#monster lan wangji

[wangxianficrecs]

💙 The Sun Will Rise by vespertineflora

💙 The Sun Will Rise

by vespertineflora (@vespertineflora)

E, Series, WIP, 129k, Wangxian

Summary: For centuries, the villagers surrounding the Qianlian Forest have been beholden to a fearsome creature. A once loved Prince was long ago cursed into a monstrous form, and ever since has required the sacrifice of maidens to ensure the safety of the forest and the people living around it. This forlorn tradition might have continued for centuries longer... but when it comes time for Lotus Pier to send a maiden as tribute, Jiang Yanli is chosen, and Wei Wuxian won't stand for it. His plan is simple; he'll send Jiang Yanli off to live the long life she deserves with her fiancé, and offer himself as a sacrifice to the Prince instead. Kay's comments: Series is marked as incomplete, but feels complete! Part one is the main story and part two is an additional kinky scene added as an extra. This story is incredibly hot and not gonna lie started reading it for the smut, stayed for the plot, because not only are the explicit scenes perfect, but the story is also very compelling and I loved the slowly unravelling mystery aspect of it. I first read this story when it came out and could hardly wait for the next chapter, because I was just so hooked. Here we have Wei Wuxian being sacrified to a mysterious creature in place of Jiang Yanli, only turns out the mysterious creature is plant-tentacle-creature Lan Wangji, known as the Prince, who's not interested in killing Wei Wuxian, but will still make a meal out of him. Slowly but surely, the two of them become closer and Wei Wuxian can't help but want to figure out, what happened to Lan Wangji for him to have turned into this form. Excerpt: Wei Wuxian’s brow furrowed, finding that particularly strange, but just as he was about to kneel down and try to loosen the vine from around his foot, he felt something curl and tighten suddenly around his wrist, directly against the skin--his eyes darted down, just barely registering another vine that had grabbed onto him when-- A question seemed to spill into his his mind. He felt... strangely breathless at the unfamiliar sensation of impression, at the way he could almost feel the echo of words that hadn’t been spoken inside of his head, and at the inexplicable sense of familiarity he was left with. He didn’t actually hear anything, there weren't even really words, so much as just sensation... but he somehow knew what he was being asked all the same. It... this... whatever it was that reaching out to him... wanted to know who he was. “Wei Ying,” he gasped out, his words stumbling slightly as he tried to cope with the intimacy of having something pressing a thought directly into his head like this, before realizing what he’d said. “Ah... Wei Wuxian. I came from Lotus Pier. Are you... are you the Prince?” He... he had to be, didn’t he? Or if the legends were wrong, this was at least whatever entity that everyone called the Prince. It felt like a bit too much of a coincidence to expect one spiritual being at a certain location and run into a completely different one instead. There was a hesitation, something almost unsure, before Wei Wuxian felt the flicker of affirmation in his head. “Well, I... know you’re used to something a little different, but... I’m your offering this time,” Wei Wuxian continued explaining, because he knew this thing wanted him to. His heart was already racing again, the fears that had settled in the lull since his arrival immediately reviving, his thoughts spinning as he was immediately left confronting his mortality once more. “Is that... is that acceptable? Will I work for that?”

pov wei wuxian, canon era, alternate universe, fairy tale elements, human/monster romance, fantasy, tentacle monsters, monster lan wangji, tentacles, human wei wuxian, plants, vines, top lan wangji/bottom wei wuxian, eventual romance, slow burn, strangers to lovers, angst with a happy ending, mystery, bamf wei wuxian, homesickness, falling in love, bdsm, reincarnation

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for this hard-working author if you like – or think others might like – this story.)

#Wangxian Fic Rec #The Untamed #Wangxian #MDZS #Kay's Rec #Kay's Favorite #November 2023 #The Sun Will Rise #Series #WIP #epic length fic > 100k #vespertineflora #pov wei wuxian #canon era #alternate universe #fairy tale elements #human/monster romance #fantasy #tentacle monsters #monster lan wangji #tentacles #human wei wuxian #plants #vines #top lan wangji/bottom wei wuxian #eventual romance #slow burn #strangers to lovers #angst with a happy ending #mystery

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Happy Halloween and Wei Wuxian day!

#better drawn mdzs #mdzs #wei wuxian #lan wangji #digital art #I'm trying to practice digital art more - initially wasn't going to draw anything for today....I simply couldn't rest until I *did*. #I'm starting to get the hang of it ! #I find traditional *much* easier especially with colouring. It still feels very...off to me. #The noise filter helps retain some of the texture I find digital lacks! More experimentation needed though. #Original draft for their costumes was 'Groom of Hanguang-jun' and 'Bride of The Yiling Lazou'. #Y'know; like those 'bride of Frankenstein' and 'Frankenstein's monster' sort of couple costumes. #Their costumes now are 'Well educated lady with land someone wants (and it's the 1600s)' and 'Werebunny'. #Every costume wwx ever puts on has a full backstory and lore to it. Even if its just a hat and fake mustache. #Okay I'm on break NOW. I will return when my long comic is done.

