Mo Dao Zu Shi rereading commentary || chapters 51-60 (Patreon)

Chapter 51: Courage—Part One

Madam Yu stood up and mocked, “What do you want me to do? Like your father, you want me to hold my tongue? You really are an idiot. I’ve told you long ago that you’ll never in your whole life be able to surpass the one sitting beside you. Not over cultivation, not over night-hunting, even over shooting kites, you can’t surpass him! It can’t be helped. Who could change the fact that your mom is worse than another’s? Worse it is, then. Your mom feels injustice for you, tells you countless times not to fool around with him, yet you’re still defending him. Just how did I give birth to a son like you?!”

She walked out, alone, leaving Jiang Cheng sitting there, his complexion switching between purple and pale.

Reading the novel the second time I appreciate Jiang Cheng's character more and more. You can clearly see why he turned out to be the way he is. Caught between loving Wei Wuxian as his closest and most trusted friend and his mother's warnings.

On the right was a tall, broad-shouldered man, appearing to be in his twenties

Wen Zhuliu was in his twenties?!?!?!?! not me imagining him as a 30-40 something year old man.

Jiang Cheng snorted, “Don’t do unnecessary things.”

Wei WuXian, “You’re thinking too much. Even if this one is so greasy that it’s gross, no matter how much I want to beat him up, I won’t pick such a time and cause our sect trouble. Don’t worry.”

Jiang Cheng, “You want to stuff him into a bag and beat him up again? I’m afraid that wouldn’t work. You see that guy beside Wen Chao?”

When Jiang Cheng says "You want to stuff him into a bag and beat him up again?", what does he mean by "again"? XDDD Did Wei Wuxian have the opportunity to beat Wen Chao once??? LOL kidding.

Chapter 52: Courage—Part Two

Wei WuXian shouted from behind, “You can go, but give me a sachet, won’t you?! You’re ignoring me? You don’t want to? If you don’t, I’ll find other people and ask for your name. There must be someone out there who’s willing to tell me…”

Before he finished, a perfume sachet flew over from in front of him. It landed right in the middle of his chest. With an ‘ouch’, Wei WuXian pretended as though his heart hurt, spinning the sachet around his hand with its ribbons around his finger. Even as he walked back to Lan WangJi, he was still spinning the sachet around, grinning. Watching Lan WangJi’s expression grow colder, he asked, “What? You’re looking at me like that again. Right, where were we again? Let’s continue. How about I carry you on my back?”

Lan WangJi looked at him quietly, “Do you behave in such a frivolous way towards everyone?”

Wei Wuxian being such a player with women and then turning out gay is one of the reasons I adore this novel hahahaha

Jiang Cheng pulled him even closer, “It’s not as if you’re familiar with him! Don’t you see how much he hates you? You’re going to carry him? He probably doesn’t even want you a step closer to him.”

Wei WuXian, “It’s alright if he hates me—I don’t hate him. I’ll get him onto my back the second I get hold of him. Could he possibly choke me to death while on my back?”

Jiang Cheng warned, “We aren’t even able to care for ourselves; how do we have the time to care about the trivialities of others?”

Wei WuXian, “First, this isn’t a triviality. Second, things like this, somebody will have to care about them, sooner or later!”

During my second reading I really notice all the times Wei Wuxian caring about other people and wanting to help them with Jiang Cheng scolding him and reminding him to stick to the Jiang Sect and care only about the matters of their sect.

Their dialogue here is such a minor example of what's about to happen next. Wei Wuxian wanting to help Lan Wangji here is like a foreshadowing to him wanting to help the Wen remnants, on what would be perceived by Jiang Cheng as being on the expense of the Jiang Sect.

She used to be a maid of Wen Chao’s principal wife.

I always forget this small detail, that Wen Chao was married and that he's actually in a relationship with his wife's maid. THIS IS SO TOTALLY DISGUSTING.

Just as Wei WuXian twitched, Jiang Cheng held him firmly down. MianMian suddenly noticed that two people remained still. She hid behind their backs at once, shivering.

The two were Jin ZiXuan and Lan WangJi.

Here it is again. Jiang Cheng holding Wei Wuxian down from interferring, fearing that it'll cause the Jiang sect trouble. It's so ironic that in the end the Jiang sect suffered and it was not at all related to what Wei Wuxian did or did not do. The Jiang sect was doomed from the start, just like the other sects, simply because the Wen sect decided so.

Also kudos for Lan Wangji and Jin Zixuan, what men!

A grinning voice came from the side, “That’s right. All those who oppress others and do evil relying on the power of their clan should be killed. Not only that, they should be beheaded for tens of thousands to revile so that those to come would beware.”

Hearing this, Wen Chao spun around, “What did you say?”

Wei WuXian pretended to be surprised, “Do you need me to repeat it? Sure. All those who oppress others and do evil relying on the power of their clan should be killed. Not only that, they should be beheaded for tens of thousands to revile so that those to come would beware. You heard it this time?”

