A lot of us are not shippers who have a set “fave”. We just root for XaioYao to heal and get what SHE wants.…
Let me answer you this way: none of Xiang Liu's tentatively kind acts towards Xiao Yao will make up for his brutal treatment of her. It is about inflicting physical damage, as well as permanent emotional injuries. During their first meeting, Xiang Liu whipped Wen Xiao Liu and then kicked him. Despite the fact that Xiao Liu was not his enemy and did not even refuse to serve him. Also, Xiang Liu abandoned Xiao Yao when she was being tortured by Xuan. Only after Jing's request did he participate in the doctor's release. Xiang Liu constantly drank Xiao Yao's blood, although he could have recovered from his wounds in another way /after all, he somehow survived before meeting her/. He threw her to the ground from his bird, broke a branch so that she fell from a tree, and in the fight with Xuan, he used their connection /when the beetle was still with Xuan/ to win the duel. Also, Xiang Liu always bargained with Xiao Yao whenever there was an opportunity: sometimes he obtained medicine from Jing in this way, then he demanded from the latter to transport the grain stolen /from Xiao Yao's grandfather/, then a mountain for burial. Even from Xiao Yao, he took a promise to fulfill his wish in return for the beetle. In the second season, this grieving lover rejected Xiao Yao three times. But then for some reason he decided /without her consent/ under hypnosis to find out who Xiao Yao really wants to be with. Not even her pain stopped him. Where do you see love here? I see only abuse here, which he tries to pass off as feelings of love. And there is no need to justify Xiang Liu's behavior by what he experienced in the past. Each of the heroes of the love triangle /Xiao Yao, Xiang Liu and Jing/ learn what physical torture, betrayal of loved ones and loneliness are. But for some reason, Jing, knowing about the healing properties of Xiao Yao's blood, always asks her not to use this method for him. It was Jing /who, let me remind you, does not have enough spiritual power and magic due to torture/ who asked Xiang Liu to save Xiao Liu when Xuan was torturing her. It was Jing who procured medicine and food for Xiang Liu's army. It was Jing who defied the 2 kings and put his reputation on the line and helped Xiao Yao escape from Xuan.
It was Jing who further introduced Xuan to Fenglong in order to secure Xiao Yao's brother the support of the Middle Plains clans. It was he who devised the plan and showed it to Fenglong, which helped Xuan to become king. It was Jing who gave all his spiritual power (of which he had only drops) to Xiao Yao in the garden and infused her with the power of fire so that her soul would not finally break the connection with the body. While Xiang Liu was who knows where. If Jing hadn't done this, and Xuan hadn't had his servants continue to infuse power into Xiao Yao, the demon simply wouldn't have had anyone to save. It was Jing who melted Xiao Yao's heart with his tenderness, support and love and she became open to love again. He was always on Xiao Yao's side, never criticized her, and always supported her in everything. And this is just a small fraction of everything that Jing did not only for Xiao Yao, but also for her family and friends. His only drawback is excessive kindness and faith in people. For which he suffers. This is why only Jing can be by Xiao Yao's side.
He threw her to the ground from his bird, broke a branch so that she fell from a tree, and in the fight with Xuan, he used their connection /when the beetle was still with Xuan/ to win the duel. Also, Xiang Liu always bargained with Xiao Yao whenever there was an opportunity: sometimes he obtained medicine from Jing in this way, then he demanded from the latter to transport the grain stolen /from Xiao Yao's grandfather/, then a mountain for burial. Even from Xiao Yao, he took a promise to fulfill his wish in return for the beetle.
In the second season, this grieving lover rejected Xiao Yao three times. But then for some reason he decided /without her consent/ under hypnosis to find out who Xiao Yao really wants to be with. Not even her pain stopped him. Where do you see love here? I see only abuse here, which he tries to pass off as feelings of love.
And there is no need to justify Xiang Liu's behavior by what he experienced in the past. Each of the heroes of the love triangle /Xiao Yao, Xiang Liu and Jing/ learn what physical torture, betrayal of loved ones and loneliness are.
But for some reason, Jing, knowing about the healing properties of Xiao Yao's blood, always asks her not to use this method for him. It was Jing /who, let me remind you, does not have enough spiritual power and magic due to torture/ who asked Xiang Liu to save Xiao Liu when Xuan was torturing her. It was Jing who procured medicine and food for Xiang Liu's army. It was Jing who defied the 2 kings and put his reputation on the line and helped Xiao Yao escape from Xuan.
It was Jing who further introduced Xuan to Fenglong in order to secure Xiao Yao's brother the support of the Middle Plains clans. It was he who devised the plan and showed it to Fenglong, which helped Xuan to become king. It was Jing who gave all his spiritual power (of which he had only drops) to Xiao Yao in the garden and infused her with the power of fire so that her soul would not finally break the connection with the body. While Xiang Liu was who knows where. If Jing hadn't done this, and Xuan hadn't had his servants continue to infuse power into Xiao Yao, the demon simply wouldn't have had anyone to save. It was Jing who melted Xiao Yao's heart with his tenderness, support and love and she became open to love again. He was always on Xiao Yao's side, never criticized her, and always supported her in everything.
And this is just a small fraction of everything that Jing did not only for Xiao Yao, but also for her family and friends.
His only drawback is excessive kindness and faith in people. For which he suffers.
This is why only Jing can be by Xiao Yao's side.