#wu xie figure

[dailyfigures]

Wu Xie ; The Grave Robbers' Chronicles ☆ Myethos

[levemetal]

Retired happy Junmei for no reason at all except let them be happy post-canon that's all.

[ideasloading]

Dianxia must ensure that his best soldier stays flexible

[the-peerless-cucumber]

Jun Wu is the father who stood up. He was there. Xie Lian may not have been his biological son but that didn’t matter. That boy wasn’t gonna be traumatized on his own.

[pmakuma]

01 / 29 / 24

horsey :-)

[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.

[sisislair]

More on the re-listen/read.

The second Jun Wu gets back he starts chipping away at Xie Lian's support base.

First with Feng Xin by telling Xie Lian about him forgiving the debt and helping him out. Which on the surface would seem nice of him, to let Xie Lian know that his old friends might still care about him. But he already knows that due to their very poorly disguised selves helping him out. What this is doing, however, is making Xie Lian complicit in Jun Wu breaking their secrecy. He was specifically told not to reveal this information to Xie Lian. So now there is no way for Xie Lian to acknowledge their good deeds naturally, without revealing how he found out.

And surely, if he's been told this secret, what other things are being said about the two of them behind their backs between Jun Wu and Xie Lian? It's not that big of a thing, but it doesn't have to be. The gap between the three old friends is already large enough that Jun Wu widening it ever little bits at a time won't be noticed.

Secondly, of course, he tries to drive a wedge between Hua Cheng and Xie Lian. The support of a ghost king is no joke, and I think by this point he has already started to make assumptions about their relationship. Same as the rest of the heavens honestly lol.

But either way he sends him to investigate Hua Cheng specifically because he knows it will fuck Xie Lian up to have to investigate someone who's being nice to him, and even if he can't make him distrust Hua Cheng with all the bits he's been dropping about how evil he is, then the least he can do is make Xie Lian feel so guilty that their friendship withers because of that.

And Xie Lian is torn up about it! Hua Cheng is being a wonderful host and friend to him, and he's snooping through his stuff! The wind master is like, 100% you should not have accepted this mission, ghost king or no, even if Jun Wu himself told you too. Because he obviously considers you his friend. But Xie Lian still sees Jun Wu as a trusted mentor figure, even if he doesn't always agree with him, so he reasons that of course Jun Wu knew this would be awkward for him. So he must have thought that Xie Lian was the only person who could do this task right.

And I mean, to be fair, not entirely inaccurate, if by do this right, you mean not jump to the immediate conclusion that Hua Cheng is in the wrong. As well as subtlety. Of which Lang Qianqiu has none lol.

So on the guilt end he is very much succeeding, which like, no surprise.

Xie Lian is the champion of feeling guilty about things. But on the trust end? Ghost city arc is so important for establishing a foundation for their relationship.

Jokes on Jun Wu, because his sending Xie Lian on this mission very firmly sets into his mind that Jun Wu and the other heavenly officials are all just talking bullshit when it comes to Hua Cheng.

Oh he can't be trusted! And yet he keeps his promises.

Oh he lives in a den of depravity and is cruel! But he obviously has a handle on things, and is very well respected, not just feared.

Oh his scimitar is super cursed! And yet it does Xie Lian no harm, and acts like an eager puppy.

Xie Lian's been on the wrong side of the rumor mill for a long time, he knows how this shit goes.

[aceofgifs]

I have made a better one (also dedicating him to @cozyteademon, lol) Hat Wu Xie the 2nd

My first gif made with ps {I am dedicating our boy to @cozyteademon} Hat Wu Xie

[dailyfigures]

Zhang Qiling & Wu Xie ; Grave Robbers' Chronicles ☆ Good Smile Arts Shanghai

[rejectedfables]

t4t hualian where Xie Lian actually did sleep with that soldier in the fuck-or-die cave, and then also Wu Ming. Has not figured out they're all the same person. Finally gets into Hua Cheng's pants to find yet another pussy and is like "I am no longer convinced penises are real. I have never seen one. I think they are a myth."

[pichirobi]

fire, air, water, earth.

prince xie lian is one of the most promising up-and-coming avatars the world has yet to see. that is, until disaster strikes his home earth kingdom of xianle. when his people die out at the hands of a plague spirit, bai wuxiang, the nations blame the avatar. with his reputation destroyed, xie lian joins the air nomads for 20 years and travels the world as a scrap-collector. although he has lost the respect of the people he is destined to protect, the spirit world is thrown into chaos without his guidance. xie lian works thanklessly to maintain global balance all on his own. but unbeknownst to him, there's one person, upon the throne of the fire nation, who still believes in the avatar.

welcome to my tgcf x atla au!

click here to follow this tag for updates. read more below for my story notes.

