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Guardian #2
Guardian: Zhen Hun (Novel) Vol. 2
THE SLEEPING GOD STIRS
As snow quietly covers Dragon City in the final days of the lunar year, patients writhing in pain flock to the hospital. Baffled doctors call upon Zhao Yunlan and his team for help. As the case unfolds, Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan discover that one of the Four Hallowed Artifacts, the Merit Brush, has appeared in the Mortal Realm. In the wrong hands, its power can be transformative.
While each step toward the artifact only pulls the pair deeper into a vortex of mysteries, Zhao Yunlan keeps stumbling upon a Kunlun. Who is Kunlun, and what is his connection to the Merit Brush? As Zhao Yunlan closes in on the answer, will he also uncover the truth behind Shen Wei's knowing gaze?
As snow quietly covers Dragon City in the final days of the lunar year, patients writhing in pain flock to the hospital. Baffled doctors call upon Zhao Yunlan and his team for help. As the case unfolds, Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan discover that one of the Four Hallowed Artifacts, the Merit Brush, has appeared in the Mortal Realm. In the wrong hands, its power can be transformative.
While each step toward the artifact only pulls the pair deeper into a vortex of mysteries, Zhao Yunlan keeps stumbling upon a Kunlun. Who is Kunlun, and what is his connection to the Merit Brush? As Zhao Yunlan closes in on the answer, will he also uncover the truth behind Shen Wei's knowing gaze?
346 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2024
349 people are currently reading
3207 people want to read
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February 20, 2025
This review will be 30% ranting and 70% quotes from my favorite character 🐈⬛
First of all, this series keeps getting better and more interesting plot wise but the writing style is not my top favorite, the dialogue is amazing, the balance between fun, funny and serious moments is good and the bite-sized information given was perfect and got me hooked, making many theories BUT the clues kept multiplying which made the rushed or sudden reveals lackluster and unsatisfactory! I just used the word ‘lackluster’ for the first time so you know it’s bad! The slow burn romance between our main characters with their flirting, longing and pining for each other got me all giddy, I couldn’t get enough: “I’m overwhelmed and flattered to have gained the favor of a great beauty. Of course, if I’m allowed a taste of these sweet lips, I’ll be even more lost.” BUT BE WARNED, there is no smut in this series, it fades to next morning. There are side characters that are pairing up though, I always enjoy it more when that happens. And the art is amazing like always, my favorite is when Zhao Yunlan saw a hidden painting of someone who looks like him, long haired and wearing old-timey robes.
Second of all, I will never understand how people believe there could be more than one god? the universe would be in chaos! Nor the ones who believe their god is ‘dead’ and will come back someday, for that matter. But I digress. In this story, one of the gods is asleep and mortal who is getting ‘reincarnated’ like other human mortals🙄 and someone is trying to wake him up, that someone is not the main bad guy so that’s an intriguing aspect of the story where you’re not sure if the bad guy is evil or trying to help in his own way?!
And last of all, I leave you with some quotes of my favorite character, the lordly fatty Daqing 🐈⬛ who words cannot give him justice:
First of all, this series keeps getting better and more interesting plot wise but the writing style is not my top favorite, the dialogue is amazing, the balance between fun, funny and serious moments is good and the bite-sized information given was perfect and got me hooked, making many theories BUT the clues kept multiplying which made the rushed or sudden reveals lackluster and unsatisfactory! I just used the word ‘lackluster’ for the first time so you know it’s bad! The slow burn romance between our main characters with their flirting, longing and pining for each other got me all giddy, I couldn’t get enough: “I’m overwhelmed and flattered to have gained the favor of a great beauty. Of course, if I’m allowed a taste of these sweet lips, I’ll be even more lost.” BUT BE WARNED, there is no smut in this series, it fades to next morning. There are side characters that are pairing up though, I always enjoy it more when that happens. And the art is amazing like always, my favorite is when Zhao Yunlan saw a hidden painting of someone who looks like him, long haired and wearing old-timey robes.
Second of all, I will never understand how people believe there could be more than one god? the universe would be in chaos! Nor the ones who believe their god is ‘dead’ and will come back someday, for that matter. But I digress. In this story, one of the gods is asleep and mortal who is getting ‘reincarnated’ like other human mortals🙄 and someone is trying to wake him up, that someone is not the main bad guy so that’s an intriguing aspect of the story where you’re not sure if the bad guy is evil or trying to help in his own way?!
And last of all, I leave you with some quotes of my favorite character, the lordly fatty Daqing 🐈⬛ who words cannot give him justice:
Daqing gave a reserved nod. “Many thanks. Add some whole milk for this venerable one.”
/ᐠ - ˕ -マ Ⳋ
Zhao Yunlan calmly opened the door to his apartment and was just about to cross the threshold when a voice piped up from around his feet. “If you dare step on this lord’s tail, you’re fucking dead.”
/ᐠ - ˕ -マ Ⳋ
Daqing eagerly ran in, giving Shen Wei a curious look. He’d never seen such an easily embarrassed human around Zhao Yunlan before. Shen Wei’s expression just then wouldn’t have been out of place in a photo of a handcuffed sex worker accompanying an article denouncing pornography and illegal activities. His deep blush had crept almost to his neck.”
/ᐠ - ˕ -マ Ⳋ
He logged into the “Lord Meow Number One in the World” account and started idly taking selfies with the webcam and uploading them.
With a click of the camera, Daqing uploaded his large pancake face onto the web, captioned it “uniquely handsome meow,” and posted it. In no time, cat lovers were littering the post with comments. Some praised the solid, pure color of his fur while others gave such friendly suggestions as, “OP, your cat’s too fat. Please adjust its diet and make sure it gets more exercise so it can be healthy.”
Daqing deleted the comment at the speed of light. Indignant, he thought, You’re the fat one, stupid human.
/ᐠ - ˕ -マ Ⳋ
Of course, when three’s a crowd, someone must be the third wheel. Daqing—possibly to prevent the two of them from simply falling to the debris-littered floor together and rolling around—jumped onto the windowsill and announced loudly, “I want my own bedroom too! And a luxurious cat tower!”
Reading update:
YES! MORE WEILAN PLEASE!
April 26, 2024
I love this story and these characters but I will admit that I personally did not find this installment as strong as the first one.
