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ghost_valley2021-08-24 06:22 pm
rekishi) wrote in ghost_valley2021-08-24 06:22 pm
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[Tian Ya Ke (Re-)Readalong] Chapter 24+25
Welcome back! Today we come to the end of Volume 1 already.
Today's chapters are:
Chapter 24 – Ghost Face
Chapter 25 – Baiyi
We meet Ye Baiyi properly and he eats us out of house and home. Also, Ye Baiyi takes exactly no prisoners at all.
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
WKX definitely has assigned for himself the uncle-role, where he mediates between ZCL and ZZS. I'm mostly sure ZZS won't thank him for this, but he also isn't telling him off, so he pretty much has only himself to blame.
But ah, zhiji. Well, in this case it's the more literal meaning, but here we have it. It seems quite early, but we've had some life-saving shenanigans already.
But we also get the insight that while WKX seemed to know that ZZS is from Tian Chuang, in truth he was just using his best guess. Now, though, he's on the right trail and I'm looking forward to him figuring it out!
Considering that CWN was confronted with the concept of homosexuality for the first time two chapters ago, he's taking it like a champ I must say. It's quite sweet actually, how hard he tries to reassure WKX. To be fair, WKX can probably take on anyone who would talk crap, but I think it's a valiant effort from CWN.
This is also the chapter where we learn that jianghu (or wulin, for that matter) folks are not necessarily learned...ot at least CWN's sect isn't very bookish. Should that be a general idea, one wonders where WKX and ZZS take it from. (Then again, considering even ZCL gaped a bit, maybe it's just CWN.)
Hmmm. "At first, he thought that Wen Kexing looked familiar. But then, the man’s deep-set eyes sent a chill down his spine — though he raked his brain, he couldn’t place that face." Mo Hauikong, keep that thought. It might bite you in the arse if not!
Ye Baiyi is formally introduced! When I read the first time, I had no clue how to take him, but I have come to enjoy his gremlin nature. Also, that he just wants to put his house in order before leaving this mortal coil. Delightful. ZZS dry commentary on whether immortals eat at restaurants too is quite the bit of foreshadowing, because usually...probably not, no.
Ye Baiyi takes no prisoners though and point blank tells ZZS that he's beyond saving (newsflash!). Which...yeah the man is an assorted taste.
Meanwhile, we're explicitly told that ZZS could shake off WKX whenever he wishes and I think what's more important about that passage is: he doesn't. We knew this before, but WKX now also knows it in as many words, and what does it mean for both of them?
What is means in the very moment is that ZZS wants to make contact with Jing Beiyuan, and while he might trust WKX a little further than he can throw him (probably already a significant distance!), he doesn't trust him enough for this. Tbh, I wouldn't either. This isn't even a Tian Chuang secret, this is a secret just of ZZS'. Well, to be precise for the moment ZZS only wants information, but this will eventually morph into contact with JBY.
It's funny that aside from ZZS himself, JBY (or his network) might still be the one with the best intelligence. Considering it's been four years since he left that's quite interesting.
WKX makes light of it, but I wonder if he actually...is a bit jealous of YBY? I wouldn't be surprised, actually, he doesn't have ZZS tagged and bagged yet (and it will likely never happen, that's part of the whole point of their relationship).
“You’re the one who set the Zhang orphan's room on fire.” YBY is clearly leading with the important things in life (aside from food; food is clearly the most important thing in YBY's life, which is understandable considering he probably hasn't eaten in six decades, also I love this battlefield metaphor, it's such fun).
What does strike me as significant is that ZZS has heard this statement and instantly dismisses WKX as being after ZCL life. Which is reasonable, considering WKX has had plenty of opportunity and could make it look like an accident much easier than arson. Much more, WKX knows ZZS dismisses it, but still feels called out, and rightly so.
But! Much more important to both of them: YBY has eaten them out of home and hearth and maybe they'll have to pay with calligraphy. Now what will they do?
