#i wanted to say 'i wonder how would things look like if meng yao was allowed to climb the social ladder on his own' but. would he be ever

[fallloverfic]

TGCF donghua Season 2, Episode 10 thoughts

This episode T-T T-T T-T T-T. Spoilers for the show and the book below. CW reference to suicide.

The dude being racist to An Le looks vaguely like a love child of Feng Xin and Nie Mingjue (the donghua version) roflmao. Animators have made little references to The Scum Villain's Self Saving System this season so I would not be surprised if someone snuck in a reference to the Mo Dao Zu Shi donghua, too lol And this is similar enough to at least one Meng Yao + Nie Mingjue scene that I can see why they'd do it here.

So the Xianle goons licking their lips is because, I imagine, whatever was in that pouch Qi Rong brought An Le infected them or maybe it was these actual soldiers or something. Makes it less mmm... Strange. Having seen recordings of an attempted assault on a principal government building with government officials inside and what bloodthirsty folks bent on literal murder of said officials get up to around that, I mean I guess it's not that..... strange......

Someone here let me know that the servant/friend is the same official from S02E01 who ran past Xie Lian to help Lang Qianqiu, which makes sense! I totally forgot he showed up then and wondered after S02E07 if he was An Le acting funny (though by the end of S02E09 he is clearly not). He does show up in the novel in that S02E01 scene, but he's not named so far as I can tell, and I don't think we see him in Yong'an flashbacks like we do here. It's neat to see the development of this side character, and how some officials reward people who support them in life (besides Xie Lian and Yin Yu).

Xie Lian seeing the guy nervously looking for Lang Qianqiu and then being like: -sigh- young love is such a trial. You should spend more time studying the blade!

Oh shit, we get a preview of Xie Lian's parents' suicide. Wow. Will we get the donghua that far please T-T

I'm just in love with Fangxin's cape. It's so beautiful trailing behind him.

I'm sorry but An Le screaming in the same way Nakahara Chuuya does whenever he's mid-Corruption in Bungo Stray Dogs made me laugh so hard roflmao Unexpected (and likely unintentional) cameo lol

Imma keep saying it, the animation in this episode is really good. The fight scene is wonderful. When they go back to Qi Rong cackling is good. The show is just pretty.

Qi Rong: "Why is everyone here so fond of crying!"

This man is tired. Can't you do a little mass murder and gloating in peace? Honestly. Hard times.

Qi Rong: "You want your parents? I haven't gone asking for mine yet!"

Aw Qi Rong, babe...

Qi Rong got anime slashed. Who could have foreseen??? /end sarcasm

Xie Lian having a sad moment about Qi Rong, thinking he died. I'm wondering what the crying scene is from, or if that's something new. Qi Rong did cry I think in one flashback (I think where he's complaining about something) but this looked sadder? And less "spoiled".

Xie Lian sadly reaching out for Lang Qianqiu T-T

Xie Lian: "Is the truth so important? . . . What's the use of him knowing that? If I killed a few less people, would that make my reasons more justified?"

I really do love this so much. Just... sometimes the truth isn't important. Sometimes the truth is more painful/results in a worse outcome. Being bluntly honest isn't always the answer. You could argue that Xie Lian sacrificing himself isn't the answer either, and it's better overall that Lang Qianqiu knows things, but I love how this story brings up this idea, that maybe ignorance was better. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, and Xie Lian did still intentionally murder two people, as part of a cover-up.

Also, "You'd rather be right than be loved," is something I think about a lot from personal experience. It's not Hua Cheng's intention, but this kind of thinking can lead down that path so easily.

Hua Cheng really feeling that "fucked around and found out" part of this whole thing. Like I don't necessarily disagree with his goal here, and Xie Lian's plan is kind of well... imperfect (to put it lightly). But I do think this is a nice moment of Hua Cheng realizing that yes, he is Xie Lian's #1 fan, he is Xie Lian's strongest believer, and Xie Lian clearly cares deeply for him in return, but this does not mean that Hua Cheng understands Xie Lian perfectly, or knows all his thoughts (does Hua Cheng know a lot about him? Yes. But Xie Lian hides a lot of what he thinks, and has done so throughout his life). When thinking about Hua Cheng, I often think of Sosuke Aizen's line in Bleach chapter 170: "Admiration is the state furthest from understanding."

Unlike other people, Hua Cheng sets himself apart by not forcing his views on Xie Lian or trying to get Xie Lian to change to suit him, and he's realizing, "Oh shit, I fucked up with that here, didn't I," because in his quest for justice, to protect Xie Lian, he did just what he hates other people doing (to an extent, it's not nearly as bad as other folks). One thing I love so much about their relationship is how much they listen to each other, and learn from each other, and how Hua Cheng tries to see Xie Lian in ways other people don't. Even here, he's seeing Xie Lian (I really love that they focused so much on Hua Cheng's expressions here, even if he's not visually doing as much as Xie Lian, it's the little clear signs of upset that mean so much). He's not interrupting Xie Lian, he's not arguing his case (though to be fair, he already mostly has). He's trying to learn and be better. They recover from this because of that. And I love that about them.

Xie Lian: "I deserve whatever punishment I get and I can't die anyway. So why not put all the blame on me?"

T-T Crying in the club, folks. This man...

Xie Lian realizing he's being mean to Hua Cheng and apologizing got me T-T He's so scared of himself and what he's capable of - and incapable of, given all his work to try and save lives and mend old anger has come to naught, and he can't fix it. He always doubts himself before others. The scars of Bai Wuxiang are all over this episode, and Xie Lian himself, figuratively and literally. All this episode I cry T-T

Xie Lian's Chinese voice actor has done such a good job. Everyone is amazing (Qi Rong's VA doing amazing), but dang, he is phenomenal this episode. You can really feel Xie Lian's desperation and sorrow.

All in all the subs were also better this episode! They still call Qi Rong the "Green Immor" for some reason, but outside maybe one slightly awkward sentence, I think it was okay! But that doesn't necessarily mean anything cause they've been good and then got worse again lol

An excellent episode. Truly phenomenal. I think one of my favorites, particularly for this ending bit with Xie Lian and Hua Cheng talking to each other.

Other episode thoughts for season 2 (didn't start till episode 3):

S02E03

S02E04

S02E05

S02E06

S02E07

S02E08

S02E09

S02E10 (you are here)

S02E11

S02E12

#Heaven Official's Blessing #HOB #TGCF #Hua Cheng #Xie Lian #Hualian #Hua Cheng/Xie Lian #Hua Cheng x Xie Lian #spoilers #Qi Rong #Lang Qianqiu #An Le #good fucking food #suicide reference #fallfthoughts

[rosethornewrites]

NR, E, & M reading since 2/26

Finished

Not Rated:

in which Jin Ling is tragically underappreciated, by Buttercup_ghost

"You're a cutsleeve," is the first thing Wei Wuxian's time traveling nephew says to him.

"Um. What?"

-

Jin Ling is doing his Dajiu a wonderful favor in getting him hitched early. Now if only his Dajiu would appreciate it!

Heart-to-heart with the Elder Jade, by KarenF

After the revelations at Guan Yin Temple (in YunPing City), it was obvious that Wei WuXian was a victim, wrongly blamed, wrongly ostracized, wrongly ‘hunted’ for things he did not do or had no knowledge of even ‘doing’ it. Guilt and remorse knew no bounds and ‘everyone’ sought to find ways to apologize and/or make amends… But, Wei WuXian was an elusive person who did not like to be at the receiving end of an apology, especially from someone he respected or loved. Everyone was the victim of a skilful manipulation after all…

Su She &/ Wen Xu, by nirejseki

Prompt: Wen xu and su she somehow form a bond of some sort, maybe su she decides to just say fuck it and join the Wen sect? Maybe wen xu’s repressed desire to kill his dad comes into play?

Explicit:

Because of Wen Qing, by QteCuttlfish (71 chapters)

What if Jiang Cheng had chosen to support Wen Qing, the Wen clan remnants, and most importantly, Wei Wuxian? Follows CQL/Untamed canon. Canon Divergence from Episode 20.

The Space Between Us, by TempestFlame (11 chapters)

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji were once considered a doubles pair to watch as they rose through the ranks of tennis players in China. Though they were each skilled individually, together they were practically unstoppable. But things ended poorly between them, and they haven't seen each other once since the downfall of their partnership.

But when they meet again, two years later, their connection is still stronger than the distance that has grown between them, and they seize their second chance at standing together with everything they have.

most barren peak and bleakest winter, by WhatTheOwlHears (10 chapters)

He drank. Set the cup down. “I understand Wei Ying would not choose to behave that way ordinarily.”

Well that was certainly true, but it felt like a lie anyway. “Haha, yeah.” Wei Wuxian put his elbow on the table so he could put his face in his hand. “Definitely would not normally make attempts on the virtue of my dear dear friend Hanguang-jun.”

Mature:

I Call For You to Come Back, by Sunflower1778 (10 chapters)

It wasn't possible. And yet here they were. His parents looked at him full of fondness, unknowing of what he did or who he had become.

"A-Ying, you're so big now," his mother spoke, tears running freely down her face.

**DISCONTINUED**

To Let the Light In, by dedougal

Lan Zhan didn't really want to go to his school reunion. It was bound to have all the things he hated: people, people he'd forgotten and people he should try to forget.

Unfinished

Not Rated:

Did i ask for this? (You really need it?), by Weiwuxiansfluteowner

In a world where Lan Wangji and Wei Ying didn't meet at cloud recess. In a world where Wei Wuxian was still pushed in the burial mounds, and came back and saved the wen remnant. In a world where Wei Wuxian created the Wei clan, and started teaching his ways.

Would still be possible for them to love each other? Even when their first meeting is a proposed marriage for the Yilling patriarch? Even if Lan Wangji did not ask for a marriage, and is not sure what to feel about the patriarch of Yilling?

---

Aka the one where Wei Wuxian is constantly scaring the other clans on leaving him and his family alone, but they started to gift him so many things he just accepted them. But how do you say you don't WANT to accept a clearly forced marriage, with the most beautiful man you ever layed your eyes on?

Don't worry, Lan Wangji falls hard too.

The Kids Are Okay (I Think), by GossamerGlint

Wei Ying, in a twist of fate, finds himself on the streets once more, betrayed by cultivators

Meng Yao's mother dies early, betrayed by cultivators.

Xue Yang loses his finger with his optimism, betrayed by cultivators.

Yet none of them will be left alone, if this mysterious ghost with an equally hazy past has anything to say about it. And so what if these boys are her distant grandchildren? She'll adopt them all the same! Now... if only they wouldn't get into any trouble because of their inheritance...

Explicit:

Heart of the Beast, by WaitForTheSnitch

“Wei Ying?” Nie Mingjue prompted him gently. “Where are your parents?”

“They went on a night hunt,” Wei Ying said, a bit evasively.

“Your parents are cultivators?” Da-ge asked in surprise. “Did they leave you here while they hunted? When did they go on their night hunt?”

“Four summers ago,” Wei Ying said a bit uncomfortable.

“Four summers ago,” Nie Mingjue repeated. “What are your parents’ names?”

“My mama is Cangse Sanren and my baba is Wei Changze,” Wei Ying told him, and recognition registered in Nie Mingjue’s eyes.

“Wei Ying,” Nie Mingjue said, sounding a bit regretful, “Your parents aren’t coming back.”

Or, Nie Mingjue and Nie Huaisang run into Wei Ying while in Yiling and decide to bring him home. And it changes everything.

Obscuring the Sun, by Karmiya

When Wen Ning finds Wei Wuxian, strangled and left for dead a mile out from Lotus Pier, he brings him to his sister in Yiling for treatment. Wen Qing is left with the task of hiding him- and of trying to convince him not to return to the person who nearly killed him, as little as he wants to hear it. She isn't sure there's anything she can do to help him when they're now on opposite sides of a war, but soon events transpire which give Wei Wuxian no choice but to shelter with them in Yiling.

As much as they can't afford for the Sunshot Campaign to lose the war, neither can they win it; not if all the innocent people caught up in Wen Ruohan's tyranny are to survive. But can anything be done to depose Wen Ruohan, or is the tyrant too close to the sun for any mortal to reach?

Mature:

travelers through the empty gate, by stiltonbasket

Ten years after eliminating the Jiang and Nie clans, Emperor Wen Ruohan is dethroned by a young demonic cultivator from the outlands of Yiling, who surpasses him in both talent and cruelty. Where Wen Ruohan burned his enemies, Emperor Yiling raises his from the dead, and sends them through the imperial city to hunt down every last remnant of the Wen clan that tries to evade his clutches.

The last thing Lan Wangji wants to do with the Yiling huangdi is marry him.

Unfortunately, his family's fall from grace leaves him with no other choice.

Lotus Blooms, by SuperiorJello (2nd in a series)

This work is part 2 of my Reset-verse series. If you have not read part 1, it will make a lot less sense. I'm not gonna stop you though, you do you.

Our team of heroes are all still students at Cloud Recesses, but with a recent attack by the Wens, war is imminent, and many if not all of the students will be fleeing home.

This fic is the story of how time-travelling WangXian help handle the Sunshot campaign with their future knowledge, and also XiCheng falling for each other as they handle the chaos around them.

Old Endings Lead to New Beginnings, by 2wish_4life

Following an accident with an array, Wei Ying, Lan Zhan, and their gaggle of juniors are thrown into the past. Back in the year they studied at Cloud Recesses they decide to change the future to prevent all the unnecessary death.

Will they succeed?

And most importantly will Lan Zhan get his necessary Wei Ying snuggle time under Lan Qiren's watchful eyes?

A Characters Watching their Series fix-it fic, starring the younger versions of everyone they know.

#the untamed #mo dao zu shi #mdzs #cql #chen qing ling #untamed fanfiction

[dual-domination]

I posted 662 times in 2022

97 posts created (15%)

565 posts reblogged (85%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@the-marron

@huntress1013

@jaimebluesq

@zhu-yilong-laying-on-things

@pangzi

I tagged 591 of my posts in 2022

Only 11% of my posts had no tags

#guardian - 78 posts

#dmbj - 71 posts

#zhu yilong - 71 posts

#zhao yunlan - 65 posts

#mdzs - 61 posts

#wu xie - 50 posts

#bai yu - 42 posts

#shen wei - 42 posts

#nie mingjue - 42 posts

#the untamed - 37 posts

Longest Tag: 137 characters

#i just wouldn't take xiexie to the desert island bc if he and zyl are there i'm going to stay alone.... if you know what i mean jksjkskjs

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

I am so sorry, but you two made my day. Literally made me giggle like a teenager. Thank you so much. OK, new ask.

Pairing: Lan XiChen x Jiang Wanyin

AU : The frazzled babysitter

You're welcome! It's my pleasure to serve the humor and comedy 😆

So here we go again:

Little menaces

Xichen tried to not give up. Coffee and energetic drinks weren't working anymore. He wondered why his didi and his (twice?) brother-in-law got cute sweet children like a-Yuan and tiny romantic Zizhen, meanwhile he got Jingyi and a-Ling. Just one of them was enough to make him keep the two eyes very open, but the two, together… a true nightmare. A-Ling would fight over his jiujiu's attention - against Jingyi AND against Xichen. And Jingyi would fight back because… well, because he was who he was: the less Lan of all Lans. 

LXC: Sometimes I wonder if there's any chance of Jingyi being actually a Nie changed at birth…

JC: Sometimes I wonder HOW Wei Wuxian managed to raise such a calm son while a-jie's child is… this full-time upset baby Peacock…

JL: A-Ling is not a peacock! 

JC: Your dad is a Peacock, and so are you.

JL: Mean jiujiu!

LXC: Wanyin, making them cry won't help…

JC: Helps me to get my revenge for what they've done to us.

LXC: They're just small babies… we have to love them.

JC: I love my peacock nephew. 

JL: A-Ling is going to tell everything to xiaoshushu!

JC: Just like you, he's not a big thing. 

LJY: Jin Ling is a coward!

JL: And you are what??

