Remnants of Filth: Yuwu (Novel) Vol. 1 (2024)

5 'I need them happy and together so much' stars

Rated S for spoilers!!
Not really much plot spoilers, I mostly talk just about their relationship.

I almost made the same mistake with Yuwu as I almost did with SVSSS. Meaning that I was thinking about skipping it because it's not that popular/ nobody is talking about it. I mean, I get it, I love 2ha very much, ranwan is probably my favorite couple, the story is so extra and the pain is so tragically beautiful. But Yuwu is actually just as good. I'm already so invested in the story and I love ximang very much and I have to say that so far it has been almost even more tragic (it seems Meatbun thought that she didn't traumatize her readers enough yet 😭)

The story takes places in the same universe as 2ha but a couple of centuries(?) earlier. Despite that it's recommend to read it after 2ha. So far, there hasn't been much of connection mentioned except for Ji Ba naming, lol (Mo Ran, you haven't dissapointed Wangba army soldiers 😆) but I'm really curious to discover more.

Fanart by 66PATCH

Anyway, let'a continue with the charachters. I'll start with Gu Mang and I think it's not a surprise I got attached to him first. Give me the most pathetic, wet looking meow meow, and I'll be 'yes, that's my baby!' *carefully putting Gu Mang in a little box inside my pocket beside Shen Qiao, Chu Wanning and Tantai Jin* What can I say, guess I'm that predictable.

But seriously, he's such a precious person and he didn't deserve all those horrible things that happened to him. Being slave born, he didn't have much choices for a bright future but he still became a briliant cultivator and achived status of a general. He sacrificed so much for the people around him but faith was still so cruel to him. I absolutely do not blame him for defecting because I simply don't see what other possibilities were left for him, if he wanted to stay true to himself. I only want for him to be left alone from all these nasty people that are hurting him when he's literally down.

The reason it took me so long for Mo Xi to grow on me, is that he's actually one of the people hurting my baby 😢 I do understand how he feels. After all, Gu Mang betrayed him, and not just that, he almost killed him. So yeah, I get it that he wants revenge. Not just because he betrayed him politically but also emotionally. He left him behind and alone, after all the things they've been through together. Later on, we learn how much was he was willing to sacrifice for them to be together. And he completely won me over with how adorably confused and happy he was, realizing that he's in love with his shixiong.

Wait for me. I'll do my best - upon battlefields of blood, I'll make my name, I'll use all my war-won merits for the right to be with you. Wait for me.
I'll give you a home.
Mo Xi's past self had fervently - naively - made this promise in his heart.
[...]
Gu Mang, wait a little longer for me... won't you...?

However, love cannot always solve everything. I know Mo Xi tried to do his best and that he risked his status, position, and reputation, but Gu Mang risked his life for them to be together. And I think that Mo Xi just never truly tried to understand that. Yes, we find out that he also had miserable childhood, that he haven't had it easy in life. We learn all about his sacrifices, especially the ones he made when Gu Mang already left. Maybe I'm just biased toward Gu Mang but in my opinion he doesn't deserve such a strong hate Mo Xi had for him. And considering Mo Xi has upper position again with Gu Mang being a war prisoner.

Fanart by 66PATCH

What is especially tragic about their relationship is that they were actually already quite happy together in the past (if we overlook Gu Mang being a slave and that tehnically they shouldn't be togehter).

Then he darted close and kissed Mo Xi's cheek.
Mo Xi didn't move.
"How come my princess isn't reacting?" Gu Mang murmured, stroking Mo Xi's chin. "Another kiss, then."
[...]
After a strech of silence, Mo Xi said, his face still turned, "I haven't seen you in two months."
"No. Still twelve days to go."
Mo Xi's head snapped around, shooting Gu Mang another fierce glare.

Look how cute they were. Gu Mang calling Mo Xi a princess! And Mo Xi being petulant because he thought that he was the only one pining after his lover.

So, it's even more painfull to watch them being mortal enemies now 😭😭 well, only from Mo Xi's point of view, since Gu Mang lost his memories.

Fanart by etroveria

"Have I hit you before?"
Momentarily confused, Gu Mang shook his head.
"Has he hit you before?"
Gu Mang nodded.
"Then listen to me and ignore him."
They were too close together, the air from the depths of their lungs tangling between their bodies. Mo Xi deliberateley avoided his clear-eyed gaze. "As long as you listen, I'll make him scram."
Another wordless nod.

Only after recovering for several seconds did he speak again, his words clipped with hatred. "I was never the person who didn't care. It was you. I wish I could --"
He stopped.
Gu Mang had reached out, carefully and hesistantly cupping Mo Xi's face. "Don't... Don't be so sad," he said.
Mo Xi whipped around, meeting those limpid blue eyes that looked like they had been washed with seawater. "I don't know what you are talking about."
"But can you... not be so sad?" Gu Mang said slowly and with difficulty, pausing slowly at each word. "Don't be sad."