I loved getting more understanding about who Zhao Yunlan was and his history and relationship Shen Wei but I missed some of the pining and spark that I felt in the first book between them. I appreciate that with Danmei you enter into with the knowledge and understanding that censorship laws will impact on romantic and intimate moments sometimes but I’m selfish and I want a few more crumbs. I still can’t shake the Wei Ying/ Lan Zhan AU vibes in their dynamic and characterization but at least with more story they feel more like their own characters as well.
Some of the mythology stuff felt a little info dumpy when reading it and I struggled to keep up a bit at the time but sitting down with the glossary afterwards helped to make sense of it all. I suspect this will be a series of books where I get a lot out of a reread.
There was something very sweet about that little side story of Chu Shuzhi and Guo Changcheng. I enjoyed that a lot as brief as it was.
Minor gripes aside I still love this universe and I’m a sucker for a good reincarnation/ mythology story and sit here patiently awaiting volume 3.
Guardian: Zhen Hun (Novel) Vol. 1 5⭐️
I loved getting more understanding about who Zhao Yunlan was and his history and relationship Shen Wei but I missed some of the pining and spark that I felt in the first book between them. I appreciate that with Danmei you enter into with the knowledge and understanding that censorship laws will impact on romantic and intimate moments sometimes but I’m selfish and I want a few more crumbs. I still can’t shake the Wei Ying/ Lan Zhan AU vibes in their dynamic and characterization but at least with more story they feel more like their own characters as well.
Some of the mythology stuff felt a little info dumpy when reading it and I struggled to keep up a bit at the time but sitting down with the glossary afterwards helped to make sense of it all. I suspect this will be a series of books where I get a lot out of a reread.
There was something very sweet about that little side story of Chu Shuzhi and Guo Changcheng. I enjoyed that a lot as brief as it was.
Minor gripes aside I still love this universe and I’m a sucker for a good reincarnation/ mythology story and sit here patiently awaiting volume 3.
Guardian: Zhen Hun (Novel) Vol. 1 5⭐️
September 8, 2024
↬ Spoiler free for both vol 1 and 2
The second book continues the story with the same hilarious group of characters, the mysterious love interest and the clever, sexy main character that you can’t help but love. I adore following Zhao Yunlan while he searches for the truth, he’s one of those characters full of personality and charm. Once again, I saw the plot twist coming from book one. I feel this series is a bit cliché and predictable if you have read enough danmei/fantasy books.
I still hate the writing style. It’s very hard for me to get inside of the story, I feel like it doesn’t flow like it should. However, this is a translation, so maybe I wouldn’t have this problem if I knew Chinese. I liked this one less than the first one because the action wasn’t as gripping and was focused on the big mystery I had already figured out. Also, the last part of the book was a very long tale about gods and stuff that, even though relevant to the story, bored me to death since I don’t like the writing style. I thought it was never going to end.
Hopefully the last book has more plot twists, more scenes with the characters and less chunks of text about gods with weird names. Still, I liked this one because I love the characters and I’m excited to see Zhao Yunlan and lover boy getting the happily ever after they deserve.
↬ Guardian :
Vol. 1: 4 stars
Vol. 2: 3 stars
The second book continues the story with the same hilarious group of characters, the mysterious love interest and the clever, sexy main character that you can’t help but love. I adore following Zhao Yunlan while he searches for the truth, he’s one of those characters full of personality and charm. Once again, I saw the plot twist coming from book one. I feel this series is a bit cliché and predictable if you have read enough danmei/fantasy books.
I still hate the writing style. It’s very hard for me to get inside of the story, I feel like it doesn’t flow like it should. However, this is a translation, so maybe I wouldn’t have this problem if I knew Chinese. I liked this one less than the first one because the action wasn’t as gripping and was focused on the big mystery I had already figured out. Also, the last part of the book was a very long tale about gods and stuff that, even though relevant to the story, bored me to death since I don’t like the writing style. I thought it was never going to end.
Hopefully the last book has more plot twists, more scenes with the characters and less chunks of text about gods with weird names. Still, I liked this one because I love the characters and I’m excited to see Zhao Yunlan and lover boy getting the happily ever after they deserve.
↬ Guardian :
Vol. 1: 4 stars
Vol. 2: 3 stars
September 7, 2024
I'm honestly stunned by this book, but not in the good way. In comparison to Vol. 1, this one's focus is put more on the relationships between the main characters than on the action which automatically should make the book better, but it didn't. In the contrary.
Because my soul is naturally good and pure, I will start with the good things before going to the bad ones:
~ Guo Changcheng
I liked him in the previous book and I like him in this one, despite the fact that he isn't as present in the story like he was before. The author still makes fun of him in every situation possible, but there were some redeeming scenes of GC being praised and loved like she should be.
~ Chu Shuzhi
Despite not being much in the focus and not being impactful on the story in any way (like every other character than the main ones), I found his character very interesting.
~ Guo Changcheng and Chu Shuzhi
This is something I did not expect to like, because GC was clearly afraid of CS (rightfully so) which isn't a great start for any relationship. But despite all the issues between them there was some kind of spark there. I don't know if they will become a couple or become friends or nothing at all (I will not be there to witness it), but I liked their scenes in this book.
~ Sangzan
I did not expect to like such a person, but he was so adorable in this book that I couldn't help, but swoon wherever he had shown up.
~ Wang Xiangyang's case
When I was reading vol. 2, I wished for the romance plot to be more in focus than the action. My wish came true. But now I wished that the action was more in focus than the romance, because 1) I had issues with the main relationship of the story (more about it below) and 2) in the contrary to vol. 1, the action was much more interesting to me than the romance.
Okay, now let's go to the bad things. My main issue with vol. 1 is the romance part, so I will start with it.
Read these two quotes and tell me who did you think about, okay?
He occasionally slipped into Zhao Yunlan's home at night but never dared to stay for long. Zhao Yunlan was very alert.
But in a stroke of good fortune, Zhao Yunlan recently had many dinners to attend, and he would arrive home half-drunk. Only at such times could Shen Wei risk drawing a little closer.
"My very existence is inauspicious," he said. "I can only bring you harm."
