[Tian Ya Ke (Re-)Readalong] Chapter 18-20

[rekishi]

Welcome back! As of writing this, I'm not doing so well in the spoon drawer and am feeling quite maudlin, so apologies if this post is not up to usual standards.

Today's chapters are:

Chapter 18 – Dongting
Chapter 19 – Night afire
Chapter 20 – Red Clothes

Zhou Zishu and his troupe arrive in Dongting and are introduced to the great Gao Chong. Wen Kexing is all about shenanigans and probably up to no good. Zhang Chengling is in sudden danger!


Chapter 18

• "Gao Chong wasn’t some dashing and free-spirited hero, though. He was neither handsome nor formidable looking. An ageing man with greying temples and a short and fat figure, he looked like any old dude." 


• "Anytime Wen Kexing approached him, Zhou Zishu would subconsciously be on his guard.
  
  The first time they saw each other, Wen Kexing cautioned Gu Xiang not to mess with Zhou Zishu.
  
  It was instinct: they recognised each other as being alike." 


• "He reflected that Wen Kexing must have been too busy pushing ahead in their journey to make time for his male beauty queens — the ones who could sew orchids on handkerchiefs —and had buzzed around him like a persistent mosquito only because any port was good in a storm.   
  
  Didn’t they say that after three years in the army, a man would see a sow and call it a fairy? Wen Kexing’s circumstance must have been no different. 
  
  Although in his case, the objects of his interest were, Zhou Zishu was afraid to say, rather boars."


• "As soon as that happened, Wen Kexing got to witness a highly entertaining scene: his former creditor—who minutes ago was completely sober while being helpful with his debt—suddenly swayed side to side and fell onto the table “drunkenly” with a crashing noise. His fingers were still gripping the wine cup and his face was glued to the table; he looked as if he wanted to stand up but couldn’t figure how to, all the while grumbling, “Not drunk… Can drink more…”"


• "“Three taels and two dimes,” he said, thrusting the money toward Zhou Zishu. “The three taels is to pay back my debt. I’m topping it with two dimes so that you’ll sell yourself to me as well. I swear I’ll take good care of you. Great wine and food for every meal. And you won’t get chased by assassins, either.”"

Chapter 19

• "Zhou Zishu reflected that the word “depraved” was tailor-made for Wen Kexing. 
  
  He stood up, tied up his loose hair, and headed outside. He’d rather get baked by flames and smoke than stay in the same room as him."


• ""A-Xu," he exclaimed. "Are you going to eat vinegar?"
  
  "I'm going to eat you," Zhou Zishu replied.
  
  At that, Wen Kexing stared at him wide-eyed for quite a while. The answer was beyond expectation. A smile crept to his lips.
  
  “Fine by me,” he whispered. “Let’s go back to your room, and I’ll let you eat me as you please. I’ll let you swallow me whole how many times you want.” 
  
  People who could be so shameless every waking minute shouldn’t exist. " [exchanged adapted with correct idiom]


• "Liang Jiuxiao.
  
  He remembered their childhood vaguely. That brat Liang Jiuxiao called him Senior Brother, constantly clinging to him and making his life as inconvenient as possible while rambling to no end. Worse, he was a fool, always slow on the uptake.
  
  Back then Zhou Zishu was still young and impatient, so imagined his discontent and unpleasant expression when his Master threw the rascal at him.
  
  He shouldn’t get angry as a Big Senior Brother, so at times he would took some jabs at the kid. But he seemed to be completely oblivious, and wouldn’t go away no matter what. Zhou Zishu ended up having to accept his situation as was."


• "Who knew, that the once magnificent Lord of Siji Manor, leader of Tian Chuang would one day become a spectre in the middle of the crowd, staring at a kid while agonizingly mourning the past?"

