#The Rule of Wen and Jing

[sunderwight]

thinking about reverse SVSSS AU where the demon characters are human and the human characters are demons (LBH is still both), but cultivation society operates more like MDZS so that the demon characters can preserve their ruthless clan politics and inheritance systems, and but demon society (which the formerly human characters are now part of) operates more like the ghosts in TGCF, where it's mostly a free-for-all of powerful demons establishing whatever kind of system they please in whatever space they can carve out. I think that'd preserve the meritocracy elements and "twelve different sects in a trench coat" qualities that cang qiong has as an organization.

so the peaks are instead these sort of liminal space cities which are ruled by the most powerful/influential demons, who choose their successors (at least ostensibly) based purely on talent and ability. instead of the sprawling alternate dimension demonic realms of PIDW, they're more like pocket dimensions which can only be accessed if you know the secret ways, existing in the shadows of otherwise seemingly normal towns, mountains, cities, forests, etc. humans sometimes wander into them by mistake, although whether they can get back out again or not depends a lot on which demon lord's domain they were unlucky enough to stumble upon.

Mobei Jun and Sha Hualing are still the heirs of their respective sects/clans, which are among the most powerful sects around. The CQMS peak lords are the rulers of twelve allied demon settlements. Tianlang Jun was the heir of the strongest sect, sort of like Wen Ruohan if Wen Ruohan's biggest motivation was to have his Hot Girl Summer rather than conquering everything, but after his and Zhuzhi Lang's disappearances their sect lost a lot of clout. Su Xiyan hailed from a wealthy demon phantom palace, known for its exceptional hostility towards humans (this version of HHP definitely literally eats people).

The demons-turned-humans are still exactly as cutthroat and dubious as in PIDW. Sha Hualing still wants to kill her father to take his position, Mobei Jun's uncle still tries to assassinate him, the cultivation world has an underground business in trafficking demon body parts (officially decried, but unofficially often consumed to help boost cultivation or create certain tools), the sects often go to war with one another and tend to wreak havoc on the secular human governments and societies whenever they do. All that sort of stuff.

On the humans-turned-demons end, demons in this setting are sometimes born the same way as humans -- two parents of compatible genital orientation get it on and some months later etc etc, which is how siblings like Liu Qingge and Liu Mingyan happen. But sometimes demons also just sort of manifest out of concentrated pockets of demonic energy. Some demons come from humans (SJ and YQY were both born from the unquiet ghosts of slave children), some come from animals (SQH was a pet hamster who was tormented enough to become a demon hamster, and then cultivated enough to take on a human shape), some come from collisions of powerful elemental forces such as volcanoes or floods (Su Xiyan).

So demons have a lot of apprenticeship and teacher-and-student style familial relationships, and demons looking to build families often will risk venturing out into the human realms and trying to find other isolated demons to bring into their fold. Demons alone in the human world are highly vulnerable to being hunted, killed, or enslaved. This is also why there's such a high percentage of "orphans", and contributes even more to a demon like SJ (no parents) resenting a demon like Luo Binghe (found and adopted by a kindly older demon almost right away).

So in the original PIDW, Luo Binghe is a kid who thinks he's a demon and grows up under the cruel and resentful talons of the Lord of Qing Jing, Shen Qingqiu. Every twenty or so years the demon settlements manifest much more strongly in the human realms, during which time they are a lot more vulnerable to attacks from humans. To help deal with this this, the demon rulers traditionally host big, dramatic, scary events that bring everyone within a certain geographic range together, the better to put any righteous sects off the idea of trying to single them out and attack. Most of the smaller settlements clear out entirely in preparation, leaving "ghost towns" where the buildings appear but the demons and anything too valuable to risk leaving behind are all gone.

This Demonic Alliance Conference is a time for contests, trials, matchmaking, partying, festive hunts, trading, and big displays of power. What could be a massive weakness instead becomes a big celebration, and a time for mingling and making new connections.

In PIDW, after suffering years of abuse at the hands of his cruel master, Luo Binghe attends the DAC in hopes of securing some better place for himself in demonic society. But when the righteous sects launch an unprecedented attack on the event, his human heritage is revealed, and Shen Qingqiu tosses him into the twilight space between realms in disgust. Binghe is forced to navigate the hollow and desolate place, locked into his newly-revealed and very weak human form, until he bonds with the legendary Xin Mo blade and effects his escape. Then he sets about bringing the righteous sects to heel (his bloodline means he's heir to one of the biggest sects around, even if they've fallen on hard times the past 20 or so years) and of course conquering the demon realms, and taking revenge on Shen Qingqiu, all while accumulating a record number of wives.

Shen Yuan transmigrates into Demon Lord Shen Qingqiu, ruler of Qing Jin settlement, a haunted bamboo forest in the most cursed mountain range ever.

Downsides -- he's of course destined to be dismembered and/or shoved into a pickle pot by the protagonist.

Upsides -- he's a demon with amazingly awesome demon traits! He has talons! Fangs! WINGS! Also, Binghe is a little demon bun and he is so cute, like a puppy with his fluffy wolf ears and baby claws and darling bright red eyes. Who could ever persecute such an adorable monster boy?! His tail literally wags when he's excited!

Plus Shen Yuan gets to spend as much time investigating cool beasts and other demons as he likes. He's in heaven. Well, not literally of course, but for his standards. Pretty close. Almost worth the price of admission!

[bloopitynoot]

Reading TGCF: Chapter 116

For those who don't know, I am reading TGCF for the first time and sharing my thoughts!

If you have not read it, there will be spoilers! Consider this a warning.

Also- if you want to follow along, I am aiming to post updates daily. You can find all the posts in the tag Bloopitynoot reads TGCF. You can also check out the intro post for context on my read BUT if you followed along with my SVSSS read, the rules and vibe are the same.

A soothing pot of white tea to end the day!

This is one of my favourite teas and I am so sad I only have a couple pots worth of it left. Since today was a further commute for work I thought it was worth it to treat myself.

This was a tiny chapter, but lets get into chapter 116!

She didn't even give him time to respond! Feng Xin is trying so hard to take responsibility but it's such a shit set of circumstance. p179

omg. I haven't even thought of that weird nursery rhyme until it was just brought up. ofc it all comes back to Jun Wu. p180

I love their plan to get the brocade immortal: wait till Jing Wen gets naked. p181

It's so tricky with this chest full of robes. Once again foiled by the where's waldo of it all. p183

"borrow spiritual power from me" LOL Hua Cheng you devious bastard p184

oh...why is it not working hmmm? p186

I will laugh so hard if its a ghost qi thing

I desperately want to know why the brocade immortal doesn't work for Hua Cheng and now Xie Lian! What is the loophole?!?

[wangxianficrecs]

Rewind 2023 - Follower Recs Part II

WangxianFicRecs - Rewind 2023

Before the year ends, we want to share more recs of your favourite stories that were published this year. All these recs were submitted to WangxianFicRecs anonymously and most of them without further comments, so you will have to check them out yourself~

Rewind 2023 - Follower Recs Part I

~*~

After I Met You

by Amandyalmonds

M, WIP, 78k, Wangxian

Summary: "They’re not going to go through with the marriage proposal though, right?” Jiang Cheng reasoned. “You’re ours. And surely the Lan sect wouldn’t want a huli jing, let alone the famed Hanguang-jun.” “Exactly," Wei Wuxian said with a grin. "The Lans are too stuck up to know how to handle someone like me, and they won’t risk forcing their precious Hanguang-jun into such a marriage.” Or, after the end of the war, Wei Wuxian is offered as the last known huli jing to marry into the Lan royal family. The only problem is that Wei Wuxian has never met the man he's marrying, and he's not sure he'll survive in a palace with over three-thousand rules.

~*~

it rains, it pours

by jublis

Not rated, 130k, Wangxian

Summary: Wei Wuxian dashes across the distance that separates him from his husband, like a child running through the dark as if that would lessen its existence. He grabs Lan Zhan’s hand and holds the arm close to his side, to a soft breath of laughter. “Come on, Hanguang-jun,” he half-whispers, because the atmosphere seems to call for it. “Light the way for us.” (Wei Wuxian has scarcely known fear to be gentle — and still. It's as if there’s something murmuring down the hallway, behind the closed door, next to the window in this howling storm: I’m here, I’m here, I’ve always been here…) Or, as Wei Wuxian starts to look into the reasons behind the unsettling notion that something is not quite right, something else starts to look back.

~*~

Take My Pieces, Make Me Whole

by InTheGreySpaces (@inthegreyspaces)

M, WIP, 203k, Wangxian

Summary: Lan Wangji reunites with Wei Wuxian in Yiling only to discover that their union in Xuanwu's Cave nearly three years ago had an outcome he never could have anticipated. Instead of leaving the Burial Mounds that evening, Lan Wangji stays, and his actions set in motion a series of events that will save Wei Wuxian and the Wens. But first, he must battle Wei Wuxian's own lack of self-worth, the clutching hold the resentful dead are determined to keep on their champion, the greed of Jin Guangshan, Jin Guangyao's machinations, his own Uncle's unbending disapproval, and the hatred of the Cultivation World. However, friends and allies are found in the least likeliest of places, and eventually, there is a light at the end of the single-log bridge.

