Guardian Readalong: Vol. 2, Chapters 7 & 8

[china_shop]

Welcome to this week's installment of the Guardian novel readalong! Here are last week's chapters, and you can find all previous discussions on the schedule post (vol. 1 part 1, vol. 1 part 2, vol. 2), or via the !readalong tag.

This week's chapters:

Chapter 7: The SID team and Shen Wei work to trap the resentful spirit Wang Xiangyang. Zhao Yunlan summons a ghost army using sorcery. Da Qing is incensed; Chu Shuzhi thinks it's cool.
Chapter 8: Shen Wei is furious about the sorcery, but Zhao Yunlan cajoles him out of it. The team interrogates Wang Xiangyang, and we get his backstory. Shen Wei sanctions Wang Xiangyang's revenge, and the Merit Brush is in play. Shen Wei is called to the Netherworld. Zhao Yunlan takes advantage of his absence to go to West Plum Village, stepping into what is most definitely a trap.

The corresponding chapters in the Chinese version on JJWXC and the fan translation are 54 to 56.

Excerpts:

1) Da Qing is furious about the sorcery
All the strength seemed to have drained out of Zhao Yunlan. He stumbled back and leaned on the wall behind him, ignoring everyone’s terrified gaze. He shook his still-bleeding hand and said, short of breath, “I still got a little blood on my sleeve. Will dry cleaning get it out?”

Very carefully, Daqing asked, “Yunlan?”

Zhao Yunlan raised a brow. “Hmm?”

That expression was all too familiar. This was the Zhao Yunlan who was always in need of a good swipe. With no further hesitation, Daqing reached out and smacked him. “What the fuck was that?! I never taught you this kind of sorcery!”

Zhao Yunlan said smugly, “Humans can read, dumb cat.”

Daqing jumped to stand on Zhao Yunlan’s thighs, forepaws on the human’s shoulders. Right in Zhao Yunlan’s face, he bellowed, “What exactly did you take out of the library?!”



2) Shen Wei is furious about the sorcery
“Don’t talk to me!” Shen Wei was pale with fury. His hand, still held in midair, trembled. “‘Perish, foes, though mortal or god; any may fall by their blades’? The Guardian’s power must defy description! What mad arrogance! Don’t… Don’t you fear punishment from the Heavens?”

Zhao Yunlan had rarely seen Shen Wei or the Soul-Executing Emissary show true anger. He quickly caught hold of Shen Wei’s ice-cold hands and apologized first, the rest be damned. “You’re absolutely right. I was wrong. If you want to hit me, go ahead. Don’t be mad, okay? Don’t be mad.”

Shen Wei shook him off. “Do you think this is a joke? Are you somehow unaware that gathering souls with the Ghost Army Summons is utterly forbidden sorcery? Do you even understand what sorcery is? Do you imagine the Three Realms are beneath you? With such disregard for the Heavens, will nothing satisfy you but to tear the sky asunder?! When that happens, you…y-you’ll…”

He broke off abruptly. When he could finally speak again, he took half a step back. “When that happens, what am I to do?” he asked, voice shaking.

Zhao Yunlan’s heart ached for him. He reached out to pull Shen Wei into his arms. “I was wrong, babe. I’m sorry.”

He thought his apology was appropriately sincere, but the words triggered something in Shen Wei. Shen Wei shoved him away, pinning him against the door with one hand and grabbing his collar brutally with the other. “Don’t try to fool me the same way you’ve fooled who knows how many others.”

“Okay.” Zhao Yunlan gave a helpless sigh. “I’ll just stop talking, then.”

With no more warning than that, he leaned in to ambush Shen Wei’s icy lips.



3) Chu Shuzhi is supportive of Guo Changcheng during the interrogation
Chu Shuzhi shot a sidelong glance at Guo Changcheng, who immediately sat up straight and looked down at his palm, which he’d turned into a cheat sheet by writing all over it. As though reciting from a book, he began, “N-name, age, time of death, cause of death.”