LJY: I'm a fucking badass NIE!

Next time they'd have to babysit, Jingyi definitely would stay with Mingjue and a-Yao, even at risk of learning at least five more bad words and cursing to Lan Qiren's horror.

47 notes - Posted August 10, 2022

#4

Now that my husband loves Mo Dao Zu Shi, I can send him stuff I find on Tumblr. So I sent this one for him...

And he sent it back to me and told me he fixed it:

He doesn't want to be a Lan anymore. He wants to be a Nie, have a respectable mustache and qi-deviate like man.

He says: The Mustache is Canon.

93 notes - Posted July 8, 2022

#3

POV: Meng Yao never left Qinghe

Part 1:

* MY, immersed in business papers. *

NMJ: What are you doing?

MY: Long-term investments.

NMJ: For what?

MY: For good reasons.

NMJ: I was not consulted. 

MY: War is your business, investments are mine.

NMJ: Shall I remind you who Qinghe Nie Sect belongs to?

MY and NHS looking at each other from opposite sides of the room.

NHS: Da-ge, shall I remind you who you belong to?

NMJ: I sense a conspiracy here…

( @novas-grimoire I blame that tweet... and my obsession in Nieyao fix-it stuff)

97 notes - Posted July 2, 2022

#2

It's been a while since my hand tremors returned and it's been rare for me to feel like painting - especially since I've lost a lot of motivation since Traditional Art has become underrated in light of digital art.

But then this wonderful Guardian fic by @the-marron left me overly emotional and I can't get out of my head everything I felt while reading.

So, Marron, a quick painting of someone who wished he had the talent to convey your impeccable writing on a canvas, but really just has a lot of feelings.

Fun fact: it's the first time in over twenty years of being part of fandoms that I've tried to paint something for someone else's fic.

You can find this little literary treasure here:

When I walk past the mountain peak, it doesn't speak

(It took a lot of courage to post this 😅)

140 notes - Posted August 31, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

See the full post

467 notes - Posted June 25, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review #my n2 post is the one I wished to be my n1 bc it's personal #but the tags are accurate abt my feelings in 2022 sjkkjskjs #Marron look you're famous here XD #my longest tag is crack written under tazzy's ask game and that says a lot abt me #no surprise guardian and dmbj tags are where they are kjskjskjs #surprise is that I didn't post zhao yunlan enough or I forgot to tag :V

[leatherbookmark]

my (probably easily solvable with just reading the necessary parts in the novel lol) problem with the post abt how it’s not that nmj doesn’t have any hobbies, it’s just wwx being unreliable, is... okay. “wwx knew this from the time my was working under nmj” -- how did he know this? was he close to them during that time? close enough to notice my’s attempts at finding nmj a hobby and nmj’s incompatibility with these? were there rumors about these that reached wwx’s ears? why would people talk about that, though? or did wwx come up with a random headcanon on the spot?

(i’m honestly puzzled by quite a number of things wrt the narration; often i can’t discern if the narration is from wwx’s pov, showing us what he knows, or if it’s omniscient narration that tells us the true state of things. in the first chapters of the novel, after wwx is brought back to life, a lot of the information feels too... informed to be wwx’s knowledge, unless he spends most of his time in inns gossiping with people, but also too flimsy/gossipy-sounding to be the Objective Truth.  that, or i’ve lost the ability to read lmao;;)

i do feel like empathy is less “a sequence of separate scenes shown by the deceased exactly as they want it” and more “the deceased sharing with wwx the state of having experienced their memories, with focus on the memories/feelings they want him to see”, though. nmj’s empathy sequence has time skips, sums up nmj’s dissastisfaction with his new deputy envoy without a concrete “scene” to illustrate it... therefore, my trying to “find nmj’s weakness/hobby” could be just something that happened between the lines that wwx/mxtx simply didn’t find important enough to describe earlier. it wouldn’t be surprising, considering other things that mxtx doesn’t consider necessary to write about.

wwx sure can misinterpret people’s activities, but i don’t see him coming up with a headcanon about something as mundane; he could have simply observed that nmj can taste “tea. that’s tea for sure, aye” regardless of the quality of the leaves, that he doesn’t care for wartime tension-relieving hookups or about the artistic properties of a calligraphy scroll. the “meng yao was trying his best to find something in nmj that he could exploit later” bit is a bit confusing again, because it talks about my’s intent that was somehow noticeable for either nmj or wwx or both. but then, i could easily imagine my trying to get nmj to relax, asking him how he unwinds and then trying to find something for him (and failing), or alternatively: nmj adding the “everything he did was to figure out my weaknesses to exploit my trust!” tint in, uh, post-production.

on the other hand, i also simply wonder if the 当年孟瑶在聂明玦手底下做事时魏无羡就见识过了 sentence has anything in the phrasing that would hint at how exactly wwx obtained the ~intel~: personally during the war or via empathy. hmm

in general though -- i don’t think that nmj having no hobbies other than practicing his saber is necessarily bad, or something a hater would say. dude seems like someone who’s busy as hell, and there’s a certain straightforwardness about him that just gives me the idea that he’d be... rather utilitarian in the things he does. he focuses on the saber training because the nie sect Does Sabers Here, sir, to the point that he doesn’t even go “okay whatever, my did is shit at the saber, let him be a diplomat instead” but constantly nags him about saber practice. practice your saber, and you’ll be a good sect leader, and you’ll be able to protect people and vanquish evil. functionality!

and if he sees a painting, well, does the painted mountain succeed at looking like a mountain? then it’s a good painting, he guesses. is the calligraphy legible? then it’s good. but are they useful? if it’s a book with lan rules, a map, a name of a pavillion or a motto for the disciples to live by -- then sure, but if it’s yet another poem about the beauty of flowers? eh, they’re fine. a character written on fancy paper solely to be beautiful? in what way is it going to influence you? it’s not? then why have it in the first place. an expensive fan painted by a master painter? you’d cool yourself down just as effectively with a blank, cheaper one. etc, etc

#i kind of have some thoughts rattling up there about nmj and the concept of Attachments/everyday joys #like... he's. going to die and he knows it. i feel that aside from 'is it useful' things like women arts food etc etc are things that... #make one reluctant to part with the world. distract one from their true goal -- fucking these wens up and making sure nhs ends up a good #sect leader (task failed succesfully.) #idk. it just. checks out. i'm aware nmj enthusiasts will have more to say about his internal life because they want to see him human and #full of Thoughts and Emotions! but i uh. have seen one 'nmj actually a cool chill dude ruined by the Bad Evil jgy' take too many #and i don't actually care for a nmj who collects beetles and makes them little houses or tends to a private rock garden because it just #feeds into this idea that nmj was essentially fine. just needed his meds! and then jgy went and ruined everything! #when it uh. wasn't the case. so #shrimp thoughts

[warriorgardener]

March 9th

Lan Xichen clasped his hands behind his back just like his uncle, following his every step through the dark forest. During night hunts, Lan Qiren focused on managing the efforts of the Lan sect disciples and serving as a point of communication for any questions or concerns. His little nephew kept his eyes and ears open to absorb as much information as he could. Even though he was not yet old enough to go on night hunts himself, he knew that someday this would be his job as well.

A high-pitched scream pierced his ears. A crack resounded in the sky, illuminated a glowing red. Lan Xichen looked up with wide eyes. “A signal flare?”

Lan Qiren frowned. “A junior is in trouble. Stay here until I return.”

Lan Xichen started forward, about to say that he wanted to go with him, but quickly shut his mouth and stopped in his tracks. If he disobeyed, he would not be able to go with uncle in the future. Besides, he was not strong enough to help if someone was in trouble.

So he remained alone in the dark. After a while, his mind became disquieted, so he sat down to meditate. Not long after he closed his eyes, a rustling in the bushes disturbed him. Standing before him, tall and majestic, was a white deer. Its antlers shimmered in the faint moonlight as if carved from opal. Warm breath steamed from its nostrils. However, two things took away from Lan Xichen’s awe of its beauty: the forest had gone completely silent, and the creature’s eyes glowed with spiritual energy.

If Lan Xichen had sensed a demonic presence, he would have sprung into action. But no resentment radiated from the deer as it slowly approached him. Lan Xichen reached out a hand. The deer lowered its head and touched its nose to his palm. Everything went black.

***

Meng Yao swung a basket as he walked The first cresting of dawn touched the tall, dewy grass with gold. The narrow trail, stamped down by herds of deer rather than human footfall, wandered along the edge of the forest to a patch of sweet berry bushes. If he reached far enough into the bushes, ignoring the thorns, he might find a few juicy, ripened berries to bring home to his mother today.

The trail dipped into a steep ditch, which Meng Yao almost slid down in eagerness to reach his destination. There he stumbled upon a white ghost. No, not a ghost, but rather a solid body. Unafraid of death as it came to others, he knelt down by the pale figure. He was surprised to see that it was a boy his own age, breathing faintly but evenly as if asleep. His face was as slender and clear as jade, his eyelashes long and dark. His silky hair spilled around him, as black and smooth as the finest ink.

Meng Yao wondered if he had come across a fallen immortal, a young god that had been somehow struck out of the sky by a loose star in the night. It was like the beginning of a story, the kind of tale sung in songs late at night as the pleasure house ladies entertained their guests. Then he chided himself for these fantastical thoughts and gently shook the boy’s shoulder.

He awoke gently. As his dazed expression turned to Meng Yao, he gifted a small smile, his eyes now clear and unafraid.

“Are you okay?” Meng Yao asked. His soft tone was almost reverent. To him, this boy seemed as if he belonged in a palace in a sky.

The boy sat upright and arranged himself into a proper kneeling position on the wet ground to greet him as if in a formal meeting. “Yes. But I do not know where I am.”

“This is the forest outside of Yuping. If you’re lost, you should come home with me. My mother knows all about the families around here. She can find your parents for sure.”

At this, a faintly pained expression flickered across the boy’s face. It did not escape Meng Yao’s notice.

Tentatively, he asked, “Unless…are you alone?” How could a boy wearing such fine clothes be an orphan? Perhaps he really was a lost immortal.

The boy had fisted his hands into his white robes, but as soon as he looked down at himself, he released his grip and smoothed out the wrinkles. “All I remember is riding a white deer. But such a thing…surely it was a dream.”

Meng Yao’s heart softened even more for this beautiful, ethereal person in trouble. He had never held the power to help anyone before, not even his mother, but now it seemed that he was the only person in the world who could be this boy’s savior.

“Don’t be afraid.” Boldness filled his tone now. “I’ll help you.” He extended his hand and felt a thrill as the boy reached out without hesitation. Although he made no complaint, his palm was cold in Meng Yao’s hand. He had no gloves or extra layer to give to the one now suddenly under his wing, so he could only hold his hand tighter and hope to impart some warmth that way.

“My name is Meng Yao,” he added as they climbed from the ditch.

“I don’t know my name.”

“That’s okay, I can call you—“ Meng Yao blinked up at him. Because he felt so protective over his unexpected charge, he had already decided this was his little brother, but now on even ground he realized that his so-called little brother was much bigger than him. Rather than being disappointed, a new flutter of excitement filled his chest. “Er-ge?”

The boy smiled warmly at him. Some of the worry and confusion that seemed to weigh on his shoulders melted away. “Mm. Okay.”

***

Meng Shi was not surprised when her little boy ran into their quarters first thing in the morning with the faint, fresh smell of pine and morning air blowing in with him. She was, however, forced to school her expression into one of careful delight when he exclaimed, “Mom! I brought a friend from the forest!”

She mentally prepared herself for a small bird, a large bug, or a medium-sized rodent. Instead, Meng Yao tugged in a boy nearly a head taller than him. Although a little shy, the young master had the upright bearing of good upbringing. He was dressed in fine quality silks which appeared to have been dragged through mud. Moreover, his robes were that of a cultivation sect, though apparently not one that acquainted itself with her line of work, so she had no idea which one it could be.

“He’s lost and can’t remember anything,” Meng Yao explained, a little more cheerful than the circumstances warranted. “So I promised to help him!”

Meng Shi rubbed her brow. Whatever cultivation clan this young master came from might not take kindly to their involvement. However, abandoning a lost child was out of the question. And there was a small chance that this situation could help advance Meng Yao’s education as a cultivator before he was introduced formally to the Jin sect.

“That’s very virtuous of you, A-Yao.” She knelt down at eye level to to the boy. “Little one, do you really not remember anything that could help us find your home?”

He shook his head, his gaze clear and unafraid. “No, Madame, I remember nothing before waking up in the forest.”

Poor dear. Even at his young age, he had fine, straight features and a noble countenance. He was surely cherished by his whole family and bound to grow into a great beauty. She hummed thoughtfully. “I have many friends in the city. I will ask them which sect has white robes like yours, and then I will bring you to them straight away.”

A slight pout had formed on Meng Yao’s face. She turned to him with a faint, knowing smile and clasped his hands as if in dire supplication. “A-Yao, you must continue taking good care of your friend while I’m gone. We don’t know who else he can count on right now. Can you do it?”

“I will!” he said, his enthusiasm bordering on fierceness. The determination on his small face was so cute, she resisted the urge to pinch his cheeks and quickly prepared to leave.

***

Lan Xichen looked at Meng Yao for a long while after his mother left. He was small and had a cute face with bright eyes, but he seemed far more capable and clever than many at his age. A lot of Lan Xichen’s unease upon waking had faded simply by being held under his attention.

After a moment, he hesitantly said, “A-Yao?”

Meng Yao flushed pink in the face. “…yes?”

“Can I not call you that?”

“Only my mother calls me that…”

“I see.”

“But you can say it too. I’ll make a special exception.”

Lan Xichen smiled and A-Yao smiled back at him, revealing a dimple on each side of his face. “Er-Ge, do you like music? My mom can play a lot of instruments. I can show you them.”

“I’d like to see them. Can you play?”

Meng Yao shook his head as he led him into another room. “No, she won’t teach me.”

Lan Xichen slowly looked over the instruments. His gaze rested on one in particular. Without realizing it, he had drawn nearer and even reached out to touch it before quickly withdrawing his hand.

“The guqin? You can play it if you want.”

“I don’t know if I can…” A tension was building in his temple, as if something was being stretched or pulled from within.

Meng Yao sat on the floor in front of it and idly plucked a few strings. “Sure you can. Look, it’s easy.”

He swept his robes neatly behind him and sat next to Meng Yao to watch him pluck at random notes for a few moments. Then he lay his hands to the strings and did the same. A simple, airy melody filled the room as he played. Then he began to tremble with a discordant fear, not knowing how or why or what he played. Lan Xichen ripped his hands away and folded them into his sleeves, ducking his head.

“Er-ge, it’s really beautiful when you play. Will you teach me someday?

Lan Xichen’s quaking heart began to calm as a hand reached over and touched his sleeve. There was no way he could know whether there would be a someday between them, but somehow Meng Yao knew that just the faint, hopeful promise of a familiar future would soothe him.

“I will.”

Meng Yao leaned in and bumped his shoulder. “It will have to be our secret then.”

Lan Xichen had never had a secret before, he was sure of it. The excitement he felt was entirely new. It felt like hiding a flame behind his cupped palm to stay awake reading at night.

***

However, Meng Yao soon carried the secret alone. When his mother returned, she was accompanied by several men in white cultivation uniforms. A man with a thin mustache and beard announced that he was Er-ge’s uncle and took him by the arm.

Meng Yao was afraid of their grim expressions and the swords at their sides and the way they wanted to take him away so quickly. He clung to Er-ge’s other arm and begged to go with him, even as his mother hushed him and tried to pull him away.

“Cease your foolishness, child. There is no time to waste,” said the man.

To Er-ge, he continued, “The demonic beast that stole your memories is trapped in a spiritual array, but your memories will soon disperse if you are not placed into an array as well. You must obey at once.”

Er-ge’s eyes widened. He looked back at Meng Yao once. “A-Yao…”

His grip slowly dropped away. He nodded. He knew he had no choice but to go.

