Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation

Vol 2 brings Wei Wuxian and Lan Wanjii further on their quest to quiet the dismembered arm from vol 1, with the introduction of additional villains along the way. With a universe of undefined magic with rules made up as the author goes, the outcomes are not entirely satisfying, but our protagonists are likeable and get out of scrapes using the same non-rules based preternatural abilities. With an answer close at hand, the quest continues and an escape ushers in Vol 3.

3.5 stars

This instalment is the utmost perfect mix between comforting sweet moments and pure emotional pain. I feel like this also can be applied to the whole story, but it is particularly true in this second book.

This second book introduces new secondary characters, and develops our main cast further. Characters such as Xiao Xingchen, Song Lan, A-Qing, Xue Yang and Jin Guangyao become much more prevalent, and I enjoyed learning more about each and every one of them. We also spend some time with the juniors (looking at you Jin Ling, Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi), who develop a sweet and funny chemistry; they are a bunch of chaotic juniors and are all very precious.
Contrary to the first instalment, we don't explore the past of Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji too much in this one. Rather, we focus on the development of their relationship; Wei Wuxian learns to deal with this Lan Wangji of the present that he finds he doesn't know as well as he thought, and Lan Wangji keeps on enduring his shenanigans, all the while staying stubbornly at his side. As readers, we're still not clear on what happened to him in these 13 year-gap, nor are we clear on his intentions, although that part is becoming more and more clear. We are starting to get snippets of Lan Wangji's point of view, which offers insight on his perspective, and most importantly, on his feelings.

The book is divided into three clear arcs, each more impactful than the last. Here is where the emotional pain comes in, and I was not ready. Full spoiler review of each of them below:

1. The Yi City arc is in my opinion more painful in the book than in the live-action adaptation. Despite the fact that we don't have as many visual cues, the description of events and little details included in this arc are enough to twist the knife even further. Xue Yang imitating perfectly Xiao Xingchen, indicating how much time he spent with him? Song Lan's fatal injury was through his heart?? Xiao Xingchen's soul shatters when he dies??? This whole arc is so incredibly tragic, every one of them gets destroyed in a more or less painful way (let's be real, much more than less). It does an incredible job at showcasing how much they mean to each other, since their bonds are only amplified through everything they have to go through. Even Xue Yang didn't know what to do with himself after Xiao Xingchen dies, now that he defeated his enemy and finds himself all alone. I have particular feelings for Song Lan, who witnessed everything, lost everything, and now has to go on living. Wei Wuxian nodded. “What are your plans for the future?” Song Lan wrote: Carry Shuanghua, walk the worldly path. Exorcise evil together with Xingchen. He paused briefly, then wrote: Once he wakes, tell him – it was not your fault. The words he was unable to say to Xiao Xingchen while he was alive (MXTX p.176).

2. The second arc is a sweet one! Very much needed after the Yi City arc. We get our second scene with a drunk Lan Wangji, and things are definitely taken up a level between him and Wei Wuxian here! This scene is excellent, although it skirts consent a little close; it helps that Lan Wangji has deep feelings for Wei Wuxian, but he's still drunk! There are many very sweet moments in this arc, each more comforting than the last.

3. Can I call this arc Paperman Wei Wuxian?? This little spell of his is adorable. As we get to Jin Lintai, the plot progresses much more quickly. We learn a big deal of the main quest that our protagonists are undertaking, as well as who our antagonists are. I loved the dynamic between the Three Zun, it was very interesting to see where each of them came from and where they met up. Lan Xichen is becoming a favourite very quickly! He remains forever calm and kind, which serves as a good contrast to Lan Wangji's coldness and aloof stance. Speaking of our main cast, for Lan Wangji, the fact that he expresses himself through actions rather than words is an incredible strength of his character. Everything he does thus becomes much more impactful. The moments when he makes himself vulnerable, particularly with Wei Wuxian, are what allows us to grasp his intentions and feelings. As for Wei Wuxian, he's still as thick as in the first book! He's incredibly smart, and we get to see it in full action in this arc, as he sees through the events and the antagonists' intent. But when it comes to emotions and feelings, he's definitely putting his head in the sand. There is still the mystery of what happened to him 13 years ago that remains, and he's also not emotionally dealing with that at the moment. He's carrying some weight from it all, but he puts up his usual happy front, even for us the reader. Let me end this section on his realization at the end of the book: But he hadn't expected it to turn out like this. When everyone was praising him out of fear, Lan Wangji rebuked him to his face. When everyone spat and hated on him, Lan Wangji stood by his side (MXTX p.351)

