#Hu Xing

[coffintwins]

Hu Xing's official design!

[baxcreations]

The last poll was a three-way tie... This is the fanfic the poll is for!

[save-the-data]

Blue Canvas of Youthful Days | S01E01

Chinese Drama - 2024, 12 episodes

Native Title: #路过我年少时光的蓝色

Genres: #LGBTQ+

Tags: #Web Series #Deaf Supporting Character #Adapted from a Novel

Cast: #Guo Jia Le #Zhang Xuan Yu #Xiao Zi Zhuo #Yao Xing Hao #Hu Ze Ming

[smittenskitten]

How may I address you?

[sachi]

☆ Hu Tao // Genshin Impact ☆ Resin kit / 1/7 / KATATI ☆ Wonder Festival 2021 [Beijing] Online ¥899 yuan

[kdram-chjh]

Cdrama: Love of the Divine Tree (2024?)

Trailer:🎋A Kiss to Establish Affection💕 | Love of the Divine Tree | iQIYI Romance | stay tuned

Watch this video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdmhSga216M

[crafty705]

Mayblade day 7: Duty

(Translation of passage below in reblogs—sort by comment)

好了，今天是五月七号了！

这星期天，至少在 Tumblr post 上，我会用中文打字。我觉得这个 post 的要求会有意思。

因为我没有勇气问我父母检查这段话理解或不理解，我希望没有太多明显的错点。如果你会读中文，我要对我五年级水平的中文抱歉。

—

“Duty” 最容易说的就是 “责任”。我经常会有这个责任感，对学习或对家庭比如说。

可能这有点太过度，但是我觉得长大方式跟责任有很强的关系，所以我相信这支正在维护其4000年历史传统的国家的队可以准确的代表 “责任”。

但是还要说…我小的时候，我已经觉得这个 “王虎中” 的名字有一点奇怪， 现在还不懂咋么在中文拼这个名字。这有点是因为英文版本的发音超级不准确。我这里猜的平法又用了 “国王” 的王，“老虎” 的虎， 和 “中国” 的中。

作为ABC，我觉得我忽略了大部不尊重中国的东西…但是我也知道这种搞笑的节目最好不太认真的欣赏。把每个国家都被开玩笑让人们感觉更平等。如果人们是小孩在看，可能其实不太难。

素描画（在素描画忘了太多东西…）和另外的在底下:

[bl-is-totes-my-jam]

My take on a shipping chart with the 0713 Boy Group. Ship them all with each other. One massive orgy xD

(This is just a joke. I know that some of them have wives and kids)

[binging-asian-dramas]

Hello, the Sharpshooter. 6/7

Story: 7

Acting: 10

Chemistry: 10

Comparable to: GO Into Your Heart (cdrama); Skate Into Love (cdrama);

First of all this would of been an excellent drama if they cut the series down in half. Forty episodes was much too long for this becoming draggy in a lot of parts. Aside from that though, this was a very enjoyable watch. I liked how they approached the subject of mental illness and stress can effect athletes, along with PTSD. The whole series deals with very sensitive subjects including sexual harassment, rape. The storyline of the romance side, well it’s really nothing new, boy and girl love each they reunite after several years, there’s a bit of amnesia, and hiccups along the way. The chemistry between the main leads are nothing short but amazing as well as the secondary couple. For me overall I did use the fast forward button a lot to skim over the parts that I though were draggy and not really needed.

[boyuans]

Bo Yuan for 全员加速中

[unforth]

Danmei and Baihe C Novels and Manhua Officially Licensed in English

Things are getting licensed fast enough that keeping a list like this up-to-date is basically impossible, but I saw someone asking in the tags so I figured I'd try. All titles are danmei unless otherwise noted (very little baihe is licensed so far). I've included Chinese titles, but sometimes publishers change the original titles so much that I can't track them down, apologies. I've hit the link limit on this post so I've had to remove NovelUpdate links, but they're still in the version of this post on Wordpress. Note that Taiwanese titles are not included on this list.

This is everything I know of as of December 11, 2024. There might be more. I tried. Resources used to compile this list: Danmeinews.com; this Carrd, last updated in March 2023; this other carrd last updated October 23 2024; list of danmei with official licenses on NovelUpdates; a similar list on Goodreads; danmei-specific list on Reddit that to my eye looks accurate for the larger publishers but isn't thorough for some of the smaller ones.

-

Seven Seas:

The full list of danmei novels licensed by Seven Seas is here. The full list of danmei manhua licensed by Seven Seas is here.

These titles are in various stages of publication, from "entire series released" to "license literally announced less than a week ago." As far as I know, all Seven Seas titles are available world-wide, through major distributors and libraries, and in e-book and print formats. Seven Seas translation quality varies but the editing is general strong and the editions are sturdy and nice. Note that Seven Seas isn't without controversy, especially for treating their contractors poorly resulting in them unionizing. Some people have also been unhappy with the fidelity of their translations compared to the original Chinese (I've been satisfied personally but ymmv).

