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#WWX really was unhinged for saying he was going to always be at JC's side and then immediately asking about LWJ.
poorly-drawn-mdzs · 2 months
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Bros before Ho(oh my god is that Hanguang-Jun?)
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poorlittleyaoyao · 1 year
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My biggest problem with the novel is that it's a love story but not really (??). We have a lot of tropes ( lwj being protected by his 'loved interest position' - he has it rough but not rough as others - he is not a young sect leader without parental figure and siblings; there's the sex; there's the miscommunication!). But we have ALSO very complicated side characters who have significant relationships and that are very important for the plot! These kind of chara ARE NOT normally present in a love story lol (I am thinking about 2ha where the side chara are not that important). But in the end these side chara are just ignored and I don't understand why. I am still here after two years thanks to jc and jl lol, because I am invested in them. (To make things clearer imo the love story would have been more compelling if wwx killed lqr or lxc so then him and lwj sorted their shit out or what the xiyao has going on). But maybe I am the strange one because wangxian has so many unhinged fans lol
That’s confusing to me too! There is nothing about Wangxian on their own that required these particular supporting characters. If this was always gonna be a by-the-books danmei romance with some necromancy thrown in for zest, why spend any effort with the non-Wangxian characters to begin with? Why establish these interesting people if they’re not important? I understand when this happens in multi-season TV shows or (ugh, ick) cinematic universes other long-running types of media with several oft-conflicting creative influences at play, but… this is one novel, by one author with minimal (zero?) editing oversight, and it’s not just a few once-important characters who don’t matter, it’s all of them. Are we meant to care or not? You can say the same about a lot of the plot events, IMO; why did these specific things happen if we aren’t meant to engage with them?
I haven’t read the Twilight books, but a recurring complaint I heard from friends who did was that literally every supporting character sounded more interesting than Bella or Edward. This is a bit like that, except Twilight’s other issue is that it steadfastly avoids presenting any potentially messy conflicts for anyone, protagonists included. MDZS seems more like if the big imaginary battle in the last Twilight film had actually happened, body count and all, and we’d still gotten the exact same ending.
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eenasbabysmom · 2 years
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Yeah, I was thinking it didn't even need to be the same incident, just some way LQR was intervening but not looking to fight WWX. I think LWJ's faith remains but things get aaaawkward at home, and it does make any post resurrection romance also a lil awkward on both sides, even though I think LWJ believes Zixuan about the second flute. Speaking of, I'm a little concerned about Zixuan's good health but Yanli's probably fine? Does give LWJ extra reason to investigate and he and JC are fine...
Help-I’ve been thinking about this so much it’s turned into full-fledged fic ideas:
JC on a thirteen year rampage through demonic cultivators, not to find WWX, but to figure if one of them was the mysterious second flute his brother in law heard. LWJ accompanying him, going far flung places and helping people there. Still earning the nickname Hanguang Jun, which JC viciously teases him about, for LWJ to turn around and remind him that most people think Sandu Shengshou is his sidekick.
JZX is stupid, but brave and JYL does all his thinking for him. JGY knows he’s got little chance of bullshitting his SIL, so deals with NMJ and JGS a lot sooner. JGY is still carrying on with his obsession with demonic cultivation, but JYL makes it so that MXY can’t be targeted or harassed at Koi Tower (she is a jiejie first and foremost). He’s extra reliant on XY because of this, and XY gets a lot more access to Wen Ning and NMJ than is probably advisable. Nirejseki on AO3 is writing a delightful AU in which XY becomes unhinged and does the Soul Sacrifice Spell and I’m very enamoured of the idea. Of course, not much of this is possible if JZX looks too closely at things, or JYL, so JGY is engaged in some long-standing embezzling to find all this far enough away from Koi Tower that they don’t get suspicious. Perhaps the Guanyin temple in Yunping, hidden as charitable works in his hometown (an orphanage/school for those born in brothels? Something sentimental enough that neither his brother or his SIL really question it).
