#tianzhen

[dailyfigures]

Wu Xie ; The Grave Robbers' Chronicles ☆ Myethos

[thetombraidersguild]

Time Raiders Game

[lunarriviera]

today is a special day tho, happy 47th tianzhen!!!

AKA how Wu Xie gets away with so much of his bullshit. (The original tweet, in case you are unfamiliar)

And it works on everybody except

[heymeowmao]

Gen Z (后浪) E5 ° Sun TouTou vs. “Niece-in-Law” and “Grand-Nephew”

[chineseredcarpet]

Yang Tianzhen shares pics of Li Xian as they were on the same boat for GQ 2023 MOTY Awards

[chiveburger]

I’m actually kind of sad I didn’t like “road home” as much as I wanted to. It just didn’t do it for me. It was way too slow burn and even though I think the pairing between jing boran and tan songyun was great, in my mind boran has always been kind of goofy... so I would’ve wanted them to be in something much more laid back and romcom-esque, even though I appreciate his sentiment when he was describing the hook of the show. he basically said that it’s not always realistic for a romantic relationship to recover from a break up, and in order for two people to meet again, and still hold onto the love they’d had is very hard yet can be very beautiful. I felt that your honor, and that’s exactly what they tried to showcase in road home. two people that loved each other so much, and despite breaking up still found comfort in one another after decades of not seeing or speaking to each other. I look at this drama just on paper and I think it’s revolutionary but when I actually watched it I never once got into it. the behind the scenes where boran is joking around with songyun which is him in his actual element honestly was often times more interesting and riveting than the show itself. so basically two of my favorite actresses were kind of in flop dramas (for me personally) but I’m being brave about it

[luyi]

Tianzhen!

Chen Minghao as Wang Pangzi & Zhang Luyi as Wu Xie in 藏海花 | Tibetan Sea Flower (2024) aka Adventure Behind the Bronze Door, episode 9

[new-dinosaurs]

Tianzhenosaurus chengi Pang et al., 2024 (new species)

(Skeleton of Tianzhenosaurus chengi including the type skull, from Pang et al., 2024)

Meaning of name: chengi = for Cheng Zheng-Wu [Chinese paleontologist]

Age: Late Cretaceous (Campanian)

Where found: Huiquanpu Formation, Shanxi, China

How much is known: A nearly complete skull and a nearly complete rest of the skeleton, presumably from the same individual.

Notes: T. chengi was an ankylosaurine ankylosaur, a group of armored dinosaurs known for their distinctive tail club. It was found at the same locality as the only other named species of Tianzhenosaurus, T. youngi, but differs from it in details of its armor plating, skull, and vertebrae. Some researchers have suggested that Tianzhenosaurus represents the same genus as Saichania, an ankylosaur otherwise known from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia, though the describers of T. chengi maintain that the two are distinct enough to be considered separate.

Reference: Pang, Q., Z. Li, and Z. Guo. 2024. A new species of ankylosaurian dinosaur—Tianzhenosaurus chengi sp. nov., from the Late Cretaceous of Tianzhen County, Shanxi Province, China. Journal of Hebei GEO University 47: 41–73. doi: 10.13937/j.cnki.hbdzdxxb.2024.06.006

[sunriseverse]

day two! picked the prompt "family" for today, in all its forms :) many thanks once more to @tiesanjiaoshenanigans for organising this all!

—

Wu Xie hasn't seen his parents for longer than a brief flash in—years. Which is why, when, on an utterly unremarkable Wednesday afternoon, enjoying the bright warmth of the summer's day from under the lovely protection of the shade trees in their yard, his phone rings, the last person he expects to hear on the other end is his father.

For a moment, silence reigns; Wu Xie had automatically set it to speaker out of habit, no need these days to hide his conversations from his companions, and, more than that, no real motivation to do so when half the time the calls are either spam or Li Cu calling to tear into him about whatever it is is his fault now, and so his father's voice is loud across the still summer air, and the emptiness left behind is jarring.

From where he's crouched and prodding at the garden soil, Pangzi's head rises, casting him a glance of concern. Wu Xie offers an instinctive smile, slightly strained around the edges, turns off speaker, and presses the phone to his ear. "Ba," he says. "It's been a while since I've heard your voice."

On the other end, a tinny sigh. "Wu Xie," his father says, "come home. Erbai is sick."

Whatever faint hope Wu Xie had had about this conversation possibly avoiding minefields as they'd so carefully managed for the past few decades and change dies a fiery, inglorious death, much like some unfortunate souls in that Nanjing tomb. Instinctively, Wu Xie wants to deny—to bring up the many, many rifts between him and his Ershu, tell his father he's not even sure the man would want to see him if he really is that sick. Pangzi would make a joke about Wu Xie scaring him the remaining half to death.

Instead, he breathes, slow and shallow. "How long?" he asks. Then: "No, don't tell me. I don't want to know." Couldn't bear knowing, his mind whispers in the dark recesses.

"I've booked a ticket for you," his father tells him. "You should have the confirmation information—I used your number."

Should I remember to pay that back? Wu Xie doesn't ask, because it's a step too far. His father has never expected him to pay back his generosity—has only ever expected nothing at all. It's not easy being the black sheep, Wu Xie knows. "Okay," Wu Xie mutters, numb, and feels suddenly and violently like a child, in all the worst ways. When he breathes, he can hear the whistle of it. Xiaoge keeps leaving out pamphlets about sleep pathology clinics. "I'll…see you."

His father doesn't say anything more, just goes mn, and hangs up. The phone, against his ear, is unpleasantly cool in the sunbright warmth of the midday. Wu Xie, stretched out on the reclined chair, stares incoherently up at the sparse clouds slowly meandering their way across the heavens, and wonders, not for the firs time, if there's a world where his family is less—complicated, fractious, just…less. Wonders if his grandfather's family had been like this, too—if the complexities stem from the wealth that he had later acquired, and the way that had shaped all their lives.

