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sid_guardian2025-07-12 04:48 pm
china_shop) wrote in sid_guardian2025-07-12 04:48 pm
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Guardian Readalong: Vol. 3, Chapters 19 & 20
Hi, and welcome to this week's installment of the Guardian novel readalong!
Here are last week's chapters, and you can find all previous discussions in the schedule posts (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4), or via the !readalong tag.
This week's chapters:
Chapter 19: At the Great Seal, Lin Jing discusses their predicament with Shen Wei and meditates effectively. At the police station in the mountains, Daqing and Chu Shuzhi meet up with Guo Changcheng. Daqing shifts into human form and tells Changcheng that the souls of the dead are still at the resort; Changcheng and Chu Shuzhi decide to go to find them.
Chapter 20: Zhao Yunlan goes to the court of the Ten Yanluo Kings with Zhu Hong and sasses the Kings. A reaper reports that the Great Seal has broken, and an earthquake shakes the court. Zhao Yunlan demands to see the Reincarnation Cycle. The Qin'guang King shows him the Soul-Guarding Lamp. At the Seal, Shen Wei comes out to Lin Jing as the Emissary, and Lin Jing pulls out the icicle. Shen Wei heals and reveals that he's been manipulating Ghost Face. Meanwhile, Chu Shuzhi and Guo Changcheng search the resort for souls. (Guo Changcheng records a dead courier's last message.) They're joined by a rogue cultivator who tries to make conversation but has a disturbing shadow. A huge youchu bursts out of the ground.
The corresponding chapters in the Chinese version on JJWXC and the fan translation are chapters 100, 101 and a little less than half of 102 (up to "Meanwhile, in the county less than fifty kilometers away, people were still completely clueless.").
Excerpts:
1) Lin Jing and Shen Wei strategise
“Don’t worry.” Shen Wei chuckled. “That Chaos King of the Gui has enough to deal with right now. As long as I have Kunlun’s divine tendon, he won’t dare do anything to me. We’re safe for the moment.”
“No, no, let’s figure out a way to save ourselves,” Lin Jing quickly said. “No magical tendon can staunch your wound. If Director Zhao ever found out I just sat back and let you bleed like this, he’d make me the main course of this year’s Lunar New Year’s Eve dinner.”
Shen Wei’s gaze softened at the mention of Zhao Yunlan. After some thought, he said, “If you must try something, please continue reciting your scriptures. The Great Seal originated from Nüwa’s merciful heart. If you’re sincere, it might help you.”
2) Chu Shuzhi explains that the Ghost Face problem is above their paygrade
Chu Shuzhi laughed helplessly. “Guo Changcheng, do you know who the Soul-Executing Emissary is?”
Guo Changcheng thought the Emissary was scary, but he had no real idea about his background. He shook his head.
“I’ll be honest with you,” Chu Shuzhi said. “My thousands of years of cultivation allow me to walk under the sun. All corpses and skeletons bow to my will, so those in the know flatter me with the title ‘Corpse King.’ The next level up for me would be a ba, or a ‘Corpse Immortal.’ But even if I attain that level, if it weren’t for Director Zhao, I’d still never dare approach someone like the Soul-Executing Emissary. At the bare minimum, I’d keep a good two kilometers away from him. Do you understand what I’m saying?” Chu Shuzhi paused, then continued, “We’re dealing with someone who can catch the Soul-Executing Emissary off guard. Even if he only managed that by being sneaky, it means his power is at least on par with the Emissary’s. Whoever this is, he’s too powerful. This isn’t something we can handle.”
3) Daqing finds his human body hideous and explains some gui lore
Daqing kept speaking. “I don’t know who sealed away my memories. I still can’t remember much from all those years ago. But when I went up Kunlun Mountain with Zhao Yunlan, the Great Divine Tree awoke something in me. Now I can take human form again. Even though transforming makes me hairless, and thus, hideous, I at least seem to be able to remember some things now.”
Guo Changcheng and Chu Shuzhi, who were both hairless and, apparently, uglier than “hideous,” wore the same peculiar expression.