I'm not crying, you're crying 😭😭😭 as I said, the most tragic thing about their story is that they bascially went from alright to worse. At least in 2ha, ranwan had a horrible past and are getting better in the present, while ximang are getting... well, not better 😭😭😭 but Mo Xi is slowly melting, so there's still hope ✨

As Gu Mang's limbs gradually began to recover, he unconciously began to shudder, his bloody hands quivering incessantly.
After a long while, Gu Mang started to mumble. "I... don't know... I don't know... anything..."
[...]
Other than Gu Mang's half-concious mumbling, there were no other sounds in the Chamber of Ice. Eventually, amid this hush, Mo Xi heard him mutter something new:
"I...want, I want... a..."
Mo Xi was stunned. "What?"
Gu Mang's voice softened further, almost as faint as a mosquito's buzz. Tearful, trembling, shaking: "home..."
This final word drifted down, soft as willow fluff, but it exploded in Mo Xi's ears like a clap of thunder.

Honestly, this scene was everything!! (Mo Xi left him his coat!!! 🥰🥰🥰) And he always takes such good care of him whenever Gu Mang is hurt. Now, let's just work on not letting him get hurt in the first place. *sigh*

He gazed into Gu Mang's eyes. Gu Mang had collapsed, limp in his arms.
Mo Xi had a sudden irrrepressible urge to press his head to Gu Mang's clammy forehead, like he had long ago, before anything had broken beyond repair. To caress Gu Mang's sweat-soaked brow and tell him. Don't worry, you'll be all right once the curse is broken, I'll stay with you...
I'll stay with you.

He stroked Gu Mang's hair, softly coaxing him, "It's okay, it's okay... It's all over now... all over now..."
The pain was over.
If only their debts and hatred could be so easily cast away. If only the chasm between them could be closed as quickly as the end of this agony. If only.
He held and comforted the trembling man in his arms. No one saw; even Mo Xi himslef was unwilling to bear witness, closing his eyes before gently laying a kiss at the top of Gu Mang's head.

I'm just gonna briefly mention Murong Lian, former Gu Mang's owner (actually, I think he still owns him) because I hate his guts. Seriously, this guy gets on my nerves so much! I have to admit, he's an interesting charachter but I wish I could drown him in a spoon. I just hope the author will not redeem him in the future or make me feel sorry for him, because I'm completley content with hating him. But... I have to say it would be very funny if he's gonna be the reason ximang will get back together. Because it seems he's really determined to get Mo Xi to confess his feelings.

"Xihe-jun, even with all these peerless beauties before you, you want neither the women nor the men. Ah, I think-" He smiled maliciously. "The one you yearn for... is actually your enemy, isn't it?"

I have no idea who this is. The mysterious Fourth Uncle, Murong Chuyi. But he looks very dashing in this ilustrations and Yue Chenqing is so obsessed with him, so let's give him a chance to prove himself.

Vol 2, don't hurt me too much, please?!

I was not expecting this story to be as dark and angsty as it was. 😭 Nevermind the emotional, mental, and spiritual abuse that Gu Mang had to endure his entire life, the sheer amount of physical abuse he had to put up with was sickening. It was hard listening to Mo Xi’s grievances against him when it didn’t seem like he fully understood just how harsh his life was. He was a slave with incredible natural talent. He outshined his master and was ruthlessly punished for it. Even when he was needed in war against their enemies, the people of Chonghua still looked down on him. He wasn't respected, and his accomplishments earned him nothing.

Even though I know there has to be more to why Gu Mang defected, honestly, after risking my life to defend the nation as one of its greatest generals, only to be stripped of my title and denied burial of my fallen brothers, all because I was born a slave...I’d want to do the same thing. While Mo Xi was getting his accolades and worrying about when they were going to meet up again, Gu Mang was spiraling. I don't know if Mo Xi could have done anything to stop him from going down the path he took, but he certainly didn't seem to be helping. Even though I liked him, he frequently came across as insensitive and unaware.

Despite how painful this was to read, I really enjoyed it. The plot immediately grabbed my attention - not something that usually happens with the first volume of a danmei - and the pacing was so good that I never felt bored. The mystery comcerning Li Qingqian is just beginning, and I'm curious to see why he's changed so much over the years and what connection, if any, he has with Gu Mang beyond the events of this book. 4 stars

"I will give you a home. I want to stay with you, always. [...] Wait a little longer for me... won't you…?""

F*ck meatbun who always delivers the best characters 🥲

I thought Erha was heart wrecking enough. But no, she had to write another masterpiece. And I feel this will be worse for my soul (although shorter).

Mo Xi, the protagonist in this book might be my favourite MC of most danmeis I've read. He falls in the cliche of 'stoic, serene men' that deep down are just horny bastards. But here, we see that he loses control easily and has quite some rage inside him.
I think it's soon to say that, but I love him. He's just tired of losing people he loves.

