I think it was a great start to the episode. LL learns he is wrong about WZY, and WZY learns he doesn't know everything…
I believe ZYZ can influence and moderate the aims of malicious energy when it controls him, but ZYZ cannot fully control the outcome of how he reacts. His first target was Zhu Yin who broke the Baize token, and ZYZ made him blind. LL who had been standing next to Zhu Yin was totally ignored, and WX was supposed to be his next target, which was stopped only by Ying Zhao and Ying Lei, and ZYC intervening after that.
When ZYZ gave ZYC immunity to the one-word spell, ZYZ didn't know what his out-of-control self might say, but to send him into "dream", would that mean ZYC could never wake up? Zhu Yin's blindness was permanent. When controlled by his malicious energy, ZYZ will sense that the Bingyi sword can kill him. If I wanted the fastest way to stop being attacked, sending someone to dream permanently would be the quickest. That pat on the head wasn't meant to be benevolent. I read it as a permanent farewell from OTC ZYZ while OTC ZYZ moves to kill everyone else.
I have not yet seen ep 25, but I am sure that ep plus ep 23 will spawn a significant number of PWP BDSM fics between LL and ZYC. ZYC is totally going to be topped and tortured XD There's already a 7000+ word fanfic on AOO about LL topping ZYC. I'm going to er, give you the description as listed for the viewer, and you can decide if this is going to be hilarious or not:
[ Zhuo Yichen receives a message to meet Li Lun. But whatever Zhuo Yichen expected from this, it wasn’t Li Lun waiting for him in his bedroom. ]
Appearances might be deceiving. I'll watch ep 25, before I decide.
I'm sorry, but that scene where LL was trapped unexpectedly in that cage and then was like "really?" and turned…
I think it was a great start to the episode. LL learns he is wrong about WZY, and WZY learns he doesn't know everything about demons including LL. This sets up the scenario for ZYZ possibly being wrong about what he is telling various team members in this episode. ZYZ's knowledge of what happened to Yinglong and Bing Yi is based on traditional oral lore, but it might not be correct ( and oh yes, I'm quite sure ZYZ is going to find out the story he told was wrong about what really happened between Yinglong and Bing Yi, when they go to the Bing Yi clan's sacred place in the Wilderness). Similarly, ZYZ also said LL could not have broken ZYC's sword by himself.
When ZYZ received the Baize token as the strongest demon present because WX's teacher was dying and broke it into two to save ZYZ and her student, LL had been sealed away so LL wasn't a candidate. Where ZYZ couldn't escape the cage in ep 18, LL could escape in ep 24. Is LL actually weaker than ZYZ? All this time, LL has never actually focused his full power as a demon in an attack against ZYZ. When LL was attacking WX's teacher, it was ZYZ who interfered and blocked LL's attack (which probably wasn't even at full power, since LL knew he was fighting a human).
Either LL's powers as a Pagoda Tree demon can defy the restrictions of the cage because transformation is natural to LL plus LL was honing various other skills even when sealed, or the cage cannot restrict LL completely because LL has enough power to defy the power restrictions of the cage (plus being in a human body with Divine power might enable LL to not be fully restricted in his demon powers, because we don't know if he can temporarily tap into Divine power in such a situation). ZYZ has the Ever-Burning Wood which means ZYZ injuring someone would be deadly. If ZYZ has a lot of malicious energy, he becomes quite powerful. But against other powerful demons when he doesn't OTT in malicious energy, how powerful is ZYZ? ZYZ is very powerful, but we don't know if he is the most powerful demon now.
When Cheng Huang broke the rules as the most powerful demon with half the Baize token in him, the Baize goddess he loved took that half back from him and then tried to seal him. 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. She stopped, because the plague weakened her. Any demon can be sealed, regardless of power. We don't know how powerful LL actually is relative to ZYZ, at this stage.
Anyways, the plot needs to move along now. 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.
1. Who else could have they suspected? Bai Jiu stating that he didn't develop such a needle really made ZYC look…
I think your interpretations are rather apt, even if you don't understand Mandarin. I speak at least four languages, and Mandarin is one of my childhood languages. The subtler nuances in a book or drama are usually noticed by native speakers and enriches and/or gives more specific context.
I used my understanding of some BTS vids from early this year, to write a speculation thread of what I think happens for the rest of this series and at the end to certain characters. @acidmana is already dying after seeing ep 23 and probably going to wish I'm wrong for the rest of my guesses after they read my thread because so far, I have been right: https://kisskh.at/755301-the-story-of-mystics?r=notif&_nid=173593512#comment-19383038
I left out some speculations, because I'm sure they will unfold in the rest of the series and it is just a matter of which episode. I would like GJM to prove me wrong. But GJM enjoys putting his favourite characters through the wringer, so almost all the males are going to suffer in this series while the females will get off more lightly (meaning they don't die, or they die off-screen).
It's not always a case of if ZYZ is right, LL must be wrong. It could simply be that each of them overlooked something about a situation and did not realise both could be right or both could be wrong. And in some situations, there is no right or wrong. The fact is that the main characters are being subjected to constantly stressful life-or-death situations, which will lead to mistakes and people having to learn fast or die. ZYZ already said in ep 4 to WX that if LL wanted her dead, she would be dead, and also said to WX that ZYC cannot protect WX from LL. ZYZ doesn't underestimate LL. ZYZ was not expecting to be helpless in a situation where LL comes back and ZYZ cannot protect the team from LL.
ZYC being the next best fighter in the team would be the one to have to go and try to save PSJ and YL, so his ass was going to get kicked by LL. If he didn't go, PSJ would die. It was a good thing YL and PSJ were present to delay LL, otherwise WX would be dead. LL's first target to kill has always been WX but since ZYC showed up, then he will kill ZYC in WX's place.
Now, as to a few examples of homoerotic lines or cues:
Ep 4 at 7:15 - LL stops in front of ZYZ, who asks LL what LL is up to. LL replies, "I only want to catch up with an old friend. *pause* What's the matter?"
