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noxxha · 1 year

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Hey! Do you have any headcanons on Izuna, his personality, his values, or his relationship dynamic around people?

Heyo anon! Thank you so much for your question. I have, indeed, a few headcanons about Izuna.

———

I tend to describe Izuna’s personality as Yin and Yang to Madara’s.

I do see Izuna as someone who is devoted and harmonious (as the databook describes him). His harmonious personality anchored and had a very soothing quality to it - to which people were drawn, especially children.

With Madara Izuna displays even as an adult (and long after he has been made Madara’s second-in-command and co-leader) a honesty about his feelings. He never attempts to hide his feelings to the only person that fully appreciates his every emotion - which makes his speech blunt - if elegant - and there is always a certain softness to his voice whenever Izuna speaks with Madara in private (arguments being the only exception…but even then anger does not last long between them). Izuna is in general someone very respectful and mindful of the social hierarchy in the clan. He addresses Madara as “nii-san” and Tajima as “tō-sama” to show both respect and affection.

When around other people - despite his soothing aura - he tends to appear aloof or stoic. This is done so he remains level-headed, but it is also a genuine wall of protection (as an adult), due to certain incidents that is the root of his own trust issues. Like Madara he was someone born sensitive and attuned to the needs of others. He is also naturally quite reserved (something that was amplified in his childhood, which made it a touch worse than it would have been otherwise)

Despite his stoicism - and extreme focus when in the midst of battle - Izuna is not afraid to show his emotions (but he does consider his options when an adult, yet he is not repressing his emotions to an unhealthy degree…which is mostly due to Madara’s involvement in caring for Izuna since they were very young - and who encouraged Izuna to always show his emotions around him - that he would always be there and love him no matter what the world says - and Izuna has unwavering faith in his brother’s affection for him).

That said, despite willing to go through hell for Madara - both a metaphorical and literal one - at times Izuna feels smothered by Madara’s loving, caring nature - due to guilt and feelings of unworthiness that seize him from time to time, feelings involving one of their younger brothers and his death - and as if his brother does not see his accomplishments as a warrior.

He prefers the role of the observer rather than that of the talker (but he is gifted with words, despite his bluntness). This - together with his natural perceptive thinking (that is quick to connect dots), and natural intuition, that he honed when his family was still complete, and especially more so when grief whisked Madara far away from him, makes Izuna a terrifyingly accurate reader of emotional states. He can discern the most subtle of changes in ‘aura’, and while not always able to be consciously aware of such and pinpoint exactly how he got to certain conclusions, Izuna’s opinions are valued highly by the clan and Madara.

Due to his perfectionistic tendencies Izuna can be strict when he is in the role of a teacher (or sparring partner). Be it adult or child, Izuna is known to demonstrate just how painful their reality (and the battlefield) can be out of necessity. He does it not from a place of malice or or even cruelty, but out of a wish to see the children of the clan live to see another day (unlike the way he failed his three siblings).

Despite showing his emotions quite freely, Izuna tends to only really let himself be vulnerable (genuinely) around Madara and Tajima (before his death) and a potential wife, as he - like Madara - suffered a loss in trust from people at a young age. The worst pain was not caused on the battlefield (as Izuna had been prepared for combat since he was four years old - that is not to say that death and cruelty did not shake him to the core) but in the moments where he was emotionally abandoned by those he considered his friends and those who said they “loved” him.

What betrayed Izuna most frequently when it came to his emotions (as even his mask could crack from time to time) was his mouth - surprising as it may seem - and then his eyes. There he and Madara were very much alike; which made them an open book to each other (which caused minor grievances for the both of them).

Izuna is prone to anger and irritation due to the hopelessness that swallows him up from time to time. He is also prone to disassociating when the memories, and sensory data, becomes too much. He is also a very stubborn and prideful person - proud of his achievements and constantly striving to hone these further. He is also someone quite arrogant - something that shines through in his posture and he is extremely proud of his eyes (Sharingan and Mangekyō Sharingan). Despite Madara being an accomplished shinobi in every aspect, Izuna actually outshines him in swordsmanship.

I see Izuna as someone who valued and cared for children - so much so that he refused to become a father (to the outrage of the Elders in the clan) himself. The reason being that he has seen far too many children grow up without parents - and it always causes him the most pain when he sees children, old enough to remember their parents, grow up with the same wish for vengeance that he carries in his heart. And as much as he lets his rage nurture his motivation to become stronger…a part of Izuna knows that eradicating the entire Senju clan would have the void within him still ache. He knows that he would not gain any satisfaction from their deaths, as the dead would remain dead. He also does not want to leave his lover/wife alone to care for a child (essentially, he does not want to become what he hates).

(The above mentioned headcanon can fluctuate depending on which story I want to write. I’m quite fond of making Mikoto his great(great?great??)granddaughter. But I personally prefer to have him without children…or that his lover/wife raises their child alone as he dies the same young age he does in canon - unaware of such fact as his lover learns of her pregnancy shortly after his death)

Izuna values honesty to a near unhealthy degree (it is another reason he does not hide his emotions, at least not with Madara) and loathes lies (due to lies having caused him much distress as a child). That said, it was not a simple choice for him to go behind Madara’s back, and talk with their father - the moment he found out the former’s secret - who himself already had his suspicions that Madara had befriended someone outside the clan. This caused Izuna a lot of distress and frustration and it briefly distanced the brothers after the confrontation at the river.

He also values loyalty and love - in the form of gestures. Words are nothing but self-righteous noise in Izuna’s ears. He therefore prefers to show - and be shown - how valued his loved ones are to him.

Izuna is not against peace. He would welcome an end to all the death and misery around - if it were not the Senju asking for an alliance. It is in this scenario that Izuna values their clan above even Madara’s happiness. He distrusts the Senju - not only because they murdered his siblings - but because he is genuinely afraid of Hashirama (not his power, but the darkness within him), loathes Tobirama (who Izuna knows would sooner have them all buried beneath the ground) and sees only their clan at a disadvantage in an alliance with the Senju. He bases his argument on a different clan (mortal enemies as well) that attempted what Hashirama and Madara wanted to attempt - only to fail miserably. He sees only a repeat of that should Madara accept Hashirama’s offer. As well as the demise on their clan. He also considers the Senju “too different” from them.

While Izuna is devoted to his clan, the person closest to his heart, would always be Madara - following just a heartbeat thereafter was Tajima, his mother and his other three siblings - who he loved in a way that was unmeasurable, and Madara felt precisely the same way.

———

This is how I would answer your question atm anon. I hope my answer was satisfying. :)

Thank you once more for this fun ask, all the best and take care o/

#anon ask #izuna uchiha #madara uchiha #headcanons

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innerpalaces · 1 month

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The Princess Wei Yang - 149 Part 2

Chapter 149: The So-Called Marriage Alliance

Li Wei Yang walked all the way back to the Li family estate before asking Zhao Yue, "Is the injury on your face serious?"

Zhao Yue shook her head and said: "Miss, today—" Obviously, she wanted to explain what had happened today.

Li Wei Yang calmly looked at her, and asked, "Do you know the man with the scar on his face?"

Zhao Yue hesitated for a moment before she nodded. However, Li Wei Yang noticed the fear in her eyes, so she sighed and said, "You don't dare to say?"

Zhao Yue lowered her head, not even daring to look at Li Wei Yang. She was originally sent to protect Li Minde, but was given to Li Wei Yang. At first, she thought Li Minde was the master, but now, she was unknowingly impressed by Li Wei Yang and followed her willingly. But some words... There were some people that she was so afraid of from the bottom of her heart that she didn't even dare to mention them. She even trembled involuntarily when she thought of that person's name.

"She doesn't dare to say it, but I will." At this moment, a tall young man walked in. He wore a moon-white brocade robe and had a jade-like face.

Li Wei Yang looked at him, and said with a smile, "You finally decided to show yourself?" For three consecutive days, Li Minde was nowhere to be seen. He only sent a message saying that he still had something to deal with.

"When a disaster star arrives in the capital, I always have to make some preparations. But before I was ready, I heard that you met her." Li Minde sighed.

"Disaster star?" Li Wei Yang raised her eyebrows slightly, "Are you talking about Princess Anguo?"

Li Minde sighed and said: "If it was just her, it wouldn't be a problem."

Li Wei Yang looked at his distressed, she couldn't help but smile and said: "Are you afraid that they will discover your identity?"

Li Minde automatically went to her side and sat down. His long eyelashes blinked, as if he was seriously considering something. "Yes, these people are very troublesome - otherwise, it would be better to kill them all."

Seeing that he was really thinking about the feasibility of this approach, Li Wei Yang smiled slightly and said, "I'm afraid it's not that easy. Today I saw that there are four top masters around Princess Anguo."

Li Minde nodded and said, "This is the crux of the problem. I can answer any question you ask Zhao Yue." Do you know about Death Soldiers? "

Death soldier? Of course, Li Wei Yang knew that the generals and princes of various countries all focused on cultivating the Death Soldier Group as the first military force. Because these secretive people are very sharp and domineering tools in both the political arena and battlefields, and can influence many political situations that seem impossible to reverse. For example, when dealing with the Jiang family in Mobei, the group of people dispatched were death soldiers.

"There are indeed death warriors in every kingdom, but the death warriors in Yuexi are especially different. According to legend, 300 years ago, there was a Grandmaster who trained in martial arts named Xie Jing. His ancestors had a book on military affairs, and its contents were extremely suitable for military formations and melee battles. Furthermore, his moves were simple and deadly. The Yuan clan was originally just an ordinary merchant class family, but the head of the family, Yuan Tiankang, had absorbed the military tactics and tactics to train a troop of ten thousand elite soldiers. Their combat strength was outstanding and their strength was astonishing, and through training, Yuan Tiankang managed to come up with an instruction manual for producing elite troops. This unique training method required a period of five to ten years. There is a strict elimination system, and only one out of ten is selected. But once the soldiers are trained, their combat effectiveness is absolutely outstanding. In the battle formation, they can rush like a tiger into a pack of wolves. They would be able to quickly behead the enemy on horseback with exceptional might. Therefore, in the past , this team is invincible and is called the trapped army."

"The trapped army?" Li Wei Yang repeated the name, but showed a slightly confused look, "Why have you never heard of it?"

Li Minde smiled and said: "Only the Yuexi royal family knows the legend of the trapped army. Outsiders only know that this army is invincible, but no one can guess how powerful it is. It can be said that under the Yuan clan, during the ten years of fighting against the Jin clan of the former Yuexi dynasty, the trapped army played a mainstay role. They had once charged into the enemy's camp with a minuscule amount of one thousand elite cavalrymen, finally defeating twenty thousand of the Jin family's elite cavalry. They had also relied on the cooperation of four thousand infantrymen to charge through one hundred and thirty thousand Jin army, slaying twenty-four Jin generals straight to the Golden Emperor's tent, chasing and dispersing Jin's troops all the way to the western capital, where they finally took the throne. "

Li Wei Yang knew that every generation of founding emperors had their own ace army, but did such a powerful secret army really exist in the world? It sounds like a fantasy.

Li Minde spoke for a while, then he lifted up the brocade quilt that Bai Zhi had covered her with just now and asked, "Are your feet feeling better?" Li Wei Yang was listening with interest and wanted to urge him to continue, but he said: "Is the ointment really useful?"

Li Wei Yang smiled and replied, "This medicine is what you gave me, naturally it'll be good. Hurry up and continue."

Li Minde laughed: "Why are you in such a hurry?" He waved to Mo Zhu, who had been standing motionless for a long time, took the porcelain cup from her hand, looked at it and said: "The golden bird's nest is good for you. You eat it first and then I will tell you."

Li Wei Yang never liked this kind of overly sweet stuff, and the doctor also added medicine to it, which made it smell even weirder. Unexpectedly, Li Minde pushed the brocade quilt aside and sat down: "I'll feed you."

Li Wei Yang was slightly surprised: "No, I will do it myself."

Li Minde smiled nonchalantly and said: "What is there to be shy about between you and me? If you don't eat, then I won't continue my story."

The spoon was brought to her lips. Li Wei Yang only took a sip and urged him to continue. Li Minde sighed, took a bite of the bird's nest, and frowned: "It's really too sweet."

Li Wei Yang frowned, snatched the bird's nest from his hand, and said: "With such a precious team, no wonder it can only train 10,000 people. So, where did these people go after they won the throne? "

Li Minde smiled and said: "This kind of army is extremely precious. Normally, they would not be willing to throw themselves into battle, but they cannot be allowed to gather together like this. So the founding emperor of Yuexi thought of a way to draw these ten thousand people out of the army and let them serve as the Emperor's personal guards, performing tasks such as protection, assassination, and secret operations. Thus, almost every soldier in the army was regarded as an important figure and can be considered as a terrifying existence for their ordinary courtiers. Such a terrifying existence. Because their appearance means that the Emperor begins to doubt you and wants to get rid of you."

Li Wei Yang looked at Zhao Yue, who had been lowering her head, and said: "Then Zhao Yue and Zhao Nan—"

Li Minde blinked his eyes and continued: "Although these people were dispersed, many of them gradually betrayed the royal family. The Yuan family spent a lot of effort to exterminate the traitors one by one. Therefore, the Yuexi Royal Family later believed that although the trapped troops were powerful, they were adults from the time they started training, with their own families and backgrounds, so they were not psychologically stable and loyal enough. So they found another way and began to abandon adults with independent thoughts, and specifically selected those children who had the potential to become trapped soldiers."

Li Wei Yang couldn't help but be stunned when she heard his narration. Her eyes fell on Zhao Yue and found that her back began to tremble slightly. It turns out that the so-called Yuexi death soldiers were basically selected from orphans. Li Minde went on to say that the Yuexi royal family selected children: the oldest were eleven or twelve years old, and the youngest were five or six years old. They were gathered together, isolated from the rest of the world, and subjected to cruel elimination training. Those who pass will be tempered and become full-time killing tools while ensuring absolute loyalty. The original trapped army gradually became less secretive and terrifying, and the strength of individual soldiers gradually declined. They slowly withdrew from the underground stage and more and more became full-time guards. However, more terrifying existences have already emerged. This kind of killing tool that has been trained since childhood is called the Yuexi Death Soldier.

Seeing Zhao Yue's body shaking more and more, Li Wei Yang said softly, "Zhao Yue, you should withdraw for now."

Zhao Yue's body shook, then she stood up gently and retreated without looking back. Li Wei Yang found that when she was just here, she seemed to be very nervous, and even her back was wet.

"I don't think Zhao Yue and Zhao Nan are those kind of cold-hearted and heartless warriors." Li Wei Yang looked at Zhao Yue's back and whispered.

Li Minde nodded and said: "They are not. Their grandfather was once an outstanding general of the trapped army and was sent to participate in the training of death soldiers. Therefore, although the two of them have also received the training of death soldiers, they are not real death soldiers."

"No wonder Zhao Yue showed such a frightened expression when she saw the man with the scar on his face today. I guess the four people around Princess Anguo are the real death soldiers. The reason why Zhao Yue is so afraid of them is because she has seen their elimination process with her own eyes and knows how scary those people are." Li Wei Yang assessed accurated.

Li Minde's face was half-smiling, with a look of helplessness: "Yes, it's hard not to be afraid of such a group of monsters trained by the Western Yue royal family."

Li Wei Yang was curious: "Are they really that powerful?"

Li Minde's amber eyes brought a hint of chill: "Do you believe that after secret training, a ten-year-old child can easily kill an adult with one punch?"

Li Wei Yang stared at Li Minde in surprise, almost thinking he was exaggerating: "Do you know what kind of secret training it is?"

Li Minde thought for a while and said: "Everyone is born with a hidden power, but it can only be activated when facing danger. The training of death soldiers is to mobilize their restraint in various unimaginable ways. Strength and endurance. However - Zhao Yue and the others cannot achieve this level."

Li Wei Yang thought carefully and sa

Li Minde nodded and said: "Yes, that is really a disaster. I guess the purpose of his coming this time is to get rid of me. And behind him is Empress Pei of Yuexi."

In the palace, the sound of drums could be heard in the distance. In the Nuan Pavilion far away from the main hall, the Emperor was dressed in casual clothes, holding a memorial in his hand, looking slightly tired. Consort Lian on the side offered ginseng tea attentively and said: "Your Majesty, please take a break."

Consort Lian had given birth and had just completed her confinement period, but she was even more plump and beautiful, and her status in the palace remained unchanged. But at this moment, even she couldn't soothe the Emperor's anxious heart. The Emperor took the tea cup but didn't drink it; his eyes were still fixed on the memorial. From Consort Lian's point of view, the memorial was an extremely luxurious golden purple color, with a phoenix bathing in fire totem painted on the lower right corner.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong with this memorial?" Consort Lian asked with concern.

"This is the letter from Yuexi." The Emperor sighed.

Consort Lian couldn't help but be surprised. She had just entertained Princess Anguo of Yuexi tonight. In her opinion, she was an overly pampered little girl. However, the Fourth Prince of Yuexi who came with her said that he was not feeling well and could not attend the banquet. But now that the envoys had arrived, Yuexi sent a letter. She didn't know what the important matter was that made the Emperor so serious.

The Emperor put the tea cup aside, sighed softly, and murmured: "Who among the princes can marry Anguo?"

Consort Lian had a look of surprise on her face, glanced at the memorial, and said, "Your Majesty, you really shouldn't ask me such a question."

The Emperor smiled and said, "Since it's a wedding and a family matter, there's no reason I can't ask. Tell me your thoughts."

Consort Lian smiled and said: "They say a beauty matches a hero, so the Seventh Prince is naturally a good choice." If he could possess the power of the Yuexi royal family, Tuoba Yu's strength would be greatly enhanced. Of course, from the small banquet held by the Emperor tonight, it seems that the other party is a little willful, but isn't the Ninth Princess the same? There is nothing strange about it. As long as you marry someone, no matter how unruly you are, you will become pliable. Therefore, she decided to help Tuoba Yu tie the knot.

The Emperor sighed and said: "I have already tested the Seventh Prince's intention, and he is not interested. I feel sorry for him for the matter of his concubine mother. When it comes to marriage, let him marry whoever he likes." As the Emperor, he was naturally well-informed. He once listened to a secret report from spies. Although the princess of Yuexi was talented and beautiful and of noble birth, she had bad morals and a cruel temperament. This kind of rogue horse was not something that ordinary people could control. He has always valued Tuoba Yu, and bringing such a woman home will actually cause trouble for him.

