grainstealingthot

[grainstealingthot]

MDZS Novel Thoughts

Aggression - Parts 2 and 3 (ERS)

So I ended up getting too tired last night, but from here on out I'm going to try and get through a group of chapters at a time, rather than each chapter having its own reaction post.

Mostly to keep myself organized, but also so I can read more at once.

This means that my posts are about to get a lot longer. Like a lot.

Once more - novel spoilers below the cut.

I don't care about grammar/typo issues, unless you literally can't understand what I'm trying to say.

Aggression P2 (ERS)

WWX's first thought when ppl come to harm him is the juniors :(( (bc his inventions need to be used very carefully, but still)

He complies with being drug out, and notes that all the servants and family members are present, some even in their undergarments and unbrushed hair, and all look terrified

Mdm Mo looks sad, but as soon as she sees MXY (WWX) she immediately becomes hateful

Lan babies are there, looking at a body on the ground.

It's MZY ofc - WWX notes that it seems like his blood and flesh were sucked out of him, and now just looks like a skeleton with a thin layer of skin.

Mdm Mo tries to kill WWX with a dagger, LSZ stops her. She thinks that it was MXY(WWX) that killed MZY bc he's missing his left arm.

"Madam Mo's true intention wasn't to avenge for him, but to find someone to let out her resentment on." (ERS)

wow.... that's a good description of at least half of the other characters.

WWX also does note that in the past, he did talk "quite a lot about exterminating entire families and clans, killing millions of people, creating rivers of blood, and other cruel actions"(ERS), but that "most of the time, they were empty words"(ERS).

WWX roots around MZY's body and finds the Phantom Attraction Flag.

Basically - MZY, who lost face earlier in the day because of MXY (WWX), wanted to get back at him. Went by the West Courtyard that Night, and grabbed one of the flags. He thought that he was told not to touch it bc the cultivators didn't want valuable weapons to be stolen, not thinking that there were dangerous side effects from holding it (literally becoming the target)

Anyways, bc MZY's death was technically caused by the flags, and the flags are WWX's invention, the sacrificial ritual deems the death as his doing, so one of the cuts is healed.

Mdm Mo knows that her son caused his own death, but she just wants someone to take her anger out on. Throws a teacup at WWX, then yells at the Lans.

Bc of the Lan rules, even when a non-cultivator is yelling at or disrespecting them, it's forbidden for them to retaliate.

WWX, of course, has no such problem.

He chews Mdm Mo out, saying that they came all this way to exorcise evil spirits for free, and MZY was old enough to know better since he was told not to touch their items and not to go near the West Courtyard.

the Lans "let out a breath of air, faces not so dark anymore". they really need some time in one of those places were you break things to let out anger. i think they'd like it.

"Madam Mo was both extremely mournful and resentful, and all she could think about was the word 'death.' Not her own death so that she could be with her son, but the deaths of everyone in the world, especially the ones in front of her right now." (ERS)

wow that's only like the rest of the cultivation world with the wen remnants huh

Mdm Mo sends her husband out after he (accidentally?) pushes her to the ground, and A-Tong helps him go outside.

Literally two seconds later, screams come from outside.

A-Tong is on the ground, still alive. Next to him is the body of Mdm Mo's husband, in the same condition as MZY.

Ofc, with his death another cut is gone.

LSZ tries to get info from A-Tong, but man is scared to death.

LJY says he's sent the flair, but doesn't know what else to do bc they don't know what is causing this.

LSZ says for them to wait here until a senior can come and assist, as escaping and leaving the civilians there would shame them and thier clan.

WWX is briefly torn between wanting to leave in case the senior that arrives knows him from before, but he also has the curse, and knows that the unknown entity has killed within such a short amount of time and if he leaves the situation might get even worse. (we all know he is concerned for the kids as well)

Aggression - Part 3

The Lan juniors are all young and inexperienced, but they stuck to their positions and starting fixing talismans on the walls.

A-Tong breaks his own neck - raises his left hand and grabs his own neck, and despite both LSZ and LJY trying to stop him, he snaps his own neck.

(extra note here bc i thought this is a funny thing for WWX to note - "although they looked gentle, the people from the Lan clan had arm strength that were the opposite of gentle." (ERS) )

A-Ding screams about there being an invisible ghost, but WWX notes that if that were the case, the spirit-fending talismans the juniors plastered everywhere would have incinerated into green flames.

WWX notes that it's not the kids' fault for reacting so slow, but that this creature is very cruel and powerful, and even an experienced cultivator would have problems with it.

All lights are extinguished by a sinister wind, and causes mass chaos.

LJY yells at people to stay in place and not run.

>evil beings love to cause trouble in the dark and the more chaos and crying, the more likely more danger would be attracted to the area

people still ran away, as they were scared to death and not listening.

LSZ uses a Flame Talisman (which cannot be extinguished by sinister winds) to light up the candle again, and the other boys comfort the people that stayed.

WWX looks down at his wrists and notes that there's smth wrong about the number of them. There were originally 4 - two on each wrist. MZY is one, MZY's father is two, and A-Tong is three, so there should be one left. But -gasp- they're all gone!

ofc Mdm Mo is dead, and after A-Dong cries out that A-Tong's left hand is gone too, then WWX suddenly connects some dots.