The change in tone for the second sentence (怎麼了) after the first sentence, becoming softly tender and combined with that unblinking focused stare which is hungry yet soft, already has my eyebrow twitching. The finer cues of homoeroticism can escape me, but this made me pause. The rest of that conversation is littered with more eyebrow-twitching. At 12:12, LL labels ChongWu Camp as stupid, and it is not wrong for the English translation to convey his next words as "They don't deserve to fight you." However, what is being spoken actually implies a pairing as per a certain chinese belief and not as simple as ChongWu Camp not being good enough to fight ZYZ. That is why ZYZ replies to LL with a question in kind, about whether there is a need to find a suitable match (般配 ) even for a fight. LL then tells ZYZ that all things in heaven and earth are predestined to be suitably matched (which you can shorten into whatever the subtitles are and cut out all implications), and then LL raises the drum which ZYZ gave him and points it at WX. His finish is understandably ferocious about how she is pathetically unfit to stand next to ZYZ and not a suitable match.
Ignoring the contemptuous dismissive words, the way LL talks about WX is completely the opposite of the tone that LL used when addressing solely ZYZ. The coupling issue raised by LL had me wondering where this conversation was going. At one point, ZYZ tells WX that he cannot leave her because they made a blood oath and he must protect her. LL interjects at this point. His facial expression when he looks at ZYZ and addresses ZYZ, versus addressing WX, is like night and day. At 12:53, LL queries and indirectly criticises ZYZ as to how long ZYZ can protect WX, while getting a bit personal about the time issue... 此时此刻, 还是生生世世呢 ? This is personal because LL seems to be indirectly fishing for how long ZYZ is supposed to protect WX, which makes one question why LL would want to know that.
This is a very uncomfortable non-platonic conversation, but it might fly over WX's head because as I understand, WX has never been in love, and I doubt WX has any experience or knowledge about all this as a student of the Baize goddess. At 13:45, WX collapses from the strain of bearing the Eyes of Truth (I would prefer to call it the Illusion-Dispelling Eyes, instead of whatever is being used for subtitles right now). ZYZ puts his hand in front of her eyes to remove it. At 13:58, the camera pans to LL's non-verbal reaction. LL has stopped breathing just for a short moment, and then he inhales and blinks, while the hurt in his eyes and vulnerability on his face is not the reaction of a platonic friend. ZYZ then says a human cannot bear the Illusion-Dispelling eyes for an extended period of time.
14:09 is LL's reply, about whether ZYZ is afraid of WX seeing ZYZ's true form. Bear in mind that the current human forms of ZYZ and LL are not their original forms. These are their forms when they learned to first take on human shape. Their original demon forms are not shown. LL was given the Illusion-Dispelling Eyes from ZYZ. LL would know what ZYZ's first true form is, because he is using those eyes as a demon. But LL may not know whether the Eyes temporarily lent to a human would enable the human to see a demon's original first form, so he is wrong on that subject.
One could say that LL's feelings for ZYZ are deeper and truer, regardless of what form ZYZ takes, because LL is willing to embrace all the forms of ZYZ. WX is another matter, because she has never seen ZYZ's original form. That said, LL's feelings for ZYZ are not noble after what LL was willing to do to ZYZ to keep ZYZ by his side. WX would not consider ever doing such a thing to ZYZ, which LL wanted to do with that needle made from half his spiritual soul power. But before that, never once did LL want to kill ZYZ, and LL never pointed his weapon directly at ZYZ. Episode 19 was the gamechanger. It was not a good sign to hear LL constantly addressing ZYZ as ZYZ, and not his name of ZY.
Episode 16 is another example, where I nearly choked on my water. In the flashback, ZYZ and LL are in the human realm, and ZYZ sees a paper windmill among several paper windmills at a stall. Upon remarking how pretty one of them is and picking it up, his first reaction is to want to insert it into LL's hair. LL recoiled as ZYZ raised the windmill to do so, while ZYZ is stopped only by the stallholder saying it is not a 髮簪. The connotation of a hairpin in chinese culture is usually a gift between lovers, or husband and wife. One could argue to the censors that as demons, demons wouldn't know the symbolism. However, this is clearly not the first trip to the human realm of ZYZ dragging LL along. Since ZYZ knows more about the human realm than LL and knows what a hairpin is even if he didn't know what a paper windmill is, how does ZYZ not understand or overlook the connotations of a hairpin in chinese human culture? This is the same ZYZ who went through all the walnuts bought for Grandpa Ying Zhao, to make sure that the walnuts would not crack his teeth. Very considerate, and very fastidious with details for those he values.
But we can still argue that away, because ZYZ was willing to buy and give a child's drum to a child and LL. A drum gifted from the original beast of ill-omen that is ZY would be seen as a war drum, because of the connotations in mythology of ZY but since it was gifted to LL, from one demon to another, LL made it something different and sentimental, transforming it into something else. Not everything non-human is inferior. You could see how upset LL was, when WX destroyed it in ep 19. I actually could not stand WX's attitude towards LL and demons because despite her intelligence and reading of books, she was too smug and unempathetic to the demons in front of her (except ep 1). But after ep 16, she has become more understanding. If I was a powerful demon at least thousands of years old, I would be pissed at pre-ep-16 mortal WX being in charge of deciding the laws of my existence and freedom, hence I would definitely ruin her Baize token or kill her... which is what Zhu Yin and LL tried to do.
Meanwhile, in Ep 18, when ZYC asks ZYZ how many unresolved grudges remain between ZYZ and LL, that sounded a bit too jealous to be brotherly or non-platonic. I interpret it at that point as ZYC being in denial because up until then, I could interpret everything between them as platonic, but the delivery of that line and facial expression, given the context.... Ep 12 was hilarious, when ZYZ and ZYC were fighting in front of Qing Geng, ZYZ summons a red whirlwind mist to surround them, then proceeds to free ZYC and have the mutual-cheek-slapping scene with deliberate connotations courtesy of GJM just wanting to mess with the viewers' minds.
