Ackery

LL water scene bts for whoever is interested:
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNecnnB72/

" Also, I appreciate that LL finally realises how pitiful and small his mindset has become, because ZYC is able to get through to LL directly and frankly. " -> This.

I agree, I think ZYC pointing it out to LL was much more impactful anyways, cause sometimes hearing the truth from an outsider is more world-shaking, especially taking into consideration that LL could easily disregard it if he heard the same things from ZYZ -that yes, I don't think he would be able to give such a speech anyways-.

The thing is that ZYC has similar traits to LL and similar experiences -of course taking into consideration that one has lived for hundreds of years and the other only 24- yet he is a very different person and that hit LL very hard. It was a bitter, yet truthful realization.

He also can't easily come in terms with the fact that it was partly his fault that he ended up the way he did and he is trying to make others understand him or turn into someone like him. What he doesn't comprehend is that people are shaped differently and uniquely because of way too many different things. A betrayal no matter how grave doesn't turn everyone to a villain and kindness doesn't turn everyone to a good person.

The iqiyi link: https://www.iq.com/play/fangs-of-fortune-25rgdtncpm4?lang=en_us

If it doesn't show, I only found part of the preview on x: https://x.com/lovelyjkks/status/1855948796573724829

I think it will happen sooner or later -probably in like the last few eps-.

Lol, I don't remember what the contract said entirely, but that could seriously have some pretty bad consequences for him 😂

I am not that into the main romance, I don't feel it honestly, but even if I did, I think that from what we have seen so far it will certainly be tissues that we will need. Ngl, I prefer a tragic ending, cause I do believe it would fit the series much more than an unrealistic or forced happy ending.

No matter the case, it better be well written 😂

There is for ep. 26!

That is a very interesting pov. When he put him into sleep, I did believe he did it to avoid losing time by fighting him, but why didn't he just kill him afterwards? Or do you mean "death" when you are referring to the fact " he could never wake up"?

Episode 25 is epic imo and it was also terrific visually and acting wise. That scene with LL and ZYC was phenomenal and I think you will enjoy it, since it portrays the feelings and the true selves of these two characters perfectly.
I have made a post about it above regarding some scenes and I would love it if you could read it when you watch it and tell me your thoughts.
https://kisskh.at/755301-the-story-of-mystics#comment-19426784

This episode was fantastic in my opinion from beginning to end and everyone did a magnificent job acting and character-wise.

However, I want to mention specific thoughts I had during the episode, that basically made it so much more impactful and interesting to watch for me.


💥@homaKP mentioned yesterday in her post that " Those who understand you, feel the pain (and efforts behind it)" and I think that this was evident in today's episode.
ZYC turning into a demon was a huge hit for his character. Let's not forget that for quite a few years he was hunting demons and the purpose of his life was to kill the one that slaughtered his family. And now, he became the thing he hated the most.
But, because of the experiences he gained and because of ZYZ, it is evident that his opinion about yao/demons has changed dramatically, something that he also mentions to LL when he tells him that people do not hate all demons, but the evil and bloodthirsty ones. ZYC is mature enough to understand that the people hate him, because they don't understand. At the same time, ZYZ is now fully protective of ZYC because he knows what he is going through. He knows what it's like to be unable to control yourself and cause harm, which made both the "I will save you" and the "turning into demon mode scene in front of everyone" scenes much more impactful.


That aside, I want to applaud GJM for three specific scenes that were directed to perfection.
💥 The scene in the pavilion
Emotional tension and sadness aside, there was one particular frame where the crowd pushes ZYC into the water and we see a wide shot of him sitting "in" the water and of the people pointing and shouting at him! It was a phenomenally shot scene, despite the fact that it barely lasted. It showed that ZYC understood why everyone was acting the way they did and he was mostly blaming himself. With the flashback that followed, the series pointed out how easy it is for people to change their opinion for someone they once considered a hero (something that also portrays today's society). I loved how it was evident that he didn't held resentment for the people treating him like that.


