#i almost tagged it as tgcf

[iwanttofuckereh69]

now reading 2ha vol2

ch 46 - 55

(sorry its a bit long, i wanted to be... coherent... this time lol)

btw tell me how much suffering i should expect from vol 2. on the scale from papercut to getting my heart ripped out 😭

Ok so… That lake thing was wild. Or so i thought, before Chu Wanning TURNED INTO A FUCKING KID. Like what the hell? He is either adorable or absurdly scary, no in between. I'm loving this so far.

I looked at that illustration in the book when I first got it  and I was more than confused because I couldn’t tell who was who. And for a moment I legit was like Is Chu Wanning a child? But then I was like NAAAAH CAN’T BE. Welp. Here we are :)))))) 

1. TL;DR: Chu Wanning is a horny lonely loser (affectionate)

Chu Wanning and his dreams. I have a hunch it's somehow a glimpse into their previous life. No idea how it would occur but that scene seems like something that might have happened?

It seems rather interesting to me that THIS would be Chu Wanning's fantasy. I couldn’t help but wonder if it isn’t because that’s the only way he would allow himself the pleasure. Because ultimately he doesn’t get to have a choice in that scenario. It takes away the guilt of lusting over his disciple. So maybe that’s where it came from. And, moreover, this is Mo Ran who wants CWN. Wants him so badly he can’t contain himself. I just found it really interesting that of all scenarios, CWN dreams of that one. I don’t know why I kept thinking about it but here we are ig lol

Also, Mo Ran destroyed his golden core in his past life? Did I miss that in vol 1? Because ohh :c. Or it wasn't Mo Ran???  

2. TL;DR: I’m gonna get hurt so so so bad

Mo Ran smiled. “Yep. Cause I’m closest with you, and I know you’d never lie to me.” Shi Mei was still hesitant. “That’s true, but…”

Welp. Based on community’s reactions that’s gonna hurt like motherfucker. I fucking know that line is there for a reason. I fucking know it. The reason is to break my heart. And isn’t it like a second time Shi Mei says something about not lying to Mo Ran? I WONDER WHY. (i might have remembered it wrong tbh but this part is there and is tormenting me)

3. TL;DR: Mo Ran’s emotional intelligence is at most equal to emotional intelligence of a lettuce (one that’s been sitting in the back of your fridge for weeks because you forgot about it); Also, Shi Mei is sweet and kind and i don’t believe any of you anymore. He can’t hurt a soul. 

Mo Ran is very adamant on hating Chu Wanning. He wants to hate him. He needs to hate him. As if he was scared of the feelings that might be left if he does not hate him. That part is specifically in relation to his conversation with Shi Mei and how uncomfortable he’s gotten when Shi Mei started going on and on about how Chu Wanning isn’t really all that bad. 

And then that part with the umbrella happened and I really wish it was from Mo Ran’s perspective, because for the love of god I have no idea what his intentions are. It seemed like a really bad and failed flirting attempt. Like me when I asked this guy that was in a band in school to tune my guitar but it was in fact in tune and it was just embarrassing tbh But it could be just him trying to be nice for whatever reason  and CWN overreacting because he is strong and independent and he doesn't need (no man) anyone. 

I’m really puzzled at Mo Ran tho. And, like, that’s not a bad thing. There is this part of him that hates Chu Wanning with every fiber in his body. But he also admires him deeply as a teacher and maaaybe tiny bit as a person. There is both disdain and interest. Hatred and kindness. His whole (other) life it seems like he had this image of Chu Wanning that was coldblooded and ruthless. And i feel like it’s shattering now that he starts to notice how it wasn’t really the case. But still it’s hard for him to put those two pieces together so he really tries to choose one. It’s really telling when he can’t answer Shi Mei’s question ab if he dislikes Shizun.

ALSO SHI MEI IS SO SWEET AND KIND I DONT BELIEVE ANY OF YOU. HE CANT BE EVIL. He can't be evil... He can't...

4. I’m just wondering why the thing that happened at the lake (i don’t remember how it’s spelled so it’s going to be THE LAKE) was so different to how it went the first time MR was there. Basically the one major change he’s purposefully made was that he stole money from Rong Jiu and didn’t fall for his trap. Could it be somehow connected? Because otherwise the events should be the same unless something was changed. And the only thing i can think of right now that he influenced in major way, is that whole deal with Rong Jiu. The ghost marriage "arc" ended more or less the same, didn't it? I might be mixing shit up but oh well.

Also, I saw a post the other day in which op was talking how Mo Ran’s love for Chu Wanning was clear to them from the very beginning. Op said they don’t understand how others might not get it and since i’m the one that wasn’t that keen on the idea at first, i decided to elaborate a bit on points i made after first 20 chapters or so, this time trying not to be as much of a clown (hopefully).

Well, I’ve seen the title of the book and I know they're gonna end up together one way or another. But its complicated and messy and I would even go as far as to say that’s the point? And, ironically it's also in the title. A dog and a cat. At first glance they are so different it seems almost impossible for them to get along. At first glance Chu Wanning and Mo Ran felt too different to be able to get along as well. There was too much resentment and too much things left unsaid (and unnoticed). After reading only first 20 chapters i was told that 1. Chu Wanning is ruthless and cruel 2. Mo Ran hates him. 3. Mo Ran is horny for him. Only with time as I was reading further, it turned out that they both care for each other in ways they themselves have a hard time explaining. 

I also don’t think sexual attraction equals everlasting love. And like, the fact that Mo Ran doesn’t get hard at the sight of Shi Mei isn’t telling me anything about his feelings. Does he really love him too much to have a single impure thought about him? Or does he not realize he doesn’t like him that way? Does he love him platonically? I don’t know. I’m for sure lacking context in this situation. That’s the point. I want to read it with my mouth open agape as I get to know those characters more and as slowly my first impression changes. Right now, based on what i’ve been presented by the book I adore Mo Ran’s puppy love for Shi Mei. But as i’m on chapter 50, I see it as just that, a puppy love.  

