trobadora (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
trobadora) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
sid_guardian2025-07-20 11:58 pm
trobadora) wrote in sid_guardian2025-07-20 11:58 pm
Entry tags:
Guardian Readalong: Vol. 3, Chapters 21 & 22
Welcome aboard for this week's chapters of our Guardian readalong!
Here are last week's chapters. You can find all previous discussions on the schedule post (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5), or via the !readalong tag.
This week's chapters:
- Chapter 21: The Yanluo Kings want to use Zhao Yunlan's heart's blood as the Guardian Lantern's wick, but the yao storm the Yanluo Courts under the leadership of Fourth Uncle, and likewise the daoists and assorted other immortals who were present at Kunlun Mountain. Ghost Face and various gui break free from the Wangchuan, and Shen Wei's trap is sprung. Zhao Yunlan half learns, half figures out Shen Wei's plan, and Zhu Hong clarifies Zhao Yunlan's feelings for Shen Wei. Ghost Face blows himself up.
- Chapter 22: Guo Changcheng and Chu Shuzhi fight various youchu (including the fake rogue cultivator) with the combined might of fear stick and zombie powers, then escape to the top of the mountain, but end up in trouble there again anyway. Meanwhile, Shen Wei, Zhao Yunlan and Lin Jing run into Daqing, escape from the Netherworld, and find SID and other people waiting for them. Shen Wei plans to re-seal the Four Pillars with the Hallows, and Zhao Yunlan tells Shennong's mortar to take his place and take care of his parents. Everyone comes together to help Shen Wei.
Excerpts:
1) Zhu Hong defends Zhao Yunlan against the Yanluo Kings' designs
With only the barest hint of a smile, Zhao Yunlan looked back at them. Zhu Hong, on the other hand, exploded. The lower half of her body transformed into a giant snake's tail, coiling around Zhao Yunlan. The delicate corners of her eyes elongated to reveal a cold-blooded animal's vertical pupils. "Don't you know he's just a mortal?" she demanded.
Unfazed, Zhao Yunlan answered for them. "They're not blind. Of course they know. Besides, would they dare try to force my hand like this if I weren't mortal?"
Zhu Hong's scales were as red as blood; when she hissed in fury, her scarlet forked tongue flickered out. "Why not just say you want to take his life?!"
Zhao Yunlan snorted. "Just think how bad that would sound."
"All mortals age and die," chorused the Ten Kings. "It is a normal part of the Reincarnation Cycle."
That's right. It's nothing but a mortal body! Can't you give it up to save the world?
2) Shen Wei is caught out
A storm cloud descended on Zhao Yunlan's face. "Shen Wei, get the fuck out here!"
In response, Shen Wei slowly slipped out from behind the chamber's massive stone door. He looked far more anxious now than he had a moment ago during all his scheming and plotting.
When Zhao Yunlan's gaze fell on the crusted blood on Shen Wei's chest, his fist clenched hard enough that veins popped out on the back of his hand. He looked like he wanted to hit Shen Wei.
Instantaneously, Lin Jing reacted, grabbing Zhu Hong and covering her mouth as soon as Shen Wei appeared. Despite her confusion, he pulled her off to the side.
Zhao Yunlan stayed silent for a long time, and Shen Wei's anxiety grew by the second. Finally, Zhao Yunlan spoke. "Shen Wei."
Shen Wei was instantly reminded of Zhao Yunlan's exhausted words after he'd seen through Shen Wei's deception in the Great Divine Tree: "If you keep doing this, I'll really be angry with you." Panicked, Shen Wei took a step toward him.
"Stay over there," Zhao Yunlan said, voice very low. "Don't come over here yet. It's not time for you to reveal yourself."
3) Zhu Hong and Shen Wei have a rapprochement
There was an awkward silence between them until, after a while, Shen Wei suddenly spoke again. "You... You care deeply for him, don't you?"
The question made Zhu Hong feel as if something had been stuffed into her heart. "Yeah," she mumbled.
"Then... Then why did you tell me all this?"
Zhu Hong rolled her eyes. "I just want you to stop upsetting him."
Confusion flickered across Shen Wei's face for just a second. He seemed somewhat distracted. His brows knit together, and the glittering water of the pool beneath the Soul-Guarding Lamp reflected in his eyes. Zhu Hong had just about concluded that his soul had drifted away when he finally looked back and nodded at her.
"You're right," he said sincerely. "Many thanks."
4) Speech time for Ghost Face
An instant later, the mask split in two. The halves fell, revealing the face that was a gloomy mirror of Shen Wei's. Ghost Face's robe billowed like a flag in the wind, despite the still air.
"Very well," Lin Jing heard him say hoarsely. "You win. I can't beat you. You don't even deign to fight me... Very well."
Shen Wei stopped.
"You and I were born exactly the same. I don't understand how I was inferior to you. You're the solitary, noble Soul-Executing Emissary, while I'm the King of the Gui everyone wants to kill. That's all fine." Ghost Face gave a guttural laugh. "I merely hate that you're too despicable and cowardly to even fight me, instead choosing to humiliate me with these...these ants. You'll regret this! You think you've won without dirtying your hands? Yes, you'll regret this, my good brother."
