Remnants of Filth: Yuwu (Novel), Vol. 2

Format read: paperbackReading time: 7-8hTags: wuxia, xianxia, military fantasy, translation, trauma, found family, friendship, magic, lgbt (m/m), enemies-to-loversOwn a copy: yesReread likelihood: 10/10Recommended similar reads: ⭐ [b:Stars of Chaos: Sha Po Lang, Vol. 1 62145799 Stars of Chaos Sha Po Lang, Vol. 1 (Stars of Chaos Sha Po Lang, #1) Priest https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1682111621l/62145799.SX50.jpg 97934661]⭐ [b:Golden Terrace, Vol. 1 62629580 Golden Terrace, Vol. 1 Cang Wu Bin Bai https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1663531919l/62629580.SY75.jpg 98392913]⭐ [b:The Husky and His White Cat Shizun: Erha He Ta De Bai Mao Shizun (Novel) Vol. 1 60583047 The Husky and His White Cat Shizun Erha He Ta De Bai Mao Shizun (Novel) Vol. 1 Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1664205970l/60583047.SX50.jpg 196767353]⭐ [b:Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi (Novel) Vol. 1 58701673 Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation Mo Dao Zu Shi (Novel) Vol. 1 Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1633385186l/58701673.SX50.jpg 92367991]ReviewBook two gave me so many feelings, both good and bad. We start this volume by meeting a new character, Murong Chuyi, the master artificer and aloof relative of Murong Lian and Yue Chenqing. First of all, can we acknowledge how similar Chuyi and Chu Wanning (from ErHa) are? They are obviously not the same person, but the similarities are striking. Even the artwork seems to agree! The first few chapters are dedicated to wrapping up the gruesome case from book 1, complete with a very long flashback of the culprit's past. This is truly Meatbun-esque, as we see a very similar device in ErHa (see the orange tree girl in book 1). In any case, the story is neatly resolved and then makes room for Mo Xi and Gu Mang's relationship to develop.Mo Xi wins the right to keep Gu Mang in his manor rather than at Luomei, but naturally this doesn't mean that Gu Mang is any less a prisoner. In fact, Mo Xi becomes incredibly impatient and even cruel with Gu Mang the more the story progresses. This is an important change of character coming out of book 1 where Mo Xi was pining and assessing his feelings for Gu Mang on every other page. In book 2, Mo Xi shuts down emotionally and becomes irascible; every little thing that Gu Mang does (or doesn't do) irritates and angers him to a point where his emotions become very volatile. One minute he is calm and composed, and the next he is being irrational and demanding for no apparent reason.Meanwhile, Gu Mang still struggles from his loss of memory, and his emotions remain severely underdeveloped. When Mo Xi is moody around him, Gu Mang simply accepts it and doesn't retaliate. Gu Mang understands the world around him like an animal: Mo Xi is his leader, the alpha wolf of the pack who provides him with food, clothes, and shelter, therefore Gu Mang has no issues with following whatever Mo Xi says, or even enduring his bad temper. Gu Mang sees himself as Mo Xi's weaker companion, but Mo Xi does not perceive him as the same thing. To Mo Xi, the current Gu Mang is not the Gu-shixiong of the past whom he adored so completely. Even though they have the same face, voice, and name, this broken Gu Mang can never be what Mo Xi wants him to be.The Gu Mang he wanted, the Gu Mang he hated, the Gu-shixiong he admired–they should all be whole. They should be capable of fighting him, of wielding a blade to meet or to match him. Only within the enmity of betrayal could he draw gasping breath; only there would he have a future to strive for. (p.127)Despite Mo Xi's changing moods, he still treats Gu Mang well, making sure he has enough to eat and that he isn't mistreated by others. Mo Xi promises him that Xihe Manor is not like Luomei, and Gu Mang will no longer have to worry about being beaten or tortured while he is in Mo Xi's care. Even though Mo Xi is unkind in his words, he keeps his promise and even protects Gu Mang from outsiders like Murong Lian. While the emperor may not be a central character, his plotting and machinations directly impact Gu Mang. Mo Xi learns that the emperor plans to execute Gu Mang one day, and that nothing–and no one–will get in the way of this plan. Mo Xi is also ordered to put a slave collar on Gu Mang to further control him, much to Mo Xi's dismay. Though Gu Mang does not remember what the collar is and what it symbolises, he was once incredibly hurt by this device and fought long and hard to be free from his slave status. Mo Xi is forced to reinstate his status, which hurts him more than the oblivious Gu Mang who has forgotten what it means to be some else's property. However, even though Gu Mang recognizes Mo Xi as his master, Mo Xi refuses to take ownership of another human, especially not the love of his life.Mo Xi laughed long and hard, his back pressed to a wooden pillar. As Gu Mang watched him, he slowly pulled his hands away from his ears, and then raised them–this time, to touch Mo Xi's face. [...] “Princess.” Gu Mang murmured, and then said, inexplicably, “Can I have your name on the back of the plaque?” (p.185)Book 2 nears its completion with Gu Mang starting to recover some small pieces of his memory. Mo Xi becomes more and more anxious as to what Gu Mang will remember, but he is also painfully aware that if he remembers all of his past, he will be confronted with terribly dark demons that could tear his mind apart. The emperor wants Gu Mang to remember as many things as possible, with no regard for his well-being, which naturally unnerves Mo Xi.Book 2 lost a star in the rating only because of Mo Xi's behavior. The change in his mood from book 1 to 2 seems sudden and strange, even though we understand why he acts this way and just how much pain he's carrying. Still, it's no reason for him to take out his frustrations on the unwitting Gu Mang who, at this point in the story, is very simple-minded and childlike. Meatbun does it again with the constant stream of pain, and the more I become attached to these characters, the more keenly I feel their suffering. I'm looking forward to seeing where this journey with Yuwu takes me.