The resentful spirit’s gaze fell on Guo Changcheng, eliciting another shiver of fright. Chu Shuzhi put a hand on Guo Changcheng’s shoulder.



4) Shen Wei pronounces judgement on Wang Xiangyang
It was Shen Wei who spoke first. “Those who seize what they want without permission are thieves, whether it’s gold and silver or a handful of fruit. Theft is theft. And to cause another person to lose their life in the course of it? I believe they are as guilty as someone committing murder for personal gain.”

As soon as Shen Wei had opened his mouth, it was too late for Zhao Yunlan to stop him. However he appeared at the moment, he was still the Soul-Executing Emissary. Legend said that the Soul-Executing Blade had come into existence even before the Reincarnation Cycle was established. Now that he had spoken, not even the Yanluo Courts could overturn his verdict. With those few words, Shen Wei had essentially sanctioned Wang Xiangyang’s revenge.



5) Zhao Yunlan complains about Shen Wei being called away
Half-seriously, Zhao Yunlan grumbled, “This is horrible. I finally managed to gain a little ground with my lord, so I thought maybe I could get you to put out a little tonight. Now I’ll be spending the night lonely and unsatisfied.” He sighed as he added, “Tomorrow I’ll be coming to work with dark circles under my eyes.”

Speechless, Shen Wei passed through the window without another word and disappeared into a cloud of black mist.


Questions:
Whose contribution to apprehending Wang Xiangyang did you enjoy the most? Whose reaction to the sorcery? Did you enjoy the Weilan dynamic in these chapters? Did Wang Xiangyang's backstory make you feel sorry for him? What do you think of Shen Wei's judgement? On a scale of 1 to 10, how inevitable was it that Zhao Yunlan would walk into the West Plum Village trap?

(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! You don't have to be keeping up with the readalong!)

Our schedule for this round -- please sign up to host a post if you can!

Comments

[facethestrange]

[DRIVE-BY SQUEE :D :D]

"Looking down at Shen Wei, he then swiped his thumb across his lips and licked it lightly."

!!! :D :D :D What else did you expect from me HONESTLY. But srsly I'm so glad that the drama saw this and just went absolutely ALL OUT on this concept. xD :D :D

AND ALSO of course the 'Shen Wei gets really, really angry about Zhao Yunlan putting himself in danger' scene from the drama IS supposed to end with a kiss, AND THEN ANOTHER KISS. ♡♡♡ I mean, what else. :D

"“When that happens, what am I to do?” he asked, voice shaking."

Asdfghghfjdkslhjkl;;; *WIBBLES*

“My back hurts. So does my chest. You actually got angry at me! You’re the soul of courtesy to everyone else, but you got angry at me! You won’t even let me talk! How could you make me so sad?” His words were punctuated with a pout.

Shen Wei, not realizing Zhao Yunlan was trying to be cute, mumbled, “I… I didn’t mean to…”

Zhao Yunlan looked up at him expressionlessly. Just as Shen Wei was starting to panic a little, Zhao Yunlan reached up and tapped his own lips. “Kiss me again. Coax your forgiveness from your lord’s lips.”

OBSESSED WITH THIS. TOTALLY 100%. I know I KNOW, what else is new, but I'm just so weak for this, and if the 'ZYL is suddenly tender and soft' wasn't my favorite novel Weilan scene, THIS WOULD BE. ♡♡♡ AND HE DOES KISS HIM, I can't, k.

And he heals his hand, and he nearly CRIES ABOUT IT, asdfghjkl;lkjhgfghjkl I'm just over here covered in Weilan feelings.

Alsooooooooooooo not Weilan for once LOOKIT *brings attention to the crack thread where Xiao Guo adopts one of the Ghost Soldiers* :D :D

I'll get to everything else later. :D

[china_shop]

I had fun with these two chapters. I liked seeing the SID team and Shen Wei work so well together (even if, omg, ZHAO YUNLAN!!), the Weilan stuff was entertaining (ZYL is such a brat!), and I enjoyed the novel grappling with morality. Plus a few tiny hints of ChuGuo slashiness, yay! \o/

For me, Lin Jing was the MVP of the arrest, both for trying to show mercy to the resentful spirit, and for spidering his way up the wall. And being prepared to sacrifice his lamp oil. Special mention to Daqing for smacking ZYL on the nose, lol.

