#and the ‘reveal’ of Mo Xuanyu being Wei Wuxian

[raddestrose]

Oh boy, book three is going to hurt isn’t it?

Book two ended pretty dicey and I don’t think it’s going to be better when I open the next one.

[notdexterousatall]

Tags from @withthewindinherfootsteps

I love how the faux-politeness of MDZS' climax takes its themes to its logical conclusion. All throughout, we've seem how sects and cultivators prioritise their reputations, seeking glory and status even when real lives are at danger, keeping up their appearances. We see that in the unwritten rule that major sects won't intervene in problems unless the prey is dangerous; we see it in how Lan Wangji is unique in the way he prioritises helping others over seeking glory; we see that in how the Wen situation plays out, with Wei Wuxian confronting the Jins about a concentration camp while they're focused on having a banquet.

So of course in the Guanyin Temple, even when Jin Guangyao is directly threatening people's lives, the interactions are polite! We're seeing what has always been present – the absolute disconnect between the actions and world of the Jianghu, and the real harm that real people are suffering through (both intentionally and not) as a result.

[shanastoryteller]

Happy holidays! Lady mo please?

a continuation of 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59

Jiang Yanli does not often feel old. Her golden core does not keep her eternally young like it does her brother, does not prevent the more persistent illnesses from plaguing her, but it does east the aches and pains non cultivators her age often complain of, does keep her skin youthful without the aid of strange poultices and she’ll probably never need dyes to keep her hair dark. But she feels old now, watching Xuanyu and Lan Wangji fumble around one another, watching her struggle for the affection of a husband who might care for her, but does not treat her with care.

At least by the time she married Zixuan, he’d told her that he loved her.

 “What was all the commotion about?” Zixuan asks, arms encircling her waist as he tugs her back against his chest now that they’re back in their own quarters.

“Your cousin got drunk and pissed off the wrong people. Again.”

He huffs, his breath warm against her neck. “Yanli. You know that’s not what I’m talking about. I know A-Yao thinks I’m stupid, but even I notice servants running about and clan leaders and their wives going missing. Especially when one of them is mine.”

“A-Yao doesn’t think you’re stupid,” Jiang Yanli says, even though he kind of does. He thinks most people are stupid and Zixuan has at least grown out of taking it personally. That doesn’t mean she has to rub it in. “Xuanyu was just – a little upset. About things.”

“Lan Xichen likes her. Lan Wangji’s kid adores her. And we all saw what Lan Wangji thinks,” he says. Defending is also not the same thing as caring, but she doesn’t say that. “A-Yao even calls her our sister. Do you remember how long it took him to call me brother? It seems like it’s going well.”

If it had gone a little less well, she’d be less distraught.

Jiang Yanli is debating how much she can say without revealing Xuanyu’s pregnancy – enough people know that it won’t stay a secret for long, but Zixuan is terrible at faking surprise – when there’s a loud, frantic knocking at their door.

Zixuan frowns and goes to open the door.

“Fuck off,” slurs a familiar, beloved voice.

Jiang Yanli hides a smile and goes to stand next to her husband.

A-Cheng is standing there, sort of, considering he’s mostly being supported but a long-suffering Li Jun. “Meimei said she won’t deal with him anymore.”

“Ah,” Zixuan says, already resigned.

A-Cheng stumbles forward, grabbing her wrist and tugging her towards the table. He blearily glares at Zixuan. “Go away.”

He sighs, leaning down to kiss her and then saying, “I suppose I’ll be in a guest room.” He makes a face, remembering that the tower is full of foreign disciples. “Somewhere.”

He’s going to end up sleeping in their son’s room and A-Ling is going to complain about it. Loudly.

“Good night,” she says, barely keeping from laughing as she closes the door on Li Jun side eyeing Zixuan. Her sect has never completely forgiven Zixuan for being a teenage boy, not matter that she’s spent over a decade in the Jin rather than the Jiang.

She lets A-Cheng pull her down beside him at the table, leaning his head on his arm while he stares at her. She pours him a cup of water that she hopes he’ll drink. “Are you all out of sorts because of Xuanyu too?”

His face goes blank then it creases and he’s turns to hide it in the bend of his elbow.

With the first stirrings of genuine alarm, Jiang Yanli realizes he’s crying.

“A-Cheng? A-Cheng, what’s wrong?” she asks, putter her arm over his back and pulling him into her side like she used to when they were kids.

The words come out muffled, but he says, “I hate him. How could he – I hate him.” Then, quieter, in a tone that doesn’t match the words at all, “I hate him.”

She runs through everyone who’s here, every cultivator she saw A-Cheng speak to, but it’s a fool’s errand. No one gets to him like this. No one but –

“Wei Wuxian came back.”

[poorlittleyaoyao]

I'm also sad right now because, unlike in the novel where everyone totally sucks, someone DOES speak directly to Qin Su in CQL's treasure room scene. When Wei Wuxian comes up to check on her and confirm that she's not under a spell, he whispers "Jin-furen?" to her in concern. She doesn't acknowledge him, which feels weird, right? Why wouldn't she latch onto a potential source of help, especially one whom she knows is now affiliated with the influential Hanguang-jun since she saw them together during the banquet earlier?

EXCEPT

One of CQL's changes is to make Qin Su the target of Mo Xuanyu's unwanted advances instead of Jin Guangyao. So Qin Su, already having an awful time due to the incest marriage revelations, is now (as far as she knows) being addressed by her harasser whom she now knows is also a half-brother. No wonder she's not engaging! It's ANOTHER INCEST SITUATION! And everyone else is just standing there, except for Su Minshan, who snidely remarks "So Mo-gongzi brought us into the chamber just to see Jin-furen!" which! underscores! her probable concerns!

And I'm sad about it because maybe, if the Suibian reveal had somehow happened SOONER--if Jin Guangyao had replaced the head with something that attacked Wei Wuxian when he pulled back the curtain, forcing him to grab Suibian in defense, maybe--and Qin Su knew Wei Wuxian for who he was, then things would have gone differently!

[naehja]

I have had this idea but i'll not write it so i leave it there for people who could be interested =)

Feel free to take it!

Jin Zixuan survives but he is severely hurt. He spent months in bed after his wounds so he misses so much things. After that, he recovers badly, he's always so so weak so yes, he let his brother take over. Meng Yao is so nice and so caring. What he doesn't know is that his dear brother poison him to keep him weak, to keep him fragile, influenceable.

Everytime he tries/wants to speak against something that JYG decided, he's suddently so tired…and his brother is so right.

His brother does a good job as sect leader so Jin Zixuan is happy to be just a father for his son. And a uncle for JGY's son as long that this boy was alive. He was devasted by his death. And tried to be there for his brother. After all family is there for that, right?

Jin Ling is very protective of his father and doesn't understand why he's so weak. His father so so strong before and his wound recovered. So why he's so weak?

"It's because of WWX, he curses your father" people said and still say. Because of course WWX is blamed for Zixuan "sickness"

There are 2 drugs. One who affect Jin Zixuan's health and spiritual power. So he stays weak and with a fragile health. The other drug is something who make the one who drink it vulnerable to the person who make the it. It was a potion forcing people to say the truth at first but JGY modified it to make his brother vulnerable to "his" words (weak to manipulation) Those drugs are called "medications" of course. And Jin Zixuan never questionned it, even if he couldn't.

Jin Zixuan tries to be a good brother for Mo Xuanyu. Mo Xuanyu was happy to have a so nice big brother and was very concerned by his health. The real reason of Mo Xuanyu banishment was that he understood that JYG was poisoning their brother to keep him weak and under control. JYG got rid of him with rumors about the young man being gay (which was true) and was trying to do a move on him/had feelings for him (which was false).

Jin Zixuan tried to speak on his favor but he was so tired…maybe…he refused to believe what JGY said about their brother. It was a mistake. It could only be a mistake!

JGY saidyes he didn't believed it too but it was so the best, sending their brother away would be the best because of the rumors. "He could have been hurt if he stayed brother"

Mo Xuanyu told NHS about the drugs in a letter but he also wanted to save his brother, he wanted to get revange on his family. So he did the sacrifice. He didn't ask for JGY's death because he knew that even wwx couldn't do that in few hours. But he left a letter for him, explaining everything about Jin Zixuan situation. He said that he had no proofs but that he had SEEN it. "Please be careful wei wuxian, my brother is a snake who kills people who go on his way! don't speak about it to anyone until you have proofs!"

And the story go on but with Jin Zixuan alive but under JGY's control, "drugged" for 13 years to be unable to speak again his brother. NHS being our favorite chessmaster, he managed to "kidnapp" Jin Zixuan at a point, like two or four months before wwx's return, and to give him the antidote + wean him off the drugs.

Of course, JGY blames WWX for the kidnapping as soon WWX is revealed to be in Mo Xuanyu's body . Jin Ling starts to have big doubts about his uncle after this moment. Because the dates...his father has been kidnapped BEFORE wwx's return, right?

It's at this moment, while they go to save the juniors, that WWX shows Mo Xuanyu's letter to Lan Zhan. He also tell it to all the sect leaders after the fight. It happens after everyone learns about that JGY married his half-sister.

Durin the events at the temple, Jin Zuxian returns (Shortly before NMJ's death body arrival) and can finally think clearly and freely for the first time in 13 years. His brother's word don't seem so logical anymore, he sees the lies. And he's angry, so angry, his golden core so strong for the first time in so much years. but his body is still weak.

And JGY said "you should have stayed under the drugs, i didn't want to kill you brother but you forces me to do it now" Except that JGY will not kill anyone, not anymore. Because the heros will win, of course.

Jin Zixuan is free and is now Jin sect leader while recovering. Jin Ling has to accept everything JGY did. Jiang Cheng has to accept to not have realised it. LXC has to accept what JGY did too, and has also to accept to have been used by him (did he give him the drugs to manipule him too?). NHS has had his revenge (but has had to live with the fact that his brother will never rest or have the chance to reincarnate). WWX and LZ are happy together.

WWX and Jin Zixuan reconciliation too (Jin Zixuan never believed that WWX killed his wife and never blamed him for his wounds).

[jaggedcliffs]

My heart breaks a little for Jin Ling as he desperately tries to find a reason why Wei Wuxian isn’t really Wei Wuxian...as much as I’m proud of him a well

He’s grown up with so much hatred for Wei Wuxian, believes that Wei Wuxian is most monstrous of unforgivable monsters. He can’t just accept that someone he’s grown to like, someone who’s protected him several times over, someone who actually apologized for hurting him, someone who just a few hours ago taught him how to defend himself against bullies, is that same Wei Wuxian. 

He can’t reconcile the “Mo Xuanyu” he’s gotten to know with the evils of Wei Wuxian he thought he knew as the truth.

So even when Jin Guangyao tricks Wei Wuxian into revealing his identity to the room (which everyone except Jin Ling and some extras knew anyway), Jin Ling is grasping for any straw to the contrary while he perfunctorily points his sword at Wei Wuxian. He and Nie Huaisang are the only ones who question Jin Guangyao’s claim, and while Nie Huaisang has several reasons and agendas for trying to cover up Wei Wuxian’s identity, Jin Ling’s defense is utterly without guile.

And even after Jin Guangyao “soothes” Jin Ling with how much he got “duped” by Wei Wuxian (how much of that is manipulation to better set Jin Ling against Wei Wuxian and how much, if any, is real sympathy...well, it’s hard to tell with Jin Guangyao), Jin Ling still isn’t fully turned against Wei Wuxian

Like, yes, he definitely stabs Wei Wuxian. But afterward...he can’t pursue him. His hand shakes on Suihua, his father’s sword -- the father he believes Wei Wuxian murdered -- before he drops it.