Did you think about Edward Cullen maybe? Because if so, welcome in the club, because I thought the same thing! I had to double check the title of the book, because I genuinely felt like I had picked the Twilight book by mistake. It was so bizarre. I didn't think that anyone writes like this thinking that it's romantic, but I guess, I was wrong.
For me it's not romantic. It's NOT. It's just CREEPY and makes me incredibly uncomfortable.
"In this lifetime, whether dead or alive, I won't let you go again. Even if one day you've had enough or tire of me, even if you want to leave me, I'll never let you go."
ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!
RED FLAG! RED FLAG! RED FLAG! RED FLAG!
These words belong to Shen Wei, Zhao Yunlan's romantic interest. And this romantic interest, who was supposed to stay away from his "love", not only very quickly decided to become a couple with him, but, what is the worst thing that happened in this book, HAD SEX WITH ZHAO YUNLAN WHEN KUNLAN WAS IN CHARGE OF HIS BODY AND WHEN THAT BODY WAS DRUNK OUT OF HIS MIND.
ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!
RED FLAG! RED FLAG! RED FLAG! RED FLAG!
Again, how could this sound romantic? Just how?! How is Zhao Yunlan just smiling hearing this instead of packing his bags and running as far away as possible?!
I guess, it's because he's not better than his lover. Okay, he's not as bad as Shen Wei, but he did do some things that I didn't like (and neither should Shen Wei, but they both are dumb). First of all, he basically tried to force Shen Wei to move in with him by calling the moving company to his house. I have to point out that there was no talk about it with Shen Wei. It was purely Zhao Yunlan's decision. And it was Zhao Yunlan who bought a house for both of them, took Shen Wei there without a word to him about it, and gave him the keys. And it was Zhao Yunlan who had gone through Shen Wei's stuff at his home without Shen Wei's knowledge. This is how we come to the topic of Zhao Yunlan's paintings and oh boy, this also made me incredibly uncomfortable (as it should make Zhao Yunlan, but it didn't).
Except for the romance plot point problem, I had another issue. With the writing. I didn't like the author's writing style when I read vol. 1 and I didn't like it while reading vol. 2. There is no progress, it's the same kind of writing with stuff constantly being repeated, for example: Shen Wei was on the verge of losing his mind and once again Shen Wei didn't know how to react. I could ignore it a couple of times, but there was just too much of it. And what is up with throwing all the names and words at the reader like the reader is supposed to know what they mean? Don't get me started on the big history lesson that happened on the end of the book. My mind had completely shut off when I tried to get through it, so I have no idea what happened there. I tried to get through it a couple of times, but I understood nothing. I'm sorry, I'm so dumb.
Anyways, I am giving up on this series. There is only one book left, but I genuinely don't care what will happen there. Both Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan don't interest me. None of them are characters that I could cheer up for, neither individually nor as a couple. I'm ending my journey with this series, but not with the danmei stories. Maybe I will pick some again in the future with hopes that those stories will be more enjoyable.
Because my soul is naturally good and pure, I will start with the good things before going to the bad ones:
~ Guo Changcheng
I liked him in the previous book and I like him in this one, despite the fact that he isn't as present in the story like he was before. The author still makes fun of him in every situation possible, but there were some redeeming scenes of GC being praised and loved like she should be.
~ Chu Shuzhi
Despite not being much in the focus and not being impactful on the story in any way (like every other character than the main ones), I found his character very interesting.
~ Guo Changcheng and Chu Shuzhi
This is something I did not expect to like, because GC was clearly afraid of CS (rightfully so) which isn't a great start for any relationship. But despite all the issues between them there was some kind of spark there. I don't know if they will become a couple or become friends or nothing at all (I will not be there to witness it), but I liked their scenes in this book.
~ Sangzan
I did not expect to like such a person, but he was so adorable in this book that I couldn't help, but swoon wherever he had shown up.
~ Wang Xiangyang's case
When I was reading vol. 2, I wished for the romance plot to be more in focus than the action. My wish came true. But now I wished that the action was more in focus than the romance, because 1) I had issues with the main relationship of the story (more about it below) and 2) in the contrary to vol. 1, the action was much more interesting to me than the romance.
Okay, now let's go to the bad things. My main issue with vol. 1 is the romance part, so I will start with it.
Read these two quotes and tell me who did you think about, okay?
He occasionally slipped into Zhao Yunlan's home at night but never dared to stay for long. Zhao Yunlan was very alert.
But in a stroke of good fortune, Zhao Yunlan recently had many dinners to attend, and he would arrive home half-drunk. Only at such times could Shen Wei risk drawing a little closer.
"My very existence is inauspicious," he said. "I can only bring you harm."
Did you think about Edward Cullen maybe? Because if so, welcome in the club, because I thought the same thing! I had to double check the title of the book, because I genuinely felt like I had picked the Twilight book by mistake. It was so bizarre. I didn't think that anyone writes like this thinking that it's romantic, but I guess, I was wrong.
For me it's not romantic. It's NOT. It's just CREEPY and makes me incredibly uncomfortable.
"In this lifetime, whether dead or alive, I won't let you go again. Even if one day you've had enough or tire of me, even if you want to leave me, I'll never let you go."
ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!
RED FLAG! RED FLAG! RED FLAG! RED FLAG!
These words belong to Shen Wei, Zhao Yunlan's romantic interest. And this romantic interest, who was supposed to stay away from his "love", not only very quickly decided to become a couple with him, but, what is the worst thing that happened in this book, HAD SEX WITH ZHAO YUNLAN WHEN KUNLAN WAS IN CHARGE OF HIS BODY AND WHEN THAT BODY WAS DRUNK OUT OF HIS MIND.
ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!
RED FLAG! RED FLAG! RED FLAG! RED FLAG!
Again, how could this sound romantic? Just how?! How is Zhao Yunlan just smiling hearing this instead of packing his bags and running as far away as possible?!
I guess, it's because he's not better than his lover. Okay, he's not as bad as Shen Wei, but he did do some things that I didn't like (and neither should Shen Wei, but they both are dumb). First of all, he basically tried to force Shen Wei to move in with him by calling the moving company to his house. I have to point out that there was no talk about it with Shen Wei. It was purely Zhao Yunlan's decision. And it was Zhao Yunlan who bought a house for both of them, took Shen Wei there without a word to him about it, and gave him the keys. And it was Zhao Yunlan who had gone through Shen Wei's stuff at his home without Shen Wei's knowledge. This is how we come to the topic of Zhao Yunlan's paintings and oh boy, this also made me incredibly uncomfortable (as it should make Zhao Yunlan, but it didn't).
