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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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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
Yeah, I have no idea why he was in such a bad state. I originally thought it was something inherent to the place, but idk if then he would get better at the Seal - it is a different place, but not necessarily a better one. :P And obviously nothing happened to the other people who arrived there later (but then again maybe the bad stuff was already gone by then). So in the end idk, but I think it would make the most sense if it was a part of Ghost Face's trap, yep.
"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?"
This is a FANTASTIC theory! It's the first thing that actually explains what he was doing, and it does it really well. :D And it would go with this part too:
“Then what do you guys do?”
“We’re police,” Guo Changcheng said.
“Oh! Really?” Surprise flooded the young man’s expression, but he started to chat with Guo Changcheng naturally.
no subject
Yeah, I originally thought it had something to do with what happened at the resort and we'd find out about that, but that didn't seem to be the case, so I'm drawing a blank too. It would make sense if it was part of how Ghost Face captured him, but it just vanishes entirely and isn't mentioned again, so idk.
no subject
no subject
This is a FANTASTIC theory! It's the first thing that actually explains what he was doing, and it does it really well. :D
*wins* (And yes, great catch. It goes well with that excerpt!)
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.