He’s wanted vengeance all his life, been told he wants it all his life, and when he finally gets a smidgeon of it...

It just hurts him.

What he’s been told all his life and what he’s learned for himself in the past few weeks are colliding, and what seemed so clearly black and white...is no longer quite so clear.

But whatever thinking he does between now and being kidnapped to the Burial Mounds, the next time he sees Wei Wuxian, it’s his experience of the truth -- of the way Wei Wuxian cares about him, genuinely -- that wins out in the end

[least-carpet]

hello!! 👀 (for the au ask game)?

Hello!! This is so extremely belated, I'm very sorry.

One AU I will never write is one I've outlined loosely in its entirety (so maybe I should just post the outline?) and it's the AU where Jin Ling is a cis girl. This is one of my earliest attempts to answer the question "what would actually make Jiang Cheng happy?" and it involved the conclusion of "Jin Ling living in Lotus Pier and inheriting without the sect being absorbed into the Jin." And I felt like I could make it happen for girl!Jin Ling!

Because the Jin Sect especially sucks, Jin Ling being a girl removes her from the line of succession. She's still given to Jiang Cheng to care for, and like canon Jin Ling, she splits time between both sects with the understanding that she still technically belongs to the Jin, despite them being unwilling to make her sect heir. After Jin Guangshan dies, Jin Guangyao and Jiang Cheng come to an unofficial agreement that she will marry a Jiang disciple of suitably high cultivation and rank and inherit the sect that way.

Jin Rusong, the only available male heir who's not Mo Xuanyu, is watched like a hawk and doesn't get murdered. (I am agnostic re: whether Jin Guangyao had him killed or not. Either way, needing a direct heir and there being more of a reason to expect Rusong to be at risk are both elements that could change the outcome there.) He's a very sweet kid, and much, much smarter than he looks, but he is spoiled to pieces, including by Jin Ling. That's her cute baby cousin! Of course he can have everything he wants!

Qin Su, having her son to protect, does not commit suicide despite finding out about the incest (although she ain't doing too good). The incest is also not revealed publicly. Unfortunately, an Evil Jin Elder—Jin Chan's grandfather—finds out about it somehow.

When Jin Ling returns to the Jin Sect to protect Jin Rusong and investigate Jin Guangyao's secret room, she gains access to—among other things—a treasure trove of blackmail material about the Jin elders.

The Evil Jin Elder, not wanting to be blackmailed or publicly dragged up on charges, blackmails Qin Su into using Jin Ling to fulfill an old written offer of marriage from the Lan sect. This solves a number of different problems for him: no more secret sect investigation, weakens Jin Rusong's faction, reaffirms now-shaky relationship with the Lan. So many birds with one stone! Qin Su is not about this but is also very, very desperate to remain in her position in order to protect Jin Rusong.

Jin Ling wakes up, bound hand and foot, in a carriage to the Lan sect, without her bow, Suihua, or Fairy. (Despite being all tied up, she still resists strenuously with her teeth. "Why does she even need that dog," says one of Evil Jin Elder's henchmen bitterly, as they haul her from carriage to palanquin.) Once there, she learns that the offer specifies a member of the inner family, but not who; and that a certain faction of elders is proposing that she be married to Lan Xichen, i.e. her uncle's secret boyfriend who killed him.

Jin Ling has never gone along quietly with anything she didn't like in her entire life. Her escape involves Lan Qiren, Lan Jingyi, Wei Wuxian, and Li'l Apple on a boat.

Story 1 is the story of how Jin Ling becomes the (still unmarried) heir to the Jiang sect, and it's pre-lingyi. Story 2 involves her eventual marriage, since, as Jiang Sect heir, Jin Ling needs to find a husband. She proposes (like the great-granddaughter of Genghis Khan) that any potential husband has to beat her in a contest that she chooses. Then she has to frantically brainstorm a contest of martial prowess that Lan Jingyi can beat her at. (Wrestling. It's wrestling. This is 100% because Lan Jingyi sucks at so many things and not an excuse for her to get wrestled to the ground by the goofy Lan boy with the very nice arms, Jin Rusong, how dare you insinuate things of that nature—)

[sillygoofyqueer]

*sees losing hope has updated*

*scrambles to read it*

I was actually looking for a good mdzs fanfic to read and you have blessed me with a new chapter and I am forever thankful! (Tho if u have some reccs… jk unless you really want to)

I hate how JGY is catching on and is planning to essentially use everything good in Wwx’s life against him. Especially about Jin ling. I fear for that boy. I do love that JGY has caught on to the fact that probably the most dangerous person in this whole operation is LWJ because of his devotion to WWX even though the truly most dangerous person has yet to reveal himself. Actually, speaking of Nie Huaisang, my mind can’t help but go to JGY talking to NMJ’s head. God that was creepy but honestly I could see him doing that. Also JGY being jealous of Jiang Cheng because Xichen talks about him so much? Hilarious. Tho a small part of me does wonder if he’ll get a little revenge on him for that. Curious as to what’s happening with WQ and WN because Wwx is no longer there and I love those two an unnecessary amount or when the topic of MXY will inevitably come up.

The juniors not telling JL about WWX is both tragic and understandable and I respect them for it. WWX mother henning them immediately after they got back is adorable. Plus the little bonus of LSZ’s memories being maybe brought back a little?? Also LWJ just sitting back and going “ah, so this is why my son is perfect”. Adorable and I will be screaming about this for at least an hour.

LWJ’s gay panic over literally just sleeping in the same bed will never not be funny. Just as WWX cuddling closer to him because he’s cold will never not be adorable.

As always, amazing chapter Four! Your hands are blessed with writing skills and it brings much joy to the people who read your fics. I wish I could give more kudos and please remember to take breaks <33

LUNNAAAA, hey. Nice to see you. You're awesome and incredible. First off, MDZS fic recs!!! I always think a good fanfic writer is a fanfic reader as well, so watch as I crack my knuckles and offer up some of my favourites. Transmuter by WithLoweredVoices (completed) left me gnawing at the bars of my cage, and I think it's a brilliant modern type AU with magic/cultivation still sticking around. The world building is incredible without feeling janky and shoved in there, and the plot leaves me swooning. (Also check out this author's Grimoire (ongoing) because it's JUST as good, exploring Fae and dragons - what more could you want?) Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by thefireplanet (completed) is a brilliant Dungeon Meshi AU - one that you can read without watching/reading its source material. It also made me watch Dungeon Meshi, it's just that good. The Shade of Old Trees by Kryal (completed) is another modern AU, with a certain demonic cultivator being found frozen in ice after a loong period of time, and hyjinks ensuing as scientists try to come to terms with the fact that this dude isn't actually DEAD. (I do have other fic recs, so please tell me if you want more) Oh, Jin Guangyao is definitely plotting and planning to twist everything Wei Wuxian has in his life and RUIN IT. He's done it before, he's had thirteen years to slowly break the man down - it shouldn't take a lot of time to do it again. Plus, having everyone who cares about Wei Wuxian in his reach is brilliant for him, but not at all so great for anyone else. I do believe he just yaps to Nie Mingjue's head a lot, because there's no way that the head can tell anyone - the only way he can trust someone with his secrets, teehee (also, I completely did reference the Good Place Ariana meme as a prompt for that entire scene. I love that you view Nie Huaisang as the most dangerous person in this game of chess - and, in this game of chess, he is - however, for someone being used as a pawn, there's only so far one can go before they move to destroy the whole board to stop it. Jin Guangyao may or may not have something planned with the Wens and Mo Xuanyu - after all, how is he to properly break Wei Wuxian down without using the very people he wished to help against him? Lan Sizhui is perfect and no, I will not be taking any response to this. I cannot deny that I'm positively buzzing with excitement at the angsty reveal scenes I (do not) have planned for the juniors, but they are a long way off from where we are right now, so I must reign it in until it finally comes up. Wei Wuxian is always a mother hen before he is anything else, so yes he will baby the teenagers, what the hell are you gonna do about it? Lan Wangji is seeing this and thinking "wife behaviour??" LAN WANGJI AND WEI WUXIAN ARE SO SWEET AND WHOLESOME I SURE HOPE NOTHING BAD HAPPENS TO THEM IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I SURE. I SURE HOPE. THAT. THAT DOESN'T. HAPPEN. As always, you're such a sweetheart and I feel like you singlehandedly wrestle me into taking breaks when I least expect it, thank you so much for existing <33

[wangxianficfinder]

In the mood for...

~*~

1. Hi, I wanted to see if anybody knew any fics where the only person who knows Wei Wuxian is back is Lan Wanji. Like nobody else knows MXY brought him back, people just think MXY attached himself to LWJ.

Please and thank you 😊 @myblurryreality

Love Song In Reverse by timetoboldlygo (T, 237k, WangXian, Amnesia, Canon Divergence, Angst with a Happy Ending, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Non-Sexual Intimacy, Falling In Love, Slow Burn, agressively mixing and matching novel and cql canon, No Homophobia, Mentions of Starvation, Parental WWX) In this fic no one is aware that WWX is back, not even WWX himself, as he's lost his memories.

maybe someone has the link bc i couldn't find this fic. the premise is that immortal chief cultivator is gifted "mo xuanyu" by the emperor of the civilian people. its a bit removed from the canon timeline, but toward the end there's emphasis on wwx asking lwj to be loved in the shadows.

~*~

2. For the next ITMF, are there any canon divergent fics where wangxian get together in the cloud recesses arc? Not just, like, fuckin', but an actual relationship? @zenodotus-xxiv

solstice: 那夏天的我们 by auberjing (E, 24k, wangxian, canon divergence, no sunshot campaign, cloud recesses study arc, masturbation, sex education, pining, smut, angst w happy ending, getting together) The recs for 2 all involve a looot of fucking, but they also include genuine feelings and a relationship/beginning of a relationship.

teeth on my waist (i come undone) by martyrsdaughter (E, 20k, wangxian, ABO, alpha LWJ, omega WWX, public claiming, sexual tension, obliviousness, cloud recesses study arc, exhibitionism, public humiliation, dub con, bondage, forced presentation, dom/sub, non-con spanking, subspace, feminized language)

To be caught by Foregone_Shadow (E, 13k, wangxian, LXC/LWJ, LXC/LWJ/WWX, rape/non-con, underage, consensual underage, switch LWJ, top LXC, bottom WWX, incest, voyeurism, smut, unhealthy relationships, dead dove, disturbing content)

🧡 Stunted, Starving Juvenility by TomatenMark (E, 548k, WangXian, WIP, Fix-it of sorts, Talisman master WWX, Not JFM Friendly, Study Arc, Getting together, Fluff and Angst, Engagement) I love being able to rec this fic, it's one of my favorites!

