#you’ll be okay mu qing

[worstloki]

They found the character you like and are making them mean in all the wrong ways. Yeah they don’t care about context or what growth the characterisation added. They’re not sorry either it’s going to keep happening. Your character was mean to theirs so they hate them and now every trait has boxed them into the needlessly hateful emotionally incompetent self-centred trope. they’ve also been feminized and dubbed to have been secretly pining for their rival for years . Everyone hates them. Sorry

[wvsteria]

masqce​:

                                                                         “if you don’t sit still,” mu qing threatens impatiently, his hands freezing mid-air when rachel pulls away all of a sudden, “it will be more of a big chop, and less of a little trim.” it is not his first time having to trim the hair of others; back in xianle, his mother used to cut his hair at home, and in turn taught him how to do the back of her hair as well. he’d later helped out a few kids in the neighborhood, too, but for all their endless blabbering, none of them were half as restless as this particular female. “we’ve gone past the point of you not trusting me with this, since i already cut half of it. you’ll look like you got into an accident with the scissors if you walk out like this, so i suggest you sit back, and sit still,” he adds, rolling his eyes.

rachel shrinks back into the chair, at their ‘command’. she knew he was right anyways. her moving did not help, even if she was nervous for the turnout. but she also didn’t want to walk out looking crazy since he’d done one side. “okay, okay, fine.”  she mumbled almost before settling into the seat and sitting still. “okay, but you have to tell me you’ve like professionally done this before still.” 

@masqce: [trim] - sender reaches out with a pair of scissors and trims some of the receiver’s hair. ( rachel & mu qing )

rachel was a nervous wreck letting the other cut her hair. why she ever agreed to it- "it's just little trims right?" she flinched when she felt another snip, pulling her head away just in case to check on it.

fun little action prompts!!

[demihualian]

Genderbend (Hualesbians), NSFW //

Xie Lian’s feet pad up to Hua Cheng as she cooks - then a warm body presses itself against her back, chin hooking over her shoulder.

“Jiejie,” Hua Cheng greets her wife, smiling down at the pot she’s tending. “How did the visit go?”

“It was okay,” Xie Lian says. Unnecessarily, she adds, “They’re gone now.”

Hua Cheng raises an eyebrow, glancing over her shoulder for a moment. “Good,” she says. She’d rather not have Feng Xin and Mu Qing in their house for any longer than necessary.

“We’re alone,” Xie Lian continues.

A hand slips under Hua Cheng’s shirt, then creeps upward.

Hua Cheng freezes, not wanting to spook her - and she’s rewarded with her wife’s hand pushing her bralette up, gently cupping one of her tits.

“So,” Xie Lian finishes, “we can. Um.”

Hua Cheng flicks the burner off, spinning around. “Jiejie,” she growls, capturing Xie Lian’s mouth in a clash of lips and teeth, “you’ll be the death of me.”

“San Niang,” Xie Lian gasps, and then when Hua Cheng nips at her neck - “San Niang.”

“This is what you wanted, right?” Hua Cheng whispers in her ear. “Me to ravish you?”

Xie Lian gives a tiny, shy nod.

Hua Cheng scoops her up into a bridal carry, and soon they’re tumbling into bed, hands all over each other.

Dinner is cold once they finish.

[shijiujun]

Okay I’ve decided to do a single rec after I finish one novel hahaha because if I wait to get around to it all it’ll never happen! Anyway because @sarah-yyy​​ has been reading it and I’ve gotten a lot of asks/replies on this, I’m just going to do one huge list for one of my faves so everyone knows what’s going on and where to find things XD

- Part of Min’s ‘Why You Should Read’ Series -

Summary: 

This is set in a historical setting where men can marry other men, but it’s usually reserved for sons who were not borne by the official main first wife of the patriarch of the family, i.e. a son born by a concubine in a family may be forced to marry a man to keep him from being able to become the next family’s patriarch for example. This is because any family’s next leader needs to be able to have children with a wife who married in as a zheng shi (lawful wife), and not a ce shi (second wife) or any other concubines/mistresses etc. Most of these men who marry other men have to take them as their zheng shi and lawful spouse in a sense, and the same goes for the royal family.

The story starts with third prince Jing Shao, who was forced to marry Mu Han Zhang, a Marquis’ second son, by the Empress and Emperor, thereby officially and effectively cutting him out of the race for the throne. He’s mocked by the public as everyone knows what this means, and for the next 10 years, he neglects Mu Han Zhang, blaming him for his predicament, and deliberately showers his three other concubines with affection in front of him, but 10 years later, when Jing Shao is accused of treason, everyone leaves him except for Mu Han Zhang. They are chased to the edge of the cliff by soldiers, and Mu Han Zhang dies in his arms having taken an arrow meant for him earlier, and Jing Shao jumps off the cliff with his dead body, and promises that if there’s a next life, he will do everything Han Zhang says, and love him.

He wakes up immediately on the night of his marriage with Han Zhang, and realizes that he’s been given a second chance to make everything right. Han Zhang is definitely afraid of him, humiliated and angry when he first wakes up after how rough Jing Shao was with him earlier on their wedding night, and he has no memories of their past life. Jing Shao then sets to SHOWER HAN ZHANG with affection, love and basically everything, because he realized that this is the only person who stayed by his side until the end, and then he falls in love with Han Zhang properly this time, and also deals with every single person who maligned and schemed against him in his previous life, with Han Zhang by his side.

Read: 

Novel (Online) | Novel (Print) - Not Available | Novel Translations | Manhua (You’ll have to download the KuaiKan app, the chapters are currently all free)

Characters:

1. 景韶 Jing Shao - 3rd Prince and is the first out of his three other brothers to be given a title 成王 (cheng wang). He’s referred to as 王爷, and also 小勺 (xiao shao) by Han Zhang. Went out on his first war when he was 14, and was thus given a title before any of his brothers. He’s known for being a merciless, cold and fierce army general/commander, but this was before his second life with Han Zhang, where he puts on like his doting mode and is basically a dumbass XD who listens to Han Zhang with a lot of trust, which is cool and all.

He marries Han Zhang when he’s 19, and in his first life he was very reluctant and resistant, and neglected Han Zhang for 10 years, until he was charged with treason and hunted down. 

In his first life he wanted to snatch the throne, even from his blood-related brother Jing Chen, but more out of spite than anything else because he felt he was dealt an unfair hand by having to marry Han Zhang. Not only that, but Jing Shao is not his father’s favourite son, and he always felt that the emperor was biased against him. Anyway, a huge accumulation of daddy and anger issues, which is fair.

When he realizes that Han Zhang died for him, he decides he will be good to Han Zhang if they are reborn in their next life.

2. 慕含章 Mu Han Zhang - The 2nd son of Marquis Bei Hou’s, born to a concubine. He’s called by his 表字 which is 君清 (jun qing) by Jing Shao. Official First Wife Bei Wei Hou-furen and her son (who is in line to inherit the Marquis title from his father) has bullied him all his life, and wanted to push him into greater desperation by marrying him to Jing Shao, knowing he will suffer at the hands of the supposed merciless/heartless wangye. He has a weak body because of an accident when he was younger, and in his first life he was really sick after being neglected for 10 years, and knowing this in their second life, Jing Shao does everything he can to take care of him.

He is incredibly smart, has a brain for business and sales, and is also very good at handling people, especially scheming ones. He aids Jing Shao in the beginning of their second life, and then Jing Chen later as well, as both brothers begin to fight to put Jing Chen on the throne, against the 1st and 4th Princes. Is an incredibly good tactician in war as well.

3. 景琛 Jing Chen - 2nd Prince, Jing Shao’s blood related older brother who is handsome af too. His title, given later in the novel, is 睿王 (rui wang). He was misunderstood by Jing Shao in the first life as Jing Shao thought it was his brother who led to him marrying Han Zhang, and because he’s not very good at expressing himself and shows his concern to Jing Shao by nagging at him, Jing Shao always thought he hated him. In their second life, Jing Shao already knows that Jing Chen loves him and did a lot for him in his first life, and so trusts his brother and supports him right off the bat, because Jing Chen is indeed the most suited person for the throne.

He has a wife and a concubine, 3 sons and 2 daughters at this point. He ends up helping Jing Shao a lot, and when he realizes that Han Zhang is way more adept at politics and the whole scheming thing than Jing Shao is, he begins trusting Han Zhang a lot more as well! There’s a surprise with Jing Chen hahaha which I loveee and could see, but wasn’t sure until they confirmed it in the last few chapters AHAHAHAHA.

Other Notable Characters:

1. Song Ling Xin (Second Wife) on the left, and two other concubines on the right

They’re pretty much vying for Jing Shao’s attention, but at this point apparently he hasn’t slept with any of them before. Song Ling Xin is the daughter of the Military Department’s Head Song An, and Jing Shao married her initially out of interest. The right most concubine (I forgot her name oops) was a gift given to him by his oldest brother, the 1st Prince. The two of them played a huge role in Jing Shao’s downfall back in his first life, and so in his second life, he especially detests Song Ling Xin. Plus the three of them keep bullying Han Zhang in the beginning, but thankfully Jing Shao is like: “Anything my Jun Qing wants”. They don’t stay around for long either, watch as Jing Shao gets rid of them like he’s swatting flies.

2. Xiao Yuan & Zhou Da-Ge

This is another male couple who’s been married for 7-8 years if I recall. Xiao Yuan is one of Jing Shao’s important allies and friends in the second life, because in Jing Shao’s first life, this was one of the only young officials in court who spoke up for him when the accusations of treason came about. Zhou Da-Ge is his husband, who is a cook running a restaurant in the city. Whenever Zhou Da-Ge bullies Xiao Yuan in bed a little too much, Xiao Yuan punishes him by making him wear colourful clothes out (pink, bright yellow, purple, etc.) and thus he has a reputation for being eccentric and a weirdo, but oh well, all for love.

3. Gu Huai Qing

One of Jing Shao and Jing Chen’s most powerful allies, and he becomes blood-sworn brothers with Jing Shao without realizing who he is. Later he takes a liking to Jing Chen.

(Will update with photos when they come out, but they’re a bit further into the story so we won’t have them for a few months yet ahahaha)

Amazing Scenes:

Jing Shao & Han Zhang first looks in the manhua

Jing Shao being THAT clingy husband and helping Han Zhang to wear his clothes properly so cute!!!!!

Han Zhang and Jing Shao in their first lives (10 years later), about to die, sad and then Jing Shao jumps down the cliff with Han Zhang’s corpse, regretful cuz he a dumb bij

Jing Shao unable to resist kissing Han Zhang’s cheek, realizes what he’s doing, and gets embarrassed LMAOOOO 没出息!!!!!!! (This is different from the novel, because in the novel Jing Shao just kisses and is done with that, the embarrassment part is drawn in only in the manhua hahaha)

Other Things I Like in the Novel:

Jing Shao is like, he does a 180 entirely and he is very cognisant of all his faults and what he did wrong previously, and how badly he treated Han Zhang, so he legit forces his brain to go “I will listen to Jun Qing from now on” and he really sticks to it!

