#wu han facts

[iliketangerines]

Hi there 👋🏼 could you possibly write about Bi-Han having some sort of crush on a Earth Realm Champion reader. Like she was recruited by Liu Kang to join the others. Oh and possibly add that she has like plant based powers. Sorry if it’s a lot. Once again thank you for reading. 😌

pin me down

a/n: i gotchu cutie. and yes, i am referencing that one pliket artwork.

pairing: sub!bi han x afab!reader

warnings: nsfw (MDNI), face riding, slight bondage, dacryphilia, creampies, praise kink, cowboy

Bi Han didn’t like you one bit, not a second, even if his face flushed  and his heart thumped in his chest at the sight of you

you had been brought to the Lin Kuei base rather than the Wu Shi Academy due to your ability to control plants

Bi Han remembered crossing his arms at the sight of you, you looked cowardly and small, hiding behind Liu Kang when the Fire God had introduced you

you, however, proved you were not all that cowardly

everyday you pressed at all of Bi Han’s buttons, teasing and sparring him, using your powers to wrap a vine around his ankle and trip him or using your powers to perform circus tricks for Kuai Liang and Tomas rather than train

yet he didn’t stop you when you teased him; it just irritated Bi Han when you gave attention to the others

this particularly day you were annoying him until his patience was just a thin thread of control

you’re dancing around him in the fighting ring, avoiding his blows but not really retaliating, you use your vines to playfully wrap around his body, and he freezes them over to break them

you just give a faux pout as he destroys the plants and shoots another ice blast at you, which you dodge effortlessly

he scowls and grabs at one of the vines that teasingly whack him and tugs at it harshly to pull you towards him

you smile and propel yourself towards him, knocking him over in surprise, and use your vines to creep up his body and wrap around his neck

you settle your weight in his lap and tug at the vine and Bi Han is astutely aware of the fact that it looks like you have a leash and collar on the grandmaster

you tell him to yield, a smug smirk on your face, and you tug at the vine, forcing the make-shift collar to tighten around his neck

Bi Han’s mind goes blank, and he nearly whines at the control you have over him

he shakes off the thought and growls out that he concedes, and you hop off before he can throw you off, but it’s hard to hide the blush on his face and growing hard-on in his pants

he excuses himself and stalks off to his bedroom, jerking one off as he thinks of you

he fucking hates you, and it seems you know why he hates you because the days following the spar, you’re much more bold in your moves

you grope him mercilessly whenever you two spar, and if you get close enough you whisper suggestive comments into his ear that have him losing his composure

it all comes to a head one day after dinner

he had challenged you to one more spar that day before you head off to go to the Wu Shi Academy and meet the other Earthrealm champions

he brings you to the more secluded fight ring, away from all the other initiates, and you dance around his blows

he makes the mistake of lunging toward you, and you use his momentum against him and have him pinned down to the ground, vines crawling over him and the familiar weight of you in his lap and collar and leash on his neck again has his mind reeling

you smile down at him and grind your hips down, and he lets out a whine at the feeling

immediately, he growls, trying to regain his pride, and tries to freeze your plants over, but you grab onto his chin, and he stops what he’s doing

you grind into his lap, and he can feel his dick hardening underneath you as you tell him that you know what he desires, that he just needs to just lose control for a moment

he hisses at you, saying you’re wrong, but when you pull on the leash, his mind goes blank and he nods his head dumbly

you use your vines to undress him, and you use your free hand to squeeze appreciatively at his chest and how plush it is

you finish undressing him, but you stay in your attire, grinding the rough material of your uniform against his sensitive dick

he moans and asks you for more, please, please

you hum and says that he’s gotta work for it, and you strip out of your clothes quickly before shuffling over so your pussy hovers over his face

he nearly drools at the sight, and you finally settle your weight down onto him, and he goes to town

he’s sloppy, not really knowing what he’s doing, but as you tug at his hair roughly, he learns what makes you tick, how to press his tongue into your clit and when to fuck you on his tongue

he so desperately wants to grip onto your hips or reach down and pump himself, but your vines still restrict his hands, and he can only buck his hips up uselessly into the air

you keep riding his face, grinding into his nose as you come close to the edge, and you tell him he’s doing so well, that he’s a good boy, and he moans at the praise

the vibrations travel through your clit, and you throw your head back as you come all over his face

he happily licks at your release, head leaning up to chase more of that sweetness when you lift your hips off of his face

you go back down and hover over his dick, and he watches with blown-out pupils as you pump his cock slowly teasing him

you tell him to beg for it, and he bites his lip, still a bit shy at the whole prospect

you tug on the leash and demand him to beg or he won’t be getting anything, and the words start spilling past his lips

he says he’s been a good boy, please, he’ll do anything, please ride him, please please please

you grin and align him with your wet cunt and slide onto him

you set a slow pace, bouncing up and down before grinding your clit down on his pelvis and repeating the whole motion over and over again

it isn’t enough for Bi Han, he’s going insane with how slow you’re going, and he needs to cum so so bad

there are tears in his eyes as you keep going at your slow pace, and he begs again, for you to go faster please

you mock him, saying how he’s already crying, but you comply and start riding him properly, pulling at the leash so he’s seeing stars

your hips slam down on his, and he can’t stop the loud whining and moans that comes from his throat as he’s overtaken by pleasure

he says he’s going to cum, that he’s close, he asks you if he can please cum inside you, please

you smile and say, okay, that he’s been such a good boy for you and that he can cum inside of you

you clench around him, and he squeezes his eyes shut and cums inside of you

you both ride out your orgasms, and Bi Han’s a panting breathless mess as you sit atop of him

eventually you get off and dress yourself and help Bi Han get up and dress himself, releasing the vines from his body but keeping the ones around his neck

there are still tears in his eyes, his limbs feel shaky, and his brain feels foggy

once again you tug at the leash, bringing him back to your room

you lay him down on the bed and undress him, throwing his soiled clothes into the hamper, and you bring him an oversized shirt you liked to wear

he watches in a daze as you bring a cool rag to wipe his face and his pelvis before doing the same thing to you

he’s nearly asleep when you’re done, and you get up behind him, spooning him from behind

you comb your fingers through his hair, and he falls asleep in your arms

maybe he didn’t hate you that much actually

#tangerine writes #mortal kombat #mk #mortal kombat 1 #mk1 #mk1 2023 #mortal kombat smut #mk smut #mortal kombat x reader #mk x reader #mk x you #mk x y/n #bi han #bi han mk1 #mk1 bi han #sub zero #mk1 sub zero #sub zero mk1 #bi han x reader #sub zero x reader #bi han smut #sub zero smut

[asksythe]

Is there any deeper meaning to Lan Wangji stealing the fragrance pouch Mian Mian gave to Wei Wuxian?

Well, yes.

He's jealous of that Mianmian hussy and wants Wei Wuxian to marry him and not her.

Hahahahaha!

Ahem. Let me explain. Flower or fragrant pouches are one among the 12 proposal gifts of ancient China.

Here it is, number 7 among the 12.

The meaning behind the flower satchel is 寄情寄思 (lit. to entrust my love and longing). So a woman giving a man a flower satchel she made in ancient times means, 'Marry me, dude!' And if a man asks for a satchel made by the woman's own hands, it means he's saying, 'You so hot, baby! Marry me!'

The flower/fragrance satchels as a token of great love and promise are most known through two separate legends:

1.Yang Guifei and Emperor Tang Xuanzhong. In which, after Yang Guifei died during wartime, only her flower satchel was reclaimed. The rest of her body was reduced to shattered bones. When he was given this satchel, Emperor Tang Xuanzhong cried and kept it in his sleeves for the rest of his life. This legend was made into a poem 太真香囊子 (The Pouch is steeped in Fragrance) by the poet Zhang Hu.

2. The Book of Jin Jia Wu recorded Jia Chong's youngest daughter Jia Wu falling in love with his lowly aide Han Shou. To discreetly confess her love, Jia Wu made a satchel and gifted it to Han Shou. When Jia Wu detected the familiar scent of his daughter's fragrance recipe on Han Shou's body, he immediately cottoned onto their feelings. Luckily for the pair, Jia Chong was a considerably open-minded man for the time, so he blessed their love despite the gap in social stations and allowed the two to wed.

So Wei Wuxian asking Mianmian for a fragrance sachet is tantamount to asking her to marry him in the eyes of many, and at least very, very flirtatious. That's why Mianmian reacted the way she did.

And this was in front of Lan Wangji.... Imagine how Lan Wangji felt. So it wasn't without reason (other than the fact Lan Wangji was at a very low point in his life then) that Lan Wangji reacted like he did.

So Lan Wangji stealing WWX's fragrance pouch and keeping it on his body for decades after is equivalent to saying, 'You will not marry her. You will marry me!' without actually saying it.

That is to say, Hanguang Jun might not look like it, but he would fit right at home in one of those scandalous, overly dramatic telenovelas where the love rivals duke it out by bitchslapping each other. You just need to speak his language (of actions) to see this.

#mo dao zu shi #ask sythe #mdzs #wangxian #wei ying #lan zhan #mianmian

[romanceyourdemons]

here’s a second century warlord followup (3.2k words)

By Strategem, Huang Mi Turns Aside an Army of 100,000

Huang Mi cut down the hill to the south of the city and realized four feet down how poor an idea that was. The hill, steep enough that he had to descend in zigzags, had seized into a stone-hard lump with November frost, and the glazing of snow spread across the unyielding dirt denied his shoes any purchase at all. He managed to slide directly down for several feet, his knees bent and his skirts hitched to his knees in an already unsuccessful attempt to keep them free from winter muck, but his right foot caught on a stone, turning his controlled glide into an unplanned splits and then into a reeling, careening half-tumble down the rest of the hill. He was glad the blank south wall of the city was the only thing bearing witness to his humiliation. He was less glad when a man caught him, and less glad still when he recognized the man as the one he least wanted to be embarrassed in front of. “Lord Yue,” he said, bowing before his liege to keep his flushing face angled toward the snow. He would have much preferred breaking an arm against a tree.

“Yuzhi,” said Lord Yue, helping Huang Mi up. “You’re hurt?”

Huang Mi shook his head. 

Lord Yue wrapped his scarf around Huang Mi’s shoulders and neck. “You’re cold, then. Where’s your horse?”

“Still up there. I couldn’t figure out how to get it down the hill.”

“You just take that footpath around.”

“Oh.” Huang Mi turned to make the long trek up to where he had left his horse tied to a branch, but Lord Yue took his arm and turned him back.

“I’ll send someone up to get it. Let’s get inside first and discuss.”

Huang Mi barely remembered to give Lord Yue back his scarf before they entered the room where General Chou, General Wu, and Governor Han waited to hear the results of Huang Mi’s expedition to the army camped thirty li to the south of the city. That army should be the only thing on their minds. Huang Mi would have gladly kept Lord Yue’s scarf and maybe slept holding it, but he could not allow anyone in that room suspect that his feelings for his liege were anything other than appropriate loyalty. That he could not let Lord Yue know went without saying: he had great trust in Huang Mi as his advisor, and anything that damaged that trust put their entire army at risk. Neither General Chou nor General Wu particularly appreciated Huang Mi’s quick elevation in the six months since he swore loyalty to Lord Yue. They were brilliant warriors and valuable generals, General Chou highly capable in frontal attack and General Wu with a skill for ambush, and between the two of them Huang Mi did not doubt they could take care of him cleanly enough. And of course he could not let Governor Han know: she was Lord Yue’s wife. He tried to make himself look presentable as he sat to deliver his report.

“The army is a hundred thousand strong. They are trying to reach Lord Liu within the week, and they are demanding two-thirds of our grain.”

Governor Han interrupted incredulously: “They expect us to survive off a third of our stores?” Between the citizens, the army, and the four households of refugees they had accepted earlier that month, it would be difficult to make their grain last the winter as it was.

“They were very specific. They claim they will accept the gift of two-thirds of our grain, or they will sack the city and take all of it.”

“I certainly hope you didn’t take them up on that.”

“I told them they should save their efforts. We’ll burn the grain before letting it fall into their hands.”

Lord Yue nodded proudly, the way he nodded proudly at everything Huang Mi said. He had too much faith in Huang Mi. The generals had just the right amount of faith and muttered bitterly between themselves. In fact, Huang Mi had not intended to make such a bold statement at all. His plan had been to stall and make a break for home as soon as possible, but his “there’s no need” had turned into a fierce statement of opposition before he fully planned the sentence. He wished Lord Yue didn’t trust him so much. He really wasn’t much of an advisor at all. 

“I hope you have some kind of brilliant plan, Advisor Huang,” said General Wu. He articulated the title with acid precision, and, even though Huang Mi did not particularly mind having lost the command he once held, he knew a barb when he saw one. He smiled, though, and assured the generals that the situation was under control, and Lord Yue suggested they have some supper first, if Yuzhi’s plan could allow for such a delay. Huang Mi’s plan certainly could: it did not exist yet. He wished Lord Yue wasn’t so good to him. He wished he could tell Lord Yue that he was as good as he claimed.

Governor Han drew Huang Mi aside as the group broke to prepare for supper. “You don’t have a plan, do you?”

