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sid_guardian2024-11-29 01:39 pm
jayfire) wrote in sid_guardian2024-11-29 01:39 pm
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Guardian Readalong: Chapters 7 & 8
Hello hello~ and welcome back/welcome to this next instalment of our weekly Guardian readalong!
Previously, on Guardian:
This time, we're on chapters 7 and 8 of the official English translation, which correspond to chapters 12 to 14 in the most widely available fan-translation and the current Simplified Chinese version on JJWXC.
Chapter 7: Investigator Zhu Hong figures out part of what's going on with Li Qian; Zhao Yunlan finally reads the letter from "him"; and Shen Wei finds an innovative use for a chair
Chapter 8: Guo Changcheng is a police officer; everyone runs in a circle; and storage rooms are good for emergency team-building
Excerpts
1) We officially meet Zhu Hong:
By daylight, the office looked far bleaker. The only person on duty in the criminal investigation unit was a female officer who might have been in her twenties. A simple ponytail highlighted her pretty forehead and a clear complexion that was accentuated with light makeup. She was in uniform --- at least from the waist up. Her lower body was covered by a blanket, and she sat very still in her seat. All that kept her from looking like she was convalescing was the rosiness in her face.
Half-closed eyes and a lazy expression made it seem like she might drift off at any moment, but her hands were working busily. The blanket on her lap was large enough that one edge reached the floor. When Zhao Yunlan accidentally stepped on the trailing edge, the other side of the blanket slid up. For a moment, it revealed the tip of a python tail, which quickly withdrew. The woman's attention remained fixed on the security footage. Without looking, she reached down absentmindedly to adjust the blanket.
The nameplate on the corner of her desk read "Zhu Hong."
2) Zhao Yunlan's perception of the Ghost Slayer/Soul-Executing Emissary:
From the official translation:
The Soul-Executing Emissary had come into existence in the depths of the Netherworld, but he was not a ghost immortal, nor was he subject to the Ten Yanluo Courts. Legend said he had originally been a mere wisp of fiendish energy from the darkest bowels of the Nine Hells. But from this inauspicious beginning, in a rare stroke of serendipity, he evolved to attain a physical form.
He wielded the Soul-Executing Blade, and gods, humans, or any other being, whether from the thirty-three levels of Heaven above or the eighteen levels of Hell below, could be executed by that blade if found guilty. Deities and demons alike bowed their heads to him, and all beings feared him...all but Zhao Yunlan.
Whether he was thick-skinned or boneheaded or just missing reflex tendons others had, Zhao Yunlan not only failed to fear the Emissary but found him gentle and refined with a good personality. His only shortcoming was that, whether speaking or writing, the Emissary's language was just a bit archaic --- too refined and flowery.
From the fan-translation:
The Ghost Slayer is a god but not a god, a ghost but not a ghost, and calling him an immortal ghost also wouldn't be correct. Legend says that he was born in the depths of Difu, and he has a mighty blade that knows good from evil, loyalty from treachery. It can slay anything, which is how he earned his name.
From the highest heavens to the deepest levels of Difu, no one in heaven or earth, whether human or god, spirit or ghost, can survive this weapon.
Because of this, everyone is terrified of him; Zhao Yunlan is the sole, foolishly thick-skinned exception. Not only does he fail to be appalled by the ghost slaying, he seems to think that the Ghost Slayer is a rather nice, kind person. The only bad thing about him is the way he talks: too old-fashioned and too long-winded.
3) Xiao Guo is, once again, more perceptive than most people realize:
Guo Changcheng had never been a confrontational person. For him, running away was as natural as a cat eating fish or a dog eating meat. It was practically part of his genetic makeup, and right now, his genes were telling him that the safest place was between Shen Wei and the black cat.
4) Shen Wei's unfulfilled wish:
Guo Changcheng kept sobbing. "Shen-laoshi, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?"
Perhaps hoping to ease Guo Changcheng's terror, Shen Wei gave the question careful consideration before nodding. "I do."
Through tears, Guo Changcheng choked out, "Like what?"
"There is someone I met only by chance. There are no connections between us; to him, I must only be a stranger with whom he's exchanged a few words." Shen Wei spoke gently against the background noise of scratching nails. "But I very much want to see him one more time."
Questions:
What colour do you think Zhu Hong's snake tail is? (i think we might find out at some point later on but i can't remember so. what are you all picturing?) Why do you think Li Qian wouldn't tell Zhao Yunlan about using the sundial and sharing half her life with her grandma? How do you feel about the Ghost Slayer/Soul-Executing Emissary based on what we know about him so far? If you were up against a hungry ghost, would you choose the mop or the hospital chair?
Our schedule (and you can also sign up here to host a post!)
Previously, on Guardian:
This time, we're on chapters 7 and 8 of the official English translation, which correspond to chapters 12 to 14 in the most widely available fan-translation and the current Simplified Chinese version on JJWXC.