Mo Xiang Tong Xiu titles:

The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System (Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong)

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (Mo Dao Zu Shi)

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation (Mo Dao Zu Shi) manhua

Heaven Official's Blessing (Tian Guan Ci Fu)

Meatbun Doesn't Eat Meat titles:

Case File Compendium (Bing an Ben)

The Husky and His White Cat Shizun (Erha he Ta de Bai Mao Shizun)

Remnants of Filth (Yuwu)

Meng Xi Shi titles:

Thousand Autumns (Qian Qiu)

Peerless (Wushuang)

priest titles:

Guardian (Zhenhun)

Silent Reading (Modu)

Stars of Chaos (Sha Po Lang)

Fei Tian Ye Xiang titles:

Astrolabe Rebirth (Xing Pan Chongqi), written under the pen name Arise Zhang

Dinghai Fusheng Records (Dinghai Fusheng Lu)

Dinghai Fusheng Records (Dinghai Fusheng Lu) manhua

Joyful Reunion (Xiang Jian Huan)

Legend of Exorcism (Tianbao Fuyao Lu)

Mu Su Li titles:

Copper Coins (Tong Qian Kan Shi)

The Unseen Immortal of Three Hundred Years (Bujian Shang Xian San Bai Nian)

Lv Ye Qian He titles:

The White Cat’s Divine Scratching Post (Shenmu Nao Bujin)

The Wife Comes First (Qi Wei Shang)

Other titles:

After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine (Canji Zhanshen Jia Wo Wei Qie Hou) by Liu Gou Hua

Ballad of Sword and Wine (Qiang Jin Jiu) by Tang Jiuqing

BAIHE: The Beauty’s Blade (Meiren Jian) by Feng Ren Zuo Zhu

The Disabled Tyrant’s Beloved Pet Fish (Canji Baojun de Zhangxin Yu Chong) by Xue Shan Fei Hu

I Ship My Rival x Me (Wo Kele Duijia x Wo de CP) manhua by PEPA

HET: Love Between Fairy and Devil (Cang Lan Jue) by Jiu Lu Fei Xiang

Mistakenly Saving the Villain (Lun Jiu Cuo Fanpai de Xiachang) by Feng Yu Nie

My Husband and I Sleep in a Coffin (Wo he Laogong Shui Guancai) by Wu Shui Bu Du

Run Wild (Saye) by Wu Zhe

There’s Something Wrong with the Chief (Du Zhu You Bing) by Yang Su

Thrice Married to Salted Fish (San Jia Xianyu) by Bi Ka Bi

The Villain’s White Halo (Fanpai Baihua Guanghuan) by Hao Da Yi Juan Wei Sheng Zhi

You’ve Got Mail: The Perils of Pigeon Post (Fei Ge Jiao You Xu Jin Shen) by Blackegg

-

Rosmei:

Rosmei licenses are Singapore distribution rights only. There is a list of international partners organizing group orders here. I've personally placed my orders through Yiggybean, as discussed in reply to this ask. Most of these titles are only being released as print editions, tho titles that weren't originally on JJWXC (of which there are several here) WILL have e-book editions. My first book from Rosmei arrived, and I found the translation and editing to be very strong. I can't speak to how accurate it may be to the Chinese original, but it read smoothly and had very few errors. Overall, though they've made some mistakes, they've been communicative and responsive.

Huai Shang titles:

Breaking Through the Clouds (Po Yun)

Hunt for the Leviathan (Po Yun 2 Tun Hai)

Ning Yuan titles:

BAIHE: At the World's Mercy

BAIHE (I think???) The Creator's Grace

priest titles:

Coins of Destiny (Liu Yao)

The Defectives (Can Ci Pin)

Drowning Sorrows in Raging Fire (Lie Huo Jiao Chou)

Other titles:

Albert, from Earth (Aerbote Laizi Diqiu) by Jie Mo Jun

Art Thou Ailing? (Jun You Ji Fou) by Ru Shi Wo Wen)

The Bat (Bian Fu) by Feng Nong

Beyond the Snowstorm: A Windborne Love (Wo Cheng Feng Xue) by Qi Wu Gou

Don't You Like Me (Ni Shi Bushi Xihuan Wo) by Lv Tian Yi

The Earth is Online (Diqiu Shangxian) by Mo Chen Huan

Everyone Loves the Cannon Fodder (Chuan Cheng Wan Ren Mi de Paohui Zhuma) by Qie Zai Shan Yang

