Warmaisach
Guys, I don't think the music will affect Shang as much. Shang feels at peace with himself now. I'd think the Shang now can survive a samsara (nonlethal) compared to before he reflected on himself. If he goes through a reality tear, I think he'd be just fine. He no longer needs to escape confronting these thoughts. He was only afraid of them, because they could make them reconsider his path. Now, they only strengthen his resolve further.
While it might be nice to see Shang engaging in some relationships, like when he had trusted Jerald and they were friends for a bit, I can't help but think it would've forced the author to detract from Shang's pursuit of power. If he becomes distracted, then everything he's sacrificed and all the people he's killed would be, if not pointless sacrifices and deaths, as if their significance has lost weight. Feels like his motivation for getting to the top isn't only fueled by seeing power, but also to give everything he's done more meaning. Thanks for the chapters, looking forward to more!
Shangs like a Dog chasing a stick, but has he thought about what happens when he finds the stick. For a lot of people the journey is more important than the destination. But Shang is clearly not enjoying the journey, what will he find at the destination. I guess he couldve maybe looked at that during his 20 years in purgatory?