STORY

xie lian is born to the king and queen of an earth kingdom city-state, xianle, and is quickly discovered to be the avatar. a wildly talented one, at that. he learns firebending second, and waterbending third. still young and pampered, xie lian struggles with the humility associated with airbending principles.

at just the age of 17 he begins to travel the world to master the four elements and [katara narrator voice] to restore peace and balance in the world. he acquires a servant (firebender mu qing) and a bodyguard (earthbender & childhood best friend feng xin). it's during this time that he tours the fire nation, meeting with political figures and impoverished citizens alike, gaining a positive reputation for his determination and skills. to celebrate the summer solstice, xie lian is the face of a festival in which he proves his elegance, combative strength, and firebending prowess. during the ceremony, he controversially interrupts it to save the life of a 10-year-old urchin boy.

the lines between the spirit and mortal worlds bleed together during solstices. it's xie lian's festival which attracts a particularly violent spirit to emerge into the mortal world: bai wuxiang. the white-clothed calamity.

xie lian's life is filled with promise until he turns 22. he catches word of a disaster taking place in his home kingdom. he puts a pause on his tour of the nations to return to xianle. there, he finds that a strange and highly contagious disease has begun plaguing his people. its symptoms are unnatural; the work of an angry spirit. xie lian works himself to the bone trying to save his common people. he fails.

when xianle falls to plague, to chaos, to fear, its people blame the avatar. he is dubbed the avatar of misfortune. a failure. xie lian's reputation crumbles to dust and he is helpless to restore his people's faith in him. when the rest of the world learns of how xianle came to ruin, the avatar becomes not a figure of peace to be revered, but a bad omen.

having lost his two companions, his parents, his kingdom, and the global adoration he's come to rely on for his self-worth, xie lian runs away. he disowns his past identity and seeks to start a new life. he finds himself in the northern air temples, where the air nomads pay him no mind, although xie lian is a bit of an oddball. (xie lian might look rougher and jaded but they certainly recognize the avatar. they pretend to not know him—the nomads keep to themselves and as long as xie lian doesn't cause trouble, he is welcome.) he eventually befriends a monk named shi qingxuan.

xie lian seeks enlightenment. he incorporates himself into the monks' way of life, releasing all ties to material possessions and worldly indulgences. he abstains from sex, alcohol, anger, and, hardest of all, grief. he goes on to live 20 years as a scrap collector, practicing what he was taught by his teacher and guide, monk wu yong. xie lian knows it's time to leave the temples when he finally masters airbending.

humbled, xie lian rekindles his fighting spirit. the common people loathe the avatar, but he forgives them. he will save them.

as xie lian wanders the nations, he learns that during his darkest years, literature, art, and scholarly works of the avatar have been destroyed. most people don't even remember what he looks like and much less have the means to learn anything about him. (hua cheng carving xl's face into the side of a mountain: HOLD MY BEER)

meanwhile, there is a fire nation urchin boy who has grown into someone powerful enough to be feared. through his unmatched wit and charisma, he has worked his way up the capital's political hierarchy. a city governor who calls himself hua cheng, is the first aristocrat to challenge the firelord to an agni kai. he is also the first to win. he delegitimizes the royal bloodline and single-handedly reshapes a generation's idea of a competent ruler. bonus points for the previous firelord being xie lian's indecent cousin, qi rong.

now 35 years old, the new firelord, terrifying yet respected by all, leads his people to prosperity and vanquishes every enemy. peculiarly, he seems somewhat uninterested in his position of power. instead, he enjoys turning his attention towards erecting a shrine, a palace, in honor of avatar xie lian.

HUALIAN'S BACKSTORY

the avatar preceding xie lian, jun wu, oversaw great conflicts between the four nations. it is during one of these wars that a seemingly insignificant teenager dies. his soul drifts aimlessly in the spirit world, vulnerable, alone. he encounters the trickster spirit koh who steals his face. time is hard to account for in this realm, and the once-a-teenager forgets his past life, his own identity, simply choosing to refer to himself as wu ming: nameless. many years later, the avatar cycle begins anew with the birth of xie lian.

at 7 years old, prince xie lian and his best friend feng xin are outdoors playing with swords. feng xin takes a break, as he is called inside by the king of xianle, leaving xie lian outside and unsupervised. (feng xin will shortly be told that xie lian is not only his friend, but now his responsibility.) meanwhile, xie lian is left without a sparring partner. until a ghostly silver butterfly flits in front of him. it playfully weaves around the flourishes of the blade. xie lian chases it, away from the palace grounds, across the fields and into the brush, where he falls head-first through a burrow. when he stands up, his sword has disappeared, but not the butterfly. it pulls his attention upward, where he takes in his surroundings: the spirit world.

xie lian continues to play and greet spirits, who are all pleased to meet the new avatar, eventually finding a sad, dissipating ghost fire. the ghost introduces itself as wu ming. xie lian works very hard to cheer it up, promising they'll be friends in this lifetime and the next. wu ming brightens and confesses that koh has stolen its face. xie lian fails to tolerate this news: if he's to be the avatar, he must protect the innocent and slay monsters. with wu ming's warnings, he marches to koh's den to demand his friend's face back.

xie lian succeeds. wu ming doesn't remember much these days, but he's sure that no one has ever showed him such incredible kindness. when wu ming expresses his desire to disappear, xie lian gives him a mantra: "live for me."

xie lian has to leave, to return to a very worried feng xin (who is scared he's already failed his new bodyguard job on day one), but wu ming is invigorated with life like never before. his soul persists, stubbornly, for the avatar. he is reborn back into the mortal world as a fire nation boy. although, the encounter with koh would leave a mark on his body: the sclera of his right eye would be an unsettling blood red. the people of his village would know him as hong hong-er.