[lazycranberrydoodles]

fanart of @poorly-drawn-mdzs’ mdzs and x-files crossover!!!

also -

#thank you to squeeze (toombs) and the host (sewer monster) for making 12 year old me realize i liked horror #as an early teen i would watch our xfiles box set at home alone at night. it was awesome #i love this crossover!!! your brain is so huge #congrats to scully and mulder. o7 #was there a straight person yuri poll because i think they could win that #mdzs #art #my art #the x files #x-files #mo dao zu shi #wangxian #wei wuxian #lan wangji #fox mulder #dana scully #cringetober 2023

[foxyyaoguai]

MDZS x Tentacles

Don't judge before you've tried it 🤭

Here are some very romantic tentacle recommendations:

🐙 every time we touch (i get this feeling) by celerydragon (WangXian, sci fi au)

🐙 But the rose was awake all night for your sake/Knowing your promise to me by x_los (WangXian, resentful energy tentacles)

🐙 Fall Into the Ocean, Into You by giantomelette (WangXian, Octoman lwj)

🐙 Secrets of the Back Hill by ElDiablito_SF (Jadecest, Eldritch Horror)

🐙 Prey by JaggedEdges (Niecest, noncon, Oviposition, aphrodisiacs)

🐙 Wrapped in Your Arms & Filled with Your Eggs by FoxyYaoguai (XiXian, WangXian, WangXiXian, noncon, Oviposition, aphrodisiacs, WIP)

If you have any recs, pls send them my way!!!

#mdzs #mdzs meme #fanfic meme #octopus lwj #tentacles #tentacle monster #tentacle smut #mdzs fanfic #fanfic rec #lan wangji #wei wuxian #lan xichen #jadecest #eldritch horror au #wangxian #niecest #mdzs fanfic rec #nie mingjue #nie huaisang

[thisisallthehattersfault]

Okay, hear me out. Hear me out.

Lan Wangji is a private investigator who does Not believe in the paranormal.

His neighbors are fine, he doesn’t mind them much. They have the sweetest little bunny of a child though — a-Yuan, who Wangji has babysat a handful of times and absolutely adores.

One night, Wangji is woken up by something — someTHING, something not-human, something with teeth and feathers and red red eyes — calling his name.

He panics, but before he even gets a chance to reach for his gun, the creature is babbling at him that something terrible has happened and a-Yuan has been kidnapped and Lan Wangji needs to help!!

The creature is Wei Wuxian, a-Yuan’s imaginary friend.

#mdzs #the untamed #Wangxian #lan Wangji #wei wuxian #a yuan #monster romance

[sweatsnervously47]

TLDR of Episode 10 of the Untamed, we meet the elder gays and everyone has a crisis about it.

#They're so happy #what if WE could go on a night hunt forever together #So many longing stares #What if WE were just alone out hunting monsters together #What if our swords touched?? #Then we fuck obviously #mxtx mdzs #incorrect mdzs #mdzs #wangxian #lan zhan #lan wangji #wei wuxian

[rayan12sworld]

💠🧡SOS: Wei Ying Injured from Fighting a Horrifying Monster!

Anonymous

Summary:

“…See, it’s a very scary curse that prevents me from stating the truth about this creature!” Wei Ying raises his milk to the ceiling, “It’s deceitful and secretive. It’s done this so I can’t share with anyone else, about the horrors I have seen. Lan Zhan, these horrors are meant for my eyes, and my eyes alone. This is a battle I must fight on my own. Lan Zhan, my good Lan Zhan, you understand this, don’t you?”

Lan Zhan stares at him, completely dead-panned and fish-eyed.

“Lan Zhan, you understand, don’t you?” Wei Ying raises the milk carton higher.

Lan Zhan turns resolutely towards the stove, then casts a side-way glance at Wei Ying, “I do not.”

or

Wei Ying returns injured from a night-hunt. Lan Zhan is worried. And there was something about an elevator.

Chapter:1/1

Words:16,743

Status:completed

Wei Ying pouts, “Er-gege, you think everyone is like you? I’m innocent, don’t involve me with the likes of you. It was a pretty big deal for me, okay?” “You are… innocent?” Lan Zhan struggles to comprehend this. His entire life, it appeared that Wei Ying was miles ahead when it came to things like romance. Lan Zhan frankly expected him to have had four girlfriends at a time, it would even make sense; Wei Ying is just very loveable, “At the hunt, then… why did you tell me…?” “Told you what?” “Firstly,” Lan Zhan starts, “You didn’t resist my kiss though clearly, you didn’t know who it was. You then told me you have ‘fought countless battles.’” “You believed me?” Wei Ying looks stunned. Lan Zhan blinks, “Yeah?” “Wah, Lan Zhan, just look at you. When I kept telling you my cultivation doesn’t harm me as much as you think, you didn’t believe me! But when I bragged and made up bullshit about having tons of experience, you did? Tsk. Tsk. Just what sort of opinions do you hold about me, Lan-er? I’ve never even held a girl’s hand, if not for life-death situations.” He pauses, “Which I know are plenty, but hey…” Lan Zhan feels strangely called out. It isn’t like Wei Ying is wrong… he has often totally dreamt of Wei Ying residing on a black throne, all power and wicked smiles, while he sits by his feet, like an obedient concubine. Wei Ying doesn’t need to know that though.