Loves kissing and teasing Han Zhang, but doesn’t force him into bed after their wedding night, and instead goes to Xiao Yuan and asks for tips on how to make his partner feel less scared about sex

The both of them end up with a pet tiger?!! That’s called Xiao Huang (little yellow) LMAO

They nap together a lot which I love <3333

Jing Shao knows he’s bullied at home, so when they go back to the Marquis Bei Hou manor, he holds Han Zhang’s hand in front of everyone to let them know Han Zhang has someone to back him up

Brings Han Zhang to war because he “cannot concentrate if Jun Qing isn’t with me at all times” - and asks for special permission to do so

Han Zhang notes that since he married Jing Shao, as the ‘wife’ he is supposed to serve Jing Shao, but it’s always Jing Shao serving him - Getting water for him, bringing him to baths, putting clothes on for him, putting food in his plate if it tastes nice, massaging his back and waist etc. - and best is he doesn’t have to deal with any in-laws?!! HAHAHA

Jing Shao gets revenge on those who hurt Han Zhang when he was younger for him, and the outcome is pretty hilarious but well-deserved

EPILOGUES are cute af!!!!

[crowning-art]

TGCF SPOILERSS

------------------------

ok you know what, I'm beginning to notice a pattern every time I read and it's me just going omg omg omg!!! (out of happiness) and then omg omg omg omg?!? (like wtf? wtf just happened?????) to omg omg omg omg… (out of dread) and then the cycle repeats lol

Anywaaays

UMMM MY FAVE SIDE CHARACTERS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED LOL, and that includes

The clothing store owner:

Seeing him flee, the store owner had wanted to stop him, but opening and closing his mouth, he looked down at that gold foil that could easily buy two sets of clothing and more. Then he shrugged and stopped caring.

and the food stall owner:

With this large crowd running down the streets, more dust flew and choked the air; the food stall owner couldn’t even curse anymore, flipping his own pot from anger.

“WHY THE FUCK DO I EVEN BOTHER?!”

lmao Heaven's eye is so funny, I can't with him. He's trying so hard

Qi Rong reintroduced in the midst of eating a human hand and covered in blood, and overall in a very disgusting way:

me: Awwww Qi Rong! It's been a while! I missed him~

Ok, I did NOT have Qi Rong being an excellent chef in my non-existent bingo card, but ya...def a surprise lol

Fu YAO???/

FU YAOOOO????!!!! HE'S BACK!!!! I MISSED HIM SO MUCH?!?!?!

I WAS SO HAPPY I KINDA HAD TO PAUSE TO STOP SQUELING DJNQKJNDOJDN THIS MADE ME SO HAPPY

hehe, he cares~

“OW OW OW OW ARM! MY ARM’S BROKEN! BROKEN BROKEN! COUSIN CROWN PRINCE WAIT! OKAY, OKAY, OKAY, I’LL BE HONEST, I LIED, I DIDN’T EAT HIM! I DIDN’T! I WAS GOING TO BUT I HAVEN’T YET!”

“Where is he now?” Xie Lian demanded.

“STOP CRUSHING, STOP CRUSHING! I’ll tell you, that little Feet-Dragger is locked up in the shed on the side, JUST TAKE A LOOK AND YOU’LL SEE!”

I was like woah...uh damn....Qi Rong, u have a way to bring out the murderous side of Xie Lian someHOW, don't you?

Before he finished, a chilling, glistening, bloody butcher knife was thrust into his mouth between his teeth. The handle of the butcher knife was gripped in Xie Lian’s hand.

Xie Lian smiled. “Hm? What are you yelling about?”

Qi Rong did not see how Xie Lian was able to thrust that knife into his mouth; he could only feel chill on his lips, and the tip of his tongue sensed there was a sudden, new, extremely sharp object. Although he wasn’t hurt, if he tried moving even an inch his mouth was going to bleed, and his voice died in his throat.

THIS PART WAS AMAZING LIKE JUST IMAGINING IT sbjwjwkekekek

Right at the same time, Hua Cheng finished building the little golden palace, and he rose to his feet. He raised his brows as he side-eyed the little building he constructed, and gently kicked.

Flop, flop, flop, the golden palace collapsed.

And that inn also rumbled as it crumbled.

UMmm heloo?! IM SO EMOTIONAL RIGHT NOW??? What went wroooonggg???? I miss the friendship BETWEEN THE THREE so much! WHyyyy?? WHY ARE YOU GUYS DISTANT???

Xie Lian soundlessly gave a dry laugh. Eight hundred years ago when he activated the verbal password for the first time, it was “just recite the Ethics Sutra a thousand times”; even eight hundred years later, it had never changed, and Feng Xin actually remembered. Xie Lian remembered the way Feng Xin laughed until he was hoarse when he first heard that verbal password all those years back, and couldn’t help but feel nostalgic, even though it wasn’t the right time.

Ok, but like from everything I saw thus far, I felt like Hua Cheng just REALLYYY didn't care for anyone unless they somehow helped him in one way or another to be powerful or eradicate something harmful, which in turn would keep Xie Lian safe/happy, but seeing him checking Guzi's forehead for a fever was def a surprise? But maybe he just did it cuz he knows Xie Lian cares for him? Dunno, but it's def curious

UMMMM???

“What happened to Mu Qing? How did it come to this???”

UMMM SOMEONE ANSWER PLS???? WHY IS MY BABY BEING HELD CAPTIVE??? WHY IS MY PRECIOUS BOI BEING ACCUSED OF A FAULTY ASCENSION???? STOP I DIDN"T NEED HIM TO COME BACK LIKE THIS T-T

I miss book 1

oh wait, no one can answer cuz Ling Wen ruined the communications of the upper court lol

ok. OK.

LisTEn

I reaaaaallllyyyyy like Feng Xin and Mu Qing ijbfeijfilqi like Feng Xin is trying to help him out while he's in trouble, even though they got the 'rivalry' and everything???? Ya'll really telling me he got NO feelings for him???? HUh???? EXBLAIN THIS?????

stop i LOVE him, i WILL CRY HE DOESN'T DESERVE THIS

That was true, only because “helping out of kindness”, “loving and protecting children”, “doing good without leaving a name”, in everyone’s minds, these were all things Mu Qing would never do. Mu Qing had always been “lonesome”; he never showed any unnecessary kindness, and didn’t really make any intimate friends in the heavens. Now that something had happened, no one would believe him even if he tried to argue, and naturally there was no one to speak on his behalf. This was probably why he chose to run away and investigate the truth himself.

but like you are Wrong (WITH A CAPITAL W), there is SOMEONE who believes him and he goes by the name of Feng Xin ;)

-------

haha man I loved these chaps! It's really bring back the book 1 vibes and oh boi, it's been so long since things got so light hearted!

[southernwindsarrow]

Fengqing 12: Live

There was movement as someone slid into their bed.

Mu Qing, groggy with sleepiness, felt strong arms wrap around his waist in bed. He felt warm, safe, and comfortable. He felt at home. There was no need to open his eyes; he knew who it was. Feng Xin had come home.

Arms tightened around his waist, pulling him closer, and soft lips nuzzled against his neck and shoulders. He shivered as he felt Feng Xin’s warm breaths lingering on his skin.

"Mmm, Feng Xin," Mu Qing mumbled out sleepily, eyes still closed. He turned around to face Feng Xin, and pulled him into a long, slow, and soft kiss.

"I care for you, I love you. You know that?" Feng Xin says as he pulls away from the kiss. His amber eyes are looking right into Mu Qing’s soul as he gently cups his soft face with strong hands.

"I love you so much, remember that," he adds softly, his hand moving from Mu Qing’s jaw to push his hair behind his ears. "But I have to go now," he says with a gentle smile. "You’ll be okay,"

Mu Qing, still groggy with sleepiness and mild lust, opens his eyes fully and sees clearly as Feng Xin slowly fades away into darkness. This isn’t right. His heart beats faster.

“Mu Qing, you need to wake up,” he hears Feng Xin softly, his fading face still holding a smile.

No-

He got up immediately, his eyes sore and tired, as if he’d been crying for a while. It was a dream. There was no Feng Xin in bed with him. He could feel his left hand still clutching tightly onto Feng Xin’s favourite yellow hair ribbon, and his bloodshot eyes landed on the large wooden bow on his table, still covered in dark brown spots of dried blood. His heart sank.

Mu Qing wailed.

His Feng Xin, who fought three devastation ghosts alone for two days to protect his worshippers, until pain and exhaustion overtook him, resulting in fatal stabs into his stomach, chest, and heart.

It was too late by the time Mu Qing, held up by his own battles, arrived at the scene of a lifeless god in the middle of a destroyed village.

He dropped to his knees next to his god’s cold body, and noticed that Feng Xin was smiling, even in death.

He misses that stupid smile. He misses the way Feng Xin furrows his eyebrows and scratches his head when he’s confused. He misses his angry, loud, thunderous voice when Mu Qing annoys him. He misses the way his eyes would soften when he mentioned his favorite flower, the one he never fails to get for Mu Qing every month. He misses Feng Xin so much.

A light knock on the door pulls him back to reality.

"Mu Qing, are you ready?" Xie Lian walks into his room, his own face filled with somberness. "The funeral’s starting soon," He sees Mu Qing sitting up in bed, still in his sleeping robe. "I’ll let them know we need a few more minutes," he smiles sadly.

"Thank you, your highness," Mu Qing replied, his voice soft and raspy, as he got out of bed to get ready. "It won’t take long."

Xie Lian leaves and closes the door behind him. Mu Qing starts his bath, using only Feng Xin’s favourite scented soaps and oils.

He’ll live, he tells himself as he soaks into the warm bath. He knows it won’t be easy without Feng Xin, but he’ll live.

For Feng Xin.

[neuxue]

If you don't mind me asking, who are your favorite MXTX characters (top 5 from each novel)? And why? I'm sorry if you've answered this question before.

I don’t mind at all! I am, however, extremely bad at picking favourites. Especially in TGCF and CQL (have not yet read SVSSS or the MDZS novel) because I Love Everyone In This Bar. No, really.

But okay let’s start with TGCF because it’s very slightly easier. In no real order:

Xie Lian - it’s the... well, it’s a lot of things, but a lot of it is the ‘flower in one hand, sword in the other’, and how other characters sometimes forget the sword, beneath his gentleness, his smiling equanimity towards any and all misfortune, but Xie Lian is dangerous, and Xie Lian is capable, and Xie Lian has been hurt; Xie Lian is kind not because he cannot be cruel but because he has been, because he can be, and because he chooses not to be. 

Hua Cheng - where’s that tweet. you know the one. ‘people who both hate themselves with a burning passion and think they could effortlessly surpass god at the exact same time’. that. also competence. i mean, also a lot of things, but.

He Xuan - the betrayal! the revenge! the irony! the way in seeking vengeance for something that was stolen from him, he gains almost precisely that very thing... and then must destroy it in the name of that revenge. the way so much of his character is hunger, but in the end he is left with the emptiness of a revenge completed. 

Mu Qing - i love an emotionally repressed pragmatist with a great deal of capability, an allergy to vulnerability, and a fear of being cast aside that makes him the first to leave. 

Bai Wuxiang - ...i can feel you judging me. (the parallels with his life and xie lian’s. the lose-lose situation he has created: if xie lian follows his path it will feel like an exoneration of his own choices, but it also darkens everything with this shade of inevitability, of you were right, it is not worth it, there is no hope. but if xie lian defies him... then it means maybe it wasn’t inevitable, means maybe he could have chosen differently). also i really am just into the highkey fucked up dynamic he has with xie lian, don’t look at me like that.

