#White Dragon Sect

[momochr0me]

Pbss and dd interaction be like-

But I didn't even realize I didn't post this here lol

[lotus-tower]

just had the enlightened realization that ygo would make for a really really good cultivation au

[mabaris]

going insane thinking about how the tevinter chantry is like roman catholicism and i wish we got to see more of the schism besides just “one side thinks andraste was a mage and the other side thinks she wasn’t” and what gender their priests are

for example, there’s the irl narrative that pilate didn’t want to kill jesus, he just didn’t want to upset his constituents and it’s actually the fault of the jewish people, didn’t really come about until the 4th century when rome adopted christianity and went “hey it’s kind of a bad look for us because we did kill the guy, we gotta fix that”

like, i wonder if hessarian is a more highly venerated figure in tevinter. i kind of wish he was their invention altogether. i wonder to what extent each faction emphasizes her military involvement (the east sees the rebellion as divinely ordained vs in the west, it’s incidental; after all, she wasn’t the real warlord, her husband was)

[threepandas]

Bad End: Hoarding Dragons

To have your hair cut is the ultimate insult. Not just a spitting in the face of one's parents; but a defacement of their gift. One they worked so hard, for so long, to give you. Yet... so MUCH can be done. With just a single strand of hair.

Power. The likes of which? Most could not imagine. This is because, it is the sacrifice of "Body". A part of your metaphorical, if not technical, "flesh" as it were. Counted just as valid as any finger or toe. Yes, perhaps, not as POWERFUL as blood and bone, but... then again...

It is only a single hair.

So, what, one must ask? Would happen... Could happen... could one be GIFTED? From... MORE?

Not just one hair. But hand fulls. Chunks. A whole head of long thick locks? Hundreds and hundreds, thousands of strands? So very, very much of your "Body"? What power could you call upon? What sort of gods? Heavenly beasts and world shaking powers? Dragons, perhaps?

Shixiong bent the world to it's knees. Gods bowing, mountains shaking, as heavenly dragons came upon his command. Power so great it burst the spiritual veins of lesser cultivars. Qi thick as molten earth, golden as sunlight through honey. It was... transcendent.

The strands twisted into great and heavenly forms. Night turning to day. His array, a thing of intricate, thousand folding beauty! As a craftsman? A maker of mere talismans and toys? How could I not be... be... breathless? Bewitched? Entranced. Even there, in the midst of battle? It... gods... it was so BEAUTIFUL.

How can I ever hope to match it? Will I ever match it? I was certainly inspired. My mind, filled with visions of white and gold. Dances of fury and light, trapped within me.

I honestly haven't been able to stop.

That... that deadly dance. Righteous gold and light, heavenly dragons and flashing blades... Against the rolling, calamitous, storm of the heavenly demons. Darkly beautiful and delighting in their slaughter. Bloodlust singing as fatal claws clash against righteous blade. Rougish, flamboyant. Cracking along the edges of their masks to reveal the monsters just inside.

Our sect did not fall. But we were lucky... weren't we? And so many were not. Lesser Sects and mortal villages. Traveling cultivators, caught unaware. Temples and holy places. Defended, valiant, but overwhelmed in the end. None were strong enough. None came close.

And so I work.

Work and work and WORK.

I can fix this. I... I know I can! Surely. Maybe. H-hopefully? Or else what is it all FOR? This second chance? This knowledge I got to keep? If I wasn't meant to use it. Take bits and pieces, of stories I had read and watched, and make them real? Rain made of swords and blossoms, vast arrays bend space and time, the blending of science and fiction!

What, is my peak? If not the home of the Artificer? The Crafter? Maker of things? Talismans, yes. But we do so much MORE. I...I can do so much more.

I just need TIME.

Lifting my tool, I let the frustration wash over me. Careful. So very, very careful. Not to let my emotions ruin my work. One moment's tantrum, after all, can lead to months wasted. And... and I can't afford that. Not if I'm to help.

Because, ultimately? I will never be a martial cultivator. My sword is all be decorative. More a focal for meditation then a weapon. I use it more in class then... well... Too be honest? I have only used it in class. At best? I can defend myself. Hopefully.

(It is not something I ever wish to test. That theory.)

My reaction times are too slow. I hesitate. Am far too absorbed in crafting and meditation, then I am training and the physical world. Shizun half expects me to move to a hidden world, once my training is complete. And... well... I am considering it.

Perhaps I am a coward.

Another pinprick letter carved. One more in the endless stream, stretching in a flowing wave around the wooden sword. The REAL pain? Is going to be carving the spiritually rich stones, precious and otherwise, as well as shaping the metals, that will fit in each of these thousand of tiny indents. Making it smooth. Again, not hard, just... tedious.

I imagine that's why no one does it. Dispite the strength it results in. Each letter lending its power. Doing something. It will age well, I think. Grow powerful. Might even become a Treasure. Something worth some famous naming, in a century or so.

They never do see to appreciate that. How long it takes. To make the wonders and treasures they throw around like trash. Keep like trophies. If it does not shine and spit rainbows, with tassels and fire to impress? Can it really be called a sword? Forget what it DOES! How HARD it was to MAKE! The love and skill that went into it!! Is it SHINY? A thousand years and covered in jewels?

I pull my tool back again to sigh, aggravated. I have got to stop doing that. Being slower then my peers is not a failing, I remind myself. My strength is not in waving a sword. It is MAKING them. Treasures and wonders. Creation takes TIME to be done well. Cheap and fast costs lives. Remember your training.

A quite creak of floor boards and the knocking of knuckles against a door frame. Soft but deliberate, to announce a presence. When no one responds to the noise, I glance up in confusion. Huh. The workshop is empty. Going by the light outside? Unsurprising. It's... later then I thought it was. Guess they let me work.

"Shemei? May this one intrude?"

Ah. Shit, right!

Carefully putting my tools to the side, I bid... whomever, enter. I can't see them yet. They have a nice voice though. Low and smooth. I rattle off the standard "don't touch this or that, you'll loose fingers. If you break anything, this peak, collectively, will break you." Shpeal. (Shizun makes us memorize it.)

Glancing up as I put my project back on it's stand, I choke on my tounge. Wut. How?! HI?!!? Shixiong!!!! WHAT!?

"This one hopes he is not intruding upon your valuable working time." He mummers, fan coming up to cover the lower half of his face.

He looks... amused? Charmed? No there's something different there. Fuck, I'm out of practice with the Non-crafters crowd. Brain says "like he saw a cute squeaky animal he wants to bite(maybe suggestive?)" but that's not right. Thanks brain! Very USEFUL! Glad I can count on you, in these trying times! Shit. Uuuuuuuhh.....

"I hope you will forgive this Shixiong, but I asked around to find you." What. "You are that make of this fan, yes?"

