>>536841509
Then do tell me what the difference in their starting points are, Anon-nim
Both of them wanted out, Jia Baoyu of our world and the mirror world
One made the decision to run from it all consequences be damned as there was nothing left to save
The other stayed in misery, and not just because it was "learned helplessness". There were people around him to be concerned for, people who he couldn't even talk to lest they be lobotomized just as Xiren was

>>536135634
>>Hong Lu purposely shut his emotions out cause he was afraid of being hurt again,
This isn't entirely right
Last time he showed emotion, Xiren got literally lobotomized
His reclusion isn't just because he's afraid to get hurt, it's for the people around him as well
Which is why he pushes away "Jia Huan" and Xue Pan in the flashbacks-
He is aware he is being cruel in his words
But it is better than the alternative: to be considered precious to the Jade of the Hongyuan's Xianren

>>534107804
The mentor like figure's death (Rengoku?) completely blindsided me and not in the good way
Too soon
I literally felt nothing at his death, and it felt like Tanjiro grieved more for Rengoku, a relatively random stranger, than his slaughtered family
I dropped the manga then and there

I am not joking when I say this, but I have more attachment to Xiren, Hong Lu's lobotomized maid than I ever did for that Rengoku person

>implying even for a moment Hong Lu doesn't care about Xiren
How is that even possible

>>529526989
The answer is no
If anyone's experiencing the Hong-dong, then it's Baochai or Daiyu
Or Xiren