Absolutely amazing
An amazing watch! The story ties everything together seamlessly, with every detail connected to the main plot, yet it never feels overwhelming or overly complex. Character development makes perfect sense, and nothing feels abrupt or out of place. Usually, when the FL is portrayed as strong, they turn her into someone remarkable, a genius scholar or martial artist —nothing wrong with that, but it's not the only way. This FL is naive, feminine, and sometimes powerless, but still strong in her own way. The fairy makes pivotal decisions on her own, not "strong" in the conventional sense, but certainly not your typical pure-hearted damsel in distress either. It's so refreshing to see a female lead who is both influential and strong without losing her pure, angelic vibe. If you're looking for a story with love, family bonds, friendships, and a gripping mix of war and politics, all with a dash of humor, don't miss this one!Was this review helpful to you?
Dylan Wang is versatile as Dongfang Qing Cang, the supposedly supreme evil who terrorized the world to gain ultimate power, that even the God of War could not defeat him. Yu Shu Xin is lovely as Orchid, the free-spirited fairy who sees the good in everybody, so she does not equate that a person being imprisoned in a tower could be the same evil that she has been hearing about. The two are sweet and lovely together. The scenes where the oblivious Orchid befuddles the emotionless Dongfang are adorable and funny.
The relationships in this drama are also deep and meaningful, such as the bromance between Dongfang and his henchman Shang Que, or the bro-buddyship between Chang Heng and Rong Hao, the sismance between Orchid and Jie Li. Speaking of which, characters here are multi-dimensional, for example Jie Li, who is as complex as she is simple, neither black or white, and it is indicative of how the realms actually are, rather than what they should be. We learn that not one person is all good, or all bad, be it if they are fairies or demons.
I also loved this drama because the characters go through gradual development, and the plot, though intriguing, is not too intricate to follow. Though there are a lot of fantastical elements, they are believable and logical within its context. The transitions between scenes are also seamless, without jarring flashbacks that are out of place. The CGI is breath-taking and not laughable as in some other dramas I have watched. The production team really outdid themselves with this one. But most of all, LBFAD proves that you do not need over 50 episodes to tell a compelling story.
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Best C-drama of the year!
This drama was outstanding! Never once did I get bored; I watched every scene without fast forwarding – every detail is important, and there’s a lot of detail, which makes rewatching a must. The storyline was gripping and engaging even though it’s the old star-crossed lovers’ plot; only instead of warring families, it’s warring tribes. Most of all, the acting was top-notch, especially by Dylan Wang. This ML shot to the top of my ML Hall of Fame to share top honors with Ah Min-Hyuk of ‘Strong Woman Do Bong Soon’ and Grand Tutor of ‘Be My Princess’. Additionally, the OST was emotionally powerful and the special effects/idyllic setting visually beautiful. Although I didn’t understand a lot about what they were saying – I’m not into primordial spirts, etc. – I was still engaged and understood the basic plot. There were a lot of great messages too about how love overcomes hatred as well as other sins. So, let’s get started on the characters themselves.ML (Dongfang Qing Cang) – he was just badass cool, especially in the earlier episodes as he’s kicking butt with his hellfire. It’s amazing how Dylan Wang could look supremely cold yet dangerously intense at the same time. When he rescued FL from the fairy interrogation in ep 9, all I can say is ‘WOW’! He kicked butt, both old nastypants, the High Wizard or whatever he was, and Changheng’s. Then when he took the rest of the lightning bolts for that bratty brother, another ‘WOW’! I did enjoy him lightening up a bit when he was playing Orchid, but he was best as the badass Supreme Moon. His dream scene in ep 31 was beautiful yet tear-jerking at the same time. He also managed to provide a bit of comedy/cuteness with his grumpiness – especially when they were in the mortal world. I liked how he softened after FL restored his love tree, but he was better as the badass, and the badass returned as he's preparing for his final battle with the evil god.