And then, without warning, a hand on his shoulder, familiar, slender fingers tapping against the joint of muscle between it and his neck. Wu Xie opens eyes he hadn't realised he'd closed, and finds Xiaoge's image, upside-down, standing over the back off the chair. His head is slightly cocked, inquisitive. "Wu Xie."

"Xiaoge," he returns, a reuful smile. "Did you hear all that?"

"Whatever it was, it wasn't good," comes Pangzi's voice, and when Wu Xie cranes his neck, he finds the other's stood up, pulling off his gloves and dusting off his knees, grass-stained. "Aiya, Tianzhen, what's that father of yours doing calling you up in retirement? I thought this was supposed to be our escape from the calling of the business."

Xiaoge lets out a low hmm. "Shaoxing."

"Ah, fuck off," Pangzi says, gamely, and reaches out to ruffle Xiaoge's hair in a clear show of affection. Wu Xie, suddenly, is so very content that he can't breathe around it. "Well, Tianzhen? Out with it. Ah, scoot over a bit, give your Pang-ye some space to sit."

"Get your own chair," Wu Xie grouses, batting ineffectually at Pangzi, until he has to shift halfway off the chair to give the other enough space to sit. "Si Pangzi," he grumbles, tossing his phone down onto the lush grass, because it'll just dig into his flesh if he tries to put it anywhere else.

Xiaoge's fingers, still on his skin, start tracing senseless patterns—or, rather, patterns with their own sense, but only to Xiaoge; Wu Xie's utterly shit at trying to play that game. He doesn't say anything, but his touch, and Pangzi's loud personality, go a long way to teasing the strands of tension in his body apart. Wu Xie sighs, and presses his eyes shut for a long, long moment, concentrates on the warmth of Pangzi's body and the slight chill of Xiaoge's fingers. "Ershu's sick," he says. "Ba didn't say what it was—just that he'd already booked a ticket for me."

Pangzi turns his head to look at him properly, brows furrowed. "What time?" he says.

There's a long pause, broken only by the distant birdsong and hum of cicadas. "I haven't checked," Wu Xie admits.

"Well, hurry up," Pangzi says, digging around in his own pockets. "This Pang-ye's not a miracle worker; I need to know when the ticket is so I can book two more for the same time."

"For the—Pangzi," Wu Xie says.

"Wu Xie," Pangzi says, in reply. "What, did you think we were just going to leave you to run off and deal with them on your own? Youth, you have so little faith in your elders," he mutters. "Really, what's the world coming to."

"I can't ask that of you," Wu Xie protests.

"You're not asking," Xiaoge points out, placid and paced. "We're offering."

Well, when he puts it like that. Wu Xie sighs. Sometimes, his lovers are terrible in the very best way. "Alright, alright," he says. "Pangzi, get your ass off my leg so I can grab my phone, you're flattening me—"

"Oh, that's how you repay your Pang-ye's generosity—?"

As they devolve into practiced bickering, Wu Xie notes, distantly, that the dark cloud that had fallen over him has begun to dissipate.

[hils79]

Hils Watches Tibetan Sea Flower - Ep 31

OMG I am finally back! This week has been insanely busy and I just haven't had time to watch any dramas. Honestly, rude of RL to get in the way when I only have 2 episodes left.

But I finally have some time so let's do the thing!

Uh...what's going on? I've never seen Pangzi look this serious before

Oh shit you know things are bad when Pangzi calls him Wu Xie instead of Tianzhen. Like when your parents use your full name when you're in trouble

Pangzi is the best husband

How many scroll are there? People keep finding more! Were these ones down the back of the sofa?

Oh no we're back to meteors again

Ah, this is classic DMBJ. There's no supernatural abilities it's all parasitic bugs from outer space

PANGZI IS SUCH A GOOD HUSBAND 😭

WU XIE IS SUCH A GOOD HUSBAND 😭

I have a bad feeling about this. Mostly because I know what happens over the next 5 years

Every time they talk to the statue I cry 😭

Me and Pangzi are on the same page as always

I do love a good yarn wall

Perfect job for the person who has the second biggest crush on Xiaoge

OH SHIT ARE WE DOING SHA HAI TOO? I mean obv not all of it because there's only one episode left but

Okay, it's more 'and then Sha Hai happened go watch/read that if you want to know more'.

I have no idea what's going to happen in the final episode then. This feels like the end.

[taomubiji]

Explaining Wu Xie's Many Names

I. Wu Xie (吴邪//Wú Xié)

Wu Xie's name is a homonym of the word innocent (无邪/Wú Xié, which can also be literally translated as "without evil"). Wu Xie's grandfather chose the name for him hoping he would be innocent and clean. He wanted Wu Xie to remain clean of the grave robbing industry. So, the name also means that the evil of the past generations will be wiped out by him.

II. Naïve (天真/Tiānzhēn)

Wu Xie's nickname "Naïve" or "Tianzhen" is used by Pangzi because he believes the other is naïve, but it is also a play on Wu Xie's name. The phrase "pure and innocent" (天真无邪/Tiānzhēn Wúxié) shares a homonym with Wu Xie's name. Pangzi initially calls him Tianzhen Wuxie but he eventually shortens it to just Tianzhen.

III. Little Master Three (小三爷/Xiǎo Sān Yé) 

Wu Xie's nickname "Young Master Three" or "Little Master Three" (小三爷/Xiǎo Sān Yé) comes from Wu Xie's third uncle Wu Sanxing who is called Master Three (三爷/Sān Yé). People in the grave-robbing industry call Wu Xie this nickname as a sign of respect and because of Wu Sanxing's reputation. Wu Xie's father is not in the industry, so he is known by others as Wu Sanxing's nephew. 