All in all, this is a must try series. I can't recommend it enough, in any medium you prefer. Book 2 was a step up from book 1, which was already fantastic, from a storytelling perspective. I remain aware of the translation issues that persist in this book, thanks to the efforts of reviewers here. I still wish that more efforts had gone into the translation and edition process from the publisher. However, as English speakers, we do have access to this incredible story, and in itself, I am grateful for that too.

So I???ve been going through these books pretty quickly because I can???t put them down, and I have to say, this volume is VERY much a step up from the previous one in terms of plot.

First, I have to admit: I clearly see why the fans of this series ship Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji so very, very hard. Their romantic connection really starts chugging along in this novel compared to the last one, and I have to say I???m enjoying the ride thus far. It???s hilarious reading about how Lan Wangji tries to hide his feelings from Wei Wuxian, while also expecting Wei Wuxian to remember things that he clearly does not. Wei Wuxian, on the other hand, is obviously on an emotional rollercoaster as he goes through the highs and lows of ???Am I or aren???t I???? regarding his romantic feelings for Lan Wangji, and while it???s funny, it also makes me hope he gets over himself fast enough so that he can stop breaking Lan Wangji???s heart whenever he plays things off as a joke, or claims not to remember something (even if that last bit is often true).

They also actually develop as characters in this volume, as compared to the previous one, so it???s easier to be even more attached to them and want to see what happens to them as the story goes on. On top of that, the ending of this volume really drives home their romantic connection and sets it up for the next volume, which I???ll be reading as soon as I manage to get a copy.

And it???s not just Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji who are interesting characters in this novel; it???s the others as well. I wasn???t entirely fond of Jin Ling, for instance, in the first volume, but in this volume - especially during the events in Yi City - I???ve developed a soft spot for him, as well as for the Lan clan juniors who went through that whole harrowing mess. Lan Sizhui will always be my favorite, I think, but Lan Jingyi comes close too, now that it???s clear he???s just a really emotional kid and therefore does not fit the typical mold Lan disciples tend to fit into.

But what really stood out to me in this volume is the theme of truth, and how perception and power can alter what is considered truth, and what is considered false. I won???t go into it too much, since doing so would be spoiling the whole thing, but suffice to say that the Yi City story parallels the later Golden Carp Tower story, and it???s FASCINATING to see how knowing the first story (which reads like its own self-contained arc) affects how one reads the second story. To be fair, the groundwork for these themes was already laid in the first volume, but it???s here, in the second volume, that those themes really come to the fore and are highlighted - to heartbreaking and tragic effect. It???s also clear this is a theme that???ll run across the entirety of the series due to how it also applies to Wei Wuxian and his history as the Yiling Patriarch, so this is a thread that will clearly develop alongside others as the story progresses.

Another theme that I would like to make note of is the concept of orthodoxy vs. heresy - at least where it applies to cultivation techniques. It???s clear that there???s a line drawn between ???proper??? techniques and ???improper??? ones, and that application and development of the latter is what got Wei Wuxian in trouble. I???m not quite clear yet on why Wei Wuxian???s techniques were considered so terrible beyond how he was fond of using ghosts and the dead - but then, I guess that???s what the next volumes are for. Still, this theme ties in quite nicely with the whole ???truth is what you perceive it to be??? theme I mentioned earlier, so it???s going to be interesting to see how this works out further down the line.

Overall, this is a great continuation of the series, and I???m going to be diving right back into the third volume as soon as I get it because I really need to go know what happens next.