A thread on why I think that Jiang Cheng hate stems from double standards, ignorance and misunderstandings.

If you disagree with anything I write, please feel free to tell me. A reminder to read to the end before commenting or qrting. This is a long one, so please bear with me. Obviously, it will also contain spoilers.

Btw, this is coming from the novel, NOT CQL. A lot of fans are coming from CQL, but sorry, not sorry, it's just a glorified fanfiction to me.

I do believe that they did the best they could under China's censorship laws, and I appreciate it but they changed quite a few of the story's original aspects. I'm overall very critical of your opinion if your knowledge of the story comes from there only. Pls read the novel :)

OK let's begin with the master list of why JC is hated:

1.he's is an ungrateful ass
2. He is a coward for not standing up for his brother and the Wens
3.he’s evil because he led the siege and only cares about his reputation

4.His torturing of demonic cultivators
5.He's bitter, bad-tempered, hypocritical and jealous
6.He treats JL badly and is a bad guardian
7. He is homophobic (aka the Jiang ancestral hall scene)

1.He's ungrateful

Okay, so apparently, he's supposed to be grateful for a handful of things. In particular, this discussion circulates around the golden core transfer. He's supposedly meant to kowtow towards WWX for something he never asked for.

Let's keep in mind that as an audience, of course we know that his golden core was never restored and instead, was replaced, but JC certainly didn't. Throughout the story, JC is kept in the dark about a lot of events.

Out of love, WWX secretly transferred his golden core into JC. This was done in order to comfort his shidi, to help his shidi, to withhold his promise made to YZY and JFM.

And did this backlash at the end? Yes. WWX has no idea that this secret was revealed to JC in the way it was, and JC's whole life is suddenly a completely lie. Quoted by WN, it's means that maybe, he's rly "never going to be equal to WWX".

He's heartbroken. He's been lied to. Betrayed, even worse than he thought. And more than anything, he's hit with the reality that his accomplishments, his strengths, his effort. Everything he's done. Everything he's become.

Can it even be called his anymore? It's now all buried under the fact that it was all done with a core that wasn't even his to begin with.

Did he have a right to be angry. Yes. He's been lied to. He would've never accepted the core if he knew that it was WWX's. Contrary to popular belief, JC loved and cared for his shixiong as much as WWX cared and loved him back.

But don't forget the reason why JC lost his core to begin with. I feel like a lot of ppl forget this, which is surprising considering that it's one of the biggest revelations made at the end of the story. It's the scene that consolidates that JC never hated WWX at all.

Not that this never rly needed consolidation, considering that he never adopted a dog, plus kept AND cleaned Chenqing for 13 years.

Anyway, the whole point is that JC doesn't have to be grateful for something he's never asked for, neither would he consent to it, if he had known the truth. Let's stop pitting WWX and JC together, haven't they already been through this in canon?

Moreover, he's also supposed to be grateful to WN and WQ, but I also don't think that this is necessary. Why? Well, bc he literally doesn't even KNOW them. He barely ever interacts with them bc he's passed out for more than half the time.

He wakes up betrayed, traumatized and horrified that both him and WWX are with Wens, and is knocked out again within a matter of seconds. He doesn't know what WN did and he certainly doesn't know WQ.

All the interactions are made with WWX, and WWX definitely doesn't tell JC about it after everything, bc 1. the secret will be revealed and 2. it was too late to say anything about it.

To JC, for years, WN is the guy who killed his brother-in-law. No one ever explains the situation at Qiongqi path to JC. He has absolutely no idea that it was an accident. Once again, this is another 'we know bc we're the audience' moment. Literally, no one else knows.

And righteously, WQ and WN go to 'confess' at Jinlingtai that yes, they were responsible for the death of JZX. So how is JC supposed to know that they weren't. He doesn't know them at all. And once again, he didn't ask for the core. So no, he doesn't need to be grateful.

2.He is a coward for not standing up for his brother and the Wens

I guess, this leads us to this point. The only way I can properly explain this is to say that the decision was very much politically driven.

