The chinoiserie in the Chapter 186 cover is so glorious. I must laud Yana T for her exquisite illustrations. He looks like a diva here. His ambivalence-his eyes close, his back facing us-could probably symbolise his hidden intentions, his cunningness. Lau is wearing what looks like, I assume, a flowing hanfu, a traditional clothing style worn by Han Chinese men, which could be as colourful as it should be, wedding hanfu and is made of finest silk. And as soon as he opens his eyes? He’s incalculable and/or out to kill you. I don’t think Yana meant the blue gaucus or sea slugs. “Never stroke the blue dragon’s head.” A cautionary not to betray Lau for he’s already mapped out your next move? But the mythological animal deity. Why blue dragon? What is its significance to Lau? An instruction to keep oneself out of his way? “The Chinese believed that there were innumerable dragons, varying in color, size and power. An azure or blue dragon symbolized the east and was identified with spring. “The Azure Dragon (Chinese: 青龍 Qīnglóng), also known as Qinglong in Chinese, is one of the Dragon Gods who represent the mount or chthonic forces of the Five Regions’ Highest Deities (五方上帝 Wǔfāng Shàngdì). Red or yellow dragons represented the south and summer. He is also one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations, which are the astral representations of the Wufang Shangdi.
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