#section 4

*Tether by Annerb

summary: post-sunshot AU where lwj is cursed to be in proximity to wwx at all times or become extremely ill. this one is a long fic and a real slowburn, but the development and the characterizations are absolutely incredible for everyone (except a few slipups with wq and jc’s interactions) and it really feels like the commitment to a healthy and freely chosen relationship ala cql. VERY cql-faithful, even when it comes off a little silly. despite a few bizarre plot choices (just stick with it) and rather annoying failures of communication, this is an exceptionally well-done and elaborate work and I do recommend it highly - I do think it's all worth it. it has a few more chapters left, but the author is updating frequently and it’s a completed work. work issues: none, but there’s some…weirdness in how the stygian tiger seal (which is referred to as ~the amulet~) is treated, as if it’s really completely evil. the lack of allowed for gray morality was a little frustrating. author issues: none that I can see

*Odd Geometry by maziodyne

summary: sunshot AU where wwx was not adopted by the jiangs, and is instead a healer in yunmeng, using his unusual qi powers to treat the community for no fee. elemental magic co-exists with cultivation, resulting in a unique and complex magic system. the lead-up to and entirety of the sunshot campaign - and indeed the entire fic - is extremely well-researched the characters are on-point, the ocs are super fun, the action scenes are heart-poundingly exciting, the romance is gentle and tender, the pacing clips along, and the relationships are teased out with incredible heart. absolutely a must-read. mixed canons with characterizations leaning towards cql work issues: none author issues: none! my mutual wrote this and I beta read it!!

*Tie Your Heartstring Up Tight by athena_crikey

summary: non-cultivation AU where lwj is a wu, something like a shaman who spiritually interacts with nature to provide guidance for his sect and balance to the world. he’s asked by jc to find a missing wwx, so he leaves his isolated little home in gusu to go on a journey with a strangely intelligent black hare he takes as a familiar this work is a real treat. so atmospheric! fantastically evocative descriptions of winter landscapes, wonderfully fun relationship banter and chemistry, a unique and yet authentic and well-researched setting, a satisfying little character arc for lwj as realizes the error of his ways and works to account for his mistakes, a thematically appropriate story for our main characters, smooth writing and a clean, fresh style. somber and grounded and sincere for the most part, just as lwj himself is, with wwx’s bright playfulness and sense of humor bursting through now and then. I have mixed feelings on how the conflict at the end was resolved bc I don’t think it fit the themes perfectly, but on the whole I found the ending quite satisfying work issues: ngl this xue yang was literally a homophobic stereotype. extremely suggestive and flirtatious in a pushy and repulsive way, implied to be perverse and unwholesome because he was wearing makeup, treated as though he was sexually predatory…it was really weird. he didn’t act like that in the book or any of the shows! author issues: omegaverse, forced courtesanship….egg-laying? just thought I’d mention that one but honestly I don’t even mind, uh one where wwx has to provide a dowry. like. ugh, why?

*here is a map with your name for a capital by zerodignity

summary: the second in the series that contains his hands keep turning to birds and flying away from him (him being you) postres, wwx and lwj are traveling while trying to solve the mystery of the cursed arm. lwj is full of feelings he doesn’t know how to name and embarrassed of the potential of them not being returned. wwx is likewise nervous to be vulnerable, and has an unnamed gender dysphoria to boot their conversations around wwx’s identity during and after they get together are really lovely and poignant. I liked how wwx’s dysphoria during intimacy was managed. I also appreciated how inexperienced lwj was. overall a unique concept with impeccable cql characterizatio the one odd thing is that lwj went from extremely insecure and unsure about wwx’s feelings to understanding exactly why he acts the way he does and being determined to tell him how he feels after just one drunken confession scene. the change was so abrupt as to be jarring the tag about ‘sloppiness in regards to consent’ concerned me but I think it was referring to them kissing while wwx had been drinking. during the actual sex scene there’s nothing to worry about. they went slowly and listened to each other really well and respected each other’s boundaries. it was sweet. work issues: see above - drunk kissing author issues: xy/xxc

