#this is also fun because when jgy 'confesses to a murder' obviously he's saying the truth! but when he's saying he had no choice

[leatherbookmarking]

#i'm sorry but this is SO funny #mdzs #even if you just assume that jgy didn't mean it when he confessed to  his death. for some reason #it's clear he had been planning his death anyway and was willing to do it himself...

is it? i guess we’ll have to call it a difference in interpretation, (which. if the text allows there to be one, i’d say it doesn’t state enough stuff as an undisputable fact) because

a, i consider an undisputable fact to be a fact that you can’t dispute with, such as “wwx did practice necromancy” or “wwx and jc loved jyl very much”. there’s enough about it in source text, and you can’t really find anything against it. this is different from, idk, “jc was abusive” or “xy only considered xxc a toy and nothing more”, no matter how certain people will insist they’re true, because it’s literally not mentioned in the text itself, and you’re supposed to work that out on your own, yknow, as a reader with certain skills.

b,

“i killed my brother” jin zixuan, i assume. did he? he only told him where wwx is going. the rest was out of his grasp: it was jzx who went there, jzx who tried to intervene, and wwx who’s lost control over his zombie friend. are we to assume jgy was so clever he was 100% confident this would happen, resulting in jzx’s death? when there are so many things that could go differently? that would make him a bit of a lousy murderer, wouldn’t it

“killed my wife” qin su... pretty famously snatched the dagger out of jgy’s grasp and stabbed herself. again, lousy killer jgy strikes back -- if he wanted qin su dead dead, there were other ways to do it than stand next to her with a dagger. like she could have. not taken it from him. and again, there are people 100% confident that ooooobviously it was a murder, but there are people, including me, who doubt that, which kinda excludes jgy murdering qin su from the undisputable fact club.

if anything, these deaths have one thing in common: if jgy didn’t do certain things, they could have been avoided. but yknow, if there are two fast food places nearby, and i tell my hungry friend to go to the one in a location that has much more street traffic and some accidenta have happened in the past, is it explicitly my fault if this friend gets in an accident?

or looking at it from the other side -- “father”’s death was arranged specifically as a murder plot, “teacher” was wrh that jgy choked to death with a guqin string or perhaps nmj, whose jgy also very much killed by repeatedly and willingly coming and playing him the remixed song of tranquility. “allowing your brother to go to a potentially dangerous place” does not compare to that, especially considering he’s supposed to be a strong cultivator. “standing near your wife with a dagger” does not compare to that, considering the wife should have been immobilized.

so, jgy listing jzx and qs amongst those he killed is, to me, less like a confession of actual killing intent and more of a confession that he feels responsible for those deaths. which is different from willing murder as an undisputable fact, because i would feel guilty after telling my friend to go to the fast food place with more traffic, but it still doesn’t make me a murderer.

now we have even less said about jrs’s death in the text, because at least we’ve “seen” jzx and qs die. it’s unclear, for example, how did he die. poison? assassins? we just don’t know.gif.

the one person who seems to be responsible for like 99% of jgy antis’ conviction that he definitely did kill his son is sect leader yao, who in some circles might be celebrated as the lone warrior for truth and Facts (right until you need a minor irritating antagonist in a wangxian fanfic), but i beg to differ. his merry headcanons do, however, provide a clue as to why jgy could have said that jrs “had to die” and “if we let him grow up, you and i...”

(it’s interesting by the way that we’re debating over an unfinished sentence being a proof of an undisputable fact.)

namely, “children born of incest have higher chances of having developmental disabilities”, to put it gently. i’m pretty sure that whenever did mdzs take action, they didn’t have advanced studies of that topic, suggesting, for example, that any genetical stuff is less likely to happen the less the parents are related. jgy is someone who -- having lived his whole life with his mother’s ocupation thrown in his face, with people considering it absolutely okay to harass him, with people refusing to touch the things he’s touched in public -- is very sensitive to people’s opinions and how they can ruin a person. let’s assume jrs survives. can jgy be sure that he won’t be different from other children his age? can he be sure that the second he shows a weakness or does something differently, people won’t blame it on his bad blood? can he be sure no one in the world knows that he and qs are related? no. and he’s right, because look what was in that letter.

