#unseen immortal of three hundred years

[lush--lush]

"Ву Сінсюе, чому тобі так подобається Гірський Ринок Падаючого Цвіту?"

"Бо я народився там"

[mxtxfanatic]

Book of the Week: Unseen Immortal of Three Hundred Years

Author: Mu Su Li (木苏里)

Genre: cultivation, ancient setting, danmei

Rating: T

My Synopsis: Wu Xingxue thinks he's transmigrated into a xianxia novel. The rest of the world thinks the most fearsome demon in existence has broken out of the most impenetrable prison in existence. Xiao Fuxuan doesn't know how to break it to any party involved that their worldviews may be wrong...

My Review: I've never seen a couple in a cnovel as of yet that loves kissing at any opportunity than the main couple in this novel, and I am here for it! They remind me of a more overtly affectionate wangxian, and Wu Xingxue falls exactly into the niche of playful, teasing MCs who are good at bullshitting that Mu Si Li seems to have a lock on writing. The multiple intertwining stories as well as the mystery that the main characters must unravel as to what connects them all is very well put-together, and I loved the little breadcrumbs the author left early on that become vital to the plot near the end. The fan translation I read is also good in that it's understandable, but the dialogue choice is very... why do these character switch between Old English and American Southern dialect??? Why does this translator draaaaawl out random words that characters say??? Some translator quirks you simply have to close your eyes to in order to enjoy the actual novel, and the dialogue choices are this novel's "quirks."

Translation: complete fan translation but recently licensed by 7seas

[bellaroles]

Shangxian was such a memorable read. I went back to my drawing hobby again just for this.

[yuedianxia]

Wu Xingxue

[fateandloveentwined]

chapter 60, fragmented souls

Unseen Immortal of Three Hundred Years:

All he knows, his life began from innumerous fragmented souls, and in the body of different souls, he sees the incomplete happiness and despair of the mortals he embodied. Rootless, fountless, and without a place to belong. He was that itinerant cultivator, a-lifting a lamp and keeping vigil in the night. He were those few disciples held captive for the terrible heinousness in their destined fates, he were those spirits of the past, standing silent and still, among the depths of the great monumental headstones. In the chilling, timeless fog on the mount of war casualties, he remained for many, many years, until the masqueraded king of lings comes, breaking through the mist… Countless iterations of lives and deaths, countless threads of fate, displaced and disarrayed. He remembers every iteration, and every iteration he watches. In the end, he could recognise that person by the silhouette. But even so now as the man asks him, “which of those were you”, he still doesn’t know how to answer. Xiao Fuxuan looks at Wu Xingxue with his gaze downcast, and after a long while lifts his hand to touch the corner of his mouth. Who was I… I were those many people in the iterations. You walked countless times into that fog of the mountain of corpses. You killed me, saved me, beheld me; you passed by me, missing me. — chapter 60, fragmented souls

他只知道，他的这一生起始于无数碎灵，他在不同的躯壳里看着并不完整的悲喜。无根无源，也无处归依。那位提灯夜巡的散修是他，那几个被收留的命格极煞的弟子是他，那些巨大坟冢间静伫的��人也是他。

他在京观终年不散的冷雾里留驻了很多很多年，直到戴着面具的灵王破雾而来……

无数次生死，无数条乱线。

他每一次都记得，也每一次都看着。到最后，单凭背影都能将那人认出来。

可对方如今问一句“你是其中的谁”，他依然不知该如何作答。

萧复暄垂眸看着乌行雪，良久之抬手摸了一下他的唇角。

我是谁……

我是那其中的很多人。 你无数次走进京观那片雾里。

杀过我，救过我，凝望过我，又错过我。

——第60章 碎灵，不见上仙三百年 (bù jiàn shàng xiān sān bǎi nián)

I'm pretty sure there's an actual translation of this but I love it too much and of course I should work but am procrastinating too much so instead I find an excerpt to translate.

Previous translation is this, panguan also from mu su li. Might as well make this a series if I keep on procrastinating.

ETA: Okie so from novelupdates (link!) wonder novels seems to be doing a translation but they're not up to Ch60 yet; I think @beneaththebrim has the entire novel translated so if you're interested :D

[sneakingpasta]

11 NEW DANMEI LICENSES AND A FINALE!!!! WE FEAST IN 2025

[unforth]

Danmei and Baihe C Novels and Manhua Officially Licensed in English

Things are getting licensed fast enough that keeping a list like this up-to-date is basically impossible, but I saw someone asking in the tags so I figured I'd try. All titles are danmei unless otherwise noted (very little baihe is licensed so far). I've included Chinese titles, but sometimes publishers change the original titles so much that I can't track them down, apologies. I've hit the link limit on this post so I've had to remove NovelUpdate links, but they're still in the version of this post on Wordpress. Note that Taiwanese titles are not included on this list.

