The way I called Hua Cheng being the ghost groom

That boy was not that scary you could have held it in my guy

NOT AGAINNN NOT AGAIN (thought "is this hua cheng" and found out that the character indeed is hua cheng)

I feel like talk of ghosts and skins was meant to be foreshadowing abt Hua Chengs false form but idk yet

WHAT DOES YOUR TATTOO SAY ! Is it also a curse mark like with Xie Lian ,,

Xie Lian being used to being berated so he just stands there while Nan Feng yells at him over having San Lang in his altar. Ow. Ouch.

Also I just KNOW Hua Cheng threw Fu Yao a broom on purpose.

I also am thinking about the curtain / door moment ... Why would you give him a better means of protection. Do you want him that bad or are you just lying and making it worse for him!

"Do you think I have anything enough for him to scheme for?" Ow.

I also wonder if he's truly as callous about giving away his ashes as he claims he is

He reminds me of Sukunas Famous "I dont got a crazy purpose in life. I'm hungry I eat I'm bored I kill people(paraphrasing)" moment. But there's always something deeper behind people who say such "whatever" statements about life matters. (Shyly gonna hand this over to friend for discussion in a bit)

I also wonder what was it about the buns that was so funny to him in the altar scene before that ghost came in...

Another thing is, jes really bad at acting it feels like. A 16 yo boy that looks to be from a rich family yet speaks maturely is overly educated and strong as hell. Boy keep up with your masks better

“The door you created looked so magical, I followed along to check it out,” San Lang replied innocently.

i just know he's lying

San Lang reached for the water bottle next to Xie Lian’s elbow again and replied, “Of course it’s different. This one tastes much better.” Xie Lian smiled despite himself.

homo

The Hongjing sword was a powerful weapon that could expose its enemies, that wasn’t a lie. But Nan Feng had never heard of any technique that could break it from within the sheath!

it's the way I thought San Lang broke it himself..

... so Xie Lian reached over directly to help fold in his sleeves, patting them down to make sure no sand would get in. San Lang was taken aback by the sudden gesture.

Why are we so surprised by the love we give out being reflected onto us, hmmm???

Just then, a powerful gust whipped by, blowing off Xie Lian’s bamboo hat. If it flew off, it would disappear into the desert forever! But San Lang reacted immediately and grabbed the hat just in time with an abnormally fast hand. He returned the bamboo hat to Xie Lian once more, and Xie Lian thanked him.

Twilight car scene moment

San Lang folded his arms and chuckled. “Does being contradictory give you the satisfaction of feeling unique and independent?”

hollering.jpg

Xie Lian told Ruoye to grab hold of something dependably solid, and it grabbed on to San Lang!

I mean.. Need I explain??

Hearing Xie Lian say this, San Lang burst out laughing. Xie Lian stared at him. “It’s nothing,” San Lang said, “I just thought what you said made sense. One of the four in the Four Great Calamities is certainly only there for the headcount. Please continue.”

is he talking about himself I'm hollering

Yet unexpectedly, San Lang suddenly laughed. “I think they’re being way too humble. Those merchants aren’t as simple as they say they are.”

I like that he is by nature untrusting btw. I like that even with Xie Lian, Hua Cheng-San Lang doesn't really give out much of himself, for example with translating words on the tomb and implying he just recognized words at random.

“People like that only have one end: death. They will either die in battle or at the hands of their own people.”

I feel like this was mean. Especially with Xie Lian right there. IDK

San Lang smiled softly and said in a lowered voice, “No. I made that up. But since they laughed earlier, their prostrating now should make up for it.”

This was funny

He whispered back, “Why are you so mischievous?” San Lang stuck out his tongue, and the two chuckled.

This was cute~

seven or eight scorpion-snakes

I'm glad it wasn't six or seven

“Yeah! It’s pretty much the same effect as worshipping the Scrap Immortal! The more you pray, the unluckier you become!” “…” Even when the issue was barely related to him, he still got shot. Xie Lian was speechless.

Agreed leave him alone

San Lang grabbing his hand, sucking the venom out, only choosing the purest antidote for the wound, and then acting so standoffish around him. Why? Because he were caught being vulnerable (via reacting VERY SHARPLY to the sight of Xie Lian being hurt)?

Also:

San Lang wordlessly snatched Ruoye from Xie Lian’s arm and immediately knotted it firmly on his wrist, preventing the venom from advancing. While Ruoye enjoyed snuggling up to Xie Lian, it wasn’t normally that well behaved. And yet, in San Lang’s hands it was so compliant it was like it was dead.

I dunno man, IK someone else said it and it's technically a spoiler such as that San Lang is Hua Cheng but I do feel myself agreeing that despite his nature Hua Cheng seems to be a 'better' person to be around for Xie Lian than the others that berate him yet arent 'evil'

Also did he blow the damn snake up?:

His eyes were extremely cold, and he moved his glare to the unconscious snake on the ground. There was a loud BOOM! and the snake abruptly exploded into a purplish-red pool of blood and flesh.

The state preceptor of Banyue laughed. “Ha! I don’t like calling other people. I like calling you. Aren’t you glad?” The lady in black ignored her completely and said coolly, “There’s nothing agreeable about being called out by the likes of you for something like this. Just go.”

Yuri

Xie Lian withdrew his hand and was struck speechless. It occurred to him that every time he was faced with some horrifying incident, or saw or touched anything frightening in the dark, it was always the other party who would scream before he could say anything. But shouldn’t it be the other way around?

