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Guide and links

Content Notes for the book in general: consent issues, sexualisation of children, gore, mixed treatment of cross-dressing, suicide, child harm, incest subtext, emotional abuse, racist subtext, ANGST

I might reread book 2 eventually, but don't feel like it right now. Also this section has a bunch of key Shi Qing Xuan and He Xuan scenes.

Thoughts on Chapters 89-124, eg the start of Book 3, spoilers for everything.

Random headcanon: Shi Wu Du, He Xuan, and Yin Yu prayed to Ling Wen as ambitious students.

I never took note of the Book titles before!

Book 1: Blood Rain Reaching Towards a Flower
Book 2: The God-Pleasing Crown Prince
Book 3: No Paths are Bound
Book 4: White Clothed Calamity
Book 5: Heaven Official's Blessing

Pei Su is actually descended from Pei Ming's brother, I'm not sure Pei Ming had any kids himself. Also Pei Ming is, once again, tall and slender.

Rain Master's residence is in a cave on Mount YuLong. Heh Pei Ming is so intimidated by her, it's great.

Pei Ming: Qing Xuan, you're still young, that's why you fight for justice over every little thing. Hopefully when you get older, you won't regret the things you're doing now!

Yeah I definitely think that timeline was wrong. Shi Qing Xuan, Shi Wu Du and He Xuan are all notably younger than Pei Ming (and thus Xie Lian etc)

Pei Ming is an interesting contrast to idealists like Xie Lian and Qing Xuan, pure cynics like Ling Wen, or someone 100% focused on loved ones like Shi Wu Du. He has SOME principles, but not many.

Pei Ming had another descendant who ascended, but he messed with the Kingdom of YuShi and Rain Master got him exiled.

Formal dress for gods is what their statues wear (But Xie Lian doesn't have any so doesn't change).

Ming Yi's hand is paler than the white jade cup they're holding.

Qing Xuan knows everyone's name and has something cheerful to say to everyone.

Quan Yi Zhen: 18-19, tall nose, deep brows, curly black hair.

Male Ling Wen: Black clad, brows respectable, appearance generous (...fat? Muscular? Tall? Friendly??), calmly tapping a rhythm on the table and looking familiar

Shi Qu Du: white robed, holding a fan with 'shui' for water and three wavy lines, looking a lot like Shi Qing Xuan but with eyes that make it clear he cares for noone.

The three tumours compliment each other and Qing Xuan mutters "SO FAKE" under their breath.

Xie Lian: By the way how are Nan Feng and Fu Yao?
Feng Xin: UM
Mu Qing: Fu Yao is in detention.
Feng Xin: YES. SO IS NAN FENG.

How did I not figure it out.

Pei Ming: Water-Master-xiong, your little brother is quite impressive, and only you can keep him in line.
Shi Wu Du: How many times do I have to tell you not to walk around outside in that appearance, what a disgrace. What if you bump into someone with strong spiritual power and ill intent like General Pei?
Ling Wen: Lol.
Pei Ming: HEY

During the Pei Ming/Ling Wen porny play, 'Pei Ming' calls 'Ling Wen' "noble Jie", apparently 'noble' used like this is a term of endearment. After that Pei Ming sometimes uses it sarcastically as a nickname for her.

Aww Rain Master has only one lantern, sent by her own bull, because she tells her farmers to keep their money and instead offer fruits and vegetables which they should then take home afterwards and eat.

Qing Xuan: Ge, I'm eighth this year! :D
Shi Wu Du: Only eighth, what's there to be happy about?
Qing Xuan: :(
Shi Wu Du: But there are more lanterns than last year. Next year must be better.
Qing Xuan: :)

Then Qing Xuan slaps Ming Yi for not congratulating them, but he just keeps eating.

Shi Wu Du gets second and Qing Xuan is all "IT'S MY BROTHER :D"

QianDeng temple: Hua Cheng's temple to Xie Lian, translates to "A Thousand Lights"

nnng time to meet Cuo Cuo /o\

Hua Cheng has a widow's peak.

