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The Marquis and Xuiru have a conversation while watching their relatives argue. The Marquis asks her, "So how do you feel watching the drama now?"

I really do want to slap him, but fortunately, Xuiru has far more restraint than I do.

I was a bit confused by the conversation that followed, but from what I can gather on Weibo and XHS, she is essentially telling him, "I used to be part of the audience, and they were watching me. But now I am the one watching them."

It's her subtle way of saying, "I am not watching the drama. I was the one who created the drama. I'm the puppet master."

That's why the Marquis looks so shocked.

What do you think he's shocked about?

A. That Xuiru was so cunning to have done this.
B. That she's not shattered having to accept a concubine.
C. That she may never have loved him at all.
D. That their marriage is just a business transaction now.
E. All of the above

Most probably to assuage his hurt male pride, he asked if she was ever upset about the concubine.

She tells him that yes, she did care that he was going to get a concubine, but what difference would that make? So why waste time fussing about it?

Xiuru's vibe be like:

https://i.redd.it/w9r5drj2ngth1.gif

Her coldness shocks him, but she matter-of-factly tells him that for their daughters' sake, she will be the best wife ever. She will throw the biggest welcoming party for the new concubine. Then she leaves.

Bye, Felicia!

A series of expressions flit across his face—shock, hurt, and then perhaps a tinge of pride towards the end. Too bad he realized that his wife is a badass too late.

We have an expression in Malaysia: Padan muka. Which roughly translates to "Serves him right" but the literal translation is "The face is wiped off". You know how "face" is so important to the Chinese? Well that dude's face is completely wiped off now. Gone.

Do you think their marriage would ever recover, or is it dead, gone, buried? Possibility of recovery:

A. 5%
B. 0.5%
C. -10%
D. A black hole

Marriage is best served cold

At least to Xuiru.

When First Madam speaks to Lan Xiang and Jinqi about how they had basically planned this from the start, she insisted that her daughters listen in.

First Madame tells them that this was Xuiru's idea. And Jinqi said, "Third sister is far too ruthless." I was wondering what he meant by that. But I agree—think about it. These girls are so young, and yet they are now being taught to basically be as ruthless as she is, to have their eyes wide open about the reality of men and how life really is for women.

For someone like Jinqi, who is a romantic at heart, he found it ruthless that Xuiru is squashing the hope of love in her daughters at such a young age. Xuiru is not giving them the opportunity to be kids, or to hope for a loving marriage—you know, the kind Jinqi and Lanxiang enjoy.

Personally, I don't think this is a good move, as I foresee her daughters growing up to be cynical and controlling; some may even do the opposite by rebelling and marrying a cad. Deny someone something long enough and they'll do exactly what you don't want them to.

But I can understand Xuiru's logic; now that they are literally heiresses, her daughters are going to be prey for everyone after their wealth.

Better be huntresses than prey.

A riot of weddings

Nanke is so handsome, the brides are so beautiful!

So now that there's news that a concubine will be taken from the Lin family, everyone is going to Lanxiang, asking to be married or not married. Nanke wants to marry Xiaolian, and Xiaolian's reaction is really on brand. Lol.

Not only was she clueless that Gan Tang was interested in her brother, she is also completely taken aback that Nanke is interested in her that way. But then again, knowing Nanke, he probably never showed any overt interest in Xiaolian, thinking he had all the time in the world (or trying to work up the courage to do so). This whole announcement must have alarmed him enough to come forward straight away. Well, good for him!

Then again, it is Xiaolian—he may have tried to hint his interest, but you know how she isn't the most clued-in person lol.

The marriage at the little village of the Lin servants was so beautiful. I think Xiaolian's mother must be beside herself to get both of her children married off into such good families! That lovely woman who used to pass messages between Lanxiang and the Xus deserves all the blessings!

Meanwhile, Jiugao's mother laments her son's singlehood. After the utter ruination of his reputation, she has lowered her standards a tad

Died laughing when she said this

And good news, Jiugao is also gonna get married. Looks like finally he makes his relationship with Yuchan official in front of his mother, who of course smacks him for not being truthful to her from the beginning. Poor him, he can never win.

(Nanny Wu's love language is, apparently, beating the shit out of people.)

Life happens, so does death...

So fourth sister is now with child, and First Madam says something cryptic—saying that she can now die happy, which of course made everybody say "Choi" to ward off the bad luck. (Alas, too late, as we later find out. Ugh.)

And at that moment, a maid rushes in, saying that Lanxiang is giving birth.

How progressive of him—Jinqi is actually right next to her, panicking and wrecking his nervous system.

This is much to the dismay of Second Aunt, who says that it's bad luck that he's even there—or rather, that it's bad luck for him to be there.

Fun fact: Chinese people consider period blood dirty, and as a kid—and this could be TMI for some of you—I was told by my mom not to hang underwear too high, lest my father walks underneath them by accident, because it's considered bad luck. Wait, it's bad luck for men, but not for us women? Well, how frail of them!

Yes, these silly superstitions about women's bodily functions being unlucky and inauspicious is indeed a thing, and Xuiru has a point. What's so inauspicious about witnessing the birth of a new life?

Anyway, I just think that superstition exists only because men are actually afraid to see the birth of their child, and they needed some "plausible" excuse not to be in that room.

Hilariously, Jinqi passes out.

https://reddit.com/link/1wxhin8/video/lrj28dyzngth1/player

But not before freaking out all the women outside who thought that Lanxiang was the one who fainted lol.

The Lin family is trending in Jinling again

Apparently, men passing out during the birth of their kids is a very common thing. I remember reading a Reddit post from a man who passed out when he saw his kid being born, saying that seeing the baby pulled out from his wife was like watching something from an alien movie. Well, bless his little heart.

I love how Jinqi is so happy that he cries over his kid, and a teardrop falls on his/her blanket. Oh Jinqi, aren't you glad you resigned and became a house husband? You get to spend quality time with your wife, saw your kid coming into the world (okay, you missed the most important part, but it's okay—a baby popping out of a vagina is indeed like something out of an alien movie, and we forgive you for lack of constitution).

Honestly, it's so lovely everyone is waiting here.

Outside, when they find out that it's a girl, we can see that Lan Xiang's mother was super worried. But third aunt quickly reassures her, and that First Madam doesn't care about the whole daughter thing. So she visibly relaxes.

Anyone noticed that she never seems comfortable in the Lin mansion? Lanxiang and Jinqi, heck most of the household, go to great lengths to include her in their household, but she has never fully relaxed there.

So, I was really touched to see First Madam taking her hand, implying that they are now fellow grandmothers and are of equal standing.