Chapter 7: Investigator Zhu Hong figures out part of what's going on with Li Qian; Zhao Yunlan finally reads the letter from "him"; and Shen Wei finds an innovative use for a chair
Chapter 8: Guo Changcheng is a police officer; everyone runs in a circle; and storage rooms are good for emergency team-building
Excerpts
1) We officially meet Zhu Hong:
By daylight, the office looked far bleaker. The only person on duty in the criminal investigation unit was a female officer who might have been in her twenties. A simple ponytail highlighted her pretty forehead and a clear complexion that was accentuated with light makeup. She was in uniform --- at least from the waist up. Her lower body was covered by a blanket, and she sat very still in her seat. All that kept her from looking like she was convalescing was the rosiness in her face.
Half-closed eyes and a lazy expression made it seem like she might drift off at any moment, but her hands were working busily. The blanket on her lap was large enough that one edge reached the floor. When Zhao Yunlan accidentally stepped on the trailing edge, the other side of the blanket slid up. For a moment, it revealed the tip of a python tail, which quickly withdrew. The woman's attention remained fixed on the security footage. Without looking, she reached down absentmindedly to adjust the blanket.
The nameplate on the corner of her desk read "Zhu Hong."
2) Zhao Yunlan's perception of the Ghost Slayer/Soul-Executing Emissary:
From the official translation:
The Soul-Executing Emissary had come into existence in the depths of the Netherworld, but he was not a ghost immortal, nor was he subject to the Ten Yanluo Courts. Legend said he had originally been a mere wisp of fiendish energy from the darkest bowels of the Nine Hells. But from this inauspicious beginning, in a rare stroke of serendipity, he evolved to attain a physical form.
He wielded the Soul-Executing Blade, and gods, humans, or any other being, whether from the thirty-three levels of Heaven above or the eighteen levels of Hell below, could be executed by that blade if found guilty. Deities and demons alike bowed their heads to him, and all beings feared him...all but Zhao Yunlan.
Whether he was thick-skinned or boneheaded or just missing reflex tendons others had, Zhao Yunlan not only failed to fear the Emissary but found him gentle and refined with a good personality. His only shortcoming was that, whether speaking or writing, the Emissary's language was just a bit archaic --- too refined and flowery.
From the fan-translation:
The Ghost Slayer is a god but not a god, a ghost but not a ghost, and calling him an immortal ghost also wouldn't be correct. Legend says that he was born in the depths of Difu, and he has a mighty blade that knows good from evil, loyalty from treachery. It can slay anything, which is how he earned his name.
From the highest heavens to the deepest levels of Difu, no one in heaven or earth, whether human or god, spirit or ghost, can survive this weapon.
Because of this, everyone is terrified of him; Zhao Yunlan is the sole, foolishly thick-skinned exception. Not only does he fail to be appalled by the ghost slaying, he seems to think that the Ghost Slayer is a rather nice, kind person. The only bad thing about him is the way he talks: too old-fashioned and too long-winded.
3) Xiao Guo is, once again, more perceptive than most people realize:
Guo Changcheng had never been a confrontational person. For him, running away was as natural as a cat eating fish or a dog eating meat. It was practically part of his genetic makeup, and right now, his genes were telling him that the safest place was between Shen Wei and the black cat.
4) Shen Wei's unfulfilled wish:
Guo Changcheng kept sobbing. "Shen-laoshi, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?"
Perhaps hoping to ease Guo Changcheng's terror, Shen Wei gave the question careful consideration before nodding. "I do."
Through tears, Guo Changcheng choked out, "Like what?"
"There is someone I met only by chance. There are no connections between us; to him, I must only be a stranger with whom he's exchanged a few words." Shen Wei spoke gently against the background noise of scratching nails. "But I very much want to see him one more time."
Questions:
What colour do you think Zhu Hong's snake tail is? (i think we might find out at some point later on but i can't remember so. what are you all picturing?) Why do you think Li Qian wouldn't tell Zhao Yunlan about using the sundial and sharing half her life with her grandma? How do you feel about the Ghost Slayer/Soul-Executing Emissary based on what we know about him so far? If you were up against a hungry ghost, would you choose the mop or the hospital chair?
Our schedule (and you can also sign up here to host a post!)