WWX tries to guide the kids in the right direction, which is hard when they think he's an actual lunatic. LSZ thinks that there's something up though, but since he's the Goodest Boy Ever, he doesn't say anything about it.

They note that Mdm Mo's left hand looks like a man's now, and they try and grab her. Arm twists in a way it shouldn't and aims for LSZ's throat.

LJY "jumps" in front of LSZ and takes the hit for him, which causes his outer robe to incinerate in green flames.

LGY accuses WWX of pushing him into the way, but WWX "scampered away like a frightened rat"(ERS) while yelling that it wasn't him.

Next sentence immediately after: "It was him." (ERS) lol

He, of course, does this because he knows the robes have protective spells stitched into them, but that against a strong opponent like the arm, it can only be used once.

Mdm Mo falls to the ground, in same condition as the others. Left arm falls off, and starts moving around on its own. (...)

"Being dismembered was a classic example of a distressing death. It was only somewhat more dignified that the way Wei Wuxian died. Unlike the situation of being crushed to powder, the limbs and parts of the corpse would be tainted with some of the resentment of the person who died ..."

okay. so. i know mxtx never went into actual detail about how he died, but is the mention of being crushed to powder a good clue to how he died???

anyways, parts of a dismembered corpse would try and find the missing parts of the body . If it couldn't, it make attach itself to living bodies, draining them of blood and energy, and hopping from person to person doing this, until it finally collected all the other parts of its body.

Lan babies notice the robe thing, and all take off their outer robes to cover the left hand with it.

just a temp fix, ofc

WWX runs to the Western Courtyard while nobody's looking, and finds ten-or-so walking corpses.

breaks the formation sealing them, claps twice, and "with a jolt, the whites of the walking corpses' eyes all turned upwards, as if they were woken up by a bolt of thunder."

>love me a competent man

literally commands them with two claps and a "Wake up! Let's get to work." lmao

>but this next part is funny lmao get ready for a long quote

"The walking corpses in front of him moved a few quivering steps,. But, as they approached Wei Wuxian, their legs grew weak and they collapsed onto the ground, as if they were real humans. Wei Wuxian found it both funny and annoying. He clapped his hands again, this time lighter. However, these walking corpses were probably born in Mo village and died here as well, not having experienced life fully. They instinctively followed the summoner's commands, but were also horrified at the summoner, lying on the ground and afraid to get up." (ERS)

sorry i know it's long but this is such a funny image to picture in my mind.

anyways, as the green flames die down, he suddenly remembers he has some perfectly good corpses with strong resentment in the east hall.

LSZ and the boys have made a sword fence - where they all stuck their swords into the ground (likely in a circle, to keep the corpse contained)

WWX grabs MZY and Mdm Mo's corpses and says "Wake up!" and lo and behold - they wake up as fierce corpses. he also woke up Madam Mo's husband too.

>man they hated WWX because he was literally so good at Gui Dao huh. 2 days into revival and he's technically woken up about 13 or so corpses, all without breaking a sweat

orders them to tear apart the left hand

the Lans are "stricken dumb with amazement" and find the battle between the fierce corpses and the arm "absolutely thrilling!"

>almost reads like a quote on the back of a NYT bestseller lol

>this is the start of the Lan boys becoming WWX's little ducklings huh

three freshly raised fierce corpses aren't enough to subdue the arm

WWX prepares to whistle to increase the resentment of the corpses to help them fight

just as he's about to, "the echoes of two strums on a stringed instrument came from far away." (ERS)

"The sound seemed to have been played by a human. The timbre was ethereal and clear, carrying the bleak chills of windswept pines."(ERS)

the boys all perk up and exclaim "Hanguang-Jun!"

>AHHHHHKASJHDKASHD HANGUANG-JUNNNNN IS HEREEEE

"As soon as he heard the two faraway strums of the zither, Wei Wuxian turned around and began to leave."(ERS)

>nooo wwx where are you going your husband is hereeee

HGJ plays a higher strum, the Eradication Tone of Gusu Lan, and subdues the arm and the fierce corpses

Lan babies celebrate surviving the experience and the arrival of HGJ

LSZ notices that MXY(WWX) has disappeared and thinks to himself that he'll wait for HGJ to come down and then he'll tell him everything

WWX, meanwhile, erases the evidence of the sacrificial ritual in MXY's room, and runs off.

>he literally recognized HGJ as LWJ from TWO STRUMS OF THE GUQIN

WWX notes that LWJ is "one of the people who had fought with him before", so he's trying to make a quick retreat

finds a millstone w a donkey inside

it eyes him sideways as if it were a human.

>lmao wait this is actually funny

"Wei Wuxian made eye contact with him for one second, and was immediately touched by the minuscule amount of contempt in its eyes." (ERS)

>lmaooooo i'm literally dying, trying not to laugh so loud since it's 3am

he and the donkey (lil' apple i'm ur biggest fan ily) escape just as dawn breaks

okay that's the rest of the Aggression chapters.

srsly though I'm so glad I'm reading the novel finally. ALL the ff I've read, and I don't think we're all fully capturing how funny and dramatic WWX is.

He's also so so so powerful, even without a strong core.

