The drama version clearly depicts the fight scenes, showing bites on the left hand and right leg.
One (beast) bites the left hand.
The other (beast) bites the right leg.
• Mu Fei appears and performs a blood sacrifice for the brutal killing.
"◐ Boshan Incense Burner
"Get the meaning...
Yang Pan’er / Li Bai
You sing the song Yang Pan’er,
I offer you the wine from Xinfeng.
Where is the place that concerns you most?
The crows cry by the white gate’s willow trees.
The crows cry amidst the willow blossoms,
You are drunk and stay at my home.
In the Boshan incense burner, agarwood burns,
Two smoke streams mingle and rise to the purple clouds.
Line-by-line Literal Translation
You (gentleman) sing Yang Pan’er,
I (lady) urge you to drink the new wine from Xinfeng.
Where is the place you care for most?
By the willows at the White Gate where the crows cry.
The crows cry hidden among willow flowers,
You drunkenly stay at my home.
In the Boshan incense burner, agarwood’s fire smolders,
Two streams of smoke merge as one, soaring into the purple haze.
Appreciation
Yang Pan’er is a love song written by the Tang poet Li Bai, inspired by the title of a traditional Yuefu (folk ballad) song. This poem depicts the loving scene between a man and a woman, illustrating a joyful atmosphere and expressing a very sweet romance. Throughout the poem, the poet uses allegory and symbolism, creating vivid artistic images full of life. The style is fresh and lively. Compared to the ancient Yang Pan’er folk song, Li Bai’s version carries more intense emotions and a more cheerful and romantic tone.
◐ 'Blue Bird' pajamas"
The Blue Bird
The Blue Bird is the legendary messenger of the Queen Mother of the West. Since meeting in the mortal world is impossible, people hope to meet again on the immortal Penglai Mountain. However, there is no path to Penglai; only the Blue Bird can deliver messages.
According to legend, before the Queen Mother of the West arrives, the Blue Bird always comes first to bring the news. In literature, the Blue Bird is regarded as the messenger that conveys information. In the Southern Tang dynasty, the ruler wrote in Shanhua Zi:
"The Blue Bird does not deliver messages beyond the clouds;
The lilac tree vainly binds sorrow in the rain."
The Blue Bird has bright and beautiful colors and a graceful figure; it is a divine and auspicious creature. Originally the messenger of the Queen Mother, later generations came to see it as the bearer of happy news.
The story of the Blue Bird originates from the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai Jing). It represents a bird that delivers letters and messages — in other words, a messenger. In classical poetry, it is often used to symbolize the messenger of love, as in Li Shangyin’s Untitled poem:
"The road to Mount Peng is not far from here,
The Blue Bird diligently goes to seek news."
Untitled / Li Shangyin
Meeting is hard, parting is also hard,
The east wind is weak, and the flowers are all fading.
The spring silkworm spins its silk until it dies,
The candle’s tears dry only after the wick has turned to ash.
In the morning, looking into the mirror, I worry that my hair has turned gray like clouds,
At night, when chanting poems, I feel the coldness of the moonlight.
The road to Mount Penglai is not far from here,
The Blue Bird diligently goes to seek news.
Line-by-line Literal Translation
The chance to meet is already hard to come by, and parting is even more painful;
Especially in late spring, when all the flowers are withering.
The spring silkworm keeps spinning silk until its death,
The candle’s tears flow until it burns down to ashes.
In the morning, looking in the mirror, I worry that my hair is turning gray like clouds;
At night, reciting poems alone, I feel the chill of moonlight.
The way to Mount Penglai is not very far, but there is no path;
Oh Blue Bird, please diligently go and check on my beloved.
Appreciation
Untitled is a love poem by the Tang poet Li Shangyin, centered on the theme of lovers’ separation. The opening couplet expresses a deep sigh born of intense longing, first stating how difficult it is to meet and how even more painful it is to part, then using the powerless east wind and fading flowers to paint a sorrowful and mournful atmosphere. The second couplet employs symbolism to convey the poet’s devoted and unrepentant love, likening it to the spring silkworm’s lifelong spinning and the candle’s tears burning until ash, emphasizing the depth and gravity of love even unto death. The third couplet imagines the beloved’s daily life, implying mutual longing and heartfelt connection while expressing care and cherishing. The final couplet states that the distance to Mount Penglai is not far, yet meeting is difficult and messages cannot be delivered, so the poet hopes someone can act as a messenger to send greetings. The entire poem revolves around the theme of “parting,” with an ethereal depth that is not obscure, elegant yet natural, and a sorrowful emotion that remains beautiful.
"● Write the name (Bittersweet Longing)"
"A Heng writes Chi Chen’s name"
[ He stood there, dazed, staring at the peach tree before him. Year after year, the flowers look the same, but where are the people through the years?
Moonlight poured down through the shadows of the blossoms, making the tree trunk glow pale. Chiyou slowly approached, only to see the trunk densely covered with the characters “Chiyou” written over and over.
On the Flower Jumping Festival the year after Ah Heng left, he wore the red robe she made for him and waited all night beneath the peach tree. Drunken, he lay amid the fallen petals and withered stamens. In his grief, he even vented his anger on the peach tree, raising his hand to destroy it. By chance, he glanced at the trunk and saw it was densely covered with tiny characters. Focusing carefully, he realized they were countless “Chiyou” characters.
Sixty years’ worth of letters from Yushan, he immediately recognized Ah Heng’s handwriting. The moment he saw the familiar script, his heart felt like it was stabbed by a sharp knife, suffocating with pain. The handwriting remained, but the person was no longer there.
Gazing—
The tree was filled with “Chiyou” written in varying depths, all expressing her anxious waiting and despair.
Hundreds upon hundreds of “Chiyou,” each stroke full of love, each mark a wound. How long had she waited back then? And with what kind of hopelessness did she leave?
Chiyou closed his eyes and ran his hand over the writing again and again, as if trying to pierce through more than two centuries of time to tell the woman standing beneath the tree two hundred years ago—his pain and longing.
Touching it over and over, his palm burned hot, but it could not warm the cold words.
Chiyou’s hand touched a line of tiny characters, his body shuddered, his expression painful. Though he had long engraved the words in his heart, it seemed like self-punishment to read them again, so he studied each word even more carefully.
It was a line scratched out with a jade hairpin, messy and chaotic, showing Ah Heng’s heartbreak and anger while writing it:
"If you do not keep your promises, why make them?"
Ah Heng never broke her promise; the one who broke it was always him! ]
"Xiaoyao writes Xiangliu’s name"
[Xiaoyao traced Xiangliu’s name again and again with his finger,
Is it you? Is it you?
Miao Pu looked curiously at the few names left on the table,
Not understanding why Xiaoyao refused to sleep all night, staring blankly at the names.]
"Xiaoyao writes quickly"
[Xiaoyao thinks day and night, occasionally writing the characters “Xiangliu” on the table or on the floor, staring blankly at them. Actually, she has analyzed everything she can; the one sentence stirring in her heart now is simply: Is it you who did it?
Miao Pu is very worried about Xiaoyao. She has no idea what Xiaoyao is really doing. Sometimes, Xiaoyao seems like an abandoned child—very confused, sad, and hurt; other times, she is like a drawn sword, coldly choosing people to bite. Normally, His Majesty would notice Xiaoyao’s abnormal state, but because of General Fenglong’s unexpected death, His Majesty is extremely busy. Every time he comes, he is preoccupied, sits briefly, and leaves. Occasionally, when he stays longer, it is to discuss matters with Emperor Huang.
Xiaoxiao, as usual, came to ask about Xiaoyao, but Miao Pu did not dare to speak and could not say anything. Xiaoyao is her only master; without Xiaoyao’s permission, any words spoken would be betrayal. Miao Pu could only report that everything was normal.
Xiaoyao leaned crookedly on the couch, but her hand unconsciously kept writing “Xiangliu.”
Miao Pu could no longer hold back and asked, “Miss, you write that name every day and sometimes mutter words like ‘Is it you or not you?’ What does it mean?”
“I am pondering whether it was really him who did it. If it was him...”]
● Xiaoyao can recognize every identity of Xiangliu
【Recognize the Snake with Your Heart】: Xiaoyao’s exclusive skill, others may not necessarily be able to recognize it.
Appearance may change, but the heart recognizes you before the eyes do (This is the meaning expressed by Tong Hua about soul love).
"Promotional tagline for Tong Hua’s new drama ‘Filter’"
[#Filter OneHeartTwoThreeFourIntention Trailer ##Tencent2024DramaLineup#
Appearance may change, but the heart will recognize you before the eyes do.
~Does love have anything to do with appearance?~ ]
(Crossover with "Filter," see directory_9-❶)
"Xiaoyao: Quit pretending, act better."
