#aobingzhuan

[m0dernchr0n1cles]

Ao Bing meets his mother

應 yīng from 應龍 yìnglóng The Winged Rain-Dragon, portrayed as the Consort of Ao Guang in 敖丙传 Ao Bing Zhuan

Prequel is here (Part 1) Sequel is here (Part 3)

Ao Bing: "So, how did you meet him?"

Queen Ying: "Who? Yu the Engineer?"

Ao Bing: "No, my father."

Queen Ying: [sighs] "You know, he wasn't always like the way he is today. It took years for his poisoned heart to turn him evil. There was a time when I loved him very much. And he was very proud."

Ao Bing: "When was that?"

Queen Ying: "When we had you."

[cao0227]

If anyone wants to finish reading Ao Bing Zhuan (Biography of Ao Bing), here it is.

does anyone know a manga reading platform where you can read all 58 chapters of Ao Bing Zhuan (a manhwa based off of the movie ne zha 2019)

it doesn't have to be translated

someone please help me.... ('T᷄⌑T᷅)

[m0dernchr0n1cles]

Ao Guang being a “Good Dad” XI

In 敖丙传 Ao Bing Zhuan, Ao Jia is implied to have fallen in love with a human girl

Ao Guang: "Jia'er (甲儿), women come and go."

Ao Guang: (wryly) "Most of them cause nothing but trouble."

Ao Guang: "Some of them are worth it."

Ao Guang: (firmly) "But not one is worth the sacrifice you're about to make."

Ao Jia: "You don't know this one."

Ao Guang: "You didn't see fit to introduce us to her. That's because you knew she wouldn't fit in, right?"

[Ao Jia is silent]

[Ao Guang reaches out, placing a hand on Ao Jia's shoulder]

Ao Guang: "Someday the right one will come along. One who will fit in."

[Ao Guang draws Ao Jia closer]

Ao Guang: (gently) "She’ll be your queen. You'll have all the money you want. All the freedom. The very finest life can offer."

[Ao Guang tightens his grip]

Ao Guang: (firmly) "But only if you stick with this family."

[m0dernchr0n1cles]

Ao Bing meets his mother (“Our Lady of the Underground”)

Prequel to this post (Part 2) Sequel to that post is here (Part 3)

All of Asuraville knew that the Lady's bar was a blessed place, where the wine flowed free and the seats never ran out. All the Lady asked was that the patrons break bottle caps instead of kneecaps.

The chipped sign in the crude shape of an arrow pointing down, "Step into my office."

Ao Bing stared at the haphazard, windowless establishment, filled with fold up chairs, bar stools, and makeshift tables.

This is where is his mother lived?

As they inched forward, Ao Bing tried not to fidget too much. He thought they were in the back, but he could still feel people flooding in. He glanced back, and was met with an ever-growing sea of faces. He hated packed crowds.

"Hey," a hand slipped into his. He whirled around. Yunxiang was staring at him. "You okay?"

Ao Bing couldn't feel his tongue, so he just nodded.

Yunxiang frowned, his brow wrinkled. "Yang Jian 大哥 dàgē," he turned to the demigod. "Are you sure this is the place?"

Yang Jian smiled and tipped his hand in place of nodding. He lifted a finger to his lips then pointed ahead, towards the "stage" (an elevated platform with a bar).

A woman stepped on stage, her pale blue hair tied into a braided bun in the back. Her sleeveless qipao was made of shimmering silk that rippled in the flickering lights.

"I don't know about you, boooyyysssss..." She grinned, swaying with the bellow. "But if you're like me, then hanging around this old manhole is bringing you down.

"Six-feet-under getting under your skin.

"Cabin fever is a-setting in."

Ao Bing felt someone click his jaw closed.

"You're stir crazy! Stuck in a rut!" The Lady reached behind to the shelf.

"You could use a little pick-me-up

"I can give you what it is you crave

"A little something from the good old days," she picked out some bottles, holding them up for inspection.

"I got the wind right here in a jar

"I got the rain on tap at the bar

"I got the sunshine up on the shelf."

