Focus on: Zhao Yunlan meets the young Envoy in Allied Forces HQ, ep 34

[china_shop]

Ep 34, 35:52 - 38:26 (here on Youtube)
Viki subs, lightly edited; screencaps lightened a little.



Zhao Yunlan appears from behind a screen, wearing his Kunlun outfit.

ZYL: How is it? Does it have the feeling of a noble warrior?
怎么样 有没有一种 大侠的感觉

He starts making martial arts moves, playing dress-ups. *noogies*



Ma Gui: (enthusiastically) Yes. Very much so.
像 太像了

Fu You: (getting down to business) We used meteor fragments to create the Hallows. We initially intended for them to benefit all of Haixing. But unexpectedly, the Rebel Forces have stolen them. The moment they release all the Hallows' energy, the consequences will be unthinkable.
我们将陨石碎片制成圣器 本想造福整个海星 不料现在反抗团将圣器抢了去 一旦反抗团将这些圣器的能量全部释放 后果不堪设想

Ma Gui: Yes. Even we can't fully exploit all of the powers of the Hallows. Da Qing touched the Hallows accidentally before. It looked like he was affected somehow.
是啊 即使是我们也未能完全开发出圣器的全部效用 当年大庆不小心触碰了圣器 似乎也受到了某些影响

ZYL: That's right. Otherwise, how could Damn Cat have lived so long?
对了 要不然死胖猫怎么能活那么久啊

Fu You: Black-Cloaked Envoy, you're here!
黑袍使 你来了

This cuts off the conversation about the Hallows. I think Fu You was worried the Envoy might overhear Zhao Yunlan's indiscreet talk about Da Qing.



Envoy: Yes. I've just settled my men.
对 我刚安顿好我的部下





Zhao Yunlan is delighted to see him. He goes over, punches him on the arm in greeting and looks expectant. (I think he's half-hoping Shen Wei will recognise him the way Fu You and Ma Gui did, even though he didn't at the battlefield?)



Envoy: (sternly) You are?
你是

ZYL: You don't recognize me already?
你就不认识了



Zhao Yunlan pulls his hair off his face. He's such a dork. ❤



Envoy: You are... Benefactor!
你是... 恩人

Zhao Yunlan laughs in confirmation and approval.

Envoy: (cont.) So you were here.
原来你在这呢

He seems really happy to see Zhao Yunlan, not at all burdened by the debt he owes him. He must have thought their first meeting was random and not known how or where they would meet again -- plus to find him here in the Allied Forces HQ confirms Zhao Yunlan is a good guy.

He reacts to Zhao Yunlan's change of clothing. Fu You and Ma Gui exchange glances.

Envoy: But why are you...?
可是你 你怎么



ZYL: This... (He looks to Fu You and Ma Gui like, isn't he in on it? They don't fill in the gap, so he fumbles for a bit and just says:) It's a long story.
这... 说来话长

Not even bothering with a lie. The Envoy accepts that with a laugh.



Envoy: I still do not know how to repay you for saving my life.
之前的救命之恩我还不知道该如何报答你呢

ZYL: You want to repay me? Easy. Take off your mask and smile.
想报恩啊 简单 把你的面具摘了笑一个

I think there's three ways to read this: 1) literally, 2) euphemistically, and 3) metaphorically, ie, step outside your role and live a happy life. The Envoy's reaction suggests he's leapt straight to door #2. He looks self-consciously at Ma Gui and Fu You, like he can't believe they're talking about such private matters in front of them, then earnestly offers himself to Zhao Yunlan... but later.





Envoy: When everything is finished, whatever wishes Benefactor has, I will fulfill them to my utmost ability.
等大事了结之后 恩人有任何的要求 我都会尽力满足的

I mean, he's definitely talking about sex, right?





ZYL: (echoes) After everything's finished...
大事了结之后

He says it with good-natured disapproval(?). I feel like he's heard this line before! (Possibly also when talking about sex?) Then he remembers that Shen Wei was just nearly killed in battle.

ZYL: How are your injuries?
你之前的伤怎么样了

He looks genuinely concerned, and the Envoy breathes a laugh.

Envoy: It's just a small wound. You don't need to worry.
小伤而已 恩人不必担心

This also sounds familiar to Zhao Yunlan. He sucks in a critical breath and gently scolds him.



ZYL: You have not changed even after 10,000 years. According to you, when can you ever be hurt?
你这个人还有是一万年都没变 对于你来说 你什么时候能受个伤啊

He sighs loudly and walks off, apparently having forgotten Ma Gui and Fu You were even there.





The Envoy turns to watch him go, pauses for, seriously, 10 seconds or more while he contemplates Zhao Yunlan's shameless charisma and unprecedented scolding, and the promise Zhao Yunlan just extracted from him, and then follows -- also without acknowledging Fu You and Ma Gui.

Some observations

• I think Zhao Yunlan's theatrics and goofing around are a coping strategy for suddenly finding himself flung into a time so dramatically different from his own: pretend it's all make-believe. The whole thing is incredible, and he doesn't have much choice but faking it till he makes it. (And he's always been great at rolling at the punches.) I find his behaviour extremely (charmingly) dorky.


• I also love that he just picks up his friendship/relationship with Shen Wei, without hesitation, trusting in his welcome and in Shen Wei to play along.


• The Envoy's initial reaction of "How dare!" to being punched on the arm by a random stranger is fantastic and says so much.


• And then, once he recognises his benefactor, he's all enthusiasm, smiles and laughs -- far more open about his emotions than we see him in contemporary Dragon City.


• I wonder if Zhao Yunlan is the first person to ever scold the Envoy for neglecting his own well-being (on top of all the other firsts).


• As far as we know, Fu You and Ma Gui aren't aware Zhao Yunlan knows Shen Wei in the future, and they seem to be in the habit of keeping the Envoy on the outside. (I love all the fanfic that has Kunlun drawing the young Envoy into the inner circle of leadership.)

Questions

1. What do you think Zhao Yunlan means by "take off your mask and smile"? Is he speaking literally? And what do you think the Envoy thinks he means?
2. What do you think made Shen Wei so much more reserved in the future -- meeting Ye Zun again, losing Kunlun, twenty plus years' waiting in modern day Dragon City... all of the above? Something else?
3. What is the Envoy thinking in that pause before he follows Zhao Yunlan out of the chamber?
4. Any thoughts about parallels between this and their first meeting in episode 1?
5. What might the pink glowy thing in the background be? What other technology might the Allied Forces have had?

Comments

[china_shop]

LOL! (I'm imagining the entire Dixingren contingent being made up of variations on Chu Shuzhi. *g*)

[velithya]

YES THAT'S PERFECT

they are all ready to die for Heipaoshi because they love him so much :D