~*~

The Housewife's Guide to Causing Chaos

by dvasva (@dvasva)

M, WIP, 127k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: “Of all the rotten luck I could have!" Outside, in between the gentle embrace of an imposing misty mountain and the caress of soft wind, stood the Cloud Recesses. It wasn’t a section that Wei Wuxian had recognized from his time in the sect, but the motifs of clouds and cranes in the buildings, the impeccable feng shui and carefully manicured paths, and the utter silence as the sect members slept peacefully, all burned themselves into Wei Wuxian’s eyes. No wonder the curtains were so firmly nailed to the walls! Any bit of demonic energy escaping the room could call down a veritable army of righteous cultivators! What sort of person in their right mind would dare to summon a spirit into their own body using resentful energy in the Cloud Recesses of all places? What kind of person would scoff so rudely at the Lan Clans most important rule, ‘Do not fraternize with evil?’ After being dead for four years, Wei Wuxian wakes up in a body he doesn't really feel comfortable with, in a place that he's sure wants him dead, and married to a man who surely hates him.

~*~

A Hop, Skip, and a Jump

by Prince_Enby (@enbiart)

T, WIP, 47k, Wangxian & LSZ/OYZZ

Summary: Two years after the events of Guanyin Temple, the Junior Quartet unknowingly walk into an array during a night hunt, and walk out into the middle of a war. None of them are even slightly prepared to deal with the opportunity dropped into their laps - and yet, despite it all, Ouyang Zizhen's biggest concern is somehow still the fact that everyone thinks he and Lan Sizhui are married.

~*~

fans for hanguang-jun

by saltyfeathers

M, 21k, Wangxian

Summary: “What I mean,” Wei Wuxian repeats with as much gravitas as he can muster, “is that every single day in their marriage bed, the Yiling Laozu sp—spears open the most esteemed Hanguang-jun on his—his mmmmmmonster cock!!!” wei wuxian gets kidnapped by a team of belligerent bottoms.

~*~

not wx in the fic

ruin this on me

by loosingletters (@loosingmoreletters)

E, 2k, MXY/WWX/XY

Summary: Mo Xuanyu raises his head from Wei Wuxian’s shoulder to mouth at the exposed skin at his neck, leaving bruises and red stains from his lip balm. He forewent the white foundation today; it is more of a hassle in bed than an enhancement, and he carefully avoids the delicately painted huadian from smearing. Wei Wuxian exhales, not quite a moan yet, and Mo Xuanyu grins against his skin before biting down. The Yiling Laozu is a kind master, sweet to his heir and family, but he is not a gentle man. His breathing hitches at the sudden pain, an approval on its own. Or, Mo Xuanyu pays special attention to his sect leader and shixiong.

~*~

💕

the past drifts away with the waves

by thelastdboy (@thelastdboyy)

E, WIP, 28k, Wangxian

Summary: The next time Wei Wuxian became aware of his surroundings and was able to form semi-coherent thoughts, Wen Zhuliu had just finished tying weights to his feet. Both his arm and his back were still bleeding and he felt as if he had been flayed. “Should I make it quick?” Wen Zhuliu asked him, offering a small mercy. But Wei Wuxian shook his head. “Give me your worst,” he snarled, his teeth coated in blood from where he had bitten his tongue at some point. “I will come back to end you all,” he promised darkly. “Very well,” Wen Zhuliu merely said and drowned him. Or: Yu Ziyuan cuts off Wei Wuxian's hand to appease the Wens. He gets drowned in the lake behind Lotus Pier and resentful energy transforms him into a river spirit. After avenging his own death, he finds his way to Yiling.

~*~

this story plus the lovely podfic

if this one could be ransomed

by harborshore

T, 2k, Wangxian

[podfic] if this one could be ransomed

by jennisaisquoi (@jennisaisquoi79)

T, 10-20 Minutes, Wangxian

Summary: Lan Wangji is too late to save A-Yuan. Sick with grief and pain, he throws himself back in time to try again. But he goes back too far.

~*~

a thousand lifetimes

by SapphyreLily (@sapphyrelily)

G, 2k, Wangxian

Summary: Immortal Sizhui doesn't always go looking for the reincarnations of his fathers, but they always find him, in the end.

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for these hard-working authors if you like – or think others might like – these stories.)

[sombredancer]

Asian dramas and relationship dynamics (Pt.2)

There are my favorite familial and (supposedly) non-romantical dynamics as a list.

Brotherly love

Drama: The Untamed / 陈情令 Characters: Wei Wuxian & Jiang Wanyin Screentime: Secondary

My favorite brother couple! They tore my heart into million pieces and it's still broken. There is jealousy and love and difficult moral choices between them. Wei Wuxian is an extraordinary man, as the main hero should be. He is brave enough to go against the rules if he feels it's right thing to do, also he is ready to sacrifice himself for the greater good and hides all of his pain tightly inside. Jiang Cheng is a mere person. He is not strong (or insane) enough to put everything on the line, because he shoulders responsibilities for his sect. Although they love each other, Wei Wuxian is ready to die for the truth and chooses to fight if fight is inevitable. Jiang Cheng tries to go the path of "minor evil" and sacrifice his sense of justice in order to save as much as possible. The both views are OK and each goes the chosen by himself path and bears consequences of this choice. Consequences are awful. They are traumatizing. And, what is the biggest pain of mine, they never discussed it. They never found out about sacrifices they both made for each other. They never found out that they still love each other as brothers.

Drama: My Journey to You /云之羽 Characters: Gong Shangjue & Gong Yuanzhi Screentime: Secondary About these two I wrote two posts here and here . In a nutshell: one is carrying the responsibilities for everything and anything, strictly follows the rules and teaches his younger cousin how to live this life. The little cousin is yandere, who is obsessed with his older cousin, has no conscience and does his best to make his cousin's life better. I like this unusual dynamics: they both love each other and care for each other on the same level, even if one of them is yandere.

Master-servant relationship

Drama: Word of Honor / 山河令 Characters: Gu Xiang & Wen Kexing Screentime: Secondary I like this type of dynamics when servants become someone more than just servants to their masters. Chinese drama makers love it and use it a lot, but this scene was so powerful that made me cry. Beautiful transformation from a servant to a family member (unfortunately, post mortem).

Seeking out love

Drama: Fangs of Fortune / 大梦归离 Characters: Li Lun & Zhao Yuanzhou Screentime: Secondary

Once Li Lun and Zhao Yuanzhou used to be boyfriends. Then they broke up for reason not really understandable (at least for Li Lun), but Li Lun can't get over it and tries to get attention of his ex friend back with pretty villainous means. Him not being able to leave this situation and to move on will be the main reason he will die in the end.

Drama: Word of Honor / 山河令 Characters: Xie Wang & Zhao Jing Screentime: Secondary

Zhao Jing adopted a very skillful and absolutely ruthless killer as his son. The killer is self-confident and does his job playfully, but his weakness is his passionate desire to be loved by his adoptive father. He feels that Zhao Jing just uses him for his skills and will throw him away as soon as his adoptive father will not need his skills anymore, so he even paralyze his adoptive father to force him being always near. He ends up not being capable to choose his life over his father's and dies with him. A very sad type of addiction with "A little mermaid" type of moral: you can bring the whole world upside down, but if one doesn't love you, one will not, no matter what.

Drama: Painted Skin 2020 /画皮 Characters: Wang Sheng & Xiao Wei Screentime: Main In this B̶L̶ version of Painted Skin Chinese legend the fox demon is male and wants to get one of the humans that brought him home. But humans love each other, no one is interested in a fox demon, so he makes them pay for their previous kindness with blood, sweat and tears. In the end the demon gets a human heart, feels something (e.g. how hard it is to be a human) and makes up one more lie, giving to the soul of the man he wanted for himself a strand of his own hair instead of human's wife's hair in order to meet him in another life. The same moral as in the previous drama. The same sadness.

Also you can see: Asian dramas and relationship dynamics (Pt. 1) Asian dramas and my favorite types of characters Asian dramas and Love tropes Enemies to Rivals/Lovers recipe

[hulijingemperor2]

Midnight gossip!

A slumber party was in full swing among the Qin sisters in Chrysanthemum mansion. And like every party here, there were food, wine, snacks, gossip, manicures and a literal live dance group (what do you expect~ it's empress Qin Su.) The performers and attendants alike are sworn to secrecy. What happens in Chrysanthemum, stays there.

It's really intriguing to see Qin Su's pov and experiences in Jing Manor.

Wanyue: *painting Qin Su's nails*

Wanrong: *braiding Wanyue's hair*

Wanyue: Su jiejie, does Huangdi love this colour?

Qin Su: why do you think that. *blush*

Wanyue: because it's your preferred shade.

Qin Su: ah well maybe it is.

One time he removed my gold nail guards to see my hold hand. He's quite observant.

Wanyue: what a softie emperor.

Wanrong: of course he's a softie. He has dimples!

Qin Su: mm yes. But he's really tough you know.

Huangdi is absolutely powerful.

Wanyue: Huangdi truly live up to his name, Lianfang zun. Hiding his true strength.

And he treats women with so much respect.

Wanrong: Su jiejie, Su jiejie. What would happen if Huangdi comes.

Wanyue: obviously she would ditch us for him.

Qin Su: Meimei, I would never ditch you guys.

But then I can't refuse Huangdi either.

Wanyue: ahhh very smart.

Wanrong: could our jiejie ever turn down her beautiful, regal husband.

Wanyue: his deep gold eyes.

Wanrong: jiejie is crazy for them.

Qin Su: guys stop making me blush. *signals attendants, who were holding hair sketches.* and tell me how to do my hair tomorrow.

