lebrons 1 pookie bear's Topics (386)

CHAPTER 80 RAWS CHAPTER SUMMARY/SPOILERS

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so this chapter continues from the phone call xin had with the head family servants from last time.

the person on the phone says, "young master, the person who was in the annex at that time, it is confrimed that there is no one other than the young master"

xin says "there was definitely a human form. did you really check it properly?"

the person on the phone says, "yes. all visitors must provide their name and time of entry when entering the annex. as a rule, records are kept by hand."

xin says, "you could've just not uses it"

"there has been no such case so far"

the person on the phone says, "don't worry too much young master. in a workspace where one's livelihood depends, no one would break such a rule" (translations kinda murky, im assuming one's livelihood means that they would get fired if they break a rule, or by "one" they mean xin's livelihood).

xin asks them, then what about the cctv? the person on the phone is silent for a bit, then says "what do you mean?" xin says "they are watching the inside of house via cctv. in front of the dining room, between the bathroom and the dressing room, in front of the second floor bedroom, and here and there"

he continues "i'd be lying if i said it wasn't unpleasant. im not trying to say anything about that, yes for you this is a part of your workplace. but for me, its my only home. i want to make sure that this house is a safe place for me. so just... please just check the recording history once"

the caller is silent for a bit, then says "sorry. i don't understand what you are saying. it seems you have mistaken it for a fire alarm" WHAT. THESE BITCHES LYING IN HIS FACE OMFG. BITDCH DONT PLAY W ME. FYM A FIRE ALARM. so now im rly intrigued, cuz assuming this person is telling the truth and that they have no clue abt the cameras, who tf placed them there then? and also (this is the more likely option), if they are just lying to xin, why not just check the cameras and then lie to him and say no one is there? why do all this crack addict bullshit?? fire alarms my fucking ass. they're just lying for the love of the game atp.

then we cut to xin sitting in the dark playing games again. he says "smoke alarm? who are you treating like a fool. i can literally see the lense" THATS WHAT IM FUCKING SAYING.

he continues, "when i decided to come back home i was somewhat prepared but, i can't get used to the head family's method even after time passes"

"unilateral decision, and notification... verification of the decision is impossible and its not fair, is it?"

"there isn't a single thing surrounding me that hasn't been touched by the main house. even if something was taken into this cup from the main building, there is no way to find that out"

xin is sweating and has dark circles under his eyes, he looks hella sick and he says, "again, this feeling that my heart is dropping to the bottom. if i think about how long this will continue... my heart feels stuffy. i have the illusion that breathing is becoming increasingly difficult," as he says this he pulls at his shirt collar. NOW this is super interesting because, (and i do sound delusional when i say this) i think this could possibly lead to a development in the present of the oleander not actually being the cause of xin's illness? because as we're getting more context, i feel like xin is just genuinely sick and not being poisoned? at the end of season 2, he says that after lau and him were separated after their siblings died, he suffered thru a long fever with no known cause, and he compares it to the way he's feeling now in the present. now he's saying that him being in this crazy ass situation causes him panic attacks basically? so idk. i sound delusional when i say this but i rly rly want to believe that he's not being poisoned and he will live.

xin tells himself to stop thinking like this because there will be no end to it. he tries to cope by saying that oh well, at least he has this side of his house to himself, yes? and he makes the wolf nod in the game he's playing. xin laughs and calls it cute.

cut to later, xin is about to enter a door and PHYSICALLY SEES someone dashing across the hallway behind him. he notes the hem of a changpao reaching above the ankles, and then calls out "lian?" xin chases after the mystery figure, saying "is that lian? when did you arrive? were you hiding to surprise me? i saw the hem of your dress, you've been caught so come out now"

xin enters a dark hallway, and the person is gone. he walks past a few small buddhist idols. he calls out, saying "its a dead end after that. lets stop playing tag. lian?" one of the figures he just walked past falls onto the floor and breaks. xin picks up one of the pieces. he hears more running. xin calls out at lian again. then he realizes that the footsteps are coming from behind him, from the opposite deadend where he was chasing "lian". he comes to the realization that there's more than one person. he knows he has to get out of there. xin tries to get up to run away, but his foot presses on one of the broken statue's shards and gets injured. after he gets up, he hears someone running towards him and he genuinely looks like he's about to shit his pants.