Huang Mi went very still, like a cornered deer. Governor Han had been Lady Han until the city’s erstwhile governor became bedridden with a sudden illness in September and asked Lord Yue to manage civil affairs until he recovered. Lord Yue had no training managing civil affairs, but his wife did, and she had filled the post flawlessly. The title “Governor” had originated as one of the generals’ low blows, but Governor Han not only allowed but preferred it. Her skill in governing certainly merited it. She and Lord Yue, Huang Mi had pieced together from confessions and rumors, had been espoused in an effort to prevent the war that broke out between their fathers and killed them both regardless. Proper spousal affection had never developed between the two, not even when she traveled to the front to be with her husband after he suffered a grave injury, and especially not when, more than eight months later, she was still unable to return home. She preferred to speak to him as Governor Han and Lord Yue, rather than as his undesired wife and her undesired husband. Huang Mi did not understand how she could not love Lord Yue—after the many long nights he had spent with Lord Yue playing chess and discussing schools of strategy, he had determined that there was no one in this world better, kinder, braver, more intelligent, or more gorgeous than his sworn liege lord—but that was Huang Mi’s own problem, not Governor Han’s. For now, Governor Han’s problem was Huang Mi. “You don’t have a plan,” she said efficiently. “Tell me what you think your plan should be.” 

Like a whirling leaf catching on any tree in its path, Huang Mi’s whirling mind caught on anything that looked like a plan. “General Chou can pin them against the bend in the river, and then General—”

“River’s frozen. Won’t work.”

“General Chou can lead them into Hawthorn Pass, then a contingent led by General Wu can burn—”

“Everything’s wet. Won’t work.”

“General Chou can guar—” Huang Mi noticed Lord Yue approaching and quickly changed his tone. “General Chou will divide his men to guard the north, west, and east gates, making as much a show of force as he can. A hundred archers will hide out of sight on the south wall, and, after dark, we will boil snow on a bonfire inside the walls. The enemy will see this and think that we are burning our grain, and that we are relying on the protection of the hill to defend us on the south side. They are desperate for grain, and will pour down the hill into the pits full of sharpened sticks that we have dug. The archers will also shoot them down, and General Wu will have led his men around behind his camp by way of Hawthorn Pass to rout them from there.” 

Lord Yue smiled, apparently completely satisfied with this made-up plan, but Governor Han frowned. “Why will they go directly down the hill when there’s a footpath?”

“We’ll block it with boulders. I got a look around the enemy’s camp—they’re eating every third day. They won’t be too careful.”

“And do you really think we can have your pits dug by nightfall?” Her skepticism seemed softened, but it was certainly far from appeased.

“If Governor Han will let us requisition wagons from the city to transport the earth away, I am sure we can manage it.”

“Excellent,” Lord Yue said. “I’ll inform the generals, and we’ll get to work.”

If the generals received Huang Mi’s plan with their usual sidelong remarks, Huang Mi did not hear them. They began work, and they worked as evening bled scarlet over the cloudy skies, and it was not until twilight grey muddied the sunset that Governor Han pulled Huang Mi away from Lord Yue once again. “It’s not going to work,” she said. “The ground is too hard.”

She was right, of course. Even with pickaxes the work was too slow. Huang Mi sought refuge from the obvious in ill-advised bravado: “If we had my hometown men here, the pit would already be ten spans deep.” He missed his men. He had not been a good commander to them, and he was glad that they were safely in the service of the shrewd and competent lord they had intended to swear loyalty to from the start, but there were times when he felt very, very alone in Lord Yue’s camp, and there were times when he lay awake at night to worry about the inevitable day when he would have to strategize for the man he loved against the men he loved. If he cared for Lord Yue less, he would be able to forget his lord. If he cared for Lord Yue more, he would be able to forget his men. He knew he would never forget his hometown, cradled by soft green mountains where immortals liked to hide and full like a cup with the scent of plum blossoms. He knew that he would likely never see his hometown again. He would likely never see a springtime again. It would have been better for everyone if he had never laid eyes on Lord Yue.

“This stops now.”

“What?”

Governor Han crossed her arms. “Advisor Huang, listen to me. When I was young, I was in love with my tutor. I might still be. I’d have to see him again to know for sure. I wanted him to admire me, so I would say just anything in answer to his questions. And he was just as infatuated with me as I was with him, so he would accept my wrong answers. My father heard me give a completely incorrect recitation, and he said that to me: ‘This stops now. You can marry your tutor and I’ll get you a new one, or you can get yourself out of love with him and continue your studies.’ That’s what I’m telling you now. Get yourself out of love with Lord Yue or get yourself into something real with him, but this—” An eloquent flick of a fingertip summed up Huang Mi’s past six months of agony. “This stops now.”

Huang Mi wanted to say something to stall, but he could not come up with even the most meaningless of platitudes.

“I don’t mind and he won’t mind,” Governor Han continued mercifully. “He doesn’t mind my lover. I think he minds that you’re not already his. I only care that, short of some flash of genius from your famous mind, my city is going to be ruined by morning. Make your decision.”

“I…” This decision was too big to make. This decision was more daunting than the army a hundred thousand strong camped beyond the hill. “I need some time,” he said, leaving Governor Han before she had a chance to call him back and struggling directly up the hill, relishing the sting of cold and bark tearing at his hands as he pulled himself up by roots and stones. He balanced himself on the ridge, windmilling his arms to keep himself from falling backwards as he shuffled to a more sure footing and turned around. Through the gloom and heavy flakes of snow, the archers on the south wall could not be discerned at all. That was good. The line of trees and brush at the bottom of the hill broke up the shape of the pit and made it difficult to identify from this height. That was good. But the pit was hardly a forearm’s length deep, and the twilight was already tightening into dusk. They did not have time. He squatted and contemplated falling onto his side as he watched snow gather on their two dozen wagons of dirt. This snow fell so heavily, so fast. Already some of the wagons looked like they were filled not with frozen soil but with—

Huang Mi bolted to his feet quickly enough to make his cold knees ache and began pelting directly down the hill with violent abandon. He did not care what it cost. He needed to get to his lord as soon as legs would take him. Running calculations on the fingers of one hand as he poured himself over the uneven snowy ground lost him his balance, and he traveled the rest of the hill on his stomach and face, but he had his answer as Lord Yue helped him up a dozen yards from the hill’s base and half-carried him to even ground. “Tarps,” Huang Mi said. “Governor Han, we need tarps! We need to act quickly, my lord. Have the men shovel snow onto the wagons, enough to cover all the dirt. Full to heaping. Then have them cover the wagons with the tarps, but tack them down carelessly—leave snow showing. General Wu will lead the wagons by the high road through Hawthorn Pass. Two torches in front, no other lights. Then he’ll dump the wagons—” A dark look from Governor Han made Huang Mi hastily amend his plan— “the wagons’ contents into the gorge, extinguish his torches, and return as quickly and stealthily to the city as possible, keeping off the main road and hiding the wagons in woods for safekeeping.”

“Is that all your plan?” asked General Wu. He wanted to pick a fight, but Huang Mi did not have time.

“Three more things,” he said shortly. “General Chou will rearrange his men to guard this gate as well, and Lord Yue will prepare a force to attack the camp once General Wu informs us of the completion of his task, and if General Wu loses a single man before sunrise then on sunrise he may personally kill me any way he wishes.”

Lord Yue made a sound of acute concern, and Huang Mi certainly did not enjoy having to put his neck on the line to make his word good, but it was almost dark and there was no time to bandy words. He smiled at Lord Yue and shook his head, and Lord Yue sighed. “Do what Yuzhi says,” he said, “or the consequences will be the same as if you had disobeyed me.” General Wu pressed his lips together to smother his mouthful of words and bowed to accept the instructions; Governor Han raised her eyebrows expectantly at Huang Mi and permitted his reassuring look; and Huang Mi’s new plan ground into action, shovelful by shovelful. 

“My lord,” Huang Mi said on their return to the city, once he and Lord Yue were safely alone between four walls. He had an ultimatum to meet. It frightened him more than rebuffing the ultimatum of the enemy, but Governor Han had been right. This had to end now.

“How many times will I have to ask you to call me Ziyi?”

“My lord, this may be the last plan I make for you.”

Lord Yue shook his head emphatically. “I won’t let General Wu hurt you, Yuzhi. I won’t even let him scratch you.”

Huang Mi’s heartbeat pushed and tugged at his fingertips, hidden inside his sleeves. He resisted the urge to chew his knuckle. “It’s not that. It’s…” Any words he might have followed these eluded him, so he tried again: “I wouldn’t mind dying, either, if I—could kiss you first.” The sentence stung the air. He had preferred his cowardice. He finished his confession as lamely as he had begun: “And I am afraid that makes me an unfit advisor.”

“I’m not.”

Lord Yue let silence spool out after these words for so long that Huang Mi began to wonder what they meant.

“I won’t lose you, Yuzhi,” Lord Yue said. In the firelight his eyes looked more green than gold, and his hands already enclosed Huang Mi’s cold hands as he spoke. “Not as an advisor, not as a lover. You’re the only one I really trust.”

“The generals say I’m a rabbit trying to lead a pack of wolves.” Huang Mi wanted to bolt.

Lord Yue smiled, a smile that suggested the generals were going to receive a lecture soon. “A rabbit, perhaps, but a rabbit with the instincts of a tiger and the good fortune of a phoenix—and the looks of a very handsome man. I’ll even kiss you if you call me Ziyi.”

Huang Mi felt light-headed. This was not something that was supposed to happen. This was something he had wanted to happen for—for his whole life, it seemed to him now, but it was not something that was supposed to happen. He made himself nod. He made himself ignore his racing heart and say, “Okay… my lord.” He did not realize his error until Ziyi began to laugh, and then he smiled too and corrected himself—“Ziyi, Ziyi, Ziyi”—until Ziyi’s lips got in the way of his voice. 

General Wu returned before long, his men still unharmed, and Ziyi took reluctant leave of Huang Mi to lead his crack troops to the deserted field of melted snow where the enemy had recently been. The enemy, mistaking the ill-lit wagons of snow for all the city’s grain, had followed General Wu to the gorge, where they had seen the destruction, it seemed, of the grain they so desperately needed. Caught between the options of finding a way to the bottom of the gorge to salvage what had not been washed away by the river and crossing the bridge to the next stronghold, already distantly visible, they chose to break camp and move on. 

When Ziyi saw Huang Mi again, he picked him up and twirled him around; when the generals saw Huang Mi again, they grudgingly nodded respect. When Governor Han saw Huang Mi again, she congratulated him and told him that she wanted every borrowed wagon returned undamaged by the end of the next day. General Wu had hell to pay when he could not find one of the wagons again. But that was not a problem Huang Mi had to solve. For seven days and seven nights, Ziyi never once let him feel cold.

#i heard yall wanted them to kiss #ryddles #second century warlord

[city-of-ladies]

Women warriors in Chinese history - Part 2

(Part 1)

"However, court confessions, unofficial histories, and local gazetteers do reveal a host of women warriors during the Qing dynasty when patriarchal structures were supposedly most influential. Women in marginal groups were apparently not as observant of mainstream societal gender rules. Daughters and wives of “peasant rebels,” that is, autonomous or bandit stockades, were frequently skilled warriors. Miss Cai 蔡†(Ts’ai) of the Nian (Nien) “army,” for example, “fought better than a man, and she was especially fine on horseback. She was always at the front line, fighting fearlessly despite the large number of government troops.” According to a folktale, she managed to rout an invading government force of several thousand with a hundred men and one cannonball after her husband led most of the Nian off to forage for food.

Related to the female bandits were the women pirates among whom Zheng I Sao 鄭一嫂†(literally, Wife of Zheng I; 1775–1844) is the best researched. “A former prostitute … Cheng [Zheng] I Sao could truly be called the real ‘Dragon Lady’ of the South China Sea.” Consolidating her authority swiftly after the death of her husband, “she was able to win so much support that the pirates openly acclaimed her as the one person capable of holding the confederation together. As its leader she demonstrated her ability to take command by issuing orders, planning military campaigns, and proving that there were profits to be made in piracy. When the time came to dismantle the confederation, it was her negotiating skills above all that allowed her followers to cross the bridge from outlawry to officialdom.”

We know slightly more about some of the women warriors involved in sectarian revolts. Folk stories passed down orally are one of the sources. Tales that proliferated in northern Sichuan on the battle exploits of cult rebels of the White Lotus Religion uprising in Sichuan, Hunan, and Shaanxi beginning in the late eighteenth century glorify several women warriors. The tall and beautiful Big Feet Lan (Lan Dazhu 籃大足) and the smart and skillful Big Feet Xie (Xie Dazhu 謝大足) vanquished a stockade together; the young and attractive Woman He 何氏 could kill within a hundred feet by throwing daggers from horseback. The absence of bound feet in Big Feet Lan and Big Feet Xie suggests their backgrounds were either very poor, unconventional, or non-Han.

Sectarian groups accepted female membership readily, and many of these women trained in the martial arts. Qiu Ersao 邱二嫂†(ca. 1822–53), leader of a Heaven and Earth Society (Tiandihui 天地會) uprising in Guangxi, joined the sect because of poverty and perfected herself in the martial arts. Some women came to the sects with skills. Su Sanniang 蘇三娘, rebel leader of another sect of the Heaven and Earth Society, was the daughter of a martial arts instructor.  Such sectarian rebel bands are frequently regarded as bandit groups. A history of the Taiping Revolutionary Movement refers to these two cult leaders as female bandit chiefs before they joined the Taipings.