I do notice it, too. I wonder if it's meant to be some kind of like, trauma response or just how he is.. Is his reaction to freeze? :thinking: ,,,

I wonder if the mud face is lying, or if he means that he saw San Lang before, years ago. Welp~

Also: I do like how calm San Lang is around the snakes, well, I mean specifically when he first met one and held it calmly - perhaps there's some kind of synonimity there with their outer self looking monstrous and being judged for that alone - even if it's a bit justified as they are venomous, nobody knew that until the needle-tail came out, didn't they? 🤔

The mud face.. The horror of seeing his own body.. The way he were trying to get himself out and ended up a monster... Hmm.

"As expected, when he posed a question, San Lang still answered.." Awwww

San Lang jumping off the cliff like he weren't going to scare the living shit out of Xie Lian because to him he's just a mortal X_X...

“San Lang, is that you?” Maybe it was because the stench of blood here at the bottom of the pit was heavy and disorienting. Who knew what was going through Xie Lian’s head, but his hands continued to roam upward until he reached a strong, hard Adam’s apple. He snapped out of it in shock and immediately reprimanded himself, withdrawing his hands. “It’s San Lang, right? Are you all right? Are you hurt?”

bro is just groping ATP

“I’m fine.” For some reason, Xie Lian thought that his voice was curiously different from before.

I wonder if he was in his real form
I like him refusing to put Xie Lian down cuz the ground was dirty LMAO

San Lang, on the other hand, only humphed a mirthless snort. “Even one-on-one, you won’t win. You don’t have to fight.” The last line was directed to Xie Lian, and in speaking it, his voice was deeper, with none of the previous glib, mocking tone.

Mmmm you see how this alpha ceo male didn't snarl at his labubu princess

“You don’t want to ask anything else?” “What else do you want me to ask?” Xie Lian said. “For example, whether I’m human,” San Lang replied. Xie Lian rubbed his forehead. “Hmm. I don’t think that’s necessary.” “Is it not?” “Is it? It’s not important whether you’re human or not,” Xie Lian said. “Oh?”

I <3 this

He was still letting San Lang carry him. And the scary thing was, he had gotten used to being in this position without realizing it!

I <3 this even more

Hua Cheng casually threatening the corpses..Gulp.

Kemo kinda hot.... Who said that omg?

Kemo and Banyues dynamic r so interesting. Pei junior is crazy and ruthless as hell and his "logical" solutions and means to an end are also just so wow. I remember a mention of his face blanching at the gruesome sight of someone hanging off a pole, so I wondered (at the time) if somehow in the end he did care for this or felt guilt, yet went through it anyway. OK moving on

“Don’t worry about it. I randomly made up a fake name at the time. I think it was ‘Hua Xie.’” Hearing the name, San Lang’s face changed slightly, his lips faintly twitching. Xie Lian didn’t notice and continued.

I wonder if he recognized him in a more than "wait you are the guy that slipped and died" way

Xie Lian replied, “Do you not know how many hundreds of years old I am? So much can happen in just a decade, there’s no way to remember everything in detail. Besides, some things are best forgotten. Rather than remembering how I was butchered and trampled hundreds of years ago, I’d prefer to remember that I ate a delicious meat bun yesterday, no?”

SPEAK IT XIE LIAN!! STOP HARASSING HIM FU YAO

It dawned on Xie Lian, and he glanced at San Lang next to him. He was watching the snakes with condescension and immense contempt. The scorpion-snakes seemed to be able to read his eyes and didn’t dare approach. They backed off bit by bit, lowering their heads as they did so, pressing their savage heads against the ground submissively like servants.

The absolute aura of this man

“Your Royal Highness,” Fu Yao said. “Don’t play pretend when you know the truth. Do you still remember your place? I’m sure you’re already very aware of who exactly that cad next to you is. I refuse to believe you haven’t realized it!”

Oh shut the hell up

“Then how dare you still stand next to him?!” Fu Yao shouted. “Because… if I stand next to him, the snakes won’t come,” Xie Lian answered earnestly. “…” Hearing the response, San Lang pfft-ed and laughed out loud.

lmfaoo

To be fair, whether it was General Pei Junior himself or A-Zhao, that composed, calm, and collected aura never changed. Only Xie Lian never thought in that direction, so he hadn’t connected the two until now.

I noticed the same but didn't exactly connect their personalities..

Also really loved the bickering of Pei and Kemo. Pei shut the hell up ya occupant

Pei Xiu seemed to have had enough of quarreling with Kemo, and he turned to Xie Lian. “So you see, there are many things in the world that simply cannot be clearly defined or resolved. You can only fight.” Xie Lian sighed. “I’ll agree to the first part.” San Lang, on the other hand, said, “Hm. I’ll agree to the second part.”

This man makes me laugh

“Is it only because these souls of the dead are iron proof of the blood on your hands while you were a human and would become obstacles to your climbing higher in the future?”

Even letting them pass over has selfish reasons I'm dead

Xie Lian wasn’t shocked into silence but was instead thinking, Who in the heavens is more of a failure than me? I don’t think there’s anyone.

Baby no don't say that..dont say that

“All right, then. What do you want to eat, Hua Cheng?” Behind him, there was silence. Then chuckling. “I still prefer the name ‘San Lang.’”

Absolutely floored and endeared with this exchange btw, so soft. I didn't expect the unmasking to go with such a tone

When others called him “Your Highness,” some were emotionless and all business, like Ling Wen. But most of the time, when people called him “Your Highness,” it was laced with a sense of disdain, like how one would intentionally address an ugly woman as a beauty, somewhat sarcastic.