This is everything I know of as of December 11, 2024. There might be more. I tried. Resources used to compile this list: Danmeinews.com; this Carrd, last updated in March 2023; this other carrd last updated October 23 2024; list of danmei with official licenses on NovelUpdates; a similar list on Goodreads; danmei-specific list on Reddit that to my eye looks accurate for the larger publishers but isn't thorough for some of the smaller ones.

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Seven Seas:

The full list of danmei novels licensed by Seven Seas is here. The full list of danmei manhua licensed by Seven Seas is here.

These titles are in various stages of publication, from "entire series released" to "license literally announced less than a week ago." As far as I know, all Seven Seas titles are available world-wide, through major distributors and libraries, and in e-book and print formats. Seven Seas translation quality varies but the editing is general strong and the editions are sturdy and nice. Note that Seven Seas isn't without controversy, especially for treating their contractors poorly resulting in them unionizing. Some people have also been unhappy with the fidelity of their translations compared to the original Chinese (I've been satisfied personally but ymmv).

Mo Xiang Tong Xiu titles:

The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System (Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong)

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (Mo Dao Zu Shi)

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (Mo Dao Zu Shi) manhua

Heaven Official's Blessing (Tian Guan Ci Fu)

Meatbun Doesn't Eat Meat titles:

Case File Compendium (Bing an Ben)

The Husky and His White Cat Shizun (Erha he Ta de Bai Mao Shizun)

Remnants of Filth (Yuwu)

Meng Xi Shi titles:

Thousand Autumns (Qian Qiu)

Peerless (Wushuang)

priest titles:

Guardian (Zhenhun)

Silent Reading (Modu)

Stars of Chaos (Sha Po Lang)

Fei Tian Ye Xiang titles:

Astrolabe Rebirth (Xing Pan Chongqi), written under the pen name Arise Zhang

Dinghai Fusheng Records (Dinghai Fusheng Lu)

Dinghai Fusheng Records (Dinghai Fusheng Lu) manhua

Joyful Reunion (Xiang Jian Huan)

Legend of Exorcism (Tianbao Fuyao Lu)

Mu Su Li titles:

Copper Coins (Tong Qian Kan Shi)

The Unseen Immortal of Three Hundred Years (Bujian Shang Xian San Bai Nian)

Lv Ye Qian He titles:

The White Cat’s Divine Scratching Post (Shenmu Nao Bujin)

The Wife Comes First (Qi Wei Shang)

Other titles:

After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine (Canji Zhanshen Jia Wo Wei Qie Hou) by Liu Gou Hua

Ballad of Sword and Wine (Qiang Jin Jiu) by Tang Jiuqing

BAIHE: The Beauty’s Blade (Meiren Jian) by Feng Ren Zuo Zhu

The Disabled Tyrant’s Beloved Pet Fish (Canji Baojun de Zhangxin Yu Chong) by Xue Shan Fei Hu

I Ship My Rival x Me (Wo Kele Duijia x Wo de CP) manhua by PEPA

HET: Love Between Fairy and Devil (Cang Lan Jue) by Jiu Lu Fei Xiang

Mistakenly Saving the Villain (Lun Jiu Cuo Fanpai de Xiachang) by Feng Yu Nie

My Husband and I Sleep in a Coffin (Wo he Laogong Shui Guancai) by Wu Shui Bu Du

Run Wild (Saye) by Wu Zhe

There’s Something Wrong with the Chief (Du Zhu You Bing) by Yang Su

Thrice Married to Salted Fish (San Jia Xianyu) by Bi Ka Bi

The Villain’s White Halo (Fanpai Baihua Guanghuan) by Hao Da Yi Juan Wei Sheng Zhi

You’ve Got Mail: The Perils of Pigeon Post (Fei Ge Jiao You Xu Jin Shen) by Blackegg

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Rosmei:

Rosmei licenses are Singapore distribution rights only. There is a list of international partners organizing group orders here. I've personally placed my orders through Yiggybean, as discussed in reply to this ask. Most of these titles are only being released as print editions, tho titles that weren't originally on JJWXC (of which there are several here) WILL have e-book editions. My first book from Rosmei arrived, and I found the translation and editing to be very strong. I can't speak to how accurate it may be to the Chinese original, but it read smoothly and had very few errors. Overall, though they've made some mistakes, they've been communicative and responsive.