It can be said that Consort Lian and the Emperor had their own motives in this matter. The most important thing was that the information they received was not equal. Therefore, when Consort Lian heard this, she was immediately stunned. Among the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty, there were only a few people who could be worthy of Princess Anguo. However, according to what the Emperor just said, he made it clear that he did not want Tuoba Yu to go. So, who else...

She was calculating in her mind and replied cautiously: "The Crown Prince is missing a main wife ..."

The Emperor sneered and said: "That's inappropriate." He was planning to depose the Crown Prince, but he was looking for a suitable time. If he married Princess Anguo to him, wouldn't it disrupt the overall situation?

Consort Lian's heart slowly sank. Although she sought revenge on the Jiang family, after what happened last time, she knew very well that she was being targeted by the prince and Tuoba Zhen. Especially Tuoba Zhen — could it be that the Emperor wanted Tuoba Zhen to marry Princess Anguo? The princess of Yuexi could only bring out five percent of her power in the hands of the crown prince. However, if she were to become the consort of the third prince, it would be extremely troublesome. She said softly: "If the Emperor is in a difficult situation, why don't we find another outstanding person to bestow a title on and arrange the marriage?"

The Emperor shook his head and said: "Without a strong background, they would not be worthy of an imperial princess. So, the only real suitable candidate is the third prince."

Consort Lian frowned, but did not dare to say another word. It was too obvious that she deliberately bypassed the third prince just now. Wouldn't it be dangerous if the Emperor could see her thoughts?

The Emperor's eyes turned slightly, and suddenly he sighed again, and said: "Forget it, I see that Princess Anguo has been staring at the Third Prince, so she must have fallen in love with him. This marriage is not bad."

Consort Lian was depressed. Tuoba Zhen was really the most cunning person she had ever seen. He was tougher than a wolf and more clever than a fox. On the surface, he always smiled gently and looked very kind, but his actions... each one is more vicious than the other. If he gets Princess Anguo, wouldn't he be even more powerful? If she wants to get rid of him, it won't be easy. She smiled, and decided to go back to Li Wei Yang to discuss how to resolve the matter, but to the Emperor she said: "Since you have already decided on your, why are you so worried?"

The Emperor shook his head disapprovingly, subconsciously stretched out two fingers and tapped the table gently. This sound actually startled Consort Lian for a moment. After a while, the Emperor finally stopped knocking on the table and said, "There is still Grand Prince Yan of Yuexi."

"Grand Prince Yan?" Consort Lian couldn't help but asked in surprise, "What about Grand Prince Yan?" Unlike Dali, the princes in Yuexi were directly granted the title of Grand Prince once they reached adulthood, even if they hadn't established their own fief. For example, His Highness Grand Prince Yan is Yuan Yu, the fourth prince of Yuexi.

(t/n: I'll be using the term 'Grand Prince' from here on to distinguish between regular princes and the elevated rank of Yuexi princes. There are several different prince titles with differing ranks and meanings. The emperor's sons are all referred to as "皇子" (huang zi). After they become adults they gain another title: "郡王" (Jun Wang), which is a second-rank prince title. In Dali, currently, all of the princes aside from the Crown Prince -- Third Prince, Seventh Prince, etc -- have the rank of Jun Wang.

If a prince is more favored, the emperor could grant him the title of "亲王" (Qin Wang) aka "Grand Prince", which is a first-rank title and usually considered the highest rank a prince could obtain without becoming the Crown Prince.

In Yuexi, however, all of the emperor's sons are given the title of Qin Wang/Grand Prince when they become adults.)

"Since the other party is willing to send a princess over, of course I have to choose a suitable candidate and do the same."

Consort Lian was startled and said: "You mean - Grand Prince Yan also wants to marry a princess?"

The Emperor snorted, but smiled a little: "Not bad." After a pause, he added, "However, it is even more difficult to choose this person."

Consort Lian immediately showed a very curious look.

As expected, the Emperor explained: "Originally Xiao Jiu (t/n: Ninth Princess) was the most suitable candidate, but unfortunately she has already been betrothed to someone else and will get married soon. If she breaks of her engagement so easily, it will be difficult to explain to the Duke of Luo! There are no other suitable candidates among the princesses. If looking for someone with a comparable identity, there is only one person left——"

Consort Lian's heart skipped a beat and she said hesitantly: "Your Majesty is wise and valiant, so he must have already had a person in mind. But from your concubine's point of view, the candidate sent to Yuexi need to be carefully considered. After all, if you choose an ordinary person, Yuexi might feel slighted ..."

The Emperor waved his hand and said: "No need to say more, I have made up my mind."

－－－－－－Digression－－－－－

Editor: Why are new characters created...

Xiao Qin: Because singing a big opera requires a large number of people to make it lively, it would not be fun to just have a martial arts student jumping around==

Editor: When will we get rid of Tuoba Zhen?

Xiao Qin: Wait until I marry him a wife first

#the princess wei yang

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zhaolie-the-benevolent · 1 year

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The Generalissimo, Yuan Shao

The leader of the coalition needs no introduction. Any person who has delved into the Romance of the Three Kingdoms or Dynasty Warriors knows who Yuan Shao is. He always stood out to me, because he showed a great authoritative character in the coalition stages and he appeared to be a great ruler, only to become a clown by the time Guandu rolls in. So, I decided to write a bit about this man, Yuan Shao of Runan, styled Benchu.

Early life

Yuan Shao was a grandson of Yuan An, one of the Three Excellencies during the reign of emperor Zhang of the Eastern Han dynasty, who ruled from the years 75 to 88 AD. For several generations, the Yuan family would occupy important positions of government, and the Yuan clan’s influence would extend throughout the entirety of the empire. His date of birth is not entirely clear, but since he was friends with Cao Cao from a young age, their ages might not have been that far apart (155 AD in the case of Cao Cao).

Shao was the son of Yuan Feng by a concubine, but he was later adopted into the family of his uncle Cheng to continue his lineage. The sources are a bit unclear about this, however, as the Records of Heroes by Wang Can states that, while he was mourning the death of his father, the Excellencies Yuan Wei and Yuan Feng favored him, meaning that Yuan Shao was Yuan Cheng’s own flesh and blood:

Yīngxióngjì states: Shào was born and his father died, and the two Excellencies [Yuán Féng and Yuán Wěi] favored him. When young he was employed as a Cadet, when capped sent out as Púyáng Chief, and had pure reputation. He encountered his mother’s funeral, his mourning was completed, and also in recollection of his father had mourning, altogether at the mound hut for six years. The ritual was completed, and he lived in seclusion in Luòyáng, did not rashly communicate with guest retainers, and if it was not someone well known within the Seas, he did not meet him. […]

Your Servant Sōngzhī comments: Wèishū says: “Shào was [Yuán] Féng’s [concubine-born] lesser son, sent out as descendant to his father’s elder brother [Yuán] Chéng.” If it is like this record [Yīngxióngjì] says, then it seems he truly was by [Yuán] Chéng begat. Recollection and mourning for parents still alive, the Lǐ has no such writing, so all the more how could one be a descendant and yet act like this! The two books are unclear in which is correct.

Yuan Shao’s biography in the SGZ6, translated by Yang Zhengyuan.

As a young man, Yuan Shao would earn the admiration of many as he was a charismatic and handsome man. However, Yuan Shu, son of Yuan Feng by his wife, was not fond of his half-brother/cousin, and often referred to him as the family slave. The conflict between these two members of the Yuan clan was very important, for it shaped the initial struggles in the fight for the Central Plains when the warlords rose up.

For now however, the two half-brothers/cousins would remain united with the purpose of committing vile deeds like the extermination of the palace eunuchs. In a power struggle between He Jin and the eunuchs, He Jin was assassinated and the carnage that followed took many lives. The records even state that those beardless men that could be mistaken for eunuchs were killed in the ensuing struggle as well, so the two Yuan were not very fond of the eunuchs to say the least. This isn’t surprising, for Shao urged He Jin to take action against them in the past.

The coalition against Dong Zhuo

Becaue He Jin had invited Dong Zhuo to the capital, it was him who put the capital in order and took control of state affairs. Dong Zhuo, however, was incredibly bold and lacked political subtlety, so one of his first acts in his newly found position of power was to depose emperor Ling’s heir Liu Bian and put the younger Liu Xie on the throne (future emperor Xiaomin of Han). The Xiandi Chunqiu records the following exchange between Dong Zhuo and Yuan Shao on the question of Liu Xie’s enthronement:

“Brat! How can the realm Under Heaven’s affairs not be decided by me? I now will do it, who dares not follow? Do you say that I Dǒng Zhuó’s saber is not sharp?” Shào said: “The realm Under Heaven’s powerful, is there only your Excellency Dǒng?” He drew his belt’s saber to salute and went out.

Yuan Shao’s biography in the SGZ, translated by Yang Zhengyuan

Pei Songzhi, however, says this incident is fake. Even though it makes Yuan Shao look like a really strong and authoritative individual, I am inclined to agree, since Yuan Shao drew his sword against Dong Zhuo and nothing happened to him on the spot. We all know how Dong Zhuo liked to operate, so it seems strange he wouldn’t call the guards on him.

Regardless of how the exchange took place, Yuan Shao clearly opposed the decision and promptly fled the capital to Bohai to raise troops against the tyrannical rule of the evil usurper Dong Zhuo. This rhetoric was quite effective, and even though it wasn’t Yuan Shao who first sent a proclamation against Dong Zhuo, many regional lords joined the call to arms and Yuan Shao was elected leader, which speaks of his charisma and the influence of the powerful Yuan clan.

One has to question the rhetoric of the righteous troops rising to punish a tyrannical ruler, however. It is true that Dong Zhuo was a pretty ruthless man who was looking to monopolize imperial authority, but Yuan Shao tried to et up a parallel court under Liu Yu (that Liu Yu himself rejected). Perhaps setting up a new ruler would give Yuan Shao the opportunity to earn merits and influence under him. If an emperor rises to power, it’s easy to see why the man that put him in that position of power would want to receive some favor and recognition. This is my guess however, and it is also possible that he wanted to simply set up another court simply to legitimize what is essentially his rebellion. This possibility is likely considering that Liu Yu enjoyed a great deal of prestige.

Regardless, on the year 190 the lords gathered up at Suanzao in current Henan and not too far from the capital at the time, Luoyang. However, the forces of the coalition were too busy claiming grand titles and feasting rather than actually fighting. Yuan Shao claimed the title of General of the Chariots for himself, but despite being the leader, he didn’t show any initiative. That initiative came from Yuan Shu’s general Sun Jian, who found success. Cao Cao also brought the fight to Dong Zhuo with poor results.

Despite his conniving nature and the accumulation of enough treacherous deeds to overflow Heaven itself, Cao Cao was undeniably a clever man, and seeing the failure of his battle against Dong Zhuo, he thought of a different approach. Let us look at the following map, taken from de Crespigny’s Imperial Warlord:

Cao Cao’s plan was for the army to advance and take positions in Rongyang and the passes. With an advance from the south by Yuan Shu’s forces, there would be no need to fight Dong Zhuo in order to exhert pressure on him. If the other lords saw that progress was being made, it would be enough to make them all join the fight against Dong Zhuo and finally reclaim the capital by just appearing to be threatening but without engaging in combat.

This proposal was not accepted. Any attempts to make peace were rejected as well, for Yuan Shao executed the envoy of Dong Zhuo, causing part of the Yuan clan to be exterminated in the capital. The coalition would fail, but the opportunity for Yuan Shao’s rise had presented itself.

Yuan Shao’s rise to power and his clash with Gongsun Zan

The righteous rebels that Yuan Shao raised were in the end scattered without putting much of a fight. Luoyang was sacked and burnt and the court fled west to Chang’an. Yuan Shao returned to Ji province and began his own designs to take the land.

Being a subordinate officer of Ji province’s governorn Han Fu, one of Yuan Shao’s subordinates, Pang Ji, thought of a brilliant plan to seize Ji province without bloodshed. The plan was to call in Gongsun Zan of You province and plot with him to split Ji province between the two. Meanwhile, a persuader would only need to convince Han Fu to surrender Ji province to Yuan Shao as the only man who can face Gongsun Zan and then the deal will be settled. The plan worked wonders, but obviously Gongsun Zan was not exactly thrilled by this development of events. Gongsun Zan also had a grudge against Yuan Shao because previously, Shao sent some Zhou Ang to seize Sun Jian’s headquarters during the fight against Dong Zhuo. During the ensuing fight, Gongsun Yue, a cousin to Gongsun Zan, was killed, and therefore blamed his death on Yuan Shao. The war between Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao finally started, and the conflict between these two would last for a few years.

The advice given to Yuan Shao by Ju Shou is telling of the strategic situation he found himself in. It reads as follows:

You General when capped ascended to Court,then you spread your name Within the Seas; right at the time of the deposing and enthroning, then your loyalty and righteousness was roused; alone you rode out in exile, then Dǒng Zhuó harbored fear; crossing the Hé and going north, then Bóhǎi bowed head. You shook the whole prefecture’s soldiers, gathered Jì Province’s army, your authority shakes the Hé’s north, your name heavy Under Heaven. Though the Yellow Headscarves are crafty and chaotic, the Black Mountains domineering, if you raise the army and eastward go, then Qīng Province can be settled; return to suppress the Black Mountains, then Zhāng Yān can be exterminated; return the army to north head, then Gōngsūn [Zàn] will certainly be a corpse; shake and coerce the Róng and Dí, then the Xiōngnú will certainly obey. Stretch across the Great Hé’s north, unite Four Province’s lands, collect heroes’ talents, embrace a million army, welcome the Imperial Chariot from the western capital, restore the Ancestral Temples at Luò city, announce order Under Heaven, to suppress the not yet submitted, and by this contend and strive, who is able to oppose you? Within a few years, this achievement will not be difficult.

Biography of Yuan Shao on the SGZ, translated by Yang Zhengyuan.

Yuan Shao agreed with the assessment. As we can see, the situation in the land was complicated. The remnants of the Yellow turbans rose in Qing province and were dealt with by Gongsun Zan, while in Bing provinces the Black Mountain bandits came and went as they pleased.

The more pressing menace however, was Gongsun Zan, who was encroaching on Ji province and enjoyed some initial support from the local rulers. Yuan Shao set out to march and in the year 191 both forces clashed at Jie bridge, in Julu commandery at the north of Ji province. Gongsun Zan’s troops numbered 30.000 troops of infantry and 10.000 cavalry divided into two wings. Yuan Shao’s numbers aren’t clearly stated, using vague terms like “tens of thousands”, but he sent Qu Yi to the front with roughly 2000 men to the front. Gongsun Zan then sent the cavalry forward to meet Qu Yi, but their men greatly defeated Gongsun Zan’s cavalry and, taking advantage of the momentum, Qu Yi bravely pushed forward and took Gongsun Zan’s main camp, causing the army to scatter and winning a great victory.

Qu Yi was an experienced fighting man from the frontier that had experienced troops with him and proved their worth on the battlefield and were a good asset for Yuan Shao’s forces. He also found further success in 195 against Gongsun Zan. However, Qu Yi grew arrogant and insubordinate, so Yuan Shao had him executed. While it’s easy to criticize Yuan Shao’s decision here, it’s important to note that an arrogant and capable general was a threat to the ruler. It is likely that Yuan Shao felt his position threatened by him and decided to take care of him before he became a bigger nuisance. Talent is of no use if it works against you. Qu Yi also rebelled against Han Fu when Yuan Shao came into Ji, so who says Qu Yi wouldn’t be willing to defect once more once he sees the opportunity? I don’t think the decision to get rid of Qu Yi was a bad one. Nobody wants to have a Wei Yan situation. But Qu Yi was certainly capable and a great asset, so getting rid of him before he could realize his full potential was a bad choice. It was a matter of timing, not whether the execution itself was a bad decision or not.

Gongsun Zan, on his end, still had a personal vendetta because of the death of his cousin in a fight against one of Yuan Shao’s appointed officials. This was a symptom of the land splitting into two factions according to which one of the two half- brothers of the Yuan clan they supported, Yuan Shu (Gongsun Zan, Tao Qian) or Yuan Shao (Liu Biao, Cao Cao).

After the great victory at Jie bridge, however, there was not a lot of time for celebration, for the Black Mountain bandits were threatening Ye, Wei commandery’s capital and Yuan Shao’s base of power. Swiftly returning, Yuan Shao marched and campaigned in the mountains, defeating many bandit chiefs and taking a lot of their positions. In his fight against the Black Mountains, Yuan Shao also employed Lü Bu to great effect, breaking Zhang Yan’s formations in Zhongshan and adhieving some merits. Yuan Shao, once again, wanted to dispose of his successful general and sent assassins against Lü Bu, but he had already fled. Ironically, his intention to kill Lü Bu was beneficial in hindsight. Because Lü Bu was threatened, he escaped and took the opportunity presented by Zhang Miao to rise up against Cao Cao in Yan province, so he kept his future rival busy dealing with other affairs.

When Gongsun Zan murdered Liu Yu, several of his officers wanted to avenge him, and Yuan Shao participated in these campaigns, sending the valorous Qu Yi against him. After successive defeats, Gongsun Zan stationed himself at Yi and erected a great fortress. As Gongsun Zan was losing support, Yuan Shao was acquiring more and more land. He sent Yuan Tan to Qing province, Gao Gan to Bing province and had planned for his other sons to be in charge of the different provinces as well in order to gauge which of them was worthiest of succession. This earned him heavy criticism from Ju Shou, who thought this would bring ruin to the Yuan clan:

Shortly afterward, he struck and defeated [Gōngsūn] Zàn at Yìjīng, absorbing his armies. (3) He sent out his eldest son [Yuán] Tán to Qīng Province. Jǔ Shòu remonstrated Shào: “This will certainly be disaster’s beginning.” Shào did not listen, and said: “I wish to order my various sons to each occupy a province.”

Biography of Yuan Shao, SGZ 6, translated by Yang Zhengyuan.

