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sid_guardian2024-12-14 01:30 pm
china_shop) wrote in sid_guardian2024-12-14 01:30 pm
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Guardian readalong: chapters 11 & 12
Hello! Welcome back (or just welcome!) to our readalong of Guardian! Whatever translation you're reading, whatever language you're reading it in, please join in our discussion!
Previous read-along posts, all still open for comments:
This week's chapters are 11 and 12 of the official translation, starting with Zhao Yunlan & co returning to the SID, and taking us up to the end of the Reincarnation Dial arc.
Chapter 11: When they return to the SID, Zhao Yunlan explains Xiao Guo's working conditions and benefits; the Soul-Executing Emissary pays a visit; Zhao Yunlan and Lin Jing interrogate Li Qian while the Emissary and Xiao Guo look on.
Chapter 12: Li Qian says the Reincarnation Dial turned her grandmother into a monster, and Xiao Guo tells her the truth; the Soul-Executing Emissary leaves to find the Dial; Zhao Yunlan arrives in time to hear a monster deliver a message from his master to the Emissary; the Dial is missing.
Excerpts
1) Guo Changcheng sets the lowest bar imaginable for himself
Compared to an evening of being chased by the Hunger Ghost, scurrying and clambering all over the place, lao-Wu’s papier-mâché face seemed downright kind. Guo Changcheng smiled weakly and kept his real feelings to himself. “I-It was great…”
Lao-Wu laughed, bright and clear. “It’s okay if you’re not used to it at first. Work hard and learn. You’re alive! You have potential!”
For the first time, Guo Changcheng realized that even he had an advantage in this workforce: he was alive.
2) Our first impression of the Soul-Executing Emissary
The guest’s slim body was entirely wrapped in a black robe that hid even his hands and feet, and his face was concealed by a veil of black mist. Nothing else could be discerned through all the inky blackness. He first stopped at the door, then bowed to Zhao Yunlan from a distance, hands together. His long sleeves swept the tops of his feet as he spoke. “My apologies for the disturbance.”
Zhao Yunlan held up a yellow paper talisman, lit it, and let the ashes fall into a cup of hot tea. The ashes dissolved in an instant, taking all the heat from the cup with them. In the same moment, a steaming cup appeared in the black-robed man’s hands.
[...]
As he passed by, Guo Changcheng caught a scent. It wasn’t the rotting smell they’d encountered at the hospital; it wasn’t foul at all. It was a very light fragrance that reminded Guo Changcheng of midwinter at the foot of the Daxing’anling Mountains far to the north. It was the scent that accompanies the first breath when you push open the door and walk out into the morning after a whole night of snow. It was the scent of endless, eternally unmelting snow: pure and impossibly cold, tinged with the last fragrance of dying blossoms. The scent carried far into the distance, all the way to the end of the road of life.
The Soul-Executing Emissary spoke softly and eloquently, like a scholar in a period drama. Objectively, other than the eerie black mist concealing his face, he was unremarkable. But as Guo Changcheng came fully awake, he was filled with an unforgettable fear—a fear that was baseless and irrational but rooted in his very soul.
3) A monster delivers a message
The monster turned its neck stiffly under the blade and looked in Zhao Yunlan’s direction. It replied to the Emissary but didn’t answer his question. “My master asked me to convey a message. My lord, you have performed your duties meticulously for centuries, each day like the one before. You’ve avoided the person enshrined at the tip of your heart much as you’d avoid raging floods and savage beasts. To all appearances you are the epitome of self-control, but don’t you truly fear being unable to control yourself?”
The Emissary said nothing, but the coldness emanating from him grew heavier.
“My master has tremendous sympathy for your deep feelings, my lord, and went to the effort of having him brought before you. He wished to see if you are truly without desire, without—”
This time, the Emissary didn’t let the creature finish. His blade flashed, turning the wart-covered head into a fountain of blood.
Questions
What do you think of the working conditions at the SID? Did reading about Xiao Guo's merits change your opinion of him? Can Zhao Yunlan make good tea, or is the Emissary just being polite? What's your impression of the Emissary based on these chapters?
You can see the schedule and sign up to host a post here.
