minmotl

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Hey guys am on hiatus as I translate for more A Sword of Frost chapters and will be implementing the proof-of-paid-support for the author’s original publication for either digital or physical forms when I collate enough chapters! 😬😬😬 So there‘s no access for now and won’t be for a while.

I am definitely leaning more towards the advanced chapters system but I’ve found some MTL and also small translation aggregation sites copy stuff recently, and especially after someone asked me on Twitter if they can translate it (great of course) and then I go and see the website and hmmm yeah I’m not keen on providing material for misuse until I can figure out how best to go about it!

I’m also not a punctual translator at all as you all know. Anyway because I got an influx of permission requests on my Google docs, in case you wanted to get access, this is the post telling you there’s not gonna be any public access for a while 👀

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Hello!:) i read your translation on MODC's YuXiGu character introduction and i loved it so much! but i can't find the other characters in this blog, do you still have them?

yep i do, you can definitely find them on my main blog @minmoyu just search the tags, i recall doing for mostly everyone haha

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I was going to dm you on twt but I got shy if it’s not too much of a bother could you do drop me the merch links you have I enter to buy some cute little things? Please and thank you 🥺

heya! sorry i probably got to this real late i haven't logged into this account in months hahaha erm just go ahead and message me on twitter tbh! which merch are you talking about like which fandom haha there's a lot of them

[minmotl]

Ch. 69: Sui Zhou Touches Tang Fan’s Lips As They Sleep On The Same Bed

Context: Continues from Chapter 68. Tang Fan, Sui Zhou and the other men are headed back to the Imperial City and Tang Fan knows that his punishment for letting Yin Yuan Hua get killed will be severe. Sui Zhou tries to help him but is helpless to do so, and Tang Fan plans for him instead, touching and warming the man’s heart.

*Note: Liang Wen Hua is Yin Yuan Hua’s direct supervisor and the both of them have been trying to sabotage Tang Fan for the longest time. 

Introduction Post | Masterpost

—

Highlights under the cut

Tang Fan smiles slightly, and then finds a chair next to the bed to sit down on. The red swelling on his face has already faded, so this action naturally looks elegant.

“What do you think will happen?” he asks in return, wanting to hear his good friend’s thoughts.

Sui Zhou is highly skilled in martial arts and has a firm, strong body, so even after sustaining severe injuries, now that he has laid down for so many days he is more or less recovered. Now, as he sits leaning against the side of the wall and chats with his good friend, this is instead another type of rest.

Listening to Tang Fan’s words, he then says sombrely, “A lot of people already think that you are in the Zhang Ying’s camp, but from what I can see, Wan An has been wanting to switch him out and so he definitely won’t sit in the ministerial position for long. Once he leaves, you’ll have to face Liang Wen Hua on your own, but in today’s court there are a few different parties that are competing fiercely with each other. Although Liang Wen Hua and the Chief Minister Wan An are close, but Liu Xu and Liu Ji do not look upon Wan An favourably, you still have a chance.”

The bunch of them have stayed in Gong County for a month, and at this point, Sui Zhou still does not know that Zhang Ying has been assigned to Nanjing, and also has no idea how accurate his premonition is.

“So what you mean is, I should depend on Liu Xu or Liu Ji?” Tang Fan asks.

Sui Zhou nods, “In the internal courts, today’s leading three elders, aside from Wan An, are Liu Xu and Liu Ji, these two men. Liu Xu is righteous and blunt, while Liu Ji is used to patronising others, and they are certainly no easy people to get along with. However, Liu Xu is the Emperor’s teacher and even he has to address the man as Dong Liu-xiansheng. The respect he has for the man is apparent. As for Liu Xu himself, he can appreciate capable young officials, so if you can gain his protection, you will not need to be afraid of Liang Wen Hua.”

And within the internal courts, although Liu Xu tends to be arrogant, compared to others, his personality can be considered one of the better ones. Moreover, he often advises the Emperor to work hard and serve his people. The only thing is, Liu Xu has a bad temper and likes to lecture others. If he sees someone he does not like, no matter if that person has done something good or bad, he will still lecture them from a higher moral ground. This has garnered the resentment of others, and so his relationship with others in court is not good. He tends to spread rumours to the disadvantage of others, which is why he, Wan An and Liu Ji are discussed together in the same sitting.

***

Tang Fan only laughs bitterly at his words, “This is a good solution, but on me, this doesn’t really work.”

Sui Zhou frowns, “Why?”

“My teacher and Liu Xu hold old grudges against each other, detesting one another. They cannot resist but want to triumph over the other. With Liu Xu’s character, do you think it’s possible for him to protect his enemy’s student?”

“There is deep enmity between them?” Sui Zhou asks.

Tang Fan, “Not quite to that extent, but you are also well aware that the both of them have bad tempers and believe in that they know best. You know this, it is easy to determine who the winner is in a physical fight, but between scholars, it is challenging to see who wins. I am not certain how their conflict came to be, but in any case, I once saw my teacher throw water from a cup at Liu Xu with my own eyes, and he said that Liu Xu is just as this water, that he is dirty and hard to deal with.”

Sui Zhou, “…”

Well, since they have already come to blows, it is probably impossible for them to become friends in this lifetime. And Tang Fan, as Qiu Jun’s student, if he approached the man, judging by Liu Xu’s personality, it is not difficult to imagine how Tang Fan will be humiliated as a result.

This method indeed will not work. When he thinks about this, Sui Zhou too is a little helpless.

He is the zhenfushi in charge of the Northern Administrative Court, and although the official hat he wears on the top of his head is Rank Five qianhu only, the rank he has when compared to civil officials of the same rank is very different. Not only do Rank Five civil officials need to give way to him, even the seasoned elders in the internal court will have to stop and exchange greetings with him when they see Sui-zhenfushi.

Moreover, he is also related to Empress Dowager Zhou, while the Emperor trusts him immensely. For him to keep progressing upwards is not a difficult thing.

And yet, for Sui-zhenfushi who holds so much power, he is unable to do anything for his good friend’s career problems. On the surface, it seems that this is due to the entirely differently systems that govern the promotions for Embroidered Uniform Guards and civil officials.

However, Sui Zhou believes that this is the result of him not being powerful and strong enough. If he had the power and authority that someone like Grand Tutor Sun Ji Zong has now, even if Liang Wen Hua wanted to sabotage Tang Fan, he would have to reconsider and they would not be stuck in this situation where they can only react to changes.

Tang Fan sees his frustration and instead comforts him, “You do not need to be like this. I know you are doing this for my own good but whether or not I continue to be an official, this is not under yours or my control. I have already done my best at the things I need to do and have no regrets. You don’t have to worry about things that will happen in the future.  We should live in the present, and there will always be things to worry about tomorrow!”

Sui Zhou hears this and does not know if he should be reassured by how open-minded Tang Fan is, or worried that he is so nonchalant.

Then again, if Tang Fan was the the type of official that went after status and power, focusing only on promotions, then the both of them would unlikely have any common interests or views, or become good friends.

It is commonly said that there is a everything happens for a reason, and if you lose something you will also gain something. Although it is impossible for everything to go smoothly, but they headed into Marquis Gong’s tomb, meet bloodthirsty, merciless and ferocious tomb-guarding beasts and originally thinking that they would have to die down there, and they ended up returning safely. This is already a fortunate thing; hey really should not ask for too much.

In any case, he has plenty of savings and when it comes to that, Sui Zhou can definitely afford to take care of him. All he has to do is think of ways to make Tang Fan stay.

Sui Zhou does not realise that unconsciously, he has already been influenced by Tang Fan’s casual, broad-minded attitude. The way he used to regard life in a strict and narrow manner is also slowly changing.

If it was before, he might have gotten angry at Tang Fan’s lack of ambition and competitive drive, and the way he does not seem to want to work with anyone else, but right now, he instead understands Tang Fan and acknowledges his friend’s perspective towards life.

This is because Sui Zhou knows that it is not that Tang Fan does not want to progress upwards, that he doesn’t work hard. It is that he has already done his best within the limitations of his capabilities, and he does not want to force things. He prefers to let things come as they will - he works with the determination of wanting to work towards maintaining peace in this world, but as a person, he is happy being himself and will deal with things when they happen.

To be able to be friends with him is the other person’s fortune.

“You’re right,” Sui Zhou’s mouth curves upwards, and his heart eases.

He does not know when it started; when he looks at this person and thinks about him, his eyes lose the cold and hard edge usually present when he looks at others, and what’s left behind is a light layer of happiness.

***

“Guang Chuan, after we head back, you better make a trip to Yuan-zhenfushi’s. He has been with the Embroidered Uniform Guards for so many years and though he does not think much of power and status, he is definitely not someone who will let others step on him. Since he let you command the whole of the Northern Administrative Court, this means that he obviously is impressed with your abilities and is intent on making you his successor. If you can obtain his complete approval and you absorb all of Yuan Bin’s power and connections, then even if Wan Tong returns, he will not be able to touch you easily. At that point you would control the Northern Administrative Court firmly, and naturally will not be afraid of Wan Tong.”

“And,” Tang Fan sits on the bed and bends at the waist to remove his shoes and socks, then hugs the covers and lies on the bed as he plans for Sui Zhou, “You are Empress Dowager Zhou’s grandnephew and the trust that the Emperor has for you is not lesser than the trust he has for Wan Tong. After you return, you must remember two things and you will be able to stand firmly before the Emperor. No matter how Wan Tong tries to sabotage you, he will not be able to do anything to you.”

Sui Zhou raises an eyebrow, “I’m all ears.”

“Firstly, no matter what the Emperor wants to do, you must not oppose him. If he asks for your opinion, you must not respond. Whatever he says, you do, unless it clashes with your principles. Secondly, after Wan Tong drags Yuan Bin down, you must ask for leniency for Yuan Bin. If the Emperor asks you for a reason, you should say that you are willing to serve him as Yuan Wen served the previous Emperor. Not only will the Emperor not blame you if you say this, but he will also pardon Yuan Bin, and be closer to you as well.”

The Cheng Hua Emperor has plenty of bad habits but at the same time, he is also rather soft-hearted and nostalgic. However, he is also an Emperor and emperors do not prefer their subjects to oppose them day in and out. With this type of personality, the Emperor is indeed a very contradictory person.

Although Tang Fan has only seen the Emperor in person a few times, from the descriptions of people who often interact with him such as Sui Zhou and Wang Zhi, it is not difficult to deduce the Emperor’s character.

What he has just said to Sui Zhou can be regarded as him guessing at the Emperor’s thoughts and this is taboo. If it wasn’t someone like Sui Zhou who he is this close to, Tang Fan will definitely not say any of this.

Sui Zhou naturally understands and his heart warms as he enjoys this treatment.

“I understand, thank you.”

“Between you and I, is there any need for thanks?” Tang Fan smiles.

At night, Tang Fan sleeps rather restfully and these problems have obviously not affected his mood.

Sui Zhou, however, is unable to sleep.

Tang Fan took the initiative and asked to sleep on the inside so that he would not accidentally press on Sui Zhou’s injuries if he tosses and turns. He is lying on his side and his back is almost pressed entirely against the wall. Sui Zhou feels uncomfortable on his behalf just looking at him, but Tang Fan is still able to descend into his dreams.

Sui Zhou’s gaze is sombre and he looks quietly at Tang Fan for a long while, then reaches out to touch that handsome face.

His fingers land on the other’s lips, but he only lightly caresses for a moment. The touch is not made out of lust or want, only respect and sincerity.

Before he met Tang Fan, Sui Zhou was actually incredibly lonely inside.

The Sui family members are not able to understand why Sui Zhou entered the Embroidered Uniform Guards, and in their eyes, Sui Zhou should have emulated his older brother, working hard at the imperial examinations, helping the family to forge a path of honour which will allow them to get rid of the reputation that says they relied on their external relatives for status. Although the authority the Embroidered Uniform Guards wield is great, they have a terrible reputation as well. If he had received an empty title, that’s one thing, but being called a dog to the imperial court, what is this?

However, Sui Zhou does not need anyone to understand him. He is like a single, long wolf, moving forward on a path he has set his heart on.

And then he met Tang Fan.

A person who genuinely wants to help him to plan and strategise for the future.

To be able to attain such a soulmate, what more can he ask for?

He can only reciprocate with everything he has.

The bright moonlight peeps in through the window and lands on Tang Fan’s face. This illuminates his beauty and makes him look like an immortal, unlike a common man.

Suddenly, Deity Tang moves his lips, as if saying something.

Sui Zhou’s curiosity is piqued and he moves closer, but he ends up hearing Tang Fan mumble, “Crab roe… tofu soup…”

Sui Zhou, “…”

Tang-daren’s imposing and noble image has been shattered.

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Notes:

*今朝有酒今朝醉，明日愁来明日愁 - An idiom that literally translates to ‘I will get drink on alcohol today, and worry about tomorrow when tomorrows comes.” Means to live in the present and worry about things when they happen rather than in advance.

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Ch. 68: Tang Fan Spills Medicine Over Injured Sui Zhou & Makes Him Take Off His Pants

Context: Tang Fan, Sui Zhou and their surviving subordinates have escaped the tomb and won against the remnants of the White Lotus Sect members camping outside their escape route. They should be celebrating, but trouble has only begun for Tang Fan. Although Yin Yuan Hua’s death was hardly his fault, their rivalry is still well-known back in the imperial city. Yin Yuan Hua’s direct supervisor makes use of this opportunity to lodge a complaint about Tang Fan having failed as a leader, and Tang Fan’s powerful allies in the ministry are all sent away. This case must have a scapegoat, and the Emperor, hearing all the complaints about Tang Fan from another official as well, decides to suspend him from his rank and title.

Before they deal with that, however, Tang Fan tries to take care of an injured Sui Zhou on their way back, and is unsurprisingly, absolutely useless at taking care of someone else.

