whoissilmoy

hmm ep 29 mentions 3 realms

it feels intentional, the camera pans to the Wu Zi Shu right after Wu Zhen tells them “You think all demons are evil"

Mei Zhuyu is a man of few words. I'm watching since he entered the underworld, he's not spoke an word yet. It's a shame, if Wu Zhen knew about his vendatta, could she have shown him the truth, but she cannot allow any human into the demon underground.

I doubt the great fire was caused by the demons

When he drew his sword to her neck, she moved further in, dared him to strike her, so he threw down the sword, I guess he's not able to kill her. It seemed he gave up on breaking the barrier further but then it broke.

It’s a witty and entertaining review

at that point, he was suspicious, she entered the array, and nothing happened.

during his years there, he didn't really socialize with them all that much. he was always with his master. he was like an outcast there. the members didn't really accept him. it's the indoctrination of not falling in love, not having desires that's what occupied him, not the sect itself. he sacrificed those teachings for wu zhen. he discovered she was worth it. They have hidden identifies not freely open to telling anyone. Cat Lord is obvious, she cannot tell. Mei Zhuyu intentionally missed questions on the exam to become a low-level rank at bureau. He was hiding his identity (why he broke his leg) as he navigates the bureau to look for clues to demon underworld, he was actually in Chang'an for that purpose. I think Mei Zhuyu wanted to tell Wu Zhen his past someday but the sect leader made him vow to not tell anyone. Mei Zhuyu does not break rules. That's why Mei Zhuyu said to Wu Zhen, "I didn't mean to hide my identify from you."
In their marriage, they had an understanding of how it would work between them. She was free to do as she wish, live her life as before marriage.

you mean he left his sect to marry her? that was an easy decision, he didn't give up anything. he didn't like the sect. he said he didn't find joy in living before he met wu zhen. what he sacrificed was the doctrines he believed in, he decided to go against the teachings and suffered the punishment, but he still went by the rules to marry her. but leaving the sect, no sacrifice there, he didn't' like them. as a Taoist, he still practicing one, just not with the sect anymore. He recalled his master told him that the reason he has no sect name is that he knew one day he would leave. Nope, Mei Zhuyu gave up nothing to marry Wu zhen but gained everything, he discovered desire for living.

but there must be some signifcance to exchange betwen them right before the barrier, "wu zhen, don't help evil,", "wu zhen, I'll explain when i get back." chinese dramas don't waste lines unless it has some meaning to the plot.

I trust your view. OK then he knew. He was staring at the cat, not into the dark.
I just thought that if he didn't know at that point, it explain why he chose barrier so easily.
Earlier that day, he said to her, "Wu Zhen, don't help evil." so I thought that meant something to the plot, because Chinese dramas, the lines usually carry some meaning to what is unfolding.
It sure sounded like he didn't know the way the conversation went. He just figured she's helping demons. When he said, "I didn't mean to keep it from you," he meant that he made a vow to not tell anyone he was involved with Changxi in the past. I just feel like the conversation is off, like one knows more than the other, it's lopsided. that's why I feel he really doesn't know she's a demon yet, until she took out her weapon. They didn't give Mei Zhuyu enough lines? A quiet man is hard to read his mind. But men tend to be less wordy than women.

Wu Zhen’s ultimatum—“If you enter the demon underworld, there’s no chance for us; do you choose the sect or me?”—is the same as her choosing demons over Mei Zhuyu. As a half-demon, half-human Cat Lord, she’s stuck ruling the underworld, worried about chaos if she leaves (and someone worse takes over). She only knows he’s with the demon-slaying Changxi Palace, not about his vendetta (demons killing his parents at age 6), so she asks him not to enter to save their relationship. But her duty means she’s already chosen the demon world over him, mirroring his potential choice of the sect over her. It’s a tragic clash of loyalties, made sadder by her not knowing his personal pain.

Wu Zhen's ultimatum ("If you enter the demon underworld, there's no chance for us; do you choose them [the sect] or me?") is effectively a rejection of Mei Zhuyu, and this, alongside his personal vendetta and his past indoctrination from the Changxi Palace sect (even though he’s no longer with them), explains why he might reject her plea and proceed to break the barrier.

I'm still conflicted. Did Mei Zhuyu see the cat transform into Wu Zhen? I rewatched it, sometimes I think yes, and sometimes I think no. No would put it into different perspective.

