why I focused so much on Zhu Zhuqing,
it all started with my reading of the original novel.
Ten years ago, I first read *Douluo Continent* and was completely captivated. The protagonist's overpowered, innocent nature was utterly irresistible
. I picked it up again intermittently, read countless fanfics, and eventually became indifferent to the overpowered protagonist archetype. It wasn't
until I started writing my own fanfic that I forced myself to reread the original novel several times before putting pen to paper.
Here's the key point.
After reading the original characters so many times, I've developed some understandings.
My personal view on Zhu Zhuqing is:
I pity her misfortune and am angered by her lack of resistance.
Born into a cruel family, she was betrothed to a scumbag from a young age, who turned out to be not only a scumbag but also a coward.
Faced with family infighting, Zhu Zhuqing, three years younger than Dai Mubai, chose to fight against Zhu Zhuyun, while Dai Mubai chose to run away.
Thus began Zhu Zhuqing's long journey to find her husband.
Although the original novel doesn't mention that she searched for many years...
However, counting from when Dai Mubai was 12 and joined Shrek Academy, she searched for at least three years.
How old was Zhu Zhuqing then?
Nine years old.
A little girl who hadn't even reached the second ring.
For a scumbag, she endured Zhu Zhuyun's pursuit, traveling all over the country for three years, just to find a scumbag.
How much suffering did she endure during this time?
The original novel doesn't mention it; you can imagine it yourself.
And Dai Mubai?
He indulged in debauchery, acted arrogantly, and even the manager of the Rose Hotel had to respectfully call him Young Master Dai. He himself was so domineering that he would start a fight at the slightest disagreement.
And when Zhu Zhuqing joined Shrek Academy at the age of 12, Dai Mubai didn't even recognize her; he only felt that this girl's martial soul was a good match for his.
Ask yourself honestly, was it worth it?
Another question:
Did Zhu Zhuqing really like Dai Mubai?
Without a doubt, no.
Don't use the requirement of mutual understanding for martial soul fusion skills to prove that she liked Dai Mubai.
The Love-Sickness Heartbreak Red has already proven everything.
Zhu Zhuqing harbored deep resentment towards Dai Mubai, even witnessing him embracing the twins in a hotel room.
Yet, in the end, for the sake of so-called "brotherly love," she chose to accept Dai Mubai, because the Shrek Seven Devils needed the Netherworld White Tiger as their ultimate weapon.
Later, she became a mere accessory, arguably the most tragic character in the original novel's main cast.
My view on this character is this:
She is a strong woman, accustomed to masking her true self with indifference, but beneath her strong exterior lies pitifulness and pathos. She is used to a life of passive acceptance, evoking both pity and anger at her lack of resistance.
Therefore, I wanted to portray her as more fleshed-out, to bring her to life, and to allow her to truly fight for her destiny.
At least she should live with more dignity, instead of succumbing to her fate and the bizarre brotherly bond of the Shrek Seven Devils.
One more thing.
Although I'm writing fanfiction, it's not the kind of mindless wish-fulfillment story, nor is it simply about building a harem for the sake of building a harem.
I'll add my own understanding of the characters, or even entirely new character settings.
For example, regarding Yu Luomian, who is lax in his cultivation, he might not make any progress for over ten or twenty years to avoid competing with Yu Yuanzhen. However, out of love for Yu Xiaowei, he would absorb a spirit ring that isn't a perfect match, even a high-age spirit ring that only titled Douluo would typically choose, all for the sake of that potential spirit bone.
Take Yu Yuanzhen, for instance. He couldn't bear to expel his useless son, Yu Xiaogang, from the family, keeping him for many years until Yu Xiaogang exposed the family's secrets, forcing him to leave under internal pressure, silently bearing the reputation of being rigid and harsh.
And Ning Rongrong, from a spoiled and unruly child in the original story, has been transformed into a child appropriate for her age, innocent and carefree. In her heart, Xiaowei is her everything.
Take Salas, for example. He's an archbishop who dedicates himself to the Spirit Hall. He'd even go so far as to forcibly take people to the Spirit Hall if it wanted to make it stronger, even at the cost of offending two of the three upper sects.
As for Zhu Zhuqing, in the current storyline, I want to emphasize her suffering.
In Silvers City, she resorted to theft to threaten Yu Xiaowei into providing her with food, but she only used words to threaten him, not force, even though he was disguised as an ordinary person – that was her bottom line.
In Soto City, she was captured by Bu Le, but when faced with Yu Xiaowei who saved her, all she cared about was retrieving her soul tool, because her personal belongings were with him – that was her last shred of dignity. At
the Rose Hotel, faced with the severely injured Dai Mubai and the Yu Xiaowei who saved her life, she ultimately chose to succumb to fate – that's her tragedy.
Some readers commented, "Isn't that just being pathetic? "
The words are harsh, but in simple terms, that's the truth.
Some people said they didn't want to continue reading after seeing Zhu Zhuqing choose to go find Dai Mubai.
I can't really say anything, but that's how the plot is set up right now.
Am I supposed to write a story where Yu Xiaowei, with his domineering aura, beats up Dai Mubai, and then Zhu Zhuqing, who has been looking for a fiancé for three years, falls for someone else?
Please, isn't this kind of universally loved, flower-adored protagonist a harem protagonist?
To those who say I'm building a harem, I really want to say this:
Did Yu Xiaowei flirt with Zhu Zhuqing?
Not only did he not, he was even deliberately trying to sow discord between her and Dai Mubai.
If you consider Yu Xiaowei saving someone as flirting, then I have nothing to say.
And why did I include the Silves City part?
It's a simple reason.
Without some build-up, am I supposed to have Yu Xiaowei directly try to sow discord between Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai right from the start?
Wouldn't that be abrupt?
Saying more would involve later plot developments, which I can't reveal in advance.
On a side note,
let's take Chapter 38 as an example.
Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai, you guys think it's a harem story; Zhu Zhuqing and the protagonist, you guys think it's a harem story.
Writing Douluo fanfiction is so hard…
So, I've decided to write it according to my own outline.
Anyway, it's not a harem, not a harem, not a harem. As for whether it's a single female lead, that depends on my mood.
Also, who says that in a single female lead story, the supporting characters can't be female? Does a single female lead story only consist of men and the female lead?
Thank you to all the readers who support me, follow my work, and give me monthly tickets, recommendation tickets, and rewards.
Special thanks to Liang Kai Bingdu, who patiently taught me step by step from the beginning of my outline writing. A true platonic relationship is the best.
.....................
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