#his devotion to xie lian is still there

[skygemspeaks]

I am going to write a hua cheng that is SO hinged, that is a threat and a promise

[lazycranberrydoodles]

ive seen your “wouldn’t be the first time i got beheaded” comic on like 7 separate occasions and feng xin’s face gets me every. dang. time 😭

LOL thank you. the different reactions to Classic Xie Lian Antics is so funny to me. feng xin is so openly horrified and disturbed every time xie lian talks about that kind of stuff. i guess he thought that xie lian would have improved his situation by now (the last time he saw him was bricklaying at the start of his second banishment).

[wolfriver777]

Saw this one art implying hua cheng/wei wuxianand I've never been the same ever since. God that's so cool and they look so neat together

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

Xie Lian growing comfortable and relaxed and spoiled under Hua Cheng's love and care is a top tier concept but consider

Hua Cheng, who's always kept this appearance of the perfect partner for his lover and the most devoted believer of his god also growing comfortable and relaxed and his perfection melts into something more real, more natural

Still as suave and loving as always, but in a way thats less intentional

Maybe he laughs a bit louder and snorts accidentally, or makes crass comments that unintentionally make Xie Lian laugh because they're so unhinged, maybe he even allows himself to be seen without worry for his looks sometimes

And Xie Lian adores every one of these moments because theyre so raw and real and vulnerable and nobody else gets to see them

[csilla-nocturne]

Another older AU idea:

AU where Xie Lian isn't banished after his second ascension, but spends most of his time wandering the mortal realm hoping to find Wu Ming while slowly becoming a god of the dead.

He is in fact away when Hua Cheng ascends and leaves, but he just happens to arrive as Hua Cheng finishes annihilating the 33 gods. At this time Xie Lian is still pretty much considered a laughing stock. Mu Qing, and Feng Xin both keep their distance out of guilt,(Jun Wu had a lovely talk with them.) but everyone thinks they also really look down on Xie Lian. So when Xie Lian challenges Hua Cheng himself and Hua Cheng accepts, the gods think they are about to be entertained by seeing XIe Lian get humiliated again.

However two things happen very quickly:

1. They figure out Hua Cheng was just playing with everyone before.

2. Everyone gets a reminder that Xie Lian is a damn martial god.

The fight goes on for 3 days. The heavens shake, buildings fall. Even Jun Wu can't get them to stop. Xie Lian and Hua Cheng look like they are having the time of their lives. As the third day is ending they finally stop, no one watching is quite sure exactly how victory between the two was decided, but Hua Cheng reverently takes a crystal ring on a chain and places it over Xie Lian's head, kneels pledging his eternal loyalty and devotion, and then collapses from exhaustion. When other martial gods start to approach Xie Lian raises his sword at them, and says in a clear, surprisingly cold voice "No one touch him. He is mine." Seeing he's made his point he sheathes his sword, and picks Hua Cheng up taking him to his palace, where promptly puts up a barrier keeping everyone else out. He suspected while they had been fighting that Hua Cheng was Wu Ming, and Hua Cheng's actions afterward confirmed it for him. He is absolutely not going to let his Wu Ming be taken from him again.

[sunshineastro]

hello tgcf fandom. let’s talk about yin yu and hua cheng’s relationship for a minute .

yin yu as a banished god, being picked up by the last believer of another banished god. yin yu spending years and years serving hua cheng and witnessing the art he creates and the worship he bestows and the love he carries. yin yu being one of the few people who knows the full truth of xie lian’s fall from grace, because he’s proven himself trustworthy. yin yu learning this and learning what’s been done to hua cheng and how deeply he still loves xie lian, and maybe for the first time in his life being able to look at himself as something good.

not necessarily because hua cheng wants him in any way, but because if xie lian is still deserving of love (and of course he is, yin yu would never argue otherwise) and if their stories are so similar… well, let’s be honest, that’s what it would take for yin yu to feel capable of being a person again. i think he looks at hua cheng’s unending devotion and hears about wu ming and he sees quan yizhen. who was willing to die if yin yu asked it of him, in much the same way.

i don’t know how to end this, i just think the parallels there are neat :)

[red-pearl-white-flower]

For you I'll Become Invincible is COMPLETE!

This feels surreal!! I'm in tears!!!

Xie Lian finds a devoted ghost to assist him after the night in the Temple. They fall in love. WuMing’s soul is still dispersed. Now, with a new shackle cursing him with abysmal luck, Xie Lian wanders, looking for his very last believer who he is sure will return. What he finds in his travels is a sharp, kind little scholar by the name of He Xuan, whose luck might even rival his own. They become fast friends. It changes everything. Canon divergence divided in ten arcs.