As to co-operation and whatnot, I am sure LL will co-operate with ZYZ and ZYC. As to why, it's in my above-spoiler summary of what I am guessing will happen at the end, including a bit about the backstory with Yinglong and Bing Yi.
[ 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. ] - Timestamp? That would help me better understand which segment, so I can answer.
1. Who else could have they suspected? Bai Jiu stating that he didn't develop such a needle really made ZYC look…
You made a valid point about WX and ZYZ.
There are clues which have the plot flowing understandably to where it is, but it depends on whether you notice small details in the first 19 episodes.
There was a tattoo on Bai Jiu's hand in (I think it is) ep 7 for several seconds, indicating he is from ChongWu Camp. Also, in the flashback of the fight between WX's teacher and LL in ep 16, LL is stronger than ZYZ despite LL being wounded with the Ever-Burning Wood beforehand. In that clash, it is ZYZ that spat out blood due to internal injury, while LL was unscathed even while WX's teacher was sealing him. LL may be using forbidden arts which shortens his lifespan, but he and ZYZ are demons who are more than 30,000 years old, and both are powerful.
Ep 4 was when ZYZ explained to ZYC and WX about LL's parasitic skills, and only the two of these team members would have known not to allow LL to touch you or allow any of his leaves to touch you, unless ZYZ explained this to any other team members.
In ep 18, LL told ZYZ about BJ being a Pagoda Tree Spirit. LL may be a pretty face because of the actor but considering everything LL had been planning and doing while sealed, he must have also been thinking of a way to deal with the Ever-Burning Wood problem which burns him from the inside-out and will kill him if unresolved, because LL was determined to break out. LL had 8 years to realise that while sealed, he did not feel physical pain from being burnt so the seal stops the effects of that wound. But to him, being buried alive for eternity is a fate worse than death. Ep 18 and 19 looked as if LL had planned a specific setting for meeting the team because they would need the water LL had collected after his plan to destroy the Baize token in Ep 16 worked, and therefore LL could meet BJ, insert his inner core into BJ, and then "die". That cage for trapping ZYZ so he could not use his power was obviously planned as well.
In the first part of ep 23 when ZYC was fighting ZYZ, the sword already had cracks appearing because of stabbing ZYZ whose malicious energy was clearly affecting the sword in reaction to anything threatening its existence, just before ZYZ then hits ZYC and injures him (due to WX yelling at ZYC not to insert the needle, and ZYC paused).
If we remember the flashback in Ep 16 of LL versus ZYZ, ZYC going to fight LL with a sword bearing cracks means the sword will likely break, because LL is much more intentionally ruthless than ZYZ and at least as powerful as ZYZ even if LL does not have full control over BJ's body. LL being willing to kill ZYC might be underestimated by many viewers because the actor for LL is very handsome, but take away the looks and remember what LL has been doing and saying: Very direct demon in terms of intentions. LL's appearance starting in Ep 3 was him going to find ZYZ to talk, and LL made it clear that he wanted to talk to his old friend. In ep 19 before he "dies", LL already told ZYZ that he would give ZYZ the feeling of nothing when ZYZ was trapped in the cage, which LL believes ZYZ once gave LL. LL also said he would kill the team one by one.
Frankly, what happened to ZYC in ep 23 with LL is ZYZ's fault, because ZYZ needed to sit down and talk to LL. 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. ZYZ verbally stabs LL in the heart every time they meet because ZYZ doesn't realise what he has done to LL from LL's POV, and there will be consequences for that.
WX asked ZYZ in ep 4 about LL looking for ZYZ and ZYZ avoiding LL, and ZYZ dodged the second question with a half-lie. ZYZ has his own big problems after LL got sealed away, but from LL's POV, ZYZ's betrayal after ep 4 is completely unforgivable. From a friendship POV, ZYZ looks heartless. Both ZYZ and LL are idealistic, and unfortunately ZYZ did not realise what he was doing to LL who by the way, is not good for killing humans recklessly and being a social Darwinist. But clearly, ZYZ and LL needed to talk.
((We'll just ignore the fact that there are lines in the original script floating around Weibo which certain actors probably read but could not act out and film, otherwise would not pass the censors. LL's bond with ZYZ was supposedly more than platonic, so LL's actor is portraying that non-verbally or with vitriol at ZYZ's "friends" without being too overt, which is why LL and ZYZ have more chemistry than LL and WX. If we look at the mythological demonology of LL's and ZYZ's origins, it makes sense that they could be more than platonic. They are demons. They take many years to develop and understand emotions, and they are not bound by human ideas of love and society. The amount of time they have spent bonding with each other means such ties can have more meaning than the ties between humans)).
I was having a discussion with another poster 3 days ago, about LL and BJ and LL's psychological state of mind, including why I'd say LL is 50% psychotic. These won't be spoilers now, as of ep 23.
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. The chemistry between ZYC and ZYZ plus LL and ZYZ was initially much stronger than between WX and ZYZ for at least 16 episodes, because WX needed to realise over 16 episodes certain things about ZYZ to become more romantic. I'm not into romance dramas. But in this case, the bromance/brotherhood/sismance and WX with ZYZ's relationship is a tricky balancing act. And GJM needed to balance WX with ZYZ better, otherwise it does feel a bit abrupt.
As to how the sundial works, it depends on whether people were paying attention to the conversation between WX and the Mountain God in ep 15. 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 in ep 20? She is determined to find a solution. And she uses her wits and determination, like never before.