5) Chu Shuzhi weaponises Guo Changcheng's fear
"Are you afraid?" Chu Shuzhi asked seriously.
Ever honest, Guo Changcheng nodded so vigorously that he looked like a chicken pecking at rice.
"Scared to death?" Chu Shuzhi continued. Guo Changcheng wiped his tears and kept on pecking. "That's good." There was zero sympathy in Chu Shuzhi's voice. "Keep it up."
That left Guo Changcheng speechless. Chu Shuzhi patted him firmly on the shoulder and adopted a creepy tone, pointing past him. "Look. What's that?"
Guo Changcheng looked where he was pointing and found himself staring straight into the eyes of a few youchu. With his fear primed by Chu Shuzhi, a bloodcurdling, inhuman scream exploded out of him. "Ahhhhhhhhhh-!!!"
6) Shen Wei addresses the crowd
Then Shen Wei addressed the crowd. "All those years ago, Kunlun-jun, the Mountain God of the Great Wild, sealed the Four Pillars. I was heir to the thirty-six mountains and rivers, but I was born in filth. I am unable to establish any connection with the Four Hallowed Artifacts, so I hope you will all lend me a hand. You'll have my deepest gratitude."
Having said that, he resumed his true appearance. He stood before them clad in the Soul-Executing Emissary's midnight robes, the full length of his hair spilling down around him. His innate demonic aura was unmistakable, as was his air of gentlemanly righteousness; a man at war with himself yet possessed of an elegance beyond compare.
No one could reject him.
7) Zhao Yunlan's request for Shennong's mortar
With his back to the pagoda tree, Zhao Yunlan glanced at the ground. All seemed completely peaceful beneath the tree, not at all as though something impossibly vast was being held down. He was out of cigarettes, so he reached into his dad's pocket and claimed the packet he found there.
He lit up, then briefly stood in silence, wreathed in smoke. After a moment, he said, "Actually, I have a favor to ask of you."
"I am at Kunlun-jun's disposal," Shennong's mortar said quietly.
"No, I mean it," said Zhao Yunlan. "I'm my parents' only son. By all rights, I should take care of them in their old age and see them off. I never imagined I'd run out of time, but here we are. White-haired elders shouldn't have to see their black-haired children off. Think of a solution for me."
More moments passed before the mortar said, "I... I confess I don't understand what Kunlun-jun means to say."
Zhao Yunlan snorted. "Don't play dumb. I think you know exactly what I'm getting at."
Shennong's mortar took a long look at him. "So in the end, is the Soul-Executing Emissary only able to uphold his vow because you've agreed to accompany him into death?"
Casually blowing a smoke ring, Zhao Yunlan asked, "Do you think I'm selling my body?"
Questions:
What do you think of Shen Wei's plans? Or of the way he acts towards Zhao Yunlan? Is it satisfying seeing all the different characters coming together again? Are you following everything that's going on? How annoyed are you that we don't learn how Lin Jing made it to the Yanluo Courts in one piece? Any thoughts about Ghost Face exploding himself, and what the drama made out of that? Which of the things that has a direct parallel in the drama is your favourite bit of adaptation?
(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!)
Our schedule - please sign up to host a post if you can!
no subject
Great post! Great excerpt choices! \o/
Sorry if I sound a bit grumpy about these chapters. I'm so done with Shen Wei's lies, manipulating, secret plots and insecurities that I've kind of switched off. (I really really miss the drama's battle couple vibe.) GCC and CSZ were very cute, though.
What do you think of Shen Wei's plans? Or of the way he acts towards Zhao Yunlan?
I feel very eyeroll-y about it all (as much at a meta level as at SW himself). Did he actually need to manipulate everyone, or does priest just enjoy being confusing? ;-p
Are you following everything that's going on?
Not in the slightest. Which would normally be fine -- I don't need things to fit hard logic or anything. But I'm not enjoying the character/relationship stuff, so that pretty much just leaves me with setting (which I am enjoying; priest is so good at it), the ensemble and the humour (ditto and ditto).
How annoyed are you that we don't learn how Lin Jing made it to the Yanluo Courts in one piece?
Eh, I'm always willing to handwave stuff like that.
Any thoughts about Ghost Face exploding himself, and what the drama made out of that?
What has Ghost Face actually done other than annoy and fight Shen Wei? There's the terrible destruction at the resort -- was he responsible for that, or was it just the Seal weakening and he hung around waiting for Shen Wei to show up? Was there anything before that? Is he responsible for the Seal weakening, or is it just out of warranty and naturally falling apart? (I have no braaaain. Sorry!)
Which of the things that has a direct parallel in the drama is your favourite bit of adaptation?
Zhu Hong and Shen Wei talking about love. I like that they switched it around to make SW the one giving advice, and also that he apparently draws on his scientific knowledge to do it. Heh. Also, Chu Shuzhi giving GCC a thumbs up for zapping someone.
My notes. See caveat above.
They’re offering the carrot after the stick, Zhao Yunlan thought.
