SID Guardian

Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 13, part 2

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 21:23:15 GMT

Posted by: trobadora

Hi, welcome back to our Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch, we're back in business! Watch half an episode a week, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!

Here is the first half of episode 13. On to the second half!

Episode 13, from 21:44:

Summary: Chu Shuzhi has (needlessly) rescued Guo Changcheng from the Snake Tribe. Ying Chun tells Shen Wei that there's a Yashou traitor in play. Shen Wei enters the sonic lab to find Zhao Yunlan there instead of Tan Xiao. Zhao Yunlan confronts him about his secrets, but they're interrupted by Zhu Jiu, who takes Zhao Yunlan hostage. Shen Wei transforms into the Envoy and offers to take his place, but no dice. Ying Chun goes after Ya Qing, and they have a fraught confrontation. Zhu Jiu decides Zhao Yunlan to get into the SID for Tan Xiao, so Zheng Yi will give him the Hallows. Lin Jing and Da Qing are searching for Zheng Yi. Chu Shuzhi finds Zhu Jiu's lair, but no Zhu Jiu, and Shen Wei runs into him there.

At the SID, Zhao Yunlan enters with Zhu Jiu and Zheng Yi, and shoots Zhu Hong. Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi are reunited. Shen Wei arrives, confronts a hypnotised Zhao Yunlan, and is seemingly shot - but it's a fake-out because he realised Zhao Yunlan has been faking it. Zhao Yunlan shoots Zhu Jiu and reveals that he's been wearing anti-hypnosis earplugs.

Quote:

Shen Wei: "Were you pretending from the start?"

Zhao Yunlan: "Yep! How else would I have got you to disclose your identity?"

♥ ♥ ♥

Detail:

This is a half-episode with a lot of fabulous things going on in it, but my absolute favourite detail has always been the way Shen Wei, having realised that Zhao Yunlan isn't actually under the influence, easily and smoothly lets Zhao Yunlan know that he knows, without giving anything away to Zhu Jiu. All he says is, "You actually killed Zhu Hong," and Zhao Yunlan, who knows he did no such thing, knows. :D

Questions:

What is your favourite moment in this episode? Your favourite line? What do you think about Ya Qing's introduction? How gorgeous is her outfit? Do you ship her and Ying Chun? What does Chu Shuzhi think when Professor Shen turns up at Zhu Jiu's lair? How great is the Envoy reveal? Do you also go :D :D :D every time you watch that moment when Shen Wei rises and he and Zhao Yunlan turn towards the camera/Zhu Jiu? Any thoughts about how any of this compares to the novel?

(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 rewatch to join in!)

Here is our schedule for the current batch of episodes - please do sign up to host a post if you can!

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520 Day Reverse Exchange 2026 assignments are out!

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 23:27:08 GMT

Posted by: trobadora

If you signed up for this year's 520 Day Reverse Exchange, you should now have received your assignment email. (If not, check your spam folder!)

What to do next:

Reply to your assignment email now, so we know you've received it. Please don't change the subject line.

If you have any concerns about your assignment, let us know ASAP by replying to the email. (Again, please don't change the subject line!)

Create a fanwork for your assignment. Make sure it fits your recipient's requested canon(s), media, pairing(s) or character(s), and rating(s), and doesn't include anything they've said they don't want. Remember that specific scenarios and prompts are optional. Have fun!

Post your completed fanwork to the AO3 collection by 11:59PM UTC Wednesday 13th May! (What time is that for me?).
- On the AO3 collection page, click "Post to Collection" at the top of the page.
- Enter your recipient's AO3 name under "Gift this work to".
- Please keep any creator's notes or other commentary positive.
Keep your assignment secret! If you need to host fanart or podfic on a different site, make sure it's not visible/searchable on that site before reveals on 20th May.

To make edits to your work after posting, you can access it via your AO3 Statistics page.

If something comes up that means you can't complete your assignment by the deadline, please contact us ASAP so we can discuss an extension or, if necessary, find a pinch-hitter.

All entries will go live on Wednesday 20th May (520 Day). Please keep your assignment a secret until then!

General info, schedule and minimum requirements

We hope you enjoy creating for your assignment, and we can't wait to see what you come up with! *\o/*

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Slo-Mo Rewatch: schedule update

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:39:30 GMT

Posted by: trobadora

You may have noticed that we've taken a break from the rewatch for a bit longer than originally planned, but we're ready to get back in the saddle!

The Slo-Mo Rewatch will continue next week with the second half of episode 13. Upcoming:

Ying Chun and Ya Qing!
"I thought we were friends."
ENVOY REVEAL :D

Which means now is the perfect time for all of us to catch up, especially on the first half of the episode with THE WEDDING SCENE and the "I just work out a lot"!

