Good morning, Readers!

It's Monday, which means more untamed. We're at episode ten now, and well, things are getting dangerous quick!

​Let's get right to it, shall we?

Last episode ended with WWX surmising that all the dead people in the Chang Clan's house were turned into puppets before they died, and that's exactly where we begin this episode.

LWJ's YI fragment starts to go bananas, prompting him to turn around to spy Xue Yang, sitting on the roof of the house, observing them (Xue Yang, you remember, was a guest of Wen Ruohan, and was sent away from the Nightless City to wreak some havoc, which he seemed particularly excited about. Turns out, this is what made him so deliriously happy. The little buggar is quite the psychopath). He greets them with a very cheerful, "Hello!"

I want to note something here which I did pick up in the first viewing, and that it's Xue Yang starts off by observing his pinky finger, which is always gloved and always sticking up, as if he's forever delicately sipping tea. Note it. It will become important later on.

Anyway, this little psycho starts to move to get off the roof, presumably to fight the three young cultivators in the courtyard below, but no! An angel in white flies in from the dark to stop him.

Enter Xiao Xingchen, who I can confidently say is the single most beautiful man you will ever behold. There's just no way to describe it. He's very, very pretty. I mean, pretty much all the men in this series are that, so, perhaps it means nothing, but...

He's probably also, like, twelve.

Aaaanyway, turns out that Xiao Xingchen has been tracking Xue Yang for a while now, hot on his heels following the obliteration of several smaller clans. Xue Yang admits to it all, then says that he cannot be punished if he's not caught. And flies off over the other side of the roof.

WWX uses his new talisman, the one he annoyed LWJ with while they were walking, to catch a hold of Xue yang and drag him back over the roof. Xiao Xingchen and Xue Yang fight. This sword fight was legitimately good. I mean, that's not really how swords work - gravity either, for that matter - but it was at least far less goofy than the sword fighting I've seen to date.

Xue Yang is bested, but then he uses some weird smoke charm and nearly ends up killing Xiao Xingchen.

Enter Song Lan.

He saves Xiao Xingchen at the last minute. Together the pair finally capture Xue Yang and tie him up inside the Chang House for questioning. It's there we find out that Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan are a famous pair of cultivators, and best friends.

"Best friends" if you catch my drift.

The are a perfect mirror to LWJ and WWX - even down to one in white and one in black. They have turned their backs on the strict clan structure, and travel the world curing its ills unattached to any clan. I'm not sure if in the original story these two are occasional lovers, but something in me says they are.

An aside: this seems like the perfect arrangement to me. Each going their own way and doing their own thing, but still quote devoted to one another, and meeting occasionally to... uh... touch base? Strengthen their bond?

Perhaps it's the way Xiao Xingchen greets Song Lan when the saving happens - that strange, restrained and still very clearly extremely pleased.

I'm digressing, but I am willing to state for the record that I ship Song Lan and Xiao Xingchen.

While the very polite introductions are happening, LWJ's Yin Iron goes off again, making LWJ think that Xue Yang, who is currently in the Chang house hanging by his wrists, has it. Xue Yang claims he doesn't, and so WWX decides to do a full body search.

WWX doesn't find the Yin Iron fragment, so they decide to search the compound, including the bodies. No Yin Iron fragment is found. Meanwhile, WWX questions Xue Yang, who admits to doing the deed, but that he doesn't care about the Yin Iron. This was a personal thing. What the hell would Xue Yang find worthy of killing an entire clan? We find out, but not until later.

It's not a good reason, by the way. But what are you going to do? Psychopath is going to Psychopath.

Nie Huaisang shows up the Dimples McGee (Meng Yao), with news from both LXC and Nie Huaisang's older brother (who is the clan leader). LWJ is informed that his brother sent the clan leader a letter, and that the clan leader is requesting LWJ and WWX come to his house...? castle...? palace...?  Place, come to his place. And since Xue Yang has been captured, bring him along too for judgement.

Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan are invited, but they decline. In that exchange, we find out that Xiao Xingchen is a disciple of Bao Shan the Wander - WWX's mother's master. Xiao Xingchen reveals to WWX that he cannot tell him about his mother, other than she was Bao Shan's favourite disciple. Xiao Xingchen himself has never met her, and he's unlikely to even meet Bao Shan again, as it's their tradition that disciples who have graduated and become successful in their own right never return to her.

Poor WWX.

Song Lan and Xiao Xingchen then take their leave.

We'll meet them again.

*sobs*

So, the adventurers, except Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan go to the territory of the Nie Clan, and are greeted by him. He's nicknamed Red Blade, by the by, and carries one hell of a sword. Look, in real life, no one would ever be able to lift that sword let alone wield it, but this is a fantasy so I'll let it pass. It's not as if it's as bad as Cloud's sword from Final Fantasy.

Anyway, Nie Mingjue (the clan leader) greets his visitors, and we learn that the Wen Clan has been making threats, sending around a letter demanding that each family send their heir disciples to the Nightless City for indoctrination. This is basically to mimic the lectures of the Lan Clan..

Nie Huaisang is, by the way, terrified of his older brother, and there is another really cute sibling moment between WWX and Jiang Cheng, who mention it and make fun of the poor lad behind his back.

Nie Mingjue tries to execute Xue Yang for his crimes, but a combination of WWX, who points out that he knows where a fragment of the Yin Iron is, and Meng Yao convince him he's better off alive right now, and so Nie Mingjue tells Meng Yao to being him to the dungeon and put more guards there. Meng Yao goes out to the yard to relay the orders to the captain of the guard, who disdains him (because, you know, he's a whore's son, like that should matter). Meng Yao manages to keep his grace and makes a dignified exit. I'd have slapped the fucker. Stupid captain of the guard.

Back inside the public room of the Nie Clan's house, WWX makes the connection between Xue Yang and Xue Chonghai (the clan leader from Yiling, who first corrupted and used the Yin Iron). HOW DID I NOT GET THIS MYSELF ON THE FIRST WATCH-THROUGH?! HOW DID I MISS THIS?!

WWX then suggests turning the Yin Iron fragment into a weapon to counteract Wen Ruohan, but Nie Mingjue reminds him that Xue Chonghai was unable to control the Yin Iron and was controlled by it. Also, Clan Leader Lan Yin could not handle a single Yin Iron fragment so... you know... maybe don't do that. He then informs LWJ that his brother has requested LWJ and his Yin Fragment return to the Cloud Recesses as soon as possible. Plans have changed.

We cut to later in the evening, to WWX, who has, no big surprise, alcohol... perhaps a bit too much. He comes across Meng Yao after yet another insult by the captain of the guard (who was very drunk himself). Meng Yao, it is noted, was not at the feast. He informs WWX that he had to check on Xue Yang, which, given the captain of the guard's complete lack of cooperation, seems completely reasonable.

Quite drunk, instead of going to bed, WWX climbs up onto LWJ's roof. When LWJ leaves his room, WWX tells him of his intention to sleep on his roof. And then he falls asleep on his roof.

For once, LWJ doesn't seems annoyed. He offers what is, in truth, a soft, fond farewell, and then leaves, presumably to answer his brother's summons.

The following morning, who shows up but Wen Chao. He demands Nie Mingjue hand over his Yin Fragment piece and meet the Wen Clan's demands. Not having it, Nie Mingjue fights. Wen Chao declines, leaving this fight up to his bodyguard. This fight is also much less dorky than the others I've seen in this show to date.

​It's a full on battle now. Somehow the Wen Clan gets inside the walls. Nie Mingjue is still fighting the bodyguard when someone cries out that Xue Yang has escaped. Going after him, Nie Mingjue rounds the corner to see Meng Yao murder the captain of the guard. The shock and the betrayal leave him open to attack. Confusingly, Meng Yao throws himself in front of the sword, and gets run through. Nie Mingjue catches the collapsing Meng Yao, leaving him open to attach again. This time, it's Wen Chao who strikes, and his palm is so powerful, it practically disables Nie Mingjue.