Honourable mentions to: Ling Wen (who deserves a raise), Shi Qingxuan, and Yin Yu. 

---

And now CQL, which...I quite literally had to roll dice to narrow this down to 5. I legitimately love almost every named character, for different reasons. Again in no particular order:

Wei Wuxian - i mean pretty much everything about him is designed to hit a great deal of my id buttons so here we are. show me a downward spiral beginning with irreverence and ending on a cliffside, passing through sharp smiles and cruelty and kindness and sacrifice... show me a character who hides their pain behind laughter and lies... show me murdering people with a flute... show me a character who paints a target on themselves, looks at the world and says you want a villain? so be it... show me a character who tries again and again, and watches it fall to ruin... listen. he’s a situation.

Xue Yang - some of it’s the feral smile, some of it’s the murder, some of it’s the double-bladed sword... and a lot of it is my deep and abiding love for characters who only begin to understand what they want, or even the remote possibility of it, or the fact that they had it, in the moment when they destroy it. 

Wen Qing - if you’ll permit me the narcissism of quoting myself: wen qing has stood on two sides of a war and three sides of sacrifice; enemy and ally, facilitator and beneficiary and benefactor. and she’s just fascinating to me for that, and for how she navigates those spaces, all while remaining true to who she is and what she believes. 

Jin Guangyao - i love a schemer! i love a smile with hidden ruthlessness! i love extraordinary cleverness and capability that could have been directed so differently, and a story that explores all the reasons it wasn’t. and also, always, i love betrayals... and his is a story full of them, in so very many directions. 

Nie Huaisang - some characters had to be put on this list in pairs or not at all becuase it wouldn’t be fair, according to my arbitrary rules, so it was either jin guangyao and nie huaisang or the twin jades, and the dice chose these two. but again, i love a schemer, and i love how jin guangyao and nie huaisang meet that definition in such different ways, not quite on a strategy-vs-tactics divide but not quite not that. i love the interplay of betrayal and revenge and friendship, and the way it all feels so cyclical. i also just love stories that play with the spaces between vengeance and justice, revenge and sacrifice. and the emptiness in some of those endings. also, again, cleverness and capability and deceptive appearances.

Honourable mentions to: Wen Ning, Lan Wangji, Lan Xichen, Jiang Cheng, and Jiang Yanli

[psqqa]

Nirvana in Fire Character Reference Sheet Roughly in the Order Those Characters Are Introduced

For @howdydowdy, as promised, and for anyone else who, like me, is terrible at names and needs some kind of “Who?? Ohhh right. That guy.” reminder.

Basically, my Nirvana in Fire Journey started with me watching half the first episode, being wildly confused, realizing I was in over my head re: names and thus deciding to go back to the beginning and watch it again But Taking Notes This Time. I watched the whole show with a notebook and pen at my side. I figured I may as well spare you all the labour by typing it up. 

As more information was revealed, I often added it to a character’s initial note, but by and large I’m leaving those extra notes out so you can experience the joy and confusion and anguish of New Information yourself. The exception to this is generally a person’s name, title, and position. E.g. Duke Qing’s name, Bai Ye, isn’t mentioned until a number of episodes after he’s first mentioned, if I recall correctly, but knowing that the person named “Bai Ye” is the same person called “Duke Qing” is exactly why I took these notes for myself in the first place.

Basically this isn’t intended to be a character guide that lays out exactly who a person is, their relationships to the other characters, and their place in the story, but rather something you can look at whenever someone mentions a name that jogs your memory just enough for you to be able to place to person. Which is why the notes tend to be either the context in which the person was introduced or the relationship through which they’re introduced.

Some names and notes are inherently spoilers, but hopefully by virtue of the fact that this is broadly in the order a character is first mentioned/introduced, you can avoid spoilers simply by not scrolling down too far. For those persons where their name or an alter ego comes in significantly after their initial introduction and is a spoiler, they are listed a second time starting with the “new information” and with the note in italics indicating their original entry (there aren’t a lot of these, don’t worry).

I will readily admit that some of my handwritten notes are just a name and then a blank space because apparently I just never actually added a note for them. I haven’t bothered adding those people here. Yes it’s because I’ve forgotten entirely who they are, but I’m pretty sure that means you’ll be okay if you immediately forget who they are too. (That being said, I get the sense there are actually relevant people missing from this list. As the show carried on and introductions became less frequent, remembering them became less difficult.)

The List

Lin Xie –> Commander of the Chiyan Army

Lin Shu –> “Xiao-Shu” –> Lin Xie’s son –> Mei Changsu --> Chief of the Jiangzuo Alliance --> Su Zhe

Lin Chen –> Young Master of Langya Hall –> NOTE: The “Lin” of Lin Chen and the “Lin” of Lin Xie & Lin Shu are both written and pronounced differently. These people are not related.

Northern Yan’s 6th Prince –> Now Northern Yan’s Crown Prince

Minister Xu –> Da Liang’s envoy to Northern Yan

Prince Yu –> Xiao Jinghuan –> 5th Prince of Da Liang

Xiao Xuan –> Emperor of Da Liang

Empress Yan --> Prince Yu’s adoptive mother

Consort Yue --> Crown Prince’s mother

Grand Empress (Dowager) --> Emperor’s grandmother

Xiao Jingxuan --> Crown Prince of Da Liang --> metonym is “Eastern Palace”

Zhuo Dingfeng --> Master of Tianquan Manor

Zhuo Qingyao --> Eldest son of Zhuo Dingfeng --> guy on the horse and later the guy helping the old couple on the boat and later also the guy who calls Xie Yu “father-in-law” (I am telling you this specifically because I am not bad at faces but this guy added so much confusion to my life that was cleared up the moment I realized these people were the same person. And also because my mother is terrible at faces and for like 15 episodes every time he showed up in another random place I would say “that’s horse and boat guy” and she would say “wait what? really???” So I’m assuming at least one other person will share in this struggle)

Xie Yu --> Marquis of Ning

Qin Banruo --> Prince Yu’s strategist

Duke Qing --> Prime Minister --> Bai Ye

Ji Ying --> member of Double Sword Sect

Li Gang --> member of Jiangzuo Alliance

Fei Liu --> Mei Changsu’s bodyguard

Yan Yujin --> Son of Empress Yan’s brother

Xiao Jingrui --> Eldest son of Xie Yu

Mu Nihuang --> Commander of the army in Yunnan --> Princess of Yunnan’s House of Mu 

Xie Bi --> Second son of Xie Yu & Xiao Jingrui’s younger brother

Mu Qing --> Mu Nihuang’s younger brother

Xia Dong --> An officer of the Xuanjing Bureau

Nie Feng --> Xia Dong’s late husband --> Vanguard General of the Chiyan Army under Lin Xie

Meng Zhi --> Commander of the Imperial Guards

Xuan Bu --> From Da Yu --> stronger than Meng Zhi

Gao Zhan --> Emperor’s chief eunuch 

Fei Changshi --> Prince Yu’s guy out looking for Mei Changsu

Prince Jing --> Xiao Jingyan --> 7th Prince of Da Liang

Concubine Jing --> Mother of Prince Jing

“Xiao-Xin” --> Attendant to Concubine Jing

Grand Princess Liyang --> Xie Yu’s wife & Emperor’s sister

Eunuch Zheng --> Eunuch who is mean to Tingsheng

Prince Qi --> late Crown Prince of Da Liang --> Xiao Jingyu

Tingsheng --> servant boy caught reading

“Lao-Wei” --> Mu Qing’s subordinate of some kind

Wei Zheng --> member of Chiyan Army at Battle of Meiling (and survived)

Sima Lei --> member of Royal Guard --> Consort Yue’s preferred suitor for Mu Nihuang

Liao Tingjie --> Son of the Marquis of Zhongsu --> Empress Yan’s preferred suitor Mu Nihuang

Baili Qi --> Mu Nihuang suitor from Northern Yan --> A favourite of the 4th Prince of Northern Yan

Lady/Madam Zhuo --> Zhuo Dingfeng’s wife

Xie Qi --> Zhuo Qingyao’s wife & Xie Yu’s daughter & Jingrui’s sister

Consort Hui --> bullied by the Empress

Young Lady Zhen (I think is what my handwriting says) --> servant being sneaky at late dowager empress’s palace

“Wu-momo” --> older servant with the Bad Wine

Consort Chen --> now dead --> son was a rebel

3rd Prince of Da Liang --> Xiao Jingting --> Prince Ning --> disabled

6th Prince of Da Liang --> no ambition 

9th Prince of Da Liang --> too young to fight for throne 

Former Crown Princess --> late Prince Qi’s late wife

“Qi-momo” --> Grand Princess Liyang’s senior attendant

Gong Yu --> window lady who works with Mr. Shisan --> a musician

Mr. Shisan --> member of Jiangzuo Alliance --> connection to Lin family

Minister Lou --> Lou Zhijing --> Minister of Trade/Finance/Revenue/other words that mean “money” --> Knows about the corpse well --> Crown Prince’s faction

Zhang Jing --> Owner of corpse well house (Lan Mansion) at the time the corpses ended up in the well

Shi Jun --> Servant at corpse well house at relevant time --> has record book

Magistrate Gao --> Gao Sheng --> The Capital Magistrate

Princess Xuanji --> ruler of a previous dynasty --> founded the “Hong Court”

Minister Qi --> Qi Min--> Minister of Justice --> Prince Yu’s faction

Minister He --> He Jingzhong --> Minister of Personnel --> Prince Yu’s faction

Minister of Public Works --> Prince Yu’s faction

Minister Chen --> Chen Yuanzhi --> Minister of Rites --> Crown Prince’s faction

Minister of Defence --> Li Lin --> Crown Prince’s faction

Bai Xun --> Duke Qing’s brother

Lie Zhanying --> Staff Officer under Prince Jing

Qi Meng --> One of Prince Jing’s men --> fights Fei Liu and commits Great Offence

“General Bian” --> One of Prince Jing’s men

Shen Zhui --> Acting Minister of Finance

Princess Qing He --> Shen Zhui’s mother

Cai Quan --> Works at Ministry of Justice --> Did well-received report on the Bing case 

Han Zhiyi --> Works at Ministry of Justice --> worked on Bing case

Zhang Jianzhen --> Works at Ministry of Justice --> worked on Bing case

Wei Yuan --> Works at Ministry of Justice --> worked on Bing case

Yuan Shiying --> Works at Ministry of Justice --> worked on Bing case

Qin Yue --> Works at Ministry of Justice --> worked on Bing case

Tong Lu --> Vegetable cart guy --> brother of one of the corpse well girls 

Qiu Zhe --> Son of Count (Duke?) Wen Yuan

He Wenxin --> Son of Minister He --> dislikes Qiu Zhe 

Grand Prince Ji --> Emperor’s youngest brother --> Owns hot springs

Yang Liuxin --> A dancer

Hong Xinzhao --> Has “understanding girls”

Xinliu & Xinyang --> Brothel sisters --> their younger brother was murdered by Qiu Zhe

