A pot with everything in it will taste like garbage. 5.7 Douban score is not without reason. You can't judge a…
For everyone who reads this account's comments, please note: Their account was created on 2 September 2025. 4 plan-to-watch-dramas, 1 completed drama and oh- Currently watching episode 25 of WoF!
There is another account which also claims to finish episode 25, right here! And that account decided to claim WoF resembled Renegade Immortal. I find it very odd that the first thing that account talks about (for someone who claims to watch Renegade Immortal) is the "romance" between Tang Lici and a-Shui:
[ Only on EP 25, but I just want to say (after being spoiled by various episode summaries found online of later episodes) Immortals don't really have a love life. They become mortals to experience love but then leave everything behind when they "go back home" to the celestial realm.
May explain the ML's love life and the letting go of A Shui in the end... ]
And to make sure you get the point of the "romance", they repeat themselves:
[ Is anyone watching Renegade Immortal donghua anime? I couldn't help but notice how the ML+FL in that 3D CGI anime produced by Tencent is so similar to Tang Lici and Miss A Shui. ]
And then another account came in to claim the same thing, but received pushback.
JK-L008 at this point also plastered a second comment to me with:
[ Comparing it with Renegade Immortal isn't wrong isn't the genre of this drama a mixture xianxia and wuxia? Renegade Immortal is the best novel wuxia novel out there. No wonder why it feels so cheap even if we compare it with the anime adaption. ]
Watching only clips, focusing on romance, not actually finished this drama, always wants the last word so comments are at least doubled- You wouldn't happen to be someone I disagreed with more than 8 days ago and called you out for dishonesty because I said there is no romance in this drama, would you? Happy digging. I won't engage you any further.
Scores for good non-romance dramas on this site usually hover at 7.8 to 8.2. I'd say look at well-written reviews…
Wow, your reading comprehension needs serious improvement! I said "usually hover", and examples include modern dramas such as Mobius, Beloved, etc. My sentiment is a fairly common sentiment amongst viewers who are fans of non-romance dramas. "Usually hover" isn't fixed in cement.
You are now demonstrating a personal vendetta against me with your name-calling, because I pointed out how you made yourself sound completely ridiculous on this page less than 24 hours ago. Enjoy digging :)
So, my first thought was what kind of ending is this?? I read some theories saying that the fox that appears at…
At first I considered keeping A-Shui but I would have halved her screentime and given her more iconic scenes in-line with the maternal angle they were going for, plus a literary angle to further underscore her ties to Fang Zhou just before the big reveal.
That would have enabled incorporation of the Celestial Realm for one entire episode to further emphasise the importance of Bai Nanzhu and Ye Mo on Tang Lici and relative to Tang Lici (I would have restructured at least three episodes too), and allowed Zhong Chunji to have a better storyline.
Xifang Tao for me was necessary and very different from the novel, and Chen Yao did a good job of making her very unlikeable XD
The current 8.0 rating score (it can even go lower as time passes) further proves my suspicions that the lower…
Scores for good non-romance dramas on this site usually hover at 7.8 to 8.2. I'd say look at well-written reviews and the forum posts.
Taraverde's review is new and highly-recommended. There's a new Buddhism-related forum thread by Azure, titled "Whispers of Fate- What Is The Meaning Of Life?"
I understand there is frustration at how certain female characters were portrayed. There is no romance tag for…
The drama ending matches the screenplay that draws from the novel at the time that the novel was not finished, especially pertaining to the significance of Tang Lici's mother. How Liu Yan saw A-Shui and how Tang Lici saw A-Shui was definitely different. What is A-Shui to Tang Lici?
If you were expecting some kind of two-way romance and full-on romance, and you believe romance is valid, why hasn't "romance" been added as a tag to this drama page? If drama-A-Shui and drama-Tang Lici have something going on, where is the solid romance push for the promotions on all the platforms?
Maybe the producers forgot to say something about all this, when WoF was mentioned as heroism-focused. Maybe someone forgot to tell drama-Tang Lici that in episodes 34 and 35, he is supposed to show a lot more emotions than er, quickly switching his attention to Gui Mudan while talking to A-Shui during the grand reveal, or sounding too-sober about A-Shui's goodbye letter.
I don't like insisting on romance for WoF even if I claim you can ship whoever you want. Luo Yunxi has chemistry with a lot of the cast, so shipping whoever you want with him is doable. But viewers generally expect certain things when it comes to the "romance" label, and then they are rightfully disappointed when it doesn't happen according to expectations. I don't want to claim romance for any heterosexual or homosexual pairings, because how would you justify it from the drama?
Remember Wanyu Yuedan? I will now quote from Book 4, Chapter 40 (part 3):
[ “Be at ease. Master Tang has already gone.” Wanyu Yuedan bent low, clasping her hand with a steady, reassuring smile.
