#HAPPY DEATH ANNIVERSARY WEN

[robsterskellington]

Okay, so I've read all of Mo Dao Zu Shi, the novels and manhua, and watched the donghua three times. Safe to say the brainrot is real. So, I wrote a little something. My brain always comes up with the same scenario for every fandom I'm interested in: what if one character woke up back in a specific point in time, but with all the memories of what will happen? Would or could they prevent certain things, or make the same mistakes?

Anyway, here's a piece I wrote earlier:

Wei Wuxian slowly opened his eyes, feeling dreadful and very confused- he had been in bed with Lan Wangji, hadn't he? They'd celebrated their wedding anniversary in Yunmeng, then went to bed. It was a fun celebration, even Lan Xichen had come out of seclusion to join. Wei Wuxian ate good food and partied with the people he loved; he'd finally patched things up with Jiang Cheng, Jin Ling had called him *Uncle Wei* for the first time, and Lan Sizhui tried to make him happy by trying the spicy foods. Lan Wangji also seemed happy, he'd started smiling more so it was easy to tell. Once the party was over, they had their intimate moments and fell asleep curled in each other's arms, happy and in love.

So... why was Wei Wuxian lying on his stomach, surrounded by resentful energy, in what looked like the bottom of the Burial Mounds? His body hurt, like it had done when he was thrown down by Wen Chao. He scowled at that memory before managing to get his arms to move, forcing himself to sit up, wincing. "Ow..."

He looked at himself and froze- he was back in his old body, but back to when he was about 17 or 18? He opened his robes a little and felt his blood run cold. The Wen brand on his chest was still fresh, as was the stitching on his abdomen from when he had his Golden Core extracted. It was a miracle that the stitching didn't split when he fell. His robes were the same, though his Clarity Bell was missing, obviously.

Wei Wuxian felt dizzy, hearing the whispering of the dead, their souls unable to rest, the resentment being the strongest here. This was the perfect place for someone to become a wielder of the dark arts, though only if they truly had no other choice. Wei Wuxian's options were to absorb it, or die... and after what happened to Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan and the rest of the Jiang Clan, how could he choose death for himself? No, he'd take all the resentment, and use it to carve his own path- after all, to secure Jiang Cheng's future, Wei Wuxian sacrificed his own. Once he absorbed it, he could walk around with no pain, only power. That was when he'd find a cave filled with scrolls- people who fell here had tried to do what he did, but with no success, dying and joining the resentment.

That was when Wei Wuxian became the Yiling Patriarch, the Founder of Diabolism, the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation. Someone who's strength couldn't be beaten or tamed, and someone who was feared by all.

Why was he going through all this again? It couldn't have been a result of the incense burner, they'd left that behind in Guzu. He had all the memories of everything that happened after this, and frowned. If this was a second chance... how much could he change? How much *should* he change? What if he made everything so much worse?

This thoughts immediately went to his Shijie, her husband, and how her son grew up, with no parents to guide him. Wen Ning's death, and Wei Wuxian being unable to let him go since he'd died with his eyes open. Hell, the Wen Clan remnants truly didn't deserve what they got, it was a miracle that Wen Yuan was given a second chance as Lan Sizhui. Nie Mingjue absolutely didn't deserve what fate gave to him, and while Jin Guangyao was a piece of shit, it was only because of his unfaithful father. That just brought up the whole mess with Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan, as well as Xue Yang.

Wei Wuxian didn't know what to do. Interfere? Would that just make things worse again? Besides, *how* could he interfere with some things? Could certain things even be prevented or caused? He can't exactly claim he knew what was going to happen without sounding like a madman, and he couldn't even blame that on Mo Xuanyu this time! A depressing part of him then wondered: how much could be prevented if Wei Wuxian simply chose the second option? If he died here, would that be better? Without his talisman, his inventions, his knowledge... all of which were a double edged sword.

Resentful energy continued to pour into him, not caring about what choices he made, and no longer giving him time to think. Wei Wuxian had forgotten how bad the pain was, and couldn't help but scream in utter agony, as he was stabbed, had resentment shoved down his throat, and had his memories replay every bad moment in his life, stirring up his rage and sorrows. For a brief moment, he remembered the images of the past, and what would be this version's future. Tears streamed down his face, as he went limp, just allowing what happened to happen. If he lived, fine. If he died, fine.

*****

"..."

*...where are you?*

"...huh..?" Wei Wuxian's soul was in some kind of white space, and he could hear soft music playing. His mind was fuzzy, so he couldn't quite recognise the tune. There was no voice, yet he swore he heard a question. He focused a little more, taking advantage of the fact that be wasn't in as much pain.

*...Wei Ying..? Where are you..?*

Wei Wuxian's mind kicked into high gear- that was Inquiry!! Lan Wangji was trying to find him!! He grinned from ear to ear. Knowing what he did now, he understood that Lan Wangji never hated him, never wanted him to come to harm, that right from the beginning, all Lan Wangji wanted was to have Wei Wuxian as his partner. To marry him, bed him, have a future with him. To make sure that every day meant every day.

This was good, but also terrible. Wei Wuxian wasn't able to go down a normal cultivation path now, and with this new power, he would always scare Lan Wangji, who would always worry about his health and sanity. What the fuck could he do? He couldn't risk Lan Wangji coming after him, what if he got hurt or worse?! But he also couldn't just ignore him...

*Wei Ying... please... are you still alive..? Please... any sign... give me a sign...*

He wanted to call out, but didn't know what to say. All words died in his throat. Closing his eyes and calming down, Wei Wuxian did as he was asked and gave a sign that he was alive: he knew that Lan Wangji would be able to hear the response, and only Lan Wangji would understand as he started to sing that same beautiful song that Lan Wangji wrote for him and performed in that disgusting cave. Wei Wuxian knew that hearing wangxian would be enough to tell Lan Wangji that he was still alive. But because he didn't answer any questions directly, he knew Lan Wangji wouldn't ask. However, he still responded...

*I hear you... Wherever you are, please be safe... I want to see you again... I swear to try to look after Clan Leader Jiang and Lady Jiang in the meantime...*

Wei Wuxian's breath hitched as tears streamed down his face. Lan Wangji clearly didn't go through what he just did. Obviously he couldn't change that, but he wanted to have his husband as soon as possible. So he decided to stop resisting, and allowed the beginning of this darkened path to stay the same. The next time he saw Lan Wangji, he'd be the Wei Wuxian everyone would fear, though if he could change that, he decided that he absolutely would.

He woke up once more, and stood up. He knew what to do, his glowing crimson eyes filled with a new sense of purpose.

****

In the previous life, he'd hunted down Wen Chao and broke him little by little. He wanted the prick to suffer, but maybe he would look less evil by not reducing him to a burnt and broken skeleton this time. Besides, he was Jiang Cheng's to kill. Some things, he kept the same. He slowly attacked Wen bases and slaughtered their soldiers, but this time, he was far more careful. When he sensed some of the people wanting to escape, or switch sides, he'd test them:

It was a very simple test. He would leave for them plain grey robes baring no official Clan colours. An easy to understand message of 'If you want to abandon the Wens, discard their colours and insignia, and run while you can'. Most people did exactly that, and the test was far more effective than Wei Wuxian could ever dream; he wanted to protect the same people he once had, and they had turned out to be more than willing to turn their backs on their own Clan.

The one person he was most surprised about was Wen Qing, who had encouraged Wen Ning to do the same. The Supervisory Office in Yiling had quickly grown into a safe haven for any Wens who decided that their morals and lives weren't worth participating in this war. Wen Ruohan had been furious and sent Wen Chao to deal with it personally, but unfortunately, the coward couldn't get close- something about the traitor's camp being surrounded by feral zombies who refused to let them pass? In the end, they were left alone.

News spread, and at first, none of the main participants of the Sunshot Campaign knew what to make of this development. The Jin Clan thought it was better to annihilate the Yiling Camp, in case the Wens changed their minds and decided to attack. The Nie Clan also thought it best to kill them, since all of them were dogs needing to be put down, in their eyes. However, the Lan Clan disagreed, as these people had proven that they wanted to live and weren't willing to fight or kill people they considered innocent in all of this, just wanting peace- Lan Xichen also argued that most of the people were elderly, crippled, children or doctors who refused to bloody their hands unless healing.

It was that comment that made Jiang Cheng confess that Wen Qing and Wen Ning had saved the lives of himself and Wei Wuxian, so refused to have them killed. He came up with a solution, then: "Why don't we take in those Wens who have proven to be better than the ones we fight? They've discarded the name of Wen, really- so how about they bare our own names?"

The Hall was in uproar, everyone shouting their disagreements. But ultimately, a choice was made. Once the Sunshot Campaign was completed, and those Wens had been monitored for long enough to prove that they wouldn't turn and attack, restarting the war, then they would be integrated into the four main Clans instead. Nie Mingjue wasn't happy at first, but he also knew that in actuality, his anger came from Wen Ruohan's actions. Plus, he couldn't blame those Wens for their inaction, they'd already been threatened and some killed before they could escape. Unwilling to kill, but willing to die to escape.

After listening in, Wei Wuxian was ecstatic! He had no idea that his plan would work, and yet it did. He prayed to the Gods that the Jiang Clan would take in Wen Ning and his sister, and that the Lan Clan would take in Wen Yuan and his dear granny. He just wanted his friend and his little radish to be safe.

Things seemed to proceed similarly to how it did before, but now the Wens that abandoned the main Clan were now helping in different ways. Some were soldiers and blacksmiths who swore their loyalty to the Nie Clan, and managed to help with their fighting and weaponry. Wen Ning was recognised for being a talented archer, and in exchange for not having to fight in the war, he helped Jiang Cheng train the new members of the Jiang Clan in archery. Wen Qing was a talented doctor, so unfortunately she was very overworked, but she admitted that it was far better than standing aside.

Wei Wuxian stayed in the shadows, using his tricks and dark arts to kill off any loyal Wen Clan soldiers he could. Originally, he'd scared Wen Chao and his bitch so much that she killed herself, while he was a broken, unrecognisable husk. Now that Wei Wuxian had prioritised other's safety first, he didn't have time to torture them... scaring them, however?

It was almost embarrassing how confident Wen Chao was that he could prevent anything from happening to Wang Lingjiao, setting up spirit warding talisman all over their safe house. But the fool didn't notice that Wei Wuxian had added four extra strokes to each one with his own blood. The spirit lure talismans were what ultimately lead to her death, though Wei Wuxian being in the area and playing his flute didn't help matters. He couldn't deny himself a smile when her screaming finally silenced.

But then, he felt guilt. Not for killing her, she got what she deserved for trying to hurt Luo Qingyang and branding him. Killing for pleasure, that was what made him a monster. He never did, or so he thought, but this single moment proved him wrong. Wei Wuxian sighed, then frowned and looked up in the sky- a firework baring the Wen insignia...

"Wait. That's where Jiang Cheng-! Hold on, I'm coming!"

****

"Where is Wei Ying?!" Lan Wangji had never shouted with such anger before in his life. He knew that when he used Inquiry a while ago, Wei Wuxian was still alive. Only he knew the song he wrote for him, after all. But it had been so long, over three months at this point, and he had been too busy with rebuilding the Cloud Recesses, fighting in the war, while also helping that sweet old lady with that adorable toddler who called him 'daddy'. He knew he was making up excuses at this point, he should have tried harder.

But his thoughts shut off and his heart shattered to pieces when Wen Chao scoffed, "I threw him into the Burial Mounds months ago. I doubt even his bones will be left now. So you can stop looking for him, and join him in Hell!"

Jiang Cheng sank where he was forced to kneel, shaking. Wei Wuxian was gone? He'd been gone this entire time? What would his sister say? Even Wen Ning was excited about possibly seeing him again. They couldn't even lay him to rest.

Lan Wangji had a very different reaction. His fingers were bleeding, his spiritual energy was all but depleted, but the thought of Wei Wuxian being all alone and suffering filled him with unbridled rage. Was this why Wei Wuxian didn't tell Lan Wangji where he was? If he was trapped in the Burial Mounds and already weakened from being attacked by Wen Chao and Wen Zhuliu, then maybe he was dying and didn't want Lan Wangji to come and find him. Wanted him to remember him as he was. Lan Wangji screamed his pain and grief, lashing out one last attack that obliterated the strings of his zither, but to no avail.

In the end, both Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji were forced to kneel, swords at their necks, with none of the soldiers daring to attack in fear of the two strongest men losing their lives. Neither of them had much will to fight after that, anyway.

