#Xian Jun You Jie

[jyomac]

Immortal Destiny Episode 14

[stiltonbasket]

Hi, I love all your fics and adored the one with fem!Wei Wuxian who seems even more of a chaos goblin than her canon counterpart and tries to break apart her engagement to LWJ. Could we see some more of what of what happens after LWJ moves into the Burial Mounds, perhaps how Wen Qing realizes that this man is hopelessly in love with his oblivious fiancee and maybe tries to prod them together (bonus points for LWJ being so obvious Wen Ning, Granny and the rest of the Wens notice XD).

"They need a chaperone."

"They don't need a chaperone."

"They do," Popo insists, watching with enormous eyes as Lan Wangji glides up to Wei Wuxian and offers—for what must be the eleventh time that week—to take over her chores in the vegetable field, presumably so that Wei Wuxian can spend her time improving the wards around the Burial Mounds instead. "Oh, good heavens. I'm nearly eighty years old, and I've never seen a man looking at a maiden like that."

"Be that as it may," Wen Qing says doggedly, "they have no need of a chaperone. Wei Wuxian ended their engagement before she seceded from the Jiang clan, and neither she nor Hanguang-jun chose the betrothal to begin with."

"They don't need a chaperone because Wei-guniang doesn't know that Hanguang-jun is in love with her," Wen Ning mutters, from the grimy depths of the lotus pond at Wen Qing's right. "When Lan-zongzhu visited last week, he told me that Hanguang-jun cried like a baby after Wei-guniang refused to marry him. I think she likes him, too, but she doesn't seem affected at all."

Two tiny fingers pluck at Wen Qing's skirt, and she glances down to find Wen Yuan trying to stand on her shoes, grasping a fold of her gown in one hand and a grubby stuffed tiger in the other.

"What is it, A-Yuan?" she asks. "Are you hungry? Xian-jiejie will feed you in just a little while, so be patient until the congee finishes boiling."

"A-Yuan's not hungry," the little boy says, before putting Hu-shixiong's tail in his mouth. "But, jiejie—Lan-gege loves Xian-jie very much! Gege told A-Yuan!"

At this juncture, Wen Binbin materializes at Wen Qing's right with Uncles Three through Six trailing behind her.

"How long were they engaged, Qingqing?" she asks, in a conspiratorial whisper. "We never heard much news from the other sects in Dafan—but you and A-Ning went to school with them, so you must know something."

Wen Qing sighs.

"A-Xian's parents contracted the betrothal before they passed away," she replies, "but they didn't meet until the year Lan Wangji turned eleven."

Popo clasps her hands in delight. "Were they childhood friends, then?"

"Of a sort," Wen Qing acknowledges, frowning. "I once heard someone say that Hanguang-jun started sewing toy frogs for their future children when he was only a boy, but that can't possibly be true."

She feels another soft tug at her skirt. "Qing-jiejie, A-Yuan wants a frog."

"Hanguang-jun can make you one, Yuan'er. And the part about the frogs is true," A-Ning pipes up, tossing a seed-filled lotus pod to Wen Binbin. "She had one of them with her in the dungeon at Bu Ye Tian when I went to bring medicine to the prisoners during the indoctrination camp."

"Really?" Fourth Uncle gasps. "She carried Hanguang-jun's gifts all the way to Qishan, so that they could comfort her in her time of need?"

"Zewu-jun had better be thinking of a way to have the betrothal reinstated," Wen Qing says, crossing her arms in frustration. "Why did Wei Wuxian break it in the first place? Hanguang-jun would have honored the engagement no matter how the jianghu dared to slander her."

"I suppose that's why," Wen Ning says morosely. "She's afraid that Hanguang-jun will stand by her, no matter what she does—"

"A foolish thing to be frightened of, if you ask me," Wen Binbin mutters. "There are worse things in the world than a devoted husband."

"—and that he might suffer for it. It's difficult to tell, but she loves him just as much as he loves her."

At this, A-Yuan beams like a miniature sun and toddles over to the edge of the pond.

"Really, Ning-shushu?" he asks, enchanted. "Can Jiejie have a wedding?"

"I suppose she can, if Hanguang-jun asks for her hand in marriage again."

Fifth Uncle nods and strokes his chin. "But how can he muster up the courage to ask if Wei-guniang treats him so coldly?"

"I saw her sneaking a second helping of chicken into his porridge the other day," Liu-shu mutters. "If that is a cold woman, Langdan, then I've never met a tender-hearted one."

At this juncture, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji bow to one another and go their separate ways, having reached some kind of agreement about the wards and Wei Wuxian's daily chores. Wei Wuxian gathers up the powdered cinnabar she was sunning and retreats into the cave that serves as her workshop and bedchamber; and Lan Wangji goes off to fetch the laundry from the patch of grass by the potato field, where it had been hung up to dry early that morning.

The Wens disperse as well, not wishing to be caught gossiping in broad daylight by the very subject of their discussion. Popo takes Wen Yuan back to her little house for a bath, dragging A-Ning along with her; and Wen Qing dives into her little infirmary, leaving the door open a crack so that she can eavesdrop on the would-be couple if Lan Wangji seeks A-Xian out again.

And since Wei Wuxian and Hanguang-jun could not avoid one another if their lives depended on it, Wen Qing overhears them discussing the subject of A-Yuan's education less than a quarter-shichen later.

"After all of this is over, I suspect the Wens will be sent to the Cloud Recesses," Lan Wangji says quietly. "I do not think they would be at ease living in close proximity to Jiang-zongzhu, and Xiongzhang has set aside three living compounds for them close to his Hanshi. What is more, A-Yuan would be allowed all the privileges of an inner disciple if he were educated there—and he would not have to surrender his family name, either."

"You'd take him in as an inner disciple?" Wei Wuxian's voice is both louder and more indistinct than Hanguang-jun's, somehow, floating back to Wen Qing in bits and pieces as if it had passed through a veil of thick fog on the way. "I suppose that's for Popo and the others to decide if Zewu-jun has already made the offer, but what if the other disciples mistreat him? I won't stand for it, Lan Zhan."

"He will be my ward, since his parents have passed on: so that should be sufficient to keep him safe. And if you join the Wens in Gusu, Yuan'er will have your protection as well."

A moment's silence, and then:

"Do you mean to return to Lotus Pier when the Dafan clan is granted amnesty?" Hanguang-jun inquires, sounding positively heartbroken. "I—how will they go on without you, Wei Ying? A-Yuan scarcely leaves your side now that he is beginning to forget the horror of the camps, and Wen Ning—"

"I don't intend to go back to Yunmeng," Wei Wuxian says at length, after a pause that lasted the span of about seven perilously sluggish heartbeats. "My place is with the Wens now, I think. There should be someone at the Cloud Recesses who can guard them night and day, out of love for them and not under orders from you or Lan-zongzhu; so wherever they go, I will follow."

Though Wen Qing cannot see him, the soft, stricken pitch of Hanguang-jun's voice is proof that his heart had come very near to melting.

"En, that is good," he murmurs. "It is settled, then."

And with that, the two of them depart together, their footsteps fading away down the old dirt track that leads to Sishu's favorite apple grove.

They belong together, Wen Qing thinks fondly, before turning towards the heap of dried herbs awaiting her attention on her desk. And I pray that some day soon—Heaven willing—A-Xian will realize it, as well.

[spriteofmushrooms]

hiya! how about things you said that i wasn’t meant to hear + ningcheng for the ask game?

"A-jie, Zixuan-ge, I'm here again." Jiang Cheng's voice is soft, and Wen Ning wants to leave, but... but Wei Wuxian had asked him to watch out for Jiang Cheng. Even when Wei Wuxian doesn't put any power behind his words, it's still difficult to disobey. Wen Ning should tell him, but wouldn't Wei Wuxian feel bad? So he stays.

The Jin ancestral hall is nothing like the Jiang clan's. Engulfed in gold, Jiang Cheng is a point of darkness kneeling before grandeur.

"I'm not sure what that brat a-Ling has told you, so..." Jiang Cheng describes the past few months of Jin Ling's life--a notable night hunt, a well-negotiated treaty, the fight for the watchtowers. He tells them that Jin Ling has grown again, and that he's almost taller than Jiang Cheng already. That his friends are sweet, annoying, and promising. That he very obviously maneuvered so that Jiang Cheng would have to take care of Fairy while he studies in Cloud Recesses, because it would be 'so helpful, jiujiu.' He pauses. "He's such a good boy, a-jie."

He laughs, self-mocking. "Your a-Xian, though." Wen Ning should leave! "Your a-Xian has bewitched Lan Qiren's perfect, dutiful nephew, which is somehow something he thought I should be advised of. Not one personal letter in almost eighteen years, and this is what he thinks I want to know? Your didi was responsible, though, and he did not describe every imperfect act by Hanguang-jun. So, you see, I am still diplomatic."

Jiang Cheng curls down, perfect posture forgotten. His hands grip the skirts of his robes. Wen Ning can't see his face. After a few silent moments, he adds, "Jin Ling says that your a-Xian is gaining weight. So he must be eating something, even if it is bland."

The silence of the ancestral hall presses in.

"I wish..." Jiang Cheng whispers. "I wish..."

But then he shakes his head and wipes his face. "I'll visit again soon."

[tottallyana]

here's my list of things that 'a time called you' got right and wrong:

I LOVE the chemistry lab scene. In Taiwan, we never knew if they took sciences like that. Having them pair up and show her interact with them that way expands the character so much?!?

FUCK Jun Jie is shy. I know he's a shy character, but he babbled on and on sometimes with Yun Ru and Xu Xian. It might just be my memory, but he's so much more reserved here.

Atleast Yun Ru's brother was attractive. Who tf is this.

My dream casting if I directed this version would be Kim Tae Ri. Her acting is fucking impeccable. Idk Yeo Been that well, only for Vincenzo.

I smiled when I saw that Jang Hae In was the mother. I LOVED her in CLOY. PERFECT casting.

Both apartments are so bright and cheery omg

NOT THE BELLY SWEATER OH GOD

Miss the plus sized best friend. She was so funny. Korea not brave enough to have a plus size as a best friend again, even though it's a remake.

So far, the best casting is the mother and this uncle because omfg

I like the room concept more for when they are experiencing the other's memories. This is too desolate.

I like the joke in the original better aHa sorry.

I don't like In Kyu as much as Jun Jie. Mmmmmm nope.

Am I tripping or is this the same set and school as Extraordinary You + True Beauty?

[loosingmoreletters]

Title: on slight shoulders Summary: Lan Wangji receives one last gift.

Wen Yuan arrives at the gates of Cloud Recesses dressed in a farmer’s garb embroidered more lovingly than the dress of any lady in Lanling, a black flute hanging from his belt and another man’s sword at his side.

His smile is honest, but Lan Wangji doesn’t make the mistake of assuming the boy isn’t hiding a world of hurt beneath his smile. Lan Wangji himself is standing only by the might of his compeller, shaky handwriting on the last loving letter he’d ever receive.

“Hanguang-jun,” Wen Yuan greets him, bowing lower than he ought to. “This disciple thanks you for this chance.”

The guards standing at the gate seem a smidge more pacified and Lan Wangji yearns for the days of his naïve youth when he couldn’t discern their thoughts. “You are very welcome, Wen Yuan.”