Ahhhhhh

He thought, It’s not like you were trying very hard to hide yourself. “

Agreed

“Why did it have to be so fast?” Xie Lian wondered. “Maybe it’s so little Banyue wouldn’t have to hang so painfully as many times,” Hua Cheng replied. Xie Lian was silent for a moment. “But what about the mortals?” Hua Cheng replied quietly, “They’re heavenly officials. Mortals are nothing but ants in their eyes. Pei Xiu is a classic highly ranked god. As long as no one found out, killing a few hundred people is no different than stomping a few hundred insects to death.”

The way he isn't wrong, ow.

Him poking Hua Cheng randomly to check his skin was cute.
Hua Cheng going "what if I was (ugly) a worm" is so cute

Hua Cheng quirked his brow. “Yeah. In the Ghost Realm, those lower than supreme have no right to speak to me.”

Oh you arrogant homotron.. But I do like how he looks down on some people like here abt heavenly officials which is based and true:

Hua Cheng clicked his tongue. “If they can be offended by such a small thing, then they’re nothing but narrow-minded trash.”

Also, Xie Lian getting embarrassed for the things he'd believed in when he was young is adorable. Is it naive to want to save everyone? Yesss. Is it still respectable? Yesss.

“Even now I don’t understand what I was thinking back then. How did I ever have the courage to tell someone to make me the meaning of their life?” Hua Cheng was silent, and Xie Lian continued. “It really was something that could only have been said back then. Long ago, I really thought I was invincible and fearless. If you asked me to say the same words now, there is no way they would ever leave my lips again.”

Ok and watch Hua Cheng make you the meaning of his life

Him leaving Xie Lian with a ring is insane I take this as them getting engaged bye

book 1 chapters 10-17, revised. Not a proper tgcfpost yet

Um, I read about chapters 10-17 of revised edition, I'm not sure if there are other edits or if I have the energy to read them per se but.. That was so good. I feel like the disrespect Qi Rong did with the parents was way more emotional before it got revised to something else but otherwise this new take on Qianqiu and Xie Lians situation was.. WOW. Mind blowing. I do also think that the previous reason with mortal enemies was good but the thought of vengeful ghosts trying to cannibalize corpses is so vomit worthy that the visual pays it off more in here.

Extra HuaLian interactions. Oh my God, why were you undressing him! I'm pretending I know nothing of the reason why, you pervy freak !!! Ahhh !!

Um, yeah wow. Wow. I read all this today btw, wow 😭

“What I couldn’t accomplish, you did it, so of course I should thank you.” “Why couldn’t you accomplish it?”
I wonder why. 😢 I def wonder why.

“What don’t I know about gege?”
Xie Lian casually asking Hua Cheng to keep him company in the night 🤭

I notice the word cute being used a lot@ Hua Cheng. Even a scene where Xie Lian wanted to squish his face. And overall describing him as adorable

It seems… It’s just me left.” Hua Cheng raised his head, “Okay.” Xie Lian blinked, “What?” Hua Cheng folded his arms, gazed fixedly at him, and repeated, “You.” Just bet you.
Mamma mia!!!!

"Gege intentionally lost, was it because you have some misunderstanding about me? Would I have killed it?”
😭

Xie Lian getting excited in the armory ❤️
Xie Lian risking abstinency just to investigate things around 💀 Grabbing Hua Cheng by the shoulders and everything! THE QUESTION ABOUT CELIBACY !!!

He was almost like a ten-year-old kid showing off his treasures, and Xie Lian couldn’t help but be amused.
I'll cry.

Xie Lian was mildly awed, “Twenty years? This is too long, why not give up? So that he can free himself.” Hua Cheng said, “Won’t give up.”
For some reason this felt very important to me because.. See it this way, Hua Cheng also havent given up for years

" Xie Lian didn’t know what was happening, but since Hua Cheng said give it to him, he gave it to him." "Far from being frightening, this darkness was on the contrary like a layer of gentle armor, making him feel inexplicably reassured." “We didn’t go for a night chat on the lake. I was just borrowing something… Okay, we did have a night chat on the lake." Are you gay. I liked the lake scene, it was really cute.

“Are you going to swear to help me without even asking for any details? What if I’m planning something heinous, will you also plead for me? Gege is too trusting of other people.” These words didn’t sound like questioning, but more like worrying. Xie Lian was stunned, “But, I’m not trusting others. I’m trusting you.” He said it without hesitation, and this time, it was Hua Cheng’s turn to be stunned.

Also I liked the part about the painting hesitating before harming Xie Lian, it's as if... As if it's been ordered not to 🤨

Also man I wonder who the mole is... Immediately points to Feng Xin
I liked that Xie Lian was more bossy/teacher like with Qianqiu in the fight. And that he seemed to have quite the character as a cultivator, where did this child abuse come from 💀 Perhaps he is true to tell people to not put others on a pedestal, I too fell for it

I liked that the kidnapping scene upped Hua Chengs expression of anger
I wonder if the hill for discarding filth wasn't just about dirtyness but Mu Qing fearing being discarded himself.. Food for thought
"When he talked to Hua Cheng, it always seemed as if he got gently checkmated, unable to fight back, and yet willing to lose. He was truly lost for words." I wonder if this will ever become a miscommunication/negative thing