I don’t want to argue who to ship, because that’s not the point im trying to make xD I just think my hesitation to picture CWN and MR together after first 20 chapters was not that weird. I know it will happen and i’m curious to see how long it will take those idiots to realize their feelings for eachother and express them. I know they are meant to be. But they themselves don’t know that yet. And it feels like they try their best to ruin every chance they get lol I’m also curious where those feelings come from. Why Mo Ran became so obsessed with CWN.

There is foreshadowing, there are those little and not so little things scattered across that slowly become more meaningful the more context you add on top of them. But those alone, in my opinion aren’t enough to be convinced with utmost certainty from page one that the main characters are in fact in love. It’s more complicated than that and that’s why I enjoy it a lot and i enjoy when the books makes me believe one thing to then make me realize it wasn't ever that simple. Am I making sense? Idk it's 1AM i want to go to sleep njkinrjgkn

[eyes-of-nine]

pls assume i'm thinking about this moment 24/7 all week every week

[dyed-indigo]

"Aaahh~"

[good-vs-evo]

i love making moon quartet hcs cuz im catering to a tiny specific group of silly guys who are jus like me fr and i love that <3 so hiiii moon quartet shippers ily

previous

xl is the only one who calls hc “san lang”, the other two call him “fafa/huahua” and sometimes “chengzhu” in a friendly lil way, hx also calls him “xiao hua” for “little flower” (hc finds it kinda sweet)

they all call yy “xiao yue” for “little moon”,

hx is called “xuanxuan” :> yy also calls him “baobei”! xl does too sometimes

hc calls xl “gege” and the other two mostly call him “lianlian” or “a-lian” and all three refer to him as “dianxia” occasionally <3

hx likes being in the middle when they sleep together. hc on one side, yy/xl on the other, and then whoever’s left just curls up on top of him like a damn cat. he loves it sm <3

when yy is burnt out, he goes up to whoever he can find and just buries his face in the side of their neck/their chest and they just hug him back until he feels better

xl has moments of just total silence. like he’s used to not talking a lot after years of being more or less entirely alone, so he goes quiet and just listens to everyone else and none of them mind

hc paints nails so amazingly. it is so neat and perfect. yy loves getting his nails painted and also loves matching w hx esp

in the summer, xl overheats while all of his ghostie boyfriends are chillin, so he always seeks them out to cuddle

yy still technically works for hc, but he doesn’t do nearly as much as he used to and when he goes on missions, one of the other three always goes w/ him!

hx takes afternoon naps (YES HE IS A CAT TO ME) and yy or hc usually join him

hc and yy are both kind of insomniacs (ghost city’s eternal night smth smth) so they spend a lot of time together late at night, the same way xl and yy spend a lot of time together early in the morning

hc picks and grows flowers w/ different meanings for all of them!

xl’s is the white carnation (good luck/sometimes means “pure love”)

yy’s is morning glory (affection/love/beautiful dawn (<- which i took as a good new beginning :3))

hx’s is bluebells (gratitude and everlasting love)

[toaster-fire-art]

whoa it’s march? Have a redraw of one of my favorite things, my Yin Yu design pose (i guess that kinda what it is?)

Close up and comparisons below too. Old is on the left (here), new is on the right. 

There’s not a whole lot of change but I feel more comfortable in my and how i draw but I’m still stuck figuing out some things. Enough about my rambles mwah mwah thank you all for your love! I don’t have any idea how to put it into words but aasjodvbeivboevfb3 yk? makes me so happy lmao.

[crowning-art]

TGCF SPOILERS HAHAHAHA :(

So.

Yesterday was a day.

What happened post reading;

Shut my laptop, and started scrolling through tumblr. Its been 30 mins but I haven't liked or reblogged anything. I'm just scrolling and scrolling and my mind is absolutely blank. Nothing is registering. (Denial)

After I while I turn off my phone too and just sat.

My sister asks me if I'm ok. I respond, "Ya, of course, why wouldn't I be?" She gives me a look, "You're crying."

I'm obviously shocked cuz I didn't even register I was crying and I'm like NO lol I'm not crying What are you talking about?? (Anger) Except now I'm full on crying (depression) but it was so weird cuz my eyes were crying but I was laughing SO HARD, like I couldn't stop laughing, and I'm like wtff??? THERE IS LITERALLY NOTHING FUNNY???? and so to distract myself, I searched up why in the absolute hell was I laughing so hard when my heart was literally squeezing in pain cuz like THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE?? (Bargaining)

Anyways, I found smt interesting; an article that discussed a study done on opposing emotions, why people say "Aww it's so cute, I want to squeeze it sooo hard', or start laughing when they are nervous, or laugh while crying, and it was really cool what they said;

"If you get into a very high or very low emotion that you're almost to the point of being overwhelmed, you become incapacitated so you can't function well,” Aragón tells me. “Emotional homeostasis is important for people so they can be in control of their cognitive, social, and psychological functions."

In other words, people may laugh when they’re nervous in order to moderate their nervous feelings; likewise, people may cry when they’re happy to recover from distracting giddiness."

Def an eye opener for me cuz I'm just not a crying type of person and I was literally so confused lol But I didn't know this was thing til yesterday so I was likke ohh I should share this!

Anyways, I'm going to be make this post reflect EXACTLY how I felt yesterday lmaooo (acceptance)

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

You know that feeling of dread? That looming, heavy weight that you feel on your shoulders as you watch and you watch and you know what's going to happen and as each scene unfolds, it starts making sense and that dread turns into down right horror and all you can do is helplessly watch....