The teenager follows him up the remaining stair, taking in all he can of his surroundings as if he fears being told to leave the next moment. Wen Yuan will not be ordered from Lan Wangji’s side. He has all but threatened the elders with seceding from the sect if they will not accept Wen Yuan as a disciple.

“Are those the guest disciple quarters?” Wen Yuan asks carefully, pointing at a building in the distance.

“Yes.”

Wen Yuan remains a step longer staring before nodding to himself. “Xian-gege told me of them. Will I be staying there?”

Under normal circumstances, Wen Yuan would remain there or in any other suit set aside for guests, but his situation is precarious. His presence in the Cloud Recesses is tolerated by the counterweight of Lan Wangji’s threat to abscond to Yiling. He is not a guest here, he is Lan Wangji’s condition to remaining.

“No,” Lan Wangji replies. “You will be staying with me to ease the transition.”

Wen Yuan’s smile crumbles a little, but he inclines his head in understanding as they continue their tour. He makes the Jingshi their first stop and allows Wen Yuan to place his belongings in the space Lan Wangji freed for him. After cleaning himself up a little, Wen Yuan dresses in a second pair of farming clothes indistinguishable from the first set, ignoring that they are much cleaner. Lan Wangji will have to speak to the tailors to commission appropriate robes for Wen Yuan, though he guesses it will be months until Wen Yuan will feel safe enough in them to wear them. The protections he carries now are nothing to scoff at.

He leads Wen Yuan to the most common public areas first, taking advantage of the fact that most disciples will be busy with classes at this hour. He doubts that they will be taking meals with the others in the near future, but Wen Yuan should know his way around.

The path to the healers delights Wen Yuan as he stops at every weed and flower to admire them, spring coloring them in a lush green.

“Qing-jie dreamed of a garden like this,” Wen Yuan says as he crouches down, his hand hovering above the plants. “She used to have one in her home village and always taught me any proper healer should.”

“Were you instructed in the healing arts?” Lan Wangji asks. He spotted the needles hidden in the hems of Wen Yuan’s shirt earlier, but that alone doesn’t speak for proficiency.

Wen Yuan stands up again, regret lingering. “She taught me everything she could.”

It is a claim as honest as possible. Their generation is hailed as one producing more outstanding cultivators than any other and Wen Qing had been brilliant. Whatever she had the time or ability to teach Wen Yuan in the Burial Mounds, she would have passed on.

It is another reason Wen Yuan’s presence was objected to. His inheritance is a heavy one that many wish to see eradicated. A sword, a flute, needles in farmer’s garb, Wen Yuan is the very picture of his upbringing, a multitude of hopes and fears passed down on slight shoulders. It’ll be Lan Wangji’s task to stitch them into something he will not have to fear showing, leaving his own mark on the child in the process.

They continue further, Wen Yuan asking questions occasionally until they make it to their last stop.

“Rabbits!” Wen Yuan gasps and steps forward before pausing, waiting for Lan Wangji to tell him to go. He shows the boy how to approach the animals and sits him down to bury him in them. Wen Yuan laughs in delight until he cries and needs to bury his face in Lan Wangji’s chest.

Nobody warm has held this boy in weeks. That thought alone summons all of Lan Wangji’s grief back to the forefront of his mind. He hasn’t allowed himself to fall apart, couldn’t give anyone a reason to doubt his ability or conviction.

He will not cry in front of Wen Yuan either.

(--)

There is a letter on Lan Wangji’s desk.

Ah, Lan Zhan, I apologize for my terrible handwriting. The winter frost leaves me shaking and I cannot find the strength to keep my lines straight. Under any other circumstances, I’d ask dear a-Yuan to write this for me, but I must keep up some appearance.

Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, my lovely Hanguang-jun, may this reprehensible Yiling Patriarch ask you for one last favor?

A-Yuan is still young and, unlike the rest of us on this mountain, has his whole life ahead of him. Would you take him in when the last of us has perished? I would ask Jiang Cheng, but I fear a-Yuan will need the protection of your noble reputation. He has been a good child to me and I am sure he will be a filial son to you. Think of him as one last gift, just like the rabbits I gave you when we were young. He will need many hugs when the time comes and who could imagine a kinder embrace than that of Hanguang-jun?

Farewell, Lan Zhan, don’t miss me too much.

Yours,

Wei Ying.

[shookethdev]

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 🫵

[antiresolution]

Killing a Ghost.

@chenosias @minseologs @liux14n

The funeral portrait of Osias disturbs him in a clinical way. Its glassy reflection mirrors the cold pose captured inside a simple wooden frame. What he knew of Osias had been built from words of others. Words alive with contradictions, rumors and facts alike creating the bold outline of an artist clever enough to outrun death after kissing its chapped lips. 

“Who’s body do you think it is?”

Wenhan’s hushed voice in a crowd of grim faces doesn’t stop the warning stab of Minseo’s heel into the leather toe of one shoe. Minseo’s hands go to his tie after she sets flowers on a table of offerings. He stares at the bouquet of gold chrysanthemums now decorating plates of food and handwritten notes. 

“It doesn’t matter, dear.” 

Externally they paint the picture of a well-fitting couple, and always circle each other in a silent dance of disagreement. Tension that would dissolve into bickering on the ride home before Minseo blew out speakers with tchaikovsky loud enough to rattle his fucking teeth. 

They lock eyes when she tightens the knot at his throat. 

“It should," he murmurs. 

Someone would always pay the price from an abandoned past, and part of that cost appears as dark circles under his brother’s curiously alert eyes. Wenhan entertains strangers with a facade of charm if only to give Xian and Jun a moment of reprieve from an unending line of shallow condolences and the weight of grief. Always lingering a few paces behind his brother like some ghostly shadow. He watches the pride holding Xian’s posture upright sink the moment they’re both out of the main room. Witnesses the shudder of truth cross Xian’s features from the reflection in the bathroom mirror. The moment Xian notices Wenhan, he straightens up, as if nothing had broken free. 

“Nice of you to show your face, ge.” 

Wenhan notices the knife edge on the tip of Xian’s tongue. Bitterness over his absence, maybe. Swelling anger with no one to give it to, more likely. But he doesn’t bother to return the blow. He stands beside his brother, fumbling with the other’s lapel. Xian stands stiff, but doesn’t move or protest as Wenhan pins a white lily to the front of his suit. The last time he’d held his brother’s grief, he’d been a child. They both were. Now the questions lining Xian’s face decorates a sharp gaze with the power to bring a world to its knees instead of a child’s eyes looking to him for answers. Now that he knew the truth, he chose to hide it.

“It’s not your fault.” Wenhan's voice shifts when he speaks in Mandarin. Losing such carefully masked control for a softer honesty. Xian’s eyes drift from his face. “Let’s eat together after, huh. All of us.” 

“How long are you staying?”

Xian is looking at him again. This time it’s wenhan’s turn to avoid a prying gaze as he spins on his heel to walk them both back into the funeral hall. The truth is he’d been gone in a week. It wasn’t safe to show his face publicly for too long. Not unless he wanted to give his father an idea of who to threaten, and where to strike. 

And the lie? 

“As long as you need me.”

– 

An oncoming chill from rain taps at his bones and forces him awake walking the Dongmun market just after dawn. He looks at lines of fish hanging like a rainbow of kites, then wastes time picking at mandarins wrapped in boxes for tourists. Following the scent of eggs and butter leads him to a display lined with steamed buns and walnut cakes. He hides his smile when the young woman working the stall ignores him. Yuqin had chopped her hair to her ears since last month after swearing this time she’d grow it out long enough for a braid. He could see the constellation of moles leading from her neck to her cheeks.

“I’d like three pineapple buns.”

She doesn’t even look up from rearranging the rice cakes to fill holes caused by hungry hands. There’s a plate of the desired crisp bread next to her elbow. 

“I’m all out, sorry.”

“Maybe some dried plums, then, jie.” 

Her eyes narrow on him when he switches into Cantonese. “How many…” 

“Just one bag.” Yuqin stares down Wenhan’s cat grin. “You owe me.”

“If I’d known I’d have your foot on my throat, I would’ve taken my chances staying in Guangzhou.” She tosses a few bags of plums into a basket, boxing random pastries and fruit. Inside one box would be a cz85 pistol. Another box would conceal a half full magazine. “Do you even have money to pay me? Heard you quit the circus.” Still, she lets him take it without a fight. 

Wenhan watches her use sign language after a group of men walk by. He pulls down the rim of his ball cap when one of them glances at the stall.

‘I won’t be here next time you need me. It’s not safe anymore’

“I thought you hated dried plums.” Yuqin’s gaze is heavy with unspoken questions.

Yet hate wasn’t the right word. Guns bored him. His mother taught him about concealing knives as well as ballet. Maybe he’d inherited her distaste for bullets like the sharp slope of her nose and eyes.

“I thought you swore you’d stop selling them.”

Yuqin swore she’d have her peace. Open a bakery, adopt a stupid dog, live a simple life. And here they both were, still running from the same fate with a different face. Wenhan smiles even knowing they might not see each other again. At least not alive. He lets his feet carry him out of the marketplace, filling his shoes with beach sand and rocks. Keeping his head down to escape curious looks from fisherman and divers. He wouldn’t have much time to search Osias’ boat, and he didn’t need Minseo hearing about his trip from anyone else. Anyone on this island could be part of her business, and he would never know everything. 

What free wall space the boat’s lower cabin has is decorated with few photographs and loose handed sketches. Xian would hate to see his face on full display, even if it was a smiling face next to Jun and candids of strangers. Still, the idea of his younger brother's annoyance is enough to tug lips into a half-smile that disappears when he kicks aside empty take out boxes. 

So this is what one face of peace looked like. Isolated in a dungeon by the sea with the comforting smell of shit to sleep next to. 

Wenhan knocks at baseboards, listening for a dull echo. Any clues to hidden compartments holding weapons, money, drugs. Anything more to look at besides useless sentimental nothings. Something to make it worth the paranoia that drove him here. Worth the decisive weight in his decision to erase the liability Osias had become.

Yet all he finds is a simple notebook. Its pages were already gutted with writing. Decorated with graceful words that didn’t match Wenhan’s opinion of a reckless junkie. He thumbs through confessions as if it were his own diary, ignoring how initial disappointment ebbs away. Replaced instead with curiosity he would deny. 

Then the floor creaks, and Wenhan sways to avoid the second body barreling inside the cabin. The diary is lost under two pairs of wrestling feet, and he feels the slice of a blade in his side before he sees Osias. They greet each other with the shock of widened eyes and spitting curses. Wenhan keeps Osias’ wrist twisted away from what would have been a lethal stab at his gut.

“What the fuck–” 

“I liked this shirt…” he bites into the complaint as his side throbs. He hadn't been stabbed in a while. How annoying. How– 

Fun.

“What are you even here for– shit. You fucking stalker.” 

“What for…?” Wenhan blinks, as if he were as innocent as a child. Then he’s sucking in a breath, hissing between his teeth as he clamps a hand over his side. He could only hope the wound was shallow. “You’re the one that said I should visit.”

“Maybe I was being fucking facestious, bro.” 

They stand there, mirroring a strange calmness in each other that doesn’t match the shed of blood pooling hot and slick under Wenhan’s palm. Osias had been shocked, but his face didn’t carry the same surprise. As if he had been waiting for a threat to manifest. It could have been anyone.

“Answer.”