Previous read-along posts, all still open for comments:
This week's chapters are 11 and 12 of the official translation, starting with Zhao Yunlan & co returning to the SID, and taking us up to the end of the Reincarnation Dial arc.
Chapter 11: When they return to the SID, Zhao Yunlan explains Xiao Guo's working conditions and benefits; the Soul-Executing Emissary pays a visit; Zhao Yunlan and Lin Jing interrogate Li Qian while the Emissary and Xiao Guo look on.
Chapter 12: Li Qian says the Reincarnation Dial turned her grandmother into a monster, and Xiao Guo tells her the truth; the Soul-Executing Emissary leaves to find the Dial; Zhao Yunlan arrives in time to hear a monster deliver a message from his master to the Emissary; the Dial is missing.
Excerpts
1) Guo Changcheng sets the lowest bar imaginable for himself, 2) Our first impression of the Soul-Executing Emissary, 3) A monster delivers a message
1) Guo Changcheng sets the lowest bar imaginable for himself
Compared to an evening of being chased by the Hunger Ghost, scurrying and clambering all over the place, lao-Wu’s papier-mâché face seemed downright kind. Guo Changcheng smiled weakly and kept his real feelings to himself. “I-It was great…”
Lao-Wu laughed, bright and clear. “It’s okay if you’re not used to it at first. Work hard and learn. You’re alive! You have potential!”
For the first time, Guo Changcheng realized that even he had an advantage in this workforce: he was alive.
2) Our first impression of the Soul-Executing Emissary
The guest’s slim body was entirely wrapped in a black robe that hid even his hands and feet, and his face was concealed by a veil of black mist. Nothing else could be discerned through all the inky blackness. He first stopped at the door, then bowed to Zhao Yunlan from a distance, hands together. His long sleeves swept the tops of his feet as he spoke. “My apologies for the disturbance.”
Zhao Yunlan held up a yellow paper talisman, lit it, and let the ashes fall into a cup of hot tea. The ashes dissolved in an instant, taking all the heat from the cup with them. In the same moment, a steaming cup appeared in the black-robed man’s hands.
[...]
As he passed by, Guo Changcheng caught a scent. It wasn’t the rotting smell they’d encountered at the hospital; it wasn’t foul at all. It was a very light fragrance that reminded Guo Changcheng of midwinter at the foot of the Daxing’anling Mountains far to the north. It was the scent that accompanies the first breath when you push open the door and walk out into the morning after a whole night of snow. It was the scent of endless, eternally unmelting snow: pure and impossibly cold, tinged with the last fragrance of dying blossoms. The scent carried far into the distance, all the way to the end of the road of life.
The Soul-Executing Emissary spoke softly and eloquently, like a scholar in a period drama. Objectively, other than the eerie black mist concealing his face, he was unremarkable. But as Guo Changcheng came fully awake, he was filled with an unforgettable fear—a fear that was baseless and irrational but rooted in his very soul.
3) A monster delivers a message
The monster turned its neck stiffly under the blade and looked in Zhao Yunlan’s direction. It replied to the Emissary but didn’t answer his question. “My master asked me to convey a message. My lord, you have performed your duties meticulously for centuries, each day like the one before. You’ve avoided the person enshrined at the tip of your heart much as you’d avoid raging floods and savage beasts. To all appearances you are the epitome of self-control, but don’t you truly fear being unable to control yourself?”
The Emissary said nothing, but the coldness emanating from him grew heavier.
“My master has tremendous sympathy for your deep feelings, my lord, and went to the effort of having him brought before you. He wished to see if you are truly without desire, without—”
This time, the Emissary didn’t let the creature finish. His blade flashed, turning the wart-covered head into a fountain of blood.
Questions
What do you think of the working conditions at the SID? Did reading about Xiao Guo's merits change your opinion of him? Can Zhao Yunlan make good tea, or is the Emissary just being polite? What's your impression of the Emissary based on these chapters?
Poll #32362 Terminology
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 10
Which do you prefer for the novel?
View Answers
Soul-Executing Emissary
1 (10.0%)
Ghost Slayer
5 (50.0%)
Soul-Slaying Envoy
1 (10.0%)
Zhanhunshi
3 (30.0%)
other
1 (10.0%)
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This is so cool! Love this way of making tea for Zhanhunshi. It immediately sets him apart from the living beings present, but also shows Zhao Yunlan making an effort to accommodate his other-ness.
