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livewireatalanta · 7 months

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task 001. muse dossier NADIA ATALANTA; "LIVE WIRE"

Dragged by the wind / Taken by the stars / Carried with the madness and scars. -"Dark Matter", Les Friction **art credit: Vietnamese Holy Beasts by Xuân Lam

BASICS.

𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄. Huỳnn Loan Phượng The name on Nadia's birth certificate is her family name, Huỳnn, her middle name, Loan and her given name, Phượng. The luan is a deified bird across East Asian mythology, often representing an omen of peace to come and virtue. The phượng hoàng (pictured in the banner art of this post) is commonly referred to as the "Chinese phoenix," a composite creature made up several birds (which often change) and other animals. Its body represents celestial bodies and the 5 fundamental colors of its feathers represent the 5 virtues of Confucius. While it does not bear many similarities to the Western phoenix, there is an association with fire, as it is said to have been born of the sun and is commonly depicted with a fireball. It is a positive symbol, often an omen of peace, prosperity, and happiness, but also represents loyalty and honesty.

Nadia Atalanta Growing up in middle America in the late eighties/nineties meant that Nadia was encouraged to pick an "American" name that was "easier" for American teachers and friends to pronounce. Nadia was chosen from a list of names her first grade teacher had (a little dated, as she believes "Nadia" was there due to the popularity of Nadia Comăneci in the seventies). Atalanta was the call sign given to Nadia when she joined MTF Delta-5. In Greek mythology, Atalanta is associated with Jason and the Argonauts and was a disciple of Artemis. Prior to those adventures, she refused to marry unless her suitor could best her in a footrace.

𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐒. None. Some of the more childish members of MTF Xi-13 took to calling her "Nads." She provides her current surname, "Atalanta," when asked her preference. (She will be rolling her eyes at all of their new call signs and will probably be huffy about responding to "Live Wire.") If you call her Nadia, well...you had better be Dying Breed.

𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐌. Levy Tran

𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐒. A long-healed scar around the left side of her chin not quite reaching her bottom lip; a deep scar that looks like gouged claw marks at the center of her abdomen and trailing off toward her left hip; an uneven circle of puncture scars around her right shoulder that sure does look like something bit her...but what has a mouth that large? She's usually seen with her shoulder-length hair done in twin French braids, tight, down the back of her head. When not in tactical or field gear, she's likely to be wearing a sweatshirt or flannel that doesn't seem to fit right, too large and for a more masculine frame (these items belonged to her brother).

𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐎𝐎𝐒 / 𝐏𝐈𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒. She has two piercings in both ear lobes but rarely wears anything in them. No tattoos, despite Levy Tran's extensive artwork. Nadia is still living by the regulations of MTF Delta-6 and undercover best practices.

𝐀𝐆𝐄 / 𝐃.𝐎.𝐁. 38 / January 25, 1985

𝐙𝐎𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐂. Aquarius Sun, Scorpio Moon, Taurus Rising. All Nadia knows is that she’s an Aquarius and that makes her an air sign. Anything beyond that is out of her range.

𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍. A suburb of Rockford, Illinois. She usually just says "Chicago," because it's easier.

𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘. Mother, deceased 2011 Father, resides in Boston Brother, deceased 2017 Nadia's father left when she was a child and she has had no contact with him since. Her mother died of complications from lung cancer in 2011. Her brother, Mark, was her twin. They were recruited into the Foundation together and shared an apartment (when Nadia was home). He was a researcher primarily focused on habitation of anamolies in containtment. His death was the result of a fatal containment breach and the official ruling is that Mark's lack of adherence to protocol caused said breach. As you may imagine, Nadia does not believe this and has tried to discover anything she can about the incident.

𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 / 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐒. Cis woman; she/her/hers

𝐒𝐄𝐗𝐔𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘. Bisexual

𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐒. Single. Never married. Dare you to ask a second follow up.

𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐒. Level-headed, just, resourceful

𝐍𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐒. Stubborn, defensive, sarcastic

𝐇𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐓𝐒. Unnerving eye contact, going barefoot in private quarters, wearing her brother's clothes, a weakness for high-end body and hair care products, usually has a packet of some kind of candy on her person and will be pulling it out to snack on noisily during boring meetings, prefers Dr Pepper to coffee but makes an exception for Barb's vanilla caramel lattes, seems like a smoker but really only does it socially or when peer pressured in the field or when trying to annoy Dying Breed by stealing his cigarette, generally eats like a teenaged boy (in taste and quantity), as of late has been relying on misuse of prescription medication to sleep more

𝐇𝐎𝐁𝐁𝐈𝐄𝐒. Watching documentaries, doing puzzles (of all kinds), strength and combat training, running outdoors, reading historical books (nonfiction and fiction alike), visiting fine art or natural history museums

𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐒 (𝐋𝐄𝐅𝐓 𝐀𝐓 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄). none.

THE FOUNDATION.

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐅𝐅 𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄. Ranked Corporal as MTF Operative with MTF Chi-00

𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍(𝐒). Operative with Decommissioning Department (2023 - 2024) MTF Operative (Corporal); MTF Xi-13: Sequere Nos (2019 - 2023) MTF Operative (Sergeant); MTF Delta-5: Front Runners (2008 - 2019)

𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓: Decommissioning Department Nadia has only been with the Decomissioning Department for a few months. Prior to this post, she was on 8 months of medical leave due to injuries sustained during the incident with SCP-192001-01 while with MTF XI-13.

𝐒𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐒 / 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒: Fluent/conversational in several languages (English, Vietnamese, Latin, Spanish, Greek; Cantonese, French, German, Italian), hand-to-hand combat, knife/blade combat, basic firearms, basic SERE skills, undercover work

EXTRAS.

𝐁𝐈𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐘. Nadia was recruited into The Foundation directly out of upper-education, concurrent with her brother, Mark, in the greater Chicago metro area. Both Nadia and Mark excelled quickly, she in field work and infiltration and he in research and containment. Mark would eventually become respected within the Experimental Containment Research group and Nadia would be assigned to Mobile Task Force: Delta-5: “Front Runners.”

The majority of her career was spent with Delta-5. There, she proved intelligent, adept, and obedient. She expressed a deep satisfaction for the work within MTF Delta-5 and it has been reported from multiple supervisors throughout this time that Nadia was one of the brightest operatives they had seen in an age. The general consensus was that she would achieve MTF Commander at an exceptionally young age.

In 2017, Mark entered into a routine encounter with an anomaly that would prove fatal. Officially, the Foundation maintains that failure to adhere to protocol led to Mark’s death. Nadia vehemently disagrees, as Mark was always meticulous. Directly following his death, inquiries were made and the initial decision was upheld. Nadia has refused to accept the Foundation’s explanation. Most information and files related to his death and the incident have been expunged and data-locked.

Following 3 months of leave, Nadia returned to active duty. Her discipline had collapsed and her behavior became erratic and dangerous. There were numerous disciplinary warnings and write-ups, culminating in the incident with a member of GoI-004: “Church of the Broken God,” where Nadia deliberately sabotaged her cover to enter into an unprovoked physical altercation. She was reassigned to Mobile Task Force Xi-13: “Sequere Nos” as a consequence. There was a successful, largely uneventful year with MTF Xi-13 – and then the encounter with SCP-19-2001-1.

Nadia’s assignment has been in flux for the past year since the encounter with SCP-192001-01. Directly following the incident, she was remanded to 6 months of medical leave. An additional 3 months of mental health leave was recommended, but Nadia declined. Since returning from leave, she has been working in the Department of Decommissions.

𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒. Paragon, Fallen Nadia used to be an exemplar within the Mobile Task Forces, particularly MTF Delta-5. She rose through ranks fast and easy, enjoying her work and eager to gain her own command. That's all in shambles, now, but it if your character has been through MTFs, they may have heard about Atalanta, or any of her triumphs from the earlier days. If not, there's still the chance that your character worked with MTF Xi-13 and could have encountered the current shade of Nadia. Personal Project Nadia is still desperate to find out exactly what happened to her brother. I can definitely see her picking the brains of anyone who might have information, whether about that specific incident or just containment and breaches in general. Hand-to-Hand When she's not avoiding everyone in her room, Nadia will likely be training in the gym facilities. While she prefers to train solo, she also loves to spar and practice combat. If your character is a fighter, or would like to be, they could potentially cross on the mat. Wilderness Scouts Nadia has not joined the Walking Club (Seriously?), but she is often wandering through the wooded area around the base. While she is absolutely looking for solitude on these treks (with the rare exception being made for Dying Breed), your character could encounter her and, if they're quiet, they may just be allowed to walk with her.

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑 / 𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐒. Action Girl, Aloof Dark-Haired Girl, Angsty Surviving Twin, Braids of Action, Chosen Zero, Deadpan Snarking, Final Girl, Haunted Hero, Ice Queen/Defrosting the Ice Queen, The Paragon Always Rebels, Seeker, Showing Up Chauvinists, Tsundere, Twin Telepathy

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒. Alanna of Trebond (Song of the Lioness Quartet), Veronica Mars (eponymous), Jessica Jones (Marvel Cinematic Universe), Rosa Diaz (Brooklyn 99), Megara (Hercules, 1997), Jyn Erso (Rogue One), Dana Scully (The X-Files), Rogue (The X-Men)

𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐒.

#fhq.task #tell a hunter's gun ; about #parental death tw #death tw #cancer tw #drugs tw #xenophobia tw #[all just mentions but better safe than sorry!]

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reinaka42 · 9 months

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Wang Chuan Feng Hua Lu (忘川风华录) Masterpost

Wang Chuan Feng Hua Lu (忘川风华录) is a Vocal synth (Vocaloid and SynthV) music project. It consists of songs themed around different figures throughout Chinese history. The project is a collaboration between different artists and creatives, with music and videos featuring prominent traditional Chinese elements. The project's title translates to "The Records of Magnificence of the Wangchuan" - In Chinese mythology, "Wangchuan" (or River of Forgetting) is a river in the Underworld that can rid one of their past life's memories, similar to the river Lethe.

A mobile game adaptation has also been developed by NetEast. Unfortunately, I haven't played it so I can't give much insight on it. However, I assume that its premise is similar to that of the idea behind the project as a whole: all these historical figures meeting each other in the Underworld after they died. Maybe.

You can find all the songs on Bilibili. The official Weibo can be found here. The game's website, which includes all characters appearing so far in the game, can be found here, and its Weibo can be found here.

(If you prefer YouTube, I've also put together a handy playlist. Please know that most of these videos are reposts though, so please watch the original Bilibili MVs if you can!)

This blog is where I will be posting everything I feel like I need to say about the songs in this project. A lot of it is lifted from my Twitter account but will be in much more detail. Note that I probably won't touch collab songs, or songs that don't focus solely on the project's own characters.

Disclaimer: I do not speak Chinese, nor am I an expert on Chinese history. Therefore, I cannot reliably translate the lyrics to these songs, nor my words should be taken as gospel. I am merely a nerd gushing about my hyperfixation.

Playlist

多情岸【Duo Qing An】 ➼ B link

洛阳怀【Luo Yang Huai】 ➼ B link

易水诀【Yi Shui Jue】 ➼ B link

山河令【Shan He Ling】 ➼ B link

簪花人间【Zhan Hua Ren Jian】 ➼ B link

栖凰【Qi Huang】 ➼ B link

心上秋【Xin Shang Qiu】 ➼ B link

祖龙吟【Zu Long Yin】 ➼ B link

如见青山【Ru Jian Qing Shan】 ➼ B link

竹林间【Zhu Lin Jian】 ➼ B link

天下局【Tian Xia Ju】 ➼ B link

青鸟衔风【Qing Niao Xian Feng】 ➼ B link

木兰行【Mu Lan Xing】 ➼ B link

好字唯之【Hao Zi Wei Zhi】 ➼ B link

不可道【Bu Ke Dao】 ➼ B link

水叙湖风【Shui Xu Hu Feng】 (collab) ➼ B link

是非【Shi Fei】 ➼ B link

风起甘露【Feng Qi Gan Lu】 (collab) ➼ B link

谓剑【Wei Jian】 ➼ B link

万象霜天【Wan Xiang Shuang Tian】 (New Year event song) ➼ B link

千秋梦【Qian Qiu Meng】 ➼ B link

易安难安【Yi An Nan An】 ➼ B link

惊鹊【Jing Que】 ➼ B link

高歌破阵【Gao Ge Po Zhen】 (collab) ➼ B link

不赴【Bu Fu】 ➼ B link

西行【Xi Xing】 ➼ B link

大航海家【Da Hang Hai Jia】 ➼ B link

牡丹乱【Mu Dan Luan】 (collab) ➼ B link

倾国【Qing Guo】 (collab) ➼ B link

相虎【Xiang Hu】 ➼ B link

补天裂【Bu Tian Lie】 ➼ B link

此期盈期【Ci Qi Ying Qi】 (1st anniversary song) ➼ B link

破云来【Po Yun Lai】 ➼ B link

归钓吟【Gui Diao Yin】 ➼ B link

始见千秋【Shi Jian Qian Qiu】 ➼ B link

临川浮梦【Lin Chuan Fu Meng】 ➼ B link

将军行【Jiang Jun Xing】 ➼ B link

妄语人间【Wang Yu Ren Jian】 ➼ B link

数风流【Shu Feng Liu】 (2nd anniversary song) ➼ B link

问剑春秋【Wen Jian Chun Qiu】 ➼ B link

起战令【Qi Zhan Ling】 ➼ B link

人间应又雪【Ren Jian Ying You Xue】 ➼ B link

旷古回响【Kuang Gu Hui Xiang】 ➼ B link

墨隐侠声【Mo Yin Xia Sheng】 ➼ B link

桃源故人【Tao Yuan Gu Ren】 (3rd anniversary song) ➼ B link

*Note: The anniversary songs are probably for the game's anniversaries, as the project itself is more than 5 years old.

Albums

Vol 1: 溯洄【Su Hui】 Includes character songs from Duo Qing An to Zhu Lin Jian. Features human vocals.

Vol 2: 踏浪【Ta Lang】 Includes character songs from Tian Xia Ju to Jing Que.

Vol 3: 数风流【Shu Feng Liu】 Includes character songs from Bu Fu to Wang Yu Ren Jian, an unreleased song titled 燕双归【Yan Shuang Gui】, and the two anniversary songs.

Visual character guide:

#忘川风华录 #wang chuan feng hua lu #wcfhl #chinese music #vocasynth #vocaloid #synthv #vocaloid project #synth v project #synthesizer v #vocal synths #long post #this is the culmination of a 3 year brainrot #i will try my best

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ncfan-1 · 1 year

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I watched the first season of Raven of the Inner Palace (gotta read the books that are out when I can, and I hope the anime gets a second season), and I thought something that was really well-done was how the deeper meaning behind the insistence that the Raven Consort desire nothing and form no attachments was continually evolving, and yet remained recognizable to my first impressions.

At first, it seems like a matter of how Shouxue and past Raven Consorts cope/d with their situations. If they desired companionship and a life of their own, the burden of their isolation would tear them apart. If they ever longed for anything, then the role they were forced to inhabit would crush them to nothing.