Wanyue: top knot number 21 looks beautiful!

Wanrong: I'm sure Huangdi would like hairstyle number 14.

Qin Su: *laughing* what does this have to do with Huangdi.

Wanyue: you got to seduce him!

Qin Su: dear. I'm his empress,

There's no need for seduction and plotting to earn his favour.

That's for the concubines to do.

Wanyue: oh right.

Wanrong: you don't need to fight for his love!

Qin Su: mhm.

Wanyue: your nails are done and dried, jiejie.

Qin Su: awww. They're beautiful.

Wanyue: I'm always skilled you know.

Qin Su: obviously.

You should open a beauty parlor.

Wanyue: good idea, haha. Then I got to borrow xuanyu.

Qin Su: take him, lol.

Wanyue, wanrong,

Do you see that dancer there? *points to a flexible woman in red and gold, and with her hulijing features out*

Both: yea?

*Attendants serve more wine*

Qin Su: she's my favorite, and kind of my concubine.

Whenever I'm bored here, I call her to dance for me.

Wanrong: waww! I didn't know you had a concubine!

Qin Su: of course. Her name is Xing ya.

But I gave her the courtesy name Fenghuang ya. As she she resembles an empress friend of mine.

Wen Qing, the empress of Phoenix spirits.

Wanyue: incredible!

Wanrong: she's talented and beautiful!!

Qin Su: I told her to wear red and gold, because it suits her. And pleases me.

Wanyue: you have a crush on Wen Qing Huanghou then?

Qin Su: no. But I think she's pretty.

However Fenghuang ya is just really talented, and worships me like a goddess.

Wanrong: does taihou and Huangdi know?

Qin Su: of course they do. Normally the empress gets almost the same treatment as the emperor.

This isn't exploitation, but a companionship and appreciation of skill. Service to the empress.

Fenghuang ya: *kneels before A-Su* my beautiful empress. Did I please you?

Qin Su: certainly.

As always.

Fenghuang ya: *kisses hand* anything I can do for you again, Huanghou?

Qin Su: *strokes hair* no. You relax. And have some wine.

Fenghuang ya: yes Huanghou. Thank you.

Qin Su: later, I want you to make longevity tea.

Fenghuang ya: will do.

Qin Su: it's a must. As I'll become taihou in the future.

Fenghuang, I'll buy you a gift. Meng jewels shouldn't be given away.

Wanrong: Su jiejie, you're so cool. And I know you want to see your son rule.

Qin Su: that's mine and Huangdi's dream! My dear son becoming Huangdi, having his own family and dominating over everyone. It will be the best experience.

He's already the great sect leader Qin.

Wanyue: you'll be the next goddess Meng.

Qin Su: exactly. Goddess Meng is my role model. And she dotes on me a lot.

Wanrong: Qin jiejie, Qin Jiejie give us some harem gossip.

Wanyue: start with the the most scandalous! Rate Huangdi's concubines from 1 to 10.

1 being the most intolerable and 10 being a total darling.

Qin Su: ok ok, listen up.

Nie Huaisang has to be the most scandalous. He was a part of this cringey villain era, and he wasn't good at it.

Wanrong: omg, villain era?! As a concubine?

Qin Su: yup. I'm glad that he failed but it was funny seeing him try.

He knows everyone's secrets, and everything about everybody.

Huaisang would use that to cause rifts and confusion.

Wanyue: is he still like that?

Qin su: yup. He lives for drama. I haven't heard any new schemes from him though.

He said that he wanted to get back at huangdi for seducing his dage. But it's not Huangdi's fault for being hot. Dage just couldn't resist.

I'll give Huaisang a 3.

At least he has hot gossip.

Wanrong: do you gossip with him.

Qin Su: no.

I rather gossip with team dimple.

I'll tell you about team dimple later.

Everyone knows Huaisang as sack of potatoes and the headshaker.

He's now Zixuan's maid.

Wanyue: lol, he's a maid now?!!

Wanrong: and the maid of the strictest emperor.

Yea him and Yao Huangdi are glamorous divas who expect respect from their servants, and they love things in a certain way.  But they can still be forgiven from Yao Huangdi. He would just smile and say don't make that mistake again.

But Zixuan Huangdi is more strict. He would fire or order them to not be in his sight again.

Wanyue: why haven't he destroyed Huaisang yet? *laughing*

Qin Su: I wonder the same thing. But huaisang made it even worst, plotting against Huangdi and flirting with Jiang cheng. So Zixuan would be harder on him.

Wanrong: oh Jiang cheng! I heard he pleasured the two emperors.

Qin Su: right. He's their concubine.

Wanyue: didn't know Jiang gui fei was a diva. How could he manage two Huangdis.

Qin Su: that's some skill indeed.

Jiang cheng is also 3/10.

Just because he acts stoic and cold, when we all know he's a twink. 

Stop faking. I know what you are.

Wanyue: Jiang gui fei clearly can't hide.

Wanrong: I think the emperors will fix him.

Qin Su: obviously.

Wanrong: does he love Huangdi or not?

Qin Su: yes, like the other simps.

Then there's the other scandal. Which is Lan Xichen.

He thinks he's the empress.

Wanyue: *laughing* oh my goodness!

Qin Su: he spends late nights with Huangdi, and calls it "guqin practice" like hello, I know you're strumming something else than that quqin.

Wanrong: ahahaha, he's strumming jiejie's husband.

Wanyue: he's playing another instrument.

Wanrong: a golden one.

Qin Su: I'm not jealous of him, but I wish he'd chill.

Wanyue: Lan gui fei is definitely taking up Huangdi's time.

But isn't team d the same?

Qin Su: yea, but they know that I'm the boss, so.

But Xichen loves to steal my husband away. And he seemed to be favoured by Huangdi.

Wanyue: let him do it. At least he didn't give birth to the future Huangdi.

Qin Su: mhm. He's a 4.

He's not a secret twink like Jiang cheng. Lan Xichen is proud of his twink identity, and that's a good thing. Why should you hide it, right?

He's such a himbo.

Wanrong: 100% a himbo.

Qin Su: let me tell you about dage now. And as we all know, he's a total disaster with his feelings.

Wanrong: spill.

Qin Su: so Dage is in love with Huangdi, but he's pissed about his deputy becoming the emperor. Him joining the Wen sect. Beating his ass as a spy. All that stuff.

But he's so intimidated by him.

Wanrong: oooo, do I smell emperor x general.

Wanyue: fav ship.

Qin Su: I know right. I love it when Huangdi manhandles him, to remind him that he's his.

Wanyue: well if that's the only way he can understand.

Qin Su: some say team d are masochists, but I think Dage is the ultimate masochist in the harem.

Wanyue: does Huangdi whip him?

Qin Su: sometimes.

But chifeng zun loves it. He LOVES to be tied up.

Wanrong: that dage is kinda insane.

Qin Su: I know right. And he hides it.

Huangdi would poison him with music too.

He uses the collection of turmoil.

It's so sexy.

Wanyue: waw!

Do you know how to play it.

Qin Su: duh. A-Song, Minshan and I know how to play it, other than Huangdi.

I just love how he has everyone in a chokehold.

Wanyue: what are the effects of the collection of turmoil, jiejie?

Qin Su: qi deviation, hypnotism, trance, drunkenness, speaking your mind, hyteria, headaches, nausea sometimes, confusion, mind control. And it makes the listener gradually grow an obsession for the player. If suppressed, they can go crazy.

Effects vary from person to person.

Other than that, if it's played in a different way, it can destroy things.

Wanrong: that's so interesting.

Qin yes! It definitely is!

He's a 2. Cuz he's so rough. You're a concubine, not a wrestler. He's afraid of taihou and had abused my poor Yao Huangdi. Mingjue was mean too him, and he should earn Huangdi's forgiveness.

Wanyue: that's treason!

You don't just abuse the emperor. What the hell!

Qin Su: that's my point.

He's treasonous, but madly in love with Huangdi.

Wanrong: dage is confusing.

Qin Su: now for team dimple.

Wanrong: the most chaotic of them all.

Qin Su: Yuyu is the baby, so I'll give him an 8. He has all Huaisang's files, and would tell Huangdi and I. All three of them actually.

Some say team d is entitled but I don't see it.

Wanrong: dage and Jiang gui fei seem jealous.

Wanyue: they want Huangdi to themselves you see.

Qin Su: team d would tamper with the concubine choosing plaques.

Wanrong: so diabolical.

Qin Su: team dimple is actually one force, and they love bossing the rest of concubines around.

Wanyue: and Nie gui fei wants that power!

Wanrong: nah I believe it's Lan gui fei. He already thinks that he's the empress.

Qin Su: it's the harem. Of course they're fighting for Huangdi.

Anyways it entertaining.

Wanrong: must be entertaining when there's team dimple causing chaos and Huaisang spreading drama. And Noble Consort Xichen

Qin Su: yea. Yangyang is a 7. And Shanshan is a solid 10.

I like xue yang, but sometimes I don't understand rouge cultivators.

Even though Aqing lived with him, she's still earlier to understand.

Su Minshan had used his all to be devoted to Yao Huangdi. He has a whole sect that's dedicated to Yao Huangdi's service.

And now he has the whole Jianghu serving Huangdi genuinely.

Yes they were devoted to Yao Huangdi when he was xiandu, but they got stricter thanks to Minshan.

Wanyue: he's such a darling.

Wanrong: quite legendary. Yea team dimple deserve to boss the concubines around.