The stick is the implicit threat of hell and all the power of the Court, right? And the carrot is "here is a way you can achieve what you want (and what we all want: for you to save the three realms)"? Later on, they say, “It is our hope that the Mountain God’s noble character will have you consider the bigger picture.” So I'm pretty sure they're expecting ZYL to want to guard the world, and the carrot is a method for achieving that.
Zhu Hong turns into her snake form and sheds all her fear and inhibitions!
I'm so glad the drama let us see the Crow Elder changing sides instead of making it a non-event. They did such great things with that storyline.
So, wait, Shen Wei has deliberately orchestrated this whole uproar by releasing the Chaos into the Yanluo Courts in what -- a fit of petty vengeance? Is there more to it than that? *sighs* I really don't get what he's thinking.
Zhao Yunlan held her back. “Take a good look at the class of fighters out there. Don’t get underfoot, little girl.”
Is this payback for her patronising him in chapter 18? (Steam was practically coming out of Zhu Hong’s ears. “‘Little snake’? I’m a little snake?! What are you, then? In my tribe, someone your age would still be nibbling their eggshells, you mortal brat!”) They each keep trying to pull seniority over the other, lol.
ZYL tries to shoot a gui, but the gui dodges. I wonder if his bullets would be effective even if he hit.
A storm cloud descended on Zhao Yunlan’s face. “Shen Wei, get the fuck out here!”
LOL! He has a much better grip on what's happening than I do. But I don't like this -- they're working at odds. I want my battle couple! :-(
“And on the peak of Kunlun Mountain… When the Netherworld had gathered everyone there, you also left marks on them all, right? That way, as soon as the Chaos beneath the Seal began to leak out, everyone got a taste of it, so no one could escape unscathed—and they’d all think it was the Netherworld’s doing.”
Whaaaaaat? (Wait, is Shen Wei the big bad? Because this seems like such a dick move. It's not like the Netherworld needs slandering -- they're already pretty awful. And if SW wants to change the system, surely he could have used his influence as Emissary.)
You knew from the very beginning that Ghost Face was up to no good, but you still let him skewer you with an icicle. What is wrong with you?”
Great question!!! ;-p
Okay, so Shen Wei deliberately lets himself get stabbed (in front of ZYL) and stirs up all this lower-case-c chaos in the Netherworld, and when ZYL gets mad about it, SW pins him against a wall, won't let go, and tries to use sympathy about the (deliberately acquired and now healed) wound to make him stop being mad? Sorry, I just don't like manipulative!SW. I'm checking out.
Zhu Hong heaved a sigh. “Look, I’m not the brightest. I don’t understand what you guys are plotting half the time.
LOL, everyone is so confused, and priest is completely unrepentant about it. I think everyone saying this all the time is supposed to be a sign to the reader to just roll with it all.
Aww, ZH and SW talking about love. (I feel like SW could take a moment to realise that ZYL is furious in exactly the same way that SW was furious (and nearly slapped ZYL) after ZYL summoned the ghost army. I mean, it's exactly the same thing, flipped! ;-p)
Sacred Wood!
Lin Jing has randomly acquired binoculars, lol. I really have no sense of what the Netherworld is like. And ZYL has lit his twelfth cigarette?! (I wonder if SW can reverse the effects of smoking. ;-p)
Poor Ghost Face. :-(
Yay, ChuGuo!! And ha, CSZ gives GCC a thumbs up when his baton goes off -- they kept that in the drama. :D
I have noooooo idea why the fake rogue cultivator youchu went to all the trouble of befriending ChuGuo or what the other youchu were waiting for. But when he quotes the Soul-Guarding Order, I love the effect it has on GCC. The baton in his hand even calms down. <3 <3 <3
I love Guo Changcheng determinedly standing guard, too, and Chu Shuzhi trusting him to. *hearts them both* And ahhh, the bow made of rainwater is very cool!
DQ's screaming outrage!! <3 <3 <3
All four are now in my hands, and I must once again seal the Four Pillars that hold the earth and sky in place. I hope everyone here can help me stabilize the foundation of the sealing ritual.
So he is taking his responsibilities seriously after all, despite the convoluted plots, manipulations and lies. Was his earlier unconcern feigned? Was the massive destruction he provoked in the Netherworld necessary (rather than confronting Ghost Face somewhere where there'd be less collateral damage)? Ugh.
I am unable to establish any connection with the Four Hallowed Artifacts, so I hope you will all lend me a hand.
But earlier he says, "in truth, the Mountain-River Awl was always under my control". The rules around the Hallows feel very *handwave* whatever the plot requires. (Tbf, this is completely true in the drama, too.)
“Live well. Live like ‘Zhao Yunlan.’” Zhao Yunlan gave his father’s shoulder a disrespectful pat. “Enjoy the things you should enjoy, and whatever you need to do, do it well. Thank you.”
Aww! This is such a filial act -- he's figured out how to fulfil his Urgent to-do list item posthumously. (“Figure out how to evict that stupid bowl from Dad’s body.”)
