#character: tan qi

[movielosophy]

Love Me Love My Voice | Master Qiang Qi Ci, what a man you are.

[baiwu-jinji]

TGCF author's notes translation

@/camilikha on twitter kindly provided links to TGCF author's notes and I translated the ones I find informative and interesting. See translations below:

chapter 58 notes: The second book is all about the overconfident Xie Lian with delusions of grandeur and the tender little flower (mxtx means kid Hua Cheng) and their diaries of the downfall of Xianle. Word count is undecided, I'm never accurate at estimating word counts anyway. It's just like the xianxia I write doesn't fit into your regular xianxia, the royalty I write doesn't fit into your regular fictional depictions of royalty - just the outlandish made-up worlds and social customs in the author's imagination...

chapter 60 notes: If we put Qi Rong in a modern context, we could say that he has bipolar disorder.

chapter 72 notes: about the chapter title "To Meet You in the Mortal Realm; to Find Flowers Beneath the Rain" - eventually I feel that "To Meet You" is more romantic than "To Meet Someone". Just think about it, "meeting you" is one of the most romantic things in the world.

chapte 80 notes: Of course (HC) won't give (XL) a handjob or help him [...], but Huahua's sexual awakening starts with this incident... (XL is seriously obssessed with martial arts combat!)

chapter 88 notes: Xie Lian never gets tanned, I envy him... I finally reached this place - in a dilapidated temple, a god about to be forgotten and a believer who's still young - this is the first mental image I have about this story, which drove me to wrote the story. I'm the kind of person who'd make up a whole book just to get to write a certain passage...

chapter 119 notes: Actually Huahua is just being naughty and wants to joke around playing dead, who'd have thought...

chapter 123 notes: So Black Water made his appearance long ago, he's been hanging around before your eyes all along. Wind Master never knew the real Mingyi, it's always been the same person before him - and before you readers. (Black Water) officially recognized as Best Actor of this story! I've been holding it a secret for so long and so has he, now I can finally let it out.

chapter 141 notes: If you heat up Huahua in the kiln, he'll grow bigger~

chapter 175 notes: "Hua Cheng! Your diary! We've read it all!!!"

chapter 229 notes: Huahua low-key sucking up to the elderly to make a good impression

chapter 242 notes: Why do you like to spook yourselves? - why on earth would there be such plots as (XL) waiting for another 800 years - too long, impossible! Happy ending is around the corner!

SVSSS is my first work so it has some exceptions that I won't discuss here, but MDZS and TGCF both only have one main couple. I said this repeatedly in the author's notes when MDZS was being serialized and in other places. As for Mo Xuanyu, he is a little gay dude but he died at the beginning of the story so he doesn't count as a serious character...It's fine to have headcanons you like as long as you don't seperate the main couple. But for me personally, my taste leans towards having only one gay couple in the story, and I have no plans to write about another secondary couple. I'm stating this to avoid some unnecessary disputes.

XL is good at making pickled vegetables. Because pickled vegetables are needed with steamed bun and rice porridge, so XL became quite experienced after practicing for hundreds of years. Also you can just leave the pickled vegetable by itself most of the time and let it undergo chemical reaction. XL mostly fail because he get inventive.

XL and Mu Qing chose the same path of cultivation and are both Daoists. But Feng Xin never studied under a master at the Holy Royal Pavillion so he's not a Daoist and simply a plebeian martial god, so he doesn't need to observe the celibacy rules like XL and Mu Qing.

My passion for inventing new dishes (or rather weapons) cooked by Xie Lian is only slightly less than my passion for making Huahua change into new clothes

Huahua often turn into human forms, in which he has two eyes, so you guys can stop counting the number of his eyes.

In the setting of this story, if you want to be a god,you need to be a human hero first, which means you need to be the best of the best among humans. Only heaven officials who ascended are real heaven officials and belong in the Upper Court. How do you ascend? Firstly it depends on your personal ability, you have to be outstanding in some aspect (such as martial arts or literary talents) to enter the path of ascension. Secondly it depends on luck, if you're extremely lucky and a favourite of fate, and just picked up some rare secret guides (to ascension) or immortal pills by the roadside, that works too. Officials in the Middle Court are appointed, which means someone in the Heavenly Realm could promote you to that position. But Middle Court officials have the opportunity to become a bona fide Upper Court official too if they're capable enough.

Black Water indeed owes Hua Cheng a huge sum of money and is a very impoverished Calamity, seriously lowering the income standard of the Calamities (although there're only three of them). But his debt isn't completely due to eating too much. As for the money Black Water owes, it's an ancient debt - 40% is the cost of buying gifts for heaven officials of Upper Court and planting agents there (bribery!), 30% is maintenance fee for his territory and expenses on pet food, the rest 30% is food (for himself).

Talismans are probably the equivalent of the business cards (of heaven officials)... "Hello this is my consecrated talisman" = "hello this is my business card"

You can't get rid of ghostly essence (which XL is tainted with because he spends too much time with HC) simply by brushing your teeth with plain water...you need to use consecrated spell water (which is super bitter and weird).

The weapon forged by a heaven official is called fabao (literally "dharma treasure"); if it's a weapon forged by mortal Daoists and monks, it's called faqi (literally "dharma tool") - only after their ascension can their weapons be called fabao.

In my imagination, Xianle ia the kind of small ancient kingdom that's overall culturally Han, but has peculiar customs...although I feel like what I wrote on Xianle is mostly just peculiar hahahaha [facepalm] [beat myself up]

Not only are the forms, customs, cultures, and politics of countries in this story made-up, the kind of arcane stuff like occult sciences and philosophical values are all made-up. Although I did research but the records I consulted are too difficult to understand, so I just made things up on my own. Please bear with me If you're knowledgable in this sort of thing hahaha.

Puqi refers to water chestnut.

Look up "Blood-Soaked Fire Social" (xue she huo) if you're interested, it exists in real life and is very thrilling. What I wrote is different from the traditional festival, there're some made-up elements to make it more exciting

[poetry-protest-pornography]

Blue Canvas of Youthful Days is lovely and has some fascinating character and cinematic design happening.

The acting is very good -- and the 4 mains are first time actors! -- there is beautiful use of color and visual noise in the store Qin Xiao's family owns, and the close camera work at the studio, contrasted with the clean, dark, almost sterile environment that Qi Lu comes from and then the white, bright, mostly blank room (interesting color pops happening there, gotta get to know him a little better to figure out their significance, but there is the blue kitchen, and the blue pot to match his scarf) he rents out after some light stalking leads him to Qin Xiao's neighborhood.

We already know that Qi Lu is from a wealthy family, that he's mostly neglected by his abusive father, and that he is earnestly kind. But then he immediately does the weirdo rich kid thing and asks Qin Xiao to cook for him, and offers to hire him, which is somehow more comfortable than apologizing??? I love a sunny weirdo for grumpy and responsible character dynamic.

Tan and Liu are already interesting and I'm ready to be obsessed with them. Liu is all big heart and aborted gestures of affection, but he was getting wasted and brooding in that bar when he met Tan -- and speaks sign. And Tan is just... I love him. He seems comfortable in himself and in moving through the world, and is supportive of his family but also a little pouty about Liu bro-zoning him.

Anyway, I adore them already, and I love that we start from knowing they're happy together.