Male leaders of religious rebellions frequently married women from families skilled in acrobatic, martial, and magic arts. These women tended to be both beautiful and charismatic. Wang Lun 王倫, who rebelled in 1774 in Shandong, had an “adopted daughter in name, mistress in fact,” by the name of Wu Sanniang 烏三娘 who was one of Wang’s most powerful warriors. Originally an itinerant performer highly skilled in boxing, tightrope walking, and acrobatics, she terrified the enemy with spellbinding magic. She brought a dozen associates from her old life to the sect, and they all became fearsome warriors known as “female immortals” (xiannü 仙女); three of them, including Wu Sanniang, lived with Wang Lun as “adopted wives” (ifu 義婦). A tall, white-haired woman at least sixty years old, possibly the mother of one of these acrobat-turned women warriors, wielded one sword with ease and two almost as effortlessly. Dressed in yellow astride a horse, hair loose and flying, she was feared as much for her sorcery as for her military skills. Her presence indicates that some of the women came from female-dominated itinerant performing families. Woman Zhang 張氏and Woman Zhao 趙氏, wives of Lin Zhe 林哲, another leader of the cult, were also known for being able to brandish a pair of broadswords on horseback.

Hong Xuanjiao 洪宣嬌†(mid nineteenth century), also known as Queen Xiao (xiaohou 蕭后), wife of the West King of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom (taiping tianguo 太平天國), was so stunningly beautiful and impressive in swordsmanship that she mesmerized the entire army during battles. The link between early immortality beliefs and shamanism also suggests that these women warrior “immortals” of sectarian cults may represent surviving relics of the female shamans who occupied high positions during high antiquity.

During the White Lotus Religion rebellion in Sichuan, Hunan, and Shaanxi beginning in 1796, five of the generals were at once leaders and wives of other leaders of the cult. They were Woman Qi née Wang (Qiwangshi 齊王氏; Wang Cong’er 王聰兒), Woman Zhang née Wang (Zhangwangshi 張王氏), Woman Xu née Li (Xulishi 徐李氏), Woman Fan née Zhang (Fanzhangshi 范張氏), and Woman Wang 王†née Li 李 (Wanglishi 王李氏). In the Heavenly Principle Religion (tianlijiao 天理教) rebellion that began in Beijing during 1713, the wife of its leader, Li Wencheng 李文成, led three invasions into the city. There was even a “Female Army” (niangzijun 娘子軍) within the Eight Trigrams (baguajiao 八卦教) uprising in Shandong during the Daoguang 道光† reign (1821–51). The female generals, Cheng Sijie 程四姐†and Yang Wujie 楊五姐, were particularly impressive when they wove among enemy forces in the style of “butterflies flitting among flowers,” wielding broadswords on horseback, their hairpins glittering in the light.

A number of female rebel leaders used religion and magic to buttress their power. Many claimed to be celestials and were leaders of sectarian cults (...). Chen Shuozhen 陳碩貞†(?–653) mobilized a peasants’ uprising by declaring that she had ascended to heaven and become an immortal. Tang Sai’er (ca.1403–20), a head of the White Lotus Religion (bailianjiao 白蓮教), designated herself as a “Buddhist Mother” (fuomu 佛母). The spellbinding old woman warrior in Wang Lun’s Clear Water Religion (qingshuijiao 清水教) sect was known to the rebel community as a reincarnation of the highest White Lotus deity, the Eternal Venerable Mother (wusheng laomu 無生老母). Wang Lun relied on her for performing magic and the rituals for calling on their supreme deity. Woman Wang née Liu (wangliushi 王劉氏), one of the numerous female leaders of the White Lotus Religion revolt, also titled herself the Eternal Venerable Mother. Wang Cong’er (1777–98), originally an itinerant entertainer, became the commander in chief of the rebel army she launched with her husband, a master in the White Lotus Religion.

Indeed, itinerant performers such as Wu Sanniang mentioned above were frequently trained in the martial arts since childhood and must have been skilled at performing magic tricks as well. Lin Hei’er 林黑兒†(?–1900), leader of Red Lanterns (hongdengzhao 紅燈照), the young women’s branch of the Boxer’s Movement (yihetuan 義和團), was also originally an itinerant entertainer (her husband was a boatman). Designating herself the Holy Mother of the Yellow Lotus (huanglian shengmu 黃蓮聖母), she taught her followers the skills of wielding swords and waving fans as well as magic to defeat their enemies.  Wang Nangxian 王囊仙†(literally, Goddess Nang, 1778–97), an ethnic minority of the Miao tribe, was worshipped as a goddess by her tribesmen before she led them in revolt against the Chinese government."

Chinese shadow theatre: history, popular religion, and women warriors, Fan Pen Li Chen

#history #women in history #women warriors #warriors #warrior women #china #chinese history #asian history #historyblr #qing dynasty #19 century #18th century #Wang Cong’er #hong xuanjiao #su sanniang #qiu ersao #tang sai'er #asia #Zheng Yi Sao

[feelbokkie]

花火 (Fireworks)

☀️Feelbokkie M.list☀️

**Requested**

bff!han and reader the way they steal a glance every once in a while slowly falling in love with eachothers laugh, with their smile the SOFTEST SOFTEST kiss to have ever kissed it's not either of their first kiss, but there's fireworks EXCEPT THERES ACTUAL FIREWORKS BC THERE AT AN EVENT

genre: fluff

pov: 2nd person

description: Back home after touring for months, your best friend Jisung takes you to a firework festival.

pairing: best friend!Jisung x reader

warnings: none?

word count: 1,792

©feelbokkie (2024) — all rights reserved. reposting/modification of any kind is not tolerated.

"You know," You huff as you adjust the large stuffed quokka in your arms, "as cute as it was to win me this, it probably would have been cheaper if you just bought this from the vendor outright.."

"My pride would have never allowed that," Jisung says casually as he continues to pull you through the crowd, his grip on you tighter than you thought impossible for him.

When did he get so strong?

You haven't seen your best friend Jisung in months. He's been off traveling the world touring and promoting his music while you were busy working. You knew that when he came back, he was going to want to spend as much time as he possibly could to make up for lost time. You thought it would be how it always was: nights in either at your apartment or his dorm with movies and whatever food you wanted. When Jisung told you that there was a festival he wanted to go to, you were shocked. It's loud, crowded, and overwhelming; all the things that Jisung normally dislikes when going out into a public space. In all honestly, you've spent most of the day checking out for his warning signs in case he became too overwhelmed. Not that you minded staring at his face.

"How does your pride feel about how much you just spent right now?" You giggle, because you can't help but laugh. The whole idea of Jisung spending over an hour trying to win you a stuffed quokka because you turned to him and said "Look, it's you" is completely silly. His response after he won the oversized stuffed animal is even sillier.

"There, now you'll have me around when I'm away on tour,"

You weren't sure what he meant by that. Ever since the creation of the skzoos, he's always made sure you had every variation of Han Quokka. At first, it was to "keep you company" while he was away and then it became, to "add to the collection." And still, you're not sure what it was about what he said this time that made your heart race around your entire body and your breath hitch in your throat.

Maybe it's the fact that you've hardly seen him in over a year. He was on tour for most of the year last year, only coming back for the holidays, but you went back home to spend time with your family. And then it felt like he was only free for a week when the world tour ended. The boys almost immediately went back to work on their next album. And then promotion for that album, followed by the creation and promotion of a Japanese album, and then yet another creation and promotion of another album. On top of that they have various schedules for interviews, award shows, content for their fans, and so many other things, that you're surprised Jisung even has time for you right now.

And yet, here he is, wearing a black, oversized ratty old Wu-Tang Clan shirt that he said he thrifted while he was on tour in the States, a pair of baggy jeans that dragged on the floor, and a pair of off-white sneakers that made him a little taller than he actually his. With his face concealed by a black bucket hat and a face mask that spent more time on his chin than it did on his face. It's almost like he wasn't international superstar Han Jisung, but your best friend. The first friend you made when you moved to South Korea to start a new life.

"Are you happy?" He asks suddenly, carefully pushing his way through the crowd of people.

You're quiet for a moment, confused as to why that question would even cross his mind. "Yeah, why?"

"Then my pride doesn't care," Hey says simply.

Has he always been like this?

Bold isn’t a word you would use to describe. Confident? Yes, absolutely. He wouldn’t be where is he today if he wasn’t at least a little bit confident in himself. But bold? You were always more of a risk-taker of the duo and made more decisive decisions. Jisung has always been more cautious, only taking risks with his career. Even then, that was more confidence than him being bold. After all, being confident is the only way anyone could survive in the industry.

Finally, there's a break in the crowd as Jisung reached the front of the crowd. The festival hasn't been too crowded the entire time you've been there. The two of you went earlier in the day to avoid the crowd so Jisung could walk around comfortably without being recognized. But as the sun began to set, more people came making you feel more anxious. Not because you dislike crowds and the havoc that they bring, but because Jisung does. And he's been having such a good day, you didn't want it to end.

You've caught yourself starting at Jisung more times than you care to admit. Small glimpses throughout the day. Little things about him caught your eye. The way his skin would bronze in the sunlight. Or how his eyes would become a fine line when he laughed, really laughed. And how his large, gummy smile took up most of his face. And the little pout he would do when he was doing poorly in a game. Or the way his face would turn red when you would turn to steal a glance and he was already looking at you. And the small smile he'd give you when he would catch you staring.

It's normal, right?

How happy you are spending time with Jisung. How your heart hasn't stopped pounding since he grabbed your hand 5 minutes ago. And the way your stomach has been doing acrobatics every time he laughs. You've just missed him.

And here he is, standing in front of you without the barrier of a screen.

"Do you know what the Japanese word for firework is?" Jisung asks suddenly.

The two of you are sitting comfortably on the grass at the front of the crowd, and yet he still holds your hand. Not that you mind. You can hardly see his face in the dark of the night. The stalls and surrounding buildings started turning their lights off or dimming them as the crowd started to settle down for the fireworks show.

"I barely know the Korean word for firework," You chuckle softly in response.

"Fair enough," He chuckles back, "It's the same concept in both Korean and Japanese so I guess I could have just asked if you knew the Korean word."

"Same concept?" You tilt your head to the side while looking at Jisung. Your eyes slowly adjust to the dark, allowing you to make out the familiar features of his face. "What are you talking about?"

Jisung turns his attention in front of him. Nothing is happening, and yet he stares off into the distance. "Bulkkoch. Hanabi. In both languages, firework is made up of two characters. Bul and hi both mean fire in their respective languages. Then kkoch and hana mean flower. So in direct translation, firework is either fire flower or flower fire."

"It's prettier than the English word, that's for sure. Seems lazy in comparison. It's literally just a work of fire for us."

"I think so too. But of the two, I think hanabi is the prettier." Jisung turns his attention back to you. "Reminds me of you, somehow."

You're not sure why, but your breath hitches in your throat and your heart starts to flutter like the wings of a hummingbird. He's just your friend. But maybe, just maybe, you have feelings for him.

You don't know when it started or if there was even a starting point to be had. Maybe you've always had feelings for him and you just didn't realize it. Spending time with Jisung is the happiest you've been in months. Your stomach and cheeks hurt from laughing so much. And maybe your feelings for him were there in the subtext of it all. You've never laughed this much with any of your other friends. You can't remember the last time someone made you so much in one day. Nor do you think you've never felt such joy hearing someone say your name before. Out of all the things he's ever sung, your name is your favorite song.

"Y/n," Jisung mumbles. You're certain your eyes are playing tricks with the light.

You freeze as Jisung's face slowly gets closer to you. So slow that you're not sure he's moving. Still, as the scent of his cologne becomes increasingly stronger, you stay completely still. As if any sudden movement will scare him away. And he might. You're not sure where Jisung's confidence is coming from but you know better than anyone it's just a facade that can be easily shaken. And, if what you think is happening is happening, you don't want to deter him from continuing.

You should stop him. Remind him that the two of you are in public and anyone could see. Anyone could take a picture and send it to dispatch. But part of you is selfish, wanting a part of him for yourself after sharing him with the world for so long. A part of him that you know he can't share with his fans.

Your eyes close instinctively as he's only inches away from you. You slowly lose your nerve as he stops moving closer, his breath tickling your face. Maybe he realized what he was doing. Maybe he--

Your mind stops racing as Jisung's lips gently graze yours. So softly at first, you think you imagined it until he leans in more, closing any and every gap between your lips.

It's a simple kiss, in an innocent way. And yet, you feel a jolt of electricity run through your body. Like Jisung is an outlet and you're a kid who just shoved a fork in it. So innocent and yet, your entire body is on fire, tingling like all of your nerves are miniature fireworks going off all at once.

Hanabi

Jisung slowly pulls away, leaving you breathless and your head spinning.

You're no stranger to kissing. Neither of you are. You've done it more times than you care to count throughout your life. Some with people who've meant significantly less than what Jisung means to you. And somehow, you've never been left so breathless from a peck on the lips before. Judging by the look on Jisung's face, illuminated the various colors of the fireworks you didn't know were going off, neither has he. You want to kiss him again.

"Wow," you both mutter in unison.

—

Buy me a coffee?

—

Permanent Taglist

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[new-dinosaurs]

Qianlong shouhu Han et al., 2023 (new genus and species)

(Select bones and schematic skeletals of adult [a] and embryonic [b] individuals of Qianlong shouhu, with preserved bones in gray, from Han et al., 2023)

Meaning of name: Qianlong = Qian [alternative name for Guizhou] dragon [in Chinese]; shouhu = guarding [in Chinese]

Age: Early Jurassic (Sinemurian?)