Global Examination (Qianqiu Gao Kao) by Mu Su Li

Gold Class Enforcers (Jinpai Dashou) by Pao Pao Xue Er

How to Survive as a Villain (Chuanyue Cheng Fanpai Yao Ruhe Huming) by Yi Yi Yi Yi

Kaleidoscope of Death (Siwang Wanhuatong) by Xi Zi Xu

The Killer of Killers (Sha Qing) by Wu Yi

Love at First Thaw (Wang Chun Bing) by Fu Li

Nan Chan by Tang Jiuqing

Obsessed (Ki Ma) by Wu Chen Shui

Tailhook (O Gou) by La Rive Gauche

Tales of Zijin Temple (Zijin Si Ye Hua) by Yun Tun Tun

Wine and Gun (Jiu yu Qiang) by Mengye Mengye

You're Too OP! (Nimen Nansheng Da Youxi Hao Lihai O~) by Yi Xiu Luo

-

Peach Flower House:

Unfortunately, Peach Flower House has gone out of business. Peach Flower House titles were primarily for sale through their website and through some distributors, such as Amazon.com. Whether titles are e-book only, print only, or both varied by title. In my opinion, Peach Flower House has inconsistent inconsistent editing quality, but the books are very readable.

Da Feng Gua Guo:

The Imperial Uncle (Huang Shu)

Peach Blossom Debt (Taohua Zhai)

Other Titles:

Golden Terrace (Huang Jin Tai) by Cang Wu Bin Bai

In the Dark (Zai Hei An Zhong) by Jin Shisi Chai

Little Mushroom (Xiao Mogu) by Shisi

University of the Underworld (Yinjian Daxue) by Ziloi

-

Via Lactea:

The partial list of danmei novels licensed by Via Lactea is here, but there are titles I've seen them selling that aren't on this list.

Via Lactea titles are primarily for sale through their website and through some distributors, such as Amazon.com. All titles are either print-only or e-book + print. Only a handful have actually been released, the rest are licensed and presumably in progress. I've now read three titles published by Via Lactea and while the translations are decent I could wish the editing was more consistent. Everything reads as if it would have been improved by one more thorough proof read.

Jing Shui Bian Titles:

Salad Days (Jing Jiu)

Silent Hearts (Mo Mai)

Qing Lv Titles:

Painting Against the Natural Grain (Huahua Ben Shi Ni Tian Er Xing) by Qing Lv

Raising Myself in 2006 by Qing Lv

Other Titles:

Apocalypse (Quanqiu Jinhua Hou Wo Zhan Zai Shiwulian Dingduan) by Qi Liu

As I've Told You Before by Sheng Jiang Tai Lang

Dawning (Liming Zhihou) by ICE

Embrace You Till the End of the game by Hu Yu La Jiao

Euthanasia (Anlesi) by Feng Su Jun

The Fall of Summer (Ting Shuo Ni Hen Nan Zhui) by Jue Chu

Falling (Luo Chi) by Yu Cheng

I Can't and I Won't (Zhen Bu Xing, Zhen Bu Ke) by Yan Gui Kang

Psycho (Feng Zi) by Xiao Yao Zi

Limerence (Wo Xichen Ni Nan Pengyou Henjiule) by Jiang Zi Bei

Lingering Game (Chanmian Youxi) by Tao Bai Bai

Lip and Sword (Chun Qiang) by Jin Shisi Chai

May I Touch Your Spirit? by Qing Mei Jiang

The Missing Piece (Maoheshenli) by Kun Yi Wei Lou

The Omega Who Wants His Baby Back by Yao Yao Yi Yan

Rose and Renaissance (Wo Zhi Xihuan Ni de Renshe [Yule Quan]) by Zhi Chu

Killing Show (Sha Lu Xiu) by Fox

Soul Vibration (Linghun Saodong) by Dr.solo

To Rule in a Turbulent World (Luan Shi Wei Wang) by Gu Xuerou (pen name of Fei Tian Ye Xiang)

A Tyrant's Cover-up Plan by A Ci Gu Niang

Was I a Scummy Bottom? by Cheng Zi Yu

-

Aloha Comics:

A tiny, Hawaii-based press focusing on manhua. Titles are available through major retailers such as Amazon and Bookshop.org. I've purchased one of these titles - Nirvana in Fire - and was please with the quality despite a couple minor errors.

All these titles are manhua!

Day Off by Qing Cai

Heaven Official's Blessing Animation Manhua by Bilibili and Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (this is a manhua made based on the donghua, using donghua art)

Here U Are by DJUN

Link Click by Li Haoling and Haoliners (not technically danmei!)

Nirvana in Fire (Lang Ya Bang) by Hai Yan (not technically danmei!)

-

Monogatari Novels:

Monogatari Novels is based in Spain. These titles can also be ordered from at least some major retailers. Note that there has been some controversy about Monogatari Novels. I'm personally not ordering these works until more information is available.