Am I talking about me or Hua Cheng???? Perhaps both :(

I think that anxiousness had started building up when Mu Qing left and I felt so angry but it's like how can you blame him? But the absolute respect I got for this funky lil dude when he comes back with bags of rice and money and I'm I LOVE YOUUU SO MUCHHH YOU DON'T DESERVE THIS AHHH I LOVE YOUUUU

(You too, Feng Xin efbfjefjn I literally want to shrink them and put them in my pocket and protect them from the evil, mean, scary world)

ok...now for the actual stuff......

What absolutely fascinates me is that I have come across so many villains from innumerable books, shows, and movies and I have seen stupid villains, pitiable villains, and down-right psycho ones too, but something about White No-Face hits different.

This is a villain that is truly terrifying. A villian that truly understands what it means to destroy someone. And no, it's not about killing their loved ones, it's not about physical torture, it's about breaking the person inside out. It's about ripping their soul out and gently putting it back, only for them to rip it out with even more viciousness. It's about taking away the one thing that keeps anyone alive...hope. I'm reminded of an arabic proverb that I heard once and really stuck with me;

What is worse than death is that which makes you wish for death.

I think every painful moment in TGCF just embodies this quote so well; when Xianle falls, when Windmaster is confronted with the truth, and now the temple scene and it literally hurts so much to read it and it's so lovely and beautiful how MXTX writes scenes that make you FEEL exactly what the people you are reading about feel.

Like yes Xie Lian was screaming 'It hurts' but I can guarantee that EVERY reader also felt the same as they read that part.

And what makes White No Face terrifying is that he KNOWS his subject, knows him so well, that he first takes away what's beloved to him, which is his kingdom, then his godhood, then his friends, and the final straw? His parents. He breaks him and breaks til there is nothing left to break and then rebuolds it just enough to break it again. He takes away his sanity so agonizingly slowly and you just want to scream as you just watch the descent into hell occur...

Could it be that Feng Xin couldn’t see the mask on his face in the mirror at all?!

Xie Lian blurted, “You don’t see it? There’s something on my face!”

Feng Xin was puzzled. “What thing? What exactly do you mean? I don’t see anything?” Xie Lian looked at the mirror again. “That’s impossible! I…”

However, when he looked again this time, the mask on his face in the mirror had disappeared, and what reflected was that panicking face of his.

And what's crazy is that yes, White NO Face wears the mask of half laughing, half crying, but Xie Lian EMBODIES that. He is always in a state of laughing and crying simultaneously. And it just shows how broken he is.

But you know what's insane???? Xie Lian has never ONCE felt like this with Hua Cheng! It's like somehow, he is suddenly in control of his emotions and feels true sadness, true happiness and not this broken confused mixture of laughing and crying, yknow?

And the comfort he gives him? Xie Lian actually felt comforted by this monster, completely. He actually felt calm and I'm like how incredibly sick and terrifying of a person to destroy someone and then provide them with such a comfort that feels real only to shatter it the next second.

And God, oh God! My heart was dying watching a small, inanimate ball of fire express SO much fear and sadness and agony.

From deep in Xie Lian’s throat there came waves of suppressed sobs, shaking harder and harder. That ball of ghost fire flew to his heart, looking as if it wanted to warm him, but it wasn’t confident that it could help chase away the cold, so it didn’t press close

and this part

A ball of ghost fire flew to his side and moved up and down, like it was nodding in agreement. However, wicked wisps like it were all around, so Xie Lian didn’t notice this particular one.

And my god, the absolute twisted mind of White No Face, like 'YEs Your Highness, YOU said it yourself "I want to save the common people!" So here! Save them!" And it's so goddamn twisted and sick and ridiculous but like how do you argue with that when you YOURSELF proclaimed that proudly?

Watching the struggle unfold, White No-Face mocked, “The common people are here, waiting for you to save them. Please, go ahead.”

And what's worse? Xie Lian is watching people destory his temples, spit on his statues, and here, in one of the last remaining temples of the crown prince, he is on top of an alter, and he is being looked up to and you can HEAR the mocking tone of White No Face like you want to be worshipped? Here, have all these people bow to you! And he is getting that, and it's so sick and horrific;

As they tried to atone for their actions wearing ashen expressions, they bowed many times in front of Xie Lian before returning to the crowd with their child. With thick layers of blood clogging up his throat, Xie Lian was about to throw up until he heard White No-Face snicker beside him.

And just when you think that it couldn't get worse, I could feel the ear-piercing scream that Hua Cheng lets out and I think that was truly the moment when my heart completely shattered.

He couldn’t hear his own heartbreaking scream, but instead, he heard the sound of another heart-wrenching wail, and it seemed as if it came from that ring of flames. Although it didn’t come from him, the pain that he could hear was the same as his, as if he was the one that had made that sound.

This was the birth of a malicious creature, the signs of a Savage ghost taking form!

and I think this scene just shook me most to the core because it put EVERYTHING into perspective, the fear of rejection that Hua Cheng has, the overprotective nature, the way he doesn't spare a glance towards Fengqing, it all makes sense because he has been through HELL and watched beloved go through worse than hell.

He died that day with Xie Lian despite going through a rebirth.

And the literal shivers of rewatching the donghua scene, when he first meets Xie Lian where he is dressed as a bride and his hand reaches out confidently, hesitantly and it's the first time in a long time he is able to be face to face with him and he's looking at him and he's just thinking that from now on, you will never know what pain is. I will never let that happen. and you BELIEVE him and Xie Lian BELIEVED him even though he doesn't believe in anyone anymore...not even himself.

Like all the cute scenes? the gambler's den, the confession, the way Hua Cheng lay beside Xie Lian he reaches out to him but sees the shackles and hesitates, the way they both set up Puqi shrine,

just everything

everything

everything

it's so much.