“The Netherworld officially calls the things we ran into today ‘youchu,’ but more accurately, they’re gui,” Daqing said. “I’m not exactly sure where the gui are from, but I know they’re linked to the demise of Fuxi and Nüwa. You heard Shen Wei. When the gui came into the world, not a single blade of grass survived in the Great Wild. But as far as I know, the gui don’t have souls, so even though they drink blood and gnaw on bones, they don’t eat mortals’ souls because there’s no benefit to it for them. I think what happened here must’ve been too sudden. All those people died before their time, so even though their bodies disappeared, their souls are still souls of the living. Since the Netherworld couldn’t reach them in time, those frightened spirits probably ran off somewhere.”
“Then I’m going to go find them!” Guo Changcheng said.
4) Zhao Yunlan is unimpressed with the Ten Kings' Hell Expo and has no more fucks to give
From the moment Ghost Face had stolen Shen Wei away right before his eyes, Zhao Yunlan had felt like a chunk of ice was weighing down on his heart. He’d felt completely detached from everything anyone said or did; none of it seemed real or consequential. Only now, after having been confronted with such an extreme sight, did his mind begin to clear. Belatedly, he felt his anger float to the surface, although no trace of it showed on his face.
Zhao Yunlan crossed his arms in front of his chest. Ghost Face had taken the Soul-Executing Emissary. Whether Ghost Face harmed the Emissary or the Emissary had gone to Ghost Face’s side, it was bad news for the Netherworld. What was more, while there might not be a clear prognosis for the Great Seal, it clearly wasn’t going to hold out for much longer. And yet even under these circumstances, the Ten Courts were still putting on such an unfriendly welcome, appearances be damned.
Years of experience working with the Netherworld told Zhao Yunlan that the dumbasses were obviously planning to ask something of him, but they were unwilling to swallow their pride to do so. Either that, or they saw no need to take a mortal like him seriously and had chosen the route of coercion and bribery.
5) Shen Wei is blasé about his chest icicle
By this point, Lin Jing had escaped his bonds. He recited a water-repelling spell and circled around Shen Wei many times before climbing the Ancient Merit Tree. “Hold on, let me take a look. I must have a wire or something on me that I can use to pick the lock.”
“No need,” Shen Wei said calmly. “All you need to do is pull the icicle from my chest.”
Lin Jing shuddered. “P-pull it out? Won’t you…”
“I’ll be fine, but thank you.”
Lin Jing’s palms were a little sweaty. “You said it, Shen-laoshi, not me. If I fuck you up when pulling it out, I… I… Can you sign a waiver for me first?”
6) Chu Shuzhi is softening towards Guo Changcheng, despite himself
The Corpse King had an extreme personality and was cold by nature; necromancy was a deviation from the norm to begin with, not accepted by the world. Chu Shuzhi was lonesome and arrogant, wholly unconcerned about his merits, so he never paid it any mind. He’d always thought “morality” was a facade, nothing but an excuse to hide behind. The purer and more beautiful something seemed, the darker it might be beneath.
Despite this cynical outlook on the world, he somehow managed to put up with Guo Changcheng. Maybe by now it was just habit.
Either way, looking at the soul bottles in his bag stirred an inexplicable feeling in his heart. It made him grumble that Guo Changcheng was being too kind for no reason, even as Chu Shuzhi followed him around to collect lost souls.
Questions:
How many points does Lin Jing get for a) attempting to communicate with a youchu, b) keeping calm and meditating on, and c) not falling out of the tree when Shen Wei revealed his Emissary identity? Where did the youchu learn human speech? How wounded would Shen Wei have to be to admit that he wasn't fine? Does the SID really only employ people who can hyperfocus, or is hyperfocus a side-effect of the Soul-Guarding Order? What do you think of the descriptions of the different hells? How adorable are Chu Shuzhi and Guo Changcheng? How well are you following what's going on with the Seal and Shen Wei's machinations? And do you have any thoughts about how moments in these chapters affected or were remixed in the drama adaptation?
(As usual, these are all 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!
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They're joined by a rogue cultivator who tries to make conversation but has a disturbing shadow.
It's not his shadow, it's his mirror image, isn't it?
How many points does Lin Jing get for a) attempting to communicate with a youchu, b) keeping calm and meditating on, and c) not falling out of the tree when Shen Wei revealed his Emissary identity?