Due to a lawsuit between Monogatari Novels and BLoved Publishing, How to Survive as a Villain and The Legendary Master's Wife are currently on hold.

BAIHE: A Clear and Muddy Loss of Love (Jing Wei Qing Shang) by Please Don't Laugh

BAIHE: Female General and Eldest Princess (NuJiangjun he Zhang Gongzhu) by Please Don't Laugh

How to Survive as a Villain (Chuan Yue Cheng Fanpai Yao Ru He Huo Ming) manhua by Yi Yi Yi Yi

The Legendary Master's Wife (Chuanshuo Zhi Zhu de Furen) by Yin Ya

The Silent Concubine (Ya Nu) by Qiang Tang

BAIHE: Soulmate manhua by Wenzhi Lizi

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BLoved Publishing:

ngl I can't figure out exactly what is up with this, and there seems to be some controversy related to them and their relationship with Monogatari Novels. Their website is depressingly low on details. However, this list is for completeness, so here we are.

Due to a lawsuit between Monogatari Novels and BLoved Publishing, How to Survive as a Villain and The Legendary Master's Wife are currently on hold.

How to Survive as a Villain (Chuan Yue Cheng Fanpai Yao Ru He Huo Ming) manhua by Yi Yi Yi Yi

The Legendary Master's Wife (Chuanshuo Zhi Zhu de Furen) by Yin Ya

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Chaleuria:

As far as I can tell, Chaleuria has not updated their webpage since April 2023, so the current status of in-progress titles is unknown. All titles are digital and/or e-book, and I'm not sure how to purchase them as I haven't tried.

The Complete Guide to the Use and Care of a Personal Assistant (Zhuli Shiyong Zhinan) by Why Radiance

Deep in the Act (Ru Xi) by Tongzi

Fake Slackers (Wei Zhuang Xue Zha) by Mu Gua Huang (no longer available)

From Body to Love (Leng Yan E Nan: Xian Shenhou Ai) by Wan Wan Yi Xia

Interstellar Power Couple (Xingji Qiangli Lianyin) by Kun Cheng Xiongmao (no longer available)

Intoxicated Friends (Zui Qing Zhi Pengyou) by Ye Shu Ying

The Long Chase for the President's Spouse (Zongcai Zhui Fu Lu Manman) by Three Thousand Crow Language

No Money No Divorce (Mei Qian Lihun) by Shou Chu

Reborn into a Hamster for 233 Days (Chong Shengcheng Cangshu de 233 Tian) by Yi Shu

Records of the Dragon Follower (Cong Long Ji) by Yueren Ge

Urban Tales of Demons and Spirits (Dushi Yaogui Lu) by Qie Er

World Hopping: Avenge Our Love (Ni Wufa Yuliao de Fenshou, Wo Du Neng Gei Ni Song Shang) by Xiaomao Bu Ai Jiao (no longer available)

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Webnovel:

When I first made this list, I heard that Webnovel had a few titles but couldn't actually find them - but now I've found them, thanks to a list someone else put together. I'm including direct links to them, since I had so much trouble finding them at all.

Comrade: Almost a Cat-astrophic Love Story (Jintian ye Yao Nuli Dang Zhimao) by Demonic Fire (link)

My Boyfriend is a Dragon (Nanpiao Shi Tiaolong) by Chubby Strawberry Sauce (link)

The National Sweetheart Livestreamer is a Pro! (Quanmin Zhubo Shi Duiba) by Mo Shang Wang (link)

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Honorable Mentions:

There are a handful of titles I know of that are official translations of C Novels. These are not books with contextual queerness, but for folks with an interest in Chinese history and culture, they are worth checking out anyway, especially because understanding these stories can help understand the above books. Also, some have active shipping fandoms (for example, I've written for Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Daomu Biji). I've included two above under the entry for titles from Aloha Comics (Link Click and Nirvana in Fire) and here are a couple others I currently know of:

Dream of the Red Chamber (Hong Lou Meng) by Cao Xueqin, available in translation for free from Project Gutenberg

The Grave Robbers’ Chronicles (Daomu Biji) by Nanpai Sanshu (six volumes are available in English from Things Asian Press)

Journey to the West (Xiyou Ji) by Wu Cheng-en, in four volumes from University of Chicago Press

The Legend of the Condor Heroes (She Diao Yingxiong Chuan) by Jin Yong, in four volumes from St. Martin’s Press

Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguo Yanyi), attributed to Luo Guanzhong, available in translations for free from Archive.org

The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants (Zonglie Xiayi Chuan), attributed to Shi Yukun, available in translation for free from Archive.org

Water Margin (Shuihu Zhuan) by Shi Nai’an, from Tuttle Publishing

RESOURCE: List of Chinese speculative fiction in English translation

RESOURCE: More Chinese speculative fiction in English translation

I will add to the "Honorable Mentions" list if I find any other more mainstream titles with official translations.