*Note: Tang Fan is referring to a previous incident later when Sui Zhou teased him about his... after making him take off his pants (for a good reason).

Introduction Post | Masterpost

—

Highlights under the cut

In Tang Fan’s eyes, his person career advancement will never be as important as the health of his friends and companions. He orders Cheng Wen and the rest to properly record all the treasures and also rejects Magistrate He’s attempts to make him stay, bringing everyone on the journey back to the imperial city.

They are not as much in a rush this time on the way back because they have to take care of those who are injured. The journey cannot be too fast and they must often take rests at outposts along the way meant for officials.

Magistrate He helped them to prepare several carriages and inside, several thick layers of soft covers have been placed to ferry the injured. A physician is also accompanying them on this journey and he can help to prescribe and brew medicine, and also to treat wounds.

As Sui Zhou’s internal organs have been wounded, he needs to to rest often and adding to that, he has to drink medicine that has herbs that would help with his sleep, so on this entire journey, he has spent most of the days in sleep.

Those who are injured need someone to take care of them, and the only woman in this convoy is Lady Chen. However, as she’s a wanted criminal, she can enjoy sitting in a single carriage, but her hands and legs have been trapped with heavy cuffs. There are supervising men stationed before and behind this carriage. Tang Fan cannot let her come and take care of Sui Zhou, and so Tang-daren volunteers bravely to take on the responsibility of attending to this patient.

Pang Qi is immensely touched at how noble Tang-daren is.

And at this moment, Sui Zhou is still unconscious in rest, otherwise he would be the first one to jump up and oppose this… but the ship has sailed and there is no time for him to even protest.

After Sui Zhou wakes up, he realises that the person who is delivering his medicine to him has change from the accompanying physician to Tang Fan.

“…”

“What is it?” Tang Fan asks.

“Where’s the physician?”

“He’s helping others to change their dressings, I’ll feed you today,” Tang Fan answers.

Sui Zhou’s smile is forced as he says, “No need, I can do this myself.”

Tang Fan thinks that he’s only being courteous, and then presses him down, “The physician said, forcing all of you to journey back at this point is already harmful to your injuries. If you can lie down just lie down, then you can recover quickly! How close are we, you don’t have to stand on ceremony with me!”

Sui Zhou is speechless, thinking that he would truly like to stand on ceremony with him.

Tang-daren scoops out a spoonful of the medicine and is about to bring it to Sui Zhou’s mouth. He then remembers the way Sui Zhou took care of him when he was ill, and learns from him by placing the spoon to his lips to test the temperature, before sending it over.

And yet, just as it is about to arrive at its destination, Tang Fan’s hand shakes.

Sui Zhou, “…”

Tang Fan, “…”

Sui Zhou, “It’s best if I drink it myself.”

Tang Fan laughs, “I’m just not used to this, sorry, sorry! Or we can change a position?”

He uses his sleeves to wipe at Sui Zhou’s shirt and places the bowl aside first. He then helps Sui Zhou up so that he is half leaning on him, then picks up the bowl, carefully bringing it up to Sui Zhou’s mouth. He slants the spoon slightly, thinking that this time, his hand will not shake, at least.

Unexpectedly, a woman’s scream resounds from the outside, and then it is followed by the sounds of chaos from a startled bunch of men and horses.

After a moment, they then hear Qian San Er’s voice, “Sui-daren, sorry about this and that we disturbed your rest. Lady Chen was screaming for no reason and insisted that someone was peeping at her as she was changing clothes. We didn’t startle you did we, Sui-daren?”

Tang Fan, “…”

Sui Zhou, “…”

This time, the whole bowl of medicine has been spilled on Sui Zhou’s face. Thankfully the medicine’s temperature was just nice, otherwise they will have to add another item to the list of Sui Zhou’s injuries.

Sui Zhou is left with no choice but to remove the bowl from his face, and says, “I’ll do it myself.”

Tang Fan is speechless, “Guang Chuan, I really did not meant to…”

Although Sui Zhou is the victim of this, he wants to laugh, “I know, but you are not the type to assist others like this. Get someone to brew another bowl, you just have to stay and chat with me.”

He has to comply unconditionally with the patient’s requests. Tang Fan is reinvigorated, “Sure, what do you want to talk about?”

Sui Zhou, “… You should help me get another set of clothes to change first.”

“Oh, oh, oh,” Tang Fan says.

Seeing Tang Fan get up to help him find clothes, Sui Zhou cannot help but feel helpless but also slightly sweet inside. Helpless, because Tang Fan cannot even take care of himself and wants to take care of others - anyone who is taken care of by him will end up in a pitiful condition. And slightly sweet because… Sui Zhou does not need to describe it, as long as he himself knows what it is about.

After a moment, Tang-daren comes back with a pile of clothes.

Sui Zhou has internal injuries and his hands and legs are fine. The physician asked him to recover in peace and quiet, but never said that he cannot move entirely, so changing his own clothes is not a problem. However, Tang Fan insists that he feels guilty and wants to make amends for what he did earlier. Sui Zhou is unable to refuse this face filled with sincerity, and can only silently agree to Tang Fan’s offer.

Sui Zhou’s bronze-coloured abs and muscles are revealed as his inner layer is removed. From the lines of his arms and chest, one can see that he definitely has trained hard on a daily basis. At the same time, as he frequently needs to walk on the edge of danger and has been through many battles, the old marks left by wounds on his body are not little. Some are old and the colours have become very light, but some of them he got a few days ago in the tomb, and are only starting to scab over.

And yet it is this body littered with scars and marks that are a testament to how manly and masculine he is. Without the cover of clothes, he is definitely more imposing than usual. Even if he is wounded now and sitting on the bed, the first thing every person will think of is that this is a sleeping lion, and not a sick cat.

Originally, it would have been fine to just change his outerwear and the inner layer, but Tang Fan insists on changing the full set, making him change his pants as well together. Sui Zhou has no choice but to go along with it. And in the end, when he takes off his pants, he sees Tang-daren eyeing him there, and mischievously he says, “So the shape looks like that.”

Sui Zhou, “…”

How well Tang Fan holds onto grudges… so many days have passed, and at that time, Sui Zhou was merely teasing him, must he remember it like this?

Tang Fan helps him to change and says, “Coming to Gong County, I thought of some materials for the new novel. I’ll write about a man who was born in the wilderness and one day, a demon sets its eyes on a unique treasure that has been passed down for generations in the man’s family. However, he’s troubled by the fact that the treasure recognises its owner and the demon cannot come close to it. And so the demon drinks on the fresh blood of women and turns himself into a beautiful woman, seduces the man and finally makes the man fall irrevocably in love with her, so much so that he willingly gifts the treasure to the demon. The demon’s true form is immediately revealed, the man sees that the person who has slept with him all this time is a horrifying demon filled with scales and has blood-filled eyes, and is scared to death. What do you think?”

Sui Zhou is silent for a bit, “It is rather good.”

But he also has a bad feeling…

As expected, the next moment, he hears Tang Fan say, “How about I call the man Sui Zhou then?”

“Change it,” Sui Zhou replies.

Tang-daren goes with the flow, “Alright, then I’ll call the demon Sui Zhou.”

Sui Zhou, “…”

As people say, one would rather offend a gentleman than offend Tang-daren.

Don’t just judge by Sui Zhou’s unapproachable face, and how he seems cold and ruthless to his subordinates and others. Everyone tends to think that he is so cold that he doesn’t have friends and even when he spends time with his good friend Tang Fan, it is Tang-daren who is always giving in to him.

They do not know that their assumption is wrong, because with Tang-daren, Sui Zhou has this “as long as he is happy anything goes” attitude. Once compromise becomes a habit, he unconsciously keeps giving in, and giving in, and giving in again…

Giving in to the end, and Sui Zhou is defeated and convinced.

And so Tang-daren’s new novel and the name of the demon in it is set, just like that.

As for those from the Northern Administrative Court who will see the book in stores in the future, they will make a noise of confusion, “Zhenfushi-daren’s surname is not common, how did it turn up here? Is the author a man who was arrested and tortured by Sui Zhou before?”

But that is all talk for later. Tang-daren finally can make use of this opportunity when Sui Zhou is weak and via the chance to change his clothes, he unceremoniously bullied the other. He is feeling exceptionally good right now, and hums a small tune under his breath.

Sui Zhou doesn’t know if he is deliberately being like this in front of him, or if he really does not care, and cannot help but ask directly, concerned, “Did you think about what will happen after you return to the imperial city?”

[minmotl]

[ENG] 一剑霜寒 A Sword of Frost by 语笑阑珊 | Translations Masterpost

Note: Hi guys, this is the masterpost for translated 一剑霜寒 translations! I will be trying to translate in full, maybe one chapter a week I don’t know because y’all know how much life and laziness gets in the way for me but this is honestly my fave novel and I have not seen any lasting translations for this so far + I’ve gotten some requests on my main blog, so here it is. 

Translations: Translations are entirely mine, some phrases might be edited based on my own interpretation. I’ll try to explain some of the idioms/metaphors etc. at the end of each chapter. As with most historical setting novels, the terms used may be a bit difficult and I struggle a little, but we’ll see XD If there are any historical notes I’ll put them in but I’m not an expert as well, so do take my interpretations with a pinch of salt!

❌❌❌ Please do not take out without credit or repost elsewhere, especially without permission! ❌❌❌

*Banner done by me, image used is from official manhua art*

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Official Summary 

全国百姓都在传，萧王季燕然武功高强，风流倜傥。如此天潢贵胄，将来要娶的那个人，定然也是琴棋书画、煮饭烹茶样样精通。寻常人家羡慕不来，羡慕不来。萧王府内。这日，季燕然偶感风寒，卧床不起。云倚风亲自下厨，淘米摘菜，炖鸡汤。片刻之后，萧王殿下抱病赶来，头晕眼花关切道：“下人都说你在厨房炼蛊，云儿可是又要杀谁？”

Prince Xiao, Ji Yan Ran, is highly skilled in martial arts, well-learned and unconventional in his ways - this is what the country’s people are talking about. He is of royal blood and the person he will marry in the future must be one who is well-versed on all fronts, including musical instruments, strategic games, knowledge, art and even cooking. The regular folk cannot even begin to be envious of his future match.

Within Prince Xiao’s Manor - On this day, Ji Yan Ran has a cold and is stuck in bed. Yun Yi Feng personally cooks; taking the rice, cleaning the vegetables and making chicken soup.

After a moment, His Highness Prince Xiao rushes over even though he is ill, and asks in a concerned tone despite how dizzy he is, “The servants say you’re performing witchcraft in the kitchen, who are you trying to kill this time Yun Er?”

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Introduction - Characters | Cases Outline | Original Novel Source + Other Materials & Links

*Please read the introduction which is actually my full rec post with greater summaries and details of this novel. I’ve also outlined the main two characters in this, and all the links you’ll need everywhere. It’s a TINY bit spoiler-y but nothing of importance, but this is also not really necessary to read if you wanna be surprised!

*Please support the author and the original publication on JJWXC. There are plenty of guides going about as to how you can buy the chapters or credits, and they’re very affordable as well, even if you don’t read Chinese!  ✨ ✨ ✨

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Chapters (159 + 3 extras)

✏ Chapter 1 - 皇宫失窃 | A Royal Palace Theft 

✏ Chapter 2 - 大雪封山 | A Blizzard Trap Atop a Mountain 

✏ Chapter 3 - 一个警告 | A Warning 

✏ Chapter 4: 江湖规矩 | The Rules of Jianghu

✏ Chapter 5: 蛛丝银铃 | Spider Silk & Silver Bells

✏ Chapter 6: 夜半疗伤 | Treating an Injury in the Middle of the Night

✏ Chapter 7: 谁是凶手 | Who is The Murderer

✏ Chapter 8: 旧时梦魇 | Nightmares of the Past

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Chapter 67: Tang Fan Carries Sui Zhou Out of Danger & They Stare Into Each Other’s Eyes

Context: Continues from Chapter 66. Yin Yuan Hua has died out of stupidity in the previous chapter. Sui Zhou is now unconscious after taking a blow meant for Tang Fan, and it is up to Tang Fan and Qian San Er to help everyone escape. Some loving pre-relationship gazing into each others’ eyes and face-reddening, Tang Fan having to reassure himself with touch that Sui Zhou is alright and alive, and Sui Zhou being so, so relieved that Tang Fan is safe, even if his safety comes at the expense of himself.

Introduction Post | Masterpost

—

Highlights under the cut

It is chaos in the main hall.

The hand cannons cannot fire consecutively, and every time they use up the gunpowder, they need to make a refill. This takes up time, and the creature is agile, making it difficult to aim for it. It is only too easy to hurt someone if they are careless.

Sui Zhou has already collapsed and is unconscious, so the commanding authority naturally falls on Pang Qi.

Making use of the opportunity while the creature is still blind in one eye, the rest of the Embroidered Uniform Guards rush forward together and drive the weapons in their hands towards its abdomen, but this is no easy feat. In the blink of an eye, numerous people are swept away.

The center of the main hall lies a coffin and this is originally where the owner of Marquis Gong’s tomb rests. The lid of the coffin is heavy and even using both hands to push at it will not necessarily open it. Right now, both of Li Man’s hands are unable to gather strength, so he uses his body to push at the lid instead, but of course the slab does not budge.

However, thanks to the chaotic situation, everyone’s focus is on combatting the beast, and no one has any time to pay him any attention.

The coffin’s center position would originally have made it easy to be embroiled in the thick of the fight, but due to the fact that the flame above was extinguished earlier, light is centered around scattered flame torches. This is so they can more clearly and accurately see the beast’s weaknesses. Everyone is also unconsciously driving the beast to where there is light.

This has instead made it easier for Li Man. The two men that came in with Li Man have already died here. One of them was used by Li Man as a human shield, and the other had his chest pierced with one of the beast’s claws, dying on the spot immediately.

