumanization. Though brutal and gorey, the chapter ends with the enslaved woman taking things into her own hands and gaining agency in the story. She knows they can't be trusted so she drinks the poison to gain negotiating power. It's a move made from desperation, but it's a really great bit of characterization for someone who I had expected to be a background/one off character at best.

It is quite a power move to (begin to) liberate oneself with an act of ultimate submission.

idk how people cant see how Jiujin did that on porpouse so that the kids can be under the princess, like that poison bottle just came out at the right time XD.

An interesting theory. She did, however, murder a defenseless enslaved man earlier on -- was that part of the deception, too?

Alright here we go. I really like this development. Jiujin is a bandit by trade and will happily do anything to ensure her survival be that slaughtering defensless people who simply saw too much or as said above happening to drop the parasite flask right in front of them so they'll be forced to shift into trustworthy allies instead.

Meanwhile Lanze and yes that is her name it's never been used outside of the extra chapter that goes into their character design. Lanze is certainly willing to take advantage of those around her but sets a clear line between that and slaughter of innocents.

She wants to live not become the slavetrading bandits who destroyed her original tribe.

Oh, you know what, blondie? You can whistle as much as you want. Actually I think you should create a 7 minutes long symphony consisting only of whistling.

last edited at Apr 7, 2026 6:49AM

Analogically, Lanse is Danaerys Targaryen, and Juijin is Jorah Mormont. In this essay I will

last edited at Apr 7, 2026 9:03AM

This is an interesting development but now the art is throwing me off. Like this is not the art style I would expect for this type of murder and torture and coughing up blood.

ah it turns out the schemes run deeper than anyone realized. Very fun little twist to "redeem" jiujin without feeling cheap. She did just still kill that guy after all. He's just not who we thought.

ah it turns out the schemes run deeper than anyone realized. Very fun little twist to "redeem" jiujin without feeling cheap. She did just still kill that guy after all. He's just not who we thought.

Indeed. I wonder if the princess was actually administering the antidote against the worms to Jiujin with that kiss, only for the latter to lean way into it?

"Upon this a question arises: whether it be better to be loved than feared or feared than loved? It may be answered that one should wish to be both, but, because it is difficult to unite them in one person, it is much safer to be feared than loved, when, of the two, either must be dispensed with."
- Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

ah it turns out the schemes run deeper than anyone realized. Very fun little twist to "redeem" jiujin without feeling cheap. She did just still kill that guy after all. He's just not who we thought.

and the agency of the enslaved people is maintained because even if she had planned to introduce the idea, it was the enslaved kids themselves who took the initiative.

My guess is that she is actually trying to slip the antidote in, but jiujin is going to deepen the kiss in order to reject the antidote to keep that worm in her

I love that the protagonists are actually fucked up, it's refreshing. Really enjoying this one.

The way she covered her face with her hand during the kiss was kind of hot, this is the type of censorship I prefer. I’m not really into effects like glowing lights or random overlays like butterflies.

I love that the protagonists are actually fucked up, it's refreshing. Really enjoying this one.

It's very Sal Jiang, isn't it? I kept thinking of Black & White the whole time!