(I'm so looking forward to revisiting this episode! :D)

Here is our updated schedule - please consider hosting a post if you can:

Weekend of 10 April - episode 13 from 21:43
Weekend of 17 April - episode 14 up to 21:05
Weekend of 24 April - episode 14 from 21:05
Weekend of 1 May - episode 15 up to 23:56
Weekend of 8 May - episode 15 from 23:56

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March Fanworks Round-Up Post!

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 18:46:59 GMT

Posted by: awanderingcoyote

This is the fanworks round-up post for March! Please link in the comments to any Guardian (or related fandoms) fanworks you created or enjoyed last month.

all kinds of fanworks are welcome – fic, art, vids, picspams, etc. - including those made for exchanges and events
new chapters of WIPs count
meta or discussion posts, too
whether or not you've already linked these in a post of their own, we still want them here!

If you're linking to fanworks you didn't create yourself, please clearly mark these "REC", so there's no confusion about authorship/creatorship.

(And please still do link your fanworks, meta, etc. separately, in their own post, at any time!)

So ... what Guardian and related fandoms works did you create or enjoy in March?

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520 Day Guardian Reverse Exchange – reminder that requests are open

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 19:12:13 GMT

Posted by: trobadora

If you signed up for this year's Guardian Reverse Exchange, and you haven't yet made your requests, just a reminder that part two of sign-ups is underway! Please go to the Requests post before 11:59PM on Friday 3 April UTC (What time is that for me?) and follow the instructions there to make your requests.

Requests post
General info/rules/schedule

If you have any questions, or if anything isn't clear, please comment here or on the General info/rules/schedule post.

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520 Day Reverse Exchange 2026 Sign-Ups Part Two: REQUESTS!

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 20:47:59 GMT

Posted by: trobadora

General info/rules/schedule post - please go there to ask questions if anything isn't clear.

Offers are closed!

This is the second part of the 520 Day Reverse Exchange sign-ups. If you made an offer on the last post, this is where you make your requests. (If you didn't make an offer on the last post, you're too late to sign up, sorry.)

You'll find our anonymous participant ads in the Google doc linked at the bottom of this post.

What to do:

Read the instructions fully before you make your requests.

Choose 3 writers/artists/fanwork creators from the anonymous participant ads. (Try not to choose yourself!)

Copy and paste the request form from the text box below into a comment, and fill out your request for each of your chosen ads. There are guidelines for the questions below.

Important: You can only request things (pairings, ratings, etc.) that your chosen writer/artist/fanworks creator has offered. If a request doesn't fit the offer, we'll ask you to rewrite and resubmit.

Participant ads will be removed from the Google doc when 3 requests have been received for that creator. Please refresh the doc and check that all three of your selected creators are available before you post your comment.

Comments are screened so only mods (china_shop and trobadora) can see them.

All requests must be made by 11:59pm UTC on Friday 3 April. (What time is that for me?) Then the mods will assign one of your chosen writers/artists/creators to create your gift. You'll receive your assignment by Wednesday 8 April at the latest.

( Make your requests here! )

If you have any questions about requesting or the exchange in general, please comment on the General info/rules/schedule post.

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Guardian Reverse Exchange sign-ups: three hours left!

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 21:00:12 GMT

Posted by: trobadora

Quick reminder that this year's 520 Day Reverse Exchange sign-ups close in three hours. If you've been meaning to sign-up, this is your last chance! :)

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24-hour warning: 520 Day Reverse Exchange sign-ups close tomorrow

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 23:58:37 GMT

Posted by: trobadora

Time's almost up! Sign-ups for this year's Guardian Reverse Exchange are only open for another 24 hours. If you haven't yet - now's the time. :)

Sign-ups are open until 11:59pm UTC on Friday 27 March 2026. (What time is that for me?)

Thanks to everyone who's already signed up! Come and join us - sign up with your offers now!

General info/rules/schedule

And if you're on Discord, Twitter, Bluesky, Tumblr or elsewhere for fandom, please help get the word out by promoting the exchange there. We have a tumblr post you can reblog, a promo graphic and text on the General info post, or you can make your own.

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Sign-up reminder: 520 Day Reverse Exchange 2026

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 19:33:09 GMT

Posted by: trobadora

Sign-ups are open until Friday for the 520 Day Guardian Reverse Exchange, a multimedia exchange covering the Guardian drama, the novel and RPF.!

This is a reverse exchange with a two-part sign-up process: first you make your offer, and then you choose from everyone else's anonymised offers to make your requests.