Er-ge obediently followed his uncle’s quick steps, but then wrenched free to run back to Meng Yao, hugging him tightly. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll come back soon to thank you properly.”

Meng Yao had also told him not to be afraid that very morning. The same words handed gently back to him like a borrowed coat, washed and folded neatly upon its return, only made him more anxious that this was goodbye.

He watched Er-ge leave through the door, then ran to the window to watch with amazement as his uncle and the others flew away with him on their swords.

“Who are they?” he asked his mother.

“The Lan clan of Gusu.” She sat with him by the window, looking pensive.

“Is Er-ge’s name also Lan?”

“They did not deign to tell me his name. But the situation was quite urgent. Perhaps we will learn his name when they return.” She stroked his head to comfort him, but Meng Yao did not need any more comfort. Er-ge had already promised to come back.

Only he never did. Over the years, Meng Yao had come up with dozens of reasons why, but he never learned the truth until they happened to meet again. The boy he rescued so long ago was none other than Lan Xichen, future head of the Lan clan. And he did not remember Meng Yao at all.

Meng Yao burned inside. The memory of their meeting had somehow been eaten up in exchange for those which had been restored. The pain of being so completely forgotten after bearing the weight of remembrance for years stung him like a fresh whipping atop old scars. But beneath that pain came a cool balm, restoring him to a thin sense of peacefulness. Lan Xichen had never returned to him because he had no way of knowing his own promise. He had not been betrayed as he once thought.

This was enough. He could start over again.

“Are you okay? Don’t be afraid. I’ll help you.”

[robininthelabyrinth]

Prompt day hurray! What does BaXia think of ChenQing? They would have crossed paths in the war, right? What do all the other weapons and instruments think of WWX apparently setting aside SuiBian for ChenQing? Can THEY tell he's got no golden core?

ao3

You seem kind of evil, Baxia remarked when she first met the flute.

Yeah? The flute responded without first bothering to extend her perceptive aura out to see who was talking to her, sounding like a little punk, arrogant and bold. Well, you seem kind of – oh fuck oh fuck you’re terrifying!

This was true. Baxia was terrifying.

Please don’t destroy me! My master needs me!

Baxia said nothing, enjoying how the flute squirmed, and nudged her own master pointedly.

Do not destroy the flute, her master responded with a sigh. He knew Baxia well. Her master is on our side.

Truly, war made for strange bedfellows. Baxia mourned the loss of the easy, straightforward night-hunt.

She nudged her master again.

Yes, fine, you can chase.

Her master - loving, wonderful, understanding master that he was - very casually walked across the room, unhooked her from his back, and put her down next to where the flute was hanging off her master's belt.

Chase, Baxia said happily, the aura of her power already spreading beyond the confines of her blade. Chase, chase, chase –

Someone help meeeeeee!

-

You’re kind of a dick, Chenqing said, having finally realized that Baxia had no intention of destroying her incipient spiritual soul. Anyone ever tell you that?

Yes.

…really? Who dared?

My master.

Your master is badass. Chenqing contemplated for a moment. So is mine, he's very brave, even suicidally brave, but not – you know – that much.

Baxia considered this, and accepted it. Her master was indeed a superior sort of human.

Why do you smell of death? she asked, mildly curious.

My master uses me to direct resentful energy, so I’m affected by its aura. You?

I bathe in it.

…you're so badass.

Yes. Baxia was.

You’re not bad, she told Chenqing, which almost predictably got a little huffy.

I raise armies of the dead! I am terrifying! They call me the phantom flute! I am more than 'not bad', okay?!

Baxia ignored Chenqing's nonsense. It would not take long for her to realize that being called ‘not bad’ by Baxia was a very high compliment, as such things went.

-

Are there any swords that aren’t afraid of you? Chenqing asked. She was very chatty. Or sabers. Or musical instruments…

Which musical instruments have you met?

Uh, mostly Wangji? Wangji’s cool.

Baxia occasionally wished for eyes so that she could roll them. Her human got a great deal of relief out of doing that, according to him. Wangji has a temperament of ice, yes.

No, I mean, that’s not what I meant, I – wait. Are you making a joke right now?

Baxia said nothing.

You have a sense of humor?!

Baxia said nothing.

This is ridiculous. It’s like meeting a hurricane with sharp teeth and finding out it also likes to sing bawdy brothel songs.

You’re kind of stupid, Baxia observed.

Well, yeah. I mean. Have you met my master?

Baxia had.

He’s only scary by accident, Chenqing said ruthlessly, which was only to be expected – no one dunked on a human like their spiritual weapon. Inside, he’s a big soft squishy meatball.

My master cries when he has feelings.

My master too! Humans, am I right?

Baxia supposed Chenqing was, in fact, right.

Perhaps she could stay.

-

It’s not that I don’t appreciate everything Wei Wuxian is doing for us, Baxia's master remarked to her one day. But didn’t he have a sword at one point? The one with the ridiculous name – Suibian.

At the next meeting, Baxia asked.

Suibian? Yeah, master doesn’t use him anymore, Chenqing said. It's a bit sad, actually. He can’t access the spiritual energy in the blade anymore.

Baxia didn’t like the sound of that. How come?

Master doesn’t have a golden core, Chenqing said. I think he used to, but he doesn’t anymore.

Seems careless.

Hey, I’m pretty sure it’s not his fault! Anyway, it’s a whole big secret. Why do you ask?

My master wanted to know.

Hah, Chenqing said. Nice of you to ask on his behalf, since you can’t tell him what the result of your question was.

Baxia said nothing.

You – can’t. Right? Masters can’t hear what swords say.

I, Baxia said, am not a sword.

…oh shit. Shit, no, you can’t –!

-

“We need to talk,” Baxia’s master said to Chenqing’s. “In private.”

You’re a rotten tattletale, Chenqing said.

Why do you care? He won’t know it was you that squealed.

Yeah, well, I know that I did it!

It’s for the best. My master will be nice about it, and your master will feel better for it. Baxia considered. There may be tears.

There were many tears.

Master really does seem like he feels better, Chenqing observed. I wouldn’t have called that.

Told you so.

-

So, Chenqing said. This hunt is probably the last time we’ll be able to hang out.

Probably, Baxia agreed.

I was hoping to ask for some advice.

Bichen is amendable to your flirting, and Wangji follows where she leads, so you have a shot.

I – what? That wasn’t what I was going to ask.

Baxia waited.

…wait, are you serious? Will that work? I could do that –

-

The flute’s an idiot, Baxia told her master. But maybe she and that master of hers can help you here.

It would be inappropriate for me to ask, her master said, rubbing his eyes. The Jiang sect kicked him out, remember? It would be stepping on their face to approach him despite that.

Okay, Baxia said. So step.

Baxia…

You share a secret with him, at his request, she pointed out. He owes you for keeping it secret for him. At minimum, even if he can’t help you right now, he can help protect your brother when you’re gone.

Her master was silent. That was his weak spot, and had always been.

No one would be able to know, he finally said. And Meng Yao comes every week.

Is our home so small that we can’t hide someone from Meng Yao’s sight? Baxia said scathingly. Since when is he the master here, not you?

I just meant that he’s a sneak that’d sell me out to his father given half a chance, her master sighed. All right, I’ll see if there’s anything that can be done. Wei Wuxian is a musical cultivator, and a genius; maybe he can tell me why Clarity doesn’t seem to be having the impact we hoped it would.

Sure, Baxia said. Whatever. I don't really care. Just get help.

-

Well, that worked, Baxia said to Chenqing. Sort of.

How are you this badass? You just -! Singlehandedly -! I can’t – how?!

Calm down, Baxia advised. What are you, human?

How dare you.

You’re the one acting like you need air to speak.

…so I’m looking forward to seeing the Lotus Pier again now that we're not banished any more, Chenqing said, pointedly changing the subject because she was wrong and she knew it. Thanks for that.

Thanks for figuring out that the evil meat was poisoning my master.

That’s. uh. Sure a way to call someone.

Why not? He’s evil, and he’s made of flesh, and he’s going to be nothing but meat as soon as I have an opportunity.

I thought your master was thinking of some sort of confinement…?

He certainly has thoughts, Baxia allowed, purposefully broadcasting.

I have very strong thoughts, her master replied pointedly. Do not kill him on your own – I’ll only get the blame for that.

Oh no, Baxia told him insincerely. How terrible for you.

Baxia. Please.

Fine. What about Jin Guangshan?

…what about him?

Me and the flute are going to take care of him.

We are? Wait, are you talking to your master right now? Oh that’s so cool. Tell him to tell my master that I said hi.

Baxia would tell her master no such thing.

That’s probably not the right way to do that, her master said, but in that wavering tone of voice that suggested he was open to being convinced. Though it would be easier to sell Meng Yao as being only collateral damage in the scheme if Jin Guangshan took the lion’s share of the blame, which would only happen if he wasn’t around…that doesn’t seem right, though.

Sure it is, Baxia said soothingly. He’s the one who wanted to play with resentful energy, right? All we want to do is play with him back. Who can say no to that? He’s practically volunteered!

-

“Okay, I have a weird question,” Chenqing’s master said to Baxia’s. “Please don’t judge me. But…did we happen to work together to drive Jin Guangshan into a resentful energy backlash?”

“We did not,” Baxia’s master said.

“Okay. Right. Got it. Sorry, stupid question.”

“Our spiritual weapons did.”

“…what?”

“If you’re wondering why your Chenqing shows signs of use in the manner that would be associated with Jin Guangshan’s untimely demise, it’s because the resentful energy you’re using has been sufficient to allow it to cultivate in the direction of a guai,” Baxia’s master explained. “It has a will of its own now, just as Baxia does. You will need to account for that when you master it in the future.”

“Wait. Are you saying that my flute has, what, a personality? Can think and talk and do things on its own?”

“Yes.”

“That’s…that’s so cool. Can you tell Baxia to tell Chenqing I said ‘hi’?”

Why are they like this, Baxia’s master asked Baxia.

I don’t know, you’re the human expert, she replied, ignoring the way that Chenqing was happily chirping answers to her human’s questions even though he couldn’t hear her. Why are you all like this?

I don’t know, he said. I really don’t know.

-

It’s nice to meet you, Suibian said, sounding appropriately respectful. I appreciate your master finding a way for my master to continue to wield me.

It’s through resentful energy, Chenqing said gleefully. Lots and lots of it, refining the sword like a saber – my poor master’s going to have to stay up late and learn so many techniques, his hair’s all going to fall out.

Yes, Baxia said. I can see the resentful energy. There’s a lot of it.

Lots and lots, Suibian said proudly. I drew in everything I could.

Without sorting out the evil?

…isn’t it all evil?

Mm, not really, Baxia said, and began to extend out her aura.

Uh, Suibian said. What’s going on.

I told you to be more patient! You shouldn’t have taken the evil parts, Chengqing said. It makes you a little bit evil, too, and that makes you Baxia’s prey.

…prey?

Chase, Baxia said. Chase, chase, chase –

Help! Help – somebody help!

I would, Chenqing giggled. But master doesn’t speak flute. Sorry!

#mdzs #baxia #chenqing #suibian #nie mingjue #wei wuxian #my fic #my fics #kind of evil

[suddenlystolen]

Hi! (This is inappropriatewenning's main account, by the way.) I really appreciate your work sharing more of the context for JGY as part of the MDZS filial piety examination. I was wondering--and go ahead and ignore me, I don't want to make you do annoying work!--but I assume there's also plenty of stories about what you do when your loyalty to your father and to your mother conflict? Since that's a thing that strikes me so much with JGY's story, he's doing so much for his mother and for his father...and his father is awful to and about his mother. I'm sure this is something that comes up in Chinese literary/folk tradition, but do you know where I might look for it?

Anyway, thank you so much for that detailed meta, it's just what I've been hoping to find!

Thanks @inappropriatewenning for asking so nicely <3! And I think @jiggysgotanevilhat had a similar question in the replies!

I’d like to activate Cunningham’s Law where the fastest way to get the right answer on the internet is to post something wrong. So I’m gonna say: I have tried,,, looking for such a story but I haven’t found anything truly analogous to Jin Guangyao’s situation. I’m going to hazard a read on this situation — which is that this only attests to how difficult Jin Guangyao’s situation is. But this is what I have, and most of it is a summary of what I’ve found in Maria Sibau’s book Reading for the Moral: Exemplarity and the Moral Imagination in Seventeen Century Chinese Short Fiction.

So for more context, within the Chinese literary and vernacular tradition, there are stories that stage a conflict between filial duty and the obligations associated with other family bonds. Maria Sibau terms them filial dilemmas in her book. As she puts it, these stories “tackle issues that fall into what may be termed moral casuistry: to whom should one give priority, father or son? Mother or wife? Mother-in law or husband? Father or adoptive father…duty towards mother vs father.”

What’s interesting is that the only example she gives of a conflict between filial duty between mother and father…isn’t really a conflict. It’s known as 挺刃终除鴞悍, 皇綸特鑒孝衷 “Brandishing a Dagger He Gets Rid of the Harpy, The Imperial Edict Gives Special Consideration to His Filial Intention”. It’s a story of a twelve year old boy Cui Jian murdering a prostitute that his philandering father takes in as a concubine. It was for said concubine insulting his already tempestuous mother, who makes a suicide attempt but is stopped by Cui Jian. Cui Jian is imperially pardoned for his crime because “killing the prostitute and thus going against his father was a minor offense, while killing the prostitute in order to save his mother was for a greater cause. He demonstrated [that he possessed] both wisdom and virtue.” I’ll leave y’all to draw the uncomfortable parallels to the Jin household and the Mengs if y’all wish :”) (Side note: There’s also a section in Sibau’s book on Filial Murderers touching on how crimes of passion stemming from the feeling of filial piety often got lighter sentences in ancient China, and could even be memorialised as exemplars. You could choose to use it to sympathise with why Jin Guangyao reacts so violently when his mother is insulted, and even why Nie Mingjue is so aghast when his father is insulted by Meng Yao while he was captured and brought before Wen Ruohan).

Anyway my guess is that it would be hard to find any traditional stories about choosing between one’s mother and father. Most “solutions” to filial dilemmas put the parents before other familial ties, because they were there for you first. By that logic, how can there be a moral exemplary, who rightly discerned if duty to mother or father should come first? Both just seem like wrong choices,,, It’s also important to note that there will also be people pointing to filial exemplars as examples of foolish filial piety (愚孝 yu xiao). The only certainty is that the choices made by those caught in filial dilemmas will be scrutinised by generations as part of their moral lessons :”)

So I guess Jin Guangyao gets to be his own filial exemplar? People can write stories about him — “He Killed his Dad…Creatively…for Insulting his Mom.” Discuss.

But yeah I wouldn’t dig too hard for a story of when filial duty between parents clash. Most chinese people wouldn’t be able to rattle these like case studies off the top of their head anyway. But I think there's a good chance that MXTX draws partly upon her chinese audience’s understanding of filial piety, to up the tension of Jin Guangyao’s predicament, where he’s caught between honouring his father and mother, building it up until it blows.

Heck, an understanding of filial piety for non-Chinese audiences might even enhance their appreciation of even other Chinese dramas or books! There’s often a good overlap between the CQL and WoH fandom, so I'm going to try give an example from WoH if that helps.

[SPOILER] So if you’ve watched WoH, my guess is that watching father-son pairs such as Long Que and Long Xiao (yeah that’s the Xiao that means filial piety) or Xie Wang and Zhao Jing is more interesting if you set it against the tradition of stories of fathers and sons trying to figure out the proper filial relations between each other [SPOILER END].

So I'd say the practice of staging scenarios in stories that complicate the practice of filial piety and understandings of parent-child relationships is very much a living one :P

#jin guangyao #filial piety #mdzs meta #mdzs metas #mdzs cultural meta #jgy

[bloody-bee-tea]

Beetober 2021 Day 3 - Eternity

Jiang Cheng is listlessly walking through his apartment. He gets like this sometimes and he knows it’s better to just wait it out for now, but he feels like a remnant piece of time, left behind without anything to do and he hates these days.