From his sleeve, he pulls out a very familiar work. Battered to absolute hell, but unmistakable. Defiance!? My BABY! What have you DONE to them!? The battle fan, MEANT to be a magnificent white and gold, is blood stained and bent. Burned! Nicked! ARE THOSE ACID HOLES!?

The sound I make is unholy. My boy fan! Look at what they've done to my boy fan!

YOU BASTARD!

Thats it! Crush over! Dead man walking! I snatch the fan back so hard I'm surprised I don't snap fingers. Granted, I get the impression he let's me take it from him. But that's probably because he sees the MURDER in my eyes! FUCKER! What did you even DO to this poor fan!? Beat it against ROCK!? Acid, knive covered ROCKS!?

"Ah. No." His voice comes out shaking, just ever so slightly. His shoulders match. From the curve of his eyes? It can only be restrained laughter. "This one is afraid that it was the demons who so disrespect your masterful work."

Oh? OH?! This is FUNNY to you? Is it?! My baby! My beloved, Defiance! Mangled! MAIMED! And you LAUGH!? Bastard! Scoundrel! Fuck you!! How DARE-!!!

He can no longer contain it. Doubling over in a roar of laughter as I curse him out. My hands never leaving the fan I am carefully repairing. Yanking open drawers and slamming them. Stomping past him to get what I need. I should keep it! Never give it back! If you can't take care of-!

"Oh but Shemei, I take excellent can of all my things."

Clearly NOT! Defiance is a MESS and-! I pause. My brain catching up with my ears. Alarm bells ringing in my head as red flags flap. The workroom feels... off, suddenly. What was that tone? Excuse me? What, exactly, was that tone? Glancing down, I see one of Shizun's projects. Freshly completed. The glue is dry under my fingers as I, oh so casually, brush over it.

The little knife fits neatly in my palm. I turn. Not fully, but enough. Do not move back to my workstation. Because you know what? Suddenly I feel a bit more comfortable over here... by the project drying racks. Where all the weapons are. I'm sure you don't minds, do you? Shixiong?

"Oh dear, I've made you nervous." He says, handsome face charming, eye alight with laughter. But that tone. I don't like that tone. "Surely Shemei doesn't think this Shixiong would do anything suspicious or untoward? This one is an honorable man."

It's said so mockingly. Through gently smiling teeth. As though the very concept of an honorable man is absurd. And the shift? From polite to informal language? Cracks in a mask? Or a deliberate peek? The way he pulls himself up from his doubled over state, leaning braced as he had laughed himself sick...

Slow and deliberate. Nearly lazy. As though trying to say "there, there, see? No threat here~! Calm, calm." Yet... all I truely see? Is the spectacular control of his own body. An awareness of how he appears. And the unmistakable grace of a predator pretending they're NOT. He fools no one.

He seems delighted.

"You make such beautiful things, Shemei. Such clever hands. Such a clever mind." His voice is soft, almost obscene in the near silence of the workroom. I don't like how he's looking at me. "I had wondered. Surely not, right? Dreams can only ever disappoint. And yet..."

His eyes flit over me. Like the brush of covetous hands, drinking in something they could not yet have. Hungry. Dangerous. I drew closer to the shelves. Edged towards the door. Those were not the eyes of a righteous cultivator. Demonic influence? Qi deviation? Poisoning? I couldn't tell. Didn't CARE. Something wasn't right and I wanted nothing to do with it.

"Poor Shemei~. Stuck with this big, scary Shixiong. So nervous~ your poor maidens heart!" He laughed, like a cat with a cornered mouse. Half delighted. Half hungry for something I wasn't certain I wanted to name. "Going to run from me? Ah, but what if I chase you, Shemei? What will you do then?"

I was close enough, I decided. Fuck this! Keeping him in sight, I gave up all pretense. And stiffly walked for the door. Prepared to bolt.

"You are!" He didn't move to chase me. Just looked delighted. Grin showing more and more teeth the closer I got to the door. "Good, good~ that's right, Shemei. You're a special girl. Shixiong needs to earn your love. But don't worry~"

Driving for the door, I run. The last thing I hear chilling down my spine.

"I will~♡"

[la-muerta]

[莲花楼 Meta] Di Feisheng and the Three Kings

While looking through the cast list and end credits, I noticed that there had been actors cast as 炎帝白王 Yandi Bai Wang and 四象青尊 Sixiang Qingzun even though we don't get to see them in the final cut. Reading the original script, they appear in a deleted scene (unsure if it was actually filmed) in Episode 05, as a flashback during this scene with the robe in Jiao Liqiao's rooms.

It's explained in the script as Di Feisheng's old Alliance leader ceremonial robe, but in the final cut of the show, it seems to be implied as wedding robes Jiao Liqiao prepared for Di Feisheng.

Scene in original script:

FLASHBACK: Ten years ago, at the headquarters of the Jinyuan Alliance. DI FEISHENG is wearing that luxurious robe, sitting around drinking with the THREE KINGS. The TWELVE PHOENIXES are standing guard at one side. YANDI BAI WANG looks over at the TWELVE PHOENIXES and laughs.

YANDI BAI WANG: Each of our twelve beautiful protectors has her own charms, but we have never seen our Zunshang show any interest in any of them. Could it be… that Zunshang already has someone in his heart? 

SIXIANG QINGZUN (shaking his head): Romantic entanglements and ruling the world are not of interest to him. Our Zunshang is only obsessed with martial arts, and all he wants is to be number one in the martial world.

DI FEISHENG (raising his cup proudly): To have a worthy opponent to discuss martial practice and duel for life and death for a hundred battles without getting weary of it, that is the only life I wish for!

YANDI BAI WANG (realisation dawning): If so, the lady you marry must be the most trustworthy, so that she can handle the affairs of the Alliance wisely while Zunshang concentrates on his pursuit of martial arts.

DI FEISHENG (laughing in surprise): That would be ideal!

YANDI BAI WANG (laughingly): I wonder which lady will have the honour!

The TWELVE PHOENIXES continue to stand guard but cannot hide their reaction to the teasing. The THREE KINGS raise their cups and laugh, and from where she is hiding in a distance, JIAO LIQIAO shoots a venomous look at the other women.

END FLASHBACK.

--

This scene is a parallel to Li Xiangyi's 18th birthday celebration, where the Sigu Sect members were urging Li Xiangyi to formalise his engagement to Qiao Wanmian. (Di Feisheng would have been around the same age as well.)

--

Also an interesting point about the titles that Three Kings picked for themselves. Assuming that they were around the same age as Di Feisheng (perhaps with Sixiang Qingzun being the oldest since he was already married and might have been around the age of the other three Nanyin descendants), then their titles might seem rather overblown for a bunch of teenagers/young men in their early 20s lol.

There's however a connection between their titles and the Four Auspicious Beasts (四象) in Chinese mythology; in fact, it's even in one of their titles! (Yes, I know it's translated by iqiyi as Four-faced but I disagree with that translation and I'll get to that.)