That was my initial impression, and then it just kept on unfurling and expanding the longer the story wore on. I found out about the history Shouxue had been taught, the history that purported to be the true history of the Raven Consorts. I found out about how new Raven Consorts are chosen and how the act of choosing the new puts the current consort’s life on a timer. The renunciation of desires and attachments seemed now to also be about being reconciled to having your life held in the hand of a goddess who would end your life at the moment of her choosing, and not yours. It seemed like something deemed necessary to avoid the agony of railing against powers beyond Shouxue’s ability to contravene.

But what about everyone who could potentially surround the Raven Consort, if she was not forbidden from companionship?

The war was sparked when the Summer King killed the Winter King, after she allegedly spurned his affections. Xiang Qiang loved Luan Xi, and perhaps he loved her in turn, even if not in the same way, but he shut her away from him, nonetheless, perhaps because he feared that he, too, could come to rail against powers beyond his ability to gainsay if he let himself love Xiang Qiang too deeply. Perhaps. Much of that story has now been thrown into confusion, and Luan Xi’s motivations were never very clear.

But the present day gives us a clear example in the form of the Minister of Works. He loved Li Niang, and devoted his life to researching how to free her from her role as the Raven Consort, only to be driven over the edge when Li Niang died, still trapped in that role. When he saw Shouxue’s life filled with all that he knew Li Niang to have been denied, all of his love festered into bitterness and resentment of his own powerlessness, and ultimately hate of Shouxue, for having a fuller life than he knew Li Niang to have had.

And what about Gaojun? I see in him a shadow of that desperation, that capacity to rail fruitlessly against powers beyond his ability to gainsay, the potential for him to be driven to the edge of an emotional cliff, as the Minister of Works once was. The Raven Consort has traditionally been denied companionship, and perhaps that is because anyone who loved her might well be tempted to defy the Raven and try fruitlessly to free her from her role, only to fall into despair when they could not. After all, if you know and love someone, and you see them trapped in this position, wouldn’t you want to help them? Wouldn’t you want to free them? And if you couldn’t, if all of your efforts were for naught, what might that make of you?

What about Shouxue herself? Her outpouring of rage when Jijujiu was threatened, rage born of attachment, drew unwelcome attention to her in the form of the Owl, who arrived to kill her in order to free his sister from her bonds. Would the strong emotions of a vessel who was full of desires have called the Owl over from the Palace of Seclusion sooner? What did Xiang Qiang know about the Raven and the Owl, anyways?

Shouxue is undoubtedly better off for now having the companionship she was denied before. Gaojun’s opinion is that Shouxue’s presence in her life was Li Niang’s salvation at the end, the long-awaited end to her loneliness. If that’s true, it must have been a bittersweet sort of salvation, for Li Niang would have known her death was nigh, and that she was consigning Shouxue to a lonely fate. So she taught Shouxue as she had once been taught, and as the Raven Consorts before her had been taught. The Raven Consort must desire nothing, and must form no attachments. Only like this can you reconcile yourself to a life of utter solitude, friendless and alone. Only like this can you be at peace enough with impending death to greet your successor with affection instead of grief. Only like this can you die knowing that you leave her to live for decades like you lived, and yet die without being consumed by regret.

But the story demonstrates time and again that that is no way to live. Why was this rule instituted? Xiang Qiang has one account, the Owl another, and the truth probably lies somewhere in between. So much of the truth of this story is still cast in shadow, waiting to be uncovered.

I have little doubt that this theme will be further explored in the next season, if the show gets one. Shouxue has the companionship and outside attachments now that she was once denied, and it’s clear that she’s better off for it. It’s clear as well that having to give them up again would destroy her. If she had lived her life without desire and without attachments, she would have been hollow and empty, but it would have been a stable sort of hollow emptiness, rather than the collapse of someone thrown back into isolation after having known once again what life can be. We’ll just have to see where this goes.

#Raven of the Inner Palace

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shookethdev · 2 years

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a o e i i er ai ei ao ou an en ang eng ong i ia iao ie iu ian in iang ing iong u ua uo uai ui uan un uang ueng ü üe üan ün a o e er ai ao ou an en ang eng yi ya yao ye you yan yin yang ying yong wu wa wo wai wei wan wen wang weng yu yue yuan yun b ba bo bai bei bao ban ben bang beng bi biao bie bian bin bing bu p pa po pai pei pao pou pan pen pang peng pi piao pie pian pin ping pu m ma mo me mai mei mao mou man men mang meng mi miao mie miu mian min ming mu f fa fo fei fou fan fen fang feng fu d da de dai dei dao dou dan den dang deng dong di diao die diu dian ding du duo dui duan dun t ta te tai tei tao tou tan tang teng tong ti tiao tie tian ting tu tuo tui tuan tun n na ne nai nei nao nou nan nen nang neng nong ni niao nie niu nian nin niang ning nu nuo nuan nü nüe l la le lai lei lao lou lan lang leng long li lia liao lie liu lian lin liang ling lu luo luan lun lü lüe g ga ge gai gei gao gou gan gen gang geng gong gu gua guo guai gui guan gun guang k ka ke kai kei kao kou kan ken kang keng kong ku kua kuo kuai kui kuan kun kuang h ha he hai hei hao hou han hen hang heng hong hu hua huo huai hui huan hun huang z za ze zi zai zei zao zou zan zen zang zeng zong zu zuo zui zuan zun c ca ce ci cai cao cou can cen cang ceng cong cu cuo cui cuan cun s sa se si sai sao sou san sen sang seng song su suo sui suan sun zh zha zhe zhi zhai zhei zhao zhou zhan zhen zhang zheng zhong zhu zhua zhuo zhuai zhui zhuan zhun zhuang ch cha che chi chai chao chou chan chen chang cheng chong chu chua chuo chuai chui chuan chun chuang sh sha she shi shai shei shao shou shan shen shang sheng shu shua shuo shuai shui shuan shun shuang r re ri rao rou ran ren rang reng rong ru rua ruo rui ruan run j ji jia jiao jie jiu jian jin jiang jing jiong ju jue juan jun q qi qia qiao qie qiu qian qin qiang qing qiong qu que quan qun x xi xia xiao xie xiu xian xin xiang xing xiong xu xue xuan xun

NAKU 🫵

#anon #asks

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eyenaku · 2 years

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Ji ji fu ji ji

#‼️mutual #get tone-d

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tuningknight · 5 months

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actually let me talk abt my current & former vocalsynth ships, both ships i love 100000% and ships i think are just fun to think about

haiyi/rikka #1 forever in my heart they are my tragic divorced gays and i love them so much

xihe law/yun yuguang also #1 forever in my heart they have a chokehold on me

kafu/sekai is one of the cutest things Ever

coko/rime is Funny As Fuck according to the 4koma

xingchen/sekai is (brain explosion) YAHOO YIPPEE

kailuka.... i loved kailuka so much.......

yuzuki yukari/kagene rei, someone out there knows why, we reconnected sometime back in 2018/2019 but i think i lost contact with you again lmao

eleanor forte x MEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

yuma x MEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

xia yu yao/luan ming, wind-themed girls!!!!

chiyu/yuezheng ling is 🔥🔥🔥

zhiyu moke/muxin.... ohhhhh i miss them sometimes

zeta/yongyue minus would b cool.....

i was on some iori yuzuru/samuel (a chn deepvocal) a while back.

iori yuzuru/averuni too. iori yuzuru/allial too

i also was doing something with kevin/qing su but they're transfem and transmasc respectively

rose/coko would be so cool...