You just can't see them in the same way anymore. Like I really looked at it from surface level, but there was so much behind every action; every atomic shift in their movements towards one another is accompanied by colossal weight and suffering of the past.

Oh boi, this scene too, like no words. It felt like the world stood still in this moment...

Some kind of power forced him to his feet and he stumbled out to look. He walked for a long time before he finally realized those were the sounds of celebrating the newly-built Imperial Palace, after Yong'an was established as a new kingdom and the royal capital was moved. Even the heavens were celebrating! All the once-citizens of Xianle were now cheering for Yong'an. On the main street, everyone’s faces bore such bright smiles; so familiar. Xie Lian remembered. This was also how the people at the Xianle imperial capital cheered during the Shangyuan Heavenly Ceremonial Procession.

and right by his feet lay the corpses of the King and Queen of Xianle...his parents....his dearest.

Boi deserves to go a little ape-shit but also, isn't that giving in to what White No Face wanted?

The expression on his face was like crying but laughing, like joy and sadness mixed together, and he slowly rose to his feet alongside the wall.

And he KNOWS what he's doing? He wanted Xie Lian on his side? He got him! He goddamn this absolute MONSTER UGHHHHH HE GOT HIM!! WHAT MORE DOES HE FREAKING WNT AAAAHHHHH

But I must say, I can't hate White No Face, because from a literary standpoint, he is such a wonderfully written villain. One of my all time faves just because of how well he was written. Again, just the whole book is so perfect and well-executed beyond a shadow of a doubt.

So ya!

It was ALOT to take in and I just had to let it all out.

[soft-serve-soymilk]

Do you ever look at someone and wonder,, what is going on inside their head just how much trauma they must have???

Like, ok, just casually experience ptsd symptoms

And berate yourself with your already brittle self-esteem

Yeah, you're just a smol babey in need of a hug 🥺 (Can you tell who the latest blorbo is~)

[ladyhavilliard]

When you get to that one point in book 3 but you've already been spoiled by simply knowing which characters the ship beefleaf stands for...

[lildoodlecat]

there are two ways i search for podfic

svsss and tgcf: desperately widens search paramaters desperately widens search paramaters desperately widens sear—

mdzs: carefully filters for specific lengths and ships, swirls each potential option like wine and sniffs carefully

[sasukimimochi]

The sound of low, raspy humming of a familiar tune took his attention away, lifting his head to gaze into the nearby forest of Yiling. “Wei Ying?”

Following his siren song, Lan Wangji shook as he brought himself to his feet. He grimaced in pain, taking a few shallow breaths but never able to breathe too deeply. The ache in his back forced him to stop routinely, but he couldn’t give up now… The melody was so close.

He pushed forward, stumbling into dense foliage and pushing it aside painfully. “Wei Ying…?” His body froze, pupils shrinking in shock.

Sitting upright against a tree in the distance was a corpse holding a young child, and not just any corpse and child. It was Wei Wuxian with Wen Yuan. Calmly drifting around the corpse was a thick resentment, moving like a living thing protecting its young. The moment the two were stumbled upon though, the humming came to an abrupt halt and the resentment curled around the two protectively.

Despite Wei Wuxian not turning his head nearly as quickly as he usually would to figure out who had stumbled upon them, the resentment reared itself almost like a feral animal in defense, giving the two a wide berth from the Lan.

“...Wei Ying…A-Yuan?” Lan Wangji managed, his heart falling to his feet.

He was too late.

this first art for TDKW! What do you guys think? v//w//v i rly like this one im proud of it

See More for TDKW below the line!

“The Dead Keep Walking” / TDKW - General rating* *maybe Teen if gross things are described, tbh more likely to be teen but not sure.

TDKW is a short project I have planned centered around LWJ finding the dead body of WWX and A-Yuan is with him- but WWX is undead and walking. WWX may be a corpse, but he is conscious- a bit more like TGCF in that sense for plot reasons, but I may provide a sort of "as canon as possible" answer to fit more into mdzs properly. maybe something like a tag he attached to his skin or something before death combined with resentment from his living body.

WWX is not completely right in the head; he repeats things a lot, has lost the ability partially to actually debate with people (he will just repeat himself when he knows he's correct or wants something) has an uncharacteristically flat expression because of his state and his movements aren't always too fluid. he is however still good at protecting, as his resentment still resides with him in death. he has become more unapologetically feral as a result.

There's not a lot of information I can share yet for this fic, but I wanted to share it since I have been thinking about it for quite some time!

A R T:

Broken Lullaby Sparkles and fretting

Music Playlist!

Find more MDZS art/projects on my masterpost! ❤

[one-flower-one-sword]

alright, I'm going to start a new post because I'd really like to continue this discussion but my post about the contrasts between Jun Wu and Hua Cheng that started it all has been getting too long to keep adding to it. me and @illuminatedferret were discussing whether or not Jun Wu knows Hua Cheng and Wuming are the same person. I'm also going to tag @csilla-nocturine because you had also commented with similar points but I forgot to tag you yesterday, I'm sorry T_T. this was my response to both of your very interesting points on my last reblog on the original post, which I've copied over to this post:

First of, I think Hua Cheng being right there ready to voice his own feelings on the matter wouldn’t take away from Jun Wu's satisfaction in reminding Xie Lian of what he almost did while at his lowest - and what happened to Wuming as a consequence of that. In fact, Hua Cheng revealing then and there that he is Wuming might have played right into that - regardless of Hua Cheng stating that it's an honor for him to die for Xie Lian and that he never blamed him and so on - Xie Lian would still feel like he's caused his beloved's second death. like you said though, interpreting that scene precisely is difficult!

the second thing is that if Jun Wu has no idea who Hua Cheng is and thinks he and Xie Lian have basically just met, it doesn't really make sense to me that he'd immediately and repeatedly try to separate them, the specific ways he goes about doing that, and that he'd call Hua Cheng "a very faithful believer" of Xie Lian's, as he'd have no evidence that Hua Cheng sees Xie Lian as his god and worships him as he knows Wuming did:

"Do you know who that ghost was?" White No-Face asked.