“I came here to kill you.” The confession is said simply, without hesitation or a flicker in expression. It would be easy to snap that thin neck between his hands. Take the boat out far enough and dump a body no one would even be looking for. Simple to have its insides cleaned and returned to Minseo’s docks as if it had never been gone. Everyone back home was already mourning, and he’d just give them a good reason for the grief. 

Then, Wenhan laughs. 

“Could you imagine? That’s so stupid. Too anticlimactic.”

Osias doesn’t say anything, but gapes soundless pain when Wenhan launches a knee into his gut. The knife spins into a dark corner. He uses the brief shock to move out of reach and closer to the exit. Osias leans against the opposite end of the boat, hunched as if he were prepared to swing, but neither of them move. 

“I brought you something.” Wenhan tilts his head towards the basket of pastries and fruit.

“I don’t want anything from you... Jesus, you just can’t say anything straight can you.”

“It’s for when you move on.” Wenhan never believed this plan would work, not for long. “Somewhere Minseo can’t protect you.” Or when she decides this isn’t worth the trouble. 

Osias glances at the blood soaking between his fingers. There’s a beat of hesitation, then he rolls his eyes.

“Whatever… sit down, ya cryptic asshole. Or bleed outside if you want." Osias is already digging inside a small cabinet “--or bleed out if you want.”

If it’s pride that roots his feet to the floor and keeps him standing, he’d blame morbid curiosity for sinking down into a chair and pulling up his bloody shirt. 

Osias almost immediately presses a cloth into his side after the bored assessment. Wenhan feels the burn of antiseptic and grinds his teeth, nearly not catching the mutter. “Jie would kill me for this.” 

“She would, because she’s kind. You should worry about Xian when he figures out your stupid plan.” Wenhan watches Osias’ face carefully as he murmurs,  “for someone that writes so much about being better off dead, you try really hard not to die.” 

He half expects Osias to stab him twice if that glare was any sort of warning. But the other stays quiet as he works, and Wenhan focuses on the drawings over walls after failing to earn a reaction. For a moment, he could recognize the peace Osias chased in this sort of silence. Isolation and freedom could be one and the same. 

What was far more cruel than death lived in the consequences of free will. Neither of them would admit they recognized the same sort of cruelty in each other. An identical selfishness. The fact they would always choose themselves over anyone else. 

When Wenhan starts laughing to himself, seemingly at nothing, Osias threatens to throw him into the sea if he keeps fucking fidgeting.

Killing a ghost is knowing what it means to live under its skin. 

[eyenaku]

Ji ji fu ji ji

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

[silverflame2724]

Accidental Martial God WWX

That was exacty what I meant actually but I do have a few more povs if you want.

LQRs reaction to a demonic cultivator ascending, JGS and JGY reaction to the Yin Tiger Tally moving completely out of reach, WQ pondering the true requirements for ascension given WWX doesn't have a golden core yet ascended, WWX musing on Godhood and on his new followers both the good and the more disturbing worshipers.

Maybe LWJ protects the Wen Remnants because WWX asked him to in a dream and after he succeeds (13 years later) he ascends and is finally reunited with WWX.

Lan Qiren did not know what to think. Wei Wuxian, his most troublesome student, a demonic cultivator, had ascended. He’d ascended. How was that even possible? Were the Heavens blind? Why would they allow someone like Wei Wuxian to ascend?

From what Lan Qiren had thought, only those who are righteous and followed the correct path in life like the Lan clan’s founder, Lan An, would be worthy of ascending.

Either the qualifications for ascension were lower than he thought or Lan Qiren had been horribly mistaken about Wei Wuxian’s personality and motivations for using demonic cultivation. That last thought made Lan Qiren feel very uncomfortable.

He’d always been harsh on the boy and disregarded him, even - he ashamedly admitted - punishing him harsher and more frequently than others.

He’d thought he was in the right because of how Wei Wuxian was but…..

But if he was wrong then Lan Qiren owed him an apology.

………………….

Jin Guangshan wanted to scream out in frustration seeing Wei Wuxian ascend. That brat had the Stygian Tiger Seal on him - according to his spies - and now that he ascended, the Seal went with him.

He had had so many plans on bribing Wei Wuxian to his side or killing him when he refused - as well as stealing the Seal - and then taking over the cultivation world, lording over it as he was always meant to be.

Now those plans are ruined. He sighed. Hopefully that bastard son of his can finally prove his usefulness and give him countermeasures or he might retract his favor from him.

……………………

Jin Guangyao’s first thought upon seeing Wei Wuxian ascend was: Oh shit. I have to go make up new plans to help Father.

He knew his father wanted Wei Wuxian and the Seal and didn’t really care how he obtained both or either, just as long as no one traced it back to him. He sighed. This was going to be a big headache. But at least the plans on putting his father as Chief Cultivator were going smoothly. He could only imagine what his father would do to him if even this failed.

..............................

Wen Qing had still been in Yiling, making plans to relocate her family, when the news that Wei Wuxian had ascended had reached her.

Her first reaction was, That’s impossible.

Because it was, right? Wen Qing should know. She cut out his core, after all. But to think he was still able to ascend while he was a demonic cultivator made her wonder what the requirements were for ascending. Perhaps it’s an honest heart? Self-sacrificing tendencies? Or is it a sacrifice of some sorts? She paused. What if.....it was a trial? To test a person’s will? What Wei Wuxian had suffered was.....horrible. Could it have all been just a test from the Heavens?

If that was so, the Heavens really are cru--- 

“A’ Jie, we have to go! Some Jin were spotted nearby!”

Wen Qing gritted her teeth. Members of the branch families of Qishan, regardless of whether they were innocent or not, were captured and subsequently tortured to death by the Jin and sometimes the Nie. Because her family was all in Yiling, they were safe.......but only for now. They had to hurry and escape.

Wen Qing sent a quick prayer to Wei Wuxian, hoping for her family’s safety, and tucked the rest of her belongings in her qiankun pouch, remembering to wrap her arms in bandages to hide the needles she might need to paralyze any Jin that came close.

....................................

Wei Wuxian’s first thought when he landed in the Heavens was, What the fuck.

Then he looked around and looked taken aback and wary at the unfamiliar faces around him. Where the fuck am I?

“Hello.” A rather stoic-faced man greeted.

“Hello.” Wei Wuxian parroted back. The person in front of him didn’t seem to be a threat so he felt a little tension loosen from his shoulders. “Um, Xiansheng? I’m afraid I don’t know where I am?”

“You have just ascended.” The man replied, throwing Wei Wuxian aback.

“Are you pulling my leg?” Wei Wuxian asked. “How is that even possible! I don’t even have---” He swallowed. I don’t even have a core.

“I do not lie. Come, we are wasting time. We must get you washed up and dressed for the induction ceremony.” Seeing Wei Wuxian still frozen, the man sighed, signalled for some people to pick Wei Wuxian up and dragged the struggling man to some quarters.

After absentmindedly washing, drying and changing himself, Wei Wuxian noticed some differences in his body. He wasn’t....cold or hurting anymore. And - he touched his back - he could feel his back! After having his muscles and nerves shredded by Zidian, he didn’t think he’d ever be able to sense touch on his back or even move without pain! But now he can!

He heard the urging of some people and grumbled.

“You will become a god of demonic cultivation.” Was the first thing he heard when he stepped out of the room.

Wei Wuxian choked. “Excuse me?!”

“I said what I said. Now then, if you would please concentrate, you should be able to hear the prayers of the people below.”

Wei Wuxian felt like everything was moving a little too fast for him, but nevertheless complied. Immediately after, a flood of prayers hit him at full force.

“Wei Wuxian!” That was Jiang Cheng! “….Have some fun up there.”

“A’ Xian, do be well. Shijie isn’t there to take care of you so do be well.” Wei Wuxian refused to cry.

“Wei-Xiong! I hope there’s someone up there to supply you with you know what *winks*”

How does someone even wink in their prayers? Wei Wuxian thought amusedly.

“Wei Ying.” That was Lan Zhan. “Wei Ying, I will—be well.”

Ah, Lan Zhan. Always concise even in your thoughts.

Wei Wuxian was a little teary. As much as he was glad to not be a part of the cultivation world considering all the rumors, he did regret leaving behind those that cared for him.

That thought was much more cemented upon hearing…….

“Ah, Lord Wei, the pinnacle of evil, the role model of all demonic cultivators!” Wei Wuxian’s eye twitched. “Please hear my plea for more power! I need it, I need it to destroy everyone who harmed me!”

“Wei Wuxian, I wish to gain power over resentful energy so that I may tear my enemies limb by limb!

“Give me money! You’re a god, aren’t you? Be useful for once and give me some gold!”

“Tch. If I’m going to pray for anything, then it’ll have to be the Seal. You’re a god, now, right? So you have no need for the Seal. Just give it up.”

No matter the good or bad, Wei Wuxian heard the wishes and prayers of the people down below and while some were innocent enough, there were those that wished for death, destruction, tools for torture, power, money, women…….you name it.

It made Wei Wuxian feel a little disgusted with humanity. He cut off his focus from the bad and focused on the prayer he received from his friends and family.

“Wei Wuxian, I heard you became a god.” It was Wen Qing. He hadn’t heard her voice in a long time. “I know this might seem shameless of me after all I did to you, but please. Please guarantee the safety of my family. We’re being hunted down and—”

Her prayer was abruptly cut off, before coming back in full force with notes of desperation. Her family had been captured and taken to Qiongqi Path! Wei Wuxian panicked. He didn’t know how to escape from this place and try to go help her.

The…..person who was watching over him evidently knew what he was thinking about and merely stated that gods cannot interfere with the mortal realm. So he was stuck.

But that didn’t mean he was out of options.

It took a few days, but he managed to wheedle out how to help: via dreams. He merely needed to get into the mind of one of his followers and tell them to help. Much like those prophetic dreams Wei Wuxian had read about as a kid.

So he buckled down, thinking of the best candidate to help him.

……………………………

Lan Wangji looked at the landscape around him and concluded that he was dreaming. Though, it was a little odd that he was aware that he was dreaming. Not that he hasn’t realized he was dreaming before - especially in those many fantasies he had of Wei Ying - but to be aware that this is a dream and to see nothing but a flat landscape was pretty out of the ordinary. 

Anyway, he digressed. What was going on?

“Uhh, Lan Zhan? Can you hear me?”

“W-Wei Ying?!” Lan Wangji couldn’t be blamed for stuttering. He wasn’t expecting this!

“Phew. Oh good, you can hear me. Anyway, Lan Zhan, I gotta be quick about this because I’m kinda sorta bending the rules here, but do you think you can go to Qiongqi Path and rescue Wen Qing and her family?”

“Okay.”

“Huh? Just like that? Not even going to ask me for a reason, er-gege?”

Lan Wangji’s ears flushed red at the address. “If Wei Ying wants to save them, you must have a good reason. That’s enough for me.”

“Ah, Hanguang-Jun.” The title was spoken fondly. “Always so good. I’ll tell you anyway. Wen Qing and her family sheltered Jiang Cheng and I after Lotus Pier fell and even brought back Jiang-shushu and Yu-furen’s bodies! That’s a debt I cannot repay.”

“I understand. I will help.”

He couldn’t see Wei Ying, but could practically feel the amusement from him.

“Wei Ying.”

“Yes?”

“Are......Are you well?”

“Of course I am. I’m actually feeling so much better than before.” Wei Ying grumbled, “I’m not even in pain anymore.”

“You were in pain?” Lan Wangji asked worriedly. “Wei Ying, why didn’t you say anything.”