1. 四象青尊 Sixiang Qingzun As mentioned, 四象 or Four Aspects/Images is another name for the Four Auspicious Beasts, and "青尊" (Azure Lord) is another name for the Azure Dragon 青龙 of the East. So his title actually translates more accurately to "Lord Azure Dragon of the Four Aspects". I'm pretty sure I'm right because his wife, 两仪仙子 Liangyi Xianzi, has a related name. In 《易经 I Ching》, there is a phrase "两仪生四象" (the two modes – yin and yang – results in the formation of the Four Aspects). And it just happens that she practices a skill that allows her to change her gender!

2. 炎帝白王 Yandi Bai Wang "炎帝 Yandi" is an honorific for the leader or king of a civilisation that dates back to the Neolithic age. Another civilisation from a similar era used "黄帝 huang di" (yellow emperor), and that's why Chinese also call ourselves 炎黄子孙, because we can trace our ancestry back to these two civilisations. So his title translates more accurately to "The Flame Emperor, the White King/Prince". One of the Four Auspicious Beasts is the White Tiger of the West, so it is possible that his title refers to that.

3. 阎王寻命 Yan Wang Xunming "阎王 Yan Wang" is a transcription of the Sanskrit name Yama Raja or King Yama, who is the Chinese god of death and ruler of the Ten Courts of the Underworld. 寻命 is a little more tricky to translate but I think in this context it means to find your fate/destiny and face the inevitable outcome. So his title translates to "King Yama Seeking Fate". Assuming he also represents one of the Four Auspicious Beasts, then he is likely to be the 玄武 Xuanwu of the North (literally "dark/mysterious warrior", usually depicted as a black tortoise intertwined with a snake).

But it's supposed to be four beasts, so who's the fourth? The obvious candidate seems to be Di Feisheng as 朱雀 Vermillion Bird of the South — his official Alliance leader robes are red. Perhaps the Three Kings asked him to pick a fancy title to match theirs, but Mr "Dao is a Dao" refused to participate XD Maybe it's Wuyan, who does have some red in his clothes, which would then make Di Feisheng 黄龙 Yellow Dragon or the symbol of the emperor, which doesn't really match imo.

(As an interesting aside, the original novel 吉祥纹莲花楼 Auspicious Pattern Lotus House is published as four volumes corresponding with the Four Auspicious Beasts.)

[queereads-bracket]

Queer Fiction Free-for-All Book Bracket Tournament: Round 1D

Book summaries and submitted endorsements below:

Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White

Prepare to die. His kingdom is near.

Sixteen-year-old trans boy Benji is on the run from the cult that raised him—the fundamentalist sect that unleashed Armageddon and decimated the world’s population. Desperately, he searches for a place where the cult can’t get their hands on him, or more importantly, on the bioweapon they infected him with.

But when cornered by monsters born from the destruction, Benji is rescued by a group of teens from the local Acheson LGBTQ+ Center, affectionately known as the ALC. The ALC’s leader, Nick, is gorgeous, autistic, and a deadly shot, and he knows Benji’s darkest secret: the cult’s bioweapon is mutating him into a monster deadly enough to wipe humanity from the earth once and for all.

Still, Nick offers Benji shelter among his ragtag group of queer teens, as long as Benji can control the monster and use its power to defend the ALC. Eager to belong, Benji accepts Nick’s terms…until he discovers the ALC’s mysterious leader has a hidden agenda, and more than a few secrets of his own.

A furious, queer debut novel about embracing the monster within and unleashing its power against your oppressors.

Horror, science fiction, postapocalyptic, young adult

The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons (A Chorus of Dragons series)

Endorsement from submitter: "These books are some of the best adult fantasy out there… great worldbuilding fantastic characters doing all kinds of fascinating stuff with storytelling (do you like footnotes? This series has footnotes! Every book canonically exists in-universe!) as for queer characters/relationships there’s basically every kind of rep you can think of"

Kihrin is a bastard orphan who grew up on storybook tales of long-lost princes and grand quests. When he is claimed against his will as the long-lost son of a treasonous prince, Kihrin finds that being a long-lost prince isn't what the storybooks promised. Far from living the dream, Kihrin finds himself practically a prisoner, at the mercy of his new family's power plays and ambitions. He also discovers that the storybooks have lied about a lot of other things too: dragons, demons, gods, prophecies, true love, and how the hero always wins. Then again, maybe he's not the hero, for Kihrin is not destined to save the empire. He's destined to destroy it.

Fantasy, epic fantasy, politics, nonlinear, secondary world, series, adult

[thebiscuiteternal]

(many, many thanks to @nekoning for indulging my goofy idea)

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

"Stupid Qi-ge!"

For all its small squeakiness, Speaks With Lost Shadows' voice echoed around the massive chamber, even briefly drowning out the rippling of the pool that was one of its prominent features.

"If you had just said-!" he sobbed, tears making dark visible tracks as they matted his white fur to the dark skin underneath, "If you had just said-!" His attempts at getting the words out ended in a muffled howl as he buried his face into the collars of his former sect leader's robes.

Yue Qingyuan cradled the small cub that had once been Shen Jiu tight against his chest, his own heart swinging back and forth between sinking and hammering so fast that if he hadn't been a strong cultivator, it probably would have killed him already.

'Ah,' he thought. 'So this is what Lady Aurene meant.'

The goddess dragon had sent him a warning across their speaking bond just before sending her caretakers to escort him across the world between worlds to their home in Tyria.

-"You were honest with him once because you thought that was your last chance. If you are not honest with him now, then this will be."

"Is that-?"

"Not a threat," she clarified gently. "A fact. My hatch-mother and aunt are very adept at reading questions under questions, and they bring those concerns to me. He asks them frequently to check with me how you are doing; he speaks of you with regret. But I have seen many of the pathways that bringing you here could lead down, and all of the ones where you continue to hide the truth will end with him no longer asking those questions."-

A part of him had always been confused and hurt by the way that things had gone after Maiglu Ridge. Of course he had known that his past actions didn't deserve to be forgiven, but comparing the reactions of the spirit that had claimed his shidi's body to the reactions of his shidi's soul in this new one, he now understood-

What a mess.

Paws suddenly smacked against the sides of his face, squishing his cheeks between them and startling him out of the messy tangle of thoughts and emotions. Though they were decidedly bigger than those of a cat or dog, the pads and fur were thick enough that he was at no risk from the claws as he stared down into wide, determined black eyes.

"Qi-ge is very stupid," he agreed as he tilted his head to nuzzle soft fur, drawing a huff from the cub. "But he will do his best not to be anymore."

Shadows huffed again. "He better!" he snapped, then pulled back and blinked at him in realization. "Wait... Does that mean... does that mean you're staying here?"

"I spoke with my head disciple about the possibility. Even if it hadn't been this, I think he was aware that something would eventually keep me from ascending with the rest of the Qing generation, because he wasn't surprised at all. We've done all the advance work for him to take over my position if I don't return by the end of the month."