"Surprisingly, I had taken only a couple steps when he swooped out and hung on my arm, asking me if other people had been bullying me." 🥺 "Everyone said that I saved His Royal Highness, but I think it can also be said that he saved me.” 🥺 🥺

"City Lord Hua, you are the nicest person, so please don’t tease him, he can’t take it so well, could you please just undo the spell.” Yet Hua Cheng spoke with conviction, “I’m not nice, and I’m not a person.” Xie Lian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry
😭

I loved how bro was letting Xie Lian heal up and taking him on dates instead ofthis 'dangerous' task he needed help with. I love how he set the temple on fire 💀

"they looked at him with trembling eyes, ever more awed, didn’t even complain when he blew up two palaces, and instead expressed their cordial condolences, “Imperial Preceptor, we understand, you were just serving the country and the people!”, which made him too embarrassed to admit that he had merely tried to cook." I'm cackling

“Because I am the Royal Highness Crown Prince. All the water in the world is in my hands; if I don’t be the third person, who else can do it?” stopp this is Xie Lian the junior

The misinformation about Xie Lian in the temple was also funny af.

Also the 'in your face'ness of Hua Cheng acting carelessly when it came to Xie Lian (breaking into Heavenly Capital for one) <3

I liked the conversation they had after Qi Rong copy was eradicated. The hug too :( <3

“Gege doesn’t want me, so why do you want the flower I sent?" 💔

“I’m not missing brick carriers; I’m missing something else.” Xie Lian asked, “What’s missing?” YOU BRO

Qi Rong is also still insane and gets a boner from being hated on by Xie Lian I swear..

"But for some people, the fact that a certain someone exists in this world, is hope in itself.” 😭

TGCFposting for New Plot/Revised chaps in book 1

"The only difference in Chapter 1 is that the story of Xie Lian's first banishment is completely changed. It erases the events of the Xianle civil war from Xie Lian's mythology: the part where he's warned by Jun Wu that the gods are forbidden from meddling in the mortal realm, the fact that Xie Lian voluntarily descended to help his kingdom, or any mention of him being "unwilling" to accept his "punishment" of being banished. The final only says that he fell from heaven because his people, unwilling to believe that they could worship a god so and still suffer as they did, turned on him, and the subsequent lack of worship caused him to fall back to the mortal realm. There's also more emphasis on the fact that the other gods used to watch him for entertainment for years starting from the ill-fated parade until they got bored and simply tuned out. Any mention of his powers being sealed is erased."

I quite like this one.. great tumblr post

"Xie Lian was amazed at the call and thought whoever had dared address him truly had commendable courage. But when he turned his head to look, the junior official that called for That Highness rushed past him and ran toward someone farther ahead." Yowlll. Poor baby.

"How the grass grows depends on the land it grew on. Simple logic.” I steal this saying

I liked Pei Xius and Pei Mings conversation, about how he'd pretty much aired it out that yea, this is my fault, let's get it over with and leave now. ("You’ve always been so sensible, so why did you suddenly go nuts today?")

"Xie Lian couldn’t tell where his sudden surge of confidence came from, but inwardly, he thought: San Lang probably wouldn’t strike at me with a blade." True

Nan Yang forgiving a majority of his debts is very awww. Also, Xie Lian feeling uncomfortable when seeing his new palace..I get you. Wind Masters personality is also really cute, he's so mischievous but then the other boy, Qianqiu, that went with them to ghost city was so much worse..

"Who cared whether you were a god or a ghost? You were whatever people believed you to be. Appearances could be a million miles off the mark from the real thing, and people would still see what they wanted to see." I felt like dat was about Hua Cheng too in a way

"I'm impotent".. okay

How I love the way Hua Cheng handles and expresses himself, everything about him is just screaming masked and regal and for show 😋 I loved the cute moment with the dice, and how his voice gets gentle with Xie Lian around, and how he stiffened as if bracing for any negative comments about his real form that never came 😋

...HIM EATING THE HALF EATEN STEAMED BUN, FOR SOME REASON, FELT VERY EROTIC TO ME...

"Even though a ghost king is no saint, the fact that he went easy on you must mean that he sees you as a friend. And one should never deceive a friend." cute

Their conversation about what is a home, and also the tidbit about Xie Lian wanting to keep his pretend-palace glued rather than have it fall down ever and needing consoling if that happened 😭 Poor baby

The scene of Hua Cheng making his palace collapse though is just.. Man why does it sound attractive, what's happening to me.

“Whether you’re here to see me or not, I’m happy either way.” 💘

The conversation about harm and control was interesting. Rather be me than anyone else that has control over this crazy market huh 🤔 I'm having a feel that my "Alike to Hayato Jin this man has a hollow in his heart that he fills out either through violence or knowledge of something" is in a way similar to this.. From a "sense of control" standpoint

".., before Crimson Rain Sought Flower was born. If not for Jun Wu, who personally exterminated him, that nightmare would’ve probably continued even to this day. " smth abt this made me squint and I don't know why.

Since from what I get this masked guy = ALSO hua cheng, its interesting to get to know their past relationship or lack of it with each other, like this part was curious and painted a very interesting feel:

"In his blurred vision, there stood a white silhouette among the fields of corpses just outside the city walls, his giant white sleeves fluttering, his figure distinct. Xie Lian dropped his head to look down at him, and the white apparition raised his head to look at Xie Lian— and waved directly at him."

