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Card Monday · 26 October
Where Winds Meet
第一章·神仙不渡
物品: 被涂画的秘籍

被涂画的秘籍

The anecdote on the Taichi skill is quite funny!
熊侠!

The text · 3 words
想我任侠几十载，一身功夫没个传人当真可惜。这山野无人，只有一浪荡黑厮，颇具灵性。日夜窥我习武，偷我招式。师门有训，法不传外人。但我思量，并无不传外熊之理。待我涂画涂画，看那黑厮悟性。若真教它学会了去，往后来人反倒要向这黑厮请教，当真有趣得紧！ 一本被人涂画的秘籍，原文被各式粗犷的黑熊图样覆盖。 不做熊瞎做熊侠，学身功夫掏蜜吃！
WordReadingDefinition
任侠rèn xiáchivalrous; helping the weak for the sake of justice
悟性wù xìngperception; wits; power of understanding; comprehension
粗犷cū guǎngrough; rude
Card Monday · 26 October
Where Winds Meet
第一章·神仙不渡
武学: 积矩九剑

积矩九剑

This description is very hard. 禹 Yǔ, Yu the Great is a legendary ancient ruler who controlled great floods for the first time(?). 李淳风 Lǐ Chúnfēng is a prominent early Tang dynasty mathematician. 周髀算经 Zhōubì Suànjīng is one of China’s earliest mathematical treaties.

The idea of accumulated carpenter’s square probably has something to do with calculating area and geometry? In any case, in our sword mastery context, it represents absolute precision, discipline and structure and values impeccable technique. The moves do look very neat and precise!

The text · 1 word
积矩九剑 禹之所以治天下者，此数之所生也。昔日李淳风博采众长，从《周髀算经》中悟出积矩一道，正所谓万变皆在不变之中，李淳风以其化剑招万千，一切推演皆来自于积矩之道。江湖中人，故而又称此招，为算无遗策之剑。
WordReadingDefinition
矩jǔcarpenter's square; rule
Review Monday · 26 October
공부해야 산다
공부해야 산다
김찬수
200 pages
★★★★★

I found 공부해야 산다 really good, it blends several topics and genres, it’s both regression and LitRPG set in the real world, no fantasy, no fights, no monsters. Instead, it ties survival with mundane activities like studying. Characters stats are their grades in each school subjects, and there are skills, but they stay pretty modest. It gives a good critic of social pressure and Korean society which overvalues education and diplomas. The setting is also very interesting, a pre-apocalyptic world where our protagonist is given a second chance.

The book reads very easily, with a lot of dialogues, very few characters, excerpt of online forum and news, etc.

This kind of book is just not my thing, I tried several LitRPG, Isekai and Regression - both books and audiobooks - and I’ve DNFed them all without exception. The fact that I finished this one and even enjoyed reading it says a lot.

History Monday · 26 October
Where Winds Meet
第一章·神仙不渡

契丹灭后晋之战

Khitan conquest of Later Jin 944–947

The founder of the Late Jin, Shi Jingtang (石敬瑭 Shí Jìngtáng) is the one who gave the Sixteen Prefectures to the Khitan emperor (耶律德光 Yēlǜ Déguāng), leaving the Central Plains completely exposed. Shi Jingtang’s successor Shi Chonggui (石重贵 Shí Chóngguì) tried to assert the Late Jin’s independence from the Liao/Khitan and stopped paying hommage to their Emperor. This led to a vengeful and massive Southern invasion. In 944, the Khitan forces invaded Beizhou (Qinghe), captured the region and heavily plundered it, slaughtering the population and confiscating resources. They will eventually invade Kaifeng in 947.

Behind: 地理·北盟遗址靳春娘
Update Monday · 26 October
客製死亡
客製死亡
麟左馬
320 pages
心法二 深掘客戶「需要的東西不必你推，想要的東西才輪到你賣」
15%

I just read 13 pages of the second part, and I feel exhausted… this book is really hard to read! The beginning of the chapter sets the character we are going to talk about as well as the economical context that forged her. I still haven’t finished this introductory part, which feels quite long (probably because it takes me so long to read each page…).

I initially wanted to progress a bit more in the second chapter, but I might not have the courage.

Exploration Monday · 26 October
Where Winds Meet
清河 · 武林录
探游: 清河·五音传秘

Unlocking a martial art

Place: 清河 › 百草野
Quest: 清河·五音传秘
People met: 齐声齐声qí shēngQi Sheng百草野The man who collects oddities and let us unlock stats and techniques.I talked to Qi Sheng and chose the 积矩九剑 (jī jǔ jiǔ jiàn) this time, because I chose the dual blades the first time I played. I find that the moves of 积矩九剑 look really cool, and I like the idea of mathematical precision and impeccable execution. Given that I’m focusing on completing everything, I already collected all the necessary oddities to complete the first instrument. They only gave a small boost in all stats. Qi Sheng
A person with long hair stands with arms crossed under a rustic shelter at sunset, overlooking a misty landscape.
19%

I talked to Qi Sheng and chose the 积矩九剑 (jī jǔ jiǔ jiàn) this time, because I chose the dual blades the first time I played. I find that the moves of 积矩九剑 look really cool, and I like the idea of mathematical precision and impeccable execution.