Being Known Series by dragongirlG (M/T, 42k, WangXian, Drunken Confessions, Love Confessions, More Like Lust Confessions, Drunk LWJ, Wingman LXC, Oblivious WWX, Cloud Recesses Study Arc, Canon Divergence, Attempt at Humor, Fluff and Crack, Hopeful Ending, Accidental Betrothal, Cloud Recesses Shenanigans, Family Dynamics, Family Drama, Letters, Light Angst, Supportive Sibling LXC, Good Sibling JYL, POV Multiple, Sex Education, Jealous LWJ, Sexual Tension, 5+1 Things, Character Study, First Kiss)

~*~

3. Hi! I was wondering if there was any fics where they make a TikTok/video and say "to the person who I slept with last year" or something and then show a baby or a pregnant belly? I know there's a yizhan one but I want to know if there's a wangxian one? I think that would be a funny fic ☺️ (NO BOTTOM LWJ PLS)

~*~

4. jiang cheng based time travel fix it fics with xicheng or mingcheng… i’ve read some but i cant find em anymore🥲🥲 @crimsonrainsimpflower

Viper in the Grass by elegantflipflop2 (T, 130k, JC/LXC, JC & WWX, time travel fix-it, gender changes, JC centric, oblivious LXC, protective WWX, revenge)

All of Our Memories Gather by geethr75 (T, 72k, JC/LXC, wangxian, JYL/JZX, time travel fix-it, canon divergence, heavy angst, major character death, not everyone dies au, golden core reveal, golden core transfer, JC centric, LXC centric, depression, panic attacks, PTSD)

four out of five by castieldeansangel (T, 21k, JC/LXC, wangxian, LXC/JGY, JC/WQ one-sided, major character death, time travel fix-it, 5 things, angst w happy ending, butterfly effect, JC centric, dubious morality, LXC pov)

~*~

5. There have been several itmf's lately asking for long fics, but what about short fics? Drabbles? Or under 5,000's? ITMF favorite / most interesting / most impactful short fics. Can be about anything: favorite short pwps, fave short angst or horror, fave short epistolary, fave short meetcutes, etc. Which fics do you think use their short length in an impactful manner?

travellers' rest by lazulisong (G, <1k, wangxian, ABO, fluff, cuddling, scent marking)

A-Zhan is Three by westiec (T, 1k, LXC & LWJ, wangxian, post-canon, twin jades of lan dynamics, LXC in seclusion, hair braiding, sleepy cuddles)

The Nie Sect Discussion Conference That No One, Ever, Will Discuss Again. by mondengel (Not Rated, 1k, WangXian, Humor)

Online Classes by abbymyg (G, <1k, wangxian, modern, family fluff, teacher LWJ, mentioned COVID)

Next Door Neighbor by Rainewritesfanfics (G, 1k, wangxian, modern, neighbors, single parent WWX, pre-relationship, meet-cute)

The colour of my sky by mellowflicker (G, <1k, wangxian, modern, domestic fluff)

Drabbles full of kisses Series by Marudny_Robot (T, 200, WangXian, Kisses, Drabble, Fluff, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Post-Canon, Married WangXian) idk about impactful, but I have two drabbles for mdzs in this series :>

Child Surprise by Ariaste (T, 4k, WangXian, The Law of Surprise (The Witcher), Canon Temporary Character Death, Fluff and Angst, but only a teeny bit of angst, they're married, they have a son)

the river and the sea by sasamelons (T, 7k, WangXian, Soulmates, Arranged Marriage, Misunderstandings, Angst with a Happy Ending, Idiots in Love, Falling In Love, Soulmate-Identifying Marks, Mutual Pining)

Three Months, but One Day Shy by mondengel (M, 1k, Angst, Gore, Cannibalism, Horror)

you can't ever tell me (I will burn this whole world down) by ThirtySixSaveFiles (T, 1k, WangXian, Post-Canon, Scars)

A Mate-Mark Would Be Redundant, Actually. by Full_Metal_Ox (G, 100, WangXian, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, Understated Angst, Slice of Life, implied/referenced corporal punishment, Drabble)

inhale by lao_you_tiao (G, 1k, WangXian, Introspection, Character Study, Heavy Angst, Canon Compliant, Pining)

Jin Ling vs. The 8 Uncles of Sex Education by Wildcard (M, 4k, Comedy, JL Has a Lot of Uncles, background mention of wangxian, Tiny bit of Angst, happy ending!)

well-met by warlight by wukuiyuxin (Not rated, 2k, wangxian, WIP, Old English Style Poetry, Epic Poetry) Lan Wangji’s account of meeting, loving, losing, and mourning Wei Ying and raising A-Yuan—in mock-Norse epic verse

wangxian poetry by clippymagnet (LilDoodleCat) (M, <1k, wangxian, poetry, post-canon, fluff, Married wangxian)

authors with an established record of effective shortfics include aninfiniteweirdo, chomrafy, dragonofeternal, EHyde, lao_you_tiao, mondengel, loosingletters and Quiet_crash.

Five of Cups by mondengel (Not rated, 1k, gen, angst, horror, Wen Ning-centric) link in #8

his father's son by loosingletters (G, <1k, CSSR/WCZ, humor, gender roles, misunderstandings, rumors, cloud recesses study arc)

The Hiring Process by loosingletters (T, 2k, wangxian, modern w magic, humor, YLLZ WWX, protective yunmeng Jiang sect)

this body is a gift for you by loosingletters (T, 1k, MXY & WWX, WWX & OCs, trans female WWX, trans MXY, canon divergence, gender identity, gender roles, self discovery)

~*~

6. For the next iitmf, do yall have any post canon recs where wwx gets cursed or badly hurt and then lwj fears losing him again? just lots pain and reminiscing. wanting something similar to: let the yoke fall from our shoulders by occultings (microcomets)

appreciate the blog, ty!

the absence of hunger by parsnipit (M, 27k, WangXian, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, Starvation, Food as a Metaphor for Love, Body Worship, Praise Kink, PTSD, Flashbacks, Blood and Injury, Additional Warnings In Author's Note, Cannibalism)

cherry lingers on the stone by ThreePlums (M, 26k, wangxian, post-canon, graphic depictions of violence, Angst, hurt/Comfort, curses, case fic, established relationship, starvation, animal death, cannibalism, dom/sub undertones, PTSD, mild för)

~*~

7. Hello! Thanks for all your work! Maybe a long shot but do you know any bilingual Mandarin/English podfics? @driadorim

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8. thank you mods and everyone for the recs! i have a bit of an odd itmf... may i ask for fics that are... twilight-zone-ish? i remember that when i read cultivons notre jardin it gave me that vibe <3

Lost and Found by diamondbruise (E, 52k, WangXian, Modern AU, Aliens, Slow Burn, Alien LWJ, Crack Treated Seriously, Soulmates, Kid Fic.....kind of, i use that tag very loosely, Masturbation, Rough Sex, canon typical cnc elements, Happy Ending) for something with aliens

Clouded by diamondbruise (M, 15k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Getting Together, Case Ficish, Curses, Dark LWJ, It's a curse, Dubcon Kissing, Jealousy, Sharing a Bed, Angst with a Happy Ending, Dubious Consent, no sex in this fic just in general) for something with building paranoia

Five of Cups by mondengel (Not rated, 1k, gen, angst, horror, Wen Ning-centric) if Troubling Existential Horror is a flavor of Twilight Zone you enjoy.

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9. hi! i recently read One Can Keep A Secret (If He Does Not Know It's There) by H_Belle based on recs here (thank you!) and it hilariously great :D so i thought to ask for itmf, are there more fics where wwx sees with his own two eyes how much people appreciate his genius? like he's deprecating his talismans/abilities/art/etc, and ppl around him courting him as a scholar/inventor/teacher or they want to throw money at him? much appreciated!!!!!!!!!

To Respect a Scholar by FlautistsandPeonies (G, 5k, wangxian, WWX & LQR, genius WWX, not JC friendly, author WWX)

Nice work if you can get it by deliciousblizzardshark (M, 11k, wangxian, post-canon, protective LWJ, genius WWX, fluff & humor, getting together)

❤️ Gentians in bloom by teawater (M, 251k, wangxian, Canon Divergence, AU after cold spring, Political Marriage, Dysfunctional Family, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, Fix-It, Hurt/Comfort, LQR bashing (not really), POV Multiple, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Eventual Happy Ending, BAMF WWX, JC is actually a lot better than canon, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, YZY bashing (again not completely) )

Time Charm by Jenrose (E, 141k, wangxian, later queerplatonic LWJ/WWX/WQ, LXC/JGY/2nd Madam Mo, time travel fix-it, post-canon, everyone lives au, genius inventor WWX, BAMF wangxian, first time, pregnancy, childbirth, asexual character, aftermath of time travel, telepathic bond, slice of life)

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10. Hello, i quite liked reading while you were sleeping and still left with the river . So, for the next iitmf i’d like to request a love triangle fic of sorts.. maybe wwx is married or betrothed to someone else like jzx, wq or lxc 🤷🏼‍♀️ and lwj pines from far but eventually they do get together. Thankyou for all u guys do!!😤😽

Marital Prospects by Vamillepudding (G, 18k, WangXian, LWJ & NMJ, Canon Divergence, Everybody Lives, Romantic Comedy, Misunderstandings, LWJ Needs a Hug)

he gets under your skin by Skadiseven (M, 87k, WangXian, Inspired By While You Were Sleeping (1995), Modern AU, Accidental Engagement, Chicago (City), wangxian's tendency to self-sacrifice, Christmas, Mutual Pining, There's A LOT of Musical References, Slow Burn, Angst with a Happy Ending) - another While you were sleeping AU

i don't love you (but i always will) by sixstepsaway (E, 71k, WangXian, XianQing, Soulmate-Identifying Marks, Soulmate AU, wangxian endgame!!, handjobs, this ends wangxian and happy i promise, Angst with a Happy Ending, i had to give lwj an oc soulmate, Blanket Permission, Infidelity, Emotional Infidelity, Cheating, Pegging, Bottom!LWJ, top!WWX, Bottom!WWX, slight femdom!wq, Implied Consensual Somnophilia, Cockwarming, implications of consensual polyamory, undernegotiated polyamory, internalized ableism, Grief, Pining while fucking)

The Season of Fire by Magnolia822 (E, 31k, WangXian, Modern AU, Age Difference, Mutual Pining, Forbidden Love, Coming Out, Brief WWX/other, Homophobia, Unsafe Sex, Slow Burn, Lovers to Friends to Lovers) - there's a part where lwj pines in the middle.

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11. hello!! for the next itmf, do you have any recs for fics where wwx's lack of golden core is mentioned or addressed, but it doesn't turn into a huge deal in the plot or with character relationships? it would be nice if it's something wwx or other characters work around, like finding cultivation aids he can use without a golden core or ways to hide that he doesn't have one, but there's no angsting about it.

❤️ kick at the darkness ‘til it bleeds daylight by AlfAlfAlfAlfAlf, tardigradeschool (T, 75k, WangXian, Hurt/Comfort, Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Eventual Happy Ending, Getting Together, Burial Mounds Settlement Days, Inspired by The Parent Trap (1998), Kid Fic, teen shenanigans, two a-yuans, Fluff and Angst) This mentions WWX building himself an artificial core, but it's not the focus of the fic.

could you find a way to let me down slowly, if you're leaving baby let me down slowly by ravenditefairylights (M, 36k, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Golden Core Reveal, Implied/Referenced Sex, Miscommunication, Somebody Lives/Not Everyone Dies, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Twin Prides of Yúnmèng Dynamics, Hurt WWX, Mutual Pining, Unreliable Narrator, Self-Esteem Issues, Twin Prides of Yúnmèng Feels, Protective Siblings, Trauma, Slightly dubious consent, courtesy of drunk sex, Inventor WWX, Genius WWX, Phoenix Mountain, Chronic Pain, Getting Together, Fix-It of Sorts, One Braincell Trio, PTSD)

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12. Are there any fics where Wei Wuxian is a Jin?Thank y'all in advance.