Can you believe we finished volume 1????
I had meant to take an unscheduled break, but that is off now! So we will continue with chapters 26-28 on August 31!
Today's chapters are:
Chapter 24 – Ghost Face
Chapter 25 – Baiyi
We meet Ye Baiyi properly and he eats us out of house and home. Also, Ye Baiyi takes exactly no prisoners at all.
Chapter 24
- "Zhang Chengling was watching his shifu’s departing figure with pursed lips, when he felt a hand stroke the top of his head.
Wen Kexing smiled at him as he looked up.
“Sir,” Zhang Chengling mumbled.
“Do you know why he’s polite with everybody else, but gets impatient whenever it’s you?” Wen Kexing asked.
Zhang Chengling lowered his head.
“Must be because I’m so stupid,” he said in a small voice.
Wen Kexing chuckled. “You’re only averagely stupid. Not so stupid. Let me tell you then: the fact that he’s not getting all genteel and proper with you means that he’d like to be your pal, but is too embarrassed to say so. He’s being bashful, you see.”
Zhang Chengling startled.
“Really?”
Wen Kexing’s eyes were two curved lines as he gazed at Zhou Zishu’s back silhouette with a smile on his face.
“His parents to his birth gaveth, but it is I who his soul best knoweth,” he replied in an absent-minded voice. “I’m rather afraid that other than I, there is not a single person who can understand him on this earth. So, yes, you can trust me.”" - "“You know, I’ve always felt that two men being together was a bit strange,” the young man said with utmost sincerity, whilst also entirely missing the point. “But now I’m realising that to have somebody who can understand the self so completely in a mere few words must be a great happiness. I don’t think even immortal couples could have it better, so who cares if one’s soulmate is a man or a woman?”"
- "“Oh please, you are too kind,” he replied with a modest smile. “My shifu always said that for us wulin folks reading books was useless since nobody expects us to pass the Imperial Examination, anyway. It’s quite enough to know a few words and not be completely illiterate, as getting good at kung-fu is what we should focus on. To tell you the truth, I’ve been to school for no longer than the day or two; and only have a shallow understanding of poesy.”
Wen Kexing reflected that the young man's use of the word “shallow” was exquisitely on point." - "Did the immortals eat at restaurants too?
“No harm done,” the other man said as he smoothed down the front of his robe. Then, although Zhou Zishu was ready to leave it at that, he added, “I’ve heard about you from that Qingfeng-Sword boy. You’re the one who escorted the Zhang orphan to Taihu, are you not? I'm sure you already know who I am. My name’s Ye Baiyi.”"
Chapter 25
- "The verdict was without appeal: Zhou Zishu had evaporated into thin air, just like that.
In that moment, an emotion he wouldn’t have admitted to overcame Wen Kexing. Something like a sense of loss at an object escaping his control. Mixed with irrational ire.
As it turned out, the other man could disappear anytime he wanted.
Even though Wen Kexing had guessed his identity, and even though he could read his mind like an open book, Zhou Zishu could simply walk away — if only he so wished." - "He didn’t think he ever had it better before. Not in the days spent either buried up to his ears in pressing matters, or plotting to bury somebody else in pressing matters."
- "“I came to let you treat me to a drink,” they said, matter of course.
A dreamy grin still etched on his face, Zhou Zishu tensed up and thought do I owe some mortgage I wasn’t aware of?
Ye Baiyi was gracious about the whole thing. To his mind, the consumption of food was a boorish affair, and him showing up at anyone’s table was an immense honour that could only be beheld in trembling awe. So, of course, he had to make an effort and be gracious. Hence, after listing an adequate number of dishes to the server, he didn’t forget the sponsor of his meal.
“Please order whatever you’d like,” he said to Zhou Zishu in a magnanimous voice. “Don’t be timid.”
Zhou Zishu gaped. Timidity is what’s written all over my face right now, isn’t it?
