1) He wears gold. When we saw the entire cult in episode 1 or 2, only one figure, who stood in the centre and was the focus of the camera, wore gold robes. Everyone else, if I remember correctly, just wore white with no coloured trim.
2) Lin Senya was mentioned as the leader of the group.

While I don’t think that this Senya is a particularly meaningful character, I’d be very suprised if he has a large role in this arc. He, and the tribe, seem more like a plot device. I doubt they are the true villains of this tale, in the sense that they seem likely to be a cover for or a device of something else. None of the show’s other previous major villains, such as Sakujun and Sai have been over-the-top villainous in suc a way, while those such as Soujun whose role has been minor have. So I find it unlikely that this cult will be the ultimate problem here.

Would you please give me a link…

Nyo

Nevertheless, Ensei’s appearance is way too dramatic, and I bet he deliberately did it just to look freaking cool because he can jolly well come out from the normal gates. I guess the man does love his grand impressions and appearances, huh

That said, I am still thinking he is a spy or an eye for Riou. I also feel that the Kashin looking guy is not the leader, but perhaps one of the cult members. I am wondering too, since I remember that the leader had red hair, or did i remember wrongly. To addon, the villain being the run of the mill psychopath somewhat makes me feel that he is without depth.

Generally, enemies like that are just stupid and do stupid things. Most calculated enemies tend to have a more controlled manner, if we stick to stereotypes.

@Usagijen: Ya, it is perhaps my wifey who gave the idea before I started developing it when we had the conversation. It’s quite cool how we deviced stuff sometimes ^_^

btw, nice deduction there regarding Riou’s plans ^^ but I do wonder if there’s still ‘more’ to it than that, knowing that Riou most likely have this inkling that Shuurei will be able to get past this problem given her strong character. hmmm…

You know, I really, really like Yougetsu more and more. I don’t know how I hope Eigetsu will turn out… on one hand I would love to see more of Yougetsu, on the other hand more of Yougetsu will mean that Eigetsu will probably die.

Ensei’s appearance is sooooo cool. Love the whole martial arty, dramatic and artful use of shadow of his slide down the wall.

As to the questions:

1. Do you think Riou the kid is in fact the spy for the Hyou clan?
I kind of missed the first part, but at the moment I’m leaning more to Little Riou being a nice but reserved character that is more than just a foil to Zhuran. I don’t think he is a spy; but he definitely has some connections to Big Riou.

2. Is the Kashin looking cult member the leader of the cult and of course Lin Senya?
First impression, yes.

3. Is Yougetsu the sage or is he simply a spirit body that works for the sage?
Does he has to be related to the sages? I think he is his own entity. I find him a bit too young-feeling and un-crafty to be a sage. Maybe he’s just an unrelated spirit or god hanging around, looking at the humans. And notice how he is always talking about the follies of humans as if he isn’t one himself. Maybe he ISN’T human, and has never been one or come into close contact with one before. Not very sagicious of him, that.

4. Are you disappointed that the “villain

I also find that a character that you can genuinely purely hate need not be a run-of-the-mill. I always enjoy villians (I didn’t like Sakujun a hell lot) that are evil for the most part, yet still have a bit of humanity. In a way, you hate him yet somehow feel that it’s still realistic. A psychopath just makes it well, boring.

@Lady Kou: HAHAAH! I wonder if that’s the truth though ^^

@Sakujunsghost: I wonder if that is really the case though for Lin Senya. No matter how flawed and ridiculous Sakujun’s form of caring is, he is not stupid. If you see his actions, he has never outwardly done anything that has directly caused harm toward Shuurei. This “Lin Senya” however, has directly caused harm to her in the way the rumors are spread. Hence, I very highly doubt it is Sakujun. It’s just not like him.

Is it so about the voice of Yougetsu? I can sense that it is perhaps the play of the sages, especially when it is said before that the sages enjoy playing at the lives of the mortals that live in this world. This feels somewhat like a play on Eigetsu’s life, one that is already dead and given a second chance.

After discussing with wifey, I realize that there might be an interesting twist with Riou the kid, Shuurei and Riou the adult. Hmm, Ryuuren is not really psychic but more like he figured out the situation and realized that Eigetsu is problematic.