IV. Little Buddha Wu (吴小佛爷/Wú Xiǎo Fó Yé) 

Wu Xie's nickname "Little Buddha Wu" (吴小佛爷/Wú Xiǎo Fó Yé) is from the staff he worked with. It comes from this mantra Wu Xie had: “Amitabha, lay down your butcher’s knife and make money to become a Buddha”. He "liked everyone to be good, earn their own money, and live in harmony" and shied away from cruelty.

V. Guan Gen (关根/Guān Gēn)

The name Guan Gen is an alias Wu Xie used to get into some archaeological projects as a photographer. Wu Xie starts using it in Sand Sea. In Ultimate Note, the name appears when Wu Xie uses a fake name in a guest book. Ultimate Note is referencing Tomb of the Sea.

VI. Evil Emperor (邪帝/Xié Dì) and Mafia Widow

Both Evil Emperor and Mafia Widow are nicknames used by fans to describe Sand Sea era Wu Xie. Evil Emperor is the name used by c-fans to describe the extreme and ruthless measures Wu Xie took to enact his plan. The Evil (邪/Xié) in Evil Emperor is the same character used in Wu Xie's name.

The Mafia in Mafia Widow is used because Wu Xie acts like a member of a gang during Sand Sea/Tomb of the Sea. Widow comes from the fact that Zhang Qiling left to guard the bronze door and Wu Xie is left alone like a widow.

[lotusflowerbreakingthesurface]

Wu Xie's Birthday Congratulations

On this special day, let's get to know the cutest protagonist in DMBJ, Wu Xie aka Tianzhen aka Xiao San Ye, in a deeper understanding although everyone must already know him (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)

One of the best ways to understand what kind of character Wu Xie is by reading the book. I found some interesting meta/analysis about Wu Xie (and PingXie) and I want to share them here. However, everyone has a different perception and understanding of things, so just take it easy, okay? ദ്ദി(ᵔᗜᵔ)

Note: I'm not good at Chinese, feel free to correct me if you find some mistakes.

⚠️ Very long post ⚠️

Uh, I feel bad that this post turned out to be so long, while Xiaoge's birthday is so short, sorry Xiaoge! >.<

First of all, let's refresh our memory about Wu Xie that was going around on Chinese sites and other sites as well.

Wu Xie's Apperance

Source: Baidu

Handsome, with a face like a crown jade, fair skin, gentle and restrained, bookish, and as gentle as jade.

Slender hands: "Unfortunately, although my hands are slender, I have no strength at all." (Daomu Biji: Angry Sea, Hidden Sands Ch. 42 [MereBear's Translation] | Chinese version Ch. 13)

Pretty face: "Tianzhen, your original face is pretty. Why do you need to be the same as your Uncle Three?" (by Pangzi, Daomu Biji Vol. 8 Ch. 25 [MereBear's Translation])

Occasionally wear glasses (NPSS's interview)

As a lotus flower breaking the surface (idiom): "Indeed, our family’s Tianzhen is a fresh and clean refined little master, a surpassingly beautiful young public figure ..." (by Pangzi, Tibetan Sea Flower Ch. 22 [MereBear's Translation] | Chinese version Ch. 22 | The meaning of the idiom is here)

"When I was in college, a girl who seemed to like me once said that my face was very calm and other people wouldn’t feel annoyed looking at it." (Tibetan Sea Flower Ch. 27 [MereBear's Translation])

"He was young with a slender figure, wearing a brown jacket and gloves, and looking very casual." (Sand Sea Ch. 6 [MereBear's Translation])

"From Liang Wan’s point of view, although Wang Meng’s boss was young, there was a weathered and worn look about his brows that were beyond the reach of ordinary people." (Sand Sea Ch. 6 [MereBear's Translation])

The eyelashes are long, and the curve of the neck is more feminine than that of a woman: "Black Glasses said that the curve of my neck was more feminine than that of a woman." (Sand Sea Ch. 180 [MereBear's Translation])

"The only part of your body suitable for fighting is your long eyelashes."(Sand Sea Ch. 178 [MereBear's Translation])

Wu Xie is the ultimate beauty in the world (NPSS's interview)

Chronology of Wu Xie’s Major Events (Weibo)

Wu Xie's Personality (According to NPSS)

Source: MereBear's Translation

In the postscript of Daomu Biji Vol. 8:

Wu Xie is a difficult person to describe. If I have to say it, I want to say: he is actually an ordinary person.

But this doesn’t mean that he isn’t great. It’s because he’s an ordinary person that people admire him so much for all he has experienced.

I think many friends will hate his weakness and hesitation when they first see him, but as the story progresses step by step, more and more people like him. He is a boy as weak as water, but please don’t forget that in harsh winter, the most formless water will become solid ice.

Wu Xie is a person like that. He is simple, a little clever, cowardly, and someone who cherishes his life. He’s sensitive and afraid of hurting people around him and is the least suitable person to experience danger among all those on the team.

But I let him become the protagonist of the story and let him experience the most terrifying journey, which is probably the most special part of the story. When everyone can back down, he just can’t; when everyone can escape, he can’t.

I really want to say sorry to him for pushing this ordinary person into such a complicated puzzle. When I look at his entanglements and troubles, it’s like I see my own entanglements and troubles. For a period of time, I could even deeply feel the despair in his heart for everything he had gone through. At that time, I wanted to know what he would do when faced with such complicated despair.

I didn’t expect him to survive. In the development of the story, everyone could see how an ordinary person struggled to become a person he didn’t want to be. But the thing that made everyone like him was that he maintained his conscience in all the places that could be turning points in his life. Even though he eventually wore a sinister mask, he was still Wu Xie at heart. He could have a lot of petty crimes and petty vices under his belt, as well as a lot of minor moral problems, but when it came to making the biggest choice, he would always be the Wu Xie who wished everyone well.

“I hope all of us can live well along the way, and all of us can see our own ending. We may not live long, please let us live the life we deserve.”

