u/Sea_March7113

So I remember coming across this fic, and now I can't find it again. But basically it was in the cannon timeline from Sizhuis POV and from what I can remember from the description... is that he thinks LWJ has the hots for a significantly younger man aka MXY.

I'm pretty sure it was like a comedy about how ridiculous LWJs actions are after he finds WWX post resurrection. Does anybody know what fic this is?

Guys I swear Wei Wuxian wrote this. I have absolutely read this fanfic 😂

So before I get flamed, let me explain.

Alright, so ive made a few posts the last couple of days and the comments have made me think about alot.

I had questions about how people view WWX from a moral perspective.

Personally, my claim was that WWX he's a righteous person with good intentions, but that doesn't necessarily mean all his actions were moral.

That's not a condemnation of his character btw, it's just an explanation of events. He was a good person in a bad situation, who did what he thought was best.

Something that came up in these discussions was if WWX had a character arc or not, and now, I can't stop thinking about it.

So now, i'm arguing that WWX doesn't really have a character arc because he didn't need to.

He was a "good person" the whole time. Post resurrection he is basically the same person as when he died. Maybe a little older and wiser, but he doesn't have like, a paradigm shift. He doesn't really regret (at least most of) his past actions. He doesn't really need to.

And even if he does have major regrets, I don't think that's the same thing as a character arc.

The difference between his first life and his second life is the circumstance. I think the narrative is trying to express that he was condemned in his first life, and vindicated in his second life, but he's literally the same person. And that's the whole point.

If put under the same pressure in his second life, I personally think he would go full Yiling Laozu again. And I don't think this is like... a bad thing. In fact, I think that's the whole point of the story. He's still the same person, it's just our perception, and the perception of the characters in the story that changed.

Contrast this with someone like LWJ who had an entire paradigm shift about what it means to be a righteous person, and where morality comes from. He had a massive character arc.

So the dichotomy of the apparently "evil" character always being "good" and the apparent virtuous character, having to learn to be "good" is part of what makes this story so beautifully complex.

So I'd love to hear your thoughts, does WWX go through a character arc? Is the whole point that he's the same person in both of his lives and he just had better circumstances in his second life?

Does a protagonists actually need to have a character arc to have a satisfying story?

Or do you think i'm just blowing a bunch of hot air?

I suspect how people view WWX depends on what version of the story you are familiar with. CQL WWX and book WWX, while similar in character, experience different events that intentionaly make him less morally gray. While the animated version is closer to the book, it still waters down the violence. Its not just the queer bits that were censored.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel like alot of people think that "demonic cultivation" was something broken that needed to be fixed, especially if the CQL was your staring point. But The Ghost Path, like anything powerful, is neural. It depends on how you use it. But people fear what they don't understand. On top of that, if you say something enough times, it must be true.

True in the book and in real life.

Idk just a thought.

Idk why, I just want something where they sneak around for awhile. Could be for any reason. Homiphobia, or just that they're awkward and don't wanna tell anybody. Or maybe they realize if they tell people they will have a chaperone. Don't care if its cute/fluffy, or angsty. Teen or explicit. Modern AU or cannon, or some weird third option.

I just have this picture in my head of them as (probably) teens being awkward and not telling anybody for whatever reason. Ive tired the secret relationship tag and its not really been all that helpful tbh.

Really my only major request is completed fics if at all possible ❤️

Also I've read Mad About a Boy and Cloud Recesses University series (the texting one) which does have them sneaking around.

What fics do you think everyone should read? Let me know what you favorites are and tell me whhhyyy you think everyone should read them!

My personal fave is:

Where You Fell my Sweet_William

300k word. E. Completed. Angst with a Happy Ending.

So its a modern retelling where WWX runs away in HS the day after he turns 18. No one knows what happened to him. Many years later LWJ, now a professor, finds Mo Xuanyu, a homeless man, in a local coffee shop called "Dead in the Grounds".

Its soooo well written and on my short list for "could erase the cereal numbers and publish this traditionally" good. Incredibly heartfelt.

Above is sorta a TLDR..... the rest of this is me gushing without spoilers. If you dont wanna read my essay, feel free to skip.

Something I really love is the representation.

First there's the Neurodivergent represent. In the notes the author says they see WWX as ADHD and LWJ as Autistic. Its never explicitly said in the text, but it's SO well done. It's never heavy handed or pandering, and it feels very natural to the story.

Mental health is discussed so well. Nothing feels rushed. It all makes sense and is a major driver of the plot.

Second is the queer representation. Almost everybody's queer, but it doesn't feel like fan service. It feels like community. There's a lot of authenticity between the relationships. There's even a thrupple, and it like... makes sence. Never actually seen that one done well. There's like one "Token straight couple" and I find that hilarious.