The whole “Shao did not listen” part will be prevalent in Yuan Shao’s career, or better said, Shao did not listen to good advice when it was offered to him. These events I have described took place at the end of the 190s, but in the middle of it, on the year 196, the conflict at the capital between the different forces at Chang’an caused the young emperor to flee. Yuan Shao was approached to meet him and give him some refuge, but fearing that the emperor would be controlling him instead of the other way around, Yuan Shao declined. Here is the passage from his own biography:

Previously, Heaven’s Son’s enthronement was not Shào’s intention, and when at Hédōng, Shào sent Yǐngchuān’s Guō Tú as envoy. [Guō] Tú returned and advised Shào to welcome Heaven’s Son to set capital at Yè, but Shào did not listen. (1) It happened that Tàizǔ [Cáo Cāo] welcomed Heaven’s Son to set capital at Xǔ, collected the Hé’s south’s lands, and Guānzhōng all attached to him. Shào was regretful, and wished to order Tàizǔ to move Heaven’s Son’s capital to Juànchéng to be closer to him, but Tàizǔ resisted this.

Other sources claim it was Ju Shou who argued in favor of the emperor and Guo Tu was the one that gave advice against it:

Guō Tú and Chūnyú Qióng said: “The Hàn House has declined, and has for a long time. Now wishing to raise it, is it not also difficult! Moreover now heroes occupy and hold provinces and prefectures, armies move in the tens of thousands, this is what is called Qín losing its deer, the first to obtain it is King. If you invite Heaven’s Son to be near you, every move must be memorialized and reported, if following him then your power is little, if disobeying him then you oppose command, this is not the best plan.”

Both this and the previous passage were translated by Yang Zhengyuan.

There is a clear contradiction here and no sure way to know which one is correct, but regardless of who advised against it, the fact of the matter remains: Yuan Shao did not welcome the imperial court and deeply regretted it. Upon the Son of Heaven’s arrival in Xudu, Cao Cao was quick to grab titles for himself. Yuan Shao was named Grand Commandant and marquis of Ye, but he was vexed and refused the appointment for he was lower in rank than Cao Cao, so Cao Cao instead chose the Excellency of Works, lowest of the Three Excellencies, and ceded the position of General in Chief to Yuan Shao. With this move, Yuan Shao was trying to exhert his authority and remind Cao Cao who was the dominant power of the land. However, this is all an empty fit of indignation, because had he listened to the advice of Ju Shou/Guo Tu, he would be the one giving orders and choosing what ranks to get for himself. He has nobody else to blame but himself for that lack of foresight.

Regardless of any maneuvers to appease Yuan Shao, conflict between Cao Cao and him was inevitable. Yuan Shao defeated Gongsun Zan and the Black Mountains, and he also sent his eldest son Yuan Tan to battle Tian Kai. Yuan Tan also managed to defeat and completely destroy Kong Rong’s forces, making him one of the greatest military geniuses in Chinese history.

With this, Yuan Shao effectively had control over the lands north of the Yellow River (with some caveats that I will explain later), and if he wished to expand somewhere it would have to be through his dangerous rival’s lands south of his own. With a grand proclamation, the Generalissimo unleashed the dogs of war and prepared to fight Cao Cao.

However, there are a few problems that we will explain here. The battle of Guandu and the whole campaign surrounding it took place on the year 200. However in 199, Liu Bei liberated Xu Province as per the Son of Heaven’s wishes and enjoyed widespread support, with tens of thousands joining him.

This was perhaps a good opportunity to strike. Let’s look at the map:

This map that I used on my write-up on Emperor Zhaolie of Han is perfect to describe this situation. Liu Biao in Jing had already fought Cao Cao in the past, Liu Bei was certain to fight him and Yuan Shao was breathing down his neck, Cao Cao’s situation could have been quite dire if all of his borders were attacked in a semi-coordinated manner. Liu Bei, however, was defeated in a lightning campaign that struck him before he could completely consolidate his position. Liu Biao was probably preoccupied with Sun Ce’s expansion, considering the personal vendetta Ce had against Huang Zu for the death of his father Jian. And what was our unlikely hero doing on the meantime? He was too busy taking care of his kid:

Tián Fēng advised Shào to attack Tàizǔ‘s rear, but Shào declined as his son was ill, and would not agree. [Tián] Fēng raised his cane and struck the ground saying: “This is encountering a difficult to obtain opoortunity, but due to an infant’s illness to lose this chance, a pity!” Tàizǔ arrived, struck and defeated [Liú] Bèi, and [Liú] Bèi fled to Shào.

Biography of Yuan Shao, SGZ6, Yang Zhengyuan.

I however object to this account. While it’s certainly possible that Yuan Shao was indeed taking care of his sick child (it’s not clear who it is, as it could be Yuan Shang or Yuan Mai), this account makes Shao look like a complete moron for missing the opportunity to strike, taking care of minute things and thereby losing the empire. However, I believe the situation was more complicated than that. Yuan Shao’s biography goes on to state:

Before this, Tàizǔ sent Liú Bèi to visit Xú Province to resist Yuán Shù. [Yuán] Shù died, and [Liú] Bèi therefore killed the Inspector Chē Zhòu, leading the army to garrison Pèi. Shào sent cavalry to assist him. Tàizǔ sent Liú Dài and Wáng Zhōng to strike him, but was unsuccessful.

Biography of Yuan Shao, SGZ6, Yang Zhengyuan.

As it can be seen here, Yuan Shao was not blind to opportunity, he was not so tunnel-visioned by his own son’s sickness that he forgot everything else. He did indeed send a cavalry detachment in assistance. If he did not commit more heavily to the attack is because he likely could not send more men. Let’s use another map.

Yuan Shao was in control of You, Ji, Qing and Bing provinces, while Cao Cao owned Xu, Yu, Yan and Sili provinces. While 4 provinces is an impressive number, this is deceptive. Yuan Shao’s positions were not secure in all four of these provinces. He still had to deal with the threat of the Black Mountain Bandits of Zhang Yan and You province was recently conquered. The local families were still enjoying autonomy and influence, and some of them even threw their lot with Cao Cao.

Though he had eliminated his enemy, Yuan Shao did not gain a great deal more from the victory. He established a loose hegemony over the north, granting seals and insignia to various Wuhuan chieftains, but several local Chinese leaders maintained their independence, and Xianyu Fu in Yuyang, a former officer of Liu Yu, sent envoys to Cao Cao and was named Area Commander over six commanderies of You province; the appointment was meaningless, but indicates that Yuan Shao had limited authority in the region.

de Crespigny, Imperial Warlord, page 123

What about Qing province? As I have said, Yuan Tan had previously conquered it, but his management of the province was absolutely abysmal:

The poor and weak were many, so that they fled and hid in the hills and wilderness, and troops were sent to capture and search, as if hunting for birds and beasts. Cities with ten thousand households, the registers did not pass several hundred, and collecting taxes, out of three not even one entered. He sought worthy scholars, but did not obtain them; he did not deploy armies by season, and the resident clan factions, he also could not punish.

SGZ 6, Yang Zhengyuan

He scared off the people, who took refuge in the mountains, leaving them outside of the government’s control as well as letting the local gentry take over affairs. He was incapable of being of much use in this state and Qing might as well have been Kong Rong’s for all that it was worth, though obviously Kong Rong would have been able to defeat both Shao and Cao and we wouldn’t be talking about these two right now.

This is why Tian Feng and Ju Shou time and time again remonstrated with Yuan Shao and tried to have him adopt a more protracted strategy that consisted of resting the people, filling the granaries and raid Cao Cao’s position so as to somewhat weakening him without committing to a full assault.

Meanwhile, Cao Cao’s positions were more solid. He had defeated Zhaolie and secured the loyalty of Zhang Xiu, as well as preparing defenses at Guandu, a naturally defensive position in the first place.

Regardless, despite Yuan Shao’s initial reluctance to attack when Zhaolie was gathering troops, he shortly after changed his mind and in the year 200 launched his campaign south. Yuan Shao’s army of 100.000 men was impressive, and it was in his hope to win with force of numbers as Shen Pei and Guo Tu suggested:

Shěn Pèi and Guō Tú said: “By the principles of military books, ten besiege five attack, the enemy then can be battled. Now with your enlightened excellency’s divine martial ability, spanning the Hé’s north’s strong armies, to campaign against Cáo, it is like turning a hand; if now you do not use this time to take him, later it will be difficult to plan.”

SGZ 6, Yang Zhengyuan

The initial assault was against Cao Cao’s positions at Baima. General Yan Liang laid siege to Baima, but Cao Cao outflanked him, threatening Yuan Shao’s positions across the river. Cao Cao sent a detachment to relieve Baima, where the mighty Guan Yu slayed Yan Liang. Yuan Shao then sent Zhaolie and Wen Chou to Yanyin, where they fell into an ambush and Wen Chou was killed.

Yan Liang and Wen Chou were Yuan Shao’s most fearsome generals, so their loss was a blow to the morale of the army. Despite these setbacks, Yuan Shao managed to push Cao Cao back to Guandu, where Cao Cao put up a formidable defense. Guandu was besieged for months with back and forth between the different parties, but Yuan Shao’s officer Xu You defected as he felt mistreated, revealed to Cao Cao the location of his provisions at Wuchao and essentially led to Yuan Shao’s defeat. The supplies at Wuchao burnt while Yuan Shao was unable to break the defenses at Guandu. With the army scattered, Yuan Shao fled north. Several cities in Ji province rebelled but were quickly suppressed and Yuan Shao managed to regroup. On the year 202, he finally went to the Nine Golden Springs.

Yuan Shao is mostly remembered by his loss at Guandu, a tale of a man who wasted his resources through poor decisions and got destroyed by an inferior force. There has been some debate on this, however, with Pei Songzhi questioning whether Yuan Shao’s numbers were truly that much greater than Cao Cao’s. Sun Sheng, on the other hand, argues that Ji province was certainly densely populated enough to field that many men. Professor de Crespigny states that Yuan Shao simply did not have as much resources as Cao Cao in history becaue he did not stop and develop his land. If we take his opinion, then it makes sense why Yuan Shao was fixated on a decisive strike and end the war early: if he had waited and consolidated, Cao Cao would grow even stronger, and he couldn’t allow this to happen. It’s an interesting angle and it gives some insight into his decision, even if it was flawed.

Conclusions

So, how was Yuan Shao at the end of the day? He was certainly a charismatic leader and had a huge advantage as a member of the Yuan family. He had many connections and prestige, and he gathered a group of followers that were incredibly competent in their own right: Pang Ji, Tian Feng, Zhang He, Qu Yi, Ju Shou…

What went wrong, then? Nothing. Nothing really went wrong. Yuan Shao was never exceptionally talented to begin with. In war he found success against the bandits and Gongsun Zan, but it took him a very long time to defeat the latter.

In governance he was weak, with ravaged lands that could not be used very effectively. While Cao Cao was using the military colonies system, Yuan Shao had to feed his men with mulberries:

Yuan Shao was north of the Yellow River, and the men of his army ate mulberries, Yuan Shu was by the Yangzi and the Huai, and his soldiers took clams and mussels. Many turned to cannibalism, and all the country was abandoned and desolate.

To Establish Peace, de Crespigny

So, while he certainly had to have some qualities and didn’t completely stumble into a position of power, he could not make use of his provinces because they were either ravaged or not under his complete control.

Finally, Yuan Shao completely botched his succession. The eldest son was Yuan Tan, but he favored the young Yuan Shang, barely of age at the time of Yuan Shao’s death. He never formally declared an heir, though he definetely showed deference to Shang over Tan. The conflict between the two brothers allowed Cao Cao to take the north, slowly but surely.

Yuan Shao decided to give a province to each of his sons and see how they did as governors. Yuan Tan proved to be an absolutely disastrous ruler, so it’s no wonder he’d be disinheritted. However, Yuan Shao did not do anything to relieve him of his command or curb his military power, so as soon as he was dead, Tan had free reign to lead his men against his own brother.

However, Yuan Shao’s biggest failure was definetely what ended up crippling his family beyond repair. Let us see this passage:

Shào’s favored his young son Shàng, who had beautiful looks, and wished to have him be successor but did not yet reveal it. (1) Shěn Pèi and Páng Jì with Xīn Píng and Guō Tú fought for power. [Shěn] Pèi and [Páng] Jì with Shàng joined, [Xīn] Píng and [Guō] Tú with Tán joined. Everyone because Tán was the eldest, wished to establish him. [Shěn] Pèi and the rest feared that if Tán was established [Xīn] Píng and the rest would harm them, and went along with Shào’s original intentions, and so had Shàng succeed Shào’s position. Tán arrived, could not be established, and declared himself Chariots and Cavalry General. Because of this Tán and Shàng had discord.

SGZ 6, Yang Zhengyuan

This right here was Yuan Shao’s greatest failure: he had failed as a ruler. He showed favoritism to certain subjects, listened to their slander and alienated otherwise competent people. He executed Tian Feng because of slander, he allowed infighting within his own court and when he died, it’s not a surprise that advisors and officers started scheming against each other to try and settle grudges and achieve more recognition. This is the kind of environment he allowed.

As if that were not enough, because of his lacking government and his lack of energy to react to changing events, Yuan Shao did not make full use of the land he had, and by the time he wanted to act against an upstart like Cao Cao, it was already too late. He didn’t stand a chance.

I think he is treated unfairly in fiction, as a complete and utter moronic and indecisive ruler, a fatuous lord who didn’t know what he was doing. In reality, Yuan Shao was not erratic and had a strategy in place, it just so happens he didn’t have the right strategy and had many flaws as a ruler. It’s not that he was stupid and indecisive, it’s that he was incompetent and slow to react. Had he been more humble, he would certainly be remembered as one of the great leaders of the age. He certainly had the manpower to achieve great things, but alas, he lacked the discernment of a man born to rule.

#three kingdoms #yuan shao

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al-hekima-madara-blog · 2 years

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Hello, it's me once again. I would like to know how you think Tajima uchiha's relationship with his children was, personally I think he was a little cruel and strict with them, but I would like to read your analysis/hc. 💙

Hey Nailalala ! Hope you're doing great😉

That will be short, since we don't have much material for Tajima, "El Padre" as I love to call him. I think my headcanons will differ a bit to you for few reasons. Globally I saw him as a good father.

- We know that Hashirama had a violent father

- Kishimoto loves to play with duality a lot : Yin/Yang extravert/introvert, Light Hokage/Shadow Hokage

- Brothers in Senju family use archaic word to call themselve (anija by Tobirama), while Izuna used niichan which is more familiar. I guess relationships are warmer between siblings than the Senjus.

- With Hashirama there is a young boy who comes from a difficult relationship with his father, but somehow rises above his struggle and becomes a "good" person.

- Madara becomes a villain because he looses everything important to his life (like Sasuke). The only difference with his avatar is that it happens gradually. So it makes more sense to me that Madara initially is someone kind who have everything promising to him but end up alone and bitter.

- But I don't forget the context of Warring state era where literally it's the survival of the fittest. As the leader of a Shinobi clan, teaching your sons to stay alive and defend themselves is, in a way, a proof of love. Discipline and resilience, competition, stern way of life is normal in this household. And Uchihas are known for being elitist, better not being mediocre to be respected.

- I check and Tajima is Aries, the sign by excellence of the warrior, the bold hero on battlefield. I don't know... but I think this philosophy of "Power is everything", "let's fight to death but let's make it epic" "Me vs a whole army" comes from him (plus the fringe ^^)

There is an expression in english when we said "the mother of all thing". And I think the Father of all Madara is definitely Tajima !

#Al Hekima post #Tajima #El Padre #uchiha clan

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thedviousone · 2 years

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Now that Yashahime is over, and some people are celebrating with ship art of Sess paired with anyone else that's not Rin, i thought I should talk about my own ship i once had for Sesshomaru.

While SessKagu has always been one that gets me giggling, I have recently remembered that years ago I obsessed over shipping Sesshomaru with someone else. This nonsensical ship was on my mind 24/7, only second to my one and only OTP InuKag.

So who was this character that i shipped Sesshomaru with? Well it wasn't anyone from Inuyasha, but someone from a different franchise entirely.

TADA!

Yup! This ship that had me by the throat when i was a teen, was a crossover ship that would never happen, ever. At the time when I was making my own bootleg VHS collection of Inuyasha (I was too young to stay up so I set up my VHS player to record the episodes for me each night) I was also really into Dead or Alive Ultimate, with Kasumi being my main girl to use.

I believe it all started out with my thinking she and Sess would look good together... and then i thought more about it. About how they, as characters, compliment each other in various ways, but are also very different people.

Similar to how Sesshomaru has an impressive lineage, Kasumi hails from a highly-regarded ninja clan, and as second-in-line to the title of clan leader, she was treated as a princess.

Kasumi also has a half-sibling, Ayane. Though, unlike Sesshomaru, who despises Inuyasha and saw him as a disgrace to their bloodline, Kasumi was actually best friends with her half-sister. Even when their relationship became complicated when certain truths were revealed, Kasumi never hated Ayane, and only fought her when she had to. Family in general plays an important part in Kasumi's story throughout the DOA series.

And like Sesshomaru, Kasumi is also a powerful warrior, but unlike him, she doesn't enjoy using her skills to harm others, much less for killing.

To me, this felt like the perfect set-up for a enemies-to-lovers scenario, while also having that yin/yang dynamic.

Imagining if Kasumi were shoehorned into the world of Inuyasha, she would understandably have a prejudice against demons, and Sesshomaru would be no exception. As for Sesshomaru, he see the ninja woman as beneath him, as all things are, and they would probably have a couple of confrontations when they encounter each other. But a couple of factors would change this. We all know how Sesshomaru changes, so I'm going to talk about how Kasumi's mindset would change.

The first could be meeting Inuyasha, a half-breed traveling with a group of humans, and though foul-tempered, Kasumi could tell that Inuyasha was no monster and had no taste for blood. But surely, Inuyasha is a rare exception. After all, Sesshomaru disowned him, and perhaps his human side saves him from being just like his older brother. Surely, it is not possible for a full demon to be capable of intermingling and forming bonds with humans.

But then, Kasumi would cross paths with Sesshomaru, and this time, the Lord of the Western Lands, is accompanied by a little girl named Rin. Kasumi would be concerned for this child, thinking the demon lord is keeping her around as a snack, or maybe as a sacrifice at a later point, but Rin assures her that she's safe with Sesshomaru.