this is what he probably means by saying “you and i”. if we assume jgy knows that children of incest have a chance to be Different, then he probably knows about the consequences of having a “weird” child in his, and qin su’s, position. their reputation would be in danger, not in the “jgy can’t become the king of the world” sense but rather “jgy is dirty and his blood is bad because he’s the son of a whore” as well as “and qin su is dirty too, because she slept with him” as well as “poor qin sect, their daughter whored herself to a whore’s son and now they have a weird little kid together”. i won’t even think about the way the society would treat jrs himself.

this, i think, is what he meant. the three of them, and their families, would be ruined, and he knew it. he probably was aware of it when qin su told him she’s pregnant, when she gave bith to jrs, and for every day of jrs’s life. if so, then why didn’t he give qs abortifacient tea? or why did he wait with this murder, why didn’t he have jrs killed a couple of days after he was born? we don’t know, we don’t have enough #data. here, jrs is like qs and jzx, except that he’s a child. if jgy is aware that jrs should never have been born, and if jrs -- his son -- died, then as a parent he feels responsible for it.

this still doesn’t make him specifically, willingly, “i am going to do this thing so that he dies” murdering jrs an undisputable fact. again, if i say okay to my kid going to the fast food place, no matter how many times i say “be careful”, if they get in an accident and die, a/ i’m going to feel horribly guilty, even saying that i killed my child because i could have done this, or that, or that, b/ i’m still not guilty in a way that, yknow, i didn’t hit my child with a car, c/ i am, however, responsible for my child.

does that mean jgy either killed jrs with his own hands or had him assassinated? does that mean he was aware of a potential assassination plot and did nothing to stop it? does that mean he wasn’t aware and didn’t/couldn’t stop it in time, and despite knowing that this way it’s better for his and qin su’s public opinions, felt guilty and bad about his child dying?

we don’t know, we don’t have all the facts!

ergo, not an undisputable fact.

also whenever people say jgy killed his own child like it's an undisputable fact I'm like Source please

[crossdressingdeath]

(1/12) So a while ago I *think* someone on your blog brought up an idea making JYL take sides in a post-SSC AU where neither JC nor WWX lost their cores, WWX wanted to marry LWJ, and JC refused. I've been thinking about this in more detail, and I am very unlikely to write it, but I still wanted my thoughts to be Out There (and I don't do twitter so I can't make it a twitter fic), and I hoped you would enjoy the idea as well.

(2/12) Wen remnants are not an issue bc idk since JC didn't get captured and lose his core, WN couldn't have connected with WWX in the aftermath of that, so he tries helping WWX in a different way that ends up with WQ going with him, her branch splitting off and fighting with the SSC, and the sects agreeing to (and actually doing so, supported by both LXC and NMJ) leave them alone afterwards.

(3/12) Post-war, JYL married JZX, leaving WWX and JC alone together. WWX starts night-hunting a lot bc he finds he doesn't actually want to spend that much time with JC without a buffer. He ends up teaming up with LWJ a lot, who still goes where the chaos is, and obviously falls in love with him. They confess, are very happy, and go to LXC, who is very happy.

(4/12) Then LXC approaches JC about a marriage. JC is not happy. JC is like, they're both men! you think that's acceptable? no. and even if it were acceptable, WWX is my 2IC, I need him here. if he wants to get married, I can find him a woman who will stay with the Jiang.

(5/12) LXC is a little shellshocked, goes to tell WWX and LWJ what happened. WWX goes to ask JC what the fuck. JC goes off on a rant, tells WWX he promised to stand by him so he has to stay *home*, with JC. he's not allowed to just *leave*. does he seriously want to abandon the sect that took him in off the streets and raised him and taught him?

(6/12) and what, does he think LWJ will be willing to marry into the Jiang, for *WWX*? the Lans would never go for their sect heir leaving the sect to marry someone of lesser status. and besides, Lotus Pier is still rebuilding, so the Jiang wouldn't be able to put together a proper bride price for the second jade of Lan. it's not going to happen.