JZX and JYL have three kids, Jin Ling, his sister Jin Qiaolian and their little brother baby a-Ying. JC offered to duel JZX for rights to name JQL his heir and they almost do it but JYL forbids it. JC gets his way, and guardianship of his niece for six months of the year to see to her education. Her brothers always end up at LP at the same time, which means JYL is there often (yay!) but so is JZX (JC has accepted that JZX has fathered his niece and nephews, but has not forgiven him for HOW).
(There are an obscene amount of rumours about the nature of LWJ and JC’s ‘friendship’, JC’s naming his niece his heir, and his refusal to marry. We can go the canon way and say the reality is JC is straight as an arrow and hard to please. But I’m a zhancheng shipper at heart, so in my mind-they’re definitely fucking.)
LWJ’s insistence on WWX’s innocence has created an irreparable rift between him and his brother, especially as LWJ followed up his performance at Nightless City by standing between WWX and a group of Lan elders at the Burial Mounds. LWJ still taking 33 strikes, but LXC aches for his brother even though he no longer trusts his judgement. JC arrives one day demanding LWJ join him on another WWX themed road trip sing-along, and LXC takes the out. Bundles his brother off into JC’s care, is lucky JC has his hands full of LWJ so the threat coming from the suddenly active Zidian remains a threat. LWJ recovering quicker at LP because of actual medical care, put in the same medical wing as a young and feverish a-Yuan (JC: “I went to see if I could find any trace of my brother, found him instead. He hugged my leg once and I was rude to him; I think my brother loved him like a son. So he’ll stay here until we find a way to get WWX back.”)
LXC and LWJ orbiting one another, brothers who love each other but separated by this one thing. LXC accepts WWX lost control and killed his uncle; LWJ still believes in the second flute with a desperation that is topped only by JC’s own. LWJ is still Hanguang Jun but no longer the pride of Gusu Lan. LXC wants his little brother with him, but he’s not sure who this LWJ is. He doesn’t know how he can so easily overlook the death of the one adult who didn’t leave them. He doesn’t know why love of WWX is greater than live for their uncle. And with NMJ gone, LXC relies even more heavily upon JGY.
That means a post revived WWX cannot come to Gusu to lie low, but LWJ doesn’t think to bring him there. They go to LP and the Lan juniors don’t follow like ducklings (unless we go with Lan Jingyi is forced to grow up without Lan Sizhui and doesn’t fit in with the other disciples and so imprints on LWJ as the only senior who actually seems okay with Jingyi’s un-Lanness and so follows LWJ around like a duckling and therefore gets a lot more exposure to JC which makes him snarkier than the Elders can handle). All of a sudden, the LWJ and JC road trip sing-along has a third member.
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heavymetalchemist · 4 years
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Who’s ready for a barely-edited unhinged somewhat drunken rant to my friends about Jiang Cheng?
ME: okay so here is why jiang cheng is THE BEST and I will fite anyone who doesn't like him. first off when we first meet him he is obviously supposed to be a dick, like I didn't like him at first either, I was like "what the fuck is this guy's problem" but O MY FRIENDS do we ever find out what his problem is.
here we have this guy who we see is very talented, very strong, cares a lot about doing A Good Job and his appearance. oh yes Jiang Cheng cares so much about his reputation and this is portrayed as kind of a weakness/flaw, which isn't totally inaccurate. But WHY is he like this?? Because his parents suck essentially
like the whole part where he's like "my dad doesn't like me because he doesn't like my mom" is super telling because do we ever see in the show any affection shown to jc from his parents? basically like twice: the one time his mom hugs him and he's like O_O omg mom is hugging me???? this has never happened what do???? which, oh no baby
and then when he is having his golden core transplant and we see the flashback to when he was a CHILD. like the one time with his brother and sister and parents and they are happy and smiling and calling for him to join and he sees his little child self running... and then TEARS OF BLOOD OH NO
so basically like, his dad sucks for being strict with him and not really fathering him at all, his mom is basically straight up abusive. he never gets shown affection by ANYONE except for Yanli and Wei Ying. So obviously those are his two primary relationships.
