Guardian readalong: chapters 25 & 26

[trobadora]

Hi, welcome to this week's chapters of our Guardian readalong!

Last week's post (chapters 23 & 24) is here, and you can find all previous chapter discussions on the schedule posts (prologue, 1-16, 17-) or via the !readalong tag.

This week's chapters:

• Chapter 25: in which Zhao Yunlan and the Emissary discuss destroying the Mountain-River Awl, Zhao Yunlan has questions and the Emissary gives no answers, and a surprise Ghost Face appears;
• Chapter 26: in which the Emissary uses Zhao Yunlan's given name, they fight Youchu and Ghost Face, the latter tries to poke at sore spots, Sangzan makes an appearance, and the Mountain-River Awl melts into its true form.

The corresponding chapters in the Chinese version on JJWXC and the fan translation are chapters 40-41 plus the very beginning of chapter 42.

Excerpts

( 1) Zhao Yunlan asks questions, and the Emissary doesn't lie )

( 2) Our antagonist makes an appearance )

( 3) Zhao Yunlan has opinions about masks )

( 4) Zhao Yunlan shares his philosophy )

Questions

Ghost Face, aka Gui Mian, aka Mianmian! What do you think of his appearance here? And about his interactions with Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei? And just what, and how much, has Zhao Yunlan guessed about what the Emissary is keeping from him? Why do you think Zhao Yunlan decided to rescue Sangzan, give that he knows nothing about the guy's current frame of mind? What about Zhao Yunlan's philosophy? And this is all pretty different from the drama, but any thoughts on the bits and pieces that did make it into the drama?

(As usual, these are just conversation starters - feel free to answer all, some, or none, and to say as much or as little as you like!)

Our schedule (and please do sign up to host a post if you can!)