FL (Orchid) – she was naïve and sweet yet smart and courageous at the same time. Nobody else dared talk back to the Supreme Moon like she did, and I loved when she stood up to Danyin and the other fairies who tried to bully her. I especially loved how ML secretly helped her throw them on their butts during the exam. I literally cheered. I get so tired of seeing FLs just accept the bullying. She was the perfect FL to warm up ML’s love tree. That being said, I didn’t care for her as the Goddess in the last few episodes. Like ML and Changheng (he didn’t seem particularly happy with the change either), I wanted my sweet, bubbly Orchid back. I’m glad at the end, the Orchid we all fell in love with returned to greet ML home.
Second couple: it’s rare for me to be interested in SCs, but I was interested in the Black Dragon and Jieli’s relationship. My only complaint is I wish we’d seen Shang Que in his dragon form more often. It was nice to see the female bestie as a deceitful character needing redemption rather than the typical dingbat.
Changheng was the perfect SML, but at no time did I ever prefer him over ML. I’m glad that he didn’t accept Danyin’s feelings in the end. I’m glad they became friends instead. Not everyone needs romantic love for a happy ending.
The characters I disliked the most: 1) ML’s bratty brother. He was never happy; he was continually whining and causing problems; 2) those Moon people wailing on and on about those 100,000 soldiers instead of considering the burden it placed on ML; and 3) – that hypocritical and merciless brother of Changheng. He was always saying how bad the Moon people were, but he wasn’t much better in terms of behavior/character. He was just as hateful as the Moon tribe.
I liked how the screenwriter avoided a lot of the typical plot devices such as an obsessed female love rival and control freak parents. Yeah, there was a lot of unrequited love going around, and big brother Fairy was an asshole, but this mostly affected secondary characters not our main couple. But, of course, we had to have the noble idiot thing starting with ML and ending with FL. Ok, I can accept sacrificing for someone you love (like ML at the end), but I personally don’t think a leader needs to make such a sacrifice for ‘the people’, especially when most of them are ingrates. The drama managed to only be angsty in the final few episodes, which is a welcome relief.
Although I loved this drama, I have to admit that there were a few unanswered questions like 1) what happened to the spikes that ML had to endure at night? Were they removed after FL withstood the cave?; and 2) how exactly did ML return from the dead? I'm glad he did - don't get me wrong - but they kept saying how if you kill FL, you'll kill ML so apparently killing him was something that could happen yet here he is, alive and well, at the end. So, I wish the drama would have given us a few more minutes at the end to explain and show our MC marrying, etc.
UPDATE: YAY! IQIYI has a special episode (36+) in which ML is talking about his married life with FL. So, so cute and wonderful! Thank you to IQIYI or whoever decided to have mercy on us fans!!!!
There’s so much more I could say, but let me stop here. It was an awesome drama. WATCH IT! YOU'LL LOVE IT! Read less
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Peak Xianxia Romance
This was such a surprise — I didn’t expect it to be this good 😭 Would definitely recommend this! The acting, plot, script, score, cinematography, everything was on point! A breath of fresh air from the usual xianxia we are used to seeing.I especially love how the show incorporates score and OSTs to highlight particular scenes. Absolutely broke my heart when the opening theme song started playing in the later episodes. I was always crying ><
Xiao Lan Hua, my baby!! She’s so so bubbly and cute, I want her to be my younger sister haha. Dongfang Qingcang is of course so cool. I like the way Fairy Danyin subverts the usual xianxia trope of bitchy villain who’s in love with the God. Fairy Danyin and Jieli scenes were very cute <3 I crud a little at the Rong Hao x Chidi Woman storyline, ngl 🥲
Overall, I greatly enjoyed the drama. Hope to rewatch in the future 🫶
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This review may contain spoilers
You will love it, but hate some basic aspects of it
Love between devil and fairyI know some are gonna hate me for saying this.
It’s not a review, just random thoughts:
- The intro and the outro are ethereally beautiful, telling the story in a symbolic way. Also, the scene where the 2 friends hang out inside a painting is mesmerizing.
- The CGI and special effect budget were like 3$ max and probably deducted from the costume budget!
- Rong Hao’s back story was very short and needed more details than that.
- Basically no one is evil, and no one is good too. Everyone has his ideology and noble purpose to fight for. Though a good conversation over a drink would've solved all their so-called hefty disagreements.