(the Thai version was a surprise, I didn't realize this was another group effort BL, but I'm delighted because China does such good character work, and that they can do uncensored queer stories with this collaboration means we get great stories and no need to do mental gymnastics to get around the "bromance")

[guzhufuren]

Main 4 characters of chinese BL Blue Canvas of Youthful Days

Qi Lu (played by Guo Jiale) is an 18 year old artist and "a painting prodigy" from a wealthy family who was forced to learn painting from young age by his abusive father

Qin Xiao (played by Zhang Xuanyu) is a 20 year old village boy living in the city and a talented painter, who grew up impoverished and is burdened by family responsibilities, also the online artist under pseudonym "Lan" whom Qi Lu has been searching for

Liu Mingyang or Liu laoshi (played by Yao Xinghao) owns an art teaching studio, where Qi Lu and Qin Xiao study, has a dead brother who Tan Yin reminds him of, is 27 years old

Tan Yin (played by Xiao Zizhuo) became a part of Qin Xiao's family after Qin Xiao saved him, now he lives with them, looks after Qin Xiao's grandfather and helps him with their shop, he is hearing impaired, works part time at a bar and is 18

[nemainofthewater]

Best character surnamed: Tan

Come and vote for the best characters with the same surname!*

What does best mean? It's up to you! Whether you love them, are intrigued by their characters, love to hate them, or they're your '2 second blorbos whose personality you made up wholesale', these are all reasons for you to vote for your favs!

*note, the surnames are not exactly the same in all the cases, as often there will be a different character. I am, however, grouping them all together otherwise things got more complicated.

Propaganda is very welcome! If I’ve forgotten anyone, let me know in the notes.

This is part of a larger series of ‘best character with X surname’ polls’. The overview with ongoing polls, winners, and future polls can be found here

[lonelylonelyghost]

Re-watch of The Spirealm. Episode 23

Nature in all its ominous glory

As far as the last images you see before you die, this is pretty good actually

RIP girl

Nice picture btw. I wouldn't want it on my bedroom wall, but if it was hanging somewhere near the entrance door, to scare the guests and myself occasionally - that'd be pretty cool.

"You stand on the bridge to view the scenery,

and people who view the scenery look at you upstairs.

The moon decorated your window,

and you decorated someone else's dream."

Nothing quite like a piece of cryptic poetry to start off your day

I need to see more of the Mistress's dress, it seems to look amazing. I want official full-body posters...

The Sun, the Death, the Noble Jester, The Giant and the Ghost

A gang

Jawline.

shut up.

He's so worried for his Lingling...

"You should let me leave this world. Me appearing in the game is equivalent to cheating. If you get caught you'll be punished severely."

"As long as you're here with me, I'm not afraid of any punishment!"

The ride or die!...

"I'm offline now. I'll die if I go out. I'm content to just be here with you. I played this game because I was lonely. But I met you. And now I'm not lonely anymore..."

ಥ_ಥ

The red string!!!

I noticed that the show treats Xiong Qi' and Xiao Ke's story is in some way similar to Nanzhu' and Qiushi's, in that they don't state clearly about the nature of their relationship, but make it as intense as possible. Ready to do anything for each other, literally tied together with a red string of fate, so who cares about the labels? They are each other's person, and that's enough. This is by far my favourite kind of m/f dynamic. GIMME MORE

Not to ruin the moment, but I think this is the only instance when the drama can legitimately show on screen Nanzhu getting on top of Qiushi

The RAGE!

Nice

"We both are women. I know how you feel. Many women have been hurt by love. We are easy to be bullied and mentally controlled. I've acted many eye-candy roles. None of these characters are divorced. I envy you. You're going the wrong way, but you've been looking for a way out."

"Is improper behavior also worth to be envied?"

"Of course! One day, you'll reach your solution. The Twelve Sufferings you drew is dreary. I don't like it. I like this one the best. Art and insights don't matter at all. What really matters is your choice."

Tan Zaozao is terrified but still reaches out to the Mistress with kindness. Have I told already that I love her?

The portrait is beautiful

(It looks a bit like it was drawn by Shen Yi)

And she's starting her life anew 🥲

"See you in the next Door"

😭😭😭😭

"Thank you." "And how exactly are you going to thank me?"

"Tell me, what do you want me to do?" "...I haven't decided yet."

"Have a rest. You can think it over once you've recovered."

Well, Qiushi walked right into that one, didn't he

"Don't leave. Stay with me a little longer." "Alright."

COME ON!

"Tan Zaozao, do you think that I'm too weak now to teach you a lesson?"

"Lingling-ge, calm Ruan-ge down, he wants to beat me!"

"What tool do you want to use? The fruit knife?"

You asked the wrong person to defend your honor, Zaozao! ehehe

OK, alright, ok, so....

[unholy screeching]

First of all, I officially will be reminded of THIS moment every time the lychees are mentioned in ANY context for the rest of my life.

Second of all, WHAT. WAS. THAT. Like seriously. How was that filmed? How was that supposed to have any heterosexual explanation? Just bros being dudes, hand-feeding each other fruits sensually? Like, be for real.

And third of all, Qiushi's face???????? Oh, he knows what he's doing and what kind of effect he has on Nanzhu, the amount of power he wields over him. And he uses this power to just take care of him!...

This one (and the Bite Scene TM) are the most homoerotic moments in the history of forever.

I rest my case.

what the FUCK

"Cheng Yixie? How did you know we were here?"

"I could smell you."

I...😳I did NOT remember this bit of the dialogue...

[nic-liveblogs]

ok im gonna ramble a bit more on chinese because like its fun now im proud of my heritage!!!!!

anyway if you wanna write like mk or any other character introducing themselves you dont need to say like "my name is qi xiaotian" you could just say "my name is xiaotian" cuz like idk "qi" is his surname its kinda weird to introduce yourself casually with your surname right just use your first name

again, cultural differences this is how it goes in my country no clue how it works in like china or something but id assume its the same?? i also havent watched the chinese version of the show so idk how he says his name bruh 💀 also this mightve been obvious already but like i saw someone make this mistake (?) so yeah

ALSO QI IS HIS SURNAME!! like usually your chinese surname and english surname match up! i have an english and chinese name :)

so his name would be mk qi? or qi mk?? whatever mk stands for lol.. monktavius kidsworth

so like his full name would be "mk qi xiaotian" because usually your chinese name goes to the back or in some cases it could also be like "qi xiaotian mk" (which sounds better) idk this is so interesting to me guys..

i know some chinese surnames have english versions like

chen -> tan

hong -> ang

but i dont think qi is one of those ive never encountered someone with the surname qi?? i dont think its a popular surname so idk but probably not

again keep in mind cultural differences i live in southeast asia and the show takes place in china 😭

i could ramble about chinese in lmk for like days its just nice to know things and pick up on stuff :') like it feels awesome to flex my mother tongue yk!! anyway if yall have questions regarding chinese send them in i will try to answer to the best of my limited ability haha

[quitealotofsodapop]

Me pregunto como interactuaran LMK canon con el au monkey king and the infant XDD seria hilarante que vieran una versión del rey mono tan relajada y seguro de mismo (muestra sus defectos y no los oculta, canon wukong) y que macaco es una madre feroz que hace tapetes con la mirada y que ambos están juntos bjsabd

used DeepL translator this time cus google was acting odd;

"I wonder how LMK canon will interact with au monkey king and the infant XDD it would be hilarious to see such a relaxed and confident version of the monkey king (he shows his flaws and doesn't hide them, canon wukong) and that macaque is a fierce mother who makes mats with her eyes and that the two are together bjsabd."

I have considered scenarios where the Canon LMK characters interact with their Au counterparts XD

Like a glitch in the Wukongverse leads to the canon and the au verses colliding.