-

Rumored Licenses:

Sometimes, I hear rumors about titles being licensed before the license is announced - and thus before we know which publisher has licensed them (assuming the rumor is even true). I thought I should note these somewhere. Titles I know of rumors about currently are:

A Certain Someone (Moumou) by Mu Su Li

Devil Venerable Also Wants to Know (Mozun Ye Xiang Zhidao) by Cyan Wings (a Spanish edition of this has been formally announced, which might account for the rumor)

The Fourteenth Year of Chenghua (Chenghua Shisi Nian) by Meng Xi Shi

Guide on How to Fail at Online Dating (Wanglian Fanche Zhinan) by Jiang Zi Bei

Immortal Koi is Going to Debut (Jinli Daxian Yao Chudao) by Mo Xi Ke

Mist (Bowu) by Wei Feng Ji Xu

-

A handful of other licenses are mentioned on the Carrd I linked at the beginning of this post; I have no idea the status of those titles and wasn't able to find information on them while putting together this post other than what was listed on that Carrd, so I've omitted them.

Now go forth, and buy some books!

[save-the-data]

Blue Canvas of Youthful Days | S01E02

Chinese Drama - 2024, 12 episodes

Native Title: #路过我年少时光的蓝色

Genres: #LGBTQ+

Tags: #Web Series #Deaf Supporting Character #Adapted from a Novel

Cast: #Guo Jia Le #Zhang Xuan Yu #Xiao Zi Zhuo #Yao Xing Hao #Hu Ze Ming

[penelopeswifey]

ACCIDENTALLY YOURS !

" You, a well-known streamer, have always kept your two hobbies separate. By day, you entertain thousands with your snarky commentary, but by night, you secretly write. fanfiction about your favorite idol, Balladeer. It was a guilty pleasure—until a late-night stream led to a slip of the tongue and exposed your secret to the world!

In a single moment of poor judgment and a misclick, which by the way was totally not your fault!.. I think.. clips and memes about you spread like wildfire! It was embarrassing enough for everyone to know about your fanfiction, but it spiraled down even further when they discovered you were writing about the very idol you  constantly claimed was overrated.

Just as you were wallowing in self-pity, a notification pings on your phone. A familiar username and a blue checkmark.

Oh. "

Started on: 10/7/24, 12:32 AM

Status: 🙏 starting

GENRE: romance, slight angst, comedy, fluffy

PAIRING: idol!scaramouche x streamer!gn reader

A/N: hii!! this is going to be my first smau and the first writing thing I'll post on social media.. I have barely any experience in writing but I hope this smau can be good enough to entertain!! I'm very excited to start this smau!! I take alot of inspiration from my favorite writers so if anything similar pops up tell me and I'll @ them!! ::flyrubbinghands::

CHARACTERS: — profiles.

VORTEX ; scaramouche, xiao, venti, heizou, kazuha

the gang 🔥🔥🙏 ; you, yoimiya, ayaka, kaveh, alhaitham, yunjin, hu tao.

CHAPTER'S: —

prologue - clear your tabs.

1. - I should've stayed asleep.. forever!

2. - oh!

3. - TBA

TAGLIST: open , TBA

@kaeuri @kazumiku @kyouzki @skyoverkill1 @flowzel @lalalaloveallmydays @sketcheeee @vi0let-writes @kunikuzushis-darling @js-a-silly-little-guy @simonisferal @jayzioxx @naevis-callingae @vxmp-loml @dxrling-xing @suzueuieeeee @kinanahana @help-whatdoimakemyusername @khisuko @dearanemo @heusalettle

[atamascolily]

Lily liveblogs: Thunderbolt Fantasy 4x01

In which Shang Bu Huan is simultaneously incredibly perceptive and as dense as a post; Lang Wu Yao and Xing Hai realize you can't go home again (welcome to hell); and Ba Wang Yu is a badass.

NOTE: As far as I know, there is still no news from Crunchyroll about an official English release, and I'm very grumpy about this. Please do not let TBF become this season's Girls Band Cry.

I'm always a sucker for a soft piano version of the main theme and the opening scene did not disappoint. In this house, we stan a cold open.

(that said, this gives me major flashbacks to the opening of S3, which makes me wonder how deliberate that was)

the cinematography in this scene is GORGEOUS. The light! the bamboo! everything is perfect!

love the establishing shot with the bored server, especially since you just know it's gonna be relevant later

also love how we don't see who Shang is pouring drinks for until Juan Can Yun shows up!

can I just say how much Juan Can Yun has really grown up since we first met him? He may not know what's going on, but his heart is sincerely in the right place, and he's doing his best to provide comfort and support to the guy who taught him what it meant to be a truly good person.

as usual, Shang blames himself for Lang's disappearance, never mind that Lang had his own issues and isn't the most communicative ever.

also love that neither Shang nor Juan has any idea wtf happened to Lang in S3, so from their perspective, he just fucked off into a collapsing cave for no reason... except that Shang has figured out that he went after Xing Hai in the demon realm. Which is 100% true, just not in the way he expects.