He gave a small chuckle. "Can't imagine my martial sisters and brothers will be happy about it, but considering..."

Considering they were happy to have you replaced.

Considering he still wears your face and your name like a festival costume.

"If your current family is amenable, then Qi-ge will never leave Xiao-Jiu behind again."

[city-of-ladies]

Women warriors in Chinese history - Part 2

(Part 1)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[seraph-of-the-mikayuu]

Beginning of the fanfic I'm writing where Tang Bo has also reincarnated! I'm pretty much rewriting the novel, but with Tang Bo! Leave comments if u think it should go on ao3 with the rest of it!

It's quite long right now, but I hope you enjoy!

Being reborn into the Tang family to a body around 7 had to have been just his luck. If Tang bo knew that reincarnation was what would happen after death, he would have been more prepared. With the surprise of being alive again, he pushed that aside to train as much as possible in his hidden weapon techniques. The elders were useless and all the techniques they lost during the war, Tang Bo was steadily trying to bring back.

Long nights left unwanted thoughts to arise, of how he was truly alone in this world. Cheongmyeong was dead and so was everyone he once knew. The fact that when he asked about the war and someone said Mount Hua was in a decline was more than proof his old lover was dead. Tang Bo had decided to try and sneak glances at Mount Hua to maybe try and keep them from closing completely, that was the least he could do.

This all led to Tang Bo putting on a dark cloak and accompanying Tang Gunak and a few of his ‘brothers’ to see if the divine dragon was truly a problem. Something about a merchant’s son from Mount Hua had beaten two of his brothers and the divine dragon had mentioned the secret technique of twelve daggers. He vaguely remembers spilling all the secret techniques of the Tang family to Cheongmyung.

In reality he wanted to check the one with the name of his old love if he's honest. The news of Mount Hua starting to climb back up by the hands of one kid wasn't that big of a deal to Tang Bo. Even beating all second disciples of Zhongnan. Sure he was happy that Dosa Hyung-nim’s sect was growing back but the name of the kid changed everything. There was a slight flicker of hope that what happened to him happened the same to Cheongmyung.

He watched the Tang family’s lord talk, mostly spacing out. There was a tingling sensation on his skin. He was honestly excited to meet the Divine Dragon. Maybe it would be him. Tang Bo has nothing to lose in this, there's no point checking but the idea that he might have reincarnated made him giddy.

A voice quickly snapped him out of his daze, “Hey, old man. You've got a really weird personality.”

Tang bo knew that voice, he looked up immediately and as if the heaven was playing jokes on him, the bright blue sky made him look heavenly. The face was too similar, the nose, the grin, the expression, the voice. There was no mistaking it. It had to have been. How lucky was Tang Bo.

The rest of the conversation was muffled as he stared right at Cheongmyeong.He had landed near Tang Bo, his back was turned towards him as he spoke to the head. Tang Bo had ignored the pressing qi from Tang Gunak, moving closer to Cheongmyeong reaching out to grab his shoulder before he was startled by the sudden yell.

“ENOUGH!!!!”

Four people ran and placed themselves in front of Cheongmyeong as if defending him from Tang Gunak, Tang Bo gritted his teeth and took a step near the Tang Family head so he could see Cheongmyeong’s face. It was the same as he remembered all those years ago.

Bows from all four Mount Hua disciples, all at the same time, was honestly kind of impressive. The front one was wearing white compared to the rest so he must have been the eldest. The words of him being the Righteous Sword actually fit this kid well. He was quite handsome and he spoke like a melody.

The Righteous Sword mumbled about taking punishment for Cheongmyeong's actions. It honestly made Tang Bo snort in laughter but, that must have been strange to everyone else since they all turned to look at him as if just noticing him.

“What's so funny? Something you want to share?” Cheongmyeong stopped talking as soon as they met with their eyes. An indescribable expression clouded his face, eyes seemed to be glassy as if he was looking at a memory. Everything went silent, you could hear a pin drop before Cheongmyeong's face changed to anger.

“...bo-ya, wait..?”

“Dosa Hyung-nim?” Tang Bo said hesitantly as if testing the waters, that anger seemed to spike as Cheongmyeong clenched his fist. He started walking forward towards Tang-Bo, a smile on his face but it was obvious to everyone that he was mad.

“-you!” The Disciples quickly placed themselves in front of Cheongmyeong again to stop him from beating up an unknown Tang member

“Hyung-?” The Righteous Sword looked at Tang Bo then at Cheongmyeong and then back. Even Tang Gunak hadn't said anything yet, “What's your name?

“Tang Bo, it's nice to meet other Mount Hua disciples,” He slightly bowed his head before looking back up,”and you?”

“Baek Cheon, it's an honor as well” Baek Cheon turned around to Cheongmyeong, “You know him?”

With gritted teeth, Cheongmyeong stared right at Tang Bo, “Yes, I do. You guys can talk later” he turned towards Tang Gunak

“I agree, it's time to truly test what I came here for. I intend to see whether you are truly devoid of substance or unfathomable in its depth”

Watching the two of them walk away from the group, the killing intent from Tang Gunak only seemed to increase with every step. Yet Tang Bo didn't feel nervous or scared because he was more excited to speak with him after Tang Gunak got defeated. It wasn't that he thought of the head like the elders. If anything Tang Gunak felt like Tang Bo's grandson and nothing negative, really. Just that he knew with Cheongmyeong, Tang Gunak would put up a good fight with his hidden weapons but the fight's end was already set in stone.

Tang Bo glanced at the four standing near him and smiled before speaking, “Baek Cheon, was it? I see you're more impressive than your rumors state”

It was obvious by the red tip of the other person’s ears that being nice was the right choice

“-Ah thank you, it's just strange that you were once friends with Cheongmyung. The way you referred to him caught me off guard” Baek Cheon spoke with a fluidity that would charm anyone. He truly was fit for his title.

“Enough with the pleasantries, I'm sure we’ll be seeing each other much more”

It was as if all rigid movement bleed from Baek as a strained smile stayed on his face, “Oh? Why's that?”

That sentence made him chuckle. There was no way he was just gonna let Cheongmyung run off around without him by his side. His attention was brought to the other three standing behind Baek Cheon watching the so-called spar. If Cheongmyung was helping them then it would be nice to get to know them all.

“And you three are?”

“Yunjong”

“.. Yoo Iseol”

“Jo Gul”

Tang bo perked up when he heard the last name, “Jo Gul..? Ah, you’re the one who had fought two of my siblings and won. I’m curious to see your strength as well if the spar doesn’t take too long.”

“Yes, that was me.. although I hope that there's no hard feelings but, what do you mean not take too long? Do you already know who will win?”