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• The banter between Zhao Yunlan and Zhu Hong this chapter --- I’m not sure how I feel about it. On the one hand, it’s a fun, sibling dynamic, and it does remind me of how my brother and I tease and nag at each other. But on the other hand, I feel bad for Zhu Hong, because it is clear that she has feelings for Zhao Yunlan and that their banter isn’t really helping things for her
• I love that it’s Zhu Hong that figures out the mystery of how Li Qian can see ghosts without her third eye being open. I just really like how much more active of a role Zhu Hong has here, and how she’s the one that borrows a book and contacts Difu to figure out that Li Qian must have used the Sundial of Reincarnation and shared some of her lifeforce with her grandma
• Also, the fact that the sundial in the drama had little scales on it too --- I love that detail! (there is also a lizard engraved on the one in the drama though, so the scales might have been a coincidence, or maybe the lizard sundial was chosen because it had scales, who knows)
• The letter from the Ghost Slayer/soul executing emissary is so extra haha super fancy black paper, beautiful calligraphy, with the address on the envelope written in red cinnabar. In the fan-translation, it also says that the calligraphy inside the letter is written in gold. Both translations agree with Zhao Yunlan though – it’s a work of art
• Like I put in the excerpts, the descriptions for the Ghost Slayer are different between the official translation and the fan-translation, and I do find that a bit interesting. I do really enjoy the way the fan-translation says that he’s a god but not a god, a ghost but not a ghost. For me, it feels like a really effective way of highlighting how unique the Ghost Slayer is, and of showing that he doesn’t really belong anywhere (that’s something that’s always stuck with me from previous read throughs
and even with the drama--- the way the Ghost Slayer is always this lonely figure, out of place no matter where or when he goes. Is that maybe a feeling I relate too a little too much and that’s why I’ve latched onto this character so hard? Hahaha no not at all, what makes you say that?)• Of course though, Zhao Yunlan being Zhao Yunlan, he’s not scared of the Ghost Slayer --- even being this mysterious figure literally shrouded in darkness and feared by everyone else, Zhao Yunlan is like “nah, he’s great! Gentle and refined and kind, I like him!” lol
• Once more, Guo Changcheng continues to be highly relatable, and he is very correct: phone calls are a lot scarier than talking face-to-face
• I like to think that the scene in the drama of Zhao Yunlan fighting with a feather-duster is an homage to novel-verse Shen Wei fighting a hungry ghost with a mop (also that’s just. Such a comical image to think about xD)
• You know what else is a funny thing to picture? Shen Wei fighting a ghost with a hospital chair. It’s a very serious situation, but I’m laughing at the mental image
• I love Guo Changcheng so much, even though his instincts scream at him to get between Shen Wei and Da Qing, he holds himself back and stands protectively between Shen Wei and Li Qian, and the hungry ghost following them. He’s crying and shaking, but he’s still trying so hard
• Shen Wei definitely has experience with cats, the way he talks to Da Qing is proof of someone well-versed in interacting with noble felines
• The last paragraph (coincidentally, the fourth excerpt I included) has me feeling very normal about everything. Yes Shen Wei, he’s totally just someone you met by chance and that you would like to see again, definitely there’s no connections between you, nope, no connections at all to be found here T^T
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Yes! It’s really well-done in the fan TL, a pity it’s so different in the official one.
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Yeah, 100% agreed on all of that!
Also, the fact that the sundial in the drama had little scales on it too --- I love that detail! (there is also a lizard engraved on the one in the drama though, so the scales might have been a coincidence, or maybe the lizard sundial was chosen because it had scales, who knows)
You know, I never thought about those scales before, or wthether they meant anything. This is all really cool!
I do really enjoy the way the fan-translation says that he’s a god but not a god, a ghost but not a ghost. For me, it feels like a really effective way of highlighting how unique the Ghost Slayer is, and of showing that he doesn’t really belong anywhere
Yeah, that's true! That bit is different in both of the versions of the fan translation I have, but I really like yours!
that’s something that’s always stuck with me from previous read throughs and even with the drama --- the way the Ghost Slayer is always this lonely figure, out of place no matter where or when he goes
And it's true in both versions in entirely different ways - I love how they got that crucial character element in there, that distance between and everyone around him. *offers hugs*
I like to think that the scene in the drama of Zhao Yunlan fighting with a feather-duster is an homage to novel-verse Shen Wei fighting a hungry ghost with a mop (also that’s just. Such a comical image to think about xD
Oh, yes, excellent point, that definitely seems to be a deliberate echo! Great stuff. :D
You know what else is a funny thing to picture? Shen Wei fighting a ghost with a hospital chair. It’s a very serious situation, but I’m laughing at the mental image
Yes! And not just hitting the thing with a chair once, but literally beating it to pieces! Amazing. :D
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I wondered about that. Have we seen any signs of novel!Zhao Yunlan being prejudiced against non-humans, or is that just a drama thing? I can't remember.
But on the other hand, I feel bad for Zhu Hong, because it is clear that she has feelings for Zhao Yunlan and that their banter isn’t really helping things for her
Yeah -- I like that she's at least being upfront about her feelings in the novel, though. Making him confront them head on.
