SID Guardian

Hi, and welcome to this week's installment of the Guardian novel readalong - in this post, we're starting volume three!

Here are last week's chapters, and you can find all previous discussions in the schedule posts (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4), or via the !readalong tag.

This week's chapters:

Chapter 1: Guo Changcheng's uncle learns that Changcheng is working at the SID, and he calls Zhao Yunlan to invite him to dinner. Zhao Yunlan's being exhausted doesn't put a damper on his seduction attempts, but a leg cramp does. While Shen Wei massages him, Zhao Yunlan questions what he saw in the Great Divine Tree and questions Shen Wei about it. Shen Wei lets his hair down.
Chapter 2: The Magistrate and one of the Ten Yanluo Kings discuss whether Kunlun has been reawakened; if not, they might have to kill Zhao Yunlan's mortal body. Zhao Yunlan takes Shen Wei to his parents' for a meal; his dad isn't home. Zhao Yunlan tries to buy Shen Wei 5000 flowers and is flirty, then realises how much Shen Wei suffered while waiting for him. They track down Zhao Yunlan's "dad" at a teahouse, and Zhao Yunlan learns that his father is sharing his body with sentient dinnerware. Zhao Yunlan asks Shennong's mortar if it forged his memories in the Great Divine Tree. Zhao Yunlan's real dad appears and is kind of a dick, too. Zhao Yunlan fails to oust Shennong's mortar with a god-banishing talisman.

The corresponding chapters in the Chinese version on JJWXC and the fan translation are chapters 79-80.

Excerpts:

( 1) Guo Changcheng's uncle and aunt find out where he's working )

( 2) Zhao Yunlan tries to be seductive )

( 3) Shen Wei's hair )

( 4) Shen Wei describes their life in the past )

( 5) Zhao Yunlan asks who  )

Questions:

Is it reasonable for Guo Changcheng's uncle and aunt to freak out at the news of his job? What's your favourite Weilan moment in these chapters? (There are so many!) Should Shen Wei wear his hair long all the time? How does the Netherworld expect to get away with killing Kunlun-jun's mortal body, given how obsessed the Emissary is with him? How do you feel about jealous!Shen Wei? What was your first reaction to finding out about Shennong's mortar? Any thoughts about how moments in these chapters affected or were remixed in the drama adaptation?

(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 readalong!)

Our schedule for this round -- please sign up to host a post if you can!

Welcome to this week's installment of the Guardian novel readalong! Here are last week's chapters, and you can find all previous discussions on the schedule post (vol. 1 part 1, vol. 1 part 2, vol. 2), or via the !readalong tag.

This week's chapters:

Chapter 13: Zhao Yunlan calls Shen Wei "Xiao-Wei" to defuse his fury at the Crows, and they leave the Yao Market. Daqing asks the Crows about his bell. The SID celebrates Lunar New Year's Eve with a party. Zhao Yunlan asks about Shen Wei's name. Chu Shuzhi leaves the SID library in a mood; Daqing tells Guo Changcheng to accompany him home. Zhao Yunlan arranges for Shen Wei to be called in to work so he can present Shen Wei with fait accompli cohabitation, but then he finds the portrait room and sends the movers away. Zhao Yunlan, Shen Wei and Daqing go to see Zhao Yunlan's parents, and Zhao Yunlan comes out to his mother.
Chapter 14: Changcheng follows Chu Shuzhi home; Chu Shuzhi tries to scare him off with cannibalism talk. Changcheng perseveres. Chu Shuzhi advises Changcheng to stop wasting time collecting so many merits; then he disappears. Zhao Yunlan tells Shen Wei he came out. Daqing tells Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei that Lao-Chu's merit shackles were due to be removed but the Netherworld reneged. Shen Wei's knowledge and questions make Daqing suspicious about his identity. Zhao Yunlan sends a message telling Chu Shuzhi to come to the SID.
Phew! That's a lot!