Some notes from my read-through:

“This isn’t the time for ‘Huh?’” Chu Shuzhi stalked over and stuck a yellow paper talisman to Guo Changcheng’s face. “Shut your mouth and keep quiet.”

LOL! And also, d'awww! :D (Is Guo Changcheng's third eye still open, or was that a temporary thing? Enquiring minds need to know.)

I really appreciated Lin Jing chanting scriptures at the resentful spirit, recognising it as a was-once-a-person, and giving it a chance. Even if it was never going to work out, I think it's great that he tried. *pets him approvingly*

Just before Zhao Yunlan pulls his sorcery stunt, Lin Jing is about to try something with lamp oil, but Zhao Yunlan tells him not to. In other words, THERE WERE OTHER OPTIONS, ZHAO YUNLAN!! This was not an "in extremis" situation -- this was a "IDGAF and I do what I want" move. No wonder everyone's so mad at him!!

With no further hesitation, Daqing reached out and smacked him. “What the fuck was that?! I never taught you this kind of sorcery!”

*hearts Daqing so much*

And then total LOL at Chu Shuzhi's reaction:

That was when Chu Shuzhi phoned from the roof. He’d been all too happy to watch the chaos unfold and was vibrating from head to toe with uncharacteristic excitement. “Was that the Ghost Army just now? Who summoned them? Are they crazy? That was so fucking hot!”

Hee! Read the room, man!

Zhao Yunlan insisting on being too cool for school, referring to the sorcery as a detox -- amusing, but still. *eyes him*

A bolt of lightning that had been waiting in the skies all that time was suddenly unleashed.

I'm confused about this. Where did the lightning come from? Did someone do that and I missed it?

So convenient that all the windows put themselves back together. Ha!

Chu Shuzhi’s arrogance was rooted in his confidence in his abilities. He was civil enough with people he knew but rarely bothered paying attention to strangers. Now, though, he addressed Shen Wei warmly. “You did a beautiful job of holding the eye of the array.”

Aww, love that. (I realise I'm importing CSZ & SW feels from the drama here, but even so. <3 <3 <3)

Haha, in his fury, Shen Wei drags Zhao Yunlan into the bathroom to talk. :D :D :D (Poor Shen Wei!) Also, this is totally the drama!nose-bleed scene, isn't it?

Shen Wei shook him off. “Do you think this is a joke? Are you somehow unaware that gathering souls with the Ghost Army Summons is utterly forbidden sorcery? Do you even understand what sorcery is? Do you imagine the Three Realms are beneath you? With such disregard for the Heavens, will nothing satisfy you but to tear the sky asunder?! When that happens, you…y-you’ll…”

He broke off abruptly. When he could finally speak again, he took half a step back. “When that happens, what am I to do?” he asked, voice shaking.

Poor, poor Shen Wei! But I'm a little confused. Is the "what am I to do?" about if Zhao Yunlan is condemned and not allowed to reincarnate again (ie, Shen Wei loses him completely and is left all aloooone), or is it that Shen Wei will be forced to enact judgement upon him and will be torn between his impartial duty as the Emissary and his love for ZYL? (Either of those would be terrible! I'm just unclear which it is.)

Aww, the two of them pushing back and forth, trying to figure out how to manage each other (and ZYL trying to get away with doing whatever he feels like in the moment). This is such an interesting stage of a fairly fraught dynamic. (Also, healing! Yay!)

“Don’t try to fool me the same way you’ve fooled who knows how many others.”

Wow! They really have to work on their trust, don't they? (It's very useful to have Daqing's reaction first, so we know SW isn't wildly overreacting here.)

Just as Shen Wei was starting to panic a little, Zhao Yunlan reached up and tapped his own lips. “Kiss me again. Coax your forgiveness from your lord’s lips.”