Being in the sundial and spending the equivalent of 300 years there, singing the same song every day year after year, to cultivate the Divine Wood? WX learned what it was like, to be alone and unable to do anything else but be with the tree. That probably made her realise the pain and suffering of being isolated and alone and helpless, such as ZYZ being trapped in his body and LL being sealed underground. WX was a smart-arse, when she mocked LL and got rightfully whacked into the water. When LL was "dying" and revealed what ZYZ gave to him, WX seems to have realised how wrong she was, where previously she was very judgmental about demons being inferior to humans. This is why when ZYZ and WX encounter BJ/LL at the end of ep 23, the way WX speaks to LL is no longer condescending and judgmental. LL has also rammed home his lessons of how brutal and ruthless he can be.
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. Because of Ying Zhao, Ying Lei is still alive, but LL made it very clear that LL means business. LL hit Ying Lei so hard that Ying Lei suffered internal injury. LL never directly aimed the gift from ZYZ at ZYZ, but ep 19 was too much for LL.
LL has been mocked and insulted enough. The team made a gigantic mistake in belittling LL and overlooking his POV. 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 ZY. ZYC claiming and explaining why humans never give umbrellas was ill-timed and irrelevant, especially after ZYZ attacks LL with the umbrella and tries to stab LL. When WX grabs the drum toy and destroys it, it was a smart move from her. But it also removed the emotional seal on LL. LL never needed the drum, to begin with. LL's final encounter there with the team made LL believe that from now on, LL no longer needs to hold back once he returns, and to give these humans what they want especially ZYZ, since ZYZ insists on humans being right and demons being lesser beings who are wrong. Since you like humans so much, until you can dismiss your origins, then you should be given what you deserve. That is why LL's final words to ZYZ is to say ZYZ instead of ZY. He is drawing a line.
朱厌 is an ominous beast who rules the world in chinese demon mythology, so that needle crafted using half of LL's spiritual soul power to ram into ZYZ's forehead is apt, for truly transforming ZYZ into the beast that fits the name.
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. ZY was not the one sealed underground for eternity, and forced to explore all sorts of ways to break out and also find a solution to a life-threatening injury. Did ZYZ give any help to LL the way ZYZ protects the team, after what happened to LL? It is ZYZ now wanting to talk to LL, who sees no point in talking to a heartless liar. ZYZ calling LL's name is filled with multiple emotions, feeling pained at what happened to ZYC, while apologetic to LL, and desperately wanting LL to stop and listen.
Right now, BJ as LL at the end of ep 23 meant when ZYZ met BJ/LL, there is only the chilling reality that LL intends to kill ZYZ and ZYC, and the look from BJ doesn't have any nostalgia or warmth in it, unlike all previous encounters between LL and ZYZ. ZYZ seems to have learned from being locked inside his body for many hours and days about what it must have been like for LL to be sealed away underground for 8 years with no seeming chance at escaping such a hell for eternity unless LL resorted to forbidden arts to escape because nobody was capable of helping LL get out unless he made his own solutions (unlike ZYZ who has WX and others trying to help ZYZ). The way ZYZ speaks to LL is much less judgmental and minimises being derogatory, and more explanatory, than their previous meetings.
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.
Unfortunately, ZYC was touched by LL. LL will hurt ZYC at least one or two more times. His female demon underling Ao Yin can pretend to be anybody, and frame anyone, so good luck to ZYC.
I also agree with Li Lun's ideals for friendship, but the problem is he's too idealistic. I think in a way, him…
I remember Yan An has at least one diehard fan on Youtube. This is not a FMV, but it has a good compilation BTS of him in his next drama directed by GJM:
wtf ep 23Li Lun back and even broke Yi Chen’s sword Crazy
I wrote a summary yesterday about what I guess will happen as an ending for specific characters before episode 22 aired, also using BTS of some footage early this year that wasn't aired yet until episode 23. If you want to see the spoilers, then see the summary. If not, don't click.
I also agree with Li Lun's ideals for friendship, but the problem is he's too idealistic. I think in a way, him…
Fan vids on bilibili aren't always on other platforms and vice versa, including weibo. I'll give a different video with a different song where most of the scenes are still present, Click and scroll down to the 13th post in this search list, and see the video which is 1 minute 27 seconds by 鱼汤不开会:
"Along the way, she encounters young general Chu Ding Jiang, elegant young master Hua Rong Jian, and unique special…
I'm doubting whether Li Hong Yi and Yan An will have chemistry, given how the novel styles their respective characters of Chu Ding Jiang and Hua Rong Jian. At least Hua Rong Jian will definitely have a healthier ending in the drama than Li Lun in FoF. The BTS of Hua Rong Jian might put a smile on your face:
I also agree with Li Lun's ideals for friendship, but the problem is he's too idealistic. I think in a way, him…
I'll give you a BTS of 闫桉 in his next drama (also directed by GJM). Your Li Lun is much healthier here, and smiles a lot more. He is the SML as 华容简 in the drama 烽影燃梅香, and somebody made a charming music video compiling a few of his scenes:
Wow that’s a lot to take in . It will be interesting to see how much of that will come to be
I want a HE. Heck, I would be happy if LL got a happy ending, even if it means he dies peacefully after ZYZ verbally forgives him and acknowledges him as his friend, or if LL dies in the arms of the female demon he saved. Or at least just give ZYC a HE. But GJM knows too well about shredding heartstrings. In MJTY when the assassins had invaded the Gong family's stronghold, they were eventually repelled, but at a cost of certain characters dying. And the main couple? The open ending was... well... Not well for the female lead and hence the male lead, implications-wise, before that open ending.
We always thought that ZYZ leaving LL for a woman, but it's actually LL who did that. LOL
Given how little connective screentime she has, it looks more like she had a tiny role, and then it was expanded to include some form of intimacy in the last quarter of filming, or the amount of chemistry and tension between ZYZ and LL means their scenes won't pass the censors and be cut. One example is when ZYZ finds the paper windmill pretty (flashback in ep 16), and his first reaction after thinking of that and assuming it is also a hair ornament is to turn and want to put it in Li Lun's hair- I nearly choked on the water I was drinking. He was stopped only because the stallkeeper exclaimed that the paper windmill was not a hair ornament. Gifting or inserting 髮簪 is typically only for lovers. One could argue that demons would not know what is a paper windmill, to scrape past the censors. However, ZYZ has been going to the human realm constantly. How would he not know the symbolism of buying and gifting and inserting hair ornaments in chinese culture, such as hairpins?