Hearing this, Wen ZhuLiu seemed to ponder as he glanced at Wei WuXian. Wen Chao erupted, “How dare you say such absurd, outrageous, and pretentious words!”

Wei WuXian first lifted the corners of his mouth with a ‘pfft’, then immediately burst into unbridled laughter.

Under everyone’s shocked eyes, he laughed so hard that he was out of breath, clutching Jiang Cheng’s shoulder as he spoke, “Absurd? Outrageous? I’d say you’re the one who’s all of those! Wen Chao, do you know who was the one that said those words? I’m sure you don’t, do you? Let me tell you. This was said by the most, most, most famous cultivator of your sect, the one who founded the entire thing, Wen Mao. You dared say that one of your ancestor’s remarks are absurd and outrageous? Well said, very well said! Ahahahahaha…”

This.

This right here.

I have seldomly read books which spoke the true world of politics in such a simple manner as this part here.

What Wei Wuxian did here is showing that political leaders will always make their subordinates follow rules and customs they themselves are exempted from. They will make a huge act to show their subordinates how important these rules and customs are, but in reality they themselves probably don't act, and probably DON'T EVEN KNOW the things they preach others about.

Wen Chao’s complexion switched between red and white. Wei WuXian added, “Right, what was the accusation given to those who insult famous cultivators of the Wen Sect again? How should they be punished? I remember that it was execution, right? Yes, very well, you can go die now.”

Wen Chao couldn’t hold himself back any longer, unsheathing his sword and lunging at Wei WuXian. With that, he lunged out of Wen ZhuLiu’s range of protection.

EPIC MOVE WEI WUXIAN.

Chapter 53: Courage—Part Three

Wei WuXian watched one of the Wen Sect’s disciples pant as he set an arrow onto his bow. Struggling to draw the bow, he just couldn’t pull it all the way back. Finally unable to tolerate it, Wei WuXian grabbed the bow and kicked the disciple to the side. Three arrows were left in the quiver. He set them onto the bow all at once, drew the string to the fullest, and aimed. The string of the bow squeaked by his ear. Just as he was about to let go, a cry suddenly came from behind him.

The cry was full of fear. Turning around, Wei WuXian saw Wang LingJiao give orders to three servants. Two of them brutishly held MianMian in place, clenching her face, while the other raised the branding iron in his hand and thrusted it toward her face!

The tip of the iron was so heated that it sizzled and shone with red light. Wei WuXian was some distance away from them. Seeing what was happening, he immediately shifted the direction of the arrows and let go of the string.

The three arrows shot out at once and hit each of the three people. Without making a noise, they fell backward onto the ground.

This is so effing cool, I really forgot how amazing Wei Wuxian is.

However, the tip of the iron had already pressed onto Wei WuXian’s chest.

Wei WuXian caught the odor of clothing and skin being scorched, along with the horrifying scent of cooked meat. Below his collarbone, near his heart, came a pain that drowned out everything else.

He gritted his teeth, but still couldn’t hold back the aching roar, finally letting it out of his throat.

I don't know why, but I find this scene so sexy, especially when he roars from pain. I remember it done well in the audio drama (which I can't wait to listen to again soon!)

LAN WANGJI DID YOU SEE AND HEAR THAT?? OUR BABY WEI WUXIAN IS HURT BUT HE'S STILL SO COOL!!

“We can only wait down here in the cave… without any food… along with a beast…”

As Jiang Cheng slowly walked over, propping Wei WuXian up, they happened to hear the ‘without any food’ part of the conversation. Wei WuXian, “Jiang Cheng, there’s a piece of cooked meat here. You want to eat it?”

Jiang Cheng, “Get lost! You really haven’t learned your lesson, have you? Just what situation do you think we’re in? You don’t know how much I want to sew your lips together.”

I love their friendship humor so much ;___;

Lan WangJi’s light-colored eyes landed on them. Immediately after, they landed on MianMian, who followed behind them, at a loss as to what to do. Tears stained her face as she continued to sob, hands clenching her robe as she said ‘I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry’ over and over again. Wei WuXian plugged his ears, “Hey, stop crying, alright? I’m the one who was burned, not you. Don’t tell me that you want me to cheer you up? How about you cheer me up? Okay, enough, Jiang Cheng, stop carrying me. It’s not like my leg is broken.”

Lan Wangji is JELLY.

But also I like to imagine him looking at the scene and taking notes. He just realized that the girl Wei Wuxian tried to flirt with, flirtation that was rejected and preceived as annoying, is now coming to him crying and apologizing because he did a heroic deed of saving her.

Just like I wrote before, about Lan Wangji not regretting his scars because they are a mark of him saving Wei Wuxian (what Wei Wuxian himself told him regarding the Wen sear), I like to imagine that at this moment he also wanted to make a heroic did towards Wei Wuxian only to have him act like MianMian here XDDDDDDDDD

Wei WuXian was inspecting the area of the cave as he backed away with the fires. Suddenly, pain burst through his arm. Looking down, he saw that he had been shot by an arrow. It turned out that the Lan Sect disciple that Lan WangJi had glared at picked up one of the bows the Wen Sect had left and shot at the beast. However, perhaps realizing how fearsomely agile it was, his hand had slipped and the arrow had lost its aim, landing on Wei WuXian instead. Wei WuXian had no time to pull it out, hitting the ground with his palm again. He only cursed after the flame had appeared, “Back off!! Don’t cause me any trouble!”