And of course, if Kasumi is going to be a recurring character, she'd also be going after Naraku (though how that happens is a whole other thing to think about).

Overtime, whenever Sesshomaru and Kasumi run into each other, their interactions are a little less hostile, putting aside their animosity in order to take down the demon Naraku, who has destroyed so many lives. They would even form a shaky sort of allyship, mostly due to Rin trusting Kasumi and perhaps going to her for help at one point. Trusting each other just enough to know that the other won't back-stab them, Sesshomaru and Kasumi would start to learn about each other. And there would be plenty for Kasumi to grill Sesshomaru about.

While the two can be very similar, ultimately, Kasumi has a human heart. A kind one. A heart that compelled her to cast aside her duty as heir to her clan in order to avenge her family. So she would not stand for some of the things Sesshomaru does. Kasumi is able to contrast Sesshomaru where it matters, but still won't take any of his shit, which is what i absolutely loved about this crossover ship.

Knowing how Inuyasha ends, I don't see Kasumi or Sesshomaru developing feelings for each other at the end of the series, but they're on much better terms, and with Kasumi unable to return to her clan, she and Sesshomaru might run into each other a bit more.

With Yashahime turning out to be a total dumpster fire, i might just come up with something, and who knows, maybe throw in some art into the mix. Maybe redesign Towa and Setsuna if their mother was actually a certain runaway ninja woman >3>

#have some cringe #but maybe it'll help ya'll forget about yashahime even quicker #anti yashahime #anti sessrin #yashahimeisoverparty #crossover ship #antisessrin #antiyashahime

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canary3d-obsessed · 4 years

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Restless Rewatch: The Untamed Episode 10 second part

(Masterpost) (Other Canary Meta)

Warning: Spoilers for All 50 Episodes!

Unclean Realm

Lan Wangji has a Louis Henry Sullivan moment on seeing the Nie family home, becoming enraptured by its overwrought monumental architecture after a lifetime of restrained good taste and single-story buildings.

He approaches the fortress with the expression of delighted wonder that he usually reserves for when he’s looking at the moon or at Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian is like, yep that’s a building, all right, but he supports Lan Wangji’s kinks.

Meng Yao tells them about the Wen Clan directive, and has what appears to be a moment of genuine, affectionate amusement at Nie Huaisang’s reaction.

Jiang Cheng kinda blames the Lans for inventing the whole “indoctrination” thing and for encouraging his brother’s disaster bi tendencies. Wei Wuxian responds by complimenting the Lan Clan, almost like someone who met his true love got some real value out of the instruction he received there.

(more after the cut)

One of the great ironies of this story is that Wei Wuxian sort of becomes a rogue Lan disciple because of his relationship with Lan Wangji. He relies on Lan temperament techniques, uses music as a primary cultivation method, has committed all of the Lan rules to his supposedly terrible memory and cites them on multiple occasions, and is an important mentor for the younger generation Lan disciples. Because Hanguang-Jun is just that good in bed.

Xue Yang in the background of this conversation is channeling OP’s church-enduring, school-enduring inner 10-year-old.

Nie Mingjue, Chifeng-Zun, appears, and couldn’t be more different than his brother. On first watching this episode, I saw him as a grumpy, sexy, very emotional leather daddy man who is quick to anger. Rewatching, I see someone who’s struggling with a growing illness...the resentful energy kind.

Nie Mingjue’s handling of resentful energy is very different from Wei Wuxian’s straightforward interest and acceptance. NMJ has a traditional cultivator’s view of it, regarding it as evil and as something to resist, while he is literally carrying it on his back. He’s like a secret alcoholic who is preaching temperence, and can’t find a way to be reconciled with himself.

At this point of the story, Nie Mingjue is keeping it together, but is under a hell of a lot of stress, and Baxia’s blood thirst is already maybe a problem.

The Yunmeng bros think that Nie Huaisang’s fear of his brother is hilarious, because they don’t understand the situation. They think he’s just living in a hideously toxic family dynamic like theirs, when actually he’s in a loving, sorta healthy, if parentless, family that is being crushed under a generational curse.

Compliments for the Yunmeng Bros

I’m not the first meta poster to notice how happy Jiang Cheng is to be praised by Nie Mingjue.

He never gets this at home. Jiang Yanli praises him, but in that watery “you tried your best” way that doesn’t really stick. Nie Mingjue’s praise really means something, because he is a fearsome warrior and stern authority figure. And this is a double compliment, because Nie Mingjue says he heard it from Lan Xichen, and agrees with it.

Let’s Make Terrible Decisions

Keep Xue Yang alive, says Wei Wuxian, and Meng Yao immediately agrees, although I’m pretty sure he would have proposed that even if WWX hadn’t.

So they do, not realizing that “kill him later” is never a good plan for someone who 1. super needs killing 2. has a whole lot of death-dealing skills.

Future clan leader Jiang Cheng notices how smart and talented Meng Yao is. Xue Yang finds it hilarious when the trio praises Meng Yao, possibly because their evil team up is already underway.

Boss’ Bed Warmer Son of a Ho

The constant insults toward Meng Yao are about his mom, but there’s another level of leering implication, that Meng Yao seems to encourage in his conversation with the soon-to-be-murdered guard captain.

Nie Mingjue elevated him way above his expectations, and he is ridiculously pretty, which has to create rumors. In the Nightless City scenes when he’s fondling Baxia and telling Nie Mingjue’s family secrets there’s definitely a sense of intimacy that’s not just “loyal retainer.”

I feel like maybe this whole exchange is a bit of theater designed to show Xue Yang something without showing it to anyone else. Meng Yao didn’t need to have this conversation in front of his prisoner.

Let’s Do Exactly What We Said We Wouldn’t

Once the younger quartet are alone with Nie Mingjue, Wei Wuxian crosses the room away from his friends and practically into Lan Wangji’s pocket, if Lan Wangji had pockets.

He has no pockets and also has no personal bubble any more, when it comes to Wei Wuxian.

We could make a weapon out of Yin Iron, Wei Wuxian says, completely forgetting his entire conversation with Lan Yi, apparently. Lan Wangji doesn’t argue with this idea.

Nie Mingjue warns Wei Wuxian not to try it.

I stabbed a man in Qinghe just to watch him die

Nie Mingjue is like the Johnny Cash of the cultivation world, carrying the weight of his poor choices and trying to steer the young folk to the path of righteousness. But--like Johnny Cash--his bad choices have made him really fucking cool, so he isn’t very good at deterring anybody.

Meng Yao Didn’t Come Here to Make Friends

Immediately after Meng Yao’s fellow Nie clan people call him “son of a whore” again, Wei Wuxian meets him, is nice to him, addresses him by his military title, bows to him, asks why he’s away from the party, and thanks him for his service.

But Meng Yao has already decided to make friends with Xue Yang, so Wei Wuxian goes onto his list of people that he doesn’t give a crap about except if they can be useful to him. Then Meng Yao goes to make out hatch a plot with Xue Yang.

I’ll Sleep On Your Roof

Meeting SongXiao seems to have done away with the last of Lan Wangji’s resistance to his connection with Wei Wuxian.

He hears a noise on the roof and, when realizing it’s Wei Wuxian, he smiles one of his tiny reserved smiles before heading outside.

When he sees Wei Wuxian drunkenly sprawled on the roof, limbs akimbo, wine on his chin and neck, mouth full of poetry about the open road, Lan Wangji gives him the most fond look imaginable.

Then he reluctantly leaves, with his signature “say goodbye, but only when he can’t hear you” thing.

They’ve both come a really long way since their first meeting. Wei Wuxian is openly and vocally attaching himself to Lan Wangji...but is not actually entering his space or asking for anything from him; he just wants to be near him, and wants to let him know that. “I’ll sleep on your roof tonight.”

And Lan Wangji just...loves him. Wei Wuxian is drunk, embarrassing, demonstrative, eager to make a hell weapon out of yin iron, touchy feely, and absurdly sexy. And Lan Wangji is pretty okay with all of that.

I Might Have Been Drunk

Wei Wuxian carefully avoids telling Jiang Cheng where he was last night.

Even if he did get blackout drunk, he would have woken up on Lan Wangji’s roof. And I don’t think he was as drunk as that. He just knows Jiang Cheng wouldn’t like the truth.

Wen Fucking Chao, Again

Wen Chao shows up to be annoying and boring. This leads to a pretty good fight between Nie Mingjue and Wen Zhuliu. Note that when the chips are down, Nie Huaisang stands with his Gege without any cowering. Almost as if he had hidden reserves of bravery, and is not as helpless as he lets on.

Wen Zhuliu isn’t styled to be super hot, although he’s certainly compelling, and in Dance of the Phoenix he looks good with sensitive-guy hair wispies. I wonder what actor Feng Mingjing looks like out of character?

BRB, adding a tag to my follow list

Battle Bros

When the fighting breaks out, the Yunmeng brothers are decisive and united, with Wei Wuxian giving orders to Jiang Cheng and JC following without hesitation.

I feel like if these two could have gone through a few big battles together, instead of being separated during most of the Sunshot campaign, their whole relationship would have improved. On the battlefield, they respect, trust, and understand each other.

The Pointy End

Nie Mingjue is holding his own against Wen Zhuliu, but he gets distracted by Meng Yao hollering “Xue Yang has escaped” and then shanking the guard captain right in front of him.

Wen Zhuliu takes advantage of the distraction to aim a very slow stab at Nie Huasang, and Meng Yao jumps in front to get stabbed on his behalf.

When the Yunmeng bros show up to help NMJ, Wen Zhuliu immeiately yanks Wen Chao back behind him and points his sword at Wei Wuxian. He absolutely sees these two as a serious threat. Considering that eventually WWX is going to kill Wen Chao while JC kills Wen Zhuliu, this concern is not misplaced.

Wei Wuxian tells Wen Chao to stop being such a jerk, and Wen Chao menaces Wei Wuxian and gloats about the burning of cloud recesses. The burning, that is, of some part of cloud recesses that doesn’t include the library, the Jingshi, the main cultivation chamber, the rabbit warren, or Lan Qiren’s house, unless the Lan Clan is really really good at rebuilding things to very exact specifications.

In a rare moment of seeing Meng Yao’s internal thoughts, he is worried about Lan Xichen when he hears about cloud recesses.

The Yelling Part

Now we have the particularly nasty breakup between Nie Mingjue and Meng Yao. It’s...got some layers. Meng Yao is cowering on the floor, but is not apologizing.

He never apologizes throughout this encounter.

孟瑤無悔 - Meng Yao (has) no regrets

This scene is amazing and excruciating to watch, even more when you know what’s ahead.

What the Fuck is Meng Yao’s Plan

On one level this is Meng Yao, manipulative sociopath, setting up a cover story for his aiding and alliance with Xue Yang. On another, this is Meng Yao, loving subordinate, being tossed aside by his lord because he dared to stand up for himself.

He uses the same “scout’s honor” gesture we’ve seen Wei Wuxian use to swear he’s telling the truth. Wei Wuxian is always lying when he uses this gesture.

I’m...not sure exactly what Meng Yao’s plan is, with all these chess moves? By stabbing the captain in front of NHS, he created an opportunity to plant a cover story about Xue Yang’s escape. He might be hoping that Nie Mingjue will forgive him and keep him on, while Xue Yang can stay in his back pocket to be used later.

Dry eyes? Try Visene

Or he might be intending to get kicked out, given his non-apology. In any case, Nie Mingjue is weeping during this encounter, and Meng Yao...isn’t. He is signaling distress in his voice, expression, and body language, but his eyes are dry up until the last moment, and even then they just glisten a bit. In a show where every actor is an expert at crying on cue, that’s got to be a deliberate choice.

Which isn’t to say that Meng Yao is faking being full of emotion in this scene. It’s just that the emotion isn’t necessarily sorrow.

What Does Nie Mingjue’s Head Think

Flip the view and this is about Nie Mingjue being betrayed by a subordinate, who has turned out to be a self-serving murderer. And on another level it’s Nie Mingjue being betrayed by his lover, who was just using him for advancement.

I rewatched the later episode where we get the scene as Nie Mingjue’s head perceived it, and he’s particularly brokenhearted and disillusioned from his head’s POV. In that version there is a telling addition to the conversation.

Nie Mingjue asks about the guys who were roasting Meng Yao behind his back. He asks, if I hadn’t come, would you have murdered all of them?

Um. No, dude. Of course fucking not. That’s what a patriarchal authority does. That’s the way an angry Nie Mingjue/Baxia team might solve a problem.

Meng Yao has to use subterfuge to kill his enemies. And while he super hates being called “son of a whore” it’s absolutely not enough to make him kill someone, with the risk murder brings. Likewise, being treated well isn’t enough to make him spare someone. Nie Mingjue totally doesn’t get this, because he’s been the patriarch of this clan his entire adult life.

And Here’s the Actual Problem

There is a betrayal here, but Nie Mingjue is not simply a victim. Whether it’s a sexual relationship or a non-sexual bond of affection, there can be nothing solid in Nie Mingjue and Meng Yao’s relationship within a feudal society, because it is fundamentally unequal. Even if they love each other deeply - which I’m not convinced either of them does - every encounter they have is tainted with power dynamics.

Meng Yao has been elevated by Nie Mingjue and quite probably taken into his bed, as well as being told many family secrets, but has not been given a new surname (like, for example, Wen Zhuliu was) or independent power. More importantly, Nie Mingjue has not used his authority to remove or punish the many people who disrespect his subordinate. Lan Qiren would have had all of those gossipy fuckers kneeling in the snow, and Wen Ruohan would feed them to his mosh pit zombies.

Meng Yao is a murderous little snake, but he is right to be angry with Nie Mingjue about some things, and his pursuit of his own agenda is understandable.

Well, That Was a Slice

Meng Yao leaves, hurt, with a dignified bow; just as he did that one time when his dad kicked him down the Carp Tower steps.

Take note, both patriarchal authorities: that is his way of saying “I’m going to murder you one day.”

Nie Mingjue sits with his broken heart, as we realize that we’ve only spent 20 minutes with this guy and we’ve gone on an entire emotional journey with him. This episode packed in a LOT.

Soundtrack: Johnny Cash, Folsom Prison Blues

#fytheuntamed #the untamed #wangxian #meng yao #nie mingjue #my gifs #canary3d-original #the untamed meta #the untamed gifs #restless rewatch the untamed

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Chinese Language TV Recommendations

For my Korean TV Recommendations, click here.

*Contains both Mainland-Chinese and Taiwanese programs.

** Updated 05/23/21 with “Miss The Dragon” & “Word of Honor”

A Love So Beautiful

Can the pure love of 17-year-olds endure through all the challenges of college and adulthood?

Chen Xiao Xi and Jiang Chen are high school friends and neighbors who grew up together. Xiao Xi is happy-go-lucky and doesn’t like to study much but she has a talent for drawing. Jiang Chen is popular for his good looks and high grades, but is cold and indifferent to other people.

Their friends include swimmer Wu Bo Song, who will do anything for XiaoXi, the dorky and over-confident gamer Lu Yang, and Lin Jing Xiao, the most beautiful girl in school (who Lu Yang is hopelessly in love with).

How will the realities of life shape the friendships and love lives of these young adults?

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Ashes of Love // Heavy Sweetness, Ash-Like Frost

Jin Mi is the secret lovechild of the Flower Deity and the Water Immortal, conceived before the Flower Deity suffers a fatal wound.

The deity gives birth to a baby girl (Jin Mi) on her deathbed, and foresees the infant will face a terrible trial by her 10,000th year. To save her from her fate, the Flower Deity gives Jin Mi a pill that makes it impossible for her to ever feel romantic love. Upon her death, she forbids anyone in the Flower Kingdom from revealing the fact that she had a child.

Several thousand years later, Jin Mi is a bumbling little fairy trapped in The Water Mirror- a gilded prison where low-level fairies can live in peace. Jin Mi believes she is a small Grape Fairy, and lives a happy (if not dull) life within the Mirror with her friends.

When a charred bird falls from the heavens into the Water Mirror, Jin Mi decides to eat save the poor little ‘crow’– who in reality is Xu Feng, the mighty phoenix son of the Heavenly Emperor. Her decision to not eat save the Fire God will put them at the heart of plots and schemes, romances and adventures spanning the Flower Kingdom, Heavenly Realm, Demon Kingdom, and the Realm of Mortals.

**Trigger Warning: Contains reference to off-camera sexual assault.**

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Dance of the Phoenix

Feng Wu, a former genius girl in the Junwu Continent, was attacked by her old enemy Zuo Qingluan. In the attack, she lost not only her memories and abilities, but her “phoenix blood” which made her powerful.

In order to save Feng Wu her secret tutor, Master Mu Jiuzhou (a hero thought long dead whose soul is bound inside a ring Feng Wu wears around her neck), exhausted his vitality and fell into a deep coma.

The forces Master Mu Jiuzhou were trying to keep at bay are roiling again, readying for war unless Feng Wu can recover her memories, her power, and survive long enough to release him from the ring.

But if Feng Wu at full power couldn’t stop the evil Zhuo Qingluan’s attack and save herself, what chance does “normal person” Feng Wu have?

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Douluo Continent

Tang San is a hardworking and kind young man who was raised by his single father to be a blacksmith to a small village. His demanding father taught him secret techniques and cultivated unknown abilities while refusing to ever allow him to enter the world of the Soul Masters- heroes who use their inner power to defeat monstrous Soul Beasts and collect their power.

One day, Tang San is attacked in the woods by a fearsome Soul Spider and uses his special techniques to survive, drawing the eye of a nearby Soul Master. The man tests Tang San and discovers that while his Soul Spirit takes the utterly useless form of a common weed (as opposed to say a lion or a wolf), he harbors extreme untapped power and potential.

What only Tang San and his father know is that Tang San is a rare Twin-Soul, in possession of not one Soul Spirit- the Blue Grass- but a second extraordinarily rare weapon spirit capable of being wielded either against foes or in protection of innocents.

Unable to deny Tang San the ability to learn to control his power, his father allows him to leave the protection of the village and embark on a journey to develop his powers and perhaps learn the truth of his parentage.