ALL the points!
What do you think of the descriptions of the different hells?
Very vivid, very unpleasant. It's straight out of the mythology, but that doesn't make it any less Evil Worldbuilding™.
How well are you following what's going on with the Seal and Shen Wei's machinations?
NOT AT ALL.
And on to my notes:
Shen Wei, who was somewhat obscured by the Wangchuan waters
AARGH, this water situation is really driving me batty, I really can't work out what I'm supposed to envision. All the individual bits don't seem to work together at all! /o\
The youchu, which Ghost Face had presumably sent to keep an eye on them, licked its lips but ultimately didn't dare take a bite of the things it was meant to guard.
Aha! I was so confused why they all didn't take a bite out of Lin Jing, but that makes sense. *g*
High-level youchu were intelligent and capable of conversing with humans.
Hm, "conversing with humans" is quite a bit more specific than just "talking"! And now I want to know all about past instances where youchu did converse with humans ... What did they talk about? Did anyone get eaten? Do youchu sometimes talk to their food? /o\ Or are they ... gasp, shock ... not nearly as must-eat-everything as we've been led to believe? Perhaps much like certain other gui? :p
"Now that the others have all run away, it's just the two of us here. If I shut up, won't you be lonely-aaah! Don't do that! Be civilized, please!" The youchu had come closer, its menacing shark-like teeth on full display. "I'll shut up!" Lin Jing cried. "I'll shut up! I'll shut up right now! Please believe me! Monks don't lie!"
The youchu withdrew its claws and teeth and slowly backed off to one side.
So there's a whole (probably-not-intended) reading here where the youchu is just being friendly in response to Lin Jing trying to chat with it - possibly bored, just as Lin Jing suggests! - and then Lin Jing immediately reacts badly and the youchu sadly retreats ... (I mean. It's not like the youchu chose its teeth! And it shouldn't have to hide its body! Possibly it's just not good at knowing what will scare humans. *g*)
The youchu, seeing that Lin Jing's eyes were now closed, assumed that he was finally settling down and dismissed him from its mind. It risked a glance up at Shen Wei, impaled on the ancient tree. The youchu whimpered and retreated a tiny bit further.
From this I gather that at this point, the youchu is terrified of Shen Wei, but has no particular feelings about Lin Jing, neither friendly nor hostile. (Obviously that changes when Lin Jing's scripture-reciting makes the Great Sealing Rock glow with youchu-destroying power!)
"Buddha! This disciple is close to surrendering his mortal body and ascending to the higher realm! Where did da-shixiong go? Save me! Shen-laoshi! Boss! Da-shixiong!"
I assume he means the da-shixiong from whatever sect he belongs to as a monk. Do we know anything else about his background? I've forgotten ... Also, aww, he calls out for SW and ZYL!
I could've dodged, but I was busy taking back the Chaos. I had to take the blow so that our efforts wouldn't all go to waste. It's fine-except that he stabbed me in the heart with this icicle made from frozen water of the Huangquan, so I'm unable to move at the moment.
1) I have zero understanding of what SW has done/is planning/?? ...
2) LOLOLOL, "I'm fine I'm just stabbed through the heart and can't move, never mind that minor inconvenience!" Oh, SW.
Lin Jing wasn't yet aware of who exactly Shen Wei was, but nothing about this situation seemed fine in the slightest.
You get it, Lin Jing! :D
"If you must try something, please continue reciting your scriptures. The Great Seal originated from Nüwa's merciful heart. If you're sincere, it might help you."
Aw, that's kind of lovely. Sometimes the worldbuilding isn't evil!
In a booming voice, with crisp enunciation, he began chanting as though he was announcing the news. The effect was comedic enough to make Shen Wei burst into laughter.
LOLOLOL at SW hanging there stabbed through the heart and laughing at Lin Jing's newscaster voice! What an image.
In utter disbelief, Guo Changcheng asked, "A reasonable...explanation?" Chu Shuzhi seemed to be saying that he wanted Wang Zheng to think of how to cover up the truth.