Except for the romance plot point problem, I had another issue. With the writing. I didn't like the author's writing style when I read vol. 1 and I didn't like it while reading vol. 2. There is no progress, it's the same kind of writing with stuff constantly being repeated, for example: Shen Wei was on the verge of losing his mind and once again Shen Wei didn't know how to react. I could ignore it a couple of times, but there was just too much of it. And what is up with throwing all the names and words at the reader like the reader is supposed to know what they mean? Don't get me started on the big history lesson that happened on the end of the book. My mind had completely shut off when I tried to get through it, so I have no idea what happened there. I tried to get through it a couple of times, but I understood nothing. I'm sorry, I'm so dumb.
Anyways, I am giving up on this series. There is only one book left, but I genuinely don't care what will happen there. Both Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan don't interest me. None of them are characters that I could cheer up for, neither individually nor as a couple. I'm ending my journey with this series, but not with the danmei stories. Maybe I will pick some again in the future with hopes that those stories will be more enjoyable.
August 16, 2024
“In this lifetime, whether dead or alive, I won’t let you go again. Even if one day you’ve had enough or tire of me, even if you want to leave me, I’ll never let you go.”
Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan are both crazy. They deserve each other.
I liked this? But I also made the mistake of watching the adaptation and I’m sorry but I prefer it to the book💀
March 29, 2024
This feels almost cozy despite all the bloodshed and death. I love the found family aspect, and I really like the two main characters and their relationship.
April 15, 2024
The ordinary details of real life are juxtaposed with supernatural aspects in this second volume in the “Guardian” series by Priest. On the surface the relationship between Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei is a modern relationship between two people who are finding their way into a partnership that is fulfilling for both of them. Beneath the surface they have ancient, supernatural responsibilities that both predestine them as a couple but also keep them apart. It is the balance between these two worlds that makes this book such a pleasurable read.
The plot revolves around cases that the Special Investigations Department are tasked to solve. This creates situations where the members of the department head into Dragon City to resolve supernatural issues and in this second volume Shen Wei tags along. This is ostensibly because he is now seen as Zhao Yunlan’s partner, but also because he has abilities that can help them out. When they are out in public, Zhao Yunlan is a shameless flirt, announcing the status of their relationship by taunting onlookers at the hospital with the quote, “Never seen a couple of hot gay guys before?” (p. 74). He is obviously delighting in shocking his surroundings, which hits hard in a world, where censorship prohibits representations of such love. Priest gets away with this moment of honesty by wrapping it in snark, thus deflecting the actual meaning of his statement. The humour of the statement is, however, not enough to hide the actual status of their relationship, because the other members of the SID clearly know what is going on. A little later, Lin Jing addresses Shen Wei and says, “Noble consort, I beg you, intercede on my behalf!” (76) in an attempt to coax Zhao Yunlan into helping him. The contrast in the previous informal announcement by Zhao Yunlan and the extreme formality of this statement creates a humorous scene, which could be dismissed as meaningless banter, but the truth is buried on the surface.
The truth is that Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan have a well-balanced relationship in both the present and in their supernatural roles in the past. As the Soul-Executing Emissary, Shen Wei is responsible for the Great Seal, because he has deep history with Zhao Yunlan’s earlier reincarnation as Kunlun-jun. It is only as the book unfolds that Zhao Yunlan becomes aware of his past and it is not entirely clear how much he actually remembers and how much he is bluffing. Shen Wei has retained his memories of their ancient relationship and has waited through eternity to meet mortal reincarnations of Zhao Yunlan. It is incredibly touching on an existential level and adds depth to the domestic bliss of their present relationship, because they are, “… two people who brought out the best in each other without getting in the other’s way.” (p. 136). Who among us today can claim that they have experienced such deep understanding? It is an ideal but one that is simple to achieve if people would allow themselves to strive for this definition of happiness.
One of the best aspects of this book is that Priest has decided to embed a beautifully realistic coming-out scene in the midst of all the supernatural world-building. Zhao Yunlan drags Shen Wei to a Lunar New Year celebration with his mother to whom he then admits the real status of their relationship. Quite simply, he tells her that, “… my love for you (Shen Wei) can stir up a storm and shatter the world” (208). Her reaction is measured but not negative; she needs time to adjust and even more time to break the news to his father. Later on, there is also a scene between Zhao Yunlan with his father, where the harsh realities of such a relationship in Dragon City are tempered with his understanding that his son is now living with Shen Wei. Both his parents respect who he is but worry for their child. It is beautiful in its simplicity but complex beneath the surface. It is remarkable that such themes can be explored in a way that flies beneath the radar of official censorship.
The rest of the plot is fleshed out with back story on Chu Shuzhi as the Corpse King and the blossoming relationship between Wang Zhen and Sangzan. Daqing the cat is also great fun; he is both very much a fat cat as well as someone who has a deep understanding of Zhao Yunlan and so can say things to him that others cannot. It will be interesting to see how Priest will end the series. The domestic and the supernatural aspects need to intertwine…
The plot revolves around cases that the Special Investigations Department are tasked to solve. This creates situations where the members of the department head into Dragon City to resolve supernatural issues and in this second volume Shen Wei tags along. This is ostensibly because he is now seen as Zhao Yunlan’s partner, but also because he has abilities that can help them out. When they are out in public, Zhao Yunlan is a shameless flirt, announcing the status of their relationship by taunting onlookers at the hospital with the quote, “Never seen a couple of hot gay guys before?” (p. 74). He is obviously delighting in shocking his surroundings, which hits hard in a world, where censorship prohibits representations of such love. Priest gets away with this moment of honesty by wrapping it in snark, thus deflecting the actual meaning of his statement. The humour of the statement is, however, not enough to hide the actual status of their relationship, because the other members of the SID clearly know what is going on. A little later, Lin Jing addresses Shen Wei and says, “Noble consort, I beg you, intercede on my behalf!” (76) in an attempt to coax Zhao Yunlan into helping him. The contrast in the previous informal announcement by Zhao Yunlan and the extreme formality of this statement creates a humorous scene, which could be dismissed as meaningless banter, but the truth is buried on the surface.
