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sid_guardian2025-07-20 11:58 pm
trobadora) wrote in sid_guardian2025-07-20 11:58 pm
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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!)
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The 'for some reason' is just so funny to me, lol, what happened behind the scenes? The Crows just tagged along and didn't tell anyone why, and no one bothered to ask them or stop them? :D
Ha, yes, it sounds like it should be from the POV of one of the characters who didn't witness this development, but it's omniscient there, I think? So weird.
Hah, so the plan for the bit of Chaos was to make Ghost Face think that there's some grand plan for the bit of Chaos. Neat! :D
LOL! :D
It's not clear to me why it's too late to leave though - the people who fight him don't seem powerful enough to stop him from leaving? Is it just pride and not wanting to retreat?
Maybe it's having all those high-level gui right there? He can't back down without losing face/support? /hazarding a guess/
> > "Zhao Yunlan pointed at the bloody mess on Shen Wei’s chest. “Does it hurt?” Shen Wei began to nod, but he only made it as far as lowering his chin before pausing and quickly shaking his head."
>
> Oh yikes, I thought it wouldn't hurt after it was healed! This is a lot worse. D:
See, I honestly don't know whether to believe him, or whether he's just being manipulative again. Given the lengths he's been prepared to go to before now... ;-p Maybe he can't decide whether admitting he got himself hurt will make ZYL cold-furious or all Teeth gritted, Zhao Yunlan snarled, “I want to fucking drag you home and handcuff you so that you’ll stay put.” again.
Why did he even turn invisible specifically at this point anyway? Just to be extra dramatic? :D
I think he wants ZYL to see he was hurt (for sympathy), so he had to show himself to start with, but he's also trying to be all stealth.
But really tho, there is no wound under the blood anymore, why does it still hurt? D: D:
I don't think it does. ;-p (Aside: the dried crust of blood suggests he didn't have to swim to get to the Netherworld, right?)
*WIBBLES* So he heals random plants instead because at least that works? ♡♡♡
Oh, great point. Yeah!
I am so glad that when Shen Wei looks exactly like this in the drama (including the missing glasses), they have not been fighting at all. ♡
Yessssssss!
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I was thinking something along these lines too, but
"See, I honestly don't know whether to believe him, or whether he's just being manipulative again. Given the lengths he's been prepared to go to before now... ;-p Maybe he can't decide whether admitting he got himself hurt will make ZYL cold-furious or all Teeth gritted, Zhao Yunlan snarled, “I want to fucking drag you home and handcuff you so that you’ll stay put.” again."
Lol, that is not something I've considered before, and I would buy it as a possibility (he REALLY liked being threatened with getting handcuffed after all xD) if it weren't for the fact that he can't climb the tree. ("Shen Wei stumbled back a few steps, exhausted. He slumped heavily against the pagoda tree, fighting for breath. Icy sweat dampened his temples." - it sounds very real to me.) But otoh this is right after he just placed the three new seals, so maybe the exhaustion doesn't have much to do with the injury.
"Aside: the dried crust of blood suggests he didn't have to swim to get to the Netherworld, right?"
Oh, very good point! I have no idea? I thought maybe he always just teleports and he only swam when he was carrying Zhao Yunlan, but that doesn't seem to be the case - in the first description of how he descended to the Seal (back in volume 2) he does go through the water. So maybe the water is not ~real water~ and/or SW has some self-drying power. xD
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It might not, but I could easily see it as connected, great point! (I definitely read it as his pain being real. He healed the hole in his chest but some damage remained.)
So maybe the water is not ~real water~
Yeah, I figure this has to be it, otherwise I'm just all ??? over the whole thing. *g*
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Might this be an equivalent to drama!Shen Wei holding his side as he heads to the SID in ep 34?
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Ooh! Yes, you're right, that's totally it! I forgot that the drama's equivalent of Shen Wei's capture is two different instances, and that's the aftermath of the first. Very cool! :D
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Yesss, it has to be, fantastic catch! ♡
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Me too. I can totally see his potential reasons for faking it, but I don't think that's what he's doing. (And it sucks that the healing didn't fully work. D: I guess that's because of the special icicle too.)
ETA: And this just occurred to me: Since novel!SW is not actually having any energy issues, is this the equivalent of drama!SW not being able to heal himself properly anymore?
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Since novel!SW is not actually having any energy issues, is this the equivalent of drama!SW not being able to heal himself properly anymore?
Oh, that's a good thought. I find that pretty persuasive, actually. (So interesting how the adaptation, despite being completely different in a lot of ways, can be used to shed light on the original. :D)
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Yeah, that's very cool! :D
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Ooh, that's such a good point, yeah, that must be the seed they took from the novel for that thread of the drama!
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but [personal profile] trobadora said elsewhere that the blockade made of Chaos that is behind Ghost Face and his army could be physically stopping them from leaving, and I think that's the case.
I haven't made it through all of the comments yet. Do we think that GF is in control of the blockade?
But otoh this is right after he just placed the three new seals, so maybe the exhaustion doesn't have much to do with the injury.
Yeah, I assumed that was to do with making the seals.
So maybe the water is not ~real water~ and/or SW has some self-drying power. xD
I think if he'd been through real water, his clothes wouldn't be crusted with dried blood. Stained, maybe...
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Now I haven't either, lol, but it sounds to me like he's not. (Though at first I had no idea what the blockade even did at all, so who knows. :D)
"I think if he'd been through real water, his clothes wouldn't be crusted with dried blood. Stained, maybe..."
True, good point!
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Now I haven't either, lol, but it sounds to me like he's not.
Well, that's confusing! Maybe some Chaos just followed/drifted up after the gui?
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It is! Might as well have said, "for reasons that don't need exploring at this juncture." :p
See, I honestly don't know whether to believe him, or whether he's just being manipulative again.
I see no reason to think his pain isn't real. He's basically the poster child for saying he's fine when he isn't, and the bit where it first comes up is just him making a sound of pain when being shoved. And he's healed the hole in his chest, but I don't think that has to mean he's 100% back to normal; it makes sense that something strong enough to pin him could also leave some damage behind.
(Which reminds me - he needed Lin Jing to remove the icicle; what was his plan if Lin Jing hadn't been there? Or had he already figured that out?)
I think he wants ZYL to see he was hurt (for sympathy), so he had to show himself to start with, but he's also trying to be all stealth.
I really don't think he's deliberately drawing attention to his injury. Zhao Yunlan tells him to come out, so he comes out.
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Might as well have said, "for reasons that don't need exploring at this juncture." :p
LOL! *deploys appropriate icon*
(Which reminds me - he needed Lin Jing to remove the icicle; what was his plan if Lin Jing hadn't been there? Or had he already figured that out?)
Intimidate a youchu into doing it? Wait for the icicle to melt? ;-p
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Okay, I completely unironically love the melting idea - it IS an icicle, and SW is clearly really patient while he's in pain. So it makes so much sense that he knew that Ghost Face would either attack him with some regular weapon (which wouldn't stop him) or with the icicle (which would stop him, but only temporarily).
(And yep, there are always youchu around, and they are equally terrified of both of their Kings, so they would do that.)
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FACTS.
"Which reminds me - he needed Lin Jing to remove the icicle; what was his plan if Lin Jing hadn't been there? Or had he already figured that out?"
Oooh, I didn't even think he could have figured out that he'd be taken to where Lin Jing is, but I can totally see that - he knows Lin Jing is alive, and it does sound logical that Ghost Face would keep all his prisoners in one location!