Ah Shui froze. At those words, the world seemed to reel around her. “He… he’s already gone?”
Wanyu Yuedan inclined his head. “As soon as he awoke and learned you had led Brother Shen and Zhu Yan to storm Wangting Manor, he set out at once. Do not fear. With Master Tang there, none will come to harm.”
She stared at him.
“But… his health…” Her voice trembled.
Wanyu Yuedan raised a finger and traced a small circle beside his temple, still smiling gently. “It was merely agitation. I gave him a calming draught, and he drank the rice soup you made. Already he is better than before. Rest assured, when Master Tang is present, he will never allow anyone to be hurt. He is the kind of man who will stake his very life for others. And with his ability… tell me, what can he not achieve, once he throws his life into it?”
Ah Shui gazed at Wanyu Yuedan in a daze. How could he speak with such certainty—so matter-of-factly—when he said that Tang Lici was the kind of man who will stake his life for others?
“He…”
Wanyu Yuedan drew out a handkerchief and slowly wiped the mud and melted snow from her face. His voice was gentle as he went on,”I once knew another man who would risk his life for those who had nothing to do with him. He did so out of compassion. He was kind to everyone, wished happiness for all, and for that ideal he was willing to stake his life. A man like that is easy to love, easy to praise.
“But Young Master Tang is not like that. He risks his life for others not because of compassion, but because he is fragile.”
Ah Shui blinked slowly. Meltwater pooled at the corners of her eyes, turning everything into a blur. She heard Wanyu Yuedan’s voice, gentle as falling snow:
“He is too lonely, too starved for care. That is why he throws himself into saving others. Through saving them… he gains a sliver of fulfillment, a sense that he matters. He could not let go of Fang Zhou, nor of Liu Yan, and he fought desperately to save Chi Yun—because so few have ever truly cared for him. The ones who do, he engraves upon his heart, and he cannot bear to let them slip away.
“But few truly understand him. His emotions flare too fiercely, and most people are afraid of him. He always seems as though he alone can shoulder the work of dozens, even hundreds. As though if he exists, others need not. Yet the truth is otherwise. He is only too lonely. He needs that lofty posture… because he longs so desperately to be cared for, to be valued. He cannot live as ordinary men do.”
I… I have been so foolish all along. Tears slid down Ah Shui’s cheeks. “Yes…”
Wanyu Yuedan sighed softly. “I will say something I perhaps should not. Miss Ah Shui, you cannot go on without truly understanding Master Tang. I believe the reason he clings to you is not for any other cause, but because you… you carry within you something of a mother’s presence.”
Once again, tears spilled from Ah Shui’s eyes. She could no longer tell whether they were caused by snowmelt or sadness.
“I understand now.”
This gentle young man, seeing her for the first time, seemed able to pierce through every veil of mist. At last she understood what Tang Lici sought from her. At last she understood why he yearned for a love that would “die for him.” At last she understood why, though he treated her so well, she had never felt he loved her—and why did it always left her so disappointed.
So…
So that was it.
Only that, and nothing more.
She broke down and wept, collapsing to the ground in anguish. He had wanted only a mother who would die for him. And she—she had mistaken it all along.
She could never be his mother. And though she had cared for him with all her heart, still… still… what he longed for was only a mother, nothing else, nothing beyond.
I understand there is frustration at how certain female characters were portrayed. There is no romance tag for this drama. Perhaps it will help if I share certain specifics. I am happy for two female characters, one of which is the most important woman in novel-Tang Lici's life and her significance, because I am very happy that drama-Tang Lici met her. In this, the screenplay did stay true to the novel in a certain aspect.
The drama has some basis in the novel but is vastly different because when the novel was adapted, the novel was incomplete. If you're not a novel reader who paid attention to the entire novel, you would not have known Teng Ping took a break in 2019, and resumed writing for the novel only after the novel was adapted for the drama.
By the time the screenplay was likely finished, the novel was at chapter 51 (near the end of book 5). A chapter when translated is broken into several parts and depending on the website and translator, is 313 "chapters" in total without actual adherence to numbering (or is correctly divided into books of several chapters, with several parts for each chapter). Shooting for the drama started on 2 December 2023, and ended on 24 April 2024.
