So, me, who is still trapped in The Untamed, saw a very weird dream recently. I have no idea why.
Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian were bickering (as usual) in a place similar to the Guanyin Temple. It was very typical of them, like:
“You lead a siege against me”,
“You didn’t come to me first”,
And then baaanggg, they KISS.
Like full-on making out and hugging each other.
I have no idea why my brain conjured something like that between two characters who are supposedly brothers. But the thing is, the kiss didn’t weird me out; instead, I was thinking, “Oh, good, at least they hugged each other after reuniting”.
Since then, Chengxian has consumed my heart and brain. I’m new to the fandom, so it took me this moment and a considerable amount of research to know that Chengxian is one of the most followed ships after Wangxian.
I'm having second thoughts, to be honest. Not about Wangxian’s love—No. I know it was genuine and pure.
But um—JC and WWX. They are—they do have something beyond familial feeling. When I first sat down to watch this series, I thought it would be mostly about Wangxian. But I was so surprised to see the whole premise revolving around JC and WWX. I even told my mum how these two guys and their brotherhood are what touched me most in this series. JC and WWX made me cry, made me laugh, made me yearn, made me frustrated, and made me want to write a 100 fix-its. And I saw everything like we all are supposed to—brotherhood, siblings, family. I’m still not saying it’s something else.
But there were instances where JC was too possessive, too jealous, and almost angry at himself for wanting WWX. I don't know whether that was an intentional plot choice from the creators, since Wangxian is the main and canon ship. But then every big sacrifice, every hurt, pain, and yearning is happening between Chengxian.
From the first moment at the Lotus pier, they’re more than brothers. They’re each other’s mirrors. They grew up with shared trauma, shared laughter, and shared identity. WWX was JC’s world—his pride, his burden, and his best friend. Even his fury has always been about more than betrayal.
It’s confusion. It’s, “Why do you still own my heart when I don’t even know how to forgive you?”
I would say LWJ yearned for WWX. We could see that clearly in his eyes and his demeanour when WWX came back after 16 years. I mean, even before, when he went to visit WWX in Yiling, LWJ was yearning left and right for him.
But there's no yearning in WWX. He grows to love LWJ—but he never yearned for him the way LWJ did. Not in the past timeline. He was infatuated—Yes,
And admired him. But ROMANTIC LOVE—? I don't think so.
But WWX ached for JC. His eyes tell a different story whenever JC doesn't look at him, especially when:
-> During the golden core transfer: Once JC’s eyes are blindfolded, WWX looks at him with an intensity, I haven't seen in him for anybody else until then. He looks at LWJ like he's mesmerised by him.
(I couldn't find a GIF without words)
-> When WWX came back from the Burial Mounds after 3 months: Remember when JC hugs him and how WWX tries to stay stoic but just melts in JC’s arms and lets him engulf him. He doesn't even look at LWJ. Even though he doesn't hug JC at the beginning, we can see him raise his arms to touch him, before JC pulls back.
3. The last scene: WWX doesn't talk to JC properly. Not even when JC keeps staring at him for several minutes. I really want to know what was going on in their brains at that time. WWX keeps a steady eye contact but doesn't bring much emotion to his face, but once JC turns away, his face changes and he YEARNS. He fucking yearns. There are a thousand different emotions on his face. He doesn’t look like someone who is finally at peace. He looks like someone who will carry that ache into every lifetime.
And LWJ sees it. Of course he does.
He leaves again without resolving it, and that silence between them is louder than any sword clash. JC is the wound that never healed—unless tended with love, medicine, and attention, it would keep on getting open and bleeding for the rest of his life.
But LWJ is his safe place and comfort. LWJ doesn't expect much from him, and WWX knows that. He can be as ignorant as he wants, and LWJ would still be there. But JC demands his attention. JC makes his blood boil. JC makes him feel things. And that agitates him. I still won't say they desire each other romantically, but I think, if LWJ was never in the scene, WWX would never end up with someone else.
Also, it makes me wonder how similar LWJ and JC are. LWJ is stoic but JC pretends to be one. They both are principled, brave, determined, loyal, and challenges WWX.
I'm sure if WWX ever hears that JC has fallen in love with someone or he's going to get married to someone, WWX would definitely find reasons to hate that person. Not because he is petty. But because JC belongs to him in a way no one else ever will. They’re trauma bond. Soul-bond. Resentment-bound. And that kind of bond is terrifying. It leaves no space for anyone else.
This reminds me of my last Tumblr post, where I said, “JC is the love of my life, but I’d want a partner like LWJ..”
Maybe that was what it is to be WWX. JC is his love—messy, painful, stormy, but all his and unforgettable. And LWJ is that comforting love—patient, unshakeable and calm.
LWJ is his sanctuary after the fire.
In short, I’m not sure what I’m trying to say, but Wangxian is real, yes—but Chengxian is raw.
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