I'm shocked to see some in comments comparing Runyu with that ra**st emperor amd that vile bird queen.. like seriously?…
This is what happens when you destroy someone from childhood.
The empress humiliated Runyu, accused him of crimes he did not commit, killed his mother and his tribe, and forced him to sacrifice himself for his people. The emperor gave birth to him in order to strip his tribe of their lands and left him near death to test whether he could be useful to him. And no one, neither Xu Feng nor Moon Immortal, helped him.
It was because of them that Runyu became cruel later. They really destroyed it until it broke and only got what they deserved.
A lot of people criticize Runyu, it's understandable but for all those who claim that he was always bad and played a role in the first episodes I would like to reiterate several points :
Some also invent that he only liked Jin Mi out of rivalry for Xu Feng (or worse, to use her against him). In episode 3 where he meets her, he doesn't know where she comes from. However, in episode 4, we see that he carefully kept the red thread she gave him. In this same episode, he even tries to find her by questioning her uncle because he believes she works for him. Only then did he learn that she worked for Xu Feng. How can you say he didn't sincerely fall in love when you think about it?
- Some even claim that he wanted to use Jin Mi as the daughter of the water immortal from the start! It’s impossible, we clearly see him learn it in episode 14 (he even had to hide to learn it)!
- In episode 8, it was Runyu, who returned urgently, who talked about the night rattan that could save Xu Feng. He even gave him magical prowess in order to keep him alive despite the danger it represented for himself and despite Liu Ying's warnings. Xu Feng even later admitted that Runyu had ruined his own cultivation by doing this. Would he have done this if he was already plotting against his brother ?
-In episode 14, Runyu is remorseful about getting engaged to Jin Mi because he couldn't bear to hurt Xu Feng. Although some will say he was lying in front of Kuang Lu to whom he had just confided everything, we hear the thoughts of Runyu who is overcome with remorse when he listens to Kuan Lu's advice and decides to take Jin Mi from Xu Feng. He thinks "I will wrong you just this once. I will pay you back a hundred and thousand times in the future" . Even if things didn't turn out that way, he could only be sincere at the time: who plays a role and lies in their own thoughts?
-In episode 35, when his father has just entrusted him with monitoring the Empress and her tribe, his only reaction is to be surprised that his father did not saving the lives of innocent people to check if he could entrust him with this mission and question him about his lack of empathy.. Strange reaction from a careerist who also wants to play a role in order to be well seen by his father Right after, when his father told him to never have love or pity for anyone, when he is alone, we clearly hear him thinking: "the nature's law is meciless, father, thanks for the guidance." How can we claim that he had bad intentions before that day?
-In episode 43, when reflecting on his change, Runyu says that "a righteous man can be influenced easily ". Why say that if it wasn't more just before? Why play a role if he admits that he is no longer so fair?
-In episode 44, when his father sends him a gift, he is not happy about it at all and says "The irony part is I didn't get anything when I was in good faith". Isn't it proof of his good faith when he was sympathetic in the first half of the drama? Did he play a role in front of Kuang Lu to whom he criticized the emperor, admitted having acted in bad faith and entrusted she with the task of calling his accomplices in order to carry out a putsch? -In episode 46, he explains to Xu Feng's ghost "Back then,I wanted to become stronger. So that I can give you whatever you whant. But now, i've finnaly understood..." Further proof that he sincerely loved his brother and that he subsequently changed. Or is he playing the good brother in front of his brother who he just had killed?
-He is also accused of only thinking about power unlike his brother who first thinks of Jin Mi. But, in episode 57, when Jin Mi agrees to get married he thinks "I don't need fame and wealth but to be with you forever. I'll be content as long I can protect you." But perhaps, here too, his detractors will even claim that he plays a role in his thinking?
-In episode 61, before dying, Jin Mi (who now knows everything Runyu had hidden from her) says to him "I hope you can change back to who you use to be". Then, full of nostalgia, she would like to return to the time when “Runyu was still this gentle and kind young man”. So, it's true, some might say that she's still wrong but, if that's the case, the big emotional scene of the drama loses all its impact!