Li Man obviously does not care about their survival. He has all his attention focused on using his torso to push the coffin lid open, and can only hate that he is not quicker enough. Too bad his body has been trussed up like a dumpling, and he also has to constantly keep tabs on the situation around him and prevent the creature from suddenly turning up before his eyes. Frantic, sweat fills his forehead.

However, just because most people are not paying attention to him, doesn’t mean that no one is paying attention to him.

Just as Li Man is about to use all his energy, he’s raised up from the ground by someone behind him, and is directly dumped next to the coffin.

“What are you doing!”

The next moment, his face receives a heavy, hard slap, and the side of his face immediately swells up like that of a pig’s head, just like what he did to Tang Fan not so long ago.

This is indeed karma - what goes around comes around.

Li Man demands furiously, and then when he sees the other’s face clearly, his fury turns into glee, and with slurred speech, he says, “Little xiongdi, don’t hit me! Don’t hit me! You don’t want to die either, do you? I have a way for escape, don’t let anyone else know!”

Qian San Er squints at him in a cautious stare, and then his expression changes. Picking him up, Qian San Er drags Li Man to the side, barely dodging a gust of wind from a swipe of the beast’s tail. There are not only scales on that tail, but they pierce and possess great strength, so getting swept by this is hardly child’s play.

Qian San Er traps him in a corner, then slaps him again, before spitting, “Weren’t you almighty then, why are you such a weakling now? If it wasn’t for you, my shifu and the rest of them wouldn’t have died!”

Li Man is struck so hard that he’s seeing stars, and if it was any other day, he would have fought back. At this point, however, he forces himself to push the anger away, and reveals a twisted smile, “Your shifu and the rest are already dead, but you are still alive. Do you want to die here like they did?”

Qian San Er, “There’s one more beast outside, how do we escape?”

“I have a way, but you have to loosen my ropes first!”

Don’t look at how righteous he pretended to be earlier in front of Tang Fan, saying that he is willing to die for the Sect. He is an ant that is desperate to live. People like Li Man are people who fear death the more they possess. And as long as there is a way to live, he will not let it go.

Since he is afraid of death, then after luring the beast here, how could he not have a backup plan?

Now that Tang Fan is busy checking Sui Zhou’s injuries, Li Man does not have the energy to care about them over here. After interacting with the man a few times, he’s well aware that the other is one of the most intelligent men he’s known. Before, Tang Fan was in the thick of the plot, which is the only reason why he was carelessly tricked. When Tang Fan finally reacts, he surely will be able to see through his petty tricks, and when that time comes, he will truly die without resting in peace.

And so no matter what, Li Man has to take advantage of this opportunity and run first, leaving Tang Fan and the others to tear each other to shreds with the tomb guarding beast.

He believes that with how ferocious and merciless this beast is, everyone here will definitely be massacred. Then, all they have to do is find a way to transport all the treasures out. From then on, they would have freedom under the skies, and fat chance of officials catching them!

Qian San Er is a thief, he’s not from the courts and for Li Man to tempt him, it naturally comes easy to him.

Li Man says, “You knew this from before, I’m the leader of the White Lotus Sect’s He Nan branch. As long as you follow me, you will never have to hide in secret again! You won’t have to be humiliated by the court’s dogs, hurry, loosen the ropes!”

Qian San Er’s suspicion does not go away, but his eyes reveal that he is slowly being tempted, “Tell me first what the escape route is?”

Li Man coldly laughs to himself inside, then says sincerely, “I don’t mind telling you. That coffin has long been dug empty, from underneath it there is a route that leads directly straight towards Luo River, and when we get there, there will naturally be someone there to meet us!”

Qian San Er grabs at his shirt, “You better not lie to me. If the river and the tomb are connected, the water would have long rushed in, I don’t know how to swim!”

“Stupid, who told you it’s connected to the river!”

Just as he’s done speaking, he’s slapped again, so hard that even the teeth at the back of his mouth were nearly struck out with the force.

Qian San Er glares, “You still fucking dare to scold me!”

Li Man, “…”

Tolerating this and swallowing his anger, Li Man says, “Little xiongdi, I am not lying to you. The other end is connected to the river bank, it’s a little far from here but safety is guaranteed.”

Qian San Er is still doubtful, “Didn’t the beasts also swim in from the river? Before I came in, I saw that the tides of the river water were about to rise, by that time, what if the beasts escape and catch up to us?”

Li Man smiles, the expression cold and ruthless, “Did you forget that my people are outside? Both of them are my most trusted men, I’ve long since made proper arrangements, as long as we leave, they will all die here, be it the fucking people or the beasts! The huge treasures and riches from Marquis Gong’s tomb I got others to hide them earlier, you also saw the scattered pieces before. How can the real treasures compare to those dimly shining ones? All you have to do is go with me, and there is only time for you to enjoy wealth and fortune without limits!”

Qian San Er goes ‘oh’, nodding his head.

Li Man’s heart races with anxiety, “You can let me go now, can’t you!”

Qian San Er asks, “What does ‘dimly shining’ mean?”

Li Man almost throws up blood at that moment. He finally knows that this boy has been lying to him from start to end, and it’s likely that he was just tricking him to reveal details (of the escape route). He obviously does not have any intention to release him!

It is a pity that by the time he understands this, it is too late. Qian San Er has already gotten a hold of a dagger, and then ruthlessly stabs at Li Man’s heart!

Li Man’s eyes go wide in disbelief. Until the moment he dies, he is unable to understand why Qian San Er would have wanted to kill him.

Qian San Er retrieves the dagger from Li Man’s chest without hesitation. The other’s blood splatters on his face, and is wiped away along with his tears.

“…Shifu, I’ve finally gotten revenge for you!” he mumbles.

He gets to his feet and yells at Tang Fan and the rest, “Tang-daren, Li Man says there is an exit from inside the coffin towards the Luo River, we don’t have to run outside!”

When everyone hears this, their spirits are reinvigorated. Originally, everyone that there was only one way out, but the door is already blocked. Although they will be able to kill this tomb guarding beast here as long as they use all their strength, but there’s another one keeping guard outside. Thus, everyone was slowly despairing.

However, at this moment, Qian San Er’s words have given them new hope of survival.

Tang Fan shouts, his voice low, “Pang Qi, don’t persist in the fight, fight while you’re retreating!

Within the main hall, wherever the beast’s body sweeps across, its shrill wails echo, and along with it the howling wind. Although it is hurt, everyone else is barely hanging on. The other beast waiting outside, which was supposed to prepare to grab their food from the one inside, is already impatient, and its body shifts inwards slightly. Its blood red eyes stare at the humans in the main hall, and its sharp teeth are revealed.

Pang Qi manages to take a breath and turns back, then shouts with all his strength, “Daren, how his da-ge?!”

“He’ll live!” Tang Fan hauls Sui Zhou onto his back, then runs for the coffin.

Qian San Er has already gone over to push the coffin lid half open, revealing the wooden board underneath. He then peels the wooden board back, and he does see the dark entry way into the hole.

Delighted, Qian San Er shouts at Tang Fan and the rest of them, “Tang-daren, we can go down from here, Li Man didn’t lie to us!”

“Let’s go!” Tang Fan commands, and everyone starts to shift towards the center of the main hall.

Both tomb guarding beasts seem to realise what they’re trying to do, and rush towards them, bringing with them a gust of wind stained with the sharp stench of blood. The one that was hurt is exceptionally insane, and its attacks are stronger than before. Pang Qi and the rest are slowly losing the ability to hold them off. Another Embroidered Uniform Guard is not able to dodge in time and his throat is directly bitten.

Pang Qi is battling uncontrollably, but he doesn’t have any choice. The fighting power on both sides are entirely on different levels.

At this moment, a loud explosion resounds, and even the ground beneath their feet start to sway, shaking so much that everyone is almost unable to stand up straight.

Both beasts were going to attack the rest of them, but after the shock of that, they stop in their tracks for a moment.

Tang Fan’s expression changes slightly. He finally knows what Li Man’s plans were, but he doesn’t have much time to say anything at the moment, and can only shout, “Hurry and go! This place is about to collapse soon!”

Qian San Er ventures down the hole first, then turns around to help Tang Fan. Tang Fan first sends Sui Zhou down, then yells at Pang Qi, “Why aren’t you leaving!”

Pang Qi still wanted to kill the beast while it is still injured, but after the other one came in, he realises that this is an impossible mission. He can only begrudgingly give up and retreat to nearby the coffin. They shift into the hole in the coffin while the beasts are still stunned.

At this point, the entire underground tomb is shaking more and more intensely, and even the walls and the ground are sporting cracks quickly, visible with their naked eyes. Loud bursts of sounds echo one after another, far away and near, and everyone’s ear drums are close to bursting.

The two beasts look around them, stunned, and seeing that Tang Fan and the rest are leaving one by one, they shriek once and make to chase after them. Pang Qi, who is the last one, simply throws his xiuchun blade, slightly interrupting their forward momentum. He then holds onto his shoulder and dives into the coffin.

Behind him, along with the huge crackling and collapsing noises, the main hall’s stone walls fall after exploding, and even the stone piece at the top crashes downwards, heavily slamming on top of the coffin and cutting off the terrifying wails of the beasts.

In the long, narrow passage, everyone’s breaths are harsh. The sound of the explosions seems very far away, but the underground passage is also affected and keeps shaking endlessly. Above their heads, loose pieces of rock constantly drop, and some of the bigger ones can make anyone’s head bleed.

“Hurry, any later this place might collapse!” Tang Fan urges the rest of them to walk faster.

Qian San Er is at the front, carrying Sui Zhou on his back as he walks, while Tang Fan stays at the back to look out for everyone. Because of Sui Zhou’s protection earlier, he did not incur much injuries, but he does have small wounds here and there. Add to that his strength being severely depleted, his pallor is not any better than anyone else’s.

To be more accurate, if he didn’t have something to hold on to right now, he would have collapsed much earlier. But no one would think that Tang Fan, who knows no martial arts, is a burden. After all, if it wasn’t for his earlier planning, the number of people who are able to walk here right now would certainly be much lesser.

The White Lotus Sect did spend a lot of effort here - this passage has been dug in a way that makes it much wider than the one Qian San Er and the rest of them used earlier. It’s not that difficult to walk either, so it seems that the sect was already eyeing this tomb from a year before. They started there, and the only troublesome thing was that they needed to shift the treasures out before they could fully demolish the tomb, which is why they’ve delayed progress until now.

It is too bad that they faced Qian San Er and then Tang Fan, these two batches of people, and in their schemes to deal them with harm, they ended up being murdered instead. Even Li Man himself is buried in there. As people always say, as much as one would scheme, they may end up endangering their own lives in the end.

Qian San Er already told Tang Fan Li Man’s dying words. Li Man’s words are half truth and half lies, and he is always trying to manipulate and toy with him. Before Li Man died, he even hid the fact that they had gunpowder in the tomb, wanting to make use of the opportunity to deal them one last blow and kill them together with the tomb guarding beasts with the explosion.

Just by this point alone, Tang Fan does not dare to fully believe in what he said. However, when Li Man told Qian San Er that this passage leads to outside, and there is someone to receive them, these parts should be real.

Judging by Li Man’s selfishness, that pile of treasures certainly have to be placed right under his eyes for him to feel safe, so it would be impossible for him to let any of his men take the treasures first and flee.

In the process of walking forward, Tang Fan would frequently test for Sui Zhou’s pulse. Only when he finds that there is movement under his fingertip does he feel slightly assured.

They do not know for how long they have walked, and Qian San Er’s footsteps suddenly pause, “Daren, the exit seems to be in front.”

He puts Sui Zhou down, walks over and reaches out to touch, before turning around and saying in a low voice, “Seems like there is something pressing on top of it.”

Tang Fan indicates for everyone to keep silent and gets Qian San Er to come over and take care of Sui Zhou. He then walks over to where Qian San Er was standing previously and begins exploring. This is indeed the end, and the only exit is above.

Tang Fan meticulously touches the object that is pressing on the exit and then knocks on it lightly, putting his hand to his nose and sniffing.

“It’s a box, and it should be storage for clothes,” he says.

“How do you know that its a storage box for clothes?” Qian San Er asks, stunned.

“That wood is pear wood, and most people will not use wood like this to store miscellaneous items, so this is definitely a box. If the items inside are too heavy, then it would be very difficult for Li Man and the rest to go out, and I also smelt it earlier. There’s the smell of camphor wood grease, so it definitely is used to store objects that are easily bitten by insects, so it can only be storing clothes and garments.”

Qian San Er is entirely impressed. He touched the object earlier for a bit, but didn’t come up with any conclusions. Now that he hears Tang Fan say this, he experiences an epiphany of sorts.

Then looking at Pang Qi and the rest of them, they seem to have already gotten used to Tang-daren’s observation and deduction skills, his exceptional intelligence.

Tang Fan does not know that he has gotten himself another follower. He helps Sui Zhou up and adjusts him so that he’s in a more comfortable position to conveniently lean against his hold.

He says, “It should be another meeting point for the White Lotus Sect above. Earlier when we left, I took note and according to this distance and direction, this house should be on the outskirts of town. But what we can’t confirm is if there are any White Lotus Sect men outside, and if there are, how many of them.”

Feeling the impacts of the gunpowder back in the tomb, the passage has been dropping loosened pieces of stone constantly. As the magnitude of the shaking becomes increasingly greater, who knows how much powerful gunpowder Li Man and his men buried in there in order to obtain such an effect.

Everyone is tolerating the stale air, and staying in a dangerous passage that will collapse at any time is not an easy thing. A lot of them have already lost too much blood and are dizzy and unsteady. Those who are injured more severely, like Sui Zhou who is unconscious, can only be supported by their companions who are injured to a lesser degree.