Huai Shang titles:

Breaking Through the Clouds (Po Yun)

Hunt for the Leviathan (Po Yun 2 Tun Hai)

Ning Yuan titles:

BAIHE: At the World's Mercy

BAIHE (I think???) The Creator's Grace

priest titles:

Coins of Destiny (Liu Yao)

The Defectives (Can Ci Pin)

Drowning Sorrows in Raging Fire (Lie Huo Jiao Chou)

Other titles:

Albert, from Earth (Aerbote Laizi Diqiu) by Jie Mo Jun

Art Thou Ailing? (Jun You Ji Fou) by Ru Shi Wo Wen)

The Bat (Bian Fu) by Feng Nong

Beyond the Snowstorm: A Windborne Love (Wo Cheng Feng Xue) by Qi Wu Gou

Don't You Like Me (Ni Shi Bushi Xihuan Wo) by Lv Tian Yi

The Earth is Online (Diqiu Shangxian) by Mo Chen Huan

Everyone Loves the Cannon Fodder (Chuan Cheng Wan Ren Mi de Paohui Zhuma) by Qie Zai Shan Yang

Global Examination (Qianqiu Gao Kao) by Mu Su Li

Gold Class Enforcers (Jinpai Dashou) by Pao Pao Xue Er

How to Survive as a Villain (Chuanyue Cheng Fanpai Yao Ruhe Huming) by Yi Yi Yi Yi

Kaleidoscope of Death (Siwang Wanhuatong) by Xi Zi Xu

The Killer of Killers (Sha Qing) by Wu Yi

Love at First Thaw (Wang Chun Bing) by Fu Li

Nan Chan by Tang Jiuqing

Obsessed (Ki Ma) by Wu Chen Shui

Tailhook (O Gou) by La Rive Gauche

Tales of Zijin Temple (Zijin Si Ye Hua) by Yun Tun Tun

Wine and Gun (Jiu yu Qiang) by Mengye Mengye

You're Too OP! (Nimen Nansheng Da Youxi Hao Lihai O~) by Yi Xiu Luo

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Peach Flower House:

Unfortunately, Peach Flower House has gone out of business. Peach Flower House titles were primarily for sale through their website and through some distributors, such as Amazon.com. Whether titles are e-book only, print only, or both varied by title. In my opinion, Peach Flower House has inconsistent inconsistent editing quality, but the books are very readable.

Da Feng Gua Guo:

The Imperial Uncle (Huang Shu)

Peach Blossom Debt (Taohua Zhai)

Other Titles:

Golden Terrace (Huang Jin Tai) by Cang Wu Bin Bai

In the Dark (Zai Hei An Zhong) by Jin Shisi Chai

Little Mushroom (Xiao Mogu) by Shisi

University of the Underworld (Yinjian Daxue) by Ziloi

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Via Lactea:

The partial list of danmei novels licensed by Via Lactea is here, but there are titles I've seen them selling that aren't on this list.

Via Lactea titles are primarily for sale through their website and through some distributors, such as Amazon.com. All titles are either print-only or e-book + print. Only a handful have actually been released, the rest are licensed and presumably in progress. I've now read three titles published by Via Lactea and while the translations are decent I could wish the editing was more consistent. Everything reads as if it would have been improved by one more thorough proof read.

Jing Shui Bian Titles:

Salad Days (Jing Jiu)

Silent Hearts (Mo Mai)

Qing Lv Titles:

Painting Against the Natural Grain (Huahua Ben Shi Ni Tian Er Xing) by Qing Lv

Raising Myself in 2006 by Qing Lv

Other Titles:

Apocalypse (Quanqiu Jinhua Hou Wo Zhan Zai Shiwulian Dingduan) by Qi Liu

As I've Told You Before by Sheng Jiang Tai Lang

Dawning (Liming Zhihou) by ICE

Embrace You Till the End of the game by Hu Yu La Jiao

Euthanasia (Anlesi) by Feng Su Jun

The Fall of Summer (Ting Shuo Ni Hen Nan Zhui) by Jue Chu

Falling (Luo Chi) by Yu Cheng

I Can't and I Won't (Zhen Bu Xing, Zhen Bu Ke) by Yan Gui Kang

Psycho (Feng Zi) by Xiao Yao Zi

Limerence (Wo Xichen Ni Nan Pengyou Henjiule) by Jiang Zi Bei

Lingering Game (Chanmian Youxi) by Tao Bai Bai

Lip and Sword (Chun Qiang) by Jin Shisi Chai

May I Touch Your Spirit? by Qing Mei Jiang

The Missing Piece (Maoheshenli) by Kun Yi Wei Lou

The Omega Who Wants His Baby Back by Yao Yao Yi Yan

Rose and Renaissance (Wo Zhi Xihuan Ni de Renshe [Yule Quan]) by Zhi Chu

Killing Show (Sha Lu Xiu) by Fox

Soul Vibration (Linghun Saodong) by Dr.solo

To Rule in a Turbulent World (Luan Shi Wei Wang) by Gu Xuerou (pen name of Fei Tian Ye Xiang)

A Tyrant's Cover-up Plan by A Ci Gu Niang

Was I a Scummy Bottom? by Cheng Zi Yu

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Aloha Comics:

A tiny, Hawaii-based press focusing on manhua. Titles are available through major retailers such as Amazon and Bookshop.org. I've purchased one of these titles - Nirvana in Fire - and was please with the quality despite a couple minor errors.