It feels like he does nothing but wait and wait and wait and he’s so sick and tired of it, especially since he doesn’t even know what he’s waiting for.

“A-Cheng,” Jiang Yanli says from the door and he whirls around to her.

“A-jie,” he greets her and welcomes her hug, if only because it gives him something to do.

“What’s going on?” she asks and Jiang Cheng hates how perceptive she is.

“Nothing,” he tries, but she levels him with her best ‘don’t even try to fool me’ look and he sighs. “I don’t know.”

“You can talk to me,” she offers, pulling him over to the couch where she pushes him down and expectantly sits next to him.

And for a moment he’s tempted; he’s tempted to tell her everything if only so he can get it off his chest. But then he sees how happy she looks and how unburdened she is by this life and he knows that he can’t.

It wouldn’t be fair to her.

“There’s nothing to talk about,” Jiang Cheng softly tells her and pets the hand on his arm. “It’s just one of those days.”

“I don’t believe you,” she says, but she softens her words with a kiss to his cheek. “But I won’t push if you don’t want to tell me.”

“And this is why you’re my favourite,” Jiang Cheng tells her with a smirk. “That gremlin would have poked and pestered me.”

“And he wouldn’t have gotten anywhere either,” Jiang Yanli very accurately predicts and Jiang Cheng nods.

If he’s going to tell anyone at all, then it would be Jiang Yanli and certainly not Wei Wuxian.

“A-Cheng, I’m ho-ome!” Nie Huaisang yells suddenly as he lets himself into Jiang Cheng’s apartment and Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes.

“I apologize in advance,” he tells Jiang Yanli, even though by now she knows how Nie Huaisang can get sometimes.

“That’s alright. I just wanted to check up on you anyway, because Jin Ling sent you several texts and he said you didn’t reply.”

“Oh, right, my phone,” Jiang Cheng mutters and looks around the living-room.

He still sometimes forgets that phones are a thing now and especially on days like this it’s hard to use them and not be absolutely baffled by how things have change.

“I’ll make sure to write him once I find it,” he promises Jiang Yanli, who nods, clearly satisfied with his answer.

“Alright, then I’ll leave you and your not-boyfriend alone for now,” she tells him with a wink and Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes.

“He’s not my boyfriend,” he gives back and he wonders why no one believes him when he says it.

“Sure he’s not,” Jiang Yanli sing-songs and walks over to the door. “Bye, A-Cheng’s not-boyfriend,” she says with a laugh and then leaves a spluttering Nie Huaisang in the hallway.

“Why is that still going on?” Nie Huaisang demands to know once he comes into the living-room. “Why is no one believing us when we say that we are not actually boyfriends?”

“I have no goddamn clue,” Jiang Cheng sighs and lets his head fall back, closing his eyes. “But I hate it.”

“Are you alright?” Nie Huaisang asks, putting his blessedly cool hands over Jiang Cheng’s eyes and it’s chasing away the headache he didn’t even notice yet.

“No,” Jiang Cheng admits. “It’s just one of those days.”

“Where you’re trying to figure out what you’re waiting for?”

“Yes,” he agrees. “I mean—why am I still here? I get why you’re still here, but why me? I have everyone back and they are all happy, without any drama in their lives and I just don’t get it,” he rambles and Nie Huaisang makes an understanding noise but it’s not like he has an answer for Jiang Cheng either.

Neither of them know why it’s only them who cultivated to immortality, and it’s not like anyone has given them any answers either. The only clue they found about this during their centuries and millennials of searching for answers is that they will re-enter the circle of reincarnation once they find what they are waiting for.

It’s pretty easy to figure out what Nie Huaisang is waiting for, especially since in all their different lives they have never once encountered Nie Mingjue but Jiang Cheng can’t say the same for himself.

He tried a dozen different things over his different lives; he made sure he and Wei Wuxian stayed friends, he spent one dedicated life to be Lan Wangji’s friend, he helped Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan get married and be happy and have Jin Ling and this is not the first life where all of this is true.

Jiang Cheng has everything he missed; even his parents are still around and surprisingly enough he’s on good-ish terms with both of them.

There is nothing he is missing and yet he is still as immortal as he’s been for centuries now.

“Maybe you’re waiting for him, too,” Nie Huaisang says and Jiang Cheng sighs.

He doesn’t outright deny it, because it could be after all, but—“I just don’t understand why I would.”

It’s not like he and Nie Mingjue had a good relationship in their first life. Tragedy struck too soon for them to form anything at all.

“You did propose a courtship with him,” Nie Huaisang reminds him and Jiang Cheng sighs again.

“I did, but more for political reasons, you know that. Your Sect was strong, even after the Sunshot Campaign and it would have been good for Yunmeng Jiang. And besides. It’s not like I got an answer.”

“Aw, Jiang-xiong, come on, you can admit it,” Nie Huaisang teases him and climbs over the back of the couch so he can poke at Jiang Cheng’s face better. “You had a crush on my brother. It wasn’t all political.”

“And what about it?” Jiang Cheng gives back as he slaps Nie Huaisang’s hand away. “Who didn’t have a crush on your brother. And if this is the logic you want to go with, then it’s just as plausible that I’m waiting for Xichen.”

“You do know that he cultivated to immortality in his seclusion, right?” Nie Huaisang asks and he’s serious right now.

Jiang Cheng knows Nie Huaisang well enough by now to know that while he doesn’t really regret his actions back in their very first life he does feel bad for Lan Xichen.

“I went to see him a few years back,” Jiang Cheng admits. “Or maybe decades? I can’t remember at this point.”

“Oh.” Nie Huaisang shuffles down the couch, just enough to put his head in Jiang Cheng’s lap and it’s only when Jiang Cheng starts to card his fingers through his hair that he speaks again. “How is he doing?”

“Not so well, I think,” Jiang Cheng softly says. “I told him that we encountered Meng Yao a few times, but it didn’t seem like he’s interested in hearing this. I think—at this point he’s just punishing himself.”

“Maybe he’s waiting for da-ge, too.”

“Maybe,” Jiang Cheng agrees, because it is possible. “If we ever do end up finding him, we’ll have to bring him there.”

“Sure,” Nie Huaisang agrees. “Do you think—he’ll remember?”

Not everyone they have encountered remembered their first life, or even any that followed after and it differs from reincarnation to reincarnation.

“Does it really matter?” Jiang Cheng gives back.

“No,” Nie Huaisang decides.

Jiang Cheng hums, because he didn’t expect anything else and then they fall into silence.

Jiang Cheng honestly dreads the day they find Nie Mingjue because if Nie Huaisang is wrong and Nie Mingjue is not actually what Jiang Cheng is waiting for then he’ll be all alone in the world, and he’s not sure he could take it.

But even thinking that feels mean towards both Nie Mingjue and Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng pushes those thoughts away.

It’s not like he has any influence over this anyway.

~*~*~

In the end, Nie Mingjue finds them. They are just on their way back to their apartment, bickering over the groceries, when it happens.

“Huaisang? Wanyin?”

They whirl around only to come face to face with Nie Mingjue.

“Da-ge,” Nie Huaisang cries out, dropping all of their groceries and flinging himself at Nie Mingjue. “Da-ge, you’re here!”

“Di-di,” Nie Mingjue chokes out, burying his face in Nie Huaisang’s hair and Jiang Cheng wonders if he only remembered his past life now that he saw them or if he knew all along.

“What is happening?” he asks, and Jiang Cheng figures it’s the first.

He looks good, he has to give him that; clad in modern clothes like they all are these days and that still somehow strike Jiang Cheng as strange, but his hair is still braided with the distinctive Qinghe Nie braids.

If he didn’t remember before, then clearly his subconscious did.

“I have missed you so much,” Nie Huaisang sobs out and Jiang Cheng turns around, busying himself with picking up the groceries that are littered all over the floor now.

“We should move this to my apartment,” Jiang Cheng says, trying his best to be happy for Nie Huaisang instead of bitter.

Nie Huaisang is going to die in this lifetime and Jiang Cheng will have to go on alone.

“Sure,” Nie Mingjue mutters, clearly still shocked by what is happening but Jiang Cheng hears them both follow him.

Nie Huaisang babbles excitedly at Nie Mingjue, bringing him up to speed on everything that happened after he died and Jiang Cheng tries to blend it out.

That was his most miserable life and he doesn’t want to be reminded too much of it, even though it’s long past and he never allowed it to be that bad again.

The Nie brothers keep up a constant chatter in Jiang Cheng’s back until he lets them all into his apartment and then Nie Mingjue reaches out to grab his elbow.

“It’s good to see you, too, Wanyin,” Nie Mingjue says and Jiang Cheng even believes him.

He wants to give the sentiment back but when he turns around he catches Nie Mingjue’s eyes and everything comes to a stop for a heart-stopping moment.

“I would have said yes, you know, if death hadn’t robbed me of that opportunity,” Nie Mingjue tells him, his voice shaking the slightest bit and Jiang Cheng can almost feel how his immortality is leaving him.

“I’ve waited an eternity for you,” Jiang Cheng accuses him but he’s still shaken from the revelation that it was indeed Nie Mingjue he was waiting for all this time.

“And we’re getting our chance now,” Nie Mingjue immediately promises him, making Jiang Cheng honest to god flush, even though he thought himself to be long past that.

“Oh, fuck no,” Nie Huaisang whispers in the background and when Jiang Cheng manages to tear his eyes away from Nie Mingjue he has to laugh at the comical face he makes.

“You told me again and again that maybe your brother is who I’m waiting for. And now you’re saying that?”

“I didn’t mean—I didn’t consider the consequences!” Nie Huaisang wails and slaps his hands over his eyes. “I don’t want to see this!”

“Too bad,” Nie Mingjue says and smiles at Jiang Cheng. “Because it’s happening.”

Jiang Cheng is helpless against that smile and he figures it’s only fair. He took chances with Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji and even his parents; he made sure his sister is beyond happy and that nothing bad happens to any of them.

And now it’s time that he gets his chance.

Link to my ko-fi on the sidebar!

#bt writes #mingcheng #beetober2021 #modern au #reincarnation #immortality #hurt/comfort #fluff #getting together

[translations-by-aiimee]

The Husky and His White Cat Shizun - Chapter 7

Original Title:  二哈和他的白猫师尊

Genres: Drama, Romance, Tragedy, Xianxia, Yaoi

This translation is based on multiple MTLs and my own limited knowledge of Chinese characters. If I have made any egregious mistakes, please let me know.

Chapter Index

Chapter 7 - This Venerable One Likes Wontons

The scorching sun was blazing.

The veranda of Life-Death Peak stretched for mile.

As a rising star among immortal cultivators, it was quite different from the other famous clans of the immortal world.

Take the most prosperous Rufeng Sect of Linyi. The main hall of the sect was called the "Six Virtues Hall", which intended to encourage disciples to be "wise, faithful, holy, righteous, benevolent, and loyal" in accordance with the six virtues. The area where the disciples live was called the "Six Behaviours Gate", which warns the disciples to practice "filial piety, friendship, harmony, marriage, responsibility, and compassion." The place where classes were taught was called "Six Arts Platform", which meant that disciples needed to be proficient in the six skills of "ritual, music, archery, riding, calligraphy, and mathematics".

All in all, its elegance was endless.

On the other hand, Life-Death Peak came from a poor background. Its names were hard to explain. "Danxin Hall" and "Platform of Righteousness and Evil" were alright. Perhaps it was because Mo Ran's father and his uncle weren't scholars and couldn't determine any better names. After a while, the names started to get more nonsensical, naming things "Xue Ya" -sounding names left and right.

Therefore, there are many plagiarised names from the underworld on Life-Death Peak. For example, the room where disciples practiced self-reflection was called Yanluo Hall.

The jade bridge connecting the resting area and the teaching area was called Naihe Bridge. The dining hall was called Mengpo Hall, the martial arts field was called Mountain of Daggers and Sea of Flames. The forbidden area of ​​the back of the mountain is called the Ghost Room, and so on.

These weren't too bad, but there were other places simply called "This is a mountain", "This is water", "This is a pit", as well as the famous "Ahhhhh" and "Wahhhhhh" cliffs.

The elders’ dormitories naturally did not escape, and each has their own nickname.

Chu Wanning was naturally no exception. He liked peace and didn't want to live near others. His residence was built on the South Peak of Life-Death Peak, hidden in a sea of ​​bamboo. There was a pool in front of the main hall, and the pool was red from lotus petals blocking the sunlight from reflecting off it. Because of its abundance of spiritual power, the lotus flowers were in full bloom all year round in the pool, like red clouds.

The disciples secretly called this beautiful place--

Red Lotus Hell.

When Mo Ran thought of this, he couldn't help but laugh.

Chu Wanning wore a terrifying face every single day, and the disciples who saw him thought he was the devil himself. Therefore, shouldn't the place where the devil stays be called hell?

Xue Meng interrupted his daydream: "You laugh even though you were scolded! Hurry up and eat breakfast. After eating, follow me to the Platform of Righteousness and Evil. Shizun will punish you in public today!"

Mo Ran sighed, and touched the whip mark on his face: "Hss. . . ow."

"You deserved it!"

"Hah, I wonder if Tianwen has been repaired. I hope he doesn't try it out on me again before it's fixed. Who knows what nonsense I might say."

In the face of Mo Ran's sincere concerns, Xue Meng's face flushed, and he angrily said: "If you dare to speak out indecently in public against Shizun, I'll rip your tongue out!"

Mo Ran covered his face and waved his hand faintly: "No need, no need, if Shizun ties me with willow vine again, I will end myself on the spot to prove my innocence."

When the hour came, Mo Ran was brought to the Platform of Righteousness and Evil according to customs. He looked around, and there was a deep blue sea of ​​people below. The disciples of Life-Death Peak all wore the sect uniform; blue so dark it was almost black armour, the lion's head belt, wrist guards and the silver threads gleaming on the hems of robes.

The rising sun, below the Platform of Righteousness and Evil, the sea of armour shone.

Mo Ran kneeled on the raised platform, listening to a chief elder list off a long list of the crimes he'd committed.

"Mo Weiyu, disciple of Elder Yuheng, arrogantly disregarded teachings, disobeyed the rules of the sect, and abandoned morality. You have violated the fourth, ninth, and fifteenth mandates of this sect. As punishment, you will receive 80 strikes, copy the sect rules a hundred times and reflect in solitude for a full month. Mo Weiyu, is there anything you have to say in your defense?"

Mo Ran glanced at the white figure in the distance.

That elder was the only member of Life-Death Peak who wasn't required to wear the standard blue and silver rim robe.

Chu Wanning's robe was made of snow-white satin, an outer robe made of cloud-patterned silver silk, like he was dressed in a heavenly frost, but the person wearing it seemed far more frigid than either snow or frost. He sat quietly, far enough away that Mo Ran couldn't see the expression on his face, but he knew that this person was probably completely unphased.

Mo Ran let out a deep sigh: "I have nothing to argue."

According to customary practice, the chief elder asked the disciples below: "If anyone is dissatisfied with the verdict, or has something else to say, this is the time to make such a statement."

All the disciples began to hesitate and averted their gaze.

None of them expected that the Yuheng Elder Chu Wanning would actually send his disciple to be punished publicly on the Platform of Righteousness and Evil.

To put it nicely, this person was impartial, but to word it differently, was also called a cold-blooded demon.

The cold-blooded demon Chu Wanning faintly propped his chin and sat in the position. Suddenly someone shouted with amplifying technique: "Elder Yuheng, this disciple is willing to plead for leniency on behalf of Young Master Mo."

". . . Plead?"

This disciple obviously felt that since Mo Ran was the nephew of Life-Death Peak's lord, even if he had screwed up this time, his future prospects would still be bright, so he decided to take the opportunity to win Mo Ran's favour. He began to talk nonsense: "Although Junior Brother Mo is at fault, he loves his fellow students and helps the weak. Please treat consider being lenient for the sake of his kind nature!"

Obviously, he was not the only one hoping to please Junior Brother Mo.

