#doesn’t have to take anything away from wwx’s suffering and sacrifice

[thatswhatsushesaid]

i think the thing that most grinds my gears about the “jin guangyao HAS to be duplicitous and evil” crowd is the way they have to tie wei wuxian’s morality into it like a counterweight.

for some fans, it really seems like the only way that wei wuxian’s story retains any thematic or moral cohesion is if it can find its clear and unambiguous antithesis in everything jin guangyao does. because if you begin your argument with the thesis statement that “everything jin guangyao does is rooted exclusively in self-interested self-preservation,” and if you are positioning him as the representative of all that is morally bankrupt with the mdzs jianghu, it becomes easier to argue that everything wei wuxian does stems from selflessness and self-sacrifice.

don’t get me wrong, a story like this could still be very compelling. but it isn’t reflective of what is going on with either of these characters.

[diivineray]

Ya’ll are really hilarious trying to pin who owes who more when deep down it’s really not all about that.

Ya’ll only look at things Wei Wuxian’s side and have no sympathy looking at Jiang Cheng’s. Yes Wei Wuxian did a lot for JC, but his family also did a lot for him.

Ya’ll wanna shit on Jiang cheng so bad for reacting HUMANELY.

Wen Ning did some kind things, and even tho it wasn’t his intention to kill Jzx IT STILL HAPPENED. He is loyal as hell to his family, knowing his nephew now wouldn’t have a father and considering WWX and JC both lost theirs I think they’d know how much that shit hurts.

Wwx might have been fighting for the right reasons but it also caused a lot of pain and suffering for the ppl around him. Wwx knows he did a lot of shameful and regretful things that he can’t even look at his past self without turning away.

If Jiang cheng had known wwx was going to give him his CORE HE WOULDNT HAVE ACCEPTED THAT. Those two don’t know how to do anything for each other that isn’t one GRAND sacrifice. The whole reason he lost it was to save wwx. JIANG CHENGS CHOICE. Just like it was WEI WUXIANS choice to give him his core.

They talk about how their core is everything. It’s like a second soul to cultivators. AND U SEE HOW IT AFFECTS WWX WHEN HES DOING NOTHING BUT DRINKING HIS SORROWS AWAY WHICH IS UNDERSTANDABLE. AND HE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO HIDE IT CUZ GOD FORBID THESE BOYS LEARN TO COMMUNICATE.

But yeah let’s shit Jiang cheng for being depressed after his entire sect is gone, his parents are gone, his core is gone. I THINK HES ALLOWED TO BE UPSET ???

Also Jiang Cheng’s whole family disrespected wwx’s mother ??? WHOLE FAMILY ?? Be so for real now. Whole family my ass just say his mom.

Jiang cheng thought about wwx more than anyone else !! Yall also forget that lan zhan didn’t lift a damn finger until the very end !! It’s why he has been so determined to be by wwx’s side when he got a second a chance

Jiang cheng is a newly born sect leader, he is still so young. He can’t make or take risky moves without risking the livelihood of sect. He had more than himself to think about. Good and bad is not as clean cut as yall wanna think. It’s complicated and he had to do what was best for his clan. WWX KNEW THAT. THEY HAD A WHOLE CONVERSATION ABOUT IT DID YALL JUST SKIP THOSE SCENES ??

Jiang cheng expressed that if he went down this path he couldn’t protect wwx anymore !! AND THAT HURT HIM TO SAY. HES BEEN PROTECTING WWX ALL HIS LIFE !!! It has ALWAYS BEEN THE TWO OF THEM. I’m speaking from experience that losing a sibling hurts like fucking hell and to think Jiang cheng didn’t care wwx was going to be leaving yall can kiss my ass

Lan wangji had nOOOO business being at the ancestral hall. And had every right to be mad that wwx brought him there because for JC??? Wwx ‘s feelings for Lwj are the very reason his sect ended up in flames ! So yeah !!! He gonna be mad. I’d be mad !! If someone I disliked, and someone who very much has wronged me has the audacity to be show up at my parents burial site IMMA BE MAD. Cuz !!! Who said you could be there ?? Ya’ll only ever look at wwx’s side and just forget that wens CREATED GENOCIDE !! Just because there were the few who didn’t participate doesn’t change that fact.

it’s kinda wild how deep jiang chengs debts to wen ning and wei wuxian go. even without the knowledge of the golden core transfer. wen ning saved jiang cheng, retrieved zidian and his parents bodies. he brought them to safety and wen qing gave them medicine to recover. then wei wuxian gave up his only chance for a favor from an immortal, given to him from his mother whom jiang chengs family has spent their entire lives disrespecting, for jiang cheng to get revenge and continue cultivating. as the world turned against wei wuxian, do u ever think jiang cheng thought about this sacrifice wei wuxian made for him? that maybe if wei wuxian hadnt given up his chance for jiang cheng, he could have went to baoshan sanren for help. did he ever go to the ancestral hall where his parents were able to receive their full rights of burial only because of wen ning and think of the fact that his parents bodies probably would have been thrown into the burial mounds or burnt if wen ning hadn’t saved them.

i wonder if he ever thought about that when he yelled at wwx about unpaid debts, betrayal and disrespect.

[gusu-emilu]

miscellaneous MDZS/CQL fic recs (AO3)

broken into sections: Character Study (-esque), Wangxian, Jiang Cheng ships, Yi City (or Yi City-adjacent), Humor/Crack, and Other

Character Study (-esque)

Wei Wuxian

my eyes got used to the darkness by @curiosity-killed (M, Sunshot Campaign era, 4.4k): The funny thing, the thing that makes his lips curl in a grin and his hands shake with laughter, is that all these cultivators with their lofty principles and noble ambitions can’t even notice the ghost among them. Sure, they shiver at his presence and flinch from his cold hands, but not one of them puts it together. Lan Wangji chases him with healing music and Nie Mingjue frowns solemnly at his dancing corpses—and he laughs and laughs and laughs because they just don’t get it. Emilu's commentary: CW for mild body horror.

Jiang Cheng

in our respective ways by @veliseraptor (T, Sunshot Campaign era, 5.7k): Jiang Cheng has his golden core back. But he seems to have lost Wei Wuxian.

You Know I've Fallen, but I Know How High by villainais (M, Post-WWX's death, 2.7k): Jiang Cheng loses both of his siblings in Nightless City. Minutes apart. He trudges home to Yunmeng with one body, holds a private funeral with a single coffin, and allows himself to wear his mourning robes for ten days—permits himself not a single day more. He is still too young and inexperienced, an unfledged boy to the cultivation world, and he is rebuilding Lotus Pier on his own. He will not gift the other sect leaders the satisfaction of seeing him vulnerable. Propriety be damned. Hanguang-jun emerges from his seclusion wearing white. He does not stop.

Nie Huaisang

it deepens like a coastal shelf by @wolffyluna (M, Post-WWX's death, 21.6k): When Nie Huaisang meets Mo Xuanyu, he realises two things quickly. One, this kid is so doomed. Two, this kid would be a great unwitting spy in his plans to bring down Jin Guangyao. It would be so easy to get into Mo Xuanyu's confidences, and so easy to get him to tell him anything he needs. ...only thing is, that wouldn't be very good for Mo Xuanyu's life expectancy. But he'll do it anyway, if it helps him avenge his brother. A fic about man handing on misery to man, the parallels and cycles in the relationships between Jin Guangyao and Nie Huaisang and Mo Xuanyu, and the lengths these characters will go to meet their goals and if there are lines they won't cross.