"A... A soul of someone who died on the battlefield?" Xie Lian tried.

"Yes," White-No Face replied. "But he was also your very last believer in this world. And now, he's no more. [...] Oh yes, that's right. This wasn't the first time you've met him," White No-Face continued. [...] "That ghost had been following you for a while. At first, I thought he was simply deeply resentful, so I caught and interrogated him; his answers were quite interesting. The Zhongyuan Festival. A night of lanterns. A wandering ghost fire. Do you remember? [...] In life, he was a soldier under your command," White No-Face lazily hinted. "In death, his soul followed you, turned into a wrath ghost because you were pierced by a hundred swords. And now, his soul has been obliterated because you unleashed the plague of Human Face Disease."

Xie Lian seemed to vaguely recall something, but he hadn't even seen his believer's face, he didn't even know his name - what could he recall?

TGCF Volume 6, page 339

then @illuminatedferret your response to this was:

Those are some good points! I could definitely attribute the kinda weird feeling of the dialogue to Jun Wu being increasingly unbalanced and desperate, rather than him not knowing about Wuming. The 'faithful believer' bit, I just figured he saw Hua Cheng as a threat to his plans for Xie Lian. You're right that his immediate actions to separate them make more sense if he already knows their history together. But, by this point(the initial dialogue from Book 5, I mean), he has explicitly seen the Cave of Ten Thousand Gods, so no matter what he definitely knows Hua Cheng is a believer of Xie Lian.

First of, I want to thank you both for being so interested in my original post and taking the time to write down and share your arguments! like I said in my initial response, I can see both your lines of reasoning as well :) for me though, there's too many scenes throughout the whole novel that either hint at Jun Wu knowing or that don't make sense to me if he doesn't. Like the Cave of Ten Thousand Gods... isn't that actually more evidence that he knows Hua Cheng is Wuming? Because from the above quote I included, Jun Wu knows exactly where Wuming had met Xie Lian before, which are also things Hua Cheng depicted in the murals in the cave. Now, the murals were covered by butterfly silk, but iirc it's not clear if they always were or if Hua Cheng just ordered the silk to cover them once Xie Lian, Mu Qing, and Feng Xin started to investigate the cave. in any case, they tear it down. plus, in addition to the murals, the statues depict Xie Lian in situations that would also match what Jun Wu "interrogated" out of Wuming. Even if we assume (which personally I don't) that Jun Wu didn't know before this point, I can't imagine him seeing all of that and not realizing that Hua Cheng is Wuming, not with everything he already knew about the latter.

also... the irony of Jun Wu knowing all this but not Xie Lian. and not just that, from the fact that Xie Lian wasn't aware of any of this until he lands in the caves, Jun Wu also knows that Hua Cheng has not told Xie Lian any of this, even with how much time they've been spending together, because Hua Cheng either doesn't want or doesn't dare to tell him - the latter being correct, as we know:

"San Lang, what kind of person is your special someone? Why haven't you won them over yet?"

[...] "It's alright if gege finds it funny," Hua Cheng replied. "But, truth is, I'm afraid. [...] That person saw me at my worst." (Vol 4, page 181).

also, from certain murals and/or statues that are implied or outright stated to depict things of a more sexual nature, he would know that Hua Cheng not only worships but desires Xie Lian - information he then tries to use to, again, drive a wedge between them and provoke Hua Cheng into hurting Xie Lian, like when he disguises himself as Mu Qing and Feng Xin:

"Hua Cheng! What do you think you're doing to his Highness?! You're disgusting! [...] Keep your filthy hands off him. Does the ugly toad want a taste of swan meat?" Mu Qing sneered. "Never mind dreaming of it for eight hundred years - you can hope for a thousand more, but don't even think of touching a single one of His Highness's fingers!"

Xie Lian's heart dropped. But while the comments annoyed him, he could sense that something was amiss.

What was wrong with those two? [...] It seemed that they were purposefully trying to provoke Hua Cheng. But there was no reason for that; they knew they couldn't beat him, so what did they want? Moreover, their tone subtly pointed the spear in Xie Lian's direction. It was like they wanted to stir up confusion - as though they wanted Hua Cheng to do something to Xie Lian in a fit of anger.

TGCF Volume 6, page 72

Hua Cheng has been dreaming about being with Xie Lian for eight hundred years - so this barb feels way too pointed and knowledgeable for Jun Wu to just randomly be accusing him of this, especially with this exact number.

This has gotten quite long again, so I'm gonna cut myself off here (I could talk about this topic for hours as you can surely tell by now, I think it's super fascinating). feel free to reply to this post/reblog with a response, but I also completely get if you're not as into this discussion and want to be done with it by now, no hard feelings! also, if we have to agree to disagree after all, that's also fine, and I'll thank you both again for your interest :)

okay one last thing I swear - since this was all spawned by comparing and contrasting Jun Wu and Hua Cheng, I also just realized how poetic it is that to Jun Wu, Mount Tonglu is where he releases all his hate, whereas Hua Cheng literally carved out a place there where he pours out all his love. damn do I love this novel

[stammiviktor]

“Some pain demands to be felt, Your Highness,” Hua Cheng said.

It made Xie Lian sad to think that he was something of an authority on the subject.

Or: Hua Cheng has grand plans for Xie Lian's eight hundred and eighth birthday. But their pasts have plans for them too.