Why aren't we making use of that? He raised about 13 corpses, and all he did was speak and clap a couple of times. Where did the idea that he HAS to have the flute to do anything???

Also

LWJ is here!!!! finally!!! looking forward to lots of wx moments coming up.

and Lil' Apple!! best donkey everrr

(yes i am aware of the actual tragic shit they all go through. doesn't mean i can't be happy about wx moments while i read it)

<3

[grainstealingthot]

MDZS Novel Notes

Aggression - Part One (Exiled Rebels Version)

before we get into this, i'm going to shorted Exiled Rebels as ERS. because this is my blog and i do what i want. I've heard that they translate WWX's cultivation name better in this one. And also it's easier for me to read and type at the same time like this lol.

Anyways, obligatory spoiler warning. I am making note of my thoughts while reading through the MDZS novels. If you have not read them, you will see spoilers below the cut.

No water in the room. Only basin-like container is probably meant for toilet purposes and not cleaning.

Door is latched from the outside to keep him in.

WWX: "None of these things made him feel the joy of reincarnation at all!" (he's literally so dramatic in an intentionally funny way lol. i really do love him)

He meditates for a full day. HE MEDITATES FOR A FULL DAY. Without being forced into it, even. Stop making it seem as if he's incapable of performing the most fundamental part of culitivation.

After cultivation for a literal day, nonstop, he stands up and gets lightheaded (happens to me too dw wwx)

WWX - mxy's spiritual powers are so insignificant they shouldn't be affecting my control of this body. so why's it not working right??

WWX: literally forgets that he needs to eat to function normally (...same)

"If the didn't scavenge for food, he might become the first villainous ghoul who starved to death upon arrival." (ERS)

(i ofc know that he specifies that the body hasn't practiced inedia, and that's why it feels hunger, but it's really funny to know that he forgets he's supposed to eat lol)

Door of room has a mini door at the bottom so food can be pushed through.

Food is unpleasant looking, and the servants are rude as fuck to mxy (now wwx)

wwx feels quite bitter about all of this lol

my fave quote so far:

"The Yiling Patriarch had just returned to the mortal world, but the first thing he came upon was a kick and a scolding, not to mention the leftovers that served as his welcoming-meal. Where were the blood and gore? The ruthless slaughter? The absolute destruction? Who would believe him? He was like the tiger in a flatland, the dragon in shallow water, the phoenix without feathers, losing his advantage and belittled by those weaker than him." (ERS)

i just know he's pouting while thinking this and picking at the food passive-aggressively lol

name of the servant bringing him food - A-Tong

2nd servant - A-Ding

A-Ding remarks that A-Tong only has to deliver one meal a day. (... man i really feel so bad for mxy...)

They mention that there a lot of walking corpses about.

usually dull-eyed and sluggish, unless the dead person held a lot of resentment, but they are enough to harm the average person, esp their awful smell

WWX literally thinks of them as the most obeying puppets, and feels a sense of familiarity when he hears about them. (weirdo /affectionate)

A-Ding mentions cultivators from a prominent clan came to Mo Village to deal with the corpses.

Madam is talking w them in the main hall, and everyone in town is watching.

WWX listens attentively, ponders for a moment, this stands and kicks the door down (lmao love him)

Scares the two servants badly enough that they start screaming lmao

A-Tong tries to save face in front of the girl he likes, by waving his hands about like he's shooing a dog away. (noted that by narrator that "A-Tong treated [MXY] even worse than he treated a beggar or a fly" (ERS) and that most of the servants also treated mxy like this bc he never resisted)

WWX gives him a light kick and knocks him over, then laughs "How daring of a mere errand-running child to humiliate others like this." (ugh i love him)

WWX interrupts the meeting with the cultivators, and he seems to do a great job at playing the lunatic lmao

Notices that the cultivators are older teens, from Gusu Lan, and that they all were blood-relations to the Lan family, as their ribbons all had cloud patters sewn onto them.

"Wei Wuxian got toothaches whenever he saw anybody from the Lan clan." (ERS) (...yeah buddy, i bet you do. you sure have a lot to say about the lans lol)

Madam Mo gets her husband to try and remove WWX. And WWX drops to the ground and tightly clings to the floor. Nobody can get him up, even when they call for more help (lmao #1 tantrum thrower)

ppl in the crowd know that Mo family had a "young master who lost his marbles"(ERS), and that mxy hid in that dark room for a cpl of years, scared to go outside.

WWX confront MZY about him stealing his(mxy's) things

MZY tries to kick WWX again, but one of the Lan boys stops him ("moved his fingers slightly, and Mo Ziyuan's feet slipped" (ERS))

WWX stills acts like he was actually kicks, and shows off the footprint MZY made the day before

The crowd, while enjoying the show, begins to think that MXY wasn't this insane when he first came back and that the abuse he faces made him worse

Madam Mo seems to realize that MXY(wwx) is doing this on purpose, and remarks that he's clearheaded

The also refers to MZY and MXY as being brothers and that as the older brother, MXY should share (ugh i HATED hearing this growing up. idc if i'm the older sibling, i shouldn't be forced to give my things away just to get destroyed)

WWX.... really plays up MXY being into men here lmao. "Everyone knows that I am into men. Even if he was not ashamed, I knew to not look suspicious."(ERS)

he is... really loving not having to worry about his status here XD how freeing this must feel. able to act like the gremlin he really is and not have to worry about anyone but himself

"I don't care about your reputation, but don't ruin my innocence! I still want to find a good man!"(ERS) -WWX (don't worry bby, you will soon)

WWX successfully provokes MZY into more violence, then hides behind the Lan boys, who stop MZY.