Please see the spoiler tag below whereby I quote a certain segment of chapter 40, to understand Tang Lici and the significance of certain women in his life, which is reflected in the drama (especially the final 10 episodes):
So, my first thought was what kind of ending is this?? I read some theories saying that the fox that appears at…
If it helps with the ending, I strongly recommend RBF's 2023 forum post describing the official poster for this drama page (no more spoilers, since you watched the final episode):
The philosophical Buddhism aspects including why Tang Lici makes the decisions he does is in this forum thread (not yet touched on the Taoism aspects):
As to the writing for the female characters, I don't know which ones frustrate you, but the screenplay stayed true to the novel, because the novel was unfinished when the drama was adapted. Teng Ping only resumed after the novel was adapted for the drama. As a result, the drama has some basis in the novel but is not an adaptation of the novel.
The most important woman in novel-Tang Lici's life and her significance, I am very happy that drama-Tang Lici received it. This affects the characterisation of one female character in the drama, which is why there is no romance tag for this drama. The screenplay stayed true to the novel. Please see a certain part of chapter 40, if you are curious:
Did y'all listen to the character theme songs? Don't think it was ever discussed? Anyways now I'm curious which…
I enjoy Gui Mudan's character song the most. But for overall songs, I like the OP song the most because it makes me think of Tang Lici's entire journey in fully understanding the seven emotions for this entire drama XD The songs are all beautiful and very meaningful in their own way. It's always great to have a variety of quality aural options for viewers to enjoy.
Hahahaha, it's a drama that will stay with you. The drama is a tremendous success in China, and here are a few details:
FoF's OST is beautiful too (storytelling is another matter entirely)!
[I am terrible uploading my covers on my YT channel whenever I cover OSTs lol... but tbh this is a drama where I wanna cover some of the OSTs now ] - Cover? What does that mean? *interested*
A pot with everything in it will taste like garbage. 5.7 Douban score is not without reason. You can't judge a…
A sizeable number of MDL users tend to hike romance ratings and downgrade non-coupley endings in various ways. Add that to haters voting on all episodes for certain popular actors or actresses before episodes even air for the drama, and that only further reduces MDL's credibility.
It has the collective efforts of users (mostly mandarin-speakers) about the many facets of this drama, and I will add Azure's latest contribution there.
The last time there was a concert for a drama, it was "The Untamed". Multi-city concerts within China is a first for a drama. I compile here several details of how successful SLY has been, and still increasing (I also have friends who have not finished watching the drama on MangoTV, and are about to embark on the final 10 episodes).
Kwanto also shared how Yunhe gave the lowest co-efficient ever (which makes a Yunhe a joke on this subject and totally destroys their credibility) and why Yunhe shot themselves in credibility:
I can understand the plot-point of why they wanted to include A-Shui. The primary problem for the characterisation…
Daoism has some fundamental differences with Buddhism.
For a xianxia or xuanhuan drama, I haven't been as interested in such a drama since "Love and Destiny" in 2019. This drama makes me feel like a kid in a candy store.
What is your point of coming to her fanpage to say all this? Do you want to drive away all of Ai Mi's fans or…
You're almost funny! You came here purposely to this fan page trying to get attention from people who didn't know you exist, until you baselessly insulted an actress. Now you have attention, because that's what you came for. If you're that desperate to be acknowledged by strangers and want to be useful, there are plenty of charities and homeless people you can help out with.
FYI, viewers who keep insisting on fanservice such as kisses in idol dramas contribute to the lower-quality output of dramas. More often than not, they also end up contributing to actors and actresses having to do kisses or more that make these artists very uncomfortable. Every actor and actress should have the right to choose not to kiss in a drama, and I admire Ren Jialun for insisting on not doing so after marriage. The likes of Hollywood threw away the Hays Code, so they have almost zero standards in their entertainment industry guidelines which previously prohibited profanity, suggestive nudity, graphic or realistic violence, sexual persuasions and rape.
Luckily China's C-Ent has necessary standards due to censorship and other guidelines, although there are issues too because of how strongly these are enforced at times.
I hope you have a good day, and get the help you need. Because frankly, you sound like you need help.
Ps. If you don't care, don't emphasise your not-caring by posting two comments at me such as "chill, she doesn't even know u exist." and "u go support this nepotism, i dont care. not me tho.." 🤣🤣🤣
A pot with everything in it will taste like garbage. 5.7 Douban score is not without reason. You can't judge a…
[ A pot with everything in it will taste like garbage.] - Congratulations, you've managed to totally discredit yourself in one sentence! You should be proud of such an achievement, since you manage to continue that by referencing Douban for WoF! FYI, between the bot attacks driving down the score and of course, Douban not being paid what was expected, no one would reference Douban at this point for this drama except ignorant people or trolls.
This drama currently stands at 1.575+ billion views on Maoyan and counting, which makes it MangoTV's highest-viewed exclusive drama ever. Is it the number 1 drama of 2025?
Oh yes, there will be three drama concerts within China with some of the cast and artists: 14 December - Shanghai 27 December - Chengdu 9 January 2026 - Shenzhen
Well done to Otter Studios, Luo Yunxi and everyone who made this such a resounding success!