Rating: M

Word count: 19,330

Relationship: Xie Lian/Hua Cheng

Tags: Post Canon, Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, PTSD, Healing, the two of them taking turns dealing with their trauma for almost 20k, Hua Cheng’s Self Worth Issues, Xie Lian’s 800 Years of Trauma

I WROTE TGCF FANFIC !!!!

[loveshinesbrightly]

tag 9 people you want to get to know better!

thanks for tagging me @gentil-minou!! this was such a pleasant surpirse!! I love doing these :3

three ships: wangxian (mdzs), hualian (tgcf), and of course, the miraculous ladybug love square

first ever ship: I was a destiel girlie lmao (before that I read one direction fanfic but we don't need to go into that...)

last song: teenage dirtbag (specifically the one direction cover LMAO)

last movie: I don't really watch movies very often but I think it was a Korean movie called The Beauty Inside (it's a comfort movie of mine - i recommend it!)

currently reading: all the mxtx danmei books (finally almost done with mdzs, about halfway through tgcf, and I only just started svsss), i'm also always reading fic (mostly wangxian, but also miraculous ladybug)

currently watching: just started mr queen the other day and I'm enjoying it SO much! it's soooo funny and the acting is really good! I also recently finished rewatching sense8, which I haven't watched in years and I'm so sad it got cancelled :(

currently consuming: soda & snacks

currently craving: always craving soup dumpling (especially from Soup Dumpling STL but I live like 4 hours away it's a tragedy so I'm always on the hunt for good soup dumpling!)

tagging: @caterpilller, @cityofchestpains, @nutcasewithaknife, @invader-mim, @peachybeesplease, @flor-de-un-salon-viejo, @brokenback-willtango, @real-scoliosis, & @katelovesherdoggo

[that-one-ao3-writer]

10 fics for International Fanworks Day

THESE ARE ALL ALMOST FROM THE SAME FANDOMS IM SO SORRY but they are very good I recommend.

Please consider going through the authors' other works as well.

1. Nothing hurts like the almost, almost, almost by communist_sasuke

Fandom: Bungo Stray Dogs

Summary: “Don’t use Corruption, Chuuya.” Dazai tried again. “Let’s just get out of here.”

(A mission goes wrong, and Dazai learns to hold on to the things he can't bear to lose. If only his revelation hadn't come a little too late.)

I KNOW I KNOW mind the MCD tag but it's so well written and the grief just hits best at 1 am.

2. Atsushi's Guide to Surviving in the Armed Detective Agency (and Being a Part of a Family) by FrogintheWindow

Fandom: Bungo Stray Dogs

Summary: Atsushi studies his coworkers in the hopes of understanding what exactly he’s a part of, and realizes that he’s joined a family, not an agency.

Basically a series of short stories where Atsushi writes about his experiences with the Armed Detective Agency (and the Port Mafia)

FOUND FAMILY FOUND FAMILY FOUND FAMILY

3. try again, try again, try again by absolutefuckery

Fandom: Heaven Official's Blessing

Summary: Feng Xin accidentally steals Mu Qing’s first kiss. Naturally, the only logical solution is to give him another one. And another. And another. And another. And—

I'M LITERALLY IN LOVE WITH THIS FIC HONESTLY FQ ARE IDIOTS

4. Sleepwalking in shadows by oilux

Fandom: Jujutsu Kaisen

Summary: “Fushiguro Megumi,” Sukuna drawls. “You summoned—”

“Do you have two dicks?” 

It's all fun and games until you summon the King of Curses from your shadows.

OKAY OKAY SHIP CHOICE IS WEIRD IK BUT IT'S FUNNY

5. and all the things unsaid, come sweetly to your lips by citruspromenade

Fandom: Heaven Official's Blessing

Summary: the Xian Le Trio reconciliation, through the (metaphorical) seasons.

(The actual summary is longer guys) FENG XIN LOVE AND MULIAN FRIENDSHIP WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED

6. pretty face, electric soul by khrys

Fandom: Heaven Official's Blessing

Summary: Feng Xin and Xie Lian are attempting to re-enter high society. Mu Qing helps, and Feng Xin realizes a few things along the way.

LAST TGCF FIC I PROMISE

7. like, comments, share and subscribe by detectorist

Fandom: The Untamed / Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation

Summary: Lan Zhan runs a popular studytuber YouTube channel. Wei Ying decides to parody his videos. Things escalate from there.

THIS FIC GIVES ME LIFE

8. A Broken Soul by raendown

Fandom: Naruto (dont judge I had a phase)

Summary: Kakashi was born with a counter just like everyone else. But his was different. His was broken.

THIS IS ANGST OKAY YPU HAVE BEEN WARNED

9. Autonomy by beetlebee

Fandom: Naruto

Summary: "But this Not-Sensei soulmate guy could be anybody," Naruto whines.

Sasuke narrows his eyes. "No. He tried to act like Kakashi, use his techniques. He must be familiar with him already..."

"They could be childhood friends!" Sakura gasps.

"Sensei has friends?" Naruto asks, squinting at Obito.

"Or he's a stalker." Sasuke grips the kunai he still hasn't put away.

"I'm not a stalker," Obito lies, pushing away the kunai edging towards him.

----

(A soulmate bodyswap AU)

FUNNY OBIKAKA THERE I SAID IT

10. An Executive's Guide to Love, Jealousy & Everything in Between by mocarin

Fandom: Bungo Stray Dogs

Summary: Dazai Osamu is known for many things. Being the Port Mafia’s renowned strategist, a coldhearted executive, and ½ of infamous duo Double Black is just the shortlist. One thing he isn’t known for, however, is being capable of being in love. More specifically, in love with his hot headed slug of a partner of 3 years.