"Allow me to introduce myself," She stood on the counter. "Brother, what's my name?" She lined up a train of cups.

"My name is..."

The crowd pounded their fists. "Our Lady of the Underground!"

The Lady grinned, pouring the line of cups. "Brother, what's my name?" The cups disappeared into the crowd.

"Our Lady of Ways!" Cups were making their way to the back. "Our Lady of Means!"

"Brother, what's my name?

"My name is..."

"Our Lady of the Upside Down!"

"Wanna know my name?" She grinned, leaning over the counter. "I'll tell you my name."

The crowd burst into hoots and cheers, pounding and stamping as they raised their cups. Ao Bing only saw the barest movement of her mouth, but missed the rest.

Sima gave a low whistle. "That's your mom?"

Ao Bing nodded. The woman on stage was lively, generous, and happy. It was a far cry from the mother he barely knew.

"She's pretty hot."

Ao Bing paused, his brain screeching to a halt. "What?!"

The Lady pulled an Rakshasa onstage. "Come here, brother," the Lady grinned. "Let me guessss..." She picked up a shaker.

"It's the little things you miss.

"Spring flowers, autumn leaves." She shook them together and poured a line of cups.

"Ask me, brother, and you shall receive."

A cup appeared in Ao Bing's hand. He swirled the amber liquid around, then took a sip.

Spring rain flooded his ears, and he heard faint chuckles in the back of his head. He felt warmth trickling up his spine.

"Or maybe these just ain't enough," the Lady shrugged, staggering to the side.

"Maybe you're looking for some stronger stuff.

"I got a sight for the sorest eye," she pulled a heavy rope.

"When's the last time you saw the sky?"

The ceiling opened up, revealing the night sky. The roof was a giant silk drape that ballooned up, revealing the asterisms composed of glass and crystal.

Yang Jian took off his hat, as did many others.

"Hey," Yunxiang knocked on his shoulder. "Look," he pointed up.

Ao Bing followed the finger. There were seven diamonds forming a canopy over the North Star. They were the brightest, the only stars joined by a silver string.

華蓋 huágài, Ao Bing felt the floor drop away.

"Wipe away your tears, brother." There were footsteps approaching. "Brother, I know how you feel."

The Lady stepped down, holding her hands out. "I can see you're blinded by the sadness of it all."

His mother was so close, he could reach out and touch her hand.

He stopped himself.

"But look a little closer, everything will be revealed."

The Lady turned, locking eyes with him for just a moment.

"Look a little closer, and..."

The music came to a halt.

"THERE'S A CRACK IN THE WAAALLLLL."

[m0dernchr0n1cles]

How Ao Guang met Yinglong

[Yinglong punches Ao Guang, sending him flying]

Ao Guang: (panting) "Never been... hit like that before."

Ao Guang: (breathless) "It was kind of... nice."

[Ao Guang with Ao Shun, Ao Qin, Ao Run]

Ao Qin: "Wow, you really got a crush on that winged dragon? She's, like, bigger, stronger, and probably a better fighter than you."

Ao Guang: (swooning) "Exactly. What a woman."

[m0dernchr0n1cles]

Ao Guang being a "Good Dad" IX

Ao Bing learns the truth about his birth

Ao Bing: "You stole the Spirit Pearl, hid my existence from the Heavens, and now they found out?!"

[Ao Guang looks at Ao Bing expectantly]

Ao Bing: "I can't believe you'd start a war just to cover your ass."

Ao Guang: (firmly) "I would set the world ablaze to protect our family."

Ao Bing: (scoffs) "No. I stopped being part of this family the moment you sent me away."

Ao Bing: (voice cracking) "...Why? Why did you do it?"

Ao Guang: "Because you weakened me!"

[Ao Bing stares, unable to utter any words]

Ao Guang: "I couldn't endure the look in your eyes whenever I made the decisions, the necessary decisions to keep us safe!"

[m0dernchr0n1cles]

Ao Bing meets his mother (Aftermath)

Sequel to this post (Part 2) Prequel is here (Part 1)

Thanks to @eternal-3clipse for the suggestion.