I had done watching this a day after express was released. The story feels a little lacking of something…. Maybe…
The screenwriters stayed true to certain elements and characters of the novel. When the novel was adapted for the drama, it was unfinished. Teng Ping took a rest in 2019, before returning to it in 2022. As a result, when the screenplay was finished and only has some basis in the novel but is not based primarily on the novel, the script differed significantly from later chapters of the novel whereby the ending of the novel matches what was previously written by Teng Ping.
I have claimed there is no CP for this drama and I have also claimed that Tang Lici must fully understand the seven emotions after what happened at Zhoudi Lou, of which he only grasped the foundations in his time at Zhoudi Lou.
For where the screenplay stays true to the novel, I quote from a certain chapter of the novel here. It will provide illumination to Tang Lici's perspective about the most important woman in his life, which is part of why the ending makes complete sense including Tang Lici's behaviour throughout 40 episodes:
If anyone is interested, I translated the main theme song for this series into English at - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiwaNTAFmvQgHceQGT786s5_HLK-1vuSo
Thank you so much for keeping us updated with all the wonderful reuters 👏.
Thank you for your efforts to share all this here! Would you happen to have links to the clips on other mediums, since I have had people telling me they cannot access xhs or bilibili?
I can understand the plot-point of why they wanted to include A-Shui. The primary problem for the characterisation…
I'm glad I was able to help you. I didn't want to mention anything about this, until the drama had finished airing.
When A-Shui leaves, it is a reminder for Tang Lici that meeting people and time spent with them can be ephemeral. Given how strong he was about having a sense of self, he naturally wished her well in living a life for herself after remembering her actual name.
A-Shui's role could have been made iconic, but it isn't through her key scenes that kept being shown with Tang Lici. In her efforts of concern, family, understanding literature, etc (hence why I suggested certain changes)- I want her to be strongly making an impact and not just beautiful.
Points 1.2 and 3 are correct. Point 4... Not so much about justice, but what it means to break the cycle of rebirth and also changing one's pre-determined fate. The justice angle sounds too "western" here for me.
Fang Zhou said nobody is born evil. Isn't that a beautiful theme Tang Lici fulfilled, showing how strongly Tang Lici's mother and Fang Zhou impacted Tang Lici until the end? To prove nobody is truly born evil can be seen in the reset of second chances.
This recent review by Taraverde is outstanding, and I'd encourage everyone to read the entire review including the reddit expansions (if you can access Reddit), especially viewers who may be wondering about the extent of Chinese culture and history behind the art, aesthetics and philosophy driving "Whispers" of Fate" and why this xuanxia C-Drama is unique compared to other idol dramas in the xianxia or xuanhuan genres:
I quote from part of it:
[ Shui Long Yin (The Dragon Chant) is a high-fantasy drama with detailed world-building that feels distinctly Chinese while also pushing toward future aesthetics and drawing inspiration from outside China — but always through its own artistic language. Because of this, I thought it worthwhile to highlight the meaningful creative decisions behind it, focusing mainly on aesthetics and philosophy.
ACT 1 — ARTS: HISTORICAL & CULTURAL REFERENCES (SPOILER-FREE) General thoughts
The drama blends high fantasy with elements of xianxia, wuxia, anime, theatre, sci-fi, and even video games. This fusion results in a bold, innovative visual identity.
Theatre stage & conscious illusion
Beyond its CGI and anime-style action, the drama frequently adopts theatrical mise-en-scène: deep, layered frames, strong lighting choices, and movement reminiscent of stage performance. This isn't accidental — it blurs genres, honors Chinese theatre traditions, and sets up the philosophical undertone explored later.
Beijing & Sichuan Opera in the villains
The villains embrace over-the-top stylization: voices, acting, makeup, masks, and costumes. Their theatricality draws from Beijing Opera’s rigidity and Sichuan Opera’s flexibility and special effects (like chaging masks). Puppets also nod to shadow puppetry, another pillar of Chinese performance arts.
Tang Li Ci’s costume symbolism
His ostentatious attire goes far beyond wealth. It draws from older periods than the usual drama inspirations, referencing mother-of-pearl lacquered jade, gold embroidery, celestial motifs, Taoist/Buddhist imagery, the Yongle Gong murals, the Mogao Caves, traditional dragon´s dance attires the Four Heavenly Kings from Buddhist iconography. His headpieces also echo traditional Buddha depictions
Artifacts and ancient cultures
The drama incorporates motifs from Shu and Sanxingdui bronzes (ca. 3000 years old), Shang and Western Zhou bronzes, Qin dynasty imagery, and classical paintings. Tang Li Ci’s boat references Ode to the Nymph of the Luo River.
