Shen Jiu fans~~~
Babes, new svsss extras, uh? Upset? I know me too, I have a little theory that I *hope* makes it better and also hurts you, as it hurts me
(Take my hand we’re going on a journey here)
I have 2 questions to level with you today:
- why errors?
- why *these* 2 specific errors?
But first! I’ll preface this by saying that I was not planning on reading an unofficial translation instead waiting for something more finished, especially after hearing through the grapevine (bunch of tumblr posts) what *supposedly* happens in it.
However~ I saw a post today that made me think okey maybe there’s more to this than meets the eye
So I confess I’m not really interested in modern stuff so I did skip the first 5 extras straight to the last 2 (for now, I’ll get to it with an official translation, probably), kind of read it a bit fast too, so if there’s stuff I missed let me know
And also this theory is still a bit incomplete but I’ll edit this post if I have new ideas, this is just my gut reaction put into coherent words
Also also if the translation is incorrect or misses something from the original text do let me know
On to the theory:
First the entire passage that got folks mad, because since no one is showing it (at least I haven’t seen it) people are getting mad reading about what happens and decide to not read the extras and never get full context and *stay* mad without actually forming their own opinions on the work:
[For someone from the real world to enter the world of "Arrogance," they need a physical body.
Fortunately, the systems have their own pool of physical bodies. They often trade with those who hate the world and hate themselves, exchanging other paths for their souls in exchange for the right to use physical bodies throughout the entire timeline.]
I’m paraphrasing but basically first Xiang fei/airplane is chosen, gets a blank start, is deemed inadequate, then Shen yuan is chosen instead.
Please note that nothing out of the ordinary happened when airplane got his body.
Then this passage happens:
[ Unexpectedly, two devastating events occurred when contestant number two's soul crossed the world barrier.
One is that the time is wrong.
Shen Yuan was placed at the time when Luo Binghe was fourteen years old.
Second, the role is wrong.
Shen Yuan drew a card and got "Shen Qingqiu", who abuses Luo Binghe in every world.
—Two overlapping events, a hellish start.]
From extra 6 of the unedited, unofficial translation of @/lewdshizun on twitter
Another important bit of context, is that the world of cultivation of svsss and pidw itself revolves around binghe, we already knew that, but the system itself was created as a result of draft binghe (bingzu) wanting a better fate and happy ending even in a new world and as such the system is parts of his own soul (I’ll expand on it later)
Another passage I will highlight is this one:
Context, Airplane got a Magic Keyboard for his initial story that the system thought good but changed to cater to the market
[The most incredible thing is that, in reality, whatever the plane wrote shouldn't have affected Bing Ge. Because "Luo Binghe's" personal will cannot be manipulated!
But the problem is, other people can be manipulated!]
From extra 6 of the unedited, unofficial translation of @/lewdshizun on twitter
I don’t reference it but keep in mind lbh cannot be manipulated but characters can
Now, what does this mean? Or, what could this mean?
(I’m not god I can be wrong)
My theory is this:
The errors were caused by unexpected choices. Namely,
Shen Jiu decided to stay despite his hatred for his life and the world
And,
Bingzu saw that and decided that no this was his world and Shen Qingqiu didn’t belong in it
I think what happened is that Shen Jiu was offered the choice by the system to exchange his life exactly when the start of svsss happened when binghe was 14years old and declined
Since the characters have a choice then some time needs to have passed in their life for them to make that choice and then the system can use the body ‘throughout the whole timeline’
while we don’t know when he was offered I’m picking there because it makes sense for this idea (I’ll have to reread the beginning of svsss to see if anything in particular happens to prompt the system, though it doesn’t negate the rest of the theory)
That choice meant the system would be unable to change the timeline for Shen Qingqiu since he had declined to give up his body. There was no reason for the system to use him in the drawing pool and no consent to move through his life as it pleased
Now, it could point into the idea that Shen Jiu wasn’t supposed to have the choice in the first place but like tell me who hates the damn world and his damn life more than him? Why not give him the choice? And what’s with the error then?
Before all that, the system when airplane ‘drew his card’ said:
[Contestant number one drew a card and got "Shang Qinghua".
The luck was decent, so it was a good choice.]
I don’t know if the word ‘choice’ is in the original text but the first part ‘the luck was decent’ implies you don’t actually choose, (maybe it’s because he picks a card?)