Then Shen Wei brought his fingers together and struck the words forcefully with his palm.
I do like when he does that.
no subject
Definitely the latter. ;D :D
"What has Ghost Face actually done other than annoy and fight Shen Wei? There's the terrible destruction at the resort -- was he responsible for that, or was it just the Seal weakening and he hung around waiting for Shen Wei to show up?"
I think he has to be responsible for that, considering that the Seal keeps weakening further but this kind of thing didn't happen again. (Unless the very first escape of the gui will always do that, no matter how small it is? But there were gui in the mortal realm as early as volume 1, so I assume not.) He also kidnapped Lin Jing and stuck him underwater with the youchu.
"Is he responsible for the Seal weakening, or is it just out of warranty and naturally falling apart?"
I think it's both, but he's speeding it up. (He says “If I consume you, do you think I could break through the whole Seal?”, so he's been doing something to it.)
"Also, Chu Shuzhi giving GCC a thumbs up for zapping someone."
Hee, I was thinking of the drama scene too. :D
"So, wait, Shen Wei has deliberately orchestrated this whole uproar by releasing the Chaos into the Yanluo Courts in what -- a fit of petty vengeance? Is there more to it than that? *sighs* I really don't get what he's thinking."
He baited Ghost Face to come there, and also gathered every powerful immortal there (by putting the marks on them and making them aware of the Chaos) so that they can all fight Ghost Face. Which was successful until GF exploded himself.
"Is this payback for her patronising him in chapter 18? (Steam was practically coming out of Zhu Hong’s ears. “‘Little snake’? I’m a little snake?! What are you, then? In my tribe, someone your age would still be nibbling their eggshells, you mortal brat!”) They each keep trying to pull seniority over the other, lol."
Hah, good catch! And considering that her reply was already a payback, they really keep doing this to each other over and over. xD
"ZYL tries to shoot a gui, but the gui dodges. I wonder if his bullets would be effective even if he hit."
I didn't even think of that, but if they can casually impersonate humans, who knows what else they can do!
"And if SW wants to change the system, surely he could have used his influence as Emissary."
I don't think he has any influence with the Netherworld officials - it was said somewhere early on that they don't trust him and just wait for him to join Ghost Face. They're afraid of him, but that's about it, as far as I understand.
"LOL, everyone is so confused, and priest is completely unrepentant about it. I think everyone saying this all the time is supposed to be a sign to the reader to just roll with it all."
I think so too. xD
"I have noooooo idea why the fake rogue cultivator youchu went to all the trouble of befriending ChuGuo"
He wanted to trick them into revealing something about the Soul-Guarding Order (before CSZ told him it's none of his business), but idk what it was supposed to be or why.
> >I am unable to establish any connection with the Four Hallowed Artifacts, so I hope you will all lend me a hand.
"But earlier he says, "in truth, the Mountain-River Awl was always under my control". The rules around the Hallows feel very *handwave* whatever the plot requires. (Tbf, this is completely true in the drama, too.)"
Having control over them and establishing a connection with them seem to be different things. But it is very true that the Hallows to whatever the hell they want. :D
"he's figured out how to fulfil his Urgent to-do list item posthumously. (“Figure out how to evict that stupid bowl from Dad’s body.”)"
Ahhh, excellent catch, I love this!! ♡
no subject
Yeah, as far as I can tell he wants to break the Seal and destroy everything.
I don't think he has any influence with the Netherworld officials - it was said somewhere early on that they don't trust him and just wait for him to join Ghost Face. They're afraid of him, but that's about it, as far as I understand.
Yeah, this - there are a lot of scenes from very early on that show how the Emissary is regarded in the Netherworld, and they seem to see him as a time bomb that could go off any time. They definitely wouldn't listen to him about anything except what he can force through sheer power.
He wanted to trick them into revealing something about the Soul-Guarding Order (before CSZ told him it's none of his business), but idk what it was supposed to be or why.
Oh, is that what he was doing? I didn't catch that at all, thank you!
no subject
Yep, that's how I see it too.
> >He wanted to trick them into revealing something about the Soul-Guarding Order (before CSZ told him it's none of his business), but idk what it was supposed to be or why.
Oh, is that what he was doing? I didn't catch that at all, thank you!
It's not spelled out what he wants, I'm just assuming because of this scene: "So when the cultivator started asking about the Soul-Guarding Order, the Corpse King naturally gave him a chilly response. “Sir, if something is none of your business, maybe you shouldn’t be asking. Why be annoying for no reason?”" He apologizes by intentionally being more annoying and distracting and performatively harmless (all 'haha' and "You’re not annoyed with me, are you, li’l bro?"), and then GCC sees his reflection. So it sounds like this question (whatever exactly he asked) was important to him, especially since he quotes the Soul-Guarding Order later.
no subject
no subject
Definitely the latter. ;D :D
LOL! <3
He also kidnapped Lin Jing and stuck him underwater with the youchu.
That's true. Do we know why? (I am so confused about all of this; it makes me feel like my reading comprehension has tanked. Sorry for just asking endless questions! /o)
He says “If I consume you, do you think I could break through the whole Seal?”, so he's been doing something to it.