When these domineering Embroidered Uniform Guards joined the Northern Administrative Court, they probably never expected to one day end up in such a pathetic situation. Twenty odd men entered (the tomb), and here in the passage, there are only less than ten of them.

But compared to Li Man’s tragic case, their current situation is considered an improved one. The dead have passed, but the ones left behind have to do their best to live.

Pang Qi cannot help but say, “Daren, let’s rush out, we may still have a way to survive!”

And yet, Tang Fan shakes his head, “No. Use your blade and open the box according to edges of the exit. if it’s all garments inside, there will be no sound when they fall, and then we can use that as a cover to make some observations first before proceeding.”

Pang Qi feels that this method is too wishy-washy, and cannot help but retort, “Why go to so much trouble? We don’t know how long more we can hold on, and the more we delay this, the smaller our chances of victory!”

Tang Fan only uses one sentence to refute and stop everyone’s protests, “Guang Chan handed all of you over to me, so I must do my best to ensure that more people survive.”

***

After Lady Chen helped Li Man to give birth to a son, and then handed the child over to a nearby family to raise, she herself then began to safeguard this little house, waiting for Li Man and the rest to bring over greater amounts of treasures from the tomb.

As the time they have arranged to meet has long gone and past, and Li Man and his men have yet to turn up, Lady Chen is also afraid of the beasts in the tomb and does not dare to go over and look for them. After waiting for several days, they believed that Li Man and the rest died inside, and she began to think about obtaining the treasures for herself.

Lady Chen is naturally promiscuous and is not a good, virtuous wife. After being with Li Man, she controlled herself slightly, but Li Man is after all an aging man and even with the best of disguises and illusions, his stamina cannot compare to that of a young man’s.

Now that Li Man is most likely dead, Lady Chen no longer has anything to worry about and starts to deliberately seduce the other members of the sect.

She is beautiful and gorgeous, and no man can resist her seduction, so when Tang Fan and the rest of them get here, Lady Chen and several other men are having fun in bed, so much so that they do not know what day it is even. Li Man probably would never have guessed even till his death that his woman so quickly began to mess around with other men. If he knew this, he probably would be so mad, enough for him to rise from the dead, and then die out of anger again.

This gave Pang Qi and the rest of them an advantage, however. While the few people in bed were tussling in the sheets, they emerged, and Lady Chen and the other men were all killed in bed before they could even react.

Wanting to take Lady Chen alive, however, Pang Qi and the others neglected to take note and gave her the opportunity to scream, which drew the attention of other disciples of the sect outside.

Both sides quickly are embroiled in a ferocious, intends battle. The glint of swords and blades flash on then spot, and blood splatters everywhere.

Theoretically, these disciples should not be of their match, but Pang Qi and the rest of them have lost too much energy and stamina before, so are unable to put in their best in the fight, seemingly struggling.

Tang Fan cannot fight and so will not go forth and become anyone’s burden. He can only watch from the sides.

He pats Qian San Er on the shoulder, “You did well today, this is all because of you!”

Immensely flattered, Qian San Er becomes incredibly excited. He has been stealing since young ever since he followed his shifu, and they’ve always been on the opposite side of officials and the courts, but now he even obtained the praise of an official envoy!

“Da, Da.. Daren’s praise, I truly do not deserve it!”

Seeing how excited he is, a smile emerges on Tang Fan’s exhausted face, “You were not tempted by Li Man and did not lower yourself to join him. This is enough to prove that you are not a bad person. Your shifu is no longer around, so do not involve yourself in illegal petty crimes anymore. When you’ve done too many bad things, you will eventually be punished for it. When you go back, find a legal way to support yourself!”

Qian San Er suddenly kneels down in front of Tang Fan, “I’ve already wanted to stop committing crimes and doing those things, but aside from those, I don’t know how to do anything else either. I beg daren to please point out a clear alternative for me!”

This person immediately went with the flow, and Tang Fan does not feel repulsed by this, instead thinking that Qian San Er is rather smart. This boy also has a good heart, and is a talent that can be folded, “We’ll talk when we get back.”

With these words, Qian San Er knows that Tang Fan has agreed and is delighted, kowtowing to Tang Fan three times in a row, the sound of his head hitting the ground bright and loud.

Who knew that Qian San Er used too much force in putting his head to the ground, and the intense battle before them was unable to wake Sui Zhou up, but the sound of his head hitting the ground has Sui Zhou’s brows furrowing.

Realising the movements of the person in his arms, Tang Fan looks down, and beams, “Guang Chuan, you’re awake, are you okay?”

Sui Zhou opens his eyes slowly, and the first thing he sees is Tang Fan’s concerned and anxious expression.

Sui Zhou, “Pfft!”

Tang Fan, “…”

What is this reaction? Did he hit his head and become silly?

Tang Fan cannot resist and feels for the other’s forehead, his gaze meeting Sui Zhou’s smiling eyes.

Tang-daren seems to have forgotten that he received a slap from Li Man earlier down in the tombs, and this led to swelling on one side of his face, swelling which has not yet gone down. His handsome, elegant image has been changed into that of a pig’s head, akin to the ones placed on ancestral offering tables. Seeing such a face, Sui Zhou cannot help but want to laugh.

However, after laughing, his heart melts more and more on the inside. He gazes at Tang Fan, and in his head only one thought is left.

Thankfully, this person is alright. Then no matter how severe he’s hurt, it is all worth it.

“… and Li Man?” Sui Zhou asks, his voice hoarse.

“Dead, Qian San Er killed him,” Tang Fan says.

Qian San Er fidgets, embarrassed, and he is about to make some humble proclamations, but Sui Zhou is not even looking at him.

Only one person can fit in the rectangular world he can see through his eyes. Both of their gazes meet, bringing with it a type of intimacy and flirtation that even Tang Fan himself does not realise.

And then, under Qian San Er’s eyes, Tang-daren, whose face is thicker than the walls of the Great Wall, slowly reddens.

===

Notes:

*萤囊之光 ying nang zhi guang

This is used to refer to the dim light that poor scholars use when they study at night, as they are unable to afford candles whenever they need them, they have to use them sparingly. However, scholars cannot skip out on studying at night just because they cannot afford more candles, and can only light them minimally - in this case, it’s referring to gold that does not shine as brightly as real, authentic gold. It’s a little hard to translate exactly in this context, especially as Qian San Er asks what this means later, so I changed it a little, but Qian San Er, who had not studied much, is asking what the ying nang means.

*五体投地 wu ti tou di

This literally means to falls flat on the ground entirely - in this context, it’s used as a metaphor to say that Qian San Er is entirely convinced without a single shred of doubt. 

*夜路走多了，总会遇到鬼的

This is an idiom of sorts - what it literally means is that if you frequently walk in the night, you will at some point see a ghost. It’s usually used to describe someone doing something bad/committing crime - Qian San Er as a thief ‘walking the roads at night’ = committing crime and stealing, one of these days he will ‘meet a ghost’ = get into trouble basically.

[minmotl]

Chapter 66: Tang Fan Realizes He Cannot Lose Sui Zhou

Context: Sui Zhou, Tang Fan and their men head into one of the tombs together after finding remnants of the missing villagers right outside the entrance of a tomb. One of the men’s lower body has already been eaten up, and they are sure that there is a sort of creature and monster in the tomb, and hence decide to visit and clear this case once and for all. 

They are accompanied by the old village chief’s oldest son, and once they are there and get into trouble, Tang Fan and Sui Zhou finally find out who this son actually is - Li Man, Tang Fan’s previous landlord before he moved in with Sui Zhou, the man who plotted to kill his own wife and then let his son go to prison in his stead, and let him die there before fleeing with his new pregnant mistress. Turns out that Li Man is actually affiliated to the White Lotus Sect.

After his identity is exposed as they are all trapped in the tomb, Li Man takes Tang Fan hostage, but Sui Zhou to the rescue! As they try to get out alive while battling the creature physically, and also dealing with scheming mastermind Li Man and less-than-cooperative subordinates, Tang Fan and Sui Zhou really have their work cut out for them. 

*Do read the previous highlight Ch. 60-61 to find out who the village chief and Tang Fan’s uncooperative mofo of a subordinate Yin Yuan Hua are, and also a refresh on the case XD Qian San Er is a young boy, thief-turned-ally that follows Tang Fan from this case onwards and later works for him

*No major Fanzhou ROMANTIC moments in this chapter, but they’re trying to save each other and trying to outwit the bad guy, and also the creature is this huge-ass crocodile that eats people lmao, and they’re trapped in the tomb ;-; 

Sort of MAJOR FANZHOU MOMENT AT THE END of this chapter!!!

Introduction Post | Masterpost

—

Highlights under the cut

Li Man is just realising how extremely useful a hostage is, and before he gets a chance to put his hand on Tang Fan’s neck, a sharp pain comes from his exposed back. He cannot help but cry out in pain, and then the person he caught to play his human shield earlier is gone. The side of his arm has taken a heavy hit, and the pain he feels has him loosening the hold on his blade uncontrollably.

It is but a short moment, but the situation has already changed significantly.

Li Man is originally a businessman and his skills are nowhere better than Tang Fan’s. Otherwise, he would not have been unsure about how much force to use when he took up an axe earlier to slash at others. His two henchmen, however, are clearly more skilled than he is, as faced with the closing in of the Embroidered Uniform Guards, they managed to struggle a little before being forced to surrender.

“What are you guys doing here!” Li Man glares at the person before him in disbelief after his arms are restrained ruthlessly behind his back.

Fate is playing tricks on him. All that he put Tang Fan through earlier is now being applied on himself.

An Embroidered Uniform Guard walks over and then pushes the stone door open slowly. Under Li Man and his henchmen’s glares, Pang Qi walks in with a large gait from the outside, bringing with him Qian San Er and others. The stone door then closes shut heavily again.

The threat they felt from the approaching tomb beast earlier seems like just an illusion.

Sui Zhou personally unties Tang Fan, and asks, concerned, “You’re alright?”

“I’m good,” Tang Fan shakes his head, and then looks around his surroundings.

From the decor, the huge hall they are at is actually at the core of Marquis Gong’s tomb. the coffin in the center is where Marquis Gong’s corpse is located, and the floral patterns on top of the coffin confirm Tang Fan’s earlier guess, that this is indeed the tomb of a former Marquis of the Qin empire.

However, because this central hall’s space is larger, on the left and right there are accompanying side halls that emulate the place the tomb owner was staying in when he was alive. Li Man and the rest of them only lit up a single light. As a result, aside from this small circular area near the light, other parts of this hall are shrouded in darkness.

Stuck in such an environment, it is natural to look towards the light and avoid the darkness, so people consciously turn their eyes towards where there is light, and when these eyes look towards other places, they will be temporarily blinded.

Sui Zhou and his men made use of this to first hide within the accompanying side halls, holding their breaths so they could strike accurately when Li Man’s defences are down.

Although Li Man also realises this, he is still in disbelief, as he always seems to lose to his own plans and fall into Tang Fan’s hands repeatedly.

“This is impossible, my people definitely lured you away, how did you run here from that side?”

Sui Zhou does not pay him any mind, and looks first to Tang Fan instead.

Tang Fan jokes, “Because Sui-zhenfushi is both smart and legendary in combat, and common people are unable to see through him!”

Sui Zhou’s eyes reveal a tinge of mirth, but when he turns towards Li Man again, his expression has returned to its cold and firm state, “The set up laid in this tomb, we already knew most of it before we came down here…”

Before he can finish, Li Man shouts, “Impossible!”

There is naturally a reason behind him saying that. When royals are buried, to prevent tomb robbers, not only must there not be any details left behind for transfer, sometimes even the architects behind the tomb construction have to be killed as well. Or even like how Cao Cao did it, setting up 72 decoy tombs - this was all to confuse the people left and absolutely prevent robberies.

Although doing this may not be entirely effective, everyone has always done it this way in history, so being a little more careful and meticulous will not go wrong.

This tomb is located under the Yong Hou Tomb, and there aren’t many people who know this, not to mention anyone knowing how it’s been set up.

Facing Li Man’s ‘I am cultured so you better stop lying to me’ expression, Tang Fan patiently explains, “Before I became an official, I once wandered the world and came across the region of Shan Xi. There are plenty of tombs there, and it is said that the Zhou royal family’s tomb has long been emptied by local raiders, but the burial mounds and archaeological site are still intact. Under my observations, I realised that the structure of these sites are more similar than different.”

“Yong Hou Tomb only has two levels in the underground palace, this is clearly written by those who have come here before. Ancestor Song Ying was buried in a hurry, and so any secret passages were unable to be built. Although you are not the real Liu Da Niu, but to lure us down here, you put in quite a bit of effort.”

“Not everything you said is fake, at least half of it is real, and Qian San Er did not lie, so combining what the both of you said, then it is not difficult to conclude that when you said there was a third level in this tomb, this means that there has to be another royal member’s tomb.”

“So I took note of this, and looking through local records, I realised that this used to be the land of the Gong Empire, belonging to the Zhou emperor Wang Ji. The Zhou empire practiced gifting their land to accomplished officials, and a small empire like this, all infrastructure must have imitated that of the Zhou royal family’s, including their tombs.”

Li Man continues, “So you applied the set up you saw in the Zhou dynasty’s tombs in Shan Xi over here.”

Tang Fan nods in agreement, “Exactly, but this is equivalent only to trying to draw a tiger by looking at a cat - it is not possible for every tomb to look exactly the same, and even if we know the gist of the set up, there will definitely be differences in between. For example, the traps in this tomb, we couldn’t have known this first. But it is precisely at this moment that you did us a huge favour.”

Li Man’s voice is hoarse, “What favour?”