Just as Wen Chao was about to give the execution order, a strange sound caught everyone's attention. Crows had begun flying overhead, their sharp caws loud enough for everyone to hear. It was strange, but whatever. However, that was just the beginning. The flames that burned throughout had changed from their bright yellow hues to a sickly green, the lighting significantly dimming. The Wen soldiers shuffled on their feet before looking up at the main watch tower at the sound of a piercing flute.

Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng watched the newcomer standing confidently on the tower, playing a strong melody. They couldn't make out his face, but the glowing red eyes were impossible to miss, along with the long, free flowing hair. Wen Chao quickly called back his guards, just as the bodies of the fallen slowly rose to their feet as feral zombies, attacking the Wen Clan and giving the Jiang Clan time to regain their senses and join the fight.

Jiang Cheng grinned, but Lan Wangji looked uneasy. Jiang Cheng looked at him and scoffed, "Whatever you're afraid of, put it aside for now. His methods are unorthodox, but he's very obviously on our side. So let's not waste his efforts!" That was when Lan Wangji finally nodded and unsheathed Bichen, while Jiang Cheng brandished Zidian.

When the Wen army was severely crippled and downsized, the figure on the tower floated down using what looked like a cloud of resentful energy. Wen Chao immediately ordered Wen Zhuliu to attack, but the figure was a lot faster. Nobody could see what happened; from their perspective, the figure simply ran past Wen Zhuliu, and the barer of the Core Melting Hand was suddenly on his knees, coughing up blood.

Wen Chao stared in horror as the figure then held up what he had taken: Wen Zhuliu's Golden Core. The figure looked at it, as if contemplating something, before putting it in his sleeve, as if he was saving it for something. The mist around the figure faded, revealing a wicked grin that made Wen Chao choke on his own gasp, "W... Wei Ying?! You're supposed to be dead!! G-ghost!!"

"It's been some time, Wen Chao. Didn't I tell you I'd come back?" Wei Wuxian smirked, but then decided he had better things to do. He whistled, then turned his back to Wen Chao, "I need to talk to the people I care about. I trust the lady you left to die can keep you entertained?" Wen Chao went pale as the feral zombie who looked exactly like Wang Lingjiao slowly approached him. Wei Wuxian then snapped his fingers, and some of the soldiers that Wen Chao lead to their deaths attacked Wen Zhuliu, to stop him from rescuing his master.

Jiang Cheng smiled brightly at seeing Wei Wuxian, and when he watched Wei Wuxian smile and open his arms, he ran in for a hug, "You bastard, you scared the shit out of me!" He felt Wei Wuxian hold him, and felt the slightest of trembles. Jiang Cheng teared up and completely lost his composure, "...I thought you were dead, *big brother*."

Wei Wuxian tensed- how long had it been since he was called that? It made him tear up and hug him tighter, "I'm sorry, *little brother*. I wanted to come and find you and Shijie as soon as I got out, but... I was scared. I'm not the same as before."

"You really think that matters? It's still you. And I'm so damn happy to see you." They held each other a little longer, calming down a little before eventually pulling away to see each other smile again.

"...Wei Ying."

"Huh?" Wei Wuxian turned to see Lan Wangji's stoney expression, and tilted his head, "Lan Zhan?"

"Was it you who killed the Wens along the way?" A nod in response. "Did you also create those talisman?" Another nod. "Wei Ying... this path you're on, it destroys the mind and body. That's saying nothing of what it does to your temperament. There's never been any exceptions. It's a heretic path for a reason."

"...Lan Zhan, I didn't have a choice." Lan Wangji froze at those words, and noticed just how exhausted Wei Wuxian truly was, "Believe me, I don't actually *want* to be on this path. But at the time, my options were become like this, or die." Wei Wuxian took a calming breath and faced him properly, "I know what I'm risking. And I'll do whatever I can to go back to normal, if I can. As for my temperament, I've been trying to keep it under control by not allowing revenge to blind me. Lan Zhan, *I* was the one saving the Wens who just wanted out of this shitty situation. I'm not going around slaughtering mindlessly." He looked ashamed and pointed to Wang Lingjiao, "She was an exception to that, I admit that, and I'm not proud of it. I understand if you don't want to believe me. But I promise that I never asked for this, and I don't want this."

As if to prove that he was truly in control, Wei Wuxian ordered the feral zombies to step down, and freed what was left of their souls. Aside from using resentful energy, how he brought the spirits to rest was exactly how he was taught in the Cloud Recesses. Lan Wangji stared at him, his eyes full of despair, "...return to Guzu with me." Wei Wuxian looked at him; last time, he didn't hear him out, and it lead to a horrible argument. This time, he indicated for Lan Wangji to elaborate, which he did: "If you're truly trapped on this path and we can't help you, then we'll find a way for you to have some semblance of normality. I swear, I will never let anyone harm you, nor will I let you be forced into seclusion. I just... believe me when I tell you that I just want you to be safe. Let me help you, Wei Ying!"

Wei Wuxian watched as Lan Wangji was fighting back his tears, and simply turned to Jiang Cheng, "Clan Leader Jiang. I ask that once I've played my part in the Sunshot Campaign as a Demonic Cultivator, once this war is over, I request to go to the Cloud Recesses with Lan Wangji. If I'm wrong, and I can go back to a normal cultivation path, I'd very much like to. I believe that the Guzu Lan Clan can help me with that, just as I believe Lan Wangji's words are sincere."

Lan Wangji stared at Wei Wuxian in disbelief, but could slowly feel his heart repairing itself. He was being given a chance to help, and Wei Wuxian trusted him. While he was impatient, he wanted to take Wei Wuxian back now, and maybe try to hide him away if he could be talked into it, he also didn't want Wei Wuxian to feel trapped or obligated to stay. Plus, he could no longer deny the effectiveness of the dark arts, and couldn't doubt that Wei Wuxian was in full control.

Jiang Cheng hesitated before nodding, "Very well. But I'm adding to this compromise: on every Night Hunt, you join me and represent the Jiang Clan as my right hand. Besides, I don't think sis would be happy with you if you didn't come home from time to time." With Wei Wuxian's new power, the Lotus Pier would be theirs again, so there was no issues in stating that it was their home once more.

"I agree with the compromise," Lan Wangji stated, "especially when you're still part of the Jiang Clan. I just want to..." he trailed off, unable to confess what he was thinking, but it didn't matter.

"Then it's settled. I'll come back with you, Lan Zhan." Wei Wuxian gave him a warm smile, looking like the man he'd grown to love. It made Lan Wangji's ears tint red. Wei Wuxian looked over to see that Wen Zhuliu had stopped moving, but Wen Chao was surprisingly still writhing in pain, bits and pieces bitten off of him. He turned to Jiang Cheng, "He's all yours."

Jiang Cheng unsheathed Sandu, but then looked towards Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. Wei Wuxian shook his head, he already got his revenge. But Lan Wangji held Bichen once more. Wen Xu had lead the attack that killed his father, and since Nie Mingjue had already decapitated him, Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen couldn't get revenge. At first, he didn't mind, revenge was a disgusting thing, but now he had the opportunity, he couldn't deny wanting to just make sure Wen Chao couldn't come back. He still hesitated, so Wei Wuxian chuckled and held up his flute. He'd had his fun, but if this helped Lan Wangji, so be it.

In the end, all three of them took the life of Wen Ruohan's youngest son that night.

[curiositeath]

curiositea mdzs/cql fic masterpost!

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[nihyunluvskookie]

her last letter

“Junhui one shot”

Pairing: Wen Junhui x female reader

Genre: Angst

Warnings: implied death

A small synopsis: Jun’s lover left only a letter for him.

Word count: 1.1K

Author’s Note: I was confused which member would go with this and then I randomly thought about Jun because my brain just won’t register anyone else than Cheol 🚶🏻‍♀️

I looked at our room, it felt empty. Home didn’t feel like home anymore, it was just house made of bricks and cement. I looked around our room once again. I looked at our pictures, we were smiling, we looked happy. I walked towards the study table and picked up the photo frame, we took this picture on our third anniversary. I smiled looking at the picture.

I still remember that day clearly, she looked so beautiful, “we should actually take pictures on our marriage anniversaries so that we can keep on counting it with every picture. We will grow together.” she looked so happy on the way to studio. The smile on her face, I could never forget, not until my last breath. All the memories felt so fresh with her, I smiled bitterly, remembering how she looked and her endearing habits. She was my home, without her it’s nothing.

That day we clicked picture and went for an ice cream date, she said she was craving for ice cream that day and once I saw her puppy eyes I gave up. How could I not when she looked that cute, pouting.

If only words could describe how much I loved her and I still love her. One day I wish I could tell her how much she always meant to me because all the moments we spent together were never enough for me. I went to sit on the chair near the study table, and looked at the place where the photo frame was kept earlier. I wanted to tell myself to hold back the tears. I felt like my body going numb slowly and my heart was shattering.

If only I could hear my heart shattering, it would make me realize that this is real and I’ve to live like this.

I opened one of the drawer, and saw a blue envelope; something inside me told me, don’t open it because it might break me to that point, I can never recover. But the other side wanted to open the envelop and face the truth. But what was the truth? I’ve already faced it and I was in denial, and I very well know nothing was going to work out if I stay like this.

I took a deep breath, trying to prepare myself from whatever was infront of me, this could be something heartbreaking or this could be something that would give me a reason to live like this and there was only one way to know; and that was to open the envelope

I opened the blue envelope and there was a letter, even before I could open it I felt like my eyes tearing up. I looked up so that I could stop my tears but if only that worked.

I opened the letter and it was from her. She wrote in her pretty handwriting and she addressed me,

“My one and only love,

Jun,

I always wanted to write letters for you with love and now that you’re reading my letter, I wanted to tell you, how much I love you. I loved you and I will always love you.

I don’t know how things will turn out, when you would be reading this, sometimes I feel like I shouldn’t write this to you every time before leaving for my work, but you know if I could tell you how much I loved in person maybe I wouldn’t be writing this letter but one part of me hopes you never get to read this letter because you know what it means now. For last four years, I’ve been doing this, writing letters before I leave and I burn them once I return because I am back; and if I am back I won’t need to write and tell you how much I love you instead I could love you more. That’s why I hope you never get to read this one as well but if you ever do, I really want you to know something.

You were worth my life. So, if I leave someday, never blame yourself, okay? You were the brightest moon of my life. I hope we will meet again but not very soon, later; until then can you live for me love? And be happy? because I can’t be happy if you will be sad. That’s why, please be happy for me Jun.

You gave me the best memories I could ever ask. Those memories always stay in my heart. I can never thank you enough for giving the best to me Jun, you’re the best thing to ever happen to me.

Wish there was any way to tell you how much I loved you. You were my world, my own happiness, which I always dreamt of. Thank you for loving me endlessly and I know, you will say you can’t live without me, just the way we tell eachother every day, but today I will request you something, please promise me, you will agree with me” tears were falling, making the letter wet and I was nodding as if I could hear her voice and she was infront of me, requesting me.

“Can you please live for me and be happy? let me go and be happy. Don’t hold onto me for too long, I’ll be watching you, love. Don’t hurt yourself and always remember, I love you so much Jun.

I am sorry to break the promise which I made on our wedding and sorry for leaving you alone. I love you Jun.

With love, Xia”

I felt like I was choking on my own tears and felt like I couldn’t breath anymore. This was more painful than I could ever imagine, this was hurting me mor than I could bear.

How could she request something like that to me, how could I ever let her go? She was my beginning and end, so how could she say that to me. the way my tears were falling, I wanted to cry until my tears dry down and I don’t fee anything anymore.

I felt so lonely without her, how am I supposed to spend a single day without her now, “Why would you break the promise you made me on our wedding to never leave me alone?” I was looking at her letter, how did she feel when she wrote this, “Xia, come here and tell me, how could you do this to me?” my voice broke again.

I couldn’t stop looking at the picture and the letter I was holding, everything reminded me of her. She was my other half.

“Please come back, Xia, I miss you” wish tears could bring her back right now. “Please Xia”

[shanastoryteller]

happy holidays shana!! maybe some runaway jyl & wwx ? ::O

a continuation of 1 2 3 4 5 6

Jin Zixuan never remarried.

His parents had pushed and manipulated and outright begged, but he'd refused. Dozens of beautiful, eligible cultivator get trotted out in front of him during every event and he hates it.

He had a wife and he had a son and he loved them both and lost them and he'll never replace them.

He'd been recovering still, induced into a coma before he could explain what had happened, and when he'd awoken it'd been to a hell that he knows he could have prevented if only he'd been awake to do it.

Jin Zixun had told everyone that Wei Wuxian had tried to kill him, and rumors of his death had spread throughout the clan and past it.