Aw, Xiao-Guo! He's not wrong, every time I find a canon where this sort of thing is hidden, I feel like they should just tell people the truth. (So glad the drama has a plot thread about that!)
Guo Changcheng thought the Emissary was scary, but he had no real idea about his background.
Er. Shouldn't someone have taught him that by now?!
I don't know who sealed away my memories. I still can't remember much from all those years ago. But when I went up Kunlun Mountain with Zhao Yunlan, the Great Divine Tree awoke something in me. Now I can take human form again. Even though transforming makes me hairless, and thus, hideous, I at least seem to be able to remember some things now.
So, 1) someone sealed Daqing's memories, and 2) this somehow prevented him from changing shape? And his encounter with the Great Divine Tree awoke some memories, including how to change shape? Am I getting this right?
(Did we know this before? I'm pretty sure the shape-changing part is new info, at least.)
Also, LOL at him considering hairlessness to be hideous!
Guo Changcheng and Chu Shuzhi, who were both hairless and, apparently, uglier than "hideous," wore the same peculiar expression.
Hee! :D
"So I need to go find the victims' souls! If a person existed, they can't just disappear for no reason." Guo Changcheng was absolutely adamant on this point. "That... That's not right."
♥ ♥ ♥
"You two go ahead. I need to find Zhao Yunlan," Daqing said. "He's on his own, and I'm worried about him."
I love protective Daqing! :D
The hall was as blue as the sky; its height and depth were endless. There was always a vast expanse of stars hanging overhead, and just underfoot were the Eighteen Levels of Hell-tongue-pulling and hot oil and all-with three thousand impassable waters flowing endlessly around them. Anyone entering the hall was walking on solid ground, but it was as if that ground were unmarred glass. The ghosts below were starkly visible as they were skinned, as they passed through mountains of knives, and as they were fried in hot oil. The sight made it seem that anyone in the hall could fall through the floor into Hell at any moment.
What a vivid picture!
And LOL at this being on display on purpose, for Zhao Yunlan!
Zhao Yunlan took his seat like an important lord, crossing his legs.
You know, this reminds me of drama!ZYL on the rooftop, for the meeting with Zhu Jiu ...
From the moment Ghost Face had stolen Shen Wei away right before his eyes, Zhao Yunlan had felt like a chunk of ice was weighing down on his heart. He'd felt completely detached from everything anyone said or did; none of it seemed real or consequential. Only now, after having been confronted with such an extreme sight, did his mind begin to clear. Belatedly, he felt his anger float to the surface, although no trace of it showed on his face.
Awww! ♥
Even as they spoke, the doors to the Halls were thrown wide-open. Everyone peered out, only to see the water in the Wangchuan River boiling. All the ferrymen had abandoned their boats and taken uncertain refuge up on the Naihe Bridge, which shook precariously. The narrow Huangquan Road was already submerged beneath the rising water, and a massive black shadow was slowly approaching from below. But just as it was about to surface, it stopped. Lights as soft as fireflies began glowing on either side of the flooded Huangquan Road-pea-sized lights all in a row. Zhao Yunlan remembered the little oil lamps that had lined the road-the soul-guarding lamps.
All of this is so impressively described, what a visual!
And there, in the pool, Zhao Yunlan saw a gigantic lamp. It was a giant version of the small oil lamps on the Huangquan Road, standing at least a dozen meters high. The Qin'guang King, who had opened the final door, turned to Zhao Yunlan. "I'll be honest with you now. This is the last of the Four Hallowed Artifacts, the Soul-Guarding Lamp."
Wow, what a dramatic reveal! And in the drama, it's stashed away in a box in a corner ... :D
If I fuck you up when pulling it out, I... I... Can you sign a waiver for me first?
LOLOLOL Lin Jing!
What Shen Wei said shocked Lin Jing so badly that his legs turned to jelly. He nearly fell right out of the tree.
Doing better than Daqing and Zhu Hong, he only almost fell!
As Lin Jing handed it over to Shen Wei, the ice melted all at once into a wisp of smoke with a bloodred tinge. In the next moment, Shen Wei swallowed it.
So it doesn't melt into water, but into smoke. What is it that Shen Wei consumes, the actual Wangchuan water the icicle was made of, or the power that was used to freeze it and turn it into a weapon?