Tang Fan says, “After we came down, there were plenty of scattered treasures, but there were no bodies. If the creature swallowed the meat and bones together, this I can understand, but from what Qian San Er described, we know that when Li Kui and the rest came down here and fought with the creature, this was surely a nasty, tough fight. So the places that we passed by, it is impossible for them to be so clean. No matter how aggressive and fierce this creature is, one or two limbs or body parts would surely have been left behind. Since this is unnatural, something must be amiss. Someone must have deliberately cleaned this place up in hopes of luring us down here.”

“Very logical,” Li Man says, “And?”

“Since you deliberately lured us here, then you must first ensure your own safety. You couldn’t possibly have allowed yourself to fall prey to the traps, so Sui Zhou and I felt at ease, enough to bring the men down here.”

“I remember that when I was about to kill you, the creature shrieked,” Li Man says, his eyebrows furrowed.

Tang Fan makes a noise of assent, “Qian San Er.”

Hearing his name being called, Qian San Er walks out from the dark calmly, and then shoots Tang Fan a grin, deliberately sucking up to Tang Fan. Then, he brings his hand to the side of his mouth.

A chilling sound echoes, and this is exactly the sound of a ghost crying that they heard earlier!

Li Man and his two henchmen’s eyes go wide.

Qian San Er straightens, his chest protruding outwards and traces of smug delight on his face, “I don’t only know how to steal!”

One must know that his ventriloquism skills are top notch in the Huang He Gang, otherwise he wouldn’t have been brought over here by his shifu to keep watch. Although he was not of much help, but at critical moments, it’s not that he cannot be assigned tasks, and case in point, Li man and the rest were deceived.

The plan was actually very simple. Li Man planned to lure Sui Zhou and his men away and was prepared to first kill Tang Fan and Yin Huan Hua. Who knew that Sui Zhou and the rest of them were already prepared and tackled his scheme with one of their own? Through the White Lotus Sect disciple who wanted to lure them away, they instead managed to figure out all the traps here.

Plus the preparation that Tang Fan made prior to this, having understood the environment and infrastructure before coming down here, as long as they walked about, they would no longer be confused by the misleading traps.

At this point, Sui Zhou and the rest realised that the Tang Fan and Yin Yuan Hua (who were trailing) behind them have vanished. And as Tang Fan knows Sui Zhou, Sui Zhou knows Tang Fan equally well. He knew that Tang Fan would surely think of ways stall for time and await their rescue. The only problem was how they were actually going to meet - And so Sui Zhou asked Qian San Er to mimic the cries of the creatures, all to drive Li Man into the main hall.

And that’s how they have come to the situation before them.

***

Suddenly, Yin Yuan Hua picks up his foot and kicks at Li Man viciously. He demands, “What about the treasures? Where did you hide them all?”

Both of Li Man’s hands are tied up, but he does not get angry at being abruptly kicked to the ground. He only pants, his breaths harsh, “If I tell you, will you guys let me live?”

Yin Huan Hua is still holding a grudge against them for having tied him up earlier and laughs coldly, “All of you tried to rebel and create chaos in the world. It’s already the best case scenario to not have your whole family die to pay for your sins, but you still want to live? if you don’t come clean, just wait to die here!”

As if he heard the biggest joke in history, Li Man suddenly descends into a bout of laughter, and the intensifying pain warps his smile even more.

“What are you laughing at!” Yin Yuan Hua grows cold at his laugh, and almost kicks at him again, but Sui Zhou stops him.

Li Man is laughing uncontrollably, so much so that tears have emerged. He then turns a creepy smile onto Yin Yuan Hua, “I’m laughing at your stupidity! I said so much only to stall for time, so that I may live longer, and then your death sentences will arrive!”

As if in response to Li Man, the moment he finishes speaking, from outside the stone door, an eerie wail resounds from the distance.

Everyone’s expressions change slightly.

Li Man laughs, “I said before that the tomb beasts move when they smell blood and are exceptionally sensitive when it comes to the stench of blood. My blood is bringing them close, and so what if you know all of this? At the end, you still have to die here!”

Heavy thuds echo from outside the stone door, as if an external force is striking against it. In the beginning, the force used was to test the door, but as the door is firm, (the creature) increases its strength. The stone door and the whole hall along with it is struck with so much force that they are shaking slightly, scattering plenty of dust to the floor.

Li Man is still laughing, “This secret will forever be buried here, you will never make it out!”

The back of his head is hit heavily by Pang Qi, “You will also have to die here, what rubbish are you saying, think of something!”

Li Man sneers, “I am indebted to the almighty Sect, without it, there would be no wealthy and successful Li Man. My time to repay my debt has come, and to be able to drag all of you to die with me, I will not die in vain!”

While he is speaking, the stone door is again struck heavily (from the outside)! Originally, this door can only be opened with some clever handling, and for humans this is not a difficult thing, but for a ferocious beast, the stone door before its eyes is an obstacle. However, the tomb guarding beast outside clearly is intelligent, and after repeated strikes proved futile, it gradually stops its attacks and instead shifts to other various methods to try.

The people inside the stone room originally thought that even though they are temporarily unable to leave, the beast cannot enter either. As long as they patiently waited for time to pass, after it lost its patience it would leave naturally, but when they see the stone door being pushed open slowly from outside, they cannot help but be terrified.

A black claw that is as sharp as that of a bird’s, but is a few times larger than a normal bird’s, presses in from the gap made by the door. With the force the beast exhibited outside (earlier), if the claw caught onto one of them, it’s likely their heads would split on the spot.

Once they get to this thought, everyone shudders.

Sui Zhou yells, “Hurry go and hold the door!”

Even without him saying this, many people have already rushed forward and are using their bodies to completely jam the door.

However, the external force is too great, and even though everyone is expelling a majority, if not all of their strength, they only manage to push the door back by just a bit. Before any of them can heave a sigh of relief, the stone door is slammed against hard once again!

A lot of them were still stuck to the door, and are shocked immediately, their four limbs going numb and their strength leaving them.

Another strike from outside!

Once more!

And one more time!

Sui Zhou says grimly, “Prepare the hand cannons!”

With this reminder, a lot of them then remember that they did bring their hand cannons with them. Embroidered Uniform Guards with the hand cannons frantically stuff gunpowder inside, and nervously point the barrels towards the stone door area, waiting for this door to collapse…

And yet, whatever negative thoughts they have are realized, and before they are fully prepared, the door is already unable to withstand this huge force. It splits into two pieces and collapse towards the back. Some of them did not evade this in time and are trapped right there and then.

Along with the stone door being destroyed entirely, the heavy stench of blood blows inwards, and everyone almost throws up.

The only candle flame in the hall is extinguished.

***

Yin Yuan Hua leans against the wall as he shakes, and is exposed and unguarded as the creature’s claws sweep over. His face is flushed white, his eyes staring ahead, forgetting to even react to this.

At this time, it is Tang Fan who is right next to him, who reaches out with a hand and tugs him over. Yin Yuan Hua stumbles and barely dodges the claws, and the sharp tips of those claws swipe over the wall, leaving behind three deep claw marks.

If he was still standing there, then right this moment, there would be another corpse with a cut open belly.

Yin Yuan Hua shakily pants as he depends on the wall for support, not quite believing that he managed to escape from death’s clutches then.

“Go to the side halls!” Tang Fan shouts, totally different from his usual gentle, polite self.

He expended a lot of energy earlier to tug Yin Yuan Hua (out of harm’s way), and at this point, his pallor is not any better than the other man’s.

But the next moment, danger descends once again.

The beast seems to have realised that there are two more easy targets here, and it turns its head, its mouth opening wide and sharp white teeth close in.

From Tang Fan saving Yin Yuan Hua to the creature turning its head over, all these happened in merely a blink of an eye!

The beast is unable to bite at two people at the same time, so its very first target is Yin Yuan Hua. His face remains pale, but this time his reaction seems to be faster than the previous time.

There is no time to flee - the creature’s body is much larger than theirs, and so it has already blocked off all their paths for escape.

This time, Yin Yuan Hua finally reacts.

He chooses to tug Tang Fan over on one hand and hide behind him on the other, prepared to use Tang Fan as a human shield to slow down the beast’s progress. After that he will plan his retreat.

He did this in a flash, and no one would have expected him to do this!

Tang Fan is no longer able to hide or dodge in time! Seeing that his shoulder is about to be bitten off like what happened to an Embroidered Uniform Guard earlier, something flashes in Tang Fan’s eyes, and then the creature’s teeth bites onto a xiuchun blade instead!

It’s Sui Zhou!

At the last moment against all odds, Sui Zhou rushed over and with just the force of a single arm, he blocked the beast’s attack with the blade in his hand!

The edge of the blade causes the beast’s soft mouth to bleed, and it bites on the blade in a rage, then throws ruthlessly, sending Sui Zhou flying to the wall right that moment.

Sui Zhou falls heavily, and spits out a mouthful of blood.

“Guang Chuan!” Tang Fan rushes over to pick him up, his eyes going so wide in fury that they are about to split.

Sui Zhou’s face is as white as joss paper, his eyes shut tight. He is likely to have injured his internal organs, and doesn’t even have the strength to talk at that moment.

The warm body in his arms is pressed so close to him, but in that moment, Tang Fan has this sudden fear and uneasiness at the thought of losing him.

The earlier half of Tang Fan’s life - his parents died earlier and his older sister married out of the city. He thought he was alone, that he had no ties or worries, living freely without restrictions. He also thought that even if he was unable to continue being an official, at most he would just put up his hat and leave.

In this lifetime, he thought that perhaps there was nothing he could not let go.

But right this moment, Tang Fan then realises just how much Sui Zhou means to him in his heart. 

So much that he cannot bear the reality of losing the other.

[minmotl]

you are doing a fantastic job with your translations, you are a real treasure! thank you ♥

AHHHHH thank you anon!!!!! <3333 

[minmotl]

[ENG - COMPLETED] History3: Trapped Novel - Translation Masterpost

All translation links for History3: Trapped novel will be placed below! These are fan translations, we aren’t making any money off of this, and some Chinese phrases have been edited for better English interpretation (which means you guys may get better & different translations elsewhere but the gist of it is more or less there!)

And a huge thank you to @weilongfu for doing this with me!

Chapter 1: Post | GDrive

Chapter 2: Post | GDrive

Chapter 3: Post | GDrive

Chapter 4: Post | GDrive

Chapter 5: Post | GDrive

Chapter 6: Post | GDrive

Chapter 7: Post | GDrive

Chapter 8 : Post

Chapter 9: Post

Chapter 10: Post

Epilogue 1 - Tang Yi & Shao Fei: Post

Epilogue 2 - Jack & Zhao Zi: Post 

BRAND NEW EPILOGUE! PUBLISHED AUG 2020 OFFICIALLY: POST | Partial Manhua scanlations of the epilogue **DO NOT REPOST!**

— 

COMPLETED!!!! Damn Jan 2 2022 HAHAHAHA - All new links updated!

[minmotl]

Two more days left to 2021 guys are y’all ready because I am not ;-; ready ;-; to ;-; give up the holidays and go back to slaving away at work. Anyway here’s a really cute-ass transmigration rec! A bit similar to SVSSS in terms of premise, but not as disaster gay as SQQ or LBH or SQH are, although… that could be up for debate hahaha!

My Top 2020 Danmei Rec List

Another Rec List

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

Summary:

Rich and handsome CEO Xiao Yu An finds out he has a terminal illness (cancer), and dies while he’s reading this online novel, where a king mistreats the crown prince from a neighbouring state which sent him over as hostage after losing a war, and ends up being killed by the crown prince years later (SVSSS much?!). He wakes up AS THE KING, and afraid of dying, he immediately goes about befriending the prince, Yan He Qing. Yan He Qing falls in love with Xiao Yu An while being his friend/hostage/bodyguard, and Xiao Yu An tries to avoid all the deaths he read in the book, while making sure Yan He Qing manages to find his four wives, one of whom is supposed to be Xiao Yu An’s sister.

Of course, because Xiao Yu An showed him warmth and kindness, Yan He Qing ends up falling for him instead, and Xiao Yu An is an absolute oblivious idiot because he REALLY doesn’t realize until much later. Yan He Qing ends up declaring war on Xiao Yu An’s kingdom because he is duty bound to do so, but doesn’t hurt Xiao Yu An, wanting to keep him by his side, but YHQ’s scheming uncle drives a wedge between them, and XYA leaves, breaking YHQ’s heart.

They meet again a few years later, where XYA is training to be a physician in a small village and chances upon a severely injured YHQ. There, he realizes that it was all a misunderstanding, and that YHQ actually LIKES, LIKES him, but before they can enjoy this short period of happiness, disaster strikes again.

*I like this one a lot because it deals with the inevitability of fate and duty etc., but also gives a really nice ending, including a supposed short arc where YHQ and XYA transmigrate back to the modern world, and he introduces YHQ to advanced technology, but also sees the people who died living happily around him, finding ways to be together again despite their tragic ends in the past

Read:

Novel (Online) | Novel (Print) - Not Available | Novel Translations | Manhua

Characters:

1. 萧予安 Xiao Yu An - A CEO in the modern world who dies of a terminal illness when he’s at his prime, and transmigrate into the novel he was reading before he died, where he’s the main EVIL villain protagonist. He knows all of the plot points and how he dies at the hands of Yan He Qing, a defeated enemy state’s crown prince, after his character by the same name Xiao Yu An basically mocks/bullies/tortures him while he’s captive in his kingdom. Eager to avoid a death where his throat is slit in front of everyone after Yan He Qing’s kingdom invades, as a CEo who is very good at business and deals, he decides to be friends with YHQ instead.

CEO look - When he first wakes up as Emperor Xiao Yu An - Beautiful XYA:

Originally, the Xiao Yu An in the novel is an irresponsible emperor who takes the throne after his father dies, and then he spends his days in sin - sleeping with both men and women, wining and dining, wasting his days away in pleasure as his kingdom falls to nothing (while also making YHQ’s life very difficult for him). When he first wakes up in this world in XYA’s body, Xiao Yu An chases away all his young and pretty beaus, and starts taking things seriously.

