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The Nightmare Master arc! Wherein Shen Wei is tied to a pole and can't get down.
Shen Wei is Captured
This arc begins after Shen Wei leaves for Dixing, and the team is split. Zhao Yunlan discovers that Lin Jing is a spy for the Haixing Research Facility & fires him.
The rest of the SID isn't happy about it. Zhu Hong threatens to tattle to Shen Wei, accurately pinpointing Zhao Yunlan's weak spot.
Meanwhile, in Dixing, Shen Wei encounters a rebellion at the Palace and fights back.
The fighting intensifies.
Shen Wei gets hurt in the process, giving away the fact that he's been weaker since he transferred his energy to Zhao Yunlan.
Left with no choice, Shen Wei has to retreat.
Shen Wei's confrontation against Ye Zun doesn't go much better, ending with him chained to the pillar.
Shen Wei suffers prettily while tied up, as Ye Zun taunts him by threatening his loved ones.
Back on Haixing, Zhao Yunlan worries.
Zhao Yunlan remembers the promise he made to Shen Wei, but that doesn't help with his distress at how long Shen Wei has been gone.
Zhao Yunlan is so distracted that he hurts himself on the incense burner while pining.
The Nightmare Master Ensnares Zhu Hong
Back at the SID, their identities & abilities are leaked online, and Zhu Hong is torn between returning with the Snake Tribe or staying.
While making her decision, Zhu Hong gets into an argument with Zhao Yunlan about whether to go after Shen Wei.
All Zhu Hong wants is an admission from Zhao Yunlan that he wants her around, but Zhao Yunlan is doing everything in his power to avoid having her make a decision based on her unrequited feelings for him, because he knows he can't reciprocate.
Zhu Hong: In your heart, I can't compare to Shen Wei.
Zhao Yunlan doesn't say anything, but the answer is clear.
It's through Zhu Hong's heartbreak that the Nightmare Master manages to ensare her in a dream.
As things continue to get worse in Haixing, with the threat of shutdown and Zhu Hong trapped in a dream, Zhao Yunlan continues to miss Shen Wei.
Shen Wei Is Still Tied To the Pillar
The moment Zhao Yunlan enters Zhu Hong's dream, we cut to Shen Wei looking distressed as he notices something amiss.
This means that we now have a canonically confirmed soulbond between Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan. Don't @ me.
Ye Zun is really enjoying Shen Wei's worried struggles.
Some of the viewers may be enjoying this for entirely different reasons.
Ye Zun: Such a beautiful romantic dream. Everyone would get ensnared and never wake up. I'm very curious what your dreams look like, my beloved gege.
Shen Wei: I don't have dreams.
Ye Zun: You don't dream, or you don't dare to dream?
Shen Wei: I don't need to dream.
No one ships Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan harder or more bitterly than Ye Zun. His attempt to taunt Shen Wei about his own dreams of love is completely thwarted by Shen Wei's firm refusal. Shen Wei doesn't need to dream because he already has Zhao Yunlan's love.
Rescuing Zhu Hong
Back in Zhu Hong's dream, Zhao Yunlan tries to talk her into leaving.
Zhu Hong: In my dream, you won't tell me that you're going to look for Shen Wei. You won't tell me that you're willing to die for him while you won't even give me a chance to fight alongside you.
Eventually, Zhao Yunlan saves her by telling her that everyone at the SID is a good friend & family to him. And that they all need her.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'll just be over here boggling at how explicitly they laid out the fact that Zhu Hong is being rejected for Shen Wei
The Nightmare Master Ensnares Chu Shuzhi
Tensions at the SID ramp up as pressure mounts against Chu Shuzhi for his criminal past.
Da Qing doesn't help matters by pointing out that they still haven't heard from Shen Wei.
Zhao Yunlan wants to go to Dixing, but he can't. Chu Shuzhi offers to go, but is turned down as well. Zhao Yunlan tells them that he needs time to think.
Chu Shuzhi: Trust me this one time. And I'll bring Professor Shen back for you.
You can see the yearning in Zhao Yunlan's eyes, and how much he desperately wants that happen.
Zhao Yunlan has to muster up all his willpower to tell Chu Shuzhi "No" again.
So on the one hand, good on Zhao Yunlan for not trusting that Chu Shuzhi would listen to him, and sending someone to monitor Chu Shuzhi's movements.
On the other hand, he sent Guo Changcheng, who seems a very unlikely candidate to succeed in restraining anyone. Predictably, those two get into trouble in Dixing, where Guo Changcheng ends up left behind as Chu Shuzhi returns and falls into a dream. It takes a trick about Chu Shuzhi's dislike for spicy food to unravel the illusion.
Rescuing Shen Wei
Despite finding out from Chu Shuzhi that Shen Wei is captured in Dixing, Zhao Yunlan is willing to wait before going into action in possibly the most amazing display of restraint since Shen Wei's 10,000 years of abstinence.
Thankfully, they're saved from the endless waiting by a note from Shen Wei.
Down in Dixing, Zhao Yunlan retrieves Shen Wei's blade and reunites with him at the pillar. Aside from happy relieved smiles, we're also given this excellent suggestive shot of Shen Wei in chains looking up at Zhao Yunlan with their height difference emphasized.
Zhao Yunlan attempts to cut down the chains, but they prove more resilient than expected. Shen Wei begins to worry about the backlash.
Shen Wei tries to stop Zhao Yunlan to no avail. The strongest attack ends up taking a chunk out of the chains, at the expense of hurting Zhao Yunlan.
Shen Wei is in so much distress here because he's convinced Zhao Yunlan won't survive the next hit. But Zhao Yunlan refuses to leave Shen Wei tied up at the pillar. Thankfully, the shadow Dixingren stops him at the last minute and takes over for him.
Zhao Yunlan supports an unsteady Shen Wei down from the pillar to where the shadow Dixingren has fallen.
Zhao Yunlan promises that the shadow Dixingren's sacrifice won't be in vain.
A comforting touch.
Return to Haixing
With everyone rescued, the SID take some much needed time to recover.
Chu Shuzhi starts off the sappy public displays of affection by princess carrying Guo Changcheng off.
Shen Wei tries to walk off on his own, but Zhao Yunlan is having none of that.
Poor Zhu Hong. It's tough being single while two different couples flaunt their love in front of you.
Meanwhile, Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan take a relaxing stroll through the streets. Zhao Yunlan is holding Shen Wei's arm with one hand while his other hand rests over Shen Wei's wrists. Which is as close to these two walking down the streets holding hands as we can get, I think.
It's nice to see how at ease and happy they are. Zhao Yunlan gently holding onto Shen Wei's hand. Zhao Yunlan inappropriately joking that Shen Wei is walking around like he's pregnant. It's very them.
In one of the sweetest moments on the show, Shen Wei asks Zhao Yunlan to sit with him on a bench because he's missed the Haixing sun 😭.
Zhao Yunlan happily guides Shen Wei onto a bench. He doesn't let go of Shen Wei's hand/wrist through the whole process until they sit down.
Look at that synchronized movement.
Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan catch up on what's been going on with the SID aboveground.
Zhao Yunlan reassures Shen Wei and then tells him that he's too tired to think about the future now. So they both drop the subject.
So happy. So carefree. One of the most heart-warming moments in the show.
So smiley.
What a lovely conclusion to this arc. Just Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan temporarily putting aside their worries to enjoy each other's company.
[ Episode Twenty-Nine ] [ Masterpost ] [ Episode Thirty-Four ]
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