❷ A Thousand Faces for a Thousand People / (Identity of the Nine-Headed Demon)
"The identity of the Nine-Headed Demon is roughly related to 'A Thousand Faces,' which connects upward to 'Once Promised' and downward to 'Lost You Forever.'"
"Qiān Fāng Xiàng" is not yet published.
The Guifang clan will be depicted in Qiān Fāng Xiàng. The Nine-Headed Snake fled to the extreme northern region to cultivate (for over a hundred years) — then returned to the Fangfeng clan (over four hundred years), and how it came to possess various identities.
"Cultivated for more than a hundred years and perfected the technique."
Has many identities in the game of life, but only stays true to oneself.
Qiān Fāng Xiàng is a mask. The ancient god Fang Xiang was skilled in transformation, and after his death, transformed into Qiān Fāng Xiàng (the Fang Xiang mask). Whoever wears it can change their appearance at will.
A thousand people, a thousand faces, a thousand masks.
▽ Because Xiangliu has "nine true faces and eighty-one incarnations," and also wears a mask, it is suspected that his mask is Qiān Fāng Xiàng? (Bold speculation, careful verification)
Mask
Ordinary mask: Xiangliu cultivates water spirit, condensing water into ice to form an ice mask.
Qiān Fāng Xiàng: Xiangliu’s illusion form is so perfect that even divine artifacts cannot distinguish its authenticity.
Divine artifacts cannot recognize it.
• Either that is the true face? (Obviously, the Sixth King is not the true face) ❌
• Or is it also a divine artifact transformation like the one Xiaoyao uses? (Qiān Fāng Xiàng?)
Liuzi cannot see through the divine artifact’s Everlasting Bloom.
• Is Xiangliu’s spiritual power ≥ the divine artifact’s? (This setting seems unlikely. If so, what’s the point of the divine artifact?)
Using Shaohao’s illusion form with high spiritual power as a reference, there are always clues.
• Special species limited skill, divine power cannot see through it?
The special trait of the Nine-Tailed Fox: divine power cannot see through it.
So what about the special skill of the Nine-Headed Snake: not only having many heads and many lives, but also being a special species skilled in illusions?
Cangxuan (os): That's strange. I've heard that the fox clan is good at illusions, but I've never heard that the snake clan is skilled at this too.
Xiao Jie (os) smiles slightly, I totally get this!
Character analysis method (Tong Hua’s Those Years That Can Never Return)
Mu Fei (main): relative of the Chen clan
Zhan Xueling: fiancé of Fan clan’s eldest son
Jin Yuejian: fiancé of Miss Zheng
Shen Zhou: (no other background explained)
㊀ The character breakdown of “申柊”
There is another teacher online who analyzed a character breakdown method:
申 = mouth (口) + ten (十) = Ye (叶)
柊 = ten (十) + eight strokes of winter (冬, 7 strokes) = seventeen (十七)
“申柊” is a variant character for “Ye Shiqi” (coincidence #1)
The Old Xuanyuan King handles Mu Fei, and Cangxuan deals with the other three.
The drama version clearly shows that the Fifth King and Seventh King use others to kill, secretly using the Central Plains to eliminate Xiaoyao.
The reason why the Fifth King and Seventh King use the Central Plains to take action.
2️⃣ The hidden plot / The underlying storyline
Behind the brutal killings, there are extraordinary reasons.
First, let's sort out the entire process:
• The Chen clan extends an invitation; Xiaoyao doesn't want to go, but Xinyue "persuades" her to attend.
• Zhan Xueling discreetly separates Xinyue and Xiaoyao without leaving any trace.
• Miao Pu is blocked, and Xiaoyao enters the deadly formation.
• First attacked by plum tree branches, the sole of the right foot is pierced through.
The sole of the right foot is pierced through.
Crawl
• Two beasts appear and attack Xiaoyao.
Snowflakes transform into sharp blades (piercing multiple places with the blades), and plum blossoms transform into plum blossom darts (the darts pierce through the whole body).
• Tushan Jing arrives, and the fire formation ignites and burns.
● Discrepancies in the injury examination report
The injury examination reports in both the book and the drama are completely consistent, with no changes made.
Those who have carefully read both the book and watched the drama should notice that the injury report Xiaoxiao provided differs from the actual situation. (Is Xiaoxiao unprofessional, or was there a loophole in the process?)
㊀ The number of piercings Mu Fei made with the blades does not match.
According to the report, the number of blade piercings on Xiaoyao's body is:
Palms and soles 4 + left leg 3 + right leg 3 + left arm 2 + right arm 2 + abdomen 3 = 17 (exactly 17 wounds, what's going on? Coincidence 2)
The book version clearly states 13 wounds, missing 4 wounds on the left and right arms.
The drama version actually shows even fewer — only 10 wounds…
“Isn’t such an obvious difference in the number really a deliberate reminder and a secret extra stab? Or is it to save the special effects for those few knives?”
“Both the book and the drama missed reporting 2 demon beasts attacking Xiaoyao.
If the reduced number of knives is to save money (❌), then what about the missing demon beasts?”
“In the book version, Xiaoyao guessed that there must be a divine clan skilled in beast taming involved. The drama version even directly showed bite wounds on the left hand and right leg during the fight. Yet in Xiaoxiao’s report, it only mentions the Fire Spirit (fire formation), Wood Spirit (attacks with plum tree branches and plum blossom darts), and Water Spirit (Ning Xue as a sharp blade).”
“The burn marks from the fire formation can only be verified on Xiaoyao’s body wounds.”
“Did Xiaoxiao fail to analyze that there was a person who controlled beasts to attack because the traces of demon beast attacks were missing? (Who erased the marks of demon beast attacks on Xiaoyao’s body? And when?)”
▽—Why is the injury examination report different from the actual situation observed?
Xiaoxiao’s report is incorrect; did Xiaoxiao (Cangxuan) hide the true injuries?
Xiaoxiao’s report is correct; in the hidden part, did someone not only secretly deliver extra blows but also destroy the marks of demon beast bites on Xiaoyao’s body?
• Did someone else deliver extra blows?
• Did Mu Fei deliver extra blows?
“Mu Fei isn’t good at math. After throwing the plum blossom darts, she cried thinking the blood sacrifice ritual was successfully completed, then suddenly remembered the number of cuts hadn’t reached 17, so she gave Xiaoyao 4 more cuts…? (Mu Fei wasn’t focused and made a procedural mistake, but don’t worry, not a single cut can be missed! She definitely made it up!)”
“If Mu Fei wants to deliver extra blows, she needs to hurry—the crying of the man has already been heard by Jing! He’s nearby!”
“4 cuts from the Zhan clan, 6 cuts from the Jin clan, 3 cuts from the Shen clan, countless plum blossom darts from the Mu clan — it’s all very clear. So who exactly did Mu Fei suddenly remember hadn’t received enough cuts that she had to add more? (Since there’s no reason or evidence written for Mu Fei delivering extra blows, the blogger can only suspect it’s because she’s bad at math…)”
• Did Tushan Jing deliver extra blows?
(Tong Hua, why won’t you write the exact number of cuts? Jing is innocent, yet the blogger has to suspect him?! So frustrating!!!)
Tushan Jing arrived at the plum forest, put down the hanging Xiaoyao, and infused spiritual power.
After using spiritual power to "heal," the effect is...?
A certain pattern of "blood sacrifice" appears on the ground...?
The bloodstains on the ground have become strange...? An extra “very obvious, deliberate, and complete” long bloodstain appeared (according to a netizen).
【Why...】
Because of the sins committed by your closest kin, you have come to pay the price...
This blood is to commemorate the Mu clan.
“These blood cuts (these 4 cuts) are to honor the Tushan clan and Tushan Jing.
It can even be said that Tushan Jing ‘saved’ Xiaoyao (preserving Xiaoyao’s intact body), letting only Mu Fei perform the blood sacrifice (without dismembering Xiaoyao or mincing her into meat paste...). Otherwise, not even immortals could have saved her...”
Do you see it? Who is protecting Xiaoyao’s intact body? It’s Jing!
“Want to die? If you were minced into meat paste, then there’d really be no chance of survival...”
“[In the Plum Forest massacre, the only one who truly died was the snake demon protecting Xiaoyao...]”
“If Xiaoyao’s snake demon had only one head, being killed once by the nine-tailed fox demon would mean it’s gone...
But Xiaoyao’s nine-headed snake demon has nine heads; being killed once by the nine-tailed fox demon, it still has heads left.”
Jing: From now on, I am willing to be your Ye Shiqi.
▽— How many people actually know about Fenglong’s “promise to keep quiet”?
Heaven knows, earth knows, only you two know?
• So, how many people actually know...?
How come three people know now? Is there anyone else?
【The so-called reckoning】
The reckoning will come sooner or later.
False reckoning: a peaceful end.
The real reckoning: a tragic death.
● Suspicious points about the hidden culprit
These two beasts appeared with their bodies already covered in wounds; it’s quite difficult for Xiaoyao, who has low spiritual power, to pierce them in close combat… (Just how weak must they be?)