Ima take ss of ur name to see how much of this matches in the end. Some of it matches with my speculations too…
Here's some relevant BTS vids from January and February this year, wrt to my guesswork (even if you don't understand mandarin, the videos are self-explanatory) and please note that if you don't want spoilers, don't click on the links I shared:
Wrt to my thread a few hours ago guessing at the ending for specific characters, I'll share 2 BTS videos from January and February this year. This pertains to the Eyes of Truth which Li Lun was gifted by ZYZ.
Ima take ss of ur name to see how much of this matches in the end. Some of it matches with my speculations too…
If it's any consolation, GJM cannot kill the entire team. That would piss everyone off. However, GJM can make it miserable enough for all the male characters. The title of this series in Mandarin gives a clue, depending on which interpretation is accurate. "大梦归离" can be interpreted as the end of a dream, to return to reality. The team being together as DHB is akin to a temporary dream, and the reality is what happens to each member of the team by the end of this series. WX's love with ZYZ is temporary because ZYZ must die, ZYZ being treated as a human with friends by his friends of DHB is temporary, ZYC having a demon brother and these friends in DHB is temporary- All things must come to an end, once the team is no longer a team.
For another series titled "一念关山" starring Liu ShiShi and Liu Yuning, it was translated as "A Journey To Love". That translation is totally off. If you look at the poem that this title is based on ( https://www.cidianwang.com/mingju/8/89335720682.htm ), it's most likely a sad ending for the main team and couple (and yes, that is what happened).
You're not alone lol I'm also late the party 🤣 and this drama is consuming my brain in an unhealthy way so…
There are actually two parts in the psychological dissecting of Li Lun. Li Lun is somewhat of a textbook case, so he hasn't actually done anything to surprise me (spoilers present in link below up to episode 19, for those who have not watched until that episode):
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When ZYZ gave ZYC immunity to the one-word spell, ZYZ didn't know what his out-of-control self might say, but to send him into "dream", would that mean ZYC could never wake up? Zhu Yin's blindness was permanent. When controlled by his malicious energy, ZYZ will sense that the Bingyi sword can kill him. If I wanted the fastest way to stop being attacked, sending someone to dream permanently would be the quickest. That pat on the head wasn't meant to be benevolent. I read it as a permanent farewell from OTC ZYZ while OTC ZYZ moves to kill everyone else.
I have not yet seen ep 25, but I am sure that ep plus ep 23 will spawn a significant number of PWP BDSM fics between LL and ZYC. ZYC is totally going to be topped and tortured XD
There's already a 7000+ word fanfic on AOO about LL topping ZYC. I'm going to er, give you the description as listed for the viewer, and you can decide if this is going to be hilarious or not:
[ Zhuo Yichen receives a message to meet Li Lun. But whatever Zhuo Yichen expected from this, it wasn’t Li Lun waiting for him in his bedroom. ]
Appearances might be deceiving. I'll watch ep 25, before I decide.
When ZYZ received the Baize token as the strongest demon present because WX's teacher was dying and broke it into two to save ZYZ and her student, LL had been sealed away so LL wasn't a candidate. Where ZYZ couldn't escape the cage in ep 18, LL could escape in ep 24. Is LL actually weaker than ZYZ? All this time, LL has never actually focused his full power as a demon in an attack against ZYZ. When LL was attacking WX's teacher, it was ZYZ who interfered and blocked LL's attack (which probably wasn't even at full power, since LL knew he was fighting a human).
Either LL's powers as a Pagoda Tree demon can defy the restrictions of the cage because transformation is natural to LL plus LL was honing various other skills even when sealed, or the cage cannot restrict LL completely because LL has enough power to defy the power restrictions of the cage (plus being in a human body with Divine power might enable LL to not be fully restricted in his demon powers, because we don't know if he can temporarily tap into Divine power in such a situation). ZYZ has the Ever-Burning Wood which means ZYZ injuring someone would be deadly. If ZYZ has a lot of malicious energy, he becomes quite powerful. But against other powerful demons when he doesn't OTT in malicious energy, how powerful is ZYZ? ZYZ is very powerful, but we don't know if he is the most powerful demon now.
When Cheng Huang broke the rules as the most powerful demon with half the Baize token in him, the Baize goddess he loved took that half back from him and then tried to seal him. 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. She stopped, because the plague weakened her. Any demon can be sealed, regardless of power. We don't know how powerful LL actually is relative to ZYZ, at this stage.
Anyways, the plot needs to move along now. 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.
Reddit has some good discussions, especially the demon catalogue thread which I think you'll enjoy (it has been well-explained and simplified for non-native speakers): https://www.reddit.com/r/CDrama/comments/1gel5rh/catalogue_of_mythical_beings_in_fangs_of_fortune/
I used my understanding of some BTS vids from early this year, to write a speculation thread of what I think happens for the rest of this series and at the end to certain characters. @acidmana is already dying after seeing ep 23 and probably going to wish I'm wrong for the rest of my guesses after they read my thread because so far, I have been right: https://kisskh.at/755301-the-story-of-mystics?r=notif&_nid=173593512#comment-19383038
I left out some speculations, because I'm sure they will unfold in the rest of the series and it is just a matter of which episode. I would like GJM to prove me wrong. But GJM enjoys putting his favourite characters through the wringer, so almost all the males are going to suffer in this series while the females will get off more lightly (meaning they don't die, or they die off-screen).
It's not always a case of if ZYZ is right, LL must be wrong. It could simply be that each of them overlooked something about a situation and did not realise both could be right or both could be wrong. And in some situations, there is no right or wrong. The fact is that the main characters are being subjected to constantly stressful life-or-death situations, which will lead to mistakes and people having to learn fast or die. ZYZ already said in ep 4 to WX that if LL wanted her dead, she would be dead, and also said to WX that ZYC cannot protect WX from LL. ZYZ doesn't underestimate LL. ZYZ was not expecting to be helpless in a situation where LL comes back and ZYZ cannot protect the team from LL.
