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Characters Friday · 16 October
多情剑客无情剑
多情剑客无情剑
古龍
852 pages
第一部23. 误入罗网

多情剑客无情剑

  • 轰天雷 hōng tiān léi Hong Tianlei
    One of Plum Blossom Bandit’s victim.
  • 胡云翼 hú yún yì Hu Yunyi
    Name of Xin Shu in the secular world. We learn that he was an imperial censor when Li Xunhuan was still serving in the government. Hu Yunyi wrote a memorial impeaching Li Xunhuan by accusing him of fraternising with outlaws. This solidified Li Xunhuan’s resolve to leave everything behind.
    Also in 21. 以友为荣 第一部 › 21. 以友为荣 心树xīn shùXinshuFifth among the senior Shaolin monk who is held hostage by Li Xunhuan inside the meditation room.
Birthday Mail Friday · 16 October
Genshin Impact
Version: 7.1 · 往冥府的安魂歌
Xinyan
前几天我在遗迹埠排练时，突然下起了好大一阵雨。雨点接连不断地砸在屋檐、石板和灯笼上，听着还挺像一段即兴的鼓点。我抱着琴，跟着这来自天上的节奏弹奏了起来，没想到越弹越起劲，手指都快冒烟了！ 这事给了我一个启发。既然风声、雨声能成为音乐，那么大雪与冰雹不是也能作为灵感来源？我的摇滚之火，会在冰天雪地中燃烧出怎样精彩的旋律呢？想就迫不及待！ …尽管真的很想这么冲动一回，但去至冬和去沉玉谷可不一样，还得从长计议。 总之，给你带了点当地特产，往后也为我加油吧！
WordReadingDefinition
屋檐 wū yán eaves
即兴 jí xìng improvisation (in the arts)
鼓点 gǔ diǎn drum beat; rhythm
冒烟 mào yān to discharge smoke; to fume with rage
冰雹 bīng báo hail; hailstone
迫不及待 pò bù jí dài (idiom) unable to hold oneself back; eager to do sth without delay
从长计议 cóng cháng jì yì (idiom) to take one's time making a decision; to consider at length

I feel like the snow and the overall atmosphere of Snezhnaya would give a completely different vibe to Xinyan’s rock. She’s herself contrasting the fire of her music (我的摇滚之火) with the world of ice and snow (冰天雪地) that is Snezhnaya, wondering what new melodies it will ignite (燃烧).

Activity Thursday · 15 October
Genshin Impact
Version: 7.1 · 往冥府的安魂歌
Anecdotes
Columbina

I finished the second chapter of the Selenic Chronicles. Once a month I remember that I still haven’t finished those… I really like how many diverse activities there are, I just always forget to do them.

So now I finally have the card name :star:

哥伦比娅：伴随着咀嚼时的脆响，鲜甜的滋味像沁凉白浪一般层层翻涌而来
WordReadingDefinition
咀嚼jǔ juéto chew
沁qìnto seep
翻涌fān yǒngto roll over and over (of billows or clouds)

沁凉 qìnliáng must describe something refreshing like “soakingly” cool.

Update Thursday · 15 October
흉담
흉담
전건우
304 pages
저주의 비밀
63%

I think that overall, I like this one less than the last two books I read by this author.

Series Update Thursday · 15 October
不眠日
不眠日
劉璋牧, 王蘇甫江
Mandarin, Cantonese

The synopsis sounded very promising, and I saw that the series had good reviews, but the first episode was a big disappointment… I’m not a big fan of the main actor, but it’s mostly the tone of the series that made me think it’s not for me. The first episode was mostly to establish the setting though, so I’ll try the second episode too.

Birthday Mail Thursday · 15 October
Genshin Impact
Version: 7.1 · 往冥府的安魂歌
Ororon

因为秋收繁忙，前些时日就给勒拉留了自由创作课题。

他去悠悠度假村考察了(我觉得是玩了)三个星期回来，说是利用术法原理制作了原创互动解谜游戏装置，请我一同体验。

It took me a second to remember who 勒拉 is. It feels so long ago…
Also, I’m not quite sure I understand what a 原创互动解谜游戏装置 is supposed to be? Maybe it’s a reference to something I’m supposed to know from Natlan (a device?) but Natlan was when I first switched the game to Chinese and there’s a lot of things I didn’t understand and didn’t even try to.