after reading this chapter ive come to one conclusion: when sangyang is from lau's pov it is a noir mystery, when its from xin's pov its a straight up psychological thriller. lau come save ur man pls

the good news is that: I WAS FUCKING RIGHT, theres someone in the annex and the head familys gaslighting him abt ts.

CHAPTER 79 RAWS SUMMARY/SPOILERS
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so this entire chapter is basically xin being on the verge of a mental breakdown. continuing on in the flashbacks from 2 years ago, we see xin playing games by himself in the dark. he keeps getting a game over. he confesses that, although in the last chapter he told lian that he spends all of his time reading books, that is a lie, which he told because saying he plays games in a room by himself sounds creepy lmao.

important note, the avatar in the game hes playing is a wolf... and we all know who thats a metahpor for. despite the game over, he loads up the game again, and chooses the same path he failed last time and he says he thinks hes kind of weird for wantin to see the dog fall in the water again. the korean commenters had some nice interpretations of this, like it showing that 1) xins a freak lmao, but ALSO 2) they believe that it shows that even if lau knows hes in danger he will dive in, and if he fails he will try again. and also, another deeper meaning, no matter how much lau leaves xin, lau will come back someday.

he hears that same thudding sound from last chapter, and he says he can hear someone running around in the annex almost every day now, sometimes theyre in the study and other times in a completely different room. he tries to get himself to stop worrying, saying again that the head family has a lot of security, but he then thinks that if there was someone who was within the head family they could do whatever they want in the annex. cue to a frame of lian. i find this very interesting because this is kind of the first time we actually see what xin thinks about lian, that being, on some level he doesnt trust her because she is with the head family.

he hears more thudding and says hes just worrying too much and that its probably just some head family servant. he gets up and goes out of the room. he heads down the hallway where the noise is coming from and he calls out asking if any servants from the head family are there. he calls out again, saying if not- then lian? and then we get this freaky ass panel that actually jumpscared me: https://www.mangago.me/home/photo/58802508/

so now xin is sitting with lian in a different room. since xin seems out of it lian is super worried and nags him a little bit, saying what if he has tinnitus or smth. lian says they might need to call a dr. she asks him if its rly fine that hes living this way, and then she touches his hair and says even your hair- the appearance from before you went into the annex are nowhere to be found. xin straight up slaps her hand away?? (i was honestly rly surprised by this cuz before this ch i genuinely thought xin was mostly chill w her, but maybe its just a personal space thing cuz we all know that xin is fine w a certain someone touching his hair). lian is also kinda shocked lwk? but she gets over it pretty quickly. after this the atmosphere changes and theres shadows over xin's face. she reiterates that the ming familys existence is to serve the head family. and she says again, your happiness is my happiness. she says, if it is xin's choice to spend the rest of his life in the annex, then he should do that. if there are any inconveniences in his daily life she asks him to let her know anytime. and she says lastly "i will always be behind you". and yes her face is creepy the entire time shes saying this.

xin is confused/shocked by this, and i think he wonders if thats even possible. im bringing this up to say that, i think lian isnt actually evil. i sound delusional atp, but again her loyalty is behind XIN. not the head family, XIN. and i think this is the first time that xin is beginning to realize that.

all of the sudden he hears someone running in the annex again, he turns around abruptly, but all of the sudden hes back in the dark room gaming, having never left in the first place. maybe important detail? his game avatar shows the wolf fully dry, meaning he is back at the start. just like how, xin is back at the start of this weird loop his consciousness is having. the camera zooms out from xin, and i think this is the point where xin starts to realize smth is rly wrong, cuz the next scene is xin calling the head family servants presumably, asking them "are you sure you checked it properly, so you're saying there was really no one but me back then?"

