This story is dominantly about the character ZYZ. So, I wanted to talk about him and his involvement in the story for quite a while. (Please read other characters' storylines to get further details of ZYZ's storyline)
ZYZ is a character who shows numerous emotions and sides in this drama. He has spent tens of thousands of years trying very hard to control his malicious energy, drinking bitter jade water even though he doesn't need to eat or drink. He has seen and experienced a lot and grown world weary. His naturally curious and playful nature wore down as the time passed. He has always been adventurous spirit with a hint of mischoeviousness, yet being a kind and a forgiving soul. He would bring his childhood friend to the human world to experience what humans do and feel. Trying his best to understand their ways and emotions. It took him many thousands of years to learn human emotions, human emotions don't come naturally to demons.
YZ looked after him when he was young and taught him how to control his malicious energy as he was a vessel for it but he would sneak out to get best and easy to break walnuts for YZ and even get disciplined for leaving the mountain. However, YL's grandfather witnessed how beautiful ZYZ'a heart was, he was very attentive and kind hearted person. So, whenever ZYZ showed his yearn for death, YZ always found something to save him with, even to the point of sacrificing himself to save him. It was YZ who gave ZYZ jade and heartless herb mixture water to help him control his malicious energy. It is him who sends ZYZ message to come out of seclusion and do something to redeem himself instead.
His life took a fall when he encountered WZ's demon experimentation base under Jixin clinically, along with LL. LL very understandably was furious with humans for hurting demons. And started killing humans indescrimately. Poor ZYZ was very thoughtful person who cares deeply about humans and demons equally and understands that they both need to be treated justly. In an effort to stop LL he accidently hurted him with everburning wood. After the incident of him and LL falling out of friendship, it left him deeply scared and lonely. At this point he was loosing his will to live very fast, then the incidents of blood moon day hit the final nail in the coffin. Wildreness starts to fall apart because of the Baize Goddess dying and baize token missing. ZYZ felt extremely guilty and hated himself yet he couldn't end his life because he was extremely responsible person (killing himself will make some other person the vessel for malicious energy who could possibly be evil and misuse the power). He meets WX, looks after her but starts to like her while protecting her. So he decides to hand her to a place which he can trust, who will keep her safe and sound. Then he seals himself in his house so he couldn't be found and can't do more damage until he found out a right way he could have been killed that is by ZYC hands and his special sword. This way there will be no more vessels for malicious energy, it will end the cycle.
He makes a team for the specific purposes of finding the full token, saving wilderness and solving human/demon mystery cases before fulfilling his wish of getting killed by ZYC. However, things don't go his way, along the way as he interacts with the team mates and the world he shows his kind, compassionate, humorous, humble, playful, mischievous, broadminded, knowledgeable, wise, romantic, loyal, benevolent, funny, mighty and vulnerable sides to his team mates. He ends up changing their views of himself and the demons and most importantly he falls in love with WX and becomes a soulmate with ZYC. He has always admired WX for trying to learn and understand the demons to empathise with them, as she is the only human who has ever tried to do so. She understood his heart when everyone pointed fingers at him and alienated him. ZYC gave him understanding of a loyal friend and comrade in arms in the face of many challenges. Which changes the state of his heart and wears down his resolve to end himself. So he loves and cares for WX with a lot of restraint knowing he will have to die someday. On this journey, he tries his best to be a good friend to LL and ZYC always finding ways to help them emotionally and phycolgically. ZYZ being very wise and caring always tried to find ways to guide them out of their specific predicament. He taught ZYC demon world's perspectives and taught LL human world's perspectives. Eventually, got them to learn to meet half way at the line of peace between both races. Team starts to function as a family for him - loving and caring for each other and having fun while relying on each other even in the darkest of times.
Unfortunately, all good things come to an end although this team's journey was a beautiful dream for ZYZ, he was snapped out of it very rudely by the fate. WZ when he started to take action on his evil plans to ruin the humans and the demons a like, many of his friends died while protecting others. In order for WX to fix all the horrible disaster caused by WZ, ZYZ had to step in to end his life even though he now doesn't want to die anymore. ZYZ being a kindest soul, forced himself to break his promises to his love and to his best friend. He sacrificed himself and resigned himself to his fate in this lifetime again. Although, ZYZ was ready to die as a criminal from the beginning he ended up dying as all time hero. His remaining family made sure to spread the truth and looked after what he cared about and uphold his values and the justice and maintained peace between two races - his life long wish.