Mdm Mo tries to convince the Lans that MXY is insane and shouldn't be taken seriously, to which WWX responds "Who said that my words shouldn't be taken seriously? Next time, try stealing anything from me again. You steal once, and I cut off one of your hands!" (ERS) -wwx... babe... foreshadowing loves you...

WWX makes a hasty escape, and one of the Lans tells Mdm Mo that they'll be in the West Courtyard for the night, and for them to not go outside at night, close all windows, and avoid that courtyard.

WWX, walking around the village, "finally realized the delight of being a lunatic" (ERS) and was even starting to like the makeup resembling a hanged ghost. (he's the number 1 brat for sure lmao)

WWX notes that the cuts on his arm haven't healed, so the humiliation of the family isn't enough to satisfy the ritual.

He heads back to the Mo family's West Courtyard, where the Lan discipled are standing on the roofs and walls.

another great quote here:

"Although the Gusu Lan contributed greatly during the siege on him, at that time, these juniors were either not born yet or still young children. He shouldn't direct his hate towards them, so Wei Wuxian decided to linger around and observe what they were going to do."(ERS)

>he's a gremlin, but he's a good person. A lesser man would have taken this opportunity to harm/kill the kids to get back at the clan that participated his death. But he acknowledges that they were probably literal babies when it happened, so it wouldn't be right to be angry at them. And then he proceeds to assign himself as their babysitter lol

WWX notices that they're using Phantom Attraction Flags/Black Wind Flags (and also notes what they do and stuff)

How does he recognize them? Bc he was the creator. So although the cultivation world hated him, they sure were eager to use his inventions.

One of the Lans tries to send him away (WWX notes that the disciple is using a kind tone)

WWX steals one of the flags and starts acting out again

disciple catches him and threatens to hit him

leader of the boys comes over and scolds the disciple, telling him to not make a fuss and take the flag (this disciple being scolded is ofc Jingyi, our precious loudmouthed Lan)

and the leader of the disciples is none other than Lan Sizhui, goodest boy ever.

anyways, wwx manages to look over the flag and verifies that it was drawn correctly, and that whoever drew it was lacking experience so it wouldn't draw in from too far away (seriously... kids are part of a clan that helped kill him and here he is making sure they're being safe on a nighthunt! wwx they can never make me hate you)

LSZ gently tries to ask him to leave, believing ofc that MXY is MXY. WWX notes he is "fair and refined, with a dignified appearance and smiling faintly." (ERS). wwx silently approves of him.

The flag formation was set well, and his mannerisms were respectful, making him a "disciple with astonishing potential" (ERS)

"He didn't know that, at a conservative clan such as the Lan clan, who on Earth brought up such a junior."(ERS) (wow.... i wonder who among the Lan could possibly raised him. who could it be???? /s)

WWX gives the flag back, and wanders around before heading back to MXY's room. And what does he do?????? He sits down to MEDITATE again.

before daylight comes, he's pulled out of meditation by people coming to MXY's courtyard yelling about notifying officers, dragging him out, and possibly beating him to death.

ch ends on someone yelling "Drag the insane murderer to the Main Hall and make him pay for it with his life!"

wwx... your luck is truly spectacular lol

SO. some fanon stuff being disproven, only 3 chapters in.

Honestly.. where did the idea that "WWX can't do regular meditation easily" come from and why is so popular? 3 chapters in, and he's meditated twice already - the first time for 24hrs straight, and the 2nd time he fully intended to meditate all night! And he does this easily! Doesn't mention difficulty sitting still or anything like that.

Also. Again, we're shown in here that he's not someone who acts without thinking. He's acting the lunatic, but he's doing everything intentionally.

He's also remarkably willing to let go of grudges, easily. I noted it above, but this would have been the prime opportunity to get revenge on Gusu Lan for helping to kill him, but instead he makes sure these kids set up the flags correctly and are being safe.

He also tries to just humiliate the Mo family, rather than jumping straight to murder, though I will admit he doesn't seem too fazed about possibly having to kill them.

So he's someone who can and will resort to violence, but really only as a last resort.

Also he is a very dramatic and chaotic gremlin at heart, and I imagine getting to mess around like this is very liberating in a way. (remember, I watched the donghua all the way through. i know it's not perfect, but still) After his last life went the way it did, having no responsibilities and no one who's life depends on his behavior and not showing any weakness, this has got to be so fun.

Of course, once he does have his fun, he goes and assigns himself as basically the babysitter for the Lan juniors lol

okay that's probably all for tonight. if you've made it this far - thanks. sorry you had to put up with my formatting but I just can't be bothered to make it look pretty lol

feel free to leave your own thoughts in stuff in the comments as well!

<3

[grainstealingthot]

MDZS Novel Notes

Ch 2 The Intractable

So.