“None at all and… yes, it's clear who will win this battle” That wasn't a lie, the two that got beat had no relation to him or importance. Seeing the Tang Family this weak did make him a little annoyed but that wasn't the fault of the disciples in front of him. Jo Gul put his hands on his face sighing,”So it’ll be for nothing-”

Tang Bo snapped back towards Jo Gul, raising his eyebrow “What do you mean? Dosa Hyung-nim is going to win”

Everyone's attention was quickly brought back on the spar as Cheongmyeong was pushed into a sticky situation. The dagger going right at his face caused Jo Gul to yell out only to be held back by Baek Cheon. Screaming and yelling about murder. The sight of Cheongmyung catching the dagger with his teeth made him smile as he brought his attention to Jo Gul who had calmed down.

“Eighth strike, you have two left. Make it count.”

Watching the rest of the two attacks was strange, it was like watching a memory. The movement of Cheongmyeong was almost the same as back then. Watching him jump and swing his blade right at the shoulder of the head of the Tang family, Tang Bo had started walking closer. The duel was done and decided. It was only when something shone from the corner of his eye as it flew through the air landing and planting itself into the side of Cheongmyeong's stomach.

Tang bo was the first who made it to Tang Pae, immediately grabbing the arm that had thrown that forsaken dagger. With a quick move, the arm snapped, a scream pierced the air as Tang Pae crumbled in front of him.

“..how dare you-.. who do you-..” He felt anger bubbling up to the surface, his grip tightened no doubt causing the broken bone to rub against each other. He swiftly grabbed a dagger and with one quick movement went to end the life of that pathetic-

“TANG BO!” He turned towards Tang Gunak who was looking right at him, “Tang Pae will deal with the consequences” Tang Bo dropped Pae's hand before walking over to where Baek Cheon had lifted Cheongmyeong up to bring him back to the Tang estate.

---------

Waking up for Cheongmyeong felt like he was swimming through a deep ocean, there was someone talking to him. It was muffled but he recognized the voice just couldn't place who.

He blinked slowly as he sat up, a tingling of pain near the side of his hip. Immediately the four on the ground were the first thing he noticed. He scoffed but a small smile threatened to break through on his lips. He truly cared for the four and it was nice to know they were the same.

“Dosa Hyung-nim?” That very word repeated through his head as he searched the room for the one who was responsible. There by the closed door was someone he thought he would never see again. Memories pushed to resurface of that last meeting between the two.

[]

“Will you marry me?”

“Ask that again when I bring you to the medics! Just- wait”

“Dosa, will you marry me”

“...” Cheongmyung desperately grabbed onto Tang Bo’s clothes, dipping his head down to the others face before placing a gentle kiss on Tang Bo's lips, “of course I will”

Tears dripped down Tang Bo's face as his smile widened. It took every energy left in his body to smile. Cheongmyung shakily cradled his lover to his chest. Tears flowed from his eyes before he screamed and screamed and screamed until his throat was torn. There is nothing he could do except promise to end this war.

[]

He carefully got off the bed and walked towards Tang Bo, his fist tightened into a fist as he walked closer to him. A smile on his face but, he definitely wasn't happy.

“‘Dosa Hyung-nim’ that's it? Just ���Dosa Hyung-nim’. Did you want to die again today? Did you think I would be so happy to see you, I would forget that you broke your promise”

“Ah! Nonono Come on don't-” Tang Bo waved his hands as he backed up from Cheongmyeong who was quickly approaching.

“I didn't think it was actually you! Being reincarnated is strange by itself and you too I just- Wait! Don't hit me!” Tang Bo continued to ramble before he felt a tight grip on one of his wrists before he was pulled into a hug.

“Shut up, brat” Cheongmyeong mumbled as he hugged his lover, Tang Bo took a second before hugging Cheongmyeong back. A smile slowly making its way on his face, he could feel the way the other trembled and shaken with fear. It only made Tang Bo hug him tighter, tears running down his face. He could feel how his lover gripped his clothes desperately as if trying to find out if he was truly here. Tang Bo never thought he would see Cheongmyung again.

It only lasted a few seconds but felt like eternity to Tang Bo. He looked Cheongmyeong up and down when they let go. The Pink eyes he loved were glassy and sad. Tang Bo cupped Cheongmyeong's face placing a kiss on his cheeks then to his forehead then to his nose and at last his lips. He truly looked similar to his past life even though Tang Bo had never met him when he was a kid, he could definitely see the resemblance between the two.

He had wanted to stay in that hug forever. It was the first time since he reincarnated that he felt not completely alone in this.

“If I knew you were so clingy. I would've jumped for the chance every time!” There was one swift movement as a fist hit his head, Tang Bo reached up rubbing the top of his head before throwing his arm over Cheongmyung’s shoulder bringing him closer, it wasn't hard to notice the pink decorating his cheeks from this close “Come on I was just kidding”

“You never knew when to shut up” Cheongmyung scoffed before glancing back at the four by the end of the bed, Tang Bo used his sleeve to rub his eyes from the tears earlier.

“Oh! By the way, the way they protected you was kinda sweet, ripping cloth out of people’s hands to do it themselves. Eventually the current head had to press pressure points to safely get them to sleep. It's nice to see other people can manage to put up with y-”

WHACK

“Owowowow, Dosa Hyung-nim- why are you so mean? You don’t understand how hard it is to stay here. The elders try to control everything and they’re relying on poison, againnn. Tang Gunak has my daggers also so it's not like I can get those back and they made rules that the disciples aren’t even allowed to leave the sect without permission”

“Yeah yeah” Cheongmyung waved him off before blinking for a few seconds and looking back at Tang Bo, “Your family has always had that rule, you just didn’t listen”

“Oh right..”

Cheongmyung looked around before walking towards the door and opening it, “Aren’t you gonna take me to see Tang Gunak, Bo-ya? I would rather get this robbe-” He coughed before finishing his sentence, “compensation dealt with”

Tang Bo dragged his feet as he walked alongside Cheongmyung, “Can’t it wait? They don’t exactly know I’m here, ‘checking up’ on you and wouldn’t you rather go get some alcohol and just relax”

Cheongmyung rolled his eyes and took a step forward with Tang Bo hanging off the side of him. He never minded the physical touch from Tang Bo since it wasn’t like non harmful physical touch from someone was common in his past life other than his Sasuk and Tang Bo.

It wasn’t long until his eyes immediately locked on the person they were just talking about. Tang Gunak was walking this way and was only a few steps away. Tang Bo from next to him, let go of Cheongmyung with a grumble but suddenly grabbed Cheongmyung's arm and dragged him back into the room.

“..huh?”

Tang Bo opened up the window inside of the room as he pulled Cheongmyung with him. Sliding easily out of the window.

“Come on! You can always talk to him later, let's go to our favorite drinking spot!”

With a smile, Cheongmyung followed along where Tang Bo led him. It was a forgotten path filled with weeds but he knew every step of it like muscle memory. At some point in the stroll, their hands intertwined. Whether it was Tang Bo who started it or Cheongmyung. Neither would answer, only knowing that they walked side by side together.