~~dream ha?

He looks down at Wei Ying, whose eyes are gleaming, who keeps giggling, his face flushed. His heart softens, the guilt and the flames of his yearning settle down into a calmer, but steadier fire. He thinks to himself, he will protect that smile forever. “Or were you actually angry because you were jealous?” Wei Ying continues, “What if someone else was kissing me like that when I was defenceless, and you ran into that sight, what would you have done? Gone and cut up trees because you lost hahahaha?” What a stupid question. Lan Zhan’s lips form a straight line. Just… imagining the scenario makes his stomach swirl and muscles tense. His attacking instincts flare up. If not for Wei Ying’s resounding laughter in the room, Bichen would’ve flown into his hands. “What? Are you angry now?” Wei Ying teases, “So, you can kiss me however you wish, but others cannot?” “I was wrong,” Lan Zhan states, “But others still cannot.” “Why can’t they?” Wei Ying tilts his head to the side, acting all cute and small under his weight. Does he - does he even know? What a dangerous game he is playing? Lan Zhan’s throat bobs, “Do you wish to be kissed by others?” “Well, hmm… if given the choice-” “ Cannot. ” Wei Ying blinks slowly, “Huh?” “Cannot be kissed by others,” Lan Zhan says with much difficulty, “Cannot be touched. Cannot be held.” Cannot smile at others like this. Cannot call others in the way you call me. Cannot be seen by - okay, he needs to calm down. Wei Ying’s eyes shine, “Oh? Only you can have me?” Lan Zhan’s eyelashes tremble, “If - If you wish.” Wei Ying laughs, “So, what I wish for matters after all!” Then, his tone becomes a bit more serious, “And what does Lan Zhan wish for?” “You. Only you.” Lan Zhan presses. “It can only be me, is that right…” Wei Ying whispers, “Then, do you know? That it’s only you for me too? That it can’t be anybody else. That I want to be forever by your side. Whatever the conventional titles exist for lovers, I want them all. Your lover. Your cultivation partner. Your… husband. Your every day, and your every night. Lan Zhan… am I wishing for too much?” “Too little,” Lan Zhan says, laying down beside him, and cradling his face to neck, “You can ask for anything. I’ll give it to you.” Wei Ying lifts himself up, places a kiss at his jaw, “All your love. Your attention. Your consideration.” “You already have them,” Lan Zhan whispers, as Wei Ying plants butterfly-like kisses on his jaw, “Ask for more.” Wei Ying barks out a laugh, “Tonight, I’m going to claim Hanguang-jun’s body for myself - or, well, get claimed. Then, I’d want it some more. I’d want it everyday. Do you know how difficult it is to live with you, and not jump you? Do you appraise my endurance? Say, not even a Lan can hold back as much as I did.” “I know,” Lan Zhan says honestly, “It’s too difficult.”

~~

#wangxian #wangxian recommendations #mdzs #mxtx mdzs #wangxian fanfic #ao3 recs #the untamed #mdzs fanfic rec #yiling laozu #hanguang jun #mdzs lwj #lwj x wwx #lwj #mdzs wwx #wwx #wangxian fic rec #lwj×wwx #possessive lan wangji #lan wangji ×wei wuxian #SOS: Wei Ying Injured from Fighting a Horrifying Monster!

[curb-your-dog]

hanguang-jun(e)

#fanart #art #mdzs #the untamed #cql #lan wangji #lan zhan #lwj #hanguang-jun #illustration #finishing a piece is like defeating a monster hellbent on crashing your computer #curb's art

[ntnttalksnothing]

Day 3: Supernatural, Prompt: Modern Cultivators

No, but hear me out. If modern samurais and ninjas can be Sentai/Power Rangers, so can modern cultivators.