The truth is that Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan have a well-balanced relationship in both the present and in their supernatural roles in the past. As the Soul-Executing Emissary, Shen Wei is responsible for the Great Seal, because he has deep history with Zhao Yunlan’s earlier reincarnation as Kunlun-jun. It is only as the book unfolds that Zhao Yunlan becomes aware of his past and it is not entirely clear how much he actually remembers and how much he is bluffing. Shen Wei has retained his memories of their ancient relationship and has waited through eternity to meet mortal reincarnations of Zhao Yunlan. It is incredibly touching on an existential level and adds depth to the domestic bliss of their present relationship, because they are, “… two people who brought out the best in each other without getting in the other’s way.” (p. 136). Who among us today can claim that they have experienced such deep understanding? It is an ideal but one that is simple to achieve if people would allow themselves to strive for this definition of happiness.
One of the best aspects of this book is that Priest has decided to embed a beautifully realistic coming-out scene in the midst of all the supernatural world-building. Zhao Yunlan drags Shen Wei to a Lunar New Year celebration with his mother to whom he then admits the real status of their relationship. Quite simply, he tells her that, “… my love for you (Shen Wei) can stir up a storm and shatter the world” (208). Her reaction is measured but not negative; she needs time to adjust and even more time to break the news to his father. Later on, there is also a scene between Zhao Yunlan with his father, where the harsh realities of such a relationship in Dragon City are tempered with his understanding that his son is now living with Shen Wei. Both his parents respect who he is but worry for their child. It is beautiful in its simplicity but complex beneath the surface. It is remarkable that such themes can be explored in a way that flies beneath the radar of official censorship.
The rest of the plot is fleshed out with back story on Chu Shuzhi as the Corpse King and the blossoming relationship between Wang Zhen and Sangzan. Daqing the cat is also great fun; he is both very much a fat cat as well as someone who has a deep understanding of Zhao Yunlan and so can say things to him that others cannot. It will be interesting to see how Priest will end the series. The domestic and the supernatural aspects need to intertwine…
June 11, 2024
first, someone stole my physical copy of the book from the mail. unknown stranger, I hope you enjoy the book it's volume two!
for the book - omg i love it so much. we get even more romance and more detective work!
Zhao Yunlan and Shei Wei are both clowns so they are perfect for each other!
i would love to say i have more things to say but my head is empty - only screaming how good it was.
for the book - omg i love it so much. we get even more romance and more detective work!
Zhao Yunlan and Shei Wei are both clowns so they are perfect for each other!
i would love to say i have more things to say but my head is empty - only screaming how good it was.
August 15, 2024
Nobody tell Blake Lively because this book slaps.
June 1, 2025
5 💫
I'm really liking the series so far. It's got a really cool and mysterious, serious story with all kinds of intriguing lore. I love everything with the spirit world etc. and what I really like about this story is that even though there's all these historical and/or mystical elements, it's still a contemporary piece.
Seriously looking forward to reading the next volume!
I'm really liking the series so far. It's got a really cool and mysterious, serious story with all kinds of intriguing lore. I love everything with the spirit world etc. and what I really like about this story is that even though there's all these historical and/or mystical elements, it's still a contemporary piece.
Seriously looking forward to reading the next volume!
August 19, 2024
For all the complaining I did about feeling disconnected from the characters and story in book 1, I still went ahead and read book 2, hoping for a better reading experience. While I didn’t feel as disconnected from the characters and plot, I still didn’t enjoy the story as much as I was hoping to. It incorporated a lot of Chinese folklore and mythology that I wasn’t familiar with as well as a convoluted backstory for the mc that isn’t very clear until the last chapter. After the 40% mark, I had a hard time keeping up with what Zhao Yunlan was discovering about Shen Wei and how he was connected to the Sacred Artifacts and the ghosts and demons from the underworld.
The romance between Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan was better in this book, but it really didn’t feel like it was enough. With all of the other stuff taking place as well as the pages' long info dumps on Chinese mythology, their relationship wasn’t the focus of the story. And while I loved how passionately Zhao Yunlan cared about Shen Wei, Shen Wei’s personality made a lot of their interactions chastely unsatisfying. Not that their interactions weren’t sweet - because they were - there just wasn’t any passion between them.
When it comes to danmei, I don’t really need, nor do I expect to see smut. What I do expect to see are (usually lengthy) build ups that lead to highly satisfying interactions between the mc and his love interest. Whether those interactions make me cringe, laugh, cry, or leave me angry and frustrated… I feel it all deeply, and it makes getting through everything else in the story worth it. That wasn’t the case here, at least for me. The little crumbs I got throughout these two books don’t justify all the work I had to put in in order to understand the story. 3 stars
The romance between Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan was better in this book, but it really didn’t feel like it was enough. With all of the other stuff taking place as well as the pages' long info dumps on Chinese mythology, their relationship wasn’t the focus of the story. And while I loved how passionately Zhao Yunlan cared about Shen Wei, Shen Wei’s personality made a lot of their interactions chastely unsatisfying. Not that their interactions weren’t sweet - because they were - there just wasn’t any passion between them.
When it comes to danmei, I don’t really need, nor do I expect to see smut. What I do expect to see are (usually lengthy) build ups that lead to highly satisfying interactions between the mc and his love interest. Whether those interactions make me cringe, laugh, cry, or leave me angry and frustrated… I feel it all deeply, and it makes getting through everything else in the story worth it. That wasn’t the case here, at least for me. The little crumbs I got throughout these two books don’t justify all the work I had to put in in order to understand the story. 3 stars
April 1, 2024
Really enjoyed this! Zhao Yunlan and Shei Wei are so cute. I love how serious they are about their relationship! Also there was something so heartwarming about Zhao Yunlan coming out to his parents, despite all the supernatural things going down. Not sure I got everything about the mythology part, but really excited to see what happens next!
April 22, 2024
OHHH I loved Volume 2 a lot more than Volume 1! We finally get somewhere with the romance <3 The plot also gets a lot more serious, and the backstories of the characters are revealed. The final chapters sent me into an existential spiral. I... I did not expect to ponder the immensity of immortality at 10 PM on a Sunday. Oh... Oh how lonely that must be...