I realize I have not posted about reading any more of MDZS. And the reason for that is that I have not actually read anything past my last chapter response haha.

Had a job promotion, life happened and got busy, etc etc.

I'm reading it now, though I have swapped over to Exiled Rebels from CH 3 and beyond.

CH 2 was from 7s, so keep that in mind.

I'm on desktop now instead of my phone, so it's easier to type, but I am still only human and despite it being my native language, I don't actually care that much about English. Grammar issues and typos ahead.

(i also can't figure out how to do quotes on desktop? sorry y'all)nvm figured it out lol

Again, spoilers below the cut! If you have not read MDZS, there are very obviously going to be spoilers in these posts.

WWX opens his as he's being kicked.

His assailer says (literally) "PLAYING DEAD?" which.. lol.

"WWX had lost count of the number of years it'd bean since he last heard a living person speak."

(does this kind of indicate he remembers at least a portion of his time being dead???)

WWX is, understandably, confused about his new situation, considering he has no idea who he currently is (this man is QUICK on the uptake), where he is, and says he's never forcibly possessed someone's body. (seriously. so quick on the uptake. has been alive again for less than a minute and already knows he's at least in a different body)

Assailer leavers with his two servants after smashing currently-unknown's-identity-now-WWX's possessions, WWX finds a copper mirror and gets immediately jump-scared by his new face /j

"A dreadfully pale face appeared in the mirror. Two large blots of red were smeared unevenly on each cheek; if he were to stick out a long and vividly red tongue, then he'd be the very picture of a hanged ghost." (7s, ch2 p 20)

while he seems initially disgusted, the words :and sloppily applied at that"(7s, ch2) immediately after make it seem like if it were done better, he wouldn't have minded that makeup at all.

At this point, he notices the array he's on. He notes that "the array was scarlet and crooked, seemingly hand drawn with blood as the medium"(7s, ch2 p 20-21) and that it was even still damp.

"There were warped and crazed spells drawn within the array" (7s, ch2 p21) and that despite some being quite smudged, "the remaining shapes and characters were gruesome in their evil intent." (7s, ch2 p 21)

the evil intent being that instead of possessing the body, the caster harmed themself with a weapon and gave up their body to evil spirits, using the annihilation of their soul as the price. So long as the evil spirit completes the price, they maintain ownership of the body.

WWX notes here that both the ritual and regular possession are forbidden magics, but that possession is much more popular and common, largely because few people have wishes strong enough to make them willingly sacrifice everything they had.

Apparently, the few times it was done historically, it was for revenge, which was always carried out by a malicious ghost in "cruel and bloody ways" (7s, ch2 p24)

WWX, of course, takes offense to this, as he states that while he'd had a poor reputation and died tragically, he never haunted the living, and he never sought vengeance. (srsly... does he remember being dead??? how would he know this??)

"He could swear there was not a single wandering ghost in this world who was more decent and honest than he!"(7s, ch2 p 24)

(wwx babe.... how would you know if you were dead???)

The Sacrificial Ritual follows the will of the caster first, and so even if he doesn't want to, being in the body is considered agreement to the terms. (terms and conditions got you huh)

If he fails, the cuts on the body get worse and the body and his soul will be ripped apart.

Despite how grim this all sounds, he's pretty nonchalant about all this lol

From here, WWX starts to explore his surroundings. Notes that while the house is big, it's still very empty and shabby. The bedding smelled bad, and there was a bamboo waste bucket that had been kicked over.

Notes that there's crumpled paper by the bucket, and there's writing on it.

WWX concludes the writing was likely done by the original owner of the body and that "some of the sentences were incoherent and disordered" (7s ch2 p 25) but that the "anxiety and nervousness were abundantly clear"(7s, ch2 p25)

WWX reads through each page he finds and still feels like smth is missing, but still figures a few key things out about his new body.

prev owner name was Mo Xuanyu

he's currently at Mo Manor

MXY's mother's father was from a rich family and only had 3 daughters

1st daughter was legitimate, 2nd was born to a servant

MXY mom, at 16 (ugh) caught the eye of the leader of a prominent clan that was passing by (OMG who could it have been /s) and supposedly fell for her at 1st sight

1yr later, MXY is born

Every so often, this clan leader would send financial support to the Mo Clan

After 2 yrs, he visited less frequently and when MXY was 4, he stopped coming at all

Mo estate showed contempt and mockery until MXY was 14, then that clan leader "sent over a grand party to take him back" (7s, ch2 p 26)

MXY gets driven out bc he was a cut-sleeve and "was so audacious as to harass his fellow peers." (7s, ch 2 p 26) (convenient way to get rid of him)

apparently smth had also upset MXY, as when he returned home, he was a madman. "His mental state had been upended, as if he had been scared silly." (7s, ch 2 p26) (i really do wonder what he might have seen/discovered to freak him out so much)

After he returns home, 2nd Madam Mo can't handle it, and "was choked to death by her own unappeasable outrage" (7s, ch2 p27)(poor guy... i literally can't imagine the trauma that might have caused him...)