- Dylan and Xu Hai Qiao were the saving grace when it comes to acting. Can’t say the same about the others, they were below average, and FL was in a league of her own.
- The War Lord, and The Great Emperor of the Sea Salt left the battle and their people to save their love interest! Let’s talk about priorities here guys! (What a man does for love!!)
- The ruthless Demon who is fearful and magnificent, turns into cute little duckling runs after the FL quacking. 🙄 A rule that has never changed in fantasy series.
- As usual the FL has to be annoyingly stupid and cute. But MAN! She took it to the next level, her acting as cute little fairy is terrible, her voice made my ears bled, I hate dubbing, but that actress needs it the most, i understand that she is some sort of a singer, but she is definitely not any sort of an actress. (Sorry to her fans, I tried to like her, but she kept getting worst episode by another, and standing next to Dylan made her acting looks worst comparing to him)
- The twin story was abrupt and forced.
- The Great Emperor/ King of the Immortals celestial heavenly whatever kingdom acts like a 3rd world government employee who needs a signature and seal on every paperwork and stating that the rules and regulations can never be broken all the time. Chill man!
- Love the costumes except for the weird shields of war which don’t seem to protect anything at all. Dylan’s costumes were the most lavish and beautifully embroidered, fits his character very well.
I guess that’s most of what I want to say.
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Almost the best Xianxia i've ever seen (apart from The Untamed)
This is going to be a long review. There is just so much to say about this excellent drama!As a longtime big fan of Dylan Wang this was a mandatory watch for me and I could not be happier. Where his acting in Xianxia and Wuxia could use some work before, he's bringing it in this one. Where he could not muster a lot of emotion in his expression before, he is even doing micro-expressions this time and it is a joy to watch him exploring his range. He is regal, cold, majestic when we first meet Dong Fang Qing Cang, and we discover his soft, giddy and happy side when he meets the love of his life. We see his jealousy, anger, uncertainty and deep sadness as the story progresses.
Esther Yu, the Female lead is equally impressive portraying both the child like and happy fairy Orchid (Xiao Lan Hua) and the Goddess Xi Yui, who is much more serious and has a very different demeanor than the fairy, mainly because she needs to act like she does not remember DFQC at all.
The other main roles, as Orchids initial love interest Changheng, Fairy Danyin, Rong Hao, Shangque and Jieli really give the story its cohesiveness and have their own interesting stories and tragedies. I would have liked to see more of the Black Dragon Shangque, but I am certainly not complaining about the visuals of this drama.
The story is told in a direct and dynamic way. Between following the storyline, watching the stunning visuals and admiring the actors, there is no getting bored with this drama. Although riddled with tropes, it never feels copied or easy. Not with the visit to the mortal world, or the body-swaps, or the dying for each other.
Apart from the stunningly beautiful cast, the backdrop of the different realms, with its colored skies, ice, lakes, forests and flowers are breathtaking. Every detail has been considered, everything looks heavenly, ethereal and divine as it should since these are heavenly realms after all. All realms have their own distinct aesthetic, even the mortal realm looks colorful and fantastic
The costumes in this drama are in a league of their own. They are perfection, especially those made for Dong Fang Qing Cang. They start off as mainly black, but gradually more color is added. Blues, Greens, Gold, Brown. All stunningly embroidered and fitted. I found myself distracted by them more than once.
Special attention also went into the soundtrack. Aside from the fantastic theme songs, the score and sounds throughout are perfect. Birds chirping, (cloud)whales singing, minimal music, the beautiful flute sounds of Rong Hao. The story is, although mostly a standard dramatic and partly tragic Xianxia, very well-paced and with hardly any plot holes, loose ends or rogue characters. It all fits neatly together, has a start, middle and finish. There's (of course) a lot of death and destruction, but also a lot of hope and actual sense made out of the messes made.
There was not a detail that was overlooked in this drama, everything was done with so much care and attention, it is almost unbelievable. I would like to believe this will set a new standard for the genre.
Well, was there anything I did not like? Why yes, yes there was. Dylan still needs kissing lessons....