Also love how caregiver y Xie Lian is about the bandaged boy.. Awwww. Also him stalking the officer is rofling me

Hua Cheng offering him everything including the air he breathes in this blade room scene, I worried he had touched THE sword but nah, it was just at Hua Chengs hip. Thank god. But omg, Hua Cheng is so giving it's cute. You are gay you are obsessed.

I wonder why Hua Cheng sounded sad at the end at having to go somewhere.. stares

CH16

Eming is just a baby confirmed. The boy with the bandages is rly sweet. Wind Master genderfluid confirmed. Red string on Hua Chengs finger .. 🤨 “Maybe it’s because I’m with you. I must’ve brought your luck down with me.” 🥺 stop ..

For some reason, Xie Lian felt a little embarrassed when he heard “your San Lang.” He wanted to explain, but at the same time, what was there to explain? If he tried, it would only be weirder, so he didn’t say anything in the end. He felt the dice in his hands and rolled them lightly.

Gay. you are gay

CH17

The fucking fire 😭 Xie Lian feeling guilty as hell 😢 And also getting himself injured like that is wow. Very nerve wracking especially as he'd been feeling like he was lying to Hua Cheng all this time in regards to getting out their spy-official

CH18

Xie Lian admitting to being the State Preceptor without any context added in from his side kills me. Begging to be banished too..

But the two had a huge fight during his second ascension, and Xie Lian even stabbed Jun Wu a few times before he was defeated. This

whar

CH19

“The reasoning now is the same. You must understand that the moment a sword is unsheathed, someone will be hurt. When force is released, something must receive it. Thus, it is wrong to say I dissolved the force of two swords. Nothing was dissolved; I absorbed their attacks. To stop an attack by hurting oneself is a foolish technique and only to be used when there are no other alternatives. As a noble crown prince, you’ve no use for something like that.”

YET YOU ARE DOING IT XIE LIANNNNNN
I'm glad mr scowl and mr sweeper are still at their homosocial beating up. BUT, I liked that Mu Qing here shows that he cares (imho) tsundere boy.

CH20

Hua Cheng intervening is killing me. Xie Lian helping a stray butterfly is cute.

Although he was shrouded in darkness, he didn’t feel any alarm or anxiety. This darkness was like a layer of gentle armor; not only did he not sense any danger, it actually somehow calmed him down.

homosexual

Also Hua Cheng taunting the officials after kidnapping Xie Lian is rly funny to me. My mind would be rolling with stormy waves too bro

His voice was low, the emotion behind it hard to discern. Yet the way he let go of Xie Lian’s wrist was swift, almost like he’d been shaken off. Xie Lian was immediately reminded of the first time they met and how he had evaded his touch. Xie Lian froze on the spot.

nhoo 💔

" I’ll definitely think of a way to repay you and see if I can—” “Why should you have to repay me?” Hua Cheng interrupted. His tone was a little harsh, as if he couldn’t listen anymore, and he abruptly turned around. “Did you forget that my blade wounded your arm? I hurt you, not the other way around. Why should you have to repay me?” Xie Lian had almost forgotten the injury of his right arm. He was a little taken aback before he remembered.

OUHG 💔

Hua Cheng so worried and Eming crying and bawling and then getting slapped by Hua Cheng the fuck

CH 21

The other guys going thru scary trials just to get to Xie Lian... # true friendship. Feng Xin is scared of women?? 😭

“If you want to see me, it won’t matter what you roll. I will appear.” 😏

I was rly scared about the duel only for Xie Lian to use a loophole. Help?

“If you want me to fill my heart with hatred like yours, I surely won’t! If you’re going to force me to abandon myself like you did, I refuse! I will never! No matter what you do to me, I will never become like you!!” 😭

chaotic caterwauling of demons sounds scary bro (ghost city). The kneeling Xie Lian statue Qi Rong you insane man.

Why does Hua Cheng freeze at Xie Lians touch? is he shy?

Also: Xie Lian babying Hua Cheng 😭 "pls dont get angry patpat"

CH 22

Lang Qianqiu finding out the truth is 😢 Hua Chengs utter violence @ Qi Rong cuz he dare disrespect Xie Lian 😏

Xie Lian taking all the blame :(( whines. Qianqiu revenge will only leave you feeling empty remember that

“I know you too well. You love doing shit like this. Ancestors above, look at what a good descendant you gave birth to! Not only has the Xie Clan of Xianle lost everything, now even the bloodline is cut! XIE LIAN! YOU UNLUCKY STAR, YOU GOD OF MISFORTUNE! YOUR EXISTENCE IS XIANLE’S GREATEST TRAGEDY! WHY WON’T YOU DIE? HOW DO YOU EVEN HAVE THE FACE TO KEEP LIVING?!”

owwwwwwwww

“What’s the use of knowing everything so clearly? Would I be any more blameless if I killed fewer people? Would things be less hard?!” OWWWWWWWW

“Even if it was a lie, I wanted Qianqiu to remember that his benevolence toward Xianle was reciprocated. To believe that doing the right thing will open endless paths. Not like now, where he thinks everything I told him and everything he believed in was all false, lies, and deception. That everything was fucking nonsense! I just…” He raised his right hand and stared at it. “… I don’t want to see anyone go through what I’ve already had enough of.”

YOWLL💔

"Xie Lian’s lips jerked upwards with the thought: wasn’t he the same? Only good at not dying and running away; even after eight hundred years, he’d only gotten this far, which was nowhere." STOPPP

I love the way Hua Cheng has the right words to say to Xie Lian when he becomes this filled with self loathing.. Ohhh.. Also wondering if he knew Hua Cheng in the past 👁️ 👁️ can't wait to know.