I just really like how much more active of a role Zhu Hong has here, and how she’s the one that borrows a book and contacts Difu to figure out that Li Qian must have used the Sundial of Reincarnation and shared some of her lifeforce with her grandma
Yes, that's so cool! Go her! And I made the same connection between the scales and the drama!Dial. :D :D :D
Of course though, Zhao Yunlan being Zhao Yunlan, he’s not scared of the Ghost Slayer --- even being this mysterious figure literally shrouded in darkness and feared by everyone else, Zhao Yunlan is like “nah, he’s great! Gentle and refined and kind, I like him!” lol
Hee! I wonder where he got the idea of the Ghost Slayer being kind. Like, what has the Ghost Slayer done to give that impression...
I like to think that the scene in the drama of Zhao Yunlan fighting with a feather-duster is an homage to novel-verse Shen Wei fighting a hungry ghost with a mop
Ooh, yes, I didn't pick up on that, but I love it. :D :D :D
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Cool link, and that's a stunning look! It would look great with her usual lipstick (and occasional red eyes) in the drama, too - both of which go with her kickass personality. :-)
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To him, I must only be a stranger with whom he's exchanged a few words. But I very much want to see him one more time.
Aaaah Shen Wei!!! Love this quote!
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Me too!! Like you said, it's such a good insight into both of their characters! For Zhao Yunlan too, it gives us a look at what his values are. He doesn't care about how powerful Zhanhunshi is but he does care about how that power is used. He knows Zhanhunshi doesn't kill without reason, and they work together, so Zhao Yunlan doesn't see him as a threat, but rather a friendly ally.
It's also such an interesting perspective about Zhanhunshi because it contrasts so much with how he sees himself too.
Aaaah Shen Wei!!! Love this quote!
It's a very Shen Wei quote, and it hurts a bit every time I read it. The longing 😭 !!!
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The drama hits somewhat different themes, and I like what it does with ZYL's bigotry and character arc, A LOT. But the entire set-up and context is so different between drama and novel, it makes sense to me that this is different, too. I wouldn't want either of them to be more like the other!
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That's a good point! I had assumed that ZYL felt some kinship with the Envoy because of some mysterious echoes of lives past, but I guess he could just be Like That.
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Yay for meeting Zhu Hong. (I have no idea what colour her tail is; I don't really have a visual imagination, but when I think about it, possibly something greyish-brown?) And she's in uniform - I'm having trouble imagining what that looks like. (Excellent choice for the drama, having no uniforms! Clothes are such a great visual shortcut for characterisation.)
"If you take me to bed for just one night, you can stop paying me entirely. I'll work for free."
Wow, that's blatant. And bold. And I don't envy ZYL for having to deal with that; it makes me feel a lot more for him than for her. Not fond of that.
I do love Zhu Hong's competence on display, though! She's figured out a lot here, done the work for it, and she gets to see some things more clearly than ZYL, which I definitely appreciate. *g* ZYL's reaction back in chapter 4 had made me think he'd recognised the Reincarnation Dial, but clearly he hadn't. And his first instinct - to think Li Qian stole her grandmother's life - is wrong. (In the drama, he thinks for a while that she murdered her grandma. I love that in both versions, he can get things wrong, no matter how smart he is!)
All the lore about the Sundial, and how it only works in one way, is fascinating, btw!
After that, when one of them dies, so does the other.
So how is Li Qian still alive? - That was my first thought, and I'm delighted that Zhao Yunlan asks it too, and Zhu Hong has an answer!
(But Zhao Yunlan is the one who figures out what happened with Lu Ruomei, because he's damn good at this. Yes!)
In a family that valued sons over daughters, where the parents desperately wanted a son but didn't want to pay the fine for exceeding the birth limit, the daughter they already had became invisible. Everyone pretended she didn't exist.
Poor, poor Li Qian!
He seemed unmoved, as if still unconvinced. In the face of such a heartrending story, he was not only untouched but examining it for cracks, as if he wouldn't rest until he found something suspicious. Zhu Hong had to wonder which of them was the real cold-blooded one.
Great description of his character!
And now we're on to my favourite bit from these two chapters!
"To the hands of the Guardian: A Lone Soul Sends Notice"
Fascinating!
Whether he was thick-skinned or boneheaded or just missing reflex tendons others had, Zhao Yunlan not only failed to fear the Emissary but found him gentle and refined with a good personality.
Okay, before I go on, argh, "Soul-Executing Emissary" is not an elegant expression, I don't want to call him that! But "Ghost Slayer" makes me think Buffy, and I don't really want to go all Zhanhun-shi, so ... *flails* Maybe I'll just go for Envoy for now; that flows so much better than "Emissary". And it is the same word in Chinese.
Anyway, the difference between translations is pretty big! Fascinating, I have two different versions of the fan translation saved, but neither is exactly like yours. Any chance you'd be willing to share the one you have?
(These versions are all doing my head in!)