They'd killed the Wen. The old and young and the people Wei Wuxian had tried so desperately to save. He remembers shy Wen Ning from when they were at Cloud Recesses, and he remembers Wen Ning fighting so desperately to keep Wei Wuxian safe as dozens of cultivators surrounded them, and now he's dead for real and Jin Zixuan hates it.

Everyone had been so stupid. He doesn't understand. The clans had united against Wei Wuxian and stood against him and he'd played with them and still they didn't think about how all the Jin cultivators had survived if he'd really meant to harm them.

Then his wife walked onto the battlefield. Because of course she did. She loved Wei Wuxian. She couldn't bear to lose him.

When one of their own people raised a sword against him, of course Yanli took that blow.

And it killed her.

Which set Jiang Cheng into a rage, enough that he'd thrown Wei Wuxian from the cliff face in his rage, right in front of Lan Wangji's horrified eyes.

It shouldn't have mattered.

Wei Wuxian had been so strong. Why would that fall kill him? Look at all that had tried to kill him and failed.

But it had.

Then his son had lost his breathe in the middle of the night, and with everything going on, there had been no one to notice until he was still and cold.

Jin Zixuan had woken to a world where his wife and son were dead, to a Jiang Cheng he barely recognized, and to a Lan Wangji he didn't recognize at all.

In a single day, they'd lost everything.

Every day for thirteen years, they'd lived with that loss. Jin Zixuan had tried to live as Yanli would want him to live, had tried carry her kindness through the world now that she wasn't there to do it herself.

For Jiang Cheng, it had been one blow too many. He'd turned cold, even to his own clan, and it was a select few that could pry anything but disdain from him. The Jiang disciples who knew him from before never let his new attitude phase them, but even Jin Zixuan had wanted to soften some of Jiang Cheng's words.

For Lan Wangji, it had torn him apart. Everyone heard of the punishment he'd received for trying to defend the Wen. Jin Zixuan hadn't realized that Lan Wangji had loved Wei Wuxian until he'd seen the quiet rage he carried in the wake of the war.

On the fifth anniversary of his son's death, Lan Wangji had stood next to him and told him about a child that he'd held on his hip and bought a grass butterfly, one who'd followed Wei Wuxian every where and loved him and who Wei Wuxian had loved in return, and who was now nothing more than ash.

They were all broken.

But. It's been thirteen years, and Yanli is standing in front of him, older than when he saw her last, but just as beautiful. There's a boy with his cheekbones and Yanli's eyes looking at him. Wei Wuxian is standing there, looking just the same, with a boy who's just the right age to have been toddling after him all those years ago.

But they are broken.

He does not know if they can become unbroken.

[vvienne]

XICHENG FIC RECS

hold my hands by Snooze (Chiruka)

Transplanting a core into a new person isn’t without repercussions. One year after the events at Guanyin Temple, Jiang Cheng found himself once again faced with the possibility of losing everything he had. Reconciling with his brother, learning to let Jin Ling go, and dealing with his blooming emotions toward the First Jade of Gusu — will Jiang Cheng accomplish what he wants before time runs out?

it all passes someday by screamlet

A week before the anniversary of Wei Wuxian’s death, there was a commotion outside Lan Wangji’s house.

*

Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji over the years.

The Unlikely Expression of Love by manamune

When everything has settled, when everyone else has moved on with their lives and their friends, Jiang Cheng has a realization which shouldn’t actually be a surprise:

He’s lonely.

Indigo, lavender, and violet (I don't wanna be red) by ohwhatevrewhatevr

It, in the pale colors of the late morning, is the closest to perfect Jiang Cheng will ever reach. He strokes Lan XiChen's hair and presses a light kiss to where his ribbon and hair meet. The sky is a pale blue, and the pastels of flowers and clouds are spread out through the window, a brilliant world waiting for them, them in the gentian house, safe from stronger breezes - there is the clutter of birds fluttering and chirping outside. It is a warm, perfect, spring morning.

Jiang Cheng and Lan XiChen have been together for an year. In which, no one ever really gets over things, Jiang Cheng has the misfortune of interacting with his brother, the juniors help out with the proposal, and there's a marriage.

Altitude by starknjarvis 

When Jin Ling lures Jiang Cheng to the Cloud Recesses under false pretenses, he finds himself out of place among this new family Wei Wuxian has formed.

Lan Xichen, at least, seems pleased to have his company.

Perhaps there is still a chance for Jiang Cheng to make amends and move forward.

[Modao Zushi Online] GLITCH REPORT: My Brother Got Chased Down And %$@*$&@ By Gusu Dungeon Boss??? by oh_fudgecakes

Modao Zushi Online is a virtual reality MMORPG. Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian are top ranking players in its new server, currently tied with their arch-nemesis from their previous server, Wen Chao. In an attempt to defeat him, they take on the Gusu Dungeon Boss, Zewu-jun, to win the reward of a legendary weapon. Ever the cheat, Wei Wuxian tries to take advantage of a glitch to defeat the seemingly undefeatable boss. It backfires. Jiang Cheng gets fucked by a boss monster.

He can't get enough.

Meanwhile, Lan Xichen, the unwitting staff member in charge of controlling Zewu-jun, absolutely did not sign up to be pulled into a secret virtual reality fling with a player. Mod Ji, who has to deal with Wei Wuxian's incessant glitch reporting of his brother's sex life, is long-suffering.

Mulberry by xxdz

Jiang Cheng grits his teeth and pushes harder. He feels like torn silk, the embroidery needle sinking in again and again and again; patiently, desperately, endlessly trying to make something beautiful out of something broken.

Jiang Cheng builds his sect, learns embroidery, and raises his nephew.

we can raise a little family by lanyon

“Well, brother,” says Wei Wuxian, leaning against the outside of Jiang Cheng’s chambers. “I had heard that you and Xichen went on a night hunt and came back with a baby, which is not the order I’d choose to do things in…”

In which Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen acquire a baby of unknown origin, and are the very last to know what it means.

Beyond the Impossible by Silverine

Summoned by Lan Qiren, Jiang Wanyin goes to the Cloud Recesses to drop his nephew Jin Ling, expecting to discuss relevant matters with his old master. Instead, he's asked to take with him no other than Sect Leader Lan himself, all the way back to Lotus Pier. If the reason why he accepted such an outrageous task is indeed a mystery, he's about to be surprised by how this entire trip, their encounters, and his warm company, suddenly feel fated.

Incrementally by xxdz

Jiang Cheng is trapped in a day on repeat where he begins by waking in Zewu Jun’s bed at dawn and ends by dying painfully at dusk.

It’s getting very irritating, and he has the sneaking suspicion that his chances to solve his own murder are rapidly running out. Soon, his death will be much more permanent.

All in all, worst birthday ever.

Audience of One by WinterDreams

“Then let an established star go first,” Lan Xichen interrupts again before Lan Wangji can give a stubborn reply. Both men twist toward Lan Xichen, and he smiles at Wei Wuxian’s tilted head. “If I publicly date a man for awhile first, your engagement shouldn’t receive as much backlash.”

Or, that AU where everyone is famous in some way or another, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji have been dating in private for years, and Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng pretend to date publicly for their brothers' sake.

A Bit of Ruthlessness by jirluvien

When Jiang Cheng hears that Lan Xichen went into seclusion following Jin Guangyao’s death, it’s almost as if he can see the grabby hands of a restless ghost, reaching out for something to keep him company. For something warm and living and devastated. And as history has proved time and time again, the Lans are perfect victims when it comes to giving in to ghosts.Yeah, no. Not on Jiang Cheng’s fucking watch.A story about grief, determination, unexpected friendships, abandoned watchtowers, and letters. So many letters.

All Tied Up In You by Clearpearls

Yet again, the night had come to this:

Jiang Cheng on the floor, kneeling, Zidian wrapped around his wrists.

Alone.

Thank You, and I'm Sorry by Hamliet

Jin GuangYao might be dead, but his story is not. Taking advantage of the chaos he instigated, someone makes an attempt on the life of the young new leader of the Jin Sect. When Jiang Cheng takes Jin Ling to the Cloud Recesses to have him study while he attempts to work with Wei WuXian and his husband Lan WangJi to eliminate the threat, he encounters a mourning Lan XiChen, lovestruck teenagers, and a persistent corpse--and both pairs of brothers find themselves struggling to move on.

saturn's rings (don't be a heartbreaker) by iskendaris

Set after the seige of burial mounds, Yunmeng rebuilds as they hold the first Discussion Conference at Lotus Pier. Sometimes the night is a gift, a refuge for loneliness. "So stern, Sect Leader Jiang," Lan Xichen murmured, "So glacial... What will it take to melt that icy exterior? What can I say?"

"Nothing. There's nothing you can say or offer."

reciprocity by jukeboxhound

There’s a pause before Lan Xichen says, in a tone that’s a little more neutral, “I would like to paint on you.”

“…What?”

“Of course, if you say ‘yes’ but then change your mind at any point, for any reason, you need only say so and I will stop immediately,” he adds.

Well, silver lining: Jiang Cheng is feeling much more awake than he was a moment ago.

Talent Hunt Crew Finds Angry Guy Shouting On College Campus, Recruits Him For Vocal Projection Abilities by oh_fudgecakes

Jiang Cheng, resident Angry Guy and heir to a conglomerate empire, has never been the apple of his father’s eye. Quashed under the shadow of his brilliant brother, the music prodigy Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng sees his chance to turn things around when he is recruited by the All-Stars Lan Talent Hunt. One problem: he can’t sing to save his goddamn life.

As he struggles to develop his nascent singing abilities, Jiang Cheng finds himself sucked into the whirlwind drama of reality TV, helped along by his adoring siblings, his irritable vocal coach Wen Qing, and strangely enough, the unfairly attractive host of the All-Stars Lan Talent Hunt, Lan Xichen. Somewhere in the glare of the stage lights and an unexpected first love, Jiang Cheng stumbles upon the thing he was searching for all along: the courage to dream — and to attempt the impossible.

Marginal Costs by ohwhatevrewhatevr

“You think you know what you want, Er-Ge,” A-Yao says. “But you should consider what you’re willing to give first,” he says wryly, taking Lan XiChen’s chess piece with slim, skilled fingers.

Lan XiChen looks up at A-Yao’s concentrated expression and the hint of contentment on his face that he is special enough to be allowed to see.

“It’s not just one decision, but the lead up to many more. One decision decides what else you’re going to have to pay, and each time you have to ask yourself, ignoring the sunk costs, if this time it’s worth it as well.”

When his sworn brother looks up at him with those clear, amber eyes, waiting, Lan XiChen feels the pull and gives in: he asks.

“Are you happy being in love?”

(First half is two sad sworn brothers talking, internally mourning how unfortunate their other sworn brother’s death was :/ and second half is when a mopey boy in blue meets an angsty boy in purple whilst chasing a demonic cultivator, and a lil bit of sexy dual cultivation happens.)

Somewhat Tender by theherocomplex

There is no defense against kindness; it has always undone him.

I didn't expect you to be lonely (too) by bettydice (BettyKnight)

Jiang Cheng's life is a mess, he's a mess, and he doesn't miss his brother at all. So when his sister gifts him ten sessions with a massage therapist, who turns out to be someone he was crushing on for a hot minute as a teenager and is still as hot as ever... yeah, that might as well happen. It won't have to mean anything.

This feels intimate to Jiang Cheng in a way that's probably very inappropriate and maybe even pathetic. Nobody touches him like this, right where he’s hurt the most. There's no one who handles him so gently, so carefully.

It's the gentleness that's his undoing, he thinks. He would be able to deal better with it if it was painful.

Life for Rent by yodasyoyo

“Yeah well. You’re not taking me seriously. This guy is my soulmate!”

“Soulmate.” Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes. “Whatever.”

“Just because you don’t believe in them—”

“I believe in them!” Jiang Cheng says. “I’ve never denied they exist.”

“Just last week you said that it was an evolutionary quirk that had been used by greetings card companies, movie makers, and corporations to exploit lonely and vulnerable people.”

“And I stand by it! That doesn’t mean that soulmates aren’t real. Just incredibly unlikely and probably pointless.

-

Or:

Xicheng vs Soulmates. Fight!

Halfway Around the World by theherocomplex

Normally, Jiang Cheng would be seething, jaw clenched tight, if someone sounded like that while they were talking, but — Lan Xichen has the trick of always making you feel like you're in on the joke, whatever the joke is. That you're laughing together.