Canon & Au MK, at the same time: "Wow! Another me! Why are you in monkey/human form tho? Huh!? I've always been like this! Wait..." Au!MK: "Wait... you're not like a default monkey? That must be weird for mom and dad." Canon!MK: "WHOM???" *cue both MKs screaming. Canon and Au shadowpeach approach one another* Canon!SWK, pokes Au!Wukong's stomach: "Whoa, this version of me has really let himself go..." Au!SWK, annoyed: "And look, this me is still an emotionally immature slob." *grabs canon!Wukong's hand* "You try being half-mortal for twenty years!" *cue a multi-SWK fight. The Macaques watch on* Canon!Macaque, suspiciously: "What about you? How come you look so... content?" Au!Macaque: "Lets just say... I learned to forgive someone." Canon!Macaque: "Ugh. Don't tell me..." Au!Macaque: "I know, I know..."

Neither versions of the characters want to reveal information that could affect the others timelines/relationships too badly, but there's still slip ups...

Especially when the kids are causing havoc around the different Shadowpeach couples.

*Both shadowpeaches are sitting around on FFM. The different kids are play-fighting* Canon!SWK: "So wait, you guys got turned mortal because of some comet?" Au!SWK: "Yeah, its a long story, and we don't wanna give away too much that could like derail your universe." Canon!Macaque: "I think we can handle some interdimensional mayhem." Au!Macaque: "Ok, so it started-" *notices the kids playing a bit too roughly. Mom-voice activates* "QI XIAOTIAN AND LONG XIAOJIAO! You stop fighting like animals this instant!" Au!MK & Mei: "Sorry Bama!!" "Yeah! Sorry!" Canon! MK & Mei: "Uh, yeah sorry!" "Our bad!" Au!Macaque, voice back to normal: "I swear even if we were still immortal, they'd make us age..." Au!SWK: "True that." Canon SWK & Macaque: 0_0 X_0 Canon!Macaque: "Care explaining to me, what the fuck?" Au! SWK & Macaque: "Language!"

Canon Shadowpeach are def a little uncomfortable around, but envious of the Au married couple. Au Wukong and Macaque are very affectionate and have been reconciled for some time. Combined with an odd number of baby Mystic Monkeys around the alternate household, and the canon monkeys have a lot of questions.

Canon!Macaque, helping clean up dinner: "Soooo... when you meant forgive, you and your Wukong sorta...?" Au!Macaque, washing dishes: "Yeah. *Stuff* happened." Canon!Macaque: "In this context; *stuff* meaning your MK?" Au!Macaque: "Yep." Canon!Macaque: "Dang. One more question." Au!Macaque: "Go ahead." Canon!Macaque: "In making your MK, did you and Wukong ba-" Au!Macaque, face bright red: "Not where the kids can hear!! The twins have our ears!" Canon!Macaque, chuckling: "Ok then. I'll take that as a yes." Au!Macaque, still a little flustered: "It involved the comet. Thats all I'm gonna say." Canon!Macaque: "...what??"

Overall everyone is left very confused but with a fresh perspective on things.

Canon Pigsy is jealous that his au counterpart has more employees other than MK (au Wukong and Nezha). Both Tangs are just infodumping with eachother, while the Sandys are drinking tea.

The ones with the biggest shocks I imagine would be the canon kids tho, especially Nezha.

Canon!Nezha: "You look... rougher than me." Au!Nezha, unsurprised: "I imagine that you're still guarding the Map?" Canon!Nezha: "Ehh... not anymore. Wukong stole it." Au!Nezha: "Hmph. And they still let you stay in the Celestial Realm?" Canon!Nezha: "Yes? Why wouldn't they?" Au!Nezha, getting more quiet: "They didn't show me such generosity twenty years ago."

Both Nezhas end up chilling for a while. Canon Nezha is left uneasy after the encounter.

[web-novel-polls]

Five Love Languages of Danmei: Pining Bracket

Mingqian from Liu Yao: the Revitalization of Fuyao Sect

Characters: Yan Zhengming and Cheng Qian

Liu Yao Carrd Link

Submission:

"A hundred years, Cheng Qian! A mortal's lifetime would've passed just like that"

Poor single mother Yan Zhengming keeping the family alive because SOMEONE couldn't stay alive... The way Han Tan was able to recognize Cheng Qian because YZM kept drawing portraits of him... The fucking. slappy ring. Anyw yeah Yan Zhengming be pinin'

Xiyuan from Qi Ye/Lord Seventh

Characters: Jing Beiyuan and Wu Xi

Submission:

- Wu Xi waited for a whole year for Jing Beiyuan to return to the capital, and each day of it waited at a pavilion outside the city, just in case he happened to return that very day. Each day. For 365 days.

- When he returned, Wu Xi gave Jing Beiyuan a jade ring, which in tradition meant that Jing Beiyuan would be betrothed to him. This was when they were both teenagers

- Does Wu Xi tell Jing Beiyuan this? No. He simply gives a token of his love & affection and doesn't dare tell him yet, just pines

- Ends up in his 20s when he finally, actually tells him the meaning of the ring and confesses

Submission 2:

Additional Xiyuan propaganda: If we're counting Wu Xi's life as the Soulhook Envoy, then there's also the "several endless centuries" where he watched Jing Qi as he did his duties while Jing Qi never looked back at him, plus another 63 years that Jing Qi spent by that rock.

Additional Propaganda

#xiyuan have over 300 years (7 lifetimes) of pining (via @/dannysbian)

Total Computable Years: 305+ years (fanart by @/rinledraws) -

["Anti-Propaganda" that attacks other characters is NOT allowed. Please only give reasons to vote FOR a character/ship.]

[the-monkey-ruler]

Goddess! I Go Westward Journey (2014) 女神！我去西游

Genre: Comedy / Time Travel Country/Region of Production: Mainland China Language: Mandarin Chinese Date: 2014/10/8 Number of seasons: 1 Number of episodes: 6 Type: Reimanging

Summary:

Goddess! I Go to the West is in "Journey to the West". Tang Monk was thrown into the river because he did not help the old turtle in Tongtian River to ask about his life span. The scriptures fell into the river and the most important volume was lost. Due to the butterfly effect caused by the loss of this scroll, in 2909 AD, the earth was on the verge of destruction and mankind was almost wiped out. Humanity selected four brave humans to travel through the time tunnel to the Journey to the West. Thus, their adventure officially begins. So, how will the four of them help Monk Tang go to the West to obtain scriptures, pass the complete scriptures to the Tang Dynasty, and reverse the future...?

The film is a hilarious and nonsensical animation. "Goddess! I'm going to travel to the west! " is an online three-dimensional animated miniseries. This drama uses the world view of "Journey to the West" and the mobile game "Journey to the West" as the animation background. While showing humor, the characters are specially set in the background of the classic Journey to the West, and combined with current hot topics, it blends warmth, fun, and passion, injecting a distinct sense of modernity into Journey to the West, and interpreting a uniquely interesting Journey to the West. Moreover, first-line Youku artists such as Wang Cong, Tan Xiangjun, Xiao Can, Qi Lanyin, and Jiang Tianyou have been recently added to the animation works. They have transformed into cute animated characters - the "Youku Goddesses" will compete with Tang Monk, Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing. The monks and others performed different sparks, and the goddesses will also join the team of Buddhist scriptures from the West to help Monk Tang and his disciples survive many disasters, and finally reach the West to obtain the scriptures.

Source: https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%A5%B3%E7%A5%9E%EF%BC%81%E6%88%91%E5%8E%BB%E8%A5%BF%E6%B8%B8/15510084#reference-[1]-15428627-wrap

Link: N/A

[qiqi-media]

Introducing Qi Qi- main character of Dimension Descendants

It’s time to Introduce Qi Qi, the main character of  Dimension Descendants. For starters a lot of her character background will be left up to mystery for now because it spoils the story if too much is revealed. Everything about her at the moment is unknown except for that she’s not of their world and has to the follows the orders of other people to go home. She’s very experienced in her field of work with many different interests. I will say her character is going to be what Mal was supposed to be a little, she’s not going to be like “Oh I choose good” while continuing to do a bunch of bad things. She’s straight forward with the fact that “hey I don’t think I’m a good person and I don’t care too much to change”. She will grow throughout the series, and have to face her actions, she’ll win at times and she’ll fail at times. This is a slow burn that will end up with her and Ben in love. 