#sangcheng #scweek22 #sangcheng week 2022 #nie huaisang #jiang cheng #lan wangji #jin zixuan #I understand I am the sole supply and demand for this AU #But come on it works. The color scheme and everything #Ive got it all figured out #From the occasional additional Black (sl) and White (xxc) Rangers #to the mysteries Crimson Rangers that keep helping them (Wen sibs) #^mysterious #And the monsters grow large with the Song of Turmoil #There is an episode where jc and wwx clash and the team almost falls apart #I’ve got so much more I’m ready to make this into a series #doodles #anatomy has been abandoned

[yugiri315]

LWJ Cosplay Log - Master Post

Making Lan Wangji

(AKA My Lan Zhan Cosplay Log)

This went from a historical project to cosplaying all the Hanguang-Jun, Lan Wangji in existence!  The main concept is Lan Wangji’s (LWJ) novel/manhua/audio drama design.  As the project started pre-pandemic, I didn’t consider the butler or dragon au in the design.  That would be too much.  There is a dash of videogame in him since there were some details I liked in that model.  If the title is “Mo Dao Zu Shi” then I have incorporated Lan Wangji’s description and concept arts into my design.  

Lan Wangji as known in The Untamed was generally avoided save for a tiny nod to the show’s Gusu Lan Clan.  “Mo Dao Zu Shi” Wangji and “Untamed” Wangji are distinct in my opinion.  Neither is superior from the other, just different enough that I need to pick one interpretation to play with.  The actors of Untamed, especially Xiao Zhan, really claimed the characters as their own and portrayed them wonderfully.  Wang Yibo’s Wangji is his Wangji, I won’t interfere that.  If you want to see that interpretation of Lan Wangji, then go watch the show.  It already exists.

A few caveats before you dive in:

1)     I am not a seamstress or tailor so I don’t know all the proper sewing terminology in English or any other language 2)     Also, modern romanization of Chinese confuses the shit out of me, a native speaker, so apologies for any spelling mistakes.  The Yale Romanization made so much more sense but then China thought they understood the English alphabet better than native English speakers so here we are.  Do as the Romans do, I guess. 3)     I am not a historical costumer either so all my info come from conjecture and research 4)     I am not a Chinese historian but I like to think I know enough about my history and culture through osmosis and the hell-hole disguised as Chinese school to talk about it 5)     I am not trying to make an authentic historical costume, I’m trying to make an anachronistic fantasy costume. Historicity went out the window the minute LWJ and every adult character decided to have their hair down.  I did try to make a semi-historically accurate version?  Depended on the mood at time of construction. 6)     I suck at being Chinese apparently so that will be my safety net if everything fails horribly :P  

The Lan Zhan Cosplay Log Layer 1:  Undergarments! 中衣 Layer 2A:  Yichang 衣裳   Layer 2B:  Ruqun 襦裙 Layer 3:  Zhiju 直裾 Layer 4A:  Leatherwork Layer 4B:  Jade Bling Layer 5A:  Dachang 大氅 Layer 5B:  Bijia 比甲 Layer 0:  Hair, Props, “Cheating,” & Overall Stats

Exhibit:  LWJ cosplay in action [1][2]

Citation

Patterning:  https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Qb411j7z6?spm_id_from=333.905.b_72656c61746564.1

http://www.yeoh.com/index2.php?section=journal&g=691

https://cosplayqna.tumblr.com/image/38971971992

https://torguqin.wordpress.com/hanfu/hanfu-tutorial-list/

Hanfu Resources:

@ziseviolet:  https://ziseviolet.tumblr.com/about

@fouryearsofshades:  https://fouryearsofshades.tumblr.com/post/179249195707/hello-do-you-happen-to-have-a-master-post-of-all

#my cosplay #yugiricos #yugiri315 #cosplaywip #cosplay wip #cosplay #dansou cosplay #historical costuming #hanfu #lwj #lan wangji #lan zhan #mdzs #mo dao zu shi #漢服 #魔道祖师 #魔道祖師 #蓝忘机 #蓝湛 #男装コ���プレ #コスプレ #lwj cosplay log #finally done with writing about this monster project

[mdzs-fics]

Beyond the Autumn Waters by omphalos

Canon Divergence - post siege of the Burial Mounds Teen and up 15 chapters (complete) 83k words

Jiang Wanyin barked out a laugh. "Don't be fucking ridiculous. Li-daifu says it will be many months before you're fit to travel even by boat. Even then you won't be well enough to defend the brat if Lan-shi decides to reject him with violence. What were you intending to tell them about him anyway? That he was some byblow you got on a mysterious woman who was definitely not a Wen? I can't see your xiongzhang believing that for one moment. There's no way he doesn't know you're a cutsleeve."

Wangji felt his muscles tense further and his cheeks burn. "None of your business."

"Isn't it? That boy you call your erzi – by some equally nonsensical reasoning, he's my zhizi. I'm not having you take my zhizi to a place that will reject him or worse. Whatever you think about me, Jiang-shi is a happy place for children. Let him stay here while you recover your fitness at least. Let him know a little of what is to be a… a child of the sun and the water before you take him back to your frozen home. Let him eat fucking lotus seeds and shoot fucking kites with a practice bow. Don't you think– Don't you think Wei Wuxian would have wanted that?"

