[Tian Ya Ke (Re-)Readalong] Chapter 24+25

[rekishi]

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

• "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!