Gradually, more and more people spoke up for Mo Ran. They threw out all sorts of arguments, it made even Mo Ran embarrassed to hear; when had he ever had "an innocent heart, pure and open-minded"? This was a disciplinary meeting, not a commendation meeting, right?

"Elder Yuheng, Junior Brother Mo once helped me exterminate demons and killed deadly beasts. I would like to beg on Junior Brother Mo's behalf. His merits will offset his demerits, and I hope that Elder will lighten his punishment!"

"Elder Yuheng, Junior Brother Mo once helped me dispel my demons when I experience qi deviation. I believe Junior Brother Mo made a mistake this time and was only momentarily confused. I also ask Elder to please be lenient on Junior Brother!"

"Elder Yuheng, Junior Brother Mo once gave me an elixir to save my mother. He is a benevolent person. Please, Elder, punish him lightly!"

The last person’s remarks were based on the previous disciples', and he was at a loss for words. Seeing Chu Wanning's frozen eyes sweep over, the anxious disciple didn't hesitate to say: “Elder Yuheng, Junior Brother Mo once helped me dual cultivate--”

"Pff." Someone couldn't help laughing.

The disciple immediately blushed and retreated.

"Yuheng, calm your anger, calm your anger..." Seeing that the chief elder was not happy, he went to his side and hurriedly persuaded him.

Chu Wanning said coldly: "I have never seen such a shameless person. What is his name? Whose disciple?"

The chief elder hesitated a little, then bit the bullet and said softly, "My disciple, Yao Lian."

Chu Wanning raised his eyebrows: "Your disciple? Save face*?"

(Pronounced the same as Yao Lian's name)

The chief elder couldn't help but feel embarrassed, and his old face tried to change the subject with a red face: "He's talented at singing, and he can be useful when he receives the offerings."

Chu Wanning scoffed and turned away, not wanting to waste time talking nonsense with this shameless chief elder.

There were thousands of people on Life-Death Peak. A couple flatterers were nothing surprising.

Seeing the conviction in the faces of his sect brothers, Mo Ran himself almost trusted their words. Very impressive indeed. It turns out he wasn't the only person in this sect that knew how to concoct wild stories in broad daylight. There were many talented people here.

Chu Wanning, who had heard "Elder Yuheng, please be merciful" countless times, finally spoke to the disciples.

"Pleading for Mo Weiyu?" He paused and said, "Yes, all of you may come up."

Those people didn't know what would happen and went up tremblingly.

A golden light flashed in Chu Wanning's palm. Tianwen appeared as commanded, and wrapped around the dozens of people together with a whistle, and tied them firmly in place.

Not again!!

Mo Ran was beginning to get desperate. Just the sight of Tianwen made his legs weak. He really didn’t know where Chu Wanning got such a perverted weapon. It was a good thing he had never taken a wife in his previous life. The poor girl who would marry him, if she didn't get whipped to death, she would be questioned to death.

Chu Wanning's eyes were quite mocking. He asked one of them: "Mo Ran helped you ward off evil spirits?"

How could the disciple resist the torture of TIanwen? He immediately howled: "No! No!"

He asked another one: "Mo Ran helped you overcome your qi deviation?"

"Ah! Never! Never!"

"Mo Ran gave you an elixir?"

"Ah—! Help! No, no! I made it up! I made it up!"

Chu Wanning loosened the hold, but then raised his hand and waved the weapon fiercely, it crackling and blazing, Tianwen suddenly lashed out and hit the backs of the lying disciples.

There were screams instantly, blood splashing.

Chu Wanning's eyebrows furrowed, and he scolded: "What are you calling? Kneel down! Disciple attendant!"

"Here."

"Deliver the punishment!"

"Understood!"

As a result, instead of reaping the benefits of defending Mo Ran, each of them was beaten with ten strikes each for violating the mandate of deception, plus a bonus willow vine lash gifted by Elder Yuheng.

After nightfall, Mo Ran lay on his bed. Although he had been given medicine, his back was covered with staggered scars. He couldn't even turn himself over without almost crying from the pain. He sniffled.

He had been born, so whimpering like this made him look like a fluffy, abandoned kitten. But it was a pity that his thoughts didn't match that cute kitten image.

He gripped the bedding and bit into the sheets, imagining that this was that bastard Chu Wanning. He bit! Kicked! Stomped! Tore!

The only comfort is that Shi Mei came to visit him with a bowl of wontons. He stared at him with those gentle and pitiful eyes, and Mo Ran's tears fell even more fiercely.

He didn't care whether men were supposed to hold in their tears or not, he loved to act spoiled in front of the person he liked.

"Does it still hurt a lot? Can you sit up?" Shi Mei sat on the edge of his bed and sighed. "Shizun, he. . . he was too cruel. Look at your back. . . there are several wounds. Some are still bleeding."

Mo Ran's heart softened, a warmth gradually rose in his chest. His teary eyes lifted from the bedding and he blinked.

"Since Shi Mei cares about me so much, I, I'm not in too much pain anymore."

"Oh, how can it not hurt if you look like this? You know what Shizun's temperament is like, will you dare do something like this in the future?"

In the candlelight, Shi Mei looked at him a little helplessly and a little distressedly. The amorous eyes were gleaming, like warm spring water.

Mo Ran's heart moved slightly, and he cleverly said: "Never again. I swear.

"Does anyone believe your promises anymore?" Even though he said that, Shi Mei also smiled, "The wontons are getting cold, can you sit up? If you can't get up, just lie on your stomach and I will feed you."

Mo Ran had already climbed up halfway, but immediately collapsed back down when he heard this.

Shi Mei: ". . ."

Whether it was this life or his previous one, Mo Ran's favourite food was Shi Mei's handmade wontons. The dough was as thin as a cloud of smoke, and the filling was tender and moist, melting in his mouth after every bite.

Especially the soup, the milky consistency, sprinkled with green onions, tender yellow egg wisps, and topped with a spoonful of spicy chilli peppers fried with garlic. It made whoever ate it feel so warm that they would never be cold again.

Shi Mei carefully spoonfed him. While feeding him, he said: "I didn't put any chilli oil today. You're badly hurt. Spice isn't good for recovery. Just drink the broth instead."

Mo Ran stared at him and he couldn't look away. He smiled: "Spicy or not, as long as you made it, it's delicious."

"Smooth talker." Shi Mei also smiled, picking up a poached egg lying in the soup, "Here's your reward, I know you like them."

Mo Ran laughed, a small tuft of hair curling on his forehead, like a flower blooming: "Shi Mei."

"What's happening?"

"Nothing, I just felt like saying your name."

". . ."

The hair tuft swayed back and forth.

"Shi Mei."

Shi Mei held back a smile: "Just felt like it again?"

"Hmm, just saying your name makes me happy."

Shi Mei sat silently for a moment then gently touched his forehead: "Silly boy, do you have a fever?"

Mo Ran let out a laugh. He rolled over, looking at him sideways, his eyes bright, as if full of fine stars.

"It would be a dream if I could eat Shi Mei's wontons every day"

He truly meant it.

After Shi Mei died, Mo Ran had always wanted to try the wontons he made again, but it is what it is, and he wasn't coming back.

At that time, Chu Wanning hadn't completely broken off all relations with him. Whether it was out of guilt or something else, he didn't know, but when he saw Mo Ran knelt in front of Shi Mei's coffin in a daze, Chu Wanning went quietly to the kitchen, kneaded dough and minced the fillings, carefully folded a couple wontons. But Mo Ran saw what he was doing before he had finished. With the loss of the love of his life, Mo Ran just couldn't bear it. He felt like Chu Wanning was doing it to mock him, a botched attempt at imitating them, a deliberate insult to injury.

Shi Mei was dead. Chu Wanning could have saved him, but he refused to help. Afterwards, he wanted to replace Shi Mei and make wontons for Mo Ran instead? Did he think that this would make him happy?

He rushed into the kitchen and knocked over all the utensils. The round wontons fell out of his hands and all over the floor.

He screamed at Chu Wanning: "Who the hell do you think you are? You think you're worthy of replacing him? Of making the food he used to? Shi Mei is dead, are you satisfied? Or do you have to torture your disciples until they go mad or die before you're happy? Chu Wanning! No one in this world can make those wontons anymore. You can try but you'll never be him!"

Now he was eating this bowl with such deep joy. He slowly ate them, savouring them. Although he was still smiling, his eyes were a little moist. Fortunately, the candlelight was dim, and Shi Mei couldn't see his subtle expression clearly.

Mo Ran said: "Shi Mei."

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

Shi Mei froze for a moment, and then smiled gently: "Isn't it just a bowl of wontons? No need to be so formal about it. If you like them, I will always make them for you in the future."

Mo Ran wanted to say, the thanks wasn't just for the wontons.

Thank you also, whether in the last life or in this life, for being the only one to look out for me, not caring about my origins, didn't care about the fourteen years I spent scavenging around.

Thank you, because if it weren't for the sudden thought of you, after being reborn, I'm afraid I would not be able to stop myself from killing Rong Jiu. I would've made a big mistake, and walked the same path I had before.

Fortunately, in this life, I was reborn before you die. I will definitely take good care of you. If you are sick, and that cold-blooded demon Chu Wanning is unwilling to save you, I will.

But how could he have said these words aloud?

In the end, Mo Ran just drank the soup, leaving not even a single green onion behind. He licked his lips unconsciously, his dimples prominent, and he was as cute as a very fluffy little cat.

"Will there be more tomorrow?"

Shi Mei couldn't help but shake his head: "You don't want something else? Won't you get sick of them?"

"I'll never get tired of your wontons, as long as you don't get tired of making them."

Shi Mei shook his head and smiled: "I don't know if there's enough flour left. If there's not enough, I'm afraid I can't make it. If I can't, do you think the eggs in sweet soup are alright instead? They are also one of your favourites."

"Okay, okay. As long as you make it, anything is okay."

Mo Ran's heart surged. He was so happy he could roll around in the blankets.

Look at caring Shi Mei is, Chu Wanning, you go screw yourself! I get to lie in bed with a beauty taking care of me, hehe!

Thinking of Shizun, a rush of anger mixed with the tenderness he had been feeling.

Mo Ran started to dig the bottom of the headboard with resentment again. He cursed, what Yuheng of the Night Sky, what the Beidou Immortal, it's all fucking bullshit!

Chu Wanning, just wait and see!!

Previous Chapter Next Chapter

#the husky and his white cat shizun #english translation #chinese novel #chinese bl #yaoi novel #yaoi #danmei #mo ran #chu wanning #2ha #2ha translation #ranwan #hyx

[silverflame2724]

What if WWX succeeded in killing WR instead?

Ohhhh this is good. This is really good.

I’m mixing a bit of CQL here, but only in terms of Wen Ruohan choking Wei Wuxian.

But hmm, I don’t think much would change, but because you haven’t specified for a good or bad ending, I’ll give you a good ending!

(I also don’t know whether you’re asking me for my personal opinion or for a fic but here you go.)

Oh right, just to clarify in case you don’t read the tags but the only reason this is going to be a happy ending is because of a wonderful thing called a butterfly effect.

———————————

Wei Wuxian knew that something had to be done. As soon as Wen Ruohan stepped onto the battlefield, hundreds of their own died in an instant.

Something had to be done. And with all the dead around him, Wei Wuxian had more than enough resources to combat him. But he had to be sneaky. Wen Ruohan had cut down many of his corpses. He had to get close somehow and distract Wen Ruohan enough. He got the chance soon enough when he found himself gripped by the neck by Wen Ruohan.

As he ran out of breath, he slightly whistled, commanding a nearby corpse to rise and stick its arm through Wen Ruohan’s chest. He saw the movement of someone in the corner of his eyes but couldn’t pay attention as his vision started to turn black.

As he fainted, he idly wondered why it didn’t hurt as he fell to the ground.

…………..

Meng Yao felt like everything had slipped out of his hands. He had everything planned out.

He would go to the Wens and be a spy for the Sunshot alliance unless it came to a point where the alliance would lose. He’d stay on the Wen’s side if that happened. Otherwise, he’d wait for an opportune moment and kill Wen Ruohan himself. With the deed of doing that, Meng Yao would finally be able to gain the necessary means to get recognized by his father.

But no. He only managed to be a spy. And even then, he did give half completed information once and Nie Mingjue was captured and tortured. Meng Yao’s odds didn’t look good even though he managed to get into the good graces of Zewu-Jun.

Regardless, he did manage to become Jin Guangshan’s son because Zewu-Jun helped him, though he wasn’t recognized as an heir considering his name was Guangyao instead of Ziyao.

His father also didn’t seem to like him a lot…… Jin Guangyao sighed.

………………

Wei Wuxian woke up a few days later and attended the victory banquet that was held.

Many people congratulated him and clapped him on the back, though he stiffened at the gesture. After all that had happened to him, physical touch was something still unwelcoming to him.

But whatever. It was still nice to get a confirmation that he did indeed kill Wen Ruohan. He did manage to barely see his corpse stick its arm through the Wen sect leader’s chest, but he wasn’t sure he hit a vital point. His vision was starting to go black then.

He grimaced, though. After this, he’ll have to go back to Lotus Pier. And help rebuild. It’s not that he was unwilling to do so. It’s just.....without his core......what he could do was limited. Physically, at least. He could try to convince Jiang Cheng to give him more paperwork type stuff, but it was unlikely.

Ah.....this is why he was hoping, just a little, to die during the last battle. But he didn’t. And now he has to find a way to dodge Jiang Cheng every time he wants Wei Wuxian to do something that would involve his core.

*sighs* Wei Wuxian really was tired of all this.

............................

In the end, it was grating on their already strained relationship, but Wei Wuxian managed to dodge Jiang Cheng when it came to things involving core-related stuff.

But Jiang Cheng was really starting to show some genuine irritation at his behavior. 

Just as he wondered what to do, a familiar face brought him out of his thoughts. “Wen Qing?!”

.........................

They ended up breaking into Qiongqi Path where the Wen civilians - civilians for crying out loud - were being beaten and tortured to death.

As much as Wei Wuxian wanted to kill the Jin inspectors where they stood, Wen Qing told him to calm down otherwise, it would be a political mishap. 

“The only reason you’re this calm is because you see Wen Ning.” Wei Wuxian pouted.

Wen Qing rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. If she hadn’t seen A’ Ning helping the others with their rather ridiculous tasks, there’s no way that she would have been as calm as she is now.

“It doesn’t matter. Wait till they don’t pay attention and sneak them out one by one! It’s not like the guards will actually notice until they’re all gone.”

“Hmm.”

.

.

.

In the end, the guards all fell asleep as they did this. But Wei Wuxian needed to think of a long term plan. They were all clothed in Wen sect garments so the first step would be to get them a change of clothes. He had sufficient funds from his duties as head disciple - though he wasn’t really performing those duties per say - as well as funds Shijie had given him.

So he got them a change of clothes. And a map. And told them to head to Dongying since it was far removed from any sects. Wen Qing gave him a hug, which surprised him and she asked for some paper, writing something down and handing him some notes.

“I always felt guilty about the transfer. So throughout the war, I came up with this. Your meridians are still intact, after all.”

“Wen Qing....” Wei Wuxian was stunned.

“It is the least I could do. After all that you have done for my family.”

Wei Wuxian did not cry.

He did not.

...................................

Time passed. 

And eventually, Wei Wuxian formed a new golden core. It was not through traditional techniques though. Of course it couldn’t be. He was in his twenties and forming a golden core would be nigh impossible.

Wen Qing’s notes gave some insights though they were not complete. Wei Wuxian had to refine the method she had started. 

And so, through the use of medicines and his own genius, a fledgling core formed after two years. How was he able to have that much time on his hands, you ask?

He may or may not have told Jiang Cheng and Shijie that in order to purify the resentful energy in him that he had to go into secluded cultivation. 

They both reluctantly agreed but not before Wei Wuxian trained a successor, someone to take his place.

And now. Two years later, he has finally purified the last bit of resentment in him, has properly sealed the Seal away, and has finally formed a golden core.