Cinematic references
Villain archetypes evoke 90s–2000s Chinese and Hong Kong dramas. The overall design shows influence from the Ne Zha films. Several shots strongly echo Zhang Yimou’s Hero (2002): falling leaves, water surface breaks, floating robes, and color palettes.
NOTE: I specific mention the references for you to search them, if you want. ]
boycotting all her upcoming project (her as Female Lead) seems like a right thing to do. her growth doesn't look…
What is your point of coming to her fanpage to say all this? Do you want to drive away all of Ai Mi's fans or any people who appreciate her filmography on this MDL drama page? Do you object to her being one of three young actors to win Rising Young Actor of 2025 at the recent Wenrong Awards less than one month ago, after slogging for more than ten years through many support roles and working her way up to finally being FL in a movie that aired in November 2024 plus her upcoming not-yet-aired 2026 Youku drama as FL?
I hope you work through whatever personal problems you seem to be having, instead of taking it out on a young lady who has been working hard on her career.
You should! The Director and main actors plus actresses will definitely make this a drama to watch.
R
OnReview unavailable•Nov 25, 2025
ReviewReview unavailable
I am very happy with your review, given the extent of art and aesthetics and basics of Taoism which you have covered (and I also noticed in varying extents during my own viewing experience). Your eloquence on this is swoon-worthy! Thank you for this contribution on MDL and reddit. Jeremy Tsui as Gui Mudan is my favourite villain in a historical costume C-Drama within these 20 years.
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There is another account which also claims to finish episode 25, right here! And that account decided to claim WoF resembled Renegade Immortal. I find it very odd that the first thing that account talks about (for someone who claims to watch Renegade Immortal) is the "romance" between Tang Lici and a-Shui:
https://kisskh.at/755725-shui-long-yin#comment-24228906
[ Only on EP 25, but I just want to say (after being spoiled by various episode summaries found online of later episodes) Immortals don't really have a love life. They become mortals to experience love but then leave everything behind when they "go back home" to the celestial realm.
May explain the ML's love life and the letting go of A Shui in the end... ]
And to make sure you get the point of the "romance", they repeat themselves:
https://kisskh.at/755725-shui-long-yin#comment-24229132
[ Is anyone watching Renegade Immortal donghua anime? I couldn't help but notice how the ML+FL in that 3D CGI anime produced by Tencent is so similar to Tang Lici and Miss A Shui. ]
And then another account came in to claim the same thing, but received pushback.
JK-L008 at this point also plastered a second comment to me with:
[ Comparing it with Renegade Immortal isn't wrong isn't the genre of this drama a mixture xianxia and wuxia? Renegade Immortal is the best novel wuxia novel out there. No wonder why it feels so cheap even if we compare it with the anime adaption. ]
Watching only clips, focusing on romance, not actually finished this drama, always wants the last word so comments are at least doubled- You wouldn't happen to be someone I disagreed with more than 8 days ago and called you out for dishonesty because I said there is no romance in this drama, would you? Happy digging. I won't engage you any further.
You are now demonstrating a personal vendetta against me with your name-calling, because I pointed out how you made yourself sound completely ridiculous on this page less than 24 hours ago. Enjoy digging :)
That would have enabled incorporation of the Celestial Realm for one entire episode to further emphasise the importance of Bai Nanzhu and Ye Mo on Tang Lici and relative to Tang Lici (I would have restructured at least three episodes too), and allowed Zhong Chunji to have a better storyline.
Xifang Tao for me was necessary and very different from the novel, and Chen Yao did a good job of making her very unlikeable XD
Taraverde's review is new and highly-recommended. There's a new Buddhism-related forum thread by Azure, titled "Whispers of Fate- What Is The Meaning Of Life?"
If you were expecting some kind of two-way romance and full-on romance, and you believe romance is valid, why hasn't "romance" been added as a tag to this drama page? If drama-A-Shui and drama-Tang Lici have something going on, where is the solid romance push for the promotions on all the platforms?
Maybe the producers forgot to say something about all this, when WoF was mentioned as heroism-focused. Maybe someone forgot to tell drama-Tang Lici that in episodes 34 and 35, he is supposed to show a lot more emotions than er, quickly switching his attention to Gui Mudan while talking to A-Shui during the grand reveal, or sounding too-sober about A-Shui's goodbye letter.
I don't like insisting on romance for WoF even if I claim you can ship whoever you want. Luo Yunxi has chemistry with a lot of the cast, so shipping whoever you want with him is doable. But viewers generally expect certain things when it comes to the "romance" label, and then they are rightfully disappointed when it doesn't happen according to expectations. I don't want to claim romance for any heterosexual or homosexual pairings, because how would you justify it from the drama?