Lan Xichen

an old man in dried mouths by @tenacious-minds (T, Post-Canon, 3.3k): Xichen thinks. The tea had always stained the crockery red. Emilu's commentary: Lan Xichen and Jin Ling talk about Jin Guangyao.

can you be a quiet man? by @basket-of-loquats (Unrated, Post-Canon, 70.7k+) But something inside him snapped at Guanyin Temple-- and Lan Wangji watched it happen, saw the exact moment that Lan Xichen went from broken to shattered, when he buried his sword into Jin Guangyao’s chest, when his sworn brother stared up at him with wide eyes, blood dripping from his mouth, when he pulled himself closer and closer and closer-- When he whispered "Why don’t you die with me?", and Lan Xichen hadn’t argued. Emilu's commentary: Lan Xichen / therapy with a side of Wangxian.

Wen Ning

breathless (but i'll pretend to breathe for you) by swordsainted (T, Burial Mounds Settlement era, 4.1k): Wei Wuxian is silent for a long minute, and then he looks at Wen Ning, something raw and open and hurting behind his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he says again, softer this time, and Wen Ning shakes his head, still smiling. “You’ve protected everyone. How could I hate you for that?”

Mo Xuanyu

stand at the pit's mouth by @eldritch-elrics (M, MXY's death, 9.3k): The dreams and regrets of a man on the edge of oblivion. Emilu's commentary: Surrealist/absurdist screenplay.

Wangxian

I would wait for a thousand years by bleuett (T, Immortality Post-Canon, 10.4k): During the worst of winter, a traveler comes to stay at Lan Wangji's inn. He wears a red ribbon in his hair. “Do you see the rabbit?” Wei Ying asks and points at the moon. “That’s the moon rabbit, he helps make Chang’e more immortality elixir. He keeps Chang’e company.” “I do not wish the rabbit for company,” Lan Wangji says tightly. “You are the one I want by my side.” “And I’m here, Lan Zhan. If you go to the moon, I’ll follow you, I’ll always be here now.” Emilu's commentary: Lan Wangji meets Wei Wuxian centuries later and does not remember the past. There is also an excellent podfic by @forgotten-envies

Look Not With The Eyes by Spodumene (G, Post-Canon, 28.1k): Wei Wuxian returns from his travels to join Lan Wangji on a routine night hunt, but when things take an unexpected turn, Wei Wuxian will have to fight for what he's really looking for. Emilu's commentary: Case fic.

All In A Good Time by bigboobedcanuck (E, Post-Canon, 8k): Lan Zhan is struck by a curse that brings him intense physical pain unless he's being touched. He is stoic and tries to hide his suffering. Wei Wuxian is worried and protective. Perhaps they will finally admit their feelings?

Across a Lake of Glass by Zizzani (E, Figure Skating AU, 92.2k+): Each year, Gusu Skating Club runs a camp for only the most elite athletes of each region. This year brings a new skater from the Yunmeng Club who wears skates lined with red and a smile made for war. He skates like a demon. Figure skating au featuring lots of healthy rivalry, pre and post-competition bonding, and an inexplicable fall from grace through the eyes of the media.

Jiang Cheng Ships

Chengqing

display my heart for you to see by @souridealist (M, Post-Canon Wen Qing Lives AU, 5.5k): Jiang Cheng has his own secrets. Some of them are part of the unburied past; some of them are about how long it's been since anyone has touched him.

while I'm in this body by @souridealist (E, Post-Lotus Pier Massacre, 3.9k): For just a few minutes, alone in her office, Wen Qing allows her self-control to slip enough to cry. It's just her luck that that's when Jiang Cheng comes looking for her. Emilu's commentary: Femdom.

Chengning

it may be that it doesn't matter by @wildehacked (T, Post-Canon, 6.6k) “Are you crying?” Jiang Wanyin asks him, and Wen Ning frowns. Pats his cheek with one hand. “No.” Emilu's commentary: Holy Grail of Chengning.

Whatever It Is by morau (E, Post-Canon, 20.5k): It starts, as with a lot of things, with a very poorly thought out prank, courtesy of Wei Wuxian. Emilu's commentary: A LOT of sex and even more emotions lol

won't run away (we're here to stay) by @qi-ling (T, Post-Canon, 3.5k): "Please don't feel any pressure to accept this, and you can take as much time as you need to think about it." It's a set of robes, in shades of deep purple, complete with leather bracers. Cut in a different style than that of the disciples or household staff, closer to the understated robes Wen Ning typically wears. He reaches out to feel the fabric. His deadened nerves can't sense delicate textures well, but even he can tell it's of a quality on par to Wanyin's own wardrobe. This is startling enough coming from Jiang Wanyin, but then Wen Ning notices the belt. In particular, the silver bell in the shape of a lotus affixed to it. Only recognized members of the Jiang sect may wear the clarity bell. Or, Jiang Cheng has an invitation for Wen Ning.

Zhancheng

By Proxy by @veliseraptor (E, Post-WWX's death, 12k): Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji, looking for comfort in all the wrong places. Emilu's commentary: Hate sex that made me cry

Yi City (or Yi City-adjacent)

Songxuexiao

Heaven Has A Road But No One Walks It by @silvysartfulness (M, Post-Yi City arc Canon Divergence, 123k+): One of the most complex spells of demonic cultivation the world has seen is brought to fruition, and Xiao Xingchen draws his first shaking breaths in over seven years. This, it turns out, is only the start of his problems. Emilu's commentary: Pretty sure everyone already knows about Silvy's happy songxuexiao road trip fic but it has to be here.

Xue Yang & Lan Xichen

Hours On Empty series by @lady-of-the-lotus (M to E, Post-Canon, 57.8k+): AU where Wei Wuxian never came to Yi City and Xue Yang is still running around post-canon disguised as Xiao Xingchen. "Fractured Ice" - Xue Yang whisks a nihilistic Lan Xichen off on a murder roadtrip to raise Xiao Xingchen and Meng Yao from the grave. Because that will solve all of their problems, right? "Control" - "Fractured Ice" retold from Xue Yang's pov. "A Thousand Miles In Its Light" - Alternate ending to "Fractured Ice" and "Control"

Songxiao with Xuexiao Flashbacks

Nothing Beside Remains by @eldritch-elrics (T, Post-Yi City arc Canon Divergence, 21.9k): And Xiao Xingchen is dressed in dark clothing that is not his, and his sight is all of a sudden sharp in a way that it has never been before, and Xue Yang is not here. “He wouldn’t,” he breathes. “No, he wouldn’t do that. He’s too—” “He’s too what?” Wei Wuxian steps a foot closer, face hard-set. “Too cruel? Or too kind?” Or: Xue Yang uses the Sacrifice Summon on Xiao Xingchen. Xiao Xingchen lives with the consequences.