What do you think of the working conditions at the SID?
They need a union to ensure worker safety and proper onboarding for new hires.
Can Zhao Yunlan make good tea, or is the Emissary just being polite?
Good question! I also wonder if he can taste the ashes, and if so, does that make the tea better or worse?
What's your impression of the Emissary based on these chapters?
A scary ghost with good manners. Love him❤
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Yes! Great point! And accommodating the other-ness without making too big a deal about it. It's very cool. :D
They need a union to ensure worker safety and proper onboarding for new hires.
Hee! <3
I also wonder if he can taste the ashes, and if so, does that make the tea better or worse?
Maybe it just makes it smoky? ;-)
:D :D :D
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This, exactly! ♥ ♥ ♥
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Yes! I really love that!
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I liked Zhao Yunlan patiently (if belatedly) explaining the SID working conditions to Xiao Guo. He seems subdued here, probably because he's exhausted. It doesn't seem fair that Daqing gets to sleep through the next two chapters. ;-)
Ha, Guo Changcheng isn't the least offended by being outright labelled a nepo baby. *pets him* And then, ooh, Guo Changcheng's merits, suggesting he's not quite the hapless ordinary youth he seems. *hearts*
Grabbing a chair at random, Zhao Yunlan sat, sprawling forward on the table like a dead dog. - LOL!
I find the Emissary's face being concealed behind a veil of mist super uncanny and disturbing. It's too much like the victims of the face-stealer in the drama. /o\ But yeah, I do love the talisman-conveyed ghost tea. ♥
"Lord-Executing Emissary" -- this is incredibly nitpicky, but that hyphen made me laugh.
I looove Xiao Guo's theorising about the Emissary coming from the southern hemisphere, and how he tries to comfort himself with Socialist Values, lol. (Poor little pumpkin is still in denial about which genre he's in.) But I'm sad Daqing sleeps through the whole thing, so we don't get to see his reaction to the Emissary.
The Emissary starts explaining his presence with "For a few reasons," but I think he only gave one: the Reincarnation Dial? Did I miss something?
Spoilery: The Emissary explaining the seal in terms of hearsay ("Legend describes them...") is a deliberate misdirect, right? I don't understand why he chooses to conceal his first-hand knowledge. It's not like everyone doesn't know he's ancient.
Zhao Yunlan raised an eyebrow, then snapped his fingers. The ropes fell off as if sound activated.
??? Is this a magic power? Are the ropes magic? What am I missing?
I love Lin Jing knowing how to work with Zhao Yunlan during the interrogation. It's harsh on Li Qian, but the seamless good cop-bad cop routine is pretty great.
I didn't catch the stuff about the Bottle of Rebirth. Zhao Yunlan says he got it from the Emissary; Lin Jing explains what it is -- but also lets Zhao Yunlan know that he knows the Emissary didn't give it to him. Where did it come from? Because I thought the only thing we saw Zhao Yunlan catch in a bottle was the hunger ghost.
Ooh, the monster's message: such a taunt. Isn't his "master" basically going, "You're so thirsty for [spoiler] -- can you even control yourself?" Hitting the Emissary right where it hurts, and the Emissary is have NONE of that.
Things relating to the drama:
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LOL! That would be the most convenient, yeah. *g*
I find the Emissary's face being concealed behind a veil of mist super uncanny and disturbing.
Heh. I really like it myself, but it's meant to be uncanny, so your reaction is probably more fitting. I just really appreciate him being so entirely Other, with no hint of a human face to make it easier. And ZYL being entirely unbothered by it!
"Lord-Executing Emissary" -- this is incredibly nitpicky, but that hyphen made me laugh.
He could execute some lords, for a treat? *g*
But I'm sad Daqing sleeps through the whole thing, so we don't get to see his reaction to the Emissary.
Seriously!
The Emissary starts explaining his presence with "For a few reasons," but I think he only gave one: the Reincarnation Dial? Did I miss something?
If you missed it, I missed it too.