“No need to lay bricks. Just sitting there and watching would be fine,” is Xie Lian your princess bro Honghong-er:
Me:
His one left eye:
His being there causing evil spirits to come forth:
Me: it's Hua Cheng isn't i-
Google: yea it is

Him clinging to Xie Lian like that..babeyboyyy

After Lang Qianqiu had left, Xie Lian’s steps had been hesitant, his shoulders slumped. But this courage came from nowhere, and it was hard to say where it would go; all Xie Lian knew was that it made him stand tall once more.

Not to undermine his own path to confidence but ...Hua Cheng play a hand in this anyone?

HUA CHENG PLANTED A SPY?!

When Xie Lian went to visit his parents I thought he was about to lock himself into a depression sleep inside a coffin guys. One highlight in particular said (before that theory of mine): "love how we have zero clue what he's doing"

Him talking to mama and papa kinda made me tear up u guys. And then what Qi Rong did..Lord don't get me started. His dismay and panic and shock and eventual rage was described beautifully. Good lord..

“Don’t kill my dad! Don’t kill my daddy!" 😨

The stab @ Qi Rong coinciding with the stab @ Mu Qing.. You guys..

I see the classism Mu Qing goes through and I dislike it. Also, those last few chapters made me like him way more than before, I disliked him a bit for being passive aggressive with Xie Lian a lot..

Mu Qing turned around while still kneeling, and prostrated, his voice quiet. “Your Highness, there’s no need to look further into the matter with that shixiong. I didn’t say anything after returning yesterday simply because I don’t want to make this into a big deal. In any case, it’s nothing major. If Your Highness was to defend me openly, it would hurt the camaraderie between everyone.” Xie Lian disagreed, sounding upset. “What ‘camaraderie’ are you talking about? The kind of camaraderie that’s used to abuse others?”

Xie Lian....... I need to tell yo usomething....You do the same in the future...

Feng Xin and Mu Qing fighting since forever. Kiss already! Xie Lian calling them his jades was cute though 🥺

I thought the earring could have been lost within the cherries, hrm.Qi Rongs behavior is insane in this per usual, I did find his extra overdone clapping and cheering cute though. And sulking at aunts lap, and his backstory was rather sad.. Perhaps this personality was beaten into him.

Went "is this Hua Cheng" when the kids obsidian left eye was mentioned too damn much. Also, calling himself ugly :( stop,, stoop dont make me sad

Also sad how Xie Lians entire life was written out by dad without even a second wasted to question what if Xie Lian would think different..

Xie Lian continued, “An accident happened. It couldn’t be helped. I am willing to offer a thousand lamps to brighten long nights; even if this is an act of self-destruction, I am not afraid. But I refuse to bow my head for something I did right. Face the wall in reflection? What have I done wrong? What has anyone done wrong? It’s like how Qi Rong committed evil, but Feng Xin— who subdued the wrongdoer— had to be punished. Where’s the logic in it? If the heavens have eyes, they will not condemn me for this.”

speak it

" He is destined to bring destruction to all save for himself— truly the kind that evil loves most! Whoever touches him will have misfortune befall them, and whoever gets close will lose their life!"

Is this why Xie Lian is mad unlucky now or am I craazy. BTW, I feel so bad for Hua Cheng being treated like a damn plague, poor baby

“Don’t trouble yourself. Wisdom or not, you don’t listen anyway.” lol

Also aughhh I get that Xie Lian isn't afraid of hard work yada yada but so much of this is kind of nepo baby stuff 😔 Moving on from nitpick

"Remember: when humans ascend, they are still human… when they fall, they are still human."
REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

ok fin

Guys wait. Mu Qing got RSD?

Mmmmm, I'm thinking to somehow make it around so that I can read the revised edition. 🤔 Specifically noodletranslations of book 1 before I go further into book 3 I think. Maybe. Let me see (land of the tender) I'm reading really slowly because I'm tired and ADHD but, something about Xie Lian crying in the cave 😔 I wouldn't be too out of it to consider this assault/allegory would

On a less serious note: did he just touch his nipple hello self harm... we have all got to agree that Xie Lian is a into younger men

OK I'm done with OG Land of the tender chapter, will read the revised version of it in a bit small yawn

ETA: No I won't, I mistook this for a 'new plot' chapter. Anyway, await a proper thoughtpost when I get halfway thru the book :3

Human Face Disease ...Ohhhhh... Xie Lian seeing it as his failure and his mind immediately going to disappearing himself to get rid of it ohh

"if something big happened, he could rely on selling his face to slip away unpunished, which truly was a blessing." coinciding with cry-smile face wearing his face is..Interesting. Honghong-ers 'poisonous' curse coinciding with Xie Lian considering himself a plague God. Mu Qing getting flustered at praise is sweet.

Also, not sure if I mentioned, getting forced into confinement in revised by threatening Honghong-er was crazy

And.. From character description: Honghong-er’s life has clearly been one of immense suffering and hardship, and he clings to every one of Xie Lian’s fleeting acts of kindness toward him as if he has never experienced anything like it before. 💔

“No. Ai, it wasn’t to do with you; that night, even if you weren’t there, I would still have done that to myself, so don’t think about it too much. Why are you standing up so straight; I’m not lecturing you.” The young man truly was standing straight, so straight he was like a board, inclining his head and not daring to raise it. Xie Lian thought it was a little funny.