That's when WWX, Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng catch up to the action. Wen Chao has essentially won this battle. Informs WWX that his adopted father has made it clear that he is to go to the indoctrination, and then he leaves. He didn't get the Yin Iron fragment, near as I can tell... but perhaps he did?

Nie Mingjue commands Nie Huaisang to bring Meng Yao to the throne room, and there Meng Yao plead his innocence - or, rather, how the captain deserved it. He claims that he had to do it, not because of the constant disrespect and insult, but because he saw the captain release Xue Yang. Nie Mingjue doesn't believe him, and calls him an liar outright.

However, because Meng Yao saved his life, well...

Mustering up his dignity, and his strength - I mean, he was just run through - Meng Yao stands and walks out of the throne room, banished.

​And so ends the episode.

What I Liked

HUGE improvement in the fight choreography this episode, but like all of this series, the emphasis is always on the characters and how they interact and deal with the world around them. I like that the Wen Clan was busy making moves while we focussed on our heroes and their friends. I like that things are looking quite dire for everyone all of a sudden... I mean, forced to go to the Nightless City for indoctrination? Oh dear. The growing tension threading the series is really well done. It's a brilliant slow burn. I'm really loving the way this series is constructed.

Also, LWJ's soft goodbye to a drunk WWX is the first real indication that he might be starting to like the impish orphan.

​What Could Have Been Better

With the improvement of the swordplay, there isn't too much I can gripe about this episode.  While fifty episodes might seem like a lot, it's really allowing the characters room to breathe and grow at a pace that doesn't feel weird or wrong or out of nowhere. We can safely say that LWJ is now fond of WWX, and that things are getting pretty tense between the Wen Clan and everyone else.

Okay, so now I have to go. Come back next Monday for episode eleven. Or don't. It's happening all the same.

Good morning, Readers!

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

I was recently quite ill, and while under basically house arrest, stuck in my room with neither the ability or the will to go anywhere else, I came across a trailer for the new Mortal Kombat movie that piqued my interest. At the end of the trailer, I literally scream-laughed. Needless to say, I'm going to see this movie for, and only for, Kano, who was so quintessentially Aussie it could not help but make me roar with delight.

Here's the trailer, for those who are curious:

Good morning, Readers!

I wish I had something fun and exciting to report, but my life is an endless cycle of work, write, sleep, repeat.

That’s it.

That’s all I have going on right now.

I’m sure there is news in the Twitterverse I could make a note of and speak on, but I find I don’t have the energy for that. I just don’t have the time or the mental energy to devote to all the stupidity I see there on a daily basis.  I just don’t.

I’m recovering my sense of smell and taste, ever so slowly. My smell is almost returned, my taste not so much. I got very excited a couple of nights ago when I could smell the rice cooking. I can also now taste bread (sort of), but most other things still have no taste. I discovered this in the night, when, as a treat, I spread some homemade peach jam given to me by my dear friends for Xmas on some bread and happily sat down. I forgot I couldn’t taste at all, so all I have to report is that the jam was sweet.

That’s all I got from it.

I’m sure it was delicious.

Not tasting sucks.

I’ve been doing a lot of dreaming of late of running away from everything and going to live in the forest somewhere. I can see it so clearly; me, with a cup of tea, sitting at the window, watching the snow fall. It looks and feels peaceful, and I’m sad that it will never be my reality. Not at this rate. I’ll be working until the day I die, still trying to realize my dream of being a full-time fiction writer.

I’m in a weird place at the moment; teetering on the edge of depression. Thank heavens for the diagnosis and therapy - I can recognize what’s happening and can do things that help ease the weight or make it pass quicker. It’s no longer the scary monster it once was. But it still sucks and hovering on the edge of it is also really sucky.

Anyway, I’m going to leave this non-post here for now. I’ve not really said anything substantial, so I’ll leave you with this:

Black lives matter.