Shen Wei laughed lightly. "Oh, him? He's gone to investigate the scrap of Chaos that I captured. I also prepared a little surprise for him in front of the Yanluo Courts."
I wish I understood what's going on there! Hopefully it will become clearer soon. (And at least Lin Jing doesn't understand either, heh.)
What had his boss been thinking, falling for someone who was as calculating as...as...a calculator?
OH LIN JING. :D
With a sniffle, Feng Dawei began to talk. He said a whole bunch of random, useless things, and Guo Changcheng faithfully recorded every last word.
Xiao-Guo recording the messages of the dead! Awww! And even Chu Shuzhi is reassuring him that his murderer will be caught, even though he doesn't actually believe that. ♥
It was a youth holding a long skewer, which he turned on the gui. He stabbed them swiftly and precisely, as if making tanghulu. In the blink of an eye, he had created a truly revolting barbecue stick of low-level youchu.
This is such a priest kind of description. :D
Don't misunderstand, bro.
Ugh. I mean, the "bro"-ing does a great job making this guy sound especially annoying, but I really don't like it as a translation because it sounds so terribly American to me. (And the less said about "li'l bro", the better.)
This kind, warm friend's reflection was that of a monster Guo Changcheng had never seen before: pitch-black all over, with different heads constantly surging in and out of its shoulders. In the window, its mouth was opened savagely in Guo Changcheng's direction-a mouth bristling with fangs that resembled ancient torture devices.
Very very cool!
Guo Changcheng stumbled over his words. "His... H-his...shadow..."
He's misspeaking, right? It's his reflection, not his shadow.
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Official translation:Fan translation:
Official translation: Fan translation:
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"If it wasn't for the fact that he was tied into a zongzi (t/n it's a wrapped Chinese food), he probably would have already jumped up as if he were sitting on nails."
Oooh, so it was originally clearer that he was tied up! (I was confused when the ropes were first mentioned because it had sounded like he only couldn't escape because of the dome and the youchu.)
"Do your balls not hurt, do you not feel afraid when you look at His Excellency, the Soul Slayer, nailed high on the tree? You have balls don't you, benefactor..."
Lololol, Lin Jing really got the best lines in this chapter, and this one is fantastic too. :D :D :D (And it's so interesting that he knew SW is the Emissary - it means that the reveal time also had to have been changed.)
"Lin Jing immediately felt that he changed from being in a pure little sentimental artistic film into being in an excessively heavy horror film like Resident Evil."
I adore his dramatic metaphors. :D
"(t/n meaning sw is pretty so he's using sw to "wash" his eyes)"
:D :D This is so funny, especially since it just said that SW is drenched in blood. :P
"Shen Wei's gaze moved slightly and landed on his body. Then, he nodded at him in a courteous and gentle manner."
Oh, this got moved earlier, to the previous chapter! ("Even with his forehead dripping with cold sweat and constant tremors running through his body, Shen Wei was courteous. He gave Lin Jing a slight nod.")
"He surprise attacked from the back. I originally could have dodged him but I wasn't able to fully succeed at the time and was pierced by him."
Oooh, so SW doesn't reveal his plan to Lin Jing? Because I'm assuming the plan is still the same and getting attacked was still part of it. I'm glad he reveals it in the official version - it's already confusing enough as it is. xD
"In actuality, Shen Wei didn't expect Lin Jing to really accomplish anything. Although he was in a difficult position, he had a plan in his heart. He only wanted to find something for Lin Jing to do, and so he spoke offhandedly."
Wow, this makes it so different! Lin Jing surprising even the Emissary is very cool, but the change makes more sense - SW knows everything there is to know about the Seal and the Sealing Rock and whatnot, he kinda has to know what works and what doesn't.
"He abruptly sensed in his heart that, like birds of a feather, the people around Zhao Yunlan were more or less somewhat similar to him-for example, they were all very persistent about something, the kind of persistence where they could forget about everything else.
For example this one, and for example that little boy who becomes nervous the moment he speaks."