But either way, this whole bit about ZYL's feelings about/impression of the Envoy is excellent, and fantastic at showing who he really is, beneath all the cynicism and snark. Very revealing!
And I'm fascinated with how afraid Zhu Hong is not just of potentially meeting the Envoy, but even of the note he sent! Wow.
Meanwhile, Xiao-Guo is being exceptionally terrified. This whole section is fascinating to compare to the drama, where it's split three ways - between the attack of the Shadow Man/chase sequence at the university, the attack at the hospital, and the attack on the road when Li Qian's grandma comes out of the Sundial to protect her. Very cool adaptational choices that make the most of all those elements! And in the drama, Xiao-Guo puts himself between the attacker and Shen Wei in Li Qian's hospital room, but here, he's useless there and only only starts showing bravery afterwards. (I'm not into the extremes of shrieking and crying and wailing, I have to say.)
And Shen Wei is, of course, fascinating to observe from the outside! Like in the drama, while among humans he puts up a good front of only using what an ordinary human could, but the reader can also easily see the moment where he almost does more.
Shen Wei's expression darkened as he took a brisk step forward. But before he could act, a human figure was suddenly interposed between the shadow and Li Qian.
Thanks to the drama, I can imagine his expression so clearly! :D
An hour earlier, Shen-laoshi had still been an ordinary university professor. But in the course of that hour, he had witnessed such bizarre things firsthand: a murderous black shadow, a talking cat, and a police officer who had been reduced to tears right in front of him!
LOLOLOL!
Shen Wei had lost count of how many times he'd been left speechless that night. He couldn't begin to imagine what Zhao Yunlan's work environment was like with employees like these.
And again, LOL!
Daqing's explosion was undeterred. "Don't call me something so stupid, mortal!"
Last time someone got called "mortal" in the official translation, that bit wasn't in the current JJWXC version, but this is - and he's saying 凡人, which according to my dictionary can mean "mortal", but also just "ordinary person". Of course "mortal" works in this case, but I prefer to assume Daqing is actually calling Shen Wei a normie. *g* Anyway, given this, I assume back in chapter 5 when Zhao Yunlan complains about "mortals", presumably that was just meant to be "ordinary people", and not say anything about ZYL's mortality.
(Also, I love SW's smooth switch from "kitty" to "divine cat", LOL! Also also, I wonder if back in the old days, the little ghost king called Daqing "kitty" ...)
"There is someone I met only by chance. There are no connections between us; to him, I must only be a stranger with whom he's exchanged a few words." Shen Wei spoke gently against the background noise of scratching nails. "But I very much want to see him one more time."
Awww, Shen Wei! Does he really believe that? Ouch!
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Yes, this was so funny. The whole closet situation is absolute chaos xD
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Yes, this was so funny. The whole closet situation is absolute chaos xD
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It’s a terrible translation choice. So clunky! I always found Ghost Slayer a little too anime-esque, but I didn’t know how good we had it XD
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100% agreed. :D
Wow, that's blatant. And bold. And I don't envy ZYL for having to deal with that; it makes me feel a lot more for him than for her. Not fond of that.
I felt like they were playing a game of chicken there, with Zhu Hong trying to out-sophisticate Zhao Yunlan. He started it by casually suggesting she pretend her monthly tail issues were menstruation, she upped the ante with the proposition, and he won by pretending to take her suggestion literally. But maybe that's just me (and I could be misinterpreting how inappropriate it is for a male boss to talk to a female employee about periods ;-p).
And his first instinct - to think Li Qian stole her grandmother's life - is wrong. (In the drama, he thinks for a while that she murdered her grandma. I love that in both versions, he can get things wrong, no matter how smart he is!)
Yes, it's so good to see both versions as fallible. :D
All the lore about the Sundial, and how it only works in one way, is fascinating, btw!
I love how concrete the rules are! In the drama, they keep it very vague. (So wait, does that mean that drama!Shen Wei gave Zhao Yunlan half his lifespan?!)
Okay, before I go on, argh, "Soul-Executing Emissary" is not an elegant expression, I don't want to call him that!
It's so unwieldy!! Even reading it in my head makes my brain trip up.
And I'm fascinated with how afraid Zhu Hong is not just of potentially meeting the Envoy, but even of the note he sent! Wow.
Presumably this is a fear she was brought up with? Like, I can imagine all the Yashou are just like "avoid avoid avoid" about him. Interesting that none of her interactions with him at the SID have changed that, though.
And in the drama, Xiao-Guo puts himself between the attacker and Shen Wei in Li Qian's hospital room
Yeah, I adore that in the drama, and I do miss it in the novel. Ah well...
Anyway, given this, I assume back in chapter 5 when Zhao Yunlan complains about "mortals", presumably that was just meant to be "ordinary people", and not say anything about ZYL's mortality.