but the thing is he wants that parental approval SO BAD. that's why he has all this pressure to be like, the perfect clan leader's son, the perfect young cultivator, etc etc. Literally any flaw will be pounced on by his mom or just ignored by his dad. Like he's just trying to get his dad to acknowledge him and his mom to maybe not yell at him?
meanwhile wwx is just dicking around and being contrary and like, jc wants that. It's why he's always with him. It's why he's there with the Party Room at the cloud recesses having the alcohol with huiasang, it's why he's always by wwx's side, and it's why he makes that comment, when have I ever dodged a punishment with you?
like he's incredibly fiercely loyal to wwx because even though he has this inferiority thing, especially since his dad really IS kinder and more affectionate to wwx, wwx is the one person he can depend on
like yanli is obviously an emotional support to both of them and basically a surrogate mother, but she's not anywhere near their level of cultivation and he's like, obviously we must protect her. like what can she really do to protect either of them? so they both take it upon themselves to protect her
like I don't know how much you saw of the anime or whatever R but in that one/the novel the scene where Jin Zixuan disses her is way harsher
R: :gasp:
ME: and jc wants to punch him and wwx shoves him out of the way precisely because he knows that he, wwx, can be the unruly child and fuck up
R: I haven't watched past the first episode of the anime yet, and in the show it's ?????
ME: so he is protecting jc because jc would END that guy for attacking his sister
oh yeah they want to fucking kick his ass
R: But wow, yeah in the novel it's really clear that wwx is like 'I got him'
ME: like wwx is literally protecting jc because he knows that would cause all sorts of interclan drama. I mean he also wants to fuck the guy up too but the thing is that wwx always trusts jc to do the right thing. out on the night hunt with the wen clan when they have no swords and he goes to help lan zhan? he's like, I gotta it's the right thing, and jc is all like, you gotta worry about yourself? like wwx just goes off because he knows that jc will be fine on his own. he trusts his strength
we see it later in the cave with the slaughter xanwu (sp) where jc is the one who goes swimming and finds the exit and leads people out, and he's like desperately trying to get wwx out and is all I WILL COME BACK FOR YOU
but wwx is like, nah jc will definitely get us help. it's only a matter of time. NO DOUBT. AT ALL
MARLOWE: WALKED TO YUNMENG AND BACK
NO REST
NO CREDIT
ME: and jc is basically constantly like I love you but you keep getting into these situations, and you don't understand that I would fucking die for you. because what would I do without you???
because like he's one of the only two people who shows that he loves jc. and of course jc doesn't know how to like, express love back, because his parents are awful, and it's constantly about looking good. any flaw is pounced on. so he hides it behind this aloof sardonic demeanor, and we see it later when he's constantly like, I'll break your legs to jin ling, and then jin ling is like, pft he's never even touched me
because it's that kind of just, I care about you so much and I don't know how to say it because I have been taught that openly expressing emotion is weakness and I have to shut the fuck up
so instead he hides everything behind this whole *scoffs* face. but you constantly see that he is totally loyal to wwx. he's so worried when he starts getting haunted. he doesn't understand why wwx, who always supported him, who SWORE that he would be his main disciple and main supporter, who would be the lan zhan to his lan xichen, is suddenly not carrying his sword and acting weird? and he's like, I have basically no power, our whole clan got murdered, I'm coasting on the lasting goodwill and good name of the jiang clan and doing my best, and you always had my back even with your sass and... suddenly you're cold to me? he disappears for three months
THREE MONTHS
HE IS SO WORRIED
he's looking everywhere along with lan zhan
they FIND HIM
he's obviously super haunted
but then jc HUGS HIM
which is this huge, like, he actually initiates physical contact
he breaks that aloofness because he is so happy and relieved
and wwx DOES NOT HUG BACK
LIKE
MY HEART BREAK
R: oh noooooh jesus
ME: so then the whole thing with the wen clan but like
R: :cries tears: oh no
ME: he's all okay so I betray you, and jc is like, but, you swore you'd be my guy. and at first it's like they are still in touch though right
R: yah like on the down low
ME: like, I can't protect you from other clans, so wwx is like okay we will say I left so that way the jiang clan doesn't get blamed for this. so wwx is still protecting jc
R: nrghg in the show that line is the worst I was just ack yes
ME: but jc doesn't really have the power to do anything to help him except support him secretly. like the whole thing where yanli is gonna have a baby and it was jc's idea to have wwx give him the courtesy name, but he doesn't want to admit it because again he just. can't. express emotion. because like imagine him trying to have an emotion at his parents. SHUT DOWN. so he's still just struggling to express anything to anyone really and this is another one of those gestures that he loves wwx. but then the super haunting happens right, and wen ning kills Jin Zixuan, and jc is like
YOU SAID YOU HAD IT UNDER CONTROL
and it's because he TRUSTED him totally, because wwx is his brother and loves him! but he has just hurt the one other person he loves, yanli
R: He's trying so hard to just keep a hold of him just a little oh my god
and he's always been this like...gosh flawed but also flawless?