He suspected Ye Baiyi was extorting him on purpose: the amount of food he had ordered was enough to feed two pigs. And their families." - "The stomach of the Ancient Monk’s disciple was apparently bottomless.
The man shovelled food into his mouth at prodigious speed. Though his manners weren’t vulgar, the typhoon of his ravenous appetite made him look like somebody who hadn’t eaten for eight reincarnations to the least. As his hand flew a-blur, anything his chopsticks touched turned into a barren land seemingly ravaged by locusts. Not a single crumb was left for the enemy.
Zhou Zishu hadn’t been hungry, and Wen Kexing hadn’t been in the mood to eat. Out of their own volition, they both brandished their own chopsticks. Just to see what kind of heavenly food the establishment served to make somebody eat with such gusto.
The carnage lasted until the table was piled with mounds of defeated, empty plates; the battlefield a sight too desolate to behold."
WKX definitely has assigned for himself the uncle-role, where he mediates between ZCL and ZZS. I'm mostly sure ZZS won't thank him for this, but he also isn't telling him off, so he pretty much has only himself to blame.
But ah, zhiji. Well, in this case it's the more literal meaning, but here we have it. It seems quite early, but we've had some life-saving shenanigans already.
But we also get the insight that while WKX seemed to know that ZZS is from Tian Chuang, in truth he was just using his best guess. Now, though, he's on the right trail and I'm looking forward to him figuring it out!
Considering that CWN was confronted with the concept of homosexuality for the first time two chapters ago, he's taking it like a champ I must say. It's quite sweet actually, how hard he tries to reassure WKX. To be fair, WKX can probably take on anyone who would talk crap, but I think it's a valiant effort from CWN.
This is also the chapter where we learn that jianghu (or wulin, for that matter) folks are not necessarily learned...ot at least CWN's sect isn't very bookish. Should that be a general idea, one wonders where WKX and ZZS take it from. (Then again, considering even ZCL gaped a bit, maybe it's just CWN.)
Hmmm. "At first, he thought that Wen Kexing looked familiar. But then, the man’s deep-set eyes sent a chill down his spine — though he raked his brain, he couldn’t place that face." Mo Hauikong, keep that thought. It might bite you in the arse if not!
Ye Baiyi is formally introduced! When I read the first time, I had no clue how to take him, but I have come to enjoy his gremlin nature. Also, that he just wants to put his house in order before leaving this mortal coil. Delightful. ZZS dry commentary on whether immortals eat at restaurants too is quite the bit of foreshadowing, because usually...probably not, no.
Ye Baiyi takes no prisoners though and point blank tells ZZS that he's beyond saving (newsflash!). Which...yeah the man is an assorted taste.
Meanwhile, we're explicitly told that ZZS could shake off WKX whenever he wishes and I think what's more important about that passage is: he doesn't. We knew this before, but WKX now also knows it in as many words, and what does it mean for both of them?
What is means in the very moment is that ZZS wants to make contact with Jing Beiyuan, and while he might trust WKX a little further than he can throw him (probably already a significant distance!), he doesn't trust him enough for this. Tbh, I wouldn't either. This isn't even a Tian Chuang secret, this is a secret just of ZZS'. Well, to be precise for the moment ZZS only wants information, but this will eventually morph into contact with JBY.
It's funny that aside from ZZS himself, JBY (or his network) might still be the one with the best intelligence. Considering it's been four years since he left that's quite interesting.
WKX makes light of it, but I wonder if he actually...is a bit jealous of YBY? I wouldn't be surprised, actually, he doesn't have ZZS tagged and bagged yet (and it will likely never happen, that's part of the whole point of their relationship).
“You’re the one who set the Zhang orphan's room on fire.” YBY is clearly leading with the important things in life (aside from food; food is clearly the most important thing in YBY's life, which is understandable considering he probably hasn't eaten in six decades, also I love this battlefield metaphor, it's such fun).