Remember Wanyu Yuedan? I will now quote from Book 4, Chapter 40 (part 3):
[ “Be at ease. Master Tang has already gone.” Wanyu Yuedan bent low, clasping her hand with a steady, reassuring smile.
Ah Shui froze. At those words, the world seemed to reel around her. “He… he’s already gone?”
Wanyu Yuedan inclined his head. “As soon as he awoke and learned you had led Brother Shen and Zhu Yan to storm Wangting Manor, he set out at once. Do not fear. With Master Tang there, none will come to harm.”
She stared at him.
“But… his health…” Her voice trembled.
Wanyu Yuedan raised a finger and traced a small circle beside his temple, still smiling gently. “It was merely agitation. I gave him a calming draught, and he drank the rice soup you made. Already he is better than before. Rest assured, when Master Tang is present, he will never allow anyone to be hurt. He is the kind of man who will stake his very life for others. And with his ability… tell me, what can he not achieve, once he throws his life into it?”
Ah Shui gazed at Wanyu Yuedan in a daze. How could he speak with such certainty—so matter-of-factly—when he said that Tang Lici was the kind of man who will stake his life for others?
“He…”
Wanyu Yuedan drew out a handkerchief and slowly wiped the mud and melted snow from her face. His voice was gentle as he went on,”I once knew another man who would risk his life for those who had nothing to do with him. He did so out of compassion. He was kind to everyone, wished happiness for all, and for that ideal he was willing to stake his life. A man like that is easy to love, easy to praise.
“But Young Master Tang is not like that. He risks his life for others not because of compassion, but because he is fragile.”
Ah Shui blinked slowly. Meltwater pooled at the corners of her eyes, turning everything into a blur. She heard Wanyu Yuedan’s voice, gentle as falling snow:
“He is too lonely, too starved for care. That is why he throws himself into saving others. Through saving them… he gains a sliver of fulfillment, a sense that he matters. He could not let go of Fang Zhou, nor of Liu Yan, and he fought desperately to save Chi Yun—because so few have ever truly cared for him. The ones who do, he engraves upon his heart, and he cannot bear to let them slip away.
“But few truly understand him. His emotions flare too fiercely, and most people are afraid of him. He always seems as though he alone can shoulder the work of dozens, even hundreds. As though if he exists, others need not. Yet the truth is otherwise. He is only too lonely. He needs that lofty posture… because he longs so desperately to be cared for, to be valued. He cannot live as ordinary men do.”
I… I have been so foolish all along. Tears slid down Ah Shui’s cheeks. “Yes…”
Wanyu Yuedan sighed softly. “I will say something I perhaps should not. Miss Ah Shui, you cannot go on without truly understanding Master Tang. I believe the reason he clings to you is not for any other cause, but because you… you carry within you something of a mother’s presence.”
Once again, tears spilled from Ah Shui’s eyes. She could no longer tell whether they were caused by snowmelt or sadness.
“I understand now.”
This gentle young man, seeing her for the first time, seemed able to pierce through every veil of mist. At last she understood what Tang Lici sought from her. At last she understood why he yearned for a love that would “die for him.” At last she understood why, though he treated her so well, she had never felt he loved her—and why did it always left her so disappointed.
So…
So that was it.
Only that, and nothing more.
She broke down and wept, collapsing to the ground in anguish. He had wanted only a mother who would die for him. And she—she had mistaken it all along.
She could never be his mother. And though she had cared for him with all her heart, still… still… what he longed for was only a mother, nothing else, nothing beyond.
And she… she could never be his mother. ]
Here are two sites: https://qianjiemei.wordpress.com/2025/09/05/chapter-40-brokenhearted-unto-despair-part-3/
https://mydramanovel.com/shui-long-yin/chapter-40-heartbroken-to-the-point-of-death-03/
I also share the mandarin link: https://www.kanunu8.com/book5/1000jiemei/17467.html
The drama has some basis in the novel but is vastly different because when the novel was adapted, the novel was incomplete. If you're not a novel reader who paid attention to the entire novel, you would not have known Teng Ping took a break in 2019, and resumed writing for the novel only after the novel was adapted for the drama.
By the time the screenplay was likely finished, the novel was at chapter 51 (near the end of book 5). A chapter when translated is broken into several parts and depending on the website and translator, is 313 "chapters" in total without actual adherence to numbering (or is correctly divided into books of several chapters, with several parts for each chapter). Shooting for the drama started on 2 December 2023, and ended on 24 April 2024.