On his journey Tang San will be joined by the mysterious and naïve Xiao Wu- a seemingly unstoppable and optimistic girl with a rabbit as her Soul Spirit and the ability to absorb the life force of Soul Beasts. They are led by a disgraced Soul Master in Training, Yu Xiao Gang, who was disregarded as a janitor all while studying Soul Masters and developing his own radical theories as to the nature of their power.

Tang San, Xiao Wu, Yu Xiao Gang, and the other friends they meet along the way will become a famous team of heroes known as the “Seven Devils of Shrek Academy”, and be drawn into an imperial struggle for power that threatens to consume their entire continent.

Tang San appears to the world as the master of the Silver Grass Spirit, but once that same world realizes the might of the Weapon Spirit he keeps hidden, he will have to fight with everything he has in order to protect what he holds dear.

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Fairyland Lovers

Bai Qi is a “spiritual doctor” who travels the world to rid spirits of their obsessions and stop them from becoming monsters. Eons ago he himself was at the threshold of becoming an Evil Spirit, and was saved by a Divine Warrior who helped him find a way to move past his darkness before tragically losing her life.

Isolated from the world and alone with a sprig of his lost love’s peach tree, Bai Qi meets the sunny but hapless actress Lin Xia. Not only does the tree come to life in her presence- and not only can she use the tools left behind by his lost lover- she also has the same face.

Curious, Bai Qi enters into a co-habitation agreement with Lin Xia and she helps him cleanse souls before they can turn into Evil Spirits. As their lives intersect, a memory that Bai Qi sealed away for over ten thousand years begins to surface.

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Guardian

Super-Detective Zhao Yunlan meets university professor (and powerful supernatural being) Shen Wei and the two men are instantly drawn together by a past one cannot forget and a future the other cannot guess. As they grow closer, they find themselves at the heart of a high-stakes supernatural battle between unknown enemies.

Will the heroic duo’s unique talents- and special bond- be enough to help them outwit the forces of darkness?

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Handsome Siblings (2020 Netflix Edition)

Hua Wuque is a pillar of righteousness and virtue, the only male disciple of the powerful Yihua Palace cultivation clan. An orphan, he was taken in by the clan leader and her sister and raised with only one goal in life: to find and kill Jiang Xiaoyu, a mighty villain and enemy of Yihua Palace.

So who is Jiang Xiaoyu? Also known as Xiaoyu’er, Jiang Xiaoyu is an orphan himself- the same age as Hua Wuque in fact- raised by the five most feared and hated villains in the world within the confines of the Wicked Canyon. Into Jiang Xiaoyu the villains poured their knowledge, tricks, and ruthlessness, seeking to create the ultimate villain. There is only one problem: As he was raised in the Wicked Canyon and surrounded by nothing but villains, Jiang Xiaoyu mostly uses his abilities to… harm villains and protect the weak.

When Jiang Xiaoyu comes of age and leaves the Wicked Canyon (or rather, becomes too much of a trickster for the villains to handle anymore), Hua Wuque is unleashed to venture from Yihua Palace and hunt down his enemy.

But how could someone kept confined in the Wicked Canyon for the first 18 years of his life be a threat to Yihua Palace? And why must Hua Wuque be the one to kill him (under direction that Jiang Xiaoyu cannot die naturally, be killed by someone else, or kill himself)?

There is a piece of the story Jiang Xiaoyu and Hua Wuque do not know: they are orphans of the same tragedy, in which the divine hero Jiang Feng spurned the love of both leaders of Yihua Palace for a beautiful servant named Hua Yuenu. Hua Yuenu was forced to commit suicide and Jiang Feng killed himself rather than submit to the Ladies of Yihua–

Leaving behind newborn (non-identical) twin sons.

Yihua Palace’s plot is a simple (if OTT) act of vengeance against Jiang Feng’s memory:: Force one brother to murder the other, then reveal to Hua Wuque the sin he has committed and let it drive the boy insane.

Will the truth come out before Wuque finds and kills Xiaoyu, or will the evil Ladies of Yihua Palace finally have the vengeance they have waited for for over 18 years? As Wuque and Xiaoyu’s paths cross more and more they strike up an unlikely friendship, even knowing there is no escaping their dark fate.

**Trigger Warning: Later episodes include off-camera sexual assault and on-camera depictions of near-rape.**

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Hi My Sweetheart

Xue Hai is a kindhearted (and extremely wealthy) but naïve man who has been sheltered by his big sisters his entire life. He decides to go to college in China- where no one knows him- under the name Da Lang and with the image of a poor scholarship student. There Xue Hai meets the dominant, friendless, and rebellious Bao Zhu. Naturally the two fall in love, but after 4 years together, just as he’s going to reveal his identity and propose, Bao Zhu viciously dumps him.

Fast forward three more years. Xue Hai has transformed himself into a handsome but ruthless playboy who treats women as nothing more than toys to be used and cast aside. When he chances across Bao Zhu once more, he decides to launch a campaign to destroy her heart as thoroughly and mercilessly as she did his.

Except Xue Hai is missing one important piece of their love story: Bao Zhu only left him to protect him from her domineering mother, and she has been searching for her beloved Da Lang ever since.

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The King’s Avatar

In the online multiplayer game Glory, Ye Xiu is well known as the undisputed master of professional sports- though no one outside of the professional teams actually knows what he looks like as he hides his face from media and fans. A player since he was a child- and raised largely in professional player training camps- Ye Xiu has no understanding of the outside world.

Halfway through the season, the money-hungry company behind his team, Excellency Era, forces him out and replaces him with an undisciplined hot-shot. Penniless and with nowhere to go, Ye Xiu crosses the street and enters the Happy Internet Cafe. The owner is a diehard fan of the mysterious Ye Xiu, and hires Ye Qiu as an IT manager not for his experience, but for his shared love of the game.

When Glory launches their tenth server, Ye Qiu throws himself into the game once more. Equipped with ten years of gaming experience, memories of an unfinished pledge to a dead friend, and an incomplete self-made weapon, Ye Qiu will rise from the ashes, forge a new team, and take back his crown.

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The Lost Tomb**

50 years ago, a group of Changsha grave robbers known as the “Mystic Nine” dug out manuscripts of the location of treasures from the Warring States period, but soon after almost the entire group was hunted down and slaughtered.

In the present, the young grandchild of the sole survivor, Wu Xie, discovers a secret within his grandfather’s notes as well as half of a silk manuscript that may reveal the location of the lost tomb. But there is one problem- the other half of the manuscript is held by a shady organization of tomb raiders eager to break in and steal whatever cultural relics are inside the tomb.

Wu Xie has a “National Treasure” moment and decides that in order to stop the objects in the tomb from vanishing into the black market he will break in first and recover whatever is inside (’I’m going to steal the Declaration of Independence…’).

Wu Xie is helped on his journey by his beloved “Third Uncle” Wu Sanxing, his uncle’s right hand man Panzi, and the mysterious Xiao Ge - a tomb raider who seems to know of traps before they are sprung and whose hand has been mutilated in a way not seen among tomb robbing families in over a century.

They expected to find a lost tomb, perhaps chase away some thieves, and learn about an exciting piece of lost history. What they did not expect was for the tomb to strike back, the dead to rise, and the past to fight and keep what secrets it holds.

Who exactly are this alternate group of tomb robbers? What are they searching for? What exactly is protecting the tomb? Whose side is Xiao Ge truly on? And- most crucially- can Wu Xie survive long enough to find the answers?

** This recommendation is part of a broader series of shows and movies, all adapted from “The Gravedigger’s Notebook” and its sequels::

The Lost Tomb (2015)

The Lost Tomb 2: Explore With the Note (2016)

Time Raiders (2016 movie)

The Mystic Nine (2016)

Tomb of the Sea (2018)

Reunion: The Sound of the Providence (which gets its own recommendation below; 2019-2020)

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Love O2O

** O = letter, not number

Wei-Wei has both beauty and brains. A computer goddess, she aspires to be an online game developer. In her spare time, she plays her favorite online game ‘A Chinese Ghost Story’- where she has made a name for herself as the top female player on the entire server.

After her online husband dumps her, she gets a message from legendary player Yixiao Naihe- asking to become her online husband (marriages in-game offer certain benefits and quest lines single players cannot achieve).

Little does Wei-Wei know that Yixiao Naihe is also her college senior and the most desired man on campus, Xiao Nai.

Will their online chemistry lead to a real-life romance? Yes. Of course it will. It’s in the title.

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Miss The Dragon

As a humble maid, Liu Ying never expected her life to be anything other than ordinary. Content with the world and her place in it, she spent her days tending to injured creatures and assisting her mistress Xia Hou Xue. But when Liu Ying finds an injured little snake and nurses it back to health, she has no idea how her life is about to change.

That little snake turns out to be a thousand year old Draong King named Yu Chi Long Yan. He falls in love with Liu Ying, and decides to repay her kindness by naming her as his queen.

And then Xia Hou Xue is captured by a wolf demon. Liu Ying flips the script- begging Yu Chi Long Yan to repay her kindness instead by rescuing her mistress and then keeping her safe for three lifetimes. Trapped by his word, Yu Chi Long Yan agrees to do so, though he secretly remains by Liu Ying’s side.

Now in her fourth lifetime, Liu Ying is reincarnated as Gu Qing Yan. She slowly becomes aware of his existence in her life- and her past lives as well. After waiting three lifetimes to be reunited with his lost love, Yu Chi Long Yan will fight with everything he has to keep her safe and get the Happily Ever After they should have had three thousand years ago.

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My Roommate is a Detective

Shanghai in 1925 is caught between gang leaders and the European powers colonizing China.

A resourceful young police officer named Qiao Chu Sheng is on the trail of a brutal but devious killer. Realizing that the police force will need some extra help with this difficult case, he decides to form an elite crime-busting detective team. He reaches out Lu Yao, a Cambridge graduate a slick con-man.

Qiao Chu Sheng has learned that Lu Yao has remarkable powers of deduction and a brilliant mind – and believes he can help crack this difficult case. To round off the team, he enlists the help of Bai You Ning, a focused young female reporter for a daily newspaper. A free-thinking, independent young woman, she has a strong sense of justice – and pledges to help catch the killer.

The trio form a small detective squad that specializes in solving strange and unsettling murder mysteries.

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Oh My Emperor

Fei-Fei, a young doctor, is wounded in an accident and finds herself trapped in the ancient and mystical nation of Huang Dao. The people of Huang Dao are ruled by a king born of the stars- the physical embodiment of one of the twelve zodiac constellations. To keep discord from arising among the people, the Twelve Zodiac Masters govern together to keep the peace.

But a thirteenth sign has been forcibly subjugated, it’s Lord executed, and its people scattered to the wind. The lost sign- Ophiuchus- is rising once more- and Fei-Fei is its (unwilling) Master.

It only complicates matters slightly that Fei-Fei finds herself between the handsome and charming Master of Aquarius and his nephew- the cold Master of Capricorn (who is also the Emperor). Can Fei-Fei keep her identity secret long enough to solve the mystery of the Ophiuchus purge- or is Huang Dao doomed to destruction?

**This drama is a showpiece for members of the Chinese pop group X-Nine, do not judge it by the same standards as a traditional drama. Showpiece dramas tend to be a bit silly.

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Reunion: The Sound of the Providence**

Wu Xie, “Fatty” Wang Pangzi, and the quasi-immortal tomb raider Xiao Ge (AKA Zheng Qiling, Kylin, and “Poker Face”) have faced many dangerous tombs together over the past twelve years.

Now, it is time for them to go on their last great adventure as the so-called “Iron Triangle” before Wu Xie sets off on the journey all must eventually make: death. He always thought his end would come in a dangerous tomb, but instead it will be lung cancer that claims his life. With only 3-4 months left to live, Wu Xie hides the truth of his illness from his friends and family, revealing the truth only to Xiao Ge.

Once upon a time, Wu Xie was told that when a man meets his death he must do so with a clear conscience. But something has been weighing on Wu Xie- his Third Uncle’s disappearance at the end of their first adventure. Right on time, a message from his long lost uncle appears, setting Wu Xie on a desperate mission to find him before the cancer eating away at his body destroys him at last.

This will most likely be Wu Xie’s final journey, but he will do anything in his power to make sure his friends and family will be safe long after his time is up. In the final 3-4 months of Wu Xie’s life he will seek to unravel the mystery of the “Thunder City”- starting with the most dangerous tomb he’s ever explored, The South Sea King’s Tomb.

The sound of thunder hides a secret men have killed for, but is there really a way to hear the words of gods within it? Someone clearly thought so, but who? Is Uncle Sanxing still alive, or is someone in the shadows guiding Wu Xie to them?

Wu Xie’s enemies thought he was dangerous before, but now he is a dying man with a mission. There is no telling what lengths he will go to in order to achieve his goals. He might just manage to die in a tomb after all…

** This recommendation is just the latest installment in an entire series of stories adapted from “The Gravedigger’s Notebook” and related novels::

The Lost Tomb (2015)

The Lost Tomb 2: Explore With the Note (2016)

Time Raiders (2016 movie)

The Mystic Nine (2016)

Tomb of the Sea (2018)

Reunion: The Sound of the Providence (2019-2020)

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The Romance of Tiger and Rose

Chen Xiao Qian has dedicated her life to making her dream of becoming a well-respected screenwriter come true. Standing on the production set of sweeping dramas she penned through endless blood, sweat, and tears, Xiao Qian can hardly believe what she is seeing: her work, come to life!

Except it isn’t a set. And her work truly has come to life.

Her script is a simple one: the heirs of two rival cities who seek to destroy one another enter into a doomed romance that will lead to endless betrayals and a war that will kill the male lead, Han Shuo.

There is just one problem- Xiao Qian wakes in the body of Han Shuo’s first wife on the day he will murder her! The only way for Xiao Qian to return to this world is to survive the story, but in keeping herself alive longer the script begins to change, and Han Shuo begins to fall in love with the wrong person.

At first it is easy for Xiao Qian to keep herself alive- just go along with the script! But the story wants to return to the original plot, which means characters who should be friends become enemies, enemies become friends, and Xiao Qian might not live long enough to find her way home.

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The Untamed

On the cliffs of the Nightless City, upon defeating his enemies in a bloody slaughter, the cruel and vicious Yiling Patriarch- Wei Wuxian- threw himself to his death.

Sixteen years later, he is resurrected by a madman and given a second chance to right what went so terribly wrong long ago. Wei Wuxian reunites with the honorable, righteous, and stern Lan Wangji- his confidant, soulmate, and best friend.

How can someone as upstanding as Lan Wangji befriend the monstrous and hated Yiling Patriarch? What turned the happy and popular Wei Wuxian into the man who slaughtered thousands at Nightless by weaponizing the souls of the dead?

And what terrible secret was Wuxian resurrected to unearth?

The past is not always what it seems, and there is no clean line between right and wrong.

**Don’t worry if you’re lost when the show starts, that is by design. Near the end of episode 2 the show will enter a 30 episode long flashback sequence to answer all questions.

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Well Intended Love (Season 1: Drama Version)

Seasons 1 and 2 of “Well Intended Love” feature the same stars playing the same characters, but the storylines are alternate-universes of one another telling the story from a different genre. Each season is wholly independent of one another.

A third-rate actress with leukemia becomes entangled with the handsome but cold CEO Ling.

In order to receive a bone marrow transplant and contniue her career as an actress, Xia Lin enters into a secret marriage with Ling Yi Zhou. Despite the conspiracies and misunderstandings they encounter, the two begin to find true love.

But one question nags at Xia Lin’s mind:: Why did the cold, controlling, and distant Ling YiZhou need her to play the role of wife?

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Well Intended Love (Season 2: Rom-Com Version)

Rising TV superstar Xia Lin finds herself embroiled in scandal after a run-in with business mogul Ling Yizhou at a party. To clear up any misunderstandings the two prepare a joint press conference– where Xia Lin is stunned by Ling Yizhou’s statement that the two are- in fact- an engaged couple.

Ling Yizhou convinces Xia Lin to play fiancee for a period of one year, after which they can go their separate ways. To save face in front of her fans, Xia Lin agrees. She gradually begins to fall for the lovable and doting Ling Yizhou.

Someone works in the shadows to destroy everything Ling Yizhou holds dear- and the closer he gets to the heart of the conspiracy, the more he realizes Xia Lin may have a target on her back as well.

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Word of Honor // Faraway Wanderers

Zhou Zi Shu has served as the leader of Heaven’s Window for much of his life. A once righteous and honorable sect who acted as an elite Secret Service for the royal family, a corrupt prince has turned them into his personal assassin’s guild. With their oaths to Heaven’s Window as nooses around their throats, most of Zhou Zi Shu’s elders and friends have chosen death over continued service.

Wholly disillusioned, Zhou Zi Shu only wants to atone for the crimes he was forced to commit under his oaths to the prince. He endures the slow execution of Heaven’s Window- a process that sees seven nails inserted into the victim and ushers in a slow and painful death that takes three years to play out.

By gaming the system he helped create, Zhou Zi Shu manages to buy himself an extra year and a half of life to wander the world and wipe some of the blood from his slate.

In his wanderings, he is pulled into a conspiracy surrounding a young boy and meets a strange young man named Wen Ke Xing who sticks to him like glue. Zhou Zi Shu and Wen Ke Xing grow closer and closer throughout their journey to find a mysterious treasure that is rumored to give its owner unlimited power.

But just who is Wen Ke Xing? What is he really after? And most importantly of all- can Zhou Zi Shu really trust his new companion?

#tv recommendations #tv recommendation #recommendations #recommendation #cdrama recommendations #cdrama recommendation #mine #cdrama #c drama

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sinqrowithascythe · 3 years

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Torn Families, a RWBY story

Hello there! it has been a few days now and the story is ready, so here it is!

Just a warning first though, this story does feature gore, character deaths and angst.

Everyone had their reasons for attending Beacon academy, and most would tell you without so much as a second thought.

“As a girl, I wanted to be just like those heroes in the story books... Someone who fought for what was right, and protected people who couldn't protect themselves!” Ruby Rose, 15yr old combat prodigy and leader of team RWBY.

Others, however, aren’t as comfortable in disclosing the truth about their circumstances, like: The beautiful, yet closed off Blake Belladonna, Faunus in hiding and secret Ex-White Fang agent.

“The White Fang is hardly a bunch of psychopaths. They're a collection of misguided Faunus.”