Later, we see that First Madam has a festering wound. Oh no, she's been hiding it because she didn't want to make her children upset. First, Lan Xiang is about to give birth, and she didn't want to stress Lan Xiang out. She also didn't want to upset her fourth daughter, who was just getting married. So she hid her growing illness. It appears to be cancer. :(

Nanny Wu is already mourning :(

Jinqi finally realizes Lanxiang isn't ... Lanxiang.

Lanxiang's mother says that she labored for half a day only before she gives birth. But Lan Xiang told Jinqi earlier that her mother labored day and night to deliver her.

This proved to be the breaking point for Jinqi, who takes out his little box of Lanxiang merch (you keep Lanxiang souvenirs, da ye??).

He brings the box to her, and you can see her slowly realizing that he has discovered that she has a secret identity.

"Now that we have children together, shouldn't you tell me where they come from?" He asks.

I think he's asking: Shouldn't you tell me where our kids really come from?

https://preview.redd.it/kfaddanrogth1.png?width=865&format=png&auto=webp&s=aaf09c6cd116e3b87fc9b2304a2cf685b4e37c82

I love Liu Xueyi's eye acting here. So full of shock, worry and fear at the same time.

My Thoughts

You know, most dramas end after our main couple marries. If we are very lucky, we get to see them with their kids for a few seconds, and if we're extremely lucky, we get an entire episode that is a epilogue, and we get to see them have a life together.

Some people have been commenting that they wouldn't have minded if Against the Current had ended at episode 38 or episode 39. And in a way, I agree. It would have been a neat ending because it would have been a great way to cling on to a happily ever after.

I consider the episodes after episode 39 like an extended epilogue after our characters finally come together as one.

Even after our couple's union, they will still go through ups and downs, and for the first time in a long time, a Chinese drama dared to explore that and say, "After marriage, there's no happily ever after. After marriage, life continues on, but you know you have someone at your side to weather its ups and downs."

How often do we see our male leads welcome their kid to the world, hang out with their in-laws, and spend time with their wives and such? Not every moment is happy—in between the happy moments are illnesses, betrayals, disappointments, and sadly, death.

Against the Current is really unique because we get to see that, and that's why I firmly believe that this is not really just an ordinary romance drama, and it'll be remiss to treat it as such or expect the plot to deliver the same highs and lows.

This is a women's drama (like women's fiction, but the drama version).

I know that a lot of people think that episode 39 stumbled. To me, it was just told differently, and after rewatching episode 39, I grew to appreciate it more.

I look forward to a new episode of Against the Current every day, and I am gonna miss this show desperately once it goes. I have not seen a drama—a long drama—that made me think deeply about living my best life, about being a woman, for a long, long while.

This is how long dramas should be made. And if we have more of these, I'll be the luckiest CDrama viewer in the world.

Veteran watchers: if you had to recommend one Chinese drama to hook a complete beginner, what would it be?

And newbies — this is your chance to grill the seniors for recommendations 👀

Tell us:

• what genres you usually enjoy
• whether you like romance, fantasy, historical, mystery, comedy, etc.
• happy endings or emotional damage?
• fast-paced or slow burn?
• short dramas or long epics?

Meanwhile, experienced watchers:

• recommend a drama you think is perfect for beginners
• explain why it works so well as an introduction
• help new fans avoid accidentally starting with a 75-episode emotional war crime

Whether someone is looking for:

• modern romance
• xianxia
• wuxia
• palace drama
• mystery/thriller
• comedy
• angst
• comfort watch

…help a newbie out, drop your gateway drama recommendations below ✨

Hello all!

We'll still be continuing the discussions for those who will not be watching the Express episodes. However,I will only be doing light commentary rather than full blown recaps/reviews. If you want to read my thoughts for the series, do read the Express episodes' thread once you're done with the drama ;)

Masterpost || Ep 4-8 || Ep 9-11 || Ep 12-13 || Ep 14-15 || Ep 16-17 || Ep 18 || Ep 19 || Ep 20 ||Express episodes (21-24)

https://reddit.com/link/1wbh9d5/video/ds2n9ff7wgoh1/player

Zhitao: I want to leave this filthy, ugly relationship!

Luan Nian: You were with me just to advance your career. Now that you couldn't get that advancement, I'm no longer useful.

They both said truly awful things to each other in this episode. And I felt they both had valid points of view. But they had to go their separate ways to equalize their relationship. There's just no other way.

Besties, are you ready for the pain? I sure am getting ready for it

https://i.redd.it/gb2bh4k5rfoh1.gif

I'll be updating this post as I watch. Meanwhile, let your freak out.

Previous discussions:

Masterpost || Ep 4-8 || Ep 9-11 || Ep 12-13 || Ep 14-15 || Ep 16-17 || Ep 18 || Ep 19 || Ep 20 ||

Random thoughts:

That fight was vicious. They both said horrible things to each other. Yes, Luannian could have totally told her that they were being blackmailed, but she had a point. Why didn't he soften the blow for her by telling her? Because she was all happy about it. I guess maybe in his own noble idiocy way, he was trying to keep her happy for a while.

Well, I did not expect the whole Donny took secret photographs of them. But at the same time, I'm like, yeah, that's what I would do if I was Donny for sure.

I totally knew that the HR lady and Lumi knew about both of them. They're way too smart to be in the dark about this, and judging from the HR lady's response, they were quite obvious about their relationship without realizing it.

I loved how she left, however decisively. That's what you need to do, girlfriend. 

I'm just sad that it took you six years to do it. But then again, she was just hoping beyond hope, and she probably didn't want to be subjected to Luannian's puppy eyes.

Bro being the best bro by ugly crying with his bro

.

.

Luan Nian begins his grovelling, moping era. How delicious! And he uses his CEO skills to stalk her from afar. How sweet. 

Okay, no, it's creepy.

LUMI BEING THE BEST GIRLFRIEND FOR ARRANGING THAT REUNION FOR OUR COUPLE.

(I love the whole "I totally knew you were banging her but I'll pretend for your sake that I don't know" thing she has going on with Luan Nian.

But Augh, the way Zhitao walked past Luan Nian without even a word. COLD.

Fun fact: In the novel, she sold the handbags that Luan nian gave her Anf used the money as seed money. I don't know about you, but that's the best way to say "fuck you" ever.

Ep 23: I swear our couple is learning how to be parents ... and how to be divorced parents. Luan Nian demanding visiting rights for Luke is 100%. He totally had a point about how upset he was that she just left without discussion and taking away Luke like that. That's pretty cruel. So I am glad she saw some reason :P

I approve Daddy Shang giving Luan Nian a hard time. ;))

Uncle, whaddya mean \"you are wearing too little\"? If anything, they have TOO many clothes on. But if you're worried about winter chill - don't worry, they shared body heat all night :P

. .