The missing beasts—after organizing the book and drama, two suspects possibly controlling beasts to attack were found.
1.Tushan Hou
The book mentions twice that Hou likes raising beasts, and Hou has allied with the Fifth and Seventh Kings.
2.Li Rongchang (connected to Tushan Jing)
The beasts in the Li Rong deathmatch arena sponsored by Tushan Jing fight for entertainment, and naturally, these beasts can be trained to attack people.
【After the Plum Forest】
- Recommended by Jing
- Doing their best for the development of the Li Rong tribe
- No more falsifying accounts; they turned to Li Rongchang for manpower and funding (rewarding merits? Selling official positions?).
• Both of the above two people are connected to the Tushan clan (coincidence #3)… This makes the blogger can’t help but suspect that the one who erased the bite marks on Xiaoyao’s body is Tushan Jing…? (Just a personal guess)
• Coincidentally, the blogger also found that bite marks can really be erased.
Xiangliu disguised the bite marks as "kiss marks."
Tushan Jing erased the "kiss marks."
For now, no further analysis can be made...
▽—After Xiaoyao returns, will she discuss the discrepancies in the injury report with Cangxuan?
No, Xiaoyao doesn’t care about her own “cause of death”…?
“Sister Yao: Some things—if you don’t tell, and I don’t tell—then no one will know!”
“Sis Yao (inner monologue): So, if you don’t say it, and I don’t say it, then no one will know about the discrepancy in the Plum Forest injury report (demon beasts + 17 cuts)… If we say it, the act can’t go on… So, heaven knows, earth knows (and the audience knows), only the two of us know the truth! Hee-hee.”
“(The mutual devotion between Yao and Jing moved the blogger to tears — it’s just too perfect.)”
“2. Yes, Xiaoyao will want to know the ‘truth’…?”
“Lost You Forever” Interesting Mirror — Did Xiao Liu Trick Xiangliu into Planting the Gu? Detailed Explanation of the Riverside Dialogue between Xiaoyao and Liu
May all your wishes come true.
Xiao Liu is drinking by the riverside.
In the scene, The Book of Songs · Juan Er makes a return.
The woman gathering herbs longs for her soldier husband,
Pouring wine from a golden jar, pouring from a rhinoceros horn cup.
The wine sent by the fox—the props also tell us: the fox is the wine.
When she once again thinks of “someone” by the riverside,
“Someone” arrives once more.
The tree leaves are just turning green,Mountain flowers are blooming brilliantly—Springtime.
The "Coincidence" About Spring
In ancient times, there was a custom where young men and women would meet by the riverside in mid-spring (the second lunar month) to talk about love and make lifelong commitments.
"In the mid-spring month, young men and women are allowed to meet; at such a time, the eager cannot be restrained." — Zhou Li (Rites of Zhou)
By a curious coincidence, Yaoliu made a lifelong vow by the riverside in spring.
In ancient times, there was a custom in the mid-spring month when the emperor held a ceremony to present bows and arrows to pregnant consorts and to worship the gods of fertility.
"In the mid-spring month... this is the ritual the Son of Heaven performs: wearing the bow case and receiving the bow and arrows before the High Sacrificial Altar." — Liji (Book of Rites)
By a curious coincidence, the Sea Demon King also presented a bow and arrows symbolizing the fusion of essence and blood.
The essence of a man and a woman merged to give birth to new blood… (implied meaning)
The third drop?
Exists inside the woman’s body… (implied meaning)
— Perhaps the ancients thought the second lunar month was too cold, so later the custom of meeting by the riverside to fall in love developed into the third day of the third lunar month. This is the Shangsi Festival, also known as the Daughter’s Festival.
March is the last month of early spring.
"The last month of early spring... the paulownia tree begins to bloom." — Lüshi Chunqiu
"At this time, the blackbird governs the calendar, the Azure Dragon guides the movement, lambs are offered as the ice melts, and paulownia blossoms unite with duckweed." — Yu Xin
By a curious coincidence, the author who writes love fairy tales is also named Tong Hua.
Spring is truly wonderful,
Spring is truly a coincidence.
1. Meaning of “Tong Hua”
桐 (Tóng): Refers to the paulownia tree, a highly respected tree in Chinese culture known for its beautiful leaves and flowers that bloom in spring. It is often associated with purity, elegance, and new beginnings.
华 (Huá): Means “blossom,” “splendid,” or “magnificent.” In the context of flowers, it can be understood as “bloom” or “flower.”
So, “桐华” literally means “the blooming of the paulownia.”
2. Paulownia and Spring
The paulownia tree blooms in spring, especially in the last month of early spring (called Jichun 季春). The ancient text Lüshi Chunqiu says, “In the last month of early spring... the paulownia begins to bloom” (季春之月……桐始华).
The blooming of the paulownia symbolizes the arrival of spring, a time of revival, growth, and new natural beauty.
In the earlier plot, Jing and Xiangliu separately set up schemes to kill Cangxuan.
On the surface, Xiaoliu saved Cangxuan twice.
In secret, both times she resolved dangerous situations for Xiangliu that could have “provoked Xiyan.”
The following dialogue is the drama’s supplementary explanation for this part:
At this time, one month after Cangxuan had returned to Haoling, his injuries had mostly healed, and moving the gu was no longer a problem.
Xiangliu arrived.
With eyes and ears everywhere, the intelligence work of Xiangliu is flawless. The first thing he conveys is news about Cangxuan’s injury: it has already improved.
Immediately after, he praises: “Your method of treating the arrow wound is clever. You not only saved him but also successfully drove him away.”
Xiao Liu felt a bit guilty and didn’t dare to say much about Cangxuan. She only said, “He came looking for me and arrived at Qingshui Town. Since Xuan is at your doorstep, nothing must happen to him. I dare not implicate you by offending the King of Xiyan”
Xiangliu, with jealousy toward Cangxuan, wore a cold expression but still praised, “Your wife is quite capable.”
Xiao Liu blushed from jealousy, happily accepting the compliment, and coquettishly raised the wine jug: “Did you miss me? — Wine carries longing.”
Xiangliu didn’t answer, he just plopped down beside her.
Attitude Toward One’s Origins
Regarding her origins, Xiaoyao consistently plays dumb with many loopholes. We try to piece things together clearly:
She understands everything.
Ah Heng took Xiaoyao to meet Chi Chen; the child has known since childhood that her biological father is the Red-Clothed Uncle. Although mixed with resentment and misunderstanding, she is aware in her heart.
The little princess of Chaoyun Peak lacks no toys or treasures; she treasures the fox tail given to her by her biological father.
Only when little Cangxuan solemnly promised to go to Yushan to bring her back did she lend him her most treasured fox tail.
After locking eyes with Xiangliu and Chi Chen, she felt afraid. What followed was her downfall—her shell was torn open.
When she was shackled by her identity and became a bird in a cage, forced to act alongside the fox, she thought of her demon father’s gentle and lingering gaze and understood her mother’s tears.
Inner Fear
Although she knew the truth in her heart, she would never admit it aloud. The words the world hurled at her mother were the deepest fear hidden in her heart.
Meilin, with her last breath, bit down fiercely, declaring that she was not Chichen's daughter.
The young lady is not flattering the royal family for personal gain, but defending her mother. — Since she was born during the marriage of her mother and Shaohao, acknowledging her biological father would bring shame to her mother in the eyes of the world.
Searching for Home
When Xiaoyao was wandering the wilderness, she was always looking for a home.
She wants to go to Jizhou to search for traces of her biological parents.
She has been to the cold and desolate far north. It’s clear she wasn’t merely looking for trouble; she was searching for the Kun of the Northern Sea/Beiming kun, Xiaoyao.
She can speak the Baili language. She has been to Chi Chen’s tribe, Baili.
Taiji mutual push
Go back and look again at the conversation between Yaoliu:
These two are discussing marriage and making a lifelong vow.
Xiangliu asked knowingly, prompting Xiao Liu to voluntarily bring up planting the gu poison.
He wanted the woman to be the first to propose marriage so that he could set the terms.
Xiao Liu very consciously took the initiative to mention the gu poison first.
Xiangliu, with a proud yet coy attitude, let Xiao Liu continue to take the initiative.
This time, Xiao Liu deliberately didn’t go along, pretending to be clueless and diverting the topic.
"...Since when does the girl always have to be the first to speak?"
Xiangliu steered the conversation back, with wildflowers blooming brightly beside him.
Xiaoliu: If I won’t say it, then you say it!
Xiangliu, both embarrassed and anxious: “Don’t you know it yourself? Why ask me why?!”
Xiaoliu kept playing dumb all the way to the end.
Seeing that being straightforward wouldn’t work, Xiangliu began speaking in a roundabout way.
In the end, it was Xiaoliu who spoke first, and she told another story.