I don't see Nie guu fei doing what team dimple do.

Wanyue: they should do better.

Wanrong: new concubines?

Qin Su: Shen Jiu and Shi Qingxuan are a 10.

Shi Qingxuan is just adorable, and acts like a real concubine.

I also love Shen Jiu's sharp tongue, his knowledge and skills.

He's quite sophisticated and admirable.

Wanyue: aww.

Qin Su: I like how he's savage with team dimple.

And he has great admiration for Huangdi.

Wanrong: you maybe love being the head of the harem, don't you?

Qin Su: of course. It's a fun position. Being a part of Huangdi's harem is a commitment to serve and love him, and it's my duty to make sure that the concubines do so.

Plus it's comedy gold.

Why are they so crazy? Most of them are clan leaders.

Wanyue: they're all just eccentric.

~~

It's so nice to get Qin Su's pov 🤭👑

[yeliuxi]

Rules: you will be given a word. then you share one sentence/excerpt from your wip(s) that starts with each letter of your word!

Tagged by @sirenofthegreenbanks with the word SPOON. Thank you hehe <3 These are always fun

All taken from my Qi Ye + Jingxiao WIPs <3

S- She's almost casual in the way she shifts Wen Xiao, holding her as a groom might carry a bride to a wedding bed—or, at least as one might in the more unsavory novels she managed to get her hands on.

P - "Prince Nanning?" Ming Hua echoes, narrowing his eyes even as he tilts his face from side to side, examining the makeup. "Are you certain?"

O - Only then does he find Jing Beiyuan, splayed out on a daybed at the pavilion, an open book resting over his eyes.

O - Or at least he does, until a boy rushes into the room, eyes wide and clearly flustered, throwing aside the curtains of beads at the entrance with urgency.

N - No room for error, her certainty evident in her unwavering, unhesitating brush strokes.

Tagging: @wastedwaterpotential @failonade @twilightarc-gm @rose-tinted-vision @la-muerta Hehe your word is STICK (No pressure to do this!)

[thatswhatsushesaid]

re: characters wanting power and doing all kinds of things (good, bad, and ugly) to acquire it

this motivation is something that frequently makes me lose interest in a story—“ah why does a man do anything? for power, of course” yeah okay, i guess that’s one way to create an antagonist/villain if you just can’t be bothered to focus on telling a story from more than one point of view at a time. sometimes it works out—thinking of ganondorf in the OG zelda games—and those stories can be enjoyable enough for what they are. but they are never going to keep me up at night rotating the antagonist characters’ actions and motivations around in my head like the crispiest of rotisserie chickens the way an antagonist whose desire for power has a humanizing element at its core does.

jin guangyao wants power, yes, but he doesn’t want power for power’s sake. he wants it because it will keep him safe and enable him to achieve his longer term goals and ambitions—which the text makes quite clear are not grounded in meaningless violence and suppression of the jianghu in the way wen ruohan intended to rule. when jin guangyao comes into power, he reins in the excesses of his father’s regime, roots out corruption within the lanling jin, and devotes years of his life to bettering the lives of thousands of common people otherwise ignored by the jianghu.

this doesn’t transform him into the novel’s protagonist—that role still belongs to wei wuxian—but it makes him a far, far more compelling antagonist than someone who was simply greedy and selfish and motivated exclusively by his grudges and grievances (hi zhao jing).

[wangxianficfinder]

F/F WangXian

~*~

splash;; by defractum (nyargles) (E, 11k, wangxian, modern w/ cultivation, gender changes, F/F, merpeople, rule 63, smut)

Like the sea loves the shore by Say (E, 15k, wangxian, LQY & WWX, implied/referenced WWX/WC, F/F, rule 63, dark LWJ, protective LWJ, sirens, childhood friends to lovers, fluff, angst w/ happy ending, eventual smut, human WWX, siren LWJ, age difference, non-human genitalia, minor character death)

make me whole, make me new by occultings (microcomets) (E, 24k, WangXian, Rule 63, Cisswap, Femslash, Modern AU, College/University, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Misunderstandings, (briefly), Pining, Jealousy, Compulsory Heterosexuality, Light Humiliation, Bathing/Washing, Bath Sex, as is the wangxian way, Hurt/Comfort, kind of, Lesbian Sex, Getting Together, First Time)

The Flower Blooms in Day and Night by TheRedFig (T, 46k, WIP, WangXian, Rule 63, Lesbian AU, Period-Typical Sexism, Fem!WWX, Fem!LWJ, Pining, Sexuality Crisis, Internalized Misogyny, Sexual Harassment, Happy Ending, Heteronormativity, Spoilers for Novel, Implied Sexual Content, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con, NOT for the main pair, Genderswap, TW in the beginning of each chapter, Unreliable Narrator)

Beautiful mess, a colourful wreck by covalentbonds (Not Rated, 11k, WangXian, Modern AU, Fluff and Humor, Mild Smut, Rule 63, 3zun | Venerated Triad Feels, Shameless LWJ, Female LWJ, Female WWX, Now featuring for some reason the insanely underrated LWJ-JZX-JC bitchiness potentia,l Childhood Friends, First Meetings)

Pull out game weak by 74243 (E, 22k, WangXian, Modern AU, Dom/sub, Sexting, Nudes, Orgasm Delay/Denial, Strap-Ons, Mistaken Identity, JC character assassination, Even when its not omegaverse lwj is still an alpha dyke, Subdrop)

the hard way by dustyloves (E, 9k, WangXian, A/B/O Dynamics, Modern AU, College/University, Alpha LWJ, Omega WWX, Gender Changes, Cisswap, PWP, Dubious Consent, WWX Has a Breeding Kink, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Female NHS)

Ghost in the Machine by DizziDreams (M, 65k, wangxian, rule 63, F/F, transistor au, case fic, horror elements, character death, scifi au)  

i glow pink, blossoming over you by Anonymous (E, 11k, wangxian, rule 63, F/F, modern w/ magic, cherry magic au, dom/sub undertones, hand feeding, acespec WWX, demisexual LWJ, smut)

The life and times of a bad idea bear series by houselesbian (T, 21k, wangxian, F/F, modern, highschool setting, relationship talk, humor, angst, rabbits)

Happy for Now by ScarlettStorm (E, 80k, wangxian, F/F, modern, there was only one bed, romance author au, adhd WWX, service top LWJ, pining, smut, comedy, angst, Shenanigans ™)

The Yiling Matriarch by Lusern (Not rated, 69k, wangxian, F/F, coming out story, character study, WIP)

your grave, a garden; a barrow, your bed by twinagonies (E, 31k, wangxian, F/F, YLLZ WWX, BDSM, power play, bondage, impact play, smut, switching, porn with plot, golden core reveal, mental health issues, wen remnants live)

Immortals at Magpie Bridge by Starlitverses (Not rated, 28k, wangxian, F/F, women being awesome, canon divergence, not everyone dies au, forbidden love, WIP)

Creamy Peaches by An0therWerid0 (E, 26k, wangxian, F/F, modern, overstimulation, PWP, age difference, camgirl WWX, WIP)

everything’s going to be discovered by everythingispoetry (M, 98k, wangxian, F/F, modern w/ magic, reunions, soft wangxian, family feels, angst, fluff, hurt/comfort, disability)

And they were roommates… by harriet_vane (M, 41k, wangxian, F/F, modern, college/university au)

Paler Than Grass by Lusern (T, 36k, wangxian, F/F, modern, schoolteacher au, fluff, cottagecore lesbians)

Out of your system by mimilamp (E, 20k, WangXian, Modern AU, Rule 63, Sexual Content, Strap-Ons, jealous wwx, lwj FUCKS, mention of Lan Zhan/others, Y E A R N I N G, Additional Warnings In Author’s Note)

A Touch To Calm This Aching Heart by Multifacetedinterests (E, 12k, WangXian, Genderswap, Dragon LWJ, Huli Jing WWX, War Prize WWX, Possessive LWJ, Bad Parent YZY, Abusive YZY, Face Slapping, Emotional Manipulation, Fear of Being Fucked to Death, Dead JFM, Touch-Starved, hidden identity, Enemies to Lovers, Miscommunication, Compulsory Heterosexuality, Hurt/Comfort, Dom/sub Undertones, Non-Consensual Collar Usage, Vaginal Fingering, Orgasm Delay/Denial, Exhibitionism, Dubcon adjacent)

Flowers in the Palace series by stiltonbasket (T, 21k, Female WangXian, NieLan, Female LXC, Emperor NMJ, Empress LXC, Happy Ending, Misunderstandings, Getting together, Harem, Concubine WWX, Consort LWJ)

if your body’s into me by plonk (Not Rated, 13k, Modern with Magic, Gender Changes)

nobody compares by tongzhi (E, 16k, WangXian, Modern AU, Gender Changes, Rule 63, PWP, Porn with Feelings, Lesbian Sex, comp het lwj, very light dom/sub undertones, Friends to Lovers, Cisswap, Getting Together, sexuality realization, (but no external homophobia), Pining while fucking)

Finding the love of my life on douyin! by countingcr0ws (E, 12k, WangXian, Modern AU, Rule 63, LWJ Has Large Breasts, Social Media, Romance, Fluff, Cunnilingus, Nipple Licking, Female WWX, Female LWJ, Online Friendship, Friends to Lovers, Smut, TikTok, Footnotes, BAMF WWX)

pov: you give your crush a makeover by grapesoda (T, 7k, WangXian, F/F, Modern AU, Social Media, tiktok au, Female LWJ, Female WWX, Misunderstandings, Miscommunication, Getting Together, Humor, Makeovers, alt tiktok wwx, makeup artist lwj, lapslock)