ZYC being the next best fighter in the team would be the one to have to go and try to save PSJ and YL, so his ass was going to get kicked by LL. If he didn't go, PSJ would die. It was a good thing YL and PSJ were present to delay LL, otherwise WX would be dead. LL's first target to kill has always been WX but since ZYC showed up, then he will kill ZYC in WX's place.
Now, as to a few examples of homoerotic lines or cues:
Ep 4 at 7:15 - LL stops in front of ZYZ, who asks LL what LL is up to. LL replies, "I only want to catch up with an old friend. *pause* What's the matter?"
The change in tone for the second sentence (怎麼了) after the first sentence, becoming softly tender and combined with that unblinking focused stare which is hungry yet soft, already has my eyebrow twitching. The finer cues of homoeroticism can escape me, but this made me pause. The rest of that conversation is littered with more eyebrow-twitching. At 12:12, LL labels ChongWu Camp as stupid, and it is not wrong for the English translation to convey his next words as "They don't deserve to fight you." However, what is being spoken actually implies a pairing as per a certain chinese belief and not as simple as ChongWu Camp not being good enough to fight ZYZ. That is why ZYZ replies to LL with a question in kind, about whether there is a need to find a suitable match (般配 ) even for a fight. LL then tells ZYZ that all things in heaven and earth are predestined to be suitably matched (which you can shorten into whatever the subtitles are and cut out all implications), and then LL raises the drum which ZYZ gave him and points it at WX. His finish is understandably ferocious about how she is pathetically unfit to stand next to ZYZ and not a suitable match.
Ignoring the contemptuous dismissive words, the way LL talks about WX is completely the opposite of the tone that LL used when addressing solely ZYZ. The coupling issue raised by LL had me wondering where this conversation was going. At one point, ZYZ tells WX that he cannot leave her because they made a blood oath and he must protect her. LL interjects at this point. His facial expression when he looks at ZYZ and addresses ZYZ, versus addressing WX, is like night and day. At 12:53, LL queries and indirectly criticises ZYZ as to how long ZYZ can protect WX, while getting a bit personal about the time issue... 此时此刻, 还是生生世世呢 ? This is personal because LL seems to be indirectly fishing for how long ZYZ is supposed to protect WX, which makes one question why LL would want to know that.
This is a very uncomfortable non-platonic conversation, but it might fly over WX's head because as I understand, WX has never been in love, and I doubt WX has any experience or knowledge about all this as a student of the Baize goddess. At 13:45, WX collapses from the strain of bearing the Eyes of Truth (I would prefer to call it the Illusion-Dispelling Eyes, instead of whatever is being used for subtitles right now). ZYZ puts his hand in front of her eyes to remove it. At 13:58, the camera pans to LL's non-verbal reaction. LL has stopped breathing just for a short moment, and then he inhales and blinks, while the hurt in his eyes and vulnerability on his face is not the reaction of a platonic friend. ZYZ then says a human cannot bear the Illusion-Dispelling eyes for an extended period of time.
14:09 is LL's reply, about whether ZYZ is afraid of WX seeing ZYZ's true form. Bear in mind that the current human forms of ZYZ and LL are not their original forms. These are their forms when they learned to first take on human shape. Their original demon forms are not shown. LL was given the Illusion-Dispelling Eyes from ZYZ. LL would know what ZYZ's first true form is, because he is using those eyes as a demon. But LL may not know whether the Eyes temporarily lent to a human would enable the human to see a demon's original first form, so he is wrong on that subject.
One could say that LL's feelings for ZYZ are deeper and truer, regardless of what form ZYZ takes, because LL is willing to embrace all the forms of ZYZ. WX is another matter, because she has never seen ZYZ's original form. That said, LL's feelings for ZYZ are not noble after what LL was willing to do to ZYZ to keep ZYZ by his side. WX would not consider ever doing such a thing to ZYZ, which LL wanted to do with that needle made from half his spiritual soul power. But before that, never once did LL want to kill ZYZ, and LL never pointed his weapon directly at ZYZ. Episode 19 was the gamechanger. It was not a good sign to hear LL constantly addressing ZYZ as ZYZ, and not his name of ZY.
Episode 16 is another example, where I nearly choked on my water. In the flashback, ZYZ and LL are in the human realm, and ZYZ sees a paper windmill among several paper windmills at a stall. Upon remarking how pretty one of them is and picking it up, his first reaction is to want to insert it into LL's hair. LL recoiled as ZYZ raised the windmill to do so, while ZYZ is stopped only by the stallholder saying it is not a 髮簪. The connotation of a hairpin in chinese culture is usually a gift between lovers, or husband and wife. One could argue to the censors that as demons, demons wouldn't know the symbolism. However, this is clearly not the first trip to the human realm of ZYZ dragging LL along. Since ZYZ knows more about the human realm than LL and knows what a hairpin is even if he didn't know what a paper windmill is, how does ZYZ not understand or overlook the connotations of a hairpin in chinese human culture? This is the same ZYZ who went through all the walnuts bought for Grandpa Ying Zhao, to make sure that the walnuts would not crack his teeth. Very considerate, and very fastidious with details for those he values.
But we can still argue that away, because ZYZ was willing to buy and give a child's drum to a child and LL. A drum gifted from the original beast of ill-omen that is ZY would be seen as a war drum, because of the connotations in mythology of ZY but since it was gifted to LL, from one demon to another, LL made it something different and sentimental, transforming it into something else. Not everything non-human is inferior. You could see how upset LL was, when WX destroyed it in ep 19. I actually could not stand WX's attitude towards LL and demons because despite her intelligence and reading of books, she was too smug and unempathetic to the demons in front of her (except ep 1). But after ep 16, she has become more understanding. If I was a powerful demon at least thousands of years old, I would be pissed at pre-ep-16 mortal WX being in charge of deciding the laws of my existence and freedom, hence I would definitely ruin her Baize token or kill her... which is what Zhu Yin and LL tried to do.