PLOT TWIST XINS GOING CRAZY DUN DUN DUNNNNNN. (for the record i want to believe there is actually some wacko running around the annex cuz lets bffr the head family WOULD do ts and then lie abt it) (but also xin is cray cray from the isolation atp).

some of my fav panels from this ch:

lian being creepy asf:
https://www.mangago.me/home/photo/58802510/
https://www.mangago.me/home/photo/58802506/

xin's bob being cunt:
https://www.mangago.me/home/photo/58802509/
https://www.mangago.me/home/photo/58802504/#image
https://www.mangago.me/home/photo/58802500/#image
https://www.mangago.me/home/photo/58802511/

the wolf/lau in game:
https://www.mangago.me/home/photo/58802497/
https://www.mangago.me/home/photo/58802499/
also i love the tension btwn lian and xin this chapter its so good:
https://www.mangago.me/home/photo/58802503/
https://www.mangago.me/home/photo/58802507/#image
https://www.mangago.me/home/photo/58802502/#image
https://www.mangago.me/home/photo/58802501/#image

this is absolutely my fav panel tho i physically jumped when i saw it: https://www.mangago.me/home/photo/58802508/

CHAPTER 78 SPOILERS

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chapter 78 is a flashback from xin's perspective to 2 years ago, titled "zhou's happy 3 years outside". very nice cuz we've barely seen any of his inner thoughts so far.

xin is living in the annex and HE HAS A BOB. I REPEAT HE HAS A BOB. very cute very cunt: https://www.mangago.me/home/photo/58422578/

xin is seen starting his day. he says life here is peaceful. he looks in the mirror after his shower and goes to his closet. he's complaining abt his henley shirts w the buttons again, similar to how he did in present day in season 1. he throws the shirts on the ground again in retaliation.

then we see him getting food, which is left in a warmer by the head family servants. they're high quality dishes, but xin says he misses the school lunch for some reason. xin says he makes a game out of guessing what the servants gave him for lunch. he hopes its something made in squash oil or smth like that (sorry the translation was kind of confusing), but he opens it and he finds scallops and broccoli WHICH IS THE SAME MEAL HE HATES IN THE CHILDHOOD FLASHBACK. as he sees the food he says "its not like i'm a picky eater, but there's some days when i skip meals" and the smile drops from his face.

"after a meal take a nap or a daily routine of spending time enjoying hobbies repeats itself." he says "it would be a lie to say that this life isn't boring, but life outside wasn't enjoyable every single minute and second. all things considered its better to have no stress." xin says lian will be visiting today so things will be lively for the first time in a while.

he says to himself that the annex is a place free from worldy desires, and that his brother is never wrong, the annex is pure land, and life here couldn't be any better. initially this shocked me, because we know tan was terrified of the annex and hated it. but xin never really saw tan having the breakdown w miu, so he rly has no way of knowing that. all he knows is that his brother tried to run away twice and lost his life in the process.

cut to lian and wei having brought xin a dessert. lian asks him how life at the annex is and xin says its always the same, but also says that he's run out of books to read. lian immediately tells wei to get xin a hundred books. xin says theres no real need to do that. lian says no what if xin cuts off contact with everyone again. she's glad that xin's finally talking to them again, after what happened in highschool, xin didn't talk to anyone for a while. xin says hes sorry and that he caused her trouble. lian says its all because of lau, lau's absolutely bad and she blames him for xin's solitude.

xin asks her if the main house is okay. lian says "the socond young master of the zhou family returns to the annex. the direct 'prospective' successor formally held a face to face meeting and, im just waiting for you to fulfill your duties as the successor. the initiation ceremony is not something the successor can perform alone. it seems that xin wants to stay in the annex a little longer" whatever that means. this is nice cuz we're getting some more info abt what exactly goes on in the head family. what exactly is xin's "duties as the successor"? possible has to do with the tattoo plan? i'm assuming he's been putting off the initiation ceremony because it requires lau to be there (IM ASSUMING) and xin rly doesnt want to see his ass.