Chapter 19

• "Zhou Zishu’s shifu had met an early demise, leaving the Four Seasons’ Estate without a leader. 
  As the senior disciple, the burden had fallen on Zhou Zishu’s shoulders — but how senior could the senior disciple have been? When all was said and done, on that year, he hadn’t been more than fifteen. 
  When he was fifteen, nowadays’ Emperor was still hiding in the shadows and biding his time.
  When he was fifteen, the Prince of Nanning³  was still indulging in life’s pleasures and feigning the fool.
  Even the Shaman of Nanjiang, the man who had become a living legend amongst wulin, when he was fifteen, had been nothing more than a child-hostage from a foreign land with a heart filled with resentments that he could do nothing about.
  It was under those circumstances that Liang Jiuxiao became Zhou Zishu’s only solace — they had depended on each other.
  But then, when did the schism between them start?
  Surely, it had to be traced back to the first time Liang Jiuxiao came to the capital. To the visit on which he witnessed the rotten struggles for power, the infighting, and the crimes the Brother he so idolised committed with his bare hands: the framing of others, the shifting of the blame, even the slaughtering of people devoted to him... "


• "“Tell me, on that night at the Zhang Estate, did you happen to see a man who was missing a finger?” he asked Zhang Chengling.




Can I just… ZZS. In two different restaurants. Eating! It drives tears to my eyes. ;_;

While I think GXL in SHL is so cute, I really like that she's actually a fully fledged disciple in TYK.

Gao Chong is quite the jianghu presence, so much so that ZZS wants someone like him for for TC (also interesting that he still keeps TC in his mind so much), but I'm largely amused by the fact that ZZS and WKX squabbling has become the norm. And at the same time, and I think despite himself, he misses WKX when he makes himself scarce (like a ghost, subtle).

Since ZZS is usually our narrator, we don't get a lot of assessments of him except when GX calls him a ghoul, everyone else is too polite to say something. I do think WKX alludes to physicality sometimes, but only when ZZS has started caring about his own health again. So it's interesting that we get the contrast here, about how the fine robes provided by Gao Chong sit wrong in him in his withered body, especially when we consider that until three months ago, silk and brocade were ZZS' daily attire.

It also means, if ZZS is truthful with us on the front of the physical effects, that the Nails wreak pretty huge havoc on him. I still can't believe that he can be that emaciated and he still has half his martial arts and just casually dispatches assassins left and right. I need to look at the Extra 2 again, but do we ever get an assessment on that from WKX - aside from how distinct ZZS' back is? It also must be hard for a man like ZZS, who must have defined himself by his physicality for the majority of his life, to be reduced to this. Well, his coping strategy is running away, but still. I understand why he questions WKX' interest though, to ZZS it doesn't make sense that WKX has taken an interest in him (physically or otherwise).

The scene where ZZS pretends to be drunk so ZCL doesn't go "shifu this" and "shifu that" is both funny and sad. Funny because it is funny the way both WKX and the waiter sit/stand there, flabbergasted at the drunken antics, and at least WKX takes it very much in stride. Sad because ZCL has gotten very attached and ZZS will never quite acknowledge that even though he stops fighting at some point in the future. But he will use WKX as a suitable distraction and he does talk openly with him. That's more than they had a few chapters ago!

He still won't sell himself to WKX for two pieces of silver though (smart move, ZZS, smart move) with the reasoning "看你可恶." (kan4 ni3 ke3wu4) xuxunette makes of this "Because you're a jerk", sparklingwater has "You look annoying", the latter of which sort of ignores word order but to me this reads more as "I think you're detestable" which is a quite strong insult here. But WKX quite takes it in stride.

Ye Baiyi shows up! Though we don't know that he's the actual Immortal of Changming Mountain.

But before we actually meet the man, there's a bit of a commotion due to fire. Truthfully, I wish I could meditate through excruciating pain. I know it's a thing and I even know it's recommended quite often but ooph, that's a steep ask.

WKX' window entrance… What do we think, did he actually spent the night out in a brothel or was he up to other shenanigans and got himself a convenient alibi? Because he does act a little...suspicious.

He has noticed though that WKX doesn't sleep. Since he knows about the Nails and their effects, I wonder that he doesn't know about this aspect of them.