Spoilery: The Emissary explaining the seal in terms of hearsay ("Legend describes them...") is a deliberate misdirect, right? I don't understand why he chooses to conceal his first-hand knowledge. It's not like everyone doesn't know he's ancient.
Yeah, it has to be, though idk either why he's concealing it.
??? Is this a magic power? Are the ropes magic? What am I missing?
I was assuming ZYL had powers.
I love Lin Jing knowing how to work with Zhao Yunlan during the interrogation. It's harsh on Li Qian, but the seamless good cop-bad cop routine is pretty great.
Yeah, it's pretty well done! And it makes sense, now that ZYL has actually figured something out - before, I felt like he was being mean without reason, but this time, the reason is there, and I can appreciate the competence.
I didn't catch the stuff about the Bottle of Rebirth.
THANK YOU, I'm so glad it's not just me who lost the plot there!!!
Ooh, the monster's message: such a taunt. Isn't his "master" basically going, "You're so thirsty for [spoiler] -- can you even control yourself?" Hitting the Emissary right where it hurts, and the Emissary is have NONE of that.
But it hurts anyway! Yeah, our villain really knows where to aim.
The chill that Xiao Guo feels when the Emissary arrives -- does that mean the clouds of smoke on drama!Envoy's first arrival at the SID are actually condensation?
I always thought it was fog, not smoke!
Zhao Yunlan makes the Emissary tea, vs drama!ZYL saying, "Next time, come early, I'll treat you to some first-class tea."
Yes! Such a neat callback even though they couldn't have a scene like that in the drama because no ghosts also means no ghost tea. *g*
The Emissary called Zhao Yunlan "the Guardian", which seems much more formal than the Envoy's "Zhao-xiong" to me?
Yeah, agreed.
"The Guardian must not joke so carelessly." cf variations on "Don't joke about [your health/your family]" in the drama. :D :D :D
Indeed! :D :D :D
Yes!! I wish we'd got the Emissary's reaction, but I suppose that would have been a bit too revealing.
Yeah, but also, those lines gain so much when you can see SW reacting to them!
Oh, Li Qian's granny is Wang Yufen here, not Li Yufen -- I guess they made her a paternal grandmother for the drama?
No, she's her 奶奶 nǎinai, paternal grandmother, in both. (I just double-checked the Chinese version of the novel.) It's more unusual for her to be surnamed Li in the drama, since it means she and her husband must have had the same surname. (Which used to be considered taboo, once!)
Having drama!Li Qian conscious for her grandmother's intervention was so much kinder than having novel!Xiao Guo scold her for not knowing her grandmother loves her. /o\
Yeah, I didn't really like that part in the novel, tbh. Seriously, poor novel!Li Qian. She gets the short end of the stick every time.
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ZYL has much stronger nerves than me (unsurprisingly). No wonder everyone else finds the Emissary unnerving.
He could execute some lords, for a treat? *g*
LOL! Ghost lords?
I was assuming ZYL had powers.
Huh. I wonder where they derive from -- are they (supposedly) a Guardian thing? -- and what their limits are. (It's such a huge difference from the drama.)
THANK YOU, I'm so glad it's not just me who lost the plot there!!!
*high fives* Hopefully there's an explanation at some point?
I always thought it was fog, not smoke!
No one reacts to it in a shivering or coughing way, afair, so I was never sure, and it's just after the incense message. But yeah, probably.
Yeah, but also, those lines gain so much when you can see SW reacting to them!
SO MUCH!
Thanks for the info about Li Yufen. (If the drama had been made with an international audience in mind, I would have thought they'd done it to avoid confusion to clueless westerners, but I presume the primary audience was intended to be domestic...?)
*pets Li Qian so much*
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That is such a good line, LOL.
I love the ghost tea and how it combines with the Envoy's image, completely Other and mysterious. :D
And I'm just calling him the Envoy for now, because none of the translations of his title quite work for me, but "Envoy" is definitely better than "Emissary", and if I had to choose between the options in the poll, I'd go with Soul-Slaying Envoy.
Some more random observations/thoughts:
Depriving us of Daqing's reaction to the Envoy, boo! (Deliberately hiding it? I don't remember anything, but it does seem awfully convenient ...)