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This will blow you away
Enjoy this show once, twice, a thousand times! This show is what drew me into Asian drama and cinema.In this show the realm of the gods is very much xianxia, while the Demon Lord's world and Orchid's recreational vehicle between worlds seemed very different. It wasnt the world-building that hooked me, it was the dialogue as soon as silly Orchid came onscreen. It was very irreverent and the more I watched the funnier it became. The soundtrack was amazing. The cinematic intelligence in LBFD was way above and beyond any USA production. What makes this show so perfect, funny and awesome? I wanted to know.
When I heard that Esther Yu, a strong woman in her own right (as opposed to her role as Orchid), greatly influenced the LBFD production with constructive ideas drawn from kdrama, I had to find out more. I learned eventually and happily that although fantasy combined with irony in western cinema is not always successful, it is a fully mastered and developed style in asian cinema of all kinds.
So.....watch and laugh and cry (the ending is amazing).
ps. This review is a perfect illustration of my review philosophy -- we write as a group and my chosen parameter is not to be a judge of works I dont like, but a cheerleader for those I do. There are so many great reviewers with beautiful prose and good analytical skills who work on shows like this. I have chosen to define my contribution as an attempt to amuse and entice people who like my style to watch great shows.
first posted on viki april 27th 20214
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This drama is simply the best
This drama is very touching as the anime of the same title and story was very funy made the drama is made to be very dramatic abd tragic and I love the ending of this drama alot...the drama does have some funny moments as well as it also makes you very sad and to cry at some moments and also the reason I value this sad drama ending is partly because I love sad moments in dramas for some odd reason and also because that kind of ending fit perfectly to the drama but also I love how in the end it all ended up that both main male character ended up having favor beyond just mere friendship by a female main character but both were actually at positive success and that is something its never seen in any other drama I have ever watchedWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Surprisingly AMAZING
A taste of a little bit of everything you want and still leaving you wanting more.CHEMISTRY BURNING LIKE HELLFIRE!
Romance ✔️
Comedy ✔️
Action ✔️
Fantasy ✔️
Drama ✔️
I had no expectations for this drama whatsoever but
all it took for me was to take one look on the 1st trailer that turned into why not try one episode,into okay maybe two, then three wouldn't hurt and the rest was history. I was hooked to the point of counting minutes excited to click the play button whenever a new episode comes out.
Yeah it was those freaking blue eyes in Episode 9 that sealed my faith to continue watching this drama.
To those who havent started watching yet BE READY TO FALL INLOVE with that devilishly charming Moon Supreme from start to finish.
If anybody has ever doubted Dylan Wangs acting skills then this is definitely the drama to watch, it showed versatility and a different range in his acting skills
This dude broke my heart in episode 35 and made me cry a river. DFQCs character is definately one to remember and will linger in memory for a long while
[Wei wuxian level from UNTAMED]
Although there were a few negative comments at the start about Esthers acting, I felt she was perfectly cast as Orchid the fairy, cute and charming at first but can also portray serious acting. I've seen a few of her dramas and here you can see how her range had improved, her best by far.
A SECOND LEAD YOU WOULDN'T DARE TO HATE
yup, Didn't hurt that SML is an eye candy to begin with.
The writers did a very good job in making a character shine in his own rights. You'll find yourself wanting a good love story for him (insert shoutout to all those waiting for Eternal Faith to come out where he will play Crimson Rain sought flower)
The CGI was great but the OST was just Superb that brings out the emotions in each scene that will immerse its viewers to a plasant journey of experiencing Love amids all conflict.
Everyone and I mean everyone I've watched this with agreed 100% on a few things.
1st -It should have been a tad bit longer including but not limited to poignant scenes between leads.
2nd - this deserves a part 2 (since spoiler alert, its a little bit open ended leaving the last scene for interpretation)
3rd but not the least - BEST CDRAMA by far for 2022
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This review may contain spoilers
This Is Your Sign to Watch This Masterpiece!
This is literally my first and only review, i'm sorry if i have poor vocab and descriptive words to serve this drama justice so bear with meThis was my first xianxia drama. I am not the biggest fan of historical dramas, I definitely prefer modern romance dramas, but I love dylan and esther so I decided to give this a chance, especially after I finished alchemy of souls which I absolutely loved.