This is so cute

Ok now to book 3 in general - God the scene about Qi Rong “I pray that my mother and I return soon to the heavens— Qi Rong.” Was GOD AWFUL. I can see many moments in Qi Rongs life where he has been 'failed' and furthered his path toward being how he is now. But, that doesn't mean that it's not his own responsibility either. It's just that, I like that this book has those steps and 'failures' shown rather than just saying that he is evil and that's it.

Actually, similar to Lang Ying. There were failures in his way and I wouldn't exactly say that I fault him for how he acted in the future, because yeah, you treat people like this and eventually they'll revolt. This entire 'arc' about what happened with the Yong'ans was terrifying and horrible. “I really wish my wife could still scold me.” makes me tear up from just re-reading it. I just think back on how common this were, and how easy it is for some to look at oppressed people like "ants"

Speaking of the 'ants' monologue and Xie Lians panic attack during the war, that was..Yeah. This is written really well.

I like how the theme of "There is no second cup" haunts this entire book throughout. I liked how the state perceptors advice was repeated in the middle, and how sadly Xie Lian had to realize that twisting fate will only worsen things.. But even then, he'd still try to do it had he been properly warned that his actions will lead to death.

Might have mentioned this to Saggy (hi Saggy) but I was surprised that Xie Lian was involving himself in fighting against Young'ans at all.

Oh, and what I assume to be Honghong-er again getting bullied by other youths 😔 And then THE "Live for me" scene! Ahhh!!

Why won’t you pester? Because it’s shameful? This is about the survival of your kingdom— shouldn’t you pester us to death? Is it so hard to lower yourself and ask? Young people shouldn’t be rattled so easily.

True.

I liked the exploration of Xie Lian and his fathers situation.. I too would be disappointed in my dad if he were doing all that Dx. Also, the money stealing!.. Actually, now to think of it, his promise to give rain failing because of overwhelming demands/duties, + his father also failing to help Young'ans, you get what I mean?.. Weeeelll, All you've become is your fathers son!

I liked Mu Qings and Feng Xins disagreement, the biggest one ever so far (at the very end around chapter 39, I think)

“Even if the heavens say I must die,” vs “That’s okay. Even if you’re a god, you can’t stop me.”... Ooohhh. Dude. Lang Ying needs a whole character essay of his own

I don't think I gotta mention what happened between Xie Lian and (this is Hua Cheng right?).. the youth, but whoa there. On a less shippy note, I also mentioned some more serious stuff.

Human face disease.. Making those ghosts suffer through afterlife, feeding awful things into their mind, even for revenge that was just so... And going for the civilians.. Yeah, I can see that Lang Ying has gotten to "at all costs" about his ways now. It is also interesting how the curse seems to have had his sons body as the proxy/host? I won't say I exactly understand the Whole detail as to why, but maybe it's something about grief, rage and the like.

Xie Lian’s heart, yet it soon turned into confusion as he thought, That’s strange. I saved people and protected people because they were innocent and didn’t deserve death. Everything I’ve done was only done after serious consideration, and every choice was made after much struggle. Yet why does it all sound so laughable coming from another’s mouth? Why does it sound like I’ve achieved nothing, that everything I’ve done is such a… failure?"

Oh I'll die.

"I don’t know what that creature is, but I am certain it was born because of you.” Die twice, even

Lang Ying having king aura is so interesting, I wonder where this goes.

Also, Xie Lian getting the blanket and such..I swearrrr it's the youth, where are you come forth now 💔

"In that endless wave of talk, Xie Lian unconsciously took a step back. In his twenty years, he had never been terrified before any enemy, he had never been afraid. Yet at that very moment, an emotion akin to terror swept through his heart. .... Of course he knew that he was now nothing like that sword-bearing, flower-holding, smiling, kind martial god on the altar!" + Bai Wuxiang wearing his face + "In the past, seeing that version of “himself,” Xie Lian had simply accepted it, not seeing any problem. Yet at that very moment he saw that golden, scintillating giant figure as endlessly foreign and couldn’t help but think… Is that really me" .. Guys, he's gonna dissociate hard trust

I think the situation with Qi Rong and Xie Lian turning to stab him fatally(which is when we went to the flashback arc) was handled emotionally just a little bit better than the change in revised, However I Think with revised scenery and almost-stab together it'd be a really good way to wrap up that moment. I'll be real with y'all the canon will be a mix of revised + og for me, because those rewrites are pretty good <3 "Lol watch Hua Cheng light a bunch of lanterns" , I think while reading.
Hua Cheng: does exactly that

...what in the black butler is happening at the end of book 3

Not only had the people stopped believing in him, even he could no longer believe in himself.

Nobody talk me. This entire scene with him struggling to keep up with it all and realizing that his father had been 'right' in some manner (that you can't do it all at once, that is. Otherwise fuck the dad). I liked the confrontation he had with Lang Ying right after, too.

He shuddered with a heart full of fear, yet he couldn’t explain who or what exactly he was afraid of.

Of failure 😢

I liked little Hua Cheng promising to build him many temples and to never forget him 🥺

I like how gentle Xie Lian was with the kids.. And Qi Rong was hilarious. Scaring him off with Hua Cheng was even funnier.

I liked the dynamic between Pei Xiu and Pei Ming. The unwilling rascal x the elder urging him on. I liked that conversation he had with Shi Qingxuan.. Oh my foreshadowing. Also, it was interesting to see that Pei Ming had previously lost a 'disciple' and therefore clings onto Pei Xiu even worse due to that.