elsewhere in the spirit world, the ghost of avatar jun wu senses young xie lian's presence. he also senses the persistence of the ghost fire—a soul reborn. could he, too, return to the mortal world? jun wu entertains a simple but horrifying thought: by swapping places with xie lian, could he achieve immortality as the world's last avatar? thus, jun wu hatches a plan. he strikes a deal with bai wuxiang, the white-clothed calamity, a malevolent plague spirit. bai wuxiang would possess the body of jun wu to eliminate the new avatar. to kill xie lian, and to be reborn.

the plan doesn't go—well, according to plan. the people of xianle are wiped out before he can get his hands on xie lian, and the destruction of a people leaves behind a universal distrust of the avatar. jun wu realizes he would be unable to seize power in such an environment. his new strategy must involve controlling young xie lian, manipulating him into a puppet. it takes a while to pin him down, but jun wu eventually finds him settled in the northern air temple, at his most emotionally vulnerable. jun wu will impersonate a monk teacher, changing his name to wu yong. he will bide his time and play his cards until the world is ready for his return.

EXTRAS

hualian are middle-aged men in this au because it makes sense timeline-wise, but also because sexy silver fox xie lian is what i see every time i close my eyes.

narratively, i'm torn between hua cheng loving the avatar, or hua cheng loving xie lian. thinking about this timeless lovestory, "you, not the state of you," i can see it both ways. hua cheng might love the avatar, xie lian and all of his reincarnations regardless of their body. or, he might love xie lian, regardless of the "avatar" title. ("avatar" may also be this world's equivalent to hua cheng respectfully calling xie lian "dianxia".)

firelord hua cheng presents himself at what he believes is his ugliest, most intimidating form: exposing his burned right eye. as san lang, however, he is at first ashamed to reveal such a vulnerable part of him in front of his love; he covers it with an eyepatch. (the people of the fire nation are like: "a platypus?" [san lang takes off his eyepatch] "PERRY THE PLATYPUS?!?!")

hua cheng teaches xie lian how to bend lightning. they easily trade bolts back and forth to each other in a cute and intimate way. feng xin and mu qing are horrified when they first see this in action.

hualian's first kiss happens when they're battling a sea monster underwater and xie lian loses his concentration enough to accidentally pop hua cheng's air bubble. a little mouth-to-mouth resuscitation will do the trick until they can float back up to the surface.

ruoye = xl's spiritual serpent guide (kind of like roku's dragon)

e'ming = hc's super clingy fire ferret

[tea-cat-arts]

Ranking mxtx couples by whether or not I think they'd be good parents

(I'm 90% sure I'm forgetting someone)

Yep, next question (S)-

Wangxian: tried and tested good dads. I wish them luck with the whole “trying to get wwx pregnant” thing 

They have some shit to work through, but after that I think they'd be fine (A)-

Ling Wen/ Bai Jin: if we're just going off the original publication, I would put them in a much lower tier, but since the revised edition added that thing about them raising orphans together and said orphans turning out alright before unfortunate circumstances, I'm putting them up here. I think they'll be alright once they work through the miscommunication

Xiao Xingchen/ Song Lan: They obviously have a lot of trauma they're working through, but I'd like to think they and A-Qing will be a loving family in the long run 

One of them would be a good parent, the other wouldn't be a bad parent (B)-

Jiang Yanli/ Jin Zixuan: there's no canon reason for me putting them this low. Jin Zixuan just gives off a mediocre parent vibe to me (and we all know Jiang Yanli is the best)

Yushipei: Yushi Huang has good mom energy, and Pei Ming has been shown to be a not terrible mentor. I'd want the misogyny fully beaten out of him with a mace before I'd think he should have kids of his own though 

Lang Qianqiu/ Little Guy: at the very least, they're making sure Guzi is fed, clothed, washed, vaccinated, and has access to education. Neither of them know what they're doing, but I think Little Guy is good at faking it. I wish them luck in their upcoming custody battle  

You know what, surprise me/ I'll hear you out (C)-

Bingqiu: My first instinct is “no, do not bring kids into this,” but then I remembered tharnShen Qingqiu has a surprisingly decent track record? Like, Ning Yingying and Ming Fan both turned out a lot more health than they did in the original novel, and though I wouldn't call him in a good place, Binghe is doing a lot better than Bingge. The wild card for me here is Luo Binghe because I have no idea how he'd be with kids

Quanyin: Yin Yu had a decent track record until he was pushed into snapping. I think rn, he needs a couple centuries of being a babygirl before he's ready to parent again. No idea how Quan Yizhen would do though 

Born to “dual income, no kids, rich uncles/aunts” (D)-

Fengqing: Feng Xin is canonically a bad dad. I know he's working on it, but it is what it is. Mu Qing has been shown to be decent with kids, but I think he’d have a melt down if he had to deal with the mess constantly. 

Hualian: I mean, Xie Lian has raised three kids at this point and one of them became a god, another became state preceptor and then sorta complicit in a genocide, and one became god AND committed genocide + he babysat a ghost king for months and didn't even realize that's what he was because it was a miracle if he remembered to feed him… so, a mixed bag. Hua Cheng may be schrodinger’s child hater, but I'm intrigued by the idea of him raising kids just because I want to know how his own childhood would influence his parenting abilities. They should probably just stick to babysitting for now though 

Mingling: Liu Mingyan is too busy writing gay porn to be dealing with kids, and I just can't imagine Sha Hualing as a mom

Please don't bring a kid into this mess (F)-

Beefleaf: Do I need to explain this one?