I am so glad I decided to watch this show, honestly I binged LBFAD in three days. I was absolutely stunned by the everything. If you are hesistant to start bc you aren't the biggest fan this is your SIGN!!!!!!! Give this drama a try!!!
Esther and Dylan have improved their acting and perfectly executed so many different emotions for this drama. Their chemistry together is just through the roof
The OST is beautifully made and fits each scene wonderfully. It gave an extra emotional impact to each scene!
The side cast were very likeable and added to the show and all had very crucial parts to the main overlying story.
The CGI was definitely CGI lol but it was well crafted and I applaud the team for making it look modern.
The only personal thing of why I did not give this 10 stars was because
(spoiler ahead) episode 35 in which half the episode was focused on a certain character's arc that wasnt the main lead causing the finale to feel rushed and no room for emotional closure for the main leads!
overall this drama may be one of the best I have watched in 2022 and will be missed 💖💖 i will forever remember this drama as the one that got me into historical cdramas!
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First C-drama to Keep me ADDICTED till the end!
let me tell you all that I made an account just to write this review and rate this show ^^I wasn't a fan of fantasy dramas (especially not Chinese fantasy "Xianxia") until I watched this one!!
it's my first Xianxia drama and the first C-drama to Keep me ADDICTED till the end!
Usually it's only k-dramas that make me obsessed
At first I hesitated when I saw Esther (Yu Shu Xin) because I don't prefer girls who act soo cute in a cringe way plus it was still ongoing but I decided to give it a chance (one episode)
from the first episode, I could tell they really worked hard (the costumes, hairstyle, CGI, and OST were perfect) and it catched my attention for real and kept me excited to see the rest!
and let me tell you now, that I can't imagine anyone other than Esther to be little orchid (XLH).. her acting skills are amazing, I was impressed👏
XLH's character is so innocent and adorable
you'll get used to her and kinda like her, I promise😂
as for Dylan (Wang He Di) I've only seen him in meteor garden and his acting has massively improved, no one would've suited the role of Dongfang Qingcang other than him as well.
I fell in love with his acting skills, expressions and was impressed thinking he changed his voice tone then got to know that he had a voice actor, "wang baoshun" (but they did a great job I couldn't tell that it was dubbed! ) plus that voice perfectly fits DFQC and made me fall for him 🙈
and I really liked the chemistry between the main lead it felt real and so natural ... and it wasn't rushed at all, I never get tired of seeing them I even watched their BTS, they became my fav couple 😍
they deserve the best couple award for real 💕
the whole cast was amazing actually they outdid themselves, so proud 👏👏
I've enjoyed this drama and would definitely re-watch it
in brief:
the acting is superb, the chemistry between the main leads is lovely and so natural, each episode is so exciting; Not to mention the costumes, hairstyle, the scenery and the OSTs are all on Fleek ( I was amazed )
if you are looking for something with an actual story that'll make you experience different emotions - laugh, cry, excited and fangirl .. then this is the one for you 😼👍🏻
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it'll change your standard for xianxia/xuanhuan's forever: a delicious fever dream fairytale
The easiest way to describe Cang Lan Jue is as if someone plucked all of my favorite tropes from my 15-year-old brain and added loads of Renaissance and art nouveau imagery, gorgeous hair, fiery chemistry (both on screen and BTS), and a healthy dollop of physical and emotional whump.- The writing:
It's one of the tightest, cleanest (narratively speaking) scripts I've ever seen in a cdrama. There are no superfluous storylines, the pace is engaging and well-thought-out, and there are deliciously written tie-ins and callbacks to seemingly simple gestures and actions written within the drama that consistently add layers of meaning to every little thing. Traditional tropes are written in but are often completely subverted or altered with nuance and creative flair. Those who would traditionally be evil can very well be the golden-hearted heroes. The heroes we're manipulated into believing (even the story at the very beginning of this drama lies to us and misrepresents the facts) can easily be the true face of villainy.