The corresponding chapters in the Chinese version on JJWXC and the fan translation are:
Vol. 2 Ch. 13: ch. 64-66
Vol. 2 Ch. 14: ch. 67 and about the first fifth or so of ch. 68

Excerpts:
( 1. The SID Lunar New Year's Eve party )
( 2) Zhao Yunlan asks about Shen Wei's name )
( 3) Zhao Yunlan sees the portrait of Kunlun-jun )
( 4) Zhao Yunlan comes out to his mother )
( 5) Chu Shuzhi gives Guo Changcheng some advice )

Questions:
On a scale of 1 to 10, how many feels do you have about the "Xiao-Wei" moment and how hard it mashes Shen Wei in the feels? Do you have a sense of why the Crows are breaking up with the rest of the Yao / helping Ghost Face? Thoughts on Daqing's being the one to send Guo Changcheng to accompany Chu Shuzhi, and generally taking up the mantle of leader in Zhao Yunlan's absence? Would you subscribe to the “Lord Meow Number One in the World” account? Zhao Yunlan's "Surprise! We're living together now!" plan: good idea / bad idea / it only works because it's them idea? On a scale of 1 to 10, how discomfiting is it for Zhao Yunlan to find Shen Wei's portrait room? On a scale of 1 to 10, how discomfiting is it for Shen Wei to meet Zhao Yunlan's mother? (Where is Zhao Yunlan's dad? Surely he should be there!) Zhao Yunlan's coming out speech: any notes? Does Chu Shuzhi really think Guo Changcheng's accumulating merits is a pointless waste of time, or is he just bitter because the Netherworld screwed him?



(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 readalong!)

Our schedule for this round -- please sign up to host a post if you can!

Welcome to this week's installment of the Guardian novel readalong! Here are last week's chapters, and you can find all previous discussions on the schedule post (vol. 1 part 1, vol. 1 part 2, vol. 2), or via the !readalong tag.

This week's chapters:

Chapter 7: The SID team and Shen Wei work to trap the resentful spirit Wang Xiangyang. Zhao Yunlan summons a ghost army using sorcery. Da Qing is incensed; Chu Shuzhi thinks it's cool.
Chapter 8: Shen Wei is furious about the sorcery, but Zhao Yunlan cajoles him out of it. The team interrogates Wang Xiangyang, and we get his backstory. Shen Wei sanctions Wang Xiangyang's revenge, and the Merit Brush is in play. Shen Wei is called to the Netherworld. Zhao Yunlan takes advantage of his absence to go to West Plum Village, stepping into what is most definitely a trap.

The corresponding chapters in the Chinese version on JJWXC and the fan translation are 54 to 56.

Excerpts:

( 1) Da Qing is furious about the sorcery )

( 2) Shen Wei is furious about the sorcery )

( 3) Chu Shuzhi is supportive of Guo Changcheng during the interrogation )

( 4) Shen Wei pronounces judgement on Wang Xiangyang )

( 5) Zhao Yunlan complains about Shen Wei being called away )

Questions:
Whose contribution to apprehending Wang Xiangyang did you enjoy the most? Whose reaction to the sorcery? Did you enjoy the Weilan dynamic in these chapters? Did Wang Xiangyang's backstory make you feel sorry for him? What do you think of Shen Wei's judgement? On a scale of 1 to 10, how inevitable was it that Zhao Yunlan would walk into the West Plum Village trap?

(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! You don't have to be keeping up with the readalong!)

Our schedule for this round -- please sign up to host a post if you can!

Hi, all! Just a reminder that sign-ups are still open for this round of the Guardian readalong. Two more weeks and we'll have finished volume 1! Woohoo! Hope you're all having fun!

Welcome to this week's installment!

If you’re just joining us or need to catch up, here are last week’s chapters and you can find all previous chapter discussions on the schedule post or via the !readalong tag.

This week we're looking at:

Chapter 23 and 24: The Emissary looks after Zhao Yunlan, heals him, and tells him he has an "unstable soul". The pillar is the Mountain-River Awl, and it contains tens of thousands of evil spirits. Wang Zheng explains her backstory.

This corresponds with chapters 37 to 39 of the Chinese version on JJWXC and the fan translation.

Excerpts
( 1) The Emissary, his robes, and his puppet )
( 2) The Emissary and Zhao Yunlan )
( 3) Zhao Yunlan admires the Emissary )
( 4) Zhao Yunlan has an unstable soul )
( 5) Zhao Yunlan on dignity and what makes people human )

Questions
- How much do you think Shen Wei's roles are bleeding into each other? Is the Emissary treating Zhao Yunlan differently because Professor Shen has got to know him, or would he act the same here regardless?
- Any thoughts about Wang Zheng's backstory, or the way it differs from the version in the drama? Do you have sympathy for Sangzan? How about for Gelan?
- What do you think of Zhao Yunlan's behaviour towards Wang Zheng in this chapter?

These questions are just conversation starters. Feel free to talk about your reactions to the chapters generally and highlight whatever stood out to you.