Here’s some fan art of her Cotillion look essentially. Honestly not 100% happy with them because the last time I actually drew something was basically a year ago so I’m all out of practice and went based off of memory. 

Qi Qi and Ben at Cotillion (She and Mal are the main girls at Cotillion Uma will not be attending) These are two variations of the dress I designed in their couple drawing 

Up close Versions 1: Ignore her actual appearance she’s supposed to be darker just a nice tan color and her hair is supposed to be fluffier so when she looks different in future art that’s why. She’s wearing a crown given to her by Ben with a light blue cape that is bedazzled. Her dress is made up of a sequin top and a fuller ball gown skirt at the bottom that is gathered in by the waist.

Version 2 Basically in this one she’s not wearing the crown and instead of a tie around the neck cape, it goes over her head. The skirt is also not as thick, it’s a sheer flowy fabric. 

These are the first few outfits that she wears in the first 3 chapters. 

The light pink dress is something she wears to blend in at first because the 2nd outfit is what she shows up in. It was the outfit she wore in Ancient Rome while she was in battle. 

[the-archlich]

Hello since I saw you were rating wish list for DW hope its oke for me to share mine and ask for your thoughts thanks a lot and feel free to ask me my reasoning for them.

Wei: Cao Hong, Cao Zhen (two very important commanders for cao cao), Zhang Xiu (another top cao commander would also help flesh out Jia xu as they were very close historically), Zhong Yao (Zhong Huis dad a very early supporter of cao cao eventually became a top minister extremely interesting guy)

For Wu:

Zhuge Jin, Zhuge Ke ( I don’t think I need to justify it lol), He Qi (very important and skilled general who really helped Sun Quan hold his southern territories also his dw blast design makes him look like wu’s version of Zhang He which i like), Zhang Zhao (was pretty much Sun Quans father figure and closest minister)

Shu (my favorite):

Honestly many, I would even consider removing some of the fictional characters because out of those the only one i like and feel contributes anything to the story is Guan Suo. Anyways

Liao Hua (do I even need to say why lol), Wang Ping (Top general was able to overcome a learning disability and rise to the top), Fei Yi (would really help add an interesting dynamic to Jiang Wei), Zhang Yi or Ma Zhong (either would help fill out with another disciplined warrior) maybe Zhuge Zhan but he comes in quite late.

My least favorite sorry Jin:

Another Sima (so many talented Sima’s lol) my personal choice would be Sima Yi’s brother, Sima Fu (very important minister I think he became imperial chancellor but more loyal to Wei than jin could provide some nice tension with his relatives)

Yang Hu (very important Jin figure although most of his achievements came late in the period, really this is my major beef with Jin) or maybe Hu Lie for similar reasons.

Other:

One of the Yuan Brothers either Shang or Tan would add a nice bit of drama and excitement to Cao Cao’s northern conquest

Liu Biao (super important figure of the period involved with nearly every important faction and character)

Han Sui (really interesting warlord and had a long life) if they decide to go the novel route a one handed moveset would be interesting as well

One of the bandit factions leaders; i like what total war did with the bandit Zhang yan and the bandit queen. It be cool if koei could try something similar good suggestions imo would be Zhang Yan, Yang Feng, or Zang Ba

Cao Hong was very important and might be a good foil for some of the established members of the family, presenting a new dimension to their interactions. Cao Zhen is also hugely important and could be a great foil for Cao Pi and Cao Xiu; showing how important he was also makes it easier for people to understand why his son was given so much authority after Cao Rui's death. Zhong Yao is one of the most important people of the era and while the Wei faction is pretty heavy with tacticians at this point, there's always room for someone of his accomplishments. Zhang Xiu is certainly one of the people I'd love to see. Great for Jia Xu as a character and he can add some muscle to some battles that are otherwise pretty lacking in significant enemies.

Zhuge Jin and Zhuge Ke don't need to be justified, you're absolutely right. That's all pretty obvious. He Qi is pretty significant (arguably one of the most significant people of the era since his efforts to settle the Han population in southern China and bring the region under Han control had long-lasting effects) and pretty unique. I wouldn't be upset about that. Zhang Zhao also goes without saying. He has every quality I'd look for in a new character; long career, close personal relationships to characters who need them, many historical accomplishments, unique personality, etc.

Liao Hua is a pretty common choice. He has longevity on his side (always good but especially for that faction since so many major people all died around the same time) and enough accomplishments to his credit to justify it. Yi is, of course, one of my favorites. It'd be great to have him to represent the leadership between Zhuge Liang and Jiang Wei and their different styles, and his assassination is a huge narrative beat that can really set up Shu's final act. Wang Ping and Ma Zhong were commanders whose accomplishments alone justify their inclusion, in addition to their unique personality traits and history. Zhuge Zhan has potential to be a very intersting character, although I doubt they'd have the guts to go all out with it and have him be part of the court's corruption. Zhang Yi (Junsi) would be an unexpected choice but not totally useless. For Zhang Yi (Bogong), I'd say the same things I said about Liao Hua. And for Zhang Yi (Boqi; often called Zhang Ni), the same as Wang Ping and Ma Zhong.

There are alot of Sima family members who would be decend additions. I think Sima Fu is one of the best, since he was perhaps the most important and had such a lengthy career; he could also really bring out some aspects of his relatives we don't currently see. I think Yang Hu is highly overrated; Hu Lie is pretty great though. He and his brother Hu Fen, along with their father Hu Zun, are all good choices IMO.

The Yuan family could always use a bit more meat to it; I think which members are most useful to have depends on how you choose to expand their tale. I do think Yuan Tan is particularly important, though, given his achievements under his father.

Liu Biao needs no justification. Han Sui is an interesting choice but one that I like.

I can see the merit in including someone to represent one of the major bandit factions of the time, though I'm not sure exactly who I'd cuse. Of the ones you listed, probably Zang Ba since he has much more going on than the others.

[rosethornewrites]

Operation Barking Dog, ch. 6

Relationships: Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī/Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, Jīn Líng | Jīn Rúlán & Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, Fairy & Mò Xuányǔ, Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn & Wēn Níng | Wēn Qiónglín, Lán Yuàn | Lán Sīzhuī & Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, Lán Yuàn | Lán Sīzhuī & Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī

Characters: Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī, Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, Little Apple, Fairy, Jīn Líng | Jīn Rúlán, Lán Yuàn | Lán Sīzhuī, Wēn Níng | Wēn Qiónglín, Original Characters

Additional Tags: Family, Mutual Pining, Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn Has a Fear of Dogs, Repaying Debt, Regret, Phobias, Trauma, Memories, Tree Climbing, There Was Only One Bed, Travel, Jiāng Chéng | Jiāng Wǎnyín in Seclusion, Cynophobia, POV Third Person, POV Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī

Summary: In a world where Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji didn’t have drunk sex and there was no confession in the temple, the pining continues as they travel across Jianghu post-canon. In which Wei Wuxian learns Mo Xuanyu adored Xianzi (Fairy) and decides to honor him by again attempting the impossible: curing his cynophobia. Largely novel and donghua canon. Very loosely based on an @angstymdzsthoughts post.

Notes: See end for chapter notes.

AO3 link

--------

The next morning was rainy and damp, the kind that set the scars on his back aflame, but he still rose at mao shi and performed his morning ablutions, then meditated until he was certain the Hu family had risen. Meditation allowed him to channel his qi through his back to ease the pain, so the wait was no bother. 