Humor/Crack

The Hangover: A pre-wedding Dramedy series by natcat5 (M, Modern AU, 51.6k): It is not a bachelor party. That was made clear on all the invitations. It is a congratulatory get together for Jin Zixuan, attended by his family, the family of the bride, and the young masters of the other two families in their circle. The gathering is not to go later than midnight, everyone must drink in moderation, and no one is allowed to be hungover tomorrow. Wei Wuxian had promised Yanli, three fingers in the air. Jiang Cheng had rolled his eyes, but promised as well. Saturday morning, Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng wake up alone in a hotel room, missing shoes, phones, and almost all their memories of what in the world happened last night. Also missing: Wei Wuxian, brother of the bride, Lan Wangji, esteemed guest, Lan Xichen, esteemed guest, Jin Zixun, cousin of the groom, Jin Guangyao, brother and best-man, Jin Zixuan, THE GROOM, who is due at his bride-to-be's house in six hours. That's plenty of time to find everyone...right?

Jiang Cheng Loves Jar Jar Bombad Mui by @lady-of-the-lotus (G, Post-Canon, 1.7k) Jar Jar Binks washes up on the shores of Lotus Pier. Can he win the lonely Jiang Cheng's proud heart? Neb neb answer is yesa. Emilu's commentary: There's also a podfic by @aowyn. Yes, with a Jar Jar voice.

Other

Nie Huaisang & Wen Ning

By Name by nirejseki (G, Post-Canon, 1.3k): After the traumatic events in the now-collapsed temple, Wen Ning lingered behind and unexpectedly saw Nie Huaisang, the undisputed victor of an all-around terrible evening, sitting on the steps of the temple, looking exhausted and miserable, as if he’d won nothing at all. Wen Ning found himself drifting over to him.

Jiang Yanli & Nie Mingjue

utility by magicites (G, Arranged Marriage AU, 2.3k): Jiang Yanli and Nie Mingjue's wedding is a political one — a gesture of unity between their Sects. A way for her parents to finally get some use out of the plain-faced sham of a cultivator they call a daughter. “Jiang-guniang,” Nie Mingjue says, and the formality in such a setting as intimate as their wedding chambers startles her, “I don’t wish to bed you. Or any other woman, for that matter. It isn’t fair for you to live alone because of my own preferences.” She rests her hand on his arm, cool relief flooding her body like water on a summer afternoon. “If it helps, I don’t feel desire for men,” she whispers.

Jin Guangyao / Nie Huaisang

Pulling Strings by @eldritch-elrics (E, Post-WWX's death, 5k): Nie Huaisang, quite drunk, turns up at Jin Guangyao’s door one night with an unexpected request. Emilu's commentary: Nie Huaisang knows Jin Guangyao killed Nie Mingjue. This interaction is more symbolic than anything else...

[crossdressingdeath]

Can we talk about the golden core transfer? Not people’s reaction to it, or how it was done, but the actual act itself? Because I recently reread those chapters, and this has been eating away at me ever since. Fandom often portrays this act as proof of how much WWX loves JC (or the dreaded ‘WWX was in the wrong for doing this!’), but it’s always been such a horrific act to me. WWX cuts out his golden core to give to JC. As much as he downplays it later on, the golden core is a huge huge part of WWX. He’s had for years, it’s like a part of his soul, or something close to it. And he just gives it up. This isn’t about love~ or loyalty~, this is WWX sacrificing a huge part of himself for JC and the YMJ sect. WWX is doing this because he was conditioned by the Jiangs to do so. And it’s horrifying how he feels this need to repay his fucking abusers, whom he was brainwashed by to give himself up for their sakes. All because he was taken in as a disciple. On top of all that, he feels he has to keep it a secret because of how JC might react to it. Not because JC would feel bad for WWX, but because JC would feel bad for himself. JC would twist it all around, and make himself feel inadequate, and then portray himself as the victim, even though it’s WWX who suffered the most. WWX knows JC would resent him, rather than appreciate him for it, and not even care about the devotion it must have taken. It’s so disgusting, and is honestly all you need to know about JC and his motivations. Think about how horrifying and twisted that is, that WWX has to stay silent about this, and then later on is blamed by JC for doing so. It makes me hate JFM, YZY, and JC even more.

It’s like... the golden core transfer is a show of incredible devotion and loyalty and love from WWX. I don’t want to say it’s not or diminish how incredible it is that even at 16 or 17 WWX had the devotion and strength of will to sacrifice something so precious to him for the sake of another person. But at the same time... you’re right, it is horrifying in a way. I think it’s actually made worse by the fact that JC doesn’t know. This isn’t a discussion, or something JC has to push WWX into. WWX just does it because he knows that’s what’s expected of him. And worse, he’s right; JC takes the transfer itself without so much as a word of thanks when he learns about it. His issue is with the fact that he now has to feel bad about betraying WWX and failing to fulfill his debt to the person who gave up everything for him, not the fact that WWX lost so much on his account. Hell, if memory serves even when he thinks WWX is just taking him to BSSR there’s no gratitude for WWX giving up his only chance to speak to his grandmother; JC pretty much just takes it as his due. And you’re right, WWX keeps quiet because JC would feel bad if he said anything? WWX lost everything and he can’t even get comfort for it because it would upset JC. And you’re right, the fact that to at least some extent WWX was pretty much conditioned by the Jiangs to see such a massive sacrifice as his responsibility, as though he’s just some sort of tool they can use and cannibalize to fill their own needs, does make it... just a bit less touching that WWX was prepared to sacrifice a central part of himself at the drop of a hat.

[citrusandbergamot]

thinking about Yanli dying when she’s got a 1-month old baby. and, well, it was a choice, wasn’t it?

a choice to go to the nightless city. a choice to enter the melee, a choice to push WWX out of the way.

a choice to leave her month old baby behind

(I mean, she was absolutely beside herself with grief for Mr. Darcy Jin Zixuan, and she loved her brother, and she needed answers, she needed to see him, I get it)

but still. If I was JC, and that was my sister leaving her brand new baby, reaching out a hand despite all evidence stating that WWX was beyond saving, getting in the way of the sword "justly” aimed at WWX, dying, choosing to die for WWX instead of living for JC, for Jin Ling?

I would be. so angry. so incredibly angry with her. a baby, orphaned and needing its mother and crying his eyes out. I would be so so so angry.

some JC-musings under the cut.

But this is JC, and this is JC’s feelings about Yanli and he can’t, he won’t be angry at her, he won’t allow himself to process that feeling. the thought crowding through his brain is a betrayal, its an arrow in the spine, its paralyzing. It passes through his mind like a typhoon and leaves chaos in its wake. It unmoors him, and he is already drifting drifting drifting and he cannot, there is nothing else left to tether him, he will not he will not. WWX will not take this from him too. They JC had always put her on a pedestal, his whole life she was there to fix everything, to understand him, to smooth over his rough edges.... after her death she is practically deified in his mind, her kindness and heart and goodness enshrined in his heart above reproach, he cannot, he WILL NOT sully the only goodness left in his heart by ruining his feelings towards her with his anger.

He has done and will do many things that are ugly and mean and callous. His father hated him for his anger, and anger is almost all that is left of JC now. He won’t...he won’t be so awful as to be angry with his sister, his perfect sister. He hasn’t fallen that far. He won’t ever. 

