Hi :) Just finished the drama and was about to give the lowest rate then I saw its season 2 is coming :) no wonder…
Hope this helps gives you an insight on XL:
One of the most debated controversies about XL is his initial violence towards XY during the Qingshui Town arc, and to understand this, one must delve into the foundational construct upon which his character is built. Xiang Liu's characterization is rooted in Confucian and patriarchal values, drawing inspiration from the nine-headed snake demon portrayed in Classical Chinese literature such as 'The Classics of the Mountains and Seas' and 'Investiture of the Gods.' Tong Hua crafted him with strong antiheroic traits and snake-like instincts.
The Analects of Confucius emphasize the importance of fulfilling one's duties to family and state, including filial piety, which stresses respect and duty towards one's parents. These two fundamental values deeply ingrain themselves in Xiang Liu as the General of Chenrong and the adopted son of Hong Jiang (Gong Gong). Even though he is not unique in this aspect in the world of DaHuang, XL, who hatched from an egg without parents and the love that comes from family, and had only known the violence of the fighting cages, has a strong desire to fulfill this.
A fateful encounter with Fang Feng Bei leads Xiang Liu to fulfill FFB's dying wish to take care of his mother in exchange for FFB's spiritual powers. To XL, it was not such a bad trade-off. After XY remarked that perhaps XL got the short end of the stick, he didn't hesitate to correct her, thanking FFB for letting him experience a mother's love.
Upon XL's return, he finds that the man, General Hong Jiang (Gong Gong), who saved his life once upon a time when he was a young demon, is now a fugitive general of a rebel army. He returns to his savior to serve him; however, he gets adopted by Hong Jiang as his son and heir. While readers and drama audiences never meet his adopted father, the narrative strongly emphasizes XL's affection for him. To XL, the adoption gains him a father and a family that he must protect. It just so happens that his newfound family is also the state (a fallen one nonetheless) to which he must remain steadfastly loyal.
When XY, a deity disguised as a man, chances upon the Chenrong Territory, Xiang Liu has no choice but to act upon his suspicion. Her prowess in poisons makes her all the more dangerous to XL, his family (Hong Jiang), and his state (Chenrong Army). The ensuing encounter is subject to wide debate, with some asserting XL's inherent villainy and irredeemability; therefore, undeserving of XY's love. However, XL acted upon what was close to his heart and chose to protect it, even if it meant overlooking the mere life of a woman deity in disguise.
After hearing her plead 'I have no ability to take care of myself; no one to rely on, and nowhere to go,' XL ultimately offers XY the opportunity to save her own life by becoming his man. Even though XY continues to resist to the very end, XL eventually concedes to her one demand in exchange for XY making poisons for him. Yet, to become XL's man also meant that as long as his duty of state is concerned, XY ultimately gives him consent to be used to ensure the protection of the Chenrong Army.
If XL is truly heartless, why spare XY and TSJ's lives at all? Instead, XL uses XY's knowledge of poison as an excuse to spare their lives. In doing so, XL is able to preserve their lives without losing authority and respect from his soldiers and enables him to keep an eye on her to safeguard his duties.
As XY and XL continue their relationship over several years, exchanging poisons in Qingshui Town, subsequent encounters between them, where XY ends up injured, can be traced to his origins as the nine-headed demon and his snake-like instincts. In the Penguin Classics translation of 'The Classics of the Mountains and Seas' (p. 121-122), Xiang Liu is described as having nine heads, each with a human face that feeds from nine mountains and a snake body. Wherever he goes and bumps, he creates open landscapes, heathlands, patches of pine forests, and small valleys. In the 'Investiture of the Gods,' Xiang Liu is introduced as a powerful demon general. In the Classics, and upon his defeat by the God Yu, XL's blood emanated a strong rotting odor as it seeped into the soil, making it impossible for anything to grow. As a result, even after his death, people still wouldn't dare shoot arrows towards the north. In these literatures, Xiang Liu was indeed a formidable demon.
Additionally, XL exhibits snake-like behaviors like hissing or coiling when he feels threatened or mocked by XY, who unfortunately has a bad habit due to her past experience with a snake demon. XL also possesses a red spiritual technique that mimics the constriction some snake species use to subdue prey. Most importantly, in other species, males may even use their jaws to grasp the female's neck during mating. XL, whose personality is a mixture of sarcasm and jest, initially bites XY as a warning for mocking him. Discovering her special blood, XL would come to her for healing, and as their relationship deepens, so does the physical connection of the neck biting.
Xiang Liu also exhibits a strong patriarchal trait in his need to provide for the people he cares for, especially for XY. In traditional patriarchy, men are considered the breadwinners and providers for their families. To XL, he had to create a balance in fulfilling his filial piety to his adopted father, duty to his state, and providing for XY. To XL, XY was akin to his wife due to the lover's bug blood oath as well as the 37 years under the sea. Even knowing and accepting his own demise, XL doesn't hesitate to provide for XY, ensuring she has the skills to protect herself and her loved ones, spending time with her as a companion, and serving as her mentor in times of emotional distress. He even leaves her a protector, Left Ear, to stand in his place if one day the world would no longer be safe for her.
Guys, I've been thinking for the past few days, if they really don't air the second season until August, they…
It will 21 episodes because of regulations...both seasons equals 60 episodes. And I have no hope for it except JC will deliver XL, and it will heart crushing. Everything else is meh.
But the writer said that XY got what she wanted the most
😍 Don't forget underneath her dreams of Jing are her dreams of XL, her after thoughts always linger on XL. He is the love she hides behind curtains, and pretends not to love.
The first season concluded with Xiao Yao helping Cang Xuan ascend to the throne and Feng Long proposing to Xiao…
Yes. Baidu is basically Wikipedia lmao. 😒 and I'm not that interested in terrible translated versions of Tong Hua's interviews because so much is lost in translation.
Plus, from what I've read, the questions and answers doesn't delve enough into her creative process. It's too surface level--which is understandable. No author wants to give away the details of thier best work.
The first season concluded with Xiao Yao helping