General info/rules/schedule

Come and join us - sign up with your offers! Sign-ups are open until 11:59pm UTC on Friday 27 March 2026. (What time is that for me?)

And if you're on Discord, Twitter, Bluesky, Tumblr or elsewhere for fandom, please help get the word out by promoting the exchange there. We have a tumblr post you can reblog, a promo graphic and text on the General info post, or you can make your own.

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My latest Guardian (and adjacent) fanworks

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 16:59:53 GMT

Posted by: facethestrange

All fics: 2 dramaverse, 1 rpf, and 1 other role (Detective L). :)

Mwah! (1165 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Zhao Yunlan/Everyone, Background Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan, Background Shen Wei/Ye Zun/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Zhao Yunlan, Lin Jing (Guardian), Ye Zun (Guardian), Guo Changcheng, Chu Shuzhi, Wang Zheng (Guardian), Sang Zan (Guardian), Zhu Hong (Guardian), Da Qing (Guardian), Shen Wei (Guardian), Special Investigation Division | SID Ensemble (Guardian)
Additional Tags: Special Investigation Division | SID Ensemble Shenanigans (Guardian), Humor, Crack Treated Seriously, Kissing, Dubiously Consensual Kissing, but angst-free and everyone is okay, Kiss or Die, but low-stakes and no one is dying, Very mild body horror, Curse Breaking, Hand-Wavy Dixing Powers (Guardian), hand-wavy post-canon, Ye Zun works at the SID, Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Guardian Bingo
Series: Part 6 of Guardian Bingo 2026
Summary: "Everyone needs to kiss Chief Zhao," Lin Jin announces, and the SID office fills with vague sounds of confusion. Mostly whats and hows, except for Da Qing who is more creative.

"Like a frog?" he asks.

Lin Jing points at him triumphantly. "Yes! Exactly like a frog!"

Exposed (496 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Shen Wei (Guardian), Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: Ye Olde Haixing Era, Masturbation, Imagination, Sexual Fantasy, set after the scene where Shen Wei recognizes his benefactor, and gets asked to take off his mask as repayment, but before they have their first proper conversation, POV Shen Wei (Guardian), Guardian Bingo
Series: Part 4 of Guardian Bingo 2026
Summary: Would he want him to remove anything else?

He would, Shen Wei decides, and the thought itself feels illicit. He imagines disrobing under the man's gaze — appreciative, rapt, strangely fond.

How to Lounge Effortlessly (564 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018) RPF, Chinese Actor RPF
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Bai Yu/Zhu Yilong
Characters: Bai Yu (Actor), Zhu Yilong
Additional Tags: Bai Yu's lounging skills, Mild Sexual Content, ankle kissing, leg kissing, soon-to-be-resolved sexual tension, Established Relationship, this is probably more hard T than M, Guardian Bingo
Series: Part 5 of Guardian Bingo 2026
Summary: "I didn't think there was anything that you could learn from me," Bai Yu says, and he's only half joking.

Open Me (300 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 绅探 | Detective L (TV)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Ben Jieming/Luo Fei (Detective L)
Characters: Luo Fei (Detective L), Ben Jieming (Detective L)
Additional Tags: Dreams, Dream Logic, vs. Luo Fei's Logic, Bloodplay, it would be painplay if it was painful, Blood Drinking, (in a way) (not really), (in addition to none of this being real), descriptions of blood that are not graphic enough for an archive warning, Finger Sucking, Light Dom/sub, No Sex, this is so much softer than the tags make it look, Enthusiastic Consent, rated M for themes - it's just not graphic in general, Luo Fei is down bad and doesn't even know that, Triple Drabble
Summary: A drop of blood wells up on Luo Fei's chest, and somehow he can see it, can watch it closely as it reflects the cold mortuary light, despite the fact that his head is facing up—

This is a dream.

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Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 13, part 1

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 00:04:14 GMT

Posted by: china_shop

Hi, and welcome back to the Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch. Watch half an episode a week, at your leisure, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!

Here are the previous weeks' rewatch posts.

Episode 13, up to 21:44

Summary
Zhao Yunlan & co. break Da Qing out of his frenzy with the help of Lao Li's dried fish. Looking for Tan Xiao, Zheng Yi causes mayhem at the wedding, and Shen Wei arrives and stops it. Zhao Yunlan arrives and intervenes before Minister Gao can blame Shen Wei for any of it, but in fact, Minister Gao is grateful. Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei go head-to-head about Shen Wei's secrets again, neither able to concede. They're called out to the street, where Da Qing and Lin Jing are trying to calm a frenzied Cong Bo. From him, they learn Zhu Jiu and the Crow Yashou have a boss. Zhao Yunlan hints again that he wants to work with Shen Wei, but Shen Wei leaves. Human-form Ya Qing and Zhu Jiu fight in front of Zheng Yi, who just wants her Tan Xiao. Chu Shuzhi stomps through the Snake forest and rescues Guo Changcheng. Tan Xiao has a nightmare and wakes up in the lab, where Zhao Yunlan finds him.