[spoiler-alert-andabunchofnumbers]

Anyone else losing sleep over how Hua Cheng treats Eming poorly? Eming was made from his own eye, so you'd think they'd be in sync - and they are, when it combat, because Eming was born in a desperate need for a weapon and to overcome enemies.

But Eming was also born from a low point in Hua Cheng's existence and must represent the person he was back when it was created - utterly devoted to Xie Lian, but also too weak to have been of any use to him. He saw himself as a loathsome lost puppy lapping at the heels of a god he couldn't hope to be worthy of serving, crying over everything.

It was also during his time desperately overcoming the trials to become a Supreme, aka what Hua Cheng also considers a shameful part of himself. The moment Xie Lian learns about the divine statues and murals, Hua Cheng jumps to suggest they be destroyed, and had tried as hard as he could to make sure they weren't discovered at all.

He changed himself into a suave, calm, collected, overpowered loyal servant to Xie Lian after 800 years, thinking that his prior exploits as a human and as a Wrath were too erratic and disrespectful and not at all how he wanted to be. He would indeed still do everything that Xie Lian wants of him, but now he's actually confident he could do it - so confident that he would even follow Xie Lian's heart when it doesn't seem like the right thing to do or even endangers him. No more hiding behind a mask as Wuming or lying about being his follower. He looks down upon who he used to be: all the same devotion, but not enough power, experience, or confidence to actually do anything RIGHT.

It's no wonder that Hua Cheng not only says no when Eming first wants a pet, but also repeatedly whacks Eming when the blade gets too needy. He thinks Eming's needy behavior (a reminder of his own personality back in the day) is as shameful as the past he worked desperately to leave behind. When he would have broken out into tears just trying to be noticed, when he was desperate for love and clung to Xie Lian when he first showed him kindness.

Eming is willing to show emotion and cry and become erratic even when Hua Cheng himself is keeping a surface-level calmness or focus. Is it any wonder why Hua Cheng doesn't want Xie Lian to see that he still feels emotions and weakness when he dedicated himself to being strong enough to protect Xie Lian, eliminate all his threats, get him whatever he wanted, so that he never had to suffer again?

Eming's sentience is limited, so the blade never evolves or changes or gets over its emotions by processing them over time. Hua Cheng himself was able to change into the person he wanted to be - or who he thought Xie Lian would need and like better - but Eming could never take the same steps. It remains as utterly devoted to Xie Lian and simple-minded as the moment it was born.

It just also happens to be a super deadly saber on the side nbd

[xielianlover2]

I want to talk about unconditional forgiveness and how crucial it is for Xie Lian to have someone who offers it to him with no strings attached.

Throughout Xie Lian's life, he experiences numerous falls from grace, each one more devastating than the last. He goes from being a beloved crown prince and a renowned god to a figure of scorn and bad luck. The weight of his past and the suffering he has endured often make him question his own worthiness and ability to protect others.

Which is why, for Xie Lian, Hua Cheng's forgiveness is a lifeline. Knowing that there is someone who believes in him, no matter what, allows Xie Lian to forgive himself and move forward. In a world where divine beings are often portrayed as infallible, we see by the end, that pretty much every god has their own flaws and that even those with immense power are not immune to making grievous errors in judgment.

I think Hua Cheng’s forgiveness also symbolizes a deeper, transformative love. It’s a love that goes beyond mere acceptance; it’s a commitment, a promise, a vow to stand by Xie Lian no matter what, and that's what makes his love so rare and beautiful. It's such a stark contrast to the judgment Xie Lian has faced from his people and other gods. While his own friends basically turned their backs on him, Hua Cheng remained his most loyal and devoted believer. His cheerleader, for a lack of better words. Hua Cheng embodies the truest form of compassion– understanding and embracing someone wholly.

Hua Cheng's love and acceptance allow Xie Lian to feel seen and understood in a way that no one else has ever provided. This kind of forgiveness is not about overlooking mistakes or pretending they didn't happen; rather, it's about recognizing the entirety of a person's journey and choosing to embrace them regardless.

Hua Cheng's acceptance allows Xie Lian to be vulnerable about his deepest fears and struggles. It also gives him the ability to ask for something he needs for himself:

"All right... don't say any more. I get it... but... but don't be like this, all right? San Lang? I... I've borrowed so much spiritual power from you that I haven't repaid. And I'm not done telling you all the things that I wanted to say; there's still so much. It's been so long since anyone listened to me talk. Won't you stay? Don't.. don't do this. I won't be able to take it. Twice, it's happened twice already-I really don't want there to be a third time!"