I SWEAR TO GOD HOW MORE USELESS CAN SU SHE BE, F*CK HIM.

Judging from the size and the bite strength of the beast, it could easily be able to sever a person from the waist into two pieces. Fortunately, it seemed that it didn’t like to eat broken ones. After it had bitten someone, it would shrink into its shell, no matter if the person was dead or alive, so that it could savor it slowly.

Well, well, well, it seems that Xuanwu of Slaughter has culinary standards.

Wei WuXian was afraid that the beast might break out, either eating them alive or biting off Lan WangJi’s leg. His right hand continued to grab onto the upper fang while his left hand clenched onto a lower fang. His hands pushing in opposite directions at the same time, he forced strength into his arms as though his life depended on it, the vein at his forehead protruding so much that it seemed to be on the verge of bursting. His face was blood-red.

Nobody ever talk about weak and helpless Wei Wuxian again.  (Unless he acts this way in front of Lan Wangji to get $%#$*^%()^*)

Chapter 54: Courage—Part Four

His leg injury wasn’t completely healed to begin with, and now that it had been bitten by the beast’s fangs and soaked in water. Lan WangJi’s white clothes were dyed red by smears of blood everywhere. It could be seen with the physical eye, the rows and rows of punctures from the fangs. He couldn’t stand at all, falling to the ground as soon as he was let go of.

I'm seriously wondering how didn't he lose that leg.

Before Lan WangJi could respond, Wei WuXian quickly reached out and took off his forehead ribbon. With a flick of his wrist, he used the forehead ribbon as a bandage, straightened up Lan WangJi’s leg, and fixed it firmly onto the branch.

Suddenly robbed of his forehead ribbon, Lan WangJi opened his eyes wide, “You…!”

With nimble hands, Wei WuXian had already finished tying the knot. Patting his shoulder, he consoled, “What do you mean ‘me’? Let’s not worry about it, given our current situation. No matter how much you like the forehead ribbon, it can’t be more important than your leg, can it?”

The point of this is to show how Wei Wuxian "disregards" the forehead ribbon because he didn't know its meaning. But now that I read it again, gaining a fuller understanding of Wei Wuxian's character, I think that he'd do the same even if he DID know the meaning.

"No matter how much you like the forehead ribbon, it can’t be more important than your leg, can it?" This sums up it up.

Wei WuXian, “What are you talking about? It doesn’t count as harassing if I’m the one doing it. It only counts if the one doing it looks as greasy as Wen Chao. Go on, strip.”

This is gonna sound completely non-PC, but from experience seeing how other women from my real life act, this is sorta true. They rejected guys for trying to flirt with them, simply cause they looked ugly, calling is "harassment". But if it was a hot man trying to flirt, then it wasn't harassing. ;___; "

Wei WuXian shrugged, palms facing out, “Now that the shirts are gone, it’s time for the trousers.”

Epic quote by Wei Wuxian.

Wei WuXian protested, “It’s very unhealthy for blood like this to be held in. It gets out with just a scare, though. Don’t worry—I don’t like men, I won’t take advantage of the opportunity and do anything to you.”

Lan WangJi, “Ridiculous!"

WEI WUXIAN THE IDIOT YOU ARE

Wei WuXian, “It’s not like I had any other choice, right? Do you think I enjoy being burned? Who would’ve known that Wang LingJiao is so heartless. She almost pressed the iron into the eye. MianMian is a girl, and quite a pretty girl, at that. If she was blind in an eye or such a thing gets onto her face, it wouldn’t be able to come off for the rest of her life. How bad would that be?”

Lan WangJi spoke in a thin voice, “The thing on your body right now will not be able to come off for the rest of your life either.”

Thing is, that I think that considering the customs of their time, any man would agree with what Wei Wuxian said. The reason Lan Wangji is angry is because he sees Wei Wuxian's perfect smooth body receive an ugly scar, and he simply cannot agree! Screw the girls, WEI WUXIAN'S BODY BELONGS TO HIM AND HE DOESN'T WANT TO SEE IT TAINTED LIKE THAT.

Wei WuXian, “That’s different. It’s not on the face. And I’m a man—what am I scared of? In a man’s life, how can he not get a few wounds and earn a few scars?”

His upper body bare, he was squatting on the ground as he picked up a branch and poked at the flames for it to burn brighter, “And, if you think from another perspective, even though this won’t be able to come off, it represents the fact that I protected a maiden. And the maiden will definitely remember me after this. She won’t be able to forget me for the rest of her life. Now that I think about it, it’s actually quite…”

Suddenly, Lan WangJi shoved him hard, raging, “So you also know that she will not be able to forget you for the rest of her life!!!”