However, this time fate was not as cruel to ZYZ as past life of Yinglong, with ZYC's effort he saved ZYZ's shred of premordial spirit and ZYZ comes back to life to allow him to keep his promises.
So in my view, ZYZ is a very comprehensive, immaculate, diverse, awe-inspiring and lovable character. Even though he is a demon, people can understand and sympathise with his difficulties and struggles. He makes an unforgettable ever lasting impression and place in people's hearts 💕
So in my view, ZYZ is a very comprehensive, immaculate, diverse, awe-inspiring and lovable character. Even though he is a demon, people can understand and sympathise with his difficulties and struggles. He makes an unforgettable ever lasting impression and place in people's hearts 💕
wonderful take about ZYZ's character! love this last paragraph 🥰
ZYC and his involvement in the story (more details of ZYZ's storyline) Its so much fun to talk about these wonderful and comprehensive characters that i get carried away 💕
ZYC had a very complex childhood. He belonged to bingyi clan who are nemesis of demons. Binyi clan sword can kill any God or a demon if used in a right way. He was always contemplating the ways of the world and then trying to understand the wise words of his elder brother. He was very close to his brother always playing and training with him. His brother taught him many things, he was more like father, mother and friend to him. When his father and brother were killed on blood moon day, He was left with nothing but a sword which he didn't know how to use properly. His brother always cared for him and kept him safe. To help protect ZYC from his nightmares that he will become a demon, he got scale of RL. From then on he stopped dreaming. His brother knew he wasn't ready to face this forbodding dream yet.
WX was adopted by Mr Fan and becomes ZYC's aunt. She finds him in very low spirits, grieving, anxious, depressed and lonely. She gives him emotional support and she told him soon his worries and troubles will go away and he will be able to move on. He will change his white clothes to his favourite blue colour just like snow will melt and spring will be bringing in many colours, life and happiness. She taught him to stop indulging in sadness and lifted him up to follow in his father's and brothers steps. He works hard to learn the cloud light sword techniques. Thus, she influences him to be stronger and braver man and teaches him how to cope with his grief. They both give each other company and become good childhood friends while ZYC harbours romantic feelings for her.
Although, chungwu camp was supposed to be a place to protect humans, it was corrupt, ruthless and brutal. It missused its power to kill many demons unjustly without trials to sell their furs and bones to make money. Also, killed many humans and confiscated their homes. Therefore, together with like minded people he pushed for demon hunting bureau to be revived. He established himself as a very upright and caring official amongst humans. People held him in high regard as a defender of humans. He prided himself in doing so. Unlike chunwu camp, ZYC and WX treated demons fairly only punishing them if they were proved guilty of killing, of committing crimes and spreading evil etc. ( which was still not right for demons as WX discovered some demons were bound to lie all their life until their last breath so human laws needed to be reformed for the demons)
When ZYZ arrived demading that he wants to be part of demon hunting team and help solve mysterious cases, he had to fight his wish to avenge his father's and brother's death for the greater good. He couldn't bring himself to trust the notorious and very powerful demon ZYZ to be helpful or sincere yet he forced himself to listen to ZYZ when he reminded him of the human value that to know ones fault and wants to change its a very great virtue. So, despite being resentful and heart full of want to take revenge, he decides otherwise to work with ZYZ along with all the other team members for the greater good of humans. Meanwhile, ZYZ came to make a team with him and WX because he knew they were trustworthy.