When they got to the pavilion, it was dusty and cracked by the weather. Nothing like how it had looked 100 years ago. But it was better than nothing. The two sat down across from each other just like they used to.

“You better have actually brought alcohol if you wanted to drag me all the way out here”

“Yes, yes” Tang Bo set down two bottles, out of his robe, placing both on the table in front of them with a smile. Almost right after he pulled out a small wooden box and slid it over to Cheongmyung who had already poured himself a drink.

“Hm? What's this?” When he opened it, the first thing he saw was a green stone. It was surrounded by yellowish gold. Cheongmyung immediately looked up at Tang Bo. His hands shook as he tried to come up with a clear thought.

“I had them prepared a long time ago and I had already asked Cheong Mun first of course!,” a gentle smile replaced the look on Tang Bo's face, “if I'm being honest, this was the place I had wanted to ask you. When I was reincarnated, I checked and they were untouched in the spot I had left them. So I'll ask you again, this time at the right time”

Cheongmyung held the box tightly in his hands, yet gentle as if the ring would break with a touch from him. His brows furrowed in thought. Listening intently to Tang Bo.

“Will you marry me, Cheongmyung, the 13th generation disciple of Mount Hua?”

For a second, everything went quiet. Cheongmyung slowly stood up before moving around the table. Before Tang Bo could react, he grabbed Tang Bo to bring him closer before pressing a kiss to his lips. He licked his lips after they parted and he finally answered, “Of course I will”

Tang Bo pulled Cheongmyung back towards him, hands gripping the uniform he wore. As he was desperate just to have the touch of the other. Kiss after kiss after kiss, when it calmed back down. Tang Bo looked at Cheongmyung’s face with a slight chuckle, his cheeks were red and his lips were slightly swollen. It was a beautiful sight.

Flustered by all the attention that Tang Bo was giving him, he looked away mumbling, “What about your ring?”

“It's similar to yours, just a different stone!” He pulled out another small bow and opened it up, Tang Bo was right. The ring was the same but the stone was a deep pink.

“Look, it matches your eyes” He held it up to Cheongmyung’s eyes before reaching across the table and grabbing the ring he had made for Cheongmyung while using his other hand to grab Cheongmyung’s hand. He carefully slipped the ring on his middle finger and then on his own with a huge smile. The ring was a little big but not enough where it would fall off for both of them.

Tang Bo poured two cups of the sake he brought and pushed on the Cheongmyung, who had sat down next to him

“To celebrate?”

“To celebrate.”

They both brought it to their lips, taking a large gulp before Tang Bo flopped over onto Cheongmyung.

Resting his head on the other’s thighs as a pillow. Looking up at Cheongmyung who was looking down right at him, his hair falling to the side and tickling Tang Bo’s cheeks.

“You sure seem to get comfortable fast. There’s still alot to decide, you know.”

“All of that can wait! I’m busy with my husband”

Cheongmyung’s cheeks flushed pink at the word Tang Bo used,

“What? Are you flustered because I called you my husband?”

“...”

“My lover. My husband. My friend. My partner. My true love”

BANG

Cheongmyung pushed his hand to push Tang Bo off his lap, as he fell, his hand was brought up to cover his mouth. His cheeks burned redder at the very second.

“Ow-! You’re so mean”

----------

[orenji-iro-no-sora]

The parallels between Luo Binghe (from SVSSS) and Uncle Iroh (from ATLA) are absolutely uncanny.

Luo Binghe is often referred to as a White Lotus. Uncle Iroh was a Grand Lotus of the Order of White Lotus.

Luo Binghe was the Junshang of demonic realm (and destined to unite and rule all three realms). He was a scholar and a warrior. Uncle Iroh was the Dragon of the West, the Crown Prince of the Fire Nation and destined to become the Fire Lord. He was also a scholar and a warrior.

Luo Binghe was thrown out of his sect (rollercoaster drop into the Abyss). Uncle Iroh was exiled (sailed the fuck away into sunset).

Loss of his Shizun took Luo Binghe away from the path of his destiny, drowning him in deep grief. After losing his son, Uncle Iroh lost his fighting spirit and desire for power, letting his unhinged brother become the Fire Lord.

Luo Binghe's happy ending comprised domestic bliss with his husband, cooking for him, taking care of him and enjoying his marital life in contradiction to a life of power, heroism and untamable rizz. Uncle Iroh chose to serve tea and enjoy a chill business owner lifestyle instead of dealing with the mess of the Fire Nation.

Luo Binghe was probably into GILFs. Uncle Iroh was a GILF.

[lovesick-x-prince]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/61972924/chapters/161695942

Regardless, Shen Qingqiu wanted no part in that complicated relationship now. Nor did he want to be involved in any of Shen Qingqiu’s other antagonist relationships with his fellow, highly ranked heroes of Cang Qiong. He would just stay out of their way, do his job, and make sure none of them had any reason to suspect him of not being the original goods, no matter how long they had known said original goods. Of course, that plan went up into flames immediately, as his subordinate dropped him off at the entrance of the main location for the sect, and Shen Qingqiu got out of his car. “Raze,” a voice called out, almost before he had both of his feet on the pavement of the sidewalk. Shen Qingqiu tensed, raising his fan to cover more of his face, as he slowly turned. The man hurrying towards him was young and handsome, a smile already present on his face. He was already wearing a hanfu, mostly composed of black fabrics, with his hair half-pulled up. There was an enormous sword on his back, and his hero mask was strapped to his waist - the white mask of a dragon. There could be no mistake. This was Yue Qingyuan. Fuck off, Shen Qingqiu wanted to shout. “Greeting Zenith,” he said instead, nodding his head respectfully while still keeping his face mostly covered. “Shidi,” Yue Qingyuan responded warmly. “It’s been too long. Allow me to walk you to your floor.”

[macsimagines]

Yandere!Hakkai Shiba w/ an S/O he 'bought'

(I was sick of waiting for him to win the polls and wrote this myself. OOPS. Angsty too. Set in the timeline that Hakkai became the leader of the blackdragons.)

TW: NSFW Minors DNI, Yandere behavior, Coercion, Manipulation, mentions of possible Prostitution.

Your family is in debt. Huge debt. And you have no choice but to try and sell yourself to save them.

Searching for some kind of work you figure out the best way to make back the money they owe is a 'Host' club ran by a man named Nahoya Kawata.

The process is exhausting, they almost don't hire you. You're very shy despite your pretty face and they don't think you'll be a good fit until they hear you're a virgin.

You should have never said anything but you just blurted it out when they asked. Suddenly Nahoya himself contacts you and explains he knows your situation.

He says people will pay top dollar for a young virgin that is as pretty as you. You'll have to comply with some blood tests and a screening to make sure you're telling the truth but that if the results come back good, he can make sure your families debt is payed off within the year.