Breakfast was millet congee, much more affordable to the common people than rice, which was what was served at Yunshen Buzhichu. The family had a spread of ingredients to top the congee, some of which had also formed part of the feast the night before. 

Ultimately, Lan Wangji had egg, wood ear mushroom, and yam in his, and prepared a bowl with dried pork, turmeric, ginger, garlic, and yam for Wei Ying, knowing he would enjoy the spices. After a moment of hesitation he added egg and mushroom, too—Wei Ying was still far too lean, his body still recovering from the starvation Mo Xuanyu had faced, and extra food would not be remiss. 

After breakfast, Hu-furen mentioned rumors of something amiss around one of the wells in a nearby town, and how the community was concerned about access to water once winter arrived, and he assured them he and Wei Ying would look into it. 

When he returned to the shed, Wei Ying was sprawled in the space he had vacated, as though chasing the warmth he’d left behind, his sleeping robe slipping off one shoulder, revealing a lightly-tanned expanse of flesh that wasn’t as emaciated as it had been upon his return, though his shoulder blades still jutted from his back in a way that made Lan Wangji want to start feeding him and never stop. He shook himself from his reverie, chiding himself for taking advantage and staring, and gently roused his zhiji. 

Wei Ying grumbled a bit upon being woken, but fell to eating almost immediately and perked up quite a bit afterward, which justified Lan Wangji’s decision of extra food nicely. He did not straighten his robe until after he finished, and Lan Wangji carefully avoided looking at the way it slid down his arm, revealing a peek of dark nipple. With his sleep-mussed hair he looked tantalizingly indecent. 

He took the empty bowl back to Hu-furen and thanked her for the meal, leaving Wei Ying to perform his morning hygiene—he meant the term loosely, as he often did little more than wipe off his face and run a brush through his hair. It made him long to take care of him, but he refrained from crossing that boundary. 

When Lan Wangji returned to a more appropriately dressed Wei Ying with slightly less disheveled hair, he told him of the concern about the well, and Wei Ying stretched languidly and headed out the door. 

A-Ning was waiting near the door, the puppy—Xiao Ta, Lan Wangji reminded himself—in her arms bundled in some cloth scraps and sucking milk from a rag. 

“If you see her every day you can get used to her faster,” the girl told Wei Ying. “Maybe tomorrow you can see the bigger puppies?”

Wei Ying pulled a face, but reached forward to touch the puppy’s head in a sort of half-pet, then clearly forced himself to pet her more firmly. The puppy wriggled and he flinched back. 

A-Ning frowned a little at his reaction, glancing at Lan Wangji and then Wei Ying. 

“Why are you so scared of dogs, Shushu?”

From her tone, she couldn’t imagine being afraid of them, having grown up around the family’s dog. 

Wei Ying managed something like a smile, before telling her a more child-appropriate version of his parents’ deaths and living on the streets for several years, with mean dogs who chased and bit him. 

A-Ning listened with wide eyes, looking down at the puppy in her arms as though trying to imagine her doing something like that. 

“But my sweet shizhi has a spiritual dog, and it’d be easier to be around him if I didn’t want to run at the sight of her,” Wei Ying finished. 

The child digested that for a bit, clearly thinking about the problem. 

“Dogs can be mean like that?”

“When they’re strays and don’t have enough food,” Wei Ying told her with a nod. “Like, in my head, I know a lot of dogs aren’t like that, but… when I see or hear one I can’t remember that.”

A-Ning considered that for a bit. 

“Like how when Mama sees a mouse she gets really scared and yells?”

Wei Ying chuckled at the comparison, then made himself reach out to touch the puppy again. 

“A little like that.”

The puppy let out a little yawn, causing Wei Ying to flinch back slightly, but the yawn simply revealed the lack of teeth, and that seemed to embolden him, and he reached forward again to touch her floppy little ears. 

Lan Wangji was pleased with the progress he had made thus far, and hoped Wei Ying would reach his intended goal, at least lessening his fear of dogs so it would disrupt his life less. 

“I hope you get used to Xiao Ta,” A-Ning said. “And then we can try the bigger puppies, and maybe even Tuzi. She’s a good dog.”

She held up the puppy a little closer, and Wei Ying made himself take her, his hands trembling just slightly. Where she fit in the palm of Lan Wangji’s hand, she took both of Wei Ying’s, which were smaller in his new body than his old, though they were always smaller than his own. He tried not to make comparisons, happy to have Wei Ying back in any form—Wei Ying was Wei Ying. 

Impressively, Wei Ying managed to hold Xiao Ta for over a minute, enduring her licking at his fingers, before his feet began to shuffle; Lan Wangji judged he was nearing a breaking point, and gently removed the puppy from his hands, transferring her back to A-Ning, who looked pleased. 

“That was longer than yesterday, Shushu!” she crowed happily.

She patted his arm as though in praise, then skipped off, leaving them to their day. 

Lan Wangji delayed their leaving for a few moments to allow Wei Ying time to recover from his fear by asking him whether he preferred to fly or walk—the town was seven li or so away, and walking would take time, but the drizzle would make flying unpleasant. 

Ultimately, he wasn’t surprised when Wei Ying decided Xiao Pingguo would enjoy a change in scenery. The cranky donkey almost certainly would not, but it was a way for him to save face, as his new body still tired easily despite their travels and the work he was doing to build it up, the process slower than Wei Ying liked because of the abuse Mo Xuanyu had suffered. 

He had once asked Wei Ying how he’d been able to function upon waking up in such an emaciated body, and had received a wry chuckle and a vague comment about having gotten used to going without in his last life, and the implications had struck him like a blow, how he had suffered. Lan Wangji made it his personal mission to ensure he never again had to endure such conditions ever since, carrying food with him and handing it to Wei Ying at intervals during travel, and making sure his favorites were on the table during dinner at inns. 

For now, until his stamina was better and his jindan more developed, he could ride the cranky donkey or share Lan Wangji’s sword. 

And so they lured Xiao Pingguo out into the drizzle with apples, and Lan Wangji took the lead, removing umbrellas from his qiankun pouch so they wouldn’t be soaked by the time they arrived at the town. He was all too happy to listen as Wei Ying chattered about their surroundings and ideas he had for talismans, letting his voice wash over him instead of the rain. 

Arriving in town necessitated stabling Xiao Pingguo for the duration of their visit, and Lan Wangji allowed Wei Ying to do the talking and simply paid. The market, though small, was bustling, and he watched as Wei Ying charmed the vendors with conversation while gathering information. 

He quietly bought items he saw Wei Ying’s gaze linger on when he flitted to the next stall, hiding them in his qiankun pouch where they joined an embarrassingly large number of trinkets that he hadn’t found the courage to give him yet. 

Lan Wangji gave him tanghulu from one stall, pleased when his face lit up in delight as he munched on the treat. Shortly, they took tea at an inn—or wine, in Wei Ying’s case—and a small repast of local tea cakes. 

Wei Ying gathered information on the well with ease, one on the outskirts of town, not heavily used but still a necessity for the people nearby. Unfortunately, not much of the information was terribly useful, and included rumors of a drowned woman, an angry local god, a curse, and even the idea that the well itself had cultivated into a guai, which would certainly be something to see given that it had never been living at all. Wei Ying vocally hoped it wasn’t something like the Heavenly Maiden of Dafan Shan, and Lan Wangji rather agreed. 

The answer, when they finally made it to the well, was completely different and had nothing to do with cultivation at all. Instead, a mundane kitten, very young, had fallen partway down the well, and had been clinging to a ledge for an unknown period of time, which was what had caused the echoing scratching and crying sounds. Regardless, it hadn’t cultivated into a yao, nor died and become a guai.