In the earlier events, Xiaoliu was suffering from the backlash of the gu poison, and her life was in danger.
Earlier, there was an inserted segment about Xiaoyao’s background.
Because in this story, the “dying old woman of the Baili tribe” was actually a veiled reference to herself—over three hundred years old.
This is a tragic story:
A filthy and foul-smelling old woman of the Baili tribe, who, until her death, never managed to plant the Lover’s Gu with her beloved.
Her lover had died long before, leaving her lonely and helpless, her remains lost without a trace.
The story version of “crying, making a scene, and threatening to hang oneself.”
Xiaoliu said: “Do you want me to be like the old Baili tribe woman in the story?”
The old woman’s wish was her own wish.
No one likes tragedy; what everyone seeks is happiness and peace.
❤️ The old woman did not want her beloved to die early.
— Protect yourself well, don’t let me be left lonely and helpless.
❤️ The old woman wanted to plant the Gu with her beloved, sharing life and heart.
— You and I plant the Gu, sharing life and heart.
❤️ The old woman wanted to wash herself clean, put up the hair bun of a Baili woman, and reunite with her beloved.
— I want to break free from the struggle for profit between Xuan and Jing, take on the identity of another woman, and stay by your side.
…The story ended, and Xiao Liu prompted Xiangliu to state his stance: “My gu still hasn’t found its true master!”
Xiangliu: You plan to plant the gu with me and get married, right?
Xiaoliu replied by retreating to advance: “No way! The gu is on Xuan’s body now!”
Xiangliu continued to dodge with roundabout words.
Xiaoliu made up answers on the spot.
Xiangliu quickly caught the loophole in Xiaoliu’s lie: “Speak quickly! Admit that you want to plant the lover’s gu with me! The lover’s gu!”
Xiaoliu’s rogue tactics never fail.
True love is rare in this world; sincere hearts are hard to find.
Hurry up and propose to me!
Xiaoliu retorted, sending the ping-pong ball back again...
What kind of person meets this condition?
The drama used Xiangliu’s memory to provide the answer — the lover.
Lovers plant the lover’s gu, seeking wholehearted devotion and never betraying each other.
Once planted, they share the same fate and heart, living and dying together.
Xiao Liu leaned in close, and Xiangliu blushed.
— Xiangliu is a sly one; the shameless fellow who climbed into someone’s bed was him, yet when it came to discussing marriage, the one blushing and shy was still him.
The shy sly one reluctantly squeezed out three words — “I don’t know.”
Obviously, whether the gu can be drawn out has nothing to do with the number of heads.
Xiao Liu was saying: You have nine lives. After planting the gu, no matter which of us has a change of heart, the one who dies from the backlash will be me. As for you, compared to ordinary people, it’s not that big of a problem.
Perhaps Xiangliu’s “tough guy shyness” stirred Xiao Liu’s desire to conquer. In the drama, Xiao Liu grew excited and teased him playfully with a laugh.
Xiao Liu said, Besides, the gu’s “shared pain” won’t affect you — you’ve said before that your nine heads can share the pain.
Going around in circles, Xiao Liu finally took the initiative to “propose.”
The drama even added two cheeky lines: “Please, please.”
Although Xiang Liu was still not entirely satisfied with the “proposal,” at least it got the woman to speak up first.
The moment Xiangliu had been waiting for finally arrived. He stood up and solemnly put forward a condition:
“I’m still not convinced; I want your promise.”
Xiaoliu: You can’t let me hurt Xuan and the castrated fox.
After planting the gu, you and I share the same fate and heart. You know my feelings; you can’t be jealous recklessly anymore.
Xiangliu wasn’t very happy, but he agreed.
You also can’t use me to play schemes or carry out assassinations.
Xiangliu said, “You overestimate your own abilities too much.”
“Just agree to me directly!” — “Fine, I won’t!”
Deal!
I want your promise.
The woman proposed to the man, and the woman gave the man a promise.
Xiangliu turned his head, his expression solemn.
Marriage is sacred and solemn.
A suspicious monster has never truly trusted anyone. Before he is ready to give his heart, he needs a serious, sincere, and responsible promise.
If Xiaoliu changes her heart, she will naturally be poisoned to death by the gu. So sayings like “struck by five thunderbolts from heaven and shattered to pieces” don’t count.
Xiang Liu knew that Xiaoliu could risk her life to save Cangxuan, and that in the military camp, she would rather be whipped to death than betray the grandfather and foster father who had long since abandoned her.
Therefore, he demanded that Xiaoliu swear: if you betray our feelings, not only will you die from the gu’s backlash, but all the joy you have in this world, all that you care for and protect, will also turn into suffering!
Truly, vicious…
Xiaoliu complained about it too.
But she still solemnly swore:
Don’t worry, I will definitely do it.
— She made a deadly oath: I will never betray.
There’s a twist:
Just corrected, adding one sentence:
Brother Liu’s oath was made with a fake gesture.
“Lost You Forever” Clearing the Fog, Searching for the Truth (Twenty) — The Ending of Tushan Jing Is Very Satisfying
Let’s start with a heavy topic — a story about blood.
Blood and life.
Xiangliu exchanged life for life, feeding Xiaoyao with his vital essence blood.
From then on, no matter how distant the separation or how perilous the obstacles, nothing could sever the bond of blood and life.
Mother.
Two stories about blood and life, viewed together.
Wen Xiaoliu slit her wrist to let out blood, allowing the beggar Tushan Jing to be reborn.
Mother.
The rescue at Chenrong Mansion, the second time. The prescription for twelve to twenty years, the third time. Blood nourished life, and also gave rise to desire.
Blood and Lies
The hardships of fate and the struggles of survival fill Xiao Liu’s mouth with lies. Truths are told as if they were false, and lies are mixed with truths.
The first bloodsucking
“I am a monster, are you really willing?”
The monster has gained "some clarity" and is "burning like fish fire."
Xiao Liu’s instinctive fear, compared to wiping sweat in the previous episode.
The second bloodsucking
Not afraid anymore. I’ve figured it out — this monster is seeking love.
The monster proposes love and understands lying.
Blood tells him that Xiao Liu is not willing.
The third bloodsucking
One wants to seek love, the other has desire but not much, heart unwilling and mind reluctant. The monster patiently chats along, gets played with, becomes angry, and leaves in dissatisfaction.
The fourth bloodsucking
Xiao Liu actively pulls open his collar, but it is not out of willingness.
Xiao Liu knew it was Cangxuan but didn’t say it. The monster was angry: "Am I just a game for your loneliness?" To prove sincerity, Xiao Liu risked everything to help.
The fifth bloodsucking
Xiao Liu betrayed at the last moment and was injured by the monster. The monster desperately saved him. Xiao Liu woke up and began mixing truth and lies again.
Blood doesn’t lie. With one bite, the monster sensed Xiao Liu’s desire and willingness.
...That’s how the famous “hissing” scene and the “inquiring about the gu” came about.
Xiaoyao’s mouth is full of lies, even deceiving herself. But Xiangliu has two lie detectors: one is the lover’s gu, the other is the blood.
After the lover’s gu is implanted, the number of bloodsuckings decreases. Only when Xiangliu’s suspicions rise sharply does the bloodsucking return.
“Night visit to the boudoir after standing Tushan Jing up”, “Does she despise my ugly true form?”, and ‘I aim an arrow at Cangxuan — does she hate me?’ — these three bloodsuckings after planting the gu are all acts of seeking to verify true feelings amid intense suspicion.”
In the drama, one of the hidden meanings behind Xiangliu’s tearful kiss on the wrist is that Xiangliu understands Xiaoyao’s love and is willing to use love to soothe the pain of her willing self-harm.
The lover’s gu binds two hearts and fates as one.
To protect Xiangliu, Xiaoyao fed the fox for twelve to twenty years.
Each time Tushan Jing took the medicine, whose heart did that knife — the one that slit Xiaoyao’s wrist — cut into again?
Jumping to Tushan Jing,
let’s first look at a few scenes.
The matriarch explained to everyone that Jing is the destined head of the Tushan clan because he can foresee the occurrence of significant events, guiding the Tushan clan to avoid misfortune and seek fortune.
We can see that the matriarch’s words are half true and half false.
The real reason for guiding the Tushan clan to avoid misfortune and seek fortune is that the Tushan clan spares no effort in using the life essence and blood of several generations of clan heads to nurture the Spirit of Awareness.
The matriarch’s words were meant for Tushan Jing to hear.
Even if she suffers unbearable pain and her body is reduced to bones, as long as she can protect the safety of the Tushan clan, she will die with no shame before the ancestors of the Tushan clan...
Assassination in Qingshui Town
With the Spirit of Awareness’s early warning, combined with the experience of the first premarital danger, Tushan Jing saw through the trap of the ambush in Qingshui Town in advance. However, knowing it was a deadly situation, Tushan Jing still jumped into the trap.