Beyond the Autumn Waters begins two days after the siege of the Burial Mounds. Jiang Wanyin returns to it looking for his brother's sword. He finds Lan Wangji with a bundled Wen Yuan. A battle ensues, ending when Lan Wangji collapses from the wounds of the discipline whip.

What occurs after is a journey through the years between the death and reappearance of Wei Wuxian.

Lan Wangji will not return to three years of seclusion. Lan Yuan will be raised at Lianhua Wu, with his younger cousin, Jin Ling, staying there when he can. The helplessness of the Jiang sect in relation to the Jin is made evident.

Life proceeds over the years. Rumours arise about the relationship between Jiang Wanyin and Lan Wangji. The actual relationship between Lan Wangji and Jiang Wanyin develops, moving from rancor to tolerance to friendship and familial bonds.

There are several wonderful chapters dedicated to what I consider "Jin Ling's Journey" … a mythical trip of a young ten-year old looking to cure himself of jealousy. As with all mythical journeys, Jin Ling will be tested multiple times as he searches for the object of his trek.

It may seem that I am glossing over a lot of this work. It is difficult to describe the events and interactions between the major characters without giving away too much.

Much of the background to this story is pretty much straight from what can be read in the novel. Jiang Wanyin obtains his brother's sword. Jin Guangyao is manipulative. Nie Mingjue dies to Qi deviation. Did I mention that Jin Guangyao is not a pleasant person?

I found the last chapter to be a very satisfying end to these in-between years, with the announcement of a competitive night-hunt at Dafan Mountain and a cryptic reference to a plan of action that, as the author writes "they wouldn't really be able to stop until the huapo [landslide] they'd catalysed reached its natural, cataclysmic conclusion."

Nie Huaisang does not play a major role in this story. But, somehow, I get the feeling …

#mdzs fic recs #mo dao zu shi #jiang wanyin #lan wangji #lan sizhui #jin ling #lan xichen #mythical monsters #the untamed #wei wuxian

[madness-maybe-managed]

MDZS CHARACTERS AND THEIR JENNIE X GENTLE MONSTER GLASSES:

(I am very bored.)

1. Wei WuXian

2. Lan Wangji

3. Jiang Cheng

4. Lan Xichen

5. Wen Qing

6. Wen Ning

7. Nie Huaisang

8. Nie Mingjue

9. Jiang Yanli

Part I | Part II

#mo dao su zhi #the grandmaster of demonic cultivation #kim jennie #gentle monster #jennie x gentle monster #jentle monster #jentle garden #jentle home #wei wuxian #wei ying #lan wangji #lan zhan #jiang wanyin #jiang cheng #lan xichen #lan huan #wen qing #wen ning #nie huaisang #nie mingjue #jiang yanli #mdzs

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Can you pls also share sleepy lwj and wwx bc I know the perfect place for them to nap as well!! 🤩

The sleepy lads, at your whims! Transparent too!

#poorly drawn mdzs #mdzs #wei wuxian #lan wangji #They will likely need to be resized #But here they are! I can't wait to see where they nap next! #I really want to make more...There are a lot of fun ideas I have. #Someone requested the nie brothers and I am most certainly Working On It! #I'm personally having a blast right now dragging them around my screen. Snoozing all over the place! #ONE DAY ILL FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE AND DISTRIBUTE STICKERS......I am taping them to my sketchbook like a monster. #Had a dream about making some svsss ones that apparently I was selling to support the writer's strike? #The concepts were good. I might need to make them into reality.

[rp-partnerfinder]

( 🐇 ) — nineteen, she/her. i'm looking for (18+) partners for a descriptive literate to novella style mo dao zu shi roleplay!

i've been rereading the novels recently, and i'm dying to write wei wuxian against lan wangji. my interpretation of wwx is heavily headcanon–based, with inspiration from both the novels and cql!

plot–wise, canon compliant threads are completely okay, especially gusu arc or post–canon! however i'd also love to explore some aus with wangxian, specifically idol/bodyguard, university, priest/monster, monster hunter/monster, etc! i'm happy to discuss mostly anything.

like this post && i'll reach out :3

.

#18+ rp #literate rp #novella rp #mo dao zu shi roleplay #mo dao zu shi rp #wei wuxian x lan wangji #mo dao zu shi au rp #specifically idol x bodyguard rp #university rp #priest x monster #monster hunter x monster #roleplay #rp #roleplay search #rp finder #roleplay finder #1x1 rp #fandom rp

[doufudanshi]

ON GHOSTS AND DEMONS: Wei Wuxian's "demonic" cultivation?

There are a few big misconceptions I have repeatedly seen in English-speaking fandom about things that are fundamental to the story of MDZS. One of them is this—

Wei Wuxian is not a demonic cultivator.

To prove this, let's take a deep dive into the original Chinese text of MDZS.

(Adapted from my original gdoc posted on Twitter on May 27, 2022. All translations my own unless otherwise stated.)