Ahh Cuo Cuo says "Mom" a lot, tricking pregnant women into letting him into their bodies, but once Hua Cheng captures him he's genuinely calling for his mother.

Also I think Jun Wu killed Jiang Lang when she was still pregnant to make Cuo Cuo D:

God Xie Lian and Hua Cheng are so cute.

MXTX why are ALL the lady ghosts of Ghost City "flirtatious and seductive"? :/

Jiang Lan: I will keep him in my womb and raise him well for sure, he won't go out to harm anyone anymore! I've searched for him for centuries, don't hand him to those scoundrels in the heavens!

:(

Ah, looks like she didn't recognise Xie Lian until someone used his name.

The gods are a bunch of gossips who love drama, especially when it involves fights to the death.

"Feng Xin avoided women, Lang Qian Qiu blushed around them, Mu Qing refused to see ugly women, Pei Su was expressionless, Quan Yi Zhen didn't even have women on his mind, Pei ming's mind was all women"

Lan Chang, pointing to Ling Wen: THE FATHER IS YOU
Pei Ming: Noble Jie, did you finish administering your reports and went to find a nice girl to knock up? :D
Ling Wen: I didn't finish and I don't have the time.
Shi Wu Du: I should give my good nephew a red packet.
Ling Wen: That's very generous but won't be necessary.

Ming Yi is just...always eating...

Hua Cheng ruffles the hair of Gu Zi, who runs to hide behind Xie Lian.
Xie Lian: Don't worry, this gege is a good person.
Hua Cheng: Nah, I'm a very bad person.

"One was dressed in white cultivation robes, her lips rosy, her form charming and sensual; the other was a black clad woman, skin white as snow, brows beautiful and sharp, yet her expression was dark, her hands clenched into fists"

Seeing Hua Cheng, Ming Yi backs away.
Hua Cheng: Leave. I don't care what important business you have. Do not come anywhere near here again.
Ming Yi: To come here was not my will!
Xie Lian: Lord Wind Master what should we do?
Qing Xuan: Violence is bad. If they start fighting we'll have to hold them back.
Qi Ring: Wait you're that slutty lady Wind Master!
Qing Xuan: ...*blinks* A moment, please, You Highness.

There is the sound of smacking, and wails of pain from Qi Rong. Qing Xuan returns in male form and says "Now, where were we? There's nothing that can't be negotiated, and nothing that can't be solved at the dinner table."

They really did miss out on their destiny of becoming a successful merchant.

(It's canon that any successful female god is accused of being slutty)

Haha when Qing Xuan is describing the Venerable of Empty words the shrine goes cold and a creepy song floats on an icy breeze...because Qing Xuan cast a spell to set the mood.

"Many hundreds of years ago the Wind and Water masters were raised in an affluent merchant household."

By the time Qing Xuan was 10 and Shi Wu Du 16, their parents had died and the household declined and there were fights about inheritance. Shi Wu Du entered the mountains to cultivate under a master, leaving Qing Xuan in a town at the bottom.

It sounds like Shi Wu Du ascended not long after that, and Qing Xuan a few years later.

Ah, the generic monster name is "Venerable of Empty Words", but this especially powerful one is the "Reverend of Empty Words".

The first thing He Xuan says to him as the Reverend is "You will never see your brother again".

Hua Cheng: I've never seen a Reverend of Empty Words personally, but I know someone who has.

Heavenly Calamity: on ascension usually involves lightning strikes. Afterwards they're non negotiable and written into the god's fate: live one lifetime as a mortal, survive a natural disaster, etc. Failure means no longer a god.

"True Kings had the protection of the aura of heaven's son. Those with the potential to ascend also have a natural spiritual shield."