Or he's just taunting Shen Wei because that's what they do...
He baited Ghost Face to come there, and also gathered every powerful immortal there (by putting the marks on them and making them aware of the Chaos) so that they can all fight Ghost Face.
Yeah, I just didn't get why he had to do it in what is essentially an urban area. Having marked everyone, he could have gathered them anywhere and not had any collateral damage. But having re-read the end of the chapter, now I think part of the plan was to provide cover for stealing the true Guardian Lantern. (If it was just about defeating GF, surely SW would be getting involved in the battle more, since he's the only one who really matches GF in power.)
I didn't even think of that, but if they can casually impersonate humans, who knows what else they can do!
And casually draw blood from their own heart / survive a major chest wound.
I don't think he has any influence with the Netherworld officials - it was said somewhere early on that they don't trust him and just wait for him to join Ghost Face. They're afraid of him, but that's about it, as far as I understand.
Right, but he totally plays into that (the snarking at the Magistrate about killing a bunch of ghosts, early this volume), and now he has the Guardian / ex-Mountain God on his side to vouch for him, they could totally try diplomacy. (It's very different from the drama, where to Dixing, ZYL is an agent of a foreign state, you know? The Guardian has enough clout that the Yanluo Court are trying to use him and acting rather intimidated by him, despite their posturing.) But now I've remembered more about Shen Wei's plan -- he's on a tight timeframe and not expecting to survive. So I think he just doesn't care about what happens to the Netherworld. If he leaves it in ruins, that's the survivors' problem.
He wanted to trick them into revealing something about the Soul-Guarding Order (before CSZ told him it's none of his business), but idk what it was supposed to be or why.
Ohh, right. Thank you!! He recites the motto of the SGO. I think he might just be a gui freedom fighter who has more targeted/sophisticated tactics than some of the others.
no subject
"That's true. Do we know why? (I am so confused about all of this; it makes me feel like my reading comprehension has tanked. Sorry for just asking endless questions! /o)"
To bait the SID and Shen Wei to come and get him, I'm assuming? I was wondering briefly why he kept him alive, but they had this thread that told them he's alive, and maybe Ghose Face thinks that they will come faster if there's a chance to save Ling Jing? Or maybe he literally thinks that they would give up and not come at all if LJ is already dead. (This book is confusing af!! ♡ Lol.)
> >He says “If I consume you, do you think I could break through the whole Seal?”, so he's been doing something to it.
"Or he's just taunting Shen Wei because that's what they do..."
Hah, it would be hilarious if Ghost Face can't actually do anything to the Seal and he's just waiting for it to fall apart on its own, but in front of Shen Wei he's all 'I did all of this, MWAHAHA' ;D
"Yeah, I just didn't get why he had to do it in what is essentially an urban area. Having marked everyone, he could have gathered them anywhere and not had any collateral damage. But having re-read the end of the chapter, now I think part of the plan was to provide cover for stealing the true Guardian Lantern. (If it was just about defeating GF, surely SW would be getting involved in the battle more, since he's the only one who really matches GF in power.)"
Fantastic points all around, ITA with all of this! I didn't even realize that it had to be related to the Lantern, and also yep, if it weren't, he would have started the battle somewhere else! (That's also probably why he gathered so many people - if he can't be involved in the battle because he has to do something else at the same time, he had to make sure that the people who fight would be strong enough to actually defeat Ghost Face.)
> > I didn't even think of that, but if they can casually impersonate humans, who knows what else they can do!
"And casually draw blood from their own heart / survive a major chest wound."
Oooooh, and I didn't think of that either! For some reason I thought only the Kings of the Gui could do that, but the youchu who guarded Lin Jing basically got its entire face burned off by the light and was still alive, right? Yeah, I don't think they can be killed with a bullet. Though it's obviously Zhao Yunlan's special bullets, but the light was some special anti-gui light too.
"now he has the Guardian / ex-Mountain God on his side to vouch for him, they could totally try diplomacy. (It's very different from the drama, where to Dixing, ZYL is an agent of a foreign state, you know? The Guardian has enough clout that the Yanluo Court are trying to use him and acting rather intimidated by him, despite their posturing.)"
I think they don't care about the Guardian much (they've worked together for many years and they're only intimidated now that he's sort-of-half-primordial-god again; and he's kind of a foreign agent too - he's the representative of the Mortal Realm iirc, and they don't care much about that either). And even now they're trying to trick him and kill him instead of negotiating? A fully reawakened Kunlun would probably be a different story, but idk if even then it would be actual respect and not just more fear.
"He recites the motto of the SGO. I think he might just be a gui freedom fighter who has more targeted/sophisticated tactics than some of the others."
Yep, and now I'm so curious what exactly he wanted to find out/do with the information!
no subject
To bait the SID and Shen Wei to come and get him, I'm assuming?
But SW didn't go looking for LJ at the Seal. It was GF who took SW down there. *still confused*
(This book is confusing af!! ♡ Lol.)
Hee! IT REALLY IS!
