Seri's World

bit obsesset wit Word of Honor, TFCF, MDZS and FOF

[serichan]

Returned Master — aka “Words of Honor: The Remix Nobody Asked For

(But I’m Watching Anyway)”

So. I’ve watched all 10 currently available episodes of Returned Master—originally The Youngest General’s Son—and I have… thoughts.

Not angry ones. Just breathless, delighted disbelief. Because this show? It feels like a fanfic someone wrote after bingeing Words of Honor and then said, “What if I made this worse, with 40% of the emotional build-up and 120% of the iconic scene recycling?”

And the wild part? It’s the same director. The same one who made Words of Honor, which only makes the fanfic energy even more unhinged. How is this real? How did this get made? And how is it this boldly copy-pasted?

Let’s do a scene roll-call:

The Checklist of Chaotic Familiarity

• Episode 1, immediate back scars reveal. In Words of Honor, Zhou Zishu’s scars were on his chest. Here, our hero’s got ‘em on his back. Still tragic. Still slow-panned. Still a trope.

• Ghost Valley™, featuring the Ghost Master’s ™ son with serious daddy issues.

• Adopted sister/daughter trope returns—but bonus points: she’s literally named Walnut. So yes, they compressed the “sister” and “walnut symbolism” into one very crunchy character. Impressive compression.

• Paper lanterns and secret messages… check.

• Two emotionally constipated men sitting on a log by the fire. Same log. Same framing. If a flute shows up next week I won’t even blink.

• WKX cosplay moment—except the character wearing Wen Kexing’s robes is clearly meant to be the Zhou Zishu stand-in. Multiverse error 404.

• Mysterious aunt, who once had a tragic, forbidden love with someone on the opposite side of the conflict. Where have I seen this before? Oh, right.

• Back-to-back swordfight scene. Not earned, but present.

• One kneeling, crying boy, pleading with Mr. Doctor to save his beloved. (Words of Honor had our cool Mysterious Immortal. Here? Just The Doctor™. Budget cuts, I guess.)

• Mysterious headaches. Spiritual trauma is real.

• Grave sobbing while drunk. In WoH, it was over the incredibly cool elder Poly-trio. Here? Just a bland strawman father figure. Feels emotionally deflated, but hey, they tried.

• Drink this to enter Ghost Valley? Check.

• Ghost Valley related children song? Check.

• Bath scene? Check.

And somehow? I’m still watching. And laughing. Because it’s not even pretending to be original. I’m just here waiting for the next iconic scene to be shoved sideways into the plot like a jigsaw piece from another box.

It’s fascinating—like watching a bad fanfic with gorgeous actors, confused pacing, and vibes so familiar it’s eerie. I can’t stop. I won’t stop.

Real talk:

• Are you watching this too?

• What Words of Honor scene are they absolutely going to rip next?

• And how—how—is this director still managing to get this through censorship?

Because Words of Honor barely slipped past in 2021. And now? In this climate?? This isn’t subtle. This is full-volume gay longing with recycled props. Whoever this director is sleeping with at the bureau? They are clearly very satisfied. Repeatedly. And enthusiastically.

Tag yourself. I’m the emotional support walnut in a recycled robe.

[zishuge]

Let me lend you the Truth Eye. Turn around and take a look at him. See him in his true colors. Fangs of Fortune 大梦归离 (2024) | Ep. 13

[hyog-blog]

"Only those soaked in blood love bathing, burning incense, and having flowers around. A human should know how to hide his true self." "You're not a human" "So sharp all of a sudden. I didn't expect that."

I love their silly/deep dialogues :D The dreamy petals, the flowers framing Zhao Yuanzhou, the hot stares. Could you be any more romantic?

[bnnywngs]

wwx: oh, i'm just a frail maiden kidnapped by-

kidnapper: you're a man

yllz, very darkly, very powerful: say one more thing and i'm going to make you eat your own guts

kidnapper, scared: ...yes, sir

wwx: oh, i'm just a frail maiden kidnapped by evil men, how i wish i could be saved by a beautiful strong gentleman,!

wwx: *open one eye waiting*

lwj: *arriving in his full lan glory while his husband claps excitedly*

[kandadze]

The sheer intimacy in this little moment. Hope this is what you had in mind, @no-sh1t-sherly

[dearmyloveleys]

My favourite portions of text from the second prologue of the FoF novel!

His tone softened, “The truth is… The passage of time is slow; living may not necessarily be a boon, and dying may not also necessarily be dreadful. The most important thing is…”

“Is what?” Wen Xiao didn’t understand.

“What we’re living for, and, what we’re dying for.”

AAAAAAA JUST A BEAUTIFUL SENTIMENT OF THE DRAMA

Da Yao said, “But another friend of mine told me that the Demons who have died will turn into stars in the sky. He told me to not be upset by death, to not be upset over matters that one doesn’t have the ability to counter and resist; to without question, expend all of one’s strength in holding fast to things that can be fought for and earned, to treasure these. Then at last, calmly accept the things you have no way of changing, like for example, death. For example, fate.”