During the journey he sees many sides of ZYZ, difficulties of the demons and the injustices done to the demons. He starts to see things from their perspective. He re-evalutes the prejudice humans have against the demons. He along with all the team members change and learn to trust, understand and empathise with the demons. However, his emotions were syill very conflicted due to blood debt between him and ZYZ. He faces his nightmare of becoming a demon and remembers his brother's teachings and overcomes it. He becomes more open hearted and open minded towards accepting ZYZ and goes past his want to get justice to see the real reasons behind ZYZ's and other demons's actions. He realises how great a man ZYZ is despite being a demon. He sees himself in BJ and starts to reflect his big brothers values in himself to give BJ love, care, guidance and protection he received. At the same time, ZYZ gradually becomes his friend, companion and elder brother, who played, bikered, joked with him, protected and guided him. ZYZ taught him binyi clan's true fighting techniques and the past secrets. Both fought along side each other being comrade in arms against the strong and cunning villians. ZYC with his bold, brave, smart and righteousness seeking nature helped solve many mysterious cases. ZYZ reshaped ZYC principles showing him sometimes its nessecary to look beyond the biased rigid human laws and make reajustments and compromises to bring about peace and justice among two races. He started to think more like WX who could empathise with demons a lot better than the other humans. When he was deceived by BJ (possessed by LL at this point he didn't know) into planting a 'soul trapping' needle in ZYZ's forehead, he was crying like he was about to loose his brother. He forced himself to fight and disarm ZYZ in his evil consciousness.
Unfortunately he was mislead by LL in BJ's body to implant soul trapping needle in ZYZ. He thought it was a way to save him so he doesn't have to kill him. He fought ZYZ very carefully, so as not to kill him. In contrast, ZYZ was fighting him with full power which cracked and damaged his sword. Before he could put the needle inZYZ, WX came and informed him not to do this because it will harm ZYZ. So, he immediately stopped. WX took over healing ZYZ with her repaired baize token. Meanwhile ZYC went to fight LL. He was badly defeated by LL while trying to take BJ's body back. It was too late, LL soul took over BJ's. They all were davestated, because the sword chose ZYC as his master their fate was connected. Since it was broken, it meant ZYC will die soon too. BJ wasn't around to offer medical advice either. YL along with PSJ tried to think of way to increase ZYC's vitality so he can hold on. By the time YL got wood from widerness (getting injured to get it), LL managed to release Bingyi's blood towards ZYC. This was even more dangerous situation then before, explained by ZYZ because he doesn't have demon core to store all the demonic energy released by the Bingyi's demonic blood. ZYC hurted people when he was controlled by the demonic energy but never killed anyone. AY framed him and he became very afraid and xonfused that he even tried to kill WX, a person he cared for a lot. At first he couldn't accept it and people started to hate him and discriminate against him whether he committed a crime or not. All his good deeds were forgotten. Although his friends tried to protect him he felt lost and overwhelmed, so he ran away.
On the way, ZYC encountered LL. LL wanted demon ZYC to understand his point of view ensuring he was misunderstood and shunned by humans. Showing him how he went from hero to villian in their eyes, after all he has done for them. However, ended up making ZYC understand ZYZ better that he is not a coward but very righteous demon who still cares to fight to protect innocent humans and treat them with justice even when he is gravely misunderstood, misjudged and prejudiced against by them. It takes a strong heart to be rational, kind and just to the people who wrongs you, especially if you have power to destroy them in an instant but your morals and principles are strong enough to make you do what's right. So, LL fails to turn ZYC to his side too. However, ZYC does think LL is pitiful and he may be the loneliest person in the world. LL tried to make ZYC into an outcast but it didn't work ZYC still chose to be righteous and upright and to protect others with his powers and sword