Mobeishang: Shang Qinghua should not be put in any position where he has to teach someone about consent (Binghe’s early attempts at flirting being a prime example of why that's a bad idea). I also think Mobei Jun is still working on the whole “why hitting people is not cool” thing. 

QiJiu: I think the original timeline is a prime example of how they're just not in a place to be raising kids 

Jun Wu/ Mei Nianqing: Xie Lian would like a refund on his adopted father figures. They had one kid and he only made it to age 20 because he was cursed to not die

[flowersdiceandlove]

Au where Hua Cheng stays as Wu Ming. All the canon stuff during the first banishment happens, but when he goes to Mount Tonglu, he stays as Wu Ming instead of becoming Hua Cheng. He decides to keep the name Wu Ming bc that’s the name His Highness gave him. He keeps wearing the black robes and Xianle soldier uniform/armor. He makes it clear that he was a soldier in the Xianle army, that he still considers Xie Lian his god, and he wants to serve and protect his god for the rest of his existence just as he wanted in life. He still becomes the calamity and founds Ghost City and challenges the gods, but he does it as Wu Ming. Instead of Crimson Rain Sought Flower, he becomes Crimson-Teared Smiling Ghost (or maybe Crimson-Teared Smiling Soldier?) bc when he’s standing in the blood rain, it slides down his smiling mask making it look like he’s crying tears of blood.

The Heavens know that he’s looking for Xie Lian, and when the Mount Yujun mission happens and Xie Lian’s asking about the young man who controls silver butterflies, they’re like “ah, yes, Wu Ming... Of course he was there since you were…” And Xie Lian is balking learning that Wu Ming is still here and has been looking for him and is still openly worshiping him after all that happened. Xie Lian finds out where to find Wu Ming and hurries down to Ghost City and finds Wu Ming.

This could either be a speed run for their relationship (more than it already was in canon) because Wu Ming’s devotion makes it kinda clear of how much he loves Xie Lian and Xie Lian figures out that he’s Wu Ming’s beloved that Wu Ming wanted revenge for—and, while Xie Lian’s not sure he deserves this love after all that happened—is touched deeply and falls in love with Wu Ming as they spend time together. Or it makes it drag out so much bc they both feel guilty about the past and inadequate to stand next to the other. Xie Lian not feeling worthy of Wu Ming’s steadfast devotion, and Wu Ming feeling he’s failed his god since he left Xie Lian to fight White No-Face alone and is only just now finding him. Either way, like hell Xie Lian’s leaving Wu Ming’s side after their parting 800 years ago and is 100% on Wu Ming’s side in everything. The Heavens have some sort of critique about Wu Ming or warning to Xie Lian about him? In one ear and out the other along with a pointed reminder that Wu Ming is his ghost and his follower. Do not speak I’ll of him again :) Wu Ming’s poor heart is pounding and his face is flaming at how steadfast his god, his love, his everything is defending him and fanboying so hard about it to He Xuan and Yin Yu.

I think at first Xie Lian would move into one of the shrines or temples that Wu Ming built in Ghost City, but then after a little move into Paradise Manor properly.

Also, while Wu Ming openly worships Xie Lian, he doesn’t make any of the denizens of Ghost City worship him. However, bc their beloved Chengzu is worshipping this god, they want to as well and learn about this god that their Chengzu loves. Because of this Xie Lian has a lot of temples and shrines in Ghost City. This number increases after Xie Lian moves there and actually starts answering their prayers, helping where he can, becoming just as beloved as their Chengzhu to them in his own right.

Since Xie Lian has all these temples and shrines, when he has his initial debt, he actually has merits streaming in that Ling Wen is plucking from Xie Lian before he even gets them to start repaying the debt. He still needs to do the Mount Yujun mission though because it is a big debt. And Wu Ming has no intention of purposefully giving more offerings to Xie Lian to help him pay the debt that way cause he doesn’t think Xie Lian should have been billed in the first place. And, since the gods know that any merits from Xie Lian would be coming from Wu Ming and Ghost City, they’re actually scared to take the merits since they think it would piss Wu Ming off (they’re right, of course). So they’re more than happy when they learn about the Mount Yujun arrangement, saying they only want merits if it comes from that mission. (Some still decide to just wave the owed merits all together just to be safe.)

Most of the gods in Heaven still avoid Xie Lian like he’s the plague because of his past but also because (and as the leading reason) because they don’t want to piss Wu Ming off accidentally if they say something offensive to Xie Lian by mistake. After Wu Ming challenged the gods and it came out that he worshipped Xie Lian, the incident of the 33 gods kicking Xie Lian off the mountain came out and so people are scared they’ll be next if they make a wrong move around Xie Lian. They don’t know Xie Lian very well, so they don’t know what he would consider offensive.