Whelmed by yodasyoyo

For months now Jiang Cheng’s been idly fantasizing about how it would be if something were to come between Wei Ying and Lan Zhan. Mostly those daydreams have been simple enough — they break up (probably because Lan Zhan is boring or Wei Ying is annoying), Wei Ying is sad for a couple of days (Jiang Cheng’s willing to allow some space for feelings, he isn't a total monster), but then Wei Ying realizes he’s better off, he gets over it, and Jiang Cheng gets his brother back.

Unfortunately the fantasy version of events has only proven partially true, so far. They've broken up. Wei Ying has been sad.

Now weeks have passed, though — and Wei Ying is still sad, every. Single. Day.

It’s like Jiang Cheng's stuck in a looping GIF, and it’s driving him insane.

Or:

Jiang Cheng plots, Lan Huan pines, and, unfortunately for Lan Qiren, Wangxian are inevitable.

[wonhoarctic]

flash | lee hoseok (wonho)

word count: 2.2K

resquest: hii! may i request a wonho angst fic, please? ��🥺 thank you in advance!! (i've translated to english)

a/n: hi love! ofc you can, here's your request, by the way, i hope you like it!! ah, and you don't need to be like this with me, we're friends!! (i was going to write it in portuguese but idk if there are people who use to read this, and i did something with ain't about you and with you, that are your favorite songs!! <3

pairing: idol!wonho x idol!fem reader

genre: angst, but with some fluff and smut undertones

contains: wonho can't help but remember about you, lee y/n, the love of his life, his wife and the mother of his beautiful daughter, in the middle of an online concert he's holding, specially when performing his new song flash, which was made just or you (the songs are not in order of albuns!! it's all mixed)

flashbacks are in italic!!!

tw// death, car accident, sasaengs!!

the concert started out with the 'smutty songs', so he wouldn't cry at the beginning, but he couldn't help but remember about when he wrote with you, thinking about you two, loving each other until the morning, or having some rough sex, it depended on the mood, but it was about you two, and he couldn't help but remember; your blissed out face, the sounds you made just for him, mewls, whimpers and moans, just for him, the love bites and scratches you leaved on his skin at hidden places so no one would figure out, your scent, your taste... everything came back to his mind in that moment

hoseok wished he could be at least turned on from the memories he had, but he was broken, he couldn't be nothing but sad remembering about his love, his sweet y/n, who's not here anymore to comfort him after a bad day, to take care of him when he's sick, to make love to him, to kiss and cuddle, to cook his favorite ramen flavors, and to help him to take care of your newborn baby, to help him to change diapers when he don't know what to do, to see you breastfeeding the sweet embodiment of your love... how he wished you were there at that moment, he couldn't believe that you'd left him, that you had left your family

he swore he lost his energy after singing open mind, thinking that he couldn't handle that anymore, he just wanted to lay on the ground and cry, hoping you could hear him and come to cuddle and comfort your husband, but wonho knew you wouldn't come

when lose started to play, he smiled a bit while singing, remembering how you got moody when you entered the set to support him and saw your man hugging the actress by behind, the same way he used to do with you while cooking or doing something important, or when he wanted to talk with the baby during your pregnancy

your pouty face was the death of him, he remembered exactly the texture of your lips on his when he was saying how sorry he was

"you're not going to say a word to me, baby?" you shook your head no "okay, so..." he leaned forward to kiss you, taking care of your growing stomach "do you forgive me now?"

"u-ugh, fine" you blushed, hearing his giggle "but please, do it with me the next time" you laughed

"i swear that in my next mv, you'll be the actress, and our little princess needs to be there too, right?" he smiled

when the sexy concept songs ment ended, a vcr came out, and he made sure to include you on the behind the scenes of the concert, the few last clips of you two together, you helping him with choreographies and figurines, a long video of you guys choosing the right outfits for open mind mv (yeah, he did some of them without the help of his staffs) playing while he changed and prepared himself to the other ment

when lost in paradise started to play, while he sang, hoseok couldn't help but remember that day in which he asked you to marry him, he asked you to be the woman of his life, and he also remembered about your wedding day, smiling widely while thinking about when the two of you started a life

'i got a feeling it's you' said the lyrics, and yes, he got that feeling, and he was completely right, it was you, the love of his life

the wedding ceremony has ended, you two were at a hill, even though he has acrophobia, he insisted to have a wedding at that place, he felt safe in your arms, and now, the two of you looked at the place, seeing the lake below you, and the beautiful view you had from the little forest, his hands still on your hips

"how does it feel to be finally my wife, love?" he smiled

"i feel like... i feel like this is all a dream" you said, caressing the hand on your hip with your other one "and i don't want to wake up. never."

he smiled widely, turning to face you, his hand still in your hip, while the other one caressed your face, carefully wiping the joyful tears that escaped from your eyes, trying his best not to ruin your makeup

"i wanted this dream to come true so bad... i feel like i'm in paradise now" he said "and i'm so happy that our dream finally came true, y/n, i love you so much, and i'll love you forever" he whispered, kissing you

yes, it was true, maybe he was really lost in paradise with you, but now, you weren't there anymore, just memories about you

even losing you seemed to have a different meaning now..... how he wished he could be there to save you, he wanted to protect you

now, it was the interview time, and he wasn't all smiley like before, and the interviewer wasn't helping that much

"so, wonho-ssi... some of your fans noticed that you're not smiling too much today... what happened?" she asked him

"i wasn't going to talk about it, but i can't hide it from wenees anymore..." he sighed "it's just that... every single thing i do here remember me from y/n, my lovely wife, who's not here anymore"

"and what happened to her?" the interviewer didn't seemed to be aware of the situation

"there might be some wenees who don't know what happened... okay, i'll explain" he felt himself getting braver to talk about what was making he lose his sleep "i've hid about my relationship with y/n for about 7 years, but when we got married, i knew lots of fans would talk about it, so our relationship became public... how could i hide this from my precious wenees? i wanted my fans to know about my family" he felt the tears starting to run on his cheeks "i was so happy when i announced that she was pregnant... i thought wenees would be happy, too, but unfortunately, some of them started to become aggressive towards y/n" he was sobbing, even the interviewer couldn't held her tears, starting to feel guilty by asking him that "some obsessive fans started to stalk her when eunbi turned 5 months old and she started to sing again... and near to our princess' 11 month anniversary, when y/n was coming back from mcountdown, some of those wen..." he corrected himself "those sasaengs collided with her car, they were at a high speed, so it was a huge accident, and she didn't resisted..." he was angry, sad, he couldn't help but cry "i couldn't thank her to be with me, to be the mom of my precious daughter... i couldn't say a last 'i love you'... the last thing we did together as artists was the ain't about you mv... and that morning, the last thing she did before going out was to feed our baby girl, and kiss me..." i miss her so much... please, y/n, come back to me... the police had arrested those girls already, but please... say that you love me one more time" all he could do was cry

the staffs thought about ending the concert without an encore, but he insisted to sing the song he wrote for you, flash, while calming himself when the cameras were off

hoseok saw eunbi, his now one year old daughter sleeping while a staff kept an eye on her, he smiled, his eyes were still red and swollen, his face was puffy, so the baby seemed to notice, even if she was still half asleep when her dad held her tightly in his arms, she managed to grab his nose while smiling with the pacifier still in her mouth, her other hand holding the bunny plushie her mom gave her in the 10 months old birthday

"my sweet eunbi" he cooed "daddy will sing a song for mommy today... will you sing with me?" the baby smiled, her pacifier almost dropping, but wonho put it back in her mouth as soon as he could

he kissed her forehead, and then, started to retouch his makeup and change the jacket, holding eunbi in his arms again, going back to the stage

he grabbed the mic, knowing that they were on air, the first public appearance of his daughter, a beautiful moment, even if it was melancholic

Tonight I am still standing In the middle of nowhere, not knowing how you’re feeling I’m trying to find you because I was the only one who didn’t know When and where it went wrong like a fool I want to turn back time and stop it An endless flash, my love for you

while singing, he meant each one of those words, his love for you would be infinite, he'd never stop loving you, or the huge present you left him — a precious daughter, and photos of the two of you were passing through the big screens behind him, photos of your family, wedding day, honeymoon, selcas... everything he had to remember from you

The day I hugged you for the first time The day that will never come again I repeat the words alone, I love you

all he wanted to do in that moment was for you to be there, to sing with him, both of you holding your daughter, smiling... being a happy family, suddenly, he remembered that day, wishing he could turn back time to the day of your first hug, he wanted to hold you in his arms forever

You shined on me like a lighthouse When I was on my own and lost my way, flash You were shining, flash Will I ever forget you? I miss you You held me like a hero When I was unknown, tired and collapsing, flash You were warm, flash Will I ever find you again? I miss you

you were his light, when someone broke him, when he got into those scandals, when he couldn't go back to his fans, you were the one there, you were his flash, helping him to find the way back home, to give him the love he deserves

You left me and I’m the only one here I call you but there’s no answer, what else can I do? I thought I cared for you more than anything But it was my mistake, how hard was it for you? Come back to me please, give me one more chance Shine on me beautifully like you’ve always did I know bae gone be the last time This is how I’m feeling If I can see you one last time, one love

he was calling you even now, his mind was wandering back to all the memories he had with you, his one and only love, but you weren't going to answer him, you couldn't just come back from the dead

The day I let you go from my arms The day that will never come again I repeat these words alone, I want to see you

suddenly, hoseok felt guilty again while singing this part, he shouldn't let you go from his arms that morning, he should've faked being sick, or anything he could just for you to be home and live a little more

You’ve given me so much I still have more to give you back We can’t stop like this If I have one more chance

he wanted to do all he could for you, but you wouldn't be there to see it, and he would never be able to give back all the love and support you gave him, so he was doing his best to be happy for you even tho he's broken, he needed to be strong for his daughter

You left me and I’m the only one here I call you but there’s no answer, what else can I do? The shining flash, yeah Now I can be your destiny Like I’m your everything? If you’re in my arms, I won’t let you go The flash will be shining on us I’m waiting for the day you smile again

he felt the tears teasing his eyes again, but he held them back this time, ending the song with a smile, playing with the baby in his arms, hearing eunbi's loud laugh, filling his heart with some joy, finally, and he truly smiled, laughing with her

"y/n, i love you! thank you for giving me everything!" was the last thing he shouted before ending the concert

even when you're not there anymore, he felt as if he was being the most loved man in the earth by you and your daughter

[robininthelabyrinth]

Nie Huaisong and Wen Ning accidentally become best friends post-canon on account of yearning for wwx's friendship + hating jgy + nhs helping fund Wen Ning's adventures as a sign of goodwill. Shenanigans ensue?

1

“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Nie Huaisang asked. “A night hunt with those juniors of yours, perhaps?”

Wen Ning shrugged. “Everyone went home for the New Year.”

“And you went…to the Unclean Realm? Which, correct me if I’m wrong, you’ve never been to before in your life? Or – un-life?”

“No. Never.”

Nie Huaisang was developing a headache. “Wen Ning. Why are you here and not in Gusu? You might not have much family to celebrate the holiday with, but you do have one.”

“Yes,” Wen Ning said, ducking his head. “But you don’t.”

2

“I don’t need your money, Nie-zongzhu.”

Nie Huaisang fanned himself and gave a long, overly dramatic sigh. “I know! You have all the coffers of Lanling behind you, thanks to young master Jin Ling, and naturally Gusu wouldn’t let you go hungry – or, well, you know what I mean – and everyone knows they’re rich. The little drop from my Nie sect would disappear into the ocean of your unclaimed riches.”

Wen Ning stared, mouth agape.

“I was just saying that you didn’t know how to spend it.”

3

“We’re drinking buddies now,” Nie Huaisang explained.

Wei Wuxian kept smiling, then not smiling, then smiling again. “He – can’t drink.”

“That seems like a problem you should fix, then, doesn’t it?”

4

Nie Huaisang spent each anniversary of his brother’s death kneeling next to his memorial tablet, as if belated piety could make up for all the years of rejecting his brother’s outreached hand just because he didn’t like his manner, of making a mockery of the things his brother held dear, of preferring Jin Guangyao because of an ounce of indulgence and few stupid trifles given as gifts. He wondered if his brother felt the same way about their father: an entire war against the Wens, justified by external evidence as it might have been, driven by a teenager who felt he hadn’t done enough when it was still possible.

Maybe that was the real Nie curse – a failure to communicate, and then regret.

Wen Ning nudged him a little, shoulder-to-shoulder, to break the pall cast by gloomy thoughts; he’d started keeping him company on these vigils. In return, Nie Huaisang would light incense and burn money for Wen Qing, and helped Wen Ning sweep the site of her grave on Qingming.

Some things only a useless younger brother could understand.