Wu Xie prayed to the sky when Pan Zi was dying, even though he was in a dark cave. He took all the responsibility and blame upon himself, unable to face the meaning of his journey.

This is Wu Xie, the “useless” one in the team and the most useless leader in the Iron Triangle. He needs other people’s protection and help. He has boundless curiosity and desire, but as long as a person is hurt, his own things aren’t important. He’s an ordinary person who wishes you to live no matter how much he hates you. This is because he doesn’t understand killing or the wealth that transcends life, he only understands the value of the word “alive”.

[2023.03.11] Taobao Live

Source: 瓶邪bot (mtl)

Q: We all know that Zhang Qiling has a gift from heaven. Why hasn’t he forgotten his companions ten years later?

A: I think this is a kind of bond. It really is a bond. Of course I can write a tragedy. (Host: Don’t write it then), it is all logical, but when such a strong bond exists, especially Wu Xie must not be an ordinary person, even though he appears as an ordinary person, he made full use of his ordinary qualities and became an ordinary person who was not an ordinary person (laughs). That Zhang Qiling must have gone through a very painful struggle and intense confrontation. He finally did it. In the end, he may have forgotten a lot, leaving only that glimmer of light, and then he remembered it again bit by bit from that glimmer of light. I think this must be Zhang Qiling’s efforts. (Host: So this is actually because he worked hard not to forget them. This is not a lucky or small-probability thing, but a result of his own efforts) Yes, because heaven is ruthless, and humans are sentient.

[2023.03.24] Douyin Live Broadcast

Source: 瓶邪bot (mtl)

Q: "Restart", this book has its entire story line structure of separation, reunion, and restarting. Do you think Wu Xie’s personal mentality has changed between the original novel and "Restart"?

A: In the main story, he is really a bit naive. He may be a little clever and a little bit of a cunning, but his understanding of the world is essentially relatively simple. When it comes to "Reboot/Restart", Wu Xie is actually still innocent. You can see that he is slowly returning to his previous innocent state. One is that Zhang Qiling has returned, and he no longer needs to show his fangs. But behind his innocence is an innocence that is not easy to mess with. He has sealed up his huge energy, but he can take it out again at any time, and some very interesting things will happen, because many people think that he is a very naive and easy-to-deceive person when he is in a very gentle state, when he is really bullied, he will return to the state of Sand Sea.

[2023.03.24] Douyin Live Broadcast

Source: 瓶邪bot (mtl)

Q: I would like to ask, what do you think Wu Xie’s mental state was when he was about to take Zhang Qiling home.

A: I think Wu Xie was not ready when he hit the road. He was ready only after he hit the road. He was slowly, slowly... he was already ready when he arrived at the Bronze Gate. Maybe Zhang Qiling was not ready. Come out, or Zhang Qiling has left. I think it is such a process. When he accepted the worst possibility, he might have calmly enjoyed the moment when Zhang Qiling came out of the bronze door if he had not left. I think he had a lot of distracting thoughts at the beginning.

Q: Actually, he has a certain amount of timidity and nervousness.

A: I think I will have random thoughts, because just in case, after living in this world for a long time, I always feel that there are chances in this world. No matter how small the probability of an event is, if you encounter it once, you will feel that it is very likely to encounter it again.

Wu Xie's Mental Journey (Meta)

Source: MuzzledIdealist

This one is a meta/analysis from Chinese fandom and it's written by MuzzledIdealist on Weibo. They already give consent to repost it as long as the source is indicated. If you are interested, you can see other analysis on their homepage.

Please note that this is an edited MTL, if anyone wants to translate it, you're very welcome to do it :)

⚠️ This meta or analysis is cp-oriented ⚠️

⚠️ This is a repost, not my meta ⚠️

【PingXie】 “When I Know That I Will Never See Him Again”

Written by MuzzledIdealist

"The things he saw were things that he hadn’t been able to come to terms with. But I saw Men You Ping, so did that mean that I wasn’t over everything that had happened during those ten years?" — [Note: Ten Thousand Mountains in the Extreme Night Ch. 63 (MereBear Translation) | Chinese version Ch. 62]

Why he wasn’t over the past?

Let’s analyze Wu Xie’s mental journey over the years:

A major premise is that Men You Ping has always been Wu Xie's greatest source of security.

Wu Xie is too curious, but as a fledgling young man, he lacks experience and force value. If his curiosity is not satisfied and the problem cannot be solved, he will easily fall into anxiety (the book mentions many times that he was anxious when encountering difficulties, so I won’t take screenshots.), and Men You Ping has been providing guidance and protection to Wu Xie, which can be said to have given him a great sense of security in both physical and mental aspects (here I summarized it before. If you are interested, you can take a look at "Sharing Some Cute Details of Men You Ping’s “Double Standard”").

Xu Lei (NPSS) also said in the interview that Zhang Qiling had been protecting Wu Xie and helping him deal with many problems, so when he left, Wu Xie was forced to become like him.

(The screenshot is added in the original post)

Therefore, when Men You Ping was no longer with Wu Xie, his source of security was suddenly taken away.

During the ten years when Xiaoge was away, Wu Xie must have dreamed of Men You Ping countless times during the long agony of waiting and dealing with the enemy. Especially when he encountered difficulties, He prayed, hoped, and imagined that Men You Ping would fall from the sky and appear next to him like it did in the past, because this is a habit he has developed due to Xiaoge's protection.

He has grown up during the period of Tibetan Sea Flower, but he will still frankly tell Pangzi, "I always feel that a place with a Xiaoge will be safer. If he is not here, at least having a statue of him is better than nothing". The fat man said he was superstitious, but that was not the case, because as a top student, Wu Xie had always been accustomed to using scientific knowledge to explain all the strange things he experienced (there are many examples in the book), but for his subconscious dependence on Men You Ping, he had no way to explain it scientifically and rationally.

