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Common Knowledge

Canonical name: Xiu, Mo Xiang Tong
Other names: 墨香铜臭
 Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù
MXTX
Mo Xiang Tong-Xiu
Mòxiāng Tóngxiù
Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
Birthdate: 20th century
Gender: female
Nationality: China
Map Location: China

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171 reviews

jshillingford 1,199 reviews

The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System (Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong) Vol. 03 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Volume 2 had lots of twists as Shen Qingqiu “died” and was resurrected into the new body he had prepared before facing the demon lord version of Luo Binghe. He thought to disappear and live outside the novel, but fate (and the System) finds him right back in the thick of things. He finally has to face that he is now the object of Binghe’s desire, and that Binghe has followed a dark path as a result of Qingqiu’s clueless refusal to see him for who he is, and not as the OP hero of the show more original novel. He begins to reflect on his own actions in light of this and finds that he hasn’t acted much better than his original scum villain self. He succeeded: the hero no longer wants to kill him. But Binghe is broken in a way that Qingqiu doesn’t know how to fix. And since he is no longer the scum villain, that means the story needs a new villain!

Volume 3 introduces new characters and the System has Qinqqiu working to uncover hidden storylines (Including his own body’s spiral into villainy) and filling in plot holes on the way to the novel’s climax. Not only new characters, but existing ones are revealed to be so much more than anyone thought. Qingqiu has matured enough to see all the “characters” as real people and that will forever change how the story ends.

Volume 3 is technically the conclusion of the Scum Villain storyline: the overall story arc is resolved. Binghe and Qingqiu end up together (though their first time is not romantic, or pleasurable – that is left to volume 4). The story remains self-aware, as the System acknowledges this isn’t a stallion novel any longer but a danmei one! Overall, I felt that the story was resolved well, but the romance wasn’t. Happily, there is still volume 4. show less

Dec 31, 20226 other reviews

annarchism 1,874 reviews

The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System: Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong (Novel) Vol. 3 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

The chaotic and confused courtship of Shen Qingqui and Luo Binghe continues, with commentary from various unhelpful bystanders. We meet Binghe's father, Tianlang-Jun:

Shen Qingqui didn't know how to continue this conversation.
Just before, he'd thought this fellow a reasonable sort, but after conversing he'd discovered that Tianlang-Jun was no different from all the final boss villains who set their heart on the ambitious life goal of 'destroying the world and massacring all the heroes'.
But

come to think of it, if a nice young man of noble lineage was sealed under a mountain by a bunch of strange cultivators for that many years, it wasn't surprising that he would turn out resentful.
Shen Qingqui went silent for a moment, then tried to give a co-operative response. "Is the next step exterminating the entire human race?"
"Why would you think so?" asked Tianlang-Jun, confused. "Of course not. I like humans; I just don't like the four major sects."

Volume 3 of Scum Villain continues to combine Carry On-worthy farce with extreme violence, to hilarious effect. Shen Qingqui suffers many indignities and brutalities, which he faces with all the emotional intelligence he can muster (very little). He's realised that Binghe is obsessively in love with him, which is hard to miss as Binghe's behaviour becomes more and more unhinged. An evil sword is partially to blame, to be fair. As well as revelations about Binghe's parentage, the reader learns the grim backstory of pre-transmigration Shen Qingqui. I also found myself with some sympathy for Liu Qingge:

Whenever Liu Qingge was enraged but also unwilling to say more, his go-to expression was always a fierce, aggressive "hey". However, it was completely impotent as a deterrent, so Shen Qingqui simply ignored it.

Although Liu Qingge is undoubtedly long-suffering, it was a real dick move to tell Shen Qingqui that Binghe was dead! No wonder he gets immediately scolded by everyone else present.

Other highlights include but are not limited to: all the facial expressions in the page 132 illustration, Binghe pretending that he's forgotten how to ride a sword, "I am only Shizun's little beast and no-one else's", Shen Qinqui fanning himself so hard 'his folding fan almost turned into an electric one', Mobei-Jun freezing the river, Shen Qingqui asking Shang Qinghua why he isn't dead yet, Shang Qinghua saving Mobei-Jun (who can't fly), Shen Qingqui attempting a post-coital quip to lighten the mood and instead coughing up blood, the nun triplets pestering Liu Mingyan for autographs, Shen Qingqui insisting he's an anti not a fan, Tianlang-Jun's detachable limbs, and the impressively horrible mausoleum traps. By the end of this volume, Proud Immortal Demon Way has completed its evolution from stallion novel to danmei, but there remains much to be resolved in Shen Qingqui and Binghe's relationship following their literally excruciating sex scene. I very much look forward to the final volume! show less

Aug 4, 20246 other reviews

annarchism 1,874 reviews

The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System: Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong (Novel) Vol. 2 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

I read the second volume of Scum Villain as soon as it arrived and was highly entertained. I'm finding it the funniest of the MXTX series, due to Shen Yuan/Shen Qingqiu's narration, the absurdity of the setting, and the sheer chaos of the plot. Shen Qingqiu's incredible lack of self-awareness continues! He does eventually realise that Luo Binghe is in love with him when Binghe kisses him in a dreamscape. Tragically, Binghe is such a bad kisser that Shen Qingqiu remains unaware of his show more reciprocal attraction. He never fails to comment on Binghe's handsomeness, though. ("Not just good looking, he's very good-looking, especially good-looking. Fair skin, pretty tall. He doesn't smile very often, but when he does, it's exceptionally dark.") I've never known a character who makes internalised homophobia so hilarious. He has at least reluctantly realised that he may not be in a stallion novel anymore.

Meanwhile, Binghe has developed a habit of tearing off his Shizun's clothes and brutally murdering anyone who says something mean about him, not to mention the necrophilia?! I appreciated the fact that everyone around them thinks their relationship is deeply weird and there is much gossip about it, even a popular ballad.

Aside from the amusingly disastrous central relationship, I also enjoyed the gruesome monsters, Liu Qingge's sword taxi service, harem members turned underpaid minions, inter-sect feuds, incompetent attempts at travelling incognito, Shang Qinghua always hiding behind Mobei-Jun, uncomfortably friendly snakes, The System's notifications, and the intense bitchiness of every conversation between Liu Qingge and Luo Binghe. Definitely a series to re-read when I need cheering up. show less

Aug 4, 20248 other reviews

annarchism 1,874 reviews

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi (Novel) Vol. 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

[b:Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi (Novel) Vol. 1|58701673|Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation Mo Dao Zu Shi (Novel) Vol. 1|Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1633385186l/58701673._SX50_.jpg|92367991] is the MXTX novel I was most excited for, as getting obsessed with The Untamed was probably the best thing that happened to me in 2020 (tied with escaping academia). I'm feeling a strong desire to watch it for a third show more time, in fact. I already knew that the novel and TV adaptation diverged in various ways, which are of course fun to spot. The novel begins less bafflingly than the show, for one thing. Like the other two MXTX first volumes, the lack of protagonist self-awareness is very funny in MDZS. 'Wei Wuxian didn't think he'd shared any sort of deeply consequential friendship with Lan Wanji in his past life', ha! Wei Wuxian's point of view is delightful and the alternation between flashbacks and the present works very well. I know only too well that deeply upsetting events loom ahead, but this initial volume is largely youthful shenanigans at the Cloud Recesses, mystery investigation with Lan Wanji, and back talk from the endearing juniors. It was tremendous fun to read in one sitting and the illustrations are beautiful. show less

Aug 4, 202414 other reviews

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