Its all a lie of course, as soon as your virginity is gone he'll make sure you're stuck with him for the next five years until you're all used up.

But then Hakkai Shiba sees you. He tells Smiley he likes your pretty face, and Nahoya tells him you're a new contracted girl working for him. He explains your situation to him and Hakkai asks to have you entertain him.

Surprisingly, he doesn't want sex. Just wants something pretty and innocent on his arm for one night to make him seem more menacing in comparison.

What he doesn't expect is to fall in love. Your gentle touches, your sweet voice, the genuine concern you have for him when he gets rough with some punk he tried to make a deal with.

You're too good for this. All of it. And he's sick to his stomach to think how Smiley is going to turn you out.

He then buys out your contract. Pays off your families debt. Smiley tells you what happened and now Hakkai owns you. Nahoya has a new contract drawn out for you, and you sign it without looking at it.

That night, Hakkai is quiet, as he slowly pulls you towards the bed. Loves the pure white lingerie you're wearing. Probably courtesy of Smiley.

Lays you down on the bed, and kisses your lips lightly then trails kisses all the way down to your panties. His rough hands run up and down your legs and finally takes the garment off, pulls your thighs apart and stares down at his meal.

You weren't expecting him to start licking you up and down. You thought it would be the other way around. But he expertly eats you out with long strokes of his tongue, gently inserts a few fingers when you start to get nice and slick, groans at all your whimpers and loves knowing you're never going to be touched like this by any one else.

Takes your virginity, and you don't know what's worse. The fact that a man you know to be a murderous gangster had your first time, or the fact that he was so kind and gentle with you that you actually enjoyed it.

He's big- No, he's huge. But you came on his tongue and fingers and for whatever reason having him fill you inch by inch, raw, felt so amazing. You can feel your pussy pulse around his girth, and you swear you can hear him gasp when you clench around him...

You feel him fill you up, and can't even force yourself to stay awake while he actually goes down on you again. Licking you clean with his own cum leaking out of you.

Hakkai never says one word to you...

Congratulations! The Leader of the Black Dragon Sect is now your sugar daddy. And even though he says he's going to help you, you feel like you're sinking more and more into debt.

Hakkai is also stark quiet with you. In his head he thinks you two are slowly falling in love and that you understand the depths of his affections. But you don't understand why a man who only speaks two words to you, Yes and No, when he sees you is paying for your nice apartment and nice clothes....

The paranoia is eating away at you. He's going to want something from you, not just your little hands on his arm and for you to have sex with him occasionally... even if its so amazing.

But Hakkai insists he just wants you with him. Here a new handbag. His sister told him this is a good brand. What about some diamonds for your neck? You're so pretty...

Eventually you tell him, you want to get a job. Pay him back in a real way. Your breaking his heart baby, he doesn't want you to go anywhere. Don't you know he loves you? Don't you know you're married?

You're once again shellshocked. That's not possible, you'll tell him, he just bought out your contract and had you sign a new one right!?

Through his tears and sniffles Hakkai pulls out the contract that Smiley had you sign and that's when you realize it was never a fucking agreement or contract of any kind. It was an incredibly detailed and thorough unbreakable marriage license.

"I-I had no idea!" you tell him, feeling yourself about to cry but for very different reasons, "S-smiley didn't tell me! Pl-please Mr.Shiba you have to-!"

He grabs you and wraps you in a crushing embrace, his huge form needing to bend just so he can fully hold you.

"D-Don't call me Mr.Shiba. I'm Hakkai. I'm your husband. You're my wife."

You can feels his tears fall onto where his head is buried in your shoulder, you see the way his own shoulders shake as he cries.

"Please, I'll be good. I swear I'll be good. We'll be a real married couple. Just please...don't leave me.

[mjrtaurus]

Modern AU Monkey D. Dragon gets a bad rep with the more extreme evangelical splinter sects in his home state (which there are a lot of, unfortunately). Between not being white, not being straight, not being christian, not being right wing, and literally being named “Dragon”, he gets a few protestors here and there outside the courthouse with some interesting sign boards.

His favorite to date was held by a sour-faced little old lady in her Sunday best, and it read “HE IS THE ANTICHRIST” with his tattoo patterning sloppily incorporated into it. A journalist got a photo of it and he bought a copy to frame and hang on the wall at his home office. The boys think it’s hilarious.

[pigeonflavouredcake]

My Grimoire Research Library

this is a list of my major resource I've referenced/am currently referencing in my big grimoire project. For books I'll be linking the Goodreads page, for pdfs, websites and videos i'll link them directly.

There are plenty of generalised practitioner resources that can work for everyone but as I have Irish ancestry and worship Hellenic deities quite a few of my resources are centred around Celtic Ireland, ancient Greece and the Olympic mythos. If you follow other sects of paganism you are more than welcome to reblog with your own list of resources.

Parts of my grimoire discuss topics of new age spiritualism, dangerous conspiracy theories, and bigotry in witchcraft so some resources in this list focus on that.

Books

Apollodorus - The Library of Greek Mythology

Astrea Taylor - Intuitive Witchcraft

Dee Dee Chainey & Willow Winsham - Treasury of Folklore: Woodlands and Forests

John Ferguson - Among The Gods: An Archaeological Exploration of Ancient Greek Religion

Katharine Briggs - The Fairies in Tradition and Literature

Kevin Danaher - The Year in Ireland: Irish Calendar Customs

Laura O'Brien - Fairy Faith in Ireland

Lindsey C. Watson - Magic in Ancient Greece and Rome

Nicholas Culpeper - Culpeper's Complete Herbal

Plutarch - The Rise and Fall of Athens: Nine Greek Lives

R.B. Parkinson - A Little Gay History: Desire and Diversity Around the World

Rachel Patterson - Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Tarot Journey to Self-Awareness

Raleigh Briggs - Make Your Place: Affordable & Sustainable Nesting Skills

Robin Wall Kimmerer - Braiding Sweetgrass

Ronald Hutton - The Witch: A History of Fear in Ancient Times

Rosemary Ellen Guiley - The Encyclopaedia of Witches and Witchcraft

Thomas N. Mitchell - Athens: A History of the World's First Democracy

Walter Stephens - Demon Lovers: Witchcraft S3x and the Crisis of Belief

Yvonne P. Chireau - Black Magic: Religion and The African American Conjuring Tradition

PDFs

Anti Defamation League - Hate on Display: Hate Symbols Database

Brandy Williams - White Light, Black Magic: Racism in Esoteric Thought

Cambridge SU Women’s Campaign - How to Spot TERF Ideology 2.0.