All these titles are manhua!

Day Off by Qing Cai

Heaven Official's Blessing Animation Manhua by Bilibili and Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (this is a manhua made based on the donghua, using donghua art)

Here U Are by DJUN

Link Click by Li Haoling and Haoliners (not technically danmei!)

Nirvana in Fire (Lang Ya Bang) by Hai Yan (not technically danmei!)

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Monogatari Novels:

Monogatari Novels is based in Spain. These titles can also be ordered from at least some major retailers. Note that there has been some controversy about Monogatari Novels. I'm personally not ordering these works until more information is available.

Due to a lawsuit between Monogatari Novels and BLoved Publishing, How to Survive as a Villain and The Legendary Master's Wife are currently on hold.

BAIHE: A Clear and Muddy Loss of Love (Jing Wei Qing Shang) by Please Don't Laugh

BAIHE: Female General and Eldest Princess (NuJiangjun he Zhang Gongzhu) by Please Don't Laugh

How to Survive as a Villain (Chuan Yue Cheng Fanpai Yao Ru He Huo Ming) manhua by Yi Yi Yi Yi

The Legendary Master's Wife (Chuanshuo Zhi Zhu de Furen) by Yin Ya

The Silent Concubine (Ya Nu) by Qiang Tang

BAIHE: Soulmate manhua by Wenzhi Lizi

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BLoved Publishing:

ngl I can't figure out exactly what is up with this, and there seems to be some controversy related to them and their relationship with Monogatari Novels. Their website is depressingly low on details. However, this list is for completeness, so here we are.

Due to a lawsuit between Monogatari Novels and BLoved Publishing, How to Survive as a Villain and The Legendary Master's Wife are currently on hold.

How to Survive as a Villain (Chuan Yue Cheng Fanpai Yao Ru He Huo Ming) manhua by Yi Yi Yi Yi

The Legendary Master's Wife (Chuanshuo Zhi Zhu de Furen) by Yin Ya

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Chaleuria:

As far as I can tell, Chaleuria has not updated their webpage since April 2023, so the current status of in-progress titles is unknown. All titles are digital and/or e-book, and I'm not sure how to purchase them as I haven't tried.

The Complete Guide to the Use and Care of a Personal Assistant (Zhuli Shiyong Zhinan) by Why Radiance

Deep in the Act (Ru Xi) by Tongzi

Fake Slackers (Wei Zhuang Xue Zha) by Mu Gua Huang (no longer available)

From Body to Love (Leng Yan E Nan: Xian Shenhou Ai) by Wan Wan Yi Xia

Interstellar Power Couple (Xingji Qiangli Lianyin) by Kun Cheng Xiongmao (no longer available)

Intoxicated Friends (Zui Qing Zhi Pengyou) by Ye Shu Ying

The Long Chase for the President's Spouse (Zongcai Zhui Fu Lu Manman) by Three Thousand Crow Language

No Money No Divorce (Mei Qian Lihun) by Shou Chu

Reborn into a Hamster for 233 Days (Chong Shengcheng Cangshu de 233 Tian) by Yi Shu

Records of the Dragon Follower (Cong Long Ji) by Yueren Ge

Urban Tales of Demons and Spirits (Dushi Yaogui Lu) by Qie Er

World Hopping: Avenge Our Love (Ni Wufa Yuliao de Fenshou, Wo Du Neng Gei Ni Song Shang) by Xiaomao Bu Ai Jiao (no longer available)

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Webnovel:

When I first made this list, I heard that Webnovel had a few titles but couldn't actually find them - but now I've found them, thanks to a list someone else put together. I'm including direct links to them, since I had so much trouble finding them at all.

Comrade: Almost a Cat-astrophic Love Story (Jintian ye Yao Nuli Dang Zhimao) by Demonic Fire (link)

My Boyfriend is a Dragon (Nanpiao Shi Tiaolong) by Chubby Strawberry Sauce (link)

The National Sweetheart Livestreamer is a Pro! (Quanmin Zhubo Shi Duiba) by Mo Shang Wang (link)

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Honorable Mentions:

There are a handful of titles I know of that are official translations of C Novels. These are not books with contextual queerness, but for folks with an interest in Chinese history and culture, they are worth checking out anyway, especially because understanding these stories can help understand the above books. Also, some have active shipping fandoms (for example, I've written for Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Daomu Biji). I've included two above under the entry for titles from Aloha Comics (Link Click and Nirvana in Fire) and here are a couple others I currently know of:

Dream of the Red Chamber (Hong Lou Meng) by Cao Xueqin, available in translation for free from Project Gutenberg

The Grave Robbers’ Chronicles (Daomu Biji) by Nanpai Sanshu (six volumes are available in English from Things Asian Press)

Journey to the West (Xiyou Ji) by Wu Cheng-en, in four volumes from University of Chicago Press

The Legend of the Condor Heroes (She Diao Yingxiong Chuan) by Jin Yong, in four volumes from St. Martin’s Press

Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguo Yanyi), attributed to Luo Guanzhong, available in translations for free from Archive.org

The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants (Zonglie Xiayi Chuan), attributed to Shi Yukun, available in translation for free from Archive.org

Water Margin (Shuihu Zhuan) by Shi Nai’an, from Tuttle Publishing

RESOURCE: List of Chinese speculative fiction in English translation

RESOURCE: More Chinese speculative fiction in English translation

I will add to the "Honorable Mentions" list if I find any other more mainstream titles with official translations.

