Mu Qing is extremely pissed off by the fact that Feng Xin is 10/10, the model of handsomeness, the hottest guy around, with amazing body, captivating voice and also he smells so good BUT HE'S SUCH A JERK. MORON.
Mu Qing has been attracted to him since day one but they are always on such bad terms it drives him crazy.
i really enjoy your bingqing posts. That cross ship got me thinking…
Don’t know if you’ve read ERHA, but if you have, what are your thoughts on Mo Ran (any of his personalities) x Mu Qing? I feel Mu Qing and Chu Wanning share several similarities
ahh haven't read it yet but I'm planning too! mb after I'm done with my thesis because it's too dangerous to get sucked in two months before graduation hahaha
Feng Xin is killed on a mission and Mu Qing loses the point of his godly existence. He misses him a lot and starts searching resurrection techniques and eventually learns he can summon a soul and sacrifice his body for it.
So he does it.
Feng Xin is horrified upon waking up in pools of blood in his rivals body with a gaping wound on his wrist. What can Mu Qing possibly want from him and why would he do something like that?
He finds Mu Qing's letter addressed to him, where the god confesses he loves him and simply cannot live without him which renders him useless and that Feng Xin deserves a second shot.
He asks Feng Xin to not try and pull the same trick because he's going to reincarnate.
Upon finding the letter the wound disappears. Mu Qing just wanted to confess.
Feng Xin is so mad and each time he sees himself in a mirror he gets even angrier. He swears he will find the asshole and tell him everything he thinks about this.
20 years after he visits a cultivation sect where an especially arrogant youth throws a broom at him Feng Xin recognizes the manner immediately and slams the guy into the wall to scream how fucked up he is but the both of them are kinda happy to see each other. They end up making out breaking Feng Xin's (Mu Qing's) cultivation and training together to ascend again.
The idea that Mu Qing behaved the way he did because of class issues is common in the fandom, it wouldn't be so annoying if it wasn't used to justify him or paint Xie Lian as the "spoiled" royal naively thinking they were friends while Mu Qing is the one with the accurate view of the situation, having to play nice to keep his job. It's slander towards Xie Lian obviously but also just plain erasing Mu Qing's character.
Because his motivations are not even hidden between the lines in text. There is a whole scene whose entire purpose is to show Mu Qing explaining his thought process unambiguously. Although, I think the revised version makes it clearer than it was in the draft.
慕情冷冷地道：“是吗，那你知道，我经常觉得，你太子殿下不过是靠出身和运气压过别人罢了，其实你也没比我强多少吗." "我还觉得，没准你喜欢做好事给别人看，然后享受赞美和吹捧，甚至你帮我都是这个理由，因为我是一个可以让你展露怜悯和善意的绝好对象。"
(...)
谁知，下一句，慕情道：“但其实，我后来发现这些不是‘我觉得’，而是‘我希望’。”
(..)
慕情生硬地道：“我……不想承认你是个很好的人。承认这件事的话，我会不知道该怎么和你相处。”
Mu Qing coldly replied: "Really? Then you knew that I oftenly thought that Your Highness the Crown Prince merely relied on your background and luck to surpass others, that you are actually not much stronger than me? I also thought that perhaps you liked doing good deeds to show off, that even you helping me was for this reason, because I am the one excellent target you can display your pity and goodwill towards. "
(...)
Unexpectedly, in the next sentence Mu Qing said: but actually, afterwards I discovered that these things weren't what "I thought" but instead, what "I hoped."
(...)
Mu Qing said awkwardly: I didn't want to admit that you are a good person. If I acknowledged that, I would not have known how to get along with you.
-Chapt 192-193
Before I had also believed that maybe part why Mu Qing thought Xie Lian just helped him for self-serving reasons was because of how he's been treated by nobility before, but this sentence practically derails the idea because here Mu Qing admits he wanted Xie Lian to be egotistical. It is jealousy due to Xie Lian being a prodigy ("that you are actually not much stronger than me?") and overall better as a person.