Make My Wish Come True by justpeace (T, 9k, wangxian, modern cultivation, gender changes, fem wangxian, Christmas, fake/pretend relationship, sharing a bed, case fic, getting together, angst, butch LWJ)

i could bite my tongue by astrolesbian (M, 3k, wangxian, gender changes, fem wangxian, first time, anxiety, communication, aftercare)

a polishing of mirrors by occultings (microcomets) (M, 7k, wangxian, gender changes, fem wangxian, canon compliant, cloud recesses study era, sex pollen, aphrosidiacs, getting together, swimming, kissing)

Come into the water by feyburner (E, 4k, wangxian, modern, gender changes, fem wangxian, PWP, established relationship, first time)

Swing Me by airinshaw (E, 3k, wangxian, modern, gender changes, fem wangxian, public sex)

Kissing is Gross but Wei Ying is Perfectly Kissable by stiricide (E, 7k, wangxian, WWX/others, modern, gender changes, fem wangxian, past relationships, lingerie, mildly dubious consent, exhibitionism, voyeurism, dom/sub undertones, compulsory heterosexuality, explicit consent, getting together, friends to lovers, multiple orgasms, WWX has ADHD)

Glass walls by eatmyass (E, 9k, wangxian, modern, gender changes, fem wangxian, PWP, friends to lovers, exhibitionism, voyeurism, under-negotiated kink, dirty talk, slut shaming, humiliation)

Keep Me by wingsofbadass (E, 58k, wangxian, modern, gender changes, fem wangxian, friends to lovers, compulsory heterosexuality, explicit sexual content, sexuality discovery, straight girl WWX, minor WWX/WX, LWJ fucks)

Body Language by Scourge Daughter (scourgedaughter) (E, 33k, wangxian, modern, office au, ABO, gender changes, fem wangxian, office romance, hacking, cybersecurity, alpha/alpha wangxian, arranged marriage, wangxian endgame, happy ending, YZY A+ parenting, canonical character death, sexual harrasment, drunk LWJ, switch wangxian)

Let’s Get Real, Baby by vesna (mrsronweasley) (E, 22k, wangxian, modern, gender changes, disaster lesbians, best bud MM, karaoke, drinking, smut)

breathe me in by vesna (mrsronweasley) (E, 5k, wangxian, PWP, gender changes, fem wangxian)

Homecoming by vesna (mrsronweasley) (E, 2k, wangxian, PWP, gender changes, fem wangxian)

sweet talker by vesna (mrsronweasley) (E, 19k, wangxian, modern, gender changes, fem wangxian, butch dyke LWJ, “straight” girl WWX, sexuality exploration, barely there wangxian-typical dub con)

all that by vesna (mrsronweasley) (E, 19k, wangxian, modern, gender changes, fem wangxian, butch dyke LWJ, smut, coming out)

sideways by vesna (mrsronweasley) (E, 20k, wangxian, modern, gender changes, fem wangxian, butch dyke LWJ, casual and not-so-casual sex, smut, WWX getting wrecked, “straight” girl WWX)

a history of the body by northofallmusic (tofsla) (E, 13k, wangxian, modern, gender changes, fem wangxian, massage, getting together, sex toys, past serious injuries, chronic pain, domesticity, friends to lovers)

take me in by thelastdboy (E, 2k, Female WangXian, POV LWJ, PWP, Rule 63, WWX Uses Bìchén Inappropriately, Inappropriate Use of Bìchén, Object Insertion, Vaginal Sex, Masturbation, Voyeurism, Exhibitionism, Light Masochism, Nipple Play, Temperature Play, Light Sadism, Female Ejaculation, Multiple Orgasms, Established Relationship, Post-Canon, Body Worship, Vaginal Fisting, Cunnilingus, Face-Sitting, Aftercare, Fluff and Smut)

End Racism in the OTW by Deastar (M, 2k, wangxian, F/F, modern, ABO, non-traditional ABO dynamics, alpha LWJ, omega WWX, fluff, rule 63)

Line of sight by deliciousblizzardshark (T, 8k, wangxian, F/F, pre-relationship, always different sex au, plucky heroines, misogyny, enemies to friends, WWX has ADHD)

you can always find me here by ScarlettStorm (E, 15k, wangxian, F/F, post-canon, getting together, genderswap, cisswap, trans woman LWJ, cis woman WWX, first time, vaginal fingering, oral sex)

A Heart in Ribbons by Alliandra (E, 8k, wangxian, F/F, gender or sex swap, canon divergence, war lord LWJ, darkish LWJ, powercouple wangxian, dub con, finger fucking, cunnilingus)

smoke gets in your eyes by Hi_Hello_smile (T, <1k, wangxian, F/F, modern, chef WWX, WIP)

Hello, My Fire by GhostySword (E, 25k, wangxian, F/F, rule 63, modern cultivation, BAMF wangxian, violence against vacuums, pining, getting together, there was only one bed, switching, light bondage, sex toys, tattoo parlor au, humor, adventure)

Pocket Too Deep for Play by bigamma (E, 57k, WangXian, F/F, Modern AU, College/University, Vibrators, Easter Eggs, Sex Toys, Autistic LWJ, Female WWX, Female LWJ, WWX Has ADHD, Lacrosse, Christian Themes, Sports Medicine, YZY’s A+ Parenting, Angst and Fluff and Smut, Christian Holidays, Easter Egg Hunt, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Bible Quotes (Abrahamic Religions), Cunnilingus)

Perfect shot by sunandseas (E, 10k, Female WangXian, Modern AU, Fashion & Models, Mutual Pining, Hand & Finger Kink, Mildly Dubious Consent, LWJ has big tits, Dom/sub Undertones, lwj insults wwx and they fuck about it, pussy-drunk wwx, Come Eating, PWP, Strap-Ons, Spanking)

an inch away from more (than just friends) by occultings (microcomets) (E, 15k, Female WangXian, Modern AU, Rule 63, Femslash, Lesbian Sex, Genderbending, Pining while fucking, sexuality exploration, Compulsory Heterosexuality, Friends to Lovers, Masturbation, Kissing, Cunnilingus, Vaginal Fingering, Getting Together, Swim Team, Diving, Pool Sex, Outdoor Sex, Jealousy)

Are you gonna be my girl by 74243 (E, 14k, Female WangXian, Modern AU, Established Relationship, Forced Feminization, Sadism, Dom/sub, Slut Shaming, Internalized Misogyny.... but like.... Make It Sexy, Humiliation, Semi-Public Sex, Exhibitionism, Painplay, Cock Warming, Genderplay, Vague sugardaddy LWJ vibes)

lately, blooming by chibilwj (thelogicoftaste) (M, 34k, Female WangXian, Modern AU, Strangers to Friends to Lovers, Slice of Life, Light Angst)

~*~

[northofallmusic]

first line meme

tagged by @phneltwrites and I think maybe also a very long time ago by lianzi?

RULES: post the first lines of your last 10 fics/chapters posted on AO3 (if you have less than 10 fics posted, post the first lines of all your fics) and try to draw some conclusions.

The failure of the generator was what woke Zhou Zishu: the choke of it, and then the silence where the quiet buzz of electricity should be. (memory is what makes you older)

Evening falls on the city more quickly, it seems to Zhou Zishu, than it did on the high slopes of his childhood. (a light to drown in)

Wen Kexing does it like an afterthought—as though grabbing something left behind while packing, though they've already checked the hotel room twice. (the third passenger)

The compact Apostolosian ship slid across the deck, a shuddering and only half-controlled sideways skid which splintered the surface below it and brought it, at last, to a hard stop up against a tall curved pillar which, fortunately, no longer held anything up. (splinter)

Jing Beiyuan, naked, sometimes seemed less touchable than ever—but Wuxi touched him anyway. (sincerity)

Wen Kexing was sitting by the river in the sunset, warm light colouring his pale face. (fortune)

This is Gu Yun's Black Iron Battalion: new and bold and well-armed, a handful of veterans but far more people who have before this only fought in other ways with other commanders, or who have barely fought at all. (within the war)

Lin Jingheng was in the attic when Lu Bixing got home. (containment)

In a distant lifetime, Jing Beiyuan said: "No, but nobody cares that much for lying with anyone. They care for power, or for flirtation. Or for money—and such." (ember)

Shen Zechuan was still lying on the bed: an untidy but lovely sprawl of limbs, half-undone robes bunched up around his waist, hair so haphazardly tied that it might even have looked more decent were it simply entirely loose. (gorge)

thoughts:

I definitely expected more of these to be about environment and quality of light etc than actually are - it's what I think of as my default opening gambit, but it actually mostly shows up here in the zzs and wenzhou stories & not so much in pieces for other fandoms. does this mean something.

pretty broad spread here in general, I feel like. I tend to favour a reflective tone, which is complicated when it pushes up against an action sequence opening as in splinter.

to be honest, I'm kind of wandering all over the place wrt to writing, and I don't know if it particularly shows but I feel it looking at the list.

[dages-big-naturals]

Word of Honor/SVSSS Qijiu AU

Self-indulgent and 100% because I want Shen Jiu in a white wig and red lipstick.