That's also probably why he gathered so many people - if he can't be involved in the battle because he has to do something else at the same time, he had to make sure that the people who fight would be strong enough to actually defeat Ghost Face.
Yes! Great point! He needs ALL the avengers to assemble. ;-p
I still think the combo of Guardian and Emissary working together could have made some headway with the various authorities in the Netherworld (and that the Guardian being mortal makes him trusting the Emissary even more persuasive), but since there's zero evidence about this either way, eh. ¯_(ツ)_/¯
*waves goodnight* <3
no subject
Oh, why he specifically took LJ to the Seal and not somewhere else? I'm not sure either. But since he also put SW there, I'm assuming that's just the prison he made? xD Maybe it's the easiest place for him to make one, and it's relatively hard to escape and out of the way.
"and that the Guardian being mortal makes him trusting the Emissary even more persuasive"
Hah, I'm wondering if they'd just go 'mortals are stupid', lol. But yeah, in the end there is no evidence either way.
(Goodnight! ♡♡♡)
no subject
Oh hey, maybe the annoying human-skin-suit gui was tasked with finding members of the SID, and that's how Ghost Face identified Lin Jing and why the annoying gui was still going around asking about the SGO? Maybe it cosied up to Lin Jing first, and LJ was too polite to rebuff it. /this feels like fanwanking but it actually makes sense, lol
no subject
Ooh! You're totally right, that would make sense!
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
Haha, OMG, yeah, every day we find new sources of confusion! *g*
I think they don't care about the Guardian much (they've worked together for many years and they're only intimidated now that he's sort-of-half-primordial-god again; and he's kind of a foreign agent too - he's the representative of the Mortal Realm iirc, and they don't care much about that either).
Yeah, I think they look down on mortals a lot, there's no respect there. *g*
A fully reawakened Kunlun would probably be a different story, but idk if even then it would be actual respect and not just more fear.
I have no idea either - they think they can use Kunlun (it's their plot to awaken him, earlier), but I'm not sure what their attitude would be towards him, beyond that.
no subject
Yeah, same!
Did he actually need to manipulate everyone, or does priest just enjoy being confusing? ;-p
Six of one, half a dozen of the other? I think the part about tricking Ghost Face into a trap makes sense at least.
But I'm not enjoying the character/relationship stuff
Yeah. It's different things for me than for you (I'm so tired of Shen Wei being emotionally naive and helpless while simultaneously being manipulative, and of Zhao Yunlan on and off treating him like a naughty child, nothing about this dynamic works for me), but I'm 100% with you on the lack of enjoyment.
Eh, I'm always willing to handwave stuff like that.
You saying that made me wonder why it bothers me so much, since I'd normally be happy to take it as read that they took care of it somehow. I think it's because there's so much larger-scale stuff I'm not sure of, I want at least the details to be clear, LOL.
What has Ghost Face actually done other than annoy and fight Shen Wei? There's the terrible destruction at the resort -- was he responsible for that, or was it just the Seal weakening and he hung around waiting for Shen Wei to show up? Was there anything before that? Is he responsible for the Seal weakening, or is it just out of warranty and naturally falling apart?
My understanding is that Ghost Face has been actively weakening and trying to break the Seal for some time - it would naturally fail with time, but he's actively working towards that and hastening it - and what happened at the resort was part of his work.
Zhu Hong and Shen Wei talking about love. I like that they switched it around to make SW the one giving advice, and also that he apparently draws on his scientific knowledge to do it. Heh. Also, Chu Shuzhi giving GCC a thumbs up for zapping someone.
Aw! I love that conversation in the drama, so much. And while I don't enjoy the Shen Wei characterisation in the novel scene much, I do like that they got that moment together there as well.
The stick is the implicit threat of hell and all the power of the Court, right? And the carrot is "here is a way you can achieve what you want (and what we all want: for you to save the three realms)"? Later on, they say, “It is our hope that the Mountain God’s noble character will have you consider the bigger picture.” So I'm pretty sure they're expecting ZYL to want to guard the world, and the carrot is a method for achieving that.
Ooh, this is a great point, thank you, that makes so much sense!
I'm so glad the drama let us see the Crow Elder changing sides instead of making it a non-event. They did such great things with that storyline.
Ya Qing is such a fantastic character, and her arc is so good! And she's built out of almost nothing, it's amazing. :D
So, wait, Shen Wei has deliberately orchestrated this whole uproar by releasing the Chaos into the Yanluo Courts in what -- a fit of petty vengeance? Is there more to it than that? *sighs* I really don't get what he's thinking.
What? He's deliberately orchestrated this to trap and defeat Ghost Face. Because Ghost Face is trying to break the Seal and destroy the world, and he doesn't want that to happen. And I'm pretty sure restoring the Seal when it breaks is a one-time deal; Shen Wei doesn't expect to still be around after that, so Ghost Face has to be defeated first, or he'll just break it again after.
And involving the Yanluo Courts and all the cultivators and everyone is because he can't defeat Ghost Face on his own, and they wouldn't listen to him if he tried to form an alliance - they all fear him, but no one trusts him. So he had to trick everyone into it.