The dialogue shows that Mu Qing believed these things but that at some point he had to ask himself "Why do I think this?" And after consciously ruminating on it for the first time he came to the conclusion that the only reason was "because I want it to be true." This is called motivated reasoning. He hoped that Xie Lian wasn't more skilled than him, that the only reason he's surpassing him is pure luck. He hoped XL was not better than him, that he's just showing off. It would have been the exact same if they were no class differences because those have nothing to do with their physical strength and morality, if from the start, Mu Qing had had a higher position than Xie Lian, he would've still been jealous of him for the same reasons. (although that's already clear from the fact Mu Qing keeps his attitude, and even gets worse post-fall of Xianle and post-Xie Lian's third ascension.)
There's also the opinion that Xie Lian should've done X or Y to assuage Mu Qing's insecurities about their friendship but this shows there was absolutely nothing Xie Lian could've done, because it was never about their actual relationship. As long as Mu Qing wanted to see Xie Lian as a bad person he was going to ignore or assign malicious intent to anything the man did for him.
Seeing him as the "realistic and rational" one is ignoring the character development that is reflecting on his own flawed mentality and admit he was wrong. It ruined the relationship because he deep down admired Xie Lian's perspective and wanted to be his friend due to XL being a good person who treats him kindly, however he was defensive about being friends with someone that made him question his own cynicism. Thus, he hoped that deep down Xie Lian was selfish and only treating him well to feel good about himself, this saved him from having to feel inadequate, yet it erased the reason he wanted to be Xie Lian's friend in the first place.
While I agree with the majority of this I think that class issues remain. You simply cannot be friends with a person you clean and wash clothes for and whose mercy you depend on. It feels insincere.
Also hard to believe you ever were something more than a servant when they don't even recognize you. The scene after Xie Lian's ascension, when he asks Mu Qing who he was and it happens in front of the whole court? Oh boy, a perfect overthinking material
AU where Feng Xin kidnaps Mu Qing, brothel's apothecary, to heal the king. He learned from Jian Lan he used to live in Xianle so he hopes he can talk the man into cooperation appealing to his origin.
What he doesn't know is that kidnapping is not the best way to persuade someone and that Mu Qing and his (recently deceased) mother were banished from the city after his father, a member of an infamous gang, was executed by royal decree.
The demon wrecking chaos far east was a real threat. It seemed he emerged out of nowhere and was now seizing more and more territories and women - the word was that with his harem the creature could rival the general of the North himself.
It became clear the situation was getting out of hand when Quan Yizhen was found caged in a large block of ice. Naturally the matter was serious and when the court suggested a group of senior officials investigates it Xie Lian was overjoyed. The three of them are going to hang out together like the good old days! They'll have a night hunt!
It's been a while since he got married and while the prince dearly loved his husband, Ghost City and the village his heart demanded a little challenge. Hua Cheng wasn't happy and became even more sour when he learned they planned to crash the demon's harem recruit party. It took Xie Lian two days, thousand kisses and a promise to not pose as one of the brides for him to stop sulking and whining.
But who was going to play the candidate?
***
"Mu Qing, you look beautiful!"
Xie Lian smiled wide. His friend indeed made a great bride. Heaven's cold hearted beauty was adorned in luxurious red and gold. Flowers and drop shaped gems dangled from the hairpin in his high updo, an intricate design was embroidered on the sleeves and chest. A light make-up complimented his features making an already pretty general truly stunning.
The said face however was bright red, twisted in a complicated expression. Mu Qing was silent ever since he emerged from behind the shirm and won't lift his eyes.
"Whats wrong?" Xie Lian was confused. The clothes seemed to fit the man perfectly, but perhaps it felt too tight?
"Is it not comfortable?" he asked, "Do you need a different size?"
"No," Mu Qing answered, his gaze kept firmly in the ground.
"Why are you so red then?" Xie Lian pinched a fabric between his fingers to make sure it didn't suffocate his friend for real. Mu Qing pulled away from him and said nervously, "I-i can't go out like that."
"Why?"
"Because I'm not shameless like you!" the man cried out.
