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theuntamed_mdzsThis week we have the first part of Novel Chapter 4 The Elegant Flirt (official translation pages 119-168, web serialization chapters 11-(halfway through 16.6), ending as the group set out for Caiyi.
This divides fairly neatly into two halves: the first half where Wei Wuxian does whatever seems plausible to a) avoid entering the Cloud Recesses or b) leave them again very quickly; the second half the flashback to Lan Qiren's lectures and associated shenanigans.
1) Cloud Recesses is pristine and quiet until someone WAILS! Wei Wuxian figures being noisy will help keep him out of the place, where 3,000 rules have now become 4,000. Lan Wangji exudes seme power: "Let him cry. Drag him inside once he's tired.' (119-20)
2) Lan Jinyji seems quite blasé about Mo Xuanyu liking Hanguang Jun. (119) Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian is perplexed that Lan Zhan isn't more disgusted. (121)
3) Lan Sizhui explains that they're just trying to protect Mo Xuanyu from Jiang Cheng, who is not in the habit of letting demonic cultivators go free. Lan Jingyi considers Jiang Cheng paranoid because anyone could have told from the bad flute playing that MXY was not WWX. WWX is still hurt and this time even tries to explain! (121-2)
4) Lan Xichen is introduced: both Jades extremely attractive, but Lan Xichen is 'warm, elegant, sincerely gentle' while Lan Wangji is 'aloof, stern and unsociable'. (122)
5) WWX plans to antagonize LXC to get thrown out, but LWJ anticipates it and silences him. (123-4)
6) LXC is about to go to Jinlintai to visit Jin Guangyao. (PLOT---DUH-DUH-DUH!)
7) Jin Guangyao is introduced as Mo Xuanyu's half brother, and much is made of the fact that he has very high status compared to MXY's lowly one. (124)
8) LXC lifts the silencing spell and tells LWJ to treat his guest well because he clearly makes him happy. Seme LWJ: "Drag him inside." (125)
9) Stuck in LWJ's personal quarters, WWX finds a loose floorboard 'due to his grave digging experience', and discovers LWJ's stash of Emperor's Smile. He feels very smug about finding Lan Zhan's hidden booze cellar and drinks a few bottles. (127)
10) He's still planning his escape and for this needs a jade token. He figures it would be easiest to steal one from someone bathing in the cold pool. (127) The cold pool is for male disciples only and can cure horniness. (128)
11) Going there, he finds creepily neatly folded clothes and a beautiful bather with lots of discipline-whip scars on his back. (129) The bather turns and also has a Wen brand scar on his chest, and Wei Wuxian is so transfixed, he never even thinks to look at his face. He only realizes it's LWJ when Bichen attacks him. (130)
12) Running away, he runs into Juniors and lets them believe that he intentionally peeped on LWJ bathing, filthy cut-sleeve that he is. Instead of being thrown out, though, he's dragged by Lan Zhan back ot the Jingshi. (131)
13) He is now 5cm+ shorter than Lan Zhan, which aggrieves him sorely. (132)
14) He notes again the 'familiar' Wen brand and the scars that look like people were literally trying to kill him. He wonders what poster-child Hanguang Jun might have done to deserve it. (133)
15) He also wonders what Lan Zhan wants with him and why he doesn't get riled up. He decides, though, that Lan Zhan can have no idea who he is, certainly not based on that song he played. (134-5)
16) When Lan Zhan is in bed he jumps on top of him to get at his Jade token. He expects Lan Zhan to flinch, but Lan Zhan first tells him to get off, then asks him if he's sure that's what he wants, and on affirmation renders his legs immovable, so Wei Wuxian has to sleep on top of Lan Zhan all night. (136)
17) Wei Wuxian tries to reconcile this Lan Zhan with the one he knew in the past, and this leads into flashback. Flashback is Cloud Recesses lectures, pretty much as in the drama. It is stressed that Lan Qiren is both attractive and also young, but due to his manner people consider him an old man anyway. However, parents cherish him for his 'pedantry, pertinacy, and proficiency in producing peerless pupils'. (138)
18) Wei Wuxian's status in the Jiang family is explained, and Nie Huaisang expresses a desire to play around at Lotus Pier rather than attend Gusu Lan lectures, but is afraid of his fierce older brother. (139)
19) The Lan Clan does not accept disciples who aren't good-looking. (140)
20) Wei Wuxian recounts his encounter with Lan Zhan the previous night. Note: he did not have to return to Caiyi for an invitation, he just snuck out specifically to get booze. (141-2)
21) Wen Mao has been the first to 'strengthen the Clan and weaken the Sect'. (145-6)
22) Wei Wuxian propounds his resentful energy theory, but it's a bit... muddled: a) let's dig up corpses and make them resentful to use them; b) let's make use of existing resentful energy. One of these things is not like the other. (148) Nie Huaisang actually likes door 2. (149-50)
23) WWX: "What's LQR's problem? He asked questions, I answered. He asked me to leave, I left." ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Everyone else: "..."