- The relationships and chemistry:
There are many relationships written within this drama that help drive the narrative and shed light on history's past. I fell in love with the people of Cangyan Sea, and those closest to DFQC. There isn't a single person who doesn't go through some type of hardship or self-discovery, and those we meet at the beginning of the drama have often changed several shades. Some platonic relationships are unexpected and some of the most engaging factors of joy, especially in the mortal realm arc. The love story between DFQC (fondly referred to as Moon from here on out) and Orchid is the greenest, most wholesome, and healthy relationship I've ever seen in a cdrama. Hands down (I'm lookin' at you, Cheng Yi dramas!) They fill the holes in places the other lacks, and their relationship is rooted in tacit understanding, mutual love, and an unyielding acceptance of each other's true, most bare colors. I became inexplicably attached to their journey. Their chemistry is palpable, both on screen and behind the scenes. Once their relationship is established, there is nary a scene when they're not hand-in-hand or kissing (and the kisses- oh my god!!! no fish kisses here). I particularly enjoyed the special attention to detail with hands and clothing in terms of a visual representation of their relationship and an outer reflection of their inner selves.
- The AESTHETICS *surpassed by no other cdrama I've ever seen*:
Every realm is uniquely detailed and fleshed out, from makeup to forms of magic used to costumes, interior design, architecture, and customs. I haven't been this impressed with world-building since I first watched The Lord of The Rings. A lot of money and thought has gone into this drama, it's blatantly evident within the first episode, and I couldn't stop myself from pausing scenes just to marvel at the live-action art (literally, there is a scene where two immortals are leisurely enjoying wine on a boat, from within an actual painting, and they've been reduced to brush strokes). Arbiter Hall and the forests within Shuiyuntian gave me a lot of Rivendell vibes, especially with the ethereal coloring and iridescent armor. Cangyan Sea (Moon's realm and home) has rich and sophisticated velvet textures, gilded detailing, and layers of deep colors that represent their people's storied history and Moon's enigmatic personality. I was particularly awe-struck by Moon's entire visual. From head to toe, he's a very carefully detailed and supremely handsome character. He's got the nicest hair in cdrama land (or anywhere), and costumes/armor pieces that are flattering and reflective of his inner self. I particularly love his black and gold ensemble, with the gilded gold flares on the sleeves. Devastatingly gorgeous. None of the artistic styles and set design concepts would have been able to properly live and breathe on screen without the equally masterful cinematography, makeup, and lighting. These departments knew exactly what they were doing.
-Acting and OST:
Beautiful OST. Handomsly lends to every scene, particularly scenes between our CP. I also love the atmospheric OST, especially the incredibly eerie track that played whenever an evil spirit or antagonist entered the scene. It always sent chills up my spine.
Favorite tracks:
1. The Other Side - Jing Long, Jing Di Er *every time this track came on, I was a heaving mess.
2. Remaining Love - Zhou Shen *He can never do wrong.
2. Goodbye Love- Faye
I'm particularly proud of Dylan Wang's performance through Cang Lan Jue. Although I've always been fond of him, he's come a long way since his highly criticized performance in Miss The Dragon. He's able to master his facial expressions with very natural and organic body language within each scene; he's particularly strong with his cutesy moments during the body swap hijinks and comes out *very* strong during demanding emotional scenes. His performance during the angst moments in this drama cannot be overstated. He embodies his role as Moon, and the pain that emanates is visceral, profound, and deep. I couldn't help but cry with and for him in those moments. The behind-the-scenes videos of these moments show how deeply he immersed himself in his role, unable to extricate himself easily after the director says "cut." Truly devastatingly gorgeous work. I hope this drama lands him many new rules; it's well deserved.
Orchid is a wonderfully written character that pairs beautifully with our dark and gloomy Moon supreme. I'm glad I didn't allow Esther Yu's higher-pitched voice to deter me from watching the drama. Her voice may turn off some from watching, but I found her endearing fairly quickly. Her character has a lot of growth and a huge heart; it's easy to find reasons to like her, and her voice does change quite a bit throughout the drama.
This isn't your standard cdrama xianxia/xuanhuan fantasy drama. It's not another Cheng Yi drama (although, lord, do I have a soft spot for our "King of Whump."). This drama is like a cleverly and cleanly written fantasy bedtime story, with whimsical demons and fairies and good and evil from the most unexpected places. It's worth every 10-star review it's received.
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