> since Qingzu herself is also a Vidyadhara, why would this be surprising to her?
My only possible explanation for this (and this is just my guess) is that it's because the Preceptors fiddled with Dan Feng's forced molting process in order to preserve the (other half of the) inheritance of the high elder. This plot of theirs was seen through by the Xianzhou general government, and was probably the excuse that the Ten-Lords Commission used to keep Dan Heng in jail after he was reborn. The Preceptors did this with the hope that the incomplete process will mean Dan Heng can/will eventually recall the secrets of the Transmutation Arcanum, implying that the effects of their fiddling is something related to memories, and maybe not cleanly flushing all of Dan Feng's memories. Being high in the government, Qingzu may be aware of this, and maybe thought that it meant Dan Heng would have more of Dan Feng's memories than he actually does.
> The flesh of Shuhu (presumably what's being referenced) or was it 建木?
It was both. There are clues in Scalegorge Waterscape which indicate Dan Feng secretly snuck Yinxing into the sacred grounds more than once to do some kind of research. Unless he's experimenting with eggs (which doesn't fit his character), the only taboo thing down there is the Arbor. And then Yinxing's immortality is partially due to Shuhu flesh, so that's involved too.
> how is it possible that the names of the Quintet aren't remembered despite the Quintet being immensely famous?
From what I understand, the names got censored for quite some time afterwards. IIRC there were some people who still saw Dan Feng as a hero and wrote I guess anti-government poetry and stuff afterwards, which the Xianzhou government cracked down on. Jingliu's name was also scrubbed from all documentation as well, for some weird reason. (I am not sure if this is Mihoyo secretly making a jab at CN censorship in general.)
The current popularity of the Quintet seems to come from later novels such as 凤求凤, which uses pseudonyms/puns for the heroes in question. If you already know their original names, it's easy to draw the connection. But for people who don't know the original Quintet, they wouldn't automatically make the connection when seeing them in person.
> Bailu is a good or bad doctor
Bailu is supposed to be a good doctor. But the script writers know nothing about the practice of medicine, both modern and traditional.
> miHoYo's writing has been immensely inconsistent when it comes to the backstory. The lines are often written in a way that's meant to deliver lore without consideration for the character
Yes.
> Similarly, it's impossible to place when Ichor of Two Dragons takes place during the game plot line
It definitely takes place after the fight with Phantylia. Not sure if it's before or after Dan Heng's companion quest with Bailu. But most likely also before Jingliu's companion mission that you linked above.
In total, the Astral Express spent a few months on the Luofu before heading to Penacony. The protagonist spent several weeks helping rebuild the economy of Aurum Alley, and then some time helping Guinaifen's team with their ghost hunt.
When we came back to the Luofu in 2.4, the dialogue says it's been 5 months since Phantylia. The events of Penacony chapters 2.0-2.2 took place within 48 hours. The aftermath 2.3 might've taken some more time but not more than a few days at most.
> I still haven't found anything that clarifies Jing Yuan is the youngest of the Quintet
There's no canon support for this. It's just something most of fandom likes to assume.
no subject
My only possible explanation for this (and this is just my guess) is that it's because the Preceptors fiddled with Dan Feng's forced molting process in order to preserve the (other half of the) inheritance of the high elder. This plot of theirs was seen through by the Xianzhou general government, and was probably the excuse that the Ten-Lords Commission used to keep Dan Heng in jail after he was reborn. The Preceptors did this with the hope that the incomplete process will mean Dan Heng can/will eventually recall the secrets of the Transmutation Arcanum, implying that the effects of their fiddling is something related to memories, and maybe not cleanly flushing all of Dan Feng's memories. Being high in the government, Qingzu may be aware of this, and maybe thought that it meant Dan Heng would have more of Dan Feng's memories than he actually does.
> The flesh of Shuhu (presumably what's being referenced) or was it 建木?
It was both. There are clues in Scalegorge Waterscape which indicate Dan Feng secretly snuck Yinxing into the sacred grounds more than once to do some kind of research. Unless he's experimenting with eggs (which doesn't fit his character), the only taboo thing down there is the Arbor. And then Yinxing's immortality is partially due to Shuhu flesh, so that's involved too.
> how is it possible that the names of the Quintet aren't remembered despite the Quintet being immensely famous?
From what I understand, the names got censored for quite some time afterwards. IIRC there were some people who still saw Dan Feng as a hero and wrote I guess anti-government poetry and stuff afterwards, which the Xianzhou government cracked down on. Jingliu's name was also scrubbed from all documentation as well, for some weird reason. (I am not sure if this is Mihoyo secretly making a jab at CN censorship in general.)
The current popularity of the Quintet seems to come from later novels such as 凤求凤, which uses pseudonyms/puns for the heroes in question. If you already know their original names, it's easy to draw the connection. But for people who don't know the original Quintet, they wouldn't automatically make the connection when seeing them in person.
> Bailu is a good or bad doctor
Bailu is supposed to be a good doctor. But the script writers know nothing about the practice of medicine, both modern and traditional.
> miHoYo's writing has been immensely inconsistent when it comes to the backstory. The lines are often written in a way that's meant to deliver lore without consideration for the character
Yes.
> Similarly, it's impossible to place when Ichor of Two Dragons takes place during the game plot line
It definitely takes place after the fight with Phantylia. Not sure if it's before or after Dan Heng's companion quest with Bailu. But most likely also before Jingliu's companion mission that you linked above.
In total, the Astral Express spent a few months on the Luofu before heading to Penacony. The protagonist spent several weeks helping rebuild the economy of Aurum Alley, and then some time helping Guinaifen's team with their ghost hunt.
When we came back to the Luofu in 2.4, the dialogue says it's been 5 months since Phantylia. The events of Penacony chapters 2.0-2.2 took place within 48 hours. The aftermath 2.3 might've taken some more time but not more than a few days at most.
> I still haven't found anything that clarifies Jing Yuan is the youngest of the Quintet
There's no canon support for this. It's just something most of fandom likes to assume.