(The screenshot is added in the original post or take a look on MereBear's translation: Tibetan Sea Flower Ch. 39)

During Sand Sea period, Wu Xie grew up a lot, but when faced with a desperate situation, he still longed for the appearance of the person he wanted to see most for a long time. Even though he was about to cough up pneumoconiosis, even though he knew that the Men You Ping in front of him was just his hallucination. The pain of those ten years also made Wu Xie addicted to smoking because he needed to use cigarettes to relieve his anxiety.

(The screenshot is added in the original post or take a look on MereBear's Translation: Sand Sea 4 Ch. 187)

The title of the chapter in Sand Sea where Wu Xie's throat was cut and he fell off the cliff is the poem "Like red beans inlaid in the ivory dice, my yearning for you is deep in my bones" (the translation comes from here). Why was this poem chosen as the title of this chapter?

Xu Lei once answered this question in a vx (Weixin/WeChat) interview. He said that this was his emotion at the time. Writing in the first person, the author's mood at that time represents the mood of the protagonist at that time, so the meaning of this poem is Wu Xie's mood at that time.

(The screenshot is added in the original post)

The meaning of this poem is: to express the woman's deep yearning for her husband, her longing for her husband and her inseparable love, and she looks forward to her husband's early return. (From Baidu Poetry Analysis)

(The screenshot is added in the original post)

Xu Lei said in a lecture at Fudan University in 2013: "Wu Xie was doing a lot of things with a sense of resentment in Sand Sea, because everyone abandoned him and left him alone there as a widow. The only person he can settle accounts with is Men You Ping, because he is a person who will appear at a fixed place at a fixed time, so Wu Xie must be holding his breath and preparing to ask that person for something back." (This paragraph is dictation + general summary, the original video is more than an hour long. You can search and watch it by yourself.)

(Regarding the widowhood, Xu Lei once explained that Wu Xie changed his name to "Guan Gen 《关根》" in order to maintain his chastity.)

(The screenshot is added in the original post)

Therefore, during the Tibetan Sea Flower period, Wu Xie had just left the sense of security provided by Men You Ping, and would still subconsciously seek his protection when encountering difficulties, even if it was just his statue. During Sand Sea period, he had clearly understood that Men You Ping was no longer by his side, so he had to force himself to become stronger and become like him. But even so, when he was extremely anxious, he still couldn't help but miss Men You Ping, which put him in a state of both longing and resentment.

This is also reflected in the "Ten Years" chapter. In "Ten Years" Wu Xie said, "After so many years, I no longer expected anything from anyone, because these people will eventually leave for various reasons." This is his complaint. He added, “There are some people you just can’t stand up. There is a chance that Men You Ping will appear, and I may die on the road, but after going through so much, I need a relief and an end." This was his thought.

(The screenshot is added in the original post or take a look on MereBear's Translation: Ten Years Later Ch. 20 and Ch. 21)

However, in addition to this feeling of longing and resentment, Wu Xie also has worries, deep worries about whether Men You Ping will live or die in the door, so he wrote in "Ten Years": "In the past ten years, I have had many dreams. I dreamed of him meeting me when I was young. I dreamed about the white bones in front of the bronze door, and dreamed that he had turned into something like Chen Pi Ah Si when we met again. There were many possibilities in ten years, which were enough for me to imagine and accept them one by one."

He has had this kind of nightmare many times in the past ten years, and it has become a knot in his heart that is difficult to untie, so even if Men You Ping is back now, he still feels that he has not completely passed those ten years.

(The screenshot is added in the original post or take a look on MereBear's Translation: Ten Years Later Ch. 36 and Ten Thousand Mountains in the Extreme Night Ch. 63)

But even so, even in those ten years, Wu Xie had thoughts, resentments and worries about Men You Ping, and thought about asking for something from Men You Ping, but he still couldn't bear it. The moment he saw Men You Ping again, he still chose to cover up all these emotions, so he subconsciously pulled down his sleeves to cover the scars on his hands, just as he said during Sand Sea period. When he sees Men You Ping again, he will not tell him all this, he will only tell him that you are just a patient, and you can rest now. So he took Men You Ling and lived in Yucun, the place where there is legendary ginseng that can make people remember for a long time.

(The screenshot is added in the original post or take a look on MereBear's Translation: Ten Years Later Ch. 41 and Sand Sea Ch. 92 | Chinese Version Sand Sea 2 Ch. 53)

It has been analyzed before that the reason why Xiaoge went to Hangzhou to say goodbye to Wu Xie before entering the bronze door and said to him "You are my only connection with this world" is because for the first time he had his own "desire". (This is a long story, see "Psychological Activities of Xiaoge" for details)

If Men You Ping had realized that he had fallen in love with Wu Xie at this time, then when did Wu Xie realize that he had fallen in love with Men You Ping? Probably when he realized that he couldn't lose him, as the saying goes, "How do we measure love, the pain after separation."

(The screenshot is added in the original post)

---

This one is a more in-depth analysis about Wu Xie in Sand Sea by the same writer.

Source: MuzzledIdealist

The sunrise in the desert was also beautiful back then, but Wu Xie had no memory of it. But now that he and his brother are in the world’s second most valuable tomb, he can truly feel the beauty of the sunrise. Because the experience of Sand Sea was not a good memory for Wu Xie. Xu Lei once explained why Wu Xie had seventeen scars on his arms during Sand Sea period. It was because as an originally kind-hearted person, he was forced to do many things that went against his conscience in order to defeat the Wang family, including using others. Therefore, he hurt himself by scratching his arms to relax himself. Xu Lei said that Wu Xie during Sand Sea period had a kind of hatred for him.