Also, Zhitao: Dad, last night I was too tired so I didn't hear the phone

Me: YEAH YEAH I BET YOU WERE TIRED 🫠

Proposal!

https://preview.redd.it/c9318n8uufoh1.jpg?width=1220&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8476e7c4400a9bce96eaaa11c683b5d204968a06

That damn goldfish has been there from the start. It had all the secretssss so if he hadn't invited it to the proposal it would totally spill all his bedroom moves

That Flora museum is sooooo cheesy, but it was in the book ;)

Awww he made sure he didn't make the proposal in secret but in front of the people that's important to her. 🥰

Final thoughts

You know, this is one drama where I WANTED 30+ episodes damnit. Not too see Luan Nian grovel, mind, but they had to leave out so many things from the novel. (Sadness.) For one, I would've totally killed for an extra episode of Luan Nian and Zhitao's domestic life and a peek at their daughter. Oh well.

A lot of people said the final episodes were rushed, but I don't 100% agree. I think it would've benefited from one extra episode or maybe two, but I'm glad they didn't drag it out too much or else it'll be tedious.

I'm just sad they removed the scene where Zhitao rushed to Beijing when Luan Nian got sick - she realised then that she couldn't waste another day with him, life is short etc. Because in the book they were just back to that "friends with benefits" phase for a while after sleeping with each other again. Zhitao was undecided etc etc, so I wasn't that fond of that part of the final leg of the story. (But I read it really fast so who knows).

I also understand some people think that they toned down Luan Nian too much and that made Zhitao look bad. Babes, if they'd 100% adapted the novel versions I would've HATED the drama. Luan Nian was way too narcissistic and mean for my liking Zhitao felt a wishy washy doormat.

They made Luan Nian more redeemable, because novel Luan Nian was still harsh with his words till the very end, and his redemption didn't feel real.

I leave you with two paragraphs from the novel, which I thought conveyed why they acted the way they did:

Luan Nian: For a long time, Luan Nian had felt a distance between them. It had seemed as though everything in her life was more important than him: her work, her family, Luke, her friends. Luan Nian wasn't the perfect partner; he was intensely possessive. He needed to know that Shang Zhitao had reserved a place for him in her heart.

Zhitao: ..being rejected by him—slowly losing the courage to take him seriously, the courage to love him?...

I felt that the drama portrayed these insecurities extremely well and realistically. I love that both are so flawed. The central message is this: They needed to work on themselves before they could come back together stronger. When they were in that messed up place, distracted by a highly-charged life where they had to hide their love from everyone and each other, they couldn't change.

Trigger warning: This episode deals with the heavy subject of suicide. For more information on where to get help, here are the help lines available.

Previous discussions:

Masterpost || All discussions | Ep 4-8 || Ep 9-11 || Ep 12-13 || Ep 14-15 || Ep 16-17 | 18 | 19

Spoiler note: Please don't discuss plots from future episodes or from the novel. :)

Apparently, the torture between our couple is delayed somewhat. Instead, they are torturing us with something else.

https://i.redd.it/wulbqubl1aoh1.gif

I knew there was a doom cloud above our sweet roommate Sun Yuanzhu, but man, I didn't expect to be moved to the point of tears. I don't cry easily, but kudos to the actor who did such a good job making us empathize with his character.

(FYI, I sort of skimmed through the novel, so I knew this was coming many episodes ago, but it still had a few surprises for me.)

We don't really know exactly why Yuanzhu did what he did, but we probably have an idea. He seemed to feel like a failure in many things. He is finding it difficult to achieve career success at work, and he is being pressured financially by his family: his mom passed away, and he now has a sister and a gambler dad to support.

With his perceived lack of achievement at work, he feels the odds are against him. But the most devastating thing of all is that he feels as if he has failed to make Zhitao happy. As brutal as it may seem, he also feels as if he has failed in love.

There was a scene where we could see, from his point of view, those moments she had with Luan Nian. The poor man doesn't have a chance against someone as magnetic and powerful as Luan Nian ,not gonna lie.

But I'm sure you are thinking what I'm thinking: if Luan Nian hadn't been in the picture, Zitao and him would have been a perfect couple. Her life would have been drama-free and smooth; it would have been a really good union. This is the guy you want to bring home to your parents.

Of course, we also know that her other roommate Sun Yu had a crush on him all this while, but it wasn't reciprocated, and she always knew that he had a crush on Zitao. But how will this news affect Zitao?

Definitely survivor's guilt or something like that: guilt that maybe she could have caused his depression because he had unrequited love added to his many burdens. That's the thing about suicide, isn't it? It leaves quite a devastating effect on the people who survive it.

Yuanzhu chose such a devastating way to leave the world. I don't know whether you caught some of the comments at the scene, but it was quite gruesome. :(

Old habits die hard

At the beginning of the show, we see that Luan Nian stumbles on them hugging.

https://reddit.com/link/1wale5h/video/89kk71z02aoh1/player

It was a much-needed hug; Yuanzhu was at the end of his rope. I bet you that Zhitao will always remember his reaction to the hug and how ungenerous he was.

Luan Nian oh Luan Nian

I have to say I'm frustrated with Luan Nian at this point. She has a point: shouldn't you trust me more now after all these years? And she never complained about his dinners with that woman, who is going to be trouble (I can sense that).

I try to understand Luan Nian. I think in his mind, he's not confident that Zidao loves him for who he is. Maybe secretly he suspects that she is only by his side so she can climb the corporate ladder because he helps her advance.

Despite evidence to the contrary, he's insecure because she never seemed to be as interested in him as he is in her. This is a very new feeling for someone who has women chasing after him all the time, and he doesn't know how to deal with it. The only way he knows how to handle it is to burst out in intense jealousy.

But damn that mouth of his - to passive aggressive way he brought up her decision to take that project and live in the Northwest ...

Luan Nian, despite his emotionally toddler ways, says he will try to understand, but he still cannot leave the scene without a cutting word or two. You do get frustrated with this man. I think he was basically struggling inside with that intense jealousy he feels, and he did not want to say anything,

Unlike his previous behavior, where he would start acting boorishly and cuttingly or do something manipulative like pretend to date a woman, he actually gave her the cold shoulder. I am not sure whether that is the best thing, but it is a definite improvement but Zhitao is understandably spooked by it.

So it is growth, I suppose, but maybe not in the right direction.

Zhitao is about to snap

https://preview.redd.it/246mlsy82aoh1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=621bcb10c7ff201b578fe8d302b68ccf452d419d

To her credit, Zhitao doesn't fall back to old habits. She actually talks and communicates.

She tells Luan Nian the reason why they hugged: that he is depressed and needed help. That is real growth here. She is starting to communicate better and sounds more assertive, definitely not like the timid, meek-voiced, quiet woman we knew in the first ten episodes. She is more assertive now, and she could tell him off.