But it’s there, oh, and there is so much of it. How could she how could he how could either of them? Feelings just don’t go away because we don’t want to feel them. So where does that anger go? It’s not like JC was ever taught anything healthy about his own feelings or about anger anyway. But hooo boy, does he have a lot of feelings and legit no ways of processing them. So where CAN it go? Why, back to where it belongs, back to the source of all the problems, back to WWX. this displaced anger, this rage, his sister could never deserve it. It was WWX who killed her, who twisted her love, who drove her to such absurd lengths. It was his resentful energy infecting JC, making JC turn on the shining memory of his sister, making it poisonous in his mind, ruining everything JC had ever loved.

and the worst thing is that JC knows deep down that that isn’t true. He knows it, just as he knew it was his own choice to save WWX, that Yanli’s loving heart could never have turned on her WWX, that she made the choice to push him out of the way, that she went to the nightless city to save WWX even though everyone else (her own blood brother, her own sect leader) had turned on him. Yanli never could, she was always so strong. She could never stay mad at him, she forgave him everything. (would she have forgiven JC for what he did against WWX? all that he did after WWX died? JC knows he doesn’t want the answer to that question. hadn’t she chosen WWX in the end? Over JC? Over her son?)

(the worst thing is when JC doubts himself for how he’s raised JC -- the boy acts like JC and Jin Ling is suffering because of it -- because hot on the heels of that doubt comes the bitterness and the cruelty -- it was her own fault for leaving Jin Ling behind what did it matter how JC was doing as an uncle, he was still alive that was more than yanli had cared to do -- )

(JC’s sword is named well after all. what is his love if not poison?)

JC’s hands shake when he holds Jin Ling. Jin Ling cries endlessly and the rage in his breast is the river torrent that floods with the rain. It overwhelms him, and sweeps him away. He hates it, and so hates to hold him. Soon, Jin Ling grows past the point where JC has to, then grows older still, and it is too late to get back what JC lost without ever having. oh but he could have, he could have, if he had just tried harder, story of his fucking life

I mean, how could JC ever tell Jin Ling the truth about how his mother died? he couldn’t admit it to himself. But to a child? to tell her that she loved her brother, who left and left and left and lied and killed and got himself killed and destroyed half the cultivation world in his wake without once having to face his consequences, how could JC tell Jin Ling that his mother loved WWX more than her own son? No way, no how, WWX had done enough with his love. JC wouldn’t let him destroy Yanli’s memory too.

(JC can’t really talk about yanli without that anger flooding his senses. He is not angry with her, he will not be angry with her, she did not choose to leave him, she wouldn’t, it was WWX, it was WWX, it was him)

I can’t see him ever processing Yanli’s sacrifice. Like, ever. Not until well after he finds out about the golden core transfer. Not until well after Jin Ling has learned the truth about WWX, about everything. And by then, Jin Ling has learned about yanli from WWX (probably? I bet WWX finds it easier to talk about her because he finds it easier to tALK than JC and he loves Jin Ling and Jin Ling so very very badly wants to know about his mother). How can WWX speak of her so calmly? How dare he say her name, speak anything about her, sully her memory? How dare he be able to share it, like it doesn’t hurt, how can he not need to hoard it, like JC does, jealously guarded in his heart? Ah, but of course, Yanli’s love for WWX was a love overflowing spilling everywhere.

[relatetonothing]

[mdzs long ass rant] Would WWX have committed suicide?

I thought about making this post for a while now, it’s a subjective topic and non-core to the MDZS plot but interesting to me all the same.

The cliff jump scene from The Untamed is probably the only scene that I didn’t sit well with me in the show – nothing against the adaptation, it’s more about how this scene chipped away WWX’s main character traits. I feel like WWX is such a memorable and influential character precisely because of his fortitude and resilience, which this scene fails to capture. Let me explain my analysis:

1️⃣ The Yunmeng Jiang Sect’s motto is [明知不可为而为之] or ‘to attempt the undoable’. WWX’s behaviour throughout his adolescent life is an embodiment of this phrase. For someone like him to commit suicide, he would have either: accomplished all he wanted to in life and had no more reason to live, had to die for the benefit of someone else, or had his entire view of world, outlook in life and values completely and irreparably shattered. He’s just not the type of person to choose to die just because someone close to him passed away, even if it’s Shijie.

Why? We all know that his first reaction to the Jiang elders passing was rational and collected – telling Jiang Cheng to stay calm, reminding him that revenge is never too late. We also know from the novel that he died trying to cultivate the other half of the Stygian tiger amulet, which backfired on him during the siege of the Burial Mounds. His inventions were still unrefined – he was trying to put his skills to good use up until the moment of his death! WWX is someone who exists to explore the unknown, hypothesise on the unfamiliar and create new tools for the benefit of the cultivation world. He still had unfinished business!

2️⃣ Many would say it makes sense for WWX to commit suicide – he has no one left by his side; the fact that everyone hated on him would have built up resentment and grief internally; he would have felt everything he’s done and sacrificed for went to nothing. Regarding this, let’s think of some of WWX’s own morals:

His most famous quote [是非在己，毁誉由人，得失不论] translates to ‘Right or wrong is in oneself, one’s reputation is made or ruined by others, there’s no need to discuss gain or loss’. Clearly, this shows he doesn’t care that it’s him against the world. He will stand up for what he believes is right even if he’s the only one to do so, no matter what this does to his reputation as it’s all externally determined anyway. Another famous line [这世上每个人都有各自的事要做，有各自的路要走], means ‘In this world, everyone has their own things to do and own paths to pursue’. This indicates he’s not afraid of loneliness and having zero support system. As if he had anyone to help him when he became the founding father of demonic cultivation! Lastly, he keeps something his mother taught him close to heart: [不要去记你对别人的好], means ‘don’t try to remember your own kindness to others’. He never complained or felt sorry for himself once after donating his golden core. He’s not a believer of others needing to repay him for good deeds he’s done, or for his sacrifices to lead to anything beneficial for himself.

3️⃣ If WWX really had wanted to commit suicide, how could he possibly continue living happily after his resurrection? Based on 1), if he chose to die it would have been a renouncement of the entire world. For someone with his life principles, it would be difficult to be convinced that life is still worth living only because there’s still someone in the world that loves and cares for him.

What we do know is that WWX used his death for his own self growth, rather than let memories of his previous life cripple him. He learnt to take a step back from the world and not let trivial things get to him anymore. After his resurrection, he’s still thrown back into the same circle of people who previously condemned him to death, whose views differ vastly from his, but he chose to not let that hurt or anger him any longer. Instead, he chose to live as a ‘smaller’ character (no longer as the Yiling Patriarch) to focus on the things that matter to him. He still kept his interests in inventions, night hunting, teaching, travelling, keeping the same tastes in food and drink, teasing other people the same way he’s always done. There’s no sign that his death affected him in anyway – heck he practically started studying and cultivating again immediately after coming back as MXY.

5️⃣ In the novel, Mo Xiang Tong Xiu doesn’t ever go into detail about things most would think are crucial to the story: what WWX went through when he was first dumped into the Burial Mounds by the Wens, what made his personality change 180 there in the space of a few months, what actually happened during the final siege and what/who caused his death. The pain he must have gone through when donating his golden core. All of these were glossed over by the author herself. There are two likely explanations for this. One, readers are left to imagine the scenarios for themselves, which may enlarge/intensify the proposed effect better than having the details explicitly articulated. Two, the author didn’t feel the need to emphasise on WWX’s suffering and torment, as he’s much bigger than that. She’s made him out to be an optimistic and resilient person who’s always going to come out stronger, someone who stays true to himself forever and always.