When he became a demon he became more closer to ZYZ, because he experienced the world from new perspective being in ZYZ shoes. He experienced first hand how it feels to be blamed and procecuted for something he hasn't done consciously. Although he didn't kill anyone (ZYZ did) he could feel the pain ZYZ felt for hurting people while not wanting to, being controlled and manipulated by demonic energy. He said to ZYZ if he understood what he understands now he would have dropped the sword. He realised that he was being stubborn before. He also asked ZYZ to look after WX as he was dying. He couldn't protect her anymore. Then ZYC, ZYZ, WX and PSJ decided to go to Bingyi clan's forbidden place in the wilderness to find a way to restore the sword. Before going in, he told ZYZ that he was regretful of whatever mean things he said to ZYZ. ZYZ told him he has forgotten all of it already because he doesn't hold grudges. ZYC also mentioned that he knows that all those time ZYZ deliberately let him win and he pretended to be afraid of him he was never scared because he wasn't even afraid of death. He deliberates that can they consider not restoring the sword then ZYZ will be able to live on. But ZYZ didn't want to live if it meant ZYC and the world dying because of it (This conversation between them was ironically similar to the one between Bingyi and Yinglong) So, ZYC begs ZYZ not to die even if the sword is restored. ZYZ put him at ease promising he won't seek death anymore (secretly knowing that he might not be able to keep it)
However, fate had different plans. In Yinglong's test, ZYZ is shown the past that he will have to die like Yinglong to save the world and ZYC is shown the future that he will kill his friend to help him save the world. ZYC painfully accepted this fate yet he always hoped he wouldn't have to do this. Yinglong was very impressed by the bonds between WX, PSJ, ZYC and ZYZ. Both did what he expected of them to do or otherwise he would have trapped them in the illusion in his soul forever. Yinglong told them they should cherish their friendship its very rare to find a soulmate. He explained to them that the cloud light sword not only kills the enemy but it protects too. So, it helped ZYC solves his identity crisis. He realised he can still be who he is, he can protect innocents with his sword whether he is demon or human. The sword will help him do that as long as he is on the side of good. Very importantly, Yinglong says by the end of this journey, I hope all of your troubles and difficulties were false alarm and a big dream. Forbodding that their future might turn out to be different from Yinglong/Bingyi's. Yinglong explains to them how to restore the sword and gives ZYC a core (mixture of his final bone and Bingyi's demon blood). Thus, ZYC becomes a dragon demon. To which ZYZ disagrees insisting he is a stubborn mule demon which provokes ZYC into claiming ZYZ is a monkey. So, this never ending saga continues between them.
Later when WX was doing one word spell act with all of the members and ZYC missed the memo, he wouldn't let anyone destroy his core for any reason. ZYZ was touched by his care and his heart was warmed. They got dragon princess's scale successfully.When ZYZ exhausted his powers to repair the sword, he requested ZYC to spare LL. Along with the team mates they all helped to convince LL to leave BJ's body and transfer to a pagoda root. It was through this event ZYC had the idea later that he could save ZYZ's soul in this way too. Thus, ZYC learned to see past written laws and show compassion/mercy to LL for his friend's sake.
The repairing of sword using ever burning wood damaged ZYZ's core and used all of his demonic energy. It would take long time to recover leaving him weaker then normal humans. Finding this out ZYC gets upset but offers his protection to ZYZ from now on. ZYC also helped to take the ever burning wood out of ZYZ which was another curse ZYZ was carrying (no one except ZYC could help him do this) and WZ made so many attempts on ZYZ's life to get this fire. He was finally freed of this painful torment.
Eventually, he ended up loosing so many friends close to him in the final battle as well. All the friends made a choice to sacrifice themselves to either save a sister, daughter, lover, brother or all humans/demons in general. He had to force himself to kill his best friend in order to save the world. However his desparate effort and wish to save his bff bore fruits and eventually he will be reunited with him again because he saved his soul and live happily ever after since all of the teams' sacrifices and efforts has made the world peaceful and both races are living respecting each other, meeting half way on the line of peace.
ZYC is extremely impactful character who showed significant constructive development. His enemies to friends journey was very intriguing and captivating. He moved many hearts and enchanted them with his magnificent transformation from a duckling to a maginificent and elegant swan. From innocent, cared for lonely boy, he came to be a powerful human turned demon ( like ZYZ his white streaks signify his incredible demon strength) who is caring, understanding and just to everyone. Although his journey wasn't smooth he got to a place where his late brother pointed and inspired him to be at.