Given that I’m focusing on completing everything, I already collected all the necessary oddities to complete the first instrument. They only gave a small boost in all stats.

Exploration Monday · 26 October
Where Winds Meet
清河 · 武林录

Unlocking the 白草野 map!

Place: 清河 › 百草野
People met: 天涯客天涯客tiān yá kèFaraway Wanderer百草野The person who compiles notes on geography and unlocks the mapI met the wanderer for the 白草野 region. So he’s the one who wrote the notes on geography, like the one for the Northern Alliance ruins. I’m going to explore all the area of Bai Cao Ye before moving on to the next sub-region. This means, I can continue the main story a bit, but I believe it’s just a scene at the General’s shrine and then we move on to the next sub-region already. Faraway Wanderer
A traveler wearing a traditional bamboo hat and carrying a large wooden frame on their back sits on a stump next to a small owl with a matching hat.
19%

I met the wanderer for the 白草野 region. So he’s the one who wrote the notes on geography, like the one for the Northern Alliance ruins.

I’m going to explore all the area of Bai Cao Ye before moving on to the next sub-region. This means, I can continue the main story a bit, but I believe it’s just a scene at the General’s shrine and then we move on to the next sub-region already.

Card Monday · 26 October
Where Winds Meet
博物志: 地理·北盟遗址

地理·北盟遗址

We learn about the Yan Northern Alliance (燕北盟). When the Khitans invaded the Central Plains (中国), the Yan Northern Alliance retreated to defend Qinghe, resisting the Khitans invasion for several months using this stronghold. The fortress fell its defenders died, but the remaining soldiers ultimately forced the Khitan invaders to withdraw from the Central Plains through guerrilla warfare.

I’ll have to go to this stronghold, I think it must be the one taken over by the 龙虎寨 who chased Jin Chunniang and her son.

The text · 4 words
作者:天涯客 自入清河最东处，可见残垣遗址，连亘数里。盖此处为前朝，燕北盟故地。昔年契丹侵中国，燕北盟退守清河，据此坚城曾力抗契丹铁骑数月，憾终是城破人亡，与契丹两败俱伤，后游战清河，终逼契丹贼子，退离中原。 旧传，燕北盟将士曾发燕云誓：山河寸土，誓死不易。今视荒城野地，何其慨然。 这条资料暂未收录静态正文。 一本天涯客撰写的地理志。
WordReadingDefinition
残垣cán yuán(literary) ruined walls; ruins
铁骑tiě qíarmored horses
两败俱伤liǎng bài jù shāngboth sides suffer (idiom)
慨然kǎi ránwith deep feeling; sadly; mournfully
Characters Monday · 26 October
多情剑客无情剑
多情剑客无情剑
古龍
852 pages
第二部32. 知己仇敌

多情剑客无情剑

  • 萧王孙 xiāo wáng sūn Xiao Wangsun
    • 帝王谷主 dì wáng gǔ zhǔ Valley Master of the Valley of Emperors
    The Lord of the Valley of Emperors, a legendary martial arts master mentioned as having fought 蓝大先生 atop Mount Tai using only a belt against a hundred-pound iron mallet. (From Gu Long’s novel 情人箭).
  • 蓝 lán Lan
    • 蓝大先生 lán dà xiān sheng Eldest Master Lan
    A legendary martial artist who fought Xiao Wangsun atop Mount Tai wielding a hundred-pound iron mallet. (from Gu Long’s novel 情人箭).
  • 阴姬 yīn jī Yin Ji
    • 水母 shuǐ mǔ Jellyfish
    A legendary martial artist and master of the Shenshui Palace, formerly hailed as the supreme fighter under heaven, who fought Chu Liuxiang. (from Gu Long’s Chu Liuxiang series)
  • 楚留香 chǔ liú xiāng Chu Liuxiang
    • 侠盗 xiá dào the Chivalrous Thief
    A renowned hero and chivalrous thief mentioned by the braided girl for bravely infiltrating the Shenshui Palace and confronting Yin Ji. (from Gu Long’s Chu Liuxiang series)
Card Sunday · 25 October
Where Winds Meet
第一章·神仙不渡
装备: 一杆旧枪

一杆旧枪

I never properly read this when I first played… So this spear is really special then, I received it from Jiang Wulang, he made adjustments to it for me, and it was also the witness and symbol of our relationship and complicity. It would be cool to continue using this spear no matter what!