I'm both scared and excited for Volume 3 because even if they end up happily ever after, HOW WILL IT WORK???
Also I cannot believe I'm saying this but I feel like I'm growing old because the 30 year old protagonist here was getting intensely relatable to me. Help.
I'm both scared and excited for Volume 3 because even if they end up happily ever after, HOW WILL IT WORK???
Also I cannot believe I'm saying this but I feel like I'm growing old because the 30 year old protagonist here was getting intensely relatable to me. Help.
June 22, 2024
I wish it never ended..
I can't wait for the next volume...
I can't wait for the next volume...
April 14, 2024
❤️ Guardian volume 2 - Priest ❤️
🪭 danmei
🌌 supernatural
✨️ soulmates
🔎 detective/police
🦋 mysterious
okay this danmei has me HOOKED 😍 I love everything about it?! I love the characters mostly but also the story itself and Priest's writing style is also everything 🙌🏻 in this volume we discover who Zhao Yunlan truly is (no worries I won't say!) and he takes the next step in his relationship with Shen Wei 😭❤️ these two men are so adorable together!!! they really take their relationship seriously and already act like a married couple as they are so in love with one another 🌈🩷 the plot also develops really interestingly (Chinese mythology 🐉) and the concept of found family comes forward 💫
🪭 danmei
🌌 supernatural
✨️ soulmates
🔎 detective/police
🦋 mysterious
okay this danmei has me HOOKED 😍 I love everything about it?! I love the characters mostly but also the story itself and Priest's writing style is also everything 🙌🏻 in this volume we discover who Zhao Yunlan truly is (no worries I won't say!) and he takes the next step in his relationship with Shen Wei 😭❤️ these two men are so adorable together!!! they really take their relationship seriously and already act like a married couple as they are so in love with one another 🌈🩷 the plot also develops really interestingly (Chinese mythology 🐉) and the concept of found family comes forward 💫
July 12, 2024
Star-crossed lovers ugh we love to see it *ugly cries*
I cannot believe this is ending in the next volume, I only just fell in love with this couple!
I cannot believe this is ending in the next volume, I only just fell in love with this couple!
May 18, 2024
3 ⭐
Surprisingly I saw the twist coming, I had a strong feeling but wasn't sure. The translation gave it away with how it stresses a few lines. I had to switch to the unofficial work since I couldn't understand chapter 18 & 19 which reveals their past. Overall Priest is a brilliant author but I hope 7 seas edits more for the next print. The artwork was as usual beautiful.
Surprisingly I saw the twist coming, I had a strong feeling but wasn't sure. The translation gave it away with how it stresses a few lines. I had to switch to the unofficial work since I couldn't understand chapter 18 & 19 which reveals their past. Overall Priest is a brilliant author but I hope 7 seas edits more for the next print. The artwork was as usual beautiful.
October 14, 2024
unfortunately i dont think priest is for me...
June 26, 2025
Ah yes, Volume 2 – where we dive deeper into the weird, the ghostly, and the heartbreakingly repressed yearning™. As a loyal danmei reader, I came in prepared for chaos, trauma, and two grown men absolutely refusing to confess their feelings in a normal, healthy way. I was not disappointed.
What’s happening?
Honestly? Even I’m not sure half the time. We’re bouncing between mysterious deaths, strange artifacts, and enough exposition dumps to make my head spin. There’s a lot of lore. A LOT. Priest is feeding us world-building like she’s stuffing us at a danmei buffet — but forgot to label the dishes. I had to reread some parts with the intensity of a student trying to pass the civil service exam.
But what really keeps you going?
The Vibes™. The Chemistry™. The Unspoken Emotions™.
Zhao Yunlan is still out here being a walking HR violation — casually touching Shen Wei, making inappropriate jokes, and somehow still being the most emotionally intelligent man in the room. Shen Wei, our loyal disaster deity, continues to suffer in poetic silence, staring at Zhao like he’s watching a historical tragedy unfold… because, well, he kind of is.
Highlights of Volume 2:
That one scene where Shen Wei does something insanely OP and Zhao Yunlan just accepts it with a raised eyebrow like, “Cool, my crush might be a god, but that’s sexy of him.”
Side characters getting slightly more fleshed out, but still living in the shadows of our main couple’s very public emotional crisis.
Random plot twists that feel like they were made up on the spot but are too fun to question.
So. Much. Holding Back. JUST KISS ALREADY. Or at least accidentally brush hands with some tension.
The downside?
Still messy. Still convoluted. The pacing is like Zhao Yunlan’s attention span: inconsistent and easily distracted. You’re either sprinting through ghost battles or wading through metaphysical philosophy and tragic flashbacks.
Final verdict:
Volume 2 gets 3 stars – messy plot, stunning character tension, and enough angst to fill a haunted mansion. It’s like reading a romance novel written by a philosopher who accidentally joined a crime drama.
And you know I’m reading Volume 3 next, because I hate myself and also love love.
What’s happening?
Honestly? Even I’m not sure half the time. We’re bouncing between mysterious deaths, strange artifacts, and enough exposition dumps to make my head spin. There’s a lot of lore. A LOT. Priest is feeding us world-building like she’s stuffing us at a danmei buffet — but forgot to label the dishes. I had to reread some parts with the intensity of a student trying to pass the civil service exam.
But what really keeps you going?
The Vibes™. The Chemistry™. The Unspoken Emotions™.
Zhao Yunlan is still out here being a walking HR violation — casually touching Shen Wei, making inappropriate jokes, and somehow still being the most emotionally intelligent man in the room. Shen Wei, our loyal disaster deity, continues to suffer in poetic silence, staring at Zhao like he’s watching a historical tragedy unfold… because, well, he kind of is.
Highlights of Volume 2:
That one scene where Shen Wei does something insanely OP and Zhao Yunlan just accepts it with a raised eyebrow like, “Cool, my crush might be a god, but that’s sexy of him.”
Side characters getting slightly more fleshed out, but still living in the shadows of our main couple’s very public emotional crisis.
Random plot twists that feel like they were made up on the spot but are too fun to question.