not really a ship, but i do wanna hear a rap duet between yi xi and haru

#virtual #text

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baoshan-sanren · 2 years

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best cdramas I’ve watched since the last one of these posts in 2021 (also some not so good + some upcoming)

I’ve been too busy to make lists, so I’m leaving out every drama I dropped

Luoyang (watch on iQIYI VIP) adapted from the novel of the same title by Ma Bo Yong (马伯庸), starring Huang Xuan, Wang Yibo, and Song Qian. The Longest Day in Chang'an vibes, but like, lighter and more colorful in every sense of the word. So many excellent female characters. Moves at a good clip for 39 episodes without stuttering. The cast is out of this world. 9/10

The Longest Day in Chang'an (watch on Amazon Prime | watch on Viki) starring Lei Jia Yin and Yi Yang Qian Xi. Fckn masterpiece. The cinematography in this thing is a joy to behold. Visually stunning. Not a drama you can glance at occasionally and still catch the threads. Had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. 10/10

Sword Snow Stride (watch on WeTV VIP | watch on Viki) based on the xuanhuan novel The Snowy Path of the Heroic Blade by 烽火戏诸侯 starring Zhang Ruoyun and Hu Jun. I have a soft spot for Zhang Ruoyun so I was gonna watch this to the end even if it sucked. Luckily, it didn’t. Still, it’s sort of a run-of-the-mill adventure journey story, where the hero always wins against all odds. It does a good job filling that empty hole in your life that Joy of Life left behind. The cast is stellar, and the plot stable enough for enjoyment. 7/10

The Long Ballad (watch on Viki | watch on YouTube) based on wuxia manhua by 夏达 starring Dilraba Dilmurat and Wu Lei. Dilraba Dilmurat is a fckn goddess. Not gonna lie, I watched this whole thing just for her. I’m not particularly crazy about Wu Lei as an actor, but he was amazing in this role. The plot meanders occasionally, and there are some episodes I’ve watched at 1.25 speed. Still, one of the better romances out there. 7/10

Marvelous Women (watch on Viki) starring Jiang Qinqin and Zhang Huiwen. This was glorious in every sense of the word. So many brilliant women. So many brainless men. In-depth study of duty, honor, loyalty and love. I laughed, I cried, I lay on the floor and stared at the ceiling. Beautiful story, exquisitely told. 10/10

The Theatre Stories (watch on iQIYI VIP) starring Qin Kaixuan and Zhao Xiaotang. Fun, lighthearted joy of a story. The best comedy I’ve seen all year. Love it to fckn pieces. 9/10

Honorable Mentions

The Story of MingLan (watch on iQIYI VIP | watch on Viki | watch on YouTube) adapted from the novel of the same title by Guan Xin Ze Luan (关心则乱), starring Zhao Liying, Feng Shaofeng, and Zhu Yilong. Cao Cuifen is also in this, for those who fckn adore this woman as much as I do. First of all, Zhao Liying is magic on screen, regardless of the role. The romance in this doesn’t meander, even if the other story lines occasionally do. First two thirds were very enjoyable. Last third I could’ve done without. I believe I called this drama “the terrible, wonderful lives of women,” and I still hold to that. 6/10

Watched, but nothing to write home about

The Rebel Princess (watch on Amazon Prime | watch on Viki) adapted from the novel "Emperor's Conquest" (帝王业) by Mei Yu Zhe (寐语者) starring Zhang Ziyi and Zhou Yiwei. 5/10

The Legend of Condor Heroes (2017) (watch on iQIYI VIP) starring Li Yitong and Yang Xuwen. Meng Ziyi is also in this adaptation. 4/10

God of Lost Fantasy (watch on Amazon Prime | watch on Viki | watch on YouTube) adapted from the novel “Ancient Godly Monarch” by Jing Wu Hen starring Sheng Yilun and Wang Ziwen. 3/10

Legend of Zhen Huan (watch on Amazon Prime) starring Sun Li and Chen JianBin. 5/10

Mirror: A Tale of Twin Cities (watch on Viki) adapted from the novel "Jing - Shuang Cheng" (镜·双城) by Cang Yue (沧月) starring Li Yifeng and Chen Yuqi. 4/10

Still waiting on:

Immortality - based on danmei novel The Husky and His White Cat Shizun by 肉包不吃肉 starring Chen Feiyu and Luo Yunxi

Winner Is King - based on the danmei novel Sha Po Lang by Priest starring Tan Jianci and Chen Zheyuan

Step By Step Lotus - based on historical novel Return to Ming Dynasty as Prince by 月关 starring Zhang Binbin and Luo Yunxi

Eternal Faith - based on danmei novel Heaven Official's Blessing by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu starring Zhai Xiaowen and Zhang Linghe

Thousand Autumns - based on danmei novel of the same name by Meng Xi Shi - cast unknown

Joy Of Life Season 2 - based on wuxia novel of the same name by 猫腻 starring Zhang Ruoyun and Li Qin

A League of Nobleman - based on danmei novel The Society of Four Leaves by Da Feng Gua Guo starring Song Weilong and Jing Boran

Flying Phoenix - based on danmei novel of the same name by 風弄 starring Dai Jingyao and Shu Yaxin

The Story of the Bat - based on danmei novel Bat by Feng Nong starring Mao Zijun and Zhang Yao

The Longest Promise - based on xianxia novel Zhu Yan by 沧月 starring Xiao Zhan, Ren Min, and Zhang Yunlong

#cdrama #cdrama recs #long post #m

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eyesofanapothecarian · 7 months

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Any aet requests regarding RAVEN IN THE INNER PALACE???

#raven of the inner palace #liu shouxue #jiujiu #Xiang Qiang #Luan Xi #Emperor Xia Gaojun #Wei Qing

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shijiujun · 4 years

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Lonely Dream | 孤梦

Summary: And when all is done and dusted, sometimes Lao Wen still gets those headaches of his, and the spots where Ah Xu had the nails driven in stil throb in pain on a cold, rainy day.

Some slice of life and domesticity for WenZhou as they enjoy more years than they expected to have initially, together.

Notes: OKAY so there are too many theories going out there for special ep ending, and nah not going there! So the concept of this is SOMEHOW Zhou Zishu saves Wen Kexing at the end of Ep 36, and they need to head into icy mountain cave for a WHILE but not forever. They head back down to Four Seasons Manor once Wen Kexing recovers.

Basically SHL ver. WenZhou, but with TYK ending (where WenZhou fight in the icy mountains for a bit after Wu Xi cures him and then head back down into the world of the living). No immortal lifespan, but hey, they get the rest of their normal lives together! So yeah, they can still eat normally, no snow and ice diet please.

Word Count: 4,500+

✨✨ Link on AO3 ✨✨

******

They visit Ah Xiang and Cao Weining’s graves once Wen Kexing’s year-long recovery in the frigid cold of the mountains is complete.

Zhou Zishu says that it is for Lao Wen’s recuperation, but he suspects Wen Kexing, the heartless bastard, knows that he has taken this year too, to finally stop hurting, to stop going through the bone-deep, heart-wrenching terror at the prospect of losing him.

Opening his eyes in the armoury a year ago, his five senses were returned to him, but at what price? Feeling Lao Wen’s cold hands against his, his stark, blinding white hair a horrifying contrast against his beautiful face, and the man almost leaving him.

Leaving him, once again.

Horror turned into anger, the words stuck in his throat, his chest so tight and heart slamming against the bones caging it, Zhou Zishu had regained all that he had lost-

-and then lost the most important thing, person, to him.

Someone he values above his own life, who had lied to him, who had so stupidly, stupidly gave himself up for him.