*come home to my heart by occultings (microcomets)

summary: post-sunshot, wwx and lwj run into a curse that makes them bodyswap! not weird about it at all, mostly lighthearted and silly and sweet romantic angst. almost funny enough to almost be a comedy, but at it’s core youthful and joyful and tender. I smile so big reading this… work issues: none author issues: allusions to cnc. sex pollen, genderbends

some nights we open up the flood by WhenasInSilks

summary: wwx and lwj's post-yi city meanderings on xxc and sl, leading to a tender get-together. atmospheric and poetic. very strong parallels that haunt wwx, and lovely characterizations there was meant to be a second chapter where they have sex (I guess) but it was never written, but the first chapter is tidy and functions perfectly well on its own work issues: none author issues: song lan/xy, xxc/xy, niyao, xiyao. one of their works has 'rape/noncon elements’ tread with caution

while covered in mud by merthurlin

summary: a BM fix-it fic where nhs decides he has a moral compass and shows up to prove to his brother than the wens aren’t a threat. humorous and fun, although rather ooc in premise. the nhs and nmj are so charming in this one, and it’s heartwarming even if it’s not very likely work issues: none author issues: xiyao

hey brother by fensandmarshes

summary: a series focused on trans wwx that follows cql canon, by a trans author.. I liked all the works, but my favorite is you may think you’re winning but checkmate - so raw and devastating. lwj is trans too! work issues: none author issues: none

a quiet room, a night, a dawn by BarbV

summary: a sweet little get-together fic set during the snowy scene in the jingshi. pretty straightforward and nothing particularly remarkable, but the dynamic and dialogue is very similar to how imagine it would go. very gentle, very tender work issues: none author issues: none

*To love you is to know myself by natcat5

summary: oof, what a monster. essentially a retelling of the story from lwj’s pov. it blends novel and cql canon, which wrecks havoc on the characterizations, but the resulting characters and story are so interesting. I like the writing and dialogue quite a lot, and the ending is incredibly satisfying. it skims over things in canon we already saw, so its not too repetitive. also, the title rules unfortunately the section that covers the first siege of BM just drags on so miserably and for so long that I really had to apply myself to make it through. worth it, but whew. also the very end of the main fic has some really nonsensical and contrived conflict but overall it’s a solid work the second work in this series, where wwx and lqr have a confrontation postcanon, is absolutely phenomenal and my favorite fic, bar none, about their relationship mind the notes - when wwx is talking about some ghost women he brought back, he implies sexual violence in their history work issues: none author issues: none

*A Silent Song by SpicyReyes

summary: Deaf wwx AU that otherwise follows canon. this is handled really well, imo. author is working from familial experience and the integration of a Deaf character into canon feels realistic and grounded. it only covers a few scenes in the CR arc of the show before being abandoned, but it’s still worth a read. I would have loved an entire retelling; it was so interesting and the characterizations for everyone, especially wwx, were spot-on work issues: none author issues: none

*Wangxian extra scenes by deliciousblizzardshark

summary: a series of extra scenes slipped into canon, in which wwx and lwj get together far earlier. the series starts back in the cold pond cave, with snippets up until the sunshot campaign. young wwx and lwj are really cute and lwj’s melodrama is endearing and VERY funny, and I like how conscientious and kind wwx is compared to how callous he’s often written despite struggling with a lot of internalized homophobia, lwj is a lot more communicative than in canon, and wwx knows what he wants, so their attraction and regard for each other actually goes somewhere. of course, by the sunshot arc that makes everything even more painful. I like how the emotion was written, and the angst in the last few were just so on-point. also the lwj pov in the last work was darkly hilarious. cql canon work issues: none author issues: none