Meanwhile, in Ep 18, when ZYC asks ZYZ how many unresolved grudges remain between ZYZ and LL, that sounded a bit too jealous to be brotherly or non-platonic. I interpret it at that point as ZYC being in denial because up until then, I could interpret everything between them as platonic, but the delivery of that line and facial expression, given the context.... Ep 12 was hilarious, when ZYZ and ZYC were fighting in front of Qing Geng, ZYZ summons a red whirlwind mist to surround them, then proceeds to free ZYC and have the mutual-cheek-slapping scene with deliberate connotations courtesy of GJM just wanting to mess with the viewers' minds.
As to co-operation and whatnot, I am sure LL will co-operate with ZYZ and ZYC. As to why, it's in my above-spoiler summary of what I am guessing will happen at the end, including a bit about the backstory with Yinglong and Bing Yi.
[ 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. ] - Timestamp? That would help me better understand which segment, so I can answer.
There are clues which have the plot flowing understandably to where it is, but it depends on whether you notice small details in the first 19 episodes.
There was a tattoo on Bai Jiu's hand in (I think it is) ep 7 for several seconds, indicating he is from ChongWu Camp. Also, in the flashback of the fight between WX's teacher and LL in ep 16, LL is stronger than ZYZ despite LL being wounded with the Ever-Burning Wood beforehand. In that clash, it is ZYZ that spat out blood due to internal injury, while LL was unscathed even while WX's teacher was sealing him. LL may be using forbidden arts which shortens his lifespan, but he and ZYZ are demons who are more than 30,000 years old, and both are powerful.
Ep 4 was when ZYZ explained to ZYC and WX about LL's parasitic skills, and only the two of these team members would have known not to allow LL to touch you or allow any of his leaves to touch you, unless ZYZ explained this to any other team members.
In ep 18, LL told ZYZ about BJ being a Pagoda Tree Spirit. LL may be a pretty face because of the actor but considering everything LL had been planning and doing while sealed, he must have also been thinking of a way to deal with the Ever-Burning Wood problem which burns him from the inside-out and will kill him if unresolved, because LL was determined to break out. LL had 8 years to realise that while sealed, he did not feel physical pain from being burnt so the seal stops the effects of that wound. But to him, being buried alive for eternity is a fate worse than death. Ep 18 and 19 looked as if LL had planned a specific setting for meeting the team because they would need the water LL had collected after his plan to destroy the Baize token in Ep 16 worked, and therefore LL could meet BJ, insert his inner core into BJ, and then "die". That cage for trapping ZYZ so he could not use his power was obviously planned as well.
In the first part of ep 23 when ZYC was fighting ZYZ, the sword already had cracks appearing because of stabbing ZYZ whose malicious energy was clearly affecting the sword in reaction to anything threatening its existence, just before ZYZ then hits ZYC and injures him (due to WX yelling at ZYC not to insert the needle, and ZYC paused).
If we remember the flashback in Ep 16 of LL versus ZYZ, ZYC going to fight LL with a sword bearing cracks means the sword will likely break, because LL is much more intentionally ruthless than ZYZ and at least as powerful as ZYZ even if LL does not have full control over BJ's body. LL being willing to kill ZYC might be underestimated by many viewers because the actor for LL is very handsome, but take away the looks and remember what LL has been doing and saying: Very direct demon in terms of intentions. LL's appearance starting in Ep 3 was him going to find ZYZ to talk, and LL made it clear that he wanted to talk to his old friend. In ep 19 before he "dies", LL already told ZYZ that he would give ZYZ the feeling of nothing when ZYZ was trapped in the cage, which LL believes ZYZ once gave LL. LL also said he would kill the team one by one.
Frankly, what happened to ZYC in ep 23 with LL is ZYZ's fault, because ZYZ needed to sit down and talk to LL. 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. ZYZ verbally stabs LL in the heart every time they meet because ZYZ doesn't realise what he has done to LL from LL's POV, and there will be consequences for that.
WX asked ZYZ in ep 4 about LL looking for ZYZ and ZYZ avoiding LL, and ZYZ dodged the second question with a half-lie. ZYZ has his own big problems after LL got sealed away, but from LL's POV, ZYZ's betrayal after ep 4 is completely unforgivable. From a friendship POV, ZYZ looks heartless. Both ZYZ and LL are idealistic, and unfortunately ZYZ did not realise what he was doing to LL who by the way, is not good for killing humans recklessly and being a social Darwinist. But clearly, ZYZ and LL needed to talk.
((We'll just ignore the fact that there are lines in the original script floating around Weibo which certain actors probably read but could not act out and film, otherwise would not pass the censors. LL's bond with ZYZ was supposedly more than platonic, so LL's actor is portraying that non-verbally or with vitriol at ZYZ's "friends" without being too overt, which is why LL and ZYZ have more chemistry than LL and WX. If we look at the mythological demonology of LL's and ZYZ's origins, it makes sense that they could be more than platonic. They are demons. They take many years to develop and understand emotions, and they are not bound by human ideas of love and society. The amount of time they have spent bonding with each other means such ties can have more meaning than the ties between humans)).
I was having a discussion with another poster 3 days ago, about LL and BJ and LL's psychological state of mind, including why I'd say LL is 50% psychotic. These won't be spoilers now, as of ep 23.
https://kisskh.at/755301-the-story-of-mystics#comment-19367614
https://kisskh.at/755301-the-story-of-mystics#comment-19374790
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. The chemistry between ZYC and ZYZ plus LL and ZYZ was initially much stronger than between WX and ZYZ for at least 16 episodes, because WX needed to realise over 16 episodes certain things about ZYZ to become more romantic. I'm not into romance dramas. But in this case, the bromance/brotherhood/sismance and WX with ZYZ's relationship is a tricky balancing act. And GJM needed to balance WX with ZYZ better, otherwise it does feel a bit abrupt.