Wu Xie has indeed grown up in the past ten years, but this growth comes at a price. Wu Xie gave himself the pen name Guan Gen (Xu Lei explained that it means "keeping his chastity"), and made seventeen cuts on his arm with hatred for himself. When he fell off the cliff, his mood was "Like red beans inlaid in the ivory dice, my yearning for you is deep in my bones" and various injuries that have caused permanent damage to his nose and lungs. From all of this, it can be seen that Xiao Wu suffered from both physical and mental pain during the Sand Sea period, and all of this cannot be summed up by the simple word "Evil Emperor". This seemingly cool title seemed to lightly cover up all the suffering he experienced during that period.

He was repeatedly entangled and pulled between his persistence towards his goal, his hatred for himself, and his extreme longing for Men You Ping. For him, the experience during Sand Sea period was once a painful memory, that's why he subconsciously pulled down his sleeves to cover the scars on his arms when he saw his brother on the day of their ten-year appointment. Maybe he didn't want Men You Ping to know who he was before. But with their tacit understanding, it is impossible for him not to see it, that’s why there was a follow-up story about Xiaoge in "Fishing King Extra" who took Xiao Wu to the Stagnant Water Dragon King Palace to make Xiao Wu suddenly enlightened in order to untie the knot buried in Xiao Wu's heart for the past ten years. Now, the same is true in Yucun Notes when Xiaoge accompanies Xiao Wu to revisit Medog (Motuo). When his lover returns to his side, the greatest source of security returns, and Xiao Wu becomes the "rough jade" again.

"I will exchange my life for ten years of your innocence." Zhang Qiling used his infinite sacrifice to Wu Xie in exchange for a limited benefit (Xu Lei's original words), "Like red beans inlaid in the ivory dice, my yearning for you is deep in my bones" Wu Xie use his ten years to buy Zhang Qiling's freedom for the rest of his life. Some people say that the relationship hurt/comfort is old-fashioned, but I don't think so. The two-way redemption between PingXie and the uniqueness between them is always moving.

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My thought:

Maybe the word "fall in love" or "lover" the writer uses here is too strong for some people lol, but they did care for each other, no matter what the relationship is, it can't be denied, right? There were some questions that appeared in my head when I read the book, why did Wu Xie do that? Why did he do this? Why did he do all of these things to this extent? Then I understood. Actually, Wu Xie, especially in his early stage, reminds me of my old-self, so I feel like I can sympathize with him somehow. His "innocence" is different from the innocence that most people think, Wu Xie's innocence is the kind of innocence who wished everyone well.

And then, happy birthday, Wu Xie! May you be safe and live a happy life with Xiaoge, Pangzi, and all of your good friends! 🎉🎉🎂(⁠人⁠*⁠´⁠∀⁠｀⁠)⁠｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+ *⁠.⁠✧

[momosandlemonsoda]

For the WIP game, @mekare-art asked for "DMBJ CM: Xiaoge is hurt Please!" This is part of my Club Moonlight 'verse A Tiger is a Tiger not a Lamb, where Liu Sang and Wang Can are twins in a band together, and they are hooking up with Wu Xie and Xiaoge. Here you go!

*

Liu Sang was grateful that the servant who answered the door at Wushanju the next morning was familiar to him. It was the first thing that had gone right that morning.

“Uh, good morning, Miss— Uh, Mr— Uh, I mean, Liu-ye,” the boy stuttered, taking in Liu Sang in one of his more demure qipaos, long sleeved, tea length, a pretty dark green color, and Wang Can in his best trousers and a button-down shirt. The sleeves were rolled up, of course, and he’d refused to wear a tie or jacket, but Liu Sang hadn’t had the will to keep fighting. “Um. Laoban is, um, not taking visitors today.”

“Oh,” Liu Sang said, and then stepped on his brother’s foot when he heard him growl. He made his eyes big, and blinked them vacuously. “Oh, really, Kan Jian?” The boy blushed. Good. “It’s just that we heard that Xiaoge wasn’t well. We really wanted to give him our good wishes ourselves.” Wang Can shook the basket of fruit they’d picked out in a threatening manner. Liu Sang forbore from rolling his eyes, and instead looked hopefully at Kan Jian.

“Uh,” Kan Jian said. “I mean, um.” He looked behind him. “Um. It’s just. Uh—” 

Liu Sang smiled sweetly. “Do you think maybe you could check, Kan Jian? I don’t want to bother Wu Xie, but,” He bit his lip. “We really are worried.”

Kan Jian wrung his hands miserably. “I want to help, Liu-ye, but—”

“Maybe,” Liu Sang said, delicately reaching out and patting Kan Jian’s hand, “You could ask someone else?” He gave Kan Jian’s hand a little squeeze. “Please?”

Kan Jian broke. “Okay. Liu-ye, um. Mr. Wang. Come in and I’ll get Pang-ye.” He let them into the first courtyard and barred the door again, turning to hurry down the corridor. 

Wang Can started after him, and Liu Sang grabbed his arm. “Didi.” They had a silent fight. Liu Sang won, but he knew he wasn’t going to be able to hold his brother back for long. Now that they were inside, Wang Can wasn’t going to be denied the chance to check on Xiaoge. Neither was he, of course, but he was still trying to play this carefully. 

***

Kan Jian came back with Wang Pangzi, and Liu Sang could hear his brother sigh in relief. Wang Can liked the man. Apparently he’d joined Wu Xie, Xiaoge, and Wang Can for a bar fight a couple of times though Liu Sang understood he’d demurred on the post-fight… entertainments. He’s a good fighter, Wang Can had said. High praise indeed from his brother.

“What’s this, Kan Jian?” Pangzi asked, after taking them in. Liu Sang had straightened when he heard Kan Jian returning, but Wang Can was still leaning insouciantly against the wall, cradling the basket of fruit. Pangzi snorted, turning to the man. “Do you really think that Wu Xie doesn’t want to see them? After all,” and here he grinned, slipping into what Liu Sang suspected was habitual innuendo, “They’re Wu Xie and Xiaoge’s intimate friends.” the man winked at Liu Sang, “I think we can trust them.”

“But Pang-ye—” Kan Jian protested, and Pangzi shook his head. 