Another stunner of dialogue for ZYZ about fate. I do wonder who is this friend he’s referring to though

From within her teary and blurred vision, Da Yao held out a piece of paper. A bloody fingerprint had been stamped on its surface.

Wen Xiao glanced at Da Yao’s hand; the wound had yet to heal and blood still stained his long, slender finger.

“Keep this well, and we’ll see who is right in the future.” Da Yao looked at Wen Xiao, the face on his mask turning into a smiling one. He then passed the paper to her – the piece of paper that represented the most solemn promise a Demon could make.

Interesting addition to the story as iirc, the contract was only given by wenxiao to zyz at the bureau prison and not prior to everything.

This night was without wind and the moon. For a long distance, Da Yao walked as he carried Wen Xiao on his back. He had walked from the open emptiness of the Wilderness to the bustling Mortal Realm, and his footsteps had yet to cease. It was as if he were dashing towards an already determined destination. A familiar sense of unease arose in Wen Xiao’s heart. She lay sprawled on his back, her fingers gripping on tightly to his clothes.

“Da Yao, where are you taking me to?”

“Tian Du.”

“Are you not going to continue looking after me?” None could tell if Wen Xiao’s tone of voice carried the anger of being abandoned, or if it was a pained plea stemming from the fear of abandonment, or if it were both at the same time.

Da Yao froze, and he bent his head as he stifled the surging and sweeping emotions within him. The outlines of his body shook. A long while passed, and he opened his mouth to speak. His voice was firm, and one after another, he said each word with a pause, “I will definitely come to find you.”

😭😭😭😭 The entire last section is so beautifully written.

This prologue really clears up a good part of the initial timeline and confusion imo. Without the editing of the drama, things seem to be proceeding in a more linear form. So far we’ve gotten a more indepth confirmation of LiLun being somehow involved in the murder of Zhao Wan-er and the eventual plight of WX, the mysterious ZYZ mask, and ZYZ was the one to indeed bring WX to Tiandu.

[niyxxe]

在无声的夜里，你的温柔如月光般洒下。

— "In the silent night, your tenderness falls like moonlight."

[serichan]

So… it finally happened. I finished my fanfic. The one I started, oh my god, so many years ago. Honestly, I’m a little ashamed of how long it took, but it’s done. I don’t even know how to feel right now. Proud? Maybe. Happy that it’s no longer a WIP? Definitely. And a little sad, too, because, well, it was such a process.

This was my very first fanfiction ever, and what a strange journey it’s been. When I first started writing it, it was supposed to be a short little thing—just me venting my frustration about the whitening of Word of Honor characters in the show. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not really a fan of the original books either—it’s not about that. I just wanted my characters to be complex and morally gray, not this overly sanitized, saintly version all the time. It really got to me. But back then, my English was so broken, and writing felt impossible. Even with the lovely, lovely help I received, it was such a struggle.

And now, years later, it’s over 100k words. How does that even happen? Seriously, isn’t it wild how stories can grip us like that? They just stay with us, refusing to let go, even when we think we’ve moved on. For years, this story lived in my head. And now, it’s done.

I feel… strange, I guess? Relieved, but also a little empty without it churning in my mind all the time. But at the same time, it feels good. Really good.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[serichan]

So, you want more sad, pretty boys? Well, today we have a sad Great Demon, delivered just for your pleasure. I think he looks particularly dashing with teary eyes, don’t you?

My little blob, on the other hand, seems a bit unhappy about all this sadness. But still—well—that’s mostly his fault. One should not mess with Yichen unless they’re prepared to end up sad.

[serichan]

So I’ve been thinking about Yichen being sad a lot lately. Don’t ask me why. Maybe because he’s so pretty when he cries, but mostly because I cannot stop writing him sad.

I had this idea in my mind for a quick, fluffy, polyrelationship-building story for Fangs of Fortune. And so far, no fluff. I have like, I don’t know, 5-6k. And it’s, oh my god, it’s so heart-wrenching. There is no fluff. There is only sad Yichen.

I don’t know if it will go anywhere, but… well, looks like this boys and this story keep bringing out my most angsty side. I wonder why. Pretty boys should be forbidden from crying prettily on my screen and making me write and draw them crying. I suppose there should be some law or something.

Su for now - sad Yichen for yall.

[serichan]

So, I have another fanart for you and some thoughts about the show. I stumbled upon some recs and comments, and I’m fascinated by how many different reactions it tends to bring out. It’s incredible. From love to hate and everything in between, it’s amazing. For me, it’s love. It’s really, really love—though maybe as a guilty pleasure, I think. But honestly, I don’t feel very conflicted about it.

What’s good?

• Visuals: Stunning. Absolutely stunning.

• Music: I’m addicted. It’s been on repeat for weeks now. A good thing my partner is used to my obsessions with music, or I swear they’d have killed me by now.

