Ch. 21Humans Can't, at Least They Shouldn't...
Key Plot Points and Events
- Lin Xian, a serpent, and two human spirits (Centurion Taliel and Umu) gamble with the spirits of the dead, with Lin Xian acting as the dealer.
- Lin Xian receives only 30% of the winnings, much to his dismay.
- Taliel and Umu ask Lin Xian to deliver messages and find someone for them.
- Lin Xian receives two packages containing clay tablets with locations of inheritances and is asked to deliver them.
- Lin Xian transforms into a Lion-like Urum and heads to meet his other teacher.
Character Developments
- Lin Xian: Shows cunning and strategic thinking, maintains multiple forms (serpent and Lion-like Urum), and is driven by curiosity and a desire for knowledge.
- Centurion Taliel and Umu: Display shrewdness and understanding of the underworld's dynamics, using Lin Xian to achieve their goals.
Significant Themes
- The underworld's monotony and the spirits' desire for change.
- The value of knowledge and intelligence in the underworld.
- The circulation of wealth and its lack of use in the underworld.
Character Interactions
- Lin Xian, Taliel, and Umu work together to gamble with the spirits, each benefiting from the arrangement.
- Lin Xian and his partners (Taliel and Umu) have a tacit understanding, with each side using the other for their purposes.
- Lin Xian's interactions with his teachers (Ereshkigal and the unknown teacher in the deep valley) hint at a complex relationship involving knowledge exchange and mutual benefit.