Covered By Frost and Snowby Siamesa

summary: novel-verse AU where a-qing is taken in by lwj after being attacked and left for dead by xy. I love her in this - even after for living for years with the lans she’s still sneaky, a liar and a thief, slightly manipulative, and cynical. because of her street smarts she feels protective of the juniors and of characters far older than her, including lwj. since she’s so different from the gentry and since she has such a personality, her relationship with lwj (and the rest of the lans) is genuinely unique in anything I’ve read. I also liked the way her past trauma is treated, and how she actually does impact the plot. imagining a world where she survived is so rewarding work issues: a-qing is physically disabled in this one, which I liked most of the time, but her method of communication is often treated exactly the same as speaking, which is annoying because speaking doesn’t have the same mechanics or restrictions author issues: this fic is faithful to novel canon dynamic so all the wx scenes stressed me out. it seems like there was no drunk sex scene which is a relief, but it has everything else + the trope of ‘these adults are so stupid and they need me, a teenager, to get them to admit they like each other’ which made me cringe along with the above, wrote something tagged ‘dark!lwj’ whatever that means

Resilience. by Vrishchika

summary: short novel-based time-travel fix-it in which, four years after wwx’s death, jc uses an array to return to the sunshot campaign and tries to arrange for wwx to be killed by the wens. his actions change things in ways he doesn’t expect. jc is very much his angry, entitled, and homophobic novel self, so the way that his and wwx’s relationship deteriorates as wwx sets boundaries and seeks better treatment for himself with other characters is extremely satisfying. a comforting and honestly quite warm little fic where everything goes right for wwx, nobody dies who didn’t have it coming, and all is well. author uses the phrase ‘silver eyes’ a distressing number of times tho work issues: spoilers ig but lwj goes back in time as well to try to stop jc from hurting wwx, so his eventual relationship with wwx feels slightly creepy to me since this is an older lwj in the body of his younger self and wwx just. doesn't know I guess author issues: genderbends

Warmth in the Snow, a Light in the Dark by names_for_dusk

summary: one part of a longer series that I didn’t find much interest in. already-together wwx and lwj talk, and then sleep together after the snowy jingshi scene. it’s sweet, they’re nearly married. there are some hiccups along the way when wwx isn’t ready to be as vulnerable is lwj is, but they’re working on it. and wwx glad to be alive and present. the first two parts of the series are alright, but the rest look bad work issues: none. there’s slight experimentation with using force during intimacy that freaked me out when I first read it, but when I went back I realized it was honestly fine author issues: wow this person has a lot going on…dubcon, sl/xy, jc/wen ning, all the juniors together, xiyao, niyao

Ask Me Again by moonlitten

summary: not a very memorable plot - typical lwj stays at BM and it solves all the problems - but I’m including it because it’s the only fic in this list that was based on the donghua. this is apparent through the language and characterization choices the author makes, which are rather different from either novel or cql canon. a unique and at times bizarre experience that I quite enjoyed work issues: none author issues: none

This Tornado Loves You by etymologyplayground

summary: a getting-together fic set just after wwx and lwj escape koi tower. there’s no plot, but the style is really fun and I just love the way wwx’s personality is written. strictly novel-verse work issues: not too serious: - wwx admits to kissing lwj when drunk and lwj admits to the pm kiss. obviously it’s good they came clean because they didn’t in canon, but I really don’t like that they did it in the first place, and it wasn’t treated as seriously as I would have liked. neither of them minded! author issues: genderbends

i was craving to mention flags some days ago so this is awesome ( for those who don't know cause I didn't either, vexillology is the study of flags)

Flags are not really a thing for maanuls and kyhuines, they do not feel the need to have a flag to assemble everyone in x region under a single piece of tissue, they kind of see it as a way to just divide their own species by creating a weird nonsensical pride for a flag that supposedly represents them all, when within a single region there are various cultures and subcultures, and nomadic groups. They see their species as like a network of mycelium roots(? idk if that sounds clear), that they can connect to each other no matter where they're from. So the thing of belonging to a flag would feel like an unnecessary barrier

They already don't have no borders so flags? i don't think that would fit them. But colonies do have symbols that translate to where they're from, by that I mean an example is on stustumali's botanist gear. a flat wooden piece with one side saying for example "west", flipping the piece there is the specific name of the colony they're from.