Zhou Zishu does not want to remember how he survived that day, how he spent minutes, hours, and days after, making sure Lao Wen continued to hang on to his very last breath.

In the past year, the cold he was constantly plagued with had nothing to do with the wintry landscape.

He knows he is pushing it a little — his eyes have rarely left Wen Kexing since they were moved to the mountains at Wu Xi and Senior Ye’s suggestions. Initially, Lao Wen slept and Zhou Zishu had no idea if he would ever wake up.

Before he would even open his eyes, the panic typically set in just like that, gripping him by the throat the moment he woke. Zhou Zishu would have to reach out for Lao Wen across him on the bed, the fear receding only when he heard and felt Lao Wen’s breaths under his fingertips.

For a long time, Zhou Zishu thought that he would be with Lao Wen in this state for the rest of his life. It was not all bad — as long as Lao Wen was alive, who cared if he spent the rest of his years guarding a sleeping Wen Kexing?

Who’s the lazy one now, Lao Wen, he thought plenty of times in the months after, his hands caressing at Wen Kexing’s cheek bones and pale face, which was of the same colour as his white hair.

Fortunately, fortunately… he managed to keep the person he wanted in the end.

They have been so focused on recuperating, stuck in the mountains and in that isolated environment, it was easy to distance themselves from everything that had and was happening outside.

Even though Wen Kexing did not mention a thing, Zhou Zishu knows that he spends some nights awake, looking out into a sky full of stars, quiet and pensive. He knows it, because he does the same.

For Jiu Xiao, for Han Ying, for Qing Luan.

For a young woman who called him Zishu-ge and Sickly Ghost, who threatened to fight him if he left Wen Kexing all alone. A beautiful young woman who should have gotten her happy ending on that tragic afternoon.

For a young man, who had a smile that could light up even the darkest of corners in a place like the Ghost Valley, who would have protected his to-be wife with everything he had.

The pain and grief that comes with losing Ah Xiang and Cao Weining is no easier to bear a year on.

===

Wen Kexing recalls the way she looked that day, all beautiful in her green and red bridal robes, finally able to live a life basking under the sunshine without anything holding her back. That was what he always wanted for her.

What a huge mistake that wedding was.

His whole life, aside from Ah Xu, has been a cycle of repeated mistakes, over and over again. If he had just put his foot down and insisted on not letting Mo Huaiyi in, if he had not just walked away in anger and instead stayed there, they would have stopped Xiao Cao’s death, and Ah Xiang’s after.

Why had he walked off? How did beautiful Ah Xiang, an Ah Xiang he was ready to give away, end up taking her last breath in his arms?

A sting on his right ear pulls him violently out of his depressed reverie, and he yells, “Ow- Ow, ow, ow, Ah Xu!”

“Don’t think that I don’t know what you’re thinking,” Zhou Zishu says, pulling Wen Kexing’s face close to him by the ear. “There is no point dwelling in the past. Life and death… when the time comes, no one can escape from it.”

Wen Kexing’s eyes sober a little, bitterness flashing across his face. Remnants of his hatred and resentment from more than a year ago, before he met Ah Xu.

“If I had just kept her with me-“

“We all make our choices,” Zhou Zishu says, his voice gentling as he lets Wen Kexing go, but the man does not move away.

“If she had to choose again, she would probably have chosen the same.”

In the cold, their hands find their way to each other, clasping warmly under their thick sleeves, the rims lined with fur.

They stare at the graves for a little longer. And while Wen Kexing has never believed in some higher power up there or the heavens-

-this time, with every ounce of his being, he prays and wishes that Ah Xiang and that pig will find their ways back to each other in the next life, no matter what.

Zhou Zishu’s hand squeezes around his, and Wen Kexing turns to see his Ah Xu’s warm smile and gaze.

“Shall we go home?”

Home. The place where they can live out the rest of their natural lives together.

“Let’s go home,” Wen Kexing agrees.

===

“Ah Xu, that is not the way you-“

Hearing Wen Kexing nag for the thousandth time, Zhou Zishu has finally had enough. Slamming the broad vegetable knife onto the wooden chopping board loudly, he turns and looks at the man next to him.

“I’m not the one who begged me to do this,” Zhou Zishu says, turning to walk away, “You make dinner. I told you it was a waste of time-“

Before he can finish his sentence, warmth engulfs his back, and something sharp snuggles into his shoulder bone. A familiar scent — jasmine, from the incense that Wen Kexing likes to use — wraps around him, hands trapping him in between the counter and the limpet attached to him.

Wen Kexing’s palms close over his hands, then guides them to pick up the knife again. Zhou Zishu stiffens, but does not move away. He lets Wen Kexing curl his own fingers properly over the cabbage, and chop at it neatly, over and over.

They have not yet spoken about this between them, despite laying in the same bed right next to each other night after night. The cave was hardly a luxurious abode and to save effort and space, Zhou Zishu fell asleep next to a comatose Wen Kexing for several months, wanting to ascertain that he was alive and breathing at any given moment.

After Wen Kexing woke, Zhou Zishu continued to sleep next to him, and Lao Wen never once brought it up in conversation.

Coming back to Four Seasons Manor, Wen Kexing naturally turned up in his room instead of the one he was staying at before, already asleep when Zhou Zishu returned to turn in.

This man is his soulmate, the person he would give everything up for no matter what it was. His lost shidi, but even before that, this man was someone who was willing to do everything he could for him. Who cared for him like no one else ever would again.

Beyond that? Zhou Zishu knows of his feelings, and is rather certain of Wen Kexing’s. He supposes that after pledging to save each other’s lives at the expense of their own repeatedly, some things just do not have to be articulated.

Zhou Zishu leans into the hold, relaxing entirely.

At this, it is Wen Kexing’s turn to be stunned at the reciprocation where he was expecting none before, but the man recovers quickly. He snuggles in even closer, the side of his face pressed right up against Zhou Zishu’s.

His Ah Xu remains still, as if unbothered, and Wen Kexing decides to try his luck.

“Ah Xu,” he angles his head slightly, his mouth brushing lightly over Zhou Zishu’s cheek as he murmurs straight into his ear.

Ah, there it is. Zhou Zishu freezes against him, now making to move his ear out of Wen Kexing’s reach.

“What?”

Wen Kexing smiles, amused and so, so fond.

His voice still low and sultry, he continues, “I think you’re right, you should let me cook instead. You’re murdering the cabbage.”

Zhou Zishu pauses for a good two seconds before turning to glare at Wen Kexing. Wen Kexing recognizes that look, and the warmth on Zhou Zishu’s back vanishes instantly just as he starts waving the knife at him.

“Wen Kexing, don’t you think you’re being ridiculous and childish-“

Laughter fills the kitchen, a sound that is incredibly melodious, immediately soothing all the uneasiness Zhou Zishu feels.

Outside, all twenty disciples try not to peek and look at their shifu and shishu being strange again. One of the younger ones, Xiao Man, cannot help but angle his head in the direction of the kitchen, and then says, “Da-shixiong, shifu is going after shishu with a knife! Is he going to be okay?”

Zhang Chengling sighs inwardly, then smiles and pats the boy on the head.

“That’s shifu’s way of showing how much he cares about shishu.”

Back in the kitchen, having heard that tiny quip from their youngest disciple, Wen Kexing finally stops in his tracks, turning around mid-escape to grab Zhou Zishu around the waist with a hand, and the other going to the hand that is holding onto the knife and stopping his Ah Xu from possibly murdering him.

He sets the knife aside, but his other hand does not move.

“What are you doing,” grumbles Zhou Zishu, looking away, his expression a little stern, as if telling Wen Kexing not to be such a nuisance.