Feng Xin and Mu Qing know Exactly why Wu Ming’s pissed at them and can’t even blame him for it after learning of Wu Ming’s devotion. I think their interactions would be really funny. The three of them dragging up old, petty grievances, and hurling Xianle insults at each other. Wu Ming and Mu Qing are winning this because their memories are so good that they remember a lot while Feng Xin is wondering how these two remember so fucking much and so many fucking details. He’s doing pretty good with the insults, though. Those he remembers just fine. Pretty much all of Heaven has learned insults and swears from the Xianle dynasty and dialect and they actually use it. (Xie Lian is pretty shook after ascending again and hearing his native dialect used so casually after it being out of use for centuries.)

The gods eat up Wu Ming, Feng Xin, and Mu Qing’s beef because they know it’s personal instead of left wondering why he’s so against the two and are enjoying watching the matches, arguments, and fall out with them all just like they did with just Feng Xin and Mu Qing in canon.

While Wu Ming does have a lot of fake skins, he still always wears the smiling mask when he’s going up against the gods or in any Official business as Crimson-Teared Smile Ghost/Soldier(?) as a matter of trademark and principal. If he’s not wearing it over his face, he might slide it to the side of his head or have it hang from his waist. When he’s in a human disguise in the Mortal Realm, he keeps it tucked away out of sight, but still on him and easy to grab to put on. He might also just have a technique for making and shattering them for when he needs them. Like how his butterflies come out of his vambraces.

I really like the idea of his title starting out as “Crimson Teared Smiling” because it’s so beautifully tragic. The blood rain falling down makes him look like he’s crying tears of blood, and horrible type of grieving for his his god who went through so much. He wears his smiling mask, though, and is makes it look like he’s smiling because his god was kind and smiled kindly to all, offering shelter and a helping hand. Xie Lian’s duality is reflected here, the pain and suffering he went through with the bloody tears, but also the kind smile he kept and still offers despite it all. We also can’t forget White No-Face’s cry-smiling mask. That just feels like the cherry on top of hidden meanings.

As for whether it ends in “Ghost” or “Soldier” I keep wib-wobbling back and forth on because they’re both so good. “Ghost” is good because that’s what Wu Ming is. He is a nameless ghost. He was nobody until his god gave him purpose. He was ready to die and felt dead because of his shitty life and luck before he remade himself for his god. Even when he was alive, he was always told he’d be better dead and that he’d not live to 18. He was always surrounded by death and tragedy. A ghost is a very good descriptor of what he is even before he died. In volume 1, Chapter 6 it says:

Many believe that, as the God of Misfortune, any paintings or writings of the Prince of Xianle have the powers of a curse. If placed on the back of a person, or on the main entrance of a household, then the cursed person or household will run into all sorts of bad luck… …It was hard to tell whether this was a description of a god or a ghost.

With Honghong-er's luck, even as alive, I would not be surprised if this was true for him also. So, "Ghost" is a very good word to describe him and has a lot of meaning to it.

However, "Soldier" also has a good meaning to it. Wu Ming was a soldier in the Xianle army. He took up arms to defend the capital, but mostly his god, Xie Lian. In the first battle after Xie Lian desended, Mu Qing notes that Wu Ming(still a nameless soldier) was fighting really closely to Xie Lian the entire battle, trying to keep enemies away from Xie Lian. Later, as the ghost Wu Ming in actuality, he was a soldier once again, serving Xie Lian directly, working as his blade and tool. He made himself into a solder for Xie Lian. He did that. That was his choice. He pushed away his fate and became what he wanted. A soldier. A protecter. All for his god. He still wears the armor and attire of a Xianle soldier because that's what he is in this au. He is a champion of Xie Lian, the Crown Prince of Xianle, his weapon, tool, protector. He is a soldier and he wears that honor proudly. Xie Lian is the one who told him he would be suited for a saber and gave him tips. He pledged himself to Xie Lian many times, and Xie Lian accepted that pledge. He is Xie Lian's soldier. His champion. Everything Wu Ming built was towards that end of protecting Xie Lian. The fact that Wu Ming made himself this, is so very in line with canon that it would be so beautiful for his title to reflect this just as the "Sought Flower" does in his canon title.

"Ghost" is a good descriptor of him, but holds tones of his past and what was given to him.

"Soldier" is what he made himself despite it all.

Both are so good, and I'm not sure which would be better. Maybe it's something they change? In canon, there are multiple titles used for people. Just Qi Rong is called both "Night Touring Green Lantern" and also "Green Ghost." So, idk.

I thought up this idea about a week ago and was like "I should write that. That's such a good idea and would be so much fun." but then I remembered that I have so many other fics I need to finish and that this idea would be a big one because there's no way that this could be a oneshot or anything even in the realm of short. I would think 50k at least, but the way my writing goes, it would probably end up closer to 100k. So, i decided to release this idea to the wind and see if any of you got inspiration from it. If anyone writes this or has ideas, let me know because I really do love this idea and want to see stuff about it.

[eliasmelody]

♡VALENTINE'S ADDITION♡

Tag: Wu Chang x f!reader, Naib x f!reader, Emily x f!reader (platonic), Luca x f!reader, maid reader, (a hint of Fan Wujiu x Xie Bi'an and Ganji x reader)...

Contain: pet name, feeding, code-switching (for Wu Chang, check at the end for translation); injury care (for Naib); platonic love, hint of mother figure (for Emily); concussion, small conflict (for Luca), overall fluff!