“Lan Zhan, there was nothing you or anyone else could do to alleviate my pain. It doesn’t matter now. I’m okay.”

Lan Wangji was still worried and wanted to speak to him more, but---

“Ah! Looks like my time’s up!” Wei Ying exclaimed cheerfully as the dreamscape wavered. “See you, Lan Zhan!”

Lan Wangji nodded. “See you, Wei Ying.” I’ll catch up to you soon.

.

.

.

And 13 years later, Lan Wangji kept his promise.

___________________

I didn’t edit this so I’m hoping there’s not too many grammatical errors lol. 

[super-novatuna]

happy early wei wuxian bi awakening! (MXTX Reverse Trope Fest week 2 day 4: anti- de-aging or becoming elderly)

(this is such a funny concept. i love my brain for this.)

(cross-posted on ao3 and twitter)

“Adult Lan Zhan looked really handsome,” Wei Wuxian thinks out loud as he stares at the ceiling. “Insanely good-looking. He should have the first rank of eligible cultivators, sorry Zewu-Jun. It’s the truth.”

“Can you please stop talking about Lan Wangji like you have been since he got hit with that damn aging curse,” Jiang Cheng groans from his spot at the table. “A-Jie, tell him that even if Lan Wangji looked insanely handsome he can’t keep talking about him nonstop.”

“I can and I will,” Wei Ying shoots back, then continues in a small voice, “also because I think I like him romantically.”

Jiang Cheng straightens in shock. “You’re a cutsleeve?” he asks, bewildered.

“I don’t... think so? I mean I liked the girls I flirted with normally so I’m not a cutsleeve but I feel the same things with Lan Zhan so maybe I am?”

“Maybe you simply like both, A-Xian,” Jiang Yanli inputs from her sewing across from Jiang Cheng. “It’s not unheard of.”

“Maybe I do like both,” Wei Wuxian muses.

He sits up abruptly and makes eye contact with Jiang Cheng. “I like Lan Zhan romantically.”

“What,” is all Jiang Cheng can say.

“At first I thought, wow adult Lan Zhan is super handsome, anyone would be lucky to marry him, then I realized I want to marry him, and I got super confused and I realized that I also want to marry Lan Zhan right now because he’s also super handsome and cute and I’m going to go tell him right-” Wei Wuxian hesitates. “...right when he stops hating me.”

“He doesn’t hate you, A-Xian,” Jiang Yanli assures him.

“Are you sure, A-Jie?” Jiang Cheng raises an eyebrow. “Pretty sure he does hate him.”

“Trust me, he doesn’t,” Jiang Yanli smiles. “Go tell him.”

“Okay thank you shijie bye I really appreciate that,” is rushed out of Wei Wuxian’s mouth before he’s up and out of the door.

“You knew about this, didn’t you,” Jiang Cheng stares suspiciously at his sister.

“I am good friends with Lan-gongzi. I did not know that the curse would hit Lan-er-gongzi instead when I shoved him away,” she doesn’t answer, smiling innocently.

He lays his head down and sighs into the hard surface of the table. He has two older siblings and they are both evil schemers. How does he survive.

[wuxia-indonesia]

Top Drama China Historical yang akan Datang

serial drama historical andalan 4 jaringan china yang akan datang. 腾讯 (tencent) 1.梦华录 Meng Hua Lu - A Dream of Splendor - Crystal Liu Yi Fei , Chen Xiao, Jelly Lin 2.玉骨遥 The Longest Promise - Xiao Zhan, Ren MIn, Wang Chu Ran, Han Dong, Alen Fang 3.星汉灿烂 Love Like The Galaxy - Zhao Lusi, Leo Wu, Zeng Li 4.春闺梦里人 Romance of a Twin Flower - Ding Yuxi, Peng XiaoRan 5.重紫 Chong Zhi - Yang Chao Yue, Jeremy Tsui, Zhang Zhi Xi 6.说英雄谁是英雄 Heroes - Joseph Zeng, Yang Chal Yue, Liu Yu Ning, Baron Chen, Meng Zi Yi, Sun Zu Jun 7.雪鹰领主 Lord Eagle - Sheng Ying Hao, Sun Rui, Fei Qin Yuan 8.乐游原 Wonderland of Love - Xu Kai, Jing Tian, Zhao JIa Min, Gao Han, Zheng He Hui Zi, He Feng Tian 9.长相思 Lost You Forever - Yang Zi, Deng Wei, Zhang Wan Yi 10.天行健 Heroes (judul rencana akan diubah biar ga tabrakan) - Qin Jun Jie, Maggie Huang, Liu Yu Ning 11.飞狐外传 - The Young Flying Fox - Qin Jun Jie, Liang Jie, Xing Fei, Peter Ho, Sarah Zhao, Lin Yu Shen, Hei Zi, Yvonne Yung 12.只此江湖梦 - Love and Sword - Gao Wei Guang, Xuan Lu, Jia Nai, Martin Zhang, Yuan Yu Xuan, Ren Hao 爱奇艺 (iqiyi) 1.月歌行 - Song of the Moon - Vin Zhang, Xu Lu 2.云襄传 - The Ingenious One - Chen Xiao, Rachel Momo, Tang Xiao Tian 3.显微镜下的大明 - Great Ming Under Microscope - Zhang Ruoyun, Qi Wei, Wang Yang 4.明月入卿怀 - A Forbidden Marriage - Mao Zi Jun , Zhou Jie Qiong , Zhang Xin ,Li Jiu Lin, Eddy Ko 5.请君 - Welcome - Ren Jia Lun, Li Qin 6.七时吉祥 - Love You Seven Times - Ding Yu Xi, Yang Chao Yue ,Yang Hao Yu, Dong Xuan, Hai Lu 8.倾城亦清欢 - The Emperor's Love - Wallace Chung, Yuan Bing Yan, Jason Gu, Zhang Yue 9.九霄寒夜暖 - Warm Cold Night in the Nine Heavens - Li Yi Tong, Bi Wen Jun, Chen He Yi, He Rui Xian, Ma Yue 10.苍兰诀。 - Eternal Love - Yu Shu Xin, Dylan Wang, Cristy Guo, Xu Hai Qiao 11.花溪记(分销) - Love Is An Accident - Xing Fei, Xu kai Cheng, Wang Yi Nuo 12.花戎。 - Hua Rong - Ju Jing Yi, Guo Jun Chen, Liu Dong Qin, Lu Ting Yu, Ma Yue 优酷 (youku) 1.长月烬明 - Till The End of The Moon - Luo Yunxi, Bai Lu, Chen Du Ling, Deng Wei, Sun Zhen Ni, Wang Yifei 2.星河长明 - Novoland: The Princess From Plateau - Feng Shao Feng, Peng Xiao Ran, Cheng Xiao Meng, Zhu Zheng Ting, Liu Meng Rui, Kim Jin 3.沉香如屑。- Immortal Samsara - Yang Zi, Cheng Yi, Ray Chang, Meng Zi yi, Yang Xizi, Hou Meng yao 4.星落凝成糖 - Love When the Stars Fall - Chen Xing Xu, Landy Li, Luke CHen, He Xuan Lin 5.郎君不如意。- Go Princess Go 2 - Wu Xuan yi, Chen Zhe Yuan, LQ Wang 6.隐娘 - The Assassin - Qin Lan, Zheng Ye Cheng, Hu Lian Xin, Du Chun 7.安乐传 - Legend of Anle - Dilraba Dilmurat, Gong Jun, Liu Yu Ning, Xia Nan, Tim Pei, Chen Tao 芒果TV (mango tv) 1.落花时节又逢君 - Love Never Fails - Yuan Bing Yan,Liu Xue Yi, Xu Xiao Nuo, Ao Rui Peng 2.覆流年 - Lost Track of Time - Xing Fei, Zhai Zi Lu, Jin JIa Yu, Cheng Yu Feng, Zhan Jie, Han Ye catatan: nanti saya update judul resmi inggris dan siapa aktor aktrisnya. sumber: artikel topik upcoming chinese drama di cerita-silat.net dan Weibo

[stiltonbasket]

Age reversal au~! Can we have that moment where jyl asks wwx how does he know love is or how he knew that he was in love. Or at the very least jiang fam bonding 🤭🤭🤭

"Da-ge?" Jiang Yanli asks, when her oldest brother comes back home to Lotus Pier for the first time after his wedding. "How did you know you were in love with Hanguang-jun?"

"Hanguang-jun? Who's this Hanguang-jun?" Xian-gege chides, holding baby A-Yuan up to plant a wet kiss on Yanli's cheek. "He's been your brother-in-law for a year now. You can just call him Wangji-gege."

"No, I can't!" Yanli says, horrified by the mere thought of it. "But ge, I didn't want to ask about him, really. I just wanted to know how you realized he was more than a friend to you."

Wei Wuxian squints. "Are you in love with someone, A-Li?"

Jiang Yanli coughs, flushing darker than the embroidered lotus flowers on her ruqun, and her brother jumps up from his chair so suddenly that Yuanyuan yells out a protest. "A-Die is sorry, Baobao," he soothes, stroking the baby's head until he settles down again. “But A-Li, who-?”

“Gege!” she wails. “Just tell me how you knew, first!”

“All right, all right. Hm, how I knew I liked Lan Zhan...I think it started as soon as the day I met him, but I didn’t know it was anything more than friendship until he asked if he could court me,” Xian-gege tells her. “Once there was a choice to be with him, I knew there would be no other way forward for me. That’s a good way to think about it, meimei--if the person you’re thinking about came to you tomorrow and asked you to marry him, and you knew that he loved you with all his heart, could you bear to say no?”

Yanli blushes even harder. “No, I--I don’t think I could.”

“Then you have your answer, don’t you?”

“I guess I do,” she says quietly. “But he doesn’t like me.”

Oh, Jin Zixuan likes her well enough, as well as boys like the baby sisters of their sworn brothers, but he’s never looked at her as anything more than Er-ge’s sweet meimei, no matter how earnestly she tried to make him see that she wasn’t a little girl any more. Yanli is already eighteen, and her eighteen years aren’t so few in comparison to Jin Zixuan’s twenty-three as eight would be to thirteen, so why won’t Zixuan-ge forget the little young mistress she used to be, and treat her as the grown guniang she is?

“Are you sure?” Xian-gege says gently. “You’re the dearest and wisest girl I’ve ever known, A-Li. Who wouldn’t love you?”

A tear runs down Jiang Yanli’s cheek.

“He’s engaged to someone else,” she sniffles. “I know it’s wrong to--to like someone who wouldn’t be free to love me back--but the engagement’s not his choice, and he and his intended don’t like each other, so I thought...”

Her brother closes his eyes, looking as pained as Yanli feels, and draws her into his arms.

“Is it Jin Zixuan?”

Jiang Yanli bursts into sobs.

“It is,” she chokes. “I’ve liked him all my life, and I tried to stop after I knew he was supposed to marry Su-jie, but I couldn’t--”

“Did that peacock lead you on?” Wei Wuxian demands. “If he did, I’ll drag him here from Lanling this very minute to kneel and beg forgiveness in front of Jiang-shushu, betrothal or no betrothal!”

“No! No, it wasn’t like that.”

Xian-gege draws back. “All right, then,” he says decisively. “A-Li, don’t cry. Your gege will fix this for you.”

Yanli blinks at him, perplexed. “I don’t see how.”