In this moment, Xie Lian’s plea reveals how extremely isolating his life has been. He has been perpetually misunderstood, and I believe that even before his first ascension, he has always felt profoundly alone. Throughout his life, Xie Lian has been surrounded by people who either see him through the lens of his past or view him as a mere symbol; a divine god, so therefore flawless and someone beyond approach. It strips away his humanity and the complexities of his true self, unable to be seen as a person with real feelings and imperfections. Even his Feng Xin and Mu Qing put him up in a pedestal, and no matter what happened, no matter how understandable it was, everyone still left him in the end.

Then, to have someone say they understand his everything, from his wisdom to his foolishness, and then also wholeheartedly support him and unconditionally love him? That they never, ever left him, that they've always been there, constant and unchanging in their love, in their devotion? That must have felt life-changing to him. Something groundbreaking and pivotal.

He is essentially begging for the one person who understands him completely—and who accepts him unconditionally despite everything—not to leave him. When Xie Lian begs Hua Cheng to stay, it is not just a request for physical presence but a desperate need for emotional reassurance and acceptance. For Hua Cheng is Xie Lian's safe haven where he can express his deepest fears and unspoken desires, a place of solace and affirmation that he has long been missing from everyone else.

[yulen-the-ghost]

When Xie Lian asked Ruoye to grab onto something "dependably solid", it took San Lang. Ruoye is a smart silk. It did that on purpose.

But how did it know that San Lang was dependable? Enough to bring him so close to his master as a safe solution.

Was it because of the little time Xie Lian spent with him in the shrine?

Perhaps if was.

Or perhaps only Ruoye recognized San Lang from so many years ago.

Little time after its birth, Ruoye met a ghost who served to his master with devotion.

Maybe, as a cursed tool it recognized his energy and knew that even after all these years, this ghost was still loyal.

[sugurushairtye]

Hua Cheng being born out of the anger, pain and resentment he felt when xie lian was stabbed by a hundred swords which essentially kills him metaphorically. And hua cheng (wuming) dying by letting a hundred (or so) sword like dead vicious spirits pierce through him to save xl as xl is 'born'/ 'brought back to life' because his belief (that once faltered) of him still having a devoted follower in this world was restored. One of them dying for the other to be born again until they could be together forever.

[khattikeri]

the way shi qingxuan wasn't meant to be a god but accepted godhood that was meant to be he xuan's, and hua cheng wasn't meant to be a ghost but denied godhood because of his devotion to xie lian. the way both shi qingxuan and hua cheng were collateral damage in front of he xuan and xie lian's respective anger. the way xie lian's biggest regret is his second ascenscion because it led to wu ming's death. the way he xuan still hasn't passed on because shi qingxuan still ties him to the world even after his revenge on shi wudu hurt them too. maybe i'm crying

[aerscribbles]

Some pointers on writing Hua Cheng's mental state, because people seem to think I'm good at that:

If you have ADHD or other neurodivergence with a tendency to fixate, imagine yourself in such a state that thinking about your hyperfixation replaces most of your physical needs and also makes you stronger. If you don't, ask someone who does (my askbox and messages are open).

He fidgets. He stims. He makes a smiley face from his food before he eats it on multiple occasions in canon. Him silly.

Before the start of canon, this man has had about TWO instances of consciously accepting friendly touch that he fully remembers (that we know about), both from Xie Lian. Touch starvation, touch starvation for DAYS.

Read some papers on parasocial relationships.

His self-hatred is in a completely different form than what a lot of the fandom seems to mischaracterize him as- I see this part of his issues as a combination of guilt over his 'failures' and dehumanizing himself as an object belonging to Xie Lian. Oooh, parallels!

He is not just his devotion to Xie Lian, he is a person with his own thoughts, opinions, aesthetics and moral perspectives. The reason his devotion is so significant is that he is willing to throw it all away at the slightest hint of Xie Lian wanting him to do so.

He genuinely cares about Ghost City with all its chaos, and is willing to let Xie Lian see its darker realities. It's not just a chore or a duty for him, he isn't ashamed, he likes the residents and is perfectly willing to protect them from traditional justice. Consider him as the leader of a crime family, still in a position of great authority but having a real bond with his subordinates.

None of that 'unworthy to be in your presence' stuff. He is FINE with Xie Lian initiating any kind of contact or interaction as long as it is not a situation where he feels he 'tricked' Xie Lian into doing it (oxcart).

Vriscourse participant. Xie Lian did nothing wrong.

[estrella-etoile]

The Who of Hua Cheng

I am going to venture a guess that I spend more time than at least 99% of the population thinking deeply about Hua Cheng (not that hard but the brain rot is still real).

I find myself turning around and around in my mind the who of Hua Cheng, because TGCF is written from Xie Lian's point of view. We see moments with him, which are keystone moments in Hua Cheng's life for certain, but are brief compared to the rest.

And sometimes I worry that we don't think enough about Hua Cheng as a fully fleshed person. Is he a supreme because of XL? Absolutely he is. But all the rest of the things about him are very much inherently him.