24) WWX is a bad influence on all students (154) and has to be made to write his lines separately so he'll do it himself. Lan Wangji supervises. From there it goes very much like in the drama, with drawing, porn, etc. (155-63)
25) Nie Huaisang has an inexhaustible stash of porn. (164)
26) Lan Quiren is out of town for a bit and they run into Lan Xichen, who is getting ready to go fight some water ghouls and tells them way more about it than Lan Zhan likes. Lan Zhan twice refuses their help, when Lan Xichen accepts it. He tells Lan Zhan that it's because 'I saw you looked like you might want Sect Leader Jiang's eldest disciple to come with us'. BETRAYAL! (166-8)
How are we feeling about it all?
Any character observations?
Anything that surprised you even on re-read, or coming from the adaptations?
Spot any difference to other MDZS media? What do you make of it?
Discussion notes
Spoilers for all adaptations are permitted.
The questions above are meant as potentially helpful starters, not mandatory. :)
Commentary and comparison with other translations is welcome, as is commentary on the original Chinese. (The readalong mods don't speak or read Chinese so this won't come from us, but any dedicated thread or un-dedicated observations will be received with delight.)
Jumping into threads and replying to other people's comments is not just encouraged, but part of the point.
Disagreement is fine. Keeping it friendly is encouraged, keeping it civil is required.
We encourage tracking the post or coming back to it over the week - the fun part of doing this on Dreamwidth is that discussion can happen over time and doesn't have to be instantly!
If you have any questions or concerns you want to ask the discussion mods, feel free to email us at haikuesque@gmail.com.
The reading schedule
Saturday 12 February: Chapter 4 The Elegant Flirt part 2 (official transllation pages 168-204, web serialization chapters 16.6-18)
Saturday 19 February: Chapter 5 The Sunny Pair (web serialization chapters 19-22)
Saturday 25 February: Chapter 6 The Malevolent (web serialization chapters 23-27)
Saturday 4 March: Chapter 7 The Morning Dew (web serialization chapters 28-32)
This divides fairly neatly into two halves: the first half where Wei Wuxian does whatever seems plausible to a) avoid entering the Cloud Recesses or b) leave them again very quickly; the second half the flashback to Lan Qiren's lectures and associated shenanigans.
1) Cloud Recesses is pristine and quiet until someone WAILS! Wei Wuxian figures being noisy will help keep him out of the place, where 3,000 rules have now become 4,000. Lan Wangji exudes seme power: "Let him cry. Drag him inside once he's tired.' (119-20)
2) Lan Jinyji seems quite blasé about Mo Xuanyu liking Hanguang Jun. (119) Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian is perplexed that Lan Zhan isn't more disgusted. (121)
3) Lan Sizhui explains that they're just trying to protect Mo Xuanyu from Jiang Cheng, who is not in the habit of letting demonic cultivators go free. Lan Jingyi considers Jiang Cheng paranoid because anyone could have told from the bad flute playing that MXY was not WWX. WWX is still hurt and this time even tries to explain! (121-2)
4) Lan Xichen is introduced: both Jades extremely attractive, but Lan Xichen is 'warm, elegant, sincerely gentle' while Lan Wangji is 'aloof, stern and unsociable'. (122)
5) WWX plans to antagonize LXC to get thrown out, but LWJ anticipates it and silences him. (123-4)
6) LXC is about to go to Jinlintai to visit Jin Guangyao. (PLOT---DUH-DUH-DUH!)