This close, however, Wen Kexing can certainly see the light flush on Ah Xu’s cheekbones.

If Wen Kexing had to rank all the beautiful bones that Ah Xu has, it would probably be scapulas first, followed by his cheekbones.

Wen Kexing’s eyes dip a little lower.

He thinks collarbones may rank third.

“Ah Xu.”

“What?” sighs Zhou Zishu. “Let me go, the disciples need to finish the last set of practice-“

He is cut off when Wen Kexing swoops downwards, and catches his lips in his.

Zhou Zishu’s eyes go wide, but before he can do anything like move away and out of Wen Kexing’s firm hold, the man circles his waist with both arms, effectively trapping him and bringing him closer.

Wen Kexing’s body temperature tends to run on the colder side these days, a side effect of him having been brought back from the brink of death.

Right now, however, Zhou Zishu can feel nothing else but the scalding heat. His hands move up, intending to push Wen Kexing away, but they end up clutching tight around the man’s broad shoulders.

He does not stop the kiss, letting Wen Kexing’s lips roam as they like.

Outside, an unfortunate Chengling who sees this finds his eyes going wide.

“Erm,” he clears his throat quite loudly, gaining all the disciples’ attention. “Let’s head outside to finish our practice.”

He ushers everyone out, while wondering how the hell he hadn’t seen this coming.

Everything makes so much sense now.

===

Four Seasons Manor grows, and Zhang Chengling along with Bi Xingming end up taking over some classes and teaching of their own.

Wen Kexing does not want to admit it, but it seems that when he asked Ah Xu if he was a servant here, the man actually meant it. His little Chengling, who is not so little anymore, still comes to him to ask for tips or begs him to give some pointers to the other disciples, but most of the time, Wen Kexing is cooking.

He makes breakfast, is involved in lunch, and definitely ends up cooking a feast every dinner. Thankfully, Bi Xingming is unlike his da-shixiong and shifu as he actually has some kitchen sense, but Wen Kexing has truly been demoted to servant in this manor.

A servant that ends up in his master’s bed every night, Wen Kexing thinks then, and feels better about it immediately.

“Shishu, let me help you bring these out,” Bi Xingming says, stepping into the kitchen just as he’s done with the last dish.

“Mnn,” Wen Kexing hums in assent without looking up from his soup, tasting it one last time.

At the very least, these days, Zhou Zishu is able to actually, actually taste the food he lovingly cooks.

“Perfect,” he nods. “Is your shifu not up yet? It’s almost lunch time.”

“Ah…” Bi Xingming blinks, “You said not to disturb him until he wakes up, and he hasn’t left the room since morning.”

Wen Kexing frowns slightly. Sure, he worked Ah Xu over thoroughly last night, but not to the extent that he would need to sleep in for this long. Worry niggling at him, he gets Bi Xingming to start lunch with the other disciples first without waiting for them, and heads in the direction of their room.

The last time Zhou Zishu slept in so late, it was the night he confessed his past to Wen Kexing, of how he caused the deaths of everyone in Four Seasons Manor. He was deathly ill then and emotionally wrung out — things that Wen Kexing loathes to see on Zhou Zishu.

“Ah Xu?” Wen Kexing calls, sliding the door open gently.

The lump under the covers is the same as when he left it this morning. Wen Kexing takes quick strides and goes over, sitting down on the bed next to Ah Xu.

“Ah Xu?” he calls again, his voice soft as he reaches out for Zhou Zishu’s face.

His lips are pale, eyebrows furrowed and perspiring at the forehead.

“Ah Xu, are you ill? What’s wrong?”

Zhou Zishu’s skin is of normal temperature, much to Wen Kexing’s relief. His brain runs through a a million scenarios, none of them good and just as he’s about to yell for Chengling, something clicks in his head.

He does yell for their Chengling in the end, but for a hot bath instead with a pack of herbs and medicine from the stash Wu Xi gave them before he headed back home with Jing Beiyuan.

“Is shifu okay?” he asks, worried.

“He will be,” Wen Kexing says, lifting Zhou Zishu out from under the covers and heading for the bath. “Don’t worry, I’ll watch him. You continue training with the other disciples, otherwise when Ah Xu wakes up he’s going to scold all of you again.”

As Zhou Zishu soaks in the steaming medicinal bath, Wen Kexing sits right next to him, pillowing his head on his arms, which are sitting on the rim of the wooden tub and stares at him.

A few years have passed since the days when Wen Kexing despaired at Zhou Zishu dying in a short few years and the peace they have now makes it easy to not think about the past. He forgets sometimes that despite being healed, despite him giving his life force to Ah Xu, the man’s body has been to hell and back with the nails.

And forcing them out of his body forcefully while he mistakenly believed that Wen Kexing was dead, wanting to take revenge for him-

For the rest of their time together, Wen Kexing knows he will forever be guilt-ridden at this. If only he had just told Ah Xu, if only he didn’t make another stupid decision, there would have been no need for the armoury. No need for self-sacrificial plays, no need for lost time.

That Zhou Zishu would love him still and be with him, that is nothing short of a miracle.

On days like these, when the weather turns just the slightest bit wet and cold, his body starts to hurt, especially the points where he kept the nails in. All seven of them, the stupid man.

Wen Kexing inches forward and presses a kiss to the man’s temple.

For this life and every life after this one, Wen Kexing swears he will always be good to Zhou Zishu.

===

He loves and hates Wen Kexing’s hair, even after several years have passed. They are nearing the ten-year mark since leaving the mountains, and Zhou Zishu has slept next to this man every single day after, but whenever Wen Kexing shows up, Zhou Zishu has to admit that his breath is always taken away.

Wen Kexing looks ethereally gorgeous with those white strands, his features standing out even more clearly, not that Zhou Zishu would ever tell him that lest it goes to his head. However, it is a reminder that his silly, stupid shidi and now husband would dare to sacrifice his own life for his without telling him.

It is a constant reminder that he lost him, even if momentarily.

“Ah Xu, why are you are staring at me like that? You’re going to make me shy. Did you miss me? I was only gone for two days,” Wen Kexing says unabashedly during dinner.

At once, coughs and chokes go around the table, and the clanking of dropped chopsticks on the table echo through the dining hall.

Zhou Zishu takes a deep breath to compose himself and resists the urge to fight with the man over dinner. It would be a waste of food, not to mention a futile argument seeing that Wen Kexing has not changed at all since the first time they met. As long as he does not break out into poetry-

“Ah Xu, I missed you too. It is so fortunate that your heart is akin to mine-“

At that, everyone immediately stands from the table and excuses themselves, stumbling over one another as they parrot that they are full and do not want to have anymore.

It is an open secret that they are together — not because they are hiding it, but simply because they find no need to verbalize what they are to others — and if it was another couple that was stuck in this situation, he would possibly find it amusing, but Wen Kexing is incorrigible and has been for years.

Zhou Zishu finds that while he loves the man and is utterly devoted to him, is willing to die for him, at times like these maybe they should have both just stayed dead.

“Wen Kexing, have you had enough?”

He reaches out, intending to pinch at Wen Kexing as a lesson, but the man catches his hand within his deft fingers and brings it upwards so his hand is cupping one side of his face. Wen Kexing turns his head a little to press his lips to the open palm, a soft smile tugging at his lips.

“I missed you,” Wen Kexing repeats. “It’s strange how it has only been two days, but I miss you like I’ve never missed anything else before.”

The impending reprimand dies on his lips.

Fine, just this once.

Zhou Zishu sighs and pinches at Wen Kexing’s cheek instead.