Rotten Work by ShanaStoryteller (Not Rated, 63k, WangXian, WWX & JL, Post-Canon, Protective WWX, Protective JL, Yunmeng Bros Reconciliation, Reluctant Matchmaker JL) wwx eventually becomes a Jin

❤️ Candy & Conspiracies by Reverie (cl410) (T, 16k, wangxian, JZX & WWX, jin wwx, fluff & crack, found family, humor, no angst)

Silver eyes meet gold by EuphoricSuds (Not Rated, 3k, WangXian, JZX & WWX, XuanLi, Minor Character Death, Canonical Character Death, Implied/Referenced Character Death, BAMF WWX, Hurt WWX, Genius WWX, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Domestic Fluff, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Family Fluff, WWX Gets a Hug, WWX is Loved, WWX is LSZ's Parent, WWX is a Jīn, WWX Isn't Adopted by the Jiāngs, Canon Rewrite, Out of Character WWX, Out of Character, Comfort No Hurt, Cute WWX)

Twin Treasures by crossdressingdeath (T, 81k, WIP, JZX & WWX, WangXian, Canon Divergence, Can't quite tag this as 'everyone lives' but I promise everyone who dies will DESERVE IT, mostly novel-verse with a bit of CQL here and there, currently being edited)

A Jin Disciple's Guide on How to Survive in the Cloud Recesses by holy_milk (T, 3k, gen, canon divergence, Jin WWX, JC pov, cloud recesses study arc, JZX pov, JZX has friends, WIP)

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13. hello!!!! I am here to request fics with demons/fallen angels/angels. any and all of the above, with wangxian being the focus. something kind of like "Macabre Soiree" on ao3? i'd prefer them not to be succubus/incubus demons but i'm not too picky. thank you!!!

The Shape of Your Love (is Horny) by Vamillepudding (T, 25k, WangXian, XiYao, Urban Fantasy, Getting Together, Romantic Comedy, WWX is Bad at Being a Demon, LWJ is definitely a Monsterfucker)

and i sell my soul for the high by martyrsdaughter (E, 3k, WangXian, Angels & Demons, succubus wwx, Angel LWJ, PWP, Extremely Dubious Consent, Aphrodisiacs, References to Addiction, Manipulation, Self-Lubrication, Loss of Virginity, Bondage, Threats of Violence, Sexual Coercion, Spanking, Comeplay, Come Eating, Creampie, Multiple Orgasms, Mild Painplay, Overstimulation)

a series of fortunate events by defractum (nyargles) (G, 12k, WangXian, Modern AU, modern cultivation au, Immortality, Angels & Demons, Chinese Mythology & Folklore, (very loosely), Pre-Relationship, Humor, Sharing a Bed, but neither of them need to sleep, Case Fic)

It’s a Demon Thing by silverclaw (T, 1k, WangXian, Demons, wwx is a demon king which is very hot of him, lwj owns a food cart (a baby), wwx has a very loose understanding of the human world and its customs, Humor)

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14. Hello! I am in the mood for fics where Wei Ying is an artist (of any medium) and he showcases Lan Zhan in his work or Lan zhan is his muse/subject. I really enjoy seeing Lan zhan be impressed by Wei Yings art! I know I can go through the artist!wei ying tag but I'd like to see what are ppls faves!💚 @the-marathon-continues-nip

paired wings soaring by typefortydeductions (E, 33k, WangXian, Modern, slice of life, domestic bliss, angst, fluff, smut, hurt/Comfort, kissing, bdsm, artist WWX, poetry translator LWJ, slight somnophilia)

💖 Pentimento. by orange_crushed (E, 73k, wangxian, modern, college/university au, art conservation, museums, pining, not actually unrequited love, angst w/ happy ending, misunderstandings, smut, major character injury, hospitalization, hurt/comfort, past incarceration, forgery)

The Sculptor by Eleanor_Fenyx (M, 27k, wangxian, LQY/WQ, LWJ & WQ, SL/XXC, modern, lavender marriage, period typical attituted and terminology, mute SL, queer themes, queer families, slow burn, getting together, intimacy, artist WWX, professor LWJ) Can't believe I forgot this one where lwj is literally his model and muse (also wonderful queer history)

🧡 paint smears on sunny days by SnowshadowAO3 (E, 53k, WangXian, Comfort, Fluff and Smut, Everyone Is Alive, Modern AU, Dadji, Mutual Pining, Happy Ending, Brief Alcohol Mention, Masturbation, Blow Jobs, Hand Jobs, Accidentally co-parenting with your son's art teacher, Fatherhood)

The Emperor's Portrait by catbrainedschemes (E, 32k, WangXian, Historical, Ancient China, Kinda, Historically Inaccurate, Meet-Cute, Mistaken Identity, Age Difference, Sexual Tension, Happy Ending, Fluff, Emperor!LWJ, artist!wwx, Misunderstandings, Hand Kink, Strength Kink, Smut, gege kink, lots of staring, Dirty Talk, Canon-Typical Bondage)

Inkstone by PorcelainBlue (T, 7k, WangXian)

The Tale of Hanguang-Jun's One Hundred Ghosts by enea (T, 17k, wangxian, post-canon, chinese shadow puppetry, tales, established relationship, outsider pov, art by @/6uooU) WWX, disguised as a storyteller/puppeteer, regales the children of Caiyi Town with Hanguang-Jun’s adventures; this cries out to be animated 

wangxian poetry by clippymagnet (LilDoodleCat) (M, <1k, wangxian, poetry, post-canon, fluff, Married wangxian) love poetry from WWX to LWJ

~*~

15. This is a very weird request, but... you know how there are lots of fics where a lot of characters redeem themselves? LQR, YZY, JGY, even WRH. Do you know fics like that where SS, JZX and/or XY are good guys? Maybe not the main characters, but at least relevant to the story? Please and thank you! ^^

Xianyao AU by placeformysins (T, 161k, WWX/JGY, major character death, rape/non-con, WIP) link in #16

Take Some Advice Paesano by FeelsForBreakfast (M, 8k, WangXian, Mob, Mafia AU - Clown Version, Humor, Mistaken Identity, Modern AU, Getting Together)

Sail Away Sweet Sister by sami (M, 72k, wangxian, YZY/CSSR/Madam Lan, JYL/NMJ, time travel, family, not everyone dies au, childhood friends to lovers, families of choice, parenthood, fluff, angst, underage sex, PTSD) this has a villain character redeeming himself, and another one whose circumstances change early enough that he’s never a villain

The Untamed: A Dinner to Remember by YenGirl (Not Rated, 33k, WangXian, XuanLi, post sunshot, Indulgent Fic, Feed WY & the Wen survivors, Some angst, Some humour, Dinner is about family and love, Some Fluff, Soft Boys, Manly Tears, JGS is still greedy, Possible OOC-ness, No hundred holes curse, Unreliable Narrator, accidental heroes, Some violence and gore in Chap 9, Redeemed JGY, Redeemed SS) this one has a really nice Su She redemption! The only time I ever cheered the guy on and felt sorry for him was in this fic

❤️ Restoration by ritualist (M, 84k, WangXian, Fairy Tale Elements, Non-Linear Narrative, Time Skips, Time Shenanigans, YL WWX, Sentient Burial Mounds, Sunshot Campaign, Politics, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con, JGS Is His Own Content Warning, Necromancy, Surgery, Identity Issues, Yílíng Wèi Sect, Love at First Sight, Mutual Pining, Angst with a Happy Ending) 

Yiling Wei Sect AUs are a good place to look for a sympathetic, or at least less-than-murderous, Xue Yang.

~*~

16. I am curious what other stories and relationships the fandom has to offer. So ITMF your favorite rarepair fics?

We Were In Screaming Color by qirongsmom (E, 12k, LXC/LWJ, modern, incest, bad parents LQR, massage, angst w happy ending, pining, porn w feelings, bottom LWJ)

💖 Love made visible by Moominmammashandbag (M, JYL/ZZL, wangxian, hurt/Comfort, amputation, major character injury, sibling love, angst w happy ending, cooking as cultivation, attempted rape/non-con, sexual assault, minor character death, family angst, dysfunctional family, protective siblings, near drowning, amnesia)

💖 hear my voice and it's been here by Sour_Idealist (E, 56k, JYL/NHS, wangxian, 5th in series, canon divergence, sect leader JYL, sect leader WQ, sunshot campaign, JYL pov, politics)

The Monster they Created series by noppoh (E, 47k, WWX/XY, dub con, under-negotiated kink, demonic cultivation, dark, revenge, bottom XY, mass murder, animal abuse, animal death, war, torture, suicide, dead dove do not eat)

Grumpy Sugar and Shameless Spice by BlueSapphire718 (T, 2k, LQR/WWX, JC/LWJ, canon divergence, slow romance, humor, light angst, pining, developing relationship, fluff, crack treated seriously, sugar daddy LQR, sugar baby WWX, WIP)

Xianyao AU by placeformysins (T, 161k, WWX/JGY, major character death, rape/non-con, WIP)

not too strong by fluffysocks (E, 89k, LQR/JC, WangXian, graphic depictions of violence, rape/non-con, marriage of convenience, slow burn, canon divergence, married couple, cohabitation, explicit consent)

you gave a kick, I gave a slap by sysrae (M, 2k, XuanCheng, Modern AU, PWP)

I would let you hold my heart in your hands by unnecessary (E, 21k, WIP, XuanCheng, Modern AU, Getting Together,BDSM, Impact Play, Under-negotiated Kink, Kink Negotiation, JZX and JC are both disaster bisexuals, and gym bros, and switches, and vers, Pining, but when you don’t know it’s pining, Past JZX/JYL where it ended on good terms, Miscommunication, food as a love language, Aftercare, Platonic BDSM, Decidedly non-platonic BDSM, Subdrop, Topdrop)

Gentle Exile by rynleaf (E, 9k, LXC/SL, Post-Canon, Canonical Character Death, Grief/Mourning, References to Depression, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Character Study, Epistolary, Post-Canon Exploration, [PODFIC] Gentle Exile by flamingwell, semperfiona_podfic (semperfiona))

To Love What Is Mortal by treemaidengeek (T, 22k, LXC/SL, Post-Canon, Grief/Mourning, Fluff and Angst, Healing, Hurt/Comfort, [Podfic] To Love What Is Mortal by flamingwell)

i told you when i came i was a stranger by Caramelized (M, 70k, LXC / OFC, minor wangxian, canon divergence, Isekai, transmigration, fix-it, Butterfly effect, sunshot campaign, not everyone dies au, no golden core transfer, dimension travel, self-insert, angst w happy ending)

~*~

17. For the next itmf, I’m looking for really soft wangxian fics, preferably sfw, just something that’ll melt my heart, thank you in advance, y’all are great

Yiling Patriarch Gone Missing, or: a series of missing person cases by oyan (T, 16k, wangxian, post-canon, case fics, fluff, humor, hurt/comfort, body dysphoria, mystery, slow burn, petty LWJ, protective LWJ, JC & WWX reconciliation, protective JC, rabbit & paperman shenanigans, eventual relationship, protective JL, WIP) this is a wip, but chapter 1 definitely fulfills the sfw heart-melting requirement

box your errors by mellowflicker (T, 42k, WangXian, Modern AU, single dad lwj, Domestic Fluff, Family Issues, Slow Burn, Kid Fic, let lwj have friends agenda, Hurt/Comfort, Pining)

some things go forward by everythingispoetry (T, 73k, WangXian, Modern AU, Hospitals, Teenage Drama, Slow Burn, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Happy Ending)

my little love by mellowflicker (T, 54k, WangXian, Modern AU, Single Parent WWX, kindergarten teacher!lwj, Kid Fic, Hurt/Comfort, Domestic Fluff, Pining)

Year Of Night Call by ailuridae (abigailnicole) (T, 22k, WangXian, XuanLi, Modern AU, What If Cultivators Were All Surgeons AU, surgery AU, Our Boys Are Trauma Fellows Now, The Lan Babies Are Surgery Interns, trauma fellows share a call room, and there was only one bed, hospital au, Medicine AU)

❤️ kick at the darkness ‘til it bleeds daylight by AlfAlfAlfAlfAlf, tardigradeschool (T, 75k, WangXian, Hurt/Comfort, Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Eventual Happy Ending, Getting Together, Burial Mounds Settlement Days, Inspired by The Parent Trap (1998), Kid Fic, teen shenanigans, two a-yuans, Fluff and Angst) link in #11

💖 hello my old heart, how have you been? by ravenditefairylights (M, 10k, wangxian, post-canon, temporary amnesia, hurt/comfort, fluff, trauma, pining, hair washing & brushing) It has a healthy dose of angst, but is basically 100% LWJ being cared for by WWX.