Warning: Grammar & spelling

✦.───────── ˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗ ───────── .✦

Wu Chang - Fan Wujiu, Xie Bi'an

You stood anxiously on the sofa, the head maid’s message still fresh in your mind, a letter from the hunter requiring your immediate presence. A sense of worry lingered, but perhaps you were overthinking it.

Your gaze drifted to the white guard, his hand holding a strawberry mooncake.

"Open wide~" Xie Bi'an's voice was soft, yet there was an underlying playfulness that made your heart flutter.

"Ugh, stop with that tone, Bi'an," Fan Wujiu groaned, taking a slow sip of his tea, his eyes rolling in mild annoyance.

Bi’an chuckled softly, ignoring Wujiu’s comment. He gently placed the strawberry mooncake near your lips, a smile playing on his own as he waited for you to take a bite.

"Now, now, Wujiu, don’t be a killjoy. Let me have my fun."

Wujiu let out another exasperated sigh, rolling his eyes again. You chewed the dessert slowly, your eyes widening slightly as the sweet, delicate flavor of the strawberry mooncake filled your mouth. It was unexpectedly delicious, a perfect blend of sweetness and softness.

Bi’an's smile widened as he watched you savor the mooncake. He seemed pleased, his eyes filled with affection and satisfaction. "Do you like it, bǎo bèi?"

You nodded enthusiastically, the taste lingering on your tongue.

Bi’an chuckled again, clearly pleased with your reaction. He reached for another mooncake. "I’m glad you like it. Here, try this one."

Wujiu rolled his eyes once more, clearly unimpressed. "Lún dào wǒ le," He muttered, a hint of frustration in his voice.

Before you could even react, he swiftly scooped you up and placed you gently on his lap. You let out a surprised yelp.

Your face turns bright red as Wujiu suddenly picks you up and places you on his lap. You are taken aback by his sudden actions, but you can't help but feel a flutter of excitement.

"Now, eat," he said, his tone commanding but not unkind, as he settled you in place, his hands resting casually around your waist.

Bi’an, who was watching the scene unfold, let out a soft chuckle, his eyes gleaming mischievously.

"My, my, Wujiu. A bit eager, aren’t we?”

Wujiu shoots a quick and harsh glare at Bi'an, clearly unamused. He tightens his grip around your waist, making sure you won't be able to escape.

"Shut up, Bi'an" He snapped, his gaze now focused back on you. Despite his words, Wujiu blushes at Bi'an's remark. It's well-known that he adores both of you.

Bi'an can't help but laugh at Wujiu's reaction, clearly enjoying the sight of the usually stoic and unapproachable hunter blushing.

"You’re being a tad bit physical, aren’t you? It’s quite endearing to see you this way."

Wujiu's grip on your waist tightens even more, his expression turning even more grouchy.

"Ignore him," He murmurs, his tone much softer as directed at you. "Just eat.”

Feeling the pressure from both sides, you sighed softly, your stomach still full from lunch. Despite the heaviness in your chest, you reluctantly took another bite, your lips barely curving into a pout.

I just ate, you thought, but the combination of their attention and the undeniable sweetness of the mooncake made it hard to resist.

✦.───────── ˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗ ───────── .✦

Mercenary - Naib Subedar

It was late, and you were going through your usual midnight check, making sure all the important doors and windows were securely closed. Your footsteps echoed in the quiet hallway as you passed the infirmary, but then something caught your eye.

"Huh? Did Ms Emily forget to close the door?" You were about to push it shut when a faint sound stopped you, a soft, almost imperceptible hiss coming from inside. You step further inside, your breath shallow as you feel a chill crawl down your spine.

The infirmary is unnervingly dark, with only the faint light from the window casting long shadows on the floor.

Everyone must be asleep by now, and the manor owner strictly forbids anyone from wandering at night unless on duty.

In the corner of the bed, you think you see something move for a split second. You take a wary step forward, but then freeze.

"Naib?" You whisper, your voice barely audible, the room feeling colder with each passing moment. "Oh no..."

He curses under his breath, his body frozen in the shadows. You sets the candle down on the table, the flickering light revealing your worried expression as you quickly moves toward him.

"What happened to you?" You asks, voice full of concern. You notice the nasty cuts and bruises on his scarred body, likely from the match.

"Did you forget to get checked up, or did you brush it off again?" You frown.

He doesn't answer. The shadow barely reveals his face, and the silence between you thickens.

You sigh, frustration creeping in. "Gimme the bandage."

"...[y/n]..." He protests.

"Please don't argue with me." Your voice is firm, but there's a quiet concern hidden beneath, the silence between you thickening.

Naib sighs, and reluctantly hands you the box of bandages. His expression remains unreadable in the dim light, but you can sense the weight of his unspoken thoughts.

You clumsily pour the antibiotics on his wound, carefully dabbing it with cotton before wrapping it up. He doesn’t flinch, not even once. His stillness makes you uneasy, but you focus on the task, unable to see his face as you work on his back.

"... You’re bad at this." Suddenly, he speaks, his voice rough, breaking the silence. It catches you off guard, and for a moment, you hesitate before continuing.

"... I'm trying," You mutter, a blush creeping up as you fumble with the bandage. You were never good at this whole medic thing. "... Does it hurt?" You ask, glancing at him, hoping he’ll be honest.

"... Barely anymore," He replies, his voice soft, yet still tinged with exhaustion.