(7/12) WWX, depressed, goes to JYL for comfort. JYL is shocked at JC's decision but not sure how to handle it. JZX very awkwardly tries to comfort WWX, starts establishing himself as best brother. Eventually WWX goes back to Lotus Pier because he *is* loyal, but he's torn between nighthunting and maybe encountering LWJ again, which would be painful, or staying in Lotus Pier with JC, which is also painful.

(8/12) They stay in this holding pattern for a while until the next discussion conference, when LQR corners WWX to be angry at him for breaking LWJ's heart. WWX, depressed and angry himself but still polite because he *doesn't* badmouth JC in public, explains that his sect leader is unable to spare him and they could not ask the Lan to spare LWJ, everything JC ranted to him about, etc. 

(9/12) LQR, who had basically convinced himself that JC would only have said no if WWX hadn't actually wanted the marriage (because why the hell else would he turn down a great match and good alliance like that) and that WWX had just been playing with LWJ, is shocked. he can see really clearly that WWX is miserable but filial, and JC really is the problem here. LQR now respects WWX's filial piety, is angry that he respects anything about WWX, and still wants to make his nephew happy.  

(10/12) Cue a pro-marriage conspiracy. JYL has been writing back and forth with LXC about options, so LQR joins their discussions. NHS, who heard about what happened and likes WWX way more than JC, invites himself along. JZX offers the support of the Jin, because he's finding he likes one BIL much better than the other (and JGS is out of the picture somehow; maybe JGY got fed up and murdered him already) and it would make JYL happy if WWX were happy.

(11/12) So while LWJ is miserably fighting chaos somewhere and WWX goes to visit the Wens and daydream about him and LWJ adopting a-Yuan and giving him a good future, everyone else goes to confront JC. LQR emphasizes the match and the alliance, JZX agrees it would be good for Lotus Pier and the post-SSC political landscape generally.

(12/12) NHS pokes at JC's insecurities and is like, WWX is indispensable here? you are incapable of functioning without him? and by the way, that promise you want to hold him to -- didn't he say that he would support you like his father did yours? didn't his father *also* leave to get married? and the whole time, JYL is sitting there, very obviously taking WWX's side. JC caves, because of course he does. WWX and LWJ get to get married and adopt a-Yuan and WWX only rarely has to see JC again.

Oh, that’s fun. I especially like the bit where NHS uses JC’s pride against him by pointedly calling him out on being incapable of functioning without WWX. Very good politicking. I’m imagining NHS with all wide-eyed innocence just being like “Oh? You truly can’t manage without WWX’s help? Weren’t you trained to run a sect? Can’t you find a new second-in-command for the sake of your brother’s happiness?” and basically just pushing and pushing until JC has to either let WWX go or admit that he’s incapable of doing his job without a loyal mega-genius doing most of the work for him.

[pastthevaulteddoors]

My brain fogs usually end with me babbling.

This morning @delicatelygloriousphoenix allowed me to babble to them about a thought I had.

And then... It just kept going.

I’m still tired. Here’s a cut version of that conversation.

I had a thought before bed last night 'cause I'm finishing up the extras to SVSSS.

What if someone was reborn into Mo Dao Zu Shi and had to save everyone?

What if Jiang Cheng was the person they were born into? I can't remember the scene properly from the novel, but right before WWX interrupts the summit meeting on Koi/Carp tower, drinks LWJ's booze and accuses Jin Zixun of his labor camp is when this person becomes the new Jiang Cheng. He himself interrupts WWX's rant that nearly falls into a fight and demands that he/Lotus Pier are allowed to keep the rest of the Wens because they burned the place to the ground and therefore have a right to them to rebuild the place.

The argument is quick, and JC is like "I'm taking them" and drags WWX out in surprise. But he turns to LWJ and is like "You comin'?" so of course LWJ comes when he's actually invited to do so. They run off to the camp. JC tries to hurry to get there before Wen Ning is stabbed. They do get there earlier than in the show/novel, but WN is already stabbed (but not dead).