So, whatever we think of his actions in the second part of the series, even if we are disappointed with what he has become, we are forced to admit that it was heartbreak, loneliness and years of harassment that led him to this.
The empress humiliated Runyu, accused him of crimes he did not commit, killed his mother and his tribe, and forced him to sacrifice himself for his people. The emperor gave birth to him in order to strip his tribe of their lands and left him near death to test whether he could be useful to him. And no one, neither Xu Feng nor Moon Immortal, helped him.
It was because of them that Runyu became cruel later. They really destroyed it until it broke and only got what they deserved.
Some also invent that he only liked Jin Mi out of rivalry for Xu Feng (or worse, to use her against him).
In episode 3 where he meets her, he doesn't know where she comes from. However, in episode 4, we see that he carefully kept the red thread she gave him.
In this same episode, he even tries to find her by questioning her uncle because he believes she works for him. Only then did he learn that she worked for Xu Feng.
How can you say he didn't sincerely fall in love when you think about it?
- Some even claim that he wanted to use Jin Mi as the daughter of the water immortal from the start! It’s impossible, we clearly see him learn it in episode 14 (he even had to hide to learn it)!
- In episode 8, it was Runyu, who returned urgently, who talked about the night rattan that could save Xu Feng. He even gave him magical prowess in order to keep him alive despite the danger it represented for himself and despite Liu Ying's warnings. Xu Feng even later admitted that Runyu had ruined his own cultivation by doing this.
Would he have done this if he was already plotting against his brother ?
-In episode 14, Runyu is remorseful about getting engaged to Jin Mi because he couldn't bear to hurt Xu Feng. Although some will say he was lying in front of Kuang Lu to whom he had just confided everything, we hear the thoughts of Runyu who is overcome with remorse when he listens to Kuan Lu's advice and decides to take Jin Mi from Xu Feng. He thinks "I will wrong you just this once. I will pay you back a hundred and thousand times in the future" .
Even if things didn't turn out that way, he could only be sincere at the time: who plays a role and lies in their own thoughts?
-In episode 35, when his father has just entrusted him with monitoring the Empress and her tribe, his only reaction is to be surprised that his father did not saving the lives of innocent people to check if he could entrust him with this mission and question him about his lack of empathy..
Strange reaction from a careerist who also wants to play a role in order to be well seen by his father
Right after, when his father told him to never have love or pity for anyone, when he is alone, we clearly hear him thinking: "the nature's law is meciless, father, thanks for the guidance."
How can we claim that he had bad intentions before that day?
-In episode 43, when reflecting on his change, Runyu says that "a righteous man can be influenced easily ".
Why say that if it wasn't more just before? Why play a role if he admits that he is no longer so fair?
-In episode 44, when his father sends him a gift, he is not happy about it at all and says "The irony part is I didn't get anything when I was in good faith".
Isn't it proof of his good faith when he was sympathetic in the first half of the drama? Did he play a role in front of Kuang Lu to whom he criticized the emperor, admitted having acted in bad faith and entrusted she with the task of calling his accomplices in order to carry out a putsch?
-In episode 46, he explains to Xu Feng's ghost "Back then,I wanted to become stronger. So that I can give you whatever you whant. But now, i've finnaly understood..."
Further proof that he sincerely loved his brother and that he subsequently changed. Or is he playing the good brother in front of his brother who he just had killed?
-He is also accused of only thinking about power unlike his brother who first thinks of Jin Mi. But, in episode 57, when Jin Mi agrees to get married he thinks "I don't need fame and wealth but to be with you forever. I'll be content as long I can protect you."
But perhaps, here too, his detractors will even claim that he plays a role in his thinking?
-In episode 61, before dying, Jin Mi (who now knows everything Runyu had hidden from her) says to him "I hope you can change back to who you use to be". Then, full of nostalgia, she would like to return to the time when “Runyu was still this gentle and kind young man”.
So, it's true, some might say that she's still wrong but, if that's the case, the big emotional scene of the drama loses all its impact!
So, whatever we think of his actions in the second part of the series, even if we are disappointed with what he has become, we are forced to admit that it was heartbreak, loneliness and years of harassment that led him to this.