Qing Xuan worries that Ming Yi will be hurt by the reverend :(

Ming Yi draws the teleportation array (actually called a distance shortening array) neater than a ruler, like a pressed print. These arrays are drawn in cinnabar.

Ahh...something falls towards Qing Xuan's back but Ming Yi saves them from it so they were never in danger. Specifically, the title plaque of an oddly abandoned Wind and Water Temple, which Ming Yi thus has the excuse to break.

Hua Cheng changed into a set of refreshing black robes, his long hair neatly tied up with a white jade accessory, looking like a disciple of some renown house.

Qing Xuan's password contains "Lord Wind Master is aged sweet 16", not 26. I guess I misread?

They're in the town of Fu Gu for a "Fire Social", the term for a local folk holiday. This is a "Bloody Fire Social". The date is the day before the end of autumn. The "He Xuan" in the parade is tall, pale, and dressed in black.

Many centuries ago a scholar names He Sheng came from a very poor family. He was clever, precise, and a good son. He passed the national exams but was kicked out for not giving a bribe. His sister and fiance, a childhood friend, were kidnapped and forced to become 'bed attendants" and died. He went to prison for 2 years. His 70 year old parents died. He went into business but was too good at it and the other merchants ganged up on him. He went mad and killed everyone who hurt him, and since those people also hurt others he was hailed as a hero.

When Xie Lian suggests that He Sheng is the Reverend, Ming Yi says "Check for landmarks. Match the timeline". Otherwise he listens to all of this in silence.

Xie Lian sets the password for the group chat to "By Heaven Official's Blessings, Nothing Shall Be Feared".

Qing Xuan fixes the two broken statues in the abandoned temple.

Ming Yi: You can still think of entertainment at a time like this?
Qing Xuan: It's necessary! That thing wants me scared? This ancestor ain't scared! This Wind Master will play as happily as he will, happier than ever before. It'll be like new years! I hope it dies from anger.

Xie Lian: I'll report this to the Heavenly Court.
Qing Xuan: Wait! My brother's third heavenly calamity is about to approach. He can't be perturbed right now!
Ming Yi: Keep this up and I'll make you go through a trial right now.
Qing Xuan: I said no and I mean it. How many eyes are watching my brother? This thing definitely picked it's timing intentionally. I won't let it have it's way! Never! Even if I die and my bones rot, it'll still have to be before my brother's completed his trial before I be dug out!
Ming Yi: Fine. Very good.

Xie Lian senses a wave of oppressed fury in his tone he'd never sensed from Ming Yi before. He Xuan is clearly thinking "I'm trying to save you and you still choose your douchebag brother? FINE. GO DOWN WITH HIM."

Which is deeply unfair, but hey.

Ming Yi encourages Xie Lian to shift into Qing Xuan's body, hmm! He's controlling the "Reverend" with Qing Xuan while talking to Xie Lian and Hua Cheng, he seems very good at this kind of "clone" use.

Soul shifting spell: Xie Lian's body suddenly felt feather light, like he was floating; abruptly it became heavy. He has a wave of nauseating whirling and then regains his senses.

Xie Lian is able to use the wind fan once Qing Xuan tells him the incantation controlling it. He's not very good with it though.

Hua Cheng: Tell me where you are.
Ming Yi: Tell me what [the Reverend] looks like.

When Hua Cheng punches Ming Yi, Qing Xuan says "Why didn't you punch me instead?" HE XUAN YOU DO NOT DESERVE THIS ANGEL OF A FRIEND

Aww and they say to Xie Lian "From now on you're my second best friend".

Qing Xuan 'ascended' at The Terrace of Pouring Wine. Ming Yi says "someone destroyed all the connection points of the Distance Shortening Array".