Shang is dealing with trauma in his usual way, which is to isolate himself from the people he cares about.

He's also realized his naivete in assuming that he could fob the Index off on someone else in Dong Li or get rid of it entirely--he's stuck with this thing he doesn't want and he's the only one who can handle it (because every time he tries anything else, people get hurt or killed). the problem is that it will consume his whole life, and then what? He doesn't bring it up, probably because it's too depressing to contemplate.

Shang doesn't mention his name directly, but the official summary makes it clear he's thinking of Bai Lian when he talks about how he promised to keep the Index safe.

Dan Fei is rousing both the spiritual and secular authorities to prepare for war. Here's hoping the Dong Li emperor is better than the Xi You one or else we're in real trouble!

She's not even in this episode, but I'm still so proud of her, because like Juan, she really has grown up tremendously since we first met her. And you can tell Juan really loves her! THESE KIDS, MAN.

(maybe the Dong Li emperor can take over the government when Xi You and Dong Li are reunited??)

war with the demons is coming and everybody knows it.

Juan means well, but there is no fortress the Hu Yin Shi can build that is strong enough to keep the Index safe and Shang knows it.

where is home for Shang, I wonder?? He's been on the run and on the road for so long, I don't think he even knows, even though Juan assumes Shang's home is Xi You.

(shang is never going to settle down, he will always wander, "home" is where he is, not a fixed place. but does HE know that? his reaction to Juan suggests that he does.)

Juan's line about Shang's family is so typically him... he's trying to be kind, but he messes it up because he doesn't know the situation.

I am tremendously pleased that Shang doesn't have a family (that he knows about) because it maintains his archetype as as a perpetual wanderer passing through rather than fixing him in time and space. From the beginning, he's always been alone, which is personally tragic, but narratively fitting. Rather than inheriting a destiny, he's entirely self-made.

Also, this means no more family members get fridged, because I'm so tired of that.

(Lang is the one with the family drama in this show, remember)

but I think this is one of those moments that we'll revisit later, because it's technically true, but there's so much more than that that we don't yet know about! this is just the tip of the iceberg!

I feel like this is also a key character moment for Juan, inasmuch as it shows how much he values family and social connections and ties (which he has obtained via his relationship with Dan Fei)

but oh, the awkwardness

so much awkwardness

fortunately interrupted by Juan getting called away by his duties

you can tell that Juan has really settled down, because he pays the bills--remember when Shang tells his imposter that the most important thing in life is paying your own bar tab, lol.

Juan mentions a hot spring and a inn nearby and I just want everyone to imagine the next part taking place there while Shang is naked and wet, because it's such a great mental image. I assumed Pili would have done this if they could have gotten away with it, but alas, budget.

shang always being able to see through lin's disguises gets me every time, as does lin's rueful laugh.

me: GET A ROOM YOU TWO

(also, there is a rule that says servers at restaurants in this show are never what they seem, it's practically law by now)

shang doesn't lecture lin about his behavior, just says he can see where Juan is coming from, lol

Lin's motivation of avoiding boredom is brought up because it's fundamental to understanding his character - - everything he does stems from it.

lin is 100% correct when he says shang is boring and tedious. he's narratively uninteresting. the Index is literally weighing him down. but shang can't/won't listen.

Shang: no.

lin: what, not even a "lol, no". you ARE depressed.

Lin and Juan are basically saying thesame thing in different ways, lol.

"to become a hermit and coop yourself up in the middle of nowhere and devote your whole life to protect the Index" is Lin's idea of hell -- it's basically what the Hu Yin Shi are already doing, but without the community/structure/support

also goes back to the idea of power as ISOLATION, which we have also seen with Locust (more on this later)

Lin is basically saying "play with me!" in the most direct way possible for him, it's very cute

shang telling lin he's not like him is so funny because of all the ways they're similar (which shang would really prefer not to think about, lol)

Just like Shang, Lin is not willing/able to compromise his principles, so their parting is inevitable

Lin has always been very clear that his interest in Shang is conditional on Shang being "fun", so this isn't a surprise

Of course Lin, as a professional storyteller/liar who is keenly attuned to narrative "rules" (and is voted "Most Likely To Break The Fourth Wall"), puts it in terms of tales and stories. If Shang is dropping out of the story, Lin will keep going on.