Shen Jiu as Xi Sang Gui (dangerous, sexy, betrayed)

Yue Qingyuan as Zhao Jing (except not at all, honestly more of a Shen Shen because he's well-intentioned and useless. Regardless - initiated the betrayal that led to Shen Jiu joining Ghost Valley)

Qiu Haitang as Liu Qianqiao (drank the Meng Po Soup and doesn't remember any of the events that brought her to Ghost Valley. Still Xi Sang Gui's subordinate. YES. THE DRAMA.)

Huan Hua Palace Master as actual Zhao Jing (evil)

Shen Yuan transmigrates into Zhou Zishu (who died early in the original version of events after taking all seven nails)

Luo Binghe is Wen Kexing (ruled Ghost Valley after former master Tianlang Jun was defeated by the Five Lakes Alliance. In the original version he had no source of humanity or comfort (like Gu Xiang) and was basically Bingge)

Mobei Jun, Sha Hualing, Zhuzhi Lang, Meng Mo, and Madam Meiyin are all Devils

Any other suggestions?

[dramaddict-and-proud-of-it]

Lost You Forever (S1 & S2)

Year : 2023 | Country : CN | Nb of episodes: 60

My rate: 10/10

Synopsis :

In ancient times, humans mixed with deities and demons, the world consisted of Chenrong, Xiyan, and Haoling. Wandering in Dahuang, Jiu Yao from Haoling lost her identity and appearance. She settled in Qingshui Town and was renamed Wen Xiao Liu.

The Prince Cang Xuan of Xiyan was Xiao Liu’s cousin. To find Xiao Liu, he travelled around Dahuang and came to Qingshui Town. In Qingshui Town, Xiao Liu saves Tushan Jing from danger and falls in love with him. Xiang Liu and Xiao Liu appreciated each other and became confidants. After a few twists and turns, Cang Xuan and Xiao Liu eventually recognized each other.

After recovering her identity, Xiao Liu helped Cang Xuan bring the whole world under his rule and retired from the rivers and lakes. The thoughtless man puts all his energy into governing the country because he knows that as long as the world is at peace, his little boy will be able to be happy and healthy.

Main cast :

Yang Zi as Xiao Yao (Haoling Jiu Yao) / Wen Xiaoliu

Zhang Wan Yi as Cang Xuan, Prince of Xi Yan Kingdom

Deng Wei as Tushan Jing / Ye Shiqi

Tan Jian Ci as Xiang Liu / Fangfeng Bei

Wang Hong Yi as Chishui Feng Long

Dai Lu Wa as A Nian (Haoling Yi)

My thoughts on this drama :

Now that I'm done with season 1 (and getting worried about what's in store for season 2), I can say that watching this show was just me being wrecked and getting my heart broken in thousands of pieces. I really appreciate the Reverse Harem story they served us here. Plus, the actors they chose are brilliant in their respective roles. It also rekindled the flame I hold for etheral white haired beings. Of course, with 4 male leads to choose from, there is obviously one that would get my vote (I said something about white haired beings didn't I). Although I already know who she's going to end up with (both because I could not bear the supsense and checked the novel ending, and because Yang Zi kind of said it herself during a TV show)... I can't help but try to safeguard the little flame that is my favorite 'ship'. Although I know it leads to nowhere, the impossibility of it makes it all the more powerful. TJC is truly incredible in his role, and I am gobsmacked by the intensity he manages to bring to his scenes every.single.time he appears on screen. His character is compelling, hauntingly beautiful and lethal. As for the others, well, you have ever-yearning bro-zoned one, good-but-dull pretty boy, and the buddy-zoned guy who looks more attracted to bro-zoned one that to our female lead. The other female characters are rather dull, and uninteresting, with minor (but annoying) roles. The story really focuses on Jiu Yao and her four knights **cough**

You'll get genderbending (several times!), harem drama, political intrigues, anguish and laughter, sweetness and bitterness, all in this amazingly packaged drama (music, costumes, incedible sceneries, it has it all!)

Anyway! I very much recommend this drama, which earns a big fat 10 for season 1. Rating may (or may not) change after season 2 airs next summer (due to CN sh*tty new regulations stating that dramas split into seasons must be aired with a one year gap between two seasons ugh)...

A Favorite ?

YES

[bloopitynoot]

Reading TGCF: Chapter 81

For those who don't know, I am reading TGCF for the first time and sharing my thoughts!

If you have not read it, there will be spoilers! Consider this a warning.

Also- if you want to follow along, I am aiming to post updates daily. You can find all the posts in the tag Bloopitynoot reads TGCF. You can also check out the intro post for context on my read BUT if you followed along with my SVSSS read, the rules and vibe are the same.

Today I wanted a little sweet treat so I went with a hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows.

This has felt like the longest day ever, I am so glad it's done; time was just crawling!

Let's get into chapter 81!!

I can't lol. Pei Ming and Ling Wen arguing over who had the grudge with the guy (neither of them know). p189

Oh, they do know each other, it's Jing Wen p190

[whips out popcorn] "...I'm sure you remember the details. Just why did you appoint me? And do you recall how you treated me afterward?" p192

Well that's awkward. The fact that the civil god lost an essay competition. p193

"Palace of Shitty Shoes" this is actually so sad and I get why it's called that now. p194

eew. Jing Wen over here gaslighting and mansplaining. p196

I honestly keep forgetting Xie LIan is a martial god and then he does something like this- punching the ground to dig a tunnel. p197

What the fuck? He's made of stone? p199

You know what, I call it divine retribution. He deserves to be as smooth as a ken doll down there. p201

LOL you know it's bad when Pei Ming is like; hey pal, your misogyny is too much. p201

I need to lay down LOL Xie Lian, now is not the time to make any jokes about how you can't get it up. pp201-203

Jing Wen to Xie Lian: Chop your dick off. Xie Lian: um, no thank you. Jing Wen: fine. I'll chop his dick off instead (points to Pei Ming). Pei Ming: What the fuck?! p203

omg. one crisis averted and now the brocade immortal wants to kill Pei Ming p205

Wait, why is Hua Cheng killing a ton of people and making it rain blood kind of cute??? The art too!!! pp210-211

I'm glad we have our boy back!

Yay for adult Hua Cheng again!

LOL side note, my favourite part about this chapter was stopping to just explain the ridiculousness to my partner who has 0 context about the series. She thought I was exaggerating about the dick chopping until I read it out loud LOOOOOL

[zhoufeis]

cdrama ask meme

send me a number and I’ll reply with a gifset

1: hidden love or lighter and princess 2: love between fairy and devil or the starry love 3: legend of fei or word of honor 4: till the end of the moon or the untamed 5: who rules the world or zhaoyao 6: the killer is also romantic or the queen of attack 7: the eternal love or the romance of tiger and rose 8: love like the galaxy or goodbye my princess 9: oh! my sweet liar or a girl like me 10: the love by hypnotic or i’ve fallen for you

11: lan wangji or xie yun 12: zhou fei or lu zhaoyao 13: wen kexing or wei wuxian 14: li xun or zhu yun 15: ban hua or rong xia 16: bai fengxi or cheng shaoshang 17: shaodian youqin or chao feng 18: gu xiang or yan hui 19: hei fengxi or li chenlan 20: xiao lanhua or dongfang qingcang

21: hei fengxi / bai fengxi or wen kexing / zhou zishu 22: li chenlan / lu zhaoyao or shaodian youqin / liguang yetan 23: dongfang qingcang / xiao lanhua or lan wangji / wei wuxian 24: gu xiang / cao weining or tianqi / yuemi 25: yan hui / tian yao or ban hua / rong xia 26: ling buyi / cheng shaoshang or tantai jin / ye xiwu 27: li qian / li mingyue or xiong xiruo / li hongbin 28: zhu yun / li xun or sang zhi / duan jiaxu 29: han shuo / chen qianqian or liang weiwei / jing qing 30: chu xiuming / shen jin or zhao cuo / tian sanqi

[hulijingemperor2]

Some Luo Binghe drama 💥

On the other side, Binghe was looking at the Jianghu's newspaper, where he read an article on Rusong and Ning Yingying.

Shang Qinghua: "cultivator Ning Yingying becomes the concubine of Meng Taizi Dianxia"

Binghe: yea, don't need to read.

Why are the Mengs so obsessed with me?!

And they dare break my harem!

Ning Yingying is mine! She's in love with me!

The simp had a crush on me first!

Now she's a concubine of some Dianxia.

Mobei Jun: this is a different Jianghu, Binghe. And the Mengs are dominant, and absolutely gorgeous.

They basically rule the world.

Binghe: are you on my side?! Or not!

Shang Qinghua: please don't argue with my king, he just has facts.

Sha Hualing: well Yao Huangdi is super hot.

Binghe: not as hot as me.

Ning Yingying is gone, and that gorgeous Qin Su took back her sisters to live with her, and Yao Huangdi stole Shen Jiu!

Like what gives, Yao Huangdi!

Sha Hualing: then give him a taste of his own medicine, and make Qin Su your harem member.

Binghe: ahhh, now you're talking. She's the most beautiful woman in the Jianghu.

Sha Hualing: hey! She must be underneath me! You understand!

Shang Qinghua: I thought you wanted Yao Huangdi.

Binghe: yea, but that was only to use him for hulijing powers. Anyways he is gorgeous. A little too gorgeous.

I rather marry A-Su instead.

Mobei jun: now what's your plan?

Binghe: stalking.

Then I'll put everyone, except Qin Su,  to sleep with my illusions.