Hah, so I was right on the money re: everyone being stubborn af. xD :D (And I love the Xiao Guo mention! ♡)
"In fact, he already had some speculations about the Guardian Lamp in his heart. However, looking at it now, it seemed as if it would be better at this moment for it to not show up."
Oooh, this ties really well with how everything unfolds later!
"I've lived for this long and still haven't met the Yan King."
Lol, does he meet as Kunlun? Because as Zhao Yunlan he really hasn't lived very long. xD
"Where the official translation has "Years of experience working with the Netherworld", the fan translation has "Zhao Yunlan's 30 years of experience collaborating with Difu", which doesn't seem right unless he's older than I thought. (Possibly that's why it got removed.)"
He was an older teenager in 2002, so in 2013 he's 30 or under - it definitely doesn't check out. (And it reminds me of the "bachelor for over 20 years" thing in the drama. :P)
"Fuck! I lost the Chief's family member! I can say goodbye to this year's year-end bonus!"
:D :D :D Lin Jing, ily.
I like Shen Wei turning invisible earlier! (And there's nothing here about Gui Mian's intelligence or lack thereof. :P)
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Yeah, I'm pretty sure I didn't catch everything, but hopefully at least the most important stuff! There was a lot that was changed in these chapters.
Oooh, so it was originally clearer that he was tied up! (I was confused when the ropes were first mentioned because it had sounded like he only couldn't escape because of the dome and the youchu.)
That's a good point! Definitely clearer here; sometimes the edits don't improve clarity. *g*
And it's so interesting that he knew SW is the Emissary - it means that the reveal time also had to have been changed.
I have no idea when or how Lin Jing finds out in the JJWXC version. Sometimes reading the versions in parallel makes things more confusing for me, heh.
Oh, this got moved earlier, to the previous chapter!
Great catch, I missed that!
Oooh, so SW doesn't reveal his plan to Lin Jing? Because I'm assuming the plan is still the same and getting attacked was still part of it. I'm glad he reveals it in the official version - it's already confusing enough as it is. xD
Yeah, I'm pretty sure what's actually going on is the same, but he doesn't share anything with Lin Jing in the JJWXC version. The JJWXC version also jumps more between their POVs, whereas the official translation is more firmly in Lin Jing's POV for longer - that may have something to do with it? Editing out the jump into SW POV, but wanting to keep it clear that he has a plan, so he shares it out loud instead? Idk, but I agree, I definitely prefer him telling Lin Jing.
And also, yeah, it makes more sense to me that SW would know that Lin Jing's scripture-reciting meditations would work.
Hah, so I was right on the money re: everyone being stubborn af. xD :D (And I love the Xiao Guo mention! ♡)
Yeah, at least in the original version that's what it means! (And this is yet another case where the SW-GCC connection got edited out, dammit, I'm so resentful about this!)
Oooh, this ties really well with how everything unfolds later!
I'm looking forward to finding out!
(And it reminds me of the "bachelor for over 20 years" thing in the drama. :P)
Haha, great point!
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I can totally imagine that! (In fact I can't really imagine it NOT making everything more confusing. xD) Thanks again for doing that, and for getting extra confused on everyone's behalf. xD ♡♡♡
"And this is yet another case where the SW-GCC connection got edited out, dammit, I'm so resentful about this!"
Oh damn, good point, and now I gotta grumble about it some more! *grumbles* But eh, all of their scenes are still canon to me, idec that they got removed. :D
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LOL, not just murder, but feeding him to DQ!?!
*He had a mind to be like a fighting House Sparrow, taking out these ten assholes who were pretending to be cool one shot at a time. However, at this juncture, he still couldn't afford to completely break off relations with these pig-like comrade-in-arms and so could only fucking bear it.*
LOL!
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"LOL, not just murder, but feeding him to DQ!?!"
Lolol, considering Zhao Yunlan threatens to feed Lin Jing to the entire SID later, this is mild. ;D ;D
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He likes his absurd OTT threats!
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Big high-five! The closest I got to understanding it is that the water flows over the dome/creates the dome, and once Lin Jing leaves it there's no more water surrounding him. But there probably are parts of the description that don't fit this interpretation either. xD
"Hm, "conversing with humans" is quite a bit more specific than just "talking"! And now I want to know all about past instances where youchu did converse with humans ... What did they talk about? Did anyone get eaten?"