He also admits to YHQ right off the bat that he’s from the modern world and proves to YHQ that he’s not the original XYA, which YHQ believes, so YHQ knows that he’s like technically alien!XYA throughout the novel.

He releases YHQ from prison and lets him follow him as a bodyguard of sorts, and has good feelings towards YHQ, not that he knows what they are. According to the novel, YHQ has four wives, one of who is his sister. In order to avoid her tragic end (in the novel she helps YHQ when he’s invading her country, but because she betrayed XYA and her people, she ended up killing herself as well), XYA plays matchmaker and starts to direct YHQ and his sister, and subsequently all of YHQ’s supposed wives together, much to YHQ’s displeasure.

Knowing who dies and lives in the novel, XYA tries to save his closest friends and allies, but deaths are inevitable - if he saves one, someone else is destined to die, much to XYA’s anguish. In the end, YHQ is still returned to his country, and then he is duty bound to strike against XYA’s kingdom. XYA surrenders, and due to YHQ’s scheming uncle who can see that his nephew is strangely obsessed with XYA, he make XYA think that YHQ wants to keep him at his side as a eunuch to torture him, and so XYA leaves. Not knowing this, YHQ thinks that XYA is rejecting his feelings, and lets him go.

XYA realizes his feelings for him a few years later when he’s training as a physician and chances upon an injured YHQ, and they talk it out! He’s really oblivious and it takes him that long to realize that YHQ has never shown any signs of interest at the supposed four wives he has, and that XYA has been one-sidedly shoving YHQ at these women without realizing who he really wants.

2. 晏河清 Yan He Qing - The crown prince and to-be-emperor of the enemy state, who falls in love with kind, warm and capable Xiao Yu An. He’s really conflicted because he wants to stay by XYA’s side, but is also duty bound to take revenge for his country, and so he does. Above all, no matter what, YHQ wants to keep XYA safe and right next to him, but is unable to do so initially. He misunderstands XYA’s leaving the first time, thinking that XYA has rejected and hates him.

YHQ when he’s younger and still bodyguard to XYA - YHQ when he’s older and Emperor, finding XYA again:

They meet again in the midst of another war, as YHQ is found unconscious and injured by XYA in a neighbouring town close to the location of the battle, and initially he’s blind and XYA eats this herb that changes his voice from male to female, so he doesn’t realize it’s XYA at first. Halfway through, his sight recovers and he realizes who he is, and in order to keep staying at his side, YHQ deliberately makes his wounds worse and deepens the cuts etc. everytime XYA leaves so he doesn’t recover. As long as he doesn’t recover, XYA cannot force him to leave.

He confesses properly a few days later and they clear up their misunderstandings from before. However, before they can enjoy being with each other, they’re separated at war again, get back together again, and then are separated by XYA’s death again (but XYA re-transmigrates back into another body later on, and it’s a happy ending!)

Other Things I Like in the Novel:

They go light lanterns together and it’s the cutest thing ever because YHQ is looking at XYA when he’s not looking and already knows how much he likes the man but XYA is all “MY FRIEND, MY BROTHER WHO IS STRAIGHT AND LEMME MATCHMAKE HIM WITH SOMEONE ELSE”

Their gazes?!!! Idk who the artist is but DAMN they draw YHQ and XYA SO WELL, and the eyes are so expressive?!!

When YHQ confesses properly after they are reunited a few years after, XYA is absolutely flabbergasted and he’s like “WHAT HAPPENED TO MY STRAIGHT DUDE WITH FOUR WIVES? I MADE HIM GAY? ME?!” and then he was like “Yan-xiong, there are a lot of likes. Do you like like me, or is it the family ‘like’?” - YHQ goes “It’s the kind of like where I want to tie you to bed and keep you hidden away from the rest of the world for the rest of your life, so that you can only see me and no one else, what kind of like do you think this is?”

Everyone calls YHQ respectfully as the Emperor and only XYA is like idgaf and thinks “I’m a 霸道 CEO” and he goes like “Brother Yan!” all the time

XYA is dumb af in the beginning but once he realizes that YHQ likes him and that he likes him back, he goes full-on best boyfriend mode - considers how possessive YHQ is and makes sure the man knows he can have him entirely, avoids OG Wife No. 4 because he knows he has unfairly pushed YHQ and other women together before this after misunderstanding YHQ’s affections - he’s just “okay I’m his now, I should make sure he does not misunderstand”

Spoilers: It’s technically impossible for them to be together considering all the deaths hanging between them (even tho it’s not any of their faults directly), plus XYA’s position as the former Emperor, and YHQ as the new Emperor after a hostile takeover - A lot of people want to see XYA dead while others have a score to settle with YHQ, so XYA dies once, but transmigrate back into another XYA’s body from another state three years later that’s supposed to be allies with YHQ’s kingdom. This body looks exactly like the modern world him, and before he woke up in this body, this XYA was trying to seduce YHQ for nefarious reasons and YHQ absolutely detests him. So when new!XYA finally goes to find YHQ, YHQ throws him out, doesn’t recognize him and is so disgusted he doesn’t even want to talk to him, and they literally nearly miss each other but thankfully they don’t

After YHQ gets him back he’s so happy?! SOOOO happy, cannot believe that XYA is in his bed, and he has found him back again ;-;

EXTENSIVE EPILOGUES I’m talking about almost 30 or more extra chapters and arcs, it’s the cutest thing ever!

[minmotl]

I’m here with a zombie apocalypse (think Resident Evil level) + ABO danmei! I’m not usually a fan of ABOs tbh and I picked up this book for the zombie part and was surprised by the ABO part, but this one was a good nice balance between both. Surviving the zombie apocalypse still takes centre stage while the ABO part is more of a subplot/backdrop, but it’s cool all the same haha

Written by the author who wrote Swallowing the Sea (Tun Hai) & Breaking the Clouds (Po Yun)!

My Top 2020 Danmei Rec List

Another Rec List

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

Summary:

In a world that has been overrun by a virus that turns people into zombies, Si Nan wakes up with no memory of who he is and what he’s doing in this rescue camp, only that he’s an omega that is scheduled to be air-lifted out of an affected zone to a safe sanctuary, where omegas are prized individuals meant to be protected so they can give birth and contribute to a new population, which has been decimated with attacking zombies globally. 

He’s not sure who he is and what he was supposed to be doing, but his instincts tell him to not go along with these people, and he flees into the crowd of attacking zombies. Much to everyone’s surprise, he has strong combat abilities (despite being an omega) and manages to escape from the team and also the zombies.

He chances upon Zhou Rong, Captain of the 118 Retrieval Special Unit and his team during another zombie attack in a nearby city, and joins them out after his escape route is blocked. Si Nan hides his omega scent with suppressants he finds in a supermarket, and unbeknownst to him, he has actually met Zhou Rong before when they were both much younger in a different setting, before zombies were even a thing. Zhou Rong leads a team of beta soldiers, which die one after the other as they flee, leaving the team down to its last bullet and six members.

Si Nan decides to follow them for a while, and due to his skilled fighting prowess, he gains the trust of this team and the civilians they’re protecting. Zhou Rong also takes a liking to him, and so does another team member Yan Hao, while Si Nan mistakenly thinks that Zhou Rong and Yan Hao are a couple together instead. As they flee from one city to another trying to get back to the 118 base, they realize the situation and virus is worser than they thought. They have to fight to survive while also figure out who Si Nan is, and why he’s a wanted individual by authorities from another country.

*A pretty accurate representation of a zombie apocalypse I have to say, I had Resident Evil flashbacks when I was reading this, people start dying right off the bat, but nothing hurts more than 2ha so I only teared up at minor character deaths

Read:

Novel (Online) | Novel (Print) - December 2020 Print | Novel Translations 

Characters:

1. 司南 Si Nan - Amazing pouty and fierce mix-blood blond-haired omega who has amnesia and doesn’t even know his own name. He sees some product in a convenience store where he meets Zhou Rong for the first time that has the words 司南 on it and decides that his name for now. Combat specialist and can take out a lot of zombies just on his own - he’s also immune to the zombie virus but they don’t know this until much later. He doesn’t go with the shady troop that rescued him initially, but with Zhou Rong because he’s intrigued by how brash and kind and a bit dumb this Captain is. Masquerades as a beta with the help of suppressants

He has a stepbrother (an alpha) who tortured him for many years due to Si Nan’s special condition and the mystery surrounding his childhood with his scientist mother and dead-but-terribly-revived father. Said stepbrother also wants to mate with him because he ‘loves’ him but is just insane af. 

Si Nan actually met Zhou Rong when they were much younger before this whole zombie thing came along, and Si Nan actually pretended to be a helpless participant of the competition they were in and lets Zhou Rong help him, only to steal away the prize at the very last moment. He liked Zhou Rong a lot then, but due to him being taken hostage technically by his stepbrother and also his allegiance to a Western state (he’s mixed blood, stepbrother is American-ish) they were unable to be together. 

He’s compassionate, but doesn’t show mercy to anyone who doesn’t deserve it. Like Zhou Rong, he wants to save everyone they possibly can, but they’re not dumb enough to think they can save everyone. As he travels with Zhou Rong and his team and other civilians, he starts to remember little things about himself and is caught by his stepbrother again midway through the novel, and just as he despairs that no one will ever save a monster like him, Zhou Rong turns up to do just that.

2. 周戎 Zhou Rong - Extremely confident, brash but handsome and strategic alpha Captain of the 118 unit, a special unit which was sent out a few months prior to the start of the book to clear out regions of civilians, but they lose touch with a major city and headquarters, and are forced to find ways to return to big HQ amidst unusual bursts of zombie attacks and a new strain of zombies who were infected without being bitten. Masquerades as a beta, like the rest of his team.

He loses a lot of his team along the way, and has to carry the burden of killing them before they turn at their requests, and also promising to find their families and take care of them for his dead team members. He wants to save everyone, but also knows that with dwindling supply to food, medicine etc. they can only choose their battles along the way. 

Takes a huge liking to strong Si Nan, unknowing that he’s the boy he met and fell in love with when they were younger. Because of the competition then, despite Si Nan winning over him, he decides to openly court Si Nan after the competition, and brings flowers to go see him, only to see Si Nan being given a temporary claiming bite on the back of his neck by another man (the stepbrother). Dejected and devastated, his first budding love kind of ended there, and from then on he openly disses omegas as he thinks that Si Nan basically seduced him to deceive him, and that all the affection they shared during the days of the competition in the wild were fake.

After the truth about Si Nan is out, he does a 180 hahahaha, and Si Nan forgives him XD 

3. 颜豪 Yan Hao - Another alpha-hiding-as-a-beta team member of Zhou Rong’s unit. After Si Nan saves him twice, he falls in love with Si Nan, not knowing that Si Nan thinks that Zhou Rong and himself are together. His feelings after are known to Si Nan, but Zhou Rong and he openly (and hilariously) fight for Si Nan’s affections. Zhou Rong is way more direct than Yan Hao is though, and Si Nan obviously likes Zhou Rong much more than he does Yan Hao, so naturally he was kicked out of the competition hahaha. He’s very sporting about it though!

Other Things I Like in the Novel:

Zhou Rong calls himself Rong-ge, asks everyone to call him that, he takes on the brotherly protector role in the team and amongst the civilians he rescued - Tells Si Nan to call for Rong-ge whenever he’s in danger and he’ll turn up - So there’s a part where Si Nan is bombarded with his memories while he’s about to be kidnapped by his stepbrother and also chased down by incoming hordes of zombies, and he yells out for Rong-ge, and Rong-ge really turns up ;-;

Si Nan is pouty and glowering all the time, a bit cold and aloof at other times, but he’s always drawn to Zhou Rong’s warmth

After they confirm their feelings for each other and spend his heat together, they are literally inseparable, like forever holding hands and looking out for each other like they go from flirty at 20% to 200% as a couple midway through the novel

Si Nan kicks ass, all the time! He’s super good at fighting

Zhou Rong promises to get Si Nan a huge rock as an engagement ring but he spends all his check on the families of his dead team members at the end of the novel, and Si Nan teases him, “So what are you going to use to afford my ring now huh?” Also, they’re just recovering from the zombie apocalypse so the commercialisation of marriages will once again have to wait, but Zhou Rong literally does turn up with a bigass ridiculous diamond ring (from where they raided a diamond ring story during a mission) and presents it to him

Yan Hao always teases Si Nan for how he thought him and Zhou Rong were together, because both men are always rough-housing and fighting like actual brothers than lovers XD

Yan Hao tells Zhou Rong that they should compete fairly for SI Nan’s affections, and Zhou Rong rolls his eyes and grabs Si Nan over and kisses him full on on the lips while Yan Hao splutters in defeat

The novel depicts deaths and helplessness really, really well. LIke seriously, I almost couldn’t finish it but it’s actually a pretty nice novel that doesn’t focus entirely on the doom and gloom of the apocalypse

[minmotl]

I don’t think anyone needs me to do a why-you-should-read for 2ha because I’m late af to the party, but no danmei rec is complete this year without 2ha and shizun and mo ran! I have feels okay, a lot of them!!!! Like?!! CHU WANNING?!!! So ethereal and gorgeous and deserves everything in the world, and also a shrine in my room dedicated to the beauty and grace and power that is shizun.

So here’s me trying to summarize and also delve into specific parts of 2ha as much as I can, although because I’m new to the fandom I’d say don’t take my word for it entirely XD It’s just Hao Yi XIng (Immortality) is coming out soon and we’re all gonna lost our shit, and it’s cool to have read the novel before the show comes out. This will be the first of… five parts I think to a full 2ha post, but no worries, I won’t like vomit em all out in the first week of January.

We can all agree on a shizun shrine though. Right? RIGHT?!!