Princess Consort --> Lanjin --> Prince Yu’s wife

Zhou Xuanqing --> renowned scholar

Li Chong --> former Imperial Tutor --> former teacher to Lin Shu

“Brother Zhao” --> Canal transport guy --> Jiangzuo Alliance

Lin Xiangru --> famous literary envoy

Marquis Yan --> Yan Que --> Yan Yujin’s father & Empress Yan’s brother

Lin Yueyao --> Prince Qi’s mother --> Consort Chen

Zhen Ping --> Jiangzuo Alliance --> sword challenger

Xia Qiu --> An officer of the Xuanjing Bureau

Xia Chun --> The most senior of the officers of the Xuanjing Bureau

Prince Jingli --> Consort Hui’s son

Yuwen Xuan --> Prince Ling --> A prince of Southern Chu

Yuwen Nian --> “Niannian” --> A princess of Southern Chu --> student of Yue Xiuze

Yuwen Lin --> King of Southern Chu --> Yuwen Nian’s father

Ouyang Chi - Head of CApital Patrols

Xia Jiang --> Head of the Xuanjing Bureau

Li Chongxin --> Schoolteacher assassinated by Zhuo Dingfeng 

Jun Niang --> former member of “Hong Court” under Princess Xuanji

“Miss Liu” --> Granddaughter of former Chief Secretariat Liu Cheng

Wei Qi --> The general at Jiaxing Pass --> was Xie Yu’s lieutenant for years

Su Tianshu --> Chief of Yaowang Valley --> 7th on the Langya Rich List

Su Xuan --> Su Tianshu’s adopted son --> Wei Zheng

Yun Piaomiao --> Su Xuan’s wife 

Concubine Xiang --> Prince Yu’s birth mother

Zhu Yue --> Head of the Review Court --> Prince Yu’s brother-in-law

Cheng Zhiji --> Elder Master of Feng Hall --> 75 years old

Princess Linglong --> A princess of the Hua Kingdom --> Princess Xuanji’s sister --> Concubine Xiang

Grand Princess Jinyang --> Lin Shu’s mother & Lin Xie’s wife --> Emperor’s sister

Yao Zhu --> Official Fan’s servant who knows The Secret

Official Fan --> Harbouring Xia Jiang

[beneaththebrim]

TGCF Ep 3-4 reactions/rants

Am I doing these in twos? :) Or was I too unremittingly :) anxious :) last week about [redacted] to make a post?

whatever let’s go spoilers spoilers

Episode 3

SO many things that I didn’t notice while reading that become apparent via the visual medium--like how Feng Xin repeats “So she was a bitter and vindictive bride” to Xie Lian--the FORESHADOWING,, ah, good stuff good stuff

the horror elements are great just wanna say

RUOYE GOOD

Ling Wen knows it all DAMN RIGHT SHE DOES

Love the sound design for Xuan Ji and how her resentment manifests physically in the animation, don’t love her character--unfortunately these first two arcs of tgcf really do lean back on these sexist (ghost bridegroom arc) and racist/Islamophobic (Banyue arc) caricatures--hope it doesn’t stifle the international popularity of tgcf as a whole, given that the first season of the donghua will probably only get to just the end of the Banyue arc, but I’d definitely understand if it turned ppl off (I get the feeling that these issues that are more subtle in written form are more apparent in audiovisual media--granted, I haven’t actually seen much discourse on twitter outside my own circle about the Banyue arc even though the manhua is near the end of it, soooo...)

(somehow bc tumblr feels so much more like a ghost town lately I’m more open to posting wank and unadulterated opinions here :P which I’d be more careful about on twitter)

BUT YEAH MAN I MEAN THE STRONGEST ARCS IN TGCF DON’T START UNTIL LIKE BOOK 2 WHEN I THINK BACK ON IT

Book 1 seems to mainly exist to quickly introduce everyone and ship tease ship tease ship tease to suck ppl in

Little Ying :’(

oh there he is, the imperialist symbol, with his imperial background music

I’m sorry I don’t like Pei Su at all

mmmm do love the narrative parallels of Ping Ming reacting to a woman about to slit her own throat

LMAO THE SEXY CANDLE SILHOUETTE SCENE

WHY AM I REMINDED OF THE ROOM

hey can hualian have one of those bilibili just how much can you imply eh

like what about when Hua Cheng goes ghost!feral in book 3 and Xie Lian has to suppress him by blowing kissing him could we also have sexy candle silhouette scene for that

OH MY GOD THAT MONTAGE IS THE CHEESIEST. HETEROSEXUALS ARE YOU OKAY

it is good that in the end Xie Lian’s like ‘can’t judge as an outsider’ w the implication that we are really only getting two unreliable narrator sides of the story (even tho the story ends up implying that pei ming was for the most part in the right)

Pei Ming is an interesting character imo, bc he has a very consistent moral code, which puts him on various different sides throughout the story. I don’t really blame him so much for his sleaziness as I do for his corruption (sorry I don’t like Shi Wudu either) and how he pressured Pei Su to military glory (leading to a genocide of the Banyuese). do agree with leila (don’t think she has a tumblr?) that he should have suffered more in his character arc of slowly learning to respect women tho (whereas Pei Su suffered but didn’t really have a character arc, unless ‘dating Ban Yue against Pei Ming’s wishes’ counts as a character arc)

okay here’s the thing

here’s the thing

you can go on and on about not liking a character and you can dig up tons of receipts of them doing bad things to justify your dislike

but what you’ll find after a while is that the people who do like that character aren’t wrong either, bc they can also pull up tons of ways they did admirable things or had interesting motivations

after a while you just realize it comes down to vibes

like Pei Ming’s awful, but later on I just find myself positively enjoying that chauvinistic pig. And Shi Wudu has good motivations/his actions are p typical ‘just vindictive god things uwu✨ ‘ but to me, his vibes are positively rancid and I just cannot like that bourgeois pig

this is why it’s important to take Taixi Dianxia’s advice 😌

(or be like Mu Qing and just judge absolutely everyone)

(most of all himself :’) )

OH HERE WE GO AGAIN DISRESPECTING MU QING

HE IS RIGHT

if he didn’t get reinforcements they would have to clean up the bodies on their own GOD no one considers logistics

it’s just Ling Wen and Mu Qing running heaven for real

😂  oh my god I love fengqing

YASSSS BAI WUXIANGGGGG

OOF ngl that’s some good-ass cutting between Xie Lian being reminded about the fall of Xian Le and the clip of Ruoye’s origin in the EC (WHY DONGHUA TEAM WHY)

Episode 4

One thing I was never fully clear on was whether Bai Wuxiang placed the piece of his soul onto Lang Ying like, right after his death? or if Jun Wu put it on him when Xie Lian takes him up to heaven later

actually I never read the edited version of tgcf maybe mxtx made that point more clear

MU QING STOP BEING TRANSPHOBIC CHALLENGE

OH MY GOD WHAT THE FUCK THE PILES OF SCROLLS

Ling Wen of all the corrupt evil ass bitches in heaven you are the one I will never blame for being corrupt and evil

lmao everyone being like “bruh” when Xie Lian’s like “ah, Hua Cheng, what a nice name for the helpful youngster” 😂

LMAOOOOOO LOVE THAT QI RONG IS THE KIND OF ATTRACTIVE THAT ONLY QI RONG STANS WILL FIND ATTRACTIVE

mallgoth ass bitch

FISH

FISH

FISH MAN YES

(He Xuan is sexy in exactly the kind of way that He Xuan stans find sexy which is Actually the objective standard of sexiness I’m sorry I don’t make the rules)

I mean he’s being voiced by Wu Lei who no doubt is gonna give it the full Yan Wushi, again, I don’t make the rules

interesting how Jun Wu is facing camera but tilting the mask so you can only see the crying side--to ppl who don’t know who he is it looks like he’s turned to the side and his head is kinda incorporeal, whereas to ppl in the know you can see him towering over you

I like that you can kinda see through Xie Lian’s expression & tone that his gears are turning, how there must have been something significant about the 35 officials Hua Cheng challenged, and he even already suspected Mu Qing & Feng Xin were the two who didn’t accept

LMAO PEI SU THINKING HUA CHENG AND QI RONG ARE WORKING TOGETHER this is like centrist Democrats who are like, “well I think that it’s the socialists who ultimately helped [redacted] win in 2016″

NO QI RONG IS NOT BERNIE SANDERS IN THAT ANALOGY

I’M SORRY QI RONG STANS BUT QI RONG IS NOT THE SOCIALIST ICON YOU THINK HE IS

ALTHOUGH I ADMIT THE OTHER FIGURE IN MY COMPARISON WAS KINDA HARSH QI RONG ISN’T ACTUALLY THAT BAD

pfffft all of Ling Wen’s miserable employees

awwwwww fengqing helped their f-f-friend out owo

Ling Wen’s like “Wait! You were supposed to ask His Majesty for help and become completely dependent on him! No, Your Highness, he’s gonna take it out on me now!” 🤧

YES MY FAVORITE LINE STAYED

“Collecting scraps is better than ascending” :)

AAAAND THERE HE IS. THE BOY.

I like how Hua Cheng has a kind of know-it-all, nerdy arrogant voice, it does fit San Lang and I think it will be a nice contrast when we finally see him as Hua Cheng

WELL THAT’S IT HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13TH GHOSTFUCKERS

[odissey061]

Kinktober, day 18

Fandom: Tian Guan Ci Fu

(Note: I still miss four or five fics to complete the list and it's already december, but I swear I will finish them soon. Forgive my laziness, I'm so much ashamed T-T)

Mind breaking

Xie Lian was a beautiful angel, held captive by the King of demons as a war prize. He could be free only if he managed to make the devil bleed and only God knew how many times he tried to stab him with a blade, but he always failed. No matter how quick Xie Lian was, the King was faster to stop his attacks.

One day, the devil asked him:”Why are you trying so hard to break free? Wouldn’t you stay better here? Everyday I make you delicious meals, so tasteful that anyone would kill for them, you sleep on the softest mattress with the warmest blanket. You are wrong if you think that I treat in this way every prisoner”.

True, for some reason that devil treated him like an esteemed guest instead of a prisoner, but that prideful angel didn’t want that: he wanted to go back to Heaven, where his friends were. When he answered in that way, the King gazed at him:”You want to return in a place where your own friends despize you? They don’t give a fuck about you. Have you ever wondered why nobody came here to save you? You deserve more than a bunch of filthy ungrateful people”.

Xie Lian creved to not believe him, but he dreadful feeling that the devil was right slithered in his mind. His companions had stopped seeing him as such since when he fell in love with a human. When his secret was found out, the human disappeared from the Earth and Xie Lian became an emarginate.

That night, the angel dreamed of Heaven and his old friends. They were around a table, their expressions were deadly serious. "We are not going to save him. We are lucky that the Demon King was satisfied with only Xie Lian as a hostage, we won't rescue him! Heaven won't risk another war for… For a scum like him!" Mu Qing's face was twisted by rage, "I'm sure he's enjoying his time there: he's well fed and treated. Probably he's spreading his legs to the Demon King to receive this kind of treatment" he continued. Shi Qingxuan protested:"You are lying, he wouldn't do such a thing!". An angel showed a picture of Xie Lian lying in a comfortable bed, the sheets made of silk, covered his body, but everybody could see that his complexion was healthier. Shi Qingxuan couldn't believe his eyes. In the first war against the Demon King, thirty three angels were captured and many people told they heard their screams from Hell. Hua Cheng was ruthless, he didn't know what mercy was. How did Xie Lian manage to receive such a luxurious treatment? "How can you explain this?" Feng Xin rhetorically asked and Shi Qingxuan couldn't find the words to defend his friend.