It means that tiny Hong'er was extremely smart even when marked with the curse. And that Hong'er was tenacious too. It meant that Hong'er had martial prowess great enough to ascend, all on his own. In another world (one where he was not born under the Star of Solitude), Hong'er would be a god.

I think it bears mentioning that even in spite of being born under such a curse, all he needed to reach the heights he was destined to reach was the kindness of a single person: Xie Lian.

Was Xie Lian his totem? Absolutely! But the thing about being devout is that it comes from within. Hua Cheng's strength is not something he borrows from Xie Lian. It's not something he depends on Xie Lian for in order to flourish and grow.

And I think that's important.

Hua Cheng is very much his own person. He's made thousands and thousands of choices in his life. Are they choices that he weighs based on what his god would do? Yes, very much. But he does not depend on Xie Lian to make those choices.

He made Ghost City in part to curb the worst instincts of people. And he also made it to give wayward wanderers with nowhere to go a place to call home.

He answers the prayers of children going to his temples over rich folks.

He made a teleportation array that serves half as a prank to people who use it.

All while searching for his vagabond god.

Don't get me wrong, this does not mean that he would not give each and every piece of himself to Xie Lian once the two were reunited. And those other things he did are truly secondary to his vow to love and protect his god, but I don't think we should forget how extraordinary Hua Cheng is, even in the secondary.

Xie Lian fell in love with Hua Cheng so easily because of the person he was. He's clever, and he's funny, and he's kind (even if he denies it), and he's a martial master. He was these things independent of Xie Lian, but because of Xie Lian's moment of kindness, he was also not robbed of sharing those parts of him with the world.

Hua Cheng and Xie Lian truly belong together. Not because Hua Cheng is devoted, but because Hua Cheng is amazing.

[muqingapologist]

rambling about fengqing

something about mu qing and feng xin seeing hua cheng and xie lian happy together and feeling as if they’re seeing their failure personified because they were never devoted enough in the end

something about mu qing’s lasting regret being not so much about the wrongs he’s done to xie lian (leaving him, not standing up for him, etc) so much as about the way he’s spent his whole life pushing everyone away

something about mu qing realizing that he has spent 800 years with so little to show for it beyond his achievements as a god…but personally, all was lost with the death of his mother…until xie lian ascends again, but well, though they can be friends now, xie lian has a life separate from him now

and then something about how feng xin begins to give mu qing the benefit of the doubt. at first for xie lian’s sake, he’ll try to be his friend. but this person actually isn’t so bad. in fact, isn’t this the person that can understand him best in this world.

feng xin showing mu qing kindness, allowing mq to realize that maybe he hasn’t ruined everything for himself. realizing that feng xin isn’t actually so much of an idiot. letting his defenses fall away bit by bit.

the realization that even after 800 years, people are capable of change. feng xin is capable of considering mu qing in a totally different light. mu qing is capable of forgiving himself and letting himself be vulnerable.

mu qing finding one day that he’s in love and it’s terrifying because feng xin hates him still, right? he’s just being nice for xie lian’s sake.

feng xin not having any qualms about loving mu qing. at first, he’s surprised himself, but he considers how happy he is these days with him.

feng xin and mu qing understanding each other better than anyone else and falling in love because of it!! growing independently and together at the same time!!

not instant love, not 800 years of pining, but slow, patient changes that lead to a deep trust and affection and understanding between the two that they both thought was impossible just a few years ago.

[danmeiconnoisseur]

one of my favorite scenes in tgcf is the cave of ten thousand gods because of what it reveals about xie lian. hua cheng is actually a walking red flag and its quite clear to everyone that he's obsessed with xie lian to an unhealthy degree. with the reveal about the earring and the statues, feng xin and mu qing are rightfully concerned, and fx asks xl, 'doesn't looking at these things scare you?' and when xl defends hc, mq says 'did he actually cast something on you to confound your mind? i think even if he was to write ‘suspicious’ on his face you’d suddenly become illiterate.'

now xl is the king of willful ignorance and self-delusion, but in this scene can't deny hc's devotion to him. however, xl is used to being abandoned. his entire country turned it's back on him, his parents killed themselves, his best friends abandoned him, and he was expelled from heaven, hated and mocked by everyone in the three realms. except for one person. xl still doesn't realize his whole history with hc and a lot of assumptions are made during this scene, but seeing proof of hc's devotion comforts him. hc is the only one who believes in xl, and xl is so messed up and traumatized by his past experiences that being stalked for 800 years is his idea of a dream relationship. i think that 'cute and wholesome' is a fundamental misinterpretation of hualian's relationship. yes, they have cute moments, but they're both so deeply fucked up that outsiders of their relationship are very concerned.