This feels like ZYL is still jockeying for dominance. *sighs at genre expectations*

By the time of the interrogation, Lin Jing has completely changed his tune. I wonder if that's because the others are there, or if WXY refusing his mercy convinced him there was no goodness less to save... (I have a fondness for the drama version of WXY; the novel version doesn't get the good-natured happy interactions before the tragedy.)

Stammering, Guo Changcheng began, “O-oh, Wang Xiangyang, your cause of death was actually the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month—I-I mean, a car. Why did you harm innocent people?”

Hee! Poor Changcheng.

Wow, WXY killed his own family. That's dark! And the "nothing remained that could call forth even a trace of longing or kindness in him" is pretty damning, too. (I like how in the drama he gets a small moment of redemption at his end, thanks to Zhao Xinci of all people.)

To Zhao Yunlan’s mind, it wasn’t an easy situation. On the one hand, pocketing some fruit on the roadside was immoral, but did those who did it deserve to die? Even being caught stealing someone else’s wallet would, at most, result in a thief being sent to a holding cell. They couldn’t just be shot on the spot.

On the other hand, those people’s greed had caused the death of this good, honest man who’d been looking forward to going home for the New Year. Why shouldn’t he hate them? Why shouldn’t he exact revenge?

Oh, I really like ZYL and the novel addressing this, acknowledging the complexities of justice. This is more my cup of tea than the eye-for-an-eye thing -- or Shen Wei's absolutism, for that matter. Why do you think SW said that? Do you think he really believes the revenge murders were justified?

Shen Wei turned to Zhao Yunlan, feigning earnestness. “How should he be dealt with, then?”

You’ve already dealt with it! What are you asking me for? Zhao Yunlan glared at him, then coughed lightly. He still had to help Shen Wei maintain his cover

Ha, this feels like a "how does it feel when the shoe's on the other foot" moment. ZYL getting a taste of his own medicine, after someone else has been hard-headed and just gone for it.

And yay, we have the Merit Brush (and its name makes much more sense here).

I like the little skeleton puppet turning into a note, aww.

Ha, Shen Wei saying Do Not Go Into The Trap, and ZYL distracting him with relationship stuff instead of answering. Shen Wei, you're just going to have to accept that this is your life now...

“Urgent business suddenly coming up now?” He stubbed out his cigarette and snorted. “If I stay put, all the effort they put into luring you away will be wasted.”

LOL! This is like when they're going to Dixing for the first time in the drama, and ZYL's all "we'll only know what kind of trap it is if we step into it." God, he's infuriating! :D

[china_shop]

"Looking down at Shen Wei, he then swiped his thumb across his lips and licked it lightly."

I feel a little stupid admitting this, but I don't really understand the gesture. Is ZYL swiping his own lips? What does it mean? Am I making this more complicated than it needs to be, and it's just a random suggestive move? (And what do you mean by the drama going all out on this -- just the oral fixation/lollipops, or something else?)

AND ALSO of course the 'Shen Wei gets really, really angry about Zhao Yunlan putting himself in danger' scene from the drama IS supposed to end with a kiss, AND THEN ANOTHER KISS. ♡♡♡ I mean, what else. :D

Oh, damn, there's really delightful fanart of a kiss during the drama nosebleed scene, and I desperately want to link to it, but I can't find it anywhere. *fails*

I'm just over here covered in Weilan feelings.

Awwwwww! *hearts you so much* :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

And yesss, that thread! LOL! :DDD

[trobadora]

For the fanart, do you mean this one? (I found it again through the fanworks/meta thread on the ep 19 rewatch post.)

[china_shop]

Yes! THANK YOU! (I love it so much. :DDD)

[trobadora]

Yeah, it's so good! :D

[facethestrange]

"Is ZYL swiping his own lips? What does it mean? Am I making this more complicated than it needs to be, and it's just a random suggestive move?"