Please see the spoiler tag below whereby I quote a certain segment of chapter 40, to understand Tang Lici and the significance of certain women in his life, which is reflected in the drama (especially the final 10 episodes):
https://kisskh.at/discussions/shui-long-yin/121095-sly-art-poster-analysis-slight-spoilers?pid=2851189&page=1#p2851189
The philosophical Buddhism aspects including why Tang Lici makes the decisions he does is in this forum thread (not yet touched on the Taoism aspects):
https://kisskh.at/discussions/755725-shui-long-yin/146562-whispers-of-fate-what-is-the-meaning-of-life
As to the writing for the female characters, I don't know which ones frustrate you, but the screenplay stayed true to the novel, because the novel was unfinished when the drama was adapted. Teng Ping only resumed after the novel was adapted for the drama. As a result, the drama has some basis in the novel but is not an adaptation of the novel.
The most important woman in novel-Tang Lici's life and her significance, I am very happy that drama-Tang Lici received it. This affects the characterisation of one female character in the drama, which is why there is no romance tag for this drama. The screenplay stayed true to the novel. Please see a certain part of chapter 40, if you are curious:
https://kisskh.at/755725-shui-long-yin#comment-24268676
Hahahaha, it's a drama that will stay with you. The drama is a tremendous success in China, and here are a few details:
https://kisskh.at/755725-shui-long-yin#comment-24282032
https://kisskh.at/755725-shui-long-yin#comment-24287926
FoF's OST is beautiful too (storytelling is another matter entirely)!
[I am terrible uploading my covers on my YT channel whenever I cover OSTs lol... but tbh this is a drama where I wanna cover some of the OSTs now ] - Cover? What does that mean? *interested*
Then we have trolls claiming WoF and Renegade Immortal are similar, which is laughable: https://kisskh.at/755725-shui-long-yin#comment-24237252
I created a post in the forum titled "Group Collective Contributions: Details, trivia, insights across 40 episodes of "Whispers of Fate" at: https://kisskh.at/discussions/755725-shui-long-yin/146454-group-collective-contributions-details-trivia-insights-across-40-episodes-of-whispers-of-fate
It has the collective efforts of users (mostly mandarin-speakers) about the many facets of this drama, and I will add Azure's latest contribution there.
The last time there was a concert for a drama, it was "The Untamed". Multi-city concerts within China is a first for a drama. I compile here several details of how successful SLY has been, and still increasing (I also have friends who have not finished watching the drama on MangoTV, and are about to embark on the final 10 episodes).
Kwanto pointed out high review ratings on Baidu and Weibo (far more reviewers than Douban):https://kisskh.at/755725-shui-long-yin#comment-24250182
suzuko_d_law pointed out views on Douyin and other details: https://kisskh.at/755725-shui-long-yin#comment-24219894
Kwanto also shared how Yunhe gave the lowest co-efficient ever (which makes a Yunhe a joke on this subject and totally destroys their credibility) and why Yunhe shot themselves in credibility:
https://kisskh.at/755725-shui-long-yin#comment-24241136
https://kisskh.at/755725-shui-long-yin#comment-24231940
There is one more detail I can add later. Hope this summary helps :)
For a xianxia or xuanhuan drama, I haven't been as interested in such a drama since "Love and Destiny" in 2019. This drama makes me feel like a kid in a candy store.
Azure made a post about Buddhism relative to Tang Lici. I added my take of simplification: https://kisskh.at/discussions/755725-shui-long-yin/146562-whispers-of-fate-what-is-the-meaning-of-life?pid=3434138&page=1#p3434138
I hope this helps you grasp the Buddhism aspects (at least on a basic level) that underlines this drama for Tang Lici.
FYI, viewers who keep insisting on fanservice such as kisses in idol dramas contribute to the lower-quality output of dramas. More often than not, they also end up contributing to actors and actresses having to do kisses or more that make these artists very uncomfortable. Every actor and actress should have the right to choose not to kiss in a drama, and I admire Ren Jialun for insisting on not doing so after marriage. The likes of Hollywood threw away the Hays Code, so they have almost zero standards in their entertainment industry guidelines which previously prohibited profanity, suggestive nudity, graphic or realistic violence, sexual persuasions and rape.
Luckily China's C-Ent has necessary standards due to censorship and other guidelines, although there are issues too because of how strongly these are enforced at times.
I hope you have a good day, and get the help you need. Because frankly, you sound like you need help.
Ps. If you don't care, don't emphasise your not-caring by posting two comments at me such as "chill, she doesn't even know u exist." and "u go support this nepotism, i dont care. not me tho.." 🤣🤣🤣
This drama currently stands at 1.575+ billion views on Maoyan and counting, which makes it MangoTV's highest-viewed exclusive drama ever. Is it the number 1 drama of 2025?