Most would assume that this is where the list ends, but there is another. A third option, or category, where they’ve been truthful but they just haven’t shared the full truth.

This is where the scraggly hero of our fable is found.

When asked for the reasons behind which Jaune Arc has strived to be a Hunter and train in Beacon (which is a regular occurrence among the student body, it’s pretty obvious why), our bumbling blonde will reply with something along the lines of “To become a hero” …. “To become a great Hunter, like the warriors in my family” or “To help people” which is true….

But…there’s more to it, there always is.

Rarely does someone ever question the reason he chose this path or after any event that led to such a decision, but it does happen occasionally. Some of the first conversations with his friends and even Ms. Goodwitch herself raised the question, with Jaune himself being quick to dismiss it or just repeat himself. Forcing the subject to be left alone question, with, replacing the young Arcs would-be interrogators interests with dissatisfaction and a quick change of topic. This is where the truth remains hidden, a burden laid heavily on our young Knight’s shoulders, where he intends to keep them.

But that wouldn’t make an interesting story, so here we go!

This tale sheds light upon that which our very own Jaune Arc would keep hidden, partially for the sake of his friends, but also to keep Jaune from crying himself to sleep… again…

Long before Jaune was launched from the school’s cliff faces into the emerald forests or the acquisition of his “Vomit Boy” moniker, as courtesy of Yang, the Arc found a burning resolve to fight the creatures of Grimm and protect those who could not protect themselves that rivalled the very star he stood under.

The Arc family estate was a large, dark brick house held deep within a forest, found on an island located beyond the western coast of Sanus. Close enough to still be considered a part of the kingdom, but also far enough for people to be left in relative peace from large city environments, bandits and any extremely dangerous Grimm.

Here, the Arc family lived and prospered, laughed and loved for days and years on end, with the only real worries being the evil bath times and dreaded bedtimes, family’s patriarch receiving minor wounds from guarding the small island village (But everyone just said he looked cooler anyway, so it’s a win!) or the sisters engaging into yet another fight over something that seemed to shake the very foundations of reality to them at the time.

“That’s MY hairbrush!!”

“You have, like, 10, just let me borrow this one!”

The house was run by the matriarch and the eldest of the sisters when their father was away, keeping Grimm from presenting danger to the village where they lived. The younger sisters and Jaune often played their days away, when their mother wasn’t home schooling them in the study where she spent most of her time, even outside the education of her children.

One sunny, beautiful day, with the sun was streaming through the leaves and trees and bringing light and life to all the woodland, waking to every insect, animal and plant found within, this family would be shattered.

The green glow of the forest created a feeling similar to a protective aura of warmth and protection. Here, the four youngest Arcs find themselves running past all manner of compassionate and cool streams with looming, yet comforting trees, hiding amidst the natural playground formed by the rocks of landslides long past and prickly piles of twigs that once held strong to their larger companions. The day was not unlike any other the children had been allowed to previously play in, perfect.

The juvenile Arcs were playing their usual rounds of “Hide and Seek” or “Tag” or some of their own invention, when the eldest of the assembled four found an oddity, one which had never caught her attention before. The Arc estate held no boundaries, save the forest itself as it was separated by a long stripe of a field before another forest began, not five meters away from their own, yet the children had never travelled, nor noticed this odd circular emptiness beyond their own patch of trees. “Yeah, that is weird” The three younger members of the Arc clan agreed, “Let’s try playing in that other forest! I bet there’ll be even better hiding spots and even bigger trees to play in!”

And so, they did just that.

Back at the Arc family homestead

The eldest four daughters of the house were treated to a rather large shock while preparing lunch as their mother had, seemingly from no-where, screeched “NOO!” like a banshee might and flung herself out of her chair, falling to their kitchen floor. You see, Jaune’s mother was paralysed, on the account that after her thighs reached halfway down, they were missing, an incident that predated Jaune’s memory and of which she refused to speak, hoping she never had to tell her children and shatter their innocence. And though it placed her within a wheel chair that stopped her from performing the tasks that the oldest of the Arc spawn find themselves occupied with most days, her smile was as radiant and genuine as when her first child was born, finding real purpose in her role as a mother.

Each did their best to help their fallen mother, only to be thrown aside, much harder than they even knew their mother could push. “One of you, run to the village wall as fast as you can, find your father, tell him that Jaune and the triplets have left the stave!”

“Why?” “What does that mean?” “Huh?” Each questioned, their faces twisted with confusion and fear.

“Just GO! Right now! We don’t have time!” The oldest among the females of the home all but roared at her children, her terror evident on her face, scaring the 4 younger women. Pushing her fear aside, the eldest to ran out the door and sprinted down the trail into the town, where the guard and her father stood vigilantly, while her younger two sisters helped their mother back into her chair and checked to see what had happened.

“Mom, what’s happening?” “You scared us” “Why’d you tell Saph to get dad?”

“I’m fine, but your siblings are in danger…”

“How? We thought they were playing outside” “Yeah, they play in the forest every day! Why’s it so dangerous all of a sudden?”

“Hmmmmm…. The forest that surrounds the house is… special, you’ve seen how there’s something of a circle-like-field around the house cutting us of from the rest of the woods?” She questioned, obviously impatient and uncomfortable, much to the dismay of her daughters, never before seeing her so scared in their lives.

“Yeah” “uh-huh” They replied in kind.

“Well, your mother has a special power and can sense, and almost see, what happens in this circle, if you can imagine” Chuckling the last part, the nerves still very present in her voice. “Normally, your siblings always play in this circle, where it’s safe and where I can see them, but, because we live so far from town the woods next to ours can be filled with scary, dangerous creatures. I don’t know why, but, the triplets and Jaune have wandered into that forest and your father needs to find them, before something bad can happen.” looking away through the kitchen window, into the picturesque scene of the serene forest outside.

Meanwhile, Jaune and his elder sisters were playing a renewed game of tag in their new playground, their eldest sister rushing for her father, while the three under her found comfort in their mother, as a new found fear grew for their youngest sibling’s lives. This new version of tag involved a “Strength in Numbers” strategy, where the title of tag didn’t pass on to another player after contact, but spread so that the match only ended when everyone was ‘it’, basically creating two teams of ever-growing chasers and continually dwindling chase-ies.

Jaune, despite taking part and enjoying himself immensely in the game, found himself growing rather nervous, as he could have sworn, he had heard his mother mention not to go into the forest beyond their own at some point before, but none of his sisters could remember and said he just imagined it. Which inevitably led to them teasing him and saying he was a “Scaredy cat!” which, to a seven-year-old boy, was an offence of the highest order. So, with new resolve and determination, Jaune played with his sisters in the forest, running deeper and deeper into the unknown woods, finding a new and magical parts of the surrounding nature with each new game.

Nothing, it seemed, could go wrong for out four young Arcs, however, we all know what follows these kinds of observations.

The fight had started as nothing more than a simple debate. “I SO DID tag you!”

“Nu-uh! You only got my dress!”

“Did not! I tapped your shoulder! You’re it too now!” “Nu-uh” “So, too!”

This repeated for a few minutes, the two eldest of the triplets bickered back and forth until…

“Jaune!” Both shouted in unison, the fire in their eyes and voices startling the poor boy “Y-yeah?” His anxiety growing, as each girl looked ready to throttle one another all the way home.

“I totally got her, right!?” “No, she sooo missed me, you saw right!?”

“Uhhh…” Was his only response. Truth be told, Jaune hadn’t seen the incident in question, he was too busy trying not to get caught himself, he only came up to them when he saw they were fighting again, wanting to help.

“C’mon! I’m fine, right!?” “No, I definitely caught her!”

Jaune was not comfortable in this situation. In fact, he was scared, scared that his sisters were fighting and felt useless that he couldn’t do anything about it. This is until an idea came across his mind.

“What about Rock, Paper, Scisso-!” “AAAGGGHHH!!!” The high, piercing wail that blocked Jaune’s solution had come as a shock to everyone. They were all frozen in place, the fear and pain that filled that scream had turned them all to stone. And a sudden realization donned upon Jaune, one that only seemed to strengthen the anxiety currently lacing his blood.

“W-w-wait, th-there’s only three of u-us here…” Upon a quick count, they found that they were, indeed, one sibling short. “The scream must have come from her! We have to find her, she’s in trouble!”

“Maybe she just found a big spider! She’s terrified of them!” The oldest of the group stated, a fact which was well known within the Arc household.

“We just have to find her and get her away from wherever she found it!” The younger of the girls offered. This conclusion helped each of them relax, as spiders were the most dangerous of the creatures that they knew to inhabit the forests that surround their home. It brought them comfort, but they weren’t in their woodlands anymore.

They moved quickly towards the origin of their sister’s scream, until they unfortunately found her.

In a small secluded area of the forest, a clearing in the trees where the river widened considerably and was surrounded by large stones that easily dwarf the giant that was their father (as far as they were concerned), where the sun seemed to shine atop the water so bright that you could swear it was fragmented like the moon and resided in the river itself. This was where they found her.

However, the beauty of nature wasn’t what made them stop, nor was it the sight of their sister happily frolicking in the water after overcoming her original fear and relief flooding the trio of loving family members. No, it was the exact opposite to all those beautiful and much more preferable sights (Hell, they’d prefer to have found a spider, really).

What stood in the clearing, over their sister, was a monster.

A monster so dark, it made the moonless night sky seem bright. With markings so red, the blood that splattered its maw seemed pale by comparison. All of this packed onto a fur-skinned nightmare product between man and wolf. And their sister… stuck underneath.

No, stuck wasn’t the right word.

The creature didn’t hold her down, it didn’t need too, the girl below it simply couldn’t move. She was missing large chunks of her little body. They could see her shoe on the other side of the clearing, her foot still occupying it. A few feet from her there was some bloody assortment of meat, maybe something from inside, no-one could tell. Her neck had also seemed to disappear and had replaced itself with bloody chunks of something.

Each child, each one that still had a beating heart, remained completely still. No movement, no thought and no emotion, still enough were to make a statue jealous. The shock they felt was all they could feel, their brains refusing to process the sight before them. The first to break free of the paralysing chains holding his mind was Jaune, still looking into the large, half lidded and dull eyes of his older sister. The eyes that had once been so full of colour and everything right with the world, Jaune had found comfort and happiness in those eyes’ countless times before, being the two youngest of the family had created a close and tight bond between the two. And now, they laid in the red, stained grass, upside-down, staring at him with nothing, endless nothing, a perfect void, drained of any and all life.

Fear and sadness welled within Jaune, faster than the tears that had decided to occupy his eyes could, with his sister’s emotions following in turn.

The negativity had come crashing out of them in waves, comparable to a landslide, only cursing them further. This alerted the creature, its posture bolting upright slouching over the corpse of the young girl turned lunch. It turned at the waist, revealing just how long its arms really were, easily twice Jaune himself, each one holding a different end of the girl’s right arm. What was most terrifying was its canine-shaped head. The lupine resemblance almost uncanny, the bloody maul full of teeth as long as it’s claws and wet with a liquid that Jaune tried his best to forget the source of. The ears atop the skull of the creature pointed toward the sky, looked sharp and swivelled around, until stopping, pointed at the children.

What scared them the most were its eyes, the cold, harsh eyes that were the antithesis of its prey. Where the girl’s eyes had been full of life, joy and hope, the creature’s own orbs reflected hate, despair and death. It’s fitting really, that the eyes of love and hope had been filled with the deepest and most alluring of azure blues and the ones that killed them were as red and terrifying as hell itself would be.

The creature dropped its piece of lunch on top of the rest of its forgotten meal and lowered itself onto all fours, its impossibly long arms stretched forwards and its rear in the sky behind it, as a low yet rumbling growl escaped from between its teeth. Now, instead of pure shock rooting our children to the ground, it was the very fear and anxiety that told the beast they were there. And, in the space it took for Jaune let go of the breath his fear forced him to hold, the creature pounced.

In the few precious seconds, it took for Jaune to turn and push his sisters, the nightmare before then had covered the distance between them and stood right behind Jaune. This registered for Jaune as three large, ragged, diagonal cuts in his tiny back. Falling into the grass of the forest, quickly watching the green around him fill with his own red.

The creature ran after the girls, desperately attempting to flee, knowing its second victim had no chance of moving now. The two remaining girls were screaming and running, terrified of the lupine monstrosity behind them, not knowing that the very fear fuelling their escape them was exactly what made them even more delicious prey.

Jaune watched from his position, chin first in the dirt, as the beast caught up to them and doubled their pace, springing forward and turning to face his sisters, seeing the very same claw that had Jaune glued to the ground tear one of them in half, before she could even stop running. Her pieces staining the grass red in front of her remaining sister. The final sibling came to a stop before the stalking nightmare. Sobbing messily, she looked up from her tattered sister into the eyes of the monster that killed some of the best people in her life and seemingly paralysed her only brother. She began to beg, praying to the brother gods that, by some miracle, some stretch of the universe, that she would survive and make it home to her loving mother, sisters and father.

Her prayers and begs fell upon deaf ears as the beast shot forward, grabbed her temples between the daggers that made up its teeth and separated the top half of her head, sounding off with a sickening crunch mixed with a strangled cry of pain and torment.

And just dropped her body to the ground, discarding her like a toddler drops a toy they’re bored with.

Jaune watched the entire scene in front of him, unable to move or even think, terrified beyond all action or comprehensible thought, not that the he would have been able to move anyway, as the creature made its way closer to him, no longer moving in leaps or flashes, but walking, as its prey was rendered immobile by the large injury in its back. Jaune closed his eyes, tightening them as he braced for the pain he knew was coming, just as it had come for his sisters.

Jaune was so focused on biting back anything he felt and so drowned in his own fear and blood, that he didn’t hear the gut-wrenching scream of agony and desperate sorrow. Nor did he hear the heavy foot falls as something approached him and the beast, racing from elsewhere. What he did hear was the sound of his father’s shield deflecting the bloodstained claws, he heard and watched as his father, blinded by pure animosity and heartache forced the creature of death back and, eventually, decapitate it. In that moment, time had seemed to freeze, Jaune saw the fury and heartbreak on his father’s face, twisted into a cruel grimace, the image burned into his memory, alongside the corpses of his sisters.

Time only began to move again as Jaune’s father let out another cry, louder than all his previous screams, as he began to hack, slash and break any part of the Grimm before him, only stopping when its corpse had fully dissipated, as all Grimm do.

Only then did his father stop, drop his weapons and fall to his knees, weeping at the loss of his four youngest children, screaming and sobbing with his face in the dirt, almost seeming to burrow into it, wanting to find the blood of his children. Jaune watched as his father broke apart, small pieces at a time, tears flowing down his face, almost unending. But, as all things must ends, so too did the tears, sniffles and sobs of the town guard, his face steeled into a grimace of loss and sorrow, the piece of himself being replaced with a resolve, a vow to return his children to their home and never let thing happen again.

The Patriarch of the Arc family stood to survey the damage done to his blood. And here he froze, seeing the unsteady rising and falling of his son’s chest, missing pieces being filled properly again as new tears of joy and relief flood the father’s features. Sprinting to the wounded boy’s side, screaming his name and asking question he already knew the answer to, Jaune’s father dropped to his knees once again, but this time to help his damaged son, searching himself and the land around for any way to comfortably bring his son home. With the frantic search proving to be utterly fruitless, he simply, yet gently, picked Jaune from the ground and placed him on his unarmed shoulder.

Jaune’s father began the trek back to the family home, creating false promises, repeating apologies and crying, for the duration of the trip, moving as fast as possible, without causing the silent boy on his shoulder any more pain that what was already silencing him.

Jaune, however, heard none of these promises, “sorry” ‘s or sobs, only seeing the gleaming, blood-spattered shield, collapsed around the sword at his father’s hip, only able to focus on the warmth his father spread and the thought “That would have been useful” while staring at the blade’s handle, before the pain took his consciousness from him.

Jaune spent the next few days drifting to and from the conscious world.

He knew that he had been taken home, he remembered hearing gasps and cries upon his return, pain from the dressing of his wounds and more crying. Curiously enough, he also heard shouting, which would be normal enough in a house of ten... now seven. But this was different, most shouting normally came from his sisters, arguing about one thing or another or when his parents needed to discipline them, these bouts of shouting, however, came from his parents. They seemed to be arguing over something called “aura…?” Jaune wasn’t sure what if was or even if it was a word, but he did hear his mother scream “I CAN’T LET WHAT HAPPENED TO ME HAPPEN TO THEM, ESPECIALLY HIM!!” To which his father pleaded. “CAN’T YOU SEE IT ALREADY HAS, WE CAN’T LEAVE HIS LIFE IN DANGER JUST BECAUSE YOU FEEL HE SHOULDN’T KNOW ABOUT YOUR PAST OR THR WORLD!!” This is where the screaming stopped, hearing only loud and quiet sobbing and whispering coming from wherever the shouting had. All he really knew was that it scared him.

Jaune also remembered a doctor coming from town once or twice during those days. It was probably more, but he couldn’t stay awake half the time, what with the pain in his back knocking him out every few minutes after he woke.

It wasn’t until a week and a half had passed since the deaths of his family members that Jaune regained consciousness properly. He awoke to the tearstained face of his mother, the tears seeming to have cut long furrows down her face. She almost squealed with joy upon being woken up by her son trying to brush the tears from her face, the pure elation of her son being alive and awake causing more water to leaks from her eyes.

When the rest of Jaune’s remaining family burst into the room, each had similar reactions upon seeing his mother hugging him gently, with him awake this time. Which was then preceded by the inevitable questions, Jaune explaining everything, each detail clear in his mind, when the tears from his own eyes didn’t impede his speech as the emotions finally caught up to him. Often his family sat together for hours at a time, waiting for Jaune to finish crying before he continued.

No harsh accusations followed his tale, nor any blame, simply hugs, tears and promises from his family.

After that day the house flowed back into normalcy, albeit quieter, until three full years had finally passed. The wounds Jaune had received were not lethal nor debilitating, the claws not digging deep enough and missing anything important along his spine, “a small miracle!” The town doctor had claimed.

The town’s people had helped organise and set up, even pay for the funerals. Everyone knew the Arc children and none showed any particular hatred, only the same small loving-malice that followed mischievous children’s pranks and activities. Any and all real hate was directed towards the Grimm that resided in the forest, evident by the furious stares many levelled towards the trees beyond thew village walls.