Trans rights are human rights.

Women are people.

Wear your fucking masks.

Get vaccinated.

Ciao!

Good morning, Readers!

So, I did manage to get back into writing when I went back to work last week. It wasn’t nearly as much as I would have liked, but it was better than absolutely nothing. In fact, it was even better than the goal I had set for myself.

A good thing, too, as being sick in bed resulted in almost absolutely zero words being written. You would think, given I had nothing better to do, that I’d be writing a lot while stuck in bed, if just to alleviate the boredom. Not so. I had the energy to sleep or watch YouTube and that was about it.

So, for two weeks there, I hardly wrote at all - just over two thousand words in one week, and absolutely nothing at all the following week.

Last week, however, I got back on track, writing just over two thousand words more than my weekly goal.

Not bad, all told.

With two weeks of writing almost nothing, I still managed to come stupidly close to my monthly goal - just under six hundred words shy of the target. I was aiming for 20 000 words for the month. I managed 19 410. Given the challenge I faced this month, I’m actually really pleased with this result. All told, it was a good effort.

I’m still nowhere near done. Some 80 000 words in and I’ve only just introduced the big bad. Perhaps this story would be best released as a serial? If, you know, I decide to release it at all.

So far this week, I’ve managed a good bout of writing, and feel on track again.

It’s nice to be exploring this world in writing. Though I’m keen on getting a start on this other story, I’m really enjoying playing in this one.

So, TL;DR is this: despite two weeks of not being able to write, I very nearly hit my target all the same, and I’m pleased with the effort, even if I didn’t quite hit the monthly target.

Happy to be back in the swing of things.

​Ciao!

MONDAY!

Okay, we're on episode nine now, and I'm just going to do a very brief primer - LWJ and WWX are off adventuring together, trying to locate the other pieces of the Yin Iron so they can bind them away in the Cold Pond Cave In Gusu, home of the Lan Clan.

They are pursued by Wen Chao and his smokey owl.

Right, Episode Nine.

I'll try and be brief. AH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH HAH! Sorry. I'll try.

Okay, we start right where we left off. The puppets are breaking into the temple where WWX, LWJ and Nie Huaisang are trapped. They come up with a risky escape plan, and NH's ardent protestations are silenced by LWJ's silencing spell.

I need to figure out how to do that.

Before they can enact their plan, however, flute music draws the puppets away. We find out that it's Wen Qing who's playing the flute, drawing the puppets out. She then casts a spell that calms them. And is spotted by Wen Chao's Dire Owl.

Meanwhile, back in the temple, a mysterious voice stopped the three young cultivators from leaving... only it's obviously Jiang Cheng. In the ensuing bickering between brothers, Jiang Cheng reveals that he was worried about WWX, and that Wen Qing had helped him. Then he notes that it's been a while since the flute music stopped and Wen Qing might be in danger.

The now four cultivators run to Wen Qing to find her fending off the Dire Owl, which flies away. Before the puppets are reactivated, WWX convinces Wen Qing to tell him how to free them from their curse. The trick is to kill the Dire Owl, as Wen Chao is using the Yin Iron fragment that gives the owl life to control the puppet.

Leaving Wen Qing, Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang with a golden thread cage spell cast over them to protect them from the zombies (puppets) that are trying to hurt them, WWX and LWJ head off to kill the Dire Owl. They wind up in a forest, surrounded by a mist that causes hallucinations and attacks the mind. They're then attacked by flying chains.

Alright, time for to close your eyes, I guess.

Okay, now WWX can concentrate. He casts a fire talisman. I have a question. Just were dafuq do they pull out these talisman papers from?

One of the chains gets WWX, but ever the clever young man, he uses it to his advantage, pretending to pass out so the owl will attack. He catches it and kills it, freeing the townsfolk from their puppetry. They return to where they left Jiang Cheng, Nie Huaisang and Wen Qing were. They're no longer there.

