You’re giving Lan Di way too much credit. He’s not even the leader of the CYM, just a high ranking member. There’s even a Chief of Staff above him so Lan Di is really a middle manger in the organization sent to do dirty work. All he ever did was beat up a man twice his age anyway.
Just like in the trailer Lan Di will be scared af of Shenhua when she decides to unleash her power on him Ding Ding!
You’re right about the CYM being a cult that worships Chi You as a Deity. Their plan is to resurrect the monster and unleash it upon this word by using the mirrors. The great fight will be between the Dragon (Lan Di) and the Phoenix (Ryo) to stop it.
You bring up a good point. As I mentioned before, there can be entirely grounded explanations for all of Lan-Di's actions. The reason he pursues Shenhua and the mirrors to resurrect Chiyou is because his boss commands him to. As
@Seaman noted, Shenhua might be unaware of how her powers function. Admittedly, we, the audience do not fully understand her powers either.
There is also the possibility the Tiger Swallow Style was either taught to Longsun by Zhao, or Zhao documented the style, allowing Lan-Di to learn it independently. From there, he joined the Chiyoumen Organization and quickly rose through the ranks. Nonetheless, there is no doubt that Longsun Zhao plays a pivotal role in the story. After all, why would he be mentioned in the prophecy?
Where I will respectfully disagree with you is "beating a man twice his age" as unimpressive. Firstly, Lan-Di is thirty-one years old and Iwao Hazuki was forty-six years old at the time of his murder-a difference of fifteen years. Given his pedigree throughout the story, it can be assumed that Iwao was a powerful martial artist. Moreover, if Shenmue has taught us anything, it is that age and sex are irrelevant when it comes to being a skilled fighter.
It depends. There has been many criminal groups heavily surrounded by rituals in more or less extreme varying degrees. With local authorities and sometimes the whole state cracking down on them (lets remember that CYM has been pointed as a danger for China's goverment in the game's plot) they resort to a range of superstition which supposedly granted inmunity and success to them. Since La Garduña, grandfathers of la Camorra to 80s-nowadays narcosatanists/Santa Muerte cult-criminal groups.
Ironically, I was thinking of the satanic cults of the eighties when proposing this idea. Perhaps they are funded by their illegal activities while they try to revive their "God," Chiyou. One crucial plot point we need to understand is "why." How does the Chiyoumen Boss and his four generals, like Lan-Di, benefit from this?
I always wondered if that scene was kept in the script besides obvious changes like Iwao being there. Same with other moments featured in that trailer like the mountain destroyer punch. As that trailer was a very early teaser of what we would lately get, I wouldn't be surprised if many exagerated things were downplayed for a more grounded presentation, like you pointed. For example the punch to the mountain could easily be the precursor for punching the tree and consequent leaves-rain in S2.
Seeing as how
Shenmue III was entirely grounded, this would not surprise me. The mirrors being keys to the Qing Dynasty treasure, or Shenhua not using her powers throughout the entire game.
The tattoo appears to be the logo of the CYM as the same design is emblazoned on their helicopter and on the floor in the comic depicting Ziming and Niao Sun. This was likely added to the first game as one of the clues for Ryo to follow. The notion that Lan Di is some kind of a demon is actually a pretty cool one; some time ago
@orient hypothesized that the mirrors may have been used by Sunming Zhao to resurrect Longsun. Iirc his theory was that Longsun was ill and Sunming became desperate enough to use the mirrors and Iwao tried to stop him, a fight ensued that left Sunming dead, Iwao with both mirrors and Iwao shocked that Lan Di returned for him ("it can't be you!"). So your theory would actually play nicely with his I think, and would actually be a pretty cool twist. It could also be that the CYM are so named because they are
looking for this reincarnated demon, which is why they kidnap children.
I appreciate the kind words, though I have to admit this was just grandiose thinking on my part. As
@Seaman pointed out, during Shenmue's concept phase, some grand ideas were likely toned down for a multitude of reasons. There is also the reality that
Shenmue Online is not canon. That said, I have always seen the Shenmue series as a low-fantasy martial arts epic. So supernatural events still occur, but they are not as over-the-top as
DragonBall.
@orient's proposal reminds me of one of my issues with
Shenmue III's narrative. A very important plot point is learning more about the relationship between Zhao Sunming and Iwao Hazuki. It is important because it would explain the main character's motivations much better. We have the man who trained Iwao and Zhao who could provide this information, and we end up with nothing.
In any case, thank you guys for engaging with my hypothesis, however silly it might be.