5

“Wen Ning?” Lan Sizhui was happy to see him, as always, though he couldn’t quite stop the confusion from seeping into his expression. “It’s good to see you.”

“Forget that,” Lan Jingyi interjected. “What are you doing sitting in the sect leader’s place in the Unclean Realm?”

“…Nie Huaisang got bored,” Wen Ning said. “I’m temporarily filling in.”

“As – sect leader?” Jin Ling asked, eyes suddenly intently interested. “Is that a thing?”

“Not really,” Wen Ning said apologetically. “My instructions are to just say ‘I don’t know’ to everyone that asks anything.”

“But Sect Leader Nie hasn’t done the head-shaker routine in years,” Lan Sizhui said, puzzled.

Wen Ning shrugged. “He said that if his sect could deal with it for over a decade, they can deal with it for the week he takes to go to the beach.”

“The beach,” Jin Ling said enviously. “Say, do you think I could pull the same trick with Fairy?”

“I don’t see why not,” Lan Jingyi said at once. “You’re both small and hairy beasts – stop hitting me! You’re a Sect Leader! You should act like one! Wen Ning, tell him!”

“Don’t ask me,” Wen Ning said. “I don’t know.”

[wangxianficrecs]

Fic Finder

Let’s have another round!

_________

1.  Does anyone know what happened to this one? ⤵️

MOJO! I really love your blog, I am a huge fan of how dedicated and organized you are! You work so hard for us in fandom! [Oh, thank you, darling!]  I know you’re on a hiatus [not anymore!] but I hope you see this when you come back, but I am in dire need of finding a fic.

All I know is it’s name. And has I think omega lan zhan the fic is called off-key the creator took it down and I don’t remember who the were.

Please if anyone knows I would totally appreciate it!!! 💜💜💜💜 thank you again for all you do! 💜💜 -- @shamelessfanpolice

~*~

2.  Your account is amazing istg. The amount of fics I have has doubled since I started following you. [Woo hoo!  Thank you!]  I was wondering if you or your followers could help me find a fic that’s set in the past in Europe. I saw a picture of Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian in Victorian dress and it made me want to read read something like it.

FOUND?  This one is RPF actually, but it sprang to mind immediately and perhaps you’re looking for:

Bound With a Same-Heart Knot by mrsronweasley (E, 59k, RPF, yizhan [xiao zhan/wang yibo], my post)

~*~

3.  hi can you find the fic where wwx and lan wangji are married because of business. then later they adopt a-yuan, then after that since the lan elders have enough power from the SANREN company and baoshan sanren and wen ruohan are a couple, the lan elders wanted lwj to marry nhs but nhs fell in love with jiang cheng and lwj fell in love with wwx. nhs is lwj's ex bf - @masterofdemoniccultivation

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4.  Hi🥺 welcome back and happy lunar new year 💞. [Back atcha, lovely!]  I was wondering if you know this fic where wangxian get together at cloud recess and they're both ace don't the other. And I also think there's a scene with xicheng where they're happy that their brothers are finally interested in s*x

FOUND?  Could you be thinking of Under Extreme Duress by sssrha (T, 34k, wangxian, my bookmark, WIP where they are asexual betas continually dragging apart oversexed alpha/omega couples)?

FOUND!  @magic-orange-cactus says their bookmark for Let Them Eat Cake by Vamillepudding (G, 8k, wangxian) reads, “Asexual wangxian and cloud Recesses that take their sexual education SERIOUSLY XD”)

~*~

5.  find the fic where lwj had a gf but then when he met wwx he fell in love with him. wwx and lwj started dating and lwj broke up with his gf then his gf threatened if he doesnt go to her she will die doing suicide and lwj says sorry and goes to the hospital for his EX girlfriend. but what lwj didmnt know is it that wwx only had 1 year to live and wanted to spend his time with lwj so his family allowed . lwj tried to speak to wwx and lwj's gf tried to hit wwx and madam yu hit her and shouted at lwj ex gf and jyl got so mad, she hit lwj's ex gf and when baoshan sanren revealed ww is gonna die any time lwj tried to apologize to him and after sometime wwx forgave him, and later they adopt ayuan and then they married and then wwx was brought to the hospital, in his last days with his family and lan zhan and a-yuan and then wwx was dying he crawled to a-yuan and lwj and hug them then died and lwj died from a gunshot in protecting a-yuan -- @masterofdemoniccultivation

One Year Time Bomb by Kaien24 (Not Rated, 53k, Tragedy, Angst, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Friendship, Friends to Lovers, Romance, Character Death) 31 is probably “One Year Time Bomb” by Kaien24! i’ve been looking for it on and off since i saw this post and finally found it again

~*~

6.  Hii! Happy anniversary!  I wanna thank u for your hard work! The fic recs have kept me afloat these past few months.  [Thank you!]   However, I wanna ask for help in finding a fic where wei ying was cursed by some "fertility" goddess and was given a woman's body then lwj got her pregnant. That's the last thing I can remember huhu hope u can help. Thank you!!

FOUND!  This one is  In Sickness and In Health (And In Strange and Unexpected Times Too) by purplemonster (E, 28k, wangxian)

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7.  the cultivator killed wen remnants INCLUDING wen yuan and wwx ran to lwj. what wwx didnt know is lwj forgot about wwx forcefully by lan qiren.

wwx: l-lan zhan wen yuan- a-yuan is dead lan-

lwj stabbed wwx

wwx: lan zhan??. then after that wwx laughed until he had resentful energy, jin zixuan was only in a coma. lan xichen and jiang cheng ran to koi tower jc : wei wuxian lxc: young master wei wwx: ahahah! since you wanted me to be a demon then ill be a demon AHAHAHAH then wwx flew to burial mounds , the lan clan has lost support because they were scared of wwx. #badguyjinguangshan #badguylanqiren #jinzixuan and jiang yanli is alive --  @masterofdemoniccultivation

FOUND? THE DAY THE SUN BLACKENS by FongLian (Not rated, 16k, wangxian, WIP, Angst, Family, Regret, Brotherly Angst, Brotherly Affection, NMJ is caught up in the Cross-fire, LXC & LWJ left Gusu Lan, WWX Finally Gave In, He Wants To Destroy The Whole Cultivation World, And Create New One For His Baby, A-Yuan is Stuck in Between Life and Death, Yes A-Yuan is Like the Lucrecia Crescent of MDZS, Sayings: "Be Careful What You Wish For", LQR Made A Very Huge Mistake, JGS is Doomed, JZX is in a Coma, He'll play a Role Later)

~*~

8.  Can you help me find a fic in which Jiang Cheng walks in on Wei Wuxian making out with his past/future self and Lan Zhan just watches with morbid fascination?? I know its vague but that's all I can remember

FOUND! @whereisyourcahier says it might be one of The Same Moon Shines series Though I'm Gone (Still Think Of Me) by sami (M, 8k, wangxian)

~*~

9.  Excuse me, there's a fic I read where WWX came across a magical future seeing object while at the Cloud Recesses, (I think it was a Lan headband?) and it only works if he and someone else touch it. I'm wondering if you'd read it and could tell me the title, because I accidently closed all my google pages and can't find it. [Oh my god, I HATE that, and installed an app called “Session Buddy” so that if it happens again I can still pull up all the closed pages AND the pages before them.] 😔 💔  ~ @respectpotatoes

FOUND!  by @whereisyourcahier who says the future-seeing-object isn’t a headband, but everything else fits:   Yearning for Miles by Murahi (M, 270k, wangxian, WIP)

~*~

10.  Blessing upon your crops for the service you provide this fandom. [My crops appreciate the blessing, thank you!]  There was a fic I read where lwj got cursed into saying every thought that ran through his head, and I forgot to bookmark it :( I know it was an E rated fic, too. Any help you or your followers could provide would be huge! ~ @gerudoheiress

FOUND!  Could you be thinking of  beneath six layers of silk by darkredloveknot (enheduane) (E, 13k, wangxian, my post) where lwj is cursed to speak out loud all his thoughts and feelings -- but specifically those relating to wwx.

FOUND! @planb-is-in-effect suggests another option:  Crack me open, pour you out by Tenillypo (E, 16k, wangxian)

FOUND!  @trektaalik  says a third option could be Rarely Pure and Never Simple by thunderwear (not rated (G), 3k, wangxian, my post) (hee, hee, evidently lwj truth curses are a popular trope!)

~*~

11.  Hello! Sorry to bother I'm looking for a rec post I think it was yours of fics where Lwj was bad with WWX in the beginning and then he tried to be better after it had a lot of wips ~ @miss-yae

FOUND!  @mikkeneko believes it might be  To Bring You Back Within My Reach by ablaiseofglory (M, 21k, wangxian, WIP)

~*~

12.  Hi, Mojo! I was wondering if you could help me find this one fic? It’s a one-shot, maybe 4-10K? It features vampire!lwj and vampire!wwx and it’s kind of dark. I think they hide under a glamour of sorts. Um...Xue Yang is featured in there, too. Along with Lxc and jc. Have you heard of it? Thanks. ❤️☺️💞

FOUND! @sssrha​ thinks this one could be The Way You Tremble by themunchking (E, 6k, wangxian)

~*~

13.  I also have a submission for your next Fic Finder post! It is one of the Modern AU, baby A-Yuan gets left with WWX so he and LWJ adopt him and get together in the process type of fics. I distinctly remember a segment where they go to LWJ's apartment for the first time and it's super posh, and WWX enters the hallway to see LXC standing there, meets him for the first time, and realizes that LWJ has told his family NOTHING about his new bf or kid. It is NOT The Simplest Way Forward NOR Take My Hand Take My Whole Life Too, I checked through both of these and this scene doesn't appear in either. Help? @mikkeneko [I’m pretty sure that IS a scene from Simplest Way Forward, though?]

Not FOUND?  I don’t think it’s this one but... Let's Play Pretend and Live Our Lives by Tassos (E, 51k, wangxian, my bookmark)  is a modern au where wwx has A-Yuan (saved from rescue work) and he and lwj play chicken until they’re ACTUALLY married & co-parenting and meanwhile lxc and lqr are clueless.

FOUND?  @artemisisdiana thinks this one might be  your heart, two doors down by ghostsgf (G, 10k, wangxian)

[rosethornewrites]

Thursday & Friday NR, E, & M reading

The usual

Finished

Not Rated:

A Slightly Different Story, by TimeToRead112

The story where Cangze Sanren managed to extort a marriage with Lan Qiren's younger nephew for her son before she died, thus changing the entire story.

Or, Wei Wuxian rambles on his wedding night about how grateful he is to have gotten a perfect husband and how happy he was growing up with him.

Explicit:

Practice Makes Perfect, by Supernova_Sage

“What does Wei Ying need help with?” Lan Wangji asks once Wei Wuxian has taken his first sip.

Oh. Right. That’s why he had come over here in the first place. Not to gawk or admire up close. “Ah, Lan Zhan.” He clears his throat, chuckling. “You can’t laugh at me.”

“Would never laugh at Wei Ying.”

“You better not because I’m in real trouble here and laughing would just be cruel.”

“Wei Ying.”

“Okay, okay.” He takes a deep breath. “So. I sorta have a date. In a week.”

only bought this dress so you could take it off, by mirrorofprinces

In any case, he has to get himself under control. He cares about Wei Ying, so much so that he cannot, should not, do anything to disrupt the peace in their home. Wei Ying allowed him into his life, introducing him to the people he loves most, trusting him with a secret that is easy to judge and misunderstand. More importantly, Lan Zhan does not want him living in a motel again. No, it’s easier on his heart to know that Wei Ying is down the hall, safe, comfortable, and off-limits.

your memory is ecstasy, by words_are_memory

Lan Wangji did not have many regrets, but foremost among them was never confessing to Wei Ying the extent of his feelings. Now Wei Ying would never know how Lan Wangji’s stomach tingled strangely when, during the guest lectures, he saw the boy he had at first considered to be a nuisance; how he had wished to shield him from Wen Chao’s abuse during the Wen indoctrination; how he had been ready sacrifice his life for Wei Ying as they were fighting in the Sunshot Campaign. Wei Ying would never find out the real reason why Lan Wangji had asked him to return to Gusu when he was losing himself to demonic cultivation - not because of their friendship, but because he hated to see the man he loved become someone else altogether.

He would never know, because he was dead. Lan Wangji hadn’t even had a body to bury, or a soul that he could try to communicate with. There were only memories of a man in red-and-black robes with a smile like the sun.

Memories…and fantasies.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's the seventh anniversary of Wei Wuxian's death. Lan Wangji indulges.