Where found: Ziliujing Formation, Guizhou, China

How much is known: Three partial skeletons of adult individuals and five clutches of 3–16 eggs containing embryos.

Notes: Qianlong was an early sauropodomorph. It is notable not only for the exceptional preservation of its fossils, but also the fact that these specimens appear to be associated with nests, thus offering valuable information on their growth and reproductive behavior. As has also been found for some early sauropodomorphs, such as Massospondylus from the Early Jurassic of Southern Africa and Mussaurus from the Early Jurassic of Argentina, Qianlong appears to have laid its eggs in breeding colonies with adult individuals potentially watching over their nests. Qianlong was additionally similar to these other early sauropodomorph in being bipedal as an adult, but likely quadrupedal as a young juvenile.

Rigid, hard-shelled eggs have been found in multiple groups of dinosaurs, including tetanuran theropods (such as birds), hadrosaurids (duck-billed dinosaurs), and titanosaurian sauropods, as well as their closest living relatives, the crocodylians. As a result, it was long assumed that all dinosaurs probably laid hard-shelled eggs. However, recent evidence has suggested that the eggs of early dinosaurs may have instead had flexible, leathery shells, more similar to those of most lizards and some turtles, with rigid eggshells evolving several times in later dinosaur groups. The eggshells of Qianlong appear to have been leathery in structure, lending support to this hypothesis.

Reference: Han, F., Y. Yu, S. Zhang, R. Zeng, X. Wang, H. Cai, T. Wu, Y. Wen, S. Cai, C. Li, R. Wu, Q. Zhao, and X. Xu. 2023. Exceptional Early Jurassic fossils with leathery eggs shed light on dinosaur reproductive biology. National Science Review advance online publication. doi: 10.1093/nsr/nwad258

#Palaeoblr #Dinosaurs #Qianlong #Early Jurassic #Asia #Sauropodomorpha #2023 #Extinct

[redara]

Sub-Mission

Pairings: Áila Hávarôr / Bi-Han / Tenshikiri Jun Ratings: Explicit Words: 6.418 Tags: F/M/F, Sub-Bi-Han, Toys Summary: Bi-Han admits, he appreciates strong, influential women. AU - canon divergence. Sets in the current timeline, post-MK1, in the AU where everyone agrees for a truce in order to prepare for potential timeline Invaders.

A/N: also posted on AO3. Áila Hávarôr belongs to @tazahan . Tenshikiri Jun belongs to me. Special thanks, Taza, for the discussion about our girls! :3

The threat of invaders from other timelines is still looming over. It is not a simple matter; all sides are wary of each other, cautious for another ‘Damashi’ to trick them. The growing tension is becoming too palpable that Liu Kang, as the Protector of Earthrealm and the former Keeper of Time, has decided to call for a truce. And such a decision is immediately welcomed, at least for now.

Upon entering the Wu Shi Academy, Bi-Han tries, and fails, to hide his disgust. Why, of all places, must the meeting be held here? He strides to the main hall, not bothering to look at his surroundings; Sektor and Cyrax are following dutifully, dressed in their red and yellow mech-armor, sans the helmets.

As expected, the main hall is already packed with familiar faces. Bi-Han glances daggers at Kuai Liang and Tomas, the former who is still donning yellow, and accompanied by his Shirai wife, Harumi. Surprisingly, it is Tomas who gives a small nod to Bi-Han, either out of habit or respect, Bi-Han doesn’t bother to care. He only wants to find a spot in the background where no one can sneak up and stab him – given the glares he receives, there are plenty with such a wish.

He finds a place by a bookshelf, where there are two unfamiliar women standing. One is a voluptuous woman with short orange hair, dressed in black techwear-style outfit; crop-hoodie with intricate silver pattern, cargo pants, and red and white sneakers; she is crossing her arms under her ample chest. The other woman has jet black hair tied up in a bun, dressed in a dark teal kimono, and she is shorter than the first woman. Neither of them look familiar, or important , so Bi-Hand decides to not give them any mind, and stands in the space in front of them.

“Great, now we have a wall in front of us.”

“Jun –” the Orange-Haired woman immediately adds when Bi-Han turns around, “-- sorry, sorry , she doesn’t mean you –”

“Of course not.” The Teal-Dressed woman feigns a smile. “Please, resume standing there, Áila and I are only wallflowers after all.”

Bi-Han frowns at the sarcasm, “If you are short , you should be aware not to stand in the back.”

“Yes, apologies. Clearly, we should have brought stepladders to this meeting.”

The Orange-Haired woman, Áila, looks apologetic for the Teal-Dressed woman, Jun, who looks annoyingly smug. Bi-Han could reply, in fact, he wants to, but he’d rather not add two more people to the list of ‘people who want to kill him’, so he opts to ignore them – which has proven difficult, now that they’re muttering behind his back.

Liu Kang finally begins the meeting, fashionably late, as usual. The Fire God still looks the same since the last time Bi-Han saw him, though now he looks rather tired, if a God can be tired… “Thank you for sparing your time for this important meeting. I hope this won’t be the only time we are standing together, as there is strength in number, and solidarity. I understand some of you have different goals, clashing goals, and I appreciate it that you are setting aside your differences to fight a common enemy – The Invaders.”

Does he ever stop talking? Bi-Han sighs quietly as Liu Kang goes on a lecture about the current situation; how another Titan has been spotted invading other timelines, and it’s only a matter of time before they come to this one; how the Shirai Ryu (Bi-Han grunts at the name) have agreed to set aside their rivalry with the Lin Kuei; and how Quan Chi and Shang Tsung have agreed to ‘play nice’ for once as to not have Empress Mileena and her court hunt them down. All the boring details that could have been summarized in a written note, instead of calling for a meeting.

But then Liu Kang concludes, “Before I forget, we have two additional guests here. They may not have been involved in our latest kombat, but they are of powerful clans seeking to maintain the peace and alliance. Uh –” he looks around the room, so uncharacteristically confused as he scans the faces of everyone. Somehow Bi-Han has the feelings that the two thorns behind him are the ones Liu Kang is searching for –

Aaand he is right, when Jun speaks up aloud, “We’re here, Lord Liu Kang.”

Now all eyes turn towards Bi-Han, seemingly judging him for blocking the two guests, and he steps aside before anyone could ask him to. Liu Kang smiles, “Ah, there you are. Everyone, let me introduce you to Áila Hávarôr, future chieftain of the Sól Eldur clan. Her clan has been a dear friend, and their inventions have helped keep Earthrealm safe for centuries.”

Áila gives a respectful salute to Liu Kang and the room, “Pleased to meet you.”

Liu Kang continues, “And Tenshikiri Jun, the current Head of the Tenshikiri family. Once a clan serving the Empire as Spymaster, they are now oath-bound as secret keepers of Earthrealm.”

Jun bows deeply, before standing straight and replies, “It’s an honor to be here.”

“The honor is mine, Lady Áila, Lady Jun. As per our agreement, the two of you shall join forces with the Lin Kuei, in hope the three of you can come up with a battle plan if the Invader does invade our timeline.” Liu Kang gestures at Bi-Han, “Please, look no further than to your right, and you’ll find Bi-Han, the esteemed Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei.”

Áila casts a bright, carefree smile, “Ah, yes, we’ve been, uhm, acquainted.”

“With his back.” Jun mutters under her breath.

“If you’d like to step closer to the table, I’m sure we still have more space by the Champions.” Liu Kang gestures to the four Earthrealm Champions who are standing side by side.

Bi-Han watches as Áila and Jun accept the offer; they walk with their heads held high, and a formal smile on their faces. But he doesn’t miss the small glance they throw at him as they walk past him, one of curiosity and interest, both pairs of eyes locking with his dark brown ones. And in that single moment, Bi-Han can’t figure out why he is annoyed in the first place.

***

In the next few days and weeks, however, Bi-Han finds himself growing more annoyed than usual. At least now he’s back in the Lin Kuei compound, a familiar place devoid of judgmental people, and back on his routine as the Grandmaster. He’s sitting behind his desk in his office, reading the reports gathered by his Lin Kuei regarding the two unfamiliar clans he didn’t know existed prior to the meeting in Wu Shi Academy. Both the Sól Eldur and the Tenshikiri clans show promises and great rapports, in fact, they have been so secretive in assisting Earthrealm that the Lin Kuei have not needed to cross paths with them before.

Perhaps it should have stayed that way , for now he keeps seeing the names of Áila and Jun in every document, and his heart sinks a bit deeper each time. There is something about those two. Perhaps it’s the fact that Áila and her clan are blessed by the power of the sun and can torch the Earth if given the opportunity, yet they choose to remain pacifists for all these years. Perhaps it’s the fact that Jun and her family know every little secret in the world, but still keep them despite being capable of using them for their own gain.

Two beautiful women of powerful clans, commanding forces under their leadership – so why does it bother Bi-Han so much?

Perhaps it’s the fact that Áila’s voluminous chest would jiggle enticingly with every little move she makes – even the action of going downstairs becomes such a lewd display, that Bi-Han has tried so hard to focus on her face entirely. Perhaps it’s how Jun’s curvy hips would sway when she walks – Bi-Han doesn’t know if he enjoys the sight of her approaching or leaving. Perhaps it’s the way both of them would look at him, a mixture of coy and playful, like waves on the sand, enticing him to come closer into the sea to drown him.

And he hates to admit it, but by the Gods, some days he wants to step into the figurative sea and drown.

The door to his office is knocked. Bi-Han shakes his head to clear out the thoughts of Áila and Jun completely; he clears his throat, and gruffly responds, “Come in.”

Just his luck, the two burdens of his mind enter his office; they carry themselves in their own personal grace, like the sun and the moon, and Bi-Han suddenly feels like the dark space they accompany.

“Good evening.” He greets Áila and Jun, watching as they begin to occupy the space of his office. “To what do I owe this visit?”

Bi-Han is not sure who he has to watch; Jun is observing the line of decorative weapons on the wall, hips swaying with each step that she takes; Áila stands in front of his desk with her hands in the pockets of her cargo pants, shifting from one foot to another, and with each movement, her chest heaves. His attention finally settles on Áila as she speaks, “We’d like to say thank you for allowing us to stay with the Lin Kuei for this unforeseeable future. We understand it must be difficult to let strangers into your home, and we thank you for your trust, and – uhm…” she looks away, still shifting on her feet.

“And we trust you in return.” Jun adds without looking away from the decorative weapons.

“Right. I had that on the top of my head.” Áila looks at Bi-Han again, though now he notices a slight pink hue on her cheeks. “Uh… We just want to say that we trust you, and we feel that you do too, I mean, we are allies and – Jun, I can’t do this. You’re the one who’s good with words.”

Jun turns to her, “Why, you were doing great before that.”

“Oh, come on…”

The exchange raises both alarm and confusion in Bi-Han that he’s not certain on how to respond except, “What are you two blabbering about?”

Áila cocks her head towards Jun, “We have a point, I promise, but she will explain it.”

Bi-Han raises an eyebrow at the said woman, “Well? You’re talking about hospitality and trust, I don’t think I’d extend either if you two are acting weird in front of me.”

With a sigh, Jun begins to make her way to his desk; even paced, calculated movement, almost like a dance. “We intended to make this as refined as possible, but crass will have to do, given your attitude. We’re saying that we’re not blind, Bi-Han.”

“Who said you are?”

“We noticed your stare. I am a Tenshikiri, I’m trained to read the subtlest body language, and yours is loud.” Jun stops next to Áila. With both women looking at him intently, Bi-Han finds his heart beats a bit faster. “Did you think we wouldn’t notice your heated gaze on my hips? Or your ogling of Áila’s massive tits?” Áila nudges Jun’s side, but she continues. “We’re all adults here, so let us talk like adults, shall we? If my observation is incorrect, tell me so, and we will offer you our apology, take our leave from your office, and we shall continue our days like this has never happened. So, would you like to admit it, or deny it, Grandmaster?”

The shame growing in the pit of Bi-Han’s chest makes him feel like a hormonal teenager again, and he tries to suppress it, even though his face feels a bit warmer than usual. Gripping the armrests of his chair, his fingertips layered by ice in hope to quell his emotions. He glances between the two women, heat begins to consume him inside out, just like the urge to be honest or to lie to save face.

What’s the worst that could happen?

Bi-Han heaves a heavy sigh, body slumping against his chair. “How astute. Forgive me for having a keen sense of observation. You should feel safe within these walls. But,” he adds sharply, “I merely admired what your hard work has bestowed upon your physique. I’d be foolish if I did not notice them entirely.”

Jun glances at Áila. There is a smirk shared between them, and Bi-Han swears he sees a mischievous glint in their eyes, one that he doesn’t expect to see from them. Jun starts, “I told you. My skill is impeccable.”

Áila’s pink cheeks grow redder, “So you said. Now what?”

“Now it’s our turn to be honest. You do it.”

“Fine…” Áila groans, before schooling her expression into a decent one, albeit still holds mischief behind her smile. “We – ahem – we’ve also been ‘observing’ your hard work. We think it’s impressive, worthy of many praises – you are possibly the most beautiful man we’ve ever seen. Don’t laugh!” She chides as Jun snickers into her palm.

The cogs in Bi-Han’s mind fall into places, and oh… they’ve been ogling me as well? Them? Both of them? There is a cracking sound coming from his armrests, where his ice has taken form and completely ruined the fine wood, but he doesn’t care for that for now. These two women who have occupied his thoughts just confessed that they have been looking at him as well, and – and now what?