Oh yes, there will be three drama concerts within China with some of the cast and artists: 14 December - Shanghai
27 December - Chengdu
9 January 2026 - Shenzhen
Well done to Otter Studios, Luo Yunxi and everyone who made this such a resounding success!
And thank you for contributing to it too :)
I have claimed there is no CP for this drama and I have also claimed that Tang Lici must fully understand the seven emotions after what happened at Zhoudi Lou, of which he only grasped the foundations in his time at Zhoudi Lou.
For where the screenplay stays true to the novel, I quote from a certain chapter of the novel here. It will provide illumination to Tang Lici's perspective about the most important woman in his life, which is part of why the ending makes complete sense including Tang Lici's behaviour throughout 40 episodes:
https://kisskh.at/755725-shui-long-yin#comment-24268676
When A-Shui leaves, it is a reminder for Tang Lici that meeting people and time spent with them can be ephemeral. Given how strong he was about having a sense of self, he naturally wished her well in living a life for herself after remembering her actual name.
A-Shui's role could have been made iconic, but it isn't through her key scenes that kept being shown with Tang Lici. In her efforts of concern, family, understanding literature, etc (hence why I suggested certain changes)- I want her to be strongly making an impact and not just beautiful.
Points 1.2 and 3 are correct. Point 4... Not so much about justice, but what it means to break the cycle of rebirth and also changing one's pre-determined fate. The justice angle sounds too "western" here for me.
Fang Zhou said nobody is born evil. Isn't that a beautiful theme Tang Lici fulfilled, showing how strongly Tang Lici's mother and Fang Zhou impacted Tang Lici until the end? To prove nobody is truly born evil can be seen in the reset of second chances.
As to point 4, I was discussing it with another viewer here: https://kisskh.at/755725-shui-long-yin#comment-24184294
There is a new review posted by one of my MDL friends. I recommend you read it too :)
I quoted part of it on this page, for people to see:
https://kisskh.at/755725-shui-long-yin#comment-24271760
I quote from part of it:
[ Shui Long Yin (The Dragon Chant) is a high-fantasy drama with detailed world-building that feels distinctly Chinese while also pushing toward future aesthetics and drawing inspiration from outside China — but always through its own artistic language. Because of this, I thought it worthwhile to highlight the meaningful creative decisions behind it, focusing mainly on aesthetics and philosophy.
ACT 1 — ARTS: HISTORICAL & CULTURAL REFERENCES (SPOILER-FREE)
General thoughts
The drama blends high fantasy with elements of xianxia, wuxia, anime, theatre, sci-fi, and even video games. This fusion results in a bold, innovative visual identity.
Theatre stage & conscious illusion
Beyond its CGI and anime-style action, the drama frequently adopts theatrical mise-en-scène: deep, layered frames, strong lighting choices, and movement reminiscent of stage performance. This isn't accidental — it blurs genres, honors Chinese theatre traditions, and sets up the philosophical undertone explored later.
Beijing & Sichuan Opera in the villains
The villains embrace over-the-top stylization: voices, acting, makeup, masks, and costumes. Their theatricality draws from Beijing Opera’s rigidity and Sichuan Opera’s flexibility and special effects (like chaging masks). Puppets also nod to shadow puppetry, another pillar of Chinese performance arts.
Tang Li Ci’s costume symbolism
His ostentatious attire goes far beyond wealth. It draws from older periods than the usual drama inspirations, referencing mother-of-pearl lacquered jade, gold embroidery, celestial motifs, Taoist/Buddhist imagery, the Yongle Gong murals, the Mogao Caves, traditional dragon´s dance attires the Four Heavenly Kings from Buddhist iconography. His headpieces also echo traditional Buddha depictions
Artifacts and ancient cultures
The drama incorporates motifs from Shu and Sanxingdui bronzes (ca. 3000 years old), Shang and Western Zhou bronzes, Qin dynasty imagery, and classical paintings. Tang Li Ci’s boat references Ode to the Nymph of the Luo River.
Cinematic references
Villain archetypes evoke 90s–2000s Chinese and Hong Kong dramas. The overall design shows influence from the Ne Zha films. Several shots strongly echo Zhang Yimou’s Hero (2002): falling leaves, water surface breaks, floating robes, and color palettes.
NOTE: I specific mention the references for you to search them, if you want. ]
For the rest of this review, please click here: https://kisskh.at/profile/TiaraBella/review/513772
I hope you work through whatever personal problems you seem to be having, instead of taking it out on a young lady who has been working hard on her career.
I am definitely adding this review of yours to the forum post [ Group Collective Contributions: Details, trivia, insights across 40 episodes of "Whispers of Fate" ] at https://kisskh.at/discussions/755725-shui-long-yin/146454-group-collective-contributions-details-trivia-insights-across-40-episodes-of-whispers-of-fate