It is just a random suggestive move. :D Definitely, because "Shen Wei was too embarrassed to know where to look." ZYL is zipping his mouth shut and then apparently he can't resist doing this, and I love him for that. xD :D :D

"(And what do you mean by the drama going all out on this -- just the oral fixation/lollipops, or something else?)"

Mostly just the fact that his thumb/fingers are on his lips (and occasionally literally in his mouth) a lot more than that, and for no reason whatsoever, not because he's already zipping his mouth shut, lol. :D I appreciate the hell out of the lollipops too obvsly, but I think the cigarettes are mostly to be thanked for that. :D :D

"Oh, damn, there's really delightful fanart of a kiss during the drama nosebleed scene, and I desperately want to link to it, but I can't find it anywhere. *fails*"

I know at least 3 pieces of fanart and 2 manips, one manip I can't find right now. xD But in addition to what trobadora linked, here's one fanart, here's another fanart (not a full kiss but their eyes are closed and it's just gorgeous), and here's one manip (not the source/artist, but the only link I can find without just uploading it myself from my folder, lol).

Ftr, starting in about half an hour I'm going to be fully offline for most of the day today. *CLINGS TO THE COMM* So I can't even sign up for the exchange yet (which I'm totally going to do first as soon as I can :D :D), let alone reply to things or make any comment on these chapters that is not just yeeting my Weilan feels at everyone. xD xD

(ETA: Oh wow yay, I may actually be around today after all! There was supposed to be a planned blackout, but it seems like they cancelled it without notice? Still not 100% sure, but hey, the chance that I can sign up for the exchange today actually exists now. :D)

[facethestrange]

Yay, thanks for a tumblr link to this one, I can finally reblog it properly. :D (And there are more, I linked them in my other comment. :D)

[trobadora]

AHHHHHHHHH so much gorgeous art! Thank you for sharing!!! :D

[trepkos]

I love Da Quing bossing Yunlan about!
I love how quick Yunlan is to apologise, rather than making excuses and justifying what he did.
'When he could finally speak again, he took half a step back. “When that happens, what am I to do?” he asked, voice shaking.' ... Aw! He's not angry because of how wrong it was, just because he might lose him ...

[trobadora]

Great choice of excerpts!

He was so tremendously thin that he resembled human jerky, as though he'd be a stringy mouthful if you took a bite.

1) What an image! :D

2) Wow, so completely different from drama!CSZ!

Lin Jing didn't have it in him to uphold the law with the same violent efficiency as Zhao Yunlan.

Awww! I like Lin Jing's attitude.

Lin Jing hadn't caught his breath after his Spider-Man impression, and his fingers hurt from all the climbing.

And this! The whole spider climb was very cool, but I love these details. :D

This was the Zhao Yunlan who was always in need of a good swipe.

Daqing knows the truth! :D

That was when Chu Shuzhi phoned from the roof. He'd been all too happy to watch the chaos unfold and was vibrating from head to toe with uncharacteristic excitement. "Was that the Ghost Army just now? Who summoned them? Are they crazy? That was so fucking hot!"

Novel!CSZ is so weird!

What's actually doing the summoning is malice.

Oh, ugh, I don't like that AT ALL. And ZYL thinks nothing of leaning into his own malice? :(

Chu Shuzhi's arrogance was rooted in his confidence in his abilities. He was civil enough with people he knew but rarely bothered paying attention to strangers. Now, though, he addressed Shen Wei warmly. "You did a beautiful job of holding the eye of the array."

♥ ♥ ♥

Shen Wei wordlessly raised a hand and aimed it at Zhao Yunlan's face, but couldn't bear to actually strike him. His hand stopped dangerously close, his palm near Zhao Yunlan's ear.

Daqing has the right of it, ZYL deserves to be smacked! But yeah, of course SW wouldn't.

He quickly caught hold of Shen Wei's ice-cold hands and apologized first, the rest be damned. "You're absolutely right. I was wrong. If you want to hit me, go ahead. Don't be mad, okay? Don't be mad."
Shen Wei shook him off. "Do you think this is a joke?