💥Li Lun x ZYC scene
I will not go ahead and analyze it, cause it is a pretty well written scene with some amazing quotes and it shows in a fantastic way that LL and ZYC are different, despite them having some similar experiences. What I will mention though is how it was shot.
At first, ZYC is on the ground, injured internally and emotionally from everything that went down beforehand. LL appears and stands above him. From those shots it looks like LL has the upper hand. He is "above" ZYC both literally and metaphorically. BUT then ZYC pushes LL into the water and the perspective changes entirely. Now, LL is beneath ZYC shot-wise. And by the exchange that happens next, it is obvious that ZYC is "above" LL mentality wise too. When he told him that he will never be able to understand him, but he understood ZYZ, the hit LL received from those words was very big.


💥Ao Yin shielding LL with the umbrella
Umbrellas are quite important in the drama so far. Specifically, LL gifted ZYZ an umbrella. If you can remember, when he did it, there was that scene where ZYZ looked up to see why he wasn't being drenched from the rain anymore and it was because LL was holding the umbrella above him. Like @Xiang83 mentioned in our conversation, that scene was also symbolic. LL is a tree "demon". Him shielding ZYZ with the umbrella relates to his "tree form". In other words, LL covered ZYZ with the umbrella the same way trees cover people from the rain.

Now, in the end of the episode, Ao Yin covers LL with the umbrella she holds. LL looks up -like in the scene with ZYZ-, but in the end he ends up walking in the rain without an umbrella and without a care in the world. That scene felt super impactful, cause it could be interpreted in so many different ways (most of which I have probably not even thought yet). LL avoiding the umbrella, because of the emotional connection with ZYZ and their past or we could say that that scene portrayed his conflicting emotions after the conversation he had with ZYC and his need to get away from mortal creations.

It's because of the contract they made in the first eps that he can't. Whenever he gets close to her in a romantic and not "colleague" way, his heart receives a painful hit. That is why he pulled back.

"ZYZ's knowledge of what happened to Yinglong and Bing Yi is based on traditional oral lore, but it might not be correct" -> I agree and I think it was also evident from what ZYZ said when he was narrating the story vs what ZYC heard and saw in his "dream".

"Where ZYZ couldn't escape the cage in ep 18, LL could escape in ep 24. Is LL actually weaker than ZYZ?" (* I know you mentioned some of these, but I am reading your comment, while also answering and I hadn't got to that point yet, so I'm going to keep my thoughts in this answer) -> That is a valid statement. First thing that came to mind when I watched that scene was that LL was able to escape because of his true form -and therefore his ability to turn into leaves- comparing to ZYZ that is mostly escaping difficult situations using his "spells". But now that you mention it, I remembered that ZYZ also had some type of "teleportation" powers like LL, that were evident when he suddenly appeared in front of Bai Jiu after BJ visited his home -and after his betrayal-. So, I am wondering if LL is stronger or if ZYZ simply doesn't have such ability cause of his true form. (Plus, I do feel like ZYZ just refuses to use his entire power sometimes, because he is aware it can be very harmful and "malicious").

"being in a human body with Divine power might enable LL to not be fully restricted" -> This is a pretty good theory

"If he had attacked her head-on instead of standing there like a lovestruck male torn between staying or fleeing, she wouldn't have even been able to start playing her tune and would die." -> I had a similar thought in other scenes where ZYZ was filled with malicious energy with the most recent being in ep. 23 when WX got close to ZYC to explain what had happened with LL and they had their conversation while ZYZ could have easily attacked and killed both of them. I am actually wondering if in his "malicious energy state" he has some type of control and conscience -even though they have hinted otherwise-.
A similar situation that made me wonder was when he made ZYC "sleep" when he was trying to attack him -during the blood moon ep.- and instead of killing him in his dream state he went ahead, pat his head and moved forward.