• Pretty boys: God, they’re pretty. They’re very young, but they’re so pretty.

• Shipping potential: Everyone is shippable. This is a ship fest, and I love it.

• Emotional turmoil: I loved how much it made me want to cry. That’s amazing.

• Characters: I mostly loved the characters here, with a few exceptions (we’ll get to that).

• Non-heteronormative ideas: I like this new approach to pushing these themes through censorship. Yeah, of course, it’s baiting, but it always was, even before the ban. And this new idea is fun—I hope it sticks.

• Polycule dramas: Yes, please. I love it.

• Zhu Yan: I love him.

• Zuo Yichen: I love him.

• Found family: I love it.

• Addictiveness: It’s so compelling.

This show has my heart, flaws and all. It’s such a ride. What do you think?

Two things I didn’t like:

1. Sexism:

Oh my god. The damsel-in-distress trope was unbearable. Wen Xiao started so strong, and then they just threw it all away. It was so frustrating! PJ was lovely, but the “big sister” trope is so overused. It feels like they push strong female characters into these traditionally “female” roles, and it’s tiresome. At least Beijing had her sapphic romance with Wen Xiao, which was cute, I guess. But still, I wanted so much more.

2. Timeline:

The timeline is nonsense. Absolute nonsense. Like, the stuff with Li Lan—when exactly did that happen? Eight years ago? How do they go from teenagers to older demons in eight years? It’s ridiculous. It breaks immersion because it makes no sense. I’d honestly rather they just didn’t give us any specific dates.

3. The Big Bad:

Oh, don’t even get me started. The villains were so bad. Every dramatic fight scene had the bad guy just standing there, letting them monologue for hours. Why? Who does that? Though, I will admit, I kind of enjoy this trope for the campy drama, but it still drove me crazy.

4. Over-the-top Torture Scenes:

The unnecessary torture of Zhu Yan was too much. He was already a deeply sad character, and we didn’t need the lightning scene or all the extra suffering. It felt cheap and overdone, like they were trying too hard to milk the angst.

5. Zhu Yan/Wen Xiao Romance:

This could’ve been good, but the idea that he knew her as a child? No, no, no. That’s creepy, and I hate it. Either lean into the idea of him being a parental figure, or scrap the “I knew you as a child” angle entirely. It’s unnecessary and off-putting.

6. Too Much Crying:

Wen Xiao spent way too much time crying on the floor. Can we please let her be a strong female lead? Why does she have to default to being a damsel in distress? She was so promising in the first episode, and then they just threw that potential away. It was infuriating.

7. The Wings:

I'm sorry, but I hated the wings. They looked cheap and... just stupid. I really couldn’t take them seriously.

Overall Love for the Drama:

That said, it might seem like there are more things I didn’t like than liked, but that’s not true. I freaking loved this drama. I’d give it a 9 out of 10. A strong 9. If I didn’t love it, I wouldn’t be spending all my free time writing fics for it! And believe me, I’m not usually a big fic writer. Though, to be fair, I mostly blame the fact that the cast is so bloody pretty.

Music Video Aesthetic:

Oh, one more thing I really loved—it looks like a big freaking music video, and I loved it! It was so aesthetically pleasing, such a visual feast.

Costumes:

Most of the costumes were stunning, though sometimes a bit over the top. I couldn’t stop laughing about all the dangly chain-knee things in the hair. I have long hair, and trust me—that’s a stupid idea if you want to move a lot. It’d get caught in everything. You’d need to be a magical being to deal with that nonsense. But, hey, it looked pretty and gave me lots of ideas!

Boys Crying:

The boys looked absolutely stunning while crying, and I had so much fun torturing them in my fics. Truly, they are too pretty, and I’m here for it.

Demon Costumes:

There weren’t too many over-the-top costumes in the demon sphere, which I appreciated. I don’t like all the plastic prosthetics and weird visual cues you see in dramas like Love and Game. It looks cheap. I much preferred the red glowy effects and face tattoos—they looked cool and suited the aesthetic.

Moral Greyness:

Maybe they leaned a little too much into the “white lotus” trope for the characters. I would’ve liked more moral greyness, especially for the Great Demon. He started off strong and morally ambiguous, but then he became too virtuous, and it got annoying.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, yeah, I loved it. These are just nitpicks. The visuals were gorgeous, the music was addictive, and the characters gave me so much inspiration. So, yeah, these are my very long, very jumbled thoughts about the drama. Please enjoy the fanart!

For my fics find me at

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[serichan]

[serichan]

So, since this fandom seems to be lacking a large and robust fanart section, and I’m working on header images for each chapter of my fic (using Tumblr to store them), I decided to give you all a better resolution of a very, very, very cute Great Demon with an extremely malicious and very dangerous blob.

Enjoy!

[serichan]

[serichan]

[serichan]

So it seems I have new obsession. Fangs of Fortune got me... bad...

[serichan]

Almost forgot I can actually draw ;) Little Wei Ying bunny to relax after loooong day of work.