“Ah… Thank you.” is what Bi-Han can manage, for deep inside, his desire grows and he doesn’t wish it to be known, not when Áila is blushing so adorably, and he wonders if she’ll blush the same shade of her hair – does the hair below matches the hair above? – and certainly not when Jun is undressing him with her eyes, and he wonders what kind of expression she will give when she breaks underneath him – 

Bi-Han huffs an icy breath. The display earns the attention of the two women. He is the Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei. He is the infamous Sub-Zero who is widely known and respected. He can handle the toughest enemies and the hardest of battle, certainly he can handle two lustful creatures.

“Since the cats are out of the bag,” He begins, heart pounding harder and steadily, watching Áila and Jun’s response, “and since we are adults who are capable of being responsible for our own… desire, let me ask what do you have in mind?”

“Perhaps we should foster our alliances deeper .” Áila glances between Jun and him.

“Nothing better than showing the naked truth to foster trust.” Jun purrs. “And you? What does the Grandmaster want?”

Bi-Han can’t help the pull on the corner of his lips, or the growing need in the restraint of his pants, or how he thinks how adorable that these two women are acting like they are in control of the outcome. But he welcomes their heated gaze nonetheless, as he gives his reply, “Do whatever you wish to me.”

***

The cold bedroom gradually grows hotter with each layer of clothing that’s being shed. Bi-Han admires how both Áila and Jun are not holding back from their desire, and neither is he; he interrupts Áila from undoing her bra by pulling her for a kiss – she moans, partially in protest of his colder lips, but she complies and melts into his touch, arching into his palm that’s kneading at one of her breasts. They feel heavy and full and soft, and Gods , Bi-Han wants to bury his face in between them.

A small chuckle is heard behind him, and he parts from Áila to find Jun, already in her naked glory, approaching the bed with a small box in hand. Bi-Han grows curious, “What is that?”

“This?” Jun shakes the box lightly. Whatever’s inside sounds heavy. “It’s something pleasurable, I promise.”

He is not convinced. He approaches her, silently demanding to see the content.

She clicks her tongue, “Mm… Such impatience.” She opens the box, and just as she has said, the variety of toys stored within make Bi-Han’s dick twitch in reaction. Jun takes out a large vibrator, “Would this be too much to handle? We can start with the – UNF.”

Her challenging tone dies down when Bi-Han silences her with a kiss. Her shaky breath is a reaction to his cold tongue, and she mewls when he palms her breasts – they are significantly smaller than Áila’s, but he enjoys her hardening nipples, how she jumps as he pinches them to attention.

A warm hand holds his lower back. Áila hums, “I believe you said we are to do whatever we want with you?”

Bi-Han swallows thickly, did I? Oh, right, I did. “Fine.” He grumbles internally, climbing into the bed to settle in the center. His erection is straining against his boxer brief, too tight, twitching in excitement as Áila and Jun are standing at the foot of the bed, observing him. The warm light of the room accentuating the beauty of their naked bodies, the curves and dips, the colors and marks, the perfect imperfections.

When he finally removes his boxer brief, his erection springs free and heavily, and he swears he hears both women gasp. Their reaction pumps his pride – he is not stupid, years of training have sculpted his body into a perfect weapon, but also given him an impressive physique – so he lies there with a smirk, hand holding the base of his thick length, and he watches Áila and Jun’s eyes widening.

“Truly an asset –”

“-- befitting a Grandmaster.”

They finish each other's sentences.

Without wasting any time, the bed dips when Áila and Jun begin to climb up to lie beside him. Áila is to his right, and Jun is to his left, and both are on their sides with their breasts pressing against him. Bi-Han curls his arms around them, cupping their breasts, earning their shared moanings.

Jun holds his chin, pulling him for a kiss; tongues and teeth clashing; he holds her breast a bit firmer, milking a moan. He feels Áila kissing his chest, and her hand is roaming up and down his sculpted abs, nails lightly scratching his sensitive skin, making him buck slightly. He wishes her touch would glide lower to his aching cock that’s waiting for attention, but she is taking her sweet time kissing and nibbling and marking him.

The kiss ends when Jun decides it does; she turns his chin towards Áila, where Bi-Han finds her looking at him with such a bright smile, and so sweetly she holds his cheek. Her kiss is slow and steady; their tongues moving in tandem against each other. It’s intoxicating, that Bi-Han fails to notice what Jun is doing until he feels her finger on the tip of his cock.

“Mmh…” He hums into Áila’s mouth as Jun teases his cockhead. The light touch is experimental, but by the Gods, does it feel damning. He grunts when his slit is teased, rubbed rather vigorously, gathering the little precum that’s leaking.

Jun’s hand leaves him, but Áila’s replaced it, holding the base of his cock with just enough pressure for him to feel her warmth. She begins to pump him, up and down, slowly, gently, earning an involuntary buck of his hips.

Bi-Han parts from the kiss to breathe. Eyes closing, he’s savoring the feeling, throat humming in reaction. “Mm… That’s it…”

“Does it feel good?” Áila hushedly asks, head pressing against his chest.

Bi-Han can only hum, but he shows his appreciation by squeezing the breasts of both women; the soft squishy of Áila’s and the perkiness of Jun’s. He is enjoying the movement, the warmth, every little thing that makes his cock twitch happily and he’s growing harder and harder and –

A soft hum joins the shared breathing in the room, and the next thing he feels is a steady vibration pressed against the underside of his cockhead. He opens his eyes and looks down, seeing Áila holding the base of his cock steadily, while Jun is pressing a vibrator to his cockhead; the tip is buzzing, blurring. Bi-Han rasps, “What are – ngh –”

“We are making ice cream.” Áila replies in a sing-song tune, still smiling brightly.

Jun moves the vibrator up and down his cockhead; Bi-Han bites back a yelp when she presses it over his slit, “This is the slowest setting. Let’s see how long it takes for you to come.”

Bi-Han grits his teeth, “Insolent maidens… Is that – mmh – a challenge?”

“You can back down whenever you want, you know.”

The vibrator is pulled away, and though Bi-Han sighs in relief, his cock twitches involuntarily, missing the sensation. Áila giggles, “Seems your dick wants more.” She moves her hand up to the tip – he bucks and grunts – and she gathers the precum, smearing it down his length. She repeats the action two more times before settling back to holding the base. “You have to use your words, Bi-Han.”

Jun moves the vibrator closer, and Bi-Han watches, partially in want and partially in dread, as the silicone tip is inching closer to his twitching cockhead. She hums appreciatively, “Ooh are you shy? You’re blushing so adorably.”

“Quiet.” Bi-Han growls. “You want to do whatever to me, do it, quit wasting time – NNGH –” a whine escapes his throat when the vibrator is pressed to its previous position again. The sudden sensation makes his core muscle clench, making him more aware of the feeling, how it tickles in a good way.

To make it worse, Áila is now moving her hand, shallow pump, steady and firm, and Bi-Han could only throw his head back. His legs are shaking, and the two devious women have taken the liberty to wrap their warm legs around each of his thigh; he can feel their heat and wetness, clearly they are also aroused by the activity. He tries to buck, but they keep their hold steady.

Then, the vibrator is pulled away again.

Bi-Han grunts in annoyance, but the women are laughing, and he is in no position to demand when his cock is oozing precum and twitching on its own, when his balls feel so tight and full, ready to burst whenever. “Get on with it.”

“You want to come?” Jun asks, and he can hear her smirk.

“Of course.” He opens his eyes, finding her observing his face. But his eyelids are fluttering to a close when Áila kisses his strained neck, and soon he is lost in the sensation of being teased, hot and cold, fast and slow.

The vibrator returns with a raised power. Bi-Han can’t help the bucking of his hips, the twitching of his cock – he is close, so close, it feels so good, so good, so good – mmhhh!

The sound that he makes is something he doesn’t know he’s capable of; a pathetic mewling, a moaning. Bi-Han pants aloud when the vibrator leaves him again, so close to the bliss, but so far away. He grips the breasts tightly, warningly, but it only earns Áila and Jun’s shared giggle. Though the sound annoys him, it also melts him, knowing they are having fun at the expense of his demise.

“Once more for good measure?” Áila asks tentatively.

“No. No.” Bi-Han shakes his head, eyes closed tightly. “You’ve been denying me release. It’s unfair.”

“Unfair is going back on your words – you said ‘whatever we want’.” Jun turns the vibrator off. The lack of humming sound in the room alarms Bi-Han. “What do you say, Áila? Do you think we should continue or not?”

Áila chuckles, “You’re cruel.”

“ Fine .” Bi-Han repeats with a loud huff. “Fine… Do it.”

Just as the words leave his lips, the vibrator is returns to its position, yet it’s not on. He waits, anticipating, but he’s not expecting two pairs of lips pressing a kiss to his cheeks. His eyes flutter open, just in time to see both Áila and Jun hovering over him with smiles gracing their beautiful faces.

“Such a handsome man…” Áila praises.

“A good Grandmaster…” Jun adds. “Here is your reward.”

The vibrator turns on at the highest setting; Bi-Han growls deeply and throws his head back, eyes clenched shut, as he feels all of his nerves are alight. Áila and Jun hum as they’re settling their heads on his chest. The muttered praises are muffled by his own grunting, his complaints and singing of arousal. Áila moves her hand again, at the same time Jun rubs the vibrator all over his cockhead, and the combined action defeats him completely.

“C-close –” Bi-Han rasps for no reason.

His orgasm hits him like a tidal wave, pulling him under the bliss, that all he can feel is the twitching of his cock as Áila and Jun are milking him; thick sperms shooting out of him, painting his abdomen with the hot, sticky substance. Bi-Han gasps when they still continue their actions, still holding his cock firmly, still pressing the vibrator against his very sensitive head. His twitching cockhead leaking out the remains of his seeds.

Bi-Han pries his eyes open, looking at the blushing Áila and Jun, how wide their smiles are, and how it makes his heart soar knowing he’s the cause of their joy. While at the same time, he wants to protest their grip at his sensitive cock, the still vibrating vibrator trying to coax another ticklish orgasm out of him. “... nough – enough … I’ve come…”

But he’s not prepared to receive the answer, as the two beautiful maidens look at him, eyes glinting with mirth, and collectively reply, “We know.”

***

The heat of the room becomes a bit unbearable, as sweat begins to layer Bi-Han’s skin. He’s drunk on bliss, after having been milked twice by the vibrator; the offending tool has been set aside, thankfully. But now he lies, panting, thirsty for more, while at the same time he’s had enough. However, it’s difficult to know which desire he wants at the moment, especially when his head is lying on Áila’s plush thighs, and her breasts are just a kiss away from him.

Áila is caressing his hair; his bun has become loose in the midst of everything. The action is soothing, calming, also encouraging. Bi-Han looks up at her, past her impressive chest. His tongue darts out to taste her nipple, and like a baby, he latches there, suckling, earning her soft moaning.

Once again for the night, he fails to notice what Jun is doing. Only at the last second that he feels her straddling his hips; his hands automatically hold onto her thighs, fingers splaying trying to grab ahold of her. She chuckles, breathy and lustful, and he feels her taking his hardening length in her hand.

“Áila, I think your tits are magic. Look,” Jun gives him one long stroke, “he’s hard again.”

Áila laughs, “Indeed, breastfeeding has so many benefits.”

Bi-Han bucks his hips when he feels Jun rubbing her wetness all over his length. He can feel her warm cunt, and his cock is eager for a taste. His hands find her hips and pull her close, earning her chuckle, “How insatiable, Grandmaster. Relax. You don’t need to beg for this. I need you…” She presses his tip to her cunt, and though it’s not yet entering, the spreading heat is enough for Bi-Han to want to drive into her.

Then Jun sinks down his length.

Their shared moaning is loud; hers a broken one, his is startled one. Her walls are warm and tight, and he can feel his tip pressing against her cervical opening. Jun rocks her hips gently, and her moan erupts again. “A – ah … fuck … you’re so thick…”

Initially, Bi-Han believes she won’t be able to handle him. He believes she would give up, and he would have to plow into her at his own pace, and finally break her under his command. But the more she moves her hips, the steadier her pace has become, and within seconds, it is Bi-Han who finds himself at the edge of breaking again. He should have known the sway of her hips is lethal. Paired with the clenching of her walls, he can feel all of her with such shallow, hard thrusts.

Jun looks powerful like this; rocking and bouncing on his cock, humble-sized breasts jiggling in response, and the strands of her hair dancing back and forth with it. The flushed face and the parted lips, sharp eyes looking at him from hooded lids – somehow he wants nothing but to please her, wants her to be pleased by him.

With Áila’s breasts pressing against his face, earning a few lazy kisses and licks as he breathes and moans, Bi-Han could die peacefully. He doesn’t know what to feel when bliss is rushing all over his nerves. His cock is twitching, getting harder and more sensitive, especially when Jun suddenly clenches down tightly; her walls are spasming, and she throws her head back; her lips forming a perfect O, with her eyes closing tightly – she comes hard. It doesn’t take long for her to greedily continue moving, either to prolong her orgasm or to earn herself another one. For a moment, Bi-Han feels wild, feeling like a toy being used for her pleasure, and he loves it .

Áila looks at him from between her breasts, “Hmm? You’re loving this aren’t you?”

“What?” Jun breathes out between moaning.

“Yes, I think he’s loving this, Jun.”

“I do not – ah –” Bi-Han protests hastily.