Quote
Shen Wei: Did I bring you trouble?
Zhao Yunlan: If you are the trouble, I'll take it by the dozen to bother my whole life.

Detail
Ya Qing delivers a message from Ye Zun to Zhu Jiu. Does that mean she's travelled to Dixing as their go-between?

Questions
Dried fish brings Da Qing back to his senses: what would work for some of the other characters? During Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei's standoff in the parlour, who do you sympathise with the most? Is Zhao Yunlan demanding answers in his capacity as chief of the SID or on the basis of their personal relationship? Is it okay for the SID to go around sedating members of the public without first checking their medical histories? What is Zhao Yunlan thinking as he watches Shen Wei leave the alley? (He looks so serious!)

Did you see any parallels in these scenes with other parts of the drama? If you're familiar with the novel, any thoughts about how the drama adaptation compares, if at all?

(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 rewatch to join in. We'd love to hear your thoughts!)

And here is our schedule -- if you can, please sign up to host a post!

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Sign-up reminder: 520 Day Reverse Exchange 2026

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 19:55:44 GMT

Posted by: trobadora

Sign-ups are still open for the 520 Day Guardian Reverse Exchange, a multimedia exchange covering the Guardian drama, the novel and RPF.!

This is a reverse exchange with a two-part sign-up process: first you make your offer, and then you choose from everyone else's anonymised offers to make your requests.

General info/rules/schedule

Come and join us - sign up with your offers! Sign-ups are open until 11:59pm UTC on Friday 27 March 2026. (What time is that for me?)

And if you're on Discord, Twitter, Bluesky, Tumblr or elsewhere for fandom, please help get the word out by promoting the exchange there. We have a tumblr post you can reblog, a promo graphic and text on the General info post, or you can make your own.

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Poll: Opinions on clothes & other things

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 21:44:54 GMT

Posted by: china_shop

View Poll: Clothes

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520 Day Reverse Exchange 2026 Sign-Ups Part One: OFFERS!

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 19:03:45 GMT

Posted by: trobadora

Sign-ups are closed now. Thank you, everyone!

What is the 520 Day Reverse Exchange?

General info/rules/schedule post - please go there to ask questions if anything isn't clear.

If you're on Discord, Twitter, Bluesky, Tumblr or elsewhere for fandom, please help get the word out by promoting the exchange there. We have a tumblr post you can reblog, a promo graphic and text on the General info post, or you can make your own.

How do I sign up?

You will find the sign-up form below. Fill in something for each point, giving as much info as you like. All comments are screened so only mods (china_shop and trobadora) can see them.

Please read this post, including the 2026 sign-up form, fully before you sign up. You will need to check back at this community between Saturday 28 March and Friday 3 April to make your requests. This sign-up form is the first of two steps.

Sign-ups are open until 11:59pm UTC on Friday 27 March 2026. (What time is that for me?)

What happens next?

On Saturday 28 March, mods post the info from the sign-up forms as anonymous participant ads on this comm.

You choose 3 ads from the list and make a request for each. (We'll remove each ad from the list when we've received 3 requests for that offer.)

Mods assign one of your requests to the relevant writer/artist/creator.

You receive one request made for your offer. This is your assignment.

The sign-up form

( under the cut! )

All comments here are screened (i.e. only visible to mods). If there is a problem with your sign-up, for example if you've missed any important info, we will reply to your comment or email you to sort it out.

Go forth and sign up!

Currently signed up: amedia, awanderingcoyote, china_shop, echo_ph0enix, ehyde, event_kosch, facethestrange, flamingwell, fuzzytale, Gatoveja, hideyseek, lacommunarde, marquisguyun, MeatOffTheBone, oracularmayhem, plingo_kat, ryoulan, tehfanglyfish, tinypinkmouse, trobadora, velithya

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The Eighth Annual Interdimensional Haixing-Dixing 520 Day Reverse Exchange

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 21:00:24 GMT

Posted by: trobadora

520 Day Reverse Exchange General Concept

As the name says, this is a reverse exchange, also known as a Choose Your Writer/Artist/Fanwork Creator exchange. Instead of making your request and that request being assigned to a writer/artist/fanwork creator, here:

You sign up with the kinds of things you enjoy creating - media, ships, tropes, etc.