Xie Lian woke up, the tears rolled down his cheeks. He knew that the chances of being saved were really low, but he could hope. Now, that even that hope was shattered, there was nothing left to cling to. He took the blade in his hand, determined to win the challenges.

The King was sleeping on the throne. His defences were utterly lowered and the angel knew that another opportunity as perfect as that, it wouldn't show up anytime soon. In his naiveness, he didn't consider that it could have been a trap.

He threw himself in a frontal attack, convinced that it would be enough, but the blade was stopped a few inches from the chest and the Devil had his eyes opened. Hua Cheng's hand was firm, holding the knife with bare fingers. Of course, it was a trap. Xie Lian should have considered that possibility sooner! Now it was too late: his only weapon was useless -held in a firm grip, Xie Lian couldn't move it- and he was sitting on the Devil's leg. If the King wanted to stab him, the angel didn’t have any way to defend himself.

But Hua Cheng didn't have any intention of harming his guest. He twisted a lock of the angel’s hair around a finger:“That's a shame, you were so close this time. I didn’t know you were so bold to sit on my lap:"That's a shame, you were so close this time. I didn’t know you were so bold to sit on my lap so casually". The demon's hand left the blade, arriving on the thin wrist. "Let go the blade, little angel, today you lost, you can always retry tomorrow" he said, but the angel opposed:"I'll do it when you'll release my wrist".

The grip became more tight and painful, the bones creaked and the angel let out a stiffened groan of pain. "I can easily break your bones, don't force me: let go the blade. It would be easier for you if you followed my directions” the Demon King cooed with a seductive voice. He meant more than than, suggesting Xie Lian to forsake any reluctance to yield to

Hua Cheng, so that he could receive anything the King wanted to give him. But the angel didn’t understand it and he refused to surrender.

If the King tightened his grip, Xie Lian’s wrist would break. Hua Cheng didn’t want to hurt him in any way, but if the angel refused to listen to him, he had no other choice. In the room echoed the sound of a bone breaking and just then the angel let the knife go.

Hua Cheng kissed him on the lips, encircling the angel’s neck with his arms, and Xie Lian bit his lips, making them bleed. The King chuckled, amused by his resistance, but he soon became serious again. “Why are you so fierce with me? The last time I touched you, you were so enthusiastic in your surrender to me” he said and Xie Lian protested:”Don’t speak no sense! I have never had such a deep relationship with you!”.

Then Hua Cheng whispered:”Are you sure, Dianxia?”. As soon as the angel heard that name, he froze“San Lan? Are you San Lan? I thought they killed you, you disappeared without a trace and… and…”. Xie Lian didn’t know what to say: how many centuries had passed since he heard his lover’s name. He almost forgot how his voice sounded.

“Yes, it’s me” San Lang smiled genuinely and Xie Lian was charmed. Before he could notice, Hua Cheng’s hand slipped inside the angel’s clothes and Xie Lian gasped surprised, shivering. It had been so long from the last time the angel was touched in this way. This time, when Xie Lian leaned in, the angel accepted the kiss, responding enthusiastically. Hua Cheng undid Xie Lian’s vest, already half torn, and the angel passed the fingers on his chest to have something to cling on when cold fingers grabbed his buttocks. The white cloth had many holes, so it was easy for Hua Cheng.

“San Lan” the angel moaned when the Demon King started to knead the soft flesh, “let’s take these activities to the bedroom” he continued. The King smiled: no matter how many time passed since their last reunion, because his lover was always the same. Shy, gracious and composed. A true angel. “Don’t fear, Dianxia: if someone breaks in during our reunion, I won’t let him survive” Hua Cheng said.

This time, when Xie Lian leaned in, the angel accepted the kiss, responding enthusiastically. Hua Cheng undid Xie Lian’s vest, already half torn, and the angel passed the fingers on his chest to have something to cling on when cold fingers grabbed his buttocks. The white cloth had many holes, so it was easy for Hua Cheng.

Hua Cheng stimulated the nub until they were swollen and perky. A small friction was all it took for Xie Lian to moan softly, trembling in his arms. For how much angels exuded chastity and purity, they couldn’t do anything against the carnal pleasure. Xie Lian was so beautiful; his chest and abdomen were marked by red signs, his nipples were wet and erect and Xie Lian’s eyes gleamed from the unshed tears. Everything about him screamed that he was Hua Cheng’s possession and the demon was really pleased. The angel’s mind couldn’t think straight, yet the demon wanted to see Xie Lian more lost in pleasure.

Hua Cheng lapped a finger and it grazed the soft skin close to Xie Lian’s hole. The angel squirmed, feeling a little uncomfortable:”San Lang, it has been many time since the last time and…”, but the demon silenced him with a phrase:”Dianxia, do you remember how good you were feeling when I was inside you”.

He distracted the angel with a kiss and he pushed the finger up to the second knuckle, then he stopped when Xie Lian tensed. So many time had passed since the last time they did it, tha Hua Cheng treated Xie Lian as if it was their first time together. After all, he was sure that Xie Lian didn’t touch himself, he was too shy, and if even he had tried to, Hua Cheng trained the angel’s body so that it responded only to his stimulations and none else.

When he was sure that the angel’s tight ass was ready to receive more, the King continued, until it was fully inside. He began to move his finger in and out slowly, dragging it against the sensitive walls.

Xie Lian was trembling against him and, as soon as he felt one finger was going smoothly, Hua Cheng began to press another inside. The angel moaned sinfully as the demon spread them inside him.

The king wanted to kiss him, but a bigger part of him wanted that all the inhabitants of the castle could hear Xie Lian’s loud groans, so that everybody knew how sweetly the angel surrendered himself to the demon’s caresses.

He crooked his fingers, knowing what to do to make his angel scream and his actions were rewarded with the sounds of pleasure coming from Xie Lian’s throat. “AH!” Xie Lian cried, “It’s okay. Did that feel good?”. Of course the angel would have screamed when the demon touched the prostate. He was so beautiful: Xie Lian’s cheeks were flushed and around his waist laid pieces of white clothes, last vestiges of his tainted purity. Making an angel fall never looked so beautiful

Hua Cheng moved his fingers in and out, trying to hit that spot again and his lover was whimpering. Xie Lian’s breath hitched when he started to press a third finger against his hole. Then he started to move, in a contained way at the beginning, but then he increased the speed, recognizing Xie Lian’s loosened hole.

Each thrust was firm and each new movement was more profound than the last, and soon Xie Lian had became a feverish mess on his arms. The angel’s body was trembling so much and then a particular thrust sent him over the edge. The angel lost the total and complete notion of everything that wasn’t Hua Cheng.

“You did so well, my angel” the King praised him. Hua Cheng knew that after this Xie Lian would have fallen as an angel and that he was not going to be accepted in Heaven, but it wasn't assured that he would have stayed with him. The demon gazed at the bleeding hand, the one who grabbed the blade. No, he had to completely break the angel’s mind, so that he could only think about him. He knew what to do.

“You took my fingers so well Dianxia” he whispered hoarsely close to the ear, “You moved so well that I was tempted to use my dick. I can only imagine how beautiful you’d look as you ride my cock”. He wanted to add that the way Xie Lian moved was the same as a slut, but he restrained himself: his purpose was to break the angel’s mind, not destroy him. Eventually he would have completely depended on Hua Cheng, but it was a gradual and slow process.

He telepathically called one of his retainers, ordering him to come into the throne room. After a few seconds he was there and the King continued with his plan. He removed the fingers from the angel’s body and the other whined loudly. The retainer’s face was red due to the embarrassment, yet he didn’t tear the gaze away.

Of course, his lover was so beautiful that it was impossible to not look at him. “San Lang, is someone inside?” the angel looked half panicated at the demon when he saw that Hua Cheng wasn’t looking at him. But the King held his head in the hands, so that he couldn’t turn over.

He kissed him, kneading the cheeks of Xie Lian's ass, pleased with the groans that escaped from his throat. Now the head of Hua Cheng’s cock was pressing lightly against his hole and he entered in a swift thrust. The angel gasped, searching for hair. The feeling was completely different.

Hua Cheng groaned feeling how tight Xie Lian was. “So good” he whispered and when he gazed at the angel on his lap, he noticed how he was already lost in pleasure. He understood that he was close to his purpose when his lover pushed his tongue into Hua Cheng’s mouth in a passionate kiss.

He was clutching at Xie Lian’s waist, sure of leaving marks on his skin. His lover tried to roll his hips and the demon’s dick became bigger. Xie Lian moaned loudly at the feeling and the King pushed up until he impaled his lover in one quick movement. They cried out together.

Xie Lian screamed in pleasure and Hua Cheng knew he must have found his prostate again and he tried to thrust up and aim for that spot. “San Lang! Please, please, please!” the angel begged, fully captured.

Hua Cheng pushed up as hard as he could and Xie Lian shouted in pleasure. “You’re so gorgeous, so tight. You take me so well” he whispered and the angel let out a strangled moan. The king set up a quick pace as he fucked him. Pleasure was building inside them and they clenched their eyes shut as they moaned.

The angel pleaded:”San Lang, come inside me!”. And the devil smirked: the moment he had waited had finally come. Now Xie Lian couldn’t have a coherent thought: the demon could say everything he wanted and he would have accepted everything he told him. Hua Cheng was still so amazed: Xie Lian was like this, pleasured and begging to be fucked, because of him.

“If you want to come, you have to answer to my questions first” the King warned and the angel nodded. Probably Xie Lian’s only thought was focused on coming and Hua Cheng was going to take advantage of that. “Who do you belong to?” was the first question and he purposely slowed down, “I belong to you, San Lan. I love you, you are my everything” the angel cried out. The demon rewarded him with a thrust on the prostate as Xie Lian continued:”You are everything that I have, please, don’t leave me. I can’t survive without you”. “Yes, I’m everything you have. I won’t leave you. Are you enjoying this?” Hua Cheng nodded, the angel screamed:”Yes, I am. I love everything you do to me”.

“Mn, your insides are taking my dick so well. If someone’d see you right now, they wouldn’t believe you are an angel. In truth, your body reacts so well to mine. A-ha! You are made to take my dick inside you, you are my lover, I won’t leave you to anyone” he said and the angel screamed in affirmation.

He began to thrust as hard as he could into that perfect body. He chanted Xie Lian’s name and the angel cried out, clenching around him so tightly. Hua Cheng groaned as he thrust in one last time, releasing deep inside the angel, marking him his. His lover collapsed heavily on his chest and the king leaned forward to press a kiss against Xie Lian’s sweaty forehead.

Hua Cheng didn’t wait and he pushed one more time his dick into Xie Lian’s ass and the angel groaned for the excessive stimulation. “San… San Lang, it hurts” he moaned, but the devil, adapting a gentler pace, reassured him:”Soon the pain will disappear, don’t fear Dianxia. I’m not finished yet”.

Then they both heard a third moan in the room and Xie Lian turned his head. In front of him there was a demon that watched them, his hand was massaging his cock and from his reddened face, the angel deduced he already came. How long did he stand there?