Was it wrong for her to hug Yuanzhu? Some people online argue that she still doesn't have any boundaries, and of course her boyfriend would be mad. But if your depressed friend asks for comfort, would you reject him? I personally don't think she's in the wrong at all.

She still lacks the sense of agency and independence that she craves, and I really understand it. It is so difficult to be free and to be your own person when your boyfriend is your superior and everything he does affects you.

And Luan Nian, despite his growth, still wants to control the situation. Instead of talking it out, he gives her the silent treatment. It is his way of controlling things (and his tongue lmao), but I'm not sure if being passive aggressive instead of cutting is the step in the right direction.

As a result, Zidao still lives in a world that he controls, and she is still walking on eggshells. It is really not an edifying relationship; it is still not healthy. As per Yuanzhu's diary, the words that sprung out for me are that she just doesn't seem very happy in the relationship. 

I still love the writing

Honestly, I continue to be impressed by how determined our writers are to make this relationship as complex and nuanced as possible. No one is in the complete wrong here, nor are they in the complete right.

Most dramas like this, especially in the idol drama genre, would either paint the male lead as a complete red flag or the girl as a pure green flag. But here, we have people arguing in the comments over who deserves the most blame, are you Team Luan Nian or Team Zhitao? 

I find that fascinating. It is a sign of good writing that they can flesh out characters so complexly that we have no idea where we stand with them.

I don't think Zhitao or Luan Nian is at fault at this stage. They have grown to a point, but obviously Zhitao and Luan Nian has a lot of work to do on themselves if they want to make the relationship work. And, unfortunately, the current situation they're trapped in is not going to be a conducive environment for them to do this.

I'm actually quite surprised by how quickly this episode passed, and equally surprised that three-quarters of the episode was given to this man and what happened to him. But it is necessary for Zhitao's growth.

Yuanzhu's passing is going to be a defining moment for her; she realizes that she simply cannot continue denying herself anymore. She is living her life according to another person's rules at this point, in a situation that she didn't want to be in. 

Life is fragile, and you need to live it according to your own terms, or life would be yanked from you.

https://preview.redd.it/rixlc5x64aoh1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c58d92d4eb3ee42419338cf023773af109cfd0f4

---

Well, besties, the next episode is where we start opening the liquor cabinet because we sure need some strong spirits to survive the next few episodes. But fortunately, express episodes will land tomorrow. Yay!

Is this girl buying? You bet she is.

Welcome back, comrades, to the latest edition of discussing our favourite train wreck in slow motion, the hot mess couple of the season, Luan Nian and Shang Zhitao!

https://i.redd.it/y2ovmlp323oh1.gif

Spoiler note: Please don't discuss plots from future episodes or from the novel. :)

Previous discussions:

Masterpost || All discussions | Ep 4-8 || Ep 9-11 || Ep 12-13 || Ep 14-15 || Ep 16-17 | 18

First, some quick notes. In my previous post, I think I didn't make some things clear, so maybe some folks thought I was Team Luan Nian or Team Zhitao.

Let's be clear: I am Team They Are Both a Hot Mess and Need to be Spanked.

https://i.redd.it/v9cmn8ib23oh1.gif

Tldr:

Luan Nian:

Gets brownie points for being the perfect boyfriend in bed and having the skinship skills of a god. Also extra boyfriend points for trying very hard to be less of an iceberg, of being aware of his inherited toxic tongue, toning down his brutal facts mode, and trying his darnest to be a decent human being who includes Zhitao in his social circle.

Needs to be spanked for activating said toxic tongue while on brutal facts max setting mode anyway. And generally behaving like a toddler with just as much emotional control.

Zhitao:

Gets brownie points for sticking by a man as thorny and tsundere as Luan Nian. And trying to be courageous, independent, and voicing her real thoughts.

Needs to be spanked for forgetting to do that 90% of the time and saying the exact opposite of what she needs and means, which makes things worse. Also extra demerit points for forgetting to open said mouth to convey vital information a boyfriend needs.

Okay, now that everyone knows where I stand, let's move on to the episode! 😉

----

Ah yes, here we are at the classic sweetness before the poison bit, meaning we know tragedy is coming because this episode is all about sugar and kisses and everything warm and cuddly.

Luke is not excited because he was in the writer's room and saw what's going to happen in future episodes

So, it looks like they did break up after that time when Zitao told Luan Nian about her dreams, and he flatly told her that he probably can't meet her goals. She decided to execute her plan, which is to move as far away from him as possible and focus on her career. To be honest, I say good on you, girl.

They are apart for three months, with Luan Nian doing co-parenting duties with Luke. To be honest, I think this is the right move for her: seeing her grow away from Luan Nian's influence, being her own person without having to navigate "is he my boss this hour or is he my lover?" You can see her really blossoming in a new place, with a new adventure and a new project and away from the daily stress of her uncertain relationship status.

Luan Nian's mum sensing our boy's impending forced monkhood, decides to do some investigative work

https://preview.redd.it/lbw50byg03oh1.jpg?width=3039&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=58be8e2a5fe6a3c65f87c2116410de163a939cc3

https://preview.redd.it/0j9zad1j03oh1.jpg?width=3249&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2b6e7680d1ee188f51bcb193ff6e094c2d408fa9

Luan Nian manages to bring Zhitao back to his orbit, and we have kidney stones to thank for that! (Hence the call to mum.) Our dear female lead cannot help but be drawn back thanks to his puppy eyes and his great ability to be a BIG DRAMA QUEEN

Don't look at the eyes, Zhitao!

Zhitao didn't stand a chance.

And then we get this vacation in Tibet.

(Side note (sad stuff): >!This is especially poignant that this show is so popular now at a time when there is great tragedy in Nepal and Tibet. I feel like this is such an highlight and commemoration for that area.!<)

Two significant things happened in this episode:

Luan Nian actually introduces Zitao to his mom, and they speak.

Girlfriends (and boyfriends), I don't know how much proof Zitao needs to show that he is absolutely serious about her. It is just so unfortunate that he is giving her mixed signals: "I love you enough to introduce you to my mum, but at the same time, I cannot promise you the future that you desire (like kids and marriage)."

Gosh, I don't know how a girl is supposed to process that, but I think Zhitao is a simpler, less complex person compared to Luan Nian.

Another breakthrough happens after they reconcile. During that conversation when her mom calls her in Tibet, I was actually bracing myself for her to lie. Because she had only mentioned Luke, I 100% expected her to not mention Luan Nian. But she did! Not only did she do it, she declared to her parents that she has a boyfriend, to their absolute shock.

https://preview.redd.it/lcwtj74wy2oh1.jpg?width=3555&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9cc0f0db247720f1ca8ce60b5a2b1f24f3a49cf2

I had to do some lo-fi way of capturing screenshots because Netflix ain't having allowing screenshots and my arm isn't as accurate with the angle but damn you Netflix for making life difficult for me despite me paying you good money

This is a major step for her because she is finally including Luan Nian in her social orbit. You can see how delighted he is in this scene, and he even gets to speak to his future mother-in-law (because we all know he will marry her, right? Right, SHOW??).