In fact, Wen Qing has brought them all to the Wen Clan graveyard - the very graveyard we saw at the beginning of the series, the one that WWX stumbles across as he travels to Dafan Mountain. It is there that Wen Qing reveals that she, her brother, and the villagers they've rescued are all that remains of her branch of the Wen Clan. In this explanation, we find out why Wen Ning is so unwell, and so easily affected by the supernatural. It was the Dancing Fairy, who suddenly came to life and killed Wen Qing's family, and stole a little of Wen Ning's spirit. Wen Qing, being a child at the time, doesn't know why the Dancing Fairy stone suddenly came to life and started attacking everyone.

We cut to the Nightless City throne room. There are now, I think, three fragments of the Yin Iron? I couldn't tell how many were floating above the lava pool. How did they get three? There was the one the Wen Clan had, there was the one from the Lady Florist, and then...? Was it Xue Yang who got one from the clan in Yueyang?  Maybe?

Back with our now five young Cultivators, Niece Huaisang and Jiang Cheng run off to catch a wild chicken to eat. WWX and LWJ use this opportunity to interrogate Wen Qing, who admits that she was there to save her people, and she old helped WWX because WWX saved her brother (Wen Ning, in case you've forgotten), she will not help them any longer.

In the interrogation, WWX asks her if she realizes why the Dancing Fairy suddenly came to life and started attacking. It was because someone stole her heart.

Her heart was a fragment of Yin Iron, and the thief was Wen Ruohan. It was Wen Ruohan who is directly responsible for her clan's near-obliteration some twenty years ago.

Also, the twenty years ago thing makes the whole ages different from what I assumed. The alcoholic children (namely WWX) are less child than I thought. I feel better about their drinking now.

Anyway, it is evident that Wen Qing did not know this. Still, she resolves to go back - despite Jiang Cheng practically begging her to come with him instead - as her brother is still in the Nightless City, and Wen Ruohan still needs her medicines, so he won't punish her too badly for her interference with Wen Chao's idiocy.

LWJ, WWX, Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang head to the city of Yueyang. There, they learn from a waiter that something is weird at the Chang house (the Changs being the Cultivators (which seems to me nothing more than magical aristocracy to me) of the region). There's knocking and screaming at night, but the doors are locked. During the day, investigations find the house empty, the entire clan simply vanished.

So naturally, LWJ, WWX and Jiang Cheng head over to the house. Nie Huaisang stays behind, as he's meeting Men Yao (the one with the adorable dimples). The three investigating cultivators approach the house a night. The Yin Iron goes crazy, knocking and screaming can be heard, so WWX Allohamoras the doors and they open to reveal an incredible slaughter.

WWX takes a look at some of the bodies, and reveals that before they died, they were all turned into puppets.

And that is where the episode ends. What's that... three in a row with endings that make sense?

What I Liked

The show is doing a great job of showing how well WWX and LWJ work together, despite LWJ trying really hard not to like the mischievous WWX. They fight well, they perform complementary magic, and they together, their ideas are pretty darn good.

I'm really enjoying what they're doing with Wen Qing. She's in an impossible position now, and we can plainly see that she's not evil, though she's one of the fire nation.  Alright, the Wen Clan.

Also, the fight with the Dire Owl (and the Dire Owl's CG) was decent. There wasn't any silly sword play, and the tension was decent this time around. Also, a great deal of humour, which I appreciated.

What Could Have Been Better

This is one of the episodes where there wasn't really anything to gripe about. The one fight scene was an affair if magic, so silliness in swordplay isn't an issue.

I do have to say that a lot of the blood looks definitely fake. For the record, blood doesn't bead like that. It looks like red oil in some instances. That, however, might be a censorship issue - what with blood and gore not allowed to appear too realistic. It might not, but I'm holding that in my mind, as there have been weirder issues in censorship in Western media over the years.

Honestly, though, if the only issue is that your blood doesn't look too bloody, then you're doing well.

Alright, that's all I have to say about this episode. I'll see you... or not... is anyone even reading these (not that it matters), next Monday.

​Ciao!