I strongly believe that JC would've stood by WWX's side if he could, much like how WWX would most definitely stand by JC. But like always, the canon universe is against them.

Let's take into consideration, the position of the Jiang Sect at the end of the Sunshot campaign. JC and WWX were always together. They fought together and while WWX was occasionally with LWJ, what was JC doing?

He definitely wasn't hanging out with others as we know from his limited amount of friends. And he rly didn't need to considering that he was going to have WWX by his side for life. JC was trying to rebuild the Jiang Sect back to it former glory.

He has no advisors or elderly sect members who he could confide in, his whole sect was massacred for gods sake.

In addition to this, the Lan, Jin and Nie sect had formed alliances, leaving the Jiang sect out. This very much politically isolates Yunmeng Jiang. If anything were to happen, of course, they would side together. And who would the smaller sects follow, hm?

The three major sects with 3 established leaders with thriving sects? Or the Jiang sect with the youngest sect leader in history and is still rebuilding? Who supposedly can't even control his head disciple?

And then, WWX suddenly defects for the Wens. The very sect that was responsible for the Jiang sect massacre. JC is a character driven by responsibility and duty, which I don't believe is wrong. Were the sect remnants innocent? Yes. Are the ppl in the Jiang sect innocent. Also Yes

As a sect leader, he doesn't have the same freedom as WWX who can do whatever he wants. JC is responsible for the lives of hundreds under his sect and he cannot sacrifice this to help the 50 or so wen remnants. It would be a political disaster.

Especially when the Jins were manipulative ass bitches.

He isn't a coward. He's caught between a rock and a hard place. Choose your feelings or your responsibility. Of course, he has to choose the latter. He specifically tells WWX that if he continued to walk down that path, he would no longer have the power to protect him.

Hence, why WWX and JC both agreed to stage the defection, bc they both knew that the Jiang sect would be incapable of protecting them.

And despite all this, he still risked his reputation to take JYL dressed in her wedding robes to Yiling to show WWX, bc he didn't want him to miss out on seeing their sister in her happiest moment.

And even suggested for WWX to come up with JL's courtesy name, bc he didn't want WWX to feel left out.

This whole point was a bit weird for me to write bc I thought everyone understood this very clearly as it's directly pointed out in the novel. Furthermore, if anyone were to blame JC for not taking in the Wen remnants, this ought to be extended to LWJ, no?

He also knew about who was at Burial Mounds, but why didn't LWJ do anything about it?

Well, first of all, he wasn't that close to WWX. At most they were acquaintances, or school classmates. But also, bc it would also be a political suicide.

Let's face it. The moment WWX chose to defect and protect the Wens, his fate was sealed. No one would be able to side with him, not when he was protecting the 'enemies' of the cultivation world. Not when he was using demonic cultivation. Not when he angered quite a lot of people

3.He’s evil because he led the Burial mound siege and only cares about his reputation

Again, this is political as well. WWX had gone too far at Nightless city, killing thousands of ppl, and no, there was no one who was going to, nor could, stand by his side.

Yes, JC led the burial mound siege, but so did the other 3 sects. They all played a role in WWX's demise. And in the end, JC didn't even kill WWX. It was WWX's own use of demonic cultivation that backlashed and caused him to be ripped to shreds.

It's adorable that anyone would think that JC could stand a chance against the rest of the sects when it came to this. Do you honestly think that the other sects would let him off if he didn't participate? WWX initially came from the Jiang Sect.

Naturally, everyone would blame the Jiang Sect. It's a 'take responsibility for your disciple' kind of thing. You have to remember, JC as the sect leader, is the embodiment of the Jiang sect.

He can't always go with what he wants bc he needs to protect his sect above everything else. So yes, his reputation matters bc he's a sect leader. And his sect matters most. It's called fulfilling responsibilities.

Would JC want his brother to die? No, of course not. He barely had time to grieve for the lost of his sister, and all of a sudden, his brother is being added onto the list.