ME: and he doesn't know what to do because the thing is he's always had faith in wwx's skills, he never would have thought that he would lie to him or betray him but now it's like, fucking haunted. murders the husband. then shows up and yanli gets killed. and yeah yanli dies actually protecting wwx but the thing is jc is like
YOU HAD
ONE JOB
PROTECT YANLI
because that's what they did as brothers. because that was like, their mom, you know???? like their affection mom??? so jc has lost his sister and also his brother, and has NO ONE
R: the one who actually made them food and gave them hugs T_T
ME: and of course he like, loses his shit and is like GO TO HELL because, his entire world has crumbled
R: yes T_T yes T_T of course
ME: he had two people to count on and one is dead and the other betrayed him by causing the other to die, by not having his back like he SWORE, and this is basically the only person who ever demonstrated that he was loved at all. if he doesn't have that what does he even have?
but like, IMMEDIATE regret
we hear about the constant hunting for his body, trying to summon his soul, the single minded dedication to finding him, because what's killing him is of course he regrets his part in wwx's death, but also - why? why did his brother, who he trusted more than anyone, who trusted HIM, who always believed in HIS skills, and HIS dedication, unlike his parents, who he was never good enough for, why did he betray him? like.... you know he's basically sitting there: was it something I did? was I not good enough for you?
you see it with the jealousy with lan zhan. you discarded me for the amazing hanguan jun? WHY AM I NEVER GOOD ENOUGH
and so he's obsessed with trying to get that closure. he Has To Know. and at the end he finally gets an answer. all the weird behavior, the haunting, not having the sword, going everywhere with wen ning as bodyguard - because wwx made the ultimate sacrifice for him - he gave him his golden core. and like, how could... how could anything ever compare to that
like he's crushed because that all happened because he gave himself up to save wwx, and got his core crushed, and was tortured, but he had to save his brother! THE ONLY FAMILY HE HAD LEFT. THE ONLY ONE WHO LOVED HIM. not to discount Yanli but... not the same. just not the same
so he's been sitting there this whole time going: I got my core crushed for you, I was tortured for you, I almost lost cultivation forever for you, and you threw me under the fucking bus, and then he finds out that no, he was good enough the whole time. like, what could wwx possibly give lan zhan that would ever top that, honestly? it's the ultimate affirmation that his relationship with jc WAS important and DID matter and he DID love him. and then he finally gets his apology for how wwx doesn't have his back and just, TEARS FOREVER
CRIES IN FRONT OF EVERYONE
FUCK ALL Y'ALL I AM GONNA HAVE AN EMOTION
and then does he tell wwx about how he got his core crushed? no. because it doesn't matter now. because all that matters is that he knows that wwx loved him. and for once, it's not a competition. he finally knows it's really, truly mutual
and even though there's all these years of bitterness and misunderstanding, like, suddenly he can look back and have the feeling of "he really never stopped loving me" and suddenly he's not so totally alone any more
R: Oh. *OH* I wondered why he didn't tell him.