1st madam mo firmly believes that if it were her son that had been taken to learn cultivation, he would have been recognized for his worth for sure. (despite his attitude matching a typical Jin cultivator, they did NOT want him lmao)

WWX also notes that while MXY was often "in the throws of madness, he knew when he was being humiliated" (7s, ch2 p28) and had apparently finally had enough of and stammered a complaint to his uncle, which is why MZY came knocking

WWX after reading all this: "What kind of hellish life was he fucking living?"(7s version) / "How fucked up is this person's life?" (Exiled Rebels Version)

which.. yeah that sums up poor mxy's life i think lol. poor guy

WWX notes that MXY had likely copied the array used to summon WWX back, but he didn't have access to the complete version, as WWX should have been to hear what MXY wanted, but bc of the incomplete array, he didn't hear anything/MXY missed that step

WWX, being our smarty-mc-smarty-pants (/affectionate) can guess revenge, but what kind?

WWX: mxy probably wants me to wipe out the whole family, bc i was known as "fiendish" and "treacherous" while alive

also WWX, helplessly: you've got the wrong person!!!

(drama queen lmao /affectionate)

(okay so i had to get a new phone and had trouble getting back into Internet Archive bc of all the gov't stuff happening, so while 7s version has ch2 continue from here, Exiled Rebels ends ch2 here. and that's as far as i got lol, so from here on out it's Exiled Rebels!)

so overall thoughts - WWX is highly intelligent, both in street smarts and book smarts. like, less than a minute in, he realizes he's not in his own body, and some sort of possession stuff is happening.

and instead of the fanon versions of him where he runs head-first into situations without thinking things through, we can literally see the opposite here.

WWX takes the time to investigate his surroundings, and from limited available information, he's able to piece together at least the basics of his new situation.

>also, he mentioned a lot about being a good ghost and not causing any trouble, and i know it's likely not meant seriously, but part of me does wonder if he remembers some of his time being dead? like not ALL of it, obviously, but he clearly knows quite some time has passed since his death, and remarks at least twice that he didn't cause mischief or anything like that as a wandering ghost.

So all in all thoughts based on reading 2 chapters - WWX is a highly intelligent man, but one with good humor and isn't prone to acting rashly. He seems to want to learn all he can about a situation before acting.

His behavior in this chapter directly contradicts the assumptions made in the previous chapter. We're told that if he came back, who knows what kind of violence he'd cause etc etc.

Whereas WWX on being resurrected in a new body: Who am I?? Where am I? What the fuck is up with this badly applied makeup?? What the hell kind of fucked up life did this guy have?

He's funny, down-to-earth, and pretty calm ngl.

stay tuned for ch 3! <3

[grainstealingthot]

there are some people who unironically believe that no one except wei wuxian and lan wangji got their “happy ending” and the rest of the cast (consisting majorly of antagonists and characters who had previously suffered no consequences for their actions) getting any degree of miserable conclusions is unfair. to which i must wonder... do they realise that for thirteen years before the second timeline began in full swing, these positions were completely reversed and wei wuxian literally died and lan wangji was faced with the most brutal punishment a member of the great sects could be faced with? that we were given a taste of what a “happy ending” could look like for characters like jin guangyao, lan xichen, jiang cheng and the fact that it blew up in flames demonstrates exactly how no one deserves a bump-free aftermath if it means their actions have gone unaddressed.

if our protagonist and deuteragonist were not spared consequences—truly “no good deed goes unpunished”—what makes people think that the characters who were the antagonists and on the fringes and allowed atrocities to occur should get a scot-free end? mind you, i still think alot of people get a mere slap on the wrist for the magnitude of harm they have caused but that is consistent with the themes of the gentry class receiving leniency in every aspect possible.

look, i get wanting your favourite characters to have “good” endings but just think for a second about what these characters have done and why their finish line in the story looks the way it does. what would the weight of mdzs’ narrative remain if after all the rotten actions of people in power were exposed, all the wilful negligence was brought to light, these characters were allowed to go back to normalcy and immediately find a way to enjoy life as if nothing was amiss? as if their actions were meant only to affect other people and never their ownselves? and even then, the thing to remember is that mdzs’ ending is just one point in time. much like the “ending” of the first timeline, things go on, life goes on and characters like jiang cheng and lan xichen won’t stagnate till eternity—they will move past their circumstances shown in the end of the novels, for better or for worse.

it’s not that wei wuxian and lan wangji get to enjoy their happy ending while the rest suffer because in actuality, they have paid the prices for their actions threefold, they have faced their consequences and why should they not get some morsel of happiness after everything they have endured? as wei wuxian rightfully asked the sect leaders—what more would you want from him? why should he not be allowed this more pleasant conclusion because some think his happiness is a slight against the antagonists’ “misery” and feel compelled to have them flattened to the same level to ignore acknowledging why they received the endings that they did?

[grainstealingthot]

[grainstealingthot]

It's on Kickstarter! Was fully backed in less than 19 hrs, but there are still some stretch goals to meet!

The devs have also been pretty consistent with updating us on progress!

[grainstealingthot]

At the risk of sounding anti-intellectual, I think that college should be free and also not a requirement for employment outside of highly specialized career fields

[grainstealingthot]

Follower Recs

~*~

I have a fic rec!

Features wwx who essentially runs a bed and breakfast for humans and non-humans alike! No combat in this one, little to no angst, funny, and it's from lwj pov!