-

Rumored Licenses:

Sometimes, I hear rumors about titles being licensed before the license is announced - and thus before we know which publisher has licensed them (assuming the rumor is even true). I thought I should note these somewhere. Titles I know of rumors about currently are:

A Certain Someone (Moumou) by Mu Su Li

Devil Venerable Also Wants to Know (Mozun Ye Xiang Zhidao) by Cyan Wings (a Spanish edition of this has been formally announced, which might account for the rumor)

The Fourteenth Year of Chenghua (Chenghua Shisi Nian) by Meng Xi Shi

Guide on How to Fail at Online Dating (Wanglian Fanche Zhinan) by Jiang Zi Bei

Immortal Koi is Going to Debut (Jinli Daxian Yao Chudao) by Mo Xi Ke

Mist (Bowu) by Wei Feng Ji Xu

-

A handful of other licenses are mentioned on the Carrd I linked at the beginning of this post; I have no idea the status of those titles and wasn't able to find information on them while putting together this post other than what was listed on that Carrd, so I've omitted them.

Now go forth, and buy some books!

[theyilinglaozus]

Big day for western danmei fans today! Seven Seas entertainment has announced the licensing of twelve new danmei translations coming soon! They are:

Mistakenly Saving the Villain, by Feng Yu Nie

Thrice Married to a Salted Fish, by Bi Ka Bi

My Husband and I Sleep in a Coffin, by Wu Shui Bu Du

The Unseen Immortal of Three Hundred Years, Mu Su Li

There's Something Wrong With The Chief: Du Zhu You Bing, by Yang Su

After the Disabled God of War Became my Concubine, by Liu Gou Hua

The Wife Comes First: Qi We Shang, by Lv Ye Qian He

The Villain's White Halo, by Hao Da Yi Juan Wei Sheng Zhi

The White Cat's Divine Scratching Post, by Lv Ye Qian He

Astrolabe Rebirth, by Arise Zhang, also known as Fei Tian Ye Xiang (非天夜翔)

The Disabled Tyrant’s Beloved Pet Fish: Canji Baojun De Zhangxin Yu Chong (Novel) Vol. 4 (Special Edition), by Xue Shan Fei Hu

Copper Coins: Tong Qian Kan Shi (Novel), by Mu Su Li

Check the official announcement for information on special editions, ebook editions and prices for the US!

[bamioayam]

Art Bucket List

Just thought I put it somewhere, the fandom and characters I want to draw at some point (not counting OCs)...

Last updated: 2 Jan 2023

Fake Demon Lord

Ghost Bridegroom

Former Sweetheart

Bai-gongzi

My Disciple Won’t Take Medicine

Awairo Emaki

Witch Hat Atelier

Shiwuyu (Dongbi, Sanxian, Yusheng, Longjing, Yanyan, Yangzhou...)

Have You Seen My Brother?

Immortal Life

Unseen Immortal of Three Hundred Years

Thunderbolt Fantasy

Living to Suffer

Don’t Pick Up Boyfriends From the Trash Bin

Hantao

The First Dragon Convention (I will never forget you babe)

Zhuolu

When a Fanfic Protagonist Transmigrated into the Original Novel

Want to Ascend? Then Fall In Love

[tentative-wanderer]

Attempting for the second time to read 不见上仙三百年 The Immortal Unseen for Three Hundred Years, a book by Musuli that ranked highly on the book site JJWXC. The plot is unfolding, but I’m not riveted because the characters’ personalities haven’t been particularly interesting so far. The two main characters have their own vibes—one is the brooding sort and one is casual—but the vibes come across as dull or muted. A sub-story that unfolded involved a character with a bumpy life journey, from a privileged childhood to utter destitution to cultivation to godhood to his downfall and path of demonic cultivation, underpinned by an attachment to the immortal who rescued him. This should be interesting, but it is still dull because I couldn’t feel a distinctive spark of personality. Everyone feels like they’re lightly-flavoured, washed-out puppets going through the motions, not people who could be real.