Thisss again. Yup. I totally think that Lan Wangji remembered this when he saved Wei Wuxian and received the scars for it.

Lan WangJi, “If you do not have those intentions, then do not flirt with others. You are doing as you please, yet others will be in turmoil.”

You mean yourself, Lan Zhan? hehehe

Wei WuXian wailed, “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh stop!!! Stop stop stop!!!!!!”

Lan WangJi was buried into the crescent of his elbow, biting firmly into his arm. Hearing Wei WuXian, not only did he not stop, his teeth sunk deeper inside.

It's so funny cause I watched a video yesterday about toddlers who bite, and the women explained that the reason they do it is that they are frustrated that they can't express themselves with words yet and be understood. I think Lan Wangji is in a similar position. He just can't express his real feelings sldkjflskdjflskdjf

Chapter 55: Courage—Part Five

When they were going up the mountain, the disciple said that the Lan Sect’s leader was heavily injured, but he never thought that the injuries were so heavy that the leader was ‘almost gone’. Maybe Lan WangJi himself just found out about it in the past few days, receiving news that his father was dying.
[...]

Under the blows of his residence being burned down, his sect being persecuted, his father dying, his brother going missing and he, himself, being injured, any sort of comfort would be pale and powerless.

I never actually stopped to think about this, but damn, Lan Wangji has to be away while his father is dying, this is so fucked up. Poor guy T^T

Chord Assassination was one of the techniques unique to the GusuLan Sect. It was created by and passed down from the granddaughter of the sect’s founder, Lan An—the third sect leader, Lan Yi. Lan Yi was also the only female sect leader of the Lan Sect, cultivating with the guqin. Her guqin had seven strings that could be joined and dismantled within moments. The seven strings were arranged from the most slender to the thickest. One moment she’d be playing noble melodies over them with her soft, fair fingers, and one moment later they’d be able to cut through flesh and bone as though cutting through mud, transformed into lethal weapons within her hands.

Lan Yi created Chord Assassination originally to assassinate dissidents, which was why she was often criticized. The GusuLan Sect was also quite ambivalent on its comments of such a sect leader. Undeniably, though, Chord Assassination was one of the most powerful, most versatile fighting techniques of the GusuLan Sect.

This is so damn awesome.

Lan WangJi pulled tightly on the chord, refusing to loosen up for even a split second. He held for six hours.

My fucking god, I remember how pissed I was during my ship in the shoe store I worked in. It was only 4 hours. :')

And Lan WangJi caught him again. This time, he put one hand against his forehead. After contemplating for a few moments, he spoke, “Wei Ying, you… are so warm.”

Wei WuXian put his hand to his forehead as well, “Lan Zhan, you’re also really warm.”

Lan WangJi took his hand away, speaking in a tepid tone, “That is because your hand is cold.”

This part here is so relatable, this dialogue literally happens with any person you try to check temperature with hahaha! Cold or warm hands make it harder to understand.

Wei WuXian managed to flip around and lay stomach down on the ground, “Of all the other people, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t secretly like me despite saying that I’m annoying. Why is it that, whenever it’s you, you never give me any good looks? We count as having lived through death with each other, don’t we? You don’t even want to lend your lap for me to lie on and you’re lecturing me again. Are you an old man or what?”

Lan WangJi replied with a thin voice, “You are delirious.”

Perhaps he was indeed delirious. Not long after, Wei WuXian had fallen asleep.

Just like in the cases where Lan Wangji is drunk, it takes Wei Wuxian to have a severe fever to let out his true thoughts and all of the frustration <3 :(

When he was sleeping, he felt that his lying position wasn’t too bad. It seemed that he really was lying on someone’s lap. A cold hand rested over his forehead. It felt quite comfortable. Happily, he rolled around as much as he wanted to, and there wasn’t anybody who scolded him. When he rolled onto the ground, his head was even gently stroked before he was picked up and put onto the lap again.

sldkfjlskdjfslkdjf

Lan WangJi really did begin to sing.

Wei WuXian closed his eyes, turned around, and spread out his limbs, “It sounds nice.”

He asked, “What’s it called?”

Lan WangJi seemed to murmur something. Wei WuXian opened his eyes, “What was it called again?”

HOLD UP DID LAN WANGJI CONFESS AND SAID "WANGXIAN" AT THAT TIME?!?!?! sjldkfjslkdfjlsdkfjlskdjflskdjflksdjlskdjflskdjf

Chapter 56: Poisons—Part One

Wei WuXian, “I’m sure it only takes five days for you to go from Dusk-Creek Mountain to Yunmeng!”

Jiang Cheng, “Are you stupid? You only counted the time to return and not the time to go there? Let alone the fact that after I got there I had to lead people and search through the entire mountain for the old banyan tree, then dig open the hole that got blocked up by Wen Chao and his people, and rescue you within seven days. Where’s your gratitude?!”

Jiang Cheng really did so much too! T^T

Jiang Cheng, “There is, though. He doesn’t like my mom, and so he doesn’t like me either.”