“I’m going to tell Wen Ning to hurry up and make his move,” her brother mutters. “He’s been delaying his coronation because he’s afraid being Wen-zongzhu will distance him from Qing-meimei and his little cousins, but he really can’t afford to put this off any longer.”

“Put what off?”

“Go bathe your face and have lunch with Auntie,” he urges. “Gege has letters to write.”

So Jiang Yanli goes, more bewildered than ever. She takes A-Yuan with her to visit Mother in the south pavilion, and Xian-gege runs off to write to Wen Qionglin, though Jiang Yanli can’t imagine what he could do to resolve a foolish matter of the heart like this one.

But two months later, after Wen Ruohan steps down and yields the zongzhu’s seat to his nephew, she finally gets her answer: because Wen Qionglin shocks the whole cultivation world by kidnapping Qin Su from her manor in Laoling, and forcefully taking her to wife before Qin Cangye could even send word of her disappearance to Jin Guangshan.

"I don’t care,” Wen Qionglin shrugged, when emissaries from Laoling and Lanling came to plead for Qin Su’s release, reminding Wen-zongzhu of her lifelong engagement to Jin Zixuan and the dowry Qin Cangye was supposed to sign over to Jin Guangshan in return for his daughter’s bride price. “I’ve already married her. Maiden Qin and I are one from now unto the world’s ending, and I will not even think of parting from her until Jin Zixuan himself comes to challenge me for her hand.”

But Jin Zixuan did not go, unwilling to take his sect to war for a woman already wed; and Qin Su remained in Qishan as Wen Ning’s lawful bride, giving birth to a daughter by him within ten months of the wedding. She had turned out to be a very competent Wen-furen, using the education she was given as the future mistress of the Jinlintai to govern the Qishan Wen sect, and she hid her despair over her kidnapping so well that no one could pity her for it.

“You knew,” Yanli accuses her brother, after the jianghu finally recovers from the backlash. “Gege, you planned this!”

Wei Wuxian laughs and pats her head.

“It was a love match, A-Li,” he grins. “How do you think A-Ning managed to steal her so easily, ah? Qin-guniang went with him willingly.”

The next time Yanli sees Qin Su is at baby Wen Xuan’s full-moon celebration, and indeed, there is no shadow of pain about her. The new Wen-furen is radiant, glorying in every look and gentle touch from her husband, and baby Xuanxuan is perfect: the very picture of her mother, and so healthy and strong that Wen-zongzhu named her the heir to his clan the very day she was born.

“A-Li?” someone calls, while Jiang Yanli is busy leaning over the baby’s crib and letting Xuan-bao squeeze all the blood out of her poor, unsuspecting fingers. “A-Li, you’ve been there a while. Can I fetch you something to eat?”

She turns, scarcely recognizing the voice--for while she knew it, it had never been directed at anyone so reverently as this before, and certainly never at her.

“Zixuan-ge,” she gasps, trying to pry her hand out of Wen Xuan’s iron grip. “What are you doing here?”

He quirks a brow at her. “I was invited, remember?”

“No, I know that. But what are you doing here? All the men are with Wen-zongzhu in the feasting hall, aren’t they?”

“En, they are,” Jin Zixuan replies, rubbing his neck awkwardly. “But I thought that you must be hungry, and I knew you wouldn’t want to eat in there, so I was wondering if...”

Jiang Yanli’s heart flutters.

“You thought right,” she says, meeting Jin Zixuan’s eyes with her own. “Go fetch us some dinner from the feasting hall, Zixuan-ge. I’d like it very much.”

[cheri-carnival]

the ferris wheel ✧ artem wing

a tiny world carved out for two.

[ private messages ]

✧ choice / 抉择

✧ sentiments / 心意

✧ stretch / 舒展

✧ fond admiration / 眷慕

✧ pseudo-heart / 拟心

[ en vs cn ]

✧ personal story 2-08

✧ autumn dreams

[ comics ]

by _dellar34

✧ just artem

✧ eavesdropping

✧ stare

-

by gan shen jie by you de xian yu nuo / 肝肾皆不够的咸鱼诺

✧ moments from personal story chapter 1

-

by hun luan hun dun za shi bot / 混乱混沌杂食bot 

✧ in court

-

by jun le yan / 君楽研

✧ moments with rosa

✧ young artem

✧ sketches

-

by kao xian yu wan chu zi / 烤咸鱼湾厨子

✧ a strange dream

✧ increasing artem’s affection levels

-

by koeda / こえだ

✧ when mr wing turns into a doll

✧ a passer-by in themis law firm

✧ when the lawyers see the new ssr

-

by ni kan wo tou xiang shuai ba / 你看我头像帅吧

✧ time travel series

1 l 2 l 3 l 4 l 5 l 6 l 7 l 8 l 9 l 10 l to be continued...

✧ wedding registration

✧ a day of cohabiting

✧ mr: fond admiration

✧ kiss

✧ the morning after

-

by qq liang hang lei / qq两行泪

✧ mr: stretch

-

by shu qiu a / 书秋啊 

✧ visit him

-

by te mi si cha shui jian / 忒弥斯茶水间

✧ valentine’s on a monday...

✧ sweet potato

-

yi bai / 亦白

✧ artem’s attempt

-

by yi tuan lin hu / 一团凛狐

✧ back from an overseas trip

✧ love bites

-

yin yuan er / 银圆儿

✧ when two blockheads date

[ memes ]

✧ tragic scene in dreamful melodies card

✧ artem stuttering in three languages

[aurora077]

Securing Sect Leader Jin Chapter 3

Chapter 3 - Before securing Sect Leader Jin, you must first secure your shidi/shixiong. Part 2

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13926514/3/Securing-Sect-Leader-Jin

At some point, it had started raining. The sound on the rooftop would normally lull him back to sleep, but the only thing he could hear at the moment was--

I would have done anything for you to live …

Jiang Cheng sucked in a sharp breath.

The words pierced him like Wen Qing’s needles must have.

Wasn’t… wasn’t that his own thought when he’d led the Wens away from Wei Wuxian? It didn’t matter what happened to him, he’d just needed Wei Wuxian to live. He had fully expected to die that day. All he knew was that he wouldn’t.. couldn’t let them take Wei Wuxian. And now… now he couldn’t ever tell him about that. He wouldn’t.

Because it would break Wei Wuxian’s heart.

If he ever found out that he was the reason for Jiang Cheng being tortured and losing his core….

No.

Wei Wuxian would never know. Better to let him think he went back for his parents’ bodies to be filial. He wouldn’t blame himself then. And of all the things Jiang Cheng blamed him for and wanted him to acknowledge and apologise for… that was definitely not one of them.

Stupid he wanted to say. And did you ever think about what you would do afterwards? How would you have explained to me where your cultivation went? If you hadn’t been caught and thrown into the burial mounds, you would have had no demonic cultivation to fall back on. What would you have done then? He wanted to shake Wei Wuxian for his complete lack of thought about himself. It was always this way with him. Playing the hero for everyone, not caring about the consequences. Not caring about himself and what could happen to him.

But how could he? How could he when he did the same? How could he when they felt the same way?

He cradled the back of Wei Wuxian’s head for a second then pulled him away from where he was tucked into Jiang Cheng’s neck to make him face him. His eyes were red and swollen from all the crying, tears still sporadically making their way down his face.

Jiang Cheng exhaled tiredly, leaning his forehead against Wei Wuxian’s and closing his eyes tightly.

“You...” he said weakly. His own eyes were starting to well up.

“I know you’re angry with me,” Wei Wuxian mumbled wetly, “I don’t blame you.”

He wanted to hide his face again but Jiang Cheng’s hand was on his nape, keeping him right where he was.

“I’m not sorry for doing it,” he said in a fit of bravery, “It was the only way I found to help you. But I’m sorry that you didn’t hear about it from me. I just… I didn’t want to hurt you.” “A-Cheng,” he said brokenly, “I’m sorry I hurt you.” He felt Jiang Cheng’s hand tremble and he raised his own hands to cup his shidi’s cheeks, once again wiping tears from it.

His voice was soft and melancholic. “For all the times I hurt you. I’m sorry. It was the last thing I wanted to do. And if you had to find out about the core it should have been from me. It wasn’t Wen Ning’s place to say it. I should have told you myself.”

Jiang Cheng barely contained a whimper. He couldn’t open his eyes to meet Wei Wuxian’s or he would surely break down too. They’d never talked to each other like this before…they’d never even addressed each other so familiarly (both would rather say it to Yanli than to each other’s faces). But it felt necessary. It felt right. After everything they’d been through, didn’t they deserve to have someone to be familiar with? The only one he had left in the world was Jin Ling. And who did Wei Wuxian have? A displaced soul and a donkey? It felt wrong that Wei Wuxian, who’d been the life of every place he’d ever been to, should be left to travel the world all alone.

“A-Xian…” he whispered hoarsely.

At Wei Wuxian’s surprised intake of breath, he finally opened his eyes. Wei Wuxian’s eyes were blown wide and he looked amazed and astounded at the same time.

“A-Xian…” he slowly raised his hand to rest it on top of the one Wei Wuxian still had on his cheek.

“I’m sorry too.”

Wei Wuxian made a strangled noise.

“I should have done more. Something. Anything...” he started, but Wei Wuxian covered his mouth with his free hand and spoke before he could get annoyed.

“No,” Wei Wuxian shook his head, a stern look replacing the previous shock. Removing his hand before Jiang Cheng could pull a teenaged Wei Wuxian’s move of licking the offending limb, he continued, “I never wanted to drag the sect down with me. You couldn’t have done anything to help without ruining everything that you’d worked so hard to build up to that point. You know I’m right.” “A-Cheng, I gave up my core because I wanted to see you succeed. How could I drag the sect through the mud when you were just starting to be acknowledged? You might have been able to protect me but you couldn’t protect them. And I needed to protect them. I owed them for helping me. The sect was in a precarious position. You couldn’t have helped. It was true then and it’s even more so now that we know what the Jins were up to; even if I had gone home with you and abandoned them, it was only a matter of time before they’d have found some pretext to get to me or the sect for the seal anyway. You said...” he paused, sorrow lining his face again, “You said that I should accept that...that… you and shijie chose to… to jump… to p..protect me.” He still couldn’t quite get those words out fully.

“Well I chose to protect the sect in the only way I knew how. By not dragging you down with me. I’ve never blamed you for putting the sect first. It was your duty. I wanted you to do it. I pushed you away so you could focus on the sect.”

Jiang Cheng frowned. “Fine. I won’t apologise for that then. But I... You know I tried to protect you. But you said you didn’t need anyone to speak for you. And you wouldn’t leave them. Now I know why.”

He shifted his gaze to look at a point over Wei Wuxian’s shoulder rather than directly into his eyes. This was too much vulnerability for him already. “So regardless, I’m sorry. I wish I could have protected you.”

Wei Wuxian’s heart swelled with a light feeling. It felt like a weight he didn’t even know he was carrying was being lifted from his chest. He was indeed the one who wanted the Jiang Sect to denounce him so they wouldn’t get the backlash from his actions. He did tell Jiang Cheng he didn’t need him to protect him. But being free of the seal’s influence and in a relatively stable state of mind now…. He was happy that Jiang Cheng wanted to. That he’d tried.