Yeah, I don't believe for a second that ZYL actually thinks he's done anything wrong. Good on SW for not immediately accepting that apology!

He thought his apology was appropriately sincere, but the words triggered something in Shen Wei. Shen Wei shoved him away, pinning him against the door with one hand and grabbing his collar brutally with the other. "Don't try to fool me the same way you've fooled who knows how many others."

And again: he wants to comfort SW, but he doesn't actually think he was wrong. And "appropriately sincere" is so performative. ZYL then forcing a kiss is basically DNW DNW DNW for me.

Eyes crinkling, Zhao Yunlan gave him a smile. He reached up and mimed zipping his own mouth closed to indicate that he wasn't talking. Looking down at Shen Wei, he then swiped his thumb across his lips and licked it lightly.

Just 100% not taking SW's concerns seriously, and using the situation to flirt. NOPE.

And I'm going to stop here rather than keep quoting lines and tell you about how I don't like them. *g* But seriously, this dynamic is just extremely unpleasant to me, and the worst part is ZYL trying to be all cutesy and extract an "apology kiss" from SW. :( :( :( I seriously hate that SW caves and lets him get away with it.

I'm going to skip commenting on the entire thing with Wang Xiangyang's revenge as well, because I don't feel I have a good enough grasp on the cosmology to really judge it - what would happen to Wang Xiangyang if SW didn't sanction his revenge? I have no idea - but also because I find the whole concept of "justified revenge" deeply unpleasant.

The puppet lowered its skull to him in an awkward bow, then went straight to Shen Wei's side, where it transformed into a note and gently came to rest in Shen Wei's hand.

Awww, this is very cool!

"Urgent business suddenly coming up now?" He stubbed out his cigarette and snorted. "If I stay put, all the effort they put into luring you away will be wasted."

And this is very stupid! He's seeing very clearly that it's a trap, and he walks right into it for no reason at all.

No meaningful version differences this time.

[trobadora]

Is ZYL swiping his own lips? What does it mean? Am I making this more complicated than it needs to be, and it's just a random suggestive move?

What I imagine is basically a porn gesture - I used to see it in phone sex commercials all the time, women swiping their own thumb across their lips suggestively.

[china_shop]

Ahh, thank you for the explanation. Maybe it would make more sense to me if I had a visual imagination. ;-p

Mostly just the fact that his thumb/fingers are on his lips (and occasionally literally in his mouth) a lot more than that, and for no reason whatsoever

Ah, right, yes! They do like drawing attention to his mouth, don't they. *approves* :D

And ooooooh, thank you so much for all the glorious art! I love that so many people have been inspired to putt a kiss into that scene, lol.

(Yayay, so glad the blackout was cancelled! Last minute reprieve!! :D :D :D)

[china_shop]

Ahh, okay, thanks. (Somehow, I think I've managed to reach this ripe old age without once seeing a phone sex commercial, lol.)

[china_shop]

I love Da Quing bossing Yunlan about!

Yes, that was so delightful! (And also useful for contextualising Shen Wei's reaction to the sorcery. :-)

*pets Shen Wei* Zhao Yunlan is SUCH A HANDFUL!!

[trobadora]

I liked seeing the SID team and Shen Wei work so well together

Yes, that was my favourite part!

For me, Lin Jing was the MVP of the arrest, both for trying to show mercy to the resentful spirit, and for spidering his way up the wall. And being prepared to sacrifice his lamp oil. Special mention to Daqing for smacking ZYL on the nose, lol.

All good stuff! :D

Just before Zhao Yunlan pulls his sorcery stunt, Lin Jing is about to try something with lamp oil, but Zhao Yunlan tells him not to. In other words, THERE WERE OTHER OPTIONS, ZHAO YUNLAN!! This was not an "in extremis" situation -- this was a "IDGAF and I do what I want" move. No wonder everyone's so mad at him!!

RIGHT????? Ugh. Drama!ZYL's reckless use of the Hallows has way more justification than this, and at least all he's risking is his health.