Artist: Oten太一

[noirbriar]

MDZS ficlet : Empty Shadows (2)

(Part 1 here)

This fic is just musings of a dork about a character who seem to be a convenient tool for the story. Its strange how everyone had not given MXY extra thought but simply as a vessel and a second chance for WWX IMO.

Also somewhat based off zeldacw’s MXY backstory doujin.

Mostly word vomit but if its your cup of tea ( or bowl of congee ) please take it.

-----

Pieces of papers, fragments of thoughts, glimpses of the memories of a ghost. Some are ideas, others are just opinions of daily sort of routines. However, they seem almost too real, too coherent for a lunatic to have put on paper.

How did I miss all these? Am I blind...?! Wei Wuxian groans.Although now that he thinks about it...He was oblivious to Lan Wangji’s little advances for...Alright forget what he just said.Everything.He doesn’t want to slap his own mouth again.

Although in his defense, most of these were found in the Mo Estate and not the donkey shed.Most likely Mo Xuanyu’s thief of a cousin had taken them.

“Senior Wei, you have been engrossed in those papers for awhile.Are they that interesting?” Lan Sizhui smiles as he peers over his shoulder at the man on his donkey. ( “Either you give him the apple or don’t Senior Wei! Even I pity the animal!” Jingyi remarks watching Wei Wuxian dangle the apple in front of Little Apple. Wei Wuxian ignores the child. )

“Hmm, Sizhui ah,look at this and tell me what you think?” Wei Wuxian passes the young Cultivator a piece of the notes.Lan SIzhui skims the contents. The moon is bright enough even in the dense forest of Dafan Shan that the Lan disciples are able to continue leisurely.

“Are these your old works Senior Wei?”

“Sizhui ah. When we go back, you can ask Hanguang Jun if I had written this neatly back in our school days.”

“...That...Right.” Sizhui’s smile becomes abit more strained. “But if not yours then...?”

By now, all the other kids have gotten curious and started to gather closer around Lan Sizhui to read.Without Lan Wangji, its alot easier to relax and not be bound by the Lan family rules, but then again it might just be Wei Wuxian himself projecting. Not that the disciples are complaining.

“Could it be...Mo Xuanyu?But how did he manage to learn the demonic path?It...looks detailed.” one of the disciples voices out from the back.

“It is.Don’t forget, this is someone who has done a very difficult ritual to bring back a big bad.” (”Ahhh Senior Wei, please.”Sizhui tries to interject.) “Let’s do a little lesson shall we?As you read these notes, I want you guys to think and deduce his character.Now you all tell me, does this man sound like a lunatic?” Trust Wei Wuxian to turn anything into a lesson within a game for the kids. Although he wants to make sure its not himself that feels this way. He needs another perspective, why not ask these fresh young minds?

“No.Not really...No.” “No, he sounds smart though.” “ Who eats raw potatoes?!” (Sizhui twitches at the side at that remark.He implores to have that dark history remain where it is. Buried.) 

“What does Senior Wei think?” Jingyi pipes up.

Wei Wuxian doesn’t reply for a long while.What does he think? To be honest, there’s lot he can say that he finds it hard to put into words. How does one even begin understanding a pitiful soul who was more than likely innocent before he got pulled into the grand scheme of things? He was just a boy, wanting to be accepted and recognised by his family. But probably was too naive and became a pawn in Jin Guangyao’s plans when he realised his half brother is gifted in the demonic path. After he has been used and wrung dry, the man cruelly plotted to have him tossed out in the most flashy and heartbreaking manner.

Anyone would snap.Either become vengeful and kill everyone or let the grief, the humiliation and madness consume them. It must have been the latter for Mo Xuanyu. Who would have to return to the Mo family, bringing disgrace and more suffering to his mother who raised him without a father and unmarried at that.

After which, even in his suffering...the idea that Nie Huaisang might have sought Mo Xuanyu out and implicate him in his own plans to foil Jin Guangyao’s. May it be willingly or not, its painful to even think about it.

A life for a life.This cycle of pain is not something that poor soul deserved.It probably might be a blessing that he no longer remained in this world to be used forever as a tool.

“I think, I would have liked to meet him.” Wei Wuxian smiles as he finally tosses the apple for Little Apple to crunch on at long last.

“WOOF!”

Before he promptly falls off the animal.

-----

”Jin Ling!W-Why are you here??” “Aren’t you suppose to be prepare for the Conference?” “ Didn’t you said you were swamped with work??”

”WILL ONE OF YOU GET THE DOG AWAY FIRST!!!??AHHH LAN ZHAN!! WHERE ARE YOU WHEN I NEED YOUUU?”

”Wei Wuxian!You are pathetic,of all things the Yiling Patriarch fears!?Dogs!Embarrassing!And really, why would I hang around in that mess when Uncle is swinging Zidian around Koi Tower?I still want my legs!” Jin Ling scoffs at Wei Wuxian who is currently high up on the tree.Lan Sizhui simply pats the younger boy on his shoulder, imploring him silently to spare the demonic cultivator. It would do none of the disciples good if Lan Wangji hears of this. Anything regarding his husband, he will hear of it, present or not, and for sanity’s sake and his responsibility as leader of his Brothers...best spare the poor man.

”Sides, I am here on business anyway, you guys know everyone is collecting evidence and any loose ends U-I mean, Jin Guangyao, has done. So I passed by here just to make sure.”

”Sect Leader Jiang allowed you,a newly appointed Clan Leader to come alone? Has Lanling Jin really gone down deep or what?!” Jing Yi chirps incredulously.

Jin Ling shoos Fairy away before he jerks a thumb behind him where a dozen of purple robed cultivators have gathered and maybe a couple of yellow golden robed ones. The Lan disciples had to slowly calm down the tearful adult (ADULT?!) and coax him to come down. They has 21 days of punishment free days and counting so far, they are hoping to keep it that way.

”Nope.And its actually annoying.”

Gusu Lan, YunMeng Jiang and Lanling Jin upon Dafan Shan. Talk about walking down memory lane. Wei Wuxian thinks with a pout. They have gathered before the cave where the Goddess Statue once resided. Now, the cave is partially intact, and all that remains is a pile of rubble and...a shrine?

A tiny one, filled with offerings and red threads decorating it. It looked like one of those you find along the road, similar to those for the earth deity or gods watching over travellers, merchants.On the peak of the mountain, the moonlight cast down a pale glow, sombre and cold.

”Eh? Did the people down the mountain change a god to worship?” Wei Wuxian muses, scrutinising the shrine curiously.There was no malicious intent, no demonic energy, its void of anything to be honest.

”Nope.Its a memorial.” Jin Ling explains.”Remember the soul eating Goddess?”

”Hard to forget now isn’t it?It’s not everyday you see a statue eating people right in front of your face” Jingyi deadpans, his eyes dark and haunted.

”Didn’t ask for your input but yeah.Its for the souls she...er...It?Consumed. Spirits that have gone. Unable to return. The townsfolk thought it be heartless to not do something for the spirits of the victims.God knows how many it had even consumed or lost.Hence they came up with that Shrine.” 

Gone. Lost. Forgotten.

Wei Wuxian stands before the wooden shrine, his gaze distant while the sounds of the children fades out behind him as they mingle. Mo Xuanyu’s papers feels almost warm between the folds of his robes.

“I just wish to be loved. Just once. “ Wei Wuxian remembers the meek voice had whispered in his dreams before other thoughts have drowned out that sad echo.