“You said it wasn’t Wen Ning’s place to tell me and it wasn’t. But I needed to know. After the war I thought you didn’t care anymore. You were always drinking and playing around instead of being by my side for meetings or anything else. You idiot, why didn’t you come up with a better lie huh?” He actually grasped Wei Wuxian’s shoulders this time but didn’t quite manage to shake him. His reddened eyes watered and Wei Wuxian was about to apologise again but Jiang Cheng cut him off before he could, in a thin agonised voice. “You could have said that... Why didn’t you at least blame the Core-Melting Hand? It would have made sense. You could have said something...anything! You let me think you were fine and playing the fool. Of all people, don’t you think I would have understood what it was like without one?” His voice had gotten close to a whisper.

Wei Wuxian gave a mirthless laugh. “And if I had, wouldn’t you have wanted to take me back to Baoshan Sanren? And if I’d said it was one chance only to get it restored then wouldn’t you have felt terrible that you used it up? How could I say it to you without hurting you A-Cheng?”

“So what if I would have felt bad!? At least I would have known that you were hurt, you fool!” he burst out, “And when you wanted to pretend to defect, I wouldn’t have stabbed you like that! You always pretend everything is fine up until it very obviously isn’t. But by then it’s often too late to turn back. I didn’t believe Jin Guangshan’s blatant lies about all those supposedly innocent Jin cultivators you had Wen Ning kill in Jinlin Tai. It was fairly obvious after they ambushed you in the first place that it was a set-up. You wouldn’t have done anything like that without a reason.”

“But when A-Jie died... I blamed you. You said you could control the demonic cultivation and then you didn’t. You lost control and A-jie was dead, struck down first by one of your corpses and finished by someone who wanted revenge on you. I was so angry with you. Then some barmy old Sect Leader openly blamed you for A-Die and A-Niang and A-Jie’s deaths right next to that insufferable Sect Leader Yao who didn’t even care that the boy you killed had just murdered A-Jie. Let go of him my ass. If you hadn’t killed him I would have. But then you lost it totally and killed hundreds of people. And the mob looked to me; everyone expected me to go with Jin Guangshan to lead the charge. Who else was wronged by you more than the Jiang and Jin they asked?” his voice cracked, “What was I supposed to do? Tell me. What should I have done?”

And that more than anything reminded him of the last time he saw his friends. He hadn’t had any memory of reaching back to the Demon Slaughtering Cave after he accidentally killed his shijie’s husband… but he distinctly remembers the feeling of pure devastation when he came to himself. What am I supposed to do now? he had cried. And Wen Ning and Wen Qing had answered him by taking the initiative...they’d paralysed him and walked straight to their deaths.

What should I do?

He remembered the feeling well. The hopelessness. The hysteria.

He had gone on to Nightless City and there his shijie had died and the last shred of sanity he’d been clinging to at that point was gone... he had started a massacre because if it was a monster they wanted it was a monster they’d get.

He was so far gone he’d had no idea how he made it out of the battle unscathed (until Zewu-Jun clued him in).

What should I have done? Jiang Cheng was asking him. He knew what Jiang Cheng did do. Or partially at least. Jiang Cheng and the others had stormed into the Burial Mounds… Well he remembered nothing but the pain of being ripped apart. He couldn’t say who killed who though by the end all the Wens were dead, all he knew was that his shidi’s face was the last thing he saw before being engulfed by his own corpses. So what should Jiang Cheng have done other than to go after the man everyone thought responsible for Yunmeng Jiang’s problems? What should he have done as the last Jiang standing?

Nothing. There was nothing he could do but go along the path that destiny set for them. He had to keep his sect safe and avenge his sister. In his grief, what could he really have done? Because what Wei Wuxian did in his grief, he regretted bitterly till this day. And so did Jiang Cheng it seemed, whose tears were being freely shed and who was looking at him with an expression of desolation that pained him to see.

“There was nothing different you could do shidi. But it’s okay,”Wei Wuxian said, “I’ve never blamed you for it. It was my fault.”

“No! It wasn’t!”

“A-Xian. It wasn’t your fault. Not all of it. You certainly didn’t help matters but the blame can’t lie solely on your head. Didn’t you say you wouldn’t shoulder what you didn’t do? So why are you taking responsibility for everything again?”

Wei Wuxian couldn’t believe Jiang Cheng remembered what he’d said at the second siege. (Jiang Cheng would scoff at him if he knew... He was the one with the bad memory. When did Jiang Cheng ever forget things that Wei Wuxian said?)

Jiang Cheng had told him that it was difficult to save someone but there were a thousand ways to hurt them. In the end he was proven right wasn’t he? He wished he wasn’t but he was. Wei Wuxian had never listened to him (though now he understood why he didn’t in this instance). They’d all paid the price.

Jiang Cheng laughed, sounding just on the edge of hysterical, “The cultivation world is always looking for a scapegoat. It just happened to be you then. Now it’s Jin Guangyao… look how quick they were to turn against him. They’re waiting to pounce on anyone who steps out of line again.”

Well that was a conclusion he’d come to himself actually. He hadn’t liked how quick they were to believe the worst of a man they’d lauded up till that point. He had been the one to have to question why the women bothered to come forward only then. They’d been so quick to latch on to tales of Jin Guangyao’s degeneracy. The cultivation world was always just waiting for an opportunity to bring him down. Though Jiang Cheng had spent a long time questioning the women before bringing them to talk to the assembly, so at least his shidi hadn’t just taken their word for it. But then, Jiang Cheng would have been well aware of how insidious rumours were, especially with no proof. The rest of them didn’t care. They hadn’t been affected after all.

Wei Wuxian sighed, “Well, now that Nie Huaisang is Chief Cultivator we can only hope he’ll stop anything like that again before it gets too far. That man’s information network must be amazing.”

Jiang Cheng shook his head and said self-deprecatingly, “I never imagined that Nie Huaisang would be the one to figure out everything. I was so blind. And Jin Ling was in that man’s care for so long. He was close to him. Lianfang-Zun’s betrayal broke his heart.”

“Oh shidi, you couldn’t have known. How would you? He was an expert at manipulation. Even I would never have suspected Jin Guangyao of all of this if it wasn’t for Huaisang’s machinations.”

Jiang Cheng was silent for a moment, his eyes roaming over Wei Wuxian’s face. Wei Wuxian wondered what he was seeing.

“Was…” he raised his hand after a moment and tentatively touched Wei Wuxian’s face, “Do you think he planned for Mo Xuanyu to sacrifice his body to bring you back?” He was running a thumb over that unfamiliar face, knowing that the soul belonged to Wei Wuxian, but wondering about Mo Xuanyu, who had sacrificed his life for it to happen.

Wei Wuxian frowned slightly. “That I don’t know. I can only surmise that Mo Xuanyu found the ritual and planned to do it. Whether Huaisang pushed him into it or simply gave him advice... I can’t say for sure. But what I can say is that Huaisang knew he would do it. Because Nie Mingjue’s arm was let loose on the same night and made its way to Mo Manor. Regardless of whether he had a hand in it or not, he certainly made use of the opportunity.”

“I want to be mad at him,” Jiang Cheng said sadly, “He knew everything yet he let Jin Guangyao get away with it for years. He wanted to completely ruin his reputation rather than just getting rid of him. He let Jin Guangyao get away with many horrible things while plotting his revenge. But…”

“But?”

“But if it wasn’t for him and Mo Xuanyu… you’d probably never have come back,” he said, not meeting Wei Wuxian’s eyes.

“Sh..shidi,” he said, heart suddenly warm, “I thought you didn’t.. Weren’t you hunting demonic cultivators looking for me?”

“Of course I was looking for you, you idiot,” he rolled his eyes, “Do you know how many of them were using your name to do horrible things? And with the way you died, who wouldn’t expect your soul to be building resentment? How could you reincarnate if you were stuck here as a malignant spirit? Someone had to free your soul if it was in fact you.”

“Who else was going to care about releasing the Yiling Patriarch’s spirit? They would have eliminated* you on the spot! People tried to summon you, you know. Nobody could find a trace of your soul. They said… they said it was ripped apart and destroyed,” his voice wobbled slightly.

Wei Wuxian was struck dumb. Everyone said it was because Sandu Shengshou hated the Yiling Patriarch. And he himself believed it. But the first thing Jiang Cheng did when thinking he was possessing Mo Xuanyu was to hit him with Zidian, which would have expelled any malicious spirit. It.. Jiang Cheng was right. He’d been dead. Nobody expected to find him alive. They wouldn’t have been looking for him, they'd be looking for his ghost. And 13 years later only two** parties were still interested in finding his soul… demonic cultivators and Sandu Shengshou (and well apparently the Mo Xuanyu-Nie Huaisang duo but that was a different story…).

“A-Cheng.”

“What?”

“I… I died.”

Jiang Cheng gave him a look that said well yes, that’s been established.

But.. for the first time Wei Wuxian was actually letting that fact sink in.

He had died.

“You’re shaking!”

“A-Cheng.” He really was trembling.

“I was dead,” he looked shattered.

“I died.”

He didn’t cry but his throat seized up and he’d not managed to stifle a grief-stricken whimper.

And it was grief. Grief for the life he’d had and lost. For what could have been as opposed to what was. He hadn’t truly processed what had happened to him, not really. He’d acknowledged it in the vague way that one might simply repeat a fact but he hadn’t let himself feel it before.

For the first time that night, Jiang Cheng initiated an embrace. “I know,” he said somberly, holding Wei Wuxian’s shaking body close.

“Believe me, I know.”

The anguish in his voice had Wei Wuxian clinging tightly to him. Jiang Cheng hugged him just as hard. It was a comfort to them both. Things between them were so complicated, so tied up in knots that he hadn’t had a hope of untangling their relationship. So he hadn’t even tried. He’d resolved to just put everything behind him and move on and he advised Jiang Cheng to do the same. But moving on wasn’t an easy task when you had unresolved trauma. It was more like he was compartmentalising rather than actually healing.

Jiang Cheng just held him silently, making soothing motions on his back until he had sorted out his thoughts and stopped shaking. “You’re back now,” he said looking at Wei Wuxian intently, “Thanks to Nie Huaisang and Mo Xuanyu you have a second chance. And now at least you have a core again so you can cultivate. Jin Ling had said Mo Xuanyu was training in Jinlin Tai before getting kicked out, not so?”

He laughed somewhat shakily, “It’s a small meagre little thing. Mo Xuanyu really was pitiful. It’s certainly not enough to wield Suibian again, which I could do at fifteen.”

“It’s fine if it’s small as long as it’s there,” Jiang Cheng said softly, “It can be grown if you practice. Suibian is waiting for you.”

“Mm ChengCheng, have you been taking good care of my Suibian? Chenqing was shiny and so well tuned, Suibian will get jealous~” he joked.

He snorted and teased, “What do you mean yours? Wen Ning gave it to me, it's mine now. Of course I’ll take good care of it.”

“It wasn’t his! He can’t give it away!” Wei Wuxian pouted, “I’ll be having words with him when he gets back!”

Jiang Cheng’s expression shifted.

“Hey,” Wei Wuxian said softly, sensing the change in mood, “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Cheng just shook his head.

“Are you.. Are you upset because he went to Qishan?”

Jiang Cheng sighed and said nothing for a minute, but eventually said, “I can’t be upset with him for that. It’s his duty to his family after all.” “Then what’s wrong? Is it because of that night when he gave you Suibian? He never told me what he said to you...”

Jiang Cheng laughed bitterly, “Don’t worry about that. Other than telling me about the transfer, he didn’t say anything I didn’t hear before. Just that I should have known that I would never have been able to equal you. What’s new there? It isn’t anything my own parents didn’t imply. He was right, I should have known.”