Oh, that makes sense. Thanks for that!! <3
Awww, Shen Wei! Does he really believe that? Ouch!
Do you think he's including both their relationships in that assessment, or just Shen Wei's new connection with Zhao Yunlan?
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Because the title has been Ghoat Slayer in the English fandom for so long, I tend to default to that, but what I've been using in my head is Soul-Slaying Envoy/the Envoy because that's how I would translate Zhanhunshi (but my level of Chinese is that of a two year old at best so take that with a grain of salt). Either way it sounds a bit. Anime-esque though (which I feel like novel Zhao Yunlan would approve of, considering how much he enjoys sailor moon XD)
Anyway, the difference between translations is pretty big! Fascinating, I have two different versions of the fan translation saved, but neither is exactly like yours. Any chance you'd be willing to share the one you have?
Yes! I included both versions that I have because they're so different from each other and I think having both gives a fuller picture of the Envoy as a character? Also the version of the translation I have is an edited version of RainbowSe7en's translation. I did save a copy of it two or three years ago though, while the team that did the editing were still editing it, so it might have been updated since then. And then I think I might also have made some edits to the version I saved because I had been meaning to print and bind myself a copy of the novel to make it easier to read on the bus. According to the depths of my google drive, this is the link to the folder with that original edited translation. & this is the link to the "volume 1" document I had saved and planned to print before the official was announced
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Zhao Yunlan dipped his head to look at her, his smile not reaching his eyes. "Really?"
Zhu Hong: "..."
She had a sudden feeling that selling his body for benefit would be just the kind of thing their shameless leader would do.
I kind of loved this push-pull, because it establishes their relationship right off the bat, and also drags Zhao Yunlan some more for being shameless. Zhu Hong is very direct, lol.
Guo Changcheng is only acting slightly more exaggeratedly than I would in such a ghosts-and-monsters situation. I like how he's obviously an audience stand-in, but also a character that the others respond to. Everybody else thinking poorly of him for having perfectly reasonable reactions is a great shtick. He's just a normal guy who stumbled into this genre, help!
There is 0% chance that Shen Wei actually just got lucky in slicing the Hungry Ghost up with a chair, haha. He knew what he was doing.
Why do you think Li Qian wouldn't tell Zhao Yunlan about using the sundial and sharing half her life with her grandma?
For some reason I thought that Li Qian had killed her grandma, and that's why she was being cagey about the whole thing? It's possible that I osmosed very distorted spoilers, though.
How do you feel about the Ghost Slayer/Soul-Executing Emissary based on what we know about him so far?
I think he's gonna be a nice guy!
JK, looking forward to meeting him though.
If you were up against a hungry ghost, would you choose the mop or the hospital chair?
I think I'd choose the chair. More weight, haha.
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Haha, right? :D
JK, looking forward to meeting him though.
Yeah, same here, I'm really looking forward to that! I have a very vague recollection from my last attempt at the novel, and I can't wait to get there. :)
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Ha, right? Shameless and heartless, both.
Guo Changcheng is only acting slightly more exaggeratedly than I would in such a ghosts-and-monsters situation. I like how he's obviously an audience stand-in, but also a character that the others respond to. Everybody else thinking poorly of him for having perfectly reasonable reactions is a great shtick. He's just a normal guy who stumbled into this genre, help!
Yesss, this! *pets him so much*
For some reason I thought that Li Qian had killed her grandma, and that's why she was being cagey about the whole thing? It's possible that I osmosed very distorted spoilers, though.
In the drama, she left her sleeping pills in an unsecured drawer, and her grandmother Oded, presumably on purpose, presumably to stop being a burden. So I think she felt guilty even though she hadn't done anything very wrong. Maybe that's where you got that idea?
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This description of Xiao Guo is so funny but sooo accurate. Because you're right, he's having perfectly normal reactions to the situation, but everyone else is used to the existence of ghosts and monsters and things, so it makes his reactions seem over-the-top haha
For some reason I thought that Li Qian had killed her grandma, and that's why she was being cagey about the whole thing?
As someone who has read the novel before, all I have to say is: interesting. No further comments, guess we'll just have to read on and see~~
I think I'd choose the chair. More weight, haha.
A good choice!! I think I would also choose the chair haha
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She bent over and took an old, thread-bound account book from a drawer. "I borrowed this from the Netherworld."
...I'm envisioning an interdimensional library dumbwaiter now, and pneumatic tubes for sending messages back and forth. But also, compared with the drama, the SID seems to have a lot stronger connection with the Netherworld. It seemed like going back and forth in the drama was a huge deal, but here we have a regular delivery system of some kind and Lin Jing just pops over there as a temp sometimes.
She has a "python tail", so I'm imagining brown and green?