You choose three writers/artists/fanwork creators based on anonymised ads, and you make a request of each of them based on what they enjoy creating and what you want to receive.

You are assigned one request to create for, based on your offers.

You receive a gift from one of the creators you chose.

The 520 Day Reverse Exchange covers the Guardian drama, the novel, and real person fanworks about the actors. You can offer and/or request fanfic, fanart, icons, vids, podfic, meta, a remix of an existing fanwork, or fanart for an existing fanwork. Or any combination of the above! If there are other media you'd like to offer, please discuss with the mods by commenting on this post.
(Note that meta will need to be sufficiently transformative to meet AO3's rules, i.e. not simply a collection of canon facts.)

Hopefully this means you get an assignment that fits you like a glove, and just the gift fanwork you're looking for!

Participants who are under 18 must request and offer works rated General or Teen And Up only.

( How it all works )

( Schedule )

( Promotion )

Any questions? We're here to answer them. Ask in the comments to this post!

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Sang Zan's cave and other poll questions

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 21:29:03 GMT

Posted by: china_shop

View Poll: Sang Zan's cave, naming the Hallows, and Zhu Jiu's revenue stream

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520 Day Reverse Exchange: 2026 round coming soon!

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 20:10:01 GMT

Posted by: trobadora

The Annual Interdimensional Haixing-Dixing 520 Day Reverse Exchange is coming back for 2026!

520 sounds like "I love you" in Mandarin, so May 20th is a bit like Valentine's Day. To celebrate, we're back with the eighth annual 520 Day Reverse Exchange. As the name says, this is a reverse exchange: instead of making your request and that request being assigned to a writer/artist/fanwork creator, here:

You sign up with the kinds of things you enjoy creating.
You choose three writers/artists/fanwork creators based on anonymised ads.
You make a request of each of them based on what they enjoy creating.
You are assigned one request to create for, based on your offer.
You receive a gift from one of the creators you chose.

(An updated rules/info post will go up before sign-ups open, but here is last year's for reference.)

This year's schedule

Sign-ups part 1 - offers: Sunday 15 March - Friday 27 March
Sign-ups part 2 - requests: Saturday 28 March - Friday 3 April
Matching: Saturday 4 April - Tuesday 7 April
Assignments out: Wednesday 8 April at the latest
Deadline: Wednesday 13 May
Work reveals: Wednesday 20 May (there is no anon period)

View Poll: 520 Day Reverse Exchange 2026

ETA: This post is also on tumblr now, if you'd like to reblog over there!

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Guardian Auctions for Fandom Trumps Hate 2026

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 07:22:47 GMT

Posted by: facethestrange

4 different creators are offering 6 Guardian auctions for fandomtrumpshate this year! ♡

As of March 3rd, bidding is open! It closes on March 7th, 8pm ET.

facethestrange: auction #1 | auction #2 | auction #3
(All auctions are exactly the same.)
type: fanart: drawing/painting
highest rating: E
minimum bid: $20
drama or novel? both + RPF

goodblye_blue: auction link
type: fanfic (new or remix), 5-10k words
highest rating: E
minimum bid: $5
drama or novel? unspecified (likely novel)

milo: auction link
type: fanfic (new), 5-10k words
highest rating: E
minimum bid: $5
drama or novel? unspecified

tinypinkmouse: auction link
type: fanfic (new), less than 5k words
highest rating: E
minimum bid: $5
drama or novel? drama (novel influences welcome) + Weilan derivatives

(If you're on tumblr, here's a rebloggable post with the same list.)

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February Fanworks Round-Up Post!

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:09:15 GMT

Posted by: awanderingcoyote

This is the fanworks round-up post for February! Please link in the comments to any Guardian (or related fandoms) fanworks you created or enjoyed last month.

all kinds of fanworks are welcome – fic, art, vids, picspams, etc. - including those made for exchanges and events
new chapters of WIPs count
meta or discussion posts, too
whether or not you've already linked these in a post of their own, we still want them here!

Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 12, part 2

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 22:37:10 GMT

Posted by: trobadora

Hi, welcome to this week's instalment of the Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch! Watch half an episode a week, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!

Here is last week's half-episode. On to the second half!

Episode 12, from 22:18:

Summary: We start with murder! Zhu Jiu is collecting people's life energy and has recruited the human manager of a fight club to provide it for him. Chu Shuzhi leaves the SID to find out where Guo Changcheng is, since he's still missing. Zhao Yunlan questions Tan Xiao and learns about Zheng Yi's abusive stepfather. He understands Tan Xiao's motive, but tells him he has to follow protocol. At that moment, the Envoy arrives and briskly takes Tan Xiao away. (Da Qing wonders what Zhao Yunlan has done to upset him, since he won't even chat!) When Zheng Yi cries, Zhao Yunlan offers kitty!Da Qing as a comfort.

