Lan Wangji!!!!

Mu Qing, grinning: Before you were what? 

Feng Xin: Before I was- 

Mu Qing: What? 

Feng Xin: Before I was inter-

Mu Qing: Before you were interrupted? 

Feng Xin: Cut me off one more time and I swear I'll- 

Mu Qing: What? 

Feng Xin: *makes frustrated sound* 

Xie Lian, nervously: Stop that. Before he hurts you.

I think this whole "Wei Wuxian has low self-worth" take comes from viewing his heroism through a purely modern Western lens, when in reality, it's actually written as a classic example of traditional Chinese heroism, where selflessness, honor, and sacrifice are seen as strengths.

In a lot of modern Western interpretations, people often analyze characters through a psychological lens, connecting their actions to trauma or emotional baggage. While there's no problem with this approach (bc MDZS does actually explore some elements of modern psychological complexity), relying on that alone can miss the bigger cultural picture.

In Wei Wuxian’s case here, his selflessness, which is tied to traditional heroism and a strong moral compass, gets misunderstood as low self-esteem or a reaction to trauma. This misreading reduces his heroic sacrifices to emotional damage, instead of seeing them as intentional, principled choices driven by a strong sense of moral responsibility.

Wei Wuxian’s choices—like protecting the weak, sacrificing his golden core, and standing up for what’s right even at a huge cost etc— are grounded in this type of traditional heroism and NOT simply a byproduct of trauma. In MDZS, sacrifice and selflessness isn’t about self-doubt or a lack of self-worth; it’s about courage and staying true to one’s principles.

@here4hualian kissmas day 5: kissing the cursed shackles

Xie Lian is bathing himself in the river when he notices the little ghost fire.

He calls out to it. "Hello? Do you need anything?"

Xie Lian doesn't feel particularly concerned about his modesty. Maybe it's the fact that the ghost fire doesn't have visible eyes to watch him with, even if it is hovering rather intently.

"Are you alright?" Xie Lian tries.

The ghost fire finally responds. "I'm fine. Dianxia doesn't need to worry about me."

Xie Lian is too tired to deal with how being recognized makes him feel. "Did you want to use the river? I don't mind sharing."

Slowly, the ghost fire drifts over, although it makes to movements towards the water. It just hovers next to Xie Lian, giving off a faint blue glow.

Subconsciously, Xie Lian scratches at his cursed shackle. It's been hurting all day. Ah, that's probably how the ghost fire recognized him. Word of his banishment and the punishment he received has spread quickly through the mortal realm.

"Does it hurt?" the ghost fire asks, and Xie Lian startles.

"Ah, it's nothing, really."

The ghost sinks lower towards the water, and Xie Lian is reminded of the way a human might pout. Perhaps it was looking to emphasize? Who better could understand pain than someone who has experienced death?

"I tried to use my spiritual powers today," Xie Lian tells it. "This thing has been squeezing at me ever since. It's only a little painful, don't worry. I've felt way worse."

"Is there anything this one can do to help?"

"Unless you have some spiritual energy to lend me." Xie Lian means it as a joke.

The ghost fire takes it seriously.

It floats upwards, flying over to Xie Lian's neck. The sensation of cold flames on his bare skin tickles, and chills rise down Xie Lian's spine.

And then, there's a tendril of energy flowing into him. It's small, barely there at all, but to Xie Lian, who hasn't had anything like it in so long, it may as well be an ocean of power.

It feels almost like a kiss, the way the ghost fire is transferring it.

After a moments, Xie Lian pulls away. His cheeks are slightly flushed. "You'll burn yourself out if you give me too much, silly thing. You really didn't need to do that."

"But I wanted to. Does it still hurt?"

Xie Lian pauses. Because... "No. It doesn't. I... thank you."

mock film poster featuring foxxian, dragonji, and baby a-yuan! this was so fun

okay I harp on about the differences between mdzs the novel and the untamed but isn’t it more impactful that wen qing didn’t know wei wuxian and jiang cheng before she chose to help them? all she fucking knew about wwx was that he was nice to her brother. and jc was actively insane with grief for the three seconds he was conscious in her presence. but she helped them anyway. not because she knew them or really cared about them on a personal level, but because she was a good person who didn’t want anyone to suffer if she had the ability to do something about it. because she was a doctor through and through. that’s why it’s so unfair when nie mingjue criticizes her for not stopping the wens (something he knew she wasn’t realistically capable of). without jiang cheng, his sect, and wei wuxian they never would’ve won the sunshot campaign. by helping jc and wwx, she won them that war and they killed her anyway and called it justice.

PSPSPSPSPSPSPS CLIP STUDIO IS ON SALE RELEASE YOUR ADOBE SHACKLES AND JOIN THE FREE MASSES OF THE RESISTANCE

The tags✨

Half of the plot of MDZS happened because Yiling Laozu was so HOT that he made a lot of powerful people figure new things about themselves and they got mad about that. 'The Yiling Laozu is evil and shall be stopped!!1!' Like shut up you wanna bang him so bad it makes you actively stupid. Imagine being so sexy you're the whole cultivation world's gay awakening and they can't beat off the gay thoughts so they try to kill you instead

Ridiculous idea. LWJ being ok with his emotions and willing to talk about them

Wei Wuxian: I'll give you one of these jars if you forget you saw me

Lan Zhan: How could I forget such a beautiful person?

Wei Wuxian: Oh. Well... um... that is to say....

Lan Zhan: You're still coming with me for punishment

Wei Wuxian: The sexy kind?

Lan Zhan: Not this time

I eat up the headcanon that Wei Wuxian actually knows perfect manners, but purposefully ignores them. Like, Madam Yu didn't want him to be Head Disciple, but when it was clear he was keeping the title, she drilled all the perfect etiquette and proper bows and forms into him until he could do it half asleep. If he was going to be their Head Disciple, she would make sure he would not embarrass them with his manners.

This is still Wei Wuxian, though, so he knows the stuff, but purposefully ignores the knowledge and sometimes goes out of his way to not use it just to be contrary and get under people's skin. Never around Madam Yu, though. Around her, he's picture perfect etiquette because he doesn't want to go through that hellish training again.

Post-canon, when interacting with Lan Qiren(and some other, but mostly LQR), he'll sometimes use his perfect manners to tick them off more. It reminds them that he knows this stuff and is purposefully not using them for the most part, making it just get under their skin more. Some think it would be better is Wei Wuxian was just disrespectful all the time, instead of this.

Wei Wuxian is cracking up inside at it. He's never gonna stop.