A bolt of lightning that had been waiting in the skies all that time was suddenly unleashed.

I'm confused about this. Where did the lightning come from? Did someone do that and I missed it?

It says the array activates and the lighting is unleashed - it's part of the trap they've set. A discharge at the ready for the right moment.

Also, this is totally the drama!nose-bleed scene, isn't it?

Wow, I wouldn't have made that connection because I LOVE the nosebleed scene and didn't love this at all, but you're totally right, it has to be.

Poor, poor Shen Wei! But I'm a little confused. Is the "what am I to do?" about if Zhao Yunlan is condemned and not allowed to reincarnate again (ie, Shen Wei loses him completely and is left all aloooone), or is it that Shen Wei will be forced to enact judgement upon him and will be torn between his impartial duty as the Emissary and his love for ZYL? (Either of those would be terrible! I'm just unclear which it is.)

I'm not sure either. Or maybe it's "will I end up breaking every law and rule and principle I've held up all this time, for you"?

(It's very useful to have Daqing's reaction first, so we know SW isn't wildly overreacting here.)

Ooh, that's an excellent point, yes!

[trobadora]

LOL! Back when I still depended on catching my shows on TV, I watched a lot of late-night reruns.

[china_shop]

2) Wow, so completely different from drama!CSZ!

For which I'm very grateful. *g* They made CSZ's character a lot more coherent in the drama, it feels to me, plus I really love the CSZ & SW backstory and present-day connection -- which I guess they must have made up out of whole cloth (unless I'm forgetting something in the novel, quite possible!). <3 <3 <3

Oh, ugh, I don't like that AT ALL. And ZYL thinks nothing of leaning into his own malice? :(

Though he does say it's like a detox, so maybe it's a way of purging the malice? Which feels better to me? He doesn't come across as more malevolent afterwards, I don't think.

Daqing has the right of it, ZYL deserves to be smacked! But yeah, of course SW wouldn't.

Especially not in anger. Aside from anything else, SW is so strong he could do some real damage -- but also, he's all about the self-control. The fact that he got as far as raising his hand says a lot!

Yeah, I don't believe for a second that ZYL actually thinks he's done anything wrong. Good on SW for not immediately accepting that apology!

I think ZYL is used to going unchecked and doing whatever he wants, and that this is a transition stage for him (and them). He has to learn that his actions have consequences for other people, not just himself -- and specifically, they have consequences for Shen Wei (who is otherwise so powerful it's hard to comprehend). So although we don't see a lot of repentance here, mostly just ZYL playing silly games, I do think this will sink in eventually, to some extent. And if they were already good at this stuff, the story would be less interesting?

Also -- I wonder how much all this is a reaction to Shen Wei's power? Shen Wei is unstable (see again, wrist-biting), but he's also the unfathomably powerful and high in status Emissary. Maybe ZYL did the sorcery in a misguided attempt to hold his own (and push against any boundaries Shen Wei might try to set), secretly feeling a bit overwhelmed by the Emissary's greatness.. I feel like the depth of his own feelings for Shen Wei is probably throwing him off-balance, too. That could explain why he's fronting like crazy, not allowing himself a single moment of genuine sincerity?

I don't know if any of that helps, though.

ZYL then forcing a kiss is basically DNW DNW DNW for me.

Yeah. Though, I'd argue that, ultimately, ZYL can't force a kiss on Shen Wei (especially from his own POV). He is so outmatched that these stupid games are nothing -- Shen Wei could easily hold him off or walk out or whatever. And the fact that Shen Wei doesn't (and feels he can't) leave is an important part of what ZYL needs to learn to start to moderate his terrible behaviour, you know?

but also because I find the whole concept of "justified revenge" deeply unpleasant.

Yeah, agreed. This is not a system/cosmology that works for me at all.

And this is very stupid! He's seeing very clearly that it's a trap, and he walks right into it for no reason at all.

Overconfidence is kind of his thing... (It does remind me of the first trip to Dixing in the drama, when Shen Wei is all, "This might be a trap," and ZYL says to just do it and find out. Dork.)