They drag the Wens and an unconscious WN out of the camp. WWX doesn’t go nuts because WN isn’t dead yet and JC is there to lay down some tsundere harshness in his stead.

They have to stop at a village before they get there where Wen Qing can work on her brother and the Wens can rest. JC buys them all rando threadbare robes so they don't stand out as Wens anymore.

Lan Xichen shows up at some point to see if he can't... not so much help as his position won't allow him to take sides on this, but there to 'check on his brother.’ When he gets there, he’s pushed to the inn room where he sees JC focused at WN’s side. He’s giving him spiritual energy while WQ rests nearby. That's LXC’s first little spark of  "Ah, JC is nicer than he first appears."

The Wens are supposed to be 'laborers' to help rebuild Lotus Pier, but JC's really just wanting to make sure that WWX isn't forced off to Burial Mounds and becomes an icon of hatred like the show/novel. And he doesn't have to remove him from the sect entirely.

However, he tells a distracted WWX that he obviously has ideas with his new powers and gives him leave to seclude himself to practice/create/invent but in a safe environment. Jiang Yanli is happy that her brothers are not alone yet able to pursue their separate interests/areas of need.

LXC suggests Gusu taking the Wens as well as 'laborers' since Cloud Recesses was also burned down by the Wens. In reality, they have more safe space for the Wens, it's harder to ambush the 'labor camp' when it's on a mountain peak.

This is where the ALIVE yet healing Wen Ning and Wen Qing ask the Lans to take care of A-Yuan as they are not in the best situation to take care of a child at their camp. This is where LWJ and the frequently visiting WWX basically adopt him.

I mean, if the Wens aren't in danger, WWX has no reason to go back to the burial mounds so of course he’d come to check up on the Wens a lot. Which just means hanging out with A-Yuan and the bunnies often. If LWJ happens to be there with him all the time... well... who’s to say what that means?!

Meanwhile, JC is trying to handle his sect with only a bit of help from WWX here and there, although Wen Qing shows up a lot, as does LXC as a gesture of goodwill and to help the young new sect leader.

JC enjoys being a leader and the System provided him with knowledge and ability to train his new sect. He used to be a salaryman when he was alive, this is far more exciting and much more stimulating.

JC is pretty oblivious that both WQ and LXC are absently crushing on this confident and warmly grumpy JC. He just thinks they like visiting him to talk sect leader stuff or night hunt or... maybe he even thinks they’re his friends.

BUT JC knows his mission is not done, as the System keeps reminding him.

He needs to make sure Jin Guangyao doesn't marry his sister but he can't break OOC or share his knowledge of knowing that JGY and Qin Su are siblings... so he subtly courts Qin Su instead to basically cock block JGY.

Which surprises all but whatever. JC has changed since becoming sect leader, or so they say (really, JC is a different person entirely but ya know).

JC is okay with it, saying Qin Su is a decent woman and pretty enough. He'd be okay if they'd end up marrying, although he's very aware that JGY might try to murder him for taking the girl he likes but he's got his defenses up.

The courting goes on for awhile and JC keeps blocking JGY’s advances where he can but doesn’t go further with his own.

A few years later, JC hosts a birthday party of four year old Jin Ling, with little Lan Sizhui, Lan Jingyi, Ouyang Zizhen among others... so it's a mini sect leader party, too. All of this without going OOC, he's still a grumpy sect leader but he's less feared (like, in the novel, JC was a friggen murderer! He tortured and killed anyone he thought was using WWX's methods or was his incarnation!). People actually seem to like him!

Late night at the party WWX, JC, LWJ, and LXC were hanging out. They suggest going on a boat together because a lot of lanterns were going to be let off in the lakes for JL’s birthday.

JC 'accidentally' spills tea on LXC's robes so he has to excuse himself to change. The others wait by the boat and JC is like "Oop, I changed my mind. I'm going to do something else" and kicks the boat off with LWJ and WWX in it and walks away. He chills in a pavilion a little bit later, watching the lanterns on the water and a few boats out there when LXC comes back. He doesn't even ask when happened and joins him, watching the boat that their brothers are in. LXC and JC haven't talked about it, but they both low key ship LWJ and WWX so they're of agreement.