"Ep 25 preview is also heartbreaking for ZYC but is going to result in quite a lot of fanfiction, because I'm sure some parts of cnet will find it impossible to resist pairing LL and ZYC." -> I don't know about Cnets, but I have seen some edits on tiktok already lol
Plus, LL seems to like stepping on ZYC with his foot 😂

I've been meaning to watch that drama for ages, but still haven't 😭

Same!

Thank you for sharing! I will pass for the time being, cause I don't want spoilers (so also thanks for the warning).

Me searching about sea scorpions cause YL mentioned them -> worst idea of the month 😀

I agree with every single point.

This episode felt like a breath of fresh air and I also really liked seeing more of Bing Yi. His characters and Ying Leis are super interesting!

And yeap, I also really like ZYC so there is that.

I honestly needed more of that backstory and I feel that we may do find out more about them in the nest eps. I am wondering if ZYZ's knowledge about their story is actually fully true or if there are things he even don't know.

I'm sorry, but that scene where LL was trapped unexpectedly in that cage and then was like "really?" and turned into leaves and left was hilarious 😂

Thank you <3

Kudos to the people that made the costumes, cause they are magnificent. I love how they are ideal for every character taking into consideration their origins and personalities.

ZYZ's really evokes the "all powerful, lived for thousands of years" aura. Especially that outfit on the first episodes -I think from ep. 2- with the white fur and the red undertones was so freaking smart taking into consideration that according to mythology Zhu Yan had "a white head and red feet". Same with Wen Xiao being dressed mainly in brighter and lighter tones, cause she was given the Baize token cause of her purity and kindness. ZYC being able to manipulate water and blue being a part of his attire seems to be connected with the fact that Bing Yi -his apparent ancestor- according to Chinese mythology was a river god and probably have something to do with his real self, especially since the "scales" in his clothes are being underlined a lot.

Chinese mythology is pretty fascinating. Pity that I cannot find the book this series has taken inspiration from in english.

Yeap, I agree.

- I did see people mentioning -and uploading- the tattoo scene on social media, but I, as a viewer, didn't notice it at all when I was watching the series.

- I don't remember explaining it to anyone else, but even if he didn't, LL touching and -from an outsider's perspective at that point- trying to "kill" BJ should have made everyone, especially ZYZ and ZYC be suspicious of the reason. At first, I thought nothing happened to BJ, cause of his divine genes, but LL's words were pretty weird not to ring some bells.

- "But to him, being buried alive for eternity is a fate worse than death." -> Honestly, understandable. I get why he would think it as the worst possible punishment.

- "ZYZ could not understand a different POV. Your ex-best friend gives you a life-threatening injury, enables you to be sealed, does not visit you at all during that time, and when you find ways to come out to finally speak to him, he speaks to you in a derogatory manner as if everything you shared with him means nothing, while he is showing how much he cares for and protects a bunch of mostly-humans whom he has barely known for less than a week (excluding WX) unlike more than 30,000 years of connection which you both shared." -> Very well said and I am glad someone is talking about this too. LL may be "evil", but he is pretty well written and smart character.

Both ZYZ and LL are idealistic -> THIS! Both had their own ideals and because of their relationship and their general experiences they acted they way they did.

- Alright, I need those lines!
Generally, for me at least, there are quite a few scenes that have a homoerotic undertone both between ZYZ and LL and ZYZ and ZYC.
Exactly. I think the writer/director did a pretty good job at conveying their real relationship, both by the actual lines -the "friends" that you mention that was repeated quite a few times and even LL telling WX "do you think we are friends?" and then going ahead saying that it is a term that mortals use- and the acting -looks, directing approach etc-.

Alright, pause, just to say that I truly appreciate your respectful and well thought-out response and I like the way you explain everything. Especially when it comes to LL, I appreciate him much more now -writing wise- as a character.

"As to WX and ZYZ, that sundial arc in ep 23 made the strength and bond of their relationship more understandable, but GJM needed to build more on their relationship beforehand in the first 21 episodes, so GJM either needed one more incident or a flashback between ZYZ and WX, and not just conversations" -> EXACTLY! That is also my point. From my pov, I get that WX's 300 years sacrifice is very important and a huge act from her side. But because there were not enough "connection" made in the previous eps, it felt more superficial and as a cheap writing way to somehow deepen their bond, because the writer/director did not do so before -something that was wrong and personally made me uninterested in the main couple-.