And now, he's truly all alone.

And he dealt with it in a rly unhealthy way as well. I believe someone who dealt with WWX's death well is LWJ. He's upset that WWX died, but has accepted it, and tries to live his life as best as he can. Kudos to him. Proud of him.

JC definitely did not though. His character arc is literally him waiting for his brother to come back to him. He spends 13 years chasing after the ghost of his brother, finding every single rumoured demonic cultivator.

For years, he never entered a Emperor's smile shop to buy alcohol, despite stopping in front of it many time. For years, he kept and cleaned Chengqing, bc he believed that if WWX were to come back, he would find his flute first.

For years, he never adopted a dog, despite his love for them, bc he wanted lotus pier to be a place where WWX could always return to.

We give LWJ a lot of credit for waiting for WWX, but JC certainly doesn't get enough credit.

4.His torturing of demonic cultivators

Speaking of demonic cultivation, point 4 involves JC torturing demonic cultivators. I can already feel ppl coming in and being like "Oh you're defending him TORTURING people, you are utterly disgusting", and yea, no. Let me explain.

To start this off, we know how badly rumours can be exaggerated. We can see this from what happened to WWX and then to JGY after his passing as well. So who's to say that these rumours aren't exaggerated.

Sure, they're probably true to an extent, but there must be a line drawn. We learn about this from 2 ppl. 1. is JL himself who says that JC hunts down every single supposed demonic cultivator if he can and 2. From an inn keeper who heard it from a civilian.

Now, a civilian naturally isn't exposed to the same horrors that a cultivator would be, so naturally, they would be far more frightened.

It's strange bc we do get hints about JC torturing ppl, but ppl tend to twist it to JC killing ppl. Never once does it say in the novel that he killed them. Overall, there's not enough information about this in the novel at all. It never specifies how many ppl were tortured.

Could it be hundreds? Yes. Could it be like 5 ppl? Also yes. But then again, isn't demonic cultivation supposed to be difficult? Which is why a prodigy like WWX was able to use it.

If so, then I doubt there would be many ppl who dare to use it, after seeing WWX's demise, and even if they had the guts to, it would be difficult to master.

Would it be wrong if JC tortured innocent ppl? Yes, of course. But were they innocent? Or were they actually playing around with demonic cultivation? They must've been doing something sketchy for it to reach JC's ears.

Also, we tend to forget that demonic cultivation is bad.

Think about it rationally, if JC torturing demonic cultivators was wrong, why didn't the other sects stop him? Surely, they could all gang up on him, especially, since he would be sorely outnumbered. But they didn't. Why? BECAUSE DEMONIC CULTIVATION IS BAD.

I can't believe the amount of times I have to say this. It's considered incredibly disrespectful to the dead. Their role as cultivators is to help the dead leave this world, relieve them of their anger and allow for them to rest in peace. Demonic cultivation is doing the opposite

By digging up their bodies, not only are you stopping them from continuing in the cycle of reincarnation, but you're also causing resentment to build up. Which is a huge no.

Just bc the main character is doing something, doesn't make it good. Especially when said character is supposed to be morally grey.

Anyhow, if you're triggered by JC supposedly "torturing" people, aren't you also forgetting that WWX also tortured ppl? Keep your double standards to yourself, thanks :)

But rly, is there anyone in MDZS who hasn't killed people? Every character has been through war. Every character has killed, every character has done something wrong. And we love their complexity.

A lot of ppl use this point to say that JC hated WWX and I don't think he ever did. It's funny bc for someone who insisted that MXY was WWX, the moment WWX outed him self at koi tower, JC didn't utter a single word to expose him.

5.JC is a bitter, bad-tempered, hypocritical and jealous

Okayy, to start this point, I'm going to quote the immortal words of Wang Zhuocheng and say that that "Jiang Cheng is very miserable". And I believe everyone would be, too, if you were living in his shoes.