Jun laughs, “I can tell you’re lying even when your face is buried in tits.”

Bi-Han tenses when he feels Áila’s hand on his chest. Her fingers are circling around his nipple, teasing, coaxing it to become erect. He huffs, “Wanton creatures… How – nngh – how can I not react… when you keep teasing me…?”

“You could freeze us, but so far you haven’t –  OH!” Jun’s words are cut off when Bi-Han layers his hands in ice, and he grips on her hips tighter. He wants to hear her protest, wants to hear her beg him to release her, but instead, she is mewling, long and wanting. “Ohhh… You play dirty, Grandmaster… Didn’t you know pain and pleasure go hand in hand?”

Bi-Han knows he is lost when Jun rocks her hips faster. He knows he is lost when Áila mutters hushed words of encouragement, and he beams up for each stroke of her hand against his hair. He knows he is lost when he feels Jun’s walls enveloping his length tightly, and she twitches and moans aloud when she comes again, this time accompanied by his. Hot white liquid spurting out in liberation, painting her insides completely. He knows he is lost when Jun removes herself from him, and he whines – the Grandmaster whines – at the loss of warmth around his sensitive cock.

Oh, but for once, losing feels so good.

***

“Does this hurt?” Jun pulls the chain slightly.

Bi-Han huffs, looking down at the chain, following it to the nipple clamps that are now attached to his erect nipples. They look so red. When he doesn’t reply, Jun tugs the chain again.

“I said, does this hurt?” She repeats.

“No.” Bi-Han grunts.

“They look like they hurt.” Áila comments from where she is lying down on the bed, propped up by comfortable pillows. Her legs are parted, baring her pink cunt to the air; Bi-Han’s gaze falls to it, can’t deny that he is eager for her even after so many times coming.

“It’s not.” Bi-Han assures her. To be honest, he has never thought his nipples would be in this situation, but here they are, and he’s feeling way too good about it. He takes his position between Áila’s legs; his hard length resting on top of her mound. He can feel her hot cunt against his balls.

Áila looks divine in this position. Sprawled out on his bed, hands clutching tightly on the sheets, and her bright-colored hair a stark contrast to the fabric. She looks adorable, with the blushing cheeks, and still bright smile that’s just begging to be turned into orgasmic bliss. He wants to ruin her, wants to be ruined by her.

Bi-Han rubs his length along her opening, tip teasing her leaking cunt. She feels warmer, hotter than Jun’s, and when he finally enters her – Gods! – Bi-Han believes he would have melted instantly. Yet he persists, pressing forward until his hips are flushed against hers. He hoists her left leg to his shoulder, wanting to drive in deeper, she moves her right thigh further, wanting him to drive in deeper.

Then he begins to move.

With each thrust, his nipple clamps move, and it sends jolts of bliss to his sensitive tips. It makes his cock twitch involuntarily. It tickles, but feels arousing. It aches, but feels blissful. He is lost in the sensation shortly, when he can hear Áila’s loud moaning, when he can hear the slapping of flesh and the wet squelching noise of her cunt, when he feels her walls threatening to melt his cock off from how tight they are squeezing him.

Suddenly, the chain is tugged, and Bi-Han’s eyes shoot open in shock; he groans in protest when his pace falters. He feels Jun leaning behind him, pressing her naked front to his back. Her right hand is tugging at the chain, while her left is on his head, giving a gentle pat. “Hush… You are doing so well…”

I was, until you interrupted me , is what Bi-Han wants to say. But he grits his teeth and remains quiet, and focuses on fucking Áila as best as he can without faltering again. He can feel her getting close; cunt twitching, her moaning escalating into a crescendo, and – 

And she comes, at the same time as the chain is tugged three times, and Bi-Han finds himself moaning aloud to accompany Áila’s wanton cries. He grips her thighs firmly, trying to ground himself, not wanting to come just yet. But it’s difficult when Jun is teasing the living hell out of him, giggling and peppering kisses to his sweating temple.

“One more, for the sake of being fair. I came twice, she must come twice as well.” Jun whispers, still holding onto the chain.

Bi-Han can’t think straight. His mind is too fucked up to even make a coherent sentence, that he simply nods in reply, and sounding off a breathy, “Yes.” His hips begin to move again, picking up the pace again, that by now it feels like an automatic action, a carnal desire. He wants to come, again and again, wants to paint their insides with his seeds, wants to have them howling his name and crying aloud from how good he’s making them feel.

But his reply must have been not good enough. The chain is tugged again, but this time is by Áila; he bows down, following the pull of the chain. His eyes lock with hers, seeing the lust she shares. Her question is laced with the same lust as well, “Are you – ahn – are you going to please me – mmh?”

Bi-Han nods frantically.

Jun coos at his back, kisses littering on the hard plane of his torso, on his shoulders, on his nape. Dainty fingers coiling with his hair, rubbing at his scalp, gently kneading. Bi-Han drives in faster and harder into Áila’s sopping cunt, again and again and again –

He feels her walls clenching around him again, and he can’t stop the blissful moaning that erupts from his throat; his cock twitching in delight, and his seeds are leaving him without having to be asked. It is too much, too damn much, that he gets lightheaded.

He feels himself being pulled backwards until he’s out of Áila’s divine walls, and he’s lying on his back, sweating. He registers the bed shifting as the two goddesses are moving about. Jun removes the nipple clamps one by one; with each one, she rubs a cooling ointment on his sore nipples carefully. He swears he hears her muttering what a good job he has done, and how good he looks. Then, shortly, he feels a wet, warm towel being dragged along his lower abdomen, as if giving him a bath. It cleans up his length from his sticky sperm. Áila’s face comes into view, and she plants a kiss to the tip of his nose, a smile so bright he could claim her as his sun.

When his breathing has become calmer, he feels the bed dips again. Automatically, he opens his arms, welcoming both Áila and Jun to lie on his chest, cuddled up in a shared body warmth. With a slow movement, he plants a kiss on their damp foreheads, each one earning their pleased humming. And only then do they close their eyes, and drift asleep, high on cloud nine of bliss.

***

“You… wish to be placed with the Lin Kuei for an indefinite amount of time?” Liu Kang asks, confusion etched on his face. “I mean no offense, I’m merely confused as to why. When I suggested it at first, you two didn’t seem to want it, said Arctika is too cold and harsh.”

“Well, it was then, but after a while it grows on us.” Áila replies with a shrug. “I’ve informed my clan. As long as I’m doing my part to keep Earthrealm safe, they are fine with my decision.”

“Likewise,” Jun comments. “The Tenshikiri can operate individually; I have my General at the ready should anything urgent comes up. You have nothing to worry about, Lord Liu Kang.”

The Fire God, despite still in confusion, finally relents. “Very well. Should you require anything, do not hesitate to inform me.”

Jun smiles, “Rest assured. The Grandmaster is treating us well.”

“Indeed, he is.” Áila adds. “Please excuse us. We must return to Arctika at once; there are plenty to plan for the sake of Earthrealm.”

Bi-Han hums, leaning by the door to Liu Kang’s meeting room, listening to the conversation that’s taking place within. He counts the footsteps of Áila and Jun, and anticipates their arrival to his location. They notice him, as he does them, and though it is subtle, the little look they exchange speaks louder than words.

“Now that is done.” Áila begins.

Jun finishes, “Shall we return to Arctika, Grandmaster?”

With his smile hidden behind his mask, Bi-Han hushedly replies, “As my ladies wish.”

#bi han #bi han x oc #bi han imagine #original character #Áila Hávarôr #Tenshikiri Jun #MK1 #mortal kombat 1 #fanfic #smut #redarader

[the-monkey-ruler]

I've always felt a bit conflicted with the LMK fandom saying that Erlang cheated in his conflict against Wukong. As far as I know, those two see each other as true opponents. Also, saying that Erlang won just because he received help is a bit like, are the people aware that swk also receives help during the journey to defeat certain demons? Redboy is also probably the second one who got Wukong really in trouble because of the samadhi fire. Guanyin HAD to step in to help Sun Wukong with Redboy. I think saying that Erlang cheated just because he received help sounds a little unfair because all the characters have received help from other immortals when they are in trouble. In fact, they even send immortals or some gods to keep an eye on the pilgrims if they need help.

I'm not saying that Wukong is not powerful, he is the most powerful Yaoguai, but he has been in situations where he has had to depend on others to get out of trouble.

I've always felt a bit conflicted with the LMK fandom saying that Erlang cheated in his conflict against Wukong. As far as I know, those two see each other as true opponents.

They do see each other as equal, hence why they are sworn brothers. But yes, Erlang Shen didn't cheat, rather Laozi intervened in their fight. That wasn't like... his choice, both of them got slighted out of a definitive battle.

Also, saying that Erlang won just because he received help is a bit like, are the people aware that swk also receives help during the journey to defeat certain demons?

While the battle between Wukong and Erlang is legendary it is hard to say who would win but funny enough you would find more people leaning into Erlang Shen's favor with him being a god of the hunt. He is a master of hunting animals and while Wukong is a yaoguai he does have a history of fighting monkey demons. Hence why HE was the one to really come up and fight Wukong.

High key rec anyone to read JTTWR's article about it!.

Redboy is also probably the second one who got Wukong really in trouble because of the samadhi fire. Guanyin HAD to step in to help Sun Wukong with Redboy.

People would see that Wukong had MANY gods and immortal step in to either help Wukong in a fight or that they were the ones to interrupt a fight. I made a list of Wukong's most difficult fights and he was hurt by at least four demons, something that only Erlang Shen was able to accomplish as well. Wukong is strong, absolutely but he isn't invincible. Just very very very very durable.

I think saying that Erlang cheated just because he received help sounds a little unfair because all the characters have received help from other immortals when they are in trouble. In fact, they even send immortals or some gods to keep an eye on the pilgrims if they need help.

I would say that the fight was interrupted at most. Neither Wukong nor Erlang was able to really win because it was intervened and therefore it was never concluded. But we can see that with what he got in the fight they were EVEN. When it was transformation battle and skills, both having the master of 72 transformations, it was Erlang being the pursuing and we see that Erlang is the one that is chasing, while Wukong has to run away. Wukong was having a hard time trying to get back on the offense and Erlang was really running him into a corner.

But yeah the low-key gods that are never noticed but are always there are on duty are like the Six Gods of Darkness and the Six Gods of Light, the Guardians of Five Points, the Four Sentinels, and the Eighteen Protectors of Monasteries. That is like nearly 30 gods that are helping at all times.

I'm not saying that Wukong is not powerful, he is the most powerful Yaoguai, but he has been in situations where he has had to depend on others to get out of trouble.

There is actually a huge theory that Wukong was weaken before he was put under the mountain due to him struggling so hard on the journey and it was only at the end that he was able to get back to full strength.

Wukong has many demons that Wukong needs help or that has a magic item/magic spell that was made JUST to get past Wukong's defense. But still, there were some demons that were just difficult and it was far easier for Wukong to recognize that reaching out and getting help was easier than trying to fight all by himself. This leads to Wukong being seen as more of a tactical leader and being creative and innovated in using teamwork. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness but rather showing that he is willing to put the protection of others over his pride in fighting himself. Not to mention that in the journey he often has Bajie (and sometimes Wujing) to help in his battles.

Black Wind King - needed Guanyin's help

Yellow Wind Demon- needed Lingji's help

Yellow Robe Demon - needed Laojun's help

Red Boy - needed Guanyin's help

Tuolong Black River God - needed Crown Prince Mo'ang

King of Spiritual Touch - needed Guanyin's help

Single Horned Rhinoceros King - needed Laojun's help

Scorpion Demon - needed Pilanpo's help

Princess Iron Fan - needed Lingji's help

Bull Demon King - got Nezha's help

Nine-Headed Insect - needed Erlang's help

Yellow Brows Great King - needed Maitreya

Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord - needed Pilanpo's help

Azure Lion - needed Manjusri's help

Yellow Toothed Elephant - needed Samantabhadra's help

Golden-Winged Great Peng - needed Buddha's help

Needless to say that Erlang Shen is probably the ONLY person in Xiyouji, besides Buddha, that I would say is the perfect equal and possible superior fighter in all things. While other demons have like weaknesses that affect Wukong, like Red Boy, Scoprpin Queen, Yellow Wind Demon, or the Hundred-Eyed Demon Lord, Erlang Shen doesn't even use specific offenses that catch Wukong off guard. Erlang Shen is able to match Wukong in strength, defense, offense, and magic prowess. Wukong is the most powerful yaoguai to ever live most likely but it Erlang Shen is also the strongest man in heaven.

You can say they are a match... made in heaven -ba da tss-

#anon ask #anonymous #anon #jttw #journey to the west #sun wukong #xiyouji #ask #erlang shen #yang jian #lmk #lego monkie kid #monkie kid #mk

[the-archlich]

Do you think you've about exhausted things to talk about with respect to the 3 Kingdoms era?

Not at all.

This got very out of hand but I'm going to leave it as is.

Oh, sure, some subjects have been beaten to death. There's only so much you can say about the particular events that have been told and retold in folktales, opera, novels, and (in the modern age) movies, TV shows, and video games for the last 1800 years. There isn't a lot left to say about the most famous battles and individuals that hasn't been said already.

There's also a lot that is still relatively overlooked, outside of very specific circles. People who didn't get prominent roles in fictionalizations of the period are still pretty obscure. Events that aren't depicted in stories and adaptations don't get much discussion. That's the sort of thing I try to write about, like with my articles on the Crown Prince Affair (Part I | Part II) or my series on Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan.