ME: and NOW all I want is for him to give Jin Ling a goddamn hug
yeah if he told him... it would feel like that one-upmanship again. and I think that jc has finally realized he's good enough. and he doesn't need to do that
R: :flaps hands::flaps hands: it makes sense
ahh
that was the missing piece for me
oh gosh ahh
ME: GROWTH
R: growth!!!!!
ME: but yeah like, jc was literally just sitting there like, what the fuck, I would have died for you, I almost DID fucking die for you, and you turn around and won't wear a sword to support me so that we look like a strong united front with these other clan leaders?and yes, meng yao was right - he should have stood up for wwx and been like "yeah whatever he can do what he wants" instead of acting doubtful. but of course he was doubtful. does wwx even ever touch him after he comes back totally haunted? like definitely not in the same way. I'd have to go back and see
but he's sitting there like, I don't understand! and he can't express himself, and wwx doesn't help because EVERYTHING IS A FUCKING JOKE. WHEN IS HE SERIOUS. WHEN IS HE FUCKING SERIOUS
so jc is like... has it been a joke the whole time? have I been a joke to you the whole time? and that's the catharsis at the end - nope. not a joke. it was real. it was really, really real. you were right to love him and to trust him. all this bad shit, it's not like wwx is innocent, but it WASN'T him. he gets his apology, but more importantly he gets the affirmation that he's really loved and deserving and good enough. and that's like, what he needs the most
he's "parenting" jin ling this way because it's what his parents did to him and he became a good cultivator, so, like, yeah, but also because he wants everyone to know that jin ling is Good Enough, and this is the best way he knows how
SO
THOSE ARE SOME OF MY THOUGHTS
HOPE YOU ENJOYED
MARLOWE: So many feels T_T
Hug all these boys
R: oh gosh your thoughts are wonderful that moment at the end and he's just like 'ah' gnrghghg T_T
ME: RIGHT
like he just looks after wwx and lz, and thinks back, and has a little smile because like, no it was worth it
imagine how much that must have haunted him. like, "I got my core crushed for you! and you betrayed me! I should have let them take you!" but feeling SO TORN because how could he NOT protect his brother? and finally being able to feel okay with that decision for real
R: ahhh
:clutches heart:
MARLOWE: On the way home he spontaneously hugs Jin Ling
Who thinks he’s being strangled or murdered
ME: O_O
WUT IS HOPPEN
IS FINALLY TIME OF BREAKING LEGS X_X
MARLOWE: YES EXACTLY
Jin Ling’s spirit leaves his body
ME: yes
R: ahahaha just a little ghost right out his mouth
ME: then jc is all like
lets him go with a shove and scoffs
pft
let's go
stop standing there with your face like that
MARLOWE: T_T uncle
R: ahaha oh no
ME: but yes also jc cares like so so much and is just constantly doin his best
like yeah he's competitive and a perfectionist but also the jiang clan got wiped the fuck out and in "present" timeline it's still one of the four most powerful clans!he did that!he's harsh and arrogant but skilled and fiercely loyal and obviously cares about making sure that the jiang clan's reputation is as impeccable as possible and you can see how loyal its members are to him. like all these disciples aren't from nowhere. they all had to come in y'know? because so many were murdered by wen fucking chao. and as strict and harsh as he is like, I can just see him being an extremely dedicated teacher, doing his best to make every cultivator in his sect as good as possible
unlike certain assholes who may have totally deserved death by gangbang
MARLOWE: what
ME: what?
MARLOWE: that took a sudden turn
ME: jin guanshan or whatever is a douche fuck that guy
if we're talking clan leaders
just saying
R: XD
MARLOWE: OHHHH
ok i'm back on board all is clear
ME: did you forget
about
death by gangbang
because it's a Real Plot Point
R: OH
THAT GUY
OH MY GOD
MARLOWE: I JUST WANSN'T EXPECTING 'DEATH BY GANGBANG' AS A SUDDEN TURN IN YOUR DEBATE POINT
R: :cackling:
MARLOWE: passionate and thoughtful defense of jiang cheng's virtues as a sect leader
unlike some people and their death by gangbang
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