As to how the sundial works, it depends on whether people were paying attention to the conversation between WX and the Mountain God in ep 15. 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 in ep 20? She is determined to find a solution. And she uses her wits and determination, like never before.
Being in the sundial and spending the equivalent of 300 years there, singing the same song every day year after year, to cultivate the Divine Wood? WX learned what it was like, to be alone and unable to do anything else but be with the tree. That probably made her realise the pain and suffering of being isolated and alone and helpless, such as ZYZ being trapped in his body and LL being sealed underground. WX was a smart-arse, when she mocked LL and got rightfully whacked into the water. When LL was "dying" and revealed what ZYZ gave to him, WX seems to have realised how wrong she was, where previously she was very judgmental about demons being inferior to humans. This is why when ZYZ and WX encounter BJ/LL at the end of ep 23, the way WX speaks to LL is no longer condescending and judgmental. LL has also rammed home his lessons of how brutal and ruthless he can be.
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. Because of Ying Zhao, Ying Lei is still alive, but LL made it very clear that LL means business. LL hit Ying Lei so hard that Ying Lei suffered internal injury. LL never directly aimed the gift from ZYZ at ZYZ, but ep 19 was too much for LL.
LL has been mocked and insulted enough. The team made a gigantic mistake in belittling LL and overlooking his POV. 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 ZY. ZYC claiming and explaining why humans never give umbrellas was ill-timed and irrelevant, especially after ZYZ attacks LL with the umbrella and tries to stab LL. When WX grabs the drum toy and destroys it, it was a smart move from her. But it also removed the emotional seal on LL. LL never needed the drum, to begin with. LL's final encounter there with the team made LL believe that from now on, LL no longer needs to hold back once he returns, and to give these humans what they want especially ZYZ, since ZYZ insists on humans being right and demons being lesser beings who are wrong. Since you like humans so much, until you can dismiss your origins, then you should be given what you deserve. That is why LL's final words to ZYZ is to say ZYZ instead of ZY. He is drawing a line.
朱厌 is an ominous beast who rules the world in chinese demon mythology, so that needle crafted using half of LL's spiritual soul power to ram into ZYZ's forehead is apt, for truly transforming ZYZ into the beast that fits the name.
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. ZY was not the one sealed underground for eternity, and forced to explore all sorts of ways to break out and also find a solution to a life-threatening injury. Did ZYZ give any help to LL the way ZYZ protects the team, after what happened to LL? It is ZYZ now wanting to talk to LL, who sees no point in talking to a heartless liar. ZYZ calling LL's name is filled with multiple emotions, feeling pained at what happened to ZYC, while apologetic to LL, and desperately wanting LL to stop and listen.
Right now, BJ as LL at the end of ep 23 meant when ZYZ met BJ/LL, there is only the chilling reality that LL intends to kill ZYZ and ZYC, and the look from BJ doesn't have any nostalgia or warmth in it, unlike all previous encounters between LL and ZYZ. ZYZ seems to have learned from being locked inside his body for many hours and days about what it must have been like for LL to be sealed away underground for 8 years with no seeming chance at escaping such a hell for eternity unless LL resorted to forbidden arts to escape because nobody was capable of helping LL get out unless he made his own solutions (unlike ZYZ who has WX and others trying to help ZYZ). The way ZYZ speaks to LL is much less judgmental and minimises being derogatory, and more explanatory, than their previous meetings.
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.
Unfortunately, ZYC was touched by LL. LL will hurt ZYC at least one or two more times. His female demon underling Ao Yin can pretend to be anybody, and frame anyone, so good luck to ZYC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwqaseg31yI
https://kisskh.at/755301-the-story-of-mystics#comment-19382996
https://m.weibo.cn/search?containerid=231522type%3D1%26t%3D10%26q%3D%23%E9%97%AB%E6%A1%89%E5%8D%8E%E5%AE%B9%E7%AE%80%23&extparam=%23%E9%97%AB%E6%A1%89%E5%8D%8E%E5%AE%B9%E7%AE%80%23&luicode=10000011&lfid=231522type%3D1%26t%3D10%26q%3D%23%E6%9C%B1%E6%A1%A2%23&featurecode=newtitle%0A%E5%96%9C%E6%AC%A2%E6%B8%A9%E6%9A%96%EF%BC%8C%E9%A1%BE%E5%AE%B6%E7%9A%84%E4%BD%A0%EF%BC%81%0A%E5%B0%81%E9%9D%A2%E6%9D%A5%E6%BA%90%E5%BE%AE%E5%8D%9A%EF%BC%9A%E5%A4%A7%E5%B0%BE%E5%B7%B4%E7%8B%BC%E5%A4%96%E5%A9%86PUPU%E3%80%82#&video
https://kisskh.at/755301-the-story-of-mystics#comment-19389084
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1J7GQeiE6B/
(And Ying Lei is adorable. His crying scenes also touched me very deeply.)
https://kisskh.at/755301-the-story-of-mystics#comment-19385484
First link is from January, where you can see ZYZ giving it to Li Lun: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV18K411e7Nk/
Second link is from February 2024, where Li Lun gives it to ZYC: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1AW421K7gH/
Bonus is someone using a small portion of footage and putting together a Li Lun x ZYZ video: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1qnDpYxEcd/
https://kisskh.at/755301-the-story-of-mystics#comment-19384218
For another series titled "一念关山" starring Liu ShiShi and Liu Yuning, it was translated as "A Journey To Love". That translation is totally off. If you look at the poem that this title is based on ( https://www.cidianwang.com/mingju/8/89335720682.htm ), it's most likely a sad ending for the main team and couple (and yes, that is what happened).
https://kisskh.at/755301-the-story-of-mystics#comment-19374790