I actually find JC quite forgiving if you consider his circumstances.

Ever since he was 9, he's been overshadowed by WWX and this has been grounded into him by his mother, who keeps pushing him to do better, and his father, who disregards him for WWX. So yes, I would be jealous asf.

The environment that all three of the Yunmeng siblings grew up in, really just ain't it. It's really mentally draining. Before anyone jumps in to say that JFM is a very typical Asian parent bc he doesn't praised JC, I just want to say that he rly isn't.

You know who's an Asian parent? YZY is. LQR is. JFM isn't. The thing with Asian parents is that you NEVER ever question their love for you, bc at the end of the day, you know that they love you.

The fact that JC even thought that his father didn't love him speaks on so many levels. It isn't a situation of "oh I won't praise my son, bc I want him to do his best", it's just neglect.

At the very least, if he wasn't going to praise his son, he shouldn't have been praising any other child either, especially not in front of your own son.

WWX can't even say anything to debunk JC's thoughts apart from saying "nahh Jiang-shushu surely doesn't hate you" so he tells JC that he'll stay by his side forever. And he doesn't get the chance to do that obviously.

Furthermore, as much as it pains me to say this, both JYL and WWX never rly tried to smoothen out this wrinkle, just brushed it off with false comfort. So can anyone blame JC for how he reacts and feels?

I can bet that anyone in his shoes would've reacted in the exact some way. Yes, jealousy is an ugly emotion, but JC has been looked down on for YEARS. And no matter how hard he tries, he just can't seem to fulfil his parent's wanted him to do.

I see a lot of people calling JC hypocritical for allowing WWX to use demonic cultivation at the beginning and then turning on him at the end and...JC was very against demonic cultivation at the beginning. Remember during cloud recesses when WWX spoke about demonic cultivation?

After the class, JC warned him "you better not try it". And he scolds WWX when he first finds him using it at cloud recesses, of course, after shielding him from LWJ. And WWX promises, "I won't use it again".

I wouldn't say he was ever fully okay with it. He lets it off bc it helped them during the Sunshot campaign and there seemed to be nothing wrong with WWX.

He doesn't go against him bc he's using demonic cultivation, he's forced to go against WWX bc of the situation WWX has put himself into. JC simply cannot back WWX up anymore, since he cannot risk the Jiang Sect like that.

When they were younger, it was much easier. He had no real responsibilities and WWX's actions weren't irreversible.

No matter how heroic, no matter how noble the act, WWX did some things that were executed in all the wrong ways and JC can only protect him from so much.

Moreover, reducing JC to a character who is always angry is just, no.

I agree that JC is bad-tempered but this doesn't always go around yelling at ppl. He's shown to be always yelling bc we see him from the lenses of WWX, so yes, he seems to always be angry.

But that's bc wwx is infuriating sometimes.

He's a sect leader. He's logical and does properly communicate to others. I think a lot of ppl forget that LQR complimented JC whilst he was studying at Cloud Recesses.

Accusing JC of constantly being angry all the time would be similar to accusing LWJ of constantly being emotionless. Both are just so wrong. There's more to them than just a single emotion.

6.he treats JL badly and is a bad guardian

I always laugh aloud whenever I see this point. It's just so ridiculous. I don't even understand how someone can think that JC treats JL badly.

One of his requirements for a future lover is literally "Must treat JL nicely". I don't even know where to begin with this one *big sigh*.

Hmm, what's JC's first lines in the entire story?

"I'm his uncle, do you have any last words?"

He is established as JL's overprotective jiujiu right at the very beginning.

JL talks back to JC multiple times throughout the entire novel without consequence and we all know that if it were anyone else, they wouldn't have gotten away. When JC leaves JL to watch over WWX, JL sneaks him out. Of course, JC would know that JL let him out.

Did he suffer any consequences tho? No. Bc he knows that JC will never hurt him, and can't bear to.

When WWX knocks JL out, JL says, "how dare you hit me, even my jiujiu has never hit me before". Like how can this point even exist.