Demon vs. ghost

Let's start from the very basics. In addition to orthodox cultivation using spiritual energy and a golden core, there are two other forms of cultivation that are mentioned in the novel:

魔道 (mó dào), or “demon cultivation/path.”

鬼道 (guǐ dào), or “ghost cultivation/path.”

To be clear, 魔 mo "demons" and 鬼 gui "ghosts" (and thus their respective cultivation/paths) are not interchangeable because of the in-universe worldbuilding within MDZS. Using the characters in the term 妖魔鬼怪 "monsters," MXTX created four distinct categories of beings, each of which has a strict definition in the novel. From chapter 4 (jjwxc ch 13):

妖者非人之活物所化; 魔者生人所化; 鬼者死者所化; 怪者非人之死物所化。 Yāo (妖) are transformed from non-human living beings; mó (魔) are transformed from living people; guǐ (鬼) are transformed from the deceased; guài (怪) are transformed from non-human dead beings.

And of course, WWX hoards all the ghost-type pokemon monsters at the Phoenix Mountain tournament, and he only exerts control over corpses, spirits, and the like (aka people who have already died). (As opposed to Xue Yang, who appears to have been actively trying to make 魔 "demons" out of living people with those "living corpses" of his, perhaps.) (And, ironically, in order to avoid showing necromancy / zombies on screen, CQL technically does show WWX practicing demon cultivation because everyone is "supposedly alive" even when they're corpses? Which is, funnily enough, far worse morally in the MDZS universe, lol.)

So, intuitively at least, we know that WWX must be practicing ghost cultivation—now let's look at some concrete examples from the book.

Running the numbers

1) 魔道 (mó dào) means “demon cultivation.” As such, it must use living humans.

魔道 appears one (1) time in the novel.

Yes, once. The only time it appears is in the term 魔道祖师 modao zushi, or the namesake of the novel, in chapter 2. This is a title the general public has given him through rumors:

魏无羡好歹也被人叫了这么多年无上邪尊啦、魔道祖师啦之类的称号，这种一看就知道不是什么好东西的阵法，他自然了如指掌。 Wei Wuxian wasn’t called titles like “The Evil Overlord,” “The Founder of Demon Cultivation,” and so on over the years by others for nothing—he knew these sorts of obviously shady formations like the back of his hand.

2) 鬼道 (guǐ dào) means “ghost cultivation.” As such, it must use dead humans. 

鬼道 appears 12 times in the novel.

Here is the first instance that 鬼道 appears, which I believe is the first time Wei Wuxian's method of cultivation is properly introduced. From chapter 3 (jjwxc ch 8):

蓝忘机 […] 对魏无羡修鬼道一事极不认可。 Lan Wangji […] had never approved of the fact that Wei Wuxian practiced ghost cultivation.

Here's another quote from chapter 15 (jjwxc ch 71) for funsies:

蓝忘机看着他，似乎一眼就看出他只是随口敷衍，吸了一口气，道：“魏婴。” Lan Wangji looked at him as if he saw through his half-hearted bluff. He took in a breath, then said, “Wei Ying.” 他执拗地道：“鬼道损身，损心性。” He stubbornly continued, “Ghost cultivation harms one’s body, and harms one’s nature.”

3) 邪魔歪道 (xiemowaidao) means heretical path/immoral methods/evil practices/underhanded means/etc—e.g., lying, cheating, stealing, bribery, and so on.

It appears ~24 times in the novel.

I mention this last term because it is often used to refer to Wei Wuxian's cultivation, but as a pejorative. Every instance of 邪魔歪道 is said by or to quote someone looking down upon Wei Wuxian’s cultivation (Jin Zixun, Jin Ling, etc.) and referring to it derogatorily, whereas every instance of 鬼道 guidao/ghost dao is said by someone discussing it neutrally and/or factually (Lan Jingyi, Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian himself, random cultivators at discussion conferences, the narration, etc.). Here is a pertinent example with Jin Ling (derogatory) and Lan Jingyi (neutral) in chapter 9 (jjwxc ch 43):

金凌怒道：“是在谈论薛洋，我说的不对吗？薛洋干了什么？他是个禽兽不如的人渣，魏婴比他更让人恶心！什么叫‘不能一概而论’？这种邪魔歪道留在世上就是祸害，就是该统统都杀光，死光，灭绝！” “We are discussing Xue Yang,” Jin Ling said angrily. “Am I wrong? What did Xue Yang do? He’s scum that’s lower than a beast, and Wei Ying is even more disgusting than him! What do you mean ‘don’t make sweeping generalizations?’ As long as those practicing this kind of demoniac, heretical path are alive, they’ll continue to bring disaster. We should slaughter all of them, kill all of them, annihilate them once and for all!” 温宁动了动，魏无羡摆手示意他静止。只听蓝景仪也加入了，嚷道：“你发这么大火干什么？思追又没说魏无羡不该杀，他只是说修鬼道的也不一定全都是薛洋这种人，你有必要乱摔东西吗？那个我还没吃呢……” Wen Ning shuffled around. Wei Wuxian gestured at him to stay still, only to hear Lan Jingyi also cut in loudly, “Why are you getting so riled up? It’s not like Sizhui said Wei Wuxian shouldn’t have been killed. All he said was that people who practice ghost cultivation aren’t necessarily all like Xue Yang. Do you have to go around breaking things? I didn’t even get to eat any of that yet…”

Tl;dr—Wei Wuxian does not 修魔道 practice demon cultivation. When Wei Wuxian’s craft is discussed in a neutral and factual manner, it is referred to as 鬼道 ghost dao. 

