That could indeed be an interesting character development... in an arc designed for it. Like the last one, though that'd obviously be too soon. This arc started with exploring Ling Qi's discomforts and personal challenges with leadership. It's gone off the rails somewhat, but not in any fashion that coherently lends itself to the self-imposed duty of death dealer. The arc is crowded enough with discordant properties as it is that I think (re)introducing these themes would be a pacing misstep, both for the arc and the themes. Besides, I'd think it'd be more appropriate to really dig into those more once Hanyi's had a chance to advance a little bit, given their proximity to her own portfolio.
But there's narrative and character merit in Killing, it's not casual slaughter or 'generic murderhobo' unless you choose to be absolutely reductionist. It's valid to think it's too early, but I have to disagree. Hanyi, for all that it's been comical, has been presented this entire arc to be this sulking and petulant child absolutely convinced her big sis is too good for anyone (barring her). Seeing Ling Qi go all Ending, that seems the sort of thing to have weight to it to a spirit so impressionable as her- to see her Sister herald End for a hill (a pretty impressive specimen of a hill given the explosions and the heads) as her mother represented the End over an entire mountain. It's to see her sister as something more, even if only in the moment, and in doing so engender self reflection. And that's completely ignoring the possibility that she doesn't join in on the End action, and get a chance to examine what it means to her to be a spirit of Endings.
Furthermore, I'm fine with Ling Qi exploring this facet so relatively soon because it doesn't resolve it. It develops it and explores one spectrum of it, but establishing when killing and Ending is a kindness doesn't do anything to establish when Ling Qi thinks killing is
wrong. There's still so much more to explore, especially given Ling Qi's own criminal history and how easy it would be to push the 'there I go but for the grace of god' angle given Ling Qi is already caught up on being a coward who was willing to lead others to their deaths in order to survive. So much to explore there, and see those who might be considered despicable as human from the eyes of someone who is in part defined by her monkey sphere.
I mentioned the killing angle, and you were right in that's a recent arc- but I don't think it's unfair to tie this all the way back to Ling Qi swearing fealty to Cai Renxiang and admitting she wasn't the kind of person who could believe in and fight for a greater good, something bigger than herself. To me at least, here is a chance for Ling Qi to knowingly choose to fight and kill for something bigger than her of her own volition. To see this spirit, a stranger, suffer- it avails her nearly nothing to kill it rather than leave it imprisoned and suffering- but she, perhaps uniquely has an opportunity to End it and it's suffering. To intuit a perspective by which she can connect to others on a grander level than the personal but far more visceral than the abstraction of society and people as a whole.
I prefer the Kill option, but I'm more than willing to accept that the other options are valid alternatives. I just reject that somehow applying a lens of 'character development' or 'narrative' invalidates it out of hand.
And if she was making that decision about something that she actually cared about. Say, idk, a person, then that would absolutely be meaningful?
But just killing a random dangerous spirit? Please. There is no conflict there. Ling Qi kills dangerous spirits all the time.
Indeed, such a fight fits very poorly with this arc since our minions can't do anything in that path. If we're going to have a fight here it should at least be one that focuses on her development as an officer and learning how to use her subordinates thus building upon the themes of this arc. Like any of the options but killing. Or a completely different encounter that they could actually contribute to.
Except she literally just got into discussion about how spirits can be every bit as sapient as her, and the ones that aren't often have the potential to be. It's meaningful
because she's killed a bunch of spirits never considering their perspective. It's meaningful because as slow and big as this hill seems to her,
she knows it can talk- that it can think and reason. And she knows it's suffering, suffering bad in a way you or I can scarcely imagine. Since when has Ling Qi paid attention to the state of a spirit she hasn't personally befriended or adopted?
Sometimes the fact you don't know the poor bastard looking down the barrel makes it meaningful because you make that choice with so much less information. As for your fixation on minions, *shrug* it's not my job to rationalize away all your misgivings, but sometimes it's important know what your subordinates are capable of, and when it's a matter to be handled on your own accord or to be delegated. Considering we can all acknowledge Ling Qi's solo aspect of this scouting excursion did get cut short- there's something to be said for this being a contrast in what Ling Qi can
really do. Especially considering how limited she was in terms of flying and recon versus going all out with her battle tortoise and annoying kid sister in a brutal slugging match of attrition. I personally like the contrast of Ling Qi seeming level headed, diligent and capable but then exploring what rouses her to action, what elevates a matter beyond mere duty and professionalism into something their commander is invested in?