Mo Xuanyu did not deserved all that which had happened, driven to a dead end and forced to sacrifice his soul for a second of respite, and knowledge that his suffering will be dealt with by the Yiling Patriarch. His flaw was his innocence and at the end, without anywhere or anyone to turn to. Wei Wuxian was all too intimately familiar with that. However, soon time will pass, his soul will mould this body into his own, closer to what he once was to shape the vessel in likeness of the spirit. The last vestiges of Mo Xuanyu would be gone then from this world.Unlike the Yiling Patriarch, who was infamous and hated by many in the past and now as the demonic cultivator who had returned from the dead. Qishan Wen also had Wen Ning and Lan Yuan as proof they had lived even if their ashes are mostly gone with the mind, souls doomed to never reincarnate. 

Without anyone to remember him by, without anything as proof he was once here in this world, could it be said that Mo Xuanyu had truly existed?

To be forgotten is indeed a far worse fate for any man.

The kids watches the demonic cultivator crouch down, kneeling before the tiny shrine in wonder.The others from Jiang Sect and Jin Sect watches curiously as well at what the infamous man may be up to wearily. Almost as if a veil has been cast over the man and the memorial.Nobody breathes as The Yiling Patriarch pulls out Chengqing and puts his hand in a tiny prayer upon the name of his instrument.A sign of respect. For if not for him, Wei Wuxian himself would not experience the joy of living. A joy that was never granted to Mo Xuanyu.

Fate is cruel.Yet he hopes in another world maybe, Mo Xuanyu could have a better life.

Mo Xuanyu. I shall cherish your memory safely. For what you have bestowed upon me by the weird crossing of Fate...Thank you.

-----

(Final part)

[crossdressingdeath]

1/9 - So I’m going to go on a bit of a tangent here, so let me know if any of this doesn’t send thanks to tumblr haha. in reference to your comments about the Guanyin Temple core transfer convo...we’ve got to talk about that scene. Because seriously when JC and WWX discuss the golden core reveal in the temple, JC’s behaviour is actually appalling. He openly mocks WWX, to the point where WWX is actually

2/9 shocked because while he knew JC wouldn’t just forgive him if he knew the truth, he was shocked by how “unkind” he was being. It was so bad that WWX, who has grown up with JC’s immature tantrums, felt like this was way too harsh. And then without ANY prompting - literally all WWX says is “I never asked you to thank me” - JC of course takes that as an insult to him. Starts acting like WWX is bragging and saying that JC isn’t as good as him - and in this scene he is so much like his mother

3/9 it’s creepy. He sounds irrational, insane even. Twisting everyone’s words. He starts screaming about how WWX thinks he’s better than him, tries to PHYSICALLY ATTACK WWX - seriously how anyone thinks that you can sympathise with this guy is beyond me. The guy is literally just creating problems for himself.

4/9 But then of course we get the part that you were talking about - when WWX says “take it as my repayment to the Jiang sect” and JC - JC OF COURSE feels the need to say “repayment for my father, my mother, my sister.” DAMMIT MAN WWX DID NOT CAUSE THEIR DEATHS. For gods sake, I feel no pity for JC here because he has had YEARS to come to terms with it. WWX did not kill his parents, the wens did. They would have used any excuse to attack - are we seriously going to blame the victim instead of

5/9 the instigators? For example - JYL told Jin ZiXun off for being rude to WWX. At that stage the Jins were probably stronger than the Jiangs, who were still rebuilding. You’re telling me if the Jins retaliated and hurt the Jiang sect, JC would’ve even thought to blame his sister? Or does he ever mention the fact that his mother was insulting the Wens to, regardless of the fact that they were attacking? Like...if you want to talk about bad decisions, at least WWX didn’t know that his actions

6/9 would lead to the Wen sect attacking - YZY could have at least tried to negotiate that situation, she’s an adult and in charge of the sect for Christ’s sake. But nope, she’s allowed to be angry, and it’s totally the teenagers fault. And JYL? Like god, it sucks that she died, and maybe wwx did contribute to that situation, but he did not kill her! JC needs to stop telling everyone, including her son, that he did, because it’s an insult to JYL and the choices she made. Just...JC is ridiculous.

7/9 Wwx gave up everything for him because he loved him that much. His whole life - everything he had worked for - and he asked for nothing in return. He would’ve happily become the villain if only to protect JC’s reputation and peace of mind. And JC is seriously going to twist this situation to make it look like WWX did this to try and be better than him? Like, how badly did your mother mess you up that you think anyone would go through torturous pain,

8/9 and destroy their life’s achievement just to have one up on you? And if WWX really was some kind of power hungry show off, why the hell would he give away the very thing that supposedly makes him better than you, TO YOU, and then NOT TELL YOU ABOUT IT??? Like, what sort of attention seeking narcissist, what JC apparently views WWX as, would do all of that, supposedly for the attention, and then not tell anyone? Where’s the logic????

I’m missing part 9, but yeah. WWX all but outright says “I did this because I wanted to help you, because I care about you, because I didn’t want to see you suffer” and JC twists it into some hero complex bullshit where WWX only did it to one-up him and just... what the fuck? How do people look at this and insist JC was in the right? And even after basically saying that WWX only gave JC his golden core for attention, after thirteen years in which he could’ve looked back and considered what happened, JC still goes for “Well, actually, you were obligated to give up your golden core because you killed my family and that was definitely your fault”. I mean, that’s pretty much what he’s saying! WWX is basically saying “I did this because I love your family and owe them” and JC’s response is “You killed them and you have to pay for that”. I mean... thirteen years. He’s had thirteen years as a sect leader to realize that the Wens would have attacked anyway, that JYL chose to save WWX even at the cost of her own life, and he’s still spewing this “It’s all your fault” bullshit.

And if the Jins had retaliated against the Jiangs for fighting with JZXun it would, of course, be all WWX’s fault for refusing to sit quietly and let himself be insulted. Just like it’s all his fault Lotus Pier fell, and YZY antagonizing the Wens had nothing to do with it. WWX is an easy target for JC to blame things on; his rank is entirely reliant on JC and he won’t argue if the blame is coming from a Jiang. He’s not going to disagree or lash out. If JC comes up with a reason, he can do anything he likes to WWX and WWX won’t do anything about it. It takes WWX dying, coming back, and spending a lot of time with LWJ (who treats him like a person worthy of love and respect and not a convenient scapegoat even when using him as such would save LWJ a lot of trouble) before he even begins to acknowledge that the way JC treats him isn’t okay. JC has spent his entire life blaming WWX from everything from his dogs being taken away to his father not loving him enough to him not being an extraordinary cultivator to the Wens attacking because WWX won’t fight it. 

Honestly? Even the fact that JC thinks WWX would do anything for the sake of showing JC up shows that JC never actually bothered to get to know WWX. Like, he seriously thinks WWX wants to show him up, make him look bad. Even if we set aside the fact that no one would go through that much pain and suffering and keep quiet about it for so long just to get one over on someone else, what the actual fuck JC, we’re talking about WWX here. The guy who slacked off on training and held himself back right up until war broke out because he didn’t want JC to feel like he was overshadowed. The guy who was always the one to start fights before JC got a chance to so that JC wouldn’t get in trouble. The guy who spent over a decade taking the blame for everything they did wrong and praising JC at every opportunity even when it wasn’t deserved to make JC’s parents proud of him. And JC is saying that guy would have given up his incredibly powerful golden core, crippling himself at the beginning of a war, losing huge amounts of power and drastically shortening his lifespan... just to make JC look bad. He thinks WWX would go out of his way and hurt himself that much to make JC look weaker.