Eventually, the dull gleam that seemed to cover the eyes of each family member, the same gleam that held the stars and oceans contained within their eyes at bay, disappeared as they could finally move on.

But, never forgetting.

Whenever the children played, they were always supervised, never left alone. Their father had managed a change in occupation and now worked from home as a writer of sorts. Their mother had grown more possessive of her family and Jaune’s elder sisters followed this attitude when it came to him, never letting him be by himself. At first, Jaune was okay with this, even feeling happy and safe from this caged lifestyle due to having seen the reason for its inception.

However, this did not last. Whenever Jaune had asked about the creature, his father only bitterly replied to ask his mother, to which she would say “an evil creature, but, as long as you stay here, you’ll be safe and not have to worry about it”. This never sated Jaune’s mind, but, was the only definition either parent would ever give him. When Jaune would ask to be trained like his father, to protect and kill the “Evil creatures” in the forest, his mother would shoot the idea down in the exact same way, forever denying combat to her remaining children. On this, his parents agreed and Jaune began to lose his feeling of comfort in his protective cage.

Jaune would eventually learn more of his family’s legacy through omitted records of their deeds in the study and from stories his mother told her children and discovers his own drive to become one of the Arc heroes, prompting him to become a Huntsman, despite his great lack of knowledge on the topic (What’s worse is that he doesn’t know just how much he doesn’t know about it).

He finds a way into Beacon and creates some of the best memories he’s ever had, the best friends he’s ever had and even a new family.

And everything happens as we know it will. Friendship. Growth. Happiness. Accomplishment. The Fall. And new beginnings.

--------------------------------

Hiya again!

thank you for reading my first actual piece of RWBY fanfiction. I made this concept up a few years ago, back when I was (possibly) obsessed with why Jaune knew so little of the world around him, despite a lot of it being vital to being a Huntsmen, So i wrote this little number (I don't know why i made it so dark of a story, but eh).

After rediscovering it, I thought I'd fix it up and post it here and thus, here we are indeed.

I know this doesn't answer how he got into Beacon, but that's not the point of the story in the first place. Please leave any notes of criticism, I'd really love to hear what you though about my story

Anyway, Thank you so very much for reading my work.

#jaune arc rwby #jaune arc #rwby #arc #arc family #hurt #death #gore #saphron cotta arc #saphron arc #comfort #fanfic #fanfiction #dark

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sasorikigai · 3 years

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Trail + Secret m? (( Yang and MK2021 Scorpion. ))

some one word prompts . || @yetremains || accepting

trail : my muse watches as your muse traces one of my muses scares, asking them about it.

secrets : my muse sharing/confiding their deepest, darkest secret with your muse.

▬▬ι═══════ﺤ 🔥 || If Hanzo Hasashi wanted to choose the pleasure of growth, he would have prepared himself for some excruciating pain; and ever since the birthmark of the dragon, the sigil of the Mortal Kombat Tournament marking his left forearm, the young Shirai Ryu warrior trained excessively, frequently fighting inevitable exhaustion in order to perfect his prowess in kombat. He would become the undying flower, blooming as it bleeds, as the old petals fall as new ones sprout, refusing to dry out. Yes, Hanzo Hasashi wilted and faded until he crumbled in fatigue, but he would never die, because he was blessed with wired strength, graceful fluidity of movement, along with uncanny ability to pick up skills like no other.

Having claimed to be haunted by the Lin Kuei, and not only the bitter rivals, but from other assassins and unmarked warriors who wished to bear the blessing of the Chosen Ones - and having made deep contemplations and meditations one of his scheduled routines, to mitigate the strain of ceaseless worry that would perpetuate even the young Hanzo Hasashi’s mind. With his clan strong and thriving, with his fate of being the Chujin, then appointed Grandmaster after his father... His path has never been clearer, his future never so promising.

He would be soon reborn as the wraith Scorpion, with deep, bottomless pit of burning, vengeful fury dwelling in the swirling wreath of inferno. With the spillage of sanguine perpetuating the bloodlust for a warrior named Bi-Han. With Harumi and Satoshi’s final screams haunting his every waking moment, the cries of his clan as they were slaughtered like pigs in such savage, cruel act. Sub-Zero’s death did never assuage his kintsugi heart and soul, and the essence of his emotions’ consistency remains the lifeblood in his veins, as once delicate tenderness of Hanzo Hasashi’s mortal magnanimity has steeled to become austere and unyielding, through the hollow flames of Scorpion’s glare, burning ablaze, churning violently in the cataract pool that is never full.

The ruination of his fate still haunts his existence, and yet the inseparable closeness with a certain sum of Scorpion and Yang’s red string of fate brings certain aspect of intimacy - an intimacy contained in the exchange of a glance, a nod of his head, a quirk of his lips, a shrug of a shoulder. They share a closeness that seemingly lasts for eons, an agreement about shared coursing blood, which stems from Hanzo’s Blade which Yang wields. It is an agreement about life, and an agreement without clauses. A conclusion spontaneously shared between the untold stories gathered around the shared song of their hearts and souls.

The tender, concave flesh near his left temple is not many know about; the amblyopia which has given him double-visions, as dwindling hopes and dreams became realer in proportion of Hanzo Hasashi’s vehement defiance to continue to train otherwise. Ever since his mother and Harumi utilized kunai in gardening, the Shirai Ryu ninja vowed to become the unparalleled master of such versatile weapon. And he had, with the combined might of physicality along with elemental power which could be easily imbued, the whipping firestorm elicited vindictive justice and righteous viciousness.

“I thought I would lose my sight when I severely lacked control and strength to handle the kunai,” Scorpion begins, his expression softened in the deepest throes of longing, as if he had been transported back to his childhood and adolescent years. “I remember being so obstinate. Even when my head throbbed to the point where I literally felt my skull would cleave in half, I refused to give up. I refused to let go of that bloody blade until the tip of the blade would plunge deep into the target. Even when my fingers were trembling and my bloodshot eyes would lull beneath the heavy veil of exhaustion.... Even when defenseless against suffering, I prevailed. I knew I was fated to become the master of the weapon, and I still strive to bury the vengeful sting of my kunai deep into my tormentor’s heart, and bring all the Shirai Ryu their deserved peace and eternal rest.” ▬▬ι═══════ﺤ 🔥 ||

#✗ the ineffable testimony of spawned hellfire (scorpion)#✗ hellfire fibrillating beneath his skin (iv)#(mortal kombat 2021)#(relationships; yang)#yetremains

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dangermousie · 1 month

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I love the FL and the novel so so much!

As I was telling @mj220991 this is like if someone decided to give The Young Warriors of the Yang Clan a happy ending. (Well, happy-ish, as six of the seven brothers still die here. Is Wei Yun the Eddie Peng character equivalent only he gets to live? Hmmm.)

One of the things I love about MSB novels (and Peng Lai Ke novels) is not just that their protagonists feel like period people (and if there is transmigration it’s almost never a modern person with modern sensibilities but a period person reliving their timeline or similar) but that being a transmigrator does not make them OP. They are smart and fierce and good but their ability to use the knowledge of the past is limited and does not make them OP at all. FL here is very different in character and motivation than Jiafu in Peng Lai Ke’s Wishing You Eternal Happiness but what strikes me is that for both of them, their knowledge of the past isn’t a huge help and so many tragic events still happen; it is hard work to get to a satisfactory ending and many a tragedy is not averted.

Our FL here even if she’s reborn and chooses differently, cannot prevent the destruction of the family she married into, the awesome and noble Weis. This time around, the paterfamilias and six of the the seven brothers still die in a futile battle massacre, the clan still faces the threat of extermination, Wei Yun still has to grow abruptly from a sunny teen to the haunted only survivor who has to redeem the clan with his blood. Wei Jun, her husband, still dies without spending even a day with her.

She can soften the fall, she can help brace for the crash but the ultimate set-up? She can’t change. And I love that so much. Eventually she and Wei Yun do get their happy ending but it’s clearly such a hard-won one and that is my favorite thing in fiction - when things are not easy.

I love them!

#cnovel #mountain and river pillow

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shinobirain24 · 3 years

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The Wedding of the Lotus and the Thunderer

It was a big day for a raven-haired young man wearing a black kimono. He looks at the window where there is a view for the forest of Anima. Where he is standing in Mountain Ren, where the Ren Clan has been residing in the family temple.

The guest in the courtyard of the Temple of Ren are gathering for the event. Ruby and her sister, Yang are setting up the food for the wedding guests. Sun is kinda eating up some pieces of the food while Jaune is lifting up the tray of appetizers. As he opens the tray, all the food is gone and Sun is responsible for the catering gone wrong.

"Sun!" He shouted.

Weiss is holding onto her infant son, Tide, while her husband, Neptune, comb his tuft of blue hair. "Oh, look at him, Neptune. Isn't he just so cute? He looks just as handsome as you." Asked Weiss. And he nods to his wife. "Yeah, who's a good-looking little guy? You are, you are! Oh, yes you are." He cooed. Making Tide giggled. But that didn't last when they heard arguing.

"Great, here we go again." Sighed Neptune.

Tide is like a mini Neptune, only instead of dark blue eyes, he has his mother’s ice blue eyes.

"I told you, the statue goes to the right corner!" Yelled a blue haired man who happens to be Neptune's brother, Jupiter. "No, it goes to the left corner!" Yelled Weiss' older sister, Winter. Apparently, neither of their elder siblings got along well. Much to the couple's dismay. Both Winter and Jupiter raised their weapons and started fighting. Over who gets to put the glass statue of a swan somewhere.

"Is there a problem, sister?" Asked her brother, Whitley, who is responsible for planning the wedding and Ren appreciates it. That is when Weiss hands her son to him. "Don't worry, Neptune and I will handle this. Just hold onto Tide for a little bit. It won't be long." She says before taking off with Neptune to stop their siblings from making a mess. Tide, even as a baby, doesn’t seem to be bothered by this, and giggles as he watches the fight, and clapping his hands, as of he was used to this as a show. While Whitley twitches his eye in shock to see the feud between Winter and Jupiter continues.

Meanwhile, Jaune is checking on the music Team FNKI have been practicing on for the reception after the ceremony. "How's the music going, Flynt?" Asked Jaune. "Going great Arc. As soon as the ceremony is over, Team FNKI is gonna play some jams." Flynt flicked his hat. Then Whitley interjects while still holding his nephew.

"Wait, what happened to the band I hired?!" He gawked. Then the two Huntsmen looked at each other. "Oh yeah, about that. We have to let them go. Sorry to say it, how do I put this down gently?" Jaune said nervously.

"The thing is, the tune you've been planning is too classic and boring. And some team is gonna have to lighten up the mood here on the wedding." Pointed Flynt. That is when Whitley lowered his head in shame. "O-on the bright side, at least the catering and decorations looked great!" Jaune assured him, but this did not make him any better. "I will have to get back to you on that."

Ruby and Yang turned to each other after the wedding gifts are set on the table. "And that's the last of them. Never thought they would have this many presents on the wedding." Said Ruby, rubbing her wrist against her forehead.

"Tell me about it, once we "wrap" this up. Get it?" Smiled Yang. But Ruby finds this unenthusiastic. "What?" Tilted Yang. Blake then came behind them. “Well, we should check on Nora. She’s getting way too exciting when it comes to ceremonies like this. They entered the shrine to where Nora is getting ready. As they knock on the door, she invites them in. As they slide the door, Nora is turning to them to reveal herself wearing a white kimono used for weddings in Ren’s family. She no longer has short hair as it grew long above her back, she even wears red lipstick, since she is bothered to wear full makeup. But nonetheless still beautiful, as if she completely changed. But she’ll still be the same happy-go-lucky girl they always known. “Oh my gosh, Nora! You look fantastic!” Yang squealed as she gave Nora a hug.

“Yeah, I guess. Kinda feels weird though.” Nora smiled nervously, as her face reddens. “I am not sure if Ren and I can go through with this!” She turns away anxiously, not knowing what to do. “Once he becomes my hubby, there’s no telling what we should do next! Do we need to have kids?! How much can we make as huntsmen and huntress?! What if I...I’m...!” Nora paused as Blake puts her hand on the bride’s shoulder. “Nora, you and Ren need to take your time. There’s no need for you two to rush stuff, you know.” She advised. Ren’s paternal aunt, Mai Ren, entered.

“Mistress Mai has arrived.” One Lotus Warrior bowed. Mai arrives in her traditional green kimono in special occasions. “Nora, you look beautiful. Lie is very lucky to have such a woman like you. Li may not know about this at first, but since the day my brother have encountered you, it was a blessing that you came into our family. I know it was very hard for the both of you to go through such hardships, but you and Lie have combined you hearts, minds and souls to defy the odds. Not only that Lie has given you the chance to live, but you also saved him. And I thank you for it.” Nora’s eyes have sparkled through tears to those words, and hugs Mai. And she returns this embrace.

“Thank you, Mai!” Said Nora. But Mai chuckled in delight. “Please, you can call me auntie, my future niece-in-law.” Mai already took a liking towards her nephew’s future wife, because of her feisty personality. But also a guardian angel for Lie Ren.

Lie Ren is standing in front of the tombs of his parents, Li and An Ren. Who he wished to have them over to his wedding. “Father, Mother, all of us went through the pain and suffering. But together, we never bowed to such evil. And Salem has found her peace. And accepts the cycle of humanity, when life comes and goes. But life is also precious, and we all must cherish it. And you Father, I thanked you for the last words you said to me. I wished you and Mother could be here for this day. Because I am about to spend the rest of my life to the person I love. And cherish our lives, until the end.”

“Ren...” A voice called, and Ren turned to see Nora in her kimono. She smiled to see the different change in her. She closed her eyes and curved her lips into a smile. He did the same expression to see her smiling. As it made his day. “Lie! Are you ready?!” Behind Nora is his aunt and cousin, Mi, alongside his uncle, Choi. “Of course.” He nods.

“Lie, you look great! Don’t you think so, Mother!” Gasped Mi, turning to her mother as she smiles at the couple. Ren stood up and offers his bride his hand. “You ready, Nora?” He asked, gently. And she nods to grasped her hand to his. As they began to walk to the courtyard to get ready for the ceremony.

#rwby fanfic #rwby #lie ren #nora valkyrie #stormflower #romance #thunderflower #renora

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miminorenai · 5 years

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Ikemen Genjiden CHARACTERS

Heroine (MC)

Affiliation: Kamakura shogunate

“Oresama x Charismatic Haraguro”

“Shogun” Minamoto no Yoritomo

『I’ll act as much as I like, as a perfect shogun-sama.』

VA: Fukuyama Jun

Affiliation: Kamakura shogunate Birthday: 9 May Height: 178 cm Hobby: Working (to the point of addiction), human observation

The pillar of Genji who was the founder and the first shogun of the Kamakura shogunate. He’s inviting you to the shogunate as you obtained the power of fox spirit. From the outside he seems perfect, but his original personalities are more to overbearing, high-handed and haraguro. Behind that two-faced, a certain grand determination is hidden…?

“Cold x *Hypocritical Courtesy”

“Strategist” Kajiwara Kagetoki

『An incompetent person is not needed in Kamakura shogunate.』

VA: Takehito Koyasu

Affiliation: Kamakura shogunate Birthday: 2 June Height: 179.5 cm Hobby: Knowledge compilation, koto practice (unskillful)

Yoritomo’s close aide, he’s being feared by other warriors due to his speech and conducts without lenient. He is an efficient person regarding his job, but has an unexpected side of being weak at the morning and cannot clean up properly in his private life. Acting as shogunate shadow although he’s being resented by other people, seems he has his own reasons…?

(*慇懃無礼 - superficially polite but rude in intent

“Cunning older brother x Courageous”

“Fierce General” Adachi Morinaga

『If we’re going to fight, we’re going head to head with a bang, right? Um, I’m glad you understand that.』

VA: Shinichiro Miki

Affiliation: Kamakura shogunate Birthday: 18 August Height: 184 cm Hobby: Gambling, playing kemari intensely

Shogunate’s number one brave general, associating with Yoritomo since they were children. Appears as a gentle older brother, but tends to solve things with brute force above his favorite habit of gambling. A natural airhead and spontaneous person with wide personal connections, he’s also good in martial arts and information gathering.

“Tsundere x Hidden wild/passionate side”

“Young Noble of Taira” Taira no Shigehira

『The restoration of Heike (Taira)…that’s my purpose, and that’s why I’m by Yoritomo-sama’s side.』

VA: Ichikawa Aoi

Affiliation: Kamakura shogunate Birthday: 16 January Height: 175 cm Hobby: Playing musical instrumental (skillful)

Taira’s survivor who was hostile towards Yoritomo before, but now he’s an alliance partner who shares the same intention. Seemingly fragile, he’s so attractive to the point of being described as peony flower, but has a bad mouth. A character who spares no effort, besides *gagaku, he’s also excellent in martial art.

(*雅楽 - ancient imperial court music and dances

“Fascinating beast x Fickle/Moody”

“Nine-tailed Fox” Tamamo

『Your soul is beautiful. So…I allow this contract with me.』

VA: Tamaru Atsushi

Affiliation: Collaboration with Kamakura shogunate Birthday: 5 October Height: 180 cm Hobby: *Kōawase, teasing people

A nine-tailed demon fox with strong magical power. You were given magical power from the “contract” exchanged with him. He lead people astray with dripping sensuality. Behaving wild, but somewhere, it’s hard to hate him with his mysterious charm.

(*香合わせ (incense-smelling game/incense blending) - one of the entertainment devised by Japanese aesthetes during Muromachi period.

“Mysterious x Untainted madness”

“Fallen Hero” Minamoto no Yoshitsune

『In order to defeat Yoritomo, I was resurrected from the abyss of death. To those soulless people, you should surrender.』

VA: Ishida Akira

Affiliation: Rebel army Birthday: 14 November Height: 177 cm Hobby: Training, basking in the sun

Yoritomo’s half brother, and the general of shogunate rebellion force. He exchange “contract” with *karasu tengu and gained unrivaled power. He possesses natural ability to fight against listless and weary atmosphere. People are strongly attracted to his madness with the pure mind as a fine line.