What does strike me as significant is that ZZS has heard this statement and instantly dismisses WKX as being after ZCL life. Which is reasonable, considering WKX has had plenty of opportunity and could make it look like an accident much easier than arson. Much more, WKX knows ZZS dismisses it, but still feels called out, and rightly so.
But! Much more important to both of them: YBY has eaten them out of home and hearth and maybe they'll have to pay with calligraphy. Now what will they do?
Can you believe we finished volume 1????
I had meant to take an unscheduled break, but that is off now! So we will continue with chapters 26-28 on August 31!
no subject
The part you referred to here, about WKX reassuring ZCL that ZZS is the way he because he wants to be friends and is shy, not because of ZCL's inadequacies, is kind of sweet and mitigates ZZS's really fairly prickly way of interacting. I think he's wrong about the explanation why, here, but I wonder if he knows that? (At least, my hc for ZZS at this point is that the thought of being responsible for other people is still at this point super upsetting, since he blames himself for getting all his sect brothers killed/esp. LJX, who he's previously kind of made connections to ZCL in thoughts about. Anyway, file under #3 in my top types of ZZS knives to indulge in thoughts on...)
Ye Baiyi! Does anyone have any idea why SHL did the switch around to have Changming Sword Immortal vs. "disciple" thereof, instead of Monk Gu?
Yes, he sure does not pull his (verbal) punches, does he?
Also I noticed a few comments about ZZS having or not having an appetite here, which is interesting in light of the ongoing lack of eating we've been seeing in WoH. Although a bit later (quoted below), he seems to be fine, so maybe that's partly just YBY's pov...
"Meanwhile, we're explicitly told that ZZS could shake off WKX whenever he wishes and I think what's more important about that passage is: he doesn't. We knew this before, but WKX now also knows it in as many words, and what does it mean for both of them?"
I love this, for both of them. And I like how explicit it is made here, with a whole big paragraph specifically of WKX thinking/noticing how he has disappeared "like a drop of water" or something.
I love how weird YBY's vibes are as a sort-of immortal:
“Around him was an air of detachment from every mortal matter – almost made him feel like he didn’t exist. Not to mention, there was also a strange feeling of dissonant about him.” And then later: “He carried on himself the same feeling that his name gave: Emptiness.” I think the fic I have read definitely does not play up all the potential for Ye Baiyi to be kind of spooky-creepy and unnerving to be around, if you are sensitive to it. (Off topic it vaguely reminds me of a bit way back in series 4ish? maybe? of Doctor Who, in which Captain Jack's accidental immortality creeps the doctor out because he gives off Wrongness/out of sync with the universe vibes, or something. Which, to get back on topic, is kind of interesting if you go back - I don't remember if YBY in TYK comments about the Liuhe Shengong being wrong/unnatural in actual sense of 'against nature' etc the way he does in SHL, will have to pay attention for that.)
“He — the one who managed to escape the labyrinth that was Tian Chuang’s — was the most slippery eel one could find on Earth.”
Ah, I just laughed at this because we happen to be at the same point the TYK Audio drama, and this suggests the inevitable observation that WKX certainly wants ZZS's eel. :-D
Ping An houses: I know so little about historical banking systems, the existence of these intrigues me. Also I just want more cloak and dagger stuff generally, so I love that this now probably a significant part of Nanjiang's intelligence infrastructure.
“He walked leisurely along the main road, sunbathing since there was nothing else for him to do. He only visited a tavern after having feasted his eyes on the scenic view of Dong Ting with satisfaction and when the sun was starting to go down. He ordered a pot of wine and some dishes, thinking about how today was really good to him. It was as if he never had such a good day like this in his entire life – before today he was either miserable himself or spent time planning on how to make others’ life miserable.”
This passage was fascinating to me for how relaxed he is. Definitely displaying some of the bigger differences between him and SHL!ZZS here.
“The odd look in Zhou Zishu’s eyes intensified. If this man wasn’t Monk Gu’s disciple, he could have made a great career out of being other people’s punching bag”
This amused me because it reminded me of the SHL line where, when asked why nobody's gotten mad enough to kill him yet, he deadpans "I'm good at martial arts." Love that bit.