LL and his involvement in the story. It took me a while to go through his storyline but finally got to finish it! 💕💫(More details of ZYZ's storyline)
LL was a pagoda tree demon. He was child hood friend of ZY. YZ (YL's grandfather) was friends with both of them. He would often admonish and advise them and give them human money for their adventurous trips in human world. YZ would also train ZY how to control his malicious energy. ZY took LL to the human world after getting baize order stamps. While ZY was always fascinated and impressed by human ways their cleverness, wisdom, knowledge and improvisation, LL always looked down on humans, he scoffed at them being weaker than demon. He only went to the human world to keep his friend company. LL once heard a child crying wanting to get a rattle drum and he wanted to use magic to somehow stop him from crying. ZY bought drum toy for the kid to make him happy and gave another one to LL. He explained to him that demons can do many things with just a blink or breath but these simple human treasures can achieve great things with minimal effort too. This toy has the power to make someone happy when they are sad or upset. Time went by human world changed quicker then wilderness, when they were travelling in human world again LL felt wilderness was boring comparatively. ZY liked an umbrella, however it was expensive so he didn't buy it and LL said he doesn't need an umbrella he doesn't understand why humans use an umbrella to hide because LL's principle was never to hide or retreat. But when it rained, he decides to buy it as a gift for ZY to shelter him from rain. Another time, ZYZ gave him his truth eye in return LL gave him his pagoda tree root.
LL and ZY grew up to be very powerful demons in the wilderness so they swore an oath to protect it at the tree of heavens stone. One day on their human world travels, they took a shelter in Jixin clinic from the rain and found an underground demon experimentation hideout. Demons were locked up, tortured and killed there. LL was furious seeing his race treated so brutally and viouciously by humans. Unfortunately, he put all human in the same pool and started killing humans indiscriminately. ZY who believed in fairness, cherished all life and fights for justice for both races tried to stop him. However, ignorant of the fact that what he accidently absorbed was everburning wood in his body and he hurted LL with it. Pagoda trees are most afraid of fire while ever burning wood was most powerful and never cooling fire. It meant LL was slowly burning to ashes. LL and ZY parted ways on having very different perspectives as the after effect of the event. LL lost his best friend and was on his way to turn into ashes. He never liked humans now he saw their most vile, greedy, ambitious and villainous side, not helping their case in his eyes. He was consumed by want for revenge from humans and ZY for not standing on his side or not agreeing with his perspective on top of that hurting him very seriously for the sake of another race. He felt utterly betrayed and disappointed in their friendship bond. He thought ZYZ was lying and deceiving him all this time and he was a coward that's why he didn't attack humans like him.
Consequently, Baize Goddess convinces ZY that LL needs to be punished for killing innocent humans and also must be sealed away to his birth place in order to save his life. ZYZ reluctantly agrees. LL gets sealed away but after that red moon events are triggered which makes the wilderness endangered and humans world chaotic due to demons seeking shelter there escaping wilderness . LL hated being saved in this way, he would rather have burnt to ashes then being imprisoned in this place alone for eternity. He liked moving around a lot. He looked outside wanting to see all the scenries wondered what everyone else was upto but had no one to talk to him or care about him for years. LL and ZYZ missed their chance to make up as ZYZ was plagued with mishaps on the day of LL's imprisonment due to loosing control of malicious energy. LL found a way to be in touch with outside world by possessing people. He could parasitise on other living creatures and control their behaviour and their dreams. However, doing this hurted people as his demonic energy would damage their organs if possessed for too long and it hurted him too, reducing his lifespan everytime he did it.
When ZYZ came out of the seclusion and joined the demon hunting team to find baize token to help WX restore the wilderness and Mount Kunlun. LL joined hands with WZ to obstruct ZYZ carrying out his goals but also manipulating certain events and producing mysterious demon/cases to ensure they have found the baize token and are able to use it before executing his grand plan of destroying the baize token so that he is free from the seal. During these cases and events he never killed or severely injured YL due to being close friend with YZ once. Also even though he threatened to kill ZYZ's friends and especially Baize Goddess he never went through with it. ZYZ even noticed this and told WX (before she found baize token and before ZYC learned all of the cloud light sword techniques) that he could easily have killed any of you if he really wanted to.