Mature:

Careful hands, by deliciousblizzardshark

When Lan Wangji is taken captive by the Wens during the burning of Cloud Recesses Wei Wuxian comes to rescue him and take care of him.

or

They’re on the edge of Wen sect territory when it happens; the bright flash of a talisman blinding the whole company, the guards reeling away, even Lan Wangji with his spiritual energy too weak to clear the afterimage from his eyes.

Suddenly someone is among them, some dancing whirling black shape, and Lan Wangji should be helping his rescuer (if that’s what this is), but he can’t see and he can’t fight so he falls to his knees to make himself as small of a target as possible.

He’s gotten used to kneeling, anyway.

He hopes but it can’t be, it can’t be, there’s no way it’s Wei Wuxian, and yet he strains to see more clearly, to catch a flash of red in that swirl of black, to hear that joking voice, that laughter.

all that remains, by scepterofstardust

Jin Ling falls ill on a night-hunt while visiting Cloud Recesses, and Wei Wuxian and Jiang Wanyin are forced to come together. Something akin to reconciliation begins.

Unfinished

Not Rated:

a garden to call ours, by kintou

Wei Ying tries to put his rabbits up for adoption but somehow gets a cute family and a big vegetable garden instead.

A blast from the past, by Queencassey256

Four juniors was sent to handle an evil spirit, the spirit didn't seem so crucial so the sect leaders thought why not let the juniors have some experience

But something has gone terribly wrong, they don't even know how they end up at a gloomy cave, but why does sizhui feels a sense of familiarity

Explicit:

Blood Harmony, by Anonymous

"It'd be my honor to marry the Second Jade of Lan," Wei Ying bows to him.

Before Wangji can stand up and return the bow, Wei Ying already turns, leaving the room.

His heart constricts with the need to chase after him, shaking him and saying,

Fuck honor! Love me instead!

------------

Or, a canon-divergence fic, set before the burning of Cloud Recesses.

An arranged marriage AU

With pain.

Mature:

i have built a future in my mind, by LoopyLiesey

While sleeping, Cangse Sanren receives a visit from Baoshan Sanren, and a vision of the future that will befall her son if she does nothing.

What Cangse Sanren sees cannot be allowed to happen. She will protect her son, from those she once called called friends, and even from himself if she needs to.

If Lost, Please Return To..., by sneaky_sneaky_headshaker

Wei Wuxian did not expect to wake up to Lan Wangji the morning after getting blackout drunk to forget his university housing problems. It's been a few years but Lan Wangji decides to help out, much to Wei Wuxian's confusion.

Alternatively:

A gag gift given to Lan Wangji during his teen years reunites him with the love of his life Wei Wuxian during their university years.

Hopefully this is fluffy enough with a generous helping of our lovable oblivious idiots

[angstymdzsthoughts]

wow im loving this new ask layout.

it was post canon and wwx has been living with his husband and son in cr for a couple years now. jc is still somewhat reluctant to talk to him but he understands. jl comes by to nighthunt with his friends regularly. one unlucky day wwx had a mishap with resentful energy during a nighthunt accident and lsz died in the process.

everyone was heartbroken but wangxian were absolutely destroyed. they stayed in seclusion for months. wwx couldnt stand the guilt and had no face to see his son's friends and the other lans. even when lwj finally had to come out for sect duties wwx chose to stay in seclusion. he abandoned his regular cultivation and swore off demonic cultivation forever. in an effort to cheer up his husband, lwj persuaded him to go on a trip to worship the gods to pray for sizhui's death anniversary.

they came across a small temple, old and rickety and overgrown, and out of kindness they cleaned up and left a small offering. wwx just wanted his family back. lwj wanted a chance to start all over again. it suddenly stormed heavily that evening, so they had to take shelter in the temple for the night, taking caution to ask for permission from the resident god.

when they woke up, they were at the cloud recesses. lwj woke up in his old bedroom in a body that felt too small. wwx woke up startled in a guest bedroom in cr with jyl sitting by his bed.

"a-ying? did you have a nightmare?" wwx choked back a sob and just hugged his shijie for comfort. only then did he notice that he felt too small, and too soft. he looked down at his hands, then at his body. he was somehow a girl.

then jyl's presence in his room would make more sense. girls and boys dorms are separated in the cr. wangxian woke up as an alternate version of themselves with their original memories as well as the memories of their new body. lwj was still lan er gongzi. but in this body, she was just wei ying, a senior disciple of yunmeng jiang.

wangxian met each other again in class and wy took caution to not vex lqr too bad this time, lest he disapprove of their inevitably impending union. jc eyed lwj furiously when he approached wy after class to talk privately. it seemed that the two of them were the only ones reborn.

the first thing lwj did after that was ask his uncle to send a formal betrothal request to ymj for wy's hand. which to lqr was weird, but lz wouldnt budge. he thought lxc could still marry a more proper wife, so its fine.

they spent the rest of the year courting, lwj was in such a rush to marry wy. wy wasnt /actually/ jyl's little sister so it was no issue if she married first. meanwhile, jyl's betrothal was broken. this time by her own brother who punched jzx so hard he broke his nose. wangxian got married a year after they finished studying in gusu.

everyone was overjoyed when wy got pregnant. even mdm yu was happy for her. when their son was born, lwj recognized his soul to be their a-yuan, and wy cried her lungs out in joy. their little son had his old nose, lwj's nose, but now the rest of him look like them too. his hair was midnight black like lz's but with wy's playful curls. he had wy's ears and little constellation of moles on his skin. he even had lz's light eyes.

lqr wouldnt let go of his grandnephew that lan huan had to bargain with his uncle to be able to hold his nephew. after a-yuan could walk, they went to visit lotus pier. the toddler /adored/ jiang cheng, laughing and squealing loudly in his arms. he loved getting head pats by jyl and kept demanding attention from mdm yu by pulling on her skirt or hugging her leg and crawling into her lap. he wasnt so fond of jfm, however, only looking away in disinterest or reaching out his hands to his parents. for once jfm felt left out in his family.

wangxian wracked their brain trying to stop the sunshot campaign from happening, but wrh's power ran deeper than they thought and they could only postpone it, not prevent it completely. the wens attacked lotus pier first, burning it to the ground and killing jc's parents. the jiang siblings ran to cr, but it only served to bring the wen dogs sniffing at cr's door.

wy is talented in cultivation, but having sworn off resentful energy and having to protect the sect's children as well as her own, she could only do so much while her husband was taken to the nightless city.

lwj eventually managed to escape and jc with the help from qinghe nie managed to gather the survivors of his sect. they all went to war and the sun was finally shot. lwj came home to wy just in time to tell him they were expecting a daughter.

this time there was no yin hufu for jgs to fight over, just the remnants of the wen sect. knowing llj would abuse the war prisoners, lwj spoke up and ppl listened when he proposed the wen remnants go to qinghe for trials. civilians are left to themselves while criminals are sent to labor. the resouces belonging to the wen sect was distributed to other sects both big and small depending on how much casualty they suffered under wrh.

jzx fell in love with jyl during the war and got married as soon as it was over. jin ling was born not too long after a-yuan's little sister lan yuyan. together jyl and jzx forced llj to give out resources for jc to rebuild his sect.

3zun still became sworn brothers and wangxian didnt exactly know when jgy got married, so he still married qin su. jgs had jgy kill nmj, and when jgy wont agree to spy on gusulan he had another one sent. lwj sent nmj a missive not to trust jgy with calming and avoided his death.

it took a couple years, but when jgs thought he was ready he even imprisoned jzx and his family in koi tower, depriving them of any communications and arrested disciples that are loyal to jzx.

llj was gearing up to war once again, this time against everyone else. jgs had, unbeknowst of everyone, gotten the note on core melting hand technique and had xue yang learn it.

wangxian reached out to nhs, trying to find a way to kill jgs. realizing that jgs was fully prepared to kill lxc, jgy turned his sights over to jzx, admitting his faults and teaming up to kill jgs. jgs had jzxun attack qinghe, but it was easily defended against. xue yang led the troop against cloud recesses.

xy aimed at the main lan family and injured a-yuan. in a desperate attempt to save his family, lwj jumped out and xy destroyed his golden core. meanwhile, he still sent spiritual energy towards saving his son. distracted by his victim, wy managed to cut xy's head off. back in llj, jgy along with jzxuan and jc attacked jgs's forces in koi tower. jc beheaded jgs and with that this new war was over.

thanks to lwj, lan yuan was fine and his injury was stabilized. however the destruction of lwj's golden core not only take away his cultivation but also mangled his meridians. wy could do nothing but weep with her daughter in her lap while lxc and lqr played healing for her husband.

lwj died in his sleep that night, finally exhaling his last painful breath while wy fell asleep from crying. his funeral along with those fallen during the attack was held a few days after. wy didnt look like herself in the mourning clothes she wore along with the children.

wy was inconsolable and kept apologizing the the children. especially a-yuan. fate had been so cruel on him that he couldnt grown up with two parents twice over. it seemed that in this life too he would be named sizhui. wy refused to move and kept sigil by lwj's coffin.

suddenly su minshan came out of nowhere and started yelling at her. calling her a jinx and an unlucky bitch that shouldve prevented her husband from dying. lqr yelled at him to leave. two and a half year old lan yuyan tried to shoo him away, punching at his knees. but the adult man just kicked the little girl away. jc couldnt stay silent anymore and wrapped zidian around sms's neck and pulled, making sure his neck broke when hitting the floor.

wy didnt say anything. she just took her crying daughter and left. after making sure lan yuyan is alright, wy locked herself in her room for 3 weeks. she didnt even open the door when her kids come knocking and begging.

it broke lxc's heart to see once again two children waiting on their mother's door. he asked jyl for help in persuading wy to come out. when they came in, wy looked like a ghost still in her white mourning robes with a whole head of white hair and her eyes so weary from weeping. she fainted soon after opening the door.

they checked on her only to find out she was 2 months pregnant. the tears start anew for wy and jyl asked lxc to take wy back to lotus pier so she can recuperate with her sworn siblings. lxc and lqr reluctantly agreed and wy came with jyl and jc back to lotus pier. jzxuan became the new sect leader and severely punished jgy along with his father's men while his wife and son stayed in yunmeng.

wy made a promise with lwj once to never let their children be orphans like they were. even if only for her kids, wy tried her best to get better. she stood out in her white mourning robes in lotus pier. wy was constantly surrounded by kids, all wanting her attention. she ate jyl food with the kids and watched jc teach her kids and jin ling how to swim. after a couple months, her dark hair came back and she got healthier. her second son lan shun was born in the middle of the hot yunmeng summer in lotus pier.

after lan shun turned 1, they came back to cloud recesses. wy had some time to accept her loss, but kept thinking abt lwj. after hearing from other lan disciples, lan yuan asked granduncle to teach him inquiry. the first time lwj responded to a-yuan's guqin strings, wy broke down on her knees. wy has been wearing lwj's headband on her forearm, so lwj attached parts of his soul in it. some of it went to bichen, which lan yuan inherited. some went to lan yuyan who inherited wangji guqin. lan shun never knew his father so he didnt want anything belonging to lwj.

for now, wy had to be content with inquires to lwj. for now they had to be content with waiting for each other on the other side.

.

[bookofjin]

Annals of Taihe 16 (492)

[From WS007.]

[Taihe 16, 14 February 492 – 1 February 493]

16th Year, Spring, 1st Month, wuwu, New Moon [14 February], banqueted the crowd of subjects in the Taihua Hall. When the Emperor first made the kings and dukes rise up, the bell frames then did not play music.

On jiwei [15 February], ancestral sacrifices to Xianzu, August Emperor Xianwen at the Hall of Light, using him to pair with the High Deity. Thereupon ascended the Numinous Terrace [lingtai], so as to observe the clouds' colour. He descended to dwell at the Qingyang Left Side-room, and set out government affairs. On every New Moon, he relied on it as the regular practice.

On yinyou [17 February], first used Taizu to pair at the southern suburbs.

On renxu [18 February], decreed to settle the sequence of the Agents [xing], using Water to inherit Metal.

On jiazi [20 February], decreed to cease with libations for the Founders [or “grandfather”][?].

On yichou [21 February], regulated that the various distant family members who were not sons and grandsons of Taizu, and [those with] a different family name who had been made Kings, all be demoted to become Dukes, the Dukes to become Marquises, the Marquises to become Earls. Counts and Barons were to continue as in the past. All demoted in their titles as Generals.

On wuchen [24 February], the Emperor presided at the Siyi Hall. Recorded the questions to the Flowering and Filial.

On bingzi [3 March], first used the first month of the season to worship at the temple.