It was a beautiful episode, and our couple is absolutely gorgeous in their costumes.

https://preview.redd.it/i1464f5sz2oh1.png?width=1979&format=png&auto=webp&s=17a45414fc077ac9d7ad5dfb6da52f4235aacaaa

But we know what is going to happen, right? This is the classic sweet moment before the pain, because we know it is coming. Honestly, this is the first show I know of where everyone is actually dying for the main couple to break up.

(PS: Unlike his mum who is happy that they're back together, dad is all "He'll fuck up just wait and see". For once in her life I wish mum would give that man a big punch in the nuts because if he wants to be smug about his son's failure, perhaps he has to look at the DNA he contributed.)

Upon reflection, I feel that Luan Nian is doing everything he can, to the best of his ability, to work past his issues and meet Zhitao halfway. He is trying his darnest best, and you're probably thinking, goddamnit Zhitao isn't this enough But I feel that, no, it is not enough for her.

And it is not her fault. It is not because she is an inferior person or just ungrateful. It is because a person's sense of self-worth and independence cannot come from another person; it has to come from within herself. She got a taste of that independence during her three months away from Luan Nian, far away in the Northwest.

A part of me felt a bit like, "No, girl!" when she said yes to reconciling with him. When he asked her to come back to Beijing, a part of me was screaming, "No, don't say yes!" I am glad she stood her ground on that, but I have a feeling she will still end up going back to Beijing, unfortunately.

And you also need to remember - like Luan's mum and dad said - he was actually dating a woman for TEN YEARS before he dumped her like a hot potato. And remember how Zhitao saw he treated said ex in episode 2 or 3. She's probably thinking again and again: Am I going to be her one day?

So I have mixed feelings. On one hand, it is a great thing that she finally took the step to include him in her social circle instead of excluding him like she did before.

(That was one telling thing I noticed: he takes her out on outings with his friends, but she has never done that once with him (or maybe I am remembering wrong). The only time her friends met him was when they peeped on them almost smooching in the apartment. She had never taken the steps that he did, so I am glad she has finally taken this very important step to include him in her most important social circle: with her parents.)

But like I said, in this episode, our two leads are doing okay. In a rare moment, I'm not annoyed at either of them. For once they seem to be moving in the right direction, but we all know this is false hope. It's just taping the lid on a bubbling kettle.

We know that disaster is coming soon, so let's savor this moment as much as we can before the axe falls tomorrow.

The day the collective brain cells of Cdrama viewers exploded. Kill Me Love Me had the best kisses this is the hill I will die on.

New C-drama viewers do not know how lucky they are.

When I first came back to watching C-dramas, the first drama I watched completely (meaning I didn't abandon it halfway) was Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms. Can I tell you how shocked I was? I nearly fell off my chair when I saw the way Ye Hua was kissing Bai Qian!

Let's just say that back when I used to watch Cdramas, even a touch was considered scandalous. Full-blown kisses? I thought I could only dream of that happening.

Ever since then, kisses are almost like a guarantee in Cdramas. And I hardly ever see fish-eye kisses: you know, the kind Where the man is doing all the work and the woman is standing there with a buffering/ still processing emoji ⏳ at the top of her head?? Hardly ever, or rather, the Cdramas I watch don't seem to have them.

So I want to celebrate the kisses in Cdramas because, man, when they do it well, they really do it well!

What are your favourite kissing scenes, which drama did it the best, and who is your favourite kisser?

What’s a Chinese drama you genuinely think deserves more love? (Or ahem, the drama had so much love but you want to recommend it anyway. It's okay, we like both!)

This is the place to recommend the underrated dramas, forgotten favorites, niche gems, low-budget surprises, or shows you’re constantly trying to get other people to watch.

Maybe it:

• had incredible chemistry
• surprised you emotionally
• had an amazing storyline nobody talks about
• became your comfort drama
• was completely overshadowed by bigger releases
• made you wonder why more people aren’t obsessed with it

Tell us:

• the drama title
• what it’s about (without major spoilers!)
• why you loved it
• who you’d recommend it to

Recommend away!

Apologies! I know I'm late! The last few days has been hectic for me and my brain is fried. But I'm back to speed and the next few episode discussions will drop at a faster click now, promise!

Masterpost | Beginner's guide to Mystic Nine| All episode discussions | Episodes 1-10 | 11-12 | 13-16

Please limit your discussions to the episodes being discussed. Nobody likes to be spoiled, so we will remove any comment that reveals future plot points. If you are chomping at the bit to discuss future episodes or ask questions about it, do be patient, the discussions will come very soon!

By the way, I structured the post in such a way that you can read the recaps (on top), but if you prefer to skip those, you can go down to the "My Thoughts" section to read my reflections on the episode. Also, in the comments, I left some comments for you to reply to ;)

How Laogou became the Fifth Master

We get more insights into how Laogou became the Fifth Master as 8th Master tells the dying villager the rest of the story. (So that he could tell his departed friend the rest of the story when he joins him in the underworld. Sobs a little)

As we know, Laogou was sold as a young boy to the Xiangyuan mine, and after seeing Qishan liberate the mine slaves, he wanted to follow Qishan.

However, he quickly lost respect for the Mystic Nine when he realised that not only did they not care for the poor like him, they actively oppressed them.

https://i.redd.it/h6z4gjia8okh1.gif

So, he took matters into his own hands and decided to be a "lao da" to help the impoverished. He was brutal when he needed to be, killing the former Fifth Master because he was bullying the poor and then taking his place as the Fifth Master.

I know it's cool and all but I am wondering where he learned to fight like that, seeing how he was easily bullied by fellow vagrants before.

Anyway, once he snatched away the badge, he literally barged into the gathering, and it's rather amusing to see how Xiangu was delicately offended by his oafish ways at first. (Though she later changed her mind, obviously :P)

https://i.redd.it/195ah1he8okh1.gif

So I suppose it ain't surprising that nobody's a fan of Laogou :P

Gathering of the Gates

Xiangu gets the clue Laogou sent through his bird. Xiangu and Qishan realised that somehow it's tied to the caskets from Beiping's Xinyue Hotel. Somehow, he has to win the auction, but for him to do so, he needed to make the reluctant members of the Mystic Nine work together.

So, operation convince the Nine begins!

Banjie Li convinces a reluctant Chen Pi by promising to reveal the secret location of his late shiniang’s (Second master's wife's) grave so he can pay his respects.