Step right up! By failedcharismacheck (T, 7k, wangxian, modern, highschool au, teenage romance, fluff, first kiss, getting together, awkward flirting)

They are Practically Married Your Honour by Asmayi (G, 1k, wangxian, modern, 5+1, oblivious wangxian, pining, fluff, best friends to lovers, getting together, public displays of affection)

Lan Zhan doesn't want a kitten...so they compromised and got a kitten by Liebing (M, 8k, wangxian, modern, roommates au, fluff, getting together, lawyer LWJ, pining, happy ending, sleeping together, family feels)

Words from the heart by MusicMe_tc (G, 6k, wangxian, modern, college/university au, secret identity, love letters, fluff, first love, first kiss, asexual WWX, demisexual LWJ, Love confessions, getting together, happy ending)

Tell Sincerely, Half So Clearly by Sweet_William (T, 3k, wangxian, modern, roommates au, light angst, pining, getting together)

how, or when, or from where by sarahyyy (G, 10k, wangxian, modern, amnesia, friends to lovers, getting together)

Love Cats Series by so_shhy (T/G, 14k, WangXian, Modern AU, Meet-Cute, Fluff, First Dates, Falling In Love, Office Party, POV Outsider) soft wangxian

rain. you are here. by thelastdboy (G, <1k, wangxian, WWX pov, fluff, rain, insomnia, post-canon) WWX devotes a stormy and sleepless night in the Jingshi to rejoicing in the presence of his husband.

First Errand by Zacksy (G, 7k, wangxian, modern, accidental baby acquisition, volitional husband acquisition)

~*~

If you didn’t get an answer to your ask here, don’t forget to make use of @mdzs-kinkmeme and MDZS KINK MEME on Dreamwidth. Authors actually do use them for ideas. You may get what you order!***Your prompt doesn’t have to be kink! Fluff, crack, whatever - it’s all good!***

[sunbunnyyy]

So I just saw your tags on the Mo Xuanyu art I reblogged - please talk Mo Xuanyu headcanons to me!

(I saw fanart with him and Jgy the other day and I'm like actual Mo Xuanyu is not explored enough. I need more of him)

Thank you ♡

hello friend!!! sorry I’m getting to this after so many days have passed—obligatory work life etc commitments that left me drained and not ready to answer!

I’ll list my biggest headcanons—I’ll admit that I haven’t explored him as much as I’d like, but these are the things I take into every scenario regarding him!

1. Mo Xuanyu is trans!

There’s something a little bit tragic to me about the way gender is handled in Ye Olde Ancient Societies. As much as I love what The Untamed did as far as removing some of the perceived gender biases of MDZS (such as female cultivators being Kept Apart in Cloud Recesses and showing us maybe?? one? female sect leader?) I do love playing around with two types of characters—those I can shoot with my “trans laser beam,” and tragic ones.

My specific headcanon for Mo Xuanyu (which gets explained in wi3!) is that his mother was told if her child was a girl, she would not be acknowledged and Second Madam Mo would be cast aside. Knowing what that would mean not only for herself but for her child, she raised Mo Xuanyu as a boy, and it wasn’t discovered until much later by a certain Jin that the truth was revealed. For his part, Mo Xuanyu never felt like a girl, and never wanted to portray himself as one.

I think Mo Xuanyu being trans also adds a fun little layer of struggle to Wei Wuxian’s return—he went from a cis man to a trans man and suddenly has to deal with that dysphoria, too.

2. Mo Xuanyu is a little crazy, but not the way he’s described in the books.

This is another thing that comes up in wi3–Mo Xuanyu’s mental health vs. his intelligence!

While Mo Xuanyu never thought twice about being a boy, it sure doesn’t change the dysphoria of being told you’re something that your body doesn’t reflect! Not only that, but the poor treatment from the Mo family against him and his mother that I can’t believe didn’t happen in the ten years between when Jin Guangshan abandoned him and when he brought Mo Xuanyu to Carp Tower? During such formative years, it’s not a wonder to me that Mo Xuanyu’s not quite all there.

(I resonate a little with this headcanon. Okay, I resonate with this headcanon a lot, actually.)

But! I don’t think Mo Xuanyu’s unintelligent. The opposite, actually—I think he’s very intelligent, although not quite as smart and calculating as our boy Jin Guangyao. Because of the treatment at the hands of the Mo family, I don’t think Mo Xuanyu’s mother was healthy enough to have as much of a hand in Mo Xuanyu’s life as Meng Shi did with Jin Guangyao, but he was a young master of an affluential family who were under the belief that Jin Guangshan could, at any point, come back and claim Mo Xuanyu like he said he would. They would’ve given him at least some education, because it wouldn’t have reflected well on them had they not. And, given that they were an affluential family—they have a Manor and a Village, after all—they likely could’ve afforded much better learning materials than Meng Shi (who did her best!).

3. The Incest.

The allegations that Mo Xuanyu came into Jin Guangyao and whether or not they’re true are such an interesting thing to play around with in my brain.

I think this aspect for me will vary greatly depending on what I’m writing. They may be true in one fic, or completely fabricated in another. Or maybe they’re only slightly true! As mentioned previously, Mo Xuanyu isn’t quite in full control of his cognitive thought processes. I’m not sure if I read it as a headcanon or part of canon or one of mxtx’s interviews or even a different fanfic or the wiki, but I read somewhere that Jin Guangyao was actually quite kind to his half brother, despite the pointed way with which Jin Guangshan brought him around as a way to bully Jin Guangyao. I think that would have a very lasting effect on Mo Xuanyu, who likely only saw kindness from his mother by that point in his life.

Whether or not Jin Guangyao takes advantage of it… 🤷‍♂️ again, varies on the fic I’m writing, I think!

These are my big three at the moment. I’d love to hear any that you or anyone else might have! I really want to write a modern fic and it’d be fun to have Mo Xuanyu in there being the annoying younger brother to Jin Zixuan and Meng Yao* he deserved to be.

[mxtxfanatic]

Hey i'm new in the fandom (read only the two first books for now since only two have been published in France for now)

When do you think that Lan Wangji started to suspect "Wei Wuxian" (in Mo Xuanyu body) to be, well…Wei Wuxian and when has he been sure of it?

I think that he started to suspect it when Wei Wuxian played flute and called Wen Ning. He has had some oubts against it when Jiang Cheng used his whip on him and nothing happened (in the manga page he seems surprised to see that nothing hapenned right?). But i think that he has been 100% sure quickly after that anyway. Even only by listening him he reaiised that this chaotic man WAS Wei Wuxian XD

(For being fair, Jiang Cheng recognized him too, he just didn't have proofs )

1) You’re right, anon, the flute-playing that summoned Wen Ning is when Lan Wangji recognized “Mo Xuanyu” as Wei Wuxian. When Wei Wuxian asks him how he knew who he really was, Lan Wangji continually tells him to “figure it out, himself,” until the end where it is finally revealed that the song Wei Wuxian had been playing and singing and humming that he thought he just created was actually the song that Lan Wangji had composed and played only for him in his first life. However, I don’t think Lan Wangji had any doubt once he came to that conclusion, even with zidian producing no reaction from whipping “Mo Xuanyu.” Zidian only expels spirits that forcefully possess an individual, and Lan Wangji knows that Wei Wuxian would never willingly possess someone for any reason.

2) Jiang Cheng didn’t guess shit. Anyone who reminded him of Wei Wuxian was someone he deemed to be Wei Wuxian (remember: he wanted to kill “Mo Xuanyu” upon first meeting and only gave up because Lan Wangji stopped him), which is why nobody believes him when he goes mad over “Mo Xuanyu.” Boy-who-cried-wolf ass bitch…

[trans-xianxian]

in cql I don't think wei wuxian is supposed to be read as being resurrected into mo xuanyus body. it's just his own body from before he died. I've seen people say that the show is just implying that mo xuanyu and wei wuxian are just somehow magically near identical in order to keep xiao zhan as the actor but a) cqls costume department is way too good at making the other characters look different at different ages when it's still the exact same person playing them for them to not even Try to make xiao zhan look Any different post res, b) it's confirmed in the first like 15 minutes of the show that mo xuanyu always wears his mask, so reasonably no one at mo manner would know what his face actually looks like, at least at that age, and I can more reasonably suspend my disbelief to assume that mo xuanyu and wei wuxian just have similar lips and jawlines, and also that the sect that has been actively abusing him for years just doesn't care enough to notice, and c) mo xuanyu was very notably a disciple in the jin sect for a period of time, and wei wuxian dropping his mask to reveal himself at koi tower to everybodys (fake) shock implies two things - that people at koi tower and other cultivators who visited when he was there saw mo xuanyus face while he lived there, and that mo xuanyu and wei wuxian look noticeably different from each other. if they Hadn't seen his face, removing the mask would have no weight, and people could reasonably just be like well I guess that's just what the top of mo xuanyus face looks like, and if they Didn't look noticeably different, then removing the mask would once again have no weight, and the people who know what mo xuanyu looks like would just see mo xuanyu and there would be no reason for alarm. plus, knowing the cultivation world post wei wuxians death, or at the very least knowing jiang cheng, if there was just some kid running around with almost the exact same face as the yiling laozu he would be dead already. I think the assumption is very much supposed to be that like many other things between the novel and the drama, the ritual is simply different in cql, and mo xuanyus body was not sacrificed for wei wuxian to inhabit but rather for wei wuxian - body, soul, and mind - to take its place in the physical realm. wei wuxian is too consistent with wearing the mask around anyone who doesn't already know and the scene where he removes it is too monumental for that not to be true

[starrywangxian]

hello i am here to remind you that lan wangji did not wait for wei wuxian for 13/16 years because wei wuxian died. (now with edits!)

people don't come back from death! what happened to wei wuxian was the first time it had ever happened and probably the only time i would happen (at least in a long time) because the riutal can only be done under certain conditions, i.e. someone has to be willing to sacrifice themself, you have to call a spirit that is vicious enough etc. and most importantly, lan wangji had no idea about any of it being a possibility! [edit: only four people had used to ritual before mo xuanyu - so my point still stands i just forgot that detail - source: "only three or four examples [of using the sacrificial ritual] have been proven to be true" novel chapter 2]

lan wangji did not wait because waiting implies that he knew wei wuxian would come back, which he didn't because he died. he spent those 13/16 years mouring and taking care of lan sizhui, the only connection he still has with wei wuxian. he spent those years preparing to spend the rest of his life in mourning and wearing white mourning robes!