The room falls into silence after that. Naib takes over, finishing the bandaging with a practiced hand, clearly aware of your lack of skill.

"You already did the worst of it," He says casually, noticing the sulk on your face as he wraps the final bandage.

After he finishes, you gather the bottles and bandages, quietly putting everything back in place.

Suddenly, you feel a soft pat on your head.

"Thanks. I appreciate it."

It’s so quick, and by the time you glance up, he’s already gone, vanishing like the wind. You sit there, a blush creeping across your face, unsure if it really happened or if it was just your imagination.

The next morning, when you wake up, there’s a small chocolate box sitting at your door.

✦.───────── ˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗ ───────── .✦

Doctor - Emily Dyer

You are on a mission today. No more hesitant this time, you already turned down many offers nowaday because of your injury. So you hope you can change her mind this time.

Despite the holiday, the never-ending task of checking dwindling supplies must left her drained.

You open the door to the infirmary, the sound of a deep sigh echoing through the quiet room. The faint smell of antiseptic lingers in the air as you step inside. "Hello Ms Emily!”

Emily's eyes flickered open at the sound of her name, and she let out a long sigh of relief. "Finally," She whispered, her tension easing as help arrived. She straightened up, grateful for the much-needed assistance.

As Emily reached for the cup of coffee, the warm aroma filled the air, and she couldn't help but hum in delight. The first sip was like a wave of comfort, its warmth grounding her in the moment. It was just what she needed to keep going.

"Thank you," she said softly, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders.

"Wow..." You glance at all the boxes of supplies in the room. "You’ve already sorted half of it?"

Emily sighed and nodded, still sipping her coffee. "Who else? The quicker it’s done, the quicker I get some time," She muttered, her voice tinged with exhaustion.

You nod in understanding, glancing around one more time before turning to her. "I made you a small snack." You try to lighten the mood, setting a delicate porcelain mold on the table, a chocolate soufflé.

You look at her excitedly, a small grin spreading across your face. "Something to help you recharge.”

Emily's expression lightens as she sees the soufflé, touched by your thoughtfulness.

"You made this? For me?" She sets down her cup of coffee and looks at the delicate dessert, a warm smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

She lets out a soft laugh, charmed by your eagerness. Emily's smile widens as she picks up the soufflé, admiring the craftsmanship. "You're so sweet. Thank you."

She picks up a spoon and takes a small bite of the soufflé, her eyes widening in pleasant surprise. The rich taste and texture of the dessert seem to melt in her mouth.

"Oh, it's delicious. You're quite the little chef, aren't you?”

You blush slightly at her words. "Oh, it was nothing. Just something simple, any of the maids could’ve done it.”

Emily smiles at your humility, thoroughly enjoying the snack you made for her. She takes another bite before speaking again.

"Well, simple or not, it's very impressive. You've managed to lift my mood and give me a much-needed energy boost."

You wait for Emily to take a few more bites of the dessert before speaking again, shyly.

"So, um, you know... can I hang out with Ganji today?" You ask warily, glancing at Emily.

Emily frowns slightly. "Has your ankle healed up?"

"...yes?"

"Does it still hurt?"

"No?"

Emily sighs and shakes her head. "Just be careful, and don’t run too much."

"Yes." You whisper, flashing a victory sign.

"And no playing cricket either."

You drop your jaw, but your arms are fine. "...why?"

Emily calmly scoops another bite of the dessert, not even glancing at you as she replies. "Because once you start, you’ll keep going. And then you’ll ignore what the doctor says.”

The doctor was right, you have a tendency to get caught up in the fun. Emily only wants what’s best for you; she always has. Still, you can already picture Ganji’s frown deepening at this… Oh well you try.

You huff and turn away. "Fine.”

Emily chuckles softly, then mutters after you retreat form. "Have fun.”

✦.───────── ˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗ ───────── .✦

Prisoner - Luca Balsa

You let out a quiet sigh, watching Luca completely absorbed in his "experience," as if you’re just part of the scenery. It’s like he’s forgotten you exist, expecting you to stand around and look pretty.

Muttering, "I'm getting snacks," you don’t wait for a response. He’s so lost in whatever’s happening that you doubt he even heard you.

Turning on your heel, you head to the kitchen, the noise from his "experience" still filling the room.

You try to shake off the frustration, reminding yourself Luca’s charming, funny, and thoughtful when he wants to be. He’s well-educated and has qualities you admire.

With a sigh, you focus on making a hot chocolate to distract yourself. As you pour the milk and melt the chocolate, you drag it out, adding whipped cream, marshmallows, and a sprinkle of cocoa, anything to delay going back to that room.

“Just a little bit of–”

BAM

You jump, almost dropping the bowl as you spin around in shock. “What the–”

The door swings open, revealing Luca, looking disheveled. His hair is a mess, likely from running his hand through it repeatedly. He clutches his head with a groan, squinting as his eyes meet yours.

You frown, your concern growing. "What was that, Luca?"

He groans and walks into the kitchen, not answering as he lays his head on your shoulder, his breath coming in heavy, uneven gasps.

"…Luca?" You ask, voice laced with worry, shift slightly, trying to see his face.

He doesn’t speak for a while, and you feel the weight of his head resting on you, hiding his expression.