LL was carrying out his revenge plan on humans by cooperating with WZ not knowing WZ's true hidden plans and motives. He hated that ZYZ had new friends and he got along well with them. He especially hated his mortal friends as he thought that ZYZ as a powerful demon should be above them, humans are too devious and insignificant to be worthy of being demon's friends. He also challenged the Baize order especially had problem with Goddess's position and authority over demons. He felt that all humans were hypocrites so he usually asked them a question if its better to be human or a demon. If he felt they lied he would kill them instantly. When he tried to destroy Baize token, YZ tried to remind him that not allowing them to restore wilderness will doom most of the weaker demons who can't take human shape and go into human world. LL too stubborn to admit his carelessness argued that the stronger ones will survive, it doesn't matter if weaker ones die, they all will triumph over human race. Since he decided to fight the humans he only ever looked at them negatively, even disregarded his oath to protect wilderness while seeking revenge.
After freeing himself from Baize Goddess's seal by damaging baize token, (fulfilling his part of the deal with WZ) he makes an arrangements to plant his core in BJ knowing that he is descendent of Bai Yan, so he will be a good match. He knew his body was going to quickly turn in to ashes after seal is removed. Therefore, in return for executing WZ's schemes, he secured BJ's body as his new body. This time possession was different his soul was taking over BJ's soul, locking it away unless ZYC uses his sword to separate LL's soul from BJ's body.
While he was holding WX hostage along with having the only yao water in his possession, he planned to test her wisdom, her courage, her undertanding of two very different races, her sincerity to the humans/demons, her understanding of her position/purpose. Although he didn't want to admit it, her eloquent and thought provoking answers forced him swallow his prejudice against her. Even though he still didn't accept her authority over him he did see her sincerity, care and concern for living beings including demons and ZYZ. He could not pry any hypocritical answers out of her to give him chance to justify killing her. Changing his plan/questions he tried to turn WX against ZYZ but he failed in doing so.
Even though, LL fell out of friendship with ZYZ, he secretly hoped that ZYZ would think again and change sides with him against humans. However, that never happened and he felt more and more jealous of the friendship ZYZ had with his teammates and he felt extremely lonely comparatively. He believes that ZYZ doesn't care about him anymore and had given up on him but in truth ZYZ still cared and tried many times to convince him to stop and turn around, but all efforts went in vain because LL didn't understand or compromise.
Unfortunately for LL, when he was testing WX he gave her a clue that some of his demonic power was in the toy rattle drum that ZYZ gave to him. When demon hunting team came to get yao water and save WX, she destroyed his drum to help reduce his power. LL agitated by ZYZ showing care and concern only for his other friends decides to fight them till the end. While others managed to escape, both ZYZ and ZYC fought LL. He hated that ZYZ used the very umberella he gave him as gift to hurt him. On top of that ZYZ attacks accelerated LL's demise as it made him burn faster. LL was shocked and breaks down while burning to ashes. He showed his disappointment in ZYZ's friendship. ZYZ reminded him it was him who left him and chose different path. Then, LL complains how could he get him sealed off for eternity in one place knowing he would hate it so much that he would rather die turning into ashes.
Eventually, LL body burns away leaving ZYZ very regretful. They thought he has died but he woke up in BJ's body. Since he has just transffered his power, he was weaker in this body. So he could only use it when BJ was asleep. When ZYZ lost his senses and was about to loose his conciousness, LL used BJ's body to decieve ZYC into using his soul trapping needle to take control of ZYZ. He lied to ZYC that it would put ZYZ to sleep and restored Baize token can save him later but the truth was it would subdue ZYZ's conciousness completely allowing LL to control him. LL planned to use ZYZ as a weapon against human world showing the world that demons are superior and malicious energy contained in his body is not a curse but a blade. Fortunately, LL's plan failed when WX and PSJ figures out that LL is still alive and has mislead them. She uses yao water on the divine wood repairing it and stops ZYC just in time before he puts that needle in ZYZ's forehead.