In fact, Wei Wuxian’s imitators are also referred to explicitly as 鬼道修士 ghost cultivators.

魏无羡早就听说过，这些年来江澄到处抓疑似夺舍重生的鬼道修士，把这些人通通押回莲花坞严刑拷打。 Wei Wuxian had heard a while back that over the past few years, Jiang Cheng had gone around snatching any ghost cultivator suspected of being possessed or reborn, detaining them in Lotus Pier to interrogate them using torture.

So why the confusion?

Of course, there is the matter of the novel's title, which I will get into in a second. But the real issue is a matter of translation.

The idea that WWX uses "demonic cultivation" is a misconception in English-speaking fandom due to issues with the translation of terminology. Of note, EXR actually did translate 鬼道 guidao as "ghostly path" most of the time, though there were at least 3 instances of "demonic" and 1 instance of "dark," especially regarding the first few.

However, this misconception was perpetuated (and arguably worsened) by 7S's official translation, which not only mistranslated additional terms as "demonic cultivation/path" (at least in book 1), but also consistently mistranslated every instance of 鬼道 as "demonic cultivation/path."

So why is this book called 魔道祖师, commonly translated as "Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation?"

One possibility is one posed in Chinese-language meta online, which often cites that WWX himself is a sort of 魔 demon. While this may be true—after all, he can hear the voices of the dead—it doesn't quite explain the fact that the title sets him up to be the 祖师 or "founder."

My take is that this novel is very much concerned with hearsay vs. truth. This is one of the many monikers WWX is given by the public, who collectively view him as evil. (Also of note is that the non-cultivator public is not aware of all the nuances that cultivators learn re: distinctions between the 妖魔鬼怪 monsters.) In the quote from earlier, note that the first title we're given is actually 无上邪尊 “The Evil Overlord,” then 魔道祖师 "The Founder of Demon Cultivation." Like, what can that be other than MXTX telling us, "please take both of these with a HUGE grain of salt, lol."

(And not only the title, but the very first line—"魏无羡死了。" / "Wei Wuxian is dead."—is a lie.)

I think the title is genius, honestly. It intentionally makes readers come into the novel with preconceived notions that Wei Wuxian practices 魔道 demon cultivation and evil techniques—just like the public in the novel. What better way to tell a story warning about the dangers of how easy it is to fall for misinformation and jump to incorrect conclusions?

(Though, in our case, perhaps it worked a little too well.)

#魔道祖师 #mdzs #mdzs meta #mdzs translation #wei wuxian #wwx #demonic cultivation #ghost cultivation #mine #doufudanshi translation #crossposted from twitter #(sort of)

[esoteric-oracle]

//long rambles ahead!

I think what really lingers with me about MDZS is that it's not a novel with a cathartic ending at all. It's a bittersweet story that leaves you slightly hollow. Yes, it's a beautiful and epic romance. It's a piece of social commentary interwoven with a love story and murder mystery. It's a cautionary tale. But it is also very much a tragedy. It's a story about being too late, second chances, and moving on.

By the time the truth of everything JGY and JGS did comes to light, it's 13 years too late. Everything that mattered has already happened. Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan are long dead. Jin Ling is still an orphan. Wen Ning is dead, and sometime in the future, his death will be permanent. Wen Qing was burned to death at the stake for no fault of her own. Nie Mingjue has already spent ten years in a no-doubt agonizing state of un-death, and Lan Xichen will have to bear the guilt of loving both Nie Mingjue and Jin Guangyao, and by doing so, forsaking them both. Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng's once-close bond is irrevocably broken, and the woman who sowed the seeds of resentment when they were still children will never face the consequences of her vitriol.

People sometimes say MXTX was too hard on the side characters, and only gave the Wangxian a happy ending, but what stuck with me after finishing the story is how… sad things are. Yes, Wangxian finally get the happy ending they've deserved for nearly 20 years - but at the same time, it's not a happy ending where the people who've wronged them get the consequences they deserve.

Wei Wuxian will spend the rest of his life haunted by guilt and loss, over what happened to Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan, over the loss of the Wen remnants. The rest of his years won't even be lived in the body his parents gave him.