Have genre awareness instead, Xiao-Guo! *g*
Ominous! I wonder what he means by it.
Very good questions all, I would like some answers myself ... At least Lin Jing asking is reassuring insofar as it should mean there is an answer, LOL, but it for sure left me feeling like I missed something. Can anyone explain?
Ha, yeah, that sounds right about novel!SW's self-image - that's exactly the impression I got of him, though I couldn't exactly say from where. *g*
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Entirely fair! I'm finding "Emissary" a useful way to distinguish between him and the drama!Envoy, since they're different in many significant ways.
Excellent point about the cafeteria! At the start of chapter 7, it says, "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." So maybe there are other units, too? But if so, what do they do? And is ZYL in charge of all of them?
(In the Chinese version he just calls him by his title.)
Oh really? Not even a "daren"?
and SW even sits down with ZYL, and then again in the interrogation room - something the drama version of the Envoy never does.
Oh, wow, how had I never noticed that. (Hm, actually, I'd say that the ep 14 post-reveal tea-drinking scene is Shen Wei as plain-clothes Envoy? But yeah, I can't think of any time he sits down in his robes...)
Also, for all that it's the first time we see ZYL and the Envoy together, it's pretty much a non-event as far as personal dynamics between them go, which I found a bit disappointing.
Yeah, agreed. Neither of them are particularly focused on each other, and they've met before, so there's none of the sense of discovery.
Have genre awareness instead, Xiao-Guo! *g*
Hee! <3
Quote: Then I realized I was missing the obvious explanation: the connection between her life and the Reincarnation Dial it was tethered to was unexpectedly broken. In other words, the person who gave her that life was also the one who killed her.
So yeah, Li Qian's confession must be real. I wonder when Zhao Yunlan worked that out...
> > "One day we will meet in the Netherworld. On that day, I will await you with justice."
> Ominous! I wonder what he means by it.
Right?! (I'm confused about the lenience part, too. I think my first time through, I just let the plot blur by in favourite of relationships. :-)
Great point about the portal -- I love the amethyst.
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Oh, great catch! Yeah, I'd assume ZYL was in charge of them all, but maybe only personally working with criminal investiation? Idk.
Oh really? Not even a "daren"?
Nope, just his title!
I'd say that the ep 14 post-reveal tea-drinking scene is Shen Wei as plain-clothes Envoy?
I wouldn't count it, since the boundary between identities isn't intact any more at that point, but yeah, that's probably the closest it comes!
So yeah, Li Qian's confession must be real. I wonder when Zhao Yunlan worked that out...
Yeah, good question! Some time after learning about the Reincarnation Dial from Zhu Hong, it must have been ...
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> Very good questions all, I would like some answers myself ... At least Lin Jing asking is reassuring insofar as it should mean there is an answer, LOL, but it for sure left me feeling like I missed something. Can anyone explain?
I just got to this part and I’m confused too…I think EITHER Zhao Yunlan captured the old lady’s spirit in the Bottle of Rebirth of his own initiative because he felt sorry for Li Qian and her grandmother, was pre-emptively heading off GCC’s misery, or is just capricious; OR he’s lying wholesale to Guo Changcheng and what GCC saw in the bottle was just a trick.
Based on Lin Jing’s “what reason is there to be merciful?” though, I’m inclined to believe the former.
Also, Lin Jing also asks him, “why are you going through such lengths to make the intern feel better?” or something like that, and I think the answer may be related to the shining spiritual thing he sensed on GCC last chapter.
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I think the answer may be related to the shining spiritual thing he sensed on GCC last chapter.
Oh, good point, that might well be part of it. Maybe he's approving of GCC having spoken up during the interrogation, too? Or perhaps he just feels like there's been enough misery for one night.
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Also, Lin Jing also asks him, “why are you going through such lengths to make the intern feel better?” or something like that, and I think the answer may be related to the shining spiritual thing he sensed on GCC last chapter.
Oh, yeah, that's what I was assuming - that he's looking at GCC differently because he's realised there's something more to him, even if it doesn't yet add up for him.