This event triggers the Wangxian relationship quest. JC is pretty happy that they don’t have to wait 13-16 years before they get to enjoy each other’s company.

And that's when JC himself starts to admire LXC. Not that he hadn't before, they had become friends of sorts from both rebuilding their sects, passing advice to each other, and generally get to complain to each other as young sect leaders. JC kept distance though, knowing LXC’s sworn brothers are his confidants but now and again LXC even lets on a bit of that drama (realizing how much NMJ and JGY are at odds) when JC mentions "they just gotta fuck and get it out of their system"

But yeah, it's during that conversation that JC is like "LXC is actually really attractive and fun to talk to..." crush style.

Then a new mission starts! JC has to team up with LXC to get JGY and NMJ together. All the while JC is loosely courting Qin Su still. Wen Qing has since moved on with her affections (WQ is fast realizing that everyone is gay and instead goes to make out with Mianmian because yes lesbians!).

So LXC realizes that he likes JC but doesn't think he'd be interested because of Qin Su and Wen Qing.

Meanwhile, JC is like "The author said the only gay couple in this novel was WWX and LWJ but!!!?!?!?!??!?!? everyone is gay!?”

At WWX and LWJ's wedding, LXC and JC spy on JGY and NMJ who end up kissing behind a tree. They're tipsy but success! JC gives LXC a high five which amuses LXC because 'wtf is a high five? that's so cute, what a grumpy dork'

JC outright stops courting Qin Su then, which pisses off her sect, that is in close ties with the Jins, which turn their anger towards the Jiang sect. So JC has to fight with the Jins in a political battle, and his sister is preggers with her third kid so she can't help much.

But it's finally JGY that stands up to his father to stop bulling smaller sects. No hard feelings for stealing Qin Su then dumping her, apparently.

It's about this time when Mo Xuanyu shows up and is like "you're my daddy" Lady Jin already hates her husband's illegitimate children but now she's furious, especially after her friend tells her that Jin Guangshan raped her and Qin Su is ALSO an illegitimate child (another reason JGY decides he doesn’t hate JC for cock blocking him).

All this combined, Jin Guangshan is shamed off his throne. Jin ZiXuan takes up a lead and JGY (now renamed Jin Ziyao as is the proper generational name) decides he's happy with not being an asshole (since he's getting good dickings with his boyfriend NMJ and Lady Jin has finally stopped bullying him) and decides that he'd be content, even happy, being his brother's advisor rather than dethroning him for sect leadership.

But of course there's gotta be drama. Shi Su and Jin Zixun are not the smartest of people but they've teamed up with Xue Yang who has a bit of the Iron. Together, they start to plot against the sects to overrule them, because they're dumb idiots with a semblance of power.

That's about as far as my brain went when I fell asleep and then this morning when the brain fog focused on that instead of on work while I was waking up.

Just something about 13 years later, JC and LXC are pretty close but not lovers yet, when something-something adventure and JC and LXC become a thing in a similar manner that WWX and LWJ did in the novel. RANDOM CONFESSION TIME that other people have to point out to them!

The following is related conversation but I don’t want to put my friend’s part so... it’s disjointed. Sorry not sorry I’m tired.

Continued conversation about wangxian being together:

because JC already knew they'd be together from the show/novel, and LXC shipped them, so they teamed up to get them to confess

That's what I meant when JC forced them onto a romantic boat ride together.

They weren't parted from the Wen fight stuff so instead of fighting at Nightless City, they had time to realize their feelings and not die instead of confess. ;p

Conversation... conversation...

So for so long JC doesn't know he's into guys (LXC in particular, kinda like SQQ in SVSSS) but just like JC in the novel, he gets himself blacklisted from the matchmakers. Meanwhile, this whole time his very close friend, LXC (they're really close now since JGY and NMJ are a couple so he doesn't like to third wheel it and instead spend his time with JC) things that JC is straight and lowkey crushes on him for 13-16 years before WWX and LWJ have to spell it out to them.

but Lan have a-yuan as adopted heir

He'd (JC) probably ask Jinli if one of her kids could be heir

What if Jin Zixun tries to take the sect leader throne or something. He'd be next in line if jin Zixuan didn't die and JGY didn't step up.