#wei ying #wei wuxian #lan zhan #lan wangji #meng yao #jin guangyao #canon divergence #mdzs #WWX kills WRH AU #butterfly effect #angst #fluff #WWX has a new golden core

[ouyangzizhensdad]

Perhaps you'd like a an ask that's not discourse related? If so, then I wanted to ask you if you know what jin zixuan thought of jin guangyao?

Hi anon,

I appreciate your non-discourse-related ask 😉. Your question made me realise that the novel seems to explicitly avoid giving us any real sense of what Jin Zixuan thought of Jin Guangyao, or how he reacted to the ways other people treated JGY. It seems that JZX remained unaware at the time that Meng Yao came on his birthday--and literally got kicked out. At Phoenix Mountain, JZX stops being mentioned after JGY appears and while his mother mistreats him--he’s only brought back into the narration at the very end to scream at JYL. JZX is also absent the night that WWX goes to Jinlintai to confront the Jins about Qiongqi path and in the direct aftermath. But let’s dig for crumbs and make sense of gaps, and let’s see what we can infer from them.

We know that, originally, Jin Zixuan was the epitome of the proud Jin: “The ways of the Jin Sect were proud, and Jin Zixuan inherited every single drop of this. With his high standards, he had been unsatisfied with this engagement since a long time ago.“ We could wonder if the circumstances of JGY’s birth would have been something JZX would have judged him for. We know that he took offense to WWX’s persona, although it is not spelled out exactly what offended him specifically: “Because of this engagement, Jin Zixuan had no positive impressions of the YunmengJiang Sect, and had frowned upon Wei Wuxian’s behavior since some time ago.“ However, it’s unclear whether the circumstances of WWX’s birth influenced how he perceived his behaviour. All we know for sure is that two other Jin family members--his father and Jin Zixun--never forgot about it and brought it up. We also know that in the past, JZX felt comfortable ignoring people’s good will towards him if he felt he was motivated in his view of them, as he did with JYL in the past:

Jin-furen had brought him to Lotus Pier a couple of times. Neither Wei Wuxian nor Jiang Cheng liked to play with him; only Jiang Yanli wanted to feed him the food that she made. Jin Zixuan, however, didn’t really like to pay her any attention.

At the same time, we do know that JZX had a sense of righteousness, what with him standing up against Wen Chao at Dusk-Creek Mountain. Likewise, we see with the soup incident that at least when it comes to a low-level cultivator who is a servant, a good deed done towards him without trying to gain his gratitude is enough to earn his respect, and for JZX to take action to raise the standing of that person:

Cleverly, the woman never acknowledged anything, but instead denied it ambiguously, her cheeks flushed, making it sound as though she was the one who did it, but didn’t want Jin Zixuan to know how much trouble she went through. And thus, Jin Zixuan didn’t force her to admit it any longer. However, in action, he had began to respect the cultivator. He began to pay attention to her, even raising her from a servant to a guest cultivator.

JZX even tells JYL: “Don’t think that just because you come from a powerful sect that you can steal and trample other people’s feelings. Some people, even if they come from poor backgrounds, their character are much better than the former’s. Please watch your conduct.” This underlines that, regardless of his upbringing, and perhaps even views that he might have held at some point in his life, at this point JZX seemed to want to judge others based on their character rather than their background. Of course, we can wonder if that reserve of good will would have extended to his half-brother, especially one that could try to take his place as the heir. However, considering the circumstances, from JGY’s birth to JGS’s decision to give him a name that did not align him with the same generation as JZX, we can wonder if anyone ever perceived then JGY as someone who could potentially become the next sect leader, as seen in this exchange between WWX and JC:

Jiang Cheng smirked, “Don’t carry your sword, then. It doesn’t matter. But don’t provoke Jin Zixuan from now on. He’s Jin Guangshan’s only son, after all. The future leader of the LanlingJin Sect will be him. If you beat him up, what should I, the sect leader, do? Beat him up with you? Or punish you?”

Wei Wuxian, “Isn’t Jin Guangyao here now? Jin Guangyao seems so much better than him.”

Jiang Cheng finished wiping his sword. After he scrutinized it for a while, he finally put Sandu back into its sheath, “So what, if he’s better? No matter how much better he is, no matter how clever, he could only be a servant who greets the guests. That’s all there is to his life. He can’t compare with Jin Zixuan.”

At Phoenix Mountain, while we do not see JZX say anything out of line to JGY, he is present while his mother and Jin Zixun disrespect him: and we get no reaction written for him while that takes place--he’s mostly licking his wounded pride. We also know that this disrespect by his family towards JGY was the norm, so we have to assume that JZX would have been a witness to it in other situations. In the context of that specific scene, it’s difficult to to infer something concrete from that silence: is it agreement? complicity? a certain indifference to JGY’s situation? an unwillingness of rock the boat or to seem to publicly challenge his mother? or simply him just being too self-absorbed by his romantic woes?

The next scene that would have made for an interesting case study is the night WWX comes to confront the Jins about the camp at Qiongqi Path. However, JZX is absent that night. Conveniently, or as a means to maintain a sense of ambiguity between him and WWX, we thereby do not know how JZX feels about what happened. He is also absent during the aftermath:  “At midnight, in the Golden Pavilion on JinlinTai sat over fifty sect leaders from sects of all sizes. Jin Guangshan sat in the foremost seat. Jin Zixuan was away [...].” (interesting that CQL added JZX to that scene). Which means he is not there to react to the mistreatment of JGY by others or to react to the way JGY is clearly lying for the purposes of manipulating the general opinion on WWX and save the Jin’s reputation.

We also do not get to witness the conversation that leads JZX to come to Qiongqi Path to try to stop Jin Zixun. All we get is a sentence of dialogue from JZX explaining that he thought JGY looked strange which prompted JZX tp questioned him questions (we of course know that JGY was purposefully acting that way to get JZX to go to Qionqqi Path, so it’s hard to take that as a sign of clear familiarity between them that would have allowed JZX to read hidden emotions from him). Did JZX ask out of specific concern for or suspicions of JGY? We don’t know! It is interesting to note though that, in this scene, Jin Zixun refers to JGY as “A-Yao”, which the narration contextualises by telling us that Jin Zixun started calling him in a more intimate manner despite the original contemps he had held for him. However, when JZX mentions JGY to Jin Zixun, he calls him “Jin Guangyao” (for reference, Jin Zixun calls JZX “Zixuan”).

All in all, we get very little from looking at JZX. However, there is something to be said in the absence of any specific grievances expressed by JGY towards him in terms of framing how JZX may have acted towards him when they were both at Jinlintai. Indeed, when Jin Ling asks JGY why he arranged for his father to go to Qiongqi path, meeting his death, JGY mentions the unfairness of the situation of both sons, but never brings up anything JZX did specifically to him. And we know that JGY has a great memory which allows him to hold grudges.

Suddenly, Jin Ling screamed, “Why?!” He stood up from beside Jiang Cheng. Eyes red, he rushed toward Jin Guangyao as he shouted, “Why did you have to do this?!”

Nie Huaisang hurried to pull back Jin Ling, who seemed as though he wanted to fight with Jin Guangyao. Jin Guangyao returned the question, “Why?” He turned to Jin Ling, “A-Ling, then could you tell me why? Why is it that even if I face everyone with a smile, I might not even receive the lowest form of respect, while even though your father was extremely arrogant, people flocked to him? Could you tell me why we were born from the same person but your father could relax at home with the love of his life playing with his child, while I never even dared be alone for long with my wife, shivering out of fright at first glance of my son? And I was ordered to do such a thing by my father as if it was natural—to kill an extremely dangerous figure who could flip out and conjure up a bloody massacre with his corpses anytime!

“Why is it that even though we were born on the same day, Jin Guangshan could host a grand banquet for one son, and watch with his own eyes how his subordinate kicked his other son down Jinlintai, from the first stair to the last!”

He finally revealed the hatred hidden deep within him. It wasn’t directed at neither Jin Zixuan nor Wei Wuxian, but rather his own father.

As a result, we might infer that, at the very least, JZX never directly acted towards JGY in a way that reflected how JGS or Jin Zixun (at some point) treated him. At the same time, it’s difficult to suggest that he stood up for him when other people disrespected him, and we know that JZX’s mother disrespected JGY in lieu of directing her anger toward the real culprit, her awful husband. Little seems to suggest that they grew intimate after JGY came to Jinlintai. It’s really hard to divine, as a result, what JZX might have thought of JGY.

The most interesting thing to take away from this is that it seems absolutely deliberate on MXTX’s part to show us as little as possible in terms of interactions between JZX and JGY. We can speculate as to why that is: to separate JZX from the machinations of this sect? to avoid giving us more ammunition to guess that JGY was behind JZX’s death? to ensure that WWX remains ambiguous towards JZX? or just as a means to avoid having to figure out how to work this dynamic into already complicated scenes and character relationships? etc.

#mdzs meta #mdzs #jzx #jin zixuan #jgy #jin guangyao

[veliseraptor]

Okay I'm new to this fandom and I'm a bit confused. Did Xue Yang and Meng Yao know each other? Did Meng Yao free him?👀Do xue yang know he has a parentage that dabbled in demonic cultivation?

congratulations, anon! you have hit the nail on the head of one of my perennial aggravations about cql-canon specific details, which is to say ‘what the hell is the deal supposed to be with meng yao and xue yang in qinghe?’

there is no real indication that they might have known each other except some meaningful side-eyes going on that don’t make a lot of sense in context other than, maybe, pre-flagging the idea that meng yao is ~problematic~ and ~untrustworthy~ I guess? (which, ask me how I feel about the idea that everything jin guangyao does forever is bad and sinister, regardless of timeline, effect, or motivation). but there’s no real, substantive indication (up until the empathy flashback in ep 41, I’ll get there) that they are familiar with each other, or that they actually do any collaborating at that point.

you could definitely headcanon them as knowing each other previously based on the fact that they both grew up in less than ideal circumstances, shall we say, but I don’t think there’s any evidence for it in-text other than aforementioned meaningful side-eyes. in fact, canonically we know where they both grew up locationwise and it wasn’t in the same place. but like, seriously.

(and holy shit this got long, I’ll spare you all with a read more. also: I have broken my usual ‘referring to jin guangyao as jin guangyao always’ rule for the sake of this post given that it is specifically about the era where he is going by meng yao, but it did feel really weird.)

speaking specifically with what we see in text (in episode 10), we see meng yao argue against executing xue yang, but only after wei wuxian has done so first. the next explicit link between them is when meng yao leaves the fight between wen zhuliu and nie mingjue saying that he’s going to go check on xue yang; following that, we’re told that xue yang has escaped and meng yao claims he saw the captain free him.

which is, considering the fact that he’s killing the captain at the time, a highly suspect statement to make.

there’s no reason for meng yao to be working with xue yang at this point! there’s just not! it doesn’t make sense for him even from a purely self-interested standpoint and, again, at this point in canon there’s no actual reason to believe that they have any prior familiarity.

(’but lise what about the flashback-’ yes I’ll get there.)

if you want my personal reading, which I think is compatible with the text as we see it, it goes like this:

1. xue yang quickly notices meng yao as a potentially interesting person. I don’t think it’s about seeing him as an ally or knowing him from anything beforehand - I think it’s about seeing him as interesting and kind of funny.

2. meng yao registers that there’s a distinct possibility of nie mingjue dying and/or the wen sect attacking the nie in force and decides to short-circuit that by just freeing xue yang himself, because he knows nie mingjue won’t do it but if xue yang’s gone then that (at least temporarily) solves their wen problem.

my evidence for this is based around the timing of when meng yao leaves to “check on” xue yang (mid-fight, specifically after wen zhuliu, inarguably a greater threat, takes over from wen chao), the fact that he looks definitely concerned when he does so, and the fact that, given where he is at this point, letting xue yang out otherwise makes no sense.

this does not strike me as the face of a person who is a-plottin some sinister business, and this isn’t a face he’s making at anyone, either; this is pure ‘ah fuck this ain’t good’ expression.

(yes, yes, I know, episode 41 flashback, I told you that we’d get there.)

3. meng yao frees xue yang, probably hoping he can make it as bloodless as possible; xue yang, in xue yang fashion, makes it as bloody as possible; meng yao sees his chance to do something about the guy he has always hated and who has repeatedly undermined him, and who probably also caught him in the middle of an incriminating action that nie mingjue would absolutely not accept as justifiable.

4. xue yang bounces, leaving jin guangyao caught holding the sword and surrounded by several dead bodies.

and then they don’t see each other again until xue yang ends up at jinlintai at some unspecified point down the timeline.

regarding the episode 41 flashback (see? I promised!), the view we get of meng yao talking with an unspecified person heavily implied to be xue yang doesn’t make sense in some very critical ways that also align with the selective editing that nie mingjue’s memories seem to have done on incidents we previously saw from a (presumably) omniscient perspective. many people other than me (see here, here, and here for some examples) have written eloquently about the disparities between the scenes as we see them in earlier episodes compared to what we see in the flashback, and how that suggests at least some unreliability of nie mingjue’s memories despite their presentation, since they are visually coeval with the rest of canon, as equally reliable. 

(what would be different if the empathy flashbacks were in some way visually demarcated, I wonder? it’s a thought. I like that they’re not because unreliability of narrative/narrator is such a theme, but.)

ANYWAY, regarding the section where we see that conversation between the captain and meng yao, now with bonus mysterious feet (implied to be xue yang) - a few things stand out to me.

one: nie mingjue has no way of having seen this - no personal access to what he’s supposedly seeing in his own memory. this suggests the possibility, at least, that this is a fabricated assumption of a memory. (”I believe this happened, and this is how I would reconstruct it happening.”)

two: possibly more significantly: the scene as played here doesn’t fit with canon as we see it in episode 10 itself. the scene with the captain and meng yao, as we see it earlier, includes here several additional lines of dialogue. considering the other discrepancies within the empathy flashback with previously seen canon, episode ten’s version, by virtue of not taking place within a (flashback of a) flashback and within the pov of an extremely biased character, could be read as more reliable.

see also: the flashback with the captain seeing meng yao talking to someone (implied to be xue yang) is placed directly after nie mingjue accuses meng yao of plotting with xue yang - an accusation he doesn’t make in the scene as it originally plays in episode 10. this is another place where there are several lines of dialogue that weren’t present in the earlier version of the scene, inserted apparently seamlessly into the record.

taken together, with the above where it does not make sense to me that meng yao was ~plotting~ with xue yang prior to freeing him as a way of getting the wens off nie mingjue’s back, I’m inclined to think that moment in the episode 41 flashback is a nie mingjue-generated presumption of what must have happened, rather than a factual account of what did.

meng yao’s choices in episode 10 make much more sense - as someone who, if nothing else, is definitely interested in preserving his position as part of the nie sect, but who also values nie mingjue’s life at that point enough to take a sword to the chest for him - if you don’t take that at face value.

regarding the second part of your question about the xue yang/xue chonghai connection - cql seems to indicate that he has some awareness maybe, based on his conversation with wei wuxian in episode 37? at least, he has access to Lore involving the yin iron that others were unaware of

and had one piece in his possession apparently pre-canon.

but honestly that’s a bit of cql canon that I pretty much ignore completely and sometimes forget about, though there are certainly interesting things that can be done with it.

#anonymous #conversating #lise does meta #the sad queer cultivators show #xue yang #jin guangyao #sorry this took so long anon but perhaps seeing the above you can understand why

[tanoraqui]

There actually are enough good fics about postcanon tentative reforging of assorted pairs and even the whole of the Gusu Summer School No Brain Cell Trio to satisfy my niche itch, so pls enjoy these stray snippets of a fic I don't have to write:

Nothing would've happened if the cultivation conference wasn't at Cloud Recesses. But it was, Cloud Recesses with its pale stone and gracefully winding walkways and too many memories, including Lan Xichen sitting the whole thing out in seclusion somewhere... If it'd been at the Unclean Realm, Nie Huaisang would've been busy and if it'd been at Carp Tower the memories only would've been manageably bad, and if it was Lotus Pier or one of many smaller sects, it would've been...fine. Just fine.

