liarsh

Yes. He was SW at that time or no? SW cannot leave the hills/valley and Yu lineage deal with internal affairs. So either he was out of valley as SW which he cannot do, or before he became SW.

Or she was inside valley, which is very unlikely or at the least very difficult. She would have had to have gotten in, then gotten out, before coming in officially. Wouldn't he be suspicipus how she qpuld be there in valley beforehand or he just igmores it all?

People are still confused about GSJ and GYX. Guys, they are cousins. The main characters we see from all the lineages, are all cousins. Only exception was the Yu siblings till now.

I actually have a theory that came to be yesterday that is so obvious I wondered why it didn't come to me earlier. But I'm gonna wait. if I catch the same thing in the comments, I will reply. Or wait till it's confirmed or debunked.

They are on the verge of kind of dating. She keeps being happy and still implying they should date and be a couple, and they sort of are in that hanging out phase.

Anyone in his position, or even a nominal friend would be concerned and first remind her that the guy is in a relationship. He never told her what to do, he asked her what's going on, she assured him nothing and it's something she will resolve. He didn't try tailing them or get in their business. knowing they would be meeting during the full moon.

And he because he's the neighbor who she's kind of leaning into dating for real--and they both know it--he tells SY to chill and not bother HJ because how it seems on the outside does not look good.

The rumor I believe may have also been purposefully started as a cover.

Kudos to your comment, @saydoo

I don't really mind GSJ ceding to him or what not. I just hope it's acknowledged at least once in front Elders, Xue, Jin Fan, GXY that they were playing games and favorites while pretending and claiming not to. I'm asking for a lot, I know and not expecting to get it. XD

The Back Hill is not the Gong Family, as far as I know. They are of different lineages. Only time it's implied that the others are Gong is when GSJ stood in front of the elders, and GXY stated GSJ always puts Gong lineage first. But otherwise, even in ep 10 when GXY is talking with Xue, the conversation implies that they are considered different families/lineage.

It could be his mother is from Back Hill and has some superior bloodline which would make him both Gong (if he's indeed Yu son) and of another 'special' lineage.

You mean why he was passed over? Yes, that interests me too. The SW was about to tell him (if not all, a little bit) before HY interrupted.

Also he didn't say if he's not Gong Clan leader, he will abandon them all. He laid out conditions for both himself and GZY--and if they won't bend rules for this challenge as they do for GZY, then he will be out.

He never said he will leave if he's not the leader.

If you are talking about his ultimatum in episode 8, he is giving back and replying to elders and GZY according to their own replies. GZY is also continuing to accuse the brothers of being responsible for the assassinations, keeping on insisting there are no other WuFeng spies

So he shouldn't use his leverage to tell them either stop your BS with all the rule-bending for one, or you lose me?

He can't use ultimatums, point out the double standards, while GZY is throwing around assasination accusations again and again...

Young Lord is what the SW-heir is called. So it's candidacy for SW-heir.

He said there's no precedent of an SW participating, because all previous SWs would have only been candidates after passing.

It was revealed in the next episode that one can only be a candidate if they pass the Trial of the Three Realms.

All of this is moot if it were simply happenstance that GZY was the only one there at time to be appointed. (Even though GSJ is contesting it, because he is right that there are other qualifications for candidacy.) I don't believe that to be the case. it was clearly manipulated and planned to be that way. if it were manipulated in that way from within---the whole thing is a mockery.

And to be clear, I do believe most of their accusations are correct and justified. Only the lineage is a question mark. If he is Gong, then the key is either his mother's lineage, or the drugs she was taking is tied to premature birth and his aversion to cold. This makes him perhaps more able to handle and deal with Eternal Fire.

If he is not Gong, then tooaversion to cold may be the key and may give him an advantage dealing with Eternal Fire.

Yeah, we're not going to agree on this... so will just leave it

It would prove all their accusations to be correct. Not Gong Lineage. Favoritism. Making use of them and promoting, promising fair competition while it's been pre-determined from the start. Making fools of the others in the family fighting for the Hills' survival and treating them like pawns who are to be lied to and have a false carrot dangled on a stick.

The reason he passed it (or at least so quickly) was because he got to leave after knowing what the trial was, get the hint from the Red Guard of what the trial was really about and what they need to focus on. And so he was able to prepare poison/medicine for that specific task about which he had knowledge. He had knowledge of what it was, which everyone is aware. But Jin Fan also bend the rules and by telling by not telling what it was really testing.

That being said, I do have a really wild theory that Elder Yue was killed by a Loved One for the 'Greater Good'.

But he is getting outside help with these trials. It's not a fair competition at all. If he had passed those trials on his own it's one thing. But he's getting rules bended for him, special considerations etc etc.

One caveat is that this is after he has already been appointed SW, so it's best to help him win. But even so...

It is unfair to others. I don't think GZY can should be removed as SW but it's unfair to GSJ if it was conspired that he should be away to not inherit. I would be pissed as hell and say Eff it to the family and elders, but he's not going to do that. It would be one thing if it were just happenstance. But I believe it was planned that way, just for what purpose is not clear.

Dude, I don't dislike any of these characters. But it makes me defend GSJ so much that I look like some fan girl.

The narrative is clearly presenting that GSJ is not wrong. GZY is being favored. He is not qualifying on his own without outside help. People are helping him bend the rules and cheat left and right.

Then again and again, so many state GZY is more qualified to be leader because he is 'compassionate' which GSJ is not. Well then, why aren't those in the rules? Why bother having some fake qualifying tests and competition? One reason Gong Family are protected is because of how capable Jue lineage has to be outside. It requires less 'compassion' than someone who hasn't had to go out and do these things.

Either way GSJ is correct. If Elders have pre-ordained GZY because of some special lineage or powers, they are making a mockery of everyone else in Gong family by pretending trials and rules matter. Taking advantage of others who are fighting for Gong family, while telling them they have fair chance to become the SW.

All that being said, even after all of this, Gong Family is most important to GSJ. And even now it's shown that GZY is still more motivated by defeating GSJ--which he himself said was his major motivating factor.