TW: implied abuse, parental abandonment, unresolved trauma

Yinglong was not what Ao Bing expected, but he didn't know what to expect. He barely remembered his mother. He only remembered old portraits of the woman in white, before his Father had them taken down. The woman looked so thin and sad, always buried in heavy mink coat that tied her to the chair. In every picture, her eyes were glassy, staring right through the camera.

The woman onstage wasn't sad or glassy-eyed. She was loud and joyous, almost filled to the brim and bursting with wine and laughter to share.

She looked more weathered, her face was thinner, her skin a bit patchier. Instead of sitting in fine brocades and furs, she was shimmying around in old gowns and glass beads to give the illusion of finery.

Looking around at the cardboard shack that his mother called home, Ao Bing felt bile rise in his throat. His mother left them, for this?

N̵o̸, that nagging voice in his head fired back. S̷h̷e̵ ̵l̸e̵f̸t̵ ̵b̴e̵c̸a̵u̷s̷e̷ ̶o̸f̸ ̵y̷o̴u̴r̸ ̵F̶a̶t̸h̷e̵r̴.̷

From what he heard, his mother was always a lost soul. She loved wandering the world. She was already leaving before he was born.

B̷u̸t̸ ̷s̴h̷e̷ ̸c̵a̴m̸e̶ ̵b̶a̸c̶k̶.̷

S̸̹͆̂h̷̰͈̝̹̉͝ḗ̷̖̠́ ̷̻̭͔̆͝á̶̝̙l̷͎̞͑͗w̸͍̼͖͓͗͆̽̔a̴̝̩͉̘͑̊ỵ̵͚͓̹̅̅ṡ̷̡̙̼͒͌ ̴̳͉͚̹̈́̆̐c̵͇̀͊̚ḁ̷́͒̇m̷̢̯͕̄ę̸̣̍̽ ̴̪͇̗̬̽b̵̖͑̅͠à̵̛͕c̴̨̮̙̱̿ķ̸̬͒̈́͑,̶̮̤̞͑ͅ ̵͍̮̹̗̍͘b̸̼̬͈̆̆̊̚e̴̲̭̭̐f̵̯́̈̋́o̸̢̤͌̓̊̕r̴͈̎͆e̶͎̽̚ ̶̛̜͔̭̫̕y̴̙̗̯̜͐͗̾̆o̸͓͑͆̈́u̸̟̱̍̊ ̵̛̙̭̆̓w̶̘̘̹̑͐è̶͎̄r̷̢̹̐̓̎���̴͙͎͆͝ ̵̛͈̊b̴̮͐͛ǒ̸̢̿̃̚r̷̡̠͎̠̃̓ń̴̢̲̼̦̈́̈́̀.̸̯̆͊́͒

They were happy together, once. She admitted it. She loved Father, and He loved her.

Ĥ̵͉ė̴̼ ̸̠̈l̶͇̂o̴̞̍v̴̦͐è̸ͅd̷͇̽ ̴͍͝Ǎ̶̹o̸̙̓ ̶̡̓B̵̳̎i̵̝̚n̴͈͊g̷̖͒.̸̖̀ ̷͇͝H̸̠̐e̵̟̍ ̷̱̂l̸̦̽o̴͉̅v̸̀ͅe̸͉̋ḍ̷̿ ̵͘͜Ĥ̷͙i̵̦͘ṣ̵̈ ̸̢͛f̵̞͊à̷̢m̸̯̒i̴͜͝l̴̡͆y̷̛̰.̷͍͌

Wasn't this all what His work for?

No, she didn't want this. She didn't want any of His "gifts". She didn't ask Him to kill thousands of innocent children for crimes that they didn't remember committing. She didn't ask Him to give her four children in every lifetime, only to take them away in every lifetime. She didn't ask Him to starve Donghai, just to crown her Queen Consort of the city.

He spent two decades in that gilded cage with a gold yoke around his neck. Could he truly blame her for flying away?

S̴͙̄h̵̠̍ȩ̷̚ ̸̼̕ľ̴̮e̷̡͆f̷̭̉t̴͈̅ ̷̬̒y̵̙̚õ̵̮u̴͍̍.̴̙̊

No, he wanted to scream. It was Father. He drove her away. She had to leave.