But the things I write about are just one very limited facet of the period's history. There's so much more to be said. The stuff I write about is probably the least meaningful. Ultimately it doesn't make much difference who won what battle or what faction took over a government. Individuals varied but all the governments of the time were fundamentally the same. No matter who took power in what region, it was going to be a Han style government, dominated by Han culture. Nothing meaningful was going to change, no matter which of our well-known warlords won. Their battles were largely irrelevant. There's a reason nothing meaningful changed in Shu when it was conquered by Wei, or Wu when conquered by Jin. There's a reason the Sima regime was only superficially different from that of the Cao, and why it really doesn't matter if, say, the Quan family had seized the throne of Wu. Despite individual differences they were all fundamentally the same.

To see what I mean, we don't have to look very far into the future. The collapse of western Jin meant the rise of non-Han polities in significant areas of the former Han/Jin empire. The governments of the Xiongnu, the Xianbei, and and other groups from outside of the Han culture were meaningfully different. Prolonged chaos in the northern portions of the empire resulted in mass movement to the south, into areas previously claimed by the Han people only in name but not in fact. The efforts of Wu and Shu (largely due to He Qi and Ma Zhong) to establish firm control over these regions laid the groundwork for the "sinicization" of southern China, but it was really only with the collapse of Western Jin that the new status quo was established. At the same time, we can also observe the so-called "barbarians" adopting many elements of Han culture to help them rule their new empires.

You could spend your whole career studying something like that.

You could analyze the literature of the period and compare different style and composition across different years and regions. You could dig deep into the economics and study things like government monopolies on key industries, and contrast the different approaches taken by the various rulers of the era. You could study all the material left by civilians who had no part in the "great affairs" of the time. You could study how infrastructure projects meant to support warfare (like the many canals Wei dug) impacted trade and travel for others. You could study the visual arts; paintings, sculptures, miniatures, etc. And all of that gets much more complicated and interesting when you reach beyond the Han culture, into the areas and eras where non-Han influences achieved supremacy and influenced the existing culture.

The era produced some of China's most influential figures whose contributions are far more meaningful than the battles fought by its various generals. Zhong Yao's calligraphy was so influential that we still imitate his writing today. Pei Xiu was one of the most important cartographers in China's extensive history. Hua Tuo's scientific approach to medicine was revolutionary in its time. Du Kui and Xun Xu made extraordinary contributions to music. There are so many others to speak of.

Sociology. Visual arts. Performing arts. Economics. Mathematics. Literature. Technology. The list goes on and on and on. There is absolutely no shortage of new things to study and talk about. A very accessible example is the deep dive @discourseofthethreekingdoms did on the theology of the Yellow Turbans. I don't think I've ever heard that much said about them anywhere. It was a significant and meaningful look at the actual beliefs and ideology of a group usually just dismissed as rebellious malcontents deceived by charismatic opportunists.

Now, none of that is what I generally write about. A big part of that is because that's serious academic work. It's hard, it's complicated, and it requires both resources and training I don't have to get it right. I'm not any kind of real academic. There are people doing this work, and because it doesn't have mass appeal they don't get the kind of credit they deserve, but that's the kind of work that actually matters. People like to read about wars and battles and politics and don't give the same attention to these much more serious and meaningful subjects. It's a damn shame, really, and I can only hope that the ones doing the important work at least receive the respect of their peers.

And if I'm being fully honest, even if I did have the training and resources it takes to do the important work, that's not where my passion is.

I'm a storyteller.

I'm fascinated by these people and their lives. When I get invested in a particular historical era, it's because I find it to be filled with a wide variety of very interesting individuals whose stories I love, and whose stories I want to try to share with others. I like to tell the stories I think don't get told enough; or that get so obscured by fictionalization that the real people involved become unrecognizable. That does end up with me writing about a lot of battles and politicking, because that's where we get a lot of these stories from. When I believe a story is left untold (like with the Crown Prince Affair) I want to tell it. When I believe that a story is being misrepresented, I want to try and correct it. The reason I get so passionate about "history vs. fiction" is because these people were real. Their accomplishments and failures were real. Their triumphs and tragedies were real. Every single name you see was a full human being exactly as complex as you are; and so is every single anonymous soldier and civilian killed in their pointless wars.

Some of these stories have been told and retold so many times that there's nothing interesting left to say. But there are so many others that remain in relative obscurity, and ones where the truth has become obscured over time. That's mostly what I spend my time writing about now.

[liberty-or-death]

“The mountains and the rivers aren’t important, what’s important is that to find someone who understands one’s self.” - Wen Kexing’s Romantic Poetry Episode 9 aka the soulmate 知己 meta (Warrior's March 壮士行 by Bao Rong 鲍溶)

To wrap up the soulmate meta, let’s analyse the second instance when the poem appears.  

“The Warrior’s March 壮士行” was written by the Tang Dynasty poet Bao Rong 鲍溶. n his early years, he lived in seclusion in the mountains of Jiangnan.  He later then traveled around the world, making friends with Han Yu, Li Zhengfeng and Meng Jiao. He was a scholar in the fourth year of Yuanhe (809), but his career was unpromising, and he died in his hometown after a life of poverty and uncertainty.

西方太白高，壮士羞病死。

Venus rises high in the west, the warrior dies filled with regret.  

心知报恩处，对酒歌易水。

His heart knows that kindness has been repaid.  Drinking his wine, the warrior sings the “Cold River Yi”

易水寒 Cold River Yi - This poem was written by the youxia Jing Ke 荆轲 written during the Waring States.  When he was on his way to assassinate the emperor, he sings his goodbyes to the King of Yan at the River Yi (located in Hubei.).  The same story has been referenced in the previous meta Singing for Jin Ke 咏荆轲.

砂鸿嗥天末，横剑别妻子。

The geese in the desert howl as though the world has ended.  Carrying his sword, he bids his wife and children goodbye. 

苏武执节归，班超束书起。

Su Wu holds the up the Tally and returns, Zhong Sheng puts his books down and rises.

苏武 Su Wu’s was a Han Dynasty minister who was was captured by the Xiongnu for 19 years.   Emperor Xuan of Han Dynasty listed him as one of the eleven meritorious ministers of the Qilin Pavilion 麒麟阁 for his integrity.  He’s often depicted in Chinese history as a symbol of loyalty despite hardship 

执节 The Tally was a form of military authorisation in ancient China.  One example would the the Tiger Tally, that was the inspiration behind MDZS’ Yin Tiger Tally/Yin Hufu.

班超:  Banchao was a famous literary figure, military man and diplomat during the Eastern Han Dynasty. He was ordered to send an envoy to the Western Region and pacified more than fifty countries over thirty years, making great contributions to the return of the Western Region and promoting national integration.

山河不足重，重在遇知己。

The mountains and the rivers aren’t important, what’s important is that to find someone who understands one’s self.  (ie. Soulmate) 

Analysis 

This is a really interesting choice of poetry! 

Firstly, there are many ways 知己 Zhiji’s quoted in poetry.  It is a term used to refer to “someone who knows one’s self.”  On Baidu, it has been used at least 7 times in ancient poetry. But what’s really interesting is that both poems share the story of Jin Ke’s failed assassination attempt of Qin Shi Huang.  I felt this was a deliberate choice by SHL because 1) this line doesn’t appear in TYK and 2) it isn’t even a famous poem.  Chinese dictionaries use ancient poetries to define a term and this poem isn’t listed on it. (At least on Baidu dictionary.). In fact, I pieced the complete translation myself. LOL.  Famous works would usually have been fully interpreted and translated by Chinese literature fans, and this was only partially translated

Secondly, what’s really interesting is the vibe of this poem.   The line seems romantic at first glance when quoted on its own (The mountains and the rivers aren’t important, what’s important is that to find someone who understands one’s self.  (ie. Soulmate)), but when taken into the context of the entire line, it just simply reeks of loneliness.  Rather than proclaiming about how great their current soulmate is, the line’s actually about how one’s in anguish over their missing soulmate, and in this case, it’s over the death of their soulmate. (Ie. saying goodbye to their love ones while embarking on a doomed mission.) 

#shl #shl meta #wen kexing #zhou zishu

[grand-theft-carbohydrates]

Liu bei’s fake marriage-turned-real-marriage + Mission Impossible: escape from dongwu is actually proving to be one of THEE funniest and most interesting chapters in the story, im literally on the edge of my seat. Madame wu and lady sun are my bffs

Favorite parts in no particular order:

- zhuge liang harnesses the most powerful force known to man; Angry Asian Parent

- you know that post “if i had a loser boyfriend i’d hype him up so hard and call him my special little boy, and make people clap for him?” Lady sun in a nutshell.

- people are just constantly roasting liu bei for being too old

- “why should liu bei be scared of a few swords when he spent half his life fighting?” GET HIS ASS LADY SUN!!!

The fact that this happened:

“honey where is my sword??”

“What?”

“Where! Is! My! Sword!”

“why do you need your sword?”

“Jing province is under attack, i need to go fight cao cao!”

“I cant believe it, we literally just got married and now you want to run off and play hero with your buddies!”

“Woman, the fate if the Han Dynasty is at stake! Its for the greater good!”

“Greater good? I am your WIFE! I am the GREATEST GOOD you’re ever going to get!”

#san guo

[destinygoldenstar]

Character Death In Ninjago

This video explains why permanent deaths need to happen for the audience to care about the story going forward. As always, support the creator. (Tw: There’s some Walking Dead clips in this video. That’s a bloody show.)

So I am personally very mixed on this discussion.

On the one hand you have a kids show with restrictions on what they can get away with. And at the end of the day, it’s a toy commercial, and killing off a main character would be losing profit. AND different shows have different priorities than others. My Little Pony is a praised show that keeps everyone you care about alive. The Owl House didn’t kill anyone you’re routing for now that I think about it. (Except Flapjack. RIP) And for people who say Ninjago should be super gritty and edgy, are forgetting what the shows priorities are. And if you really want that, that’s what fanfiction is for. And I am no stranger to that. I’m the writer of Total Drama Danganronpa Island. A gritty fanfic where two thirds of the cast die horrifically.

We’ve all had a phase. This show does NOT need to be Batman to be good. A show does not need to be dark to be good.

HOWEVER, when the narrative stakes call for it, and you have SO MANY FAKEOUTS, eventually you have to pull a trigger on a character, beloved or not. This is why at one point or more, there should have been a death. A character does not come back.

Does it need to be gruesome? No. Are fake out deaths bad? No. Season 3’s fakeout death is one of my favorite fakeout deaths of all time because it’s a natural point for the character, and impacts everyone around them, even after they are revealed to still be alive. But there’s a limit to using fake out deaths before they become cheap and nobody buys it anymore.

Now, YES, this show DOES have permanent deaths. Like villains. But you want them gone. There’s also the Royal Family getting assassinated. Mystake never comes back. But you don’t remember these because they are very inconsequential to the story.

If you’re gonna resurrect a character from the dead, that’s fine, as long as you know there’s a purpose for it. Ninjago actually does this very well. Zane’s fakeout (his FIRST one, and no other one) works because it’s s logical step in his character conflict of identity, and the death impacts the other characters, giving them a new perspective on their own dynamics and priorities, plus it benefits Zane’s character in giving him a crisis of a new identity. Garmadon fakeout works because there’s a permanent consequence that is his relationship with his family. That’s dead. Forever. There’s no getting this perfect parental figure back.

It’s a great way for fakeout deaths to work, if there is a permanent consequence. That’s why bringing Nya back was a bad call in my opinion. There were no permanent consequences. Imagine if the ninja couldn’t bring her back? Imagine if they had to grapple with the fact that their grief consumed them and put them in prison, and they had to accept the fact that the girl they loved is gone?

But of course that wouldn’t happen because Nya is a part of the main group. I love Nya as much as anyone, but I wanted her sacrifice in Seabound to stick, because it was a wake up call for the story, personally.

There’s a line when it comes to pulling off fakeout deaths, and when you need to decide to let a character go. Zane and Garmadon, I can excuse. Nya? This should have been permanent OR had a permanent consequence. But okay, the main six ninja have plot armor. Fine. I understand that.

What about the side characters? They’re not safe. Unless you count Pixal as a seventh ninja, she’s not safe. Wu’s not safe. Now obviously, don’t kill characters Willy nilly. Kill them because it makes sense for the story.

Dragons Rising is out, and five of the six ninja are side characters now. Their plot armor is used up. Someone might die. Who knows? Someone could pull a Han Solo.

But is one of my biggest problems with Sailor Moon. Books and shows alike. Every season has the main characters pull fakeout deaths.

EVERY. SEASON. And by Stars, I just don’t buy it anymore.

Like oh, this evil Sailor Guardian assassin is dusting off guardians left and right? And it wants me to believe they’re staying dead?

Yeah nice try. (this is a problem with ALL versions of the story.)

If you’ve seen Sailor Moon, you know what I’m talking about.

In Book 5 of the Sailor Moon comics, there’s a death that choked me up when I first saw it. That’s the death of Sailor Pluto.

She was a likeable side character who was close to Chibi Usa. She had her own goals and dreams of one day leaving her post and seeing the world. Her only chance at seeing it being through this kid.

But when the child she loves turns to the dark side and is about to end the universe, Pluto breaks a taboo of her responsibility and freezes time to save everyone.

And the penalty is death.