That's something maanuls that go out of the colony for x reason have, kyhuines can use a specific rock only found in their region, a little wooden symbol which is either a plant, animal, or mythical animal that shows they're from x colony that uses that as their little emblem thing which is the closest thing to an actual flag.

But that doesn't mean flags never existed in the history of altuyur! they did appear once, tho unfortunately they appeared in GA for the worst reason: Propaganda. The propaganda of kaar'kchir used a distinct flag to be impactful, and the red troupes seeing how effective it was adapted the same technique. And it did work well,it added to the impactful imagery and made their campaigns more aggressive.

The flag of kaar'kchir section 4 (GA)

now forgive me it's my first time trying to draw the flags correctly so it's not perfect as I'm not specialized in that. But this is the flag created after tamtam became captain of section 4. harboring their distinct color. Compared to the red troupes, they're easily spotted from far because of the green, while the red of the red troupes can hide them a bit in certain biomes.

The flag of the red troupes.

When the council appropriated the north star to use it as a focal symbol in its propaganda it harmed what the north star was about in the first place, for a while during the silver age people were too scared of using that symbol anymore. before had more meaning to it than being related to some terrible group of GA. it was a symbol of myth, power, and wonder for the world around them. But with time, they detached its connection from GA and started reusing them like they used to in their culture. But they still can't put a north star on a single red background with nothing else, that just calls back to the red troupes flags.

Devious branch of Kllte (timsitkah)

Now that's not a flag for a brainwashed military faction like the two above (section 4 and red troupes), but they still used the imagery of having a flag so people would notice them more, if their symbol was "tagged" people would know who did this. Tho they decided to use a square flag to stand out from the rectangle ones.

Now Ktlle is an anti-war, pacifist movement created during GA as a response to the war. Ktlle uses blue clothing to be recognized but does not use flags as they associate that with section 4 and the red troupes. But a devious branch of it ,"timsitkah", led by Äme and Satmuh, who had enough of ktlle not acting started to use violent methods to fight off section 4 and the red troupes. While them using violence is understandably justified when it comes to fighting against military oppresing factions, they still got banned from ktlle because ktlle did not accept any use of brutality in their group as they wanted to continue traditional philosophical rules of the two species, that any violence equals stupidity and spiritual blindness. That banned devious branch left, and then made up their own faction on their side, with a flag/symbol (the timsit worm), thus is how Timsitkah was created.

Although the start of timsitkah was quite messy, and unorganized. It had people in their rank wanting that wanted to use radical tactics, these people were mostly made up of teens and sub-adults that would do acts of literal vile terrorism, using kunsip (a section 4 invention, equivalent of gunpowder) in the name of timsitkah. While these people would get quickly shut off from timsitkah when these accident would happen, section 4 and the red troupes would use the terrorism accidents for more propaganda. Saying that timsitkah is all filled with violent terrorists that would kill civils in the name of their illogical ideologies. Which is completely hypocritical of section 4 and the red troupes to say. but its propaganda, so yeah it will always be stupid.

Ktlle is a full pacifist faction, and Timsitkah wants pacifism to come back AFTER fighting off section 4 and the red troupes and thus going back to times like AOS (tho that new age after GA gets called SA). Timsitkah will not hesitate to kill a member from any of the two military factions, in its ranks it had spies for section4/red troupes. But in the section 4/red troupes there was also spies for Timsitkah, notable people that did that are Qua'tuli (spy the red troupes) and Kaasim (spy in section 4)