This must seem really harsh. Other readers seem to like the book. I’m really picky. To keep going, in addition to a decent writing style and good plot (or sometimes a plot that may not be objectively good but contains elements that hit the spot for me subjectively), I need to see really distinctive character personalities and clever humour (humour helps a lot). The latter two are lacking in The Immortal Unseen. For sure, not all the books I recommend do well in all aspects (eyeing some books with flaws as glaring as the sun), but they either hit enough targets or hit a few subjective targets to a satisfying degree. (So hard to be a writer, much kudos to authors for the monumental effort and galaxy-level brainpower.)

I may continue The Immortal Unseen because I’m starving; if I do, I hope it will make me eat my words.

[holloweddaughter]

main verse (any fantasy verse - ie: skyrim, dragon age, critical role)

growing up on the outskirts of the city, [redacted] and her family found themselves on a farm. filled with animals, trees, and crops, goods were fairly easy to come by. in the city, the alcantars sold their merchandise in the local merchant square. even in times of little, they often gave away money or food those less fortunate.

although, because of a large famine, crops became scarce and little of their livestock lived to make it to the market. with long overdue money owed, those who came to collect were far from affable. when the father, an ex-con, tallon, pleaded for more time, he was stricken by the butt of a sword. [redacted] older brother, arkady, attacked the aggressor before he was pried off and beaten for his transgressions.

in payment, the collectors took the livestock and demanded their remittance plus interest. each week, more and more will be taken until the entire farm is burned to the ground if they don’t get their money.

with the famine and working tooth and nail, it was only a matter of weeks until their mother, suri, grew ill and died from pneumonia. now, with their mother and wife gone—their home taken and burned, tallon is forced to work in the city, doing manual labor. in the beating sun, sweat dripping down his forehead and soaking his hair, tallon found himself building walls and fortresses for the aristocrats. losing hope with two starving children under his wing, tallon reconnected with an old friend from his past, both “charlatans”, jack of many trades, who spent their livelihood swindling folk of young and old.

throughout the years, the alcantars mastered the artistry of cons, tallon and his two “apprentices” in tow, each with a set of skills. tallon (selling things for much greater value/snake oil into immortality potion/tinkering master); raik (card tricks, disappearing acts, gambling (three-card monte); [redacted] (a master in forgery; finds herself in taverns, targeting drunkards out of their money, belongings and secrets). careful for wandering eyes, they were smart with their money and still gave charitably to those in need.

however, staying in one place for so long became a risk when the guards grew more suspicious of the family’s “trade”. when a forgery job was rushed, a guard went undercover as a client and discovered that the papers he had bought were forgeries. tallon was immediately charged and sent to prison. [redacted] blamed herself. she began to plan a rescue mission with elaborate schemes, however, arkady, being more level-headed, suggested they lay low.

without their “face”/salesman, business became limited. thankfully, tallon had planned for this and kept money on the side for them to escape. when arkady suggested they find a new town and start over, she denied and said she wouldn’t leave without their father. acknowledging the inherited stubbornness, the pair began to plan. schemes became more elaborate, searching for secrets and loopholes rather than gold. while snooping somewhere they weren’t supposed to, they witnessed an assassination of nobleman in an alleyway. the siblings tried to run, but others were waiting on the other side.

the assassin approached them, saying they recognized them from the marketplace. in exchange for their silence, their lives were given to the corvii. trained to be silent, quick and unseen, the pair learned fast what it took to be considered valuable. however, the corvii’s depths ran deeper with hundreds spread out across plains with no identification of the one in charge (besides the letter A).

facing many trials, the two were given new names, shayne and raik and were trained to be shadowed assassins. however, when a mission almost went awry, the guild decided to separate the pair in order to eliminate the weakness. when shayne woke up the next morning, her brother was gone.

years pass, shayne continued her training under the guild and perfected the art of death. After one of their own was arrested and awaited trial to be hung, the league had to act fast. shayne used this as an opportunity to find her father and suggested they free all of the prisoners as a distraction. everything was executed perfectly, but, when shayne reached the prison, her father was nowhere to be found. with the warden already dead, and guards on their tail, shayne had no other choice but to run. in a fury, she tracked down the man who had him arrested in the first place.

with a dagger to his throat, shayne demanded information about her father’s whereabouts. the man cowardly spilled everything in fear of his life, and revealed that count alistair lockwood approached him about her father’s whereabouts and seemed to take a personal interest in him. he offered the tax collector a generous amount for this information and that was all he knew. she didn’t suspect any dishonesty and no longer needed his assistance. knowing that he now knew she was searching for her father, he was left in the alley like the nobleman they witnessed before.

now, with a burning mission in mind, shayne returned to the guild and continues her journey to find her father in secret whilst still maintaining her vow to the corvii.

aliases: vhi, kindra tallon, the shrike

[lush--lush]

I am currently reading the novel "Unseen Immortal of Three Hundred Years". I plan to make art based on it because it is very cool

[mxtxfanatic]

This is the book, y’all lol

Finished one of the most casually romantic novels ever and now I’ve kinda lost the will to read other books lol

[bellaroles]

Shangxian has one of the best time-manipulation plotlines I've ever read. It's a very refreshing take for me. It's been ages since I read something this mind-blowing. It has some of Diana Wynne Jones' full-circle kinda plot to it that I hardly found anywhere else and also the execution is flawless. A bit of a slow start at first but with a little patience, the pay off at later chapters is so satisfying!