Anyway with this one I’ve basically done 10 recs before 2021 approaches, so here’s the compilation:

My Top 2020 Danmei Rec List

Another Rec List

Enter 2021 with these Danmei Novels (with full descriptions + links)!

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

Summary:

Emperor of the cultivation world, Taxian-jun (also known as Mo Ran or Mo Weiyu) has basically committed every sin there is and has at the point right before his death, slaughtered and killed innumerable people. The novel starts with Taxian-jun’s death as he kills himself, tired and weary of the world especially after his shizun, Chu Wanning died. He wakes up in his teenage body, in the first year he became a disciple, and decides that he has a chance to redo everything - to keep the love of his life, Shi Mei, from dying and to ensure that his cruel and hateful shizun, Chu Wanning, will not get the chance to let Shi Mei die again.

As his teenage, young self, however, as much as Mo Ran hates and resents CWN, he recalls all the times he spent with CWN in his previous life, where he made him his consort after stripping away all his cultivation and powers, wanting to punish him for not saving Shi Mei by keeping him at his side in that position. He lusts after CWN in this present timeline, remembering all the times they were in bed together, but is also conflicted about his shizun because on one hand, he hates him, but on the other hand, he can’t help but keep noticing shizun and paying attention to what he does. 

As he goes through the same events that he experienced in his first life as a disciple, Mo Ran continues to hate CWN but begins to see his actions in different light. He always thought that CWN thought him to be inferior, and that CWN was a pretentious, arrogant asshole, but as he goes through these same events with different changes (for example, he recalled sitting out of his very first mission with CWN and Shi Mei, but found himself actively involved, working together with his shizun in this present life), the time spent together allows him to better understand CWN’s actions now and also back then in their previous life when he was still a disciple.

CWN on the other hand, despite how he supposedly treats Mo Ran, actually dotes on and is very fond of Mo Ran (this was the case in the previous life, not that he has any recollection of that, and also in this life). He thinks that he is not good-looking and is undeserving of attention, concern and love, and so only knows how to quietly give and makes sacrifices without asking for anything in return. He knows that Mo Ran likes Shi Mei, and is both depressed and angry about that on his own.

As Mo Ran gets to know CWN all over again (and also hurting him here and there in the process), they reach the fated battle where CWN let Shi Mei die (in the previous life) in this life, and desperate still to keep Shi Mei from dying, he replaces Shi Mei’s role in the battle and nearly dies himself.

From then on, truths are revealed about both the previous and current timeline, and Mo Ran has to chase and woo his shizun back, all the while trying to figure out what is the mysterious force that sent him back in time to his current timeline and what danger lies ahead for him and CWN as they try to basically save the cultivation world from destruction.

- Timelines:

0.5 refers to Taxian-Jun and Chu Wanning as Chu Fei (Consort Chu) 

1.0 refers to Mo Ran as a teenager and Chu Wanning before the events of THAT battle

2.0 is when Mo Ran becomes Mo-zongshi and the Chu Wanning then as they date properly, fall in love, all the UST etc. hahahaha

- Chapters where everyone will warn you to prepare yourself for:

278-280, and no one can tell me otherwise

*This is also a highly contentious danmei novel, some for good reason, most of the times for dumb reasons. Do see the trigger warnings here on the sort-of official 2ha carrd, but also do read my thoughts/disclaimers at the bottom of the post.

*There are also some spoilers below, but none that’s really significant. However, just in case, do skip!

Read:

Novel (Online) | Novel (Print) - Pirated, Uncensored Version + Official Vol. 1 Dec 2020 Print (Censored) | Novel Translations | Fan Audio Drama | Manhua - Slated for Nov/Dec 2020 on Kuaikan but has since been delayed

*Normally I wouldn’t put any pirated version links, but this current one is the only one that has a proper print and the extras and notes are really hard to find even online, but this pirated version has compiled everything, no section is missing. But of course please do support the original versions, both online on JJWXC and the physical prints

Watch:

Hao Yi Xing (Immortality) - Slated for Spring 2021 release (TBA) | 50 episodes

Last I heard, they were supposed to be cleared for a Feb/Mar launch this month, but the review told them to make some adjustments so it’s likely to be delayed

I mean, for good reason, because there is NO WAY you can run platonic for the live-action based on the story, and the production itself has also reassured fans that they would be doing the novel justice (and from leaks, this does seem to be the case and damn, there’s NO WAY you can go pure platonic on this one, even bromance is far-fetched)

Luo Yunxi is a god among peasants, and Chen Feiyu is cute af

Some details are definitely being changed, for e.g. CWN obviously can’t be a Consort, so he’s been relegated to the Zither Player role (but if I’m not wrong the role itself like traditionally is also half euphemism for someone who sleeps with the Emperor as well)

2.0 Mo Ran - 1.0 Chu Wanning - 2.0 Chu Wanning 

1.0 Mo Ran - 0.5 Chu Wanning - 0.5 Mo Ran

Characters:

1. 墨燃 Mo Ran - His courtesy name is 墨微雨 Mo Weiyu and in the 0.5 version he called himself 踏仙君 Taxian-jun, which literally means a king who steps on deities/cultivators (fitting, since he slaughtered a lot of them). Initially, Mo Ran actually chose CWN as his shizun because he was the best-looking, and that was possibly one of the only times someone actually chose CWN voluntarily, and for that he always had a special place in CWN’s heart. 

As Taxian-jun (0.5) he forced CWN to marry him after stripping him of his powers and cultivation, imprisoned him for basically 8 years in the palace. He kills himself a little after CWN’s death, and then wakes up as CWN’s disciple again as a young teenager. He’s the last of CWN’s three disciples, and has a big, warm and kind heart. He also obviously was very fond of his shizun before things went spiralling out of control for various reasons that will smack you in the face after you finish 311 chapters.

He’s very intelligent, having actually mastered two of the three forbidden spells of the cultivation world in the 0.5 timeline. In the 1.0 timeline, he’s obviously still pretty talented/gifted for a disciple. In his past life, his chosen weapon was a sword called Bu Gui, and then in the present 1.0 timeline, he was given a whip that is connected to CWN’s whip (i.e. they were made from the same tree and were actually one full piece together before they broke into two). He accidentally names the whip “Jian Gui”, and everyone facepalms at that.

After he and CWN get past like….some of their misunderstandings (about maybe 70%, not that they knew it then), Mo Ran becomes full on devoted to his shizun, only has eyes for his shizun, totally clear that he perhaps liked Shi Mei, but never as much as he loves shizun, which is pretty amazing.

As Mo-zongshi (2.0), he’s super ripped, and CWN totally thirsts after him too XD

Has a really sad past that will only be revealed much later, and in the present timeline he is very much doted on by his uncle and auntie, who are Xue Meng’s parents.

2. 楚晚宁 Chu Wanning - WHERE DO I EVEN START. Talented, legendary gifted cultivator with not one but THREE weapons, in which the one he uses the most is Tian Wen, the whip. He doesn’t usually use Jiu Ge, the zither weapon, or his sword, Huai Sha, unless absolutely necessary. Also called 玉衡 as a title (晚夜玉衡 in full i.e. Yu Heng of the Night Sky), and in their sect, he’s referred to as Elder Yu Heng (玉衡长老).

Art picked by bookstores from various artists for the official print:

He has a really bad temper and takes no bullshit, and despite being really handsome, his self-esteem is down in the gutters - he thinks he’s not worthy of love and attention, and I recall in the first arc he always thought “who would love someone like me”. Because he’s so fearsome, other disciples don’t dare to talk to him or go near him, and he always eats alone, tends to his own wounds alone and basically does everything alone. No one cares about whether he’s eaten, if he’s hurt or not, etc. 

They’ve basically placed him on such a high pedestal that they forget that he’s just a person too. His bad temper also comes out usually when disciples think they can joke around with him or tease him etc. Everyone covets him in a sense that all sects want him to join them, and everyone knows him. He just takes no shit and kicks ass all the time.

Fond of Mo Ran (not romantically) when he first chooses him as his shizun when he is much younger. His romantic feelings for Mo Ran develop later, but he was first drawn to Mo Ran simply because he could feel how warm and kind Mo Ran’s soul was, and basically how he brightened up his life by not being afraid of him etc.

He does a lot of things for Mo Ran silently without him knowing, and lets Mo Ran misunderstand him on multiple occasions, knowing that even if he cleared things up, it wouldn’t change how much Mo Ran likes Shi Mei.

After the events of that single battle, in the 2.0 timeline, it’s CWN’s turn to be slightly oblivious as Mo Ran tries to care for him and woo him and let him know that he’s loved, but once they get past that, it’s so much love istg it makes you believe in love and weep all at the same time.

3. 师眛 Shi Mei - Beautiful gorgeous Shi Mei who’s Mo Ran loves and is fighting to keep alive in the 1.0 timeline. Shi Mei’s cultivation is in the direction of healing, and thus the way he trains is different from how the rest of them trains. He’s very respectful and considerate to his shizun, and is also the person Mo Ran thinks treats him the best. Mo Ran loves his special spicy wontons as well ;-;

4. 薛蒙 Xue Meng - Mo Ran’s younger cousin who in the 0.5 timeline hates him for taking shizun away and for killing his parents. In 1.0, he just detests Mo Ran and calls him a dog all the time. He’s been spoilt as the only child of his parents, and is also expected to take over the sect one day from his father. This gives him a bit of a complex XD He’s considered a little brash and impulsive, and definitely a little narcissistic as he thinks he’s the best looking so far, but he’s pretty much kind underneath all the preening. Has a huge sense of justice, and all he cares about are the people closest to him and his family. He also worships shizun a lot and always wants his attention, which shizun will give depending on the situation.

5. 梅寒雪／梅含雪 Mei Han Xue & Mei Han Xue - This ain’t a typo hahaha these two brothers’ names a re pronounced exactly the same but the character for ‘Han’ is different. One of them is flamboyant and a playboy, another is a little stoic and serious, with the latter always cleaning up after the former while the former breaks the hearts of women all over the region. They don’t feature very prominently in the first arc and come out more in 2.0 onwards, but it’s good to note that the both of them are possibly Xue Meng’s closest friends in both the 0.5 and 2.0 timelines, and after.

My Favourite Arcs & Moments:

The 1.0 arc is the most fun, I have to say - The plot isn’t as complicated yet then, and all you have is Mo Ran being his rebellious, horny teenager self going against shizun and also being confused by how much he wants shizun etc. 

Xia Sini arc - There’s the arc where CWN becomes a kid version of himself in size due to injuries where he’s called Xia Sini, and masquerades as a junior in the sect while he’s in that form - He also forms a bond with Mo Ran in that form, as Mo Ran seems to take a liking to this cute younger junior who acts like an adult

Hell arc - I will not give any spoilers but damn it was both hilarious and also my heart died at the same time

Farming arc - Everyone who has read 2ha knows of farming arc in 2.0 timeline, because we get two idiots thirsting quite obviously for each other, and also Mo Ran half naked all the time while shizun not quite deciding whether he wants to cover him up or stare at him for longer

The huge reveal arc - This one ripped my heart out, stomped on it, and then went for my eyes because I was crying so hard and for two days straight. The painful and devastating part is when Meatbun FINALLY links all the missing parts together and connects all the arcs and you’re literally slapped in the face with new revelations and a totally new understanding of what happened in 0.5 and 1.0 and then you wanna slap yourself too because now you’ve done it, you’re in this fandom, you’re in this black hole and your heart and brain and soul hurt

————

In terms of moments, I frickin died at the part where 1.0 Mo Ran first gets his whip and there’s a rule where whatever you say after you hold onto the weapon has to be the weapon’s name - And because I think Mo Ran trips or something, he said “Ah shit!” = “啊，见鬼” - And he inadvertently named his whip the equivalent of damn it/shit/crap basically, while everyone including shizun was like “damn it you stupid dog”

1.0 Shizun getting flashbacks from 0.5 and thinking that it’s just because he’s too horny and sinful and that’s why he’s dreaming of sex with a different Mo Ran like that (but it’s not, they actually happened in 0.5)

When Xia Sini waits for Mo Ran to have dinner with chicken soup he cooked and Mo Ran abandoned him to go find Shi Mei, and then ate up all the soup by himself without realizing that Xia Sini hadn’t eaten yet because he was waiting for him. Xia Sini says he’s a person too, he gets hungry, he hurts, etc. and I was like SHIZUNNNNNNNNN!!!!!

The fact that CWN is an idiot at life in general like cleaning or cooking or anything else - even 1.0 Mo Ran before he understood CWN was like “how the hell is he still alive”

FIREWORKS MOMENT y’all!!! It fulfils the unrequited love angst but also a bit of resolution, and from the leaks of the live-action drama for THIS VERY MOMENT we are all gonna die

WHEN MO RAN KNEELS DOWN IN FRONT OF SHIZUN!!!! 

I also liked it when CWN seemed surprised and also proud at all that Mo Ran had achieved as Mo-zongshi later

My Thoughts:

(Under the cut)

Keep reading

[minmotl]

HAPPY READING IN 2021! | Min’s Why You Should Reads - Pt. 1

As promised, this is a full compilation of Why You Should Reads hahahaha - I’ve done 10 over the past week! ENJOYYYYY <3

Full Rec Here ✨

Full Rec Here ✨

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Full Rec Here ✨

Full Rec Here ✨

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Full Rec Here ✨

Full Rec Here ✨

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Full Rec Here ✨

[minmotl]

I’m trying to do a nice series compilation of danmeis to read in time for New Year’s maybe! Anyway also just a note that all the images I use are either from the official manhua, donghua, audio dramas OR official artwork as provided by official China bookstores when they do prints (and have obtained permission from artists on Lofter to use their artwork for merch/prints etc.)