This one really was difficult to refute.

The entirety of the cultivation world knew that third lady Yu had cultivated together with Jiang FengMian when they were young. Jiang FengMian’s character was gentle, yet Yu ZiYuan’s personality was harsh. The two didn’t share too many interactions. Thus, although their backgrounds matched, nobody associated the two as a pair. Later, ZangSe SanRen came from the mountains, passed by Yunmeng, and happened to become friends with Jiang FengMian. They had even night-hunted together on multiple occasions. Both thought highly of each other. People supposed that it was very likely for ZangSe SanRen to become the next mistress of Lotus Pier.

However, soon afterward, the MeishanYu Sect proposed an alliance through marriage to the YunmengJiang Sect.

The leader of the Jiang Sect back then was quite interested, but Jiang FengMian had no such intentions. He didn’t like Yu ZiYuan’s conduct and felt that the two wouldn’t be an appropriate match. He had politely refused the offer a handful of times. However, the MeishanYu Sect set about multiple factors, putting pressure on Jiang FengMian, who was at the time still fairly young and had nothing to lean on. Along with the fact that, not long later, ZangSe SanRen had become cultivation partners with the most loyal servant at Jiang FengMian’s side, Wei ChangZe, and rode off into the sunset, roaming around the world, Jiang FengMian finally gave up.

Although Jiang and Yu were married, they had ever since been a grudging couple. They had always been living apart and held the most disagreeable of conversations. Aside from the strengthening of their sect’s powers, nobody knew what other benefits they had attained.

The founder of the YunmengJiang Sect, Jiang Chi, was born a rogue cultivator. The ways of the sect were honest and unrestrained. Madam Yu’s manners were the exact opposite. And, both Jiang Cheng’s looks and personality took after his mother. He hadn’t ever been to Jiang FengMian’s liking. Since birth, he taught him in many ways, yet he still couldn’t change, which was why Jiang FengMian had always seemed as though he didn’t favor him too much.

*CRIES*

This is really just so so sad!!! Also thinking how both Jiang FengMian and Yu ZiYuan fought their last battle together...really what was their last interaction?

I LOVE YOU JIANG CHENG IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT <33333 T^T

Jiang Cheng was silent, as though he had finally become calmer. Wei WuXian put his hand on his shoulder again, “In the future, you’ll be the sect leader, and I’ll be your subordinate, like your father and my father. So what if the GusuLan Sect has its Two Jades? The Yunmeng Jiang Sect will have its Two Prides! So, shut up. Who said that you don’t deserve to be the sect leader? Nobody can say this, even you can’t either. If you do you’re looking for a beating.”

Jiang Cheng snorted, “You see how you are right now? Who can you beat up?”

As he spoke he slapped right at the middle of Wei WuXian’s chest. Although medicine and bandages had already been applied to the branded wound, being slapped out of the blue still brought immense pain. Wei WuXian roared, “Jiang Cheng!!! Come to your death!!!”

Jiang Cheng ducked from his strike and shouted, “You’re hurting so much now, but why did you play the hero back then?! Serves you right! Teaches you your lesson!”

Yup, the more I read it the more it becomes clear to me that Jiang Cheng loved having Wei Wuxian around, even though his mother, and later, the other sects, tried to come in between them, trying to make Jiang Cheng see a Wei Wuxian that he didn't actually see. I think that the words they said did play a role and Jiang Cheng did take them to heart, but Jiang Cheng's way of dealing with them wasn't to sever ties with Wei Wuxian, but to keep him near and try to make him "behave" in the benefit of the Jiang sect. He constantly reminds Wei Wuxian to worry only about the Jiang Sect, and not for others, and if Wei Wuxian does something shameless, he says that he makes the sect lose face. The reason Jiang Cheng took this promise of Wei Wuxian to heart (of him being Jiang Cheng's right hand man and the both of them being the Two Prides of Yunmeng), and felt betrayed after Wei Wuxian didn't fulfil it, is exactly this. He thought that he could keep Wei Wuxian by his side forever. He never wanted Wei Wuxian to leave. He hated when Wei Wuxian tried to do things that are outside of the interest of the Jiang Sect. He chose to stick to the Wen remnants instead of being his right hand man like he promised. A grudge that he never let go of, apparently. The funny thing is that Wei Wuxian chose to stay by the Wen remnants also from the sense of gratitude for them helping non other than Jiang Cheng.

Damn.

Chapter 57: Poisons—Part Two

His face revealed disgust. Wei WuXian, “What a shame that our swords don’t have that much spiritual energy yet. If they could sheath themselves, then nobody would be able to use them.”

This seems to me to be yet another of those wishes Wei Wuxian makes as a young cultivator only to make them come true in his Laozu era (like what he wished about regarding the compass and the flags). But thing is that Suibian sealed itself eventually, and when he found out about it in his second life, he was rather surprised, meaning that he didn't have anything to do with it.

I wonder how did this happen and what I'm missing here.