Wei Wuxian’s face went dark. “No he wasn’t! Your parents weren’t right either. And anyway, I’m the one who doesn’t equal you now.” Wei Wuxian hadn’t known what exactly Wen Ning had said but if he had he would’ve definitely had something to say about it. He kept this secret so as not to hurt his shidi and Wen Ning ended up stabbing him where it hurt the most anyway. (Though he knew he had a big part to play in their falling out in the ancestral hall. But he’d have to apologise for that another day. They seemed to be making progress but with all those misunderstandings between them one night certainly wasn’t enough to resolve everything.)

All their life since he’d been at Lotus Pier they’d been compared, Madame Yu scolding Jiang Cheng to do better than him and Uncle Jiang just giving his patented disappointed-in-JC-why-can’t-you-be-like-wei-ying spiel. Jiang Cheng was never that much weaker than him anyway. He had his own strengths and merits. His personality was never the easiest but it didn’t mean that he couldn’t be just as good as Wei Ying in cultivation.

Things just came easier to Wei Wuxian, that’s all. He’d tried to make him see that there wasn’t only one way to be a Jiang but what could his words do in the face of a parent’s disapproval? He hated being the reason for Jiang Cheng to be criticised by his parents. And now he had to find out that his friend had gone and done the same thing they did to his shidi; he put Jiang Cheng down because of Wei Wuxian. The exact thing he feared when he thought of Jiang Cheng finding out, had happened...and it wasn't simply brought on by his shidi’s insecurities, it was thrown in his face. Suffice to say, Wei Wuxian was not pleased.

“Oh don’t look like that,” Jiang Cheng said upon seeing Wei Wuxian’s black expression, “You’ll give Mo Xuanyu’s face premature wrinkles; his core isn’t strong enough yet to prevent them.” Jiang Cheng poked at the furrow in between his brows causing him to pout again. “It happened a while ago, I’ve had time to accept it. It wasn’t his place but he did it in his attempt to protect you. Shouting at me was probably a bonus. He has to resent me after all. His family killed mine and then I co-led the siege that killed his. We both have reasons to dislike each other. He had an opportunity to let loose on me and he took it. We both just ignore each other for the most part now. He protected Jin Ling so I’ll let it be. Besides, I’m not surprised he got angry on your behalf and not his own. He always did admire you a lot.” He tried to say it nonchalantly but it was clear that he wasn’t unaffected.

Wei Wuxian sighed, “Fine, I’ll let it go. But if it isn’t that, then what’s bothering you? Don’t say it’s nothing, you got quiet earlier too when I told you about his trip.”

Jiang Cheng couldn’t meet his eyes. “I know what it’s like to be the last one standing,” he said finally, “To have to mourn your family alone.” If Wei Wuxian weren’t so close up in his space, he probably would not have heard him over the still pouring rain.

“To want to lay them to rest but not have a body left to bury,” he continued, as he shot a forlorn look at Wei Wuxian whose heart clenched painfully.

“You identify with him,” he whispered.

Jiang Cheng said nothing but his face reddened slightly.

“Shidi…”

“What?” he snapped, “I’m not heartless. The Wens are gone and though he’s dead he still lingers here. Without anyone. He’s stuck here, unable to enter the reincarnation cycle to be with them. What is he going to do after burying their ashes? Follow Jin Ling around forever or until he assuages his guilt?”

“He’s by himself. He’s the only one left. I know how it feels. If it wasn’t for A-Ling I don’t even know how I would have made it,” he admitted, “I may not particularly care for The Ghost General but he’s lost everything too, including his literal life. And after all this I just wonder if it wouldn’t be kinder to ask him if he’d like to be at rest. What does he have remaining to tie him here? I don’t for a moment doubt that in the future he will realise these things and it will hurt. He might stick around for your sake but loneliness can be a more potent poison than anything else.”

Jiang Cheng didn’t mean the words to be sharp but they cut him nonetheless. After all, they could apply to himself just as easily. His shidi must have seen something in his face because he softened.

“Don’t make that face. You still have places you can go. He can’t fit in so easily. I heard Master Lan punishes the Lan juniors for even associating with him. A-Ling seems to have forgiven him but he certainly can’t show up in Koi Tower even if A-Ling allows him. And if people knew he was frequenting Qishan what do you think they’d say? Maybe the mob will rise up again. He might seem fine now but it’s bound to wear a person down eventually.”

“I never thought I’d see the day that you were concerned for Wen Ning,” Wei Wuxian said wonderingly.

Jiang Cheng sputtered. “Who’s concerned? I’m just saying!”

“Mhm and this has nothing to do with you and Wen Ning spending time together behind those bushes eh?” he snickered.

Jiang Cheng’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “You!” He pounced on him, hooking his arm around Wei Wuxian’s neck and rubbing his knuckles on his head painfully.

“Ahh noo not the noogie!!” Wei Wuxian whined, “Mercy! 🙏 A-Cheeeng.”

“You want mercy but you can never control that mouth of yours,” Jiang Cheng said, letting him go after thoroughly messing up his hair.

Wei Wuxian rubbed his sore head and fixed his hair again, pretending to be insulted.

That just earned him a flick to the forehead and he pouted again.

But after a minute he became serious. “I’m not so different from Wen Ning now,” he admitted, “The whole world’s moved on without me. I don’t have a place here anymore, not really. And you’re not my shidi anymore are you?” He laughed without humor. “You’re Sect Leader Jiang now. I mean obviously you have been since after the war but… I wasn’t really ever there to see it was I?”

“No. You weren’t,” Jiang Cheng agreed solemnly. Wei Wuxian had been too busy drinking his pain away before he saved the remaining Wen cultivators. And then well, it snowballed from there until his death. And Jiang Cheng had had no choice but to grow without him. He wasn’t a naive little boy anymore. He understood now that his shixiong did not in fact have all the answers. That Wei Wuxian could not uphold all the promises he made as a youth. It hurt having to accept it. But he did accept it. He was an old man now, jaded by years of political struggles and grappling with his personal demons. He understood what it was like to be all alone in the world but to have to carry on anyway. And Wei Wuxian had been unceremoniously pulled back from the dead to carry out someone else’s revenge plot then tossed aside when it was complete. It was a little too cruel wasn’t it?

He cleared his throat, “You weren’t there to see it then, but it doesn’t mean you can’t be now.”

Wei Wuxian’s heart raced. Eyes widening he looked up at JC barely daring to hope.

“Jiang Cheng… are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

Jiang Cheng grunted, “I’m saying do whatever you want. Go travel with your ugly donkey if that’s what suits you. But there’ll always be a place for you at Lotus Pier. ”

“Hey! No need to insult Lil Apple!” he feigned indignance.

“That’s what you took out of that?” Jiang Cheng said incredulously.

“Well…” fresh tears sprung to his eyes. He never thought he’d be welcome in Lotus Pier again.

“Ahh alright alright, stop that now, your eyeballs will fall out with all this crying,” Jiang Cheng said uncomfortably. His quota for vulnerability was reaching its limit.

Wei Wuxian laughed wetly and finally moved out of his space, propping himself up next to Jiang Cheng again and leaning on his shoulder.

“Jiang Cheng, thank you.”

“Shut up, what are you thanking me for? Just don’t be a stranger…”

“Okay,” he said timidly.

Things seemed to be settled between them, much better than it was before at least. And now he was less worried about Jiang Cheng’s reaction, though a sliver of doubt was still there, but he felt like it needed to be said. Because he was so proud of that little boy he rescued who managed to grow into a fine young adult. He couldn’t help but want to share. But also Jiang Cheng had, in his roundabout way, been concerned about Wen Ning’s own isolation even though he hated him (and Wei Wuxian was pretty sure even though they tolerated each other that it was for Jin Ling’s sake and not because any feelings changed.) So he steeled himself, hoping he was making the right decision.

“Jiang Cheng… Wen Ning he..” he paused.

“What about him? If you’re about to ask for him to come to Lotus Pier too, don’t. I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready for that.”

“No.,” he shook his head, “It’s just.. He didn’t go to make the memorial alone, you know…”

Jiang Cheng was surprised. “Who would go with him to do that?” It was a very personal journey. And most cultivators did not like going to Qishan if they could help it. And The Ghost General didn’t exactly have friends other than his erstwhile shixiong.

“Do you remember when you first came to talk to me in the Burial Mounds?”

“How could I forget?” he scowled.

He winced, yea okay he deserved that, that wasn’t a conversation that went well.

“Remember there was a baby that grabbed your leg?”

Jiang Cheng’s eyes widened and his face became downcast. “I.. I’d forgotten about the baby,” he admitted. He felt a twinge of regret. After raising Jin Ling, he’d learned to care more about children than he did before. “I’m sorry,” he said, “Truly I had not even considered the baby. He was the last thing on my mind that day. I’m sorry that he was lost as well. He was an innocent.” Personally, he wouldn’t kill children but he knew there were some people who wouldn’t give it a second thought. Like a certain Jin Guangyao who even killed his own baby to further his goals. And with a bitter taste in his mouth, he remembered Wang Lingjiao, who had it out for their innocent little shidi.

“That’s just it,” Wei Wuxian said, fiddling with his fingers nervously, “He wasn’t.”

“Don’t be stupid, what do you mean he wasn’t? What could a baby possibly have done?”

Wei Wuxian resisted the urge to facepalm. “I meant that he wasn’t lost…”

Jiang Cheng blinked.

“You managed to save him before you….?”

“No. I didn’t even know he was alive until after everything went down with Jin Guangyao...”

“Huh. Did Jin Guangyao save him? He kept the Ghost General around to use him but what use did he have for a Wen baby? Can’t have been that he felt bad...”

“It wasn’t Jin Guangyao. It was Lan Zhan,” he said.

“Lan Wangji? How did Lan Wangji save him? He wasn’t at the siege. I don’t know if you know but he went into seclusion and didn’t come out until three years had passed.”

“I know. But apparently he wanted to see the truth for himself so before he secluded himself he visited the Burial Mounds and just happened to find A-Yuan hidden in a tree with a strong fever. He saved him but A-Yuan lost his memories so he didn’t even know who he was. He remembers only bits and pieces now of living in the Burial Mounds, after he saw ChenQing. Wen Ning… well they reconnected and he went with him to bury their family together.”

Jiang Cheng was silent for a moment. “So the Lans took him in as their own. Lan Yuan is it?”

“Yes. But you may know him as Lan Sizhui,” Wei Wuxian added.

“Lan Sizhui?! The one that goes with A-Ling on all those night hunts?”

He nodded.

“Well no wonder The Ghost General hangs around them like a particularly large fly.”

Wei Wuxian felt brave enough to swat him. “You do too!”

Jiang Cheng elbowed him. “Don’t compare me to him!”

Didn’t you do that yourself earlier, he thought. But he backed down.

Jiang Cheng sighed. “I’m glad,” he said soberly.

“Lan Sizhui is an exemplary Lan disciple. Not like that noisy one who likes to backchat. You’d think he was the one who spent time with you.”

“Hey!”

“I suppose Lan Wangji was good for something.”

“Jiang Cheng!”

“Fine fine I’ll say nothing more about your precious Hanguang-Jun. I did wonder how come they’d been on this hunt without Lan Sizhui. He’s usually glued to the hip with the loud one.”