he played inquiry [edit: lan wangji does this in the donghua, consider that canon or fanon] to try to talk to wei wuxian but lan wangji's cultivation and skill with the qin language is so powerful that spirits he calls must answer him truthfully! so when he'd call for wei wuxian and get no answer: that was his proof that he had died. then he would ask other spirits if they knew what happened to wei wuxian, where he was, how he was etc. none of them knew anything about wei wuxian. [edit: spirits cannot lie to lwj when he uses inquiry (as seen in chapter 22: "Under his [lwj's] control, the spirit who came was unable to lie, and had definitely been answering the truth.") and lsz reveals that some people have the power to ensure spirits must answer in chapter 37: "the spirit that i summon will be able to avoid answering, but will not be able to lie. so, if it is willing to answer, then it will definitely speak the truth." this doesn't exactly mean that lwj has this skill but when speaking with jin ling, it says that lwj has mastered qin language in chapter 22: "As he mastered the language, without any hesitation, Lan WangJi confidently played a few limpid notes."]

because wei wuxian hasn't born to a sect, he didn't go through the rituals to make sure his spirit would reincarnate so when he died he turned into a spirit but because even his spirit was torn apart by ghosts and demons he was unable to do anything. [edit: i worded this weirdly - i was trying to say that the ritual prevented people from becoming ghosts and that wwx didn't have this ritual because he was the son of a servant and wasn't raised in a sect. this is mentioned in chapter 60: "disciples of famous clans, like Jiang FengMian and Yu ZiYuan, had been affected by their clan and their clan’s treasures since they were young. When they grew up, they’d receive countless soul-calming ceremonies so that there was only a miniscule chance of them becoming ferocious ghosts. But Wei WuXian was different. He was the son of a servant. He didn’t grow up in the Jiang Sect since birth, either. He didn’t have the chance to go through so many ceremonies. If after he really died with too much resentful energy and became a ferocious ghost to haunt them, it’d be quite a pain."] he spent those 13/16 years being fully unconscious and aware of what was happening but not having the power to do anything about it. he was in literal hell for 13/16 years! [edit: this you'll have to bare with me because i read it in a tweet and can no longer find it ;-; basically it stated what i said] so no spirits knew what happened to him and he couldn't answer to lan wangji's inquiry!

in conclusion, lan wangji did not wait!! [edit: it's still wrong to say that lwj waited for wwx even if i got stuff wrong lmao]

[mdzs-owns-my-ass-i-guess]

@sasumimo

🏳️‍⚧️♨️🌌

Steam rose from the hot spring like a thin, white veil, winding upwards through the cold night air. Stars glimmered above, the sky clear, so clear that one could see the dim band of the Milky Way stretch over the horizon, a colorful gash of stardust and nebulae.

Wei Wuxian glanced up, mesmerized with the sight for a few moments before stepping into the hot water, skin prickling pleasantly at the warmth. Lan Wangji waited for him there already, eyes closed as he relaxed into the water, skin rosy with the heat. He didn't appear to have noticed Wei Wuxian about to join him, so he decided to maintain the advantage and sneak up on his husband and scare him a little.

However, though he waddled soundlessly into the water, he found himself hoisted into Lan Wangji's arms just before he pounced - all while Lan Wangji's eyes remained closed.

"I thought you fell asleep! Here I was trying to scare you, and you ruined it!"

Lan Wangji cracked an eye open. "I could pretend to be scared now."

Wei Wuxian leaned against his husband's chest, laughing. "We both know you're a terrible actor, Lan Zhan."

"Mn..."

A few moments of comfortable silence followed, the two sharing an embrace in the quiet space. Wei Wuxian's eyes drifted towards the sky again, taking in the multitude of stars.

"Lan Zhan."

"Hm?"

"When I was little, there was a legend I heard in Lotus Pier, about the stars in the night sky. It was said that the stars above are people that died but that did not want to leave their loved ones behind. So, the gods turned them into stars, so they could watch over the earth. And if you ever miss someone that's gone, you can talk to the stars and maybe your loved one is there and they'll hear you..."

Lan Zhan opened his eyes, looking to the stars himself. He had talked to them many times, but not in a tender way - he had raged to the heavens about his fate, about Wei Ying's, about A-Yuan's. He had asked why such a good man had to die in such a gruesome way, why nobody could see the truth the way he did.

He had been angry, resentful, grieving - never had it ever crossed his mind to try and seek Wei Ying among the stars. He should have, if anybody deserved to live on into the heavens, it was him. Still, Lan Zhan could only be glad he hadn't, returning instead on earth, to him.

"I've been thinking a lot about Mo Xuanyu recently... I've been having these dreams that I think were his, and it's... difficult."

Lan Zhan ran his fingers through the ends of Wei Ying's hair, watching the strands dance into the water as he let go. Then, cupping some of the warm water in his palm, he gently wet Wei Ying's back, warming up the drying skin.

"I think... based off these dreams and what I remember reading in the notes I found in that shack at the Mo manor, that Mo Xuanyu wasn't a man, or at least didn't feel like one. There was makeup on my face when I woke up, and I also found some tattered clothes that I didn't think much of at the time, but now I think they were parts of dresses...I keep dreaming about being made fun of, hiding something important, feeling out of place..."

There was a pause yet again, and Lan Zhan found himself wanting to leave a kiss on Wei Ying's forehead. "You are feeling troubled by this knowledge."

"Yeah, but it's not - I don't have any problem with that, you know, I just don't know how to refer to... him? her? Them? I'm one of the very few people that still remember Mo Xuanyu and probably the only one that tries to honor their memory. And I feel like I've been disrespectful of them in many ways, even just by referring to them as a man..."

"I think they would understand. They did not reveal that information to you right away, either." Lan Zhan replied, after a long moment. "They simply summoned you with a purpose, and allowed you to live in their body as you please after that purpose has been fulfilled. But, of course, we must be mindful to refer to them in a more respectful way now that we know of this facet of their identity."

"Yeah... I just hope they didn't get too upset about being referred to as someone they were not." Wei Wuxian's eyes flitted to the sky again. "Wherever they may be."

[dani474]

Jiang Cheng, the Golden Core, and why it's love. [PART 2]

I ended part one by noting that the burial mound siege wasn't the end of their relationship, but it is not the reconnection of it yet either.

Jiang Cheng capturing and torturing people who cultivate like Wei Wuxian, believing they could be possessed by him, is definitely something that would make you think of hatred. So far though, he has not actually come back into contact with Wei Wuxian, neither through the constant spirit summoning or possession trials.

Checking for possession in this moment is especially important, because this is the closest he has been to finding Wei Wuxian since his death. The fact that he's spent the last 13 years doing this is. Unhinged honestly. Even Lan Wangji didn't go out searching for him.

We all know that Lan Wangji knew Mo Xuanyu was actually Wei Wuxian because of WangXian, but Jiang Cheng heavily suspects it’s him due to Wen Ning being the force corpse summoned. 

No matter who might’ve followed WWX’s cultivation methods, summoning WN is probably something no one else has ever tried much less succeeded at. (Later, we learn why, as we learn how Nie Huaisang and Jin Guangyao are both playing their own game, but for now, all we know is that WN hasn’t been seen for at least 13 years.)

Later, we see that Wei Wuxian is scared of dogs, like to the point of potentially being a phobia due to PTSD, and this is what confirms his theory that MXY is still somehow Wei Wuxian even without the possession. Rather than a question of demonic cultivation, this is actual experience with Wei Wuxian's fears, personality, and thought processes.

His emotional state here really shows his conflicting emotions regarding Wei Wuxian and his return, as well.

“Don’t you…have anything to say to me?”

In the novels, it’s noted that Jiang Cheng speaks softly in reply. “You won’t repent, just as expected.”

“And you haven’t improved either.”

I think it's interesting that this^ is what makes Jiang Cheng angry, not Wei Wuxian admitting he has no idea what to say to him. This makes me think he wanted an apology or an acknowledgement in some way, rather than an explanation on how he got his body.

“It’s all your fault that Jin Ling is made fun of like he is now. Don’t you forget how his parents died!” This anger makes total sense, and unfortunately lacks the information around the circumstances that led to Jin Zixuan's death. he's not wrong though, and I'll come back to this.

Wei Wuxian also admitted as soon as he learned it was Jin Ling, that he would've never let someone speak to him that way, so Jiang Cheng's defense here is not one to criticize in general, no matter if the words here are equally harsh.

More than that though, throughout the present period, their interactions are sporadic and limited. Somehow, we go from this tense exchange to one's that begin to unravel more of Jiang Cheng's feelings regarding the entire thing.

When Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian locate Nie Mingjue’s head in Jin Guangyao’s room and attempt to confront him, he is able to attack and force Wei Wuxian to grab his Suiban, leading to his identity being revealed. 

Jin Ling protests here, but Jiang Cheng is visibly unsure, questioning if the possession part could’ve been wrong despite Zidian, because of the sword unsealing itself.

This is his confirmation that Wei Wuxian has returned to the land of the living. After 13 years of searching and torturing people under suspicion (and guilt of demonic cultivation), he's making this face.

In the novels, he’s noted as looking “incredibly upset.” and also that he was “seeming to ponder what action to take.”

Unintentionally, this expression, this moment of hesitation (in a room full of killing intent mid you) reveals just how complicated their relationship actually is. Normally, if you hated someone and had them brought low, you'd take the chance to strike. We see that here with everyone else in the room, later Jin Ling (despite his own messy feelings over it), and later with Nie Huaisang.

Here though, he pauses. Jin Ling had more initiative to harm Wei Wuxian than him.

And at the second burial mound siege, Jiang Cheng led his people into the Den and was willing to consider Wei Wuxian’s theories. It’s unconscious, but he holds that judgment and intellect in high enough regard to actually approach it, rather than dismiss it. When Wei Wuxian makes himself a target, and takes Lan Wangji off with him, Jiang Cheng decides to help too, with no request from anyone. Jin Ling follows AFTER his uncle.

At the end of the fight, when everyone decided to go to Lotus Pier, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji followed and Jiang Cheng just…didn’t say either way. And when he asks Jin Ling who bullied him, the assumption that it was Wei Wuxian here makes sense in this context specifically. Note that he uses ‘Wei Ying’ in his thoughts.

You can say what you want about Jiang Cheng, but he protects his nephew undoubtedly. Is he perfect about it? No, but I do not expect the same tenderness Yanli could give him. His own experiences with parenting shape the way he responds. Still, Jin Ling tells Wei Wuxian outright that Jiang Cheng has never hit him, and yes, he can be harsh but seems to be trying to avoid belittling him. He is actually looking out for Jin Ling's safety and actively trying to support his cultivation (just not in the best way). Then again, it's hard to change such deeply ingrained responses.

Also, I think that if we're going to call Jiang Cheng abusive (though I personally disagree) for being crass and harsh towards Jin Ling, then we should consider he is an abuse victim and hasn't broken every single toxic trait he's learned. It is not a moral failure, and it actually makes his character more nuanced. So.

Anyways, for the most part, things are ambivalent.

It’s not until Wei Wuxian takes Lan Wangji around Lotus Pier, and they do the tree jump hug thing that things seem remiss. Jiang Cheng witnesses it and sees them going to the Ancestral Hall. More than any of his harsh words towards their ‘friendship’, he’s angry because Wei Wuxian is going without showing respect to Jiang Cheng or even his parents. This is audacious of Wei Wuxian, if only because he didn’t bother to tell Jiang Cheng he’d like to visit the Ancestral Hall. He doesn't live there anymore and their relationship is still very much damaged, so honestly, I can kind of understand being upset about the Ancestral Hall being approached the way it was.

He still blames Wei Wuxian for the destruction of Lotus Pier and Lan Wangji being there is fuel to the fire. Due to his own perceptions, Iang Cheng sees this as a mockery of his parents and their deaths, so I’m not surprised he reacts so negatively. Is it strictly true or fair, no, but it’s also something they’ve never actually talked about. It’s still pent-up between them.