2nd Month, wuzi [15 March], the Emperor moved to hold sway at the Yongle [“Forever Happiness”] Palace.

On gengyin [17 March], demolished the Taihua Hall. Arranged and begun on the Taiji [“Grand Eminence”] Hall.

On xinmao [18 March], ceased with cold food banquets.

On renchen [19 March], favoured the Northern Section Bureau, and successively observed the various departments. Toured and scrutinized the Capital District, and listened to and managed grievances and disputes.

On jiawu [21 March], began the morning sun at the eastern suburbs, and thereupon used it as the regular practice.

On dingyou [24 March], decreed sacrifices to Yao of Tang at Pingyang, to Shun of Yu at Guangning, to Yu of Xia and Anyi, and to Wen of Zhou at Luoyang.

On dingwei [3 April], decreed that the posthumous title of Xuanni be the Civil and Sagely [wensheng] Father Ni [nifu]. Announced the posthumous title at Kong's Temple.

[Master Kong, courtesy name Zhongni, had received the posthumous title Xuanni during Western Han.]

3rd Month, dingmao [23 March], toured and scrutinized the Imperial District.

On guiyou [29 April], scrutinized the western suburbs sundry affairs of suburban sacrifices to Heaven.

On yihai [1 May], the Chariot Drove to begin welcome the vapours at the southern suburbs, from then on considered it to be the regular practice.

On xinsi [7 May], used the King of Gaoli, Lian's grandson Yun as the king of his state.

Xiao Ze dispatched envoys to court with tribute.

This Month [13 April – 12 May], the states of Gaoli and Dengzhi both dispatched envoys to court with tribute.

4th Month, dinghai, New Moon [13 May], distributed the new statutes and orders. A great amnesty Under Heaven.

On guisi [19 May], the state of Qinie dispatched envoys to court with tribute.

On jiayin [9 June], favoured the August Lineage School, and personally asked the Broad Scholars on the righteousness of the classics.

5th Month, guiwei [8 July], decreed the Crowd of Subjects at Huangxin Fore-Hall to further settle the arrangements of the statutes, the drifting followers to be limited and regulated. The Emperor personally presided over and determined them.

6th Month, jichou [14 July], the state of Gaoli dispatched envoys to court with tribute.

On jiachen [29 July], a decree said:

To concern oneself with agriculture and put weight on grains is what is first in kingly government. To exhort and take the lead in fields and farmland is a lordly person's regular service. Now the Four Vapours are in felicitous sequence, the season is enriched with torrential and freshness. [We] ought to make use of heaven and divide the earth, and thoroughly put [our] strength into the eastern cultivated lands. However among the people of the Imperial City, those who drift around for food are multitude, they do not put into practice the supervisions and exhortations, sometimes the weed hoe neglects the season. Can dispatched clarifying envoys to examine and investigate [so that who] is industrious or indolent is hence known.

Autumn, 7th Month, gengshen [14 August], the Heir of Tuyuhun, Helutou, came to court.

On renxu [16 August], a decree said:

A King establishes officials and allots responsibilities, [his robes] fall down and he folds [his hands] with his duties completed, he wields the web and lifts the mainstays, the multitude eyes [of the net] are thus managed. Our virtue is beholden to knowing people, how will [We] be able to be reflective and perceptive when the followers turn aside from the righteousness of the lord's appointments and conferrals. From now on, when selecting and recommending, always use the final month [of the season] for the original bureau together the personnel section to weigh and choose.

On jiaxu [28 August], decreed the Combined Outer Staff Cavalier in Regular Attendance Song Bian and the Combined Outer Staff Cavalier Attendant Gentleman Fang Liang as envoys to Xiao Ze.

8th Month, gengyin [13 September], the Chariot Drove to begin the evening moon at the western suburb, and thereupon used it as the regular practice.

On xinmao [14 September], the state of Gaoli dispatched envoys to court with tribute.

On ziwei [18 September], decreed the King of Yangping, Yi, and the Supervisor of the Left, Lu Rui, to supervise 12 generals and 70 000 cavalry, and chastise the Ruanruan.

On bingwu [29 September], the King of Dangchang, Liang Micheng came to court.

The Minister over the Masses, Yu Yuan, yielded his position due to his venerable age.

On jiyou [2 October], used Yu Yuan as Thrice Venerable, You Minggen as Five-times Experienced. Also nurtured the venerable of the state, and the venerable of the myriads. The generals acted out the rite of Great Shooting. It rained, and they did not manage to complete it.

On guichou [6 October], a decree said:

The Ways of the Civil and Martial matters since ancient times have acted together, in the grants of awesome beneficence they surely rely on each other. For that reason the Thrice and the Five-times are the utmost in benevolence, but there still are the affairs of conquests and offensives. Xia and Yin were enlightened and percipient while still not setting aside the acts of troops and armour. As such, if Under Heaven there is only peace, to neglect warfare is perilous. And to not teach the people war can be said to be throwing them away.

Hence Zhou established the office of Marshal, and Han set up the duties of General, both by these means assisted the civil and strengthened the martial, their awesomeness and majesty [dominating] the Four Regions. The house of state, even though venerating the civil so as to holding dear the Nine Harnessed [regions], cultivated the martial so as to soothe the Eight Wildernesses. However in their methods for practising the martial, they were still not thorough.

Now then for instruction in the civil there are standards, [but] the teachings in the martial are faulty. Before generals on horses are shooting, first act to explain the models of the martial. [We] can direct to have the ministers prepare and repair the open spaces and enclosures. Should for the ceremonies with rows and columns, and the numbering of the five military implements, separately wait for later directives.

9th Month, jiayin, New Moon [7 October], greatly put in order the even and odd numbered ancestors. Sacrificed to the the Grand August Empress Dowager Wenming at the Dark Room.

On xinwei [24 October], the Emperor, since it was the Grand August Empress Dowager Wenming' second dreaded day [anniversary of her death], wept at the left side of the mound and renounced meals for two days, weeping without interruption in the sound.

On xinsi [3 November], the King of Wuxing, Yang Jishi came to court.

Winter, 10th Month, yiyou [7 November], the state of Dengzhi dispatched envoys to court to present.

On jihai [21 November], used the Grand Tutor, the King of Anding, Xiu, as Great Marshal; the Specially Advanced Feng Dan as Minister over the Masses.

On jiachen [26 November], decreed to use the merited subjects to pair at banquets at the Grand Temple.

On bingwu [28 November], the state of Gaoli dispatched envoys to court to present.

On gengxu [2 December], the Taiji Hall was completed. A great banquet for the crowd of subjects.

11th Month, yimao [7 December], relied on the ancient Six Rear-chambers, to evaluate and regulate the Three Rooms. Used the Anchang Hall as the Inner Rear-chamber, the Huangxin Fore-Hall as the Middle Rear-chamber, the four below as the Outer Rear-chambers.

12th Month [4 January – 1 February], bestowed on the elderly people of the imperial district dove-shaped canes.

This Month, Xiao Ze dispatched envoys to court with tribute.

[untamedunrestrained]

Yiling

I have wanted to write this post for a long time but I never got around to it, but as it turns out 27 June 2020 is the one year anniversary of “The Untamed/CQL” so I was like I might as well write it even though it has nothing to do with the latter. Just seeing so many people make tributes to the show made me want to do something as well and since I have wanted to write this post for a long time, it seemed like the perfect time to do this. So let’s do this.

I watched the show first so all my first impressions of this universe are based around the show, even though I love the novel more. One of the most iconic things about the show is that it starts with Wei Wuxian’s death and a lot of people expressing their happiness with this event which was a little overwhelming. The only thing I knew before I started this show was that it was about two boys who regarded each other as soulmates. That was it and I was sold, so imagine me who has never watched a C-drama before and has non-existential knowledge of Chinese culture trying to make sense of Wei Wuxian’s death. I couldn’t and I’m pretty sure I re-watched the entire scene and I still couldn’t make sense of it but then the moment the story moves forward from that point I was enjoying it so damn much I never had time to realize that those initial episodes would have been confusing to anyone not familiar with the other adaptations of this story. But, the confusion and the sense of being overwhelmed made the words “Yiling Laozu” (Yiling Patriarch) stick in my head.

Well, as it turns out those words were very important. The Yiling Laozu is the culmination of all the events that made the world of cultivators hate and despise Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian was more powerful than them and was now choosing to support the very people they thought of as their enemies and he chooses to hide them at the Burial Mounds in Yiling. The Yiling Laozu basically connotes he who protected the Wen remnants like a patriarch and they chose to identify him with the place he decides to provide them protection in - YILING.

Now, of course what is apparent is that this name is not something Wei Wuxian gave to himself but something that others gave to him, yet they decided to go with Yiling Laozu even though he was acting as a protective paternal figure or patriarch towards the remaining Wens and was choosing to do so in the Burial Mounds. Neither of those things make you think Yiling but of course people can call you whatever they want to. They must have had a lot of names for Wei Wuxian but the most popular one seems to have been Yiling Laozu (and I must say it has a nice ring to it myself). This is the in-universe explanation, but why did the author chose this particular title for Wei Wuxian and this is where the story gets interesting.

Even though the hordes of cultivators who actually gave him this name probably had no idea but Yiling is very very significant to Wei Wuxian. In fact, even though he spends most of his first life at Lotus Pier it is the events in Yiling, all of them in combination that define the entirety of his first life and most significantly the end of it

In the CQL-verse, it isn’t made clear but in the novel it is. Jiang Fengmian finds Wei Wuxian at Yiling. After his parents’ deaths, Wei Wuxian is roaming the streets of Yiling fighting with dogs for scraps of food and this is where Jiang Fengmian finds him. This is the first event and it changed Wei Wuxian’s life and as you will soon realize every event that occurs in Yiling changes the course of Wei Wuxian’s life.

The next time Wei Wuxian returns to Yiling, he is impossibly in even more dire circumstances then the first time around. This time he comes back right after the massacre at Lotus Pier with Jiang Cheng who has just lost his golden core and Wen Ning. Wen Ning who decides to take him to the only safe place he can think of - Wen Qing’s supervisory office at Yiling. I don’t need to stress on the significance of the next events because they single handedly form the fulcrum of Wei Wuxian’s first life story. The golden core transfer happens in the mountains near Yiling. Yiling is where Wei Wuxian waits for Jiang Cheng to come find him after the core transfer but is where he is found by Wen Chao instead who has him thrown into the Burial Mounds, conveniently located at Yiling.

I often wonder if Wei Wuxian would have turned to demonic cultivation had Wen Chao not found him and thrown him into the Burial Mounds. I mean he is waiting there for Jiang Cheng and at that time it would have been impossibly for Jiang Cheng not to have noticed that there was something very different about Wei Wuxian, in such a scenario would he really have been able to turn to demonic cultivation and more importantly, I can’t see how Wei Wuxian would have kept his lack of a golden core secret in this scenario. So, this particular event in Yiling sets the course for the remainder of his life.

Though we know that Wei Wuxian spent approximately three months at the Burial Mounds we know very little (which is exaggerating) of want happened in that time but we do know that for all means and purposes Wei Wuxian had perfected the Stygian Tiger Seal and mastered the use of resentful energy which invariably ended up making him very strong, strong enough to defeat Wen Ruohan’s army and win the combined forces of the four clans the Sunshot Campaign.

And when all is said and done when Wei Wuxian had to find a place to hide the Wen remnants he goes to the Burial Mounds, in Yiling where he not only spends the remainder of his life but as per novel canon, he dies there as well.

I always see Yiling as a place of great loss for Wei Wuxian, he seems to have lost his parents there, he lost his golden core there, he lost all of the people he was trying to protect there and ultimately, he lost his life there but in classic Wei Wuxian fashion he seems to see Yiling as the place he turns to when nothing makes sense because he was rescued from living the life of a homeless orphan there, he found a means to protect what he wanted to protect there and in the end when the world turned against him he found shelter in Yiling.

This is most encompassed by the fact that Wei Wuxian doesn’t even seem to identify the Burial Mounds as the place of his death but he sees it as the place that was home to the people he wanted to protect and home to him.

[xiaojuxiyou]

Ghost

Today is my birthday!!! And I share a birthday with Seventeen’s Jun. So to celebrate his birthday and mine, I came up with a little story. Happy Birthday to Jun!

Warnings: Be prepared for the Cringe

Genre: Supernatural, Mystery, little teasing

Word Count: 1500

Like Birth. Like Death. Like Life. Nothing is certain. On my 23rd birthday, I didn't expect to die. On the 3rd anniversary of my death, I didn't expect to meet him. I did not expect him bringing me back to life.