Zhou Zishu’s hand with his cup of wine froze in mid-air, and Wen Kexing’s smiling expressions vanished. He stared at Ye Baiyi as if staring at a dead thing, with bone-chilling murderous intent circling around him...The waiter who brought them food right at that moment was scared shitless by his vicious aura and almost dropped the plates.
Nghh, I love when he switches into murder mode, I must confess.
Yay! Volume 1!!! Woo!
PS HOOORAY! My internet died when I was about to press "post comment" and I was terrified this all was going to be lost but then I pressed "back" and it was still here! Yay dreamwidth, if this had been AO3 I would have been very sad and this would have been much shorter on re-writing...(note to self: write future comments in notes app first..)
no subject
I think WKX knows he's wrong but he's packaging the explanation into a kid-friendly one. ZCL and GX are actually of the same age here (yep, really), so he actually knows how to deal with kids. ZZS should know as well, but as you say, I don't think he's quite there yet, though he will make that decision pretty soon, even if he won't package it into words or thoughts, rather than actions.
Also I noticed a few comments about ZZS having or not having an appetite here, which is interesting in light of the ongoing lack of eating we've been seeing in WoH. Although a bit later (quoted below), he seems to be fine, so maybe that's partly just YBY's pov...
Nope, in TYK he's very fine on the food front! I know because I've been tracking this, as I had been tracking it in SHL where he definitely isn't eating (even if people in other places claim of course he must be eating because this isn't xianxia and I'm like....but we....don't see him eat....ever? while all other characters are eating?????). He's eating with WKX, he's eating with YBY, and I think we have a few instances where he mentions food by himself. So yes, this is a topic I'm definitely taking up in the reread. I much prefer this ZZS who eats.
I love this, for both of them. And I like how explicit it is made here, with a whole big paragraph specifically of WKX thinking/noticing how he has disappeared "like a drop of water" or something.
I actually think it says a lot about ZZS that he doesn't, and it also says something about WKX that he notices and clearly makes his own conclusions from that.
I love this, for both of them. And I like how explicit it is made here, with a whole big paragraph specifically of WKX thinking/noticing how he has disappeared "like a drop of water" or something.
Hmmmmmmm, YBY as Captain Jack, I could see it! :D
Ping An houses: I know so little about historical banking systems, the existence of these intrigues me. Also I just want more cloak and dagger stuff generally, so I love that this now probably a significant part of Nanjiang's intelligence infrastructure.
And JBY is totally the spider at the center of the web. He's taken so many pages out of ZZS' book, probably, and damn now I want the fic where that does disconcert ZZS quite a bit post-canon. WKX probably laughs his fool head off.
Nghh, I love when he switches into murder mode, I must confess.
Wen "Hair Trigger" Kexing XD
no subject
But if he really was from Tian Chuang, how did he escape the punishment of those monstrous Nails of Seven Apertures for Three Autumns?
Oh, so WKX actually doesn’t know for sure that ZZS is from Tian Chuang and has the nails.
CWN is delightful! (after watching SHL, it’s weird seeing him so much without GX around – I don’t think they’ve actually met yet in TYK)
Ah, the hero’s conference hasn’t happened yet.
Ye Baiyi arrives! And instantly knows what’s up with ZZS’ injuries.
ZZS’ and WKX’s dawning realization (and terror) re: of who YBY might be is kinda funny imho
Although, there was a whole other matter he was reminded of… Zhou Zishu searched his chest pocket, expressions changing comically. He looked up. “About this… do you bring enough silver?”
Wen Kexing stared back at him.
ZZS getting back at WKX for making him pay for food!
I’m kinda surprised ZZS still has his mask on and the hero’s conference hasn’t started yet. Not to mention how comparatively little we see of GX. I’m still really enjoying it though and it’s cool to see some of what SHL’s script was referencing!