Of course, the reasoning is, I think, fairly obvious: JC would never sacrifice his golden core if he didn’t get something from it so clearly WWX must have an ulterior motive! Except there’s no ulterior motive big enough to make giving up your golden core worth it, so he has to come up with some bullshit about hero complexes and showing off to justify it. He’s just falling into the same pit as so many other jackasses: not realizing that not everyone operates solely based on self-interest.

[crossdressingdeath]

I think you're totally right and opened my eyes about stans treating JC leading the Wens away from WWX as his only in chara action and building their understanding of him from that when it was pretty much the exception compared to JC usual self-centredness and disregard of what happens to others, even to people close to him, as he barely hesitated before leaving WWX to his doom alone with a gravely injured man in the Xuanwu cave but still wanted plaudits from JFM for going back to get help(1/8

but like, walking really fast (another strike against the idea that JFM exceedingly favored WWX over JC). He did that one good thing, he wanted to try being a hero like WWX but realized the terrible price to pay for it, a price WWX was ready to pay each time, realized that there are things worse than death (losing his GC) and it broke him, so he's now seething when WWX takes the courageous "single plank in the dark" choice again and again, involuntary underlining in JC head how JC tried(2/8

doing it and couldn't bear it, coming 2nd here too. This sacrifice was OOC for JC and it's the whole point!That his jealousy and absence of trust in the goodness of WWX character weakened their bond and allowed for WWX fall, that his anger and inability to let go condemned him to push away people who cared for him just as YZY did and to WWX cutting all ties, that's the point too! But no, fandom goes, JC is so so full of love, sometimes he says bad things but he can't help it the poor dear(3/8

he just needs proof that he always comes first for WWX (by letting the Wens die, I suppose, I never understood that line of reasoning tbh, too much mental gymnastics and I'm bad at sports) meanwhile the author goes and here is JC with the title Sandu Shengshou, the master of the Three Buddhist Deadly Sins of delusion, anger and greed lol Even the whole JC tirade in Guanyin is not all about the consent the fandom always harps about or regret about not taking different decisions had he known (4/8

about WWX sacrifice because he has zero regrets and I'm sure he would do everything he has done since the fall of LP the same way again, but only about WWX besting him with his courage (the hero complex part), cutting JC usual avenue of blaming all things wrong with his life on WWX (the not taking responsibility by way of the reveal part) and also removing credit from JC achievements as the GC was WWX's. Which wasn't even WWX's reasoning, he never blamed JC once in his life for anything! (5/8

WWX explains that he has hidden the truth as a further sacrifice so JC can enjoy his new golden core with peace of mind and not think that WWX bested him again or that he owes WWX (such an abusive dynamic). I also never got the puzzlement in the fandom about why in that scene JC never mentions leading the Wens away to WWX? Outside of the fact that hopefully he's growing up and learning to let go, it's mainly pride because talking about it will again paint him in a lesser light compared to(6/8

WWX who looked at him and said that of course, I'll gladly give my core to you while JC couldn't find enough meaning and love for WWX for his involuntary GC core sacrifice to be worth it. Like the single thing that set me against any reconciliation is not even the cliff scene, but exactly that moment when JC learns about the GC and proceeds not to care about all the things in addition to the GC WWX risked and lost to give him that gift and just rants about how that made him feel. It's not(7/8

even the verbal abuse, but this single moment of total absence of empathy that made me think with 100% certitude that whatever their shared past is, WWX will be better without JC in his life. My whole issue is not even with WWX sacrificing things which can be a part of love (though giving his GC is definitely born of abuse), but giving and giving in a relationship and never getting anything back, be it support or understanding, unlike the relationship WWX has now with LWJ or even WN(8/8 

I actually got the entire thing for once! It’s a miracle!

My theory for the whole thing where JC leads the Wens away from WWX and then never risks anything for him again is that... Well, JC does occasionally speak up for WWX when YZY is screaming at him, doesn’t he? And the worst he gets from that is a few harsh words. And he chases dogs away! At zero risk to himself, because the dogs aren’t dangerous, WWX just has severe cynophobia. JC is used to being able to “defend” WWX without any consequences. He’s used to being able to get WWX’s praise and gratitude and put him in JC’s debt without any actual risk to himself. Then he leads the Wens away from WWX and learns that... actually, defending WWX can have serious consequences. It could cost him everything. And he decides that WWX isn’t worth that. Now, to give him a little credit, it is possible he didn’t want to lose this last remaining member of his family... but the point still stands that once he learned that standing up for WWX could have serious consequences, he never did it again.

And yeah, he was really quick to leave WWX in the Xuanwu’s cave; maybe he told himself that he was going to get help (which he did, to be fair, even if it was almost too late), but he did cut and run almost the second WWX suggested it. Just like later, when he kicks WWX out of the Jiang sect and stabs him when WWX suggests separating him from the sect, without really arguing against it. If I had to guess, I’d say JC likes having the excuse of “Well, it’s all WWX’s fault really because it was his idea, never mind that I didn’t have to go along with it and could’ve argued or straight up refused!”

Also, I’m pretty sure JC didn’t mean to sacrifice anything for WWX when he led the Wens off. Remember that thing I said the other day about how a sect heir with an exaggerated view of his own abilities is a dead sect heir? Yeah. JC was raised by YZY to believe that he was WWX’s equal and JFM was being super unfair by heaping praise on WWX and ignoring his totally equally skilled son. I’m pretty sure he thought he was skilled enough to take care of the Wens and then come back, and given the way he completely shut down the risk of losing his golden core to WZL (who he knew was in the area!) didn’t even occur to him. And then when it came to it... he just wasn’t good enough. His cultivation and martial ability weren’t enough to beat the Wens; he might have been better off alerting WWX to the danger and giving them both a chance to run, or fight together. It wasn’t some huge sacrifice for WWX’s sake, it was a vast overestimation of his skills that led to him taking on a fight he couldn’t win instead of cutting his losses and just running with WWX. Remember also, JC wanted to go back and fight the Wens to the point that WWX’s assumption all the way through the story was that JC left him to go back to Lotus Pier. Who’s to say his “sacrifice” wasn’t just him seeing an excuse he could give himself that would allow him to fight Wens?

And... you know, I always forget that the reason WWX didn’t tell JC about the golden core transfer was so that JC wouldn’t be all upset about WWX showing him up. It was about not upsetting JC, but not because JC would feel awful about costing WWX so much. WWX, who tries so hard to see only the good in JC, thought that JC’s primary concern on learning that WWX had sacrificed his cultivation for him would be that WWX was better than him. How fucked up is that, that WWX felt he had to hide such a huge thing from his own family for years, not even just saying “Oh yeah, WZL destroyed my golden core when he captured me” or otherwise giving an explanation for why he can’t cultivate anymore, because JC would throw a tantrum about being second best if he knew? WWX had to suffer through everyone, including his family, calling him rude and arrogant for refusing to cultivate properly or carry a sword because if he told even part of the truth his brother would whine about being shown up. He couldn’t even admit to losing his golden core, because when JC lost his he shut down completely, whereas WWX invented an entirely new form of cultivation so he could keep being useful.