JC is overprotective to the point where JL needs some space.

Furthermore, JL is spoilt rotten. Sure, anyone could say it's bc of the Jin Sect, but he acts just as spoilt in front of JC to the point where JC calls him a mistress.

I believe that ppl tend to compare JC and LWJ in this and I think that's it's completely unnecessary. Both are probably best of the best parents if you compare them with the generation that raised them. Keep in mind that both of JC's parents are not at all good examples.

In LWJ's case, at the very least he could have assistance from LXC and LQR (who I personally believe is the best father figure of the earlier generation).

JC had no one.

I actually think he did a great job raising JL. The boy grew up well, and is good at heart.

7.He's homophobic

Aha, the infamous Jiang Ancestral hall scene. This whole scene was a mess.

More than anything, i believe JC is calling them out for being utterly "shameless". They were hugging outside in the middle of nowhere, exchanging knowing looks and everything. And JC just silently watched everything haha

Then WWX had the audacity to bring LWJ into the Jiang ancestral hall. Let me reiterate. An ancestral hall is reserved for close family ONLY. WWX lost the right to come into the hall, the moment he defected. So no, he couldn't just waltz into there with LWJ by his side.

He doesn't even speak or associate with the last of the Jiang family. It was just plain disrespectful.

And also, for starters, WWX began the fight.

JC : “Mess around outside however you want, whether under a tree or on a boat, hugging or otherwise! Get out of my sect, get out of anywhere my eyes can see!”

WWX: “Jiang WanYin, you… apologize right now.”

JC: “Apologize? For what? For exposing your thing for each other?”

WWX: “HanGuang-Jun is only my friend—what do you think we are?! I warn you. Apologize right now—don’t make me beat you up!”

And cue LWJ's face turning funny. WWX-ah, LWJ's expression changed bc you said they were only friends, LWJ had nothing against you two being together. *Sighs*

Then WWX threw out a talisman and that exploded at JC's right shoulder. Then he fainted.

Like I said, the whole scene is a mess.

So yea, I don't think JC has anything against gays, it's just the shamelessness.

I recently heard about people trying to assert their supposed moral superiority by saying they hate JC and just ??? I find it absolutely hilarious that they think that by liking any other character, they would somehow be on a pedestal compared to those who like JC hahah.

We've all been in the same morality boat the moment we read about WWX making WC eat himself. There is literally no innocent character in the novel. They've all hurt another person, so yea, we're all reading the same novel here.

Overall, by no means, am I saying that it's necessary for you to like Jiang Cheng.

I understand that he is difficult to like, especially when compared to characters like WWX and LWJ, who are much easier to understand as the story revolves around them, but pls try to understand the other characters as well.

If you think that JC is just a shallow character, I hate to break it to you, but you're mistaken. Very sorely mistaken. He's so complex, wrapped up in so many layers of trauma, betrayal and most of all loneliness.

His character is so heartbreaking simply bc the only thing he ever rly wanted was for his brother to stay by his side and such a simple wish was never able to be fulfilled.

Every single character in MDZS has their right and wrong moments. JC just has it worse bc the whole canon universe conspires against him. It was either choose this horrible situation or choose this even worse situation.

I feel like ppl are probably fed up with JC stans trying to defend him, and trust me, we feel tired as well. I feel disappointed that I even have to write this thread. It's just...not that difficult to understand a side character that's not the main.

If you don't like JC, just avoid his content and stick to the characters you actually enjoy. There's literally no JC stan that cares about why you dislike him. Like literally NONE. Let's just stick to the characters we love and we can all be happy in this fandom.

I make too many of the same threads but every time I talk about this stuff, I feel like this:

But anyway, congratulations on making it to the end :)

ew just ignore the spelling errors, I swear they weren't there when I posted it

I’m just here to say again. IN NO WAY AM I SAYING YOUR SHOULD LIKE JC. Heck, like whatever character you want. Just have a nuanced view of the characters.