HOWEVER, Lin is also very clear that this separation is temporary, and that Shang will not be able to resist the call to adventure in his blood (very interesting given what else blood is said to do in this episode). And he's right! Shang is at a low point at the moment, but he's constitutionally incapable of minding his own business when problems drop into his lap. It's innately a part of who he is; he CANNOT stay in one place for long, he can't stop being a hero. And Lin will join him when he rejoins the narrative, because he is acutely attuned to Shang's activities/a keen judge of narrative drama. and it's something they'll do together!

in his own indirect way, Lin is saying that he'll be there when Shang is ready, and that pleases my shipper heart immensely.

shang: "GOD, I need a drink."

the question is what is he going to do next? I think, given the theme of this episode, returning home, and the mention of Tian Ming, means that he's going to somehow end up in Xi You, because it's the one thing he doesn't want to do--and therefore needs to. I'm just not sure how, but I know it has to happen before the end of the story, even if it's not immediate.

The other option is that he goes to the demon realm, because all of the plot threads are converging on the demon realm in this season, so it's inevitable that he'll end up there too

Beyond that, I'm not sure--he could spend time with Dan Fei, Juan Can Yun, and the Hu Yin Shi, but it feels like he has cut ties with them as well and is determined to do his own thing. We'll see how far he gets with his self-imposed isolation before the narrative drags him back; I have a feeling it won't be very long.

all this and we're only six minutes in, lol

I love how the demon realm looks like the bottom of the ocean with all the filtered light and corals and algae. plus they can use the green screen directly and save money!!

Azibelpher is virtually phoning it in because Lang will attack him otherwise, lololol

xing hai: ah, nothing like the fresh smell of blood to remind you of home.

lang: coughing fit

I appreciate the confirmation that Ling Ya is the manifestation of Lang's demonic powers, because it confirms what I've always suspected. Also it makes the second movie 1000% times more poignant and heartbreaking in retrospect, so good job there.

If Xing Hai is disgusted Azibelpher fucked a human, she is very wisely not saying anything, lol

Ling Ya is once again shielding Lang, so he can be human. This is not going to last, but I love him so much for trying.

Like Shang, Xing Hai was ashamed of going home because she felt she wasn't worthy enough, but now she is in Azibelpher's service and therefore protected in spite of her low status among demons. The only one who is allowed to toy with her is her boss, and you can tell he's enjoying her reactions to the changes in the demon realm.

meanwhile, lang is supposedly "home" in a foreign land that is actively hostile and yet somehow familiar on a deep innate level. welcome to hell, kid.

we also get confirmation of something I've wondered about for a long time, which is that "demons" and "demon gods" are two different classes of entities in spite of their similar names. The demon gods are living weapons the demons summoned from another world to fight the humans, which makes them the direct parallels of the Shen Hui Mo Xie, which also came from another world and are the only thing that counter them!!!

also like the Shen Hui Mo Xie, as soon as the war was over, they were misused on their own side

also, this demon god looks JUST LIKE CTHULU LMAO

I thought one of the demons got turned into a skull, but on replay, he was already a skull before that. Still not having a great day, though.

love the shot of Azi et al. on the cliff which establishes the sheer SCALE of this production.

anyway, the demons have "peace" because they're too busy placating the eldritch horrors they summoned to fight each other. This was the idea of the demon king, who I'm sure we'll meet shortly.

also, please savor the irony of Xing Hai waking up a demon god in S1, only to learn that the demons have spent the last 200 years desperately trying to keep them down

the demons are stuck living with the side effects of the war just as the humans are - two halves of the same coin

Xing Hai is mad because she doesn't like that the demons are now suffering the same fate they tried to inflict upon the humans and are stuck with the consequences--she believes in hierarchy, and in that hierarchy, even the lowliest demon is superior to a human, and therefore is prey

"peace" comes at a price--it's not really peace at all, it's stasis/paralyzing, constant fear of oblivion. Like Lin, Azi finds this boring, so he's naturally looking to stir up shit (this is also why he spends so much time fucking around with humans, btw, and, why, like Lin, he also is acutely aware of narrative rules and drama)

Okay, I was not expecting this particular musical choice for cyborg grandpa's scene (Ling Ya's theme iirc). I guess now I don't have to feel bad that Lou Zhen Jie trapped him in the other world, because he wasn't actually trapped for long.

in keeping with his dual nature, cyborg grandpa has one red eye and one green eye

his character bio on the official site says he has a connection to the other craftsman grandpa in this show, which pleases me immensely, because symmetry

love that the screen separating him from the world is literally how Locust interacts with his followers in the Order, it's so perfect for him side note: the "You" character in "Emperor You" is the same as in "Xi You", which means "secluded"; the fact that the emperor is named for his most prominent trait is also very pleasing to me, even if it's not as obvious in English. TBF is really not subtle with these sorts of things!!!