He tried to cover himself, but Hue Cheng turned his whole body, so that the retainer could see everything. “San Lang, do something. You said that…” he started to complain, but his voice was cut off by a groan of pleasure. The King started to move once again.

He talked directly to the angel’s ear, ignoring his voice:”Do you see that man, Dianxia? He has been there since the start of our performance. You know what it means, right? He heard you moan like a slut for my cock and he saw how eagerly you took me inside of you”.

A wave of shame overwhelmed the angel, who cried:”But you said that nobody could enter here. If you knew he was there, why didn’t you send him away?” and the demon chuckled darkly:”Because it was I who was the one who called him, Dianxia. I wanted him to see that you are made to take me inside you, like a slut. Do you see his red cheeks? Seeing you as you pleasured yourself on me aroused him. Look how you make people feel”.

Xie Liang felt betrayed and the only thing he wanted to do was curl up and hide himself, but he did what Hua Cheng asked. The demon in front of them was still massaging the cock with his hand, a white liquid dirtied his clothes. The angel was embarrassed, yuet he couldn’t tear away the gaze.

“Do you like what you see?” the King talked directly to his retainer and the lower demon answered:”Yes, I really like it. His highness is so beautiful”. “Do you like to be at my place” he wondered and the other answered:”Yes, I’d really like it”. The retainer recognized his mistake too late and in the next second he exploded.

The angel widened his eyes in shock, but he couldn’t focus on the corpse, not when the demon pounched the sensitive spot inside of him. He was seeing the stars and soon the pleasure clouded his mind. “I told you: if someone would have seen you like this, I wouldn’t let him survive. You are mine. Mine to reclaim, mine to worship, mine to kiss” Hua Cheng growled.

Xie Lian felt better as soon as the voyeur died, but he still wanted to scream to the King's face. He wanted to run away, but whereto? He had no place to go. The only person who loved him was in front of his eyes. A second thought passed in his mind. Why did he want to leave San Lang? In the brief time he spent in Hell, he was treated like a princess, even Hua Cheng said: you just have to surrender to my love, focus only on me. I can give you everything you want.

The King knew he won when Xie Lian turned his head to kiss him. “I love you, San Lang. Make me yours. Turn me in whatever you want, I don’t care if I can stay to your side” he groaned as he felt his orgasm closer. The King murmured:”I love you too, Dianxia. Seeing you so enthusiastic to stay here makes me so happy”. And with a last thrust he came another time and Xie Lian followed him.

Hours after, Hua Cheng was caressing the hair of his lover as he slept on his lap. He was so tired after the multiple rounds that he started to cry and only then the demon let him rest. Having more stamina, he wanted to continue, but he decided to stop: there would be time to quench his thirst. Finally, after so many centuries, they were together once again. Hua Cheng would not have allowed anyone to take his lover away from him. Since that moment he would have started to shape Xie Lian’s personality and behavior until he was a pampered and cherished doll, unable to do anything on his own.

[vroomian]

(headdesk slam) Yes, that was 2/2 percent didn’t even realize I forgot to add it in the message until after I sent it and spent like 5 mins internally screaming at myself. I’m a mess of a human being tbh. Really? I’m surprised because it feels like Xi fits perfectly in this AU. Xi as accidental cryptid is the best thing, in both worlds. That’s a relief to hear. My anxiety and I don’t get along so I tend to go to worst possible scenario. You’ll probably regret that soon enough. 1/2

I’m like a magpie if something catches my interest and I’ll fuss over it and go all crazy. Especially now, seeing that you did that hob oneshot and mdzs that is two of the main three bl web novels that I now of. Like, of the three I’ve only fully read svsss and my mind immediately went to wonder where Xi would fit in that verse and at this point he’d totally be where the biggest amount of knowledge is and that my mind went ‘what if Xi was head disciple of Qing Jing Peak?’ 2/?

But that’s pretty unlikely given Xi’s desperate avoidance of feelings, plot, and responsibility. Though I could totally see him as a reluctant head disciple and desperately trying to avoid plot. Plus, definitely the first to notice that something would be off with this new Qingqiu. That said, bullying in his peak would not fly with him so I could see Binghe crushing on this unknown elder disciple.

3/3 I’m sorry I don’t want to make it seem like I want to push you to write another AU when you’ve got enough on your hands. My mind just just went ‘ooh what if this happened?’ And I wanted to share my thoughts with you because I think it’s interesting. So yeah, again feel free to ignore this. I’m like that guy from the meme with the pictures on the wall and red thread when my brain goes nuts lol.

long ask so this goes under the cut

okay there are a million different ways this question could go, because like. is yrz female in this universe? is he male? is he older than the main characters? is he younger? which sect is he living near? is his family nice or assholes? which version of the story is he in? the sssvs version or the actual original demon path novel (or whatever it’s been a while since i read the novel)??? does yrz get a system??? 

because the answers to those questions change the story drastically 

okay so lets do two versions 

one: it’s sssvs. yrz has a ‘background character system’ or something.  he’s gotta have a system otherwise he wouldn't get without a thousand li of cang qiang sect. so this systems chooses him (lets say he’s a guy in this universe) because its low key and yrz is low key and it was like hey lets be low key together!

lol system. 

lol. 

but the system and yrz get along pretty well, and they get into the peak they want -- which is Wan Jian peak, because if yrz can’t join the library peak because of Plot reasons, he’s going with hsi second love. Swords! plus i don’t think there are literally any named characters from the story, except the peak lord. 

so. timeline wise, i think that none of the peak-lords have ascended yet, so yrz does his natural thing --- he over performs and becomes the head disciple for wan jian peak  as consequence and it’s literally just in time for the former peak lords to ascend, so yrz is like. stuck. as a peak lord. 

both the system and yrz are horrified and confused as to how this happened. or, no, by then the system understands the Mistake it made in choosing yrz. on paper yrz is very unassuming! but in reality yrz has no chill. he’s never even heard of the concept of chill. he does everything at 110%.

I think that the bulk of this story takes place waaaay before the sssvs cannon, and lbh is sir not appearing in this fic. instead its -- liu qingge! and mu qingfang! both??? both is good! i think he meets lqg first, when he challenges yrz to a spar in the middle of a high stakes missing because lqg is a meathead jock at that age, and yrz is like. no? do your job? dumbass. (yrz has no idea who this shouty brat is, because the system is taking a nap. it wakes up and kicks itself for leaving yrz alone to do stuff.) yrz is older than lqg and kicks his ass because... well. because it’s hilarious really. so he gains a lqg shaped stalker. 

yrz has a lot of interest in both sparring and healing, and with lqg following him around, yrz spends a lot of time at the healing peak and meets mqf there. mqf gets a huge crush almost immediately but never said anything. it’s not surprising that yrz quickly bonds with these totally cool new disciples -- and then learns that both of the are the succeeding disciples for their peaks. oops. 

system gives up. 

version two: bing-ge edition! 

no system this time around and yrz stays far far away from the cang qiong. he joins a small sect to learn than fucks off to have adventures by himself as a rouge cultivator. so, male version again BUT yrz gets cursed or something and gets the ability to change gender at will because that’s funny and useful. also you know. porn world written by a “straight” guy. there are reasons for that kind of curse imma just gloss over. 

then the plot happens. all of immortal demon path’s many, many chapters are playing around in the background of yrz’s life, but she manages to stay out of it -- until one night yrz gets accidentally recruited by a cult dedicated to bringing down the evil demon lord lbh, because this cult has a book yrz is after. she ends up being used as bait for lbh (because he eats virgins now according to rumors. he’s up to wife number 249 by now so it’s not wrong !) 

yrz gets ‘saved’ by lbh, who’s kind of smirking and going ‘oh, no need to thank me, it was what anyone would have done,’ while totally expecting sex. yrz is like ‘oh, cool. bye then.’ and just. takes the book and leaves. 

lbh: *surprised pikachu face*

and by the time he registers no sex is going to be happening, yrz is long gone and enjoying her brand new book. 

after that, lbh and yrz end up seeing each other (mostly because lbh is trying to impress this woman and nothing is working) and yrz is like stop being a creep, i’m not interested in you. lbh needs to drink his respect woman juice and downsize on his harem a bit. yrz wouldn’t touch that with a twenty foot pool. 

anyway i think it comes to a head when they both get doused in pa pa pa juice and lbh is like oh this is more familiar, shall we? and yrz is like bitch. and goes to a brothel in the city instead. at this point yrz and lbh are more like antagonistic buddies than anything else. lbh has too many wives and zero friends. 

lbh starts developing some squishy feelings and is like what the fuck is this?? gross?? but he says nothing because he doesn’t get it. 

then the cross over happens, bing-ge vs bing-mei!!! and after than happens, yrz is just chilling at home and lbh shows up at her place like really fucked up and subdued. he’s like ‘why him? why did he get the good teacher? what did he do right?’ 

yrz is like... hm. emotions. ew. she trys anyway because she’s finally ready to admit that she does like this trash goblin at least a little. so she takes care of him while he’s being depressed. lbh cooks for her and she’s like. this is so fucking good. thank you. 

and lbh is just in love now. it’s nothing like he feels for his wives, but yrz makes lbh feels safe and accepted. it’s a comforting and comfortable love. yrz’s stupid little house is more of a home than lbh’s stupid palaces. 

look. i stand by the head cannon that all lbh wants is to be a househusband, no matter what version im talking about. 

lbh vanishes for a whole night. yrz is like hm, my house feels empty now. weird! and then lbh comes back and announces that he just divorced all his wives. he doesn’t want to be powerful anymore so can i stay herer with you. 

yrz is like... sure. 

and then there’s a long, long courtship and lbh marries yrz and archives his dream of just being fucking happy. the end!

[mousehole5000]

the rest... of... book 4..... through chapter 225

i sad.

“He was lying to himself and lying to others! All nothing but deceit! No matter what, it was impossible to pretend nothing had ever happened, and it was impossible to return to before!!!” - i know :(

“Before Feng Xin went, he was afraid. Now that Feng Xin had gone, he wasn’t scared any longer. But, even though he wasn’t afraid anymore, he was in deeper agony.” - ah yes. being afraid of your friends leaving so you do things to drive them away so you can have something to point to and say that you were the one who made the choice and you dont have to fear it anymore. except that has never once worked out ever and turns out losing people just means you lost them and it still hurts. not that i would know or anything.....

“He saw upon the table there were a few plates of horrid-looking dishes that were now cold. They were what he made the queen take away without eating a single bite the night before. Now, he pulled them over absent-mindedly, and ate everything, not daring to leave behind a single leaf, afraid to miss a single grain of rice. After he ate he started puking.” - this broke me and the bad cooking isnt funny anymore :(

all this happens after they have money again. no further commentary on this chapter

i know for a lot of book 3 i just wanted hua cheng to go away but now i would give anything for wuming to come and interrupt these interactions with white no-face

“Lang Ying, a brute commoner, led an army and destroyed Xianle. With the aura of the king enveloping his body, ordinary evil wouldn’t be able to come close to his person. However, at this moment, what Xie Lian brought with him were millions of souls of those who died on the battlefield!” - interesting to think about this story from lang ying’s point of view. the bit about his wife and child... oh my god... the things we carry with us...