"WX also developed as a person, so GJM's character development of WX is welcome. WX has been made aware countless times of how physically weak and inept she is even as part of the team, and the lesson was rammed home in ep 16 for her, because she could not do anything when ZYZ lost control. WX looks pathetic there. But instead of collapsing, after what happens to ZYZ's four senses being sealed? She is determined to find a solution. And she uses her wits and determination, like never before." -> Thank you. I agree. I think though that GJM as the director could have handled her character much better, and we could see that determination sooner, cause WX was weak way too many times throughout the series and only now -with ten eps left- we see what she is truly capable of.

Notice BJ/LL was walking away, even though he would have heard WX and ZYZ calling ZYC's name? LL could have ensured ZYC is dead, since ZYC was unconscious. One of those branches stabbing ZYC through the head or heart would end everything, but LL did not do that. LL has a sense of honour even if he has resorted to what seems like despicable means to achieve what he wants. -> This! Exactly. What particularly bothered me in this scene is that LL again wanted to talk to ZYZ, but in the meantime they could have made sure that ZYC was not dead, or at least have someone to tend for him or get him away -not YL since he was half-dead himself-, while LL and ZYZ had the conversation that they needed to have.

"When LL gave ZYZ the umbrella, from one almost-immortal being to another, it was LL innocently learning to reciprocate ZYZ's kindness. As a tree, the umbrella was meant to shade ZY and protect ZYZ." -> You have a really nice way with words and this is very accurate. I think that because of everything you mention, including this scenes, ZYZ's betrayal was just too hard to take for him and it is completely understandable.

I think that generally the drama deals a lot with the themes of bad/good having demons/humans as its way to do so. It deals with ethics, free will and the power of perspective in a way that could easily be understood in the real world too and not just in this fantasy universe that was created.

I honestly would love to know Chinese, cause I feel like I am missing many things that are "hidden" in the words the characters are saying.

"WX and ZYC could no longer go with their over-simplistic view of "we all good and LL all evil" after ep 19, when they realise what ZYZ accidentally did to LL. Anybody wants to live." -> Yeap, and that was evidence in the conversation they had with ZYZ when he said he would die. Even though at first everyone was "okay" with the idea of him dying and he was a demon in their minds, reality is that all beings suffer and go through hardships and they all want and deserve to live.

"And because of that change in tone and approach, also combined with what sounds horrible but must be investigated, BJ/LL nods in acknowledgement of what ZYZ says, before vanishing." -> Truer words have never been said. I am wondering if there is a chance they will actually cooperate to save the Wilderness and the demons, now that it is evident to everyone what that man is trying to achieve. Do you believe there is such chance despite what happened between them?
I feel that we may see something better relationship wise between the characters, especially since the drama, as mentioned above, is trying to make a point about how much life is important and how every being deserves a chance to live their own lives how they want and where they want.

I am curious to see what will happen to ZYC now cause of his injuries and how his ancestral (?) blood will have anything to do with it. From the preview of ep. 24 it feels like Bing Yi will start being a vital part to the plot and we will get to learn more about him and Ying Long -if I remember the name correctly- and how the sword was created.

P.S. 1: I will be reading the comments you wrote and linked next.
P.S. 2: What do you think about ZYZ seeing Li Lun when ZYC went there to kill him in episode 23 -pretty sure-? Was it because ZYC had fought LL before? Was it just a simple misdirection to make the viewers believe that ZYC was truly LL, was it that ZYZ's malicious energy "played" with his emotions? Or was there another reason? That scene seemed to be of importance, but I am still not sure what the director tried to achieve and I would be interested to know your opinion.

If they didn't change the schedule it's only one ep. today.
Don't mind sites like kisskh too much since they are not legal and sometimes provide wrong information.