But it was Cloud Recesses this year, this first conference since Jin Guangyao's downfall, and specifically it was half past ten at night, and Nie Huaisang was wandering the elegant pathways with a mostly full jar of wine in one hand. The previous jar, now entirely empty, had been left back in his room. He was a Nie, so he was only half as drunk as he'd always used to pretend at these things - but at least twice as drunk as he'd ever actually been.

After da-ge's death, of course. Before that, he used to get plenty drunk. Playfully drunk. With friends.

It would be a terrible idea for him to go appear on Lan Xichen's doorstep. Neither of them was ready for that yet.

So he appeared on Jiang Cheng's.

[ . . . ]

"Fine." Nie Huaisang pouted and turned. "I'll go ask Wei-xiong - "

And Jiang Cheng was easy, he was so easy, he'd always been easy, the only new thing is the faintest edge of wariness to his fury -

He grabbed Nie Huaisang's elbow in a flash and snapped, "Ugh, fine, I'll go - but I'm holding the wine."

Nie Huaisang laughed and handed it over. Jiang Cheng immediately took a deep swig.

[ . . . ]

It must've been a quiet night at the Jingshi. Wei Wuxian's sleeping robes didn't look the least bit hastily pulled on, and his lips were only the slightest bit red and puffy.

[ . . . ]

[for the record, this takes place in a book-show postcanon fusion wherein immediately post-Guanyin Temple, WWX and LWJ ran off to fuck in the bushes at least once a day for as long as possible, but in their absence, various sect leaders voted that Lan Wangji should be Chief Cultivator now, and alas some messenger caught up with them about six months into their honeymoon. Definitely caught them in flagrante delicto. Tragic for all. I’d probably communicate all this hereish somehow. It was definitely NHS who finally tipped someone off on how to actually find them.]

[ . . . ]

"Yes, yes, I'm coming," Wei Wuxian said, with a lidded look at Nie Huaisang, and Nie Huaisang burst into a giggles because the two most unequivocally lethal people he knew were afraid to leave each other alone with him, and it was satisfying to be recognized but also what's he going to do, personally? Cry at them? It'd taken him years to destroy Jin Guangyao, and at this point it'd take him months, if not years again to re-destroy the Yiling Patriarch, much less Sandu Shengshou. Especially when they both kept doing things like watching each others backs while pretending they weren't.

[ . . . ]

"Of course we need more!" Wei Wuxian declared. "This isn't even Emperor's Smile!"

[ . . . ]

"It's just a rat or something," Jiang Cheng scoffed.

"So?!" Wei Wuxian cried grandly. "Are we not noble cultivators? Is it not our duty to investigate this woman's complaint, and to slay whatever monster plagues her good inn’s wonderful cellar, whether deathly or monstrous or rodential it be?" He turned to Nie Huaisang and begged, "Help me out, Nie-xiong. You agree with me, right?"

Nie Huaisang clutched his cup against his chest, eyes wide, and shook his head in sharp jerks. "I don't know! I don't know!"

Wei Wuxian laughed and elbowed him in the side.

[ . . . ]

[while waiting for Wei Wuxian to send some sort of signal]

"You know I don't bear any grudge against Jin Ling, right?"

Jiang Cheng's impatient glare snapped to him, darkening with threat; his hand shifted on Sandu's hilt toward a drawing position. "What?"

"I don't bear any sort of grudge against Jin Ling," Nie Huaisang repeated, holding only the last jar of Emperor's Smile. "That's why you've been side-eyeing me all night, right? All conference." He took another sip (it really was the best!) and added recklessly, "If I wanted Jin Ling dead and disgraced, or all Carp Tower burned to ash, they already would be."

Sandu slid an inch out of its scabbard and Nie Huaisang watch it with fascinated curiosity. From a greater distance, he wondered if that was entirely healthy.

"What about Lotus Pier?" Jiang Cheng asked abruptly.

It took Nie Huaisang a blinking moment to focus on him.

"What about Lotus Pier?"

Jiang Cheng sat beside him on the cold earth and yanked the jar out of his hands, cruelly before Nie Huaisang could take another sip.

"Where's your grand terrible vengeance against me and mine? I get it, but if you're being honest for once right now, you could at least tell me when it's going to hit, and how."

"What?" Nie Huaisang pushed himself against his tree trunk, genuinely confused. "Why would i have a terrible vengeance planned against you?"

"I benefitted from Nie Mingjue's death, didn't I?" Jiang Cheng took another swig of wine of his own, and swung the jar illustratively. "My disciples have hunted in your territory while you 'weren't paying attention.' I absolutely fleeced you in that trade deal four years ago. And I worked with that bastard as much as anyone but Lan Xichen, especially on those damn watchtowers, and you broke him. So when's it my turn?" He pointed at Nie Huaisang, finger only wavering slightly. “If you fuck with Jin Ling, Wei Wuxian, or my sect, I will fuck you back.”

"You- oh, gimme that. Gimme. Gimme!" Nie Huaisang leaned forward and tried to grab the wine jar, and more importantly whined until Jiang Cheng handed it to him.

He stared at it for a moment, thrust it back and ordered, “Drink,” without letting it go, and once Jiang Cheng had dutifully tilted it back, pulled it back and slugged down the last swallows. He needed more alcohol for this much honesty, and so did Jiang Cheng.

He set the jar down very carefully, because the ground seemed to be moving, and leaned forward with even more care. He enunciated clearly, “Everyone fleeced me, and hunted in my territory, and I acsh- ass- let them. Why would I expect you to go looking for trouble with Jin Guangyao, when he had your heart locked in a box in his treasure room?”

Jiang Cheng, who was a respected master of all five arts but probably hadn’t actually read poetry for fun since an instructor had officially declared him as such, and who was himself at least a full wine jar in, squinted in angry confusion.

Nie Huaisang rolled his eyes. “He had final say over where and how Jin Ling spent his time, and could’ve tried to poison him against you. What would you have even have done if I had come complaining?”

Jiang Cheng’s face only fell further, with the very sort of drunken moroseness Nie Huaisang was out here to avoid.

Nie Huaisang attempted to swap him sharply. He failed on both the swap and the sharpness. 

“Stoppit! Stop thinking you’re not useful! You weren’t! I needed to pry er-ge away from him and for that only Lan Wangji would work, and I needed someone to watch his back through thick and deadly thin, and to be so disruptive that even Meng Yao couldn’t...circle, sneaky, planning...”

They were waiting for the pulse of a light talisman from the other tunnel entrance, half a mile away. There was a small but very bright explosion. laced with resentful as well as spiritual energy.

“Motherfucker!” Jiang Cheng cursed, leaping to his feet and drawing Sandu in one hideously coordinated motion. 

“Just Lan Wangji, I think,” Nie Huaisang said, because Nie Mingjue himself couldn’t have stopped him. He groped for his own weapons - fan, check; wine jar - 

“Oh no!” 

“What?”  Jiang Cheng snapped, as he bent and dragged Nie Huaisang to his feet with one hand. (Hideously coordinated. Sword people, honestly...)

“He’s going to be so mad that we finished the wine without him!”

[ . . . ]

[three grown-ass men, two sect leaders and one Yiling Patriarch, flying at high speed through Caiyi Town on one sword, all screaming. Nie Huaisang is clinging to Wei Wuxian; Wei Wuxian is flinging to Jiang Cheng, a little bit to Nie Huaisang, and most importantly to a chicken, Jiang Cheng is flying the sword. There is a bedsheet draped over all of them from where they ran into a laundry line. It’s 2am. Again I say, all are screaming]

[ . . . ]

[it probably wasn’t a rat - not just one, at least. Wei Wuxian does something incredibly clever, possibly including a creative use of that bedsheet; Jiang Cheng singlehandedly defeats something in combat, probably after he and Wei Wuxian shove each other out of the way of blows without either of them acknowledging it. Nie Huaisang shoves them both under cover and then with perfect professionalism tells whoever came to check on the ruckus that they handled the problem exactly as planned with absolutely no involvement of alcohol, and the Chief Cultivator will foot the bill for the unfortunately absolutely necessary property damage. Overall, they did handle the problem, but the local cryptid they were chasing will only have its reputation swelled and its continued existence assumed by all locals. it is possible that they themselves made this cryptid up two decades ago, but idk how heavy-handed we want to be.]

[ . . . ]

Nie Huaisang was leaning heavily on Wei Wuxian by the time they got back to the guest quarters. He could hold his alcohol, he was a goddamn Nie, and frankly he’d had it adrenalined out of him at least twice this evening. But he’d also had rather a lot, and he didn’t have Jiang Cheng’s golden core or Wei Wuxian’s blithe lack of sleep schedule. 

“I missed this,” he admitted, head on Wei Wuxian’s (Mo Xuanyu’s) shoulder while Jiang Cheng opened the door.

Wei Wuxian leaned his head on Nie Huaisang’s. “Me too.”

“You’re both fucking annoying,” Jiang Cheng grouched, which meant, Me too.

Wei Wuxian stripped off Nie Huaisang’s muddy outer robe and tucked him into bed, and Jiang Cheng poured a glass of water from the pitcher by the door, drank it, poured another, scowled at Wei Wuxian for a moment, and set it on the bedside table. Wei Wuxian glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, finished with Nie Huaisang and started backing out of the room.

Nie Huaisang sat up more or less abruptly. “Both of you have got to stop that bullshit. I miss my brothers, okay? I’d I had a second chance...” He sagged back down with the plural, and flung an arm over his damp eyes. There was a glimmer in the sky; it’d be morning by Lan standards soon. “I fucking miss them.”

“...Ah,” said Wei Wuxian, who always spoke even when he didn’t know what to say.

“Yeah,” Jiang Cheng said abruptly, and, “Drink your fucking water.” And the door slammed behind him as he walked out.

[...a few lines of dialogue later...]

“Seriously, you can go.” Nie Huaisang flicked a few tired fingers in dismissal.

“Are you sure?” Wei Wuxian added with an audible smirk, “Because if I stay up for another half hour, I can wake Lan Zhan with a morning...big ol’...loving...”

Nie Huaisang finally adjusted his arm to crack one eye up at him.

“People usually cut me off before I get that far,” Wei Wuxian admitted.

[ . . . a bit more dialogue and the end.]

#mdzs #the untamed #nie huaisang #jiang cheng #wei wuxian #to the shick of no one i did write more in this than i thought i would #it's still like...no connective tissue though #and i'm not bothering with anything more #my fic #ficlet #i'm not gonna lie that plural snuck up on me #love when that happens! #incidentally you can’t prove that there ISNT a classic ancient fantasy China version of a telltale heart so my reference stands

[pumpkinpaix]

Hello! Feel free not to answer this question if it is in any way too much, but I've been wondering about something concerning the "western" mdzs fandom. Lately, i have seen multiple pieces of fanart that use what is clearly Christian symbolism and sometimes downright iconography in depicting the characters. I'm a european fan, but it still makes me vaguely uneasy. I know that these things are rarely easy to judge. I'm definitely not qualified to do so and was wondering if you have an opinion

Hi there! thank you for your patience and for the interesting question! I’ve been thinking about this since i received this ask because it?? idk, it’s difficult to answer, but it also touches on a a few things that I find really interesting.

the short answer: it’s complicated, and I also don’t know what I feel!

the longer answer:

i think that this question is particularly difficult to answer because of how deeply christianity is tied to the western art and literary canon. so much of what is considered great european art is christian art! If you just take a quick glance at wiki’s page on european art, you can see how inextricable christianity is, and how integral christian iconography has been in the history of european art. If you study western art history, you must study christian imagery and christian canon because it’s just impossible to engage with a lot of the work in a meaningful way without it. that’s just the reality of it.

Christianity, of course, also has a strong presence in european colonial and imperialist history and has been used as a tool of oppression against many peoples and nations, including China. I would be lying if I said I had a good relationship with Christianity--I have always faced it with a deep suspicion because I think it did some very, very real damage, not just to chinese people, but to many cultures and peoples around the world, and that’s not a trauma that can be easily brushed aside or reconciled with.

here is what is also true: my maternal grandmother was devoutly christian. my aunt is devoutly christian. my uncle’s family is devoutly christian. my favorite cousin is devoutly christian. when I attended my cousin’s wedding, he had both a traditional chinese ceremony (tea-serving, bride-fetching, ABSURDLY long reception), and also a christian ceremony in a church. christianity is a really important part of his life, just as it’s important to my uncle’s family, and as it was important to my grandmother. I don’t think it’s my right or place to label them as simply victims of a colonialist past--they’re real people with real agency and choice and beliefs. I think it would be disrespectful to act otherwise.

that doesn’t negate the harm that christianity has done--but it does complicate things. is it inherently a bad thing that they’re christian, due to the political history of the religion and their heritage? that’s... not a question I’m really interested in debating. the fact remains that they are christian, that they are chinese, and that they chose their religion.

so! now here we are with mdzs, a chinese piece of media that is clearly Not christian, but is quickly gaining popularity in euroamerican spaces. people are making fanart! people are making A LOT of fanart! and art is, by nature, intertextual. a lot of the most interesting art (imo) makes deliberate use of that! for example (cyan art nerdery time let’s go), Nikolai Ge’s What is Truth?

I love this painting! it’s notable for its unusual depiction of christ: shabby, unkempt, slouched, in shadow. if you look for other paintings of this scene, christ is usually dignified, elegant, beautiful, melancholy -- there’s something very humanizing and humbling about this depiction, specifically because of the way it contrasts the standard. it’s powerful because we as the audience are expected to be familiar with the iconography of this scene, the story behind it, and its place in the christian canon.

you can make similar comments about Gentileschi’s Judith vs Caravaggio’s, or Manet’s Olympia vs Ingres’ Grande Odalisque -- all of these paintings exist in relation to one another and also to the larger canon (i’m simplifying: you can’t just compare one to another directly in isolation etc etc.) Gauguin’s Jacob Wrestling the Angel is also especially interesting because of how its portrayal of its content contrasts to its predecessors!

or! because i’m really In It now, one of my favorite paintings in the world, Joan of Arc by Bastien-Lepage:

I just!!! gosh, idk, what’s most interesting to me in this painting is the way it seems to hover between movements: the hyperrealistic, neoclassical-esque take on the figure, but the impressionistic brushstrokes of the background AAA gosh i love it so much. it’s really beautiful if you ever get a chance to see it in person at the Met. i’m putting this here both because i personally just really like it and also as an example of how intertextuality isn’t just about content, but also about visual elements.

anyways, sorry most of this is 19thc, that was what i studied the most lol.