Knowing the mountain has tigers, yet deliberately heading into the tiger’s den.
What made him risk his life to venture into the dragon’s lair and tiger’s cave?
Considering Tushan Jing’s past and the event itself, the only possible answer is — to save Tushan Tian.
To confront the unknown danger, Tushan Jing brought all the secret guards and Xiaoyao with him. (There are slight differences in details between the book and the drama; the drama clarified this.)
It not only allowed Xiaoyao to save Tian’er, but also used Xiaoyao’s life safety to coerce Xiangliu into secretly assisting.
All the Tushan family’s secret guards were killed; Jing and Hou went out to duel. Only the unconscious Xiaoyao, Fangfeng Yiying, and Tushan Tian remained inside the house.
Fangfeng Yiying has to lean on a bow even when walking.
This part is left intentionally vague, no need to overthink it, because Qingshui Town was originally the territory of Tushan Jing and the Nine-headed Demon.
Xiangliu cannot appear because he knows that Cangxuan is behind it.
Xiangliu cannot take Xiaoyao away; the location is Qingshui Town. Taking Xiaoyao away would be like “eating the grass by his own nest,” and there is a bigger battle to consider.
After secretly rescuing his wife, "younger sister," and "nephew," Jing and Liu reached a verbal agreement at the entrance of Qingshui Town.
Fangfeng Yiying went to save Tushan Jing, but Tushan Jing was severely injured and fell into the water after a final strike from Tushan Hou before his death.
Brainstorming game: Guess what Xiangliu wants to say?
Tushan Jing, you bastard! (Taking Xiaoyao to her death)
Tushan Jing, you useless! (Saved you but still died)
If I had known, I would have taken my wife away back then. Anyway, the fox disappeared, so the assassin would take the blame...
If I had known, why didn’t I team up with Tushan Hou just now to kill Tushan Jing...
Tushan Jing’s slight concern for Xiaoyao:
In the book, he did not take Xiaoyao into danger.
Name hints: Hu Long, Hu Ya, Hu Zhen.
The drama shows the same cruel treatment as with Meilin’s torture: to achieve the goal, he does not hesitate to harm you, yet there is some reluctance and regret.
Xiaojing’s “love” business
Years of bedridden care, decades of blood feeding, saving his life three times, fulfilling his “manhood” needs — all in exchange for provisions, feigning deafness and muteness, and a trace of concern.
What happened to Tushan Jing afterward?
Before the second season aired, I wasn’t sure if Tushan Jing died in the hidden storyline. Because there was always a faint sense of compassion in the author’s writing, just like Tushan Jing’s slight concern for Xiaoyao — subtle, elusive, and intermittent.
Only after the drama was released did I become certain that Tushan Jing had died, and his death was written very satisfactorily.
The information revealed by the drama is as follows:
Xiangliu found Tushan Jing, and Lirong Chang also found Tushan Jing.
When Xiangliu found Tushan Jing, he was motionless, covered in wounds, but not dead.
The scene shifts, and a large pool of fresh blood appears beneath Tushan Jing’s buttocks; dead people don’t bleed.
When Lirong Chang sensed Tushan Jing’s trace, his expression was unpleasant.
— When Xiangliu and Lirong Chang found Tushan Jing, he was alive but motionless. Whether the fox ultimately died or not, they both knew.
The drama indirectly reveals the following:
Surrounded by sea beasts, Tushan Jing floats on the surface of the sea. A long time has passed; he is covered in wounds but has not been eaten.
The sea beasts circle around him but do not eat him.
The drama mentions the “intention of entrusting an orphan,” hinting to the audience about “entrusting an orphan.”
The book reveals the following information:
The life or death of Tushan Jing.
Many people say Tushan Jing is dead, but they don’t have the final say.
We only look at how those present, Xiangliu and Lirong Chang, speak and Xiaoyao’s reaction.
When Tushan Jing had just disappeared, Xiangliu said, “It’s not that likely.”
Xiaoyao shed tears, and Xiangliu was deeply touched.
Xiaoyao thought of Miaopu’s safety, wiped her tears, and set out to save Miaopu.
After Tushan Jing had been missing for some time, Lady Lirong said, “Chang asked me to tell you, whether Jing is alive or dead, Jing wishes for your happiness.”
Xiaoyao’s reaction was that her eyes grew sore.
Mentioning Jing, Lirong Chang’s expression grew even darker.
Xiaoyao showed no reaction here.
Entrusting an orphan
Xiangliu said to Xiaoyao, “Protect the Tushan clan, protect Tushan Tian.”
Xiaoyao urged Cangxuan to protect the Tushan clan and let Tushan Tian become the clan leader.
Cangxuan agreed to protect Tushan Tian. As for the rest, he said nothing.
Combining the book and the drama, it is very clear:
Tushan Jing is dead.
Based on the plot and previous inferences from the “classic staged accidents” and the “nine-tailed fox allegory,” it is known that Tushan Jing died by the hand of Tushan Hou, by drowning, and by poison.
Before his death, Tushan Jing did two things:
- He entrusted Lirong Chang to convey his concern and blessings to Xiaoyao.
- He entrusted Xiangliu to protect the Tushan family and Tushan Tian.
Why did Tushan Jing entrust Xiangliu with the guardianship?
Between Xiangliu and Lirong Chang, Xiangliu was the preferred choice for guardianship.
Fangfeng Bei is Tushan Tian’s “uncle.”
After hundreds of years of business dealings, Xiangliu has a very high creditworthiness. (This can be seen from several verbal agreements between Jing and Liu.)
Xiangliu can accomplish the guardianship task; Lirong Chang cannot.
Tushan Jing is very clear about Xiaoyao’s “strict husband management” status and is also clear about how Xiaoyao and Cangxuan treat the orphan.
Convincing Xiangliu = convincing Xiaoyao, which is roughly equal to convincing Cangxuan.
Now let’s resolve another mystery:
Meilin and Tushan Jing conspired to murder Xiaoyao, causing her severe injuries and taking Xiangliu’s life.
Tushan Jing several times used Xiaoyao’s safety to coerce Xiangliu, imprisoning, possessing, harming, and insulting someone else’s wife.
Tushan Jing repeatedly persecuted the rebel soldiers—poisoning, inciting battles, controlling the rebels through military transport and supplies.
Between Liu and Jing, there was cooperation, but also deep hatred—so intense that even peeling off the fox’s skin as a scarf couldn’t settle the grudge.
Why did Xiangliu agree to the fox?
Besides imagining answers like “Xiangliu is a great person with a bodhisattva heart,” or “Xiangliu and the fox love each other,” according to the clues, the only possibility is:
The dying fox had leverage — he had debts to repay.
Where was the dying fox’s leverage?
Piecing together clues to try to patch a complete storyline.
Tushan Jing repaid Xiangliu’s debt.
Let’s look at two allusions.
The demon lord Chichen wants to taste the nine-tailed fox.
Cold-faced Qingyang and the white-clad Shaohao eat fox meat in the extreme northern land.
Both the demon lord and the cold-faced white-clad youth eat fox; is fox meat abundant? Delicious? Or is fox the main source of meat?
Xiaoyao threatened the Spirit Awareness little fox, saying she would feed it to the spirit beast.
Willingly.
This line reappears again.
The Tushan clan and the Fangfeng clan are related by marriage. Even a fox thinking with its tail can guess that Fangfeng Bei and Xiangliu once had some kind of deal.
This line also reappears.
The grandmother’s teaching — the mission Tushan Jing has carried since birth. A prophecy fulfilled by words.
Enduring unbearable pain, with no bones left, to protect the safety of the Tushan clan.
Since he couldn’t survive anyway, better to die with purpose.
— The life I once took from you, now I willingly repay with my own life. This is Tushan Jing’s debt to Xiangliu.
Humans eat beasts, beasts eat humans — this is the way of nature. A giant snake transforming into a dragon is both a demon beast and an auspicious omen.
All things are born by nature, with no inherent right or wrong; whether a creature is a demon beast or an auspicious omen depends solely on its heart.
If the heart holds benevolence and accumulates virtue, blessings follow.
If the heart harbors harm, its power breeds evil.
If one loses the caution against harm, then there are girls blinded by “love letters,” willingly devoured by greed.
Tushan Jing’s debt to Xiaoyao
Xiaoyao saved Tushan Jing’s life three times and made him a “man” for decades, but Tushan Jing’s only promise, “Ye Shiqi” has never been fulfilled.
As we mentioned in the earlier plot,
Ye Shiqi= servant, Ye Shiqi = freedom
The dying fox is about to repay the debt owed to Xiaoyao.
The nine-tailed fox’s tails are especially precious and rare.
In the allegory, the nine-tailed fox’s tails were cut off one by one by Xiaoyao. In the book, Tushan Jing was cut by Hou until only two tails remained. In the drama, the fox-tail puppet was directly taken by Xiaoyao.