“Will it really be alright to leave him like this? How about, I give him a cup of water?” - cup of water motif is back... ouch

“One person. Just one. Really. Just one person was enough!” - for like 20 minutes after reading this i really was just sitting here thinking about every time a stranger did me a small a kindness and the times i did the same it just made me cry harder i love people and they really can be awful and choose to be cold and cruel but it means that when they choose to be kind..... it doesnt negate the cruelty but its still indescribable.. and being able to see that and remember that even after all the pain..... 

ugh still just thinking about the times ive gone through something that changed me and having the cold numb fear that i would never be the same as i was before that i would lose some precious part of me forever and wondering if this would be the thing that finally did it... i dont know if ive ever actually experienced a piece of media that really make me think about that tbh

“Stop thinking so highly of yourself! I don’t need you to teach me anything, I can learn on my own. If you represent heaven’s will, then something like heaven’s will should be destroyed!” - why is defying the heavens so sexy.... keep it up (edit after white no-face identity reveal: HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!)

the fact that xie lian went through what he did and got nothing out of it and in fact lost everything he had left due to the trauma,,,,, but just one person is enough for him to willingly offer to do it again, even if all he could save is one person,,,,,, crying again.... and who it is who takes it all on instead... ok...

“After all, everyone knew that Mu Qing ascended because he cleaned up all the remaining stubborn resentful spirits in the old capital of Xianle, so to understand it as “generous and kind” wasn’t unreasonable. In any case, everyone in the old capital of Xianle were all very grateful for him.” - its not unreasonable at all!!! this boy picks cherries for his mom and the neighborhood kids leave him alone

“Shaking his head, Xie Lian contemplated, then he ladled two large bowls of rice, one offered inside the Temple of Ju Yang, the other inside the Temple of Xuan Zhen. Finally, feeling that everything served its purpose, he clapped his hands close, completely satisfied.” - please i just want them to be friends again

ruoye........ xie lian bidding farewell to the tiny red flower.... ok i feel a totally normal amount about all these things

book 5 time!!!

xie lian king of taking a third option.. no one dies in the kiln at all we’re just leaving bitch

“Xie Lian didn’t know why he had to use his hands to cup Hua Cheng’s cheeks, but he did so subconsciously, probably so he could comfort him, but also because Xie Lian was afraid Hua Cheng’s face would be frostbitten by the snowstorm.” - gay people.....

“This giant stone divine statue must’ve been sculpted when Hua Cheng was trapped inside the Kiln, when he was severely beaten down and in intense suffering.” - ohhhh my god. okay. okay. look. i get it....

“The divine statue obeyed his command and took off with a gigantic, wide step, going along with the rolling current of snow. One slide was several miles, and the snow waves it created crashed around its body. Because both its arms were open, even though it was a body of a million tons, it still maintained good balance.” - HELL YEAH!! HELL YEAH LETS FUCKING GO LETS GOOOOO

the statue that requires transfers of spiritual energy... statue of make you kiss me i see how it is.....

“Hearing this, Hua Cheng raised his brows, his expression seeming to say, please have them beat each other to death, that’d be great.” - when you dont like your SO’s friends and they dont like you

“With a sharp sword in hand, Xie Lian was like a tiger with wings added, his might increasing exponentially, and he struck out!” - YES!!! GET EM!!!!

“No one could blame him for not knowing what was going on. Perhaps, he was confused the entire way: Why was he beaten? Why was he buried inside a wall? Why was he turned into a daruma doll? And why did he have to turn into a sword, too? There was not a single point where he’d figured out what was happening.” its okay qyz its okay i know honey me too

HELLO?? SQX IS BACK???? omg what a development omg omg okay okay interesting... okay so shi wudu would have rather died than lose everything but shi qingxuan is still trucking

“Hua Cheng responded lazily, “Oh? So you mean to say, beggars can’t save the world? Is it because they don’t have the ability to, or because they’re not worthy?” - KING okay i know this is a motivational tactic but also... who was it who took on all the souls for the human face disease and did in fact save the world back then hmmm?

absolutely enthralled by the fact that in chapter 207 we find out that the guoshi is in fact just. still here. and the name of the chapter is "Seeking Affection; Ghost King Fakes Displeasure” which i mean that happens too but fjasdlkfajsld

bruh okay. okay. okay. everything is happening okay. okay. chaos in the heavens okay. ling wen is still invited to kiss me on the mouth tho idc

“Indeed Yin Yu didn’t have enough confidence, and said weakly, “Chengzhu has shown me grace, he saved me…” “I know,” Jun Wu said. “He even helped you pacify and send off the resentful spirit of Jian Yu, who died during banishment, am I right?” - awww im glad they resolved that bit that whole situation was awful also give me the forbidden hua cheng ghost king lore...

“Yin Yu finally couldn’t take it anymore. He clenched his fists tight, his knuckles cracking, and he whipped around. “I DO RESENT HIM! I DO HATE HIM!!! BUT, SO WHAT??” - yin yu kiss me on the mouth right now

“Xie Lian hugged him. “It’s alright, it’s alright. These are all small matters, really. Your Highness Yin Yu, just live in this world for another few hundred years and you’ll know that none of that really matters. Either driven to madness or really wishing someone would die, whichever. Who in the world has never had such thoughts? I’ve even thought of massacring all in the world who had wronged me, it’s true, and no lie, I’d almost done it. But look at me, haven’t I shamelessly lived until now? You haven’t actually done anything in the end, and that’s the most important thing.” - he’s right im crying again

“But…in the end, I…still think…it’s so unfair,” Yin Yu sobbed. “If I was already destined to be no one remarkable, then at the very least, I…wanted to be a kind and perfect person. But…I couldn’t even do that. It’s really…so unfair. And truth to be told, even in this moment, just thinking that I’m dying for Yizhen, this little dummy, I still can’t get over it. I can’t even let go and die with a heart with no resentment and no regrets, what is that.” - YIN YU YOU CANT DIE NOOOOOOO youre the only man in this whole book i would kiss why does this always happen im actually really sad ;_;

“If the Rain Master was killed directly, and a better heavenly official couldn’t be found to replace her, the people put food above all else; if agriculture isn’t running smoothly, the world will be thrown into chaos. You don’t let people eat, people won’t give you a job. Besides being displeased with the Rain Master, the people of the world might also begin to be dissatisfied with the great god above Rain Master’s head. Which means, if he isn’t careful, the fire can burn all the way onto him. If things aren’t controlled adequately, it might incur riots to topple gods.” - rain master my friend rain master... also yes!!!!! food production!!!! critical!!!!!!! theres a lot you can get by without but food is not one of them!!!!!

“Feng Xin was Xie Lian’s servant, his good friend, but not his slave. He could’ve built his own home, had his own family. And he had actually already met those people, but the encounter just had to be during Xie Lian’s first banishment, the toughest days they suffered back then.” i am very sad about all of this

hua cheng in the palace of ling wen looking for the brocade immortal while the heavens are in complete chaos as the world turns on its head and STILL taking the time to beg for kisses is making me lose it fjalkdfjlsd

oh my god the guoshi and the cards thing..... hmmmm

delighted that mount tong’lu has such great significance beyond just being the kiln or whatever

hmmm crown prince of wuyong... its truly sad... but dude.....

the way that the heavenly capital is literally built out of previous gods... wow

the outright attempt to continue to cycle of trauma that failed simply bc 1. xie lian is his own person and 2. xie lian recieved kindness and gave it back to the world even to the people who refused to help him im ;_;

the absolute mess of xuan ji/rong guang/pei su/banyue/ke mo going down in the palace of ming guang... entertainment

okay i think im to a point where i dont have any possible spoiler knowledge in my brain about what happens next (only thing i have is theres a joke about he xuan eating that i dont understand yet and i think we might get like an emily corpse bride moment but if we do i dont know why) but oh my god things have escalated

[hamliet]

The Faces Under Bai WuXiang’s Mask

Or, dissecting Bai WuXiang. I’m not going to get into whose face is actually under BWX’s mask (there aren’t spoilers in this meta), or into Lang Ying, but I instead want to talk about Bai WuXiang’s foiling with primarily Xie Lian and Hua Cheng, but also a bit of He Xuan and Qi Rong (fitting as BWX and the latter three are the Four Great Calamities). 

Anyways. Mount TongLu. 

The funny thing about Mu Qing and Feng Xin’s horror over Hua Cheng’s love for Xie Lian is that they think he’s a demon stalking Xie Lian with the intent of harming him. 

Feng Xin was practically getting chills looking through those murals, “My fucking god… who the hell is he? He’s been watching you since eight hundred years ago?! And he is still, even now? What the fuck! This is terrifying! Is he bewitched? What the hell does he want? Normal worshippers won’t even do this much, just what the hell does he want??”

And Hua Cheng has loved Xie Lian and lived for him for 800 years. Yet, while there is a demon stalking Xie Lian for 800 years, it is not Hua Cheng but Bai WuXiang.

Bai WuXiang’s obsession with Xie Lian seems to be that he wants Xie Lian to become exactly like him, as a sort of forced empathy (I’m sensing a pattern among MXTX villains: see here for He Xuan and here for MDZS’s Xue Yang). I’m curious to see where this develops. Bai WuXiang seems to recognize Xie Lian’s terror and understand it, even, and he wants to see it drive Xie Lian into the same kind of crying/laughing despair that governs him. 

White No-Face lifted his face to look at his eyes, and he said warmly, “Your highness, I think, you might have misunderstood. There certainly will be a Supreme who will emerge from this kiln, but, it won’t be me. It would be you.” ...

“Do you remember this cry-smiling mask?” White No-Face asked, “It suits you.” ...

Then, without giving him a chance to protest, that tragically pale cry-smiling mask melted with the infinite darkness as it was heavily pressed onto Xie Lian’s face.

This is, of course, a crucial difference when compared with how Hua Cheng sees Xie Lian. He never forces Xie Lian to do anything, and accompanies him even when he doesn’t want Xie Lian to make a particular choice. In other words, Hua Cheng gets real empathy and what it’s like, that it doesn’t mean becoming exactly like someone or agreeing all the time, but walking with them. 

Xie Lian softly sighed a breath of relief and forced a smile, “Nothing, it’s just, in these past years, how I passed my earlier days wasn’t the prettiest sight, it was all muddled and very much a failure. I just thought if you had witnessed it it wouldn’t be good.”

Hua Cheng laughed, “How could that be?”

Xie Lian however, didn’t laugh at all, “It’s not a joke, it really was quite the failure.”

Hearing this, Hua Cheng withdrew his smile and turned solemn, “That’s okay too. Didn’t your highness already say it yourself?”

“Me?” Xie Lian was confused, “What did I say?”

Hua Cheng recited languidly, “To me, the one standing in infinite glory is you, the one fallen from grace is also you. What matters is you, and not the state of you.”

Bai WuXiang doesn’t understand this perspective at all. He tells Xie Lian, regarding Hua Cheng:

“it’s probably for the best that he doesn’t come in. Otherwise, even if he doesn’t think so now, later when he sees the state of you, who knows if he’ll still want to be with you.”

He’s preying on Xie Lian’s worst insecurities, the ones he mentioned earlier: that he’s a failure, that he’s trash. I’m pretty sure this is actually what Bai WuXiang thinks of himself: that he’s a failure, and no one wants to be with him (well, I mean, look at you BWX...) 