Or, Dazai attempts to navigate the complexities of love, with varying levels of success. Featuring his own special brand of flirting, an all too knowing audience, and poor, poor Tachihara who just wanted a friend but ended up on Dazai’s personal blacklist instead.

OOC WARNING BUT IT'S FUNNY SO

+1. Snapshots from different lives: It's a bittersweet symphony this life by Crepuscolaria

Fandom: Heaven Official's Blessing (I couldn't resist)

Summary: He didn’t even get to meet Mu Qing last time! And now they could grow together and have a lot of time! Of course he would run to him!

Not that he can explain this to his mom. She would just look at him with the same exasperated fondness she reserves him when he grumbles under his breath things like youths these days, or back in my day.

------

A brief glimpse to that one time FX found MQ and they were both kids and he actually managed to grow with him until old age.

Series

Part 4 of Beyond Space and Time

CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED FIC GO READ IT NOW

(Might make pt. 2 idk)

[web-novel-polls]

MXTX Side Character Bracket

Side A - Opens Thursday, November 9th

Jin Ling vs. Daoist nuns triplets 

Jiang Yanli vs. Xue Yang 

Yin Yu vs. Xiao Xingchen 

Qin Wanyue vs. Bai Jing 

A-Qing vs. Mu Qingfang 

Ling Wen vs. Pei Ming 

Shang Qinghua vs. Wen Qing 

Bichen vs. Fairy 

Side B - Opens Sunday, November 12th

Ning Yingying vs. Su Xiyan

Mobei-jun vs. Zhuzhi-lang

LBH’s Harem vs. Jiang Cheng

Su She vs. Tianlang-jun

Quan Yizhen vs. Song Lan

Lan Xichen vs. Sha Hualing

Wen Ning vs. Gongyi Xiao

Mianmian vs. Six Balls

Special Addition - Shen Jiu vs. Liu Qingge

Polls will open at noon CST and will remain open for 1 week.

Tag: #mxtx side characters round 1

Characters & propaganda underneath the cut

Jin Ling from MDZS

Submission 1: He may be a brat, but he has a good heart and a friendly dog. He thinks he's the main character of a much less intense story which keeps almost getting him killed 

Submission 2: Bestest boy in the whole world. He's got a dog! A helicopter uncle! His dad's sword! Yeah he can be a little brat but he's SIXTEEN okay (or thirteen, or whatever, MXTX HELP) and he's got an incredible capacity for forgiveness. He's so good! 

Daoist nuns triplets from SVSSS

Submission: Authors of "Song of BingQiu" and the true culprits behind the ass wine extra. Stop crediting Liu Mingyan with their hard work! 

Jiang Yanli from MDZS

“Madam Jin. A-Xian is my younger brother. A humiliation to him is not something trivial to me.” - Drama

Elder Sister Syndrome in its highest form who is just trying to protect her loved ones despite having no talent in cultivation. 

Wiki Link

Xue Yang from MDZS

Submission: It's not that he's evil. He lacks empathy and he goes into a disassociative state and commits atrocities. 

Yin Yu from TGF

Submission: The guy of all time. The most average god ever. Someone give him a break. His face is so average that Xie Lian thought it was fake 

Xiao Xingchen from MDZS

No propaganda submitted

Originally a disciple of Baoshan Sanren, Xiao Xingchen left his home knowing he wouldn’t ever be allowed to return in the sole hopes of saving and helping others. He meets and befriends Song Lan, who later loses his eyes and home to Xue Yang. Xiao Xingchen begs Baoshan Sanren to give Song Lan his eyes, choosing to wander the world blind. Due to sacrificing his eyes, he’s unable to recognize Xue Yang, who tricks him into killing innocent people and later, Song Lan, the person he wanted to save the most. 

Wiki Link

Qin Wanyue from SVSSS

Submission: Scum Villain's wettest and most pathetic loser! Of course, she's so pathetic that she's constantly overshadowed by more bombastically pathetic characters, but I think she deserves her chance at recognition. 

Bai Jing / Brocade Immortal from TGCF

Submission: no 1 ling wen simp (just like me fr)

Wiki Link

A-Qing from MDZS

Propaganda: She's so smart. She tricked so many people into thinking she was blind for so long. Also, she was really kind and considerate. Like she didn't have to save all of those people from Xue Yang. Oh and she's an excellent judge of character and super brave. Really hope she wins, she's such a fun little genius girl 

"You piece of shit! Dream on! You don't deserve to call Daozhang unclean. You're just a pool of spittle! Daozhang must be the unluckiest man in the world to have met you! You're the only one who’s dirty! It's only a disgusting pool of spittle like you!" — A-Qing’s last words to Xue Yang

Mu Qingfang from SVSSS

Submission: Ppl tend to completely forget he has a mad scientist side (see Jinlan arc) and if he gets into the tournament I'll have a reason to bring it up. 

Ling Wen from TGCF

Submission: Girlboss. Did nothing wrong

One of the Three Tumors - three Heavenly Officials that have some of the worst reputations after Xie Lian (“the laughing stock of the three realms”) - and was accused of, like, killing a dude or smth but was accepted back into Heaven on the sole basis that she’s the only administratively competent god

Pei Ming from TGCF

One of the Three Tumors - three Heavenly Officials that have some of the worst reputations after Xie Lian (“the laughing stock of the three realms”) - due to his EXTENSIVE manwhore ways. Like, when the ghost mother of a fetus spirit claims her child is/was the child of a Heavenly Official, EVERYONE thinks it’s him. What can he say, his reputation precedes him 

Shang Qinghua / Airplane from SVSSS

Submission: He's a sidekick and he's so sidelined that despite creating the universe he's treated as an afterthought - doubly a side character! But also? So relateable. He would absolutely have been on tumblr in his first life, he gets so excited about his blorbo who treats him terribly (until they finally get a happy ending in the extras - also! he has to wait for the extras to get his happy ending! very side-character of him). He holds the fascinating position of being mostly irrelevant to the story and yet without him the themes would totally fail. He deserves a win on something for once, okay? 