Just read this and wanted to share with everyone <3 @grainstealingthot

🔒 Weary Wanderer Come Rest Your Bones

by NonsensicalRambling (@cheshire-wink)

T, 25k, Wangxian

Summary: The gorgeous young man who flung open the door and gave him a look of surprise that was possibly mixed with interest, before giving him a blinding grin and a cheerful "Hi!" a moment later, is not what Lan Zhan expected. "Are you the owner?" "That's me! Are you looking for a room?" The man didn't step back from the doorway, but his smile didn’t dim. "I am from the Lan sect. We were contacted to come take care of a haunting." The young owner blinked, and his smile dimmed. "No. I didn't contact you. We don't have any problems that require cultivators. Someone is probably trying to pull a prank." Lan Zhan’s brow furrowed. "We have already been paid. I can -" "Congrats on the free money! Go away." The door slammed in Lan Zhan's face.

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for this hard-working author if you like – or think others might like – this story.)

[grainstealingthot]

Stolen Talents, Borrowed Feelings (does it count if they're returned) by BenevolentErrancy

Stolen Talents, Borrowed Feelings (does it count if they're returned?)

by BenevolentErrancy

T, 100k, Wangxian

Summary: Wei Wuxian was a borrower, the very last one in Lotus Pier. It was a good enough life. He kept his little home in the walls comfortable. He ate well. He borrowed any fascinating odds-and-ends that he could find, anything that he thought might be useful in the future, just like a good borrower. (And a few things that a good borrower really shouldn't touch, but it wasn't like there was anyone around to tell him not to.) But upon learning that his favourite Bean is planning to travel far, far away to continue his studies, Wei Wuxian spies a rare opportunity to see if there aren't other borrowers out there. Just maybe, in this distant Cloud Recesses, he won't be alone. Mojo's comments: Oh, this one was great. I love how harrowing and lonely the world can be for such a tiny, tenacious thing. Lan Wangji is similarly rapt.

pov alternating, alternate universe - borrowers fusion, miniature wei wuxian, size difference, dual cultivation, strangers to friends to something more, friendship, getting to know each other, hurt/comfort, hurt wei wuxian, competent wei wuxian, simp lan wangji, creature wei wuxian

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for this hard-working author if you like – or think others might like – this story.)

[grainstealingthot]

MDZS: analyzing the Cloud Recesses Lectures Brawl, and Jin Zixuan's uncaring attitude towards Jiang Yanli

I know a lot of people tend to think JZX's insulting JYL, and the subsequent brawl during the Cloud Recesses Lectures arc, isn't really a very big deal, and I sorta get why? his insult seems pretty lukewarm, and boys will be boys, and so on… but honestly, if you start reading more Chinese novels, you'll pretty soon pick up that the brawl had a very good reason to happen.

I was talking with a good friend about it, and we ended up breaking it down. They suggested I might as well post about it.

let's start with Chinese Historical Customs: a married lady would have near total reliance on the backing and favor of her husband to have any power whatsoever within her household, or even be able to live comfortably -- without his backing and support, she'd be cut off from money, essential materials such as winter gear and heating fuel, even good food; the servants wouldn't bother listening to her (she'd have a few of her own brought from her first home, but not many); and being bullied (read: anything from humiliated to actually hurt) by her new family wouldn't be uncommon (and we all know what a pit of vipers the Jin Sect was even then).

doublespeak, face, and reputation, all meant that, intentionally or not, JZX was setting JYL up for a MISERABLE future life: by badmouthing her in public so everybody knows that her future husband thinks she's mediocre and unsatisfactory, he's saying he doesn't respect her (or her family! more on that in the next bullet point). if he doesn't respect her, he won't support her or help her if she needs him, because he doesn't care about her reputation, and therefore neither does he care about her comfort, or, well, about her... anything.

more Chinese Historical Customs, or, the Natal Family's Protection: a married lady's last backup defense is the fact that disrespecting her means disrespecting her family, who the husband has allied himself with by marrying her. the more they care about her, the more the natal family will respond to slights to her. they respond through retaliation -- by making the husband pay for disrespecting their daughter.

thus WWX's and JC's immediate answer of punching JZX for his remarks may have seemed disproportionate, but was actually not incorrect.

(They even gave JZX the chance to retract his words first!)

Stressors and Magnifiers: JZX isn't just being this dismissive in front of the two of them, which is already grounds for STRONG retaliation -- he's disrespecting their family's daughter right to their face!!! -- he's ALSO saying this to every single important peer they have, all of whom will go back home and tell that JZX, whose mother is dear friends with JYL's mother, and who visit each other all the time, and who thus must know her best... thinks she's so worthless, she can even be badmouthed in public. he's not only saying he will allow her to be disrespected by others, he's also drastically lowering her value to every other gentry prospect!!!

punching him was a brute and unrefined response, but it was a tradeoff: it traded away "face" for JYL's sake and protection. which she desperately needed right then. it sent the answer that disrespect towards JYL would be met by the strongest and most immediate retaliation the Jiang could possibly make;

and JFM agrees with the whole thing, because he finishes the move and breaks the engagement: "if you don't value her, then you don't get to have her".