Blogs and Websites

Anti Defamation League

B. Ricardo Brown - Until Darwin: Science and the Origins of Race

Dr. S. Deacon Ritterbush - Dr Beachcomb

Folklore Thursday

Freedom of Mind Resource Centre - Steven Hassan’s BITE Model of Authoritarian Control

Institute for Strategic Dialogue

Royal Horticultural Society

The Duchas Project -National Folklore Collection

Vivienne Mackie - Vivscelticconnections

YouTube Videos

ContraPoints - Gender Critical

Emma Thorne Videos - Christian Fundie Says Halloween is SATANIC!

Owen Morgan (Telltale) - The Source Of All Conspiracies: A 1902 Document Called "The Protocols"

The Belief it or Not Podcast - Ep. 40 Satanic Panic, Ep 92. Wicca

Wendigoon - The Conspiracy Theory Iceberg

Other videos I haven't referenced but you may still want to check out

Atun-Shei Films - Ancient Aryans: The History of Crackpot N@zi Archaeology

Belief It Or Not - Ep. 90 - Logical Fallacies

Dragon Talisman - Tarot Documentary (A re-upload of the 1997 documentary Strictly Supernatural: Tarot and Astrology)

Lindsay Ellis - Tracing the Roots of Pop Culture Transphobia

Overly Sarcastic Productions - Miscellaneous Myths Playlist

Owen Morgan (Telltale) - SATANIC PANIC! 90s Video Slanders Satanists | Pagan Invasion Saga | Part 1

ReignBot - How Ouija Boards Became "Evil" | Obscura Archive Ep. 2

Ryan Beard - Demi Lovato Promoted a R4cist Lizard Cult

Super Eyepatch Wolf - The Bizarre World of Fake Psychics, Faith Healers and Mediums

Weird Reads with Emily Louise -The Infamous Hoaxes Iceberg Playlist

Wendigoon - The True Stories of the Warren Hauntings: The Conjuring, Annabelle, Amityville, and Other Encounters

[mirageofadesert]

Roar Of The Water Dragon (Shui Long Yin)

Today, Luo Yunxi's next big drama was officially announced with him in the lead role. And just because I had so much fun staring at the poster the last time, I'm going to do it again.

We have some of the same elements as in the last poster: The water, as well as a fox dragon with antlers in the foreground. The man riding the dragon already resembles Luo Yunxi. This is Tang Lici, the main character of this story. This time, the hair isn't completely white yet, rather an ombre of white tips and black roots. I really hope this means he will use his natural hairline instead of a wig for parts of the show.

Let's look at the details. His eyes are closed and he is reaching out. Just like in the first poster, he looks calm, while everything around him is in movement. There are red, gold and green ribbons surrounding him and some golden glow around his left hand. Next to his shoulder there are loose red feathers and further on top small white-golden birds following the fox dragon. They remind me of swallow, but with fantasy elements. Some of the green-blue ribbons turn into waves further up the painting.

Next to the dragon are what looks like a couple of significant locations. On the bottom is a ship in a stormy sea. The figurehead resembles the dragon. Next to the ship are fish flying above the wave, which resemble the birds. This might mean a close connection between sea and sky in the symbolism of the show. Just like the flying water dragon.

There are five other locations between the mountains under the moonlight. The one on the left looks like a bridge, the one on the right like a high tower. The one in the middle, I do recognize.

It's the Hengyang sect complex, Otter Studio build for TTEOTM and which has since then been used in many other productions, such as My Journey to You and Mysterious Lotusbook Case.

On top of the poster is a golden glowing lotus blossom. Inside of it sits a man in what looks like meditation position. It's hard to see clear, but it looks Tang Lici, only this time dressed very differently. I'm not sure if I have seen anything similar in cdramas before, especially his hair and crown. It looks almost South Asian to me. It would be funny if it's actually Thai, after Leo became cultural friendship ambassador for China-Thailand. Then again, most of his recent activities ended up somehow connected to this drama, and its production and broadcasters.

The warm, golden light and the position makes me think of enlightenment and even godhood. I will quote a post I found on Twitter. But be aware, that his could be considered a spoiler:

Going from this, Tang Lici might have a long journey ahead of him, that will turn him from a troublemaker into a saint, by overcoming his own worldly obsessions. Sounds familiar?

Anyway, I'm super excited about the show! Booting ceremony is rumored to be in early December. By then, we might get more info on the rest of the cast. Maybe my wish comes true, and there really won't be a romantic focused story!

[best-nun-tournament]

Round 1, Match 17

Zhou Zhiruo (Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre) vs Mercedes von Martritz (Fire Emblem: Three Houses)

Zhou Zhiruo is a Buddhist nun of the Emei sect.

Mercedes von Martritz is a nun of the Church of Saint Seiros at Garreg Mach Monastery.

Zhou Zhiruo

Arguably the central antagonist of HSDS, an epic novel adapted into multiple 40+ episode TV series. Most powerful female character in HSDS. Using Nine Yin White Bone Claw at a tournament for the position of leader of the Wulin she defeated every other martial artist who came and was crowned leader of the martial arts world.

Mercedes von Martritz

Mercedes was born to the fallen House Martritz and bore a minor Crest of Lamine, a special type of blood that gave it's bearer enhanced abilities. Her father died shortly afterwards and Mercedes' mother remarried into House Bartels, giving birth to Emile von Bartels, who also had a minor Crest of Lamine. Mercie's stepfather was uncaring and only married for his new wife's crest which led to said wife's departure from House Bartels. She ran away with only her eldest child to the Kingdom, where Mercedes would really start her own life as a student of Fhirdiad's Royal School of Sorcery. There, she befriended Annette Fantine Dominic and both girls would later attend Garreg Mach Monastery together. Mercedes is a kind soul with a soft voice and the ability to speak her mind. She's the eldest student attending the Officer's Accademy and takes it upon herself to be a shoulder of support for her classmates, no matter their origin. When the timeskip hits, Mercie returns in a nun's garb and expresses reinforced belief in the Church, even in the route where you fight against the Archbishop. I find her extremely fascinating due to her sub-plot with her brother, Emile. Mercedes held deep regret for leaving her brother behind in House Bartels despite not knowing that he had chosen to stay behind to protect her and her mother. Emile later returns as The Death Knight, a general under the Flame Emperor's command and his story with his sister changes depending on the player's route. Should the player oppose the Flame Emperor, Emile and Mercie can reunite briefly, with The Death Knight granting Mercedes a relic that can only be operated by their Crest before dying in her arms in a later battle, happy to be with his family once again. In the event that the player does side with the Flame Emperor, The Death Knight becomes playable alongside his sister, revealing thatthe years spent in House Bartels changed him, giving rise to two distinct personalities: Jeritza von Hyrm and The Death Knight. Jeritza had been a teacher at Garreg Mach, serving as a spy to the Flame Emperor while The Death Knight quelled his bloodlust under the Flame Emperor's orders. In this route, Mercedes reaches out to both Jeritza and The Death Knight as their elder sister and the exchanges they have are some of my favorites in Fire Emblem history. Also Mercie is bisexual and both M!player and F!player can marry her in the end, regardless of route. Love her for that