Wen Qing from MDZS

Submission 1: Doctor, mad scientist, war criminal, protective big sister... she has the range!!

Submission 2: Wen Qing my beloved!! She did surgery on a grape. Mad genius for real. Also a loving sister with a very sharp tongue and maybe no sense of how far is too far. Can't wait for them to find her alive in a Koi Tower basement!

Submission 3: Justice for my girl!!!! 

Submission 4: She's bitchy and pragmatic and cares deeply and did an unprecedented operation (experimental and nonconsensual!), what's not to love? Also she deserved better. 

Bichen from MDZS

Lan Wangji’s sword

Submission: this sword has been through a lot…

Wiki Link 

Fairy from MDZS

Jin Ling’s dog that was gifted to him by Jin Guangyao 

Submission: The cutest, smartest, and goodest doggo! She's the one who led WangXian to the Nie sword tomb to save Jin Ling! and led Jiang Cheng to Guanyin Temple to save Jin Ling! and led Lan cultivators to the temple to help Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen (and Jin Ling!)

Wiki Link

Ning Yingying from SVSSS

Submission: Her glow-up in the SVSSS timeline is real! Instead of becoming Luo Binghe's childhood sweetheart, she roasts him for referring to her too familiarly. Love this for her. 

Su Xiyan from SVSSS

Girlboss

Wiki Link

Mobei-jun from SVSSS

Submission: He's a demon tsundere who doesn't realize his human boyfriend is scared and easily squishable. Got demoted from king to cabinet minister during a hostile takeover but is pretty chill about it. Huge boobs. 

Zhuzhi-lang from SVSSS

Submission 1: Snake boy my beloved

Submission 2: I love him

Luo Binghe’s Harem from SVSSS

Submission: Binghe's harem the whole collection all of them together an amalgamation of all the wives 

Jiang Cheng from MDZS

Submission 1: Extremely traumatized yet also somehow the most normal and functional by the end. Huge bitch but I (and at least one of the other characters) think he deserves to be even worse after everything he's been through

Submission 2: Simultaneously badass and the most cringefail man. Extremely funny and stylish but still manages to be very uncool. Cries a lot. Also he's lost a lot of tumblr polls—let's give him another shot! We definitely love him more than his dad did!

Submission 3: He's got mommy issues AND daddy issues. He loves his sister and his shige so much. He's traumatised and incredibly competent. He rebuilt his whole sect! He's an asshole (affectionate). He's purple! He's got the coolest weapon ever conceived. I'm so worried about his blood pressure basically all the time. 

Su Minshan / Su She from MDZS

Submission 1: Idk I just kinda like him

Submission 2: Look at him having his own life and grudges and friendships and priorities completely unrelated to the main characters! He was so right to curse Jin Zixun 

Tianlang-jun from SVSSS

Submission: Incredible character who does it like him 

Quan Yizhen from TGCF

Submission: He's a good boi and thinking about him makes me cry a lil'.

Literally only ascended to Heaven to follow his shixiong, hated it, and then his shixiong was cast out for trying to kill him. Also, the “revered-martial-artist-who-beats-up-his-supporters/subordinates-and-is-still-loved” trope

Song Lan from MDZS

No propaganda submitted 

Died to the one person he desperately wanted to apologize to (Xiao Xingchen), and when Xiao Xingchen, unable to recognize him due to giving Song Lan his eyes, killed him, Song Lan chose not to use his sword, knowing Xiao Xingchen would recognize it 

Wiki Link

Lan Xichen from MDZS

Submission: Pay your respects to the captain of the WangXian ship! Those idiots would keep pining for another 13282627 years if it weren't for him! 

Sha Hualing from SVSSS

Submission: Her cringefail losergirl swag has captivated me 

Wen Ning from MDZS

Submission emitted for potential character hate

Chose kindness again and again - sheltering Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng from the other Wens, sacrificing himself with his sister to save Wei Wuxian and the Wen Remnants - only to inadvertently/paritally cause Wei Wuxian’s downfall & the seige on the Burial Mounds with his own hands by killing Jin Zixuan (not of his own will, btw). Another tragic character who sacrificed and put himself at risk to protect people who died anyway 

Gongyi Xiao from SVSSS

Submission: He is such a Good Person who didn't deserve his fate :( 

Mianmian / Luo Qingyang from MDZS

Girlboss instantly shut down the misogynists in her clan by leaving without hesitation. Iconic work. 

Wiki Link

Six Balls from SVSSS

Submission: When he was born he weighed as much as six balls. Current ball number unknown.

[fyodcrs]

2023 CHARACTER WRAPPED

°˖✧ Top 9 characters I loved in 2023 ✧˖°

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!!

Tagged by @queenrojpag - thank you so much, Itz!! °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖° Best wishes for the new year! Almost didn't finish this in time! It's honestly so hard to pick just nine. The first half of this year for me was practically defined by endhawks brainrot. The second half has been defined by fyosig and hualian brainrot. I don't expect much to change in 2024 asdfgfdg. I don't know who has already done this, so I'll tag @unknown-in-narnia @sattosugu @apparently-artless and @smol-ackerman Feel free to ignore, of course ❤❤

Characters, from left to right:

Fyodor Dostoevsky (BSD)

Fukuchi Ouchi (BSD)

Sigma (BSD)

Hawks (BNHA)

Satoru Gojou (JJK)

Endeavor (BNHA)

Hua Cheng (TGCF)

Akutagawa Ryuunosuke (BSD)

Xie Lian (TGCF)