Note that Jiang Cheng only makes a vaguely homophobic comment after Wei Wuxian tells him to shut up (for insulting LWJ). He’s being a dick sure, but this comment was specifically to goad Wei Wuxian into fighting. It’s working. Jiang Cheng’s words after this make me think he’s angrier about the introduction of Lan Wangji to his own parents because of their ‘thing for each other.’ He clearly read the intention of a marriage blessing and I think that’s what’s bothering him the most here. Why? This: “...If you two have any integrity, you shouldn’t have come here and…”

Again. Jiang Cheng points to Wei Wuxian saving Lan Wangji as being the catalyst that destroyed Lotus Pier. This is specifically what he's referencing.

Wei Wuxian strikes first, and then they’re fighting. Which is what Jiang Cheng was looking for. He can’t totally explain why he’s upset, so he argues instead.

Wen Ning decides to tell Jiang Cheng about the Golden Core transfer because he was hurting Wei Wuxian, with his actions but also with the burden of said secret. Jiang Cheng’s reaction to this – the secret itself and his own feelings around it/Wei Wuxian – are pretty justified, and instead of starting a fight later, he mostly shares his true feelings about it. 

Jiang Cheng keeps responding to it with anger, but right here, this is shock and hurt, as far as I can tell. His next words make me believe that: “Lies!” “Lies! All of you are lying to me!” 

Right now, he has no idea what to think of Wei Wuxian. He has no idea what’s really happened and who’s told him the truth. It completely upheaved his current perceptions. He does ask others to try pulling out Suiban. Because he knows, on some level, that WWX’s sword should not be ‘unsealed’ and that Baoshan Sanren should’ve been much more elusive. 

I think the most interesting aspect here is the result of it.

Jiang Cheng does what Wen Ning asks and once he enters the Guanyin Temple, well. Jin Guangyao taunts, throwing his confusion and whirlwind behavior in his face.

His anger here is not at all surprising, considering this is a private issue. The fact that it’s being used against him during this little skirmish is not a good sign for him. It's forcing him to acknowledge that Wen Ning was telling the truth, in a way that even unsheathing Suiban himself can't.

Jiang Cheng is upset here because he’s having all of his accomplishments since the Sunshot Campaign started questioned, diminished, and attributed to Wei Wuxian. Once again, someone is telling him that he will never be good enough, and by mentioning a golden elixir, even implies that he must ‘cheat’ in order to even match Wei Wuxian. Of course, like most people, being compared to someone this way is hurtful, and to have it done repeatedly by so many people who see that other person as more likable and more accomplished, is going to leave deep seated issues.

Still, the moment JGY threatened Wei Wuxian’s life, he was over there to protect him without a thought. JGY was intentionally riling Jiang Cheng up in order to put him in that position. With his ability to read people, he quickly realized that despite any potential anger and hurt, he wouldn’t allow Wei Wuxian to be injured, not when he’s just learned about the Golden Core Transfer. By doing this, he was able to injure Jiang Cheng as he was slower to defend himself.

In response to Wei Wuxian saying “I told [Wen Ning] so many times not to say it!” is anger first. This is probably the most blatant he is about his own insecurities concerning and his own capabilities.

He’s mocking Wei Wuxian’s choice as playing the hero and living up to their sect’s motto in the way he couldn’t.

It’s interesting that Jiang Cheng is overshadowed by Wei Wuxian to the point of viewing himself as inferior at everything; to the point of needing to question who or what he is. This sounded strange to me at first, but subconsciously people recognize that Wei Wuxian’s abilities are higher despite who he is – the son of a servant (or the potential bastard of JFM) according to what’s convenient. Jiang Cheng is lower here because his parentage is “no match” for Wei Wuxian's. The parents aren’t mentioned outright, but why else would a sect heir, and now a sect leader, be pitted against his head disciple and viewed as a failure for not matching up? 

It's the same reason Madam Yu was so angry.

Because failing to match Wei Wuxian is seen as a slight against the Jiang sect. She was angry that Jiang Fengmian kept acknowledging Wei Wuxian but not his own son and heir. It’s why the gossip was so bad, and why it was getting to her. It’s also why Jiang Cheng can't help but be jealous. It's a conflict of status. He feels much lower, but his status is nothing of the sort. Wei Wuxian’s accomplishments are higher and more respected, but his place is much more tenuous. 

This is not either of their faults. It’s the results of classism and parental conflict. The Jiang parent's and their personal strife leads to the belittlement of their children, and the jealousy directed at Wei Wuxian leads to a conflicting position. The son of a servant and a head disciple who should be good, but not better than Jiang Cheng. The son of Canse Sanren who's as well known as Madam Yu, but also brings her disrespect and dishonor in the rumors. Whichever causes the most tension at the time. 

Also, yes, I know Jiang Cheng’s rant in the novel is much more harsh, and his actions more impulsive, but that doesn’t really change anything. People do not act rationally when they are this upset. Some of the things he says in here show how belittled he feels (ex. “You never tell me anything. You treat me like a fool!” and “What am I? Does it serve me right to be blinded by your brilliance?!”)

When Jiang Cheng lashes out here, he’s also questioning their positions, even before he says it outright. He tries to shove Wei Wuxian and we can say whatever about this choice, but to be honest, I very rarely see people who are close peers much less those raised in the same household (whether they’re allowed to consider themselves brothers or not) approach anger or hurt without being a bit of a childish dick about it. Lan Wangji is quick to interfere of course, so Wei Wuxian isn’t actually hurt. 

I already noted why he’s asking these questions. ‘What am I if the son of a servant, even one taken in by my family, can outshine me in everything? How can I live up to that? Why can’t I, when I’m a sect heir? My status is higher than yours, but you are much higher than me.’

Again. It’s not intentional, but it is driven by classism, not just sibling jealousy.  Being so close to one another in their youths makes his perspective on Wei Wuxian's class more flexible than his parents, but it also means the discrepancy between them, and the public opinion is much heavier. It drives those insecurities deeper.

Jiang Cheng going on to mention the deaths that Wei Wuxian caused. It’s no surprise he still blames WWX for being the catalyst in Lotus Pier’s destruction, but I think him bringing up Jin Ling's parents is different. The politics around the Wen’s attacking Lotus Pier are complicated enough that he only mentions his parents rather than the whole sect, as he did in the immediate aftermath of the attack. 

Jin Zixuan and Yanli, though? These must hurt in such a specific way. Wei Wuxian is more to blame for these deaths than the others, because both of them went out into an unsafe situation to help him.

Wei Wuxian was increasingly unstable, his position on its very last leg, and his powers caused the injuries. Yanli is more complicated, if only because she was injured but would’ve survived if she hadn’t stepped in front of a sword strike meant for Wei Wuxian. They chose to protect him, in two different ways. Jin Zixuan was trying to diffuse the situation enough to get Wei Wuxian out safely, and Yanli wanted to calm Wei Wuxian down enough to control the corpses, to get him out of that situation, and more than anything -- she wanted to see him again.

Jiang Cheng’s anger is not unjustified, to be honest. Is it complicated? Yes. Everyone else's actions also caused those deaths. But emotions are not logical nor are they simple. 

And then we get to the crux of the issue, in my opinion. 

This more than anything is why he’s angry. Because breaking it meant Jiang Cheng could not lean on him or count on him for support, which he definitely needed while rebuilding the sect. 

Because it meant his sect (and Jiang Cheng himself, maybe) was not worth protecting. Wei Wuxian did choose to protect ‘outsiders’; he may have done so because it was the right thing to do, because he owed a debt that he couldn’t ever really repay, but it is still a choice that puts the Jiang sect (JC) second. When he asks: “what did you take our family as?”, that is what I hear. 

Jiang Cheng is asking whether or not he should or is allowed to hate Wei Wuxian. LWJ gets in between them and Jiang Cheng decides he can fight if necessary. And to be honest, I can’t help but pay attention to everyone's expressions when he steps closer to Wei Wuxian. Everyone looks so surprised to see he’s in pain, that he’s crying. Everyone takes his at face value, so they miss how much he carries behind all of it.

He’s so angry at Wei Wuxian, maybe even hates him, because more than anything, it hurts.

This is just all that pain and grief coming out. Jiang Cheng lost Wei Wuxian when he broke that promise, and after having lost his parents, then his brother-in-law and sister, that was all he had left.

He doesn’t understand why Wei Wuxian couldn’t tell him these things. It would’ve hurt much less if he knew the truth, I imagine. Because for this entire time, he didn’t have any explanation for Wei Wuxian’s behavior. This, honestly, tells me that he wanted Wei Wuxian to stay. We know Jiang Cheng wanted to protect him, as Yanli did, and now he knows that Wei Wuxian wanted to protect him, too.

When Wei Wuxian apologizes for breaking his promise, Jiang Cheng is upset with himself for needing it. For wanting it. He feels weak for not being able to just hate Wei Wuxian. Because that’s the thing.

Jiang Cheng asked those questions because he struggles to reconcile feeling like he should hate WWX – maybe actually hating him on some level – and still loving him. 

And yes. Jiang Cheng loves him.

He may see Wei Wuxian in a position of both servitude (as his head disciple, regarding the expectations around him being a sect heir, and Wei Wuxian being of a servant’s line) and one of admiration and inferiority to. But they’re close enough to bicker and be tactile as siblings would, but not enough to be considered siblings by anyone else.

They see this causal behavior as one of disrespect, and at Jiang Cheng’s lowest and most politically unstable moments (sunshot and after), he began to see it that way as well. It’s much harder to ignore everyone shouting these kinds of things at you constantly when you have next to no one countering that perception. MianMian and Lan Wangji both tried to stop people from spreading this idea but they couldn’t. Jiang Cheng couldn’t either, and the fact that they fed into pre-existing insecurities makes them very easy to internalize and manipulate. Don’t forget that he’s literally 17-20 when this is mostly happening. 

When Jiang Cheng apologized to Wei Wuxian, and he responded like this, I was questioning if he chose to do it out of obligation.

Why would he say this? Is it because Madam Yu and Jiang Fengmian asked him to take care of their children? Because the Jiang family took him in?

Or because Jiang Cheng accused him of betraying his family? 

Wei Wuxian giving his Golden Core to JC is not something anyone would’ve requested of him to fulfill his obligations to the Jiangs. It was an experimental procedure that hadn’t even been heard of outside of Wen Qing and her family. Wei Wuxian chose to do it because he wanted to protect Jiang Cheng. To protect from his grief and his guilt over not being able to get revenge for their sect. To protect him from feeling inferior. Jiang Cheng was literally at his lowest point and was arguably suicidal. After bringing JC to someplace safe enough for treatment, he’d already fulfilled his duties to the Jiang family. But choosing an extremely risky procedure, to give someone a part of himself that the cultivation world considered near sacred, wouldn’t have crossed any cultivators mind. 

Choosing to do it anyway. How is that NOT out of love? 

It’s just that he didn't tell Jiang Cheng the truth because it would hurt him. And by hurting him this way, making him feel as if none of his accomplishments were his own, he would be dishonoring his obligations to the Jiang parents. 

Wei Wuxian’s own feelings here are more complex. He’s grateful that Jiang Fengmian took him in, so he approaches the Transfer in a way that emphasizes that to reduce the sense of loss. He says as much in the novels:

“If it had not been for Jiang Fengmian bringing him to Lotus Pier, Wei Wuxian might never have crossed paths with the cultivation world. He would never have been conscious of such a mystical and magnificent realm.”

“[...] He’d have had no way of cultivating, let alone a chance to form a golden core. And at that thought, he’d feel a lot better.”

If he hadn’t been taken in, he’d never have a golden core and would never feel that loss, but he’d never have met Yanli or Jiang Cheng either. So, duty is easier. But this is AFTER.