“Ow, ow! Ah Xu, Ah Xu, this face is a work of the heavens, how can you trample on it like this?!”

Zhou Zishu’s eyes are once again drawn to Wen Kexing’s white locks, and he unconsciously reaches out.

As if knowing what Zhou Zishu is thinking about, Wen Kexing grabs for the hand again, interlacing their fingers together.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before I faked my death, and then not telling you at the end, before I….” Wen Kexing says, swallowing with difficulty. “Ah Xu, if I could change it, I would. But at the end, if I was given the same choice, I would have chosen the same.”

It hurts to think about that morning, seeing Wen Kexing’s hair all white and almost lifeless, his hands dropping from his.

“I know,” Zhou Zishu breathes, hiding his face in Wen Kexing’s shoulder. “I know.”

===

Zhou Zishu hears of the supposed ambush on Four Seasons Manor while he has half a day’s journey left before he gets home.

The unrest in jianghu truly never ends; their fight with the Scorpions, with Tian Chuang, with Prince Jin and Zhao Jing was rewarded with peace for a few years, but people never say contented for long. Old sects are wiped out and new ones emerge. Most of them know not to mess with Four Seasons Manor as his and Wen Kexing’s reputations indeed precede themselves, but it is unavoidable, perhaps, for some newer and ambitious ones to mistakenly think they can take both of them on.

Well, they must have made sure Zhou Zishu was not in the manor before striking, as if Wen Kexing could not take all of them on himself.

He arrives in the nick of time in the heat of battle, although a quick glance shows that Four Seasons Manor is still holding up pretty well, with Zhang Chengling and Bi Xingming leading the rest of the disciples.

And there he is, Wen Kexing, all regal in his red embroidered robes, and his white hair pinned up neatly. Every movement from his sharp and deadly fan strikes true. His eyebrows are furrowed slightly, his eyes revealing a thirst for blood that Zhou Zishu hasn’t seen in a while.

He shivers at the want that hits him, even though it is not the time and place for it.

Zhou Zishu lands opportunely behind Wen Kexing and parries a blow that was coming straight for Wen Kexing back.

The both of them exchange a glance, and wordlessly, delve right back into the fight.

When the dust settles a few hours later, Zhou Zishu makes sure injured disciples are looked at while others clean up the mess. His attention finally freed up so he can focus solely on Wen Kexing, Zhou Zishu turns, only to see his husband a distance away from him, supporting himself against a wall.

He recognizes the signs of Wen Kexing’s brain-splitting headaches immediately, and rushes over.

“Lao Wen!”

“Shishu!”

Zhou Zishu catches Wen Kexing just as he collapses, his legs giving out under him. His fingers immediately search for Wen Kexing’s pulse.

This is an all-too familiar scene, but Zhou Zishu cannot remember when this last happened. His body growing cold at the implications, all the fears are now suddenly dredged up from the trenches of trauma sustained at a point in time long ago.

“Go get Physician Yao,” Zhou Zishu snaps at whichever disciple is standing closest to them, before picking Wen Kexing up.

Zhang Chengling turns up in their room before the physician does, and whatever fear he is experiencing right now abates slightly.

Before the manor started to grow, there was only the three of them. If anyone understands what he is feeling right now, it would be Chengling.

“Shifu…” he says, trailing off as he kneels down next to the bed and looks at Wen Kexing. “Shishu hasn’t had this in years, what happened?”

“Maybe… I don’t know,” Zhou Zishu exhales heavily. “He could be just.. too tired.”

They watch over him until the physician arrives. Zhou Zishu refuses to be chased out, and the tightness in his chest only disappears once she rolls her eyes at him after testing Wen Kexing’s pulse.

“The both of you are not young anymore,” Physician Yao almost scoffs. “And the injuries and illnesses that the both of you share combined can fill up a list a mile long. He hasn’t exerted himself like this in a long while, suddenly letting it all out in a fight like that, of course there are bound to be side effects. Stop looking at him as if he’s about to die.”

Zhou Zishu is about to thank her, when a weak rasp comes from the bed, “… been there, done that.”

Relief floods him at the sound of Wen Kexing’s voice, and immediately after, anger burns hot through him as the man’s words sink in, “Wen Kexing!”

Physician Yao retreats, knowing by now not to give instructions to them both when they get like this. Instead, speaking to any of their disciples would be much more reliable.

===

Later, after all has quietened down for certain, the stench of blood fading somewhat, Wen Kexing blinks languidly, not wanting to move at all, or do anything.

If he was to die in this position right now, he would have zero complaints.

Zhou Zishu pats at the back of his head gently as Wen Kexing lies almost half on him, his ear pressed over Zhou Zishu’s heart, comforted by the strong beat. Years later, the both of them approaching the big five-o, and Wen Kexing is still like a child sometimes.

Well, he’s making up for lost time.

He is greedy for more years with Ah Xu, in this life and every single life after. A hundred, a thousand years and more. Every little bit, he wants to spend with Ah Xu.

“Ah Xu,” he murmurs, and feels the vibration of the man’s response through his chest, “Before, I could not have what I wanted. I could not play when I wanted to, there was no one to teach me martial arts when I wanted to learn and the things I wanted I could not afford.”

“The person I wanted to keep, I was too late.”

This conversation seems so far away now, but is as clear to the both of them as if it happened just yesterday. That rainy, storming night.

A night of despair and hopelessness.

Zhou Zishu huffs in amusement.

“And now?” he asks.

Wen Kexing looks up, and cheekily responds, “Well, the martial arts part aside, Ah Xu, you pay for everything now, so I can afford everything! And in terms of play… you would know best how well I play now with-“

He’s cut off with a warning look from Zhou Zishu, although the man does not attempt to jostle him, still worried about his earlier headache and injuries sustained from the fight.

Wen Kexing loves this man, to the depths of hell and back.

“And… the person I want to keep, is right here with me.”

Zhou Zishu’s answering smile lights up every fibre of being.

They have forever to look forward to.

***

#tian ya ke #faraway wanderers #shan he ling #word of honor #wenzhou #wen kexing #zhou zishu #shl fic #hahaha yeah #technically spoilers but all the eps are out now so #whatever hahahaha #read at your own risk

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bookofjin · 2 years

Text

Annals of Zhengshi 3 (506)

An heir is born. More war with Xiao Yan. From WS008

[Zhengshi 3, 9 February 506 – 28 January 507]

3rd Year, Spring, 1st Month, dingmao, New Moon [9 February], the august son was born. A great amnesty Under Heaven.

On renshen [14 February], the Inspector of Liang# and Qin Provinces, Xing Luan continuously routed the Di thieves, and vanquished Wuxing.

Xiao Yan's Inspector of Ji Province, Huan He, entered to rob Nanqing Province. The provincial army struck and chased him off.

A commoner of Qin province, Wang Zhi, and others assembled a multitude of 2 000 and titled himself Duke Wang [or “King-Duke”?]. Soon after he pushed forward the Master of Accounts of Qin Province, Lü Gou'er, as ruler, with the year titled Jianming [“Establishing Clarity”].

On jimao [21 February], Yang Jiqi and his brothers led each other in surrender.

2nd Month, bingchen [30 March], a decree said:

Formerly, Yu [I.e Shun of Yu] warned the facing followers, and gloriously talked many times on bringing forward. Zhou relied on admonishing assistants, the kingly watchtower was certainly probing. We are reverently continuing the vast foundation, humbling [Our] breast to the treasured series. Pondering at ease on the myriad achievements, in one day there are ten thousand circumstances. Hence [We] look towards loyal speech, humbly seeking the frank and straight. And yet good plans do not advance, guidelines are dawn up without knowledge. How is it what is spoken of as sustaining in accord with the primal head, correcting and saving that which does not measure up?