And I never actually considered that aspect of JC not mentioning him leading the Wens off and getting captured; if he says that now, he’ll once again be second best because he couldn’t deal with the consequences of that risk, while WWX knew full well what he was getting himself into. I’m still not sure why he didn’t say anything before, though. JC, passing up such a golden opportunity to guilt WWX into staying by his side? Strange and OOC. Maybe he decided the fall of Lotus Pier was enough, or that it wouldn’t have enough impact since WWX gave up his “chance to get something from BSSR” by allowing JC to take his place. Who knows.

JC’s reaction to learning about the sacrifice is... very much not the reaction of a man learning his beloved older brother gave up something that huge for his sake. It’s all about him, how it makes him feel, how he can’t be the best now because he was using WWX’s infinitely more powerful golden core... He does not care that WWX gave up everything for his sake. He doesn’t care that it left WWX all but defenceless in a war because JC’s happiness was more important than his own safety, or that it led to WWX being thrown into the Burial Mounds, or that he was forced to turn to creating demonic cultivation in order to survive. It doesn’t matter to JC that he spent years unknowingly pouring salt in the wound by constantly getting on WWX’s case for not carrying his sword, not training the disciples, not cultivating properly. No, it’s all about JC and how it makes him feel that there’s now no way for him to surpass the brother he never would’ve been able to surpass anyway. It’s just so incredibly selfish and self-centred, and I do not understand people who say JC’s reaction to the transfer speaks to some failing on WWX’s part. JC is angry at WWX for giving too much, but not because he didn’t ask; it’s only because JC will now spend the rest of his life in second place.

[crossdressingdeath]

sorry for barrelling into your inbox to complain about jiang cheng again but it's genuinely so annoying how many people treat his constant verbal abuse towards wwx as a fun quirk or Just JC Being JC. i know siblings can be vitriolic, but jc blaming wwx for his family's deaths, knowing full well it isn't true and wwx already hates himself for it? jc calling wwx a selfish brat who doesn't face consequences after knowing what wwx suffered? not cute. no reason why wwx should let that disrespect fly

like will he get angry, will he flip out because I have done this commendable courageous thing? Oh no, I should find a way to praise him for taking a long hike in the woods too like it's the same thing so he doesn't feel left out. The contrast with other brother pairs is glaring (like I can picture cases when they separate for the public image of the sect, but there still would be no bad blood between them and they'll get assistance) I'm fully converted to your JC is a bad brother agenda, 2/5

even though frankly I don't think that JC ever saw WWX as his brother. Brother like subordinate, yeah, but his brother, nah, WWX isn't adopted and JC never calls him anything approaching brother or even martial brother. Now I have to ask for your top 3 worst scene where JC lets someone down! Can also be a top 5, top 10 or a full ranking lol :p  For real, I was mostly meuh about JC but followed a stan a while back and realized that the whole process of writing meta about JC is literally just 3/5

about trying to justify, explain away or dismiss his actions because during the *entirety* of the story, he didn't do or say a single thing that could be seen in a good light... Not without mellowing his character without canon support, giving him the moral skills of a toddler (ongoing genocide or my feelings, what is most important?) or whataboutisms about other people or situations - like even his fans aren't proud of his actions.  That or trying to shift blame on WWX by making his golden 4/5

core sacrifice a wrongdoing or an imposition on JC that WWX should be grateful that JC accepts or ever deigns to forgive him about because JC would have be 100% ok on his own... He would not, he was letting himself die of hunger and lack of sleep in enemy territory, and his incapacity of letting go of things trumps that of LWJ or even WWX who lost 3 families and was turned on by everyone in the cultivation world lol. He can be angry about if of, but not seeing it as a sacrifice on WWX part ?!5/5

So much of JC meta (from what I’ve seen on my dash, I don’t go looking for it because fuck that) is fixated on “He saved WWX from the Wens that one time! It was a huge sacrifice! Everything else he did doesn’t matter because he did a good thing this one time!” ...Okay, I’m exaggerating, but it is like... that is one of two good things JC does. He asks his mother not to whip WWX and cut his hand off (which, wow, what a fucking saint, we should give him a fucking medal for not wanting his brother to be mutilated) and he gets the Wens away from WWX. And, guess what? After he gets the Wens away from WWX and faces serious consequences for doing so, he never goes out of his way to help WWX again. In fact, he makes the situation worse for WWX more often than not. I genuinely think that JC realized helping WWX could hurt him in this new life they’d found themselves in and immediately decided he wasn’t worth the effort.

And yeah, WWX spent most of his childhood having to flinch away from any impressive feat he performed, downplay his genius and cultivation talent (or play it up to ludicrous levels so it could be passed off as a joke), out of fear for how YZY and JC would react. Thinking about it, I wonder if that’s why his reaction to LWJ praising him in a way he can’t laugh off or wave away is so... dramatic. He clearly took pride in how good he was at pretty much everything, and rightly so, but I imagine it was always soured slightly by how JC would complain about it, as if it was WWX’s fault that he was in fact brilliant and JC was... not. WWX’s always effusive in praise for JC because if he isn’t, if he doesn’t act like their actions are equal, JC will throw even more of a tantrum about it. And he’ll still throw a tantrum because he doesn’t want to be pitied, except if WWX doesn’t give him that “pity” he’ll be in even more trouble for “showing off”, and... WWX can never win with JC.

And the whole thing with the golden core! It is such bullshit. “He didn’t get consent!” And how, exactly, was he supposed to do that when JC was openly letting himself die and refusing to speak to him?! WWX had to trick him because it was the only way to get JC to so much as listen to him. And, let’s face it, even if WWX had managed to actually discuss it with JC the result would’ve been the same. JC would’ve yelled and screamed about how it was all WWX’s fault that the Jiangs died and that JC lost his golden core and WWX would’ve still given his golden core to JC except with a side order of nonstop guilting over “letting” this whole situation unfold. At most discussing the matter with JC beforehand would mean JC wouldn’t get pissy about WWX not training the disciples (he’d find something else to be a dick about instead! And probably get pissy about him not teaching the disciples demonic cultivation). ...Also there’s a good chance they’d both get immediately captured by the Wens because they were hanging out at the foot of the mountain and JC wouldn’t be able to fight them off, but that’s not the point right now. Also, acting like it’s an imposition that JC got an insanely powerful golden core for free is just... ugh. Oh, pity him, pity him, he’s now got one of the strongest cores of his generation because his brother loved him enough to sacrifice his own! So sad, so hard for the poor boy! I mean, it’s not like JC cares that WWX lost everything so that JC could have a golden core. If he cared about that sort of thing he wouldn’t have stabbed WWX in the gut and called him a traitor to the sects when WWX suggested they stage a fight. I know the whole getting captured by the Wens and having his core removed business must have... sucked. A lot. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to feel bad for him for getting WWX’s golden core.

(On a related note, people acting like JC not telling WWX he got captured leading the Wens away from WWX is some sort of great deed is kinda... Well. Yeah, on this one, singular occasion JC didn’t guilt his brother over something that wasn’t at all his fault! What a great guy!)

Anyway, the only part of the golden core transfer that JC seems at all upset about is that now he’s conflicted about leading an army to slaughter WWX and the innocent civilians under his protection, which really he should’ve already been conflicted about at the very least, so I really don’t see why people act like he’s the victim in the whole situation.