Wei Wuxian wanted Jiang Cheng to live, so he did something that would ensure it, even at the cost of his own health. Regardless of the parents, these three value each other's lives enough to risk their own. It’s shown to us repeatedly. All of these are reciprocal and are done without any need for debt or obligation.

The reason Wei Wuxian says it this way is because he thinks that Jiang Cheng shouldn’t have to apologize for his words. From his perspective, Jiang Cheng believes he should repay the Jiang family, because of how he's been saying these things. 

I say it like that because Jiang Cheng doesn’t like that response. He questions it. To my parents? To my sister? And then Wei Wuxian asks them not to talk about it, to let it be in the past. He’s doing this to protect himself and yet inadvertently implying that he chose to do it because of literally everyone BUT Jiang Cheng. 

It sounds like “I did this to repay your family, not for you.” and that bothers him. But he doesn’t say anything else because Wei Wuxian told him not to. Wei Wuxian said it because he thought it would make Jiang Cheng feel less betrayed. They’ve completely talked past each other and don’t even know it.

He doesn’t look relieved here. Seriously. This is not the face I’d be making if those words relieved me. His face is scrunched and his teeth are clenched. He looks pained. He’s trying to keep the rest of his tears in. 

It hurts him to hear that, but he can't say anything now. 

And with the reveal that Su She casted the Hundred Holes curse on Jin Zixun, Wei Wuxian is rightfully feeling that he was wronged. The moment Jin Guangyao says that, actually, Wei Wuxian would be besieged regardless and would die young, Jiang Cheng gets angry. It hurts to hear, because it ended up being true. JGY knows it and uses that to his advantage, but only after being called the son of a prostitute. (Before that, he's just generally taunting.)

By laying all the blame for Wei Wuxian’s death on Jiang Cheng, he’s hitting a surprising sore point. Jiang Cheng feels guilty over aiding in Wei Wuxian’s death. He knows that the wedge driven between them happened because of his insecurities. And he knows that by allowing the other sects to target Wei Wuxian rather than risk the sect to back him, he pretty much set the stage for Wei Wuxian's death. It took a year, but once there was a ‘reason’, he ended up with no choice but to siege the Burial Mounds. Once again, these things happened due to more than just themselves. They did not have a path outside of this one due to where they both were.

I like the detail that Jin Ling has to hold him back here, but Wei Wuxian also won’t let it slide. He immediately comes to JC’s defense once JGY starts to imply that JC killed him. (He corrected Wen Ning on this, too.)

(Side thing: They both care for Jin Ling. Yes, Jiang Cheng is rude, but he does try his best to spoil and protect him, and when Jin Guangyao takes Jin Ling hostage, he’s upset to the point that he uses the affectionate form of his name. This also causes Wei Wuxian to immediately try to help in response, due to being familiar with Jiang Cheng’s different tones.)

At the end of all of this, Jiang Cheng had wanted to tell Wei Wuxian something just before he left, but didn’t. I particularly like his expression in the manhua. 

“I didn’t get caught by the Wen Clan because I insisted on returning to Lotus Pier to retrieve my parents’ bodies. When you went to buy rations in that small town during our escape, a group of Wen cultivators caught up to us. I noticed them early and left the spot where I’d been sitting to hide in a corner of the street. I didn’t get caught, but they were patrolling, and they would have surely bumped into you while you were getting us food.

So I ran out and lured them away.”

TL;DR

Like most people, Jiang Cheng’s words and actions don’t always match, and they don’t always say what he’s feeling. Can he hurt people with his behaviors, yes. But honestly, this is just how people work and isn't a sign of one-dimensional villainy. He hurts others with his actions and other people’s actions hurt him. It’s just the nature of being involved with others, and especially in loving them. 

Keeping his actions within his relationships in full context is really the only way to understand his motivations, emotions, and why other characters feel the way they do about him. This is about how Jiang Cheng’s insecurities and strained familial relationships influences how he responds to Wei Wuxian over the course of their lives, how politics shaped the fallout, and ultimately why it was not duty that led to the Golden Core transfer, on either side. 

They didn’t tell each other about those sacrifices – ones they made out of love for each other and with little regard for anything else – because knowing would hurt the other. 

Sacrifice as a form of love is a theme between these two. Sacrifice was a form of love between many others too. Yanli, Wen Qing, Lan Wangji, Madam Yu, even. An element of obligation doesn't actually counteract that. Everyone has some level of obligation to the people around them.

Even so. They deal with their issues by pretending they don’t have issues, so of course it builds up. Of course, Jiang Cheng’s personality results in a grudge, but that doesn’t mean it’s all he feels. It’s complicated. I think with people you’re close to, it’s easy to resent them and also love them. I think they love each other, and there’s just so much pain and trauma and communication issues between them that it festers into something ugly. It looks like hate because those pains build until they explode.

I think for someone like Jiang Cheng, it’s so much easier to hate someone than to love them when it’s painful to do so. 

It must have been so much easier to hate the man Wei Wuxian became – the Yiling Patriarch – than it was to remember who that person was, to him. We know that Jin Ling and Jiang Cheng are noted as being similar, and I think Jin Ling’s complicated feelings reflect this point. Jin Ling stabbed Wei Wuxian because of his parents being murdered, but also helped him and didn’t want to see him get hurt, because he came to like the man Wei Wuxian actually was rather than the big scary boogeyman. I think this happened in reverse for Jiang Cheng. Hate the boogeyman to forget the human you knew. 

But, eventually, the truth comes out, and they can’t keep those things in anymore. 

So to me, the Golden Core Transfer, from both ends, was them saying: ‘I want you to live.’ And how can that not be an act of love? Of devotion? We see Yanli’s protection of WWX as an act of love and sacrifice, but not this? Because their relationship cannot be easily described? Because Jiang Cheng is a hard man to work with, or even love? Because acknowledging this level of devotion might threaten the impact of wangxian? Sometimes, for better or worse, we know people who are hard to understand and hard to communicate with, but the love is there and it’s real. And for these two, I think even if the love could not outweigh the tension or the circumstances around them, they tried as best as they could. Because they both believed the other was worth it. 

We know Wei Wuxian has more positive feelings overall towards Jiang Cheng, but it’s much harder to get into Jiang Cheng’s head because he’s not often the narrator. This is on purpose of course, but it also means we can miss intricate details. 

That doesn’t mean it isn’t there though. And that doesn’t mean there’s no love. 

LINK BACK TO PART 1

[rosethornewrites]

NR, E, & M reading since 3/24

Finished

Not Rated:

WZL is Meng Yao's dad, by nirejseki

Prompt: Au where Wen Zhuiliu is Meng yao’s dad instead of JG. Meng Yao is raised in the wen sect, as his son also the idea of the golden-core-snatcher thing being hereditary or not would be fun to explore. It’s be the ultimate dagger-up-the-sleeve move. Meng Yao joins Wen Qing and Ning to study at the Lans sect.

NHS tries to fix things post-Sunshot, by nirejseki

Can you do one where Huisang is upset about the loss of his best friends? After the cloud recesses and the training camp he looked forward to seeing Wei Wuxian and JC again and now they don’t even like each other and WW is so cold now. Maybe they deserve a forced vacation?

Who gave Lan-xiansheng alcohol?!, by HeloSoph (🔒, 6 chapters)

Lan-xiansheng is drunk and certain facts are revealed.

Apparently, Lan-xiansheng is the reason behind the 'alcohol is prohibited in Cloud Recesses' rule...

'Well, you learn something new every day.' Nie Huaisang thinks.

Explicit:

Light the Lantern, Touch the Light, by Sirendipity (🔒)

Rogue cultivator Wei Wuxian is tasked to investigate the haunting of a brothel, where he is tricked into servitude by the cunning madam. Lan Wangji, under the effects of a dangerous curse, enlists the aid of Mo Xuanyu - a prostitute he has yet to learn is dead.

When the two meet, is it coincidence? Or is a conniving force bent on pushing them together?

OR

the sexy casefic one that no one - not even the author - expected to actually contain sex.

Grabbing At Clouds, by Bvbyphoenix (🔒)

Wei Wuxian has been dealing with a recent flair up of intrusive thoughts, and after a very rough night of sleep, Lan WangJi decides to dedicate a day to pampering him and keeping his mind distracted.

Some of that distraction comes in the form of domming him into not thinking so hard.

Mature:

Reclamation, by CordialCoroner (CordialCrow)

After her death at the hands of the Jin, Wen Qing's spirit lingers.

you need to stop seeing right through me, by lanzhandweiying

Wei Wuxian took a step forward, wanting to move away but strong hands held him by the waist and swiftly turned his thin frame around, making him face Lan Zhan’s perfect face.

The two were so close now, bodies touching each other, not even a sliver of space between them.

‘’Lan Zhan’’ Wei Wuxian breathed out.

‘’Wei Ying’’ Lan Zhan whispered back looking at him with an expression he had never wore before.

or a different turn in the forest conversation in episode 25.

Unfinished

Not Rated:

The Trial, by H_Belle

Canon divergence - Cloud Recesses did not burn and the Sunshot Campaign has not yet started.

Amidst the rising tensions in the cultivation world, the Wen Sect announces a special event planned for the next Discussion Conference - a trial of wit, skill and spirit, meant for the sect heirs only. For some reason, Wei Wuxian is asked to assist.

And what was this trial supposed to be, exactly?

To Recall and To Long for, by scallion_pancakes

Its Wei Wuxian's wedding day.

The Jiang family or at least what is left of it should be overjoyed. Yet, Jiang Cheng finds himself looking at his sister shrink further And further into herself.

He had to have a conversation with Lan Wangji.

Explicit:

hold out your hands, by Aminias

Oh no, this is bad. How could he have forgotten Wei Ying's considerate nature? Lan Zhan wants to marry him; technically this isn't their first meeting so Xichen will have to allow it. The characters for Wei Ying's name are written across his cup and Lan Zhan files that information away. It will be important to get the proper spelling of Wei Ying's name right later, he wants no mistakes when they go to the courthouse.

or

Lan Zhan hasn't seen Wei Ying since he gave him his first gay awakening. Now five years later with Wei Ying in front of him he handles it with as much chill as you might assume.

Heart of the Beast, by WaitForTheSnitch

“Wei Ying?” Nie Mingjue prompted him gently. “Where are your parents?”

“They went on a night hunt,” Wei Ying said, a bit evasively.

“Your parents are cultivators?” Da-ge asked in surprise. “Did they leave you here while they hunted? When did they go on their night hunt?”

“Four summers ago,” Wei Ying said a bit uncomfortable.

“Four summers ago,” Nie Mingjue repeated. “What are your parents’ names?”

“My mama is Cangse Sanren and my baba is Wei Changze,” Wei Ying told him, and recognition registered in Nie Mingjue’s eyes.

“Wei Ying,” Nie Mingjue said, sounding a bit regretful, “Your parents aren’t coming back.”

Or, Nie Mingjue and Nie Huaisang run into Wei Ying while in Yiling and decide to bring him home. And it changes everything.

Mature:

But This Time, I Have You, by Lotus_Seed

Lan Wangji follows Wei Wuxian at the siege. They both die and get sent back to the past. This time, Wei Wuxian isn't alone.

Together, they work things out.

To Ride A Stygian Tiger, by Madyamisam

Wei Wuxian changes fate and is wounded while saving Jin Zixuan at the Qiongqi bridge and a great mystery starts to unravel many hidden secrets never known before. While trying to deal with his own increasing madness, seeing threats everywhere in past, present and future, he sets an impossible task to save everyone he ever cared about with his very life and soul.