LL beats up ZYC very badly perhaps angry because his plan failed due to these mortal friends. He even broke the cloud light sword (it was already damaged by ZYZ being too powerful controlled by malicious energy). WX brings ZYZ back to his senses after healing them using her baize token. Both of them face LL, ZYZ asks LL why is he siding with WZ, LL informs he is using the foolish human WZ. He thought WZ was just over ambitious greedy human who wanted to shine and climb the ladder higher after creating chaos then pretending to solve it. Getting rid of demon hunting team and killing ZYZ to take credit and rewards from the king. ZYZ was flabbergasted hearing this tells him that he is the naive one, even 10 year old human child might be smarter than him. It's WZ who has been using him to hinder any protection or restoration of the wilderness. He told him that he has confirmed that WZ and his undwrlings are the same people who were doing experiments on demons in the research underground lab in Jixin clinic. The people he has been working with are the same people who became reason for them splitting their paths. He elaborated that WZ has demonised humans using research and real demon's powers don't work on them. Hearing this LL is taken a back and thought ZYZ and WX were lying to him but they told him to confirm it himself by going to Chungwu camp's secret dungeon.
LL goes there to see many demons brutally tortured to death and beast blood markings covered walls that he saw under in Jixin clinic many years ago. He wanted to kill WZ but he was a step ahead he poisoned BJ's body already. He told LL to obey him to get an antidote or he will die soon and tries to imprison him. However, being a pagoda tree spirit the cage could not hold him. LL refused to work with him from then on even if it costed him his life. BJ's body was dying, to slow down the poison AY stole humans livers. LL's plan was to make ZYC demon to save him because only he could use the sword to separate LL soul from BJ body. However, the sword still needed to be reforged. He wanted demon ZYC to understand his point of view ensuring he was misunderstood and shunned by humans. Showing him how he went from hero to villian in their eyes, after all he has done for them. However, ended up making ZYC understand ZYZ better that he is not a coward but very brave and righteous demon who still cares to fight to protect innocent humans and treat them with justice even when he is gravely misunderstood, misjudged and prejudiced against by them. It takes a strong heart to be rational, kind and just to the people who wrongs you, especially if you have power to destroy them in an instant but your morals and principles are strong enough to make you do what's right. So, LL fails to turn ZYC to his side too. However, ZYC feels that LL is pitiful thinking that he may be the loneliest person in the world. LL tried to make ZYC into an outcast but it didn't work ZYC still chose to be righteous and upright and to protect others with his powers and sword. By this time LL has stopped cooperating with WZ and knows in his heart that he was wrong to do so but he is still close minded towards humans.
When AY learns about dragon princess scale being able to fix anything. She tries her best to steal it to cure LL. ZYZ knew that they would try to steal it. What he didn't know was that LL was poisoned he was not trying take it to stop them from reforging the sword but to cure the poison in BJ's body. When YL is captured by LL he hears that LL/BJ's body is poisoned and is dying. AY wanted to take his liver to help slow down the poison but LL stops her and tells her that their is no point he can't be cured and prepares himself to die and tries to consoles AY who didn't want him to die.
Subsequently, AY learns that there is no antidote for this poison but she can use her demonic power to absorb all of LL's poison to cure him. Therefore, LL is saved by AY but loses the only friend he had currently. YL and PSJ sees the whole thing unfold. LL faints due to grief when he wakes up ZYZ is waiting for him to have a heart to heart talk with him. ZYZ suggests that LL was wrong from the start and LL doesn't deny it, at this point he has understood this much the hard way unfortunately. However, he still feels sour that ZYZ wants to be a human and LL himself doesn't want to do that. So, ZYZ suggests that they should try to draw and reminds him that in the past LL didn't mind doing that for his friend. LL seeing a ray of hope asks how to draw after all he has done and said? ZYZ asks him to leave BJ body unfortunately before ZYZ could finish saying what his complete offer was, LL assumes that ZYZ wants him to die for BJ. Misleading him into believing that ZYZ doesn't care about him at all anymore and everyone else is more important than LL's life in his eyes.
LL felt cornered, felt distort and became unreasonably voilant. When he attacked ZYZ, that is when he found out that ZYZ has lost all of his demonic energy and felt very disappointed in ZYZ for making a complete mess out of himself for others. ZYZ became weaker than normal humans . So, everyone else jumped in to save BJ and spare LL while doing so. LL was going all out thinking they are all trying to kill him, but everyone was trying to control him without hurting his vital organs. They were trying to keep their promise to ZYZ to spare LL. He hurted most of the team very badly especially YL but YL was determined to save BJ so he used his magic and his body to hold LL in place so ZYC can aim correctly. At this point they told him that the plan is not to kill him but to transfer him into a pagoda root, a way for him to survive and cultivate into his human form again . It was last act of mercy from ZYZ but it meant alot to LL and touched by ZYZ and the team's efforts to help him and to compromise with him, he finally had a change of heart. So he transferred to the root leaving a message to ZYZ that this time we draw, meaning he will not fight them any further.