I know Mei Zhuyu is a "man of few words" as described in the novel too, but at the barrier, the number of words he said versus hers is a big difference, not that I counted it. There was no communication between them despite everything that was said. That's why I really don't believe he knew she was a demon yet, that would explain a lot of things to me why the conversation went the way it did. I have to go with he didn't know because that's the only thing that makes sense.

yeah I think he did see her tranform, thanks

I rewatched it. You're right. First, the meow, then he stared for a few seconds, and the cat kept approaching, then she transformed.

When she asked him you choose them or me, at that point Mei Zhuyu knew she was a demon, seeing her transform from a cat into Wu Zhen. Earlier, he only thinks Wu Zhen is on side of demons. when they are walking back, he told her "Wu Zhen, don't help the wicked." At the barrier, when she asked him, do you choose them or me, she already figured out Mei Zhuyu, but Mei Zhuyu, didn't yet know she is powerful Cat Lord. His obsession with demon underworld has begun to overshadow his love for Wu Zhen. After she pulled out her cat whip, and fought with such great powers, did he finally realize how powerful a demon she is. He finally withdrew his sword and didn't want to fight her, but the barrier had already broken. At that point, the whole truth is before them, so Wu Zhen took him into the demon underground.

Did he see the cat and knew it was wu zhen, or he just heard sound and said "wu zhen?"
I didn't think he knew she was a demon at that point even though he's been suspecting something. I feel when she asked him if he choose them or her, at that point, I still don't think he knew her real identity yet, which is why he chose to go through breaking the barrier. But when she showed her cat whip, then he knew she's a real demon, then he saw how powerful she was, he knew she's not just any demon. I think it all happened so fast for him. She was not in shock, but he was having to deal with a lot more conflicting emotions than her. When she approached him, she'd already pieced it together, but he hadn't quite processed it yet, that's why he went ahead to break the barrier. He figured she doesn't understand what is at stake for him. There's no time to discuss it.

after he left, she's connecting the dots finally the moment of reckoning, that's why she poured herself some wine. but I don't think he's arrived at she's a demon because he said, wait for me, I'll explain when I get back,

The contrast between Shuang Jiang and Mei Zhuyu is interesting. Shuang Jiang can feel for Hu Zhu, knowing she is a fox demon, despite his indoctrination. This contrast suggests that indoctrination doesn’t affect everyone equally. Shuang Jiang’s empathy breaks through the conditioning, while Mei Zhuyu’s emotional repression keeps him stuck. For Mei Zhuyu it's also personal. Also, Mei Zhuyu even before he entered the sect, he was already a child who went by the rules. It raises the question: is Mei Zhuyu’s silence a sign of loyalty, fear, or just emotional paralysis?

Shuang Jiang though an oddball, did not suffer the trauma of losing his parents to demons, so when he encounters Hu Zhu, he is able to not hate her after experiencing her kindness, he can accept her. Still, he sticks to his indoctrination, just like the other sect members all brainwashed. But Mei Zhuyu was told demons killed his parents, so his hate is personal too. It is much harder for him to accept demons. The part I like to understand more is that Mei Zhuyu's master knew that Mei Zhuyu would one day leave the sect and follow his own path. Why was that mentioned?

Mei Zhuyu may be underwritten, though the story is still unfolding. His emotional detachment could be a slow-burn setup for transformation—otherwise, he risks fading behind Wu Zhen’s richer arc.

Mei Zhuyu has been indoctrinated since childhood, which explains his emotional detachment and rigid worldview. To break free from brainwashing, someone needs to go through a big emotional shake-up, start questioning what they’ve always believed, see things from new points of view, and make a brave choice to change—even if it’s hard or risky.

He was raised in a sect that taught him to suppress emotion, distrust demons, and follow orders without question. That kind of belief system shaped not just his actions, but his entire identity. So when he starts encountering good demons, falling in love with Wu Zhen, and witnessing betrayal within his own sect, he’s emotionally shaken—but doesn’t know how to respond. He’s stuck.

The transformation he needs isn’t just about changing his mind—it’s about unlearning what he’s been taught, feeling what he’s been trained to ignore, and choosing a new path even if it costs him everything. That’s why his silence and passivity feel so frustrating: they’re signs of someone still trapped in the old system, not yet brave enough to break free.

If the drama gives him that emotional reckoning—where he finally acts from his own truth, not the sect’s—it’ll turn his quiet struggle into a powerful arc. If not, he risks staying a shadow in Wu Zhen’s story.

There was a scene when he asks Shuang Jiang why Hu Zhu, the fox demon didn't kill him, which is telling about his perspective on demons.