I really want to know that too! Just like I'd love to see Wei's early interactions with humans, or even more, because we already know Wei, and all of this is completely unknown!
"Or are they ... gasp, shock ... not nearly as must-eat-everything as we've been led to believe? Perhaps much like certain other gui? :p"
This is indeed the case. :P (And it only keeps getting more canon.)
"So there's a whole (probably-not-intended) reading here where the youchu is just being friendly in response to Lin Jing trying to chat with it - possibly bored, just as Lin Jing suggests! - and then Lin Jing immediately reacts badly and the youchu sadly retreats ... (I mean. It's not like the youchu chose its teeth! And it shouldn't have to hide its body! Possibly it's just not good at knowing what will scare humans. *g*)"
As much as I also think it probably wasn't intended, this interpretation definitely makes as much sense to me as the reverse! Especially since, as you said later, the youchu is neutral toward Lin Jing until he becomes a danger. A random display of friendliness and a random display of hostility would be equally likely, and the description fits either.
"I assume he means the da-shixiong from whatever sect he belongs to as a monk. Do we know anything else about his background? I've forgotten ... Also, aww, he calls out for SW and ZYL!"
He's a descendant of Bodhidharma, but I don't remember anything else. And I'm especially amused that he calls out for Shen Wei (which is interesting, considering the other two people are not even there :P), because at this point he thinks SW is just a regular human who is impaled through his chest - there's not much help he could provide. :P It is super sweet though. ♡
"LOLOLOL at SW hanging there stabbed through the heart and laughing at Lin Jing's newscaster voice! What an image."
Hahah, right?? xD It's so weirdly adorable to me. :D :D
"So, 1) someone sealed Daqing's memories, and 2) this somehow prevented him from changing shape? And his encounter with the Great Divine Tree awoke some memories, including how to change shape? Am I getting this right?
(Did we know this before? I'm pretty sure the shape-changing part is new info, at least.)"
I think this is all correct, yep, and the shape-changing part is indeed new. (The memories part is not new, as said elsewhere. And then there's also a thing later about Daqing himself having been sealed away at the beginning/right after being separated from Kunlun? No idea how that ties into any of that. :P)
"You know, this reminds me of drama!ZYL on the rooftop, for the meeting with Zhu Jiu ..."
Ahh, fantastic catch, YES! The chair where a chair doesn't belong, and Zhao Yunlan just imperiously chilling in it! :D
"Wow, what a dramatic reveal! And in the drama, it's stashed away in a box in a corner ... :D"
Right?? :D :D *high five* This may be my favorite inconsequential change, since it's all about the tone and not plot-related at all - in the drama it could also be a dramatic reveal, just in a different context, but instead they decided to do the complete opposite because why not. :D
"Doing better than Daqing and Zhu Hong, he only almost fell!"
Indeed, lolol. :D :D (The bar is so low at this point. ;D)
"So it doesn't melt into water, but into smoke. What is it that Shen Wei consumes, the actual Wangchuan water the icicle was made of, or the power that was used to freeze it and turn it into a weapon?"
Ooooh, I didn't even catch that it doesn't melt into water! I really like the power theory - I was thinking he may be somehow reversing what the icicle did, and this would definitely be a way to do that.
"I wish I understood what's going on there! Hopefully it will become clearer soon. (And at least Lin Jing doesn't understand either, heh.)"
This is one of the things that will get the clearest explanation later, imo! At least compared to many other things. :D
"He's misspeaking, right? It's his reflection, not his shadow."
Yep!
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Yes, I'd love to see both! It's so intriguing!
As much as I also think it probably wasn't intended, this interpretation definitely makes as much sense to me as the reverse! Especially since, as you said later, the youchu is neutral toward Lin Jing until he becomes a danger. A random display of friendliness and a random display of hostility would be equally likely, and the description fits either.