Is this payback for her patronising him in chapter 18?
Oh, good catch! It's a little better when it's not one-sided, but the "little girl" stuff comes across as so sexist, it still makes me twitch even if it isn't meant that way.
But I don't like this -- they're working at odds. I want my battle couple! :-(
You and me both!
Wait, is Shen Wei the big bad? Because this seems like such a dick move. It's not like the Netherworld needs slandering -- they're already pretty awful. And if SW wants to change the system, surely he could have used his influence as Emissary.
It's not a nice thing to do, but I don't think he had that many options when it came to gathering everyone in order to fight Ghost Face. What influence? I'm pretty sure the Emissary has power (he can do what he wants and no one can stop him) but no influence (he can't make other people do what he wants except through force; they all distrust him in part because he's a gui just like Ghost Face, and in part because he's so powerful). He's isolated in every way.
I mean, drama!Shen Wei can't manage to effect change in Dixing on his own, and he has a lot more standing and influence in Dixing than novel!Shen Wei has in the Netherworld.
Okay, so Shen Wei deliberately lets himself get stabbed (in front of ZYL) and stirs up all this lower-case-c chaos in the Netherworld, and when ZYL gets mad about it, SW pins him against a wall, won't let go, and tries to use sympathy about the (deliberately acquired and now healed) wound to make him stop being mad?
He lets himself get stabbed because he needs to be off the board to make the trap for Ghost Face work, and he stirs up all this chaos to trap Ghost Face, and when Zhao Yunlan gets mad about it, he's afraid Zhao Yunlan will break up with him. He doesn't draw Zhao Yunlan's attention to his wound, either - he lets out an involuntary sound of pain when Zhao Yunlan shoves him.
LOL, everyone is so confused, and priest is completely unrepentant about it. I think everyone saying this all the time is supposed to be a sign to the reader to just roll with it all.
Yeah, agreed - but as a reader, I feel this constant lampshade-hanging is just drawing more attention to all the frustrating confusingness.
I feel like SW could take a moment to realise that ZYL is furious in exactly the same way that SW was furious (and nearly slapped ZYL) after ZYL summoned the ghost army.
LOL, that's a good point!
I have noooooo idea why the fake rogue cultivator youchu went to all the trouble of befriending ChuGuo or what the other youchu were waiting for.
Yeah, I wasn't clear on that either.
So he is taking his responsibilities seriously after all, despite the convoluted plots, manipulations and lies. Was his earlier unconcern feigned?
I have no idea; I found his unconcern unsettling, and I'm very glad he's taking things seriously now!
Was the massive destruction he provoked in the Netherworld necessary (rather than confronting Ghost Face somewhere where there'd be less collateral damage)?
The way I understood it, everyone facing Ghost Face en masse was necessary as the only way to defeat Ghost Face. And even then he still managed to break the Seal!
But earlier he says, "in truth, the Mountain-River Awl was always under my control". The rules around the Hallows feel very *handwave* whatever the plot requires. (Tbf, this is completely true in the drama, too.)
LOL! I hope future chapters will explain more, but apparently connecting with the Hallows is something different from controlling them? Idk.
Aww! This is such a filial act -- he's figured out how to fulfil his Urgent to-do list item posthumously. (“Figure out how to evict that stupid bowl from Dad’s body.”)
Ooh, great catch! :D
no subject
I think the part about tricking Ghost Face into a trap makes sense at least.
Yes. I just don't think it had to happen in an urban area with lots of collateral damage.
I think it's because there's so much larger-scale stuff I'm not sure of, I want at least the details to be clear, LOL.
Ha, that makes sense.
My understanding is that Ghost Face has been actively weakening and trying to break the Seal for some time - it would naturally fail with time, but he's actively working towards that and hastening it - and what happened at the resort was part of his work.
Okay, I'm just going to accept that. It makes sense with the story, so yeah. Thanks! <3
Ooh, this is a great point, thank you, that makes so much sense!
Glad that made sense!
but the "little girl" stuff comes across as so sexist
I wonder if that's the case in Chinese...
I mean, drama!Shen Wei can't manage to effect change in Dixing on his own, and he has a lot more standing and influence in Dixing than novel!Shen Wei has in the Netherworld.
Drama!Shen Wei tries, though (with the proposal for schools, for example), and we don't know that his presence hasn't influenced things for the better. It could be even worse otherwise! I feel like novel!SW has gone, "They don't trust me, they're right not to trust me (because of my filthy gui nature), so I'll just keep being a monster in their eyes." Even now when he has the Guardian on his side who could potentially build bridges, if they had any interest in using diplomacy to effect constructive change. (Obviously that's not what the novel is about, so this is just me tangenting wildly. But it makes me super appreciative of the fact that drama!SW put in that proposal!!!)
I don't think you and I are going to see the "pinning ZYL against a wall" moment the same, so I'll just say a little about where I'm coming from and leave it. I lost a lot of trust in SW's genuine reactions when he revealed that he'd deliberately let ZYL catch him cutting himself in the kitchen scene, to manipulate ZYL into feeling sorry for him so he'd stay with him. There's no reason for SW to be visible in this scene, and in fact it would make more sense if he wasn't, so I think he deliberately lets ZYL see his wound to soften his anger.
but as a reader, I feel this constant lampshade-hanging is just drawing more attention to all the frustrating confusingness.