So, Mu Qing was embarrassed? In retrospect he should have probably anticipated that Mu Qing was going to have a problem with that... Not only was his image precious to him, but the man has also never been in a setting where he had to flirt with someone - and now he was somehow expected to woo a demon lord! Xie Lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Feng Xin!" The prince turned to the other man for support. However, not knowing what to say, he just asked "He looks great, right?"
"Ugh huh... " the other god answered. He was just as red as Mu Qing!
The horn blared, signaling the start of the ball. Let's go, it's time! They couldn't possibly come up with anything else in such short terms!
"Please, it's just for the mission! And you won't have to talk to him if you don't want to! And he'll probably be charmed with your looks alone! No need to woo him at all, just a mysterious beauty who doesn't talk much, ha-ha" Xie Lian babbled as he pushed the man towards the doors. But Mu Qing was so embarrassed he could not take a single step outside. He froze at the doorstep and Xie Lian couldn't move him anymore.
"I c-cant!" the general muttered turning away and then suddenly Feng Xin stood in front of him.
With a plain gauze retrieved from god knows where he covered Mu Qing's face. As the veil was falling around it Xie Lian watched as his friend's eyes widened fixed on a man before him.
"I'll guide you, okay?" Feng Xin said softly reaching for Mu Qing's hand.
"W-who do you think you are?!" The indignation was so strong that for a second Mu Qing seemed to return to his normal self. He pulled his hand back as if he had been burned.
"Uhh? Maybe the bride has a servant? Or a bodyguard?" Feng Xin scratched his head and frowned.
"Since when is it acceptable for a bride to be accompanied by a man?! That's unorthodox!"
"Maybe she's from a different country, or there are no female servants in her family! Who the fuck cares about orthodox, the groom is a demon!"
It seems a brief exchange and a veil over his face calmed Mu Qing down a bit. He paused and glared at Feng Xin's face through the red gauze before finally giving up. "Fine. Don't walk me into a wall." The man warned before accepting the outstretched hand.
Xie Lian smiled to himself. These two... They truly knew each other the best. He watched how Feng Xin squeezed Mu Qing's elegant hand reassuringly as they moved away into the rays of the setting sun wondering if the two of them ever knew how well they fit together.
sure mu qing can be petty but they were arguing over the last piece of gum once and he popped it in his mouth and started chewing smugly and feng xin got so mad he took it right out of his it. don't ask how. mu qing is still traumatized.
I said it once, and I'll say it again: mu qing won't be a goth or an emo or whatever, he's painfully aware of what people see as serious, he won't wear crop tops and would avoid tacky accessories or visible piercings. he would probably have a wardrobe full of "boring" (yet very good quality) everyday outfits and some tasteful designer garments for special events. his shoes are also very respectable. he has a collection of scarfs and ties. he can't stand "soapy" and popular scents so he always has a very distinctive smell.
his watch is elegant, not some vulgar diamond gold whatever. he's always on time and looks perfect. he wears a ring left by his mum. he likes his hair long but gets a haircut each month.
he maybe has his nipples pierced tho and it's a little something he has for himself. the piercing is only noticeable when he goes to gym or to a gay club(decide yourself how feng xin learned he had one)
He's more than just classy, Feng Xin says he's a psychopath about clothes, a calculating manic who would spend hours picking up an outfit before an important meeting
I said it once, and I'll say it again: mu qing won't be a goth or an emo or whatever, he's painfully aware of what people see as serious, he won't wear crop tops and would avoid tacky accessories or visible piercings. he would probably have a wardrobe full of "boring" (yet very good quality) everyday outfits and some tasteful designer garments for special events. his shoes are also very respectable. he has a collection of scarfs and ties. he can't stand "soapy" and popular scents so he always has a very distinctive smell.
his watch is elegant, not some vulgar diamond gold whatever. he's always on time and looks perfect. he wears a ring left by his mum. he likes his hair long but gets a haircut each month.
he maybe has his nipples pierced tho and it's a little something he has for himself. the piercing is only noticeable when he goes to gym or to a gay club(decide yourself how feng xin learned he had one)
no, she just writes all the bloody scenes with so much gusto and how inventive she is when it comes to them, she knows what she's doing and she enjoys it
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