My Top 2020 Danmei Rec List

Another Rec List

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

Summary: 

Yu She (the one in black) and Zhong Wan (the one in green) were close friends for a short period of time when they were younger, but unfortunately their identities and positions placed them on opposite sides of the fight for the throne (for their parents’ generations). Yu She’s family supported the Second Prince and Zhong Wan was taken in by the Sixth Prince’s family when he was younger, but in the end it was the Second Prince who ended up getting to the throne, while the Sixth Prince was accused of treason and died somewhere far away at war after being captured. 

Zhong Wan’s only wish was to keep the Sixth Prince’s children - Xuan Rui and a pair of twins, Xuan Yu and Xuan Congxin - safe, and so he moves them to another province and asks the Emperor (the former Second Prince) to demote Xuan Rui’s status to prove that they are no threat to the Emperor, if only to stay alive for another day.

However, their days of hardship have only just begun in their new home, and Zhong Wan decides to namedrop Yu She, whose family is so powerful now, to make sure that other people will not bully his charges. He claims that Yu She loves him and that he was wooing Zhong Wan back in the days they knew each other so that officials and others would treat the children under his care better. A few years pass and Yu She doesn’t expose Zhong Wan. Zhong Wan thinks they can go on like this forever, until the Emperor asks Xuan Rui and the twins to head back to the palace for a visit.

Zhong Wan meets Yu She again, but the boy he knew, who was gentle, a stickler for rules and a proper, well-mannered person who always got embarrassed and irritated when Zhong Wan flirted with or teased him, has changed almost completely. Cue palace conspiracies again, brothers fighting for the throne, scheming consorts etc. XD

Read:

Novel (Online) | Novel (Print) - August 2020 | Novel Translations | Manhua | Audio Drama

Characters:

1.  钟宛 Zhong Wan - Also called Zhong Gui Yuan (归远) and his childhood nickname is 宝宝 (bao bao = baby), something he’s very embarrassed about. He’s a righteous but outgoing, sometimes flirtatious young man who lost his parents when he was very young, and then was taken in by the Sixth Prince and his wife, who married each other for political reasons and weren’t close until Zhong Wan turned up and got them to interact more with each other, helping them to fall in love, and that’s how he got three more siblings - Xuan Rui, Xuan Congxin and Xuan Yu. The prince and his wife doted on him a lot, but he was very aware always that he was not their son, and after the Sixth Prince was accused and died, he took it on himself to keep the other three children alive by any means possible.

He spent a month or so in jail after the Sixth Prince was accused of treason as interrogators attempted to torture him into speaking out against the Sixth Prince, but managed to keep silent. Yu She rescued him by paying an exorbitant bail for him (he wouldn’t know about this until later), and he stayed with Yu She for almost half a year until he ‘ran away’ to take care of his three siblings, so to speak.

He starts to fabricate stories about how Yu She likes him, and was wooing him, but they weren’t exactly fake entirely because he extrapolated from actual events (when he tried to tease/flirt with Yu She so he would let him go) that were actually pretty like flirtatious in nature (the both of them are entirely oblivious). 

His priority will always be the safety of the children, but when he returns to the Imperial City and realizes that Yu She has changed, he begins to plot to stay at his side, worried about him (and also to rediscover his feelings for Yu She).

Also has a weak body as he was poisoned when he was 15-16 by someone close to him, faints and gets sick frequently in the novel hahaha (I have a type).

2. 郁赦 Yu She - His courtesy name is Zi You (子宥), which Zhong Wang calls him by. He is the only son of Marquis Yu, and was study mates with Zhong Wan when they were younger. After his parents contributed to the downfall of the Sixth Prince (as they supported the Second Prince) and Zhong Wan ends up imprisoned, Yu She pays A LOT OF MONEY to get him out after Zhong Wan is basically put up for sale to anyone who wants him, to keep him safe from those who want to harm/humiliate him (because Zhong Wan is so handsome/beautiful as well). 

He was originally unable to handle Zhong Wan, who keeps teasing him and accusing him of liking him etc., and let Zhong Wan go when he plotted to leave him, understanding that he had a duty to keep the Sixth Prince’s children safe. In the years that Zhong Wan is away, he discovers a secret that causes him to engage in self-destructive behaviour (talking back to the Emperor, ingesting deadly poison etc.), and realizes that his parents are not who he thought they were. He becomes unpredictable, either doing dangerous things, or refusing to do normal things (instead of studying or reading for example, he spends most of his days reading published fanfiction about him and Zhong Wan).

When he first heard of the rumours about him and Zhong Wan, he descends into this spiral of doubt, wondering if what Zhong Wan fabricated was true and if it was his memory that was wrong. He falls sick thinking so hard about the time he spent with Zhong Wan before LMAO, before deciding that he does like Zhong Wan, but until Zhong Wan returned to the city, he never once thought of acting on it.

3. Xuan Rui, Xuan Congxin & Xuan Yu

Xuan Rui is the Sixth Prince’s oldest son and was old enough to be aware of what was going on when his parents died. He’s very timid, paranoid and easily swayed by others, while his younger siblings, six-year old twins Xuan Congxin (left below) and Xuan Yu (right below) were brought up entirely by Zhong Wan, and Congxin in particular is much more mature/steady in personality than her two older brothers, and also knows to always stand on Zhong Wan’s side.

4. Lin Si - Zhong Wan’s childhood friend who was also brought up by the Sixth Prince and his wife. He’s mute, and a bodyguard of sorts, helping Zhong Wan to gather information from the city while he’s away. After Zhong Wan left with the Sixth Prince’s children, Lin Si stays with the current 4th Prince, and also falls in love with him. It’s unrequited until he kisses the prince and then disappears, leaving the prince to look everywhere for him XD It’s hinted that they do end up together.

Other Things I Like in the Novel:

Zhong Wan’s childhood nickname is 宝宝 lmaooooo and Yu She threatens to torture Lin Si (like about to torture him), and Lin Si was like ‘what does he want to know that he would torture me for it’, then finds out that Yu She is about to hurt him to find out what Zhong Wan’s nickname and he’s like wtf??!!!

Yu She has this steward who was bullied by Zhong Wan a lot while he was staying there with them over that half a year, and is also the biggest Yu She/Zhong Wan shipper even though Zhong Wan was really the troublemaker then

When they find out who the person who poisoned Zhong Wan was, Congxin is the first person to step up for Zhong Wan, and turns against the person who poisoned him

Yu She keeps forcing Zhong Wan to read out their fanfiction novels aloud, much to Zhong Wan’s mortification, but after Zhong Wan realizes he likes Yu She for real, he starts being really forward with his want for him, and it is Yu She who gets embarrassed

Yu She is so embarrassed that he schedules days where Zhong Wan can/cannot touch him, and sets limits to the number of times he can kiss him etc. LMAOOOOO in the beginning of their relationship I frickin died

[minmotl]

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

My Top 2020 Danmei Rec List

Another Rec List

- 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!!!!

[minmotl]

Ooooh yeah okay barely a day later and I’m back with a new rec, I just finished this yesterday (if y’all are wondering if I do anything else but read, I have my binge-reading periods not gonna lie, especially when China bookstores REFUSE to give me a break and keep coming up with new shit)

My Top 2020 Danmei Rec List

Another Rec List

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

Summary:

Shen Qiao is the elusive sect leader of Xuandu Shan (Mt. Xuandu) who is known for his legendary sword skills, not that many have seen him before. He battles Kun Xie, the powerful leader of another sect one day, and is sent crashing down the mountain where they had their battle at. Against all odds, he lives, but is saved by leading demonic sect leader Yan Wushi, who happened to be passing by. 

Yan Wushi is the opposite of Shen Qiao - he does not believe that there are truly good people in the world and any individual, in the face of self-interest or fear, will turn selfish and resentful. To him, there are only two kinds of people in the world - worthy opponents, or scum not even worth looking at. He is arrogant, borders on the side of insanity, and cares for and trusts in no one.

Having heard of Shen Qiao’s personality, Yan Wushi first saves him out of fun and games. Shen Qiao has lost his memory, and Yan Wushi is curious to see how he will deal with hardship and challenges, including the loss of his martial arts skills, the loss of his sight, and faced with a shidi, shixiong and other elders in his sect who may have sabotaged his battle with Kun Xie, leading to his fall. Yan Wushi actively does things that drives Shen Qiao into despair, and one incident almost causes Shen Qiao’s death.

Shen Qiao treats every person he meets very well, even those who returned his kindness with cruelty, and even after being betrayed, the seeds of resentment do not emerge in him. No matter how Yan Wushi betrays him and dismisses his offer of friendship, Shen Qiao was still willing to go find him when he was in danger. In the end, Yan Wushi finally realizes that this is the one person who has exceeded all his expectations, who is truly good because he can be, and falls in love with him.

Cue Yan Wushi having to chase an oblivious Shen Qiao back who no longer believes in a single word Yan Wushi says.

This is a story of two people with entirely different and mutually exclusive world views that somehow come to understand and love each other, while still retain their own views. Yan Wushi thinks that Shen Qiao’s kindness is weakness and that he is gullible, but Shen Qiao is not so much as gullible as he is just willing to give someone else the benefit of the doubt first, and he does learn to look at things with a more critical eye after spending time with Yan Wushi. Is Shen Qiao still kind and gorgeous and everything? Hell yes. Does Yan Wushi still tease him for it? Of course. Similarly, Shen Qiao is unable and also unwilling to change how Yan Wushi approaches things and people, but for Shen Qiao, Yan Wushi is willing to make compromises in action, even if he doesn’t agree with what Shen Qiao thinks.

*Not as angsty as I made it out to be but the subtext is quite amazing - BUT!!!! You get like a lot of vague kissing for most of the novel. Shen Qiao remains firstly oblivious, then secondly goes straight into denial, while Yan Wushi looks on adoringly. The romance starts… for real… from the epilogues onwards HAHAHA I cannot even!!!!

Read:

Novel (Online) | Novel (Print) - Not Available Now | Novel Translations | Upcoming Donghua - 山河剑心 | Audio Drama - S1 & S2 

Characters:

1. 沈峤 Shen Qiao (Right) - He’s described as one of the most beautiful/handsome men the wuxia world has ever seen, and is his deceased shifu’s second disciple. He was chosen as the successor to the sect leader position of Mt. Xuandu, which has stayed neutral for decades (in a world where sects can ally themselves with emperors/kingdoms etc.). He is poisoned on his fated battle day with Kun Xie by someone he trusted, falls off the mountain and is rescued by Yan Wushi. 

For the first part of the novel he’s visually impaired but this helps him to train his hearing. Wanted to be friends with Yan Wushi because he believed they could be, but is betrayed by him shortly after and loses all his power to fight his enemy. Instead of dying, he is saved by his to-be disciple Shi Wu and realizes the secret to cultivating his powers because of that.

He’s kind but not gullible, he gives everyone the benefit of the doubt, but he’s definitely not weak or soft. Despite losing his martial arts and skills twice, he comes back stronger than before. He doesn’t understand if Yan Wushi is toying with him or is being real especially after he loses trust in the man, but their fates are intertwined together (or Yan Wushi is actually that shameless and a stalker lmao).

He faints a lot, throws up blood a lot, is carried by Yan Wushi A LOT.

2. 晏无师 Yan Wushi (Left) - A little insane, a little sadistic, takes joy in seeing someone despair. He’s very good looking, has a streak of white in his hair and ranks second (or first) in terms of martial arts and skills. He also has an official role in the palace and is advisor to the Zhou emperor. Every other demonic and good sect in the world fears him. Is also kind of a hoe.

He told Shen Qiao once that he does not need friends, only worthy opponents, before he surrendered Shen Qiao to an enemy of his. He also plants a demon heart seed into Shen Qiao (so that he can go through demonic cultivation), much to Shen Qiao’s fury and devastation, but Shen Qiao manages to survive that. After he recovers, he hears of plans to get rid of Yan Wushi and goes to save him instead, not because he trusts/thinks of Yan Wushi as a friend at this point but wanting to prove to Yan Wushi that even though he pushed Shen Qiao to the brink of no return, Shen Qiao survived, under his own terms, and stayed true to himself.

Because of that, Yan Wushi does a 180 on Shen Qiao, starts believing in him, starts thinking he’s cute and everything. Starts shamelessly flirting (and getting rejected by Shen Qiao) and finally gets his man when he’s in utmost danger at the end.

Other Things I Like in the Novel:

Shen Qiao is so damn cute?!!! And so skilled?! Like because everyone looked down on him after he failed the battle with Kun Xie not knowing that he was poisoned and sabotaged, and the next moment he flashes his sword out in a fight and they’re all like damnnnnnn

Yan Wushi is hurt severely once and as he recovers, his consciousness is split into four parts, and two of those personalities come out to cling on to Shen Qiao, and Yan Wushi gets jealous of himself

Shen Qiao’s two disciples are super cute!!! And then he picks up another cute boy along the way closer to the end

He faints a lot and throws up blood A LOT if they were doing a live-action for this I’d vote for Zhu Yilong for the role, and he also keeps getting kidnapped?! It’s hilarious

Whenever Yan Wushi tries to be nice to him (feed him, kiss him) Shen Qiao will flush and tell him to please be respectful and then they’ll exchange parries and blows as Yan Wushi DOES NOT GIVE UP on feeding him and Shen Qiao is TRYING TO AVOID THE SPOON 

Yan Wushi knows that Shen Qiao has feelings for him in the end but is just too prideful and embarrassed to admit it, and so he pretends to be cold to him and Shen Qiao panics and is confused, then goes and asks random strangers on how to woo a “crazy, stubborn, more skilled” significant other - In the end he initiates his first kiss with Yan Wushi and Yan Wushi forgives him LOL

They go to an inn the first time they sleep with each other and then the help at the inn hears like noise coming from upstairs right, and asks the innkeeper “oh my god are they okay” and innkeeper says “they’re doing things that deities do” ????!!

Yan Wushi likes to squash Shen Qiao’s face when he’s not awake so that his lips form like an unglam pout, then he laughs at it - Ownself amuse ownself