Rachel

The haters are really ridiculous. I went on Weibo everyday just to see discussions by Cnetz regarding the plot of this drama, but what I found is many many hate campaigns and the most ridiculous trending topics. From CY's nails (accusing him of putting nail polish and being girly) to scripts appearing in some episodes (calling him unprofessional) to the extra actor picking his nose in the background to accusing the Shaolin monk extra actor of being a fake person lying in the background (that actor even personally made a video disputing this) to even saying that the budget is low that the "fake person" does not have a wig (mind you, that actor is playing a Shaolin MONK LOL) to CY having to use wires for fighting scenes (ermmm, okay then, maybe other actors are so amazing and can actually fly and don't need to use wires?).

I sincerely don't mind "haters" who are genuinely pointing out flaws of maybe the production or the plot etc. But when these kind of topics are trending, isn't it ridiculous? It just shows that those group of haters are just hating the drama for the sake of hating it...The funny thing is not a single of CY's actual fighting scenes in the drama were taken by the haters to say that the drama is lousy. The haters don't dare to because the fighting scenes are actually good hahaha.

Some passerbys (drama fans not CY fans) even said that they didn't know that the director is Cheng Yi, the scriptwriter is Cheng Yi, the editor is Cheng Yi, the producer is also Cheng Yi. Everything "wrong" about the drama is blamed on Cheng Yi LOL

I understand that people have different opinions and that this drama does not live up to your expectations, but "girly and weak" is completely off unless we're not watching the same show? What in the toxic masculinity is this? The MC, XQS is kind to the weak (elderly, children, needy etc.) and protects them since the early episodes. Throughout the whole show, he has been fighting against the bad guys and is unwavering against them. He has never shown a "weak" side to his enemies, even when he is crippled of his martial arts, he has never yielded to them. But if you are talking about clothes, then I do understand where you are coming from. However, that is really the original setting from the original novel, the MC is the youngest son of his family and has been dressed in bright, colorful clothes since young. But, I don't think clothes = to being girly and weak.

I'm also a huge fan of Wuxia since young, I have watched the newer Wuxias like the dramas you mentioned and also many versions of Jin Yong's works: Legend of Condor Heroes, The Smiling Proud Wanderer, Demigods and Semidevils, Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre etc. and Wuxia spirit has always been about righteousness and chivalry and sacrificing for the country. I'm not sure how this drama sacrificed the true spirit of wuxia for superficial appeal? I am genuinely confused, not trying to argue because it is your opinion, but I am really curious on what you mean by that? Isn't resilience not giving up and persisting through adversity, and even when XQS was crippled, losing his martial arts and his family, he continued to go against the bad guys. So, I'm really not sure what you mean, maybe you can share so I can see it from your viewpoint?

This drama definitely has its flaws in terms of storyline and other aspects, that I agree. But to say that it sacrifices the true spirit of Wuxia, that I truly don't understand...

YAAA ikrr im also so upset 🥲 Fans of Cheng Yi and the drama have written a letter demanding the platforms to address this. Because apparently those scenes were filmed and dubbed already, just that they were intentionally removed. It's circulating on Weibo that CY's company Huanrui is behind this as CY's contract is ending early next year. His company is known for being terrible even though they are considered a big company. Even Yang Zi left them years ago and Ren Jialun also left them last year. Many companies are so terrible (see Zhao Lusi...). They rather ruin their own artist if the artist plans on leaving them 🥹

This is one scene that I found regarding LCZ's goal (?). LCZ and XQS argued a little. There's also the fighting scene of XQS saving General Wu that was cut so much, but I haven't been able to come across it. In an interview, CY said he liked that scene (but it was not aired 😭).

https://weibo.com/5387153978/5215613413756741

Another scene that was filmed but deleted from the drama. Someone in the comments said that it was the scene of XQS going to save LCZ...

https://video.weibo.com/show?fid=1034:5215444458733597

Apparently, many scenes of this drama were deleted, causing some plot holes in the ending. On xiaohongshu and weibo, some of the deleted scenes got uploaded. Chinese fans of the drama are so confused and upset with the scenes deletion as the story would've flowed better...

I also read parts of the script on weibo (not sure if it's legit), but if the script is real, then they really deleted quite a number of scenes :/

I have not watched the last two episodes fully, but I spoiled myself on some scenes. I'm glad LCZ and ZSR died with dignity. In the original novel, I heard that ZSR was humiliated before being killed, she died in a very very tragic way...I wouldn't be able to endure such a death. The way XQS died was also by being surrounded with his love ones in a lively manner. I liked that.

I also want to say that I really really loved the crying scene of Cheng Yi (XQS) when he found out that Xueyu is dead. That scene was so realistic and it was sooo different from all of CY's previous dramas' crying scenes. I could genuinely feel the shock, disbelief, and pain that XQS felt in that scene. The way his voice trembled. Nowadays, I feel like a lot of people (not all) like watching good-looking actors and good-looking facial expressions in crying scenes. Nothing wrong with that, but in reality, not all crying scenes are going to look glamorous. Even in many dramas that I really love, sometimes I feel the crying scenes are very lacklustre, like the actor/actress just cries a bit or their cries don't really feel genuine to what their characters are experiencing. Another crying scene that I really really love is from Bai Lu in One and Only (if you watched that show, uk what I'm talking about). The genuine anguish and pain I could really feel. This is NOT to look down on or personally attack other actors/actresses out there, but I really want to commend Cheng Yi's crying scenes in this drama. He did so well!!