Returning to the SID, Zhao Yunlan is unhappy with the case's easy resolution. He starts putting together all the clues and realises that it's Zheng Yi who's Dixingren, not Tan Xiao. Meanwhile in a park, the Envoy (literally) shakes down Tan Xiao, then knocks him out - he's deduced the same thing. (In a flashback, Zhu Jiu recruits Zheng Yi just as she's killing her stepfather.) Zhu Hong wakes up, and she, Zhao Yunlan and Lin Jing rush to the hospital, but Zheng Yi and Da Qing are gone. They in turn have gone to the SID, where Da Qing hands Zheng Yi the Hallows. She remembers she's supposed to go to a wedding to find Tan Xiao.

At the Li/Huang wedding, we re-meet Papa Li, the bride and the groom, and Minister Gao, as well as meeting Cong Bo for the first time, who's secretly recording things. Meanwhile, Da Qing walks past Wang Xiangyang's fruit stand, is suddenly reminded of something Kunlun once said to him, loses control and starts trashing the fruit stand.

Quote:

Lin Jing: "We need permission from the boss!"

Chu Shuzhi: "The boss' decision is the same as mine."

Detail:

Lin Jing tells us that "weak-minded" Dixingren accidentally losing control and using their powers, harming themselves and others, happens a lot.

Is it that they're weak, though, or is it that living in hiding, they lack the support and infrastructure to learn control properly?

Questions:

What's your favourite bit from this half-episode? If the Envoy had stopped to talk to Zhao Yunlan, would that have made a difference to the outcome? If Zhao Yunlan et al. hadn't left the SID to rush back to the hospital, could they have stopped Zheng Yi? How does Tan Xiao know about Dixing and the Envoy? How deliberate and premeditated was Zheng Yi's killing of her stepfather and his flunkies? Where does Lin Jing's speech about the hardships of Dixingren come from? Is what's going on with Minister Gao and Li Guangbiao actually headline-worthy? Any thoughts on parallels with other parts of the drama? Or on how this relates to things in the novel?

(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 rewatch to join in!)

For the next two weekends, we're taking a break to give everyone (including ourselves) a bit of time to catch up! Regular posts will resume on the weekend of 20 March.

Here is our schedule for the current batch of episodes - please do sign up to host a post if you can!

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Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 12, part 1

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 22:47:49 GMT

Posted by: china_shop

Hi, and welcome back to the Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch. Watch half an episode a week, at your leisure, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!

Here are the previous weeks' rewatch posts.

Episode 12, up to 22:18

Summary
Fourth Uncle drugs Zhu Hong; Guo Changcheng zaps himself unconscious. Wang Zheng is teaching Sang Zan to write (but hasn't shown him how to hold a pen). Zhao Yunlan confronts Shen Wei in his university office, ostensibly about the case but in fact seeking confirmation of Shen Wei's other identity. Tan Xiao breaks into the SID to steal the Hallows but is thwarted by Sang Zan's trap, followed by Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei's arrival. Zhao Yunlan catches the Awl, has visions and falls unconscious (feat. some lovely manhandling by Shen Wei); Da Qing wakes him by being catlike. Lin Jing wants to run some tests on a human; Zhao Yunlan fakes a headache, so Shen Wei volunteers. Shen Wei lies on the evidence bed in his undershirt. Fourth Uncle talks to tied-up!Zhu Hong, only it's actually Guo Changcheng in a skirt and wig. Zhu Hong drugs her uncle. (So much drugging!) Zhu Jiu is angry at Tan Xiao's failure to retrieve the Hallows; he's holding Zheng Yi hostage, promising to cure her. Zhao Yunlan doodles Shen Wei and the Envoy in his notebook. Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi ambush and hypnotise Zhu Hong as she returns from the Snake Village. She fights Chu Shuzhi, and Lin Jing has to sedate her. Zhao Yunlan tells Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi that they can't trust Zhu Jiu.

Quote
Shen Wei: Are you even listening to me?
Zhao Yunlan: I only want to hear you tell the truth.

Detail
Presumably Zhao Yunlan is already wearing protective earplugs when he apprehends Tan Xiao and Zheng Yi on his own.

Questions
Do you have a stand-out favourite scene or quote from the first half of episode 12? How is Zhao Yunlan hoping that the conversation in Shen Wei's office will go? Does Sang Zan have any other booby traps set up around the SID (and how many times has Guo Changcheng set them off)? Did Shen Wei put himself in a trance/stasis during Lin Jing's experiment? Any theories about what happened to Tan Xiao's sister? What's with all the drugging??