[crossdressingdeath]

I find it really strange how LXC has more haters than JC. Overall I do think he’s pretty well liked, but I have seen way more criticism for him than for JC, which is weird. Because I feel like you can find legitimate explanations for a lot of LXC’s choices, whereas the same can’t be said for JC. Let’s look at LXC’s supposed crimes. Trusting JGY? Well, I don’t think we can complain about that, and then at the same time 1/10

breath turn around and support LWJ for always standing up for WWX because...look, I get that it's not exactly the same thing. And it's REALLY not the same thing because it ultimately turned out that JGY couldn't be trusted, but the thing is, LXC genuinely didn't know that at the time! This guy was a very close friend of his! He believed in him! JGY had saved his life in the past! And just like LWJ always supports his loved ones without a second thought, LXC is doing the same thing. Because, 2/10

in this eyes, JGY hasn't really given him any reason not to trust him. The guy is a very good manipulator, and when you are that close to someone, you WANT to believe the best in them. LXC is not an idiot, he is the victim of someone else's manipulations, and it's not like pretty much everyone in the cultivation world suspected anything either. The only one who was actively trying to take down JGY was NHS, who KNEW that the man had murdered his brother. I have no doubt that if LXC had 3/10

been aware of it, he would never have supported him. Not only that - as soon as there is any doubt about JGY's intentions, the man takes an objective stance! He agrees to listen to the evidence! He isn't just blindly denying what's in front of him, regardless of what that would mean for his own feelings; but of course he isn't going to blindly denounce JGY with no proof because this is his closest friend. And while he obviously trusts his brother, he also knows that LWJ's priority is 4/10

WWX, who LXC really doesn't have any reason to trust at that point? We know WWX, LWJ knows WWX, but LXC and him really haven't had that many interactions, on top of his current reputation in the cultivation world. The fact that LXC is so willing to help and hide WWX, despite knowing the dangers it might cause for his sect, and all because he trusts his brother is...a very big thing. It's more than JC would EVER do for WWX. I've also seen criticism for LWJ's punishment, which I honestly 5/10

don't understand because a) the Lan clan also has elders which probably had a big say in the punishment too, and b) LWJ DID commit a crime! It wasn't just him protecting WWX, it was him injuring dozens of members of the Lan sect! Sure, we know why he did it, but just how would it look to the rest of the sect if LXC had just excused that behaviour? Or to the rest of the world? What would it do to his brother's place in the sect if he hadn't been punished for it? I really don't think LWJ 6/10

could have gotten out of that without some form of punishment, and if LXC even had the sole say over it after all (which I highly doubt he would have with no repercussions) that was probably the best alternative to banishment, or perhaps even worse. I've seen criticism (and this is so, so strange) over him blindly accepting the story about his mother, which is so stupid because...LWJ also accepted it, LXC has no way of finding out anything about his mother, and WE as readers know nothing 7/10

about his mother! For all we know, she COULD have been in the wrong, or his parents could have had a completely different relationship from how other people perceive it; we just don't know enough to make a judgement. And then finally, I see people criticizing his behaviour towards WWX. Okay, I kind of do find this annoying too - I was frustrated when he essentially blamed WWX for LWJ's actions, because honestly, LWJ is a grown man who can make his own decisions, but...I also kind of 8/10

understand this. Because this is his BROTHER, and of course he's going to be protective or resentful when he's hurt, it's just a natural reaction to have. It's only natural, and people can't be objective all the time. And also, I think a lot of his annoyance came from him thinking that WWX knew about his brother's feelings, and was essentially mocking them by pretending to flirt with him, and honestly, from an outsiders perspective it would kind of look like that. Despite his own feelings, 9/10