About Xie Lians leg hurting when he was high up - mmm..You are now a chronic pain haver..

The plays were hilarious,, and that ending with the temple was SO cool. I thought, oh I bet Hua Cheng made him win, and you won't guess what happened.. LOL.

The child spirit was something else, too.. At least we got a kiss out of it. Xie Lian got so embarrassed and flustered during it, too, it was cute..

"Chengzhu! Are you trying to-" I can't quote the rest cuz I'm laughing.

“I was in dire straits, and you were only trying to help; it wasn’t really a big deal in the first place. Oh, that’s right.” Xie Lian suddenly remembered his mission. “San Lang, why have you suddenly appeared? Where’s that child spirit?” Hua Cheng, however, replied authoritatively, “Treating your wounds comes first.”
But for some reason, Xie Lian seemed unable to hide his pain in front of Hua Cheng. Maybe what Hua Cheng told him beforehand had made him try extra hard to endure the pain, and his efforts backfired.

You don't say..

Chapter 45 title alone is so beautiful to me..The symbolism..

I also enjoyed that the ghosts mothers character, also. IDK, it's a low bar but I do enjoy when female characters have an actual personality and so on. Her story is definitely a sad and tragic one, and I'm going to learn more of it soon ;_;

The way Ling Wen got teased on potentionally being the father was so hilarious, added in with Shi Wudu immediately sneaking in a conglaturatory pocket.. And Pei Ming, too..

“You’re a man and a heavenly official. This is the Palace of Divine Might! How could you do something so unmannerly? No, don’t turn into a woman either! Even in a woman’s form it’s equally disgraceful; change back right this instant!”
Nobody takes anything seriously on this court :D

The calligraphy scene was so sweet.. The visual language of the scroll.. Their contrast 🥺 Hua Cheng writing like shit on purpose 🥺 The way that is too a way of being vulnerable with Xie Lian./.. Sighs.

Also, the part about him having a change of outfit every day in the past.. Small headcanon of mine was what if he made different decorations to swap out each day in the present to come back to that feeling? Hmm

"Why does My Lord have all these messed-up swords? What’s even the use in collecting them…?"
why did this make mama Jun Wu so suspicious.

Hua Cheng going "I am bad and evil" and then sending off a butterfly to play with Guzi.. Sighs dreamily. However, he seemed to give Lang Ying the stink eye. Was it cuz he's related to the..Other...Lang Ying or what? Jealousy?

Ruoye, Eming and Fangxins interactions during the cooking were so funny..And of course, Hua Cheng dosed something in the food when it came to 'Ming Yi' and Shi Qingxuan eating 😩

. Although the creature never demanded Shi Qingxuan’s life, the two brothers knew that it was only biding its time, waiting until its prey had been fattened before the butchery. For the time being it was gently slapping his face as a reminder to be afraid, but there would come a day when the slap would truly hurt. It was like a hunter who refused to kill their prey with a single arrow and instead grazed it over and over to thoroughly relish its terror.

This, and the part about 'patience' with their prey.. What in the black butler

Strange how the report was wrong/false in many ways. Very strange.. Is the writer just trying to hide away something or 😩 ??

oh, that's gore in my festival.

"It seemed there was nothing amiss with Ming Yi…unless Shi Wudu and Shi Qingxuan weren’t real blood brothers, but such an unbelievably shocking turn of events shouldn’t be possible." ... =_= I already know he's possessed but like.. this detail in specific...

1. So many flirty/cute Hualian moments.. 😋 Rly enjoyed the part about the 'wife' and teasing about marriage and moving in, ohh. The shipper in me wishes to see this as Hua Cheng hiding his affection behind jokes just incase they are met with rejection 🤩 
2. Ming Yi and Shi Qingxuan interactions are so funny and silly to me
3. True Reverend x Shi Qingxuan when 😔 
4. The part about the idea of Shi Qingxuan and Shi Wudu not being related by blood REALLY threw me off. I'm gonna fall out of a window if that turns out to be true
5. Hua Cheng changing robes like socks in the background from boredom alone was funny..
6. How did the reverend figure him out so fast during the soul shift, damn 😔 I also liked how worried Hua Cheng was for Xie Lian during this.. And the fact that he grew scared of the curse only when it came to Hua Chengs safety!
7. Hua Cheng going to go take care of something while all that mess happens is ..curious. I know it's implied or at least joked that he didn't want to interact with the three tumors but it could be more than that no? Abt the chaos though, I also really enjoyed how Shi Wudus distress was described despite him still having this "strong" front going on. I enjoyed to see this kind of desperation he had when trying to 'heal' his little brother and at one point it even sounded like he was trying to convince *himself* that things would go back to "normal".
8. I wonder if Ming Yi has other reasons to keep quiet about Hua Cheng or if he's just #bestie now. The saving the princess bit they did with Shi Qingxuan was also pretty fun and stressful to read, I think I was chewing away at chips so hard during those pages. Quan Yizhen suddenly attacking Pei Ming instead of the 'kidnappers' made me giggle too.
9. The reveal was really surprising!! I knew already that He Xuan ate the reverend cuz I googled reverend x Shi Qingxuan fanart so let's ignore that part but, that aside, wow. The part about the password leak is also very curious. And the forged research to keep Shi Qingxuan from knowing more.. Ohhh who is to say the three tumors are reliable at all with anything in the future, what if they lie again 👁️ _ 👁️ .
10. I'll keep saying this but OG!Reverend/He Xuan and Shi Qingxuan are so sebaciel to me