Supposedly this was the end for LL, but WZ became an immortal powerful demon and hatched his brutal and evil plans to destroy all humans and demons. ZYZ and ZYC facing WZ head on were caught in most difficult situation and when everything looked beyond salvaging, LL decided to force himself to take human form and save his friend and fight the crazy WZ along with them. All three of them fighting together was not enough to defeat him. So, LL decided to make others more powerful, he gave his truth eye to ZYC and half of his demonic power yo him and the other half to ZYZ. Then he sacrificed himself to shield them from WZ's attacks. Thus, he died protecting his friend and keeping his promise to protect the wilderness.
LL started out the same as ZYZ, had the same learning opportunities and spent the same amount of time in the human world along with ZY yet facing the same calamity LL had different reaction to ZY. ZY was more stronger than LL because he was righteous, broadminded, kind hearted and a just demon. His heart was always clear, he never held grudges and wanted to do good for demons/humans. Although they were almost equal in power LL was weaker in character, wisdom, heart cultivation, stubbornely held prejudices against humans refusing to admit that there can be good and bad humans, they are not all the same. Insisting on looking at there negative sides and refusing to look past their bad traits to look into their good ones. These differences set one on wrong path and other on good path when tested by fate. Their perspectives became very different which made them split paths. LL's arrogance, his superiority complex that demons are better than humans, his habit of holding on to grudges and being petty and narrowminded hindered him from stopping and turning around or atleast meeting his friend half way. He stubbornly blamed ZYZ for their friendship break up and refused to reflect on himself until he was proven wrong and saw with his own eyes what his collaboration with WZ and his own actions led to. He became hopelessly lost and lonely. ZYZ from beginning to the end tried to change him and make him understand. As a last try he asked LL to draw or to tie with him by leaving BJ's body in exchange for helping him move to a pagoda tree root. ZYZ and others didn't have to spare his life because his mistakes and bad deeds were unforgivable. But this last act of mercy from them trying their best to avoid killing him when saving BJ to spare his life too made his heart change. Thus, instead of living new life selfishly he chose to abandon his cultivation to save his friend and complete his abandoned oath to protect the wilderness. He couldn't live happy friendly life with others as a consequence of his past actions but given the chance to stop now and turn things around he died accomplishing it. At the very least he didn't die on the wrong path and redeemed himself unlike WZ who died on twisted path of revenge, trying to take down humans his own race along with the demons. LL's character provided us contrast to ZYZ's character. They had similarities because they were demons and they grew side by side yet they had differences because of the paths they chose.
Very well written! I loved Zhao Yuanzhou the most on my first watch, and I found Zhuo Yichen and Li Lun equally complex and fascinating on my second. My only regret is that the scriptwriter didn't show more details about each of their backstories and the complete landscape of that world. Maybe with a little more storytelling and a full 40 episodes, I would feel more satisfied. Anyway, after reading your analysis, I feel that my regret has been at least partially filled :-)
ZYHLJ:
Very well written! I loved Zhao Yuanzhou the most on my first watch, and I found Zhuo Yichen and Li Lun equally complex and fascinating on my second. My only regret is that the scriptwriter didn't show more details about each of their backstories and the complete landscape of that world. Maybe with a little more storytelling and a full 40 episodes, I would feel more satisfied. Anyway, after reading your analysis, I feel that my regret has been at least partially filled :-)
Many thanks for reading it.💓 I absolutely love ZYZ as well 😍 and that is why I love seeing his complex, comprehensive and cohesive relationship with other characters in details too. I like other characters too, they very enjoyable and vital to the story as well. There are so many intricate layers in the drama, I love finding details of characters in the storyline. I know it would have been wonderful if we had a novel for it and more back stories in the script would have been satisfying too because the drama story lines are so captivating. However, here we are, I am enjoying what I liked to the fullest. 💖