The woman’s figure was graceful. Her features were enchanting as well. With amorous eyes, fiery lips, and a small, black mole above her lips, she was quite an outstanding beauty.

Gotta be honest, I really think of her as in the ugly way the donghua made her look, but taking the word of the novel narration and of Wei Wuxian himself I guess Wang LingJiao was indeed beautiful.

Wang LingJiao spoke with disdain, “Madam Yu, your Jiang Sect really is outrageous. This can’t be the case. Even maids dare interrupt a conversation in the main hall. Servants like this have their faces slapped in the Wen Sect.”

Wei WuXian, As the person saying this, you’re a servant as well, aren’t you?

Madam Yu replied without any hesitation, “JinZhu and YinZhu aren’t the usual servants.

They’ve been staying with me ever since I was young. They’ve never served for anyone aside from me, and there hasn’t been anyone who can slap them. They can’t, and they don’t dare to.”

Wang LingJiao, “Madam Yu, what are you talking about? In a prominent sect, there has to be a clear distinction between the superior and the inferior for it to be not in chaos. Servants should be what servants ought to be.”

THE TENSION IN THIS. THE WAY YOU JUST KNOW THAT YU ZIYUAN IS BEING VERRRRYY PATIENT.

Wei WuXian pushed Jiang Cheng away. He clenched his teeth as he suffered, unspeaking and unmoving. In the past, although Madam Yu had always come at him with harsh words, she had never truly been cruel to him. The most that he’d been through were two or three strikes and being grounded. He’d also be let out by Jiang FengMian soon later. This time, however, he endured dozens of heavy strikes. His back burned and his entire body was numb with pain. He couldn’t bear it, but he had to bear it. Today, if the punishment didn’t satisfy Wang LingJiao, the matter at hand would never end!

If you think about the fact that Yu Ziyuan is punishing Wei Wuxian because Wang LingJiao asked her to do it, the reason being "him distracting Wen Chao from killing the Xuanwu monster", while actually Wei Wuxian (and Lan Wangji) were the real ones who killed it, and it was all because of Wei Wuxian saving Lan Wangji....*takes breath*

Then it means that Wei Wuxian is technically being whipped for saving Lan Wangji.

and Lan Wangji was whipped for saving Wei Wuxian.

Huh.

Before she could finish, Madam Yu gave her an echoing slap.

The slap was shocking both in sound and in force. Wang LingJiao was slapped with such force that she spun around a few times before finally falling to the ground. Blood gushing out of her nose, she widened her eyes.

The few of the Wen Sect’s disciples within the main hall were alarmed at once. All of them unsheathed their swords. With a wave of Madam Yu’s hand, a brilliant ring of purple light shot out of Zidian. A large portion of the disciples collapsed immediately.

With all her elegance, Madam Yu walked toward Wang LingJiao and looked down on her. Suddenly, she bent down and grabbed Wang LingJiao’s hair. Pulling her up, she gave her another slap of wrath, “How dare you?!”

She had been enduring this for too long. Right now, her face was twisted as she advanced toward Wang LingJiao. Face swollen, Wang LingJiao began to scream. Without holding back at all, Madam Yu gave her another slap, cutting off her ear-piercing scream. She shouted, “You look at its owner before you hit a dog! You barged into my sect, and you want to punish my person in front of my face? What a thing you are, how dare you be so undisciplined?!”

As she finished, she threw Wang LingJiao’s head to the side. Like she considered it dirty, she took out her handkerchief and wiped at her hands. JinZhu and YinZhu stood behind her, faces bearing the same smile of disdain as she bore. Wang LingJiao covered her face with shaking hands, cheeks stained with tears, “How… How dare you do something like this… Neither the QishanWen Sect nor the YingchuanWang Sect will let you go!”

Madam Yu tossed her handkerchief on the ground before kicking her over, cursing, “Shut up! Such a scum of a maid—my MeishanYu Sect has roamed the cultivation world for hundreds of years, and I’ve never heard of some YingchuanWang Sect! Of which gutter did this menial sect crawl out?! Is it full of things like you? You mentioned the superior and the inferior before me? Then let me teach you what superiority and inferiority means! I am the superior, you are the inferior!”

THE MOST SATISFYING THING ON EARTH.

Chapter 58: Poisons—Part Three

Her sword having fallen, Madam Yu held Zidian across her cheek, “Core-Melting Hand?”

Wen ZhuLiu’s voice was cold, “Violet Spider?”

Just what was the relationship between those two, really?

Wei WuXian couldn’t struggle out of Zidian. He could only nod his head. Jiang Cheng shouted, “Mom, Father isn’t back yet. If anything happens can’t we manage through it together first?!”

Hearing him mention Jiang FengMian, for a split second, Madam Yu’s eyes seemed to turn red.

Immediately, she cursed with a loud voice, “So what if he’s not coming back? Can’t I do anything without him?!”

I just feel so much for her. Her words here are her trying to be tough, and show that she's capable of fighting (and she is), but it's also this bitter feeling of never being really loved by him in the first place, so of course he isn't here. She doesn't expect him to be.