she says don't worry as the heir of the 1st collateral line, she can handle talking to the elders for xin. she doesnt know how long she can keep coaxing and comforting but she'll do her best to block it. that is, if it's for xin's happiness. cut to this ominous ass panel of them just staring at each other.

lian asks xin if he's bored here and says she would literally fossilize if she wasnt allowed to go out. xin tries to justify it, saying "although there are times when it's boring, how can everything be to your liking". xin says he has no complaints. lian says "no that can't be". and xin is kinda shook cuz lian highkey clocked that hes just trying to cope with all of this.

cut to xin a bit later that same day looking in the bathroom mirror again and reflecting on what lian said. he kinda refuses to believe hes anything but happy.

then all of the sudden he hears a thudding sound coming from in the study. he turns around, to go find lian. he goes down the hallway asking lian why she would be in the study and if there's anything she needs to find. then he hears lian shouting outside of the annex in the opposite direction of where the thudding is coming from. xin goes to the balcony. lian and wei are in the annex's yard. lian says they're going to go home now. xin's staring out at them on the balcony. the thuds are still resounding behind him. and xin looks like hes going to shit his pants. yep in true sangyang fashion the chapter ends on a cliffhanger.

also abt the season 3 cover:
https://www.mangago.me/home/photo/58263884/
TS IS SO OMINOUS. xins praying and theres a heavenly light above him. his ass is going to see the pearly gates for sure. but idc im still delusional he will LIVE. also i'm pretty sure wei's image is from when in chapter 61/62 lian and wei saw xin leaving highschool for the last time. lian looks fucking evil. lau's also very interesting. now that his chains have broken (see his neck), he's holding them himself. foreshadowing for him getting his shit together this season?

also i think a few ppl might not know this but there was also a different cover for season 2 part 2 (aka the childhood flashback art): https://www.mangago.me/home/photo/43560703/#image

now season 3 is going to be released every 10 days on the 3rd,13th, and 23rd. idk when the english m*nta translation will start up again, they havent posted anything on the official site. but they did have a few more episodes available for free until the 24th so they're at the very least aware of season 3.

also pls support the author if u can! on m*nta u can read most of the chapters from season 1 & 2 for free but its the 24 hour wait btwn chapters thing. u can also read the raws on r*dibooks for free by creating an account and using one of the 3 free coupons they give u. using those u can read any 3 chapters of any manhwa for FREE, but the chapters are only open for abt 3 days. and the coupons also expire 7 days after u make ur account. but anyways thats how i read chapter 78 even tho im broke.

THEORIES

Day 13/30 of analyzing Sangyang (except season 3 already came out cuz I’ve been chudding around and missed over half of the days I was supposed to post oops).

Anyways here’s some of my theories for the story:

