#mulian

I always thought I might be bad

Now I'm sure that it's true

'Cause I think you're so good

Mu Qing, who experimented the consequences of being poor and never got over that trauma.

Mu Qing, who always showed kindness to children.

Mu Qing, who constantly got bullied and disrespected by those around him when he was human (and as a god, by some).

Mu Qing, who didn't want a child fighting in a war so he made him go.

Mu Qing, who was loyal to his fallen prince for a long time even though he could have walked away since the beginning.

Mu Qing, who regretted leaving Xie Lian and the rest behind but didn't know how to show it.

Mu Qing, who showed concern for Xie Lian and tried to help him even after their argument and centuries of being apart.

Mu Qing, who tried to protect and help Feng Xin on multiple occasions even though they were never in good terms.

Mu Qing, who got a cursed shackle because he didn't want to betray Xie Lian.

Mu Qing, who thought one of the only people he cared about would let him die (and that he deserved it).

Xie Lian's canon internal thoughts consist of not infrequently calling people ugly. Can we blame him? He was raised constantly surrounded by and continues to surround himself with devastatingly attractive people. Feng Xin, canonically olive-skinned and handsome, archer's figure. Mu Qing, canonically delicate-appearing and pretty. Hua Cheng, growing up to be tall and savagely beautiful.

Meanwhile, Hua Cheng is a literal fashionista, decked out in every possible silver accessory at any given moment, jingling like a Christmas elf and fabulous while doing it. He throws money around on luxury items just because he can, and his taste is impeccable. Mu Qing straight up destroys his own statues if they're ugly, literally described as wearing luxurious robes that he probably made himself because no one could do it better. They're the divas of this operation. They're judging you, hard, and they want you to know it, so you will.

Xie Lian is the equivalent of the naturally beautiful friend who doesn't wash their face with anything but a bar of soap and comes out looking flawless. He needs absolutely zero fashion sense because he could wear a trash bag and people would think it looks high fashion. Feng Xin is the himbo friend who washes with 10-in-1, yet his skin glistens in the sun like an oiled up ancient greek olympian. He does a normal amount of working out and comes out shaped like Captain America. They're simply God's Favorite, so they don't need to try.

Basically, I picture them as the blindingly hot polycule walking around like the Cullens entering their high-school cafeteria. Hair blowing in an invisible wind. Throwing incredible amounts of shade in the communication array.

Hua Cheng whose loyalty is as deep as Feng Xing's but differs in the way they express it.

Hua Cheng who would follow Xie Lian to hell and Feng Xing who would try to bring him back to Heaven.

Hua Cheng who would never leave, even if commanded to, knowing being alone would hurt Xie Lian in the long run. Feng Xing who cannot bring himself to disobey a direct command no matter what.

Hua Cheng whose cunning, pride, and stubbornness match Mu Qing's.

Hua Cheng who is kindhearted and is ruled by his heart, just like Mu Qing.

Hua Cheng whose entire world is Xie Lian. Mu Qing who cannot afford to think like that no matter how much he loves Xie Lian.

(HuaQing who model their worth after how useful they are to the people they love.)