Can decree to the Kings, Dukes, and below, that they who have admirable plans and deep strategies, straight speech and loyal admonitions, who profit the state and benefit the people, who rectify the times and hones the customs, together be made to take responsibility for affairs and put forth memorials, and nobody to fall back on turning away.

On wuwu [1 April], decreed the General of Guards of the Right, Yuan Li, and others to chastise Lü Gou'er.

On yichou [8 April], the General who Pacifies the South, Chen Bozhi, routed Xiao Yan's Inspector of Xu province, Chang Yizhi, at Liangcheng.

This Month [10 March – 8 April], Yan's general Xiao Bing led a multitude of 50 000 to rob Huaiyang.

3rd Month, jisi [12 April], due to military battalions being greatly active, decreed to cease the various constructions.

On jimao [22 April], decreed the Inspector of Jing province, Zhao Yi, and the General who Pacifies the South, Xi Kangsheng, to proceed to Huaiyang.

The King of Leliang, Changming, was convicted of killing a person, and bestowed death. The state was abolished.

On wuzi [1 May], named the august son Chang.

On gengyin [3 May], the General who Pacifies the South, the State-Founding Duke of Qujiang county, Chen Bozhi, ran south from Liangcheng.

Summer, 4th Month, yiwei [8 May], decreed to cease with the salt pool prohibitions.

On jiachen [17 May], decreed to dispatch envoys to tour and comfort the northern border's chieftains and commoners.

On gengxu [23 May], used the King of Zhongshan, Ying, as General who Conquers the South, Commander-in-Chief of the Various Army Affairs of the Yang and Xu Circuits, to be responsible for assigning border generals.

Xiao Yan's Inspector of Jiang province, Wang Maoxian, robbed Jing province, and stationed at Henan City. Decreed the General who Pacifies the South, Yang Dayan, to chastise him.

On xinyou [3 June], he greatly routed him. Beheaded his General who Assists the State, Wang Hua, and more than 2 000 miscreants. He advanced to attack Henan City. Maoxian ran off and scattered. He pursued the flight until the Han River, and took his Wucheng.

General Yuwen Fu plundered Yan's Si province, took prisoner more than a thousand mouths, and turned back.

5th Month, yichou [7 June], New Moon, decreed the Masters of Writing to help the households from Yiyang that had begun to adhere.

On bingyin [8 June], a decree said:

To cover the bones and bury the corpses was the order and norm of the ancients; to obey the propitious time and cultivate the order is the court's persistent formula. Now the seasonal dew is not descending, and the spring crops are already dried out. There are some who are orphaned, aged, hungry or sick, without people's support and aid, and because of that it causes their death, who are exposed and desiccated in ditches and trenches. The Commandant of the Luoyang section relies on the law to put them in coffins and bury them.

On renshen [14 June], Xiao Yan's general Zhang Huishao entered to rob, and captured Suyu.

On yihai [17 June], Yan's general Xiao Rong captured Liangcheng.

On xinsi [23 June], Yan's general Wei Rui captured Hefei City.

On renwu [24 June], decreed the Master of Writing Yuan Yao to lead a multitude south and chastise.

On guiwei [25 June], since Qin and Long were not yet at peace, decreed the General who Conquers of West, Yu Jin to have the authority and measures for the various armies.

On jichou [1 July], Yan's generals also captured Yangshi and Huoqiu Cities.

6th Month, xinchou [13 July], they also captured Xiaoxian Defence Post.

On yisi [17 July], the Geneal who Calms the West, Yuan Li, greatly routed the Qin thieves, beheaded the thieves' leader, Wang Zhi, five people, and put on display six thousand heads.

On dingwei [19 July], the provisional General who Pacifies the South, Xi Kangsheng, routed Xiao Yan's general Zhang Huishao, and beheaded his Inspector of Xu province, Song Hei.

On dingsi [29 July], decreed the Master of Writing Xing Luan to set out and chastise Xu and Yan.

Autumn, 7th Month, bingyin [7 August], Yan's general Huan He robbed Gushan, and captured Gucheng.

On gengchen [21 August], Yuan Li greatly routed the Qin thieves, and took the surrender of Lü Ji'er and his kings and dukes, more than thirty people. Qin and Jing# provinces were pacified.

On wuzi [29 August], the King of Zhongshan, Ying, greatly routed Yan's Inspector of Xu province, Wang Bo'ao at Yinling, beheaded his generals, twenty-five people, and took captive more than five thousand heads.

On jichou [30 August], decreed to issue out from Ding, Ji, Ying, Xiang, Jiang, and Si# provinces a hundred thousand people to aid the southern army.

8th Month, renyin [12 September], the General who Calms the East, Xing Luan, routed Xiao Yan's general Huan He at Gushan, and cut off more than ten thousand heads. General Yuan Heng separately vanquished Gucheng, and beheaded Yan's General of the Best of the Army, Huan Fangqing. Army Director Bi Zuxiu separately vanquished Mengshan, and behead Yan's Dragon-Prancing General, Jiao Daoyi, and others. The beheaded thieves and those who had gone into the Yi [River] and died were more than four thousand people. Yan province was pacified.

On yiyou [19 September], decreed the General who Pacifies the South, the King of Anle, Quan, to supervise the rear and issue out the various armies to proceed to South of the Huai.

On renxu [2 October], a limited amnesty for Jing#, Qin, Qi#, Liang, and He provinces.

9th Month, guiyou [13 October], Xing Luan greatly routed Yan's army at Suyu, and beheaded his great general Lan Huaigong and others, more than forty people. Zhang Huishao abandoned Suyu. Xiao Bing abandoned Huaiyang, and fled south. The pursuit beheaded several ten thousand. Xu province was pacified.

On jichou [29 October], the King of Zhongshan, Ying, greatly routed Yan's army South of the Huai. Yan's Great General of the Centre Army, the King of Linchuan, Xiao Hong, Archer-Servant of the Right of the Masters of Writing, Liu Tan, Inspector of Xu province, Chang Yizhi, and others abandoned Liangcheng to run eastward along the Huai. Pursued the flight in stages until Matou. Yan's General of the Best of the Army and Defence Master, Zhu Siyuan, abandoned the city to escape in the dark. Seized and sent off more than forty of Yan's generals, and beheaded and captured more than fifty thousand officers and soldiers. Ying thereupon attacked Zhongli.

The state of Gaoli dispatched envoys to court with tribute.

Xiao Yan dispatched thirty thousand generals, officers and men to rob Yiyang.

On dingyou [6 November], they escaped in the night and ran. The Inspector of Ying province, Lou Yue, pursued, struck, and routed them.

On wushen [17 November], the state of Ruanruan disp envoys to court with tribute.

On jiwei [28 November], the General who Conquers the Miscreants, Zhao Xia, greatly routed Yan's multitude at Dangcheng's mulberry plains [?].

11th Month, jiazi [3 December], the Emperor made the King of Jingzhao, Yu, the King of Qinghe, Yi, the King of Guangping, Huai, and the King of Runan, Yue, discuss the Classic of Filial piety at the Shiqian [“Model Potency”] Hall.

On gengyin [29 December], a decree said:

In the past year, Longyou fanned rebellion, the combined frontier were not commoners. Among them there still were soldiers able to defend themselves, not content with schism and chaos. Ill winds recognize the upstanding, the good there can be commended. The Masters of Writing can distinguish and measure, repay and reward, to exhibit the sincerely righteous.

This Month [1 December – 30 December], in Liang# province twice routed the rebellious Lao.

#ws008

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