We see these fears of being inherently bad in Hua Cheng as a little boy. Everyone seems to believe this about him, especially when the priest tells his fortune:

The Head Priest wiped his sweat and suddenly backed a mile away, “Your highness, you really picked up something you shouldn’t have up the mountain! That small child is toxic! His sign is borne of the most ominous star, the Star of Solitude*, destined to bring misfortune and destruction, the kind that evil loves the most. Whoever touches him will have misfortune befall upon them, whoever gets close will lose their lives!”

... Seeing that everyone was avoiding him like he was a poisonous snake, that child was shocked and started thrashing even harder, biting and screaming, “I’m not! I’M NOT!! I’M NOT!!!!”

Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped him around the waist, encircling his small form. A voice came from above his head, “You’re not. I know you’re not. Don’t cry, now. I know you’re not.”

That young child pressed his lips closed tightly, grabbing on to that pair of snow-white sleeves around his waist with a death grip, forced himself to hold back for a long time but in the end he still couldn’t. A stream of tears suddenly rolled down from that round, black eye, and he burst out crying.

Xie Lian embraced him from behind and reiterated firmly, “It not you. It’s not your fault.”

This scene was also paralleled recently in the confession scene in 177, where Xie Lian hugs Hua Cheng from behind to confirm he loves him. But what Hua Cheng fears is being alone because he brings misfortune to the people he loves. He doesn’t want to be alone. Connection, as we’ll see, is vitally important to staying alive and to staying connected to humanity--whether mortal, god, or demon--in TGCF. He even asks Xie Lian in the confession scene not to tell him, because he’s so afraid of being rejected, yet Xie Lian embraces him instead. 

i’m not in pain at all

When Hua Cheng is wondering what to live for, thinking he has nothing, Xie Lian tells him to live for him until he finds another reason to live for himself. This scene again emphasizes the importance of connection and the importance of empathy in connection as well, that a god would speak to a lone, desperate mortal worshipper. Live for their connection. The problem is that Hua Cheng needs to extend some of that love to himself too (like, he’s still drawing himself as exceedingly ugly in his art), but I think that comes through allowing himself to be loved by Xie Lian. So he’s on that path. 

There’s another aspect to the BWX and Hua Cheng foiling that makes me slightly uncomfortable to discuss, but it’s there so let’s discuss it. Hua Cheng’s murals that so panicked Mu Qing and Feng Xin were pretty obviously, er, erotic (the ultimate self-insert real person fanartist; Hua Cheng and Dante could get along). Bai WuXiang is definitely giving off some... creeper vibes. 

The next second, his hair was grabbed, forcibly yanked back then bashed into the ground!

His ears were ringing, his nose and mouth were filled with the astringence of blood, and his head concussed.

It was a while later before Xie Lian felt a hand pull his head out from the shattered ground, and a voice came from above, “So sad, so pitiful.”

Xie Lian choked out a mouthful of blood. White No-Face said, “Every time I meet your highness, you always look like this. Makes one ache. Makes one excited.”

It could just be the translation, but given BWX’s foiling with Hua Cheng, the scene two chapters earlier where Mu Qing and Fen Xin clearly think Hua Cheng is going to harm Xie Lian sexually and Hua Cheng assures him he has no such intentions (not that Xie Lian thought he would), plus what we know of Xie Lian’s utter commitment to abstinence does make me think that Bai WuXiang knows what he’s doing and is doing it to distress Xie Lian. I don’t think MXTX will take it very far (ie I don’t think anything will actually happen in a literal sense), thankfully, but I do think something metaphorically along those lines (ie something humiliating that denies Xie Lian humanity in a sense other than that one, BUT metaphorical is not the same thing) might have happened in the past.

There’s also the fact that Bai WuXiang slamming Xie Lian’s face into the ground and demanding he be like him at the ending of book 3, right before we dive into the past, is a reversal of the scene at the ending of book 1 right before we dive into the past, where Xie Lian slams Qi Rong’s face into the ground because he can’t get him to stop possessing an innocent father. Additionally, in this scene Qi Rong tells Xie Lian something similar to what BWX tells Xie Lian, except Xie Lian is the one in power then:

Xie Lian’s breathing was becoming more laboured, his head dizzy, his body shaking, his hands itching to crush Qi Rong’s skull, but he couldn’t do it. Qi Rong spread his hands, “Hahahaha cousin crown prince, what a failure, what an absolute failure!”

Xie Lian picked him off the ground, raised his fists and rained punch after punch on Qi Rong’s face, yelling with each punch, “SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!”

Yet, the more enraged he got, the happier Qi Rong became. To be able to drag the both of them to the same hell, Qi Rong was filled with rapture, his eyes shone brightly, “See! There’s your true face! Cousin crown prince, who knows you better than me in this world? You might look like a pathetic, drowned dog that anyone can trample now, but I know. You’re still proud on the inside; you couldn’t stand anyone calling you a failure! You must hate me for calling you a failure! Have I stabbed your heart enough to bleed? Hurry! Come! Or are you gonna tell me loudly that this body is innocent, so you won’t kill me in order to spare him? Come! Show me what you’ll do!”

It’s the same sort of temptation, except BWX has the spiritual power on his side whereas Qi Rong didn’t. Kill me, and become like me. If Xie Lian doesn’t give up, if he stands by his morals even though they’re being challenged because honestly his morals are kind of all he has at certain moments, then they themselves will be condemned, as they already know they are. But they want someone to empathize with them, to understand them. Qi Rong spent his childhood looking up to Xie Lian, wanting to be like him, and now he wants Xie Lian to be like him. He’s still a child, despite being an 800-year-old demon. I have hope Qi Rong will be able to grow a bit through being a parental figure for GuZi, I don’t really for BWX because I find him a terrifying baddie whom I love and despise at the same time. 

What sets Xie Lian apart though, the whole reason Qi Rong loved him so much in the first place, the reason Hua Cheng fell in love with him, the reason He Xuan grew close with Shi Qing Xuan, is because Xie Lian can empathize. He has a sense of wonder about the world, and he doesn’t see himself as better than anyone. He’s naive and yes, proud in some ways, but when his priests tried to kick out a child because the child had a bad fortune, he protected that child. He dove off the ceremonial cart to save a falling child. He knows he failed epically to save Xian Le from falling, to save innocents from dying, but not for lack of trying. 

He Xuan also tried to force Shi Qing Xuan and Shi Wu Du to understand his pain in losing all his loved ones. It backfired, and now He Xuan has lost the one person he still had. (I don’t think SQX is dead, but I doubt he is in a good state.) The meta I referenced earlier is entirely about this, and as @beneaththebrim wrote here, the whole Black Water arc “is a tragic mirror of the main plot.”

The faces under Bai WuXiang’s mask could easily be any of these characters, but they aren’t because they’re able to connect currently. Qi Rong has a genuine connection to Xie Lian, as twisted and torn as it is, and is developing one with GuZi. He Xuan is likely finding out that revenge on Shi Wu Du didn’t bring him the peace he wants, didn’t bring his loved ones back, and irreparably hurt the one person who loved him (Shi Qing Xuan). Hua Cheng and Xie Lian, of course, love each other, and through each others’ love, are hopefully starting, ever so slowly, to learn to love and value themselves too (Hua Cheng you don’t value yourself enough). 

Bai WuXiang is likely terrified of facing the reality that he is alone (and if he doesn’t have the human face disease or some remnant thereof since he’s the mastermind behind it and it’s symbolic of society corrupting & also of loneliness, I’ll be shocked). So no matter how many faces he has in actuality, it’s really only his face under that mask, and that’s what he’s terrified of. 

[jin-guang-ow]

MXTX Characters in an RPG

Xie Lian: a cleric. His personality makes him the perfect jrpg main character. His village was burned to the ground leaving him a disgraced hero. Continues to wander around to help people. He inevitably uncovers the big bad’s plot and must stop them to save the world!

Hua Cheng: a thief. He’s inspired by Xie Lian’s strong character and upright morals (but he’s mostly charmed by the soft boy's kindness). Vows to follow him through fire and flame. Tragic backstory makes him the beloved sidekick.

Wei WuXian: a summoner. Thought saving the world sounded like a fun idea and tags along. His most faithful summon is Wen Ning, the famed Ghost General. If Lan WangJi isn’t present in the party, he may sometimes appear in battle to protect Wei WuXian from attacks.

Lan WangJi: a bard. His upstanding moral character is what many people think drives him on this quest, but he’s really just there to protect Wei WuXian. His guqin is good not only for buffing allies, but decimating foes. One side quest leads the group back to Lan WangJi’s home to make sure his herd of the game’s adorable mascots are safe. This is really too shocking to everyone...

Shen QingQiu: a scholar. This strong mage had no intention of joining the traveling party, but after assisting them he’s found himself too deep in their quest to leave. He’s poisoned at a certain point, which leaves him sometimes unable to cast spells until the plot conveniently dictates! Or rather… Luo BingHe dictates. *wiggly eyebrows*

Luo BingHe: a dark knight. Originally an ally of the big bad, he’s charmed by Shen QingQiu’s words and joins the traveling party to help save the world. His demonic skills take away from his health, but even without them he’s extraordinarily strong.

Jiang Cheng: a blue mage. His parents were brutally murdered by the big bad, thus he has vowed revenge! Joins the party in hopes of vengeance, but finds his own self-worth in the process.

Feng Xin: a tamer. Was from the same village as Xie Lian. Originally followed him for sometime, but vowed to find his own strength to avenge what Xie Lian wouldn’t. Joins the party with Mu Qing.

Mu Qing: a monk. Although the three of them survived, Mu Qing is the first to leave in order to grow stronger. Meets up again with Feng Xin, and the two later (not so) silently protect Xie Lian on his travels before joining up with him.

Liu QingGe: a knight. While he joins the party to follow and protect Shen QingQiu, he can’t be used in combat. Instead, sometimes he’ll appear at the start of the battle and completely decimate your foes for you. The chance is increased when using Shen QingQiu in your party. However, he may sometimes attack Luo BingHe, if present, instead… He also owns and captains an airship. Begrudgingly allows Luo BingHe on.

Bonus!

Jiang YanLi: an alchemist. The secret character of the game that can only be obtained through extremely convoluted means. Her creations can heal her allies, or deal devastating damage to opponents. The strongest character in the game, but only if you: apply the correct gear, run away from 50,000 battles, answer that one question correctly from that npc you thought didn’t matter but guess what they do matter however there’s no indication that they matter, and finish a side quest to give Jin ZiXuan some delicious soup. You’ll want to do this, however, because she’s a delight.

I only made this because I’ve been playing Dragon Quest XI, so like my brain is in RPG mode. Most of these ideas are based off of random gimmicks from Final Fantasy games hehe... 

I really want someone to call Lan WangJi a spoony bard and then Wei WuXian goes around calling him that for the rest of their lives heh

And cleric!Xie Lian with thief!Hua Cheng gives me Ophilia and Therion vibes from Octopath Traveler.

Also don’t @ me for it Jiang Cheng is a blue mage because I can’t help but think of Quistis okay??? I know Jin GuangYao would be he best blue mage, but he’s not allowed in my party okay??? (actually he’d make a really good betrays the protagonist character thoooo) And Liu QingGe is Odin, you kick his ass and then he’s like oh wow that’s some good stuff let me just murder monsters for you randomly and never when you need it

my mind keeps coming up with more ideas but i’m not sure if it’s interesting