With a little creativity, they were able to retrieve it, though it was certainly worse for wear, filthy and emaciated and hungry. Lan Wangji carefully used his qi to heal the poor creature’s scrapes and torn up paws, his ears turning red when Wei Ying teased him, calling him Hanguang-Jun for all creatures, and a sucker for cute animals. 

A careful bath in a basin of warm water and a bowl of warm broth later, it seemed much better off, though they were unable to find anyone to claim it. The bath revealed the kitten was a golden-brown color with darker stripes and golden eyes, though the poor thing was skin and bones. In its condition, there was no telling its age, and it was too weak to take more than a few steps on its own. 

The inn they’d had tea in had been happy to loan the basin and was quite tolerant with it staying in Lan Wangji’s lap as they had lunch, Wei Ying passing it tiny scraps of (unspiced) meat under the table in between eating his own heavily spiced meal. By the end of the meal, the poor thing was sound asleep in his lap, purring occasionally in its sleep. 

Lan Wangji wasn’t familiar with cats, as pets were not permitted in Yunshen Buzhichu, but the kitten’s purr had an odd trilling quality to it, as though the poor creature was so happy it could not help but purr with all its might, a desperate joy borne of the end of the desolation of its ordeal. On occasion, it opened its mouth while purring, letting the sound pour out, as though it could not contain its pleasure. 

He could relate to that sort of happiness, having been given back his zhiji after thirteen years of crushing grief, but it only revealed itself in the tempo of his heartbeat, nothing so audible as a purr. 

“Maybe the Hu family could use a mouser,” Wei Ying wondered idly, interrupting his musing. “Since we can’t find anyone here to claim it, it might have just been a stray.”

The other option, Lan Wangji knew, was the kitten was the sole survivor of a litter someone had culled by dumping the kittens into the well, which certainly wasn’t kind to those who used the water, in addition to the kittens. 

“We will ask,” Lan Wangji decided. 

He knew it was possible the dog, Tuzi, would not tolerate a cat, but perhaps they could give it to Lao Popo, who would almost certainly benefit from having an animal companion to catch the mice her late husband had worried about. 

Regardless, it seemed the kitten would return to the Hu farm with them, which would at least enable them to help it regain its health. 

By the time lunch was finished, the drizzle had cleared up and the entire town knew the true cause of the apparent haunting of the well, the rule against gossip not applying outside of Gusu. Several vendors who had told them outlandish theories looked embarrassed as they passed, and a few others pressed goods on them in thanks for solving the mystery.

“These will be a nice gift for the Hu family,” Wei Ying said quietly after accepting them and stowing them.  

Lan Wangji approved of this plan—he knew the family was too proud to take payment, and likely felt honored they were staying on their farm, but they were extra mouths to feed. These goods would likely be welcome, and it was only logical for them to give them to Hu-furen, who cooked their meals. 

The kitten rode Xiao Pingguo with Wei Ying, snuggled asleep in the crook of his arm. It slept most of the way and then meowed pitifully for food. They fed it some broth they had packed from the restaurant for it before continuing on, the kitten falling deeply asleep again. 

Hu-furen was preparing an herb garden for winter in front of the cottage when they returned and was bemused by the tale of the kitten mistaken for a haunting, but agreed it could stay, even sexing it to discover it was male. She asked them to choose a name for him, since they chose one for Xiao Ta. 

“Names are important,” she insisted. 

Wei Ying turned to him, as though to indicate it was his turn.

“I named Xiao Pingguo, too. You should name this one, Lan Zhan.”

Lan Wangji considered the kitten, still asleep in Wei Ying’s arms. Hopefully the cat would grow to protect the farm’s crops from vermin. The creature had been strong enough to survive its ordeal in the well, which had lasted long enough for Hu-furen to hear of it. He deserved an auspicious name, and with his stripes and the symbolism, he could think of nothing more apt than the tiger.

“Xiao Hu,” he said after a moment.

Hu-furen laughed and approved of the name. 

“We will need to introduce him to Tuzi,” she said. “This way they both know the other belongs here.”

“What if she attacks?” Wei Ying asked, his voice right in a way that told Lan Wangji he was remembering being attacked himself. 

Hu-furen patted his arm comfortingly.

“Tuzi is a good dog. She will know Xiao Hu is meant to be here because we introduce them, and she will not harm him. The poor thing is so skinny, she won’t see him as a threat.”

“We will handle Xiao Hu’s recovery from his ordeal,” Lan Wangji told her. 

Wei Ying pulled the townspeople’s gifts from the qiankun pouch in Xiao Pingguo’s saddle bag, and Hu-furen was delighted, promising the food would not go to waste. 

A-Ning skipped up to them as they were returning Xiao Pingguo to the family’s small stable, both Xiao Ta and the talisman-warmed water bottle tied to her chest with a bolt of rough-spun cloth. 

For once, Wei Ying didn’t seem bothered by the puppy, instead showing her Xiao Hu and telling her of how his crying was mistaken for a resentful creature by the townspeople. She listened with wide eyes, petting the kitten when Wei Ying held him out slightly so she could. 

“Your niang said he’s staying. Lan Zhan named him Xiao Hu.”

The girl let out an excited squeal, waking the kitten and puppy. The former stretched languidly, while the latter yawned widely. 

She asked shyly if they could switch, her eyes glued to the kitten, and Wei Ying hesitated only for a moment before agreeing. 

The process of untying the cloth holding Xiao Ta to her body required Lan Wangji’s help, and when Wei Ying passed the kitten to her, he gave him the puppy and heated water bottle to hold. 

Xiao Ta was smaller than Xiao Hu, and fatter, having been well cared for by A-Ning. She fussed over the kitten and examined his healed paws, giggling as he purred with a strength that belied his poor condition, kneading the air in pleasure.  

Wei Ying held Xiao Ta awkwardly but with care, pulling the water bottle closer to his body when she started to wriggle so she wouldn’t fall. Her eyes were still closed, and when Wei Ying commented on it, A-Ning told him she likely wouldn’t open them for some time. 

“Baba said puppies are born blind and deaf,” she said, her voice distracted.

Lan Wangji could see Wei Ying considering that and watched as his zhiji tucked the puppy more securely against him when she started to whimper, petting her as though to reassure her that she was safe. His fear was still visible in the slight tremble of his fingers, but his compassion shone in his actions, and Lan Wangji loved him all the more for it. 

Xiao Hu seemed to enjoy the affection A-Ning gave him, wriggling on his back in her arms to beg for more pets. Eventually Hu-furen called from the cottage for her, and they traded their charges back and she headed off to help her mother, Xiao Ta and the water bottle tightly secured to her again. 

The kitten somehow wound up in Lan Wangji’s arms, and it wriggled and demanded more petting with a marked sort of intensity, eventually subsiding into a drooling, purring ball of bliss. 

Wei Ying was watching, a strange wistfulness in his smile, when Lan Wangji looked up, the expression one he couldn’t identify before it passed into an unbearable sort of fondness that made him feel seen in a way he only felt with his zhiji, an attention that made his ears heat. 

Lan Wangji felt pinned by his gaze. His eyes, once the ever-smiling ruifeng shape in his old body, were now the more common danfeng, but with Wei Ying’s soul shining through them they still seemed ever-smiling. Different eyes, same gaze. Different lips, same smile. Wei Ying was always Wei Ying.

“You’ve always been so good with animals, Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying said after a moment, moving closer to pet Xiao Hu, though his eyes were on him. “They can sense how good you are, know they’re safe with you.”

Lan Wangji could feel a sort of tension between them, a rising anticipation that felt fragile and precious, like the gentle flap of butterfly wings.

