So, I skipped book 2. Bite me. I don't need that kind of negativity in my life.
Book 3 thoughts upon rereading (it's all spoilers):
- First wanna start out with: how in the HELL did I not realize who Fu Yao and Nan Feng were the first time around??! Re-reading it, it's not exactly blatantly obvious, but it lowkey IS. It was RIGHT THERE THE WHOLE TIME.
- We all deserve a San Lang. No, scratch that. None of us deserve a San Lang.
- The demon fetus baby arc is definitely not my fave, but the HuaLian moments are *chef's kiss*
- Absolutely love the calligraphy scene. The running gag of Hua Cheng's bad writing in general is great.
- I truly love how everyone abuses Qi Rong. Man, fuck that guy.
- Shi Qingxuan is probably my favourite character. Loved him from the start.
- How could I forget about the coffin scene. . . ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
- One of my favourite scenes is Xie Lian possessing Shi Qingxuan. The second time especially, where they're both in the same body. It's so funny and cool, and I love the thought of Hua Cheng freaking out over Xie Lian's corpse.
- Another amazing scene: Xie Lian's spirit being dragged back into his body through Hua Cheng's KISS. And then KISSING HIM BACK TO TAKE BACK THE SPIRITUAL ENERGY SO HE CAN SOUL-SHIFT AGAIN. And Hua Cheng just ACCEPTS IT. BUT NOT ONLY THAT, QI RONG SHOWS UP, SEES THEM, SCREAMS INCOMPREHENSIBLY, BUT HUA CHENG'S HAVING NONE OF THAT, IT'S GEGE TIME, AND HE SEALS QI RONG BACK INSIDE THE SHRINE, I'M-
- HOW, just HOW, did I manage to forget about the scene where the opening of Mount Tong'lu calls all the ghosts, and Hua Cheng goes crazy and kisses Xie Lian. Like... what a heart-pounding moment, my friends. And the fact that the author calls it "Xie Lian's enlightenment" lmao...
- Honestly, Quan Yizhen might be one of my fave characters. He's annoying, yes, and a hanful, but he's so cute and possesses such a brutish innocence.
- I also forgot about Hua Cheng disguising himself as Lang Ying. But it's cute when you consider the fact that he felt out-of-sorts with Xie Lian avoiding him (avoiding him because of the previously mentioned Mount Tong'lu summons fervor *wink wink*). And then we end up with the hilarious scene of Xie Lian in the bath while Hua Cheng loses it. Of course, some doubters might think Hua Cheng only showed up in a different form solely to put a damper on his powers...
- Quan Yizhen chasing the step-litter. Just...the madness.
- Bruh, that scene where Xie Lian realizes Hua Cheng is Lang Ying and starts teasing him, it's so subtly funny. Hua Cheng's silent frustration is amazing.
- That ingenious little moment where Xie Lian pretends to be a woman changing in the dressing room. Ah, I can only imagine Hua Cheng's internal screaming.
- E'ming loving Xie Lian and then threatening to stab Pei Ming. Quality content.
- Why is the battle against Pei Ming's sword Ming'guang lowkey the best fight scene? It kinda slaps.
- When literal boulders are falling from the sky and everyone's losing it, but Xie Lian and Hua Cheng are having a nice time under Hua Cheng's umbrella, and then everyone becomes outraged. Good stuff.
- Aww, Xie Lian's reaction when he gets the red string. The boy is smitten.
- The way I wanted to scream when Xie Lian describes someone he trusts implicitly (Hua Cheng), and Hua Cheng obviously instantly gets jealous and tells Xie Lian to not trust people so easily, and Xie Lian thinks he lowkey just got rejected, and AAAAAGGGHHH. The constant misunderstandings between these two. But it's funny because after silently fuming, Hua Cheng then tries to get the real answer out of Xie Lian, pretending like he isn't ready to kill whoever is this person he feels threatened by.
- I'm still never getting over the Cave of Ten Thousand Gods, scene. The drama, the mystery, the misunderstandings, the REVELATIONS. Shy Hua Cheng! Hilariously horrified Feng Xin and Mu Qing! It's all absolutely wonderful.
- Overall, I really needed this re-read to really understand who all the characters were and how all the plots interconnect. It was pretty confusing the first time around.
Current tally of "Xie Lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry":
28.
TWENTY-EIGHT TIMES.
THIS IS ABSURD.