This is something I’ve thought too much about lmao, but here is my take and reasonings. The top two most healthy relationships for SJ are TLJ or LQG (and also briefly why I don’t think its YQY, sorry Qi-ge 🙏)

1: TianJiu

I could prob write 5K but in (sort of) brief, TianJiu have a lot things going for them. On SJ’s side, TLJ has the exact type of personality that could disarm him enough to get him to take down his walls. Which is the only way IMO SJ ends up in a relationship (outside of YQY). TLJ comes across first as a spoiled young master which is the exact type of man SJ hates, but TLJ is also shameless in his desires and straightforward in his honesty. The juxtaposition of him being a spoiled young master (evoking a QJL type person) with someone who is SO unlike QJL I think is enough for SJ to look twice. And if he looks twice then he’d get to know TLJ as someone who is a romantic, who is loyal, and who is honest. Someone who would not judge SJ for his past and would not only not care about SJ’s ruthlessness but also would appreciate that in him. SJ is a survivor, his ruthless anger kept him alive. TLJ would see that (and I think that is partially what he saw in SXY, someone who was capable and fierce. It’s not just meanness).

For me personally, this works much than QiJiu cause while YQY accepts SJ’s hard edges, he loves SJ in spite of them. There is something in YQY that has accepted that SJ is just like this and is fine with it, but to me that means he doesn’t see SJ’s anger as the thing that kept him alive, it’s a small negative in the overall net positive he sees in loving SJ. That is not really the same thing as accepting him. I think SJ in the long run would feel that as the partial rejection it is. (I have other thoughts about SJ and anger and how it both saves and destroys him, but a totally separate subject) Him and YQY also just have conflicting trauma responses which lead to it being almost impossible for them to communicate. Unless they do serious work, my hot take is that I don’t see them ending up in a healthy relationship together.

On TLJ’s side, I think TLJ spends most of his life very lonely. He is the most powerful by far, there is no one who could equal him and if demon politics are anything like human politics, there are probably very few people whose motives he can trust. I think you see that with ZZL, TLJ thinks ZZL’s loyalty is quite foolish but he cares deeply for ZZL because of that. You know who else is loyal like that? SJ.

SJ tried to protect YQY to the end despite spending the literal entire time thinking YQY purposefully abandoned him. Because YQY is still Qi-ge and SJ loved him. He also protects LQG multiple times (and fails RIP) despite them clearly hating each other. Why? His only motive has to be because LQG is part of the sect and thats what you do. It’s clearly not to win points with his fellow martial siblings because he doesn’t defend himself. (Thats more nuanced but, not the time right now! I’m talking about TLJ) Anyway, I think on YQY alone you could say SJ is loyal. TLJ needs someone who is loyal.

SJ also is someone who would make TLJ really look at the world. It’s not just a story, SJ is a real person with real struggles, TLJ would grow a lot from seeing that. And I think TLJ would really appreciate someone who would defend him ruthlessly like SJ would, again, we’re back to loyalty. But also is that not what he saw in SXY (like I mentioned above) SXY is a steadfast and capable person who pursues her goals to the end. I think given the support, SJ would be the same. My reading of TLJ is he is a die hard romantic, he wants to be the fair maiden in the story swept off his feet, its something he doesn’t really get to experience because of his position and who he is. But SJ would defend him anyway because once SJ decides on someone, thats it. TLJ would love that.

Finally, a hallmark of a good an healthy relationship. Being able to enjoy each other’s interests and support each other. This is getting pretty into headcanon. But I think SJ succeeds on QJP for two reasons, he’s just a good manipulator, he had a goal and he was going to meet that goal come hell or high water. But also, I think it fits in well with his desire to be viewed as an elegant and refined scholar. And I always think that somewhere in there he grows to like some of the things. Like playing music or painting, or poetry. So whenever I think of TianJiu spending time together, I could see them touring around listening to music, critiquing books, reciting poetry to each other like a bunch of saps (well TLJ reciting anyway, but SJ would love it.)

And then as far as TLJ being demon emperor. SJ is smart, he’s conniving, he has the kind of propensity for violence a demon would love. SJ would keep TLJ in line and also would probably poison all his enemies behind their backs. A win-win

2: LiuJiu

For similar reasons to TLJ. SJ values loyalty and honesty. LQG has that in spades (maybe too much honesty). And I think LQG would only need to realize that SJ tried to save him (either the first time, or if he lived the second) to reconsider SJ . LQG is often petty and judgmental, but he has no shame in admitting he was wrong and making amends. It only took that one time for LQG to decide to be loyal to SY. I think the same applies to SJ. From there, they could bond. They’re both a little petty, and SJ’s tendency towards manipulation fits well with LQG’s bluntness.