@Usagijen: Hmmm, little Shuurei is way cuter than Shuuran, even though the both of them are still cute in their own way. Saiunkoku Monogatari just has a way with cute lolis and their design for lolis is just…great.

Hmmm, I do not think that Yougetsu is a bad person, but more like a “tsundere”. Yes, this is a description for a gal but he fits that profile completely. That is in fact the first thing that I thought of.

A thought with my wifey came this way…

Thirteen Sugars: After all, if he has that kid as his spy, and the kid is in the area where the cult is and the disease is spreading, Riou might have also have something to do with the defamation of Shuurei’s name
impz: i do wonder why he wants to..
impz: oh wait.
impz: …now i get it. if he defames shuurei and gets her to lose her officialdom, it gives him the chance to come in without reservation to get back shuurei. As warped as it is, as shuurei will lose her motivation of life, he will get Shuurei when she is the lowest point of life.

Little Riou is definitely the one with Big Riou at the start of the episode… no doubt about that. I just wonder what exactly are Hyou Riou’s plans for having him act as a spy there (or whatever it is that he ordered him to do)

Now about ‘Yougetsu’… I’m sure he’s not really evil… and with what he said to Eigetsu, I believe he was like, challenging him, to see just how he will live the limited life given him… considering that each day marks a ‘reduction’ in the time he has left. From what I’ve seen in Yougetsu throughout this episode, I never had a doubt that he’s a good ‘person’ (a great ‘person’ for that matter)

And, from what I read in the novel in the part where he shows up in ’spirit’ form…

He is called the ‘7th Spirit’ from the Heavens… so, he must be one of the ‘guardians’ o_O

and about the psychopath… it was somewhat disappointing, and creepy… but I believe there’s still something ‘deep’ that lies within this that’s yet to be revealed.

Answers to your questions:
1. It appears that Little Riou is working for Big Riou, so maybe he is a spy. However, like Shuurei’s mother, other members of the Hyou family have healing abilities, so I wonder if he’s helping?
2. Rumors abound that Sakujun is lurking about, and the use of the “Lin Senya” name seems to suggest that he’s the real leader of the cult. If it is Sakujun and not the freaky Kashin-looking guy, I wonder about his putting Shuurei in jeopardy by blaming her for the disease. It seems like he cares for her too much to do that, but then Sakujun’s version of “caring” is just a little bit twisted.
3. I think the voice of the spirit is the same as Yougetsu, leading me to believe that the spirit IS Yougetsu. I think it’s pretty obvious that he’s one of the immortals, and judging from Advisor Shou, the immortals are a bit twisted themselves, serving their own purposes and amused by toying with the lowly humans. (And I add little Yougetsu to the painfully cute chibi group)
4. I’m reserving judgment on the villain for the moment. If the crazy dude is THE villain, then I agree with Uruz that it will be fun to cheer for Ensei/Shuuei/Seiran/Ryuuren or whoever to kick his psychopathic butt. I feel sorry for the guy if Kourin finds Eigetsu like that first–Kourin can be scary when she is protecting someone she loves. However, I will be dissapointed if Sakujun is not somehow mixed up in this. I would love to hate him one more time.

Surprises: Ryuuren is psychic as well as psycho, and Shuurei missed Ensei a LOT more than one would have expected. A LOT more. (I can’t help but wonder how Uncle Reishin would react to that scene!)

About your questions.
1) No, i don’t think so. maybe it’s another pre-meditated plot twist
2)um… I got confused.
3)I would guess that he’s really the sage,and he’s testing him or something. Like one of those corny children’s stories where the hero gets a treat after a huuuge trial or something. … but then that’s just me.
4)I am actually okay with it. Catharsis is a good thing, and well, for once i want to see a character i can genuinely purely hate. I mean, Sakunjun at one hand is annoying but somehow “lovable” too. Maybe we need someone we’d really love to hate.

There. Sorry if my comments are kind of weird, my brain is malfunctioning today, hehe.

Ok that’s it. Good luck and god bless to you. and THANK YOU once again.