W̴̥͈̳͋̐̿h̶͍̜͉̊y̸̢͍̲͑ ̸̲̣̿ḏ̷̙̎̐i̶̱̠̎̂d̸̡̳͊̓̈́n̸͈̮͂̂'̶̮͓̉t̶̢̞͙̍̈́ ̸̺̾͗̽ş̷͂́h̵̰̀ḙ̸̑̋͝ ̸͖̈́̈́t̵̺͖̏a̶̩̳̹͝k̸̡̩͇͠e̸̙̫̊̽͘ ̶̜͖̍̓͜ỷ̶͈̼ơ̸̮͈̜ų̴̹̊̑ ̷̪͋w̴͖̹̮͋i̴̪͈̋̈́ț̵̟̲̒̐h̸͍̳̫̉̽̄ ̶̝̞͖̋h̸̻̻̐̌e̷͉͊̌r̸̛͎̰̝͋̃?̵̠̉

"Hey," Yunxiang's voice cut through his thoughts. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Ao Bing felt his face grow hot. "Yeah, why?"

"You haven't touched your drink," Yunxiang furrowed his brow. "You've just been sitting there, not moving... for ten minutes."

Oh, Ao Bing felt his face grow hotter. He took the glass and downed the entirety of its contents.

"I'm fine," he dropped his gaze. "It's nothing." He felt something prickly on the back of his neck. "I'm fine," he insisted, trying to keep the annoyance from his voice.

"Okay," Yunxiang pulled up a barstool, leaning back against the counter. He didn't say anything, which Ao Bing was grateful for.

Instead, his hand fell on the counter, brushing against Ao Bing's. Their fingers interlocked, squeezing the other tightly.

Ao Bing turned to his friend and smiled. Thanks.

[m0dernchr0n1cles]

Yinglong being a Good Mother III

Ao Jia comes back from another adventure with Sha Mu, Wan Sha, and Ao Yi

Yinglong: "Sit down."

Ao Jia: "I'm fine."

Yinglong: "Sit. Down."

[Ao Jia sits down]

[Yinglong sits across from Ao Jia]

Yinglong: (sighs) "Those kids look up to you."

Ao Jia: "Yeah, I know."

Yinglong: "You know, but you don't know."

Yinglong: "When people look up to you, you don't get to be selfish."

Ao Jia: (voice rising) "I'm not..."

Yinglong: (firmly) "You say run, they run. You say swim, they dive in. You say light a fire, they show up with oil."

Yinglong: "But whatever happens, it's on you."

[m0dernchr0n1cles]

Ao Jia needs therapy (feat. Yang Jian)

Ao Jia: "I've lost my family!"

[Yang Jian pats Ao Jia on the shoulder]

Yang Jian: "There, there. You will be fine."

Yang Jian: (turns to leave) "Goodbye."

Ao Jia: "I will not be fine! There’s no team with just a faceman. I need my Sword guy, and my Spirit Pearl guy and greatest student of Bodhisattva Guanyin guy."

Ao Jia: (almost tearing up) "I’m nothing without them."

[Yang Jian pauses]

Ao Jia: (turns to leave) "You wouldn't understand. At least your heart is made of stone. Farewell, Erlang."

Yang Jian: (reaches out) "Ao Jia, wait! I do know what it is like to lose someone."

[Ao Jia turns around, tentatively hopeful]

Yang Jian: (smiles) "I will help you."

[m0dernchr0n1cles]

Ao Jia & Ao Yi being brothers III

Young!Ao Jia is 16-17 years old Young!Ao Yi is 10-11 years old

[Young!Ao Jia sticks his head in Young!Ao Yi's room]

Young!Ao Jia: "Hey, buddy, uh, just checking in, making sure you're, uh, okay. Uh, everything okay? You're okay, right?"

Young!Ao Yi: "Yes, 大哥 dàgē, I'm fine! Uh, I've got everything under control!"