The Wine Pouring Young Lord: When Shi Qing Xuan was still mortal, after training he would often come to this place to drink, spread out drunkenly upon the terrace, happy and carefree. One day, below the deck came a malicious crook who often bullied the good villagers, and when Shi Qing Xuan saw him, he nonchalantly spilled the delicate wine from his cup and cast a tiny spell. That wine was spilt right over the crook's head and knocked him out. After Shi Qing Xuan was appointed a deputy general by Shi Wu Du, he still loved the mortal realm, and continued to drink endlessly at this place like before. The day he ascended was also when he was here drinking.

Shi Qing Xuan you were like 15, drinking that much is bad for you! (EDIT: OK maybe more like 18?)

Shi Wu Du arrives in an eight wheeled "golden carriage of burnished horses, landing with trails of propitious clouds".

Ling Wen and Pei Ming both know about the Reverend of Empty Words. Ling Wen also treats Qing Xuan like a child in need of chiding, the one time they speak.

When Qing Xuan says they don't want to go back with Shi Wu Du, Ming Yi shouts "Your brother doesn't want to go back with you!"

When Xie Lian offers to help, Ming Yi says "Your Highness, don't interfere in this any more" and "He's always full of generous words and deeds, but most would stay away when there's real trouble."

The original Ming Yi was an engineer. The shovel is crescent moon shaped. Most spiritual devices in the Upper Court are, like, books, brushes, swords, fans, guqin and flutes.

Shi Qing Xuan has zero magical power now. So I guess they were always a shitty cultivator but relied on magical artefacts.

"Using rare treasures to help along cultivation wasn't out of line. To ascend by way of massacre wasn't either."

But Shi Qing Xuan simply doesn't have the potential to ascend.

I forgot Rain Master's ox can turn into a large, handsome, buff man.

OK THIS TIMELINE CONFUSES ME STILL.

The translator says He Xuan having the courtesy name "He Sheng" means he must have come of age, which happens at 20. But he died on the day Shi Qing Xuan ascended, which I thought happened when they were 16.

Unless it's:
Age 10: Shi siblings leave home, Shi Wu Du (aged 16) starts cultivating.
Age ?? (still a child): Reverend discovers Qian Xuan and starts harassing them
Age 16: Shi Wu Du ascends (aged 22) and makes Shi Qian Xuan a lower court god, they stop aging.
Age ?? (not long after): Shi Wu Du swaps the fates and the Reverend starts attacking He Xuan.
Age 20: He Xuan gains the name He Sheng
Age ??: He Xuan dies and Shi Qian Xuan ascends.

The lightning within a Heavenly Calamity is attracted to those with strong spiritual powers.

Black Water's lair is in the South Sea. He has eaten over 500 ghosts, mostly water ghouls.

Shi Wu Du calls Pei Ming "Pei-xiong".

Bone dragon fish: Each bone a few feet in length, sharp teeth, horns, long snake like body, protruding four claws.

Fang Xin is often described as "old and needing to rest".

He Xuan seems to have had this prison of unlucky people for months, and it's way more awful than it needs to be. I mean these people's lives would have been awful anyway, but it still seems unnecessarily cruel when they never did anything to him. (The prison is described in Chapter 122) Maybe it took a while to gather them all.

Shi Wu Du is starting to respect Xie Lian for how hard he tries to look after Qian Xuan. He really is very self sacrificing and protective.

"Nether Water Manor" looks like the Wind and Water Palace.

The corpse of actual!Ming Yi is in black.

Xie Lian in Shi Qing Xuan's body is MUCH better at lying, manipulation, and keeping calm.

Ah! He Xuan took over the real Ming Yi's life shortly after he passed his Heavenly Calamity but before ascended, so nobody in heaven really met him, and He Xuan could use something similar to his real appearance.

...yeah, ok, I see where the He Xuan/Shi Wu Du shippers are coming from.

He Xuan: Chop off your brother's head for me. Then never show yourself before me again, and I will pretend you've never existed in this world.

:(

I read ahead a little further and there were some cute Hualian shippy moments but there wasn't anything new and interesting to record. I might continue with the reread eventually, maybe go back to Book 2, but that's it for now.