[china_shop]

Drama!ZYL's reckless use of the Hallows has way more justification than this, and at least all he's risking is his health.

See below for some more thoughts about this...

It says the array activates and the lighting is unleashed - it's part of the trap they've set. A discharge at the ready for the right moment.

Ah, okay. Thanks! It seems so weird to me -- I think of lightning as completely ephemeral.

Wow, I wouldn't have made that connection because I LOVE the nosebleed scene and didn't love this at all, but you're totally right, it has to be.

SW's suppressed violence. The way ZYL tries all his different strategies, and none of them win him a concession.

Or maybe it's "will I end up breaking every law and rule and principle I've held up all this time, for you"?

I think of that as part of "Shen Wei will be forced to enact judgement upon him and will be torn between his impartial duty as the Emissary and his love for ZYL?" but yeah. /o\ /o\ /o\

[trobadora]

plus I really love the CSZ & SW backstory and present-day connection -- which I guess they must have made up out of whole cloth (unless I'm forgetting something in the novel, quite possible!). <3 <3 <3

Same here!

Though he does say it's like a detox, so maybe it's a way of purging the malice? Which feels better to me?

Yeah, I guess!

I think ZYL is used to going unchecked and doing whatever he wants, and that this is a transition stage for him (and them). He has to learn that his actions have consequences for other people, not just himself -- and specifically, they have consequences for Shen Wei (who is otherwise so powerful it's hard to comprehend). So although we don't see a lot of repentance here, mostly just ZYL playing silly games, I do think this will sink in eventually, to some extent.

I really hope it does!

And you have a point that it may be in reaction to SW's power. I guess we'll see how I feel if/when ZYL's attitude changes.

Though, I'd argue that, ultimately, ZYL can't force a kiss on Shen Wei (especially from his own POV). He is so outmatched that these stupid games are nothing -- Shen Wei could easily hold him off or walk out or whatever.

I can see how it looks that way from ZYL's POV, but given the length and depth of SW's feelings for ZYL, at this point ZYL definitely has more of a hold over SW than vice versa. So ZYL can actually force and pressure SW in a way that SW couldn't do to ZYL even if he wanted - there's not the same weight to it because ZYL doesn't remember their past. And I don't like that dynamic at all.

Overconfidence is kind of his thing... (It does remind me of the first trip to Dixing in the drama, when Shen Wei is all, "This might be a trap," and ZYL says to just do it and find out. Dork.)

LOL! Too true.

[trobadora]

SW's suppressed violence. The way ZYL tries all his different strategies, and none of them win him a concession.

But he does concede here in the novel - he capitulates and kisses ZYL. (I really wish he hadn't.)

[china_shop]

Yeah, it's quite a different dynamic, isn't it? Novel!Shen Wei is more at the mercy of his yearning (maybe that's a difference from being awake all the intervening time they're apart, rather than sleeping through most of it?), and novel!ZYL is pushier, over-confident, and more concerned with jockeying for dominance. /o\

[trobadora]

Yeah, I think those five thousand years awake make a big difference, as does the different dynamic back during the Kunlun times, where the little Ghost King is basically being socialised by Kunlun. Whereas the drama's young Envoy is very much already his own man with his own convictions and duties and everything, despite the huge impact "Kunlun" has on him.

[china_shop]

And you have a point that it may be in reaction to SW's power. I guess we'll see how I feel if/when ZYL's attitude changes.

Yeah. And even then, novel!ZYL is ultimately a (SPOILER, ANYONE READING THIS) god, which brings with it a certain degree of arrogance and is super different from the drama.

but given the length and depth of SW's feelings for ZYL, at this point ZYL definitely has more of a hold over SW than vice versa. So ZYL can actually force and pressure SW in a way that SW couldn't do to ZYL even if he wanted

Drama!Shen Wei is so much better at saying no to ZYL! I wish novel!Shen Wei could do that too.

[china_shop]

Yeah, excellent point. *sends the drama writers another gift basket* ;-)