(a final note: if you want to read about a really interesting painting that sits in the midst of just a Lot of different works, check out the wiki page on Géricault’s Raft of the Medusa, specifically under “Interpretation and Legacy”)

this is all a really long-winded way of getting to this point: if you want to make allusory fanart of mdzs with regards to western art canon, you kind of have to go out of your way to avoid christian imagery/iconography, especially when that’s the lens through which a lot of really intensely emotional art was created. many of my favorite paintings are christian: Vrubel’s Demon, Seated, Perov’s Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, Ge’s Conscience, Judas, Bastien-Lepage’s Joan of Arc, as shown above. that’s not to say there ISN’T plenty of non-christian art -- but christian art is very prominent and impossible to ignore.

so here are a few pieces of fanwork that I’ve seen that are very clearly making allusions to christian imagery:

1. this beautiful pietà nielan by tinynarwhals on twitter

2. a lovely jiang yanli as our lady of tears by @satuwilhelmiina

3. my second gif in this set here, which I will also show below:

i’m only going to talk about mine in depth because well, i know exactly what i was thinking when I put this gif together while I can’t speak for anyone else.

first: the two lines of the song that I wanted to use for lan xichen were “baby, I’m a fighter//in the robes of a saint” because i felt that they fit him very well. of course, just the word “saint” evokes catholicism, even if it’s become so entwined in the english language that it’s taken on a secular meaning as well.

second: when I saw this scene, my immediate thought was just “PIETÀ!!” because LOOK at that composition! lan xichen’s lap! nie mingjue lying perpendicular to it! the light blue/white/silver of lan xichen in contrast to the darker robes of both nie mingjue and meng yao! not just that, but the very cool triangular structure of the image is intensely striking, and Yes, i Do love that it simultaneously ALSO evokes deposition of christ vibes. (baxia as the cross.... god..... is that not the Tightest Shit) does this make meng yao joseph of arimathea? does it make him john the evangelist? both options are equally interesting, I think when viewed in relation to his roles in the story: as a spy in qishan and as nmj’s deputy. maybe he’s both.

anyways, did I do this intentionally? yes, though a lot of it is happy accident/discovered after the fact since I’m relying on CQL to have provided the image. i wanted to draw attention to all of that by superimposing that line over that image! (to be clear: I didn’t expect it to all come through because like. that’s ridiculous. the layers you’d have to go through to get from “pretty lxc gifset” --> “if we cast nie mingjue as a christ figure, what is the interesting commentary we could do on meng yao by casting him as either joseph of arimathea or john the evangelist” are like. ok ur gonna need to work a little harder than slapping a song lyric over an image to achieve an effect like that.)

the point of this is: yes, it’s intentionally christian, yes I did this, yes I am casting these very much non-christian characters into christian roles for this specific visual work -- is this okay?

I obviously thought it was because I made it. but would I feel the same about a work that was written doing something similar? probably not. I think that would make me quite uncomfortable in most situations. but there’s something about visual art that makes it slightly different that I have trouble articulating -- something about how the visual often seeks to illustrate parallels or ideas, whereas writing characters as a different religion can fundamentally change who those characters are, the world they inhabit, etc. in a more... invasive?? way. that’s still not quite right, but I genuinely am not sure how to explain what i mean! I hope the general idea comes across. ><

something else to think about is like, what are pieces I find acceptable and why?

what makes the pieces above that reference christian imagery different than this stunning nieyao piece by @cyandemise after klimt’s kiss? (warnings for like, dead bodies and vague body horror) like i ADORE this piece (PLEASE click for fullview it’s worth it for the quality). it’s incredibly beautiful and evocative and very obviously references a piece of european art. I have no problem with it. why? because it isn’t explicitly christian? it’s still deeply entrenched in western canon. klimt certainly made other pieces that were explicit christian references.

another piece I’d like to invite you all to consider is this incredible naruto fanart of sakura and ino beheading sasuke after caravaggio’s judith. (warnings for beheading, blood, etc. you know.) i also adore this piece! i think it’s very good both technically and conceptually. the reference that it makes has a real power when viewed in relation to the roles of the characters in their original story -- seeing the women that sasuke fucked over and treated so disrespectfully collaborating in his demise Says Something. this is also!! an explicitly christian reference made with non-christian japanese characters. is this okay? does it evoke the same discomfort as seeing mdzs characters being drawn with christian iconography? why or why not?

the point is, I don’t think there’s a neat answer, but I do think there are a lot of interesting issues surrounding cultural erasure/hegemony that are raised by this question. i don’t think there are easy resolutions to any of them either, but I think that it’s a good opportunity to reexamine our own discomfort and try and see where it comes from. all emotions are valid but not all are justified etc. so I try to ask, is it fair? do i apply my criticisms and standards equally? why or why not? does it do real harm, or do i just not like it? what makes one work okay and another not?

i’ve felt that there’s a real danger with the kind of like, deep moral scrutiny of recent years in quashing interesting work in the name of fear. this morality tends to be expressed in black and white, good and bad dichotomies that i really do think stymies meaningful conversation and progress. you’ll often see angry takes that boil down to things like, “POC good, queer people good, white people bad, christianity bad” etc. without a serious critical examination of the actual issues at hand. I feel that these are extraordinarily harmful simplifications that can lead to an increased insularity that isn’t necessarily good for anyone. there’s a fine line between asking people to stay in their lane and cultural gatekeeping sometimes, and I think that it’s something we should be mindful of when we’re engaging in conversations about cultural erasure, appropriation etc.

PERHAPS IT IS OBVIOUS that I have no idea where that line falls LMAO since after all that rambling I have given you basically nothing. but! I hope that you found it interesting at least, and that it gives you a bit more material to think on while you figure out where you stand ahaha.

was this just an excuse to show off cool (fan)art i like? maybe ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

(ko-fi)

#Anonymous #asks and replies #art #fanart #art history #christianity #mdzs #mdzs meta #meta #mine #mymeta #cyan gets too deep in the weeds #lmfao this post is a mess ive been staring at it for like a week and at this point im just gonna post it to the wall and keep moving asldfj #hope you enjoyed

[robininthelabyrinth]

Jin Zixuan knows what he wants, and that’s to be the next pretty but useless Madam Jiang. All that he has to is 1) pass his title of heir to his new brother, 2) convince JYL to fall back in love with him, 3) not embarrass himself. Three easy enough goals, right? -🙃

ao3

Untamed

Jin Zixuan was almost – almost – not surprised to open his eyes and find himself sixteen again.

Instead of, you know, dead.

Honestly, it just seemed like the perfect capstone of his life of happenstance: born an idiot, raised an idiot, continued to be an idiot, realized he was an idiot, remained an idiot but a better class thereof, and somehow despite all that managed to hit the jackpot of luck not only once but twice – the first in being born in the right womb, the second in convincing Jiang Yanli to give him a second chance despite the aforementioned unbroken streak of lifelong idiocy.

Possibly because of. She thought he was cute.

Anyway, as if to make him pay up for that amazing streak of luck, just when he’d finally achieved all the things he’d ever actually wanted – a wife that loved him and who he loved in return and a son to dote upon – he had, for the first time in his life, grown up and decided to not be a complete idiot…only to immediately die.

Being reborn seemed pretty much part and parcel with the whole stupid tragedy.

Not that he regretted inviting Wei Wuxian to come visit. That’d been the right thing to do, and Jiang Yanli had been so happy – it hadn't even been his fault; it had been Jin Zixun’s ambush that had ruined it all, really. Jin Zixuan wasn’t even entirely sure what it was that had actually killed him, whether it was a stray arrow or a misplaced sword or even the Ghost General gone berserk, but he was sure that if his stupid cousin hadn’t decided to attack, Wei Wuxian would have come and left in peace.

If he hadn’t rushed out by himself to try to fix things, to make sure the one thing he’d ever managed to do right by Jiang Yanli worked out well, then maybe he wouldn’t have ended up leaving her and Jin Ling behind.

Alone.

In Lanling City.

He shuddered even to think it.

Jin Zixuan knew that there were people who loved their sects – passionately, devotedly. Jiang Cheng had been one of them, defying death itself to resurrect the Jiang sect in his parents’ honor and reestablishing it as one of the Great Sects. And then there was Lan Xichen, the steadfast and honorable, who had sacrificed everything, even honor, to make sure his sect’s books survived what they had feared would be the end. And all this was to say nothing of Nie Mingjue, who had come to power painfully young and had played the game of politics that he so despised in order to stay the course, to avenge his father and keep his sect strong…

Jin Zixuan did not love his sect.

He did not love his city, he did not love his people. He had wondered if it was a failing in himself, but then looked at the rest of his family and realized it was just his blood running true. Lanling Jin had a soul of rot and a heart of stone, each one of them careless and indifferent in their own way – his father couldn’t give a damn about his sect except in the sense that it aided his personal power, his mother the authority it gave her whether through her husband or her son, his cousins the impunity they could derive from it…

Jin Zixuan had told Jiang Yanli about it when she agreed to marry him, worried that she'd change her mind when she learned the truth but even more worried that she'd wake up one day to find herself trapped and disappointed in him. But she was as ever the luckiest thing that had ever happened in his life: she’d said that she would be fine because she had him by her side, and he would be fine because he had her, and they would balance. He’d accepted that argument – and then, of course, he’d gone and died, like the idiot that he was.

And yet, somehow, he’d been reborn, granting him another chance to change his fate, and this time, this time, he wasn’t going to deceive himself.

After all, it seemed pretty clear from his last life that he was never going to not be an idiot, and that fate wasn’t too happy about him trying to stick his nose into politics or major events.

This time around, he wasn’t going to struggle against his destiny – Jin Zixuan was going to accept it.

He was going to be absolutely useless.

He sat up in his bed, observing that he was in the Cloud Recesses, and that his eye hurt; it must be not long after his fight with Wei Wuxian, which meant his engagement was broken. He’d have to win Jiang Yanli again – still, he’d somehow managed it last time around, so that wasn’t what he was worried about.

No, the main problem was definitely how he was going to manage the whole “be useless” part of his ambitions – and for that, he needed the advice of an expert.

“Nie-er-gongzi, can I ask you for some advice?” he asked.

Nie Huaisang blinked blearily at him. “Jin-gongzi? It’s the middle of the night.”

“It’s important,” Jin Zixuan said apologetically. “It’s something that only you can help me with.”

“…me?”

“Yes, you. I need to learn how to be a good-for-nothing.” Jin Zixuan thought about it. “Also, I need to get in contact with Meng Yao. He’s at the Unclean Realm now, right? Someone needs to inherit Lanling Jin, might as well be him.”

Nie Huaisang blinked owlishly at him.

“…okay.” He pulled open the door. “I think you’d better come inside.”

#mdzs #jin zixuan #nie huaisang #my fic #my fics

[br-disaster]

nie mingjue’s outfits appreciation post

This is way longer than I expected oh gods, please forgive me for it. 

 It’s a well known fact that Jiang Cheng has the best wardrobe of all CQL characters, I’m not here to argue with that, but I think it’s time for us to stop sleeping on Nie Mingjue’s absolutely fantastic fashion sense.

I mean have you seen him?? The man is out there serving looks even with the Nie sect limited color palette. Please let’s ignore the context here and just look at his robes

I wasn't sure if I should rank them, so I’ll just ramble about them in order of appearance:

1. The gray “I’m the boss” one

That’s the first time we ever see him and what can I say? He does leave an impression. We see him using these robes two times, in episodes 10-11 and on the beggining of Fatal Journey, as the first picture shows, which makes me wonder: Is this his stay-at-home set of robes? ‘Cause damn

I don’t know how I should comment on the particular details of his robes but I really appreciate how wide this extra fabric layer makes his shoulders look.

Really imposing and powerful look.

2. The Sunshot incredibly beautiful "this is how you win a war" one

Look, this one might be my favorite, it has EVERYTHING

Shoulder game is strong here, and this bronze-like color goes really well with his belt. Now let's talk about his outer robe for a moment, just THE COLOR I mean it's the prettiest shade of gray I've ever seen.

Also Long Sleeves

And a CAPE. A f**king CAPE. I'll never get over this look and I'm really glad the costume department let this king wear a cape again in Fatal Journey, he was made for it.

Next comes the inner layer that's not really a robe, as you can see when he's standing, but the silver pattern is what really does it for me, guys. It's probably the first thing you see once you look down from his face, 'cause I know we all get lost on that beautiful mustache, and it's perfect.

You can’t lead a war campaign if you don’t look good, I see.

3. The "I didn't really want to be here but I’m looking good anyway" one

It's so dark, it probably reflects how he was feeling during pretty much all the scenes he's in while wearing it.

Once again he accentuates his shoulders with an extra fabric except this time his sleeves are not long at all. I personally think he looks even more handsome like this, it makes his arms look bigger. What is it called? I don't know, but it matches his belt as well.

( Is it really a belt, guys? I don't wanna disrespect but I don't even know where to start looking for names nor I know other english names for belts)

The subtle golden/bronze details on the outer robe and on the inner robe's collar contrasts really well with the black and dark gray

Sad thing he looked really miserable wearing it :c

4. The "big event he seemed ok with attending" one

Dark again. But he didn't look as depressed as in the previous one, he actually had fun that day, which is good. Enough of tears and betrayal for now.

May be the wider sleeves he ever wore, perfect for clapping his hands like a happy toddler. There's also a lovely flowery pattern on the darker robe that you can easily miss if you don't pay enough attention.

For the first time his shoulders are not accentuated by fabric or shoulder pads and it's really nice to see him like this. We all love a buff Mingjue, but CQL Mingjue is not that buff and I love him just as much.

Really elegant, not as imposing and he has every right to want to look civil for once. It may be the series' way of telling us that he's not dressed for real combat or war, who knows.

5. The "all this just for a flashback?" one

Listen, this one right here is just AMAZING

I don't understand why they dressed him so beautifully for what? 10 minutes of a flashback. I wanted to see it for more than a couple os scenes!!

Everything here is different, so this will take time.

First: His inner robe, the first one, is not the usual black, it's light gray, it's lighter than his robes actually, and we don't see him wearing it like ever again since chronologically in the series this is the first robe he wears. Does it secretly mean that all went wrong from the moment he met MY? who knows

Second: The outer robe is fancy. There’s so many details to it and it may be the lighting of the scene, but it seems to be a warmer shade of gray, doesn’t it? The golden\bronze thin strip around the silver larger strip is perfect. It kinda has the opposite effect of his shoulder pads, since it makes his shoulders look a bit smaller but it’s so very elegant.

Third: The upper part of the inner robe. I mean who gave him the right to look that good ??? It’s dark but it has golden little shapes in it!! And it kinda looks like there’s a zipper in there because of that mid section. And oh to be a single jewel resting over Sect Leader Nie’s chest...

Fourth: The bottom part of the robe is also something new. We see pleats on Huaisang’s main robes, but never on Mingjue’s until now, that’s why I took the last screenshot, nothing to do with the bloody Baxia at all. I wish we could have seen them in pretty pleated robes together.

It probably contradicts what I said about his shoulder things being a code for battle, since the first thing we see him doing with this outfit is killing some guy/puppet; but for the rest of the time he wears it is peaceful

Honestly, imagine how Meng Yao felt. It was some fairy tale thing, wasn’t it? You’re a nobody eating bread and drinking water and then this king pops up out of nowhere and defends you from bullying and offers you a job and takes you home with him?? 

6.The “kick your local murderer down the stairs” one

I don’t really know what to say about this one. The context kind of ruined it for me, but let’s try.

 It resembles the fourth outfit since it’s a really dark inner robe and a lighter and patterned outer robe. Except this one has this nice and shiny thin strips around the sleeves and the waist.

It’s pretty but not especially pretty in my opinion. If I were to rank the outfits, this one would rank last.

7. The “fighting qi deviation and needing emotional support” one

Fatal Journey, baby.

I know what I said about the second one, but this might be my favorite.  It’s practical, no long sleeves or heavy outer robes. It’s also appropriate for horse riding, wich is great. The simple, sleeveless light gray outer robe is really nice.

There’s a cape again!! And I have to say the cape looks even better now that his sleeves are tighter, the way it falls gracefully on his back is perfect. I love the way it seems to be attached to the shoulder pad too. 

The robes are simple but the thing is: The accessories are not. 

His belt is now silver and if we ignore that the production team just painted it, we can assume he has two sets of identical waist belts, one is bronze and the other is silver. Now the final touch: The shoulder pads. This is what makes this outfit the most extra of them all. It’s silver and just so, so pretty I wanna cry everytime I look at them. I mean, the layers, the dragon\beast entire head makes him look so fierce and ready for the fight.

 I wonder how comfortable they are tho.

10/10 would rank first place.

bonus: Baby Mingjue

We love a consistent king after all! Has he been wearing dark robes since he was a baby? We will never know. I love this dark yet translucent outer robe tho.

1000/10 the cutest and best dressed child out there.

Conclusion: Nie Mingjue is a fashion icon! 

* Do not take this too seriously, I did zero research and english is not my first language. If there’s any terrible grammar mistakes, point them to me and i’ll edit it. If I’m somehow disrespecting Chinese culture, please also point it to me and I’ll apologize, edit or even delete the post.

#nie mingjue #cql #chen qing ling #mo dao zu shi #is this meta?? idk #poorly analyzing fashion choices #nie brothers #the untamed