Li Lun, oh Li Lun (and you, too Zhao Yuanzhou) - Part 10 (and last) of musings on a silly tree
Previous part with links to those before can be found here:
https://www.tumblr.com/somethingponysomething/788533821535567872/li-lun-lends-a-helpful-branch-part-9-of?source=share
So.. before this got away from me (understatement), I started with, “I wanted to slap some sense into him for most of the series.” And that I ended up liking him. The previous parts are kind of a journey through GIFs to show how that happened. In a way.
There are a few things I didn’t get to squeeze in. Some of that was discussed in replies, so if something here sounds familiar, you may have read those.
As stated before, for a big part of the series, I thought Li Lun was an evil idiot. Who wanted to kill ZYZ over something in their past. ZYZ seemed to dislike him just as much (at first anyway). LL acted arrogant, thought mortals/humans (and ‘lesser’/weaker demons) were only there to be used for his (possession) purposes - that ended up killing them. He also thought no one (but him) was good enough to kill ZYZ. Even if he couldn’t actually do it himself.
It didn’t take long to become clear that LL and ZYZ used to be best friends. Just like it quicky turned out that ZYZ still had some form of feelings for LL left. I learned that some are convinced that those feelings aren’t real. (Which is fine. I can obviously be completely wrong.) ZYZ only displayed them out of sight of LL, so how would LL even know if all ZYZ did was say nasty things to him? (Which he totally did, up to the illusion where he basically apologised to LL before he was ‘killed’) Only.. LL was apparently the only once conscious enough to record a memory of what happened during and after he was sealed away, and showed that memory, including ZYZ’s words and clearly visible emotions, to everyone present. Or at least to WX – same difference: LL saw, so he knew. Unless that was a convenient, but in the end confusing, writing choice. *shrugs* Either way, it is fair to wonder why ZYZ, if he still considered LL a friend, did not visit him in his cave, talk it over and be besties (or at least on the same page) again. While LL, who wanted nothing more than to be free, remained sealed in there for all eternity. Or however long he would live, anyway. I thought about that. Probably more than a sane person would. And came to the same conclusion(s) every time.
1: How could Li Lun be consoled and appeased enough to come to terms with being locked up? Just because that was the only way to keep the ever burning fire from burning him up? I doubt it. Even though he was very angry with ZYZ, he’d probably have given him a chance to explain if he came to visit, eventually, but I doubt even ZYZ would have been able to convince LL that this was the only way not to burn to ashes quickly. Or that not burning to ashes was worth being sealed for. LL wanted to be free. Badly enough to willingly reduce his lifespan by possessing people, over and over. Just so he didn’t feel so trapped. If anything, ZYZ visiting him on a regular (or irregular) basis, or even come live with him in there for all I know, would increase that longing. Especially if ZYZ was free to leave. I don’t think there would be anything ZYZ could say or do to eliminate the bad blood and resentment between them. Except for freeing LL, which he could not do. Even apart from their different views. Like LL hating and looking down on humans, while ZYZ liked them so much he wanted to be (like) one of them. LL detesting the Baize goddess (and token) because he believed it was wrong for a human (even one with divine skills/power granted by an item) to have power and jurisdiction over demons, while ZYZ believed that the best way to keep the Wilderness and the human world safe and balanced, was with the Baize goddess (and token). To name a few. This falling out is beyond a candy and a pat on the head. ZYZ might explain that he didn’t mean to absorb the fire and didn’t expect it to instantly become part of his attacks, but he still attacked his friend to save what LL considered to be ants. (And I don’t think that was the first or only scratch on their friendship, but more about that later)
If you believe my reasoning is wrong here, please tell me. I would really like to know what ZYZ could have done or said that would have helped. I simply do not see it.
2: ZYZ’s depression wouldn’t let him. Depression is a bitch. It can do many things, but relevant here would be that it can make one avoid others, even push them away. Especially those closest to them. ZYZ was already not in his happy place, mentally, because he was the Vessel for all the Malicious energy in the world. He hated it that he could (and probably at some point would) destroy the world. Not being able to fix that by dying, because the next Vessel might be someone who’d happily use that power and he felt responsible for keeping both the Wilderness and the human world safe. The episode of malicious energy taking his body for a joyride to do quite a bit of killing made that worse. Chances are, he did not feel up to seeing LL. Because it would be too painful. Or too difficult. Or because he felt that it wouldn’t make a difference at all. Their break up could not be fixed. It made more sense in his head to cut LL off entirely. Also because ZYZ was planning to die. Why try to make up if he was only going to die anyway? This way, LL would not be affected when the time came.
Then why did ZYZ act the way he did about his new friends? At first, I think that he had to become part of the team. Which can’t be achieved by brooding in a dark corner. And well, it was only temporary. Only until ZYC killed him once and for all. So he put on his acting hat. But then they did bond and he did start to like them. And that was mutual. Oops.
Again, feel free to tell me your opinions!
Another thing is that the incident at the demon torture clinic can’t have been the first and only thing to kill their friendship. And it wasn’t even necessary if they (I’m looking at you, ZYZ) had relied less on mind reading and communicated. I’m sure ZYZ was also planning to save the demons. Just without the killing. One word spell ‘dream’ and all that. I think LL took being told off for killing those people for a personal attack. I took it as shock (on top of the shock of finding those poor demons) over LL doing that and risking severe punishment on returning to the Wilderness. But two who were in on the torturing gig could be explained somehow. Only then LL continued his spree upstairs. ZYZ only sealed the falling out with his surprise fire attack. Which was unexpected to both of them.
Buuuut I digress. Sorry.
I’m fairly sure ZYZ’s friendship with Zhao Wan’er/the Baize goddess didn’t sit well with LL. It’s impossible that LL did not know that. Yes, yes, ZYZ wore a mask whenever he was with her. A very effective one for c-drama, too, because it covered his whole face. But nothing else. If WX, who only ever saw him with the mask, thought he looked familiar without it, then LL, who was his closest friend, surely would have too. Not to mention that he had the Truth Eyes. If he had any doubts. LL’s opinion of the Baize goddess (whatever incarnation) is clear. He hates her. He thinks no human should have any say in any affairs related to demons. So his bestie having her as a second bestie/sister? Nope. That would only strengthen his idea that ZYZ put human over demons. Which was also kind of the point in the dungeon/clinic and throughout the series.
So.. that’s some gaps filled and too much out of me.
No GIFs this time. Or.. you know, I have one. Of LL after he died in the final battle.
Not sure it was his ghost, or sort of an echo of him after ZYZ.. helped ZYC activate the Truth Eye? Up for speculation, but I promised this would be the last one. So it is. I think.