Gu Mang is the other main character. My god, does he suffer a lot. When you think he's gonna be a little bit better, NO, he gets stabbed, poisoned, drugged or anything worse. And -minor spoilers here - he fucking loses his memory?? When they are finally reunited?? And now he thinks he's a wolf and no a human? And he is now a prostitute what I can't-

The supporting characters aren't bad either but the book is very centered in the two mains -no complaints here- so we don't see much of them.

Boy did a cry with this book. It wasn't even forced. All flashbacks were so tender, so cute and you just compare it with the present... Not a funny thing at all. I even cried with the little smut scene because they said so many things that never got accomplished 🥲

I've been rumbling a lot so I'll stop here. I know some people will find this book disturbing because of the heavy mature themes that are addressed here. I really didn't mind,the author just wrote them perfectly.

Go to Hell Seven seas for not publishing the next book until October 😠

"One could have said that he'd lived twenty-seven years without ever making a single mayor mistake. Except for Gu Mang. [He] was like ink on paper or mud in snow, the suggestive smear of blood left upon the pristine white of a gentleman's bedsheets. He was the stain on Mo Xi's life. "

“One could have said that he’d lived twenty seven years without making a single major mistake.
Expect for Gu Mang.”

Heartbreak, betrayal and love all intertwine to create this phenomenal read.

“Gu Mang had been his companion, his rival, his shixiong, his comrade in arms - and in the end, Gu Mang became an enemy he was meant to slaughter.”

I absolutely loved this book - the way the characters are depicted, the plot, and the word building are all immaculate.

The characters are probably my favourite thing about this.
Mo Xi is your typical serious MC who has a pristine reputation and takes everything really seriously - until it comes to Gu Mang, his one and only soft spot.The way Mo Xi tries to protect Gu Mang the whole way even though they’re supposed to be enemies and what happened in the past? Chefs kiss. Also, Gu Mang as a character is so tragic - he was just trying his best to survive but always got the short end of the stick due to his background. I absolutely adored the relationship between the two and really can’t wait to see how it develops! (The snipets we got of their past relationship made me tear up due to how different it is now).

The way it ends on such a cliffhanger made me flip the pages again to make sure I didn’t miss anything.

All in all this is an amazing start to a new series and I absolutely can’t wait to continue it. I really thought 2ha was solidified as my favourite danmei but this might just beat it.

3/5stars

I really struggled to rate this one because I'm very torn about it. I feel like this book has SO MUCH POTENTIAL, but this actual BOOK was not my fave. Maybe it was because it was so hyped up for me, but this just really fell flat - I've been told it gets better later, which is why I'm holding out hope though!

But, I just found these characters very lackluster - I guess I was expecting a similar unique, fun, quirky cast of characters as we get in Erha where every character is very unique and fleshed out and truly feel like their own person, and you can see how/why each of them is important. But, in this, I honestly disliked or didn't care for every single character besides Mo Xi - but even he annoyed me tbh. I also fuckin HATED Murong Lian - not because he's a bad person but he was SUCH a lame "villain." He was so stereotypical and had absolutely zero depth to him.

I also think this honestly went in a very odd direction. I found the beginning fascinating but after it was revealed that Gu Mang had lost his memories, I honestly thought it was kind of lame. I feel like the whole fun behind this premise that I was excited for was the emotional baggage from the two of them and their past - but we don't really get that when one of them can't remember that past....

I also found this to be a LOT of tell rather than show. It felt like every chapter was just repeating over and over and over AND OVER about the same part of their past and EXPLAINING that gu Mang and Mo Xi were close rather than actually showing us it through flashbacks or anything. Honestly, it felt like this story should have started a lot earlier... I feel like I just don't really care about what's happening because I don't care about Gu Mang/Mo Xi or their history/backstory together because I've only been TOLD about it.

But, I'll be trying volume 2 right away to see if this story gets any better - I have high hopes!!

To say this was sad would be an understatement. I knew it was going to be, I just didn't know it was going to punch me in the gut with such heavy angst within the first 40 pages. The first three quarters of this book you spend them either being sad because of something Mo Xi's remembering or something he sees is being done to Gu Mang and in turn makes him remember something even sadder than the present or something that makes the present that much more heartbreaking.

Gu Mang just makes my heart hurt and we don't even know exactly what happened to him; although I can't believe his defection took as long as it did, because they treated that poor man worse than trash on the street even when he was the most loyal of men. Mo Xi's feelings are totally understandable, and his internal war about hating Gu Mang and just wanting to know whether GM felt remorse after leaving him had me tearing up with him. I also love that MX is a crybaby because I needed someone to cry alongside with. These two men are so beyond tragic.

The storyline is easy to follow along, and despite the court politics, there aren't that many characters or things happening at the same time, so it's easy to keep up with. I'm really curious to see how, if ever, they will get GM's souls and mind back and if MX will ever get answers. Murong Lian is so freaking annoying and unnecessarily nasty, and I want somebody to smash his head in... or just give him a nice little punch to the nose. Either way, I'm glad I have the next volume ready and waiting.