Qi Tiezui fails to recruit Sixth Master, but fortunately Heibei's old flame, Bai Yi, manages to do so, saying if he doesn't help she might as well leave him (for implied cowardice, which probably offended Heibei even more). She adds a carrot: if he does help the Mystic Nine, she can eventually leave the courtesan house and start an ordinary life together.

Meanwhile, the wealthiest of them all - Second Master and Ninth Master - hand over their life savings to fund the high-stakes operation.

The Xinyue Hotel Auction

Okay, admittedly I nearly snoozed through the auction plot. It should've been twenty minutes, but we got nearly two episodes' worth. zzzz

So, things got tricky at the hotel at first. Qishan and Ninth Master were nearly recognised. But fortunately after a few close shaves (which included Chen Pi vomiting on a Japanese officer, yay) they got to the auction.

They manage to trick a tobacco tycoon, Tian Zuocheng, into winning the first "immortal moult" casket so they can steal it on the road. But the Japanese ambush them at the same time!

Colour me surprised when Tian Zuocheng decides to fight with them. (He thinks it's better for the caskets to be in the hands of Chinese brigands rather than the Japanese! Well that's very patriotic of him!)

https://i.redd.it/k14bqlqu9okh1.gif

First of all, let me say I adored the fight scene here and Chen Pi is so gosh darn cool with that chain thing he has. Heibei, by the way, is played by an actor who knows martial arts; he has been in fighting scenes since he was a kid!

The government wants to destroy the Mystic Nine (gasp)

So, Ninth Master Xie reveals what his friend Officer Luo shared: the government is planning to dissolve and eliminate civil organisations. The Nine Gates is on the top of that purge list. The miasma of doom is finally here!

Amnesia!

Qishan and Ninth Master get a double shock when
a) Heibei returns dragging the casket and then finds the nearly-dead Chen Pi in it
b) The corpse in the casket bore a striking resemblance to Laogou! (PS: I'm not sure if Laogou was in the same casekt Heibei brought back - or another one ( I know there were TWO caskets).

He's a little dehydrated

Forgive me, but when they laid out Laogou's dried out shell, all I could think about was dried Chinese mushrooms and how we 'puff' them up by soaking them in water.

Fortunately Laogou is spared that soak; all Qishan had to do was pop the pill Laogou had clenched in his hand into his mouth. (Très convenient, no?)

Finally, er, rehydrated by the magic pill, Laogou is back!

I have a strong urge to hug him here

But he looked totally lost. Because ... amnesia! Deng deng deng!

I know I know, most of us hate amnesia plots but I actually like how it's done here.

For one, Laogou has a pretty good reason to have amnesia. (You don't turn into dried human mushroom without consequences. And not to mention the whole "being locked up next to a giant toothy beast for weeks" bit!)

Two, there's no love interest being cockblocked by the amnesia. (Oh wait...)

But anyhoo, Qishan has to jog Laogou's memory because nobody could understand Laogou's drawings, and time is running out for the 401st unit.

So Qishan tries different techniques. (11/10- would not recommend, do not try this at home)
Bringing him back home (he called his men bandits), acupuncture, pushing him from high ground, dunking him in a water tank. All fail, so Qishan does the most extreme therapy ever: he shoots one of his men.

This works, and 10% of his memory returns, but Laogou ain't happy.

My Thoughts

Ok question, Laogou presumably entered a state of suspended animation by "tortoise-breathing" but is this some kind of technique that is taught to Mystic Nine masters??

I feel that these are the episodes where the drama finally gets a breather from ye olde dungeons, which had become a tad repetitive at this point. Dead puzzle/boobytrap in maze -> team solves it -> Deadly puzzle/boobytrap in maze

It's also cool to watch the Mystic Nine come together. We got the impression that they were merely partners due to their own selfish interests; there wasn't any real comradeship and Mystic Nine didn't really exist for the greater good of society.

By the end of the arc, when Fourth and Sixth master fought the Japanese, they seemed to realise that their fight is for more than money or power; they had to fight for their country too because if their country falls, forget about power; they'd lose their loved ones.

I enjoyed the fighting scenes immensely - one thing I have to say, Mystic Nine does those scenes so well.

And what do you think about amnesiac Laogou? What can I say when Joseph Zeng goes into his wide-eyed, cute mode. We are lost. (Ok, I am.) There's just one part of me that wants to hug him and pinch his cheeks.

Understandably, amnesiac Laogou didn't want to remember - he said so at one point - because he had it so good at Qishan's opulent mansion. So, I can't blame Qishan for scaring his memories back.

The only thing I'm sad about is how quickly Xiangu gave up on her relationship with Laogou.

She gave that relationship 1.5 seconds

Like, girl, the amnesia is not permanent! But perhaps after taking over the Huo clan, and with the Japanese surrounding Changsha and breathing down Mystic Nine's necks, she had to be responsible and not dwell on matters of love. (Love-brained, she ain't. I like it.)

So, what do you think of these episodes? Did you enjoy amnesiac Laogou?

Welcome to the Mystic Nine discussion!

These drama-hosted episode discussions will be following Viki's release schedule. The express episodes for Mystic Nine will drop soon, we will have that post up for those eager to discuss it.

Masterpost | Beginner's guide to Mystic Nine| All episode discussions | Episodes 1-10 | 11-12

Please limit your discussions to the episodes being discussed. Nobody likes to be spoiled, so we will remove any comment that reveals future plot points. If you are chomping at the bit to discuss future episodes or ask questions about it, do be patient, the discussions will come very soon!

By the way, I structured the post in such a way that you can read the recaps (on top), but if you prefer to skip those, you can go down to the "My Thoughts" section to read my reflections on the episode. Also, in the comments, I left some comments for you to reply to ;)

Quick recap

Episode 13: Laogou, the monster tamer. The Mystic Nine are off to the rescue!

What a lady

• Wu Laogou finds out about his assignment: Tame a massive four-legged beast called "Zhai Niang Niang" (or Lady Zhai. What a delicate name for a toothy beast.)
• Meanwhile, Qishan and Banjie Li track Hatoyama's escape route up a mountain to a narrow underground river entrance where they fish out a Japanese military medal, confirming Hatoyama passed through.
• Huo Xiangu clears her family's debts with Ding Qiansui in exchange for a porcelain jar.
• Qishan investigates Ding Qiansui and discovers that it won't be easy to just nab him because he's a ... US citizen. (Well, okay I really didn't expect this lol.)
• To capture Ding Qiansui, Xie Jiu and Zhang Xiaodi trick him into believing he has contracted smallpox by applying an intensely itchy patch to his neck, forcing him into a quarantine arrest as the Americans don't dare toy around with that.
• During interrogation, Ding Qiansui confesses that the ultimate target of the Japanese "capture all" plan is Xiangxi where there's a special cave - a "true" place of ascension where people try to ascend to immortality. Suddenly, Qiansui starts mutating, a hand bursts out of him and he dies. Buh-bye. Did he expect this outcome? Because he really thought he'd vanish after taking the pill. Hmm!