1. this will be the last season. honestly I got 0 evidence for this, but the end of season 2 seems like a great 3rd act low point. Also the author spent nearly 2 years on this season so I’m assuming it’s to make sure everything in the story and ending flows correctly.
2. Xin will get a haircut. Again, zero evidence for this, but I’m a seasoned manga/wha reader. Rule 20 of Bl Manga: Everytime there’s a male character w long hair he gets a haircut at some point. I don’t make the rules sorry.
3. Season 3 will focus on the main four (definitely not saying that cuz I saw the season 3 cover whoops). But the author has implied several times that those are the main 4 even tho Lian and Wei haven’t been shown much in the story so far, so this season has to focus mostly on them.
4. Lian is actually not evil. Again imo she likes Xin wayyy too much to actually want him dead. And I feel like the few panels we got of her backstory hint at something deeper. I think the majority of her antagonism comes from the fact that she rly hates Lau again it’s kinda cuz of him that Xin went into the annex and lian missed graduation w Xin.
5. Wei is also not evil. I think the few scenes we have of his true thoughts when he’s not around Lian does imply a kind of idk animosity between them? They get along just fine but it’s only really because Wei goes along w Lian’s whims (possibly due to backstory reasons)
6. Xin wasn’t the one who slimed Alex out. I think Chen definitely talked to Xin at one point cuz Xin behaved strangely when Lau mentioned Chen, but I think the head family were the ones who did it in the first place. Also it’s not like Xin could do anything regardless i feel. But I don’t think Lian was the one who put Alex in that state either. But she didn’t plea to the head family elders to help because Alex being in a coma makes it easier to use Chen for her plan.
7. The tattoo plan is some sort of ritual for the new initiation of Xin as the new Zhou family heir, separated from the rest of the collateral line. I rly don’t understand how him potentially dying would help that plan tho I also don’t rly understand if the head family knows he’s dying..? Cuz suna says only she knows the ingredients, but Lian clearly knows the reason why Xin is sick is cuz of the dye’s ingredients, maybe she doesn’t know how severe it is?
8. My biggest prediction is that Xin won’t die and Lauxin will live happily ever after. 0 evidence, pure delusion. The story has implied Xin will die so many times that tbh atp I feel like it would be more subversive to just have him live. Also I think lauxin will get together because they haven’t even had a chance to be happy yet so I feel like the author has to let them be happy at some point right. Right?

ITS OUT HOLY SHIT. I haven’t read it in the raws yet but the new cover looks fire https://www.mangago.me/home/photo/58263884/

Day 12/30 of analyzing sangyang until season 3 comes out on the 23rd.

Today I’m analyzing the character of Miu *SPOILERS AHEAD*

Miu as Laus sister represents his biggest loss from the Zhou family. Not only is she basically his only parental figure (cuz dead possibly evil parents duh), but she’s simultaneously his biggest source of trauma and his idol.

Also I feel like the author changed mius character from the beginning of the series. In the beginning we can see that kid Lau thinks Miu and tan are dating, but when we get to their actual backstory they very clearly aren’t? Idk ik it isn’t an actual true thing but it’s such an odd thing to include, esp considering it was one of the only things we “knew” abt either Miu or tan until we got to their backstory

So mius cool asf but I think the author kinda fumbled her backstory?? Lemme explain. So the story goes that Miu saw her deadbeat dad kill her mom and then she ran away into the mountains for years leaving Lau behind. WHAT. U just left Lau behind for years not months YEARS, and u didn’t even know if he was fine cuz last time u saw him, he was with ur murderous ass dad?? Girl ily but wtf are u doing. I get mius supposed to be flawed but tbh her backstory rly doesn’t make that much sense for me. I honestly think if the author had changed the time frame to weeks or even months, you could’ve had Miu still be flawed but not look like an absolute ass. And it lowkey would’ve still worked for the narrative cuz Lau still would’ve had abandonment issues over ts.

Also fun fact u can see the prayer beads Miu got from the old woman hanging on the rearview mirror of the car in chapter 62.

Day 11/30 of analyzing Sangyang until season 3 returns on the 23rd

Today I’m analyzing the season 2 part 1 finale *MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD*

these episodes had me GAGGED the first time I read this. I already kinda had a hunch that Lian was the one behind all of this cuz of all the foreshadowing + her creepy moments, but wow.

BUT THE FACT THAT XIN KNEW EVERYTHING FROM THE START?? Gagged. I knew he was hiding something but THAT MUCH?? in hindsight it’s so obvious too. And the art in this chapter is absolutely stunning. The way the winter snows howling around him while the lights obscure his face, Xin looks nothing like the character we’ve come to know and love. And how cold he’s being to Lau the entire time, youch. I know it’s probably on purpose (cuz of my own personal theories) but damn poor lau.

As for their actual backstory, it’s once again rly good. We get to see just how fucking creepy Xin is again, and this time the audience knows, no the authors well aware that Xin is creepy asf, a thread that later gets expanded on in season 2 part 2. And Lau being canonically ugly.. lmfao. At least Xin thinks he’s cute.