Lan Wangji will spend the rest of his years wondering if he'd chosen to stand with Wei Wuxian when it mattered - would his son have had to grow up without his birth family?

Nie Huaisang is left wondering if his brother had been a little less trusting and had never taken Meng Yao in as a Nie deputy, would his brother have died a less wretched death? Would he have been forced to stoop to ruthless machinations and manipulations to seek some semblance of justice?

Wen Ning will have to live with the knowledge that if he'd been a little less kind, if he'd let Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng die that fateful day - his family would still be alive. The Wens would've won the war; Wen Qing might've even succeeded Wen Ruohan.

No one really gets the ending they deserve. MDZS isn't a story where good people get happy endings, and bad people get their dues. Sure, Jin Guangyao's crimes are revealed and he faces the consequences of his actions. But what about the people who stood by and made him into a monster? If anything, the side characters and antagonists who survive get better than they deserve. The real villain of MDZS - society - will never face retribution. Those cultivators who always believed in their own bigotry and righteousness over and over again, will never face justice.

Do you think those cultivators and the public will ever feel any regret for the innocent people they condemned to death in their own prejudice and blind self-righteousness? Do you think the people who gathered at Nightless City to call for Wei Wuxian's death considered for one second that he was the biggest reason they won the war? When the cultivators who sacked the Wen settlement at the Burial Mounds threw the bodies of the Wens into the blood pool, do you think that was a sign of shame?

Do you think Jiang Cheng will ever regret leading a siege on a small settlement of innocent farmers? Do you think he's haunted by condemning to death the same people whom he owes his life to?

Do you think those people like Yao-zongzhu will ever feel an ounce of remorse for so easily believing rumours and hearsay, and spreading speculation and vitriol about innocent people?

Do you think that unnamed cultivator out there will ever lose a single minute of sleep over smashing in Wen Popo's head?

In the years that follow, Wen Ning will have apologized a hundred times for lives he did not take, crimes he did not commit, because of the name he bears. People, both in-universe, and even readers, will condemn him for actions he could not help, for doing the right thing. But did Jiang Cheng ever apologize for killing his family? Did the Jins ever apologize for their horrific treatment of people in the labour camps?

People will continue to demand that Wei Wuxian apologize for causing the deaths of their friends and family. But how is Wei Wuxian meant to do that? No one ever apologized to him for taking his family away. No one ever apologized for condemning the Wen Remnants to death for crimes they took no part in. The Wens were his family too.

There's so much potential for bitterness and corruption in MDZS. Instead of saving everyone, Wei Wuxian could've stood aside and let the people who tried to kill him die. MDZS could've been a story of succumbing to hatred and grief, but it wasn't. MXTX could've gone on and on about how society wronged the protagonist, but she didn't. The narrative is one of forgiveness and moving beyond past grievances. The story chose to close the story on a positive note. I truly love that aspect of MDZS, where MXTX leaves just enough room for hope and love at the end.

A-Yuan will finally get his closure about the family he lost as a toddler. Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian get their happy ending together after being separated by nearly two decades by war, miscommunication, cruelty, and death.

Wei Wuxian will never regret protecting survivors of an attempted genocide, because it was the right thing to do.

And Wen Ning will still stand in the way and take a fatal blow meant for Jin Ling, despite everything the Jins and Jiang Cheng did to the people he loved.

Because they chose love. Characters like Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning and Lan Wangji have the chance to move on and live a happier life because when they could've succumbed to hurt and fury and resentment, they chose to be kind and do the right thing. Wangxian get their happy ending because they learn to recognize the toxicity of the cultivation society's self-cannibalizing prejudice, and chose to pursue righteousness above personal benefit.

MDZS isn't a story about good people getting good things. Just look at what happened to Xiao Xingchen. There's really nothing satisfying or cathartic about everyone's fates at all. There's no promise about society facing the consequences of their mob mentality or Wangxian actually changing the world together. Even in TGCF, for all its makings of a love story, we get the promise of societal change once Jun Wu is deposed.

It has all the makings to be a tragedy or tale of vengeance of epic proportions - but instead, it's a love story. It's a story about making the best of what you've got, and staying true to yourself and your morals, even if that's sometimes a bitter pill to swallow. It's a story where everything that could go wrong went wrong, but the characters still managed to fight their way to a better ending by choosing kindness. At its core, MDZS is a testament to choosing compassion over cruelty no matter how tragic and hopeless life gets, no matter how long the journey gets. Even though the happy ending is more personal and only applies to the specific characters, even though we don't actually get the promise of their society becoming a better place - we still have the hope that Wei Wuxian's second chance brings. The hope that sometimes, no matter how cruel the world is, some people who deserve it still get their happy endings. That's what makes MDZS such a memorable work of art. That's why it stays with you.

#mdzs #wei wuxian #lan wangji #nie huaisang #jiang cheng #wen ning #musings #Can you tell I really love the narratives MDZS took? #tragedies #mdzs thoughts