Sha Hualing: dude, they're all powerful hulijings. They'll just become a nightmare of a nightmare.

Within the realm of illusion and reality, you would see their true faces and potential.

I'm a demon, so I would know.

Binghe: yea, now shut up.

I know that all hulijings are masters of illusion.

Shang Qinghua: don't let the dimples and the big golden eyes fool you.

Binghe: never.

Now i got to be stealth.

I'm banned from the empire, and Jing Manor.

~

Jing Manor 📍

Sizhui visits, with some of his clan leaders.

Sizhui: *kneels* greetings Huangdi and Huanghou.

Yao: greetings Wen Zongzhu. Please get up.

Sizhui: I came to do my duties as a clan leader. 

Paying respects to their Huangdi, asking about His wellbeing and bringing gifts.

Yao: oh you're too kind. I absolutely adore young clan leaders.

Especially when they act more mature than the older ones.

× it's a Jianghu custom, to check up on their Huangdi and respect him. All clans, great and small, do it when the time is right. Some would even talk to him about clan affairs~~ It's like bonding time with Huangdi~

But the disastrous, complicated Nie gui fei doesn't do it so often. ×

Sizhui: I have read that too much pride isn't a good thing. Great clans should honour you without someone telling them to.

Qin Su: correct, Zongzhu. And clan leaders must comply to the system.

Sizhui: mn.

Huangdi, how's your health? Have you been sleeping well?

Yao: oh yes, I'm alright. Thanks for asking!

I tried a new blend of tea, and it's working wonders.

Sizhui: that's marvelous. May Huangdi and Rusong Wangzi stay strong.

What about you, Qin Huanghou?

Qin su: I'm doing well, Zongzhu. Thank you. *smile*

Yao: and how are you, Zongzhu?

Sizhui: I'm fine, Huangdi. You care so much. The Wen sect is now ready to do more night hunts.

Yao: good news. The Wens are always persevere.

Sizhui: I have to meet Wei Qianbei and aunt Wen, some time.

Yao: hope you do, soon.

Sizhui: Huangdi, we brought you some ceramics, for your residence.

Yao: aw they're so beautiful! *inspects the gifts* ah, the craftsmanship and artwork.

As you see, I'm in love. Thank you Zongzhu.

Sizhui: I'm so glad you love and accept the gifts, Huangdi. *bow*

Xue yang: Sizhui, if you want some help in Qishan, you can always call me.

Sizhui: sure. I know you worked for the Wens as well.

Su she: You're a good sect leader. I commend you.

Sizhui: thank you, Xiandu.

Mo xuanyu: keep up the good work.

Sizhui: mn. I'll take your leave, Huangdi.

Yao: it was nice meeting you today.

Shen Jiu: I never saw team dimple be nice to anyone, except for the Mengs and themselves.

Su she: because he has respect for Huangdi.

Shen Jiu: well yea, that's a great thing.

But I didn't know you were capable of being nice.

Shen Jiu: *looks through a window, to his left, to see someone like Luo Binghe staring at him*

*squeals*

Team d and Qin Su: *startled*

Yao: Lord Shen. Are you ok?

Shen Jiu:  yea yea, I'm good. I thought my I saw my stalker.

Mo xuanyu: Binghe?! Is that wicked Binghe back? But Yao gege banished him.

Wanyue and Wanrong: Binghe?! He's here!!

Su she: and Jing Manor is hard to enter.

Yao: yes. Other than a defense force, it's also guarded by my own illusions.

If an unwanted person enters, and they're still safe, it just means that they're a part of my illusion.

Wanrong: but he's an illusionist too.

Yao: well we'll see who's stronger.

Su she: Yao Huangdi took down Wen Ruohan and revealed the Yiling laozu.

Qin Su: I feel so uneasy hearing about Binghe. Why does he keep stalking Shen jiu.

Wanyue: jiejie, we're sorry. I think he's here for us.

Xue yang: I think he's here for Shen's juicy ass.

Yao: I'll get the empire's protector to dispatch his hulijings in Jing Manor.

Shen Jiu: aww I feel so special.

Binghe: *talking to himself* Shen Jiu. You'll be mine. Time will tell.

He's so hot, omg.

And Qin Su.......oh, that woman is so divine.

Shen Jiu and Ayao: *opens fan and blocks Qin Su*

Qin Su: what's this?

Shen Jiu: for your safety.

Yao: I'll dig his eyes out.

Binghe: I want you two to fight over me. Nah, you three instead.

Yao: *flings his hensheng towards him*

Binghe: *disappears*

~~~

Meanwhile, out in a verandah, Rusong was spending time with Aqing and Ning  Yingying.

Rusong: *playing guqin*

Binghe: look at Rusong Dianxia.

He and his dad think they rule the world with their dimples.

I'm gonna ambush him.

Rusong: *creates an energy wave with his guqin strings, which pinned Binghe to a bush*

Then his guards unsheathed their swords.

Ning Yingying: what just happened?

Aqing: imma beat that intruder up!

Rusong: you better show yourself! How dare you enter a private spot in Jing Manor?!

Binghe: Rusong! Let go of me!

Rusong: *drags him out with his telekinesis*

Binghe: *falls at his feet*

Ning Yingying: Binghe?!!

Binghe: what gives, Rusong! You stole my woman.

Rusong: pardon?

Ning Yingying: I don't like you anymore. I have moved on!

Binghe: you can't move on from me!

Rusong: well I don't see how I stole her, and she has lost feelings for you. I advise you let it go

Binghe: you have the audacity! Do you know who i am! I'm the powerful Luo Binghe! I'm a feared demon king with 3000 harem members.

Aqing: and this is Taizi Dianxia you're talking to! The future Huangdi of this whole Jianghu! Now have respect.

Rusong: dear, I can humble him. Don't worry. *puts his hulijing tail around him, and squeezes him*

Binghe: Rusong! You brat!

I'll use my illusions on you.

Rusong: you think you can threaten me.

Ning Yingying: that's what you get for challenging Dianxia! You shouldn't have done that.

Aqing: burn him!

Rusong: so you have a large harem?

Ning Yingying: where everyone is mistreated

Binghe: you're lying!

Rusong: Don't you know mistreating women is highly prohibited here.

I don't think the empire would welcome you.

Aqing: and didn't Yao Huangdi ban you!

Rusong: Binghe, I'll sky you.

Binghe: and I'll keep coming back!

Rusong: *sigh* what do you have with the Mengs.

How dare you target us?

Binghe: you and Huangdi have everyone in a chokehold! And I want to break apart his harem.

Rusong: huh. Jealous much.

*flings him* now get out of my sight.

Ning Yingying: Dianxia, are you ok? Your qi didn't drop?.

Rusong: I'm fine.

Aqing: so that's your demon ex?

Ning Yingying: yea.

And he's possessive of everyone.

He even wants Shizun.

Aqing: shit.

~~~

Like a bad rash, Binghe appears on another side of Jing Manor and tries to cast an illusion.

Yet his power was being challenged by the fox spirits themselves.

Unfortunately, weaker hulijings fell into a trance.

Qin Su, however was alone in a room, observing hulijings fighting against a certain force.

Binghe: Qin Huanghou.

Qin Su: *turns around* Binghe!

Binghe: oo you know my name.

But Junshang would be fine.

Qin Su: you dare correct an empress.

Binghe: dear. You can call me Junshang when we're married. No need to rush.

Qin Su: are you mad?! Who said that I want to marry you!

Binghe: I don't think you'll have a choice.

Come on, you're really beautiful. And I think I should break up Yao Huangdi's harem.

Like what gives, dude?! Why are you taking my concubines.

Qin Su: your harem members chose to leave! That has nothing to do with Yao Huangdi!

Binghe: Qin Su, you know you're gorgeous. One of the most beautiful women in the Jianghu. Your face is a national treasure.Quite regal and headstrong.

If you join my harem, you can remain my empress.

Qin Su: I rather die.

Binghe: Death isn't an escape. You know that, A-Su.

Qin Su: Qin Huanghou to you!

Binghe: fine. *goes to touch her face*

Qin Su: *pulls out a dagger and slashed his hand*

Binghe: *trying to muzzle his scream* beautiful and dangerous. I like that.

But it won't stop me from taking you with me.

Qin Su: I'm married to emperor Guangyao. We have children, as well as billions of subjects. I'm not going anywhere.

Qin Su: this is what your Shizun taught you?!! To refuse someone a will or their own.

Binghe: forget about Shizun.

He'll  be a part of the harem too.

*walks towards her*

Qin Su: *steps back*

Then, a dreadfully sharp object slashed his back.

Qin su: Huangdi!!

Yao: stay away from her! *points his hensheng* or I'll go for your neck.

Binghe: where did you come from?!!!

Qin Su: *runs to Ayao's side*

Yao: did he do anything?

Qin Su: just tried to seduce me. But when he came close, I cut him with my dagger.

Yao: good.

Luo Binghe, you're not allowed in Meng territories. And now you tried to abduct my wife. Who's the empress.

How much money should I pay to to leave?

Binghe: give me Shizun and Qin Su.

Yao: hell no.

How about, I give you an illusion of  your Shizun. They will be a huijing, so they'll help you with your shenanigans.

But you must give them offerings, love and appreciation.

Binghe: dude, I'll do anything for someone who looks like Shizun!

Yao: splendid. Now don't call me dude.

Binghe: it's a deal. I'll leave your empire for good, and not harass you.

Yao: glad we came to an agreement.