To be honest, I don't appreciate WKX teasing GXL. She's earnest and I like her as a character (though I wish we got more from her in the novel), but I can't help but be amused by how he's staking a claim. Otoh, he does take care to bring ZZS an outer robe, heat from the fire or no, and while it's...you know, really played up, he does care. (And ZZS lets him get touchy without instantly shrugging him off, even though he is mad at him for taking liberties in his current state, probably mostly because he wants to know where it leads.)

It's totally flirting. Again, the only thing worse ZZS could do is ignore him (or be consistently means to him). But ZZS is also curious and wants to know what WKX deal is.

We knew that ZZS is reminded of LJX when he looks at ZCL. But I think in this scene, following ZCL around, ZZS is coming face to face with his own demons and he isn't liking it too much. He was responsible for Jiuxiao and he cared for him (anyone who has read Qi Ye can't deny that), he kept him out of Tian Chuang matters/the dirty things he was doing for Helian Yi for as long as he could and still lost him in the end. It wasn't ZZS fault that LJX died, but he feels responsible for it anyway. And he sees ZCL and...I wonder if he wants a do-over.

The mood ZZS is in segues into chapter 20, and here I'm puzzling a bit over what xuxunette translates as "It was an atmosphere suited to the mood of the forlorn man who lamented his home. Thirty years had passed, all of it like a dream." The original is "最值此时,总有黯然伤神者,感叹不知何处旧家乡,三十年,原是大梦一场." and quite frankly it gives me headaches so if anyone wants to jump in here with an attempt at explaining it, I'm all for it. What mostly puzzles me is that we seem to be talking generally about any dejected man who grieves the loss/leaving his hometown 30 years prior. However, we're getting such a definite point in time (30 years) and the fact that we know what happened to WKX and his parents in the aftermath of the events 30 years ago that I can't help but think we're not actually talking very generally. I don't, however, think we're speaking about ZZS here, since he isn't even 30 yet, though we may be talking about Ye Baiyi, who might fit the mold here? Idk. Anyone?

Back on topic, we're getting a lot of background here on ZZS and his friends in the capital - who're now all not in the capital anymore save HLY - including LJX. ZZS carries with him a lot of regrets, that don't even start or end with LJX, but that are definitely all wrapped up in his feelings about him. I speculated in the beginning that it was not LJX' death that drove ZZS to drive the Nails into his own flesh, since LJX died at four years prior to the start if TYK and ZZS didn't start with the Nail until 2.5 years later, but now I'm not so sure, to be honest. At least the guilt over Jiuxiao turning away from him - if maybe not his death outright but the regret of not being able to undo the schism between them - has definitely been eating at ZZS.

Now, I don't think he wants ZCL to heal that guilt or even make it up to him what he inevitably missed with LJX, but I wonder if watching ZCL at this moment gives ZZS a new perspective he hadn't considered and whether not something is breaking open inside of him, emotionally speaking. ZZS doesn't need anyone to save him - he can do that very well alone, kthx - but someone so overwhelmed by what's been dropped on his shoulders… I can see how he gets there.

God, but where were were all of QHZ's own shixiongs and shidis? Even if he was the founder of the sect (as, I think, is alluded to later on), he should have had martials siblings older than ZZS who could have shouldered some of the responsibility and who would have helped him run the sect. A sect can't consist of a sect master and a bunch of kids! (Jiang Cheng is not a role model here, I refuse to consider him as such.)

YBY's description as "lost in thought, appearing like some immortal who couldn’t care less about human affairs" is quite amusing, because on the one hand...totally. On the other, YBY very much gets involved in the affairs going on among the mortals, mostly because he wants to leave his house in order, I guess.

No one has ever told ZCL not to follow strangers. *sigh* Srsly kid.

We have another player who likes holding people up by their throats, is this a priest thing? Or is it a signature move?

Our Man in Red with the mark on his face is looking for man with a missing finger. Hmmmm. The last time we encountered a man with a red birthmark on his face WKX killed him. Hmmmmm. :)

But ZCL is saved and we will take up next week, August 17, with chapters 21-23!