The fan translation has very different details about the Hallows from the official translation:
"when Pangu created the universe, and separated Yin and Yang, the Road to Hell and the Forgetful River were the only boundaries between the two realms. Afterwards, life flourished and increased in numbers, so the Gates of Hell were created to better manage life and death. Long before the Gates existed, the Four Mystical Artifacts were created, and the Sundial of Reincarnation is one of them."
vs
Legend has it that the first of the Hallowed Artifacts from the Netherworld is called the Reincarnation Dial. Its base was made from shards of the Three-Life Rock, and the scales on its back were from a kind of black fish found in the Wangchuan River. The fish are three chi, three cun long; their fins are hard as crystal and all point in the same direction. ... It doesn't explain where they came from or what became of them, but based on recent events, it seems like they've ended up in the Mortal Realm.
"I wondered why that girl was spewing lies, but borrowing life from the elderly? How could she do such a thing?"
Zhao Yunlan really does not think highly of Li Qian at all if that's what he immediately jumps to. (She might not have told Zhao Yunlan what she'd done with the dial just because she was freaked out - he asked if she'd done anything bad - and then he dropped that line of questioning? but I think she felt upset about the whole situation. Like the dial had cheated her by not giving Grandma good health as well as longer life, maybe? or she felt guilty about using it as much selfishly as out of love?)
In a family that valued sons over daughters, wehre the parents desperately wanted a son but didn't want to pay the fine for exceeding the birth limit, the daughter they already had became invisible. Everyone pretended she didn't exist.
...ow, but also confirms my impression of her family from the previous chapter, when Shen Wei called every relative possible and nobody was willing to come visit her in the hospital.
Excerpt 2: I know the official translation started from a different version of the original text, but I'm surprised at how much less evocative the prose is. (FWIW: the current JJWXC has the writing in cinnabar on the outside of the note and the actual message in gold.)
also OF COURSE the Emissary has not just precise but beautiful penmanship... I'm picturing meticulous writing in gold ink on black paper and yes, I want to frame it.
everyone: "omg the Emissary is terrifying." ZYL: "omg the Emissary is so old-fashioned and fussy." Conclusion: ZYL has no fear about being judged. Does he have 'diplomatic immunity' as the Guardian, or is he just convinced of his own righteousness?
"That's right, you're not hallucinating." - I don't think 'am I hallucinating?' was anywhere near Shen Wei's mind. More 'well this is interesting.' Either that, or... that spoiler I mentioned last week. (My battle weapon against the Hunger Ghost would probably be the mop rather than the chair. I would almost definitely lose, since I'm not Shen Wei.)
Guo Changcheng hadn't seen the actual scene of the crime, but from photos, he knew how it had looked: that young woman on the ground, her abdomen cut open.
Excellent deduction, Officer xiao-Guo! I think you can give your boss a better answer than "...murdered?" now. Assuming you don't either die of fright or get your abdomen cut open yourself.
"Might the divine cat have some wisdom to share?"
- Shen Wei is a cat person; - priest is also a cat person. (Why did Zhou Zishu and Wen Kexing not have a cat? we were robbed.) Da Qing insisting on his due respect in the middle of a life-or-death situation is just... A+ catting there sir.
Gosh, Professor Shen is sure taking all this in stride. Remarkably calm for a mild-mannered professor who's never seen anything weird before in his life... lol. :)
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Her lower body was covered by a blanket, and she sat very still in her seat. All that kept her from looking like she was convalescing was the rosiness in her face.
This made me wonder whether Zhu Hong is using the blanket because she's cold(-blooded), or to hide her tail. When she adjusts the blanket, it says she does so "absentmindedly", rather than hastily or anything, but I don't quite trust the adverbs. ;-) Any thoughts?
Thank you so much for the contrasting translations about the Ghost Slayer/SEE!
But from this inauspicious beginning, in a rare stroke of serendipity, he evolved to attain a physical form.
This might be our first hint of cultivation/evolution/changing form in the novel, I think? (I know it's a common trope, but since this was my first Cnovel, I hadn't really encountered it before.)
So interesting how the fan-translation describes the Soul-Executing Blade as if it's got its own agency. (I think in the drama, it's sometimes referred to as the Gonggong blade? Is that from here?)
And ah, Zhao Yunlan already knowing and having opinions on the Emissary is such a different vibe from the drama, where we see his first meeting with the Envoy. (Also, the fact that the Emissary is the one to reach out, rather than ZYL sending up a smoke signal.)
and right now, his genes were telling him that the safest place was between Shen Wei and the black cat.
Haha, I love that! <3
What colour do you think Zhu Hong's snake tail is? (i think we might find out at some point later on but i can't remember so. what are you all picturing?)
I don't visualise, but I'd guess purply brown or maroon. :-)
Why do you think Li Qian wouldn't tell Zhao Yunlan about using the sundial and sharing half her life with her grandma?