Gotta give an honorable mention to the spice. First, its well written, but thats not the important part. Its genuinely important to the emotional journey of the characters, and matters in the progression of the plot. If you skip the smut, you are missing story. (although the author does do summaries in the notes if it really bothers you.)

Look, I've read a TON of modern retellings, but this one is my favorite. I've read it multiple times. If your looking for something that feels like a polished novel, I really can't recommend it enough. I genuinely believe with a little bit of tweaking it could be published and be the next "queer phenomenon."

I was so intimidated by the word count and that fact that its still not finished. I don't really like reading incomplete works... But it is probably the most recommended fic I've seen no matter where you look. It seems like everyone in the fandom knows it and loves it.

Well everyone was right. This is a amazing. I just can't... my heart is so full. Idk what I expected but it wasnt this. Ive already read the equivalent of a normal novel and the story has barely started, and I just want to keep reading. Its fluffy and so far doesn't have miscommunication, and yet, there's still so much plot to explore. What a rare treat for any kind of romance story.

No spoilers please but feel free to tell me "we told you so". Lol.

Link if you haven't read it.

Okay so awile ago a started a cannon compliant LWJ POV fic. It tells the whole story in chronological order. Very ambitious first fic... but it kinda just... happened.

Its has evolved a bit. I have added some other limited POVs, mostly focusing on JC as a foil. And I might go back and add some things to what I've written with that in mind.

So far lve made it to the beginning of the sunshot campaign and have completely stalled out. Like... its a mix of not fully understanding what they actually did in the sunshot campaign, and the terror of actually forcing LWJ to watch WWX fall so hard. This part is dark, and I want to do it justice without it being a total angst fest. Cannon compliance is like super important to me for this particular fic. Its basically the midnight sun of MDZS.

I'm currently at about 50k ish words. Plan is to wait to complete it before posting officially.

Idk what I need tbh. Maybe fresh eyes if that sounds like something someone wants to beta? Or if you have any idea what everyone was actually up to during the sunshot campaign? Tbh I'm considering just skipping to the end around nightless city (fist seige) and get to the parts we actually know happend based on the novel. Ie WWXs fall from grace.

But I'm not just following the Cannon word for word either. Like theres one line that implies JC and LWJ go on a secret mission to get back the swords. I had alot of fun deciding what might have happened in the chapter. So skipping the sunshot campaign entirely feels like a missed opportunity.

Last thing I wrote was WWX coming back post burial mounds. Its also a weird bit to rewrite because its one of the few chapters already written in JC and LWJs povs, which I think is also throwing me for a loop. Idk what to add. Its not a word for word rewrite. That would be boring. I want to make sure everything I'm writing is a value add to the original story. Maybe put it in WWXs POV? Would be a little bit ironic, but I'm just out of ideas.

If anyone had any ideas, advise, or just encouraging words, I'd love to hear them.

I love that this fandom has collectively decided to pretend homiphobia doesn't exist. Our boys deal with enough... but then I read Mad About a Boy and The Sculptor (period fics that tackles queer problems) and I realized I would love to see more queer themes that dont shy away from hash truths about being queer/gay. Preferably with a happy ending but really I'm just curious whats out there. These happen to be period fics but any and all recs welcome!

Links to the 2 fics I mentioned. Both are GREAT.

Mad About a Boy by triviasfolly

https://archiveofourown.org/works/24949708?view\_adult=true

The Sculptor by Eleanor_Fenyx

https://archiveofourown.org/works/40079547

What do we know about the sunshot campaign? In the book alot of it is glossed over. I know we learn a bit more in the animated version, but does anyone know of an offical timeline or what the major events are?

From what I know:

Wwx comes back as the Yiling Laozu and kills Wen Chao.

Him and LWJ argue.

WWX Goes back to Lotus Pier for a bit probably?

There are battles? Probably?

Wens eldest son gets beheaded by NMJ.

Nightless city is where WWX uses the tiger tally and Wen Ruohan dies.

Am I missing anything? Also how long was it? A couple of years maybe?

Im writing a fic and i wanna make sure im not missing anything important.

I found it. The most evil "sentence" possible. I apologize in advance.

See also:

Quite quaint quiet quit.

Modern AUs are really interesting in this fandom. (Or really anything with a cultivation or ancient setting.) Trying to find modern equivalence to character archetypes and story beats is fascinating to me. Plus there's the reincarnation possibilities. Does this universe have cultivation? So many story options.

I'd love to hear other people's thoughts in general but I do have a question. What do you think the cast of MDZS studied in college?

Personally I think WWX probably studied engineering, art or both.

LWJ probably studies something like music, philosophy or both.

Oh and JC joined the army but got a 4 yr in business or something to become an officer.

Anyways I’d just love to hear your head cannons.