View Poll: Episide 12, part 1

Did you see any parallels in these scenes with other parts of the drama? If you're familiar with the novel, any thoughts about how the drama adaptation compares, if at all?

(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 rewatch to join in. We'd love to hear your thoughts!)

And here is our schedule -- if you can, please sign up to host a post!

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FIC: in the darkness with you (Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan) [Mature]

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 19:18:46 GMT

Posted by: trobadora

Title: in the darkness with you
Word count: 4,233
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV)
Pairing: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Rating: Mature
Content tags: Blind Zhao Yunlan, First time, Hand-Feeding, Finger-Sucking, Clothed Sex, Zhao Yunlan's oral fixation, Episode Related, Episode 21, Missing Scene, Blindness Arc

Summary:

Zhao Yunlan woke to the smell of citrus, sweet and strong in the air. Without fully turning his face out of the pillow, he slitted open a sleep-heavy eye - to complete, unchanged darkness. Reality came crashing down like a landslide. Right: still blind.

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My latest Guardian fanworks

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 18:28:21 GMT

Posted by: facethestrange

candyheartsex had creator reveals, so here's another portion of fanworks. :D Weilan drawing and 2 fics, a Chuguo fic, and a (non-Candy-Hearts) Zhubai drabble. :)

Underneath by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Shen Wei (Guardian), Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: Undressing, undergarments, Kneeling, Mild Sexual Content, no sex just touching and vibes, Black-Cloaked Envoy | Hei Pao Shi (Guardian), Long-Haired Shen Wei (Guardian), Fanart, Drawing
Summary: Zhao Yunlan discovers what's under the Envoy's robes.

meet me where the hours bend (I'll do it again) (524 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Shen Wei (Guardian), Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: Episode: e008 Zhao Yunlan Fails at Impressing Shen Wei, Canon Compliant, Pining Shen Wei (Guardian), Caretaking, Hurt/Comfort, Stomach Ache, Sick Zhao Yunlan, Memories, Tenderness
Summary: Zhao Yunlan whimpers in his sleep, and Shen Wei doesn't do anything.

The Envoy and the Cat (549 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Da Qing & Shen Wei & Zhao Yunlan, Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Da Qing (Guardian), Shen Wei (Guardian), Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: Ye Olde Haixing Era, Tree Climbing, friendly teasing, Da Qing Being a Cat in Human Form
Summary: "Really? Really, Damn Cat? You had to get the Black-Cloaked Envoy of all people to help you down from a tree?"

It Takes a Village (369 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian - priest
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Chu Shuzhi/Guo Changcheng
Characters: Chu Shuzhi, Guo Changcheng, Xiaomi the Dog (Guardian), Special Investigation Division | SID Ensemble (Guardian)
Additional Tags: Fluff, Dogs, Domestic, Established Relationship, Post-Canon, Minor Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan, Team as Family
Summary: "Who will feed Xiaomi when we're away?" Guo Changcheng asks, and Chu Shuzhi blinks.

"Everyone?"

See Nothing (100 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018) RPF, Chinese Actor RPF
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Bai Yu/Zhu Yilong
Characters: Bai Yu (Actor), Zhu Yilong, Li Yan (Actor)
Additional Tags: Beard Burn, Innuendo, Silly, Light-Hearted, No Homophobia, POV Outsider, Drabble
Summary: "Hey, what happened to your chin?"

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My latest Guardian fanworks

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 18:04:58 GMT

Posted by: facethestrange

I'm behind on so many things (due to busy rl), but one thing I'm not behind on is a bunch of fanworks for assorted events. :D (And another portion is coming up in a week. :D)

4 ficlets (all Weilan or adjacent, all for seasonsofdrabbles), and 1 Zhubai drawing. :)

Cherished (300 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian - priest
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan, Kunlun/Shen Wei (Guardian)
Characters: Shen Wei (Guardian), Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: The Youchu Teeth Necklace, Gifts & Presents, Memories, Shen Wei Needs A Hug (Guardian), Tenderness, Post-Canon, Zhao Yunlan Being Zhao Yunlan, Triple Drabble
Summary: Why would Zhao Yunlan take the trouble to retrieve something that would be better left forgotten? Why would he want it back at all? Why is he touching it like it's a treasure?

Hazy (100 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian - priest
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Background Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Shen Wei's Students (Guardian), mentioned Shen Wei, Mentioned Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: POV Outsider, Humor, Dialogue-Only, Canon-Typical Memory Wipe, Memory Alteration, Drabble
Summary: Some memories are easier to erase than others.