Activity Thursday · 15 October
Genshin Impact
Version: 7.1 · 往冥府的安魂歌
Anecdotes
Vodyanitsa

I continued Vodyanitsa’s anecdote, it was so so great. I feel like it helps us understand her better, even more so than her apparitions in the AQ. I still haven’t read her story nor played her SQ, but I really love her personality and her dedication to her fans. I found this anecdote chapter quite moving too.

Some vocab I had to look up:

沃雅妮莎：我记得，有一个愚人众的士兵很喜欢唱歌，但她的手头十分拮据，所以就放弃了唱歌这条路。Vodyanitsa Anecdote
WordReadingDefinition
手头shǒu tóuon hand; at hand; one's financial situation
拮据jié jūhard pressed for money; in financial straits
沃雅妮莎：这就是我的观众们。他们聆听我的歌声，然后在各自的世界里起舞，在他们寄来的信里，我听见他们有的斗志昂扬，有的黯然离场…Vodyanitsa Anecdote
WordReadingDefinition
斗志昂扬dòu zhì áng yánghaving high fighting spirit

I like how much value she’s giving to the lives of her audience, the same way they value her singing.

Update Thursday · 15 October
一次元の挿し木
一次元の挿し木
松下龍之介
384 pages
第二章
18%

Started chapter 2, and yes I think it’s going to be a not for me kind of book… The direction it’s taking is not really what I was expecting when buying the book. It reads easily though and is entertaining, so I’ll continue, but I probably should not have picked this one.

Characters Thursday · 15 October
一次元の挿し木
一次元の挿し木
松下龍之介
384 pages
第二章

一次元の挿し木

  • 糸原和幸 いとはら かずゆき Itohara Kazuyuki
    A researcher working on the second floor of the same research building as Haruka and whose laboratory specialises in radiocarbon dating.
  • 小野寺洋一 おのでらよういち Onodera Yoichi
    Freelance journalist who confronts Nanase Kyoichiro about the financial situation of 日江製薬 and a possible takeover by Chinese firm 新明阿, then evokes the relation of his father with a cult leader.
  • 七瀬弓彦 ななせゆみひこ Nanase Yumihiko
    The deceased father of Kyoichi and former chairman of 日江製薬, who had close ties with the cult leader Manabe Sojiro.
  • 真鍋宗次郎 まなべそうじろう Manabe Sojiro
    The founder and cult leader of the religious organisation 樹木の会, who was an intimate associate of the late Nanase Yumihiko.
  • 黛良子 まゆずみ りょうこ Mayuzumi Ryoko
    Police detective investigating the death of Ishimizaki Akihiko,
  • 平間孝之 ひらま たかゆき Hirama Takayuki
    Journalist for the 東邦ジャーナル
  • 古川 ふるかわ Furukawa
    Haruka’s psychologist
  • 唯 ゆい Yui
    Ishimizaki Akihiko’s niece
Characters Thursday · 15 October
同名偵探事務所
同名偵探事務所
王少杰
384 pages
聽海的聲音

同名偵探事務所

  • 李裕仁 lǐ yù rén Lee Yu-jen
    A colleague of Chen Ching-ching and manager in their company's M&A department.
  • 李之萍 lǐ zhī píng Lee Chih-ping
    Chen Ching-ching's mother.
  • 鄭慈峰 zhèng cí fēng Cheng Tzu-feng
    Chung-fan’s father.
Update Thursday · 15 October
多情剑客无情剑
多情剑客无情剑
古龍
852 pages
第一部22. 梅花又现
25%

I’m just 1/4 into the novel, that’s crazy. So many things have happened already!
This chapter was also very suspenseful, but how did A Fei learnt to imitate Plum Blossom Bandit’s signature strike so quick?