“I’ll talk to Tianzhen, Kan Jian. Don’t worry.” Pangzi patted the young man on the shoulder while waving Liu Sang and Wang Can back. “Look, they even brought fruit. Not a lot of people bring fruit and then try to kill the recipient.”

Wang Can grinned at that. “Well, this pineapple—

Liu Sang cut in quickly. “No bloodshed over the fruit basket, I promise.” 

“See,” Pangzi said, giving Kan Jian a push. “This Pang-ye will make sure they don’t yell too loud.” He offered his arm to Liu Sang, who accepted quickly— he wasn’t going to refuse a potential ally— and the three of them headed down familiar hallways.

Before they arrived at Wu Xie’s bedroom, however, Pangzi turned them aside, into an open, airy room, light streaming in from the courtyard beyond. Liu Sang had wandered through the house a bit, and he knew his brother had as well— once a house-breaker, always a house-breaker— but he’d never been in this room. The walls were lined with shelves of books and scrolls and there were gorgeous calligraphy hangings. The enormous desk in the corner gave its purpose away. Wu Xie’s study, he guessed, and, ah, there was the man himself.

As Wu Xie rose from his desk, Liu Sang noted that his dark curls were longer than usual, and tousled so badly that he’d probably been dragging his hands through them for hours. His skin was sallow and the circles under his eyes looked almost bruised. His clothes were a mess— gone was the dandy who gladhanded his way through the club and flirted as easy as breathing, and in his place…

“You look like shit,” his brother said, haphazardly dropping the fruit basket onto a convenient sofa and walking closer. 

Wu Xie blinked owlishly. “Xiao Can,” he said slowly, “what are you doing here?” 

“Carrying fruit,” Wang Can told him, pointing with his thumb. Wu Xie’s brow wrinkled.

“Fruit?” He caught sight of the basket, then his gaze darted back to Wang Can, then over to Liu Sang and Pangzi. “What… why did you bring fruit?”

“I hear that it’s a good gift.” Wang Can shrugged, then took another step forward. Wu Xie tensed, and his brother stopped, posture loose, lightly balanced on his feet. 

As Wang Can spoke, he kept his hands slightly away from his sides, shoulders relaxed, voice calm, and it took Liu Sang a moment to realize that he was acting to put Wu Xie at ease, to make himself less of a threat, while at the same time drawing Wu Xie’s attention to make himself rather than Liu Sang a target. Liu Sang’s hackles rose, and he looked closer to see what his didi was picking up. One of Wu Xie’s hands was clenched, and his posture radiated a warning, as if he could spring into violence at the least provocation. Liu Sang was reminded, suddenly, that Wu Xie was heir to what the Wu family politely called a business, and that that business often required violence to keep order. 

“Xie Yuchen told us that Xiaoge was injured and we wanted to pay a call. See if there is anything we can do to help.” 

As soon as Wang Can said Xiaoge, Wu Xie tensed further, and Liu Sang watched him grope a hand back on the desk and close around a metal letter opener. If he noticed it, then his didi certainly had, but Wang Can kept his posture open and relaxed. Liu Sang, on the other hand, could feel the situation start spiraling out of control. 

Suddenly, Pangzi boomed,“Tianzhen, sit down before you fall down. I bet you haven’t slept all night, have you?” He strode over to Wu Xie, who looked up at him, confused. 

“Pangzi?” he asked, and his voice sounded plaintive.

“Tianzhen,” Pangzi sighed, “you’re a mess. Your friends came to pay a visit and here you are, practically still in your pajamas. Not,” he apparently couldn’t resist adding, “that they haven’t seen you in those before.”

[traineecryptid]

NPSS Weibo Q&A (20240831) Part 2

This is a Q&A session held on Weibo. People will tag their questions with the hashtag #南派三叔藏海花在线答疑# (#NPSS Zang Hai Hua Online Q&A#) and NPSS will look through the tag to pick some to answer. The event started at 1500 hours on 2024 August 31st.

Folder with screenshots and big compilation google doc is here. Part 1 is here.

1536

Q: Shu, why was the patriarch's item changed from the bronze bell to the Heavenly Staff ? Is it to match Tianshou? (T/N: Tianshou could be translated as Heavenly Orders)

A: I’ll explain it like this. If Wu Xie wanted to tell this story to someone else and this story was then retold by that someone else, it would certainly differ in certain details from the truth in his notebook. Perhaps it is to keep people from knowing the full story or perhaps it is so that others could better understand it, or perhaps [he] didn’t want to explain too much.

1539

Q: How do you manage to have both actors that fit the roles very well and actors who don’t in every show?

A: Problem with availability. 

1540

Q: Which is the most tragic character in ZHH aside from Xiaoge?

A: Wah, this is a good question. You have to keep watching yourself because this is a very hard-to answer question.

1541

Q: The dramas suck doesn’t mean that your books suck. Don’t worry at all. A: If the dramas really suck, could I have kept making one after another?

1544

Q: Sanshu, is there any way to make Wu Xie and Pangzi immortal? I can’t bear to see Wu Xie die. It would be hard for Zhang Qiling to adapt, right? A: When I was little, I also hoped to have this kind of medicine to give to my grandmothers.

1545

Q: Sanshu, Xiaoge had already inserted the Heavenly Staff and cured everyone from the Tianshou sickness. So why Xiaoge wasn’t cured?

A: Not only wasn’t he cured, all the Tianshou was borne by him alone, fragmenting his memories.  

1546

Q: Sanshu, Wu Xie’s dream house is a courtyard with a moss pond. What kind of living environment would Xiaoge and Pangzi like? A: Tianzhen still breathing when they wake up is considered heaven (ptsd) for them.

1547

Q: Sanshu, what do you think is Wu Xie’s greatest specialty? Is it his long eyelashes like Xiazi said?