“Well...now you know.” Secretly he was really glad Jiang Cheng was taking this so well. He’d hoped but he didn’t know what to expect.

“Anyway, Lan Sizhui may have the Ghost General with him, but the rest of those brats don’t. If we want to follow A-Ling back to Jinlin Tai we’ll have to get some sleep.”

Wei Wuxian punctuated his agreement with a loud yawn as they settled back down to try and catch a wink of sleep. Morning would come very soon.

As he was starting to drift off, Jiang Cheng spoke again.

“Do you know the thing I blame you for the most right now, Wei Wuxian? It’s that out of all those people who you managed to kill in Nightless City, Sect Leader Yao remains alive and kicking… You had one job!”

He’d panicked at first but after that declaration he pouted, “But A-Cheeeng I couldn’t help it. He’s like a cockroach. Hard to kill and always underfoot making a nuisance of himself.”

Jiang Cheng snorted. “Sounds about right. Anyway, go to sleep. It’s late.”

“Yes, zongzhu. Whatever you say zongzhu.”

He earned himself another elbow, but he fell asleep with a smile.

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

Notes:

*About wwx's spirit the methods would have been-- First, release the spirit from suffering. Second, suppress it. Third, eliminate it. For the initial approach, use the loving memory of his parents, wife, and children to comprehend his deepest desires and fulfill them. If this fails, move to suppression. But if the crimes are too great and his resentment too bitter to dissipate, eliminate him root and branch; his continued existence must not be permitted. -- MDZS Elegance IV

**LWJ playing inquiry for 13 years is fanon, not (novel) canon. Even if we’re going with this headcanon though, WWX has no idea that LWJ would have been looking for his soul.

[cheri-translates]

desserts - translated comics (m - v)

complete your dining experience on a lovely note with these assorted treats.

artist names beginning with a - j / k-l / w-z

💝 = all / special l  🎐 = gavin l 🌟 = kiro

🦋 = lucien l 🦈 = shaw l 🌹 = victor

mai a / 麦啊

🌟 highschool au

🌟 life with agent savin

🌟 pet names

🌟 two children

🌟 the button

-

mai cha xue zhang / 麦茶学长

💝 when she turns small

💝 crush on a table mate series:

gavin l kiro l lucien l victor

🌟 bubble gum

🌟 dazzling

🦈 date in the rain

-

miaoooooo / 喵哦哦哦哦哦

🎐 sub-menu

-

mi li xuan shi / 米粒玄师

🌹 the little things

-

_minnnk / _minooooa

💝 these three years

💝 crossing into the new year

💝 mature men vs young men

🌹 with you, victor

🌹 a sick victor

🌹 just a normal cocktail party

🌹 traces

🌹 if victor’s a player

-

nan feng jing nian chui / 南风经年吹

🎐 sub-masterlist

-

ni ni cam / 霓霓cam

🎐 new years

🎐 q&a

🎐 checking his backpack

🎐 borrowing the commander

🦋 sorry

🦋 overtime

-

nk

🌟 drawing

🦈 is it true?

🦈 snippets of shaw

🦈 if only we could prolong this moment

🦈 scent of honey peaches

-

norelle-n

🎐 sub-menu

-

notlight111

💝 sub-menu

-

one wan zi gan / one丸子乾

💝 sub-masterlist

-

pockycity

💝 sub-menu

-

ren shi jun / 人士▲菌

🎐 surprise attack

🎐 gav

🎐 always wanted to do this

-

qian li pi li pa la / 千里噼里啪啦

💝 if they were in a boy band

🦈 hug

🦈 how shaw feels

🦈 lollipop

🦈 beat him

🦈 shaw’s hair

🦈 asleep

🦈 second anniversary

-

qian li quan quan / 百里犬犬

💝 the wish tree

🎐 dogvin

🎐 gavin during the city stroll

🎐 gavin’s daily journey

🎐 bai qi

🌟 new spring date

-

qian si jin tian ye xiang jie li xian sheng de ling dai / 浅祀今天也想解李先生的领带

🦋 online class

🦈 indirect kiss

🌹 drawing game

-

qing lai yi wan xiao chao rou / 请来一碗小炒肉

🎐 firecracker stall

🎐 food preferences

-

qiu tian de ai se / 秋天的哀色

💝 adorable pets

🌟 life with a kiro nendoroid series

part one l part two l part three

🌟 memorable s2 kiro scenes

🌟 no regrets

-

ruo an nan / 若安楠

🎐 liar

🎐 jade ring

🎐 little wolf gavin

🎐 hair

🎐 happy birthday

-

shan ye meng long / 山也朦胧

🦈 after a business trip

-

shi tou dan la la / 石头蛋啦啦

🎐 can’t use his evol properly

🎐 after work

🎐 reflex

🎐 surprise

-

shu qiu a / 书秋啊 

💝 sub-masterlist

-

shui huo / 水火

💝 kfc

-

song shu na ge yu ya / 松鼠那个鱼呀

💝 beach

💝 hearts

🎐 graduation

🎐 cool down

🎐 fishing

🎐 together

🎐 smiles

🎐 famiglistimo

🎐 sleepy wolfvin

🎐 greenie should be...

-

su mei bing gan / 酥莓饼干

💝 sub-masterlist 

-

tailless bear

🎐 sub-masterlist

-

tang xu / 唐絮

🎐 competitive game date

🎐 one more line

🎐 life with a pet

🌟 no more

🌹 after a quarrel

🌹 is this one sweet?

🌹 life with victor

-

tao hua zhi he / 桃花纸鹤

💝 halloween

🎐 comfort

🎐 kfc commercial

🎐 first encounter

🎐 protection money

🎐🦈 pretty accurate

🎐🦈 the wrong kid

🎐🦈 the strongest

🎐 surprise

🌟 reading comments

🦈 shaw’s special ability

🦈 shoujo manga protagonist

🦈 misunderstanding

🍒 return to the menu 🍒

[phanique]

Arsenal Military Academy 烈火军校 Review

So after watching Ancient Love Poetry, I wanted to check out more of Xu Kai's work and I came across this drama and as before, I started this drama without looking into anything other than the fact that Xu Kai is in the cast.

I'm not a professional critic, just a casual drama watcher.

I subscribed to iQiYi so I was able to watch it without ads and stuff but I am not sure of the English translation as iQiYi only allows you to show one language subtitle at a time.

Onto the review.

Plot

I would say that the plot is using a classic concept but turning it into its own plot. So Xie Xiang decided to crossdress and become her brother Xie Liang Chen and join the Arsenal Military Academy. She joins the 7th batch of students and become roommates with playboy Gu Yan Zhen, friends with Huang Song, Shen Jun Shan, Zhu Yan Lin and Ji Jin. She endures the challenges of a military school while trying to survive as the Japanese want to take over the territory.

Okay, so the actual plot is more complicated than this but I think it is also because there is a lot of back story of other characters. You could even say that the actual couple do not have so much screen on time which I do feel that they need. (But given that they deleted the kiss scenes for whatever reason, I do think more of them might have been edited out. If you don't know what I am talking about, go search it on YouTube.)

I would say the biggest plot gap for the drama is how Xie Xiang manage to even become her brother. So her brother actually died in a car crash which is not like s super secret thing but the academy did not know about it? I find it extremely weird that they do not know about it honestly. Secondly, how she managed to get past the body checks. I have no idea how she can just scrape pass the first one. Thirdly, does no one suspect her? To me the fact that she did not use the public bath is a big sign since I can tell you that most military guys are like free with their body in a sense and only a few people suspected her.

On the other hand, I also like that there is no big reveal of her identity that just lead her to dismiss and such, the plot took advantage of her reveal which I really think was good.

Also, it was only pretty late in the show where they actually 'finalised' the couple because I would say that any episode before 34, the couple was actually not even there I would say. Like yes Gu Yan Zhen liked her from the beginning but Xie Xiang actually only realised her feelings pretty late which I do think is another good point because most shows like this also show the female falling in love too fast almost. And Gu Yan Zhen has so much of the second male lead syndrome that he might actually be the second male lead.

Commenting on one part where Qu Man Ting receives an invitation for the auction for the golden seal, I do think that they should have portrayed Xie Liang Chen to be more confident as in the scene, Gu Yan Zhen, Huang Song and Shen Jun Shan were like smiling/smirking but he was the only one frowning which made the scene feel disconnected. If they portrayed him to be more confident in a sense I do believe that it would be more thrilling.

Acting

Bai Lu who plays Xie Xiang/Xie Liang Chen is a pretty famous actor. I actually have seen one of her dramas (Love Is Sweet) but I really could not tell that it was her. It might also be because of the fact that I actually am like okay with the drama that I watch that is why I did not have an impression of her. Anyway, she does act like a male pretty well, I would say that she looks most like a male with her hair down but since they had to gel up their hair, she actually looks more feminine. Her voice got dubbed and I can honestly see why because her voice naturally is quite feminine so it is pretty obvious that Xie Xiang is a female if they did not dub her.

Xu Kai plays Gu Yan Zhen in the drama. Firstly, he looks SO GOOD dressed in Min Guo period setting (like Hu Yi Tian so maybe Min Guo period dramas are my weakness). His acting here is also pretty good but also definitely different from the dramas that I have seen him in. He is a playboy here but is actually quite a soft person on the inside and the acting does him justice.

Gao Yu Er who portrays Xian Rong in the drama is also such a good actor. I think it is easier to act as a good person than an evil person but she does it with no guilt in a sense(?) Like most dramas would show that the evil would die regretting what they have done/have some guilt at the end but for this drama no. Like I would say Xian Rong as also given up on Shen Jun Shan at the end where she was willing to kill him too and I really appreciate that. She is like the perfect evil. (This is unrelated to AMS but I just finished There Was Once A Lingjian Mountain and she portrayed the Lady Boss and I really like her acting even more so I do hope to watch more of her dramas in the future.)

I do not really want to talk about the other characters since I do not really have the time but here are some notes on them.

The voice of Qu Man Ting is actually the actress herself.

I really like the way of Shen Ting Bai loves Qu Man Ting, you can see that he is more mature(?) in a way and it really is like the perfect example of selfless love/unreciprocated love/liking your childhood friend.

The scene where Gu Yan Zhen and Shen Jun Shan is competing to drink, they did actually drink real beer since they did not know (but they spat it out immediately so the scene in the drama might have used fake ones).

Spoiler here. I am glad that Huang Song died without knowing that Xie Liang Chen is Xie Xiang because Huang Song would be a character to me that should be kept pure almost.

There is only technically 8 people who knew that Liang Chen was a female before the great reveal but I do suspect that 1 more person knew but did not say it out. They are Tan Xiao Jun, Gu Yan Zhen, Shen Jun Shan, Shen Jun Shan's helper/friend, Guo Shu Ting, Xian Rong, Xian Rong's bodyguard, Li Wen Zhong. I do think Yu Jie actually knows but did not say anything. I also think Qu Man Ting was sort of suspicious but was not a firm I believe that he is a she kind of thing.

Setting/Clothes

I think the budget that went into filming in adequate as the clothes, scenes, gunfire and stuff are well portrayed.

OST

Not bad, the opening song and the song sang by Bai Lu and Xu Kai was the most memorable.

Overall, I would give it a 8.5/10. I can see why some people would avoid it but I do think that they should give it a try. Also it made me notice two more actors Meng En (Zhu Yan Lin) and Ji Jin (Wang Yi Zhe) which I am glad to know more about.