Now why is it for one it’s luck the other it’s wrong
Again could be a turn of phrase, it could be his luck was so absolutely terrible that it’s elevated as a catastrophic system event but then again what’s the deal with the time then? If the card got acquired through normal means then what? and why put a normal if unfortunate event in the same place as an actual problem?
Idk you tell me I ain’t gonna think about it
So that’s the first error that set the time, an unexpected decision that impeded the system’s ability to move throughout the timeline with Shen Qingqiu’s body
What about the second then?
So if the first part is correct, Shen Yuan should not have been able to get Shen Qingqiu.
But he did.
And I think the fact that the role is the second error rather than the first (which to me seems counterintuitive to put it that way in the text?) seals the idea that Shen Jiu didn’t actually accept the deal.
Because it’s Shen Jiu’s decision that incited the other error.
[Second, the role is wrong.
Shen Yuan drew a card and got "Shen Qingqiu", who abuses Luo Binghe in every world.]
He does doesn’t he? :(
So tinfoil hat on for this one! But here’s a few things that struck me as related in a way:
[Luo Binghe lived for millions of years, eventually losing all desires and becoming utterly weary of his own existence.
His fate is beyond redemption. Even if the past were changed, it would only create a completely new world, but it wouldn't change his own existence on this timeline.
But he still wanted a different ending.
Although he could no longer see that ending. Although he didn't know what kind of ending he wanted.
But if he couldn't have a better ending, he wished he had never existed.
So he used his own body as a furnace and his own soul as fuel, and in the burning fire of his soul, he forged a group of spirits.
These spirits, carrying his last wishes, will help him find an opportunity to change his fate.]
From extra 6 of the unedited, unofficial translation of @/lewdshizun on twitter
Here, ‘his last wishes’ which are a better ending.
And if he can’t have that, to have never existed at all.
Bingzu firmly believes that Shen Qingqiu abuses him in every world. Which isn’t completely true since Shen Yuan stops whatever Shen Jiu was doing.
But Bingzu didn’t know that would happen all he would have known is that Shen Qingqiu refuses to surrender.
As unfortunate as it is, Shen Jiu was the one abusing him in all those worlds.
(Listen I’ll do evil meow meow apologia another day this is from bingzu’s perpective)
Another bit:
[System: But without Shen Qingqiu, Luo Binghe's story will end.
The system said that without Shen Qingqiu, what awaited Luo Binghe was utter loneliness and the end, and he would wish he had never existed when he died.]
[…]
[Should we ask Luo Binghe, or the world?
Of course the world won't answer.
The world simply stopped seeking another ending and gently continued on.]
From extra 7 of the unedited, unofficial translation of @/lewdshizun on twitter
Mmmh? He ‘would wish he had never existed when he died.’ Wasn’t he already doing that earlier when he created the system? So now that the source of his tourment refused to go away he’s supposed to take it lying down?
So uh what if bingzu’s soul, the system fragments, when it saw that Shen Jiu fucking refuses to die, refused to give up his life even though he was miserable in it and be someone maybe nicer?, tried booting Shen Qingqiu out of the world to kill himself and at the same time completely destroy what remained of the one he hated the most?
But it failed… obviously and he got what he wanted instead presumably since he’s gone? That’s what ‘the world won’t answer’ implies right?
That doesn’t bode well for what happened to my poor baby ah…
My point is, the main themes of scum villain (if I remember correctly) is to write your own story, to carve your own path and, while it does greatly pain me, it would make sense that the real villain is the one to technically refuse to give up on what he had and die because the hero wanted to make his own way.
But also, to look into the actual people that they are and have Shen Jiu hate his life but stubbornly refuse to leave what he has worked so hard for and for Binghe to hate his life and want to destroy himself and the world with it.
Too much tinfoil??
Now in conclusion, maybe its cope (maybe it’s maybeline) but yk I get to interpret the work in whatever way I want with or without evidence to back it up and it does make me sad that so many people are mad about this because in the end I think it fits the themes and ideas of svsss and kind of makes me even more unhinged about sj because (if I’m right/we’ll never know) he got fucking kicked from his life that he so desperately earned and chose to keep despite it all, he had already changed his fate!!! In his own world!!! By himself! Without being god!!!!
And boy, it hurts but it fits.
(That’s what sy said)
This man is OUR damn tragedy and nothing can take that away okay?