Before he could decide on a course of action, Wei Ying stepped back and tugged his sleeve, leading him from the stable out into the chilly twilight, chattering on about Xiao Hu needing a good meal. 

A moment had been missed, he knew, an important one, though he knew not what it meant. He let Wei Ying lead him toward the cottage without comment, willing to follow him however long he wanted Lan Wangji’s company.

--------

I’m officially unemployed, by choice. Move is scheduled for later this month. I’m burnt out on all possible levels and sleeping a lot. Not sure what my writing time will look like from now on, as my life is undergoing significant changes. 

Xiao Hu is intended to be a Li Hua cat, which has been domesticated for over 5000 years, meaning perhaps they were some of the first cats domesticated historically. Friendly and excellent ratters, and a natural breed believed to be descended from the Chinese mountain cat. 

One of my new kittens purrs like described. She’ll open her mouth and it’s amazing and not a sound I can even begin to describe. My other kitten always wants me to pet him until he’s a melted puddle of drooling fire. And I mean, rough petting, his whole body including the belly. So Xiao Hu has combination of their traits. 

I read a post not long ago on eye shape in Chinese culture and what different shapes are called. Danfeng are phoenix eyes, long and narrow. Ruifeng is a less common variation of danfeng, and happens to be the shape of Xiao Zhan’s eyes. Highly recommend looking into this discourse. 

baba = dad

furen = madam

guai = resentful non-human dead creature that cultivated into a monster 

jindan = golden core

mao shi = the 2 hour period between 5 and 7am

niang = mom

shizhi = martial nephew

Shushu = uncle, but also a general word for an older man (I waffled on what she would call him at first)

tanghulu = candied haw berries on a stick, sometimes stuffed with red bean paste before they’re coated in sugar

Xiao Hu = Little Tiger (虎, which is different from the surname Hu 胡 in both character and tone)

Xiao Pingguo = Little Apple

Xiao Ta = Little Otter

Yunshen Buzhichu = Cloud Recesses

zhiji = one who knows you best in your life 

yao = resentful non-human living creature that cultivated into a monster

[kzmfizz]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAN JIANCI! 🎂

[241005]

Hello Saturday! 👋

Welcome weekend. 😁

Fangirl mood. ☺️

Today is my favourite Tan Jianci birthday! 👏🥳🎉🎂

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAN JIANCI! 🎂 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I hope you will always success and shine. Stay healthy and happy! 🥰

Letter from Tan Jianci Studio:

Birthdays come quietly, and another year has passed in a flash.🎐

The evening breeze blows along the Qinhuai River, the sycamore trees sway in the old streets and alleys, and the vast autumn atmosphere of Jinling seems to make this year's birthday more charming than before. And it's not just today that is brilliant, but every time we meet in the past 365 days.

"See you once more" is your keyword this year, but it's more than that:

"One more" stage, one more screen. The seeds planted in unknown corners finally bloomed on sunny days, the melody of rap sounded on New Year's Eve, and the song "To the Clouds" in the Spring Festival Gala finally saw the moon; after 16 years, you starred in the movie "You Who I Lost" again. Fortunately, like Bai Xiaoyu, no matter how time passes, you have never lost your most precious self.

"Meet" each other, in the role, in the work. When you meet everyone again as Xiangliu, you smile and comfort the audience who are immersed in the play: To some extent, Xiangliu has also been with everyone for one more year. And in this year, actor Tan Jianci has never stopped his steps. Yuan Mo, who stepped on the tail of summer, brought growth with both laughter and tears. Shen Yi, Tang Qi, Li Yifei, who occasionally appeared, are also on their way to meet.

"One" song, a few stories, a few years. The identity of a singer has never been the two ends of the scale for you, but the sail that first raised your dream. Sing the characters you have played into the song, tell the stories in the music to everyone, sing in the city where you have struggled, and treasure the sweat and laughter accumulated in countless pasts with memories. On and off the stage, you are all.

"Time" blooms not only surprises, but also hopes. "As long as you are willing to test me, I can do it to your satisfaction." There are often opportunities for testing, but the confidence to be prepared at any time is not often there. Behind the seemingly easy fighting scenes is the result of repeated training. The so-called "hexagonal warriors" correspond to stricter standards and higher expectations... "Satisfaction" is easy to say, but only those who bear it know how much weight it carries.

"Birth" has come, cheer and enjoy tonight, and blessings accompany you.

"Day" joy, walk with passion, and don't miss every scenery.

"Quick" comfort and satisfaction, the past cultivation has laid the groundwork, and wait for the echo when the wind rises.

"Happy" innocence, the sequence of time changes, and don't forget your original intention in the long road ahead.

May you have the tenacity to take root downwards, and have enough courage to meet the infinite possibilities of upward growth. May you rise with the fermentation of time and have fun in the coming year! Happy birthday 🎂@MIC谭健次JC-T

CR: Tan Jianci Studio official weibo

[yoshyushi]

20240517 New Weekly - Yu Shi who became Batay is "irreplaceable"

【Only Altay knows】 exclusive magazine coverage

Batay is the Kazakh youth who would come riding over in the night, together with the singing voice along with the moonlight and night breeze, slowly but surely walking on the path home

In April's early Spring, 【To the Wonder】 was nominated for the Cannes Series 2024, the main cast and production team hence reunited at Cannes. In his 5th year of being an actor, Yu Shi arrived for the first time at one of the closest place on earth to film artistry.

In a certain night in Cannes, Yu Shi was suddenly inspired, took out his guitar and sang the drama's OST 【Moonlight】 at the bay city's roadside. This scene had moved a passerby, and she filmed it down in tears. Later they found out that the lady who had filmed this down was a Brazilian actress, she had posted this clip on her social media and said “you illuminate my night”.

The creator of 【Moonlight】 Yerboli had initially given this song the name 【Sunrise】 "The sunlight shines upon all things, bringing the power to chase away all the fog". He thought later that it was dangerous to walk in the wild at night in Altay, but if the moonlight is able to illuminate the way back home it wouldn't be a scary thing.

Yu Shi plays the character Bakhtibek ("Batay" in short) 【To the Wonder】, who's the Kazakh youth who would ride his horse in the night, accompanied by the moonlight, night breeze and singing voices, be on his way home slowly yet determined.

The wilderness is the existence of silence, but as long as there's a youth on horseback, the sound of wind will always guide people towards the answer - in a corner of Altay.

"Batay is a completely original character'

"Messila is like a king. He's tall and handsome and has a heart that's gentle and clear, and a pair of hands made for the Arts... the way they strum the strings of the instrument, note by note it makes its way to the most hidden gaps of the corners of the earth, entering into the heart of another youth..."

Before the series broadcasted, Li Juan's crush in the original story-- Kazakh youth Messila-- such a description was often used to describe Batay who was played by Yu Shi. Everyone thought of Messila as Batay's original form. To 【To the Wonder】 director Teng Cong Cong, such a guess could have originated from Yu Shi's "sudden fame" after 【Creation of the Gods: Kingdom of Storms】 (【Creation of the Gods】 hereafter) hit the cinemas.

The reason that caused this misunderstanding could also have been Yu Shi's physical compatibility with Batay and Messila. To this, executive producer Qi Kang agrees wholeheartedly. "Yu Shi has an element of sculpture about him, a very classic aesthetic," like a present-day imagination of masculinity.

Batay in the eyes of Yu Shi has a "non-traditional handsomeness, but very charismatic" Kazakh youth. He carries a "self-portrait" of Batay in his heart -- even though he looks rugged on the outside, but he's "soft and tender" on the inside. There's a "core" deeper in, his heart is especially strong."

