#mxts

day 8: Reckless

There was a much more wholesome (and shorter) version of this until my friend leaned over and wrote "is that for me?"

We’ve come to the end of our journey with Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation. Book five holds the last 187 pages of the story and a few extras to entice you. The ending was cute, it wrapped up a lot of loose ends that I was worried about. Of course, WangXian end up together, the evil foes are defeated, and the juniors are happy and have become close friends. I will say, I was not thrilled with the extras, but that is for later in the review.

The tension within the temple could be cut with a knife. Jin Guangyao having so much power in those moments had me actually worried for a bit. Lan Xichen being kidnapped, Jin Ling being baited into the temple, and the unknown of what is to come makes for a risky situation. But it’s just like Wei Wuxian to choose that exact time to confess his love for Lan Wangji. I will say, this section made me feel for Jin Ling, this child is trapped between the loving yet over-protective uncle and the uncle who is setting up to kill you just as easily as his own first born.

Even though I knew that Jin Guangyao would be defeated, but I was not expecting to see him be skewed through by a tricked Lan Xichen. I will say, I was very glad to see him put shoved into that coffin.

The entire scene within the temple had some of my absolute favorite moments of tensions and high stakes, I loved that the power was thrown into Jin Guangyao’s hands (even though I hate him and want him to burn, I love when the heroes are up against the ropes). Having a thread around Wei Wuxian’s neck means being able to control Lan Wangji, and Jin Guangyao knows that fact.

Once all of that is wrapped up in a pretty bow, everyone leaves to return to their normal lives. Then, the shocking twist of Lan Sizhui coming out saying that he remembers the childhood moments with Wei Wuxian! I was not expecting that truth to come out, especially out of nowhere.

Now, on to the couple. With the sped-ran confession, I was expecting some type of affection to be sown between the two, but I was not expecting a full on sex scene in the middle of the forest. The sex scenes come out of nowhere in this book. I usually am not affected by random sex scenes, but these were super… interesting. Shoving someone down and just shoving it in without any prep or lubrication just made me feel so off. I could only imagine the pain that had to have caused Wei Wuxian. I could not think any of the scene was sexy as it was being described. For fucks sakes use some lub, do a little foreplay! It felt so dry (pun not intended) while reading that it threw me out of the story.

For the extras, I only enjoyed a few. The family banquet extra was cute, it was kinda domestic to think that Lan Wangji went and made food for Wei Wuxian because he knew the Lan food is… not his favorite. It shows another caring side from Lan Wangji towards Wei Wuxian.

The incense burning was what I was expecting the extras to be about. Focusing on WangXian and them living together after the events of the story come to an end. With the amount of lustful energy, I was expecting a few sex scenes in the extras, but once again, I had similar reactions to the initial sex scene in the book. It feels so rushed and feels so unsexy to read due to the unrealistic way it begins. I will say, seeing the difference between Wei Wuxian’s dreams and Lan Wangji’s dreams. Wei Wuxian wants to see the two retire and live together and the most scandalous part is that they were about to bath together. Lan Wangji thinks back to their teenage years and imagines him taking Wei Wuxian on the floor. The horny energy is strong in this one.

Now, the villainous friend extra left me in a mini reading slump. I was so bored because even though I thought it was neat that we got to know a bit more about the psycho Xue Yang, that was not what I was wanting out of the extras. I don’t care that much about him to want an entire extra about him, I also hate seeing Jin Guangyao so I really just tired to get through that one.

Now gate crasher was a nice extra to read. We got the couple interacting and the inclusion of fan favorite junior Lan Sizhui! I loved seeing them go through a whole mission and step by step show Lan Sizhui how to handle situations like this alone in the future. I love this extra the most out of all.

The iron hook was another good one, but for some reason did not keep my attention like gate crasher. I did love seeing all the juniors working together again, and seeing the seniors lead them well. I have nothing negative to say about this one, but I also don’t have a raving review either.

Lotus seeds was almost sad in the way Lan Wangji ventured so far in an attempt to feel close to Wei Wuxian. I didn’t love this one, it was just okay to me. I honestly don’t remember a whole lot of the beginning, I only think about Lan Wangji and his tracking to the lake in order to taste the fresh lotus seeds.

Yunmeng was the story that also got the colored comic in the back of the book. It shows such a cute domestic date between WangXian and I loved it so much. There was no tension, no risk, only a fun walk around Wei Wuxian’s hometown.

From dawn till dusk is another cute WangXian extra where they are both lustful and domestic. Wei Wuxian jumped through the window and cuddled up to Lan Wangji. Lan Wangji took care of Wei Wuxian after tiring him out, ensuring he was properly bathed. They review the junior's field reports. Everything is just so low key and I really enjoyed this one, it’s a very close second for my favorite extra in this book.

Chapters: 27/? Fandom: 魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Meng Yao/Lan Xichen/Nie Mingjue, Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian, Jiāng Yànlí/Jīn Zǐxuān, Possible others as series progresses Characters: Madam Jīn, Mèng Shī, Madam Yu, Meng Yao, Lan Wangji, Lan Xichen, Wei Wuxian, Niè Míngjué, Niè Huáisāng, Wen Ning, Wēn Qíng, Wēn Ruòhán, Jīn Guāngshàn, Lán Qǐrén, (List will expand as needed) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Oops - I did it again, Drabble turned to full story, Not exactly the same as the drabble, Meng Shi just wants her baby to be loved., Meng Yao just wants to make his mama happy., Madam Jin just wants to geld her husband. Summary:

When Madam Jin learns that her husband's fathered a bastard on a whore in Yunping, she decides Something Must Be Done. She didn't expect that Something to be including Meng Shi into her little circle of friends and starting a spy network.

I’m picturing Lan Wangji (insert your own favorite danmei or xianxia character here) hustling to some night hunt with his tools of the trade (guqin Wangji, snacks for Wei Wuxian, change of clothes, etc) and trying to sneak up on some resentful being and something in his sleeve/bag bumps against the strings and makes a muffled racket eliminating the element of surprise.

How about when he and Jiang Cheng manage to get back all the swords confiscated by the Wens and they have all these bits and pieces of metal in qiankun pouches and every third step is “Clang! Clang”?

Do qiankun pouches come with silencing linings?