(obligatory note that WWX was not expelled for his actions that day, and chose to return to Lotus Pier with JFM on his own... after finding out that LWJ had gone into seclusion and would no longer be around for him to tease.)

(obligatory note that it's extremely unlikely JZX was a malicious mastermind doing anything on purpose during this scene. we don't get a lot on him, but he was probably, honestly, just being a stupid teenager about a situation he was upset with. unfortunately, the above consequences still apply.)

(final note that neither JZX, nor, apparently, JYL, learned anything from this whole debacle. the Wartime Soup Incident is the exact same damn thing, except about ten times worse, and with much greater damage potential to her prospects and reputation.)

[grainstealingthot]

Hello! The one anon who asked what you about the most ridiculous posts? That's me, hehe. I laughed a lot at the other comments. Now I want to ask you, throughout your entire time in the mdzs fandom, what's some of the posts that you really like?

I personally really like metas that help me understand the cultural background of the story, so I loved @jiangwanyinscatmom’s breakdown of the ancestral hall scene. Also, when someone (I think @admirableadmiranda) pointed out that 3zun personify the three poisons in the novel.

On a funnier note, shout out to that one person who made a meta about how the lady in red/blue-faced woman was the one who bit off Wen Chao’s dick, not Wang Lingjiao

[grainstealingthot]

[grainstealingthot]

[grainstealingthot]

💙 What We Grew in this Forsaken Place by Admiranda

💙 What We Grew in this Forsaken Place

by Admiranda

T, 27k, Wangxian

Summary: Wei Wuxian is the sole cultivator stationed in Yiling Tower out in the Forsaken Battlegrounds, the loneliest post out across the jianghu. No one else in memory has ever lasted the five years of a cultivator posting, but he's determined to do it and make it out before the sheer emptiness can affect even him. His quest becomes that much easier when he rescues a snow white fox that unexpectedly appears one day, giving him the companionship and friend he so desperately longs for out here in the desolate wastes. The mystery of just who this giant, white fox is and how he ended out here in the first place is a secondary concern to the joy of finally having someone at his side.

Kay's comments: I absolutely adore this story, it's everything I ever wanted! Modern AU with cultivation and Wei Wuxian who is on watchtower duty in the Burial Mounds, where he lives an isolated life as a researcher and well, watcher, of the Burial Mounds, at least until one day, a horde of Fierce Corpses chases a wounded fox to his watchtower, who soon becomes his new companion! I absolutely adore the story-telling of this fic and I love how Wei Wuxian writes his reports about the situation and comments on the strange happenings of his lonesome watchtower-life. I also love that he calls his fox companion Bunny and soon adopts some real bunnies (with the intent of having his fox friend eat them) and just the general vibes of this story are impeccable. Wei Wuxian's parents live! Which I wish more people would write in modern AUs, like, why do you keep killing them? I also love the atmosphere the story built with Wei Wuxian slowly succumbing to the isolation of living like this and how the fox and later the bunnies help him out of it. And of course, there is the fox' secret idenitity and the whole mystery around that too...

Excerpt: “Dear Whoever is Responsible for Reading My Reports. The Forsaken Battlegrounds continue to be the Forsaken Battlegrounds. Resentful, festering, rotting corpses sometimes getting up and getting into big fights with each other. Considering testing their ability to dance with a few choice flute solos. Supplies are adequate for another month, although I am running low on tea. Refill on non-necessities would be appreciated. Also send extra meat in new varieties. New houseguest can't eat tofu. Discovered that the hard way. “Unexpectedly found a fox in the area. It was alive when I found it and remains alive to this day. Was quite savaged by fierce corpse pack, but is responding well to basic treatment. Additional supply requests to continue caring for unexpected companion: fresh bandages, needle, thread, salve. Three queen sized fluffy blankets. Basket fitting these dimensions: 48-48-6 with a dip so that it can climb in and out easily. Hind leg is badly broken and bitten to all hell and back, so no jumping possible. Wooden box with same dimensions and enough sand to fill it. I am not making this poor animal go outside to do its business. “Why did you never consider sending the previous cultivators a pet? Much easier to ignore everyone outside with a fox to talk to now. Strong recommendation that future cultivators who take my position adopt a cat or a rabbit or something. “Regards, Wei Wuxian, Yiling Tower Cultivator.”

pov wei wuxian, modern setting, modern with magic, shapeshifters, animal transformation, fox lan wangji, secret identity, wei wuxian has a fear of dogs, genius wei wuxian, identity reveal, getting to knew each other, friends to lovers, slice of life, gardens & gardening, location: yiling, reincarnation, loneliness, isolation, research, cangse sanren and wei changze live, lan wangji loves rabbits, fanart, getting together, fluff, @ladypfenix

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for this hard-working author if you like – or think others might like – this story.)

[grainstealingthot]

🙃 There are some things Wei Wuxian would never say to his past self. That doesn't change the fact that they are things he needs to hear.

It's definitely not a one to one translation, and it's not that representative of the fic as a whole, but this was *heavily* inspired by a scene in yiqie's fic The flower that withers.

[grainstealingthot]

I have a soft spot for them 🥹

[grainstealingthot]

Everything is like “QUEER history” and “List of QUEER young adult books” or “Top 10 QUEER movies” and queer this and queer that and for the love of god please just say LGBT.