Comments

[bladedweapons]

While I think GXL in SHL is so cute, I really like that she's actually a fully fledged disciple in TYK.

Yes, I like that too!

It also means, if ZZS is truthful with us on the front of the physical effects, that the Nails wreak pretty huge havoc on him. I still can't believe that he can be that emaciated and he still has half his martial arts and just casually dispatches assassins left and right. I need to look at the Extra 2 again, but do we ever get an assessment on that from WKX - aside from how distinct ZZS' back is?

Yeah, I don't remember from the extra, but I never quite know how to take the "withered" - because you also have the fact that there is that weird thing about as his state progresses, his strength/abilities come back. (I think at one point he says they are 4/5ths returned, and when he dies they will be at full strength? So I don't know...)

It wasn't ZZS fault that LJX died, but he feels responsible for it anyway. And he sees ZCL and...I wonder if he wants a do-over.

I think he definitely might.

God, but where were were all of QHZ's own shixiongs and shidis? Even if he was the founder of the sect (as, I think, is alluded to later on)

I didn't realize he was the founder of the sect in TYK. (In SHL, I think he was not, because doesn't ZZS tell ZCL that he is the 6th generation when he accepts him? If that is what that meant...)

[rekishi]

I didn't realize he was the founder of the sect in TYK. (In SHL, I think he was not, because doesn't ZZS tell ZCL that he is the 6th generation when he accepts him? If that is what that meant...)

I think it's said pretty explicitly in a later chapter (somewhere in the...50s, I think?). I'll be sure to point it out when we get there. But still, he must have had people who were his generation at least, can you imagine how tiring it must be to run a sect that consists of a bunch of teenagers?

Is he the 6th generation of the 6th disciple under ZZS? Since ZZS was the first, WKX was the second, QJX was the 3rd... But I don't remember. The rewatch should be around there by now or past it, do you remember what it was? (I'm so behind the rewatch there's no point in catching up anymore, lol)

[bladedweapons]

I thought that it went generation>disciple sequence. ZCL is called the first disciple of the 6th generation. So by that, ZZS, WKX/ZY, and QJX are the 1st,2nd, and 3rd disciples of the 5th generation respectively, I think? However I have always had some questions about my own understanding of how it is supposed to work because I would have expected there to be a lot more shidis, and, like, people of all ages? (But, to be honest, I am still new to the genre so this is just my guess.)

[aurumcalendula]

During the past days, Zhou Zishu had to listen to them until his ears couldn’t bear it anymore. But when he was bored out of his mind, Wen Kexing was nowhere to be seen. It was a bit quiet without the other man’s rowdiness.

Aww, ZZS misses him!

Internally, he thought Wen Kexing was only mindlessly chasing after him. With the lack of those courtesans with their pretty handkerchiefs, beggars couldn’t be choosers; that was obviously why the man glued himself to him to ramble his ears off.

Er, I’m pretty sure that’s not the reason ZZS

Zhou Zishu stared at him in a daze, mindlessly holding a cup to his mouth to pretend drinking, but after a good while of no liquid flowing out, he finally noticed that the cup was actually empty. Wen Kexing looked at him with interest and thought that the other man was definitely blushing under his mask, even though he couldn’t see it. He got more amused the more he thought about it and ended up bursting out a giggle.

I love seeing ZZS flustered like this!

Zhang Chengling, sitting beside Zhao Jing, sneaked a look at the elder. He saw Zhao Jing’s face turned into a mix of rage, contemplation and something else rather scary after “Lapis Armor” was uttered.

Chengling is more observant than people give him credit for and TYK definitely isn’t trying to make ZJ seem like he’s not a villain.

The one who led him here laughed quietly and released him. He raised his voice, “My poorly hidden friend, why must you be so worked up over a boy like this?”
A man dressed in deep red stepped forward at that. On his face was a red birthmark, making his features incredibly formidable at first glance.

I’m guessing these might be the Scorpion King and Sun Ding.