“Where have you been?” He asks, his voice strained, almost painful.

You blink, confused by his question, then respond quietly, “... Um... The kitchen?”

It takes him a few seconds to process, before he asks again, his voice still sounding off. “... Why don’t you tell me?”

You let out a small sigh, frustration mixing with your concern. “I did.”

He doesn’t answer right away, only letting out a groan as if the effort of speaking is too much. Slowly, he wraps his arm around your middle, pulling you a little closer, his breath still heavy against your shoulder.

You stay still for a moment, unsure of what to say or do, but his silent presence speaks volumes.

You let out a soft sigh, the weight of his words settling over you. Gently, you wrap your arms around him, one hand resting on his back, the other threading through his messy hair.

"What–" You begin to ask.

“I’m sorry.” You’re cut off as he whispers

You widen your eyes in surprise. Well, that’s new. Luca, with his usual ego, never says those words so easily. The words, quiet and sincere, make your heart soften. You hold him a little tighter, letting the silence hang between you, wondering what’s really going on inside his head.

"... For what?" you ask, your voice soft with curiosity.

He sighs, his tone almost defeated, "… I don’t know... whatever I did… My head hurt”

You shake your head, your fingers gently brushing through his hair as you sigh. "You're forgiven. But next time, don’t run like that. Your head’s already been through enough damage."

"Okay..." he whispers softly, his voice barely above a breath, as if he’s finally letting the tension go.

You smile softly, "Come on, let's bring this back to the room, shall we?"

He smiles back, his hand gently finding yours as you lead the way back.

It turns out, you're not just a decoration. You're the one who keeps him grounded, stopping him from losing himself just by your presence.

✦.───────── ˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗ ───────── .✦

bǎo bèi = treasure

Lún dào wǒ le = My turn

[fixaidea]

Excerpt from Wu Xie's journal, Yucun era:

It happened on a completely ordinary Tuesday afternoon. I was sitting on my bed, trying to decide if I should get changed for gardening or if my current clothes will do when, unannounced as he would, Pokerface walked into my room.

I only noticed him when he sat down - or rather slumped in a heap on the floor, leaning against the bed, right beside my legs. This was already highly unusual of him but before I could ask what he was doing he tipped slightly to the side and pressed his face against my knees.

I stared, frozen to the spot. What the fuck? I opened my mouth and promptly closed it again, unable to force out my questions. What the hell had gotten into this guy? His head was uncovered but from this angle all I could see was his nape and the top of his head - admittedly both only slightly harder to read than his face.

Now my first shock receded just enough that I was almost certain I could string together a sentence so I opened my mouth to try again - and then Pokerface's shoulders shook and the took a deep breath. A wet, shuddering breath.

For a moment it did not even register, my brain simply refused what I heard. I stared at his nape, at his shaking shoulders, unable to believe what I was seeing.

Pokerface was crying.

Cold nausea was starting to settle in my guts. What the hell? I knew I should do something but for a beat I was paralysed, unable to form a coherent thought, never mind act on it. The hand I was finally able to extend and lay on his shoulder was shaking uncontrollably.

He responded by feebly squeezing my ankle.

The horrible twist in my gut this gesture caused finally spurred me into proper action: I reached under his armpits and pulled him upwards. He relented and stood up. I sat fully up on the bed, leaning against the headboard and patted the space beside me. He climbed up but instead of sitting with me like I expected he curled up by my side and put his head on my thigh.

I was quite lost.

The last twenty or so years have equipped me with a large amount of varied life skills, but comforting people just wasn't one of them. My mind was going into overdrive both figuring out how to act and trying to keep the mounting worry, dread and anger at bay. Because, fuck, this was Pokerface. I was aware he was capable of crying but I have never, not once in my life have witnessed him doing it. What on Earth could have happened to hurt him this bad?!

I took a deep breath. Me spiralling was the last thing he needed right now. I looked down at him: he was hugging my legs, quietly sniffling. My vision swam as I put my hand back on his shoulder.

'I remembered something' he muttered into my trousers.

I swallowed around the lump in my throat. That made sense, and it was by far the more preferable option compared to him getting hurt in the present time. Still, knowing his past, I dreaded what fresh horror he would reveal.

'On the street... there was a young mother with her son. Seeing them was what brought it back... I saw her. There, in Motuo.'

Relief flooded me so hard it knocked the breath out of me and left me boneless. His mother. He remembered his mother. Not one of the countless, unspeakable atrocities committed against him but gentle Bai Ma.

'I'm glad' I whispered 'I'm glad, Xiaoge.'

We stayed there for a long time, long after his tears finally dried.

[khattikeri]

sometimes i stop and think about how absolutely utterly fucked it is that xie lian's boss/mentor/father-figure publicly used his sword to draw xie lian's blood as a test that xie lian's virginity was intact.

like. it's framed in-universe as absurdly embarrassing. why jun wu even owns a sword capable of that is purposely lampshaded too, for very good reason! xie lian is explicitly described as wanting it to be over asap. the other heavenly officials get disappointed at the lack of drama with the result. it's all just so uniquely squicky.

such a minor scene, but it's very succinct and intentional with its depiction of obsessive control veiled as concern for xie lian's reputation, plus the dull pain of xie lian repressing his personal desires to maintain "purity" as his cultivation method requires