7) Jin Guangyao is introduced as Mo Xuanyu's half brother, and much is made of the fact that he has very high status compared to MXY's lowly one. (124)
8) LXC lifts the silencing spell and tells LWJ to treat his guest well because he clearly makes him happy. Seme LWJ: "Drag him inside." (125)
9) Stuck in LWJ's personal quarters, WWX finds a loose floorboard 'due to his grave digging experience', and discovers LWJ's stash of Emperor's Smile. He feels very smug about finding Lan Zhan's hidden booze cellar and drinks a few bottles. (127)
10) He's still planning his escape and for this needs a jade token. He figures it would be easiest to steal one from someone bathing in the cold pool. (127) The cold pool is for male disciples only and can cure horniness. (128)
11) Going there, he finds creepily neatly folded clothes and a beautiful bather with lots of discipline-whip scars on his back. (129) The bather turns and also has a Wen brand scar on his chest, and Wei Wuxian is so transfixed, he never even thinks to look at his face. He only realizes it's LWJ when Bichen attacks him. (130)
12) Running away, he runs into Juniors and lets them believe that he intentionally peeped on LWJ bathing, filthy cut-sleeve that he is. Instead of being thrown out, though, he's dragged by Lan Zhan back ot the Jingshi. (131)
13) He is now 5cm+ shorter than Lan Zhan, which aggrieves him sorely. (132)
14) He notes again the 'familiar' Wen brand and the scars that look like people were literally trying to kill him. He wonders what poster-child Hanguang Jun might have done to deserve it. (133)
15) He also wonders what Lan Zhan wants with him and why he doesn't get riled up. He decides, though, that Lan Zhan can have no idea who he is, certainly not based on that song he played. (134-5)
16) When Lan Zhan is in bed he jumps on top of him to get at his Jade token. He expects Lan Zhan to flinch, but Lan Zhan first tells him to get off, then asks him if he's sure that's what he wants, and on affirmation renders his legs immovable, so Wei Wuxian has to sleep on top of Lan Zhan all night. (136)
17) Wei Wuxian tries to reconcile this Lan Zhan with the one he knew in the past, and this leads into flashback. Flashback is Cloud Recesses lectures, pretty much as in the drama. It is stressed that Lan Qiren is both attractive and also young, but due to his manner people consider him an old man anyway. However, parents cherish him for his 'pedantry, pertinacy, and proficiency in producing peerless pupils'. (138)
18) Wei Wuxian's status in the Jiang family is explained, and Nie Huaisang expresses a desire to play around at Lotus Pier rather than attend Gusu Lan lectures, but is afraid of his fierce older brother. (139)
19) The Lan Clan does not accept disciples who aren't good-looking. (140)
20) Wei Wuxian recounts his encounter with Lan Zhan the previous night. Note: he did not have to return to Caiyi for an invitation, he just snuck out specifically to get booze. (141-2)
21) Wen Mao has been the first to 'strengthen the Clan and weaken the Sect'. (145-6)
22) Wei Wuxian propounds his resentful energy theory, but it's a bit... muddled: a) let's dig up corpses and make them resentful to use them; b) let's make use of existing resentful energy. One of these things is not like the other. (148) Nie Huaisang actually likes door 2. (149-50)
23) WWX: "What's LQR's problem? He asked questions, I answered. He asked me to leave, I left." ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Everyone else: "..."
24) WWX is a bad influence on all students (154) and has to be made to write his lines separately so he'll do it himself. Lan Wangji supervises. From there it goes very much like in the drama, with drawing, porn, etc. (155-63)
25) Nie Huaisang has an inexhaustible stash of porn. (164)
26) Lan Quiren is out of town for a bit and they run into Lan Xichen, who is getting ready to go fight some water ghouls and tells them way more about it than Lan Zhan likes. Lan Zhan twice refuses their help, when Lan Xichen accepts it. He tells Lan Zhan that it's because 'I saw you looked like you might want Sect Leader Jiang's eldest disciple to come with us'. BETRAYAL! (166-8)
How are we feeling about it all?
Any character observations?
Anything that surprised you even on re-read, or coming from the adaptations?
Spot any difference to other MDZS media? What do you make of it?
Discussion notes
Spoilers for all adaptations are permitted.
The questions above are meant as potentially helpful starters, not mandatory. :)
Commentary and comparison with other translations is welcome, as is commentary on the original Chinese. (The readalong mods don't speak or read Chinese so this won't come from us, but any dedicated thread or un-dedicated observations will be received with delight.)
Jumping into threads and replying to other people's comments is not just encouraged, but part of the point.
Disagreement is fine. Keeping it friendly is encouraged, keeping it civil is required.
We encourage tracking the post or coming back to it over the week - the fun part of doing this on Dreamwidth is that discussion can happen over time and doesn't have to be instantly!
If you have any questions or concerns you want to ask the discussion mods, feel free to email us at haikuesque@gmail.com.
The reading schedule
Saturday 12 February: Chapter 4 The Elegant Flirt part 2 (official transllation pages 168-204, web serialization chapters 16.6-18)
Saturday 19 February: Chapter 5 The Sunny Pair (web serialization chapters 19-22)
Saturday 25 February: Chapter 6 The Malevolent (web serialization chapters 23-27)
Saturday 4 March: Chapter 7 The Morning Dew (web serialization chapters 28-32)