*WAILSSSSS*

Jiang FengMian saw them as well. He looked somewhat surprised. One of the disciples rowed the oar, and the boat approached. Jiang FengMian still didn’t know what had happened as he mused, “A-Cheng? A-Ying? What happened to you two?”

The boys at Lotus Pier often played strange games. Even lying in the water with faces covered in blood pretending to be floating corpses wasn’t out of the norm. Thus, Jiang FengMian couldn’t immediately decide if they were playing some new game or not.

LMAO the way Jiang FengMian is used to their bullshit hahahah

As he spoke, he touched Zidian with his hand. However, just as he came into contact with it, Zidian retracted obediently. It immediately turned into a ring and wrapped itself around one of his fingers.

Jiang FengMian froze at once.

Zidian was Yu ZiYuan’s best weapon. Yu ZiYuan’s intention was its most important command. Zidian could recognize multiple masters, but there was an order. Madam Yu was undoubtedly the primary master of Zidian. Her command was to tie Jiang Cheng up until he was safe, which was why even though Jiang Cheng was also its master, he couldn’t struggle out of its constraint.

Nobody knew when, but Jiang FengMian had been recognized as the secondary master of Zidian. In front of him, Zidian determined them to be safe, and thus it loosened.

But Madam Yu had never said that she let Zidian recognize Jiang FengMian as its master as well.

SHE MADE HIM THE MASTER TOO. SHE TRUSTED HIM ENOUGH TO DO SO.

I'M NOT OKKKKKKK

Madam Yu said that the lashes he had received wouldn’t heal in less than a month. However, right now, Wei WuXian felt that although where he had been whipped still burned and tingled, it didn’t affect his ability to move too much. With the determination of somebody on the verge of death, the two of them paddled as though their lives depended on it. Two hours later, using nothing but their hands, they finally returned to Lotus Pier.

The way Yu Ziyuan acted in the punishment scene is really astonishing and really leaves one in the field of doubt. It's no wonder that she really did let out all of her frustration on Wei Wuxian when she chose to whip him.

On the other hand, she didn't whip him as fiercely as what she told Wang LingJaio. She probably told that to make it seem that the punishment was indeed severe, when in reality it wasn't.

But then again, I don't think that she spared him due to her having a soft spot for him. It was probably because she refused to take orders from a servant so full of herself like Wang LingJiao. Even if Yu Ziyuan doesn't like Wei Wuxian, he is still worth more in her eyes than the Wen enemy and this pathetic woman in front of her acting all superior. Wei Wuxian IS of the Jiang Sect, even if he's just a servant. Nobody will decide his fate but the Jiang Sect. Plus, Yu Ziyuan probably realized that she'll need a strong and capable Wei Wuxian soon enough, because the battle was inevitable.

Chapter 59: Poisons—Part Four

Seeing that he didn’t seem too concerned, Wang LingJiao added, “Look at him. He’s clearly only a mere subordinate under your command, yet he’s so arrogant. Back then, I wanted to slap that Yu bitch on the face, and he didn’t even let me. She’s dead already—it’s only a corpse! He’s looking down on me, so it means that he’s also looking down on you, doesn’t it?”

Wen Zhuliu refusing to humiliate Yu Ziyuan's corpse. JUST WHAT WAS THE STORY OF THOSE TWO?!

I suppose you could say that this is a powerful cultivator still respecting a powerful cultivator, because he has not a tiny ounce of respect to Wang LingJiao. But nonetheless, WHAT WAS THEIR STORY?

In his knowledge, as long as a woman looked fair, there wasn’t any reason for a man not to like her. Those who should be cast aside were either women who looked average or women who didn’t let him sleep with. Wang LingJiao answered, “It’s really quite obvious if you think about it. Bitchy Yu is so aggressive. She’s clearly a woman yet she brandishes her whip and slaps others all the time. She has no manners at all. Jiang FengMian has been burdened so much even after he married her. He’s the most unlucky man ever.”

Wen Chao, “That’s right! Women, they should all be like my JiaoJiao, obedient and gentle, caring for nobody but me.”

I'm going to throw up.

The hand around his neck suddenly loosened.

Jiang Cheng glowered at him. Tears rolled down his cheeks. The depths of his throat let out a cry of dying man, a painful sob.

He spoke through tears, “… I want my parents, my parents…”

He was asking Wei WuXian for his father and his mother. Yet, no matter whom he asked, he wouldn’t be able to have them back again.

Wei WuXian was crying as well. The two of them sat collapsed amid the bushes of grass, watching each other bawl.

No kidding this entire arc with the fall of Lotus Pier is simply breathtaking. You actually FEEL the pain, the horror.....

In his heart, Jiang Cheng knew clearly that back in the cave of the Xuanwu of Slaughter at Dusk-Creek Mountain, even if Wei WuXian hadn’t saved Lan WangJi, the Wen Sect would have found some reason to come over sooner or later. But he had always felt that, if the whole thing with Wei WuXian didn’t happen, maybe it wouldn’t have been so soon, maybe there would’ve been some way to turn things around.

