The following contains a few spoilers. Readers who mind them should stop here.
First, about Xiao Yi Xian:
The previous chapter made this fairly clear. In the original, Xiao Yi Xian had a "one-sided crush" on Xiao Yan, only to lose her place as the lady of the household because of the useless "three thousand and six flames." Here, things are different.
In this book, the protagonist was the one taking the initiative, so Xiao Yi Xian's standing would be even higher than Xun'er's. (The moonlight of one's dreams has to have some clout.)
And why did I use "Meeting each other halfway" as the previous chapter's title? Because a certain Yan was the protagonist, after all.
So, even if this "Parallel World" differed from the "original universe," some things would never change.
According to the Law of Universal Gravitation, those who once attracted each other would still attract each other. It was destined to happen.
That turned the problem from "catching up" into "meeting," in physics terms. All Xiao Yi Xian needed was a process of "recognizing her own feelings."
Of course, that process wouldn't happen too quickly. At the very least, it would have to wait until Xun'er returned to the Gu Clan.
After all, Xun'er had a little bit of a yandere streak and some possessiveness in her.
Actually, her possessiveness might already have veered a little off course. Xun'er was just too young to realize it yet. (Heh.)
So, if Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian were simply master and disciple, Xun'er wouldn't say anything. But if they "gave themselves away" too early, that would be another story.
Besides, compared with the final "result," the "process" was actually more important.
If they went all the way in one step too early, there would be nothing left to write whenever this character appeared afterward except bedroom scenes.
But if I wanted to put the pedal to the metal, this place had a speed limit. If I wrote it that way, you might as well go read certain classics instead. Wouldn't those be better?
It would also rob readers of their anticipation for the character, turning someone of flesh and blood into a "label," an emotionless prop there to make up the numbers.
Some harem novels did exactly that. A wonderfully conceived heroine would be won over by the male lead in a dozen or a few dozen chapters. Not only was the plot rather rushed and hollow, but the character herself was ruined too.
If a book went on long enough, by the time the author suddenly mentioned that heroine again, readers might not even remember who she was.
A detailed process, on the other hand, would have a better effect and give the character more depth.
Countless school-life and slice-of-life anime, along with a wealth of literary works, tell us that the push and pull before the outcome is settled is the most compelling part, the part that leaves an impression.
For example, Medusa was portrayed very well in the original.
After the Fallen Heart Flame incident, Medusa went from wanting to kill Xiao Yan as quickly as possible, to being a stubborn "tsundere," to worrying when Xiao Yan was afflicted with the demonic poison spot...
That whole sequence instantly fleshed out the character. (I mean her characterization here.)
So, rather than quickly making her a "heroine," I would prefer to give Xiao Yi Xian a gradual process of "growth" and "transformation."
Likewise, with enough time "by her side," Xiao Yi Xian would have a little more "competitive strength" when facing Xun'er.
Medusa:
The tags on her character card already made this clear. Her role was a "working-stiff bodyguard," and her development would head toward "Boss, you're so irresistible."
A "bodyguard" beside the Xiao Clan's young lady, an ambitious subordinate with a queen's disposition-when you put it that way, there was actually plenty to work with.
This time, I would pay attention to developing this character too. Of course, the premise would still be "taking it slowly." There would be no "boarding the train first and buying the ticket afterward."
After all, if the latter was mishandled, it would become lethal poison-the kind even a woeful poison body couldn't withstand...
And when things followed their natural course, when the water flowed and the channel formed, they would be more comfortable for everyone to read.
Zi Yan and Xun'er:
Why discuss these two together? Because compared with the first two, both would have relatively less page time.
There was little to explain about Xun'er. Once she returned to the Gu Clan, who knew how long it would be before she appeared again? But her status as a "heroine" was absolutely secure.
Zi Yan would only have a chance to enter the race after growing up.
It was the same in the original. At first, Zi Yan genuinely regarded Xiao Yan as "just an ordinary friend." Only after becoming a dragon phoenix and being rescued by Xiao Yan right in the nick of time did the slightest signs of something different emerge.
Though it never became anything in the original, since the ending never mentioned it-even Xiao Yi Xian wasn't in the Endless Fire Domain.
But for certain reasons, I still added Zi Yan to the list of "heroines."
Again, each would have a process of "change" or "transition," so that it felt comfortable for everyone to read.
Romantic battlefields:
Well... let Xiao Yan get a headache over that when the time comes. (Actually, it's too early to say right now, haha.)
Other "candidate" characters:
Qing Lin's personality was too meek. Not considering her.
The sisters Han Yue and Han Xue were actually quite nice, especially Senior Han Yue. (Black stockings, white hair, a high ponytail-huff, huff.) But they could only count as "supporting female characters with a little more page time." There was a considerable gap between them and the main cast. Not considering them.
Ya Fei's talent was too poor, and her background was nothing special. She could only count as a decorative vase with a little utility. Her money-making business talent would be somewhat useful to the protagonist, but not much, and they wouldn't even have much occasion to interact. Not considering her.
The main cast's looks were no worse than Ya Fei's, and there was both a dragon and a snake among them. They would keep Xiao Yan busy enough already; she might even need Xiao Yi Xian to treat her. There were no openings, and no need to go "alleviating poverty."
Some readers might want to nominate Yun Yun. After all, that was also one way to "get revenge" on Nalan Yan for breaking off the engagement, and Yun Yun had always been fairly popular and much discussed.
To that, all I can say is-it could be done, but there's no need.
Yun Yun's talent couldn't compare with the others' either. Even after joining the Flower Sect, she was only a Dou Zun. To join the group, she would have to rely entirely on the protagonist pouring resources into dragging her upward.
And Yun Yun certainly wouldn't hold such a high place in Xiao Yan's heart that she would be worth that investment. So, for the sake of keeping the plot plausible, I'm not considering her.
That's all for now. If you have any opinions or suggestions, leave them in the comments. Your resident pigeon will selectively adopt them.
Finally, please keep reading up to the latest chapter. Just flip a little farther until you get "Reader No. XX to reach the latest chapter." That's very important to your resident pigeon.
Thanks on my knees, rolling away, typing.jpg
That's it, coo coo coo~
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