So. Much. Holding Back. JUST KISS ALREADY. Or at least accidentally brush hands with some tension.
The downside?
Still messy. Still convoluted. The pacing is like Zhao Yunlan’s attention span: inconsistent and easily distracted. You’re either sprinting through ghost battles or wading through metaphysical philosophy and tragic flashbacks.
Final verdict:
Volume 2 gets 3 stars – messy plot, stunning character tension, and enough angst to fill a haunted mansion. It’s like reading a romance novel written by a philosopher who accidentally joined a crime drama.
And you know I’m reading Volume 3 next, because I hate myself and also love love.
November 24, 2024
⭐️ 4.5 Wow, I didn’t expect it be so good! Loved all the lore
October 11, 2024
It says something that so many of my guesses and theories have panned out, and yet I still have no idea where this is going or how anything's going to be resolved. 😂
I liked getting a little more of Guo Changcheng in this one, and we learn a lot about what happened in the past, but that just opens a whole other can of worms about how that's going to impact current events. There's still a lot at play going into this last volume. I'm actually going to take a few days to reread some parts of volumes 1 and 2 in order to get a better grip on the mythological aspect of things. That got going pretty heavy at the end in this one, and I had trouble keeping everything straight.
Daqing is still hilarious, Zhao is still a punk, and Shen Wei is probably in need of some stress relief. He's a bit pent up. There are some developments I'm tilting my head at, but I'm still curious to see where it's all heading.
I'm still waiting on a few other theories to see if those are right.
I liked getting a little more of Guo Changcheng in this one, and we learn a lot about what happened in the past, but that just opens a whole other can of worms about how that's going to impact current events. There's still a lot at play going into this last volume. I'm actually going to take a few days to reread some parts of volumes 1 and 2 in order to get a better grip on the mythological aspect of things. That got going pretty heavy at the end in this one, and I had trouble keeping everything straight.
Daqing is still hilarious, Zhao is still a punk, and Shen Wei is probably in need of some stress relief. He's a bit pent up. There are some developments I'm tilting my head at, but I'm still curious to see where it's all heading.
I'm still waiting on a few other theories to see if those are right.
April 1, 2024
I **think** I understand what's going on? One of my favorite things is how much Chinese Mythology is in this story but it's also what confuses me the most. There is less action but A LOT more relationship development (and not just with the MC/ML). I love all the characters in the Soul-Guarding Order! We learn so much about the past in this volume which somehow has me even more discombobulated 🤦♀️ Will definitely have to reread before the third and final volume comes out this July.
I love how Priest writes her shameless characters- Zhao Yunlan does not disappoint. And Shen Wei is absolutely adorable.
I love how Priest writes her shameless characters- Zhao Yunlan does not disappoint. And Shen Wei is absolutely adorable.
July 24, 2024
Laying eyes on Kunlun-jun for the first time, in the shades of the grove. A single fleeting glance and the melody of my heart faltered.
By Wei.
Once again, I breezed through this volume and loved every second of it. We got backstory on Zhao Yunlan’s past life (as a goddam god?! Hello?!) and also his connection to Shen Wei. And it was every bit as juicy and amazing as I thought it would be.
Shen Wei took a long look at him. So much emotion and longing, so agonizingly repressed for thousands of years, and Zhao Yunlan had casually set it all ablaze with absolutely no warning. The intensity was rapidly reaching a breaking point, and with it, an indescribable sadistic urge welled up in Shen Wei's heart. He ached to gather Zhao Yunlan in his arms and smother him there, to crush every bit of flesh and bone to dust and melt it in his palms, preserving this moment for eternity.
I am so ridiculously soft for this type of trope. You know the all-consuming pining trope? When these characters are just so in love with each other that they want to devour each other whole just to be close to each other? Fucking love it.
Can’t wait to read the final volume (which is thankfully soon) <3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2024
“I accept. In this lifetime, whether dead or alive, I won’t let you go again.”
Shen Wei is such a cutey. He’s so old fashioned, obviously he’s ancient, and shy to the point it makes him adorable. Then within a flash he’s ready to kill and rip people’s head off 😂
“Then his pen paused as an incredibly perverted thought took root: where does Shen Wei keep his underwear? Especially the one’s he’s already worn?”
😂 Zhao Yunlan is a great character. He makes me laugh more often than not. He’s witty, a tease, but he’s also as adorable as Shen Wei when he wants to be.
Is Shen Wei the young king of the gui? Also I think Zhu Hong is going to break her own heart if she doesn’t give up on this soon lol.
Looking forward to the next one best get my order in 😭😂
Shen Wei is such a cutey. He’s so old fashioned, obviously he’s ancient, and shy to the point it makes him adorable. Then within a flash he’s ready to kill and rip people’s head off 😂
“Then his pen paused as an incredibly perverted thought took root: where does Shen Wei keep his underwear? Especially the one’s he’s already worn?”
😂 Zhao Yunlan is a great character. He makes me laugh more often than not. He’s witty, a tease, but he’s also as adorable as Shen Wei when he wants to be.
Is Shen Wei the young king of the gui? Also I think Zhu Hong is going to break her own heart if she doesn’t give up on this soon lol.
Looking forward to the next one best get my order in 😭😂
November 4, 2025
“Love is very resilient, but it’s also delicate. In the face of oppression and obstalces, it can become a huge driving force—a love for the ages. There’s a reason people have sung about it for all of human history. But remember: it’s not the the tall mountain of your path that defeats you. It’s always the grain of sand in your shoe.”
This review comes from my second time reading Guardian Volume 2. I meant to write something right after finishing it, but life got in the way—and I also managed to misplace my notes. I usually jot down my thoughts on plain sheets of paper instead of a notebook (not my smartest habit, I know), and they completely vanished this time. So I’m just going off memory here, but honestly, this book left such a strong impression that it’s not too hard to recall why I loved it.
Unlike MXTX’s books, which are widely loved by most Danmei fans, Priest’s works tend to be more divisive. But I’m firmly in the Priest fan club. I adore how her storytelling gives just enough detail while leaving room for my imagination to run wild. Volume 1 already impressed me with its blend of fantasy, mystery, and world-building, and Volume 2 somehow managed to be even better. The plot thickens, secrets unravel, and you start to see just how complex and layered this story really is.