The fox-tail puppet forged by the secret technique taught by Tushan Jing is the Ye Shiqi he returns to Xiaoyao — servant and freedom.
Tushan Jing died, and his tail became a puppet, given to care for the “mother” who saved his life three times.
Another fox tail was made by Xiangliu into himself, becoming a target to block fatal injuries.
The overt lie: Tushan Hou recognized the puppet.
Tushan Jing proposed to “protect the Tushan family.”
Even though Xiangliu was reluctant, he had no choice but to agree.
— Otherwise? Even if he sneered at the Tushan family, the capitalist’s old nest, he could only agree. If he didn’t agree, he would lose even more in this deal.
Business elite Tushan Jing! His final deal in this life forced Xiangliu to agree.
The drama changed the timeline, moving the moment when Xiangliu ate the fox to after the poison was discovered and before the final battle.
— Unwilling to let his own son suffer losses. After being seriously injured, he was given a fox-tail-shaped tonic pill, which was still poisonous. He even made Xiaoyao say this line.
Speculated result: After sending Lirong Chang away, Tushan Jing and Xiangliu completed the remaining deal. They taught the method of forging and using the fox-tail puppet, cut off tails, and repaid debts...
In the book, the one breaking through the Yushan formation, and in the drama, the one whose white hair turned black, is Xiangliu disguised in fox skin.
The fox skin in Xiangliu’s wooden house.
Tushan Jing’s ending is very fulfilling.
He fulfilled all his wishes.
One husband, one wife, one servant.
At this point, the karmic debts among Tushan Jing, Xiaoyao, and Xiangliu have been settled; all grievances are cleared, forming a perfect closure. The plot and allegories are tightly aligned, a flawless conclusion.
From the beginning with the “Running Man incident,” Tushan Jing’s choices have always been self-serving and unfaithful to righteousness. At the time of his death, the plot cleverly unites “profit” and “righteousness.”
In the final deal, Tushan Jing both gains “profit” and fulfills the century-old “righteousness” he owed. In the fox’s eyes, it is a release of finally being free.
The unfinished business of the deal, and the subsequent story of Xiangliu and the Tushan family, are hidden in the ending.
Looking at the main thread of the Lover’s Gu:
Medicine, poison, and Gu are the exceptional skills Xiaoyao’s mother left to her.
King Shennong’s “Commentary on the Classic of Herbs” and the Baili Shaman King’s “Commentary on the Poisonous Gu” are top-level secret works never shared outside. Xiaoyao has them thoroughly memorized.
The Shaman King’s poisonous techniques and King Shennong’s medical skills are seamlessly integrated, making her unparalleled in the art of poison.
The poisons she creates are not only deadly but also stealthy, quietly killing the Nine-Tailed Foxes (both of them).
As for medical skills, she is too lazy to study them deeply but still manages to support a large family.
Gu techniques are hidden skills, generally unused.
When the fox sought to “become an accidental father,” she used her ultimate skill. Problems that the richest Tushan family’s shamans couldn’t solve, Xiaoyao spotted at a glance and easily resolved.
The Lover’s Gu binds two hearts and fates as one — she knows this very well in her heart.
She can nurture the extremely difficult Lover’s Gu, using different methods and various gu spells to plant, move, and utilize gu.
— Xiaoyao is a hidden expert in gu arts.
But the details of gu are a bit complicated, and Tong Hua’s scholarly mind went beyond the scope. Let’s take our time and talk it through slowly:
Male and female gu are difficult to nurture and plant.
Often, people spend their whole lives nurturing it but never succeed in planting the gu.
There are couples everywhere in the world; how could planting gu be difficult?
Being husband and wife is easy, but finding a man who is willing, devoted until old age, never betraying, and sharing life and death is very difficult.
— Gu cannot be planted without true willingness.
Gu is difficult to nurture.
By the river, when Xiangliu first transformed into a fox, he began to nurture gu.
Using blood to nurture the gu, due to a special physical condition, it has been nurtured for several years.
Gu is difficult to plant.
Gu planting experiment.
Xiaoliu didn’t dare to expect Xiangliu to willingly plant the gu, so she used the “single gu recognizing its master” method, controlling two gu on her own.
Biting the finger, the gu recognizes its master through the blood; one enters the body. The single gu successfully recognizes its master, and the other gu is activated.
The other gu was driven out by the gu spell; it was disobedient and feared Xiangliu’s demon king bloodline. After hesitating for a while, it flew back into the hickory nut.
— Xiaoliu’s experiment failed; gu is difficult to plant.
Reason: disobedient gu + Xiangliu’s lack of cooperation — gu cannot be planted without true willingness.
The way of gu arts is unpredictable and ever-changing.
Highly intelligent, adept at finding loopholes and exploiting flaws. Planting gu in the military camp was an experiment. From the start, Xiaoliu planned to exploit a bug in the Lover’s Gu and trick it.
⭐️ Using the bug ( flaw or loophole in a system or mechanism )to trick the gu and plant it.
The gu recognizes its master through blood; Xiaoliu deliberately made the gu mistake its master.
⏫ Here is Xiaoliu’s plan: single gu recognizes its master + letting Xiangliu drink blood = one day, unknowingly and without anyone noticing, planting the gu on him.
— The gu recognizes its master through blood.
One day, after drinking enough blood, the gu will mistakenly recognize its master due to similar blood. When Xiangliu lets his guard down while drinking blood, Xiaoliu has the chance to use the gu’s “recognition through blood” feature to plant the gu on him unknowingly, binding him in a lifelong bond of life and death, never parting until old age.
⏬ As we see, this is how Cangxuan’s gu was planted.
— Siblings share the same bloodline, so the gu mistakenly recognizes its master. Cangxuan was completely unguarded and unaware, allowing the gu to successfully enter from behind.
⭐️ Using a bug( flaw or loophole in a system or mechanism) to trick the gu and to remove the gu.
At Yushan, to remove the gu, Xiangliu first cut the flesh and blood on both himself and Xiaoyao’s hands, connecting their flesh and blood.
While their flesh and blood were connected, Xiangliu chanted the gu spell. The similar blood caused the gu to mistake its master, and Xiangliu summoned the gu inside Xiaoyao.
Killing the male gu inside one’s own body causes one’s life to perish along with the gu.
The female gu, upon discovering the male gu’s death, refuses to live alone. It enters Xiangliu’s body (mistaking him for its master), kills the host, and the gu and host perish together.
Xiangliu died twice, and the gu was removed.
⭐️ Xiaoyao knew that by exploiting the bug(flaw or loophole in a system or mechanism) , the gu could be removed.
After gaining half-demon blood, Xiaoyao understood that the gu could be undone.
She confirmed with Shemei’er and the Shaman King that the gu was the Lover’s Gu.
She knew the method to remove the gu but kept it to herself. She repeatedly tested whether Xiangliu wanted to or could remove the gu. When she got the answer “doesn’t want to remove it” and “can’t remove it,” she felt relieved and happy.
Xiaoyao feared that Cangxuan would find an expert to exploit the gu’s loophole. After emerging from the seabed, Xiaoyao kept the secret of her half-demon blood tightly sealed and refused to reveal it.
— The gu can be removed, but the cost is the harm of one person’s life.
This secret must never be known by ruthless Cangxuan or Xiangliu, who once risked his life to save her.
Let’s look again at the gu planted on Cangxuan.
The gu being planted was within Xiaoliu’s expectations.
The gu not being removable was beyond Xiaoliu’s expectations.
The surprise was that when the gu was planted, Cangxuan was also missing her. The hissing in the pool caused the gu to change. After Xiaoliu healed, she missed Xiangliu, but the gu disagreed.
The changes of the Lover’s Gu were actually clearly explained in the plot:
Lovers plant the Lover’s Gu. When planting the gu, the gu senses love; although it is not fully planted, it begins to work.
After the pool hisses, the gu detects Xiaoliu’s “change of heart” — no lover plants the Heartbreak Gu — and the gu changes.
After Xiaoliu wakes, drinking from the golden and horned cups, she misses Xiangliu, and the gu backlashes.
Cangxuan, tormented by the gu, goes to Huichuntang to find Xiaoliu and then visits Wu Cheng to inquire about the gu.
Let’s take a closer look below:
The backlash of the Heartbreak Gu
Let’s first look for clues:
When Madam Tushan was hit by the gu’s backlash, she was wracked with unbearable pain.
The book also mentions Cangxuan experiencing pain caused by the gu, although it is written vaguely and ambiguously.
The drama clearly shows that the “gu poison” has been tormenting Cangxuan all along.
Let’s look at another character:
Wu Cheng (no sincerity)
Wu (勿) means "do not" or "don’t."
Cheng (诚) means "sincere" or "honest."
Wu Cheng is highly skilled in medicine, adept at treating external injuries, and resides in Qingshui Town.
Cangxuan was injured and sought out a famous doctor.