Yes! The text can definitely be interpreted that way, IMO. But Lin Jing is probably the wrong character for randomly befriending a youchu, you'd need Xiao-Guo for that. *g*
And I'm especially amused that he calls out for Shen Wei (which is interesting, considering the other two people are not even there :P), because at this point he thinks SW is just a regular human who is impaled through his chest - there's not much help he could provide. :P It is super sweet though. ♡
All of this, exactly - he doesn't know about SW being the Emissary, but he's calling for him anyway! He does know that SW is someone who can handle supernatural stuff, and obviously he's still alive despite the icicle and all, which says a lot in itself, but also, he's pinned down and not in any position to actually help, LOL, so I don't think rational reasons come into it much. Lin Jing is calling out on a purely instinctive, emotional basis, and I love it. :D
And then there's also a thing later about Daqing himself having been sealed away at the beginning/right after being separated from Kunlun? No idea how that ties into any of that. :P
Right, yeah, we knew about that at least in part, didn't we? That it took ages until he found one of Kunlun's reincarnations? Definitely looking forward to finding out more.
Ahh, fantastic catch, YES! The chair where a chair doesn't belong, and Zhao Yunlan just imperiously chilling in it! :D
RIGHT??? It's so ZYL! :D
This may be my favorite inconsequential change, since it's all about the tone and not plot-related at all - in the drama it could also be a dramatic reveal, just in a different context, but instead they decided to do the complete opposite because why not. :D
Haha, I'd really love to know what prompted them to make this change, but it's weirdly delightful!
Ooooh, I didn't even catch that it doesn't melt into water! I really like the power theory - I was thinking he may be somehow reversing what the icicle did, and this would definitely be a way to do that.
Yeah, agreed, that would make sense!
This is one of the things that will get the clearest explanation later, imo! At least compared to many other things. :D
LOL! And also phew. Looking forward to the explanation!
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Awwww! ♡ Someone comes to save him but there's no need because Xiao Guo and the youchu are hanging out and sharing stories. :D :D (This reminds me of that crack conversation about GCC adopting a Ghost Soldier, lol, and they are in fact youchu too. :D)
"He does know that SW is someone who can handle supernatural stuff, and obviously he's still alive despite the icicle and all, which says a lot in itself, but also, he's pinned down and not in any position to actually help, LOL, so I don't think rational reasons come into it much. Lin Jing is calling out on a purely instinctive, emotional basis, and I love it. :D"
Ah, I forgot that he knows at least some of the things Shen Wei can do! But yep, indeed, he can't do them right now. :D
"Right, yeah, we knew about that at least in part, didn't we? That it took ages until he found one of Kunlun's reincarnations?"
OH, true! It's not even that I forgot about this, I just totally didn't realize that these things are connected - you're right, they must be!
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I'm finally catching up!
Hee! Meanwhile I'm falling further and further behind. /o\
It's not his shadow, it's his mirror image, isn't it?
Yes, I made the same mistake as GCC. :-)
> > How well are you following what's going on with the Seal and Shen Wei's machinations?
>
> NOT AT ALL.
My brain has pretty much given up in self-defence. /o\
Hm, "conversing with humans" is quite a bit more specific than just "talking"!
True! Good point. Probably a good call on its part that it doesn't start chatting here; never wise to make friends with your prisoner.
1) I have zero understanding of what SW has done/is planning/?? ...
I know! Do you think we're supposed to know at this stage?
2) LOLOLOL, "I'm fine I'm just stabbed through the heart and can't move, never mind that minor inconvenience!" Oh, SW.
Right? This is taking stoicism to absurd levels.
I love protective Daqing! :D
Yes, that's so good!
You know, this reminds me of drama!ZYL on the rooftop, for the meeting with Zhu Jiu ...
Oh, excellent point. Yeah! There's absolutely no other reason for the chair in that scene.
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Oh, that's a great point! Especially since Lin Jing turns out to be more dangerous than he appears, with the light that can disintegrate youchu.
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(Hi! <3)
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(:D ♡)
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*hugs* You can catch up! All the comments are waiting for you!
Probably a good call on its part that it doesn't start chatting here; never wise to make friends with your prisoner.
Yeah, it doesn't really have anything to gain there.
I know! Do you think we're supposed to know at this stage?
Having read the following chapters, no, it's not supposed to be clear here, just a teaser for what's revealed later. (Phew!)
There's absolutely no other reason for the chair in that scene.
RIGHT????