And since I fully own the fact that I’m a romantic girlie at heart, the timeless devotion in this series completely won me over. There’s something so captivating about love that spans hundreds—if not thousands—of years. Shen Wei's quiet, steadfast loyalty and Zhao Yunlan’s bold, unwavering heart create a dynamic that's both tender and intense. This volume took me deeper into their story, and I honestly can’t wait to dive back into Volume 3.
Date read: 2024.05.08
Re-read: 2025.02.01
This review comes from my second time reading Guardian Volume 2. I meant to write something right after finishing it, but life got in the way—and I also managed to misplace my notes. I usually jot down my thoughts on plain sheets of paper instead of a notebook (not my smartest habit, I know), and they completely vanished this time. So I’m just going off memory here, but honestly, this book left such a strong impression that it’s not too hard to recall why I loved it.
Unlike MXTX’s books, which are widely loved by most Danmei fans, Priest’s works tend to be more divisive. But I’m firmly in the Priest fan club. I adore how her storytelling gives just enough detail while leaving room for my imagination to run wild. Volume 1 already impressed me with its blend of fantasy, mystery, and world-building, and Volume 2 somehow managed to be even better. The plot thickens, secrets unravel, and you start to see just how complex and layered this story really is.
And since I fully own the fact that I’m a romantic girlie at heart, the timeless devotion in this series completely won me over. There’s something so captivating about love that spans hundreds—if not thousands—of years. Shen Wei's quiet, steadfast loyalty and Zhao Yunlan’s bold, unwavering heart create a dynamic that's both tender and intense. This volume took me deeper into their story, and I honestly can’t wait to dive back into Volume 3.
Date read: 2024.05.08
Re-read: 2025.02.01
September 12, 2025
Woah. That’s all I have to say after finishing the last chapter. It was confusing and my brain was overworking itself trying to catch up with all the Chinese mythology that was being thrown at me, unfortunately I still didn’t get most things but at least I got the key points
His meeting with Shen Wei was lowky NOT at all what I expected, really thought they had something going on but I guess not, it’s just Shen Wei’s secret feelings, kind of remind me of hualian. Both of you slay I guess, don’t let anyone control your fate :))
Have to say though, the writing style is a little messy, and it doesn’t really flow that smoothly since sometimes, halfway through reading a chapter, ill wonder what even is the point of the character doing this, what is the point of this storyline etc. but when you finish the story it all kind of makes sense. However, it does take me out a little so I guess this writing style isn’t for me, still love the plot though, and the characters
Only getting through this series for Weilan, Daqing and Gup changcheng frfr
His meeting with Shen Wei was lowky NOT at all what I expected, really thought they had something going on but I guess not, it’s just Shen Wei’s secret feelings, kind of remind me of hualian. Both of you slay I guess, don’t let anyone control your fate :))
Have to say though, the writing style is a little messy, and it doesn’t really flow that smoothly since sometimes, halfway through reading a chapter, ill wonder what even is the point of the character doing this, what is the point of this storyline etc. but when you finish the story it all kind of makes sense. However, it does take me out a little so I guess this writing style isn’t for me, still love the plot though, and the characters
Only getting through this series for Weilan, Daqing and Gup changcheng frfr
April 7, 2025
The way I devoured this. I loved the backstory we got and how the threads started coming together, but it did give *when book 2 isn’t as good as book 1*
That said, the ending still had me staring at the wall, and I can’t wait to get my hands on Vol 3.
That said, the ending still had me staring at the wall, and I can’t wait to get my hands on Vol 3.
October 11, 2024
Big reveals in this one.
All the mythology got me lost at times, especially in the last chapter but I let all that go through my head because I plan on rereading, so I think I'll grasp everything better next time.
The case was interesting, but I liked this book was more focused on the overreaching plot more. I liked Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei relationship, but I wish Shen Wei were less secretive, because one of this days, all those secrets are going to come back and bit him in the a** and I hope all those don't put Zhao Yunlan at risk. I'm worried all the time.
I also liked the secondary characters. I loved Daquin, he is his usual awesome self. And I loved to learn more about Chu Shuzi and his backstory (as shocking as it was), and seeing Guo Changcheng growing little by little. I suspect there's something going on with him, let's see. Which I'm not very happy about is Zhu Hong's , it gets tiresome after a while. I hope that doesn't become an issue later.
So, only one more Hallowed Artifact left to find.
All the mythology got me lost at times, especially in the last chapter but I let all that go through my head because I plan on rereading, so I think I'll grasp everything better next time.
The case was interesting, but I liked this book was more focused on the overreaching plot more. I liked Zhao Yunlan and Shen Wei relationship, but I wish Shen Wei were less secretive, because one of this days, all those secrets are going to come back and bit him in the a** and I hope all those don't put Zhao Yunlan at risk. I'm worried all the time.
I also liked the secondary characters. I loved Daquin, he is his usual awesome self. And I loved to learn more about Chu Shuzi and his backstory (as shocking as it was), and seeing Guo Changcheng growing little by little. I suspect there's something going on with him, let's see. Which I'm not very happy about is Zhu Hong's , it gets tiresome after a while. I hope that doesn't become an issue later.
So, only one more Hallowed Artifact left to find.
April 7, 2024
I ATE THIS UP. Priest is so talented I really think she’s up there with mxtx.
This volume had a huge lore drop along with a lot of Chinese mythology references. It may be hard for some to follow but if you’re like me and read a lot of Chinese novels you should be fine.
Also.. the chemistry is so chefs kiss. Every touch between them is like a spark and ahhhh. I love the main couple so much and I’m looking forward to seeing more direct confrontation between them. As of now, Yunlan keeps a lot of his thoughts to himself.
I don’t know how I’m going to wait for the last volume to come out. Alas, I will.
This volume had a huge lore drop along with a lot of Chinese mythology references. It may be hard for some to follow but if you’re like me and read a lot of Chinese novels you should be fine.
Also.. the chemistry is so chefs kiss. Every touch between them is like a spark and ahhhh. I love the main couple so much and I’m looking forward to seeing more direct confrontation between them. As of now, Yunlan keeps a lot of his thoughts to himself.
I don’t know how I’m going to wait for the last volume to come out. Alas, I will.
September 5, 2025
smash, next
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