Stop your illusion attacks and leave.

Binghe: as you wish. *grin*

[deathfavor]

@deiscension said: holding a mic out for the commentary you mentioned in the tags of your last reblog

You are opening a can of worms. A bucket in fact. But i shall take them and go fishing and chatter away to the wind. ( And break it down muse wise so ppl can skip muses they don't care about. )

POST IN QUESTION.

So by FAR, those who relate to that the strongest are Lamia, Ling Wen, and Seiroku

He Xuan and Earl are more middle

Izana is the least but not for the reasons you might think. And as a bonus I'll mention Sekhmet bc she's interesting for why she ISN'T despite being vengeful.

I'll put this under a read more because this is turning out very long, way longer than I anticipated.

LAMIA does NOT forgive. She is the epitome of resent and remember if you've done wrong to her. She WILL hate you and she WILL enjoy your suffering. In fact, she probably purposefully has made your suffering worse. Go to hell might be too nice of a way out. Why not suffer here and THEN go suffer in hell for all eternity? She'll make sure she makes you suffer more when she gets to hell too. ( She's under no illusion she'd end up anywhere else if there is an afterlife. )

LING WEN also is very vindictive. It's beating a point to a pulp but we SAW what she did with annihilating Jing Wen's existence. ( And with help from Pei Ming in the process of destroying + her terrorizing his followers. ) Ling Wen.....does not forgive. Granted, those around her never would apologize. Not really. Pei Ming and Shi Wudu are probably the only exceptions and SOLELY because she knows if they did something, it was not on purpose and their apology would be sincere. Anyone else though?? Absolutely not. They can go through the agonies of feeling their very souls destroyed and she will sit with a cold, uncaring expression even if she does greatly enjoy seeing those who've wronged her or made her suffer now suffering.

AT THE SAME TIME !! Ling Wen has a hard time with herself after book 5 (or 8 or whatever the official is listen i follow the pre-official release versions okay) but when she essentially keeps her job because......literally no one else can run the Heavenly Realm and all the paperwork and such. Truly success is a burden. But in all seriousness, especially with Pei Ming......his forgiveness to her is a bitter pill. She never wanted HIM to suffer, she even invited him to their side in the final battle just to ensure he'd be safe. He forgives her and moves past it, but I think Ling Wen has a hard time. She never hurt him, she never wanted to hurt him, but being on opposing sides was hard. Mercy & Forgiveness can be HARD to swallow. ( Tbh i can ramble forever about this but i think this makes my point. Her rejection of forgiveness also is a sword over her own head. )

SEIROKU is interesting because in general, this only applies to Bushi. He can never forgive the Bushi as a whole, as a group. A lot of this comes from his personal experience, and it cemented itself as a core part of his personality. Especially after he died and his heart was replaced with the Black Hearts that amplify desires ; his is revenge and death to all Bushi. As a whole, Seiroku will always hate Bushi. The Date clan is the EXCEPTION, not the rule. When it comes to someone who isn't a Bushi though, Seiroku can be forgiving. He's not often in a situation where he needs to, but anyone else - a farmer, a seamstress, whoever, he is more inclined to forgive. So Brittney, why is he on the strongest? Because Seiroku's held this hatred and unforgiving attitude to the Bushi for over 100 years now. He WON'T let it go, at this point, he CAN'T let that intense hatred go.

HE XUAN is in the middle because if you are important to him, he can forgive. He might remember, he might put distance, but he CAN forgive. Especially when he cares about you. It might take time, he needs to think about it and mull it over, and the person needs to put in effort to show they genuinely are apologetic and deserve his forgiveness. His forgiveness comes in incriments. The potential is there. But he DOES lean heavily towards strongly relating.

He Xuan cannot forgive the crimes against him, his family, his fiancée. All who suffered not because of their fortune, not because THEY did anything wrong, but because HE XUAN'S fate was stolen. And their fates were tied with his. In truth? This is one of the most painful and intense sources of pain from He Xuan. He could have endured prison, an agonizing death, being broke, he could have endured countless sufferings. He might have been angry, but he wouldn't have been as powerful of a ghost as he ended up becoming. But BECAUSE the fact is that all of the people he loved suffered EXCRUCIATING fates because of his fate being stolen, his anger grew into something extremely intense. It didn't JUST effect him. It affected the people he cared about most. He became entirely hellbent on revenge despite having no clues for a long time. He can never forgive Shi Wudu.

And I think a part of him will always resent Shi Qingxuan. Despite it not being SQX's fault, there's a bitterness because, theoretically, had SQX's family listened, SWD and SQX would have still lived good lives because of family wealth. He Xuan was born into extreme poverty even BEFORE the fate switching. And it's not SQX fault but how can he not suffer and subconsciously resent knowing this person having HIS fate is why those he's loved perished in horrible ways? That SQX gets to laugh and enjoy life while blissfully unaware none of it is deserved? He genuinely does intend to never cross paths again if he can help it by the end.

EARL also is heavily towards the strongly agreeing side. He is a very distrustful person as it is, everyone around him knows it. It's important; his wariness and distrust has helped keep Legion powerful and ahead of all the other gangs and groups. He's always steps ahead of everyone else for this very reason. He gives his trust to very few. And if he gives it and you break it? It's over. He will not give it again. Earl may trust in someone's SKILL or an ABILITY or TALENT, but he will not trust THEM as a person. Go to hell indeed, he's never letting them close.

There are very few exceptions to this. Horo and Zoya are primarily the only two that he could change this. Because ultimately, he cares for them more than most other things. Horo is, genuinely, what Earl cares about above all else. Above Legion, above Zoya, he might not seem like it and people might never guess it, but Earl would do anything for his little sister. He really is a good big brother like that. If she did something....Earl could forgive her. He might be upset, but he could and would forgive. And the same goes for Zoya. He is more likely to express his anger or displeasure, but there's very few things she could do that would make him not be able to forgive her. Anyone else would be very heavily dynamic dependent. Earl can trust and care a lot, but he can also turn cold and abandon it if the trust break truly is something severe. ( Something silly however he might be annoyed but not care about. He WILL remember it though if you try to prank him. Few have ever succeeded. )

IZANA KUROKAWA is the least in agreement with this, but not for the reasons you think. Simply put? Izana doesn't trust people to begin with. There are VERY, VERY, VERY few people he genuinely trusts, and even that can fluctuate with how stable his mental state it. I would say MAYBE two at most are who he trusts. So if you fuck up? It's over. Izana will ANNIHILATE you - there won't be anything left to grant forgiveness to. Izana genuinely has no comprehension for people's limits. At 12 he hurt people so bad they were permanently disabled - kids and adults - as revenge. Not to mention what Izana drove the ringleader of the group that attacked him to do. He'll send you to hell personally. He's the least in agreement solely because you wouldn't be around TO be forgiven. He doesn't want you around and no one is going to disobey him.

SEKHMET is the most interesting to me tbh. Because as a goddess, if you piss her off, she WILL curse your entire bloodline for the entire length of its existence. Changing names doesn't change your blood, it will follow you and she will make sure the curse is effective thousands of years later. She's a VERY vengeful goddess if you earn her wrath. You will pray for oblivion because everything truly will be suffering.

But Brittney, then why is she not included?

For the same reason: Because she's a goddess. If you give enough quality offerings to her, if you do great feats in her honor or attribute them to her, if you celebrate immensely, beg and plead and praise her above others - she will forgive you. Maybe not YOU, but she will remove the curse from the rest of your bloodline, so your children and grandchildren and so on will not suffer because of you. THAT is mercy from a god. If you TRULY dedicate everything to her, if you are skilled enough, she might remove a curse from you herself, turn you into a champion for her and ensure glory to you and her name. This is mercy from a god. Sekhmet's wrath is on a WHOLE different level from humans or even from someone like He Xuan's wrath, but she ultimately can be appeased and grant a god's definition of forgiveness. Remember; she is a goddess. A god and a mortal's definition of forgiveness may not be the same, but it is still forgiveness.

[averycanadianfilm]

Loophole-Free Test of Local Realism via Hardy’s Violation

Si-Ran Zhao, Shuai Zhao, Hai-Hao Dong, Wen-Zhao Liu, Jing-Ling Chen, Kai Chen, Qiang Zhang, and Jian-Wei Pan

Phys. Rev. Lett. 133, 060201 – Published 7 August 2024

ABSTRACT 

Bell’s theorem states that the quantum mechanical description of physical quantities cannot be fully explained by local realistic theories, laying a solid basis for various quantum information applications. Hardy’s paradox is celebrated as the simplest form of Bell’s theorem concerning its “All versus Nothing” approach to test local realism. However, due to experimental imperfections, existing tests of Hardy’s paradox require additional assumptions of the experimental systems, and these assumptions constitute potential loopholes for faithfully testing local realistic theories. Here, we experimentally demonstrate Hardy’s nonlocality through a photonic entanglement source. By achieving a detection efficiency of 82.2%, a quantum state fidelity of 99.10%, and applying high-speed quantum random number generators for the measurement setting switching, the experiment is implemented in a loophole-free manner. During 6 h of running, a strong violation of 𝑃Hardy=4.646×10−4 up to 5 standard deviations is observed with 4.32×109 trials. A null hypothesis test shows that the results can be explained by local realistic theories with an upper bound probability of 10−16348. These testing results provide affirmative evidence against local realism, and establish an advancing benchmark for quantum information applications based on Hardy’s paradox.