Episode 14: The emancipation of Xiangu

No more miss nice clan chief

• Laogou begins taming the four-legged beast by withholding food. Then, Xiao Cui one of his trained birds flies in. He negotiates a five-day extension by asking to study the beast's capture site to buy himself some time.
• Meanwhile, Qishan learns that the underground river indeed leads to Xiangxi but has too many tributaries, meaning they will desperately need the backing of Xiangxi's eighty-two villages to locate Laogou.
• Upon returning home, Huo Xiangu discovers her maid Huo Xiaomei is brutally beaten by her aunt Huo Yuyao, who then drugs and expels Xiangu from the family for ruining their Japanese funding.
• After another past-life vision, Huo Xiangu wakes up in a salt mine where she breaks out, crashes her aunt's new leadership election and ends her aunt's reign in blood. I guess they realised too late that you don't mess around with Xiangu.

Episode 15: Laogou's backstory, Qishan goes on a hunt

https://preview.redd.it/crbiar79oajh1.jpg?width=2712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d7c0fd917faa0837d48709a1da91b79cc09ad272

• Following the bloody coup, Huo Xiangu takes full control of the Huo family, re-erects her mother's memorial tablet, and rejects a Japanese offer from Yamada to make her family the head of the Nine Gates.
• Laogou starts experimenting on himself; he uses "drunk grass" to sedate the monster, and sends a coded note to Huo Xiangu via Xiao Cui the little bird.
• Qishan and Qi Tiezui arrive at Heimao Village to enlist the help of the old chieftain, who warns them that the Japanese have occupied Black Tiger Mountain.
• The chieftain explains that his disciples have taken a fatal seven-day poison to serve as sacrifices to enter the mountain, but Qishan declares he does not believe in superstitions and will eliminate both the "mountain god" and the Japanese.
• Laogou successfully demonstrates his control over the beast, which Hatoyama identifies as the mountain god.

Episode 16: Mountain gods

Is it weird of me to think that he's pretty hot in this scene?

• Qishan, Qi Tiezui, and the chieftain's disciples set off to infiltrate Black Tiger Mountain to rescue Laogou.
• Along the way, Qi Tiezui shares the story of how Laogou rose from an impoverished miner to kill the corrupt former Fifth Master and claim his place in the Nine Gates.
• At night, Qi Tiezui is attacked by a giant four-legged creature, but Qishan rescues him and later leads his soldiers to successfully besiege and subdue the beast.
• By pulling out the monster's innards, Qishan discovers letters identifying it as one of Hatoyama’s experimental subjects, exposing the "mountain god" as a biological fabrication.

My thoughts

Zhang Qishan, more than what he seems

Since I've not seen a single episode of The Lost Tomb or the 2016 Mystic Nine, I like the little hints they leave in the episodes that the Zhang family are more than what they seem. (If Qishan ripping out a monster's spine with his bare hands isn't clue enough for you.)

That conversation with the very old chief of the tribal people hints that they've known each other for a long time. Like, a long time. Their conversation seem to hint that while the elder had aged, Qishan hadn't.

I'm not sure if Mystic Nine is following the books, because according to my research >!Qishan isn't a full-blooded Zhang member, and as a result has a normal lifespan, but it would seem they're not following that? Anyone wanna confirm? !<

I love Laogou's story!

In Episode 16, during the journey to Black Tiger Mountain, Qi Tiezui shares the first part of Laogou's origin story:

https://preview.redd.it/too362mioajh1.jpg?width=2712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=463299c8a8ffd9c2332ef6b954b586c01a814847

Laogou was born into poverty and was sold as a young boy to the Xiangyuan mine. While working at the mine, he heard about the good deeds Qishan had done for the common people and became determined to follow him. But after leaving the mines, his hero worship was quickly crushed when he slammed into a wall: The class wall.

He tried hard to meet Qishan so that he could ask him for help to free his fellow slaves, but was dismissed by the literal gatekeepers to the Zhang estate.

He then tried to meet the other Mystic Nine members but found that it was "as hard as reaching heaven".

Eventually bitterness grew, and realising that the poor could only help themselves, he decided to do it himself. (He also realized, during his journey as the lao da of the ragtag band, that >!clothes do indeed make the man, as people automatically gave him respect when he started wearing finer clothes.) !<

I love Laogou's backstory. From a downtrodden, oppressed slave to a "lao da" of a group of bedraggled beggars and vagrants, Laogou didn't let his difficult past warp the goodness in his heart. He is ruthless, for sure, but he does ruthless things to protect the weak. Especially after his great disappointment with the Mystic Nine. Now we understand his insolent behaviour - as far as he is concerned, the Mystic Nine don't care for the poor; they just care about their own interests and power, and they don't deserve his respect.

And you know what, he's not far from the truth. And perhaps seeing that spirit, that's why Qishan changed his mind about Laogou - he realised that the dog tamer had an honourable heart and could actually help him steer the group to a less self-serving path.

I also suppose perhaps that's why Xiangu is also attracted to Laogou, because despite her wealth, she was also enslaved, albeit metaphorically, like he was. She recognised a fellow rebel and was inspired by his bravery. Ugh I love the two together but we're gonna have heartbreak because I sense it.

Still, I was a wee bit sad that Laogou really believed nobody cared enough to rescue him - only Xiangu would. If only he knew how hard they worked to get him out!

Huo Xiangu's past life? Was it even real? What was it even all about??

Hello Mr. Possible Figment of Xiangu's Imagination

In yet another bout of "this could be a hallucination, this could be mystical", Xiangu was given a vision of her past life as Lin Lanqing, the owner of the Tianji Cloud Brocade Embroidery Workshop. In that life, under the pressure of impossible imperial quotas, she had operated the workshop with a rigid, desperate authority that ultimately led to the tragic death of one of her female workers.

The immortal taunts her, saying she is doomed to repeat the cycle of hurting her own sisters. Huo Xiangu fiercely rejects this fatalism, declaring: "If nothing can really be changed, then the world is at fault, not me".

So I suppose the immortal's (is he even real lol) taunt made her execute that bloody coup. She even abolished the family regulations and rejected the Japanese officer's offer to make her leader of the Nine Gates.

Are the events in Mystic Nine science or supernatural??

I hope the Japanese have dental insurance, because the lady needs it

One of the most exasperating things about Mystic Nine for me is how it toys with our perception of events. What we see seems obviously mystical and supernatural, but the show won't "own" its magical qualities, yet seems to be hinting heavily that "it can be explained by science". So which is it babe?? Decide! Lol

I'm leaning towards mystical despite what the characters says. OR perhaps science that is sooooo advanced that it defies explanation. I guess. So, does that mean Zhai Niang Niang (Lady Zhai) is just a mutated creature from some ancient person's experiment?