I've said this before, but Locust's isolation from the world is key to his powers, but that doesn't stop him from making his presence felt in other ways

cyborg grandpa wants to go to the demon realm but needs protection; locust wants to learn more about the demonic arts which are tied to heretical arts (another confirmation that pleases me--once again, humans and demons aren't so different!)

FIELD TRIP TO THE DEMON REALM!!!

it's very fitting that Wasp and Spider are introduced at the same time and come as a set because they are direct opposites in every respect. Spider has a fantastic entrance with his chains, but Wasp/Ba Wang Yu has my whole heart.

Her ethos is simple and direct; his is subtle and cunning; she's a butch powerhouse and he's a misogynistic twink. Of course they hate each other and immediately duke it out.

Locust approves because he's a terrible boss, lol

Ba Wang Yu gets her character poem first because she isn't hiding anything at all. She isn't stupid; she simply doesn't give a shit because she's so strong she can steamroll anything that's thrown at her. Did I mention I love her?

seriously, after Dan Fei's poem had that whole "meekness as a woman" crap, it's refreshing that Wang Yu's poem is almost literally "I AM WOMAN, HEAR ME ROAR".

I do like spider's clone attack, though. And the chains are very neat. But I'm so distracted by Wang Yu that I barely notice him.

apparently locust has his own stash of magic swords and… axes?? Of course Wang Yu gets the ax! This is also why spider's puppet was exhibited with two different swords, lol.

good thing locust magicked them so they don't get fried like jun po.

you can tell from the way the camera focuses on spider for a second that he's planning on backstabbing wasp in the demon realm.

anyway, Wasp and Spider are almost certainly doomed, and I'm betting that they're either going to kill each other because their respective ethoses cancel each other out--neither strength nor strategy is inherently superior. The alternate is that they die together fighting a common enemy, which would also be karmically fitting, but regardless, I'll be very surprised if they make it out of this season alive.

which sucks because I love Wang Yu so much, but such is life in the murder puppet fandom, especially for the bad guys

I love that the monster of the week looks so cute and harmless, but is supposedly ferocious, lol. love how it conveniently waits for Azi to finish exposition before attacking

in keeping with the "eyes" motif, it has two eyes in its skull socket where a normal animal has one.

lang barely talks in this episode -- also lol. I think he has 2 lines, a cough, and a lot of judgemental looks

Ling Ya is like, "damn it, okay, this sucks, but I'm gonna do my best to keep Lang human through all this"

Lang: CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

… and we're done!

Bai Lian with a new sword in the OP was not on my bingo card, but he puts it in a shrine and walks away. considering that the OP is named for a famous sword in Japanese legend, I'm really curious where this is going.

okay, so the opening is great actually, love Shang sitting at the table with lang, only to be alone--I thought he was going to see other people (lin?) but no, still a gut punch. shanglang shippers can have a little angst as a treat.

lot of spiderwebs when the Divine Swarm is introduced (including Lin as Piao Miao, lol)

Locust and Chao Feng also have their mirror images, hmmm

Xing Hai shattering the mirror with her whip suggests that she is going to have an interesting arc this season, "shattering" her illusions. love the reflections of the other demons in in the glass behind her.

Lang is wrapped in chains and calls on his powers via Ling Ya to summon lightning and flames and turns into a demon to escape them… I thought it was a third eye, but I think he's got a horn instead. which is so funny because the demons made fun of him last season for not having one-- half-demon = 1 horn, I guess. Anyway, demon prince Lang sighted, this is not a drill.

also am I a terrible person for immediately thinking of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" here

omg all those eyes!!!!

credits end with Shang fighting a whole army of those monsters from the end of the episode alone, only for Lin to drop down out of the sky in the most dramatic way possible and stand back to back with him. considering that Azi makes a big deal about how ordinary humans can't defeat them, this is very significant. also, unclear if this will actually happen or if it's just thematic, but either way, this encapsulates Shang and Lin's dynamic very nicely--Shang might complain, but Lin will be there when he needs him (he just has to accept him!) also inevitable that both of them will end up in the demon realm, though again, perhaps not under these exact circumstances.

I feel like the opening song is very slow and melancholy, and gets cut off just as it gets going so I'm looking forward to the full version. Nothing will ever top "His/Story" but I don't hate it.

will we get a real ED this season? probably not, but I live in hope

anyway, this was a LOT to unpack, and I feel like I've barely skimmed the surface, but there you go. can't wait to do this all over again next week.

[kdram-chjh]

Cdrama: The Legend of Shen Li (2024)

Gifs of Ending of cdrama "The Legend of Shen Li"

ENG SUB 【The Legend of Shen Li】 EP1 | The runaway Prince falls to the Human Realms

Watch this video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhhnQca5yNQ