It was this torturing thought that filled his heart with hatred and wrath. Unable to be let out, they cut up his innards.

It's so interesting, because Jiang Cheng constantly blamed Wei Wuxian for "saving Lan Wangji" and bringing the destruction of Lotus Pier, but now we see that this isn't true. He knew that the battle was inevitable, it was just a matter of time, and he knew it. But he seems so helpless that he needs to put the blame on SOMETHING.

He always told Wei Wuxian not to meddle in others business so that the Jiang Sect wouldn't be harmed, but he was too naive to understand that it would happen whether they meddled or not.

He thought to himself, Why hadn’t I caught up to Jiang Cheng? Even after I ate food this was the fastest I could run. He was more tired than me and he’s going through something worse. How could he have run faster than me? Did he really come back to Lotus Pier? But if he didn’t come back here, where would he go? Go to Meishan alone without me?

It's because he didn't run to the Lotus Pier, he saw the Wen Cultivators and tried to lure them away from you but was caught in the process *weeps*

Without needing him to say anything else, Wei WuXian took Jiang Cheng over, wanting to carry him on his own back. Yet, only one glance and he saw the bloody whip wound across Jiang Cheng’s chest.

Wei WuXian, “The discipline whip?!”

Jiang Cheng got the whip when being caught by the Wens whom he tried to lure away from Wei Wuxian.

So.

Wei Wuxian was whipped for saving Lan Wangji.

Lan Wangji was Whipped for saving Wei Wuxian.

Jiang Cheng was whipped for saving Wei Wuxian.

huh.

Hearing his name called from behind him, Wen QiongLin finally stopped. Head hanging low, he turned around. It seemed as though shame rippled from his head to his toes as he stammered, “… I’m sorry.”

Wei WuXian mused, “Why are you telling me you’re sorry?”

Wen QiongLin replied with guilt, “You… You recommended me… but I made you lose face…”

Wei WuXian, “How did it make me lose face? You haven’t really shot in front other people, have you? You were nervous?”

Wen QiongLin nodded. Wei WuXian continued, “Have some confidence. Let me tell you the truth—you shoot better than everyone in your sect. Out of all of the disciples whom I’ve seen, no more than three people are better in archery than you.”

I still think that Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning could be awesome archer partners!

Jiang Cheng, “Where did you find so much nonsense? The competition is starting soon. Get into the arena right now!”

Wei WuXian spoke to Wen QiongLin in a serious tone, “I’ll be off to the competition now. Later, you can see how I shoot when I’m in the arena…”

Jiang Cheng dragged him away, short of patience. He spat as he dragged, “See how you shoot? Do you think that you’re a model or something?!”

Here it is. Jiang cheng is at it again. He sees Wei Wuxian talking with other people and is immediately on the defence, trying to drag Wei Wuxian away and be next to him and under his watch.

Chapter 60: Poisons—Part Five

Jiang Cheng laughed, “Wen ZhuLiu, Wen ZhuLiu. I want revenge, I want revenge, but how could I? I don’t even have my core anymore. I won’t ever be able to form a core again. How can I seek revenge? Hahahahahaha, hahahahahahahahahaha…”

The sheer despair and helplessness of this moment :(

Jiang Cheng couldn’t listen to anyone’s words anymore. He was already half-mad. Hands around Wei WuXian’s neck, he laughed, “Wei WuXian, hahahahahahahaha Wei WuXian! You! You…”

Suddenly, a red shadow kicked the door open and darted inside. With a strike of her palm, a silver light flashed by. A needle went into Jiang Cheng’s head, and he lay back down at once. Wen Qing turned around to shut the door before scolding in a low voice, “Wen Ning, how stupid are you? You let him shout and laugh and be so loud?! Do you want him to be discovered?”

I'm in love with this girl.

Wen Chao scorned, “You’re so close to your death and you’re still playing the hero!”

Wei WuXian laughed coldly, “It’s precisely because I’m close to my death that I’m so happy! What I’m scared of is that I won’t die. If you have the guts then torture me! The more cruel the better. After I die, I’ll definitely become a ferocious ghost and haunt the QishanWen Sect day and night, cursing all of you!”

This is so damn intense. Wei Wuxian making the most scary speech ever. Chills down my spine!

Wei WuXian spat out another mouthful of blood. His heart was set, It’s time to kill me? It won’t be much different even if I die. It won’t be any worse than living, and there’s a one-in-three chance for me to become a ferocious ghost and seek revenge!

Thinking of this, he felt an unparalleled thrill.

This is a true, real world experience.

Humans can "train" their minds to accept death if they believe that the benefit of it will be greater, especially if in the afterlife a good thing awaits. But this training is something that takes years of developing, and yet Wei Wuxian does it in that mere instance. He's doing it to the extent that he's really thrilled about it. Just to know that he'll be able to get revenge, it's best to be dead than alive.

MDZS rereading commentary || Chapters 61-70 

MDZS rereading commentary || Chapters 41-50