I think she's feeling bitter and hopeless. She knows she messed with forces she shouldn't have, and she got burnt, and she really doesn't need to be told it was stupid, what did she expect.
How do you feel about the Ghost Slayer/Soul-Executing Emissary based on what we know about him so far?
I find it really hard to extricate my reaction to the Emissary from my feelings about his drama counterpart. I guess, mostly, amused by all the courtliness and mystery. And I enjoy just how over-awed everyone is by him.
If you were up against a hungry ghost, would you choose the mop or the hospital chair?
Hee! The chair -- it would provide more cover.
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Coming from the drama, I'm inclined to think she's hiding her tail. :(
But from this inauspicious beginning, in a rare stroke of serendipity, he evolved to attain a physical form.
This might be our first hint of cultivation/evolution/changing form in the novel, I think?
Yeah, I don't think there was anything explicit about Daqing or Zhu Hong so far.
I think she's feeling bitter and hopeless. She knows she messed with forces she shouldn't have, and she got burnt, and she really doesn't need to be told it was stupid, what did she expect.
Poor Li Qian! :(
Hee! The chair -- it would provide more cover.
But the mop has more range! *g*
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So I have to admit that I have no good guesses (and don't remember if we find out). But you've left me thinking about Zhu Hong's snake form and just Snake Tribe in general. Are they all the same type of snake or is there variation? Obviously Crow Tribe are all crows (so a single type of bird), but snake is a BIG category with a lot of variation in shape, size, color, etc. (A convention of Kenyan sand boas would be adorable.)
If you were up against a hungry ghost, would you choose the mop or the hospital chair?
I want to say the chair, but honestly, I'd probably end up like Guo Changcheng if I was up against a hungry ghost.
Speaking of Guo Changcheng, you're right that he's wise to put himself between Shen Wei and Da Qing. There's also the quote from Guo Changcheng at the end of the chapter, "I haven't even gotten my first month's salary yet! Can't I at least see the money I won't even get to spend before I die?" and I think that's very relatable XD
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I want to say the chair, but honestly, I'd probably end up like Guo Changcheng if I was up against a hungry ghost.
*high fives you* :D
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My favorite thing in this reading was Shen Wei's understanding of cats, going so smoothly from saying "kitty" to saying "divine cat" when Daqing acted insulted.
I could really relate to Guo Changcheng's "...he found phone calls far more terrifying than speaking face-to-face..."
The interaction between Zhu Hong and Zhao Yunlan was an uncomfortable read for me. I thought that his comments about menstruation were impertinent and his calling her "dumbass" was hostile. Is something like this common in the culture of Chinese employer-employee interactions or is this "over the top" for the sake of the story?
I'm very intrigued about Shen Wei's "unfulfilled wishes".
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I found Zhu Hong's side of things more uncomfortable than his, but I do think Zhao Yunlan is meant to be read as crossing lines here as well, as part of his characterisation.
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“It’s growing back together! It’s growing back together again!” Guo Changcheng yelled pointlessly. He was either adding to the chaos or…well, adding to the chaos.
Guo Changcheng is my spirit animal.
And Shen Wei is a BADASS. And Daqing is talking to him! I am so happy. I have no notes on the plot itself, I feel like a toddler being entertained by jangling keys in the shape of cool things happening. xD
Guo Changcheng realizing that crying was what he needed is weirdly sweet! And the promise to protect them despite his fear.
If I were up against a hungry ghost I’d want to choose the chair, but I don’t know if I’d trust myself to be able to wield it effectively. Maybe a mop would be lighter / easier to handle?
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Yes! Isn't she cool? :D (Icon is drama!Zhu Hong.)
I feel like a toddler being entertained by jangling keys in the shape of cool things happening. xD
Hee! I felt that on my first read through, and yup, I'm still kind of just going along for the ride. :D
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The hospital scene is so scary!!!
The moment when they step out into the corridor and all the doctors and nurses are just gone felt very Twilight-Zone-ish to me. Brrrr!
Guo Changcheng's very realistic reaction (screaming, of course!) at the sight of the fetal ghost and Da Qing's matter-of-fact explanation bookended the author's vivid and frightening description really well. I also wondered if that ghost was supposed to remind us of the one-child law and Li Qian's invisibility to her family.
Finally, I wondered if GCC's question to Shen Wei about unfulfilled wishes had any significance vis-a-vis the power he acquires in the drama. I don't know whether he acquires a similar power in the novel, but if not, perhaps the screenwriters were inspired by that question? I need to read on!!!
Re: The hospital scene is so scary!!!
I wondered if GCC's question to Shen Wei about unfulfilled wishes had any significance vis-a-vis the power he acquires in the drama
Ooh, an excellent question, I think there's definitely a connection there! Very cool. :D
Re: The hospital scene is so scary!!!