She dies with no regret, and the kid watches, full regret over what her actions of jealousy and envy had led to. She obtains her dream of unlocking her powers and following the footsteps of her mom, but the one person she wanted to see that happen isn’t alive to see it. It’s a REALLY heartbreaking chapter.

SO OF COURSE WE BRING PLUTO BACK IN THE NEXT STORY ARC.

This is for… pretty much no reason, as she doesn’t do anything, and you can very easily write her out with nothing changing. Because there’s no consequences to it and the story acts like it never happened, that character death is ruined.

Would the story have been better if the character stayed dead? In this case, yes, as it grounded Chibi-Usas character. Bringing Pluto back removes her consequences altogether.

Then there’s season one of the show having the Sailor Guardians die in the penultimate episode. I read the books before I saw the show, I knew they weren’t dead, as this doesn’t happen in the book. That was just there for drama.

It was well directed and impactful drama on its own, admittedly. But still drama.

I WOULD talk about a certain Polentina, and how her resurrection was done so lazily, then they did nothing with her character and killed her AGAIN a season later. Making the entirety of her life and death pointless. And how this show does have a very good permanent character death that is very well executed and is one of the best moments of the show because of how well done that is. HOWEVER, I won’t because most people HATE it whenever I talk about that show. So therefore, you won’t get my support if you push me away. (I might try again one day, but I just feel very uncomfortable with it from how uninviting others viewers are)

On the other hand, death doesn’t make a show good. There is merit to an uplifting show where everything turns out right in the end. If done right.

So how do you guys feel about character deaths in Ninjago? Is this too much to ask? Am I being unreasonable?

#Youtube #ninjago #ninjago nya #nya smith #nya jiang #sailor moon #sailor pluto #ninjago zane #zane julien #tw death

[deepestbluesky]

hello it is time for a VERY niche post. join me for... SHL characters as SNAKES!!!!! i tried to find snakes that naturally occur in china or near china, as a terrible added parameter—there's a TON of snakes in china, but i just don't know many so it's terrible bc it added a lot of work for me lol. but i've learned things! and found some cool snakes! so! let's go. pictures of snakes ahead, if that's not your thing, feel free to peace out.

Wen Kexing - Sinomicrurus macclellandi a coral snake! just a nice boy you know? just a nice, extremely venemous boy with dramatic red coloration. shamless plug for my fic where wkx turns into This Snake.

Zhou Zishu - Bungarus multicinctus look at this lovely unassuming snake. got some goth-y drama but overall not too bad, right? one of the most venomous land snakes in the world 😌 (also. he and wkx match but like in a complimentary way.)

Zhang Chengling - Pareas margaritophorus the first thing wikipedia says about this snake is that it is small and harmless. for the first time so far, i am not trying to mislead you. just a little snek boi!!!!!! cute!!!!!! I Want To Hold And Protect Him

Gu Xiang - Fowlea piscator look i'm gonna be honest. there are not a lot of snakes that are even REMOTELY purple but this one has a little purple whip tongue! also, not venemous but (if it's anything like water snakes in the US) kind of an asshole. apparently pretends to be a cobra. look at her go.

Cao Weining - Coelognathus radiatus this snake has no thoughts in its head. look at it. i don't mean as a species i mean This One. That's cwn. just sitting there doing a blep. no venom, apparently a defensive sort of dude. cool colors tho!

Luo Fumeng - Calliophis bivirgatus a different kind of coral snake! i've gone a bit further outside of china for this one but LOOK at how gorgeous it is. how could i not let lfm be this glamorous. also i like the idea that she's a different genus of snake than wkx but still a (venemous) coral snake.

Liu Qianqiao - Elaphe taeniura gonna be honest here, the common name of this snake in english is the beauty snake (or ratsnake), so i didn't think too much farther. there's a ton of different color morphs of it. look at it, the elegance! she's beauty she's grace she'll constrict you (if you are a small mammal)!

Xie Wang - Bungarus fasciatus this is a different krait! zzs has MANY bands, xw just has bands. a little brighter colored and more extra than zzs, sliiiightly less deadly, still can very definitely kill you. LOOK at that warning coloration. if i was to pick two characters to DEFINITELY have warning coloration, it WOULD be wkx and xw.

Du Pusa - Euprepiophis mandarinus this is NOT my best work, but i just thought this snake was really pretty and so i was determined to include it somehow. hence: dps. they are ~secretive~ apparently. also. again. Look At It

Ye Baiyi - Python bivittatus BIG BOY!!!! ALMOST THE BIGGEST BOY!!!!! does occur in white color morphs in captivity (and like, i guess presumably in the wild? at one point? but i have to imagine that's like. not so much a thing anymore.) also, did i pick the picture that looks the most like a cryptid? of course i did, it's yby. he doesn't want his picture taken. he doesn't want you to know he exists even. leave him alone. where he belongs in his natural habitat.

Han Ying - Lycodon septentrionalis a shiny pretty boy. a shiny pretty boy who looks very much like a many-banded krait, in fact. however, they're not venemous. hy just looks like zzs. again: LOOK AT THIS GOOD SNEK.

Jing Beiyuan - Ahaetulla prasina several things here. one, this is an elegant but strange boy (i don't think this shows just how weird this guy's nose looks. it's like someone took a snake's nose and used pliers to stretch it out all pointy). two, FASHION!!! look at those pattens!!!!! a striking example. and three, it looks kind of like wu xi's snakeclet

Wu Xi - Naja atra he's a cobra. i think this speaks for itself.

#snakes cw #PLEASE listen to the content warning for SNAKES if you don't like PICTURES OF SNAKES #shl #blame and or thank siv for this <3

[masterofrecords]

The Ravages of Time episode 1

Oooookay, I did a thing.

Well, not yet – so far I’ve done 3/16 of a Thing, but I think that’s enough to start posting it.

As I have mentioned several times on this blog, I’m watching “The Ravages of Time” donghua. There are official subs, but they don’t cover everything – notably, song lyrics and the cards with background information at the end of each episode remained a mystery. I like mysteries and I like digging into Chinese history. I’m sure you can figure out my problem.

The thing is that some of those cards are abridged versions of excerpts from ancient chronicles. Most of these texts have no English translations available. Those are hard to translate, even for professionals (which I am far from) – as you’d expect from over a thousand year old books.

Luckily, most cards only reference the chronicles and are written in modern Chinese.

Most references in these cards are for “The Records of the Three Kingdoms” and occasionally to “The Romance of the Three Kingdoms” – a fictionalized version of the same events – and “The Book of the Later Han” which describes the events and personas of the period predating the Three Kingdoms (Dong Zhuo rose to power in 189 and was dead in 192 (sorry for the almost 2000-year-old spoilers), while the Three Kingdoms period officially started in 220).

Episode 1

T/N: The original title for the manhua/donghua is “Fiery Phoenix Scorches the Plains”

Scorched plains afterword: “The Records of the Three Kingdoms”, one of the Twenty-Four Histories [1], written by the West Jin dynasty historian Chen Shou, records the events of the Cao Wei, Shu Han and Eastern Wu states of the Three Kingdoms period, presented as a series of biographies and dynastic histories, and is considered the most famous of the Early Four Historiographies [2]. If you persevere and finish reading “The Records of the Three Kingdoms”, you will find that “The Romance of the Three Kingdoms” has many fabricated events. In fact, almost none of the literary works about the Three Kingdoms period are based on real historical records. Each author’s perspective leads to their art being created in their own versions of the Three Kingdoms. – Mou [3]

[1] dynastic histories from remote antiquity until Ming dynasty

[2] Those include The Records of the Grand Historian, The Book of Han, The Book of the Later Han, The Records of the Three Kingdoms

[3] I’m assuming referring to Chen Mou, the author of “The Ravages of Time” manhua

---------

“The Ravages of Time” is also very much fabricated. A lot of the main characters are made-up, for one; but even regarding the general events of the story, a lot of it couldn’t have happened the way it did. (I still love the donghua though! Not to mention that there is a looong history of historical fiction in China that plays very loose with historical events. See “The Romance of the Three Kingdoms” again. This is in no way a criticism on my part, I just think this stuff is even cooler when you know the history.) I’ve come across some pretty interesting stuff on these events while researching for these translations, so I might include that in the posts for the relevant episodes. At least, I will for this episode!

Putting this under the read more for spoilers of things that happened 2000 years ago.

The prologue has the narrator describe a man with the surname Cao fearing people with the character “horse” in their name. The surname Cao is that of Cao Cao; surname Sima contains the character for “horse”. Sima Yi, indeed, was the one who had Cao Cao’s descendants lose the throne and be executed.

I’m not sure how accurate the dream is supposed to be – it is, after all, a dream. Either way, I have found no indication that Sima Yi’s death was in any way violent or memorable, or that his last years were marred by any particular madness or cruelty. He did have dreams he found disturbing in those last years when he fell ill – but they were relatively harmless ones of his political rivals being celebrated. So, if it is meant to be prophetic, it is fictional.

Remnant army also doesn’t seem to be based on any real organization.

Dong Zhuo entered Luoyang in 189. At that time, Sima Yi would be about 10 years old. Along with his older brother Sima Lang (around 18) and the rest of his family he lived in Luoyang; they only moved to Henei after Dong Zhuo started making plans to relocate to Chang’an. Due to that fact, the entire Henei storyline is understandably fictional.

Xu Lin is a completely made-up character. Whatever, he dies in the very first episode. Same for Zhao Xian (Liaoyuan Huo’s “adopted father”).

We briefly see Sima Yi’s younger siblings playing ball. Sima Yi was the second of eight brothers, nicknamed “Eight Das” because all of their courtesy names ended with the same character (Zhongda for Sima Yi, Boda for Sima Lang).

#masterofrecords translates #the ravages of time #i knoooow that i promised aquarium stuff #i fell down a rabbit hole i'm sorry #i spent so many hours translating dong zhuo's biography blurb

[angelbroad]

Kakkō, my Mortal Kombat oc + some pose studies

Kakkō goes by they/them, as they are a shapeshifting creature whose base form resembles a titan jellyfish. Their race is practically immortal, but can be killed if their 'true heart' is destroyed.

When Kakkō was still in infancy, their race was wiped by the Lin Kuei, sprung from the fear that their race would be a threat to Earthrealm. Kakkō fled, and had been hiding in plain sight from the Lin Kuei for eons. Eventually, they confronted Lui Kang, furious at him as the Lin Kuei answered to him, and truth be told, Lui Kang did feel guilty of acting so harshly towards their kind.

In an attempt to make ammends, he offered Kakkō a place to live among the Wu Shi, which they reluctantly accepted after a long fight and a promise to not let the Lin Kuei know of their existence.

They are 3,000 years old by the time Bi-Han and his brothers were at the forefront of the Lin Kuei, and Kakkō decided to take on the more human form to stay more hidden, seeing as Lui Kang's business with the Lin Kuei would prove impossible to avoid.

Despite their distaste for Bi-Han, Kakkō grew very attached to Kuai Liang, so much so that they attempted to master his kunai spear rope. Which gave Lui Kang and the monks a headache. Kuai found it amusing enough to help Kakkō actually use the weapon, and they grew closer together through training.

The fact that Kakkō is a shapeshifter comes out during the events of MK1, and in the end, Kuai Liang still accepts what they are, and hopes to make ammends for his ancestors' mistakes.

Now, Kakkō has finally found a home in the Shirai Ryu, with Kuai Liang, Tomas, and Hanzo Hasashi.

I EPed Lui Kang's timeline because ignoring canon is my specialty.

If you want to ask me more about this character, feel free to do so.

#art #design #oc art #digital art #digital painting #digital sketch #mk 1 #mk oc #kuai liang #bi han #lui kang #smoke #tomas vrbada #shirai ryu #digital illustration #artists on tumblr #alternate universe #mk au

[scorbleeo]

Movie Review: Marry My Dead Body (關於我和鬼變成家人的那件事)

Source: Google Images

One day a police officer finds a red wedding envelope, only to find out that the owner is in fact a ghost asking for the officer's hand in marriage before reincarnation. What will happen when a human and a ghost form a special bond?

Source: IMDb (2023)

Funnier Than Expected

Watching Marry My Dead Body was a delightful fun time, I laughed more than I thought I would just because I never expected those scenes. Was is a good movie? It was okay. Personally, this felt more like a satire and you really just watch it for fun. Also, considering this was a crime film before it's a comedy film, there was no mystery or whatsoever with the plot. I simply cannot imagine anyone not seeing how the entire film plays out.

Going on to the cast, I don't watch a lot of Greg Hsu filmography but I am familiar with him and his works. Which is why, I was downright flabbergasted at Wu Ming Han; very impressed with Hsu's portrayal of Wu Ming Han. However, it was Austin Lin's acting that surprised me in the best way possible. Lin really brought Mao Mao all kinds of justice. I would say, watch the movie for Mao Mao, his character was extremely lovable and so very rich (in every sense except wealth but I digress). For the storyline, I would have hated it if Marry My Dead Body was a drama but Mao Mao alone could very possibly make the nonexistent drama fun. I went into the movie for the marriage plot and came out absolutely loving Mao Mao without caring about anything else.

That being said, I also think a big reason of why I enjoyed this film was also because I am both familiar with the language and the culture. I have a feeling, one who's not as familiar might not find this film as comedic as me.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)

#movie review #marry my dead body #關於我和鬼變成家人的那件事 #wu ming han #mao pang yu #mao mao #greg hsu #hsu kuang han #austin lin #lin bo hong