How Much I'm Yours (200 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian - priest
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Shen Wei (Guardian), Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: Mpreg | Male Pregnancy, Dirty Talk, (in a way), Mild Sexual Content, Possessiveness, Tenderness, Post-Canon, Double Drabble
Series: Part 3 of Weilan's adventures in pregnancy
Summary: He's all sharp angles even now, except for the barely-there swell of his belly, the faintest curve only visible if you know where to look.

Shen Wei knows where to look.

a crack (that's how the light gets in) (200 words) by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018), L'Oréal "Time Engraver" Commercials
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Time Engraver (L'Oréal "Time Engraver" Commercials)/Zhao Yunlan, Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Time Engraver (L'Oreal "Time Engraver" Commercials), Shen Wei (Guardian), Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: Crossovers & Fandom Fusions, Reunions, Guardian Lantern, Post-Canon Fix-It, Happy Ending, Bai Yu/Zhu Yilong Character Combinations, Double Drabble
Summary: There's a lantern in a cardboard box full of junk. He has seen it before.

Baobei~♡ by facethestrange
Fandom: 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018) RPF, Chinese Actor RPF
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Bai Yu/Zhu Yilong
Characters: Bai Yu (Actor), Zhu Yilong
Additional Tags: Cuddling & Snuggling, Sleepy Cuddles, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Endearments, Pet Names, ficwip Discord's Hey Sweetheart Challenge, Guardian Bingo, Fanart, Drawing
Series: Part 3 of Guardian Bingo 2026
Summary: Early morning cuddle attack.

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Slo-Mo Rewatch: Guardian episode 11, part 2

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 23:15:09 GMT

Posted by: trobadora

Hi, welcome to this week's instalment of the Guardian drama Slo-Mo Rewatch! Watch half an episode a week, and then come and chat about it here in comments. Or you can just jump into the comments without rewatching, of course!

Here is last week's half-episode. On to the second half!

Episode 11, from 22:22:

Summary: The SID is back in Dragon City, though Guo Changcheng and Chu Shuzhi brought back diarrhoea and Zhao Yunlan has been brooding ever since. Zhao Yunlan is going over every clue he caught, and some he didn't at the time, about Shen Wei and the Envoy. He hasn't contacted Shen Wei since they came back from the mountains. When Da Qing comes to bring him out of his brooding, he asks him about the Envoy too, but Da Qing doesn't know much.

At a lab, a sonic experiment is carried out and vaporises a fish. The lab's boss has brought his stepdaughter and wants her to play the violin; one of the scientists tries to protect her, and is fired for his troubles. Later that evening, the lab's boss and the two remaining scientists are attacked by sonic waves. And the SID has a new case: what appears to be a triple suicide. Two people are missing: Zheng Yi, the stepdaughter, and Tan Xiao, the fired lab worker. And it turns out that one of the victims' last phone call was to Shen Wei.

Meanwhile, Zhu Hong and Guo Changcheng are sent to the Snake Tribe to ask about the origins of the Hallows, but Fourth Uncle isn't keen on the subject. He drugs Zhu Hong.

Quote:

Zhao Yunlan: "Do you think it's possible the Black-Cloaked Envoy actually stays in the human world, and even uses a human face?"

Da Qing: "Don't you think you're talking nonsense? Dixing has the Regent and the Dijun as administrators, but the Black-Cloaked Envoy as a major decision maker and commander of Dixingren is of pivotal importance. Why would he come up here? To see his lover?"

Zhao Yunlan: "But going by his appearance, he doesn't look like someone who has a lover."

Detail:

When Da Qing talks about Dixing powers that could make someone commit suicide, he says they don't know through what medium that power was activated - setting up a major element not just for this case (Zheng Yi vs. Zhao Yunlan's earplugs) but also for the eventual defeat of a major opponent (Zhu Jiu vs. blackout).

Questions:

What's your favourite bit in this half-episode? Or your favourite clip from Zhao Yunlan's Shen Wei/Envoy flashback sequence? The sonic lab: bad work environment or worst work environment? Do you think Chu Shuzhi has permission to read Guo Changcheng's diary? When Zhao Yunlan asks Da Qing if the Envoy might actually live in the human world, does he actually still have doubts? What is it he's finding so hard to wrap his mind around? How does this post-reveal sequence compare to the novel? What does he mean when he says the Envoy doesn't look like someone who has a lover? What's going through his head when Shen Wei answers the phone? How much does Fourth Uncle actually know about the Hallows, and where does he know it from?

(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 rewatch to join in!)

Here is our schedule for the next batch of episodes - please do sign up to host a post if you can!

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