(*烏天狗 - crow-billed goblin

“Masculine yankee/delinquent x Meddlesome person”

“Ferocious Monk of Superhuman Strength” Musashibo Benkei

『If you’re going to compete with me, since you’re preparing to die, bring it on!』

VA: Tomokazu Seki

Affiliation: Rebel army Birthday: 7 April Height: 186 cm Hobby: Growing vegetables for Yoshitsune to eat

Yoshitsune’s loyal retainer who’s swearing to support him for his whole life even to anywhere dangerous. Apart from holding unworldly superhuman strength, his appearance and attitude are also rough. But in truth he’s a very caring person and adored by his companions. He pulls everyone in his manly manner, but there’s a hidden past from his chest.

“Laid back x Full of sarcasm”

“*World’s Famous Archer” Nasu no Yoichi

『If it’s necessary, would you have your revenge? …Well, honestly I think it’s all soo bothersome tho.』

VA: Suzuki Ryouta

Affiliation: Rebel army Birthday: 23 July Height: 173.5 cm Hobby: Ceramic art (occasionally broken by Benkei)

The head of Nasu clan, and a bow (and arrow) expert. Always shows indifferent and dispirited attitudes, but no one is superior to him when it comes to his skill as an archer. He may as well looks young, but he actually the oldest in Yoshitsune Army. It seems he has a deep connection with Shigehira, but…?

(*Note: Word using here is “天下(tenka)” which also means the whole country

“Tyrant x Hedonism/Pleasure seeker”

“Crow Tengu” Kurama

『I’m not interested in such things as war. I only lend my hand to those I consider interesting.』

VA: Morikawa Toshiyuki

Affiliation: Collaboration with rebels Birthday: 6 September Height: 181 cm Hobby: Interested in Yoshitsune’s training, collecting shiny things

An *arrogant ayakashi and hates boredom. In return of saving dying Yoshitsune, he is promised “to receive his soul after death”. He has a weak understanding of human being and also inconvenience to others. Acknowledging Tamamo’s power, he always challenging him to a fight.

(*傍若無人 - outrageous, overbearing, insolence

“Sly x Eccentric”

“Genius Onmyouji” Abe no Yasuchika

『Too bad! Today’s fortune for you shows bad luck somehow? Must be because our chance encounter, right?』

VA: Namikawa Daisuke

Affiliation: The Bureau of Yin-Yang in the imperial court Birthday: 15 March Height: 177 cm Hobby: Onmyōdō experiment, astronomy & ayakashi observation

Called as the reincarnation of Abe no Seimei, he possesses an outstanding ability as an onmyōji of present. He’s a member of The Bureau of Yin-Yang in the imperial court and cooperate with the shogunate. He’s a hardcore eccentric, and devoting himself completely on the research of Yin-Yang techniques and ayakashi. He usually takes an attitude of teasing others, but his real intention is shrouded in mystery.

#ikemen genjiden #イケメン源氏伝 #I put other TL from website later #much laaaaaterrrrr

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thecomicsnexus · 4 years

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TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES ADVENTURES #31-37 APRIL - OCTOBER 1992 BY STEVE MURPHY, ERIC TALBOT, CHRIS ALLAN, BRIAN THOMAS, BARRY GROSSMAN, JON D’AGOSTINO AND ROD OLLERENSHAW

SYNOPSIS (FROM COMIC VINE)

After the struggle against the demon Noi Tai Dar, our heroes seek activities to soothe their souls. Leonardo and Master Splinter train on a hillside. The Sensei explains to Leonardo that a true swordsman must empty his mind of all thought when doing battle - there must only be flow, the swordsman must become one with his blade. Splinter has little trouble disarming and defeating his student, and Leonardo tries to take in the lesson before the two break for lunch. The pair join the other Turtles, Fu Sheng, Chu Hsi, April, Ninjara and the girl Chien Khan kidnapped in the previous issue for some sushi. Raph isn't happy about the menu, and Ninjara needles him by saying "I thought you weren't afraid of anything!"

Leo notes that Japan is where all of their lives began - it is the home of Master Splinter as well as the Foot Clan. The Sensei agrees, and asks his students to explore their homeland, so that they can better understand their teachings and origins. The Turtles eagerly agree and ask where to begin, and Splinter tells them to first separate from one another. Mike joins the girl and the two head off to fly a kite. Ninjara takes Raphael to visit some stone monuments. Donatello decides to check on how the containment process is going at the nuclear power plant - but he chooses to go alone. Splinter asks Leo to continue his lessons. Fu Sheng is left alone, as April and Chu are wrapped in conversation. Ninjara and Raphael arrive at the shrine. The Turtle wonders why there are so many crows around, and the fox explains that they are probably drawn to the dark power contained in the Torii. Raph asks if these monuments are really a gateway to a dimension filled with demons, and Ninjara assures him that it is true - the Torii are a gateway to the Yomi, or Underworld or "Land of Gloom." Raph feels compelled by the Torii and Ninjara warns him to be careful, as they contain mesmerizing power over those who are open to it. The Turtle begins to stutter and Ninjara orders him to "Let it go!" in the nick of time. Shaken, Raph leans on the fox for support and thanks her for her help. Ninjara notes that Raph has an affinity to the Torii, and she tells him that she likes that. Suddenly, the foxy ninja smells something on the wind... cologne? We see four human figures hidden in shadows, spying on the mutants.

Donatello is watching helicopters pouring cement on the nuclear power plant. The men are burying the radioactive plant in concrete, the same way that Chernobyl was sealed. Don finds the solution somewhat pedestrian, but is impressed by the engineering involved. His thoughts are interrupted as two crows fly by - and then a strange white energy ball forms in front of the mutant. Donatello wonders if it's an after effect of the demon's sorcery, or of the radiation.

Leo and Splinter continue to train, but once again Leonardo is unarmed. Splinter reminds him, "Be one with your sword, Leonardo." The Turtle thanks his mentor and the teacher thanks his student as the sun begins to set. Mikey and his friend exchange haikus as they fly a large kite decorated with a yellow dragon.

Feng Shu trains Chu Hsi to control the spirit of the Warrior Dragon while April practices with her katana. After a time, Chu manages to shrink the gigantic form of the Warrior Dragon down to his normal height. April is impressed. Ninjara and Raph attack the people spying on them - it's the gang of youths from the sewer fight! Raph states that they mistakenly thought the Turtles were allied with Chien Khan's ninjas, and one of the men incredulously declares, "Mistakenly?! Yet you keep company with the greatest thief in Japan?!" Donatello watches the energy ball as it transforms into the Yin Yang symbol and speaks to him, explaining that it is all things feminine as well as all things masculine - for it is the Tao. Don is bewildered at first, but then smiles and introduces himself. The Yin Yang asks Donatello to follow it, and it leads him up a mountain. Once he reaches the top, Donatello can see that the men have finished filling in the damaged nuclear power plant, and the concrete forms the Yin Yang symbol. "There is ebb, there is flow," the symbol explains, "There is give, there is take. Every saving has its cost. Tao is all." And with that, the Yin Yang symbol disappears.

Raph and Ninjara put the finishing moves on their opponents. Raph wonders aloud why the men attacked them, and the last one standing notes, "It was you who attacked us! We came seeking.

April and Chu share a kiss by the moonlight. April breaks away and says that they need to slow down, and Chu agrees. He takes O'Neil by the hand and the pair head off to join Fu Sheng for dinner.

Leonardo and Master Splinter continue their training. The pair lunge at one another, and both their blades shatter upon impact.

The gang of youths that Raph and Ninjara had battled in the previous issue inform our hot headed heroes that they've come to seek help for a friend. On cue, the mighty Sumo wrestler named Tattoo arrives and tells the Turtles that his pet chihuahua, Inky, has been taken hostage. The mob has threatened to kill the massive man's best friend if he doesn't take a fall in his next match - Tattoo states that he can't lose the match as it will ruin his career. The TMNT vow to help him get his pooch back without having to throw the match.

While Tattoo is engaged in his Sumo match, the TMNT, Ninjara and the Warrior Dragon infiltrate the mob headquarters and rescue the fiesty pup. Tattoo wins his match and the Turtles return Inky to his beloved master. The wrestler awards Leonardo a katana as thanks for saving his dog.

Master Splinter has a nightmare about being caged and when he awakes, he determines that it's time for the Turtles to leave Japan. Splinter, Mike, Don, Leo, Raph and Ninjara bid farewell to April (who is flying home) and their other friends and set off for China.

After a very long trip, our heroes finally arrive in Tibet. They rent some yaks to climb the mountains on the last leg of their journey, and discover a four armed tiger named Katmandu in battle with Whirling Dervish assassins on the high trail. The TMNT help Katmandu and discover that he is headed to the same place that they seek - the Crystal Palace, which is home to Master Splinter's spiritual guide, Charlie Llama. Katmandu explains that he wishes to become a guardian of Charlie Llama to improve his karma.

As the group arrives at the palace, they discover that it's been attacked! Before anyone can get their bearings, a skeletal dervish escapes the scene, laughing as it goes.

Katmandu notes that this is very bad karma.

Master Splinter, Ninjara and the TMNT have traveled the globe to visit the Sensei's old teacher, Charlie Llama, in the Crystal Palace in Tibet. On their way they met a four armed tiger man named Katmandu who was on his way to the Palace to guard the Llama. Unfortunately, upon their arrival, our heroes find the palace in shambles - and a four armed skeleton escapes their grasp.

As Katmandu and Leo ponder where the skeleton may have gone, a young pregnant woman named Jang La explains that she has come to the palace in order that Charlie Llama (the fourteenth reincarnation of the Buddha) can serve as her midwife during the birth of her child. She also points out a distant palace among the mountains that the Dervish skeleton has escaped to.

Katmandu explains that this building is the home of the evil sorceror Mang-Thrasha. Typically, the wizard does not involve himself in the lives of men - so the tiger warrior is surprised that he has kidnapped Charlie Llama. As the protaganists decide what course of action to take against Mang-Thrasha, Jang La suddenly goes into labor. The TMNT take her back inside the Crystal Palace and make her as comfortable as possible. Soon, a group of monkey monks called the Tantric Monkeys arrive. Leo, Mike, Raph, Ninjara and Katmandu leave for Mang-Thrasha's palace as Master Splinter, Don and the Tantric Monkeys help Jang La during her birthing.

The group of heroes arrive at the foot of the mountain holding the evil sorceror's palace and soon run into a strange mist. Raph and Ninjara are separated from the others due to the fog. Mike, Leo and Katmandu are attacked by two dervishes. Meanwhile, Raph and Ninjara spot the palace and begin to climb towards it - when the mutant turtle loses his grip and causes an avalanche that carries both ninjas down the mountain.

Leo, Mike and Katmandu discover the four armed skeleton Dervish in the mist and Katmandu makes short work of the bone brain. The trio heads into Mang-Thrasha's unlocked palace and find the wizard accompanied by a large Chinese militia. The sorceror states that he plans to ally himself with the Chinese and hand Charlie Llama over to them. The Chinese government will then force Charlie Llama to tell his millions of followers that he is not the Buddha and that his spiritual claims were all lies, thus ending the any threat that the Chinese might lose control of Tibet.

Suddenly, Raph and Ninjara come crashing through the wall and a battle ensues. While the Turtles and fox fight the militia, Katmandu rushes to Charlie Llama's side - but as he stands guard over his master, the Buddha dies comfortably on his bed, due to natural causes.

At that moment, Jang La has her baby, much to the delight of the Tantric Monkeys.

With the death of Charlie Llama, Mang-Thrasha's plans are ruined.

That evening, Charlie Llama is burned upon a funeral pyre. Ninjara laments for Splinter that he has traveled all this way to speak with his mentor, only to lose him upon arrival. Splinter smiles and states that while the Master he knew is gone, he will return later, when the new incarnation of the Buddha (Jang La's child) has grown up.

Continuing their journey, the Turtles, Ninjara and Master Splinter find themselves in the deserts of Iran, where they sneak aboard an oil freighter heading for Oman. Our heroes then cross the sands of Saudi Arabia, heading for Al Hadidah, which is nearby Mecca, where the legendary Black Stone is kept. Ninjara reveals that the Stone is highly prized by thieves, and it is said to be fifth most difficult item in the world to steal. When the group arrives in Al Hadidah, a large crater in the Earth's surface, they decide to camp for the evening. While they rest, Master Splinter tells them the history of the area and that of the Black Stone and its importance to the religion of Islam. Splinter also states that since they are so close, they must at least take a look at Mecca.

The next day the mutants ride out on camels, and Ninjara tells the tale of a second stone. According to legend, two stones fell - the Black Stone, as well as a White Stone. Reportedly a nomad disappeared with the White Stone before anyone else arrived on the scene. Supposedly wealthy men have been selling the stone for the past 3,000 years and have been trying to steal its Black twin - as legend has it that the man who holds both Stones will live forever.

The turtles pass by another caravan of six camel riders. Pleasant greetings are exchanged and the groups continue on their separate ways - although one of the other riders seemed to recognize Splinter...

Later, the TMNT find an abandoned city, long ago forgotten when the trade routes changed. The team takes shelter, as a huge sandstorm looms on the horizon. Unbeknownst to them, a falcon has taken news of their arrival to an unsual eagle-headed mutant, who resides nearby.

Back at the abandoned city, the Turtles are attacked by a group of men. As they fight, the eagle-headed mutant flies into the fray and smashes into Michaelangelo. We discover that this new threat goes by the name Al 'Falqa, and he's under the impression that our heroes have stolen the Black Stone of Mecca. The Turtles and Splinter manage to convince their flying foe that they have not taken the artifact. Al 'Falqa explains that he was sure they had taken the Stone, as it was reported that six riders had escaped with it. Suddenly, the sandstorm is upon them. Everyone tries to take cover, but Master Splinter is overcome by the force and passes out due to lack of oxygen.

From a distance, the Shredder watches the scene via his binoculars and laughs.

Once the sandstorm has passed, Shredder arrives on the scene and lifts the unconscious body of Splinter, cursing his existence. Ninjara, Al 'Falqa and the TMNT arrive and a battle breaks out, but our heroes are soon trapped inside a force field created by a new villain, the cat mutant cyborg from the future named Verminator-X!

Verminator-X kicks the force field bubble and sends our team rolling through the sand. The villains then climb onboard their camels and take Master Splinter with them as they ride off into the desert.

Several hours later, the force field finally collpases and frees our heroes. Al 'Falqa sends his falcon ally, Talyn, to find their foes. The bird soon finds Shredder and his new henchman. Verminator-X spots Talyn and fires, but his shot only wounds the bird rather than killing it.

Talyn tells Al 'Falqa that Shredder is camped at a nearby oasis, and the eagle mutant leads the Turtles through a foggara (an underground aqueduct) to the spot.

Verminator-X and Shredder are waiting for a time-slip portal to open, which will give them the means to escape with their prize - the stolen Black Stone of Mecca.

The Turtles discover Foot Robot guards and attack, while Ninjara and Al 'Falqa battle Shredder and Verminator-X. The TMNT mop up the Foot bots with little trouble, but they soon find Master Splinter held hostage by Verminator-X and their arch enemy. Leonardo reminds Shredder that he owes the Turtles for freeing him from Krang. Shredder reluctantly turns the Sensei over to the TMNT, just as the time slip opens and the villains escape with the Black Stone.

Except they didn't escape with the Stone! Ninjara had used her thieving skills to replace the Black Stone with a fake while Al 'Falqa kept the criminals busy. The mighty eagle mutant is overcome with gratitude and kneels in praise with the real Black Stone of Mecca.

Our heroes continue to cross the desert when their old acquaintance Cudley the Cowlick arrives and informs them that Mr. Stump, head of the Intergalactic Wrestling Federation, wants them to appear on his show again. The Turtles are so tired of walking the desert that they agree to have Cudley take them across the galaxy to Stump's asteroid to see what he has to offer. Master Splinter isn't happy that they've cut their tour of the world short.

Upon their arrival, Stump tells the TMNT that he wants them to take part in his wrestling tournament. If they agree, Cudley will take them anywhere and anytime in the universe as payment. Donatello angrily notes that all they'll be getting for their appearance is a ride home, a fact that Stump acknowledges. Master Splinter points out that the Turtles had agreed to come here, so if they want a ride home.

The TMNT head to the locker room to don their wrestling costumes, where they meet Cryin' Houn', Ace Duck and Trap. Trap informs the mutant dudes that Stump has decided that this time, since it's a tournament, they'll have to wrestle each other! The winner of the tournament will then have to take on El Mysterio for the title.

As Ace Duck begins the tournament against a werewolf named Bloodbath, Master Splinter and Ninjara discuss her relationship with Raphael. The Sensei admits that while he intitially didn't trust her due to her partnership with Chien Khan, he has come to trust her completely - but it is difficult for him to accept her relationship with Raph, as it means that his sons are growing up. Ninjara hugs Splinter as they view the beauty of outer space through a gigantic window.

At this point, the main event begins - the TMNT in a free-for-all against one another. After a long bout, Donatello finally manages to pin Raphael and win the match. El Mysterio (Cryin' Houn' in a costume) arrives in the ring, but Don is too quick for the lumbering four-armed wrestler and quickly pins him as well. Donatello is declared the winner and receives a kiss from the ring girl.

Soon, Cudley is flying through space, carrying our heroes home.

REVIEW

Because of the whole situation with the Shredder travelling to the future, I would have imagined that the Turtles would have asked Cudley to take them there. But as far as I know, no one knows what year they were coming from.

These are very controversial issues that IDW considered too risky to reprint. And they were originally published by Archie!

They are controversial though. Not only there is a visual depiction of Mohammed, but he is also blue eyed (like the 90% of the characters in this comic). Then we have the Chinese caricature whose name I already forgot. I feel like these stories take the characters to places it does not dare to go again. And the story with Shredder doesn’t really make much sense for the character. It’s strange that the intergalactic battle becomes the highest point of these issues.

There is also an appearance of Inky, Eric Talbot’s favourite easter egg (that I just saw at the beginning of “City at War”).

The art manages to find iconic sequences. I think that, in general, this book’s art is very pleasing to the eye.

I give these issues a score of 5.

#chris allan #steve lavigne #rod ollerenshaw #peter laird #dan berger #ryan brown #jon d'agostino #tmnt #teenage mutant ninja turtles #teenage mutant ninja turtles adventures #archie comics #comics #review #1992 #modern age

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