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Not only did we get no Da Qing reaction or POV, we got no Envoy POV, only ZYL's POV of the Envoy. (rot13) guvaxvat nobhg vg, rirel ovg bs Fura Jrv'f ernpgvba gb Munb Lhayna xvaq bs arrqf gb or erpbagrkghnyvmrq jvgu gur xabjyrqtr gung ur vfa'g whfg ohzcvat vagb uvz sbe gur svefg gvzr va 10,000 lrnef, ohg gurl'ir orra zrrgvat erthyneyl sbe jbex ernfbaf sbe ng yrnfg frireny lrnef.
(as an aside, are we considering the thing I'm rot13ing about a spoiler? are there people here who haven't seen the drama and are new to the book?)
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"To all appearances you are the epitome of self-control, but don’t you truly fear being unable to control yourself?”
Yes, yes he does. And how he must have hated that ZYL was there to hear that.
The Envoy really did seem like what ZYL described: polite, courteous, perhaps a little old-fashioned... and also dispassionately standing in a pile of corpses he's just created to interrogate a little monster-ghost about where the Resurrection Dial has gotten off to... and also the one who will be meeting you with Justice when you reach the Netherworld. The thing is... you know what you did. I suspect for most people (and especially ghosts) being in his presence reminds you of every time you used the work printer for personal business and every rolling stop you've ever made in your car, or some spiritual equivalent thereof.
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Yes, yes he does. And how he must have hated that ZYL was there to hear that.
Ohhhhhhhh, yeah, such a great point. That's absolutely the last thing he'd want Zhao Yunlan to hear, on so many levels!
and also dispassionately standing in a pile of corpses he's just created to interrogate a little monster-ghost about where the Resurrection Dial has gotten off to...
LOL! :D
I suspect for most people (and especially ghosts) being in his presence reminds you of every time you used the work printer for personal business and every rolling stop you've ever made in your car, or some spiritual equivalent thereof.
Haha, right? :D :D :D
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And how he must have hated that ZYL was there to hear that.
Seriously!!!!!
I suspect for most people (and especially ghosts) being in his presence reminds you of every time you used the work printer for personal business and every rolling stop you've ever made in your car, or some spiritual equivalent thereof.
That is such a fantastic description, wow!
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GCC is such an empathetic and relatable character. I liked it a lot when he smiled back at lao-Wu. That’s growth.
Also, he was the only real “good cop” in that room.
I’m a bit confused by what happened with the teacup. Can the Emissary not hold physical objects?
The Emissary truly sounds just as Zhao Yunlan described him. I wonder why ZYL is not affected by The Fear. Is the Emissary deliberately suppressing it for him or is the Soul-Guarding Token helping?
I wonder if the Emissary is also distorting his voice?
I found Li Qian much less sympathetic in this than in the show.
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100% truth.
I’m a bit confused by what happened with the teacup. Can the Emissary not hold physical objects?
I think Zhao Yunlan doesn't know he can?
The Emissary truly sounds just as Zhao Yunlan described him. I wonder why ZYL is not affected by The Fear. Is the Emissary deliberately suppressing it for him or is the Soul-Guarding Token helping?
I figured it's more that ZYL is willing to see beyond the surface, though I expect him being the Guardian does help. I don't think it's something others wouldn't be capable of, though! (Or at least I wouldn't like it if it were like that.)
I found Li Qian much less sympathetic in this than in the show.
I mean, drama!Li Qian didn't kill her granny, so, yeah. *g* But I still felt for novel!Li Qian a lot; she was clearly completely at the end of her rope with no support whatsoever.
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Ha, so true.
I wonder why ZYL is not affected by The Fear. Is the Emissary deliberately suppressing it for him or is the Soul-Guarding Token helping?
I suspect it's partly ZYL's innate arrogance and narcissism, too. He thinks he's immune to everything. ;-)
Great question about the Emissary's voice. Hmmmm...
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I particularly like where Lao-Wu says to Guo Changcheng "You're alive! You have potential!" (I like that I can apply that to myself and those around me IRL.)
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And yeah, that is such a good line. :D
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Haha, yes, so relatable! :-D
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That's such a cool way to look at it! As I mentioned above regarding Li Qian, I wasn't sure what to expect from the novel (other than a vague impression of Chinese mythology and actual BL), but it's been a much richer experience than I expected.
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