Omgg I love the fight between Crazy Yan and XQS. Crazy Yan's actor, Julian Cheung, acted so well. He felt so domineering and arrogant, but not really a bad guy? I still remember him from his TVB days, a very good actor! The scene where everyone wanted to save XQS even at the expense of facing Crazy Yan was so gooood, I had felt the old Wuxia vibes from it. At that moment, XQS gained the respect of everyone there, uniting Jianghu's different sects for a moment. It's like even if they disapproved of XQS at first, they absolutely just CANNOT let this promising junior die there. In a world where it's easy to succumb before power/authority, XQS refuses to kneel before Crazy Yan, even if he dies. Honestly I really love XQS's character so much, he is the kind of person to be "soft", gentle, and very kind to the weak (children, elderly, needy etc) and his friends/family, but very firm and strong against the bad people. I know some people don't like XQS's character at the start because he "cries too much" or what, but not crying does not equal strong and crying does not equal being weak. A man can be emotional and have empathy and feelings while also being strong and wise. Plus, he definitely grew a lot from the beginning of the drama till now. I love his character so much. I love that it breaks stereotypes and toxic masculinity.

There's no logical reason. Even in the original novel, LCZ and XQS were written to look really similar, but they are not related at all.

Being treated well and growing up in a happy family is one thing, comparison is another. Like the saying "comparison is the thief of joy", Kaiyan always perceived himself as being unloved compared to both of his brothers. Yiren was treated as the future head of the family and frequently followed his father in Jianghu, Qiushui was the favoured, spoiled younger brother who the mom openly doted on the most (and even the father secretly dotes on him the most too).

As for Yiren, he's just extremely weak-minded and cares too much about reputation and success. He probably followed his father (a well-known Jianghu hero) too much and was always respected for being the son of the Xiao Family Huanhua Sect. All this fame, reputation, and success probably got to him and he became someone that cared too much about such matters. When his family was massacred, everything came crumbling down and he lost the identity he cherished the most: Xiao Xilou's son and Huanhua Sect young leader. His whatever chivalry behaviour was only tied to that identity, and now that he has nothing, his true character starts becoming more obvious. Back then during the fight with XQS for the young sect leader position, when XQS got the upper hand, Yiren attacked him with a serious blow, not even caring about the safety of his whole family behind. XQS did not avoid the blow in order to protect his family. You can see the difference in character then.

Out of Cheng Yi's upcoming dramas, this drama is the most anticipated among Chinese fans! It's adapted from a very popular and respected novel. It's NOT meant to be a romance drama or satisfying drama, it's a bittersweet drama. Cheng Yi also got injured when filming the fight scenes in this drama 🥹. I heard there's a copyright issue, but I really hope it can resolve and that this drama can air 🥺🥺🥺

Yes correct. That's why in XMM's version (the world he transmigrated in), there's characters like Feng Lang and San Cai who both probably don't exist in the original novel.

I love the interaction between Xiao Qiushui and Li Chenzhou. Honestly, LCZ gives off the vibe that he despises those despicable people, like he looks down on those who are narrow-minded and despicable . In ep 27, he openly despised those people trying to snatch that fake pill to save themselves. LCZ also seems to really like (respect) people who are righteous and brave like XQS, which may also be the reason why he seems to be "nicer" towards him. He just looks at XQS like a very promising junior and likes his guts 🤣

Xiao Yiren is just a very weak-minded dude. He's the kind of guy that gets easily influenced and manipulated. He's also overconfident in his own abilities but is also the kind to get jealous of others. As much as I dislike him, I love that his character has been hinted at in the very early episodes, the part where XQS and him had a duel and when XQS was getting the upper hand, XYR dealt him a serious blow. Not surprise he ended up like this now...


The mysteries are getting deeper but are also slowly unraveling! LSF needs to use more of his brain rather than his anger and thirst for revenge. The bad guys seem to be plotting this for a very long time (15 years) if they started during the Baicao Valley massacre?

Yaaa same, he's like adding oil to the fire in many situations while acting timid 😵‍💫

Hmmm I don't think so because Emperors definitely don't have time or freedom to be in the Jianghu and reach a level so high that he is called the strongest person haha, even if he was a former emperor. But he maaaay be related to the royal family! LCZ seems to have left the palace life behind since a long-time ago so he got more freedom.

Li Kaixin was not the initial choice, but the other actress got some kind of issue/accident during training so she was replaced with Li Kaixin. There's nothing wrong with LKX. She took the opportunity and worked hard, I think she acted well.

Ohhhh if it's like this, it makes sense!

Omg yaaa nobody else was wearing a cloak. Noooo I sense a sad ending for LCZ 🥹😭

IKRR I love how in love they look when looking at each other. They don't even need to speak, their eyes and expressions conveyed it all 🥺

Li Chenzhou is Daxi's prince and the Empress's son? Damn no wonder he always emits some noble aura. I think the Power Gang was definitely established to protect the country against Bei Huang. Zhao Shirong said that their Power Gang has never done anything that harms Daxi. Li Chenzhou also told off Liu Suifeng that he (LSF) should know that he would NEVER give him such an order to kill Shaolin and Wudang's seniors. Naturally it's because Shaolin and Wudang are also part of orthodox sects protecting Daxi. But yes, LCZ's subordinates are questionable. LCZ has been neglecting matters most likely due to his health I feel. The FIRST time we saw him, he was drinking a bowl of medicine and he even coughed a bit. Zhao Shirong, at the side, looked at him silently like she was worried. His health problems led him to neglect matters in the Power Gang and ended up having some of his subordinates working together with the Eagle Gang (like Sword King).

This video is just about the amount of money each actor/actress got paid for this drama. However, I don't know how accurate it is (don't believe too much in online sources).