wshaffer | Episode 44: Your Demon-Subdue Melody Needs More Cowbell

Zhanalytics

Brooding Stares: 12

Intense Eye Contact: 1

Facial Twitch: 2

Fist Clench: 0

I like the way that Mianmian the elder catches herself before she blurts out "Wei Wuxian!"

"You were looking for the Yiling Patriarch? Don't you know he eats children?" Wei Wuxian is still super cute with the kids. Little Mianmian seems kind of skeptical of him, though.

This sweet reunion is interrupted by screaming of some kind. Our heroes go to investigate and are greeted by Wen Ning covered in mud and leaves. "I'm sorry, young master, did I scare you two?" Wen Ning, what are you doing, you adorable goofball?

Wen Ning's got blood on his hands. But he explains it's not human blood. He had to fight a bunch of puppets along the way.

It's the Yiling tea house. Aw, Lan Zhan smiles a little seeing that.

But then Wei Wuxian has to think about Yuan again. "If that boy were alive, he would be a teenager now." Is Lan Zhan going to say anything? Does Lan Zhan know? How could Lan Zhan not know?

They fight a bunch more puppets, and make their way to the Burial Mounds.

Demon-Subdue Palace. Home sweet home.

Then they get attacked by more puppets.

Wei Wuxian explains that his current body lacks spiritual power, so he can't really use his sword. Well, that's a really convenient excuse, but he wasn't using his sword a whole lot before he died and was resurrected.

Speaking of swords, somebody's piled up a bunch in this cave. And tied up a bunch of juniors.

Wei Wuxian hands over his sword to Wen Ning, who walks menacingly towards the juniors...and cuts their ropes. I love the way that they are all absolutely scared shitless of "The Ghost General" and do not yet realize that he is an absolute cinnamon roll.

Sizhui explains how he knows Wei Wuxian didn't hire anyone to kidnap him. "I've known you were tragically poor long before." I love that little twinkling bit of music that plays when someone says something particularly funny. (Also, you know who's not tragically poor? The Jin Clan. Just sayin'. )

Awkward silence between Jin Ling and Wei Wuxian.

Just as they're about to leave, Wen Ning is propelled back into the cave. Someone outside is calling for Jin Ling. It's our favorite Angry Grape.

Wow, everybody's here. Including Lan Qiren. Who is Very Disappointed when Lan Zhan does not abandon Wei Wuxian and return to him. Dude, you beat the crap out of him last time.

Okay, two people are not here. Jin Guangyao and Zewu Jun. Someone attempted to assassinate Jin Guangyao, and Zewu Jun is trying to save him. Really, Zewu Jun? Also, did someone really attempt to assassinate Jin Guangyao, or did he fake it to have an excuse not to take part in this particular confrontation? Jin Guangyao seems to be engaged in so many layers of manipulation that I can't tell whether anything around him happens without his direct connivance.

Nie Huaisang doesn't know anything about what is going on. Nie Huaisang is so not a badass.

Everyone gets to air their grievances against Wei Wuxian.

The discussion is interrupted by another wave of attacking puppets. And then a bunch of folks start losing their spiritual power. This is not a good time to be losing your spiritual power.

Sizhui suggests that everyone come inside Demon-Subdue palace. There's a magic circle that they might be able to mend.

Is that Nie Huaisang with a sword? I didn't think he knew how to use a sword.

Wei Wuxian's spiritual power might be disrupted, but he can fix a magic circle.

Wei Wuxian is going to explain how they were all poisoned. It will take four hours for their spiritual power to return.

Su She is really working hard to discredit Wei Wuxian. Yeah, Wei Wuxian knows what Su She is up to.

This is all coming down to incorrectly played music again.