Wu Cheng discovered that the gu’s “shared pain” was not so terrible and could be easily managed with painkillers.
After Xiaoliu healed and returned home, Cangxuan still felt pain, so he went to Wu Cheng for diagnosis.
Every time Wu Cheng appears, he is obscured by bamboo props, hinting that there is a hidden story and that this person is “no sincerity” to Cangxuan.
Wu Cheng said, “If Wen Xiaoliu dies, you will die too.”
Cangxuan was unwilling to believe.
Regarding the gu, Cangxuan definitely asked many people.
But people are strange—when faced with the unknown, the more answers they get, the more uneasy they become. Wu Cheng’s warning was enough to make the suspicious Cangxuan hesitant to act rashly against Xiaoliu.
Making arrangements for what comes next.
Xiaoliu taught Sang Tian’er medicine and entrusted her to Old Mu Chuanzi.
Sang Tian’er realized that Xiaoliu was about to leave.
Cangxuan realized that Xiaoliu was “entrusting the orphan” and making arrangements for what comes next.
Explaining in detail “single-gu bonding” and “exploiting bugs”
The gu isn’t truly impossible to remove; she simply chooses not to forcefully remove it.
Xiaoliu’s original plan:
Single gu bonding, exploiting the bug to “trick the gu” into being planted on Xiangliu, allowing for relatively greater control over the gu.
The power between Liu and Liu (Xiaoliu and Xiangliu) is unequal:
Whenever they have misunderstandings, Xiaoliu always suffers the losses. Xiangliu’s actions are heavy-handed and show a serious tendency toward domestic violence. Facing Xiangliu, Xiaoliu can neither fight back nor use poison to defeat him; she has no family or support.
Xiaoliu’s childhood experiences have left her lacking a sense of security in marital relationships. What she seeks is wholehearted loyalty and never being betrayed, and she needs external forces to achieve this.
From Xiaoliu’s perspective: If the other party changes their heart, intending to start a relationship and then abandon it, turning cold and heartless, she would be left defenseless—strangled or consumed. This is unacceptable.
Using the Lover’s Gu to gain power for resistance,
Xiaoliu devised the “exploiting bugs( flaw or loophole in a system or mechanism) to plant the gu” plan. Once successful, the power would be in her own hands.
“If one of us changes their heart, one of us must die.” If Xiangliu changes his heart, the Lover’s Gu becomes a weapon to restrain the other party and control life and death.
The setting of the Lover’s Gu reflects the marriage relationship. Human nature is complex, a thin line between Buddha and demon. Regarding love, the female lead is both recklessly devoted and deeply faithful, yet she chooses a resolute and cruel gu.
Precisely because of the cruelty of the gu, after nearly a hundred years of planting it, all signs indicate that Xiangliu understands and knows how to use the Lover’s Gu, yet Xiaoyao still refuses to believe: With Xiangliu’s cleverness, why would he knowingly and willingly choose to accept it?
Her plan was known by Xiangliu from the start.
There is information in the conversation between Xiaoliu and Xiangliu.
The gu that is not fully planted does not link their lives.
The gu cannot be removed by normal means, but it can be forcibly removed. After the gu’s backlash, Xiaoliu faces two deadly paths, A and B, and two paths to survival, C and D:
A. Forcibly recall the gu insects, causing the two gus to harm themselves; Cangxuan safe, self dies.
B. Do nothing. When Cangxuan finds a gu master, the gu will be drawn into her body, taking her life from thousands of miles away.
Xiaoliu hesitated over option A , chose B: she considered ending everything and making arrangements for the future. Yet, unwilling to let go of the gu (unwilling to let go of love), she hesitated and left the choice to fate.
C. Wait for the fox or Xiangliu to kill Cangxuan; the gu will naturally be resolved, and she will live.
D. Transfer the gu from her own body into Cangxuan’s body to harm Cangxuan; Cangxuan dies, and she lives.
Rejecting C and D: She saved Cangxuan but refuses to transfer the double gu to Cangxuan.
Under the Sea and the Phoenix Forest
Xiaoyao from under the sea and the Phoenix Forest did not lie: she could refuse to acknowledge Cangxuan, but she could never bring herself to harm Cangxuan. To harm Cangxuan would be to betray her mother’s bloodline, which would be more painful than dying herself.
The path of the emperor is fraught with death at every turn; Jing is a crucial core in the Central Plains. If Jing dies, with no money and no connections, Cangxuan’s path in the Central Plains will be blocked, a dead end. She does not want Jing to die.
In the scene that Xiaoyao directed and acted out herself in the Phoenix Forest, she accused Cangxuan: In several moments of choosing between life and death, I always gave up myself rather than harm you, but you have been constantly betraying me.
“Lost You Forever” — Clearing the Fog, Seeking the Truth (Part 26) — When Falsehood Appears True, the True Becomes False; Here Comes the Consummation Scene Between Xiaoyao and Xiangliu You’ve Been Waiting For!
First, after rambling on for tens of thousands of words in order to explain the background as clearly as possible:
Xiaoyao and Xiangliu don’t speak in human terms, but they are truly husband and wife, with a child.
What Xiangliu seeks is peace and stability under heaven, and for his comrades to live on.
Before his death, Tushan Jing entrusted his child and debts, offering a puppet made from his fox tail.
When Xiaoyao and Xiangliu were resisting fate with unyielding determination yet reached a dead end, Shaohao intervened.
Restating what was said earlier is because the hidden storyline has always been logically consistent—there is a cause before there is an effect.
After ten years of additions, deletions, and revisions, the book’s logic is smooth and rigorous, and the timeline in the ending is also coherent.
In the drama’s ending, however, there are timeline disruptions—some forced by necessity, others intentional. To make things clearer and more intuitive, we will still follow the book while supplementing the story with details from the drama.
The following part is not suitable for on-screen depiction, so it was not filmed. But all the content is still present in the drama—it is the “unshown yet shown.”
When falsehood appears true, the true becomes false.
After Yushan’s return, the ones alternately appearing at Xiaoyao’s side were Xiangliu—disguised as Tushan Jing—and the fox-tail puppet.
Xiangliu’s shapeshifting technique is so flawless that even divine artifacts cannot discern it, and the nine-tailed fox is the creature most skilled in transformation; the fox-tail puppet can pass for the real thing.
Those who know the truth understand; those who don’t are left baffled.
In the book, the difference is very clear: the fox-tail puppet is taciturn and reserved, while Tushan Jing as transformed by Xiangliu is at times “full of Bei’s flavor” and at times “full of Liu’s flavor.”
The fake Jing, the real Xiangliu.
In the book, the one who broke through the Yushan magic formation was Xiangliu. After discussing with Cangxuan the topic of “Why do you support me?”, Xiangliu left.
Xiangliu also broke through the Wushen Mountain formation and the Chenrong Mountain formation.
In the drama, the “strictly managed husband” tossing the pouch, the white hair turning black, and the great whirlpool lie are all direct hints that this is Xiangliu.
The real Jing — puppet version.
(Bi Jun = Ah Xian =Xianjun =Ah bi)
It is known that Xianjun (Ah Xian) is well acquainted with Xiangliu; when Xianjun saw Xiangliu, he had no reaction — Tushan Jing was already dead.
Therefore, the only one Xianjun could be “instinctively respectful” toward would be the puppet made from the Fox King’s tail. (Xianjun’s biological identification device activated)
[Jing bent down to give a deep bow, as if to an elder brother: “I will take good care of Xiaoyao.”
Lieyang didn’t care in the slightest and accepted it casually, while Piejun avoided to the side. Among the demon race, ranks are strictly hierarchical—Piejun is a fox demon, and the nine-tailed fox is royalty among the fox clan. One could say that from the moment Piejun saw Jing, he instinctively felt respect. It’s just that his demon power was profound enough to suppress this instinct with spiritual power.]
Yushan does not keep outside guests; three days later, the real Jing—puppet version—and Xiaoyao were asked to leave Yushan.
The fake Jing, the real Xiangliu.
The Xiangliu version of Tushan Jing met up with Xiaoyao outside Yushan, took her to Qingqiu, and, in accordance with Tushan Jing’s instructions before his death, entrusted her with his final matters.
[In the dead of night, Xiaoyao and Jing arrived in Qingqiu.
Xiaoyao asked, “Shall we rest for the night and go to the Tushan residence tomorrow?”
“Let’s go now—it’ll be just right to avoid disturbing too many people.”]
Afraid of giving himself away, he visited in the dead of night. Qingqiu was full of the same type as Xianjun—fox-shaped “biological identification devices.”
He only met Tushan Jing’s close aides, Jingye and Hu Zhen.
[Xiaoyao helped Jingye up. “Why are you crying? Jing has returned—shouldn’t you be happy?”
A few days ago, who knows who had wailed in grief for half an hour. Jing glanced at Xiaoyao, clenched his fist, held it to his lips, and gave a slight cough to hide his smile.