[specialability]

2022 Reading

So it seems that my total is ~41 books read, although it's difficult to count. Thirty-eight different titles, although the web novels are often 3-6 volumes worth each. Manga is even harder to pin down, Naruto alone is 72 volumes and there are a lot of manga I read and don't keep track of or are ongoing. I don't remember what I was doing in June, I must have been reading something. Links are to novelupdates for webnovels and some to the publisher if they might be slightly harder to find.

January

Dune by Frank Herbert (reread)

Children of Dune

Dune Messiah

February

Hikaru no Go by Yumi Hotta & Takeshi Obata (reread)

Cried at the end, as one does. Recommended for fans of sports/trading card/proxy battle fans but also fans of dramatic men who carry hand fans.

March

Bu Tian Gang by Meng Xi Shi (web novel, DNF)

Qiang Jin Jiu by Tang Jiuqing (web novel, on hold)

Unseen Immortal of Three Hundred Years (web novel, translation stalled)

Spring Trees and Sunset Clouds by Wei Liang (web novel, Exiled Rebels translation)

post I made about these

April

Female General and Eldest Princess by 请君莫笑 (web novel, melts translation)

post about this great sweeping yuri romance

May

Otherside Picnic Omnibus Vol. 1-3 by Iori Miyazawa

I had trouble falling asleep after reading these they were so freakin scary. In a very good way. The yuri is also excellent and falls within the category of 'fucked up people finding love in a fucked up world'

Scum Villain's Self-Saving System Vol. 1 & 2 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (Seven Seas trans.) post about it

Stray by 年终 (web novel, Kinky Translations)

Interesting unusual danmei in a more western fantasy setting. Post about it.

Monster by Naoki Urasawa (reread)

July

Tai Sui by Priest (E. Danglars trans.) If I had to pick one, this would be my book of the year. Post at chapter 66 and the end although I think it would take a full year of a university level course to pick this novel apart properly.

August

Smiley's People by John LeCarré

I read a bunch of LeCarré last year and had this one laying around that I hadn't gotten to.

Bleach by Kubo Tite (reread, yes all of it)

Jujutsu Kaisen by Gege Akutami (reread, only some volumes)

Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto (reread, all of it)

September

The Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson (reread)

The girl with the dragon tattoo

The girl who played with fire

The girl who kicked the hornet's nest

A Most Wanted Man by John LeCarré

October

all Pushkin Vertigo editions

Detective Kindaichi Mysteries by Seishi Yokomizo

The Honjin Murders

Death on Gokumon Island

The Village of Eight Graves

The Inugami Curse

The Decagon House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji

Probably one of the best mysteries I've ever read, and I didn't even realize that the author was the same as one of my favourite horror light novels, Another. (He is also the husband of Fuyumi Ono!) I think it depends on the person whether you will enjoy the ending or not, but I very much did. This and a number of the other murder mysteries I read after it are all by members of the Honkaku Mystery Writers of Japan club who were part of a new wave of "fair play" mysteries based on golden age classics. From there I transitioned into reading more classic mysteries that were referenced in these novels.

The Tokyo Zodiac Murders by Shōji Shimada

Murder in the Crooked House Shōji Shimada

The Master Key by Masako Togawa

The Lady Killer by Masako Togawa

November

Honeymoon to Nowhere by Akimitsu Takagi

The Tattoo Murder Case by Akimitsu Takagi

Death Among the Undead by Masahiro Imamura

Another modern mystery novel that stands out for it's original premise: a locked room murder mystery with the characters all trapped in a cabin in the woods in the middle of a zombie outbreak. Personally I think the romance could have been done without, and a female narrator would have been stronger, but overall very compelling.

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett Turns out the movie is very accurate to the novel.

The 8 Mansion Murders by Takemaru Akiko

Hollow Man by John Dickson Carr

One of the golden age mysteries repeatedly referenced by some of the newer mysteries and genuinely a bit scary at points.

December

Golden age detective stories ed. by Otto Penzler

Currently working on this short story collection. The intros to each story putting it in context are very interesting.

[fateandloveentwined]

chapter 84, wildfires

Unseen Immortal of Three Hundred Years (shangxian)

He looks at his frosted fingers. Through the translucence, the cool, white light evinces. He replies, “I am looking… I am looking at the blood it has stained.”

The spectre answers, “There is blood? It looks clean. Plainly so.”