This boy who had to step up to herd sheep and take care of his family since young had grown up to be rebellious and grew his hair long, he grew up in a traditional shepherding family, filled with child-like curiosity for "city things". He carries both the legacy of tradition and the yearning to step out of this place towards the city.

His skin rough, tanned, his cheeks freckled, a flush from the altitude and exposure to the winds and sun. To be close to the character, Yu Shi didn't wash his hands in the course of filming "this looks like someone who's been hard at work."

In the broadcasted product, there were many scenes of Yu Shi on horse, there's close relation to horses, including the clips shared online of the daily filming conditions. In 【To the Wonder】, there's numerous scenes of him with horses both on and off camera, because he was also the director for horseback archery in the production crew, in charge of training the horses.

Yu Shi's gift for horseback archery had already been revealed during his time with 【Creation of the Gods】. Kris Philips (T/N: lead actor in CotG) had once mentioned in an interview that the couple of horseback archery coaches in 【Creation of the Gods】 felt that Yu Shi had the talent to become a professional horse trainer. 【To the Wonder】 producer Cai Yue Ting told us that Yu Shi was the youngest in the production team, but his personality was unexpectedly old that led to everyone calling him "Big brother Yu". As Yu Shi made it look like he was so used to it, everyone often forgot that horseback archery without holding the reins of the horse is a very difficult thing. Until 【Creation of the Gods】 was screened, and everyone had watched all the clips of his training did they realize how difficult it had been for him back then.

If one has to ask Yu Shi on his experience training horses, he would tell you a basic principle "horse-riding is not for everyone, because it is another living soul. When it runs together with you, it has its own breath and heartbeat." All the abovementioned had also led Teng Cong Cong to conclude "there's no replacement for Yu Shi."

After the production crew visited Altay twice to source for filming grounds, the persona of Batay had finally become clearer: a descendant of nomadic shepherds who grew up in modern times, he needs to face the collision between nomadic culture and modern civilization, and to make a choice between what's old and new. Therefore, Batay isn't just a love interest of imagination.

When the audience sees the clarity in his eyes through the screen, they will naturally discover that this youth with an old heart had bounded his life onto the back of his horse, running across the fields of Altay, running towards the flow of the story. This is driven by a natural flow untamed by city life, and so its ruggedness is so captivating.

"When you're being and living in it, the lands so vast you can stretch your limbs out, that's when you truly have the freedom to chase (after your desires)" In the filming period in Altay, Yu Shi had been hanging out and interacting with the local shepherding community, spending large amounts of time to learn Kazakh language. When the sunset pours across the lands like flowing gold, the shepherds bring the sheep home, he would go forth and help out.

There's an old granny in Altay who don't speak a word of mandarin. But when Yu Shi and the production team visited her house, she warmly hosted them, sharing her life experiences openly. As they were bidding farewell, the granny poured panner into Yu Shi's pockets "my child, treat this house as yours, come have a cup of tea when you're tired from filming. Granny shall make lots of delicious food for you."

In this moment, the children of Altay -- Batay and Yu Shi shares an overlapping soul.

An actor who seeks breakthroughs

【To the Wonder】 is Yu Shi's first television series. When he received this project he was still a "zero resume" rookie-- the couple of movies under his belt had yet to be screened. This series had become his point of breakthrough.

In the long time of waiting, Yu Shi had no choice and has never considered "ping tang" (T/N: "ping tang", lit. "lying flat" is a social phenomenon in China among the younger generation who gives up on striving and simply go with the flow) He forced himself to work out "working out a little help to complete everything on hand that day". He continued the habits from 【Creation of the Gods】 production, learning how to train horses and horseback archery. In 2023, he participated in the 3rd Equestrian Festival in Guangdong and won the "Best Style Award".

Beyond his acting work, there's many new interesting things in the world that he hasn't come across, these are all things that make Yu Shi happy, where he can learn from scratch.

After Yu Shi and Teng Cong Cong met for the first time in June 2022, this drive in him was described by the latter as "a complex and enamoring spirit", "he really wanted to be a good actor, to prove himself, he needed a point of breakthrough. Such a thing is so fantastic." As a director, this was one of the traits Teng Cong Cong liked in actors.

Yu Shi would often think of Liu Liang Cheng when he was in Altay. This is one of his father's favorite writers and is also author Li Juan's mentor. When Yu Shi read 【To the Wonder】 he had picked it up from his father's bookshelf. "The village and grass fields that were described were all so beautiful, a feeling of paradise, but in reality, life here feels more like a place for city people's escape from reality. The reason why we yearn for this is because the writer's diction is just too good, this is the power in literary arts."

Where did all the strength from Yu Shi come from?

When he received the interview with 《人物 People》, he publicly shared about his harrowing experience:

One afternoon in the past, he canoed and arrived at a no-man island. As he reached the shores the weather changed, wild winds swirled the waters. A huge wave crashed over, knocking Yu Shi on a rock and he almost passed out.

The skies gradually darkened, and he could only wait for passing boats and the rescue team to arrive. He climbed to the top of a boulder, bare footed. As he stood on the tip of the boulder his feet were already blood stained. Just then, fireworks rose from afar, exploding and lighting up the darkness before him.

At that moment, a stunned Yu Shi was left with just one thought 「I would rather suffer, and I wish to live on���

The very first scene that Yu Shi filmed as an actor was the final scene of 【Creation of the Gods】. After going through tribulations leaning over his white horse, using his last strength to charge towards his hometown Xi Qi. In the ending of 【To the Wonder】, Batay's beloved horse Snowshoe was hurt. The injured hose was left with only two possible ends, a "painful death" or "quick death". Batay chose to send Snowshoe away with his own hands.

"To live or die," is such an eternal problem that seem like a question about time in itself. Humans seem to have to make choices over and over again. Life and soul are differentiated through a moment in time, yet it converges as it moves towards the future.

An actor who shares a life with the character has marked an end in front of the cameras, yet bringing a wisp of its soul into the next journey. At least, actor Yu Shi has somewhat figured out his unique experience:

To focus on continuing down the road, do not ever stop.

[aworldforastage]

audio fandom hours: 诟病/Morbid Attachment audiodrama!!! ╰(▔∀▔)╯

Mao'er just released the preview for the new AD adaptation!!!

They are using the same voice actors from the (unfinished/abandoned?) voiced manhua: 袁铭喆/Yuan Mingzhe as Ji Wang and 文森/Wen Sen as Qi Boyan

As a fan of these voice actors, I was squealing with joy when I saw the news. But even though I like their voices so much, I would hesitate to call their collaborations my favorites. I didn't like the 诟病/Morbid Attachment voiced manhua that much. It isn't optimized for the audio medium, so the dialogue and pacing felt choppy and uneven when heard out loud. Yuan Mingzhe's voice is also quite deep (this is Xiao Chiye, for heaven's sake!), which means Wen Sen sometimes go very deep voicing the gong, and I just don't think his delivery and control are at their best in those ranges. Yuan Mingzhe has gotten a lot of experience voicing softer shou characters since then, but Ji Wang's character is an Alpha and shouldn't sound soft, so I do wonder how it'll get handled this time.

And, I know it wouldn't be possible for 诟病 of all projects, but I wish they will switch the gong-shou roles in the future. Wen-laoshi has only taken a few shou roles, but his voice is so versatile. There are so many possibilities! And please take a break from the "angsty reconciliation" genre! My frail weak heart is still waiting for a full-length 小甜饼/sugar pie AD from them someday.

(Other projects starring by Wen Sen/Yuan Mingzhe: 诟病/Morbid Attachment voiced manhua, After Dawn/黎明之后 AD, Tan Lian AD. All angsty reconciliation stories @_@)