Jing asked Hu Zhen, “How is Qi’er?”]
Knowing that a few days earlier Xiaoyao had wailed in grief for half an hour, it was indicated that at this moment, she was with the same person who had broken through the Yushan formation.
In the death match arena, Fangfeng Bei’s movement was: “Clenching his fist, holding it to his lips, coughing to hide his smile.”
The fox was dead, and Jingye was crying—laughing would be inappropriate, yet he couldn’t help himself.A few days ago, who knows who had wailed in grief for half an hour. Now, seeing Xiaoyao calming Jingye, Xiangliu couldn’t help but smile.
[Jing handed two jade slips to Hu Zhen. “One letter is for Tian’er, and one letter is for the elder.”]
These two jade slips may be written in Tushan Jing’s own hand.
[ By noon the next day, Xiaoyao and Jing arrived at Xuanyuan City.
The King of Gaoxin was not at Xuanyuan Mountain, and Xiaoyao wanted to go straight to the blacksmith’s shop to find him. Jing stopped her. “Let’s first find an inn, wash up, rest for the night, and pay our respects to His Majesty the King of Gaoxin tomorrow.”
Xiaoyao asked, “Why?”
Jing actually seemed a bit shy and said in a low voice, “It’s better to be neatly prepared when going to meet one’s father-in-law.”
Holding back her laughter, Xiaoyao nodded. “That makes sense. After traveling non-stop, it’s inevitable to have some dust and weariness from the journey. It would really harm the gentleman’s demeanor.”
Jing pulled Xiaoyao into the inn.
The two had a good rest for the night, and the next day, dressed neatly, they went to the blacksmith’s shop in Gouwei Xiang. ]
⏫ Take a close look at the content above.
By noon, they were already looking for an inn to rest and wash up…
One was shy, speaking in a low voice; the other was holding back a laugh.
A reenactment of the scene where Xiaoyao and Xiangliu discussed planting the gu and their engagement by the western river.
What is the young man shy about? What is the young woman laughing at?
He pulled Xiaoyao into the inn—pulled her!
When anxious, he pulled her along; when impatient and eager, he also pulled her along.
The two of them had a very good rest for the night.
(Note on the word “good”: beautiful, procreative, satisfying)
[Xiaoyao made a “shh” gesture to Jing, stayed silent, and pounded heavily on the door. She thought Miao Pu would be unable to resist, rush out, and open the door—just in time to startle her. Unexpectedly, a figure silently dropped from the roof and lunged at Xiaoyao, startling both Jing and her.
Jing immediately pulled Xiaoyao into his arms with one hand and attacked the intruder with the other, intending to force him back.
Xiaoyao quickly blocked Jing and called out, “Left Ear!”]
When danger arose, he first shielded Xiaoyao in his arms, ready to take action.
He forgot that at this moment he was Tushan Jing—Jing should be running on his own instead. Our Jing is a gentleman; a gentleman uses words, not fists.
Xiaoyao blocked the fake Jing, the real Xiangliu—she knew who could take down whom in an instant… and told Left Ear to stop. Blocking and commanding were two separate actions.
In Qingshui Town, she blocked Xiangliu and told Shiqi to go back—blocking and commanding.
[Miao Pu pushed Xiaoyao behind Left Ear and himself. Leaning on Left Ear for confidence, he finally dared to look at Jing and, trembling, asked, “Y-you… who… who are you?”
Jing smiled and said, “Who do you think I could be?”]
“Who do you think I could be?” — a stock phrase used for lying.
Who else could I be?
[Xiaoyao made a funny face at Jing. “Without me introducing him, you should be able to guess who he is.”]
Without me having to introduce them, you could probably guess that the little beast Left Ear and the seedbed who once asked “Who are you?” eventually became a couple.Left Ear recognized someone by smelling their scent.
◐ The “Ye Shiqi” of Yushan (personal understanding; feel free to skip if you disagree)
【Do not mistake the person】
Do not mistake the person.
The “Illusory Realm” of Taixu
[Taixu Illusory Realm Couplet / Cao Xueqin’s Dream of the Red Chamber
“When falsehood appears true, the true becomes false;
Where nothing is treated as something, something again turns into nothing.”
Translation:
If one takes the false as true, then the true also becomes false. If one treats nothing as something, then something is also nothing.
Introduction:
The Taixu Illusory Realm Couplet was created by Cao Xueqin during the Qing Dynasty in his novel Dream of the Red Chamber. Its background is closely linked with the overall structure of the novel. It first appears when Zhen Shiyin experiences a dream during a hot summer nap and later reappears when Jia Baoyu spiritually visits the Illusory Realm.
The first line, “When falsehood appears true, the true becomes false,” clearly reveals that in the world or within the novel’s context, once falsehood is mistaken for truth, what was originally true is easily seen as false. This powerfully warns readers of Dream of the Red Chamber not to be deceived by the complex and intricate surface plots and appearances but to deeply explore the hidden true meaning beneath.
The second line, “Where nothing is treated as something, something again turns into nothing,” further emphasizes the complex and intertwined relationship between truth and falsehood, existence and non-existence, which is difficult to clearly distinguish.
This couplet is expressed in a highly condensed, poetic, and philosophical language with very neat parallelism and balanced tones, containing profound life philosophy and literary creation concepts. It cleverly hints at the experiences and fate of Zhen Shiyin, vividly mirroring Jia Baoyu’s lifelong journey. At the same time, it constantly reminds readers to distinguish truth from falsehood and existence from non-existence when reading Dream of the Red Chamber, preventing them from falling into subjective misinterpretations or forced readings.]
When falsehood appears true, the true becomes false.
My heartbeat recognized you even before I did.
[Xiaoyao and Tushan Jing reunited, embracing and crying—are you sure it’s really you!
Xiaoyao stood by the lake, dazed, hearing someone calling her.
@TV Series Lost You Forever
#LostYouForever2 When reunited, the heartbeat recognized you before I did
You #XiaoyaoTushanJing finally reunited
#LostYouForever]
(Of course, if you believe Xiaoyao and Jing’s heartbeats are in sync, that’s fine too—respecting all interpretations… In any case, since Tong Hua was this straightforward, interpret it however you like.)
[Just like what you did inside the nine-tailed fox’s cage—
Exactly the same.
It is simply where the heart is drawn to.
Endless endurance,
A long wait,
And
For a faint hope,
Never giving up.
What are you talking about?
What do you think I’m talking about?]
Jing :
Xiaoyao and Tushan Jing are married,
Pledging to stay together forever amid blessings.
Where your heart is drawn to is where my heart is drawn to.
Xiaoyao:
Xiaoyao and Tushan Jing are married,
Pledging to stay together forever amid blessings.
Where your heart is drawn to is where my heart is drawn to.
◐ How did Tushan Jing survive the great whirlpool?
In the world of Lost You Forever, the great whirlpool is a highly destructive natural phenomenon. The book and drama together depict it happening four times.
1️⃣ The nine-headed demon escaped the slave market and encountered the great whirlpool at sea, then was saved by the top expert Hong Jiang.
2️⃣ During 37 years under the sea, Yao and Liu once encountered a great whirlpool, but Xiangliu avoided it.
3️⃣ Xiaoyao encountered the great whirlpool and was saved by the top expert Xiangliu.
4️⃣ Tushan Jing, injured and near death, encountered the great whirlpool at sea and escaped it on his own…? (Added in the drama version)
• In the book version, Jing narrates that he was saved by a pair of merfolk (the great whirlpool was not mentioned).
“Lucky Jing, truly a chosen one—able to survive even after being dead for so long!”
• In the drama version, Jing narrates that not only did the sea beasts not eat him, but he also escaped the great whirlpool on his own…? (Tong Hua’s inner monologue: I purposely added a great whirlpool—let’s see if you still believe it, haha.)
“Escaped the great whirlpool on his own?”
▽—So how exactly did Tushan Jing survive the great whirlpool?
Jing is the chosen one, extremely lucky, took a divine pill—so he was able to escape the great whirlpool on his own!
Jing really died at sea; Xiangliu made up the story of the great whirlpool to hint at it. (That’s why when Xiaoyao heard about the great whirlpool, she knew Xiangliu was telling her that Tushan Jing really died…)
▽—Why did countless sea beasts in the ocean not eat Jing?
Why did countless sea beasts not eat him? (Repeatedly hinting to the audience why they didn’t eat him)
Jing is the chosen one, incredibly lucky—after being in the ocean for so long, he never encountered countless sea beasts; and even if he did, they didn’t eat him, just waited for someone to come pick him up…
Countless sea beasts wanted to eat this divine clan delicacy, but for some reason couldn’t?
• Other reasons
• What reasons could prevent them from eating him? Maybe he’s poisonous, so sea beasts can’t eat him? Where does the poison come from? (From a netizen)
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