Getting to the meat of the backstory, Lau leaves Xin behind at the dorms to go practice w his new bandmates & later has a concert with them. Lau performs his own original song as a request from a rich donor watching the live stream (the actual song he performed is on the authors YouTube channel). Unbeknownst to him, Xin was actually the one who recommended Lau to the bands producer in the first place (and also was probably the rich donor too). (We can see him startin to reach out to the band members at the end of chapter 17-18, again great foreshadowing).

Once again this is a great show of the toxic cycle between teen Xin and Lau. Xin wants to be closer to Lau -> Lau refuses due to past trauma/not wanting to be tied down to Xin -> Xin tries to get closer to Lau in his own weirdo way -> Lau finds out and lashes out, rinse and repeat. This time however, Lau actually gets more violent towards Xin, grabbing him by the collar. Xin continues to taunt him and Lau cries and runs away. A difference this time tho, is that Lau returns to apologize to Xin with a bag of his fave candies (the same candies Lau gave Xin the first time they met awww). But it’s already too late, and Xin leaves early. Lian is PISSED that she missed graduation with Xin and I think this is where her real contempt of Lau kinda began. Like she thought he was kinda a dumbass before and didn’t get why Xin liked him, but now she genuinely HATES his ass. And just like in present day, Lau only gets to see Xins sillhouette as he draws the line between them once again. Xin stays alone in the annex for 5 years and Lau falls into a state of depression.

Back in present day, Xin BURNS THEIR CONTRACT?? I honestly have a hard time believing this will do much cuz I rly feel like the head family cares far too much abt tradition to just have the MAIN heir be guardian-less. But maybe it’s Xins way of protecting Lau by freeing him of his obligations to the Zhou family?? Idk. And then Wei comes and knocks Lau out, and the last thing Lau sees is Wei stepping towards Xin so now they’re clearly working together. Lau genuinely went thru so much shit in one day. He got punched by Mali and broke a few ribs, found out Alex is in a coma, found out Xins a psycho who put him in that state (allegedly), found out Lian and Wei betrayed him, and that Xin was leading him on this whole time. And that I think very importantly, that Xin rly hates his ass for what happened 5 years ago, and as a consequence, doesn’t believe they work together anymore and forcefully frees Lau from being a guardian. Poor guy… Seriously what the fuck is he supposed to do now?

Anyways this Sangyang finale was cinema (fork found in kitchen). And there’s so many mysteries left but it also changes the plot SO dramatically, I’m rly excited for season 3.

Day 10/30 of analyzing sangyang until season 3 comes out (on the 23rd)

Today I’m analyzing Chen and Alex. Again alone they’re not that interesting but together their relationship really is.

Chen is hilarious. He’s one of the more self aware characters in the series and even when we think he’s evil u kinda can’t help but feel a little bad for him lmao (see his employees caring more abt suna visiting than him lmao). Also he’s such a diva lmao ( ie, him having suna go pick up the dye alone cuz he didn’t want to get dust on his clothes lmfao).

Chen is quite similar to suna, but I feel like his own insecurities are also somehow more selfless? As in whenever he does something lowkey evil he’s doing it to save someone he cares about. In his backstory we can see the whole reason why he’s terrified of losing the family business is because he believes his mother figure/family servant relies on him for her livelihood. And all of the evil shit he’s done in present day is revenge for Alex. For most of his childhood Chen has seemed meeker ig? He’s also a very cautious person, and someone who always tries to follow society’s rules, if only to benefit those around him. Alex kinda clocks him when he says “Chen you’re someone with a heart aren’t you? But you’re also ummm kind of arrogant and short sighted” which I think sums it up perfectly. Even in present day, Chen is helping the tattoo plan because he thinks it’ll kill Xin as revenge for Alex. Then what? Will Alex magically wake up? Maybe this is just my theory, but does he not realize that Lian cares abt Xin very much and she’s doing this for “Xins happiness” allegedly??

