#the memories of Jing Yuan‚ Jingliu‚ Dan Heng *and Yingxing* made me think he remembers a lot more than he lets on

[fragmentedblade]

The implications that Blade and Dan Heng remember more than they admit is driving me nuts

#Fragments and scraps #I talk too much #I should probably delete this later #Not just Blade's general drive but already what Kafka said about how she was going to take off his mind #the memories of Jing Yuan‚ Jingliu‚ Dan Heng *and Yingxing* made me think he remembers a lot more than he lets on #And then Todd's quest? How he is watching the High Elder statue‚ wonders if that guy was happy‚ and tells us he is 'mourning for folly'? #And that short line uttered in that precise location after this animated short seems even more meaningful #And then Dan Heng? The way he is there? The way he knows where to he at all? #And he pours the drink and it's almost a shared drink beyond time. Once again. Like they did before #Like the wish mentioned in that one leaked Imbibitor Lunae character story. He did get it. In a way. He did get it #The way Dan Heng gazes with eyes full of tenderness and sorrow also seems to imply that he remembers somewhat #Perhaps not all. Perhaps there's not even the feeling #But it feels a bit like mourning lost friends. A bit like the gaze Jing Yuan can't help but give him at times #Perhaps not a lingering feeling Dan Heng has‚ but at least the echo of a love that once was #It also felt like he was seeing them for a moment #It felt like he remembered them #'I am not him'‚ he claims‚ over and over. And he is not wrong. But it seems like the fondness Dan Feng had for his friends #transcended the barriers of death and accompanied him to his next life somewhat #And after centuries of nothingness still Dan Heng can't help but give a tender sorrowful smile to the friends that were #It's heartbreaking that something in the four of them is still mourning‚ each in their way and as they can #What is Blade's and Jingliu's drive for revenge if not that? What is Blade's 'mourning for folly' if not that? #What is Kafka unable to control Blade's mara in the Luofu if not that? What are Jing Yuan's bouts of tiredness‚ the pressure on his chest‚ #the way he welcomed his old friends with a joke? What is it if not that the fact that‚ yes‚ after using them‚ but that he let them go? #What is the weight of Dan Heng's smile and his gesture pouring the drink if not that? #No wonder they can't move on if they loved each other so much it transcended duties‚ time‚ life‚ death and madness #Edit: as per Jingliu's quest this was obviously confirmed‚ especially and most intensely in Blade's case (19/10/2023)

[astralexpressarchives]

Jingliu Trailer Notations

I wanted to write up my thoughts about Jingliu's trailer, focusing mostly on the hidden goodies, references, and symbolism present. I'll try to do it chronologically though it may not make total sense because I won't be explaining everything in detail in this post!

I will make some references to her character stories and voicelines so beware spoilers!

"The darkening mist shroud the radiant moon. Bound by blindness, one is cast into mara. With a sharp blade... yet still powerless against the demons. With this blade as my core... the inner self is purged."

The darkening mist shroud the radiant moon remind me of her blindfold and forgotten memories of Baiheng. Her about Baiheng says:

We talked about the stars we flew past, the views we saw together, and the dangers we escaped. But... I can't remember the details. The things we said and did together have all been shrouded in a layer of mist... a mist I cannot see through...

With a sharp blade yet powerless against the demons probably refers to her master's death as well as her forsaking the sword that Blade gifted to her in exchange for her ice sword.

Her inner self being purged probably is a reference to her 'ascension' in her character story 4. It's the absence of her ego and pride, she is aware of her shortcomings yet still strives to move forward towards her goal.

Beautiful opening, she stands in a featureless space with only the water beneath her.

The moon is not a realistic reflection of the scene. She does not appear in the reflection. This is similar to other water scenes where the reflection is different, usually indicating the water is functioning as a portal into the mountain realm.

Very similar to the purple stardust men that appear in Blade's trailer. I think these could be the dead souls in the mountain realm's sword burial ground. Blade talks as if he is delivering the souls to the afterlife (savour it in my place) of which the heavenly moon realm may be an afterlife of sorts?

Just like Blade's ultimate, the camera flips to arrive in the moon realm - this is where the moon's power really is. Just like Blade and Dan Heng, Jingliu is able to take her opponents to the mountain realm. She is also able to summon the moon in other reflections which cause it to appear in reality - likely that she has Long's blessing and her sword may be made of the dragon blood water.

"No matter how you try to cleanse it remnants of the past return with the snow. Powerless... unable to mend... past animosities."

She stands surrounded by ice "memories" of herself, Dan Feng, Yingxing, and Jing Yuan. There does not appear to be any ice Baihengs present likely because she has no grudge against her (and infact feels very positively towards her).

She targets Jing Yuan with her ultimate, indicating that he is her primary target. Not entirely sure what he could have done to deserve this from her but I'm sure we will find out.

Very interesting frame with the red line shown in her myriad, Blade's trailer, and Blade's fansong. Not sure what to make of her walking away from her ice self other than this is probably the moment that she drew the gaze of an Aeon. The eyes in the background are reminiscent of Yaoshi's many hands and eyeballs so it could be that. Her walking away could be symbolic of her 'choosing a different path' and refusing the abundance. Only real girlbosses can willpower their way out of becoming properly marastruck.

More confirmation that the hole in the clouds leads to the moon realm, as seen in the vidyadhara myriad, blade's fansong, and the Jingliu myriad.

This seems like a memory. Not sure what the lotus/moon flower represents here but her eyes are closed similar to when DH creates the heavenly moon realm in his ultimate abilities. Perhaps her flower functions similarly to his orb and gives her access to the moon realm.

It may also be a representation of her sanity. The presence of the flower petals in her sword attacks is very similar to Blade's.

"All will be revealed in Lunar Flame."

There is a small part of me that honestly wonders if she's acquired some powers of the ice heliobi? We know they can make both fire and ice so 'Lunar Flame' while using ice powers is... interesting. There is a world where Blade delivering the dead to the moon realm afterlife is supplying souls to the moon (Long) which is then somehow aiding Jingliu. I don't know that she would be 'possessed' but she could certainly be blessed in some capacity.

She violently attacks herself, indicating he has a lot of self-hatred. She also attacks all of the other frozen versions of Dan Feng, Yingxing, and Jing Yuan.

And so, I wield my blade to the very end, until the "stars" have been cut down from the sky. This oath I will never forsake.

Yeah she has exactly zero intention of actually being arrested honestly lol. Not 100% sure what her plan is but I'm certain it has something to do with either freeing a prisoner or getting closer to the 10 Lords Commission.

Not sure what Jing Yuan did to be the primary target but it does line up with her attacking him in the 1.4 trailer, too.

#honkai star rail #hsr lore #jingliu