A: His little boss spirit. (T/N: according to this article I skimmed, little boss refers to the kind of boss who is very lowkey, keeps themselves on the same level as everyone else and focuses on their business without prioritizing growth.)

1547

Q: In the most recent episode of ZHH, why does Zhang Jiuri and the others hate Zhang Qiling so much?

A: It will be explained right after this.

1548

Q: The universe’s man crush, I would like to ask: When Xiaoge saw Wu Xie treating him all friendly in the beginning, did he not dare to believe that there was someone who solely cherished him and wanted to protect him without any ulterior motives?

A: Zhang Qiling could see through a person’s heart with just one look. Not because he’s smart, but because he has seen a lot. People are a very simple thing for Zhang Qiling.

1550

Q: The universe’s man crush, the world’s man crush, can you tell me what Zhang Qiling would think if he knew that Wu Xie had called him “Menyouping-needing-a-thousand-cuts” before? (T/N: “needing a thousand cuts” is similar to “damned” as in “that damned troublemaker” and is apparently very rude… since i guess you’re cursing on someone to be tortured?) A: A thousand cuts? Are you a candle? You think I’ve only taken a thousand cuts on your behalf? I took your 60 million but I’ve never ever asked you for a single cent more!

1552

Q: Are there any fixed requirements when casting actors? For example, the Iron Triangle.

A: No. As long as the platform approves, the actors approves, the director approves and the original author approves, then it’ll be OK.  It’s not that difficult. 

1552

Q: I feel like ZHH is a very close reproduction of the novel and it even elaborated on some scenes. I feel like I know the characters better and understand them more now.

A: Thank you. It took very long to write.

1553

Q: Actually, Shu, I watched ZHH and I feel that it’s a close reproduction of the novel. Of course, I read the novel a few years ago and some parts have gotten blurry. But when I was watching the drama, I would suddenly remember the scene. Undeniably, some parts have changed but the majority isn’t that different. It’s really, really the best when an adaptation follows the original closely because Shu, your novels are the foundation and the novels are very well written! Although I don’t know why [people] won’t let go of the question of actors, neither were there praises for the scenes. The requirements aren’t high, it’s enough that I can recall the scenes in the novel while watching the drama. Sanshu, remember, no matter which drama it is, it has to follow your novels. The novels are really, really the best! I’ve always felt like actors were a type of feeling, they won’t be able to convince people no matter who plays the part. But the scenes would always resonate with people! A: Everyone has the right to express their own opinions. I also have the right to work hard at promoting. It’s a difficult world. It’s enough that we be ourselves and not leave regrets.

1553

Q: Sanshu, there are already changes to Wu Xie’s blood and he could deter bugs like Xiaoge and all that. Would Wu Xie live forever without aging with Xiaoge?

A: Wu Xie’s only works now and then. Maybe it has something to do with what he eats.

Here's another 15, this section seems to have a lot of longer questions. Can you believe that we're only an hour into the questions? There's like... an amount more. Thankfully NPSS has slowed down.

[lungache]

thinking about how pangzi calls wu xie tianzhen and how the meaning behind it transforms. because there comes a time where wu xie is inarguably not a naive kid anymore. and how pangzi probably mourned the loss of that innocence a little bit because it came at such a cost. but also how pangzi keeps calling him that- a little as a joke, but also not. maybe he says it as a reminder of who wu xie was and is. because time stole wu xie's innocence but his curiosity and some of that wonder and hope remain, even after everything.

[fixaidea]

So at this point I think I'm deep enough into DMBJ to allow myself to have some Opinions, so here they are:

Books:

I'm only in the early chapters of Vol. 4 (basically the beginning of Ultimate Note) so a lot may change, but so far it's an enjoyable adventure series. It's refreshing that they're allowed to say 'zombie' and 'grave robber'. Also it makes much more internal sense than most of the dramas, not to mention the individual arcs get their proper mini-climaxes instead of leaving you with never ending narrative blueballs.

The consolidation of the Iron Triangle is a lot slower than in the dramas, but I know they'll get there, I've seen all the cute excerpts from the later books!

Also, I'm usually very wary of First Person narration, because the entire enjoyability of the book hinges on how entertaining the Main Character is, there's no escaping their head. Luckily Wu Xie is an interesting and fun head to be in. I cannot logically explain why he's giving me Rincewind vibes, but he kinda does. It's probably the constant internal screaming - though for him, when the 'flight or fight' instinct kicks in, he starts to bite.

Dramas:

The Lost Tomb:

The good: Say what you will, but I like the visuals. Also they were still allowed to say 'zombie' here.

The bad: I have nothing against Yang Yang, but the hair stylist obviously did.

The Lost Tomb 2:

The good: Cheng Yi and his ears.

The bad: ...So did we ever find out wtf was all that about Zhang Buxun? 'Cause if anything even remotely similar happens in the books, it comes up way further back, if at all. (If this thread DOES get resolved in 2,5 then I apologise, but pretty much everyone who mentions that drama warns against bothering with it, so I never did.)

Theirs is probably the least book-like Wu Xie.

Ultimate Note:

The good: Love this Iron Triangle, and generally I had more fun with this than the pervious two dramas.

The bad: I understand that if you don't have much of a budget quality soundtrack is probably the first to go, but I don't have to LIKE it.

Sha Hai:

The good: Man I love this one. Pretty self-contained, also one of the best production-quality-vise. Also all the thumbs-up to Qin Hao for pulling off this ruthless, bitter Wu Xie with just enough hints of the old Tianzhen that you can see this is still the same character.

The bad: Li Cu, my guy, I'm so sorry but I couldn't give a shit about awkward teenage love-stories when I was an awkward teenager and I'm not gonna start now.

Reboot (I'm only at ep. 14, so jury is still out):

The good: Definitely the best production, and I love the soundtrack.

The bad: Did the author fall out of love with Pangzi or...? In all other versions he's fun AND competent, here he's been relegated to a clown. :(