Humans think we wander around haunting places, scaring people. No. Like humans, we live day by day waiting for our time to come. When we get separated by birth. The few times when humans and ghosts meet happen by coincidence. Most times when that happens, humans don't know that we fall ill. After that no one knows what happens to us. Rumors are we disappear into thin air or get taken to another world worse than ours. I always wondered. Little did I know I would find out very soon.

               "Happy Death Day!" I cheered, raising my glass up.

Jenna bumped mine with hers.

               "Yay!" she shouted.

We chugged down our glasses of intoxication. Lightning struck followed by the booming thunder. I groaned, setting my cup down with a clunk.

               "Why did it have to rain on my death day?" I complained, "I wanted to go out."

Jenna rolled her eyes and stared blankly at the table. A knock sounded at the door. Annoyed, I head to the door. With caution, I opened it just a crack peeking out. In front of me stood a tall man, ruffling his hair with his fingers, shaking his head to dry it. But that wasn’t what caught my attention. My eyes wandered lower, to the soaking wet shirt that hugged his body in all the best places. Through the thin white fabric, his perfectly toned abs could be seen. My mind went off to crazy places, thinking of all the things I could do. That was until he cleared his throat, bringing me back to reality.

               "Yes?" I looked up catching his eyes.

               "It's storming out here, may I come in to dry myself?" he tugged on his shirt, pulling it away from his stomach.

I gulped trying to hide my blushing cheeks. It was probably the effect of the alcohol getting to me, I wanted to touch him so much. Biting my lip, I opened the door moving aside to let him in.

               "Thanks." his soft voice filled my ears, his sleeve brushed my arm, seducing me, "You're alone?"

Locking the door behind me, I turned to him in surprise at his words. In fact, I was alone now with no idea when Jenna left or why. This was dangerous, a man and woman alone in an abandoned house in the middle of a storm. Taking a deep breath, I went over to the closet and handed him a towel.

               "The restroom is over there; you can dry yourself in there." I pointed to the restroom.

He went in and I heard the lock clicking. Only then did I remember the lock was broken. I held my nails against my cold ears, it was something I did when I felt stupid. Sitting on the edge of the table, facing directly to the restroom door, I stared at it. The heavy wind from outside blew through the restroom window, blowing the restroom door open just a crack. Enough for me to see.

His shirt hung on the rail, flowing in the wind. The towel in his hands, gently patting his hair to dry. His eyes closed as he turned toward me. Light reflected off his wet abdomen, highlighting his perfectly toned abs that looked like a bar of chocolate. Smooth delicious milk chocolate. How good would it taste on my lips?

               "Why are you looking at me like that?" His sudden words startled me.

My body reacted in the most extra way ever, causing me to jump off the table and landing in front of him. My lips pressing onto his collarbone, my hands against his chest. The scent of him filled my nose. My heart jumped out of my chest, hearing his unsteady breathing as he froze in place. My hands fell lower, touching his milk chocolate abs. My eyes widened feeling his warmth.

               "You..you're not..." I pushed him away in fear for my life.

I felt a rush of hotness flush through my body as I backed away. The fear of the unknown filled my thoughts. I didn't know what to expect, what was going to happen to me after this? Unlocking the door, I ran out, stumbling over the shoes. How was this possible? That a human can see me in such normal circumstances?

               "Wait!" he ran after me, grabbing onto my wrist.

I looked to our hands. How is he holding onto me? I raised my head, staring into those gleaming dark eyes looking as sweet as pools of chocolate. They held onto mine for only a few seconds, but I was caught. Within seconds, I was willing to do everything for him.

               "Go back inside, it's raining hard, you'll get sick." he pulled me back into the house.

Gaze sinking to the ground, I shut my eyes, whispering to myself,

               "That's what will make me sick."

Picking up the towel that fell when he came after me, he threw it onto my head patting my hair to dry it. I looked up to see him looking down to me.

               "I'm not going to hurt you, no need to be so afraid." he smiled, "I'm not a bad person."

That I could tell. But he doesn't know, I'm not even a person. I whined thinking to myself how he might react if he found out. Should I tell him?

               "I'm Wen Junhui, you can call me Jun."

His lips look so delicious. My eyes watched as he spoke and smile.

               "What's your name?"

               "Haneul."

               "Haneul." He repeated.

I loved the way the tip of his tongue lightly touched his top lip as he said my name. I loved how my name sounded coming from his lips.

               "You're feeling a little warm." Jun placed the back of his hand onto my forehead.

He was hot, standing in front of me, shirtless.

               "I don't give a shit that I don't even know you." I grabbed the waist of his pants, gently pulling him closer to me.

Heck, if I was going to die again, I might as well go without regrets. The towel in his hands dropped to the ground in response to our lips brushing ever so lightly. The wind swirled around us, the heavy raindrops drummed against the window, his heartbeat matching. His breath mingled with mine as he pulled me closer this time, his hand caressing the back of my neck. I giggled; I was ticklish. I was brought back to reality, once again. This is not supposed to happen.

               "This is dangerous." I pulled away, a little too late.

Jun pushed me against the table in the next second.

               "I want you." he held back, surprised at his own powerful desire that seemed to make no sense at all.

I could see the confusion in his eyes as he questioned himself, but eventually giving in. Those soft yummy lips pressed onto my collarbone, making me tremble.

               "You don't understand." I tried fighting back my own desires, "I'm not human."

He paused, raising his head to stare into my soul.

               "Then you must be an angel," Jun whispered, "why do I want you so bad? I don't understand."

Jun leaned in closer with his eyes closed. I brought my hands up to cover his cheeks, pushing him away.

               "No, I'm a ghost..." I managed to blurt out before I felt his body give out on top of me.

His body over mine was so heavy, I had to muster up all my energy to push him aside. Catching my breath, I sat up before turning to him. He was completely unconscious, his body trembling. Turning him to face me, I could feel the heat from his body. He was burning up. Curling up into a ball, he mumbled unclear words.

               "I told you this was dangerous," I covered his chest with the towel, "not just for me, but us both."

Moving away from him, I sat in the corner, curling into a ball as I stared at him in worry. It was all my fault that he was like this. What took over me? Tears began falling from my eyes feeling guilty about what I had done.

A current ran through my body and I felt my heart being pulled out of my chest. Sweat covered my body as I heaved. What’s happening to me? I felt hot. Needing the coldness, I ran out the door into the pouring rain that seemed to grow heavier by the minute. Wind howled through the rain like a wolf howling at the moon. Fire burned through my body. Screaming in pain, I ran faster, farther until the river below was in sight. Without a choice, I dove in. Everything went black. Is this what happens after death? Just nothing? Blackness?

[adamwatchesmovies]

My People, My Country (2019)

I'm certain My People, My Country will snag all the awards at China’s equivalent of the Oscars. Jingoistic to the point of being sickening, every frame is spent forcefully celebrating the People’s Republic of China and enforcing government-approved values. Perhaps it would mean more to someone who lives there. For this viewer, it was a profoundly dull - though eye-opening - 158 minutes. Each of this anthology's seven stories come from a different director and feature some of the country’s biggest stars in a variety of roles and genres. There's a lot to say so pardon the longer-than-usual review.

The Eve

Engineer Lin Zhiyuab (Huang Bo) is floored when he learns Tian'anmen Square is being cordoned off before the founding ceremony of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949. As the man responsible for the mechanism that will automatically raise the flag, he must now find a way to anticipate and address any possible issues - without setting eyes upon the flagpole.

Well, doesn't this sound like an exciting intro to a 2-1/2 hour movie? Immediately, you recognize this is a propaganda film. This means it'll be an interesting viewpoint into the engineer's way of thinking... but not the way they meant it to be. Like all propaganda films, this one presents its subject as all-good, all-powerful and forever successful. The lack of tension serves to make the story even less dramatic than it would’ve been normally. It's too short for you to get invested in the characters and the story is one you simply can't be bothered for.

Passing By

In 1964, China is developing nuclear weapons. Scientist Gao Yuan (Zhang Yi) has not seen his wife (Zhou Dongyu) for three years. An incident at work nearly causes a meltdown, forcing Gao to intervene and put his life at risk.

If my country announced it was developing nuclear arms, I’d be outraged; not waving flags and singing songs. Even if your sentiments towards mutually-assured destruction differ, you'll leave this tale flabbergasted. Once we get into the drama between Gao and his wife, it’s a sweet love story. Then, the details hit you. The scientist’s fate is left ambiguous, as the story ends with the country’s victorious display of power. Anyone who knows anything knows only three things come from nuclear tests gone wrong: Superpowers, giant fire-breathing dinosaurs, of agonizing death. I guess we’re supposed to admire the man's dedication to his country, at the expense of his marriage and life?

The Champion

Dongdong (Han Haolin) and his father own the only television in their small village. It’s 1984 and China’s women’s national volleyball team is playing for the gold medal against the United States. While he holds the antenna in place, the village can view this historic match. Dongdong is torn, however. His school friend is moving away. If he doesn’t say goodbye to her tonight, he’ll never have the chance to tell her how he feels.

Of all the stories, this was my favorite. Dongdong wants to step away from the antenna but there are always circumstances pulling him back towards it. It’s got small-town charm and some laugh-out-loud moments… until you begin thinking about the story's real message. It’s the Olympics, sure, but Dongdong is supposed to give up his happiness because he dares to have a little luxury at home?

Going Home

Directed by Sue Xiaolu, Going Home follows a watch repairman tasked with coordinating two watches. The timekeepers will be worn by officials overseeing the ceremony commemorating the return of Hong Kong from British rule to China in 1997.

Yet another mundane story detailing a flag-raising ceremony. With The Champion still in mind, this one seemed even more tedious than it would’ve been otherwise. It takes itself seriously - to a fault. The only time you'll be jolted out of your stupor will be when you spot the actors lovingly gazing at those five yellow stars on that red flag. Seriously, the flag plays such a big role in so many of these stories I wouldn’t be surprised if it got first billing in the end credits - I couldn't read them so I can neither confirm nor deny my suspicion.

Hello Beijing

Deadbeat dad and taxi driver Zhang (Ge You) wins a ticket to the 2008 Beijing Olympics’ opening ceremony. Thinking he can use it to gain the admiration of his son, he flaunts his prize. When the ticket is stolen by one of his fares, he panics.

Like The Champion, Hello Beijing has a more comedic tone than the rest, which is a breath of relief. You take great delight when Zhang realizes his ticket has been swiped. It's an opportunity for him to redeem himself and he does, in a way that’ll make you roll your eyes. By the time the thief’s emotional speech comes in, you're practically nauseous.

The Guiding Star

Two brothers (Liu Haoran and Arthur Chen) are taken in by a kind, elderly couple. Initially planning on robbing them, the boys change their ways when a childhood story of a falling star seen during the day is fulfilled in the form of the Shenzhou 11’s landing capsule.

The longer I go on with this anthology, the less I have to say. This is a basic story. There’s nothing wrong with that, as long as you mix it up a bit. Tying the country’s space program to a prophecy that goes on to change two nogoodniks’ lives? puh-lease.

One for All

Fighter jet pilot Lü Xiaoran (Jia Song) has fought tooth-and-nail to be the best. When she is assigned to be the backup pilot for the Military Parade of the 70th Anniversary of the Victory in the Second Sino-Japanese War, she is initially outraged. As the big event approaches, she learns the importance of setting her ambitions aside.

We started off with a boring story. It's only fitting to conclude with another. The training sequences are cool and the shots of those jets zipping through the air are exciting but by this point, you know what agenda director Wen Muye is pushing onto you and your defenses are robust. There’s no way you'll let One for All "win" and you look down upon it with disdain.

Overall, the film is well made. The cinematography is grandiose, the landscapes majestic, the performances good. I simply couldn't look past the messages being pushed. Give up three years of your life, the chance to say goodbye to your friend, your lifelong ambitions. Do it for your country. Don't expect to be recompensed for your sacrifice; are you crazy?! Take joy in the sight of that flag, the symbol that ties us all together and makes everyone, from the lowliest thieves to aspiring engineers part of a bigger whole whose collective needs far outweigh the inconvenience of a few. Let's throw in a couple of subtle potshots towards the U.S., Japan, and the United Kingdom for good measure too. I didn't want to say too much in my summaries of the stories, but almost all of these take the corniness to an insufferable level. There's overwrought drama abound, the conclusions always go for the cheapest tricks and worst of all, you'll be bored. There’s so much to learn from My People, My Country that I'm glad to have seen it but found it more frightening than inspirational. (Original Chinese with subtitles on the big screen, October 7, 2019)

[maternalcube]

its my oc wens bday. i was gonna draw somehting but idk if ill get around to it. but. its her bday.