[m0dernchr0n1cles]

Ao Jia gets called out

Ao Jia once again complains about Sha Mu bringing her baby brother, Sha Ze

Sha Mu: "You know what, 大哥 dàgē? You're right. There's a bunch of things Xiao Ze just can't do."

Ao Jia: (scoffs) "You don't have to tell me twice."

Sha Mu: "Like, complain about everything."

Ao Jia: (pauses) "What?"

Sha Mu: "And brag nonstop."

Ao Jia: "Okay, okay, I see where this is going."

Sha Mu: "Pick fights with the group when we need to focus."

Ao Jia: "A-Mu, I..."

Sha Mu: "And tell strangers in a cave our real identities?"

Ao Jia: (stammering) "I... I didn't mean to..."

Sha Mu: "Xiao Ze my problem, okay?"

Sha Mu: "Your problem is never knowing when to shut up."

Sha Mu: "But I'm gonna help you with that. Ready?"

[Sha Mu points at her face]

Sha Mu: "You see this look on my face?"

Sha Mu: "This will always mean it's time to shut up."

Ao Jia: "But..."

[Sha Mu points at her face]

Ao Jia: "I...”

[Sha Mu points harder]

[m0dernchr0n1cles]

Ao Jia "talks" to his Mother

[Ao Jia kneels at a shrine to Yinglong]

[Ao Jia lights two incense sticks and bows]

Ao Jia: "Hey, Mom. I know I keep talking and you must be busy... Really busy... "

Ao Jia: "But, um, my day didn't go well, and... I don't know if I'm ever going to make a difference."

Ao Jia: (sighs) "I don't know what I'm doing. I could really use some advice, Mom."

Ao Jia: (stammering) "I... I think Father was right about me..."

Ao Jia: "... Ahah, oof. Eh, anyway... I'll stop talking before this gets long. Love you, bye..."

[m0dernchr0n1cles]

Ao Guang & Yinglong's Story

Yinglong: “Take it from a woman of my age Love is not a gilded cage. All the wealth within these walls Will never buy the thing called love. Love was when he came to me Begging on his bended knees To please have pity on his heart And let him lay me in the dirt. I felt his arms around me then We didn’t need a wedding bed. Dark seeds scattered on the ground. Wild birds were flying around. That’s when I became his wife But that was in another life That was in another world When I was a young girl.”

[m0dernchr0n1cles]

Chang'e & Hou Yi's first meeting

Originally, Chang'e 嫦娥 was called Heng'e 姮娥, but her name was changed to avoid sharing the name of the Han Emperor Liu Heng 劉恆. She is often portrayed as originally human (so she might have had another name) Chang'e is used as a title/rank for moon goddesses.

Yinglong: "You wanna talk to her?" Hou Yi: "Yes!" Yinglong: "Go on." Yinglong: "Hou Yi?" Hou Yi: "Yes?" Yinglong: "Don't come on too strong" [Hou Yi approaches Heng'e] Hou Yi: "Come home with me!" [Yinglong facepalms]

Heng'e: "Who are you?" Hou Yi: "The man who's gonna marry you"

[m0dernchr0n1cles]

Ao Jia's Vent

[Ao Jia captured by the Celestial Host]

Celestial Warrior: "Hey! I'm threatening you."

Ao Jia: "I DON'T CARE!"

Ao Jia: (sighs) "You know what? It's not easy being the friendly and upbeat guy all the time. And I get that it's hard being friends sometimes. You gotta work at it. ...So why am I always the only one who's willing to work at it? I mean...they didn't even notice I'm gone. ...Do whatever you want. I don't care. It's terrible being friends with friends."

[m0dernchr0n1cles]

Ao Guang & Yinglong's Breakup

Yinglong: "Lover, what have you become Coal cars and oil drums Warehouse walls and factory floors I don't know you anymore And in the meantime up above The harvest dies and people starve Oceans rise and overflow It ain't right and it ain't natural"

Ao Guang: "Lover, everything I do I do it for the love of you If you don't even want my love I'll give it to someone who does Someone grateful for her fate Someone who appreciates The comforts of a gilded cage And doesn't try to fly away The moment Mother Nature calls Someone who could love these walls That hold her close and keep her safe And think of them as my embrace"