Characters Thursday · 15 October
多情剑客无情剑
多情剑客无情剑
古龍
852 pages
第一部22. 梅花又现

多情剑客无情剑

  • 张胜奇 zhāng shèng qí Zhang Shengqi
    • 张大善人 zhāng dà shàn rén Zhang the Great Philanthropist
    • 张员外 zhāng yuán wài Squire Zhang
    A former bandit of the 绿林 who formally retired of his outlaw life after age fifty to pose as a wealthy philanthropist openly doing good things for the community while secretly continuing illicit deeds.
  • 萧静 xiāo jìng Xiao Jing
    • 南阳大侠 nán yáng dà xiá Hero of Nanyang
    • Shaolin Sect / Shaolin Monastery Organisation 少林shào línShaolin Sect / Shaolin MonasteryA Buddhist monastery and premier orthodox martial arts sect in wuxia fiction. Qin Xiaoyi's eldest son is the sole lay disciple (俗家弟子) of the current Shaolin abbot/head (少林馆座), granting him immense prestige in the martial arts world.
    A secular disciple of the Shaolin Sect, known as the 'Hero of Nanyang'.
  • 一茵 yī yīn Yiyin
    • Shaolin Sect / Shaolin Monastery Organisation 少林shào línShaolin Sect / Shaolin MonasteryA Buddhist monastery and premier orthodox martial arts sect in wuxia fiction. Qin Xiaoyi's eldest son is the sole lay disciple (俗家弟子) of the current Shaolin abbot/head (少林馆座), granting him immense prestige in the martial arts world.
    A disciple under Xinmei, currently on duty at the Bodhi Courtyard (菩提院).
  • 一尘 yī chén Yichen
    • Shaolin Sect / Shaolin Monastery Organisation 少林shào línShaolin Sect / Shaolin MonasteryA Buddhist monastery and premier orthodox martial arts sect in wuxia fiction. Qin Xiaoyi's eldest son is the sole lay disciple (俗家弟子) of the current Shaolin abbot/head (少林馆座), granting him immense prestige in the martial arts world.
    A disciple under Xinmei, currently on duty at the Bodhi Courtyard (菩提院).
  • 申 shēn Shen
    • 申老三 shēn lǎo sān Shen the Third
    A wealthy proprietor who owns a shop (all sharing the name 申记) in each of the main streets of the town, each being the most prosperous business of the street.
Post Thursday · 15 October

Ohhh, I completely forgot I had “horse” as the main entry for my 2026 bingo challenge! October already and I haven’t seen a single horse in any of the book I read… but then I realised that of course there are horses in 多情剑客无情剑! I completely missed that.

Oh well, I don’t think I’m going to continue the bingo challenge anyway. I was thinking of changing it to a collection of books, films and music in novels. I’ve been having this idea for some time now, but still haven’t gotten around to doing it. And in the meanwhile, I’m seeing tons of references to music and movies in the novels I’m reading. I thought it would make sense to start in 2027 to make it a yearly thing, but maybe it actually makes more sense to make it a lifetime collection?

I think I’ll keep the animal of the year a playful thing to keep in mind during the year. Next year is going to be goat… it feels even harder than the horse.

Exploration Wednesday · 14 October
Genshin Impact
Version: 7.1 · 往冥府的安魂歌
7.0
Region 焰羽谷 (yàn yǔ gǔ)
World Quest 在生命的寓所 (zài shēng mìng de yù suǒ)
Current chapter: 园丁伫立
A picturesque village with vibrant autumn-colored trees and rustic buildings sits in the foreground with a grand stone palace visible in the misty mountains beyond.

I continued the world quest a bit, I was surprised we stayed in shooter mode even after returning to the surface. I don’t really understand why since there were not a lot of ennemies on the path, so it didn’t bring much.
I like the story though!

Update Wednesday · 14 October
흉담
흉담
전건우
304 pages
해치러 오는 자
50%

Halfway through!
This die or pass the curse on thing reminds me of It Follows directed by David Robert Mitchell. I really loved the idea of the film, I found it very unsettling.

Update Wednesday · 14 October
一次元の挿し木
一次元の挿し木
松下龍之介
384 pages
第一章
11%

Finished chapter 1 which was quite short.

The beginning was great and I like the plot, it sounds very intriguing. But I also feel like this is not a novel I’m going to really love. But it’s too early of course, just my initial feeling.

Post Wednesday · 14 October
一次元の挿し木
一次元の挿し木
松下龍之介
384 pages

For my next Japanese novel I chose 一次元の挿し木 by 松下龍之介 which won the 文庫グランプリ of the 23rd edition of the 『このミステリーがすごい!』大賞 which is a prize for newcomers. It looks like this book was very successful and quite hyped.

I saw the Korean translation in the bookshop, so I decided to give it a try!

Characters Wednesday · 14 October
一次元の挿し木
一次元の挿し木
松下龍之介
384 pages
第一章
  • 七瀬悠 ななせ はるか Nanase Haruka
    Nanase Kyoichi‘s stepson.
  • 紫陽 しはる Shiharu
    Nanase Kyoichi’s daughter and Haruka stepsister who disappeared four years ago.
  • 真理 まり Mari
    Ishimizaki Akihiko‘s daughter
  • 新橋郁恵 しんばしいくえ Shimbashi Ikue
    Haruka’s junior at the laboratory, in her second year of a master's degree.