OTHER STUFF

FYI, Mystic Nine is a veritable hit of the summer, having achieved more than 30% Yunhe market share. (A very rare feat.) In 2026, it's the 7th highest performing CDrama so far. (No.1 belongs to the Pursuit of Jade). Very happy for the team and as a viewer I found myself watching episodes 12 to 18 without stopping. A big sign that this drama is working for me. How are you guys liking it so far?

The script for the Mystic Nine is written by the original author of the novels, Nanpai Sanshu, and it shows. (He's the head screenwriter.) Listen, CDramaland, do you need any more proof that writers are the most important part of the production and shouldn't be an afterthought?

Also saw an amusing post about the little dog Laogou carried around. The actors called him "little stinky" because it farted a lot and er, had some unsavoury eating habits (less said the better). Apparently one of the actors posted about this but I can't verify it, and Little Stinky is a good name for a tomb raiding dog ;P

Masterpost | Beginner's guide to Mystic Nine| All episode discussions | Episodes 1-10

Hello all!

Welcome to the Mystic Nine discussion! PS: I can't access Viki for the life of me, (despite using VPNs), so I'm just going to wing the episode schedule at this rate.

As the drama is nearing its end soon, there will be an express episode post, but the discussion posts will still continue.

Spoiler warning: please limit your discussions to episodes 11-12. Nobody likes to be spoiled, so we will remove any comment that reveals future plot points. If you are chomping at the bit to discuss future episodes or ask questions about it, do be patient, the discussions will come very soon!

So, now, on to the show!

Episode 11

•   Zhang Qishan and his group descend a well and discover an unfinished Earth God temple featuring only ten archways instead of the traditional twelve, where they find Japanese soldiers who committed collective suicide during its construction 
• However, in a chamber near a stagnant pool, mummified corpses suddenly regain flesh and animation.

Certified 90&#37; fresh

•   Hatoyama abducts Wu Laogou and triggers the collapse of the underground palace to bury the remaining members of the group, forcing Zhang Qishan to lead a desperate escape back to the surface 
• Following the escape, the Nine Gates families gather at the Xie residence to strategise. But they don't seem particularly enthusiastic about rescuing Laogou, and the Huo family, as we discovered earlier, refuse to obey her orders as well.
•   Zhang Qishan addresses the assembled Nine Gates, explaining that the "resurrection" was a deceptive spell and urging the families to unite their business connections to locate Wu Laogou and defend Changsha from the growing Japanese threat. (Turns out that this was all a very elaborate plan to capture Laogou - they need to tame something, but what? Also, surely there's an easier way to get Laogou than this?)
• We also find out that Hatoyama revived the mummies with a resurrection technique he studied for three years - the gu spell. The Japanese probably used the underground waterways to spirit away Laogou. 
•   After Huo Xiangu admits she scouted the palace for Ding Qiansui before discovering his collusion with the Japanese, Zhang Qishan warns her that if she went any further, she could end up being punished under military law for collusion.

How convenient of you to tell me all about your big bad plan

• Laogou finally wakes up as Hatoyama's captive at some secret mountain hideout. He wants Laogou's animal-taming skills to subdue a monstrous, rare four-legged beast. He uses the lives of the 401st Unit soldiers to ensure his compliance. (Again, isn't there any easier way to do this? So you're telling me that he zombified the 401st unit to get to Laogou ultimately? I feel like there's something more to this.)
• Big bad speech! Hatoyama reveals that he managed to keep his massive excavation secret for three years by bribing Ding Qiansui and exploiting the Huo family's private supply channels, which the other Nine Gates members had failed to notice.

My Thoughts

Episodes 11 and 12 are definitely highlights for me.

One, I thought they really upped the creepy factor with those reanimated zombies.

Two, I feel that the tension/relationships in our team is now heightened thanks to Laogou sacrificing himself to save the team and them determined to rescue them. (The tomb raiding party, that is, not the rest of Mystic Nine as they don't seem as thrilled by the idea.) And as grim as the situation is for everyone, it's nice to see sunlight again lol. 

After the wringer that the writers put Wu Laogou through, it looks like they're ramping it up a notch and not letting up. 

The writers:

https://i.redd.it/4hti8hki4wih1.gif

Anyway, the scene where the Japanese corpses began to literally flesh out was super creepy, and then they started marching towards the gang, which was even creepier. So, questions: Was Hatoyama pretending to be a zombie after he was resurrected, or did he finally snap out of it after a while and become his big bad self? 

Actually I'm a little confused - was it a resurrection spell, a hallucination spell or a time reversing spell? They seem to suggest all three one after another.

The Mystic Nine Assembles!

Once they get back into the sunlight in episode 11, we finally get to see the Mystic Nine in all their glory. 

https://preview.redd.it/81n0x8he4wih1.jpg?width=2712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9da46013bed23e0a7a8b0cdf0fe5510c9c5d4b3a

I have to say I loved this scene. Every character stood out and didn't blend into the background. They were all unforgettable and had such a charismatic presence. All of them knew that they had power and they didn't hide it. (Like, they didn't even blink when that Huo commander threatened them lol.)

Laogou isn't super popular, is he?

When they called for the Mystic Nine to meet, not everyone was enthusiastic about bringing Laogou back. In fact, I was pretty shocked that the Middle houses, which Laogou  is part of, were eager to replace him and quite happy to just forget about him. I guess they are not bros, even if they are on the same level. 

But he's a super cute, loyal, huggable dog!

So, what's the reason for his unpopularity? Is it because he's new? Or because he didn't endear himself to any of the other masters? (Admittedly, he's not exactly an easy going guy.)

To my surprise, Qishan is the one who pushed for the Mystic Nine to rescue Laogou. When the fourth master accused the Laogou of being a Japanese spy, again, Qishan defended him strongly. I have to say, of all people in the Mystic Nine, I never thought that he would be Laogou's biggest defender.

 (I mean, he was about to rip out Laogou's spine in the first episode.)

Of course, Huo Xiangu is all for it, but despite being the leader of the Huo clan, she literally is not allowed to act. Apparently, her aunts are still ruling the roost, even though she has the title of leader, she realises she doesn't have any power. At least, power that counts.

Qishan appeals to their patriotism, or at least their sense of survival. So our team grudgingly comes around.

As you know, this is one of the most turbulent periods of China's history. Many nations were literally carving China up, and Japan is just one of them. Qishan reminds them that Changsha is very likely going to be the next territory to fall. So he basically tells them: sure, if we continue fighting among ourselves, the Mystic Nine will fall, and Changsha will also fall as a result.  That means your survival is at stake.

---

Anyone of you catch the whiff of doom that is surrounding Mystic Nine? Well, at least they're preparing us before they drop the hammer.