Don’t get me wrong, he’s still very manipulative but tbh I think that’s just a product of his environment. No wonder he’s terrified of the main four bruh Lians terrifying as hell Fundamentally, I think he understands that, even if he is doing the tattoo for his own reasons, he is still just a pawn to Lian. Also he mentions that his family’s business was declining when they were killed in an accident. Given the Zhou family’s track record I really don’t think it’s an accident.

As for Alex, there’s lwk not that much too him. But I find it interesting how he as the third son, who was not forced by his family to be a guardian was still fated to be with Chen (again kinda similar to Lau hearing Xins voice when neither of them were guardian or heir). He’s a genius who has everything he wanted basically, his family’s in a good position and no one really feels a need to be Chens guardian, but Alex still feels the need to go to him. Alex is also someone who’s more easygoing and tends to go with the flow of the things, rather than forcing them as evidenced by him lying abt his identity so him and Chen could know each other without being forced too. Alex… what were u thinking by trying to sneak into Zhou family hq I also find it interesting how Chen says “there’s nothing wrong with his heart or body but he can’t wake up”. At first I thought this might’ve been a reference to oleander poisoning but if that was the case wouldn’t doctors have been able to figure it out? So there’s clearly something supernatural going on here.

Also, Chen and Alex are gay asf??? How’d they manage to outgay the MCs within the span of 2 chapters?? Them planning over to a picture of a heteronormative family as they’re talking abt what’s normal… Ik what you are. The author doesn’t outright say it, but the candle scene was gayer than literal gay porn. Even the reason why Alex sought him out was kinda gay. Bro fell in love w him js by seeing his pics

Chanichani liking him back.. am I living in an alternate timeline??

Day 9/30 of analyzing sangyang until season 3 comes back on the 23rd.
Today I’m analyzing the characters of yajin and mali. I’m analyzing them together rather than separately because there honestly isn’t too much on them to say individually, but their relationship with each other is very interesting.

Yajin and Mali are heir and guardian of the fifth collateral line, the wen, who are collectively nonexistent to the head family essentially. As the fifth collateral line, they are last in the pecking order and therefore only have a house and a small plot of land to their name. They’re more of the simple, artsy types: yajin knowing how to carve and Mali knowing how to tattoo.

Mali is mostly gentle, caring and above all protective of yajin. I also find his family very interesting. Unlike all of the other guardian families, who are descendants of military families, Mali’s family is a line of shamans. I think the reason for this is because again, the fifth collateral line is last in the pecking order so they couldn’t find a military family in the past, so they just chose a line of strong shamans. I also find it very interesting how mali’s grandma mentioned that her son also fell victim to the Zhou family’s curse, which is what she calls each guardian hearing their heirs voice in a time of need.

When we first meet Mali, yajin characterizes him as being very punctual and having a strong routine, to the point of ocd. I find this ironic because yajin also seems to have some sort of hyperfixation on time as well (see the panel of him with the clocks). This of course, is the product of the Zhou family’s ritual, similar to fu Rin.

In yajin’s flashback in season 2, we can see how he became this way. He lived alone in his house up in the mountains as a child as part of the ritual, and only when Mali finds him is he able to feel peace. Not only because of the bond between them, but because Mali tangibly makes his life better (ie fixing the lightbulb) and later provides for him. Yajin is unhealthily attached to Mali in the present (having a wall full of clocks just so he can always tell the time when Mali will be back, waiting out for him in the cold when he’s not going to return for half an hour more, etc), just as the Zhou family intended.

Of course what makes their role in the story even more interesting is their representation of the lengths the head family is willing to go to clean house. Their house was burned down by the Zhou family and they were left for dead by everyone but Lau. In the process, the iron awl (the wen family’s holy ritual artifact) went missing (and later on in chapter 25 & 78 we can see that Lian has it).

Ps I love how cute their dogs are and how well they match their owners.