LOL, agreed. But I think that's partly about us reading it at this slow pace, and examining it all so closely. When I read it through the first time, all the "this is supposed to be confusing" signposts just made me laugh and shrug.
I have no idea; I found his unconcern unsettling, and I'm very glad he's taking things seriously now!
I've remembered Shen Wei's plan, and I think his earlier unconcern was just being at peace with the fact that he's planning to die. He was like, the end is inevitable and coming fast, but I have what I want and I'm determined to enjoy these last moments. FWIW. (Don't know if this would ring true if I went back and reread that scene, though. /is lazy)
The way I understood it, everyone facing Ghost Face en masse was necessary as the only way to defeat Ghost Face.
Yes (though I note SW wasn't lending his power to the fight), but given SW was the one to assemble the avengers or whatever, I don't think it had to happen where all those random innocent ghosts would be endangered. ;-p BUT now I think it was also cover for stealing the Lantern, which makes a lot more sense.
no subject
That made me go and check, he calls her 小丫头 - and my Chinese is rudimentary, so I may be totally wrong here, but I feel like it might sound less sexist? Idk.
I feel like novel!SW has gone, "They don't trust me, they're right not to trust me (because of my filthy gui nature), so I'll just keep being a monster in their eyes."
We don't know that, though. He's been doing this job for thousands of years; who knows how long he might have tried until he arrived at that attitude?
But it makes me super appreciative of the fact that drama!SW put in that proposal!!!
I'm definitely glad they put that in the drama!
When I read it through the first time, all the "this is supposed to be confusing" signposts just made me laugh and shrug.
That's interesting to hear! I was thinking all these characters going "this is confusing" one after the other might be even more frustrating if you read it in close succession, but I can see how it could turn funny instead.
I've remembered Shen Wei's plan, and I think his earlier unconcern was just being at peace with the fact that he's planning to die. He was like, the end is inevitable and coming fast, but I have what I want and I'm determined to enjoy these last moments. FWIW.
Yes, I agree, and I have no issue with that! I just felt like he didn't care about Lin Jing being in danger, for example, and that bothered me a lot. But I know it's not explicit, so that might not have been the intended reading.
BUT now I think it was also cover for stealing the Lantern, which makes a lot more sense.
Oooh, yes, of course! You're right, I didn't even think of that, but of course he needed to get the last Hallow!
no subject
Is it the counterpart to the Envoy calling GCC "little boy" in episode 1 of the drama?
*I just felt like he didn't care about Lin Jing being in danger, for example, and that bothered me a lot.*
That's true -- as you know, I got that vibe too. But going back and scanning that section, I think it's less obvious than that. They don't actually know that LJ is in danger, just that he's out of contact, and SW confirms that he's not dead. I don't think SW has any urgent feelings about it, but idk, it feels like a different vibe from "now I have you, we can shut the world out and ignore everything," which was how I was reading it before. The fact that SW does actually plan to deal with the Seal makes a big difference for me.
no subject
Ooh, yes, it does feel a bit like that!
(Though what he calls GCC isn't gendered in Chinese - it's 小朋友, literally "little friend".)
They don't actually know that LJ is in danger, just that he's out of contact, and SW confirms that he's not dead. I don't think SW has any urgent feelings about it, but idk, it feels like a different vibe from "now I have you, we can shut the world out and ignore everything," which was how I was reading it before. The fact that SW does actually plan to deal with the Seal makes a big difference for me.
Idk, he felt so detached to me, unlike ZYL who immediately decides finding Lin Jing is urgent. But I agree that it matters a huge amout that SW is planning to deal with the Seal!
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
Hah, this is the first time I can see how Shen Wei is so much smarter than Ghost Face (which is what all the characters kept thinking without much evidence) - not blowing himself up would mean that SW repairs the Seal and dies, and then Ghost Face can break it again because there's no one left to stop him. xD Obviously that's not how it actually goes, but at this point these are the facts in-world, as far as GF knows. And yet he decided to blow himself up to break the Seal just so that it could be repaired. :P
no subject
Presumably he didn't know it could be repaired -- or didn't think Shen Wei would make the necessary sacrifice? And idk if he could break it if it wasn't already weakened; it's held fast since the PP, right?
Or maybe he was just too upset to think strategically. (Idk if that counts as less smart generally, though.)
no subject
"And idk if he could break it if it wasn't already weakened; it's held fast since the PP, right?"
Especially this! Even if SW is not there to maintain the Seal, it would probably take at least a few centuries to break it again, yeah. And if he only started to maintain it recently, when it was already breaking down, then it would take millennia all over again. *nods* (Otoh, Ghost Face is immortal, maybe he wouldn't care. xD)
no subject
Even if he's immortal, he doesn't seem *super* patient. ;D
no subject
no subject
no subject
LOL, indeed!