He still supports LWJ in all his decisions though. It’s just so weird that there is so much criticism for LXX, when you can understand his supposed mistakes a lot more than someone like JC. But then, JC pretty much gets no criticism from the fandom. I’ve actually seen people who can’t stand LXC, but then support JC at the same time, and that is so, so weird. 10/10

The thing is, LXC has just as much reason to trust JGY as LWJ does to trust WWX. We as readers know that WWX is in the right, but LWJ, in-universe, doesn’t. He himself admits that he believes and wants to help WWX because he loves him, not because he’s certain he’s in the right. There’s actually a lot less evidence against JGY than there is against WWX for a lot of the story! Evidence that LXC as an in-universe character with his level of knowledge would have access to, I mean. LXC himself points this out; LWJ believes JGY has done these terrible things because WWX said so, not because they have physical proof; at this point in the story it very much is WWX’s word against JGY’s, so doesn’t LXC have the right to give JGY the benefit of the doubt and trust him the way LWJ trusts WWX? And even saying that, the moment he has reason to distrust JGY he revokes his access to the Cloud Recesses and is clearly upset at the idea that he could have misjudged the situation so badly. And remember, JGY’s reputation was impeccable before WWX accused him (origins aside); LXC had no reason to doubt him, but he still did, because WWX said he should and LWJ trusted WWX’s judgement. Can you imagine any other character in this novel immediately searching for evidence and acting as soon as that evidence was uncovered even when that evidence proved their long-held beliefs wrong?

And re the punishment, it was punishment for attacking the elders, not necessarily for helping WWX; thirty-three lashes for thirty-three elders badly injured. LXC couldn’t have just... let LWJ get away with attacking the elders of their clan, that would’ve been a political disaster within their sect even keeping the whole thing a secret from other sects. And honestly? Between helping the cultivation world’s enemy number one and gravely injuring the clan’s elders, it wouldn’t surprise me if LWJ could’ve been executed. Any other sect leader probably would’ve executed him for aiding WWX, but LXC couldn’t do that to his brother. Instead he sent the elders who most respected LWJ to apprehend him and bring him back before anyone else realized what he was doing. Was the whipping severe? Definitely. But considering what other punishments were on the table, I’d argue LXC was downright merciful. LWJ clearly thinks it was justified, or at least understandable, and while that doesn’t necessarily mean it was okay (I mean, WWX insists JC repeatedly trying to kill him is totally fine), I do think that should be considered. LWJ knew he would be punished when he went back; a big part of the novel is accountability for one’s actions, and I’d argue this is a part of that theme. 

LXC believing the story about his mother is like... what else is he supposed to do? As you say, LWJ also seems to believe it. They have no reason to doubt it! The certainty suggests that no one (not the sect’s elders, not their uncle, not even their mother) ever brought up the possibility of it being false! When all evidence suggests that something is true and you can’t find anything to disprove it, insisting it’s false anyway will only hurt you! Of course he believes the only story anyone has ever told him when not even the woman it’s about suggested it was a lie! Leave him alone!

And the whole thing with WWX is fairly explicitly him thinking WWX knew LWJ was in love with him and chose to toy with his feelings just for fun. And also making his brother miserable for 13 years, which granted wasn’t really WWX’s fault, but we can’t fault a brother for seizing upon the most obvious target to blame for his baby brother’s suffering. From the outside it really does look like WWX was just toying with LWJ, after all; we know better because we’re in WWX’s head and know that he doesn’t know LWJ’s in love with him, and WWX corrects his behaviour as soon as he realizes, but until WWX tells them he doesn’t remember LWJ’s confession LXC has no reason to believe he’s not being pointlessly cruel. And thinking someone is deliberately using your brother’s feelings to hurt him probably makes it considerably easier to believe that person is to blame for all your brother’s suffering. I do think LXC will get past his resentment of WWX given time! His hatred of WWX is an immediate reaction to the suffering of someone he loves. You know, like JC’s desire to murder all the Wens for the fall of Lotus Pier, except considerably less genocidal and considerably more likely to be gotten over.

As for why people make excuses for JC but talk shit about LXC... I don’t know. How fandoms pick their favourite characters has always been something of a mystery to me.