The text · 2 words
江无浪路过铁匠铺时，假装顺手买来的枪。冷心冷面的人暗中为你做了改良。 每次瞒着寒姨练习，逐渐成为亲子间的秘密时光。思绪走远时，他也会想，若你将来知道江湖的风风雨雨，会不会怨他在此刻没有阻止你？ 看上去只是普通的枪，但表面被重新打磨过，重量长短也做过调整。
WordReadingDefinition
风风雨雨fēng fēng yǔ yǔtrials and tribulations
打磨dǎ móto polish; to burnish; to shine
Vocabulary Sunday · 25 October
Genshin Impact
Version: 7.1 · 往冥府的安魂歌
WordReadingDefinition
冕 miǎn crown in the form of a horizontal board with hanging decorations

I think I never saw this character before… It’s in 白冕宫 name (Pale Crown Palace), though it’s a bit more specific than crown.

Exploration Sunday · 25 October
Genshin Impact
Version: 7.1 · 往冥府的安魂歌
7.0
Region 白桦雪葬地 (bái huà xuě zàng de)
World Quest 一边是宫殿一边是陵阙 (yī biān shì gōng diàn yī biān shì líng què)
A majestic, ice-covered castle floats amidst dramatic clouds and glowing light in this scene from Genshin Impact.
33%

I started the last part of the Huimou WQ series and finished the first chapter. This one was quite hard to understand, I’ll read the wiki I think… I was confused by several lore dialogues though in the end I more or less understood I think, but I’m sure I’m missing some things…

And then I continued in chapter 2 a bit, but we got shooting mode again… As much as I love this mode for combat, I don’t like it that much in world quests, I really prefer just moving around with my characters, and they also did not made combat particularly adapted for shooting mode.

Oh and the first scene in the train… the dialogues went so fast, there was no way to pause. I can play on auto, but that was much faster than auto, I just couldn’t read (like I could read 1/3 of each sentence before it switched to the next).

Update Sunday · 25 October
공부해야 산다
공부해야 산다
김찬수
200 pages
81%

Only two episodes left and it’s quite suspenseful too. I might finish it later today, but there are a lot of other things I want to do as well, so I’m not sure I’ll have time.

Post Sunday · 25 October
海平面的風
潘成（皮卡潘), 蠟筆小心點
ORT Music 作曲 袁小雨/郭宇傑 作词 墨同學
海平面的風
潘成（皮卡潘), 蠟筆小心點
ORT Music作曲 袁小雨/郭宇傑作词 墨同學
你對我的關心已經全部封鎖
像是擱淺的船在迷霧裡掙脫
WordReadingDefinition
搁浅gē qiǎnto be stranded (of ship)

I find words like 搁浅 so specific, when I learnt it I thought I’ll never come across it again, but it’s actually not that uncommon, especially in song lyrics or poetic texts.
搁 gē means “put, place, lay”, but also means “put aside, leave over” like in 耽擱 (dāngē: delay).

Even if I sometimes think words won’t be that useful, every word is in fact worth learning.

Characters Sunday · 25 October
多情剑客无情剑
多情剑客无情剑
古龍
852 pages
第二部31. 小李飞刀

多情剑客无情剑

  • 郭嵩阳 guō sōng yáng Guo Songyang
    • 嵩阳铁剑 sōng yáng tiě jiàn Songyang Iron Sword
    • 黑衣人 hēi yī rén the man in black
    The renowned swordsman who wields the Songyang Iron Sword (4th) and the man dressed in black who was accompanying the Money Clan and Long Xiǎoyun. He comments on the lack of precision of Ximen Rou and Zhuge Gang but sees Li Xunhuan as a worthy opponent.
    Also in 29. 长眼睛的鞭子 第二部 › 29. 长眼睛的鞭子 嵩阳铁剑sōng yáng tiě jiànSongyang Iron SwordThe user of the Songyang Iron Sword (嵩阳铁剑), ranked 4th in Bai Xiaosheng’s Weapon Manual.
Post Saturday · 24 October
Where Winds Meet

My first playthrough of the WWM’s first chapter didn’t make sense at all, I must have understood less than half of what was happening, and I don’t mention the lore and historical background…

Given that the game is set in a historical period and place, I will read about the a bit before continuing playing, and look up references any time I find some.

Card Saturday · 24 October
Where Winds Meet
江湖故人: 靳春娘

靳春娘

I befriended Jin Chunniang and her child, I never read her backstory before, but it’s very interesting. She’s a refugee from the South of Yan (燕), so just South of the Yanyun sixteen prefectures. In 936, Shi Jingtang gave those prefectures to the Khitan Liao, so the open plains south of them where Chunniang lived with her family had no mountain passes to shield them. Liao armies invaded repeatedly, plundering villages, which is probably how her husband died. She fled South to Qinghe with her son, found refuge in the ruins of the Northern Alliance (北盟遗址) but was driven out by bandits from 龙虎寨. (I think it’s a fort or something in game, I’ll have to go there and take revenge).

The text · 3 words
燕南流民，契丹入寇后丈夫惨死，带着儿子辗转流落至清河，在北盟遗址的废墟落脚，又被龙虎寨匪徒赶出。
WordReadingDefinition
契丹qì dānQidan or Khitan.
入寇rù kòuto invade; to make a predatory incursion
辗转zhǎn zhuǎnto toss about in bed