He laughs again. His gaze centres on the depths of the eyelashes, and in the shadows no light passes through. He says, “It’s only that you cannot see it.”

The spectre asks, “Then only you can see it?”

“Yes.”

“How much?”

“… too much.”

To much, so much that it is hard to count. But even though it is hard to count, he remembers everything.

It shouldn’t be. His memory couldn’t be considered exceptional, and for many things, he takes a glance and lets them pass; they rarely get to his heart. Yet he remembers, clearly and patently, the mortals he killed with his sword. Every profile, every pair of eyes that closes, every time he feels the thrumming life weaken and quiet, slowly fade out and finally return to the eternal void — he remembers every instance with clarity.

The silence of death stands out from every silence in the world. It makes all clamour and vivacity come to a stop, it immures people in the endless fog, as if besides himself, there is no other men.

As such… in the depths of the stillness, he has never had a good night of rest.

It makes him think of the many moments of people dying.

But now, with thousands of souls crying wailing ceaseless above his head, he still slumbers into the confines of the silence that only death can feel.

That kind of overbearing desolation across his world. He laughs standing amidst.

He hears the spirits murmuring speculations, saying to him, “You seem to have black fog on your body.”

Wu Xingxue assesses himself and says, “I see it.”

It is black, smoke and fog apparitions encircling his fingers, arm, shoulder, and even his entire body. The black fog makes the spirits cower a little. They are half fearful, half disgusted, and again the scene descends into agitation. The entire enclosed space stirs up to an incessant rising sea of fury.

They ask, “What is that!?”

“What is that abomination?”

…

Wu Xingxue looks silently at the black air twining about his whole. After a long while he answers, “It’s the air of the evil.”

This is one of the distinct paradoxes in the world — the limpid, ethereal aura of the xian and the winding, convoluted strands of evil mo aura materialising on the same person — and to have it appear on the king of lings, it feels like the greatest irony.

And yet it is the most congruent thing of all.

Really, there is nothing more compatible…

he says in his heart.

Is there some devil that kills more than him on this earth. On what grounds… to have stained the same immeasurable volumes of blood, those mo’s would have been exterminated beyond repair. And yet regally he sits atop the nine ethers of the skies, anchored and firmly watching over humanity.

On what grounds… all because that Dao of the skies demands compassion and iniquity, demands blessings and calamities?

This isn’t fair.

— chapter 84, wildfires

original excerpt:

他看着自己手指上结了霜，透着冷冷的白，答道：“我在看……这上面沾有多少血。” 灵魄说：“有血么？明明很干净。” 他又笑起来，双眸落在眼睫深浓的阴影里，不透一点光。他说：“你们看不见而已。” 灵魄道：“那你就能看见？” “嗯。” “有多少？” “……太多了。” 太多了，多到难以计数。可即便难以计数，他却全都记得。 他明明算不上记性很好，明明很多事扫一眼就过，并不入心。唯独剑下杀过的人记得清清楚楚，每一张面孔，每一次阖眼，每一回感受那些蓬勃跳动的生命在他剑下慢慢微弱、安静，最后归于永久的死寂，他都记得清清楚楚。 死亡的静同世间任何一种安静都不一样，它会让所有喧闹都戛然而止，它会把人困在望不到边的云雾里，好像除了自己以外，再没有第二个人。 所以……他在安静��人的时候，从来都睡不好一场觉。 那会让他想起太多人死去的瞬间。 但如今，即便头顶有数千灵魄哭叫不休，他还是陷入了只有死亡才有的寂静里。 那种孤寂漫天席地，他笑着站在那里。 他听见灵魄们议论纷纷，同他说：“你身上好像有黑色的雾。” 乌行雪扫量着自己，道：“看到了。” 一些黑色的、烟雾似的东西正萦绕着他的手指、肩臂，甚至整个身体。那黑雾让灵魄们有些瑟缩，他们半是畏惧、半是厌恶，再次陷入了躁动里。整个封禁之地都被搅动得震荡不息。 他们问：“这是什么？！” “这是什么东西？” …… 乌行雪静静地看着那些黑气缠绕满身，良久之后答道：“邪魔气。” 那是世间独一无二的矛盾场景——缥缈澄澈的仙气和丝丝缕缕的邪魔气出现在同一个人身上……出现在灵王身上，就像一种莫大的讽刺。  可偏偏又再合适不过。 真的再合适不过了…… 他在心里说。 世上还有比他杀人更多的邪魔么……凭什么同样沾血无数，那些邪魔会被斩杀殆尽。而他却端坐于九霄的云层上，安安稳稳地俯瞰人间呢？ 凭什么……就凭那灵台天道要善要恶，要福要祸么？ 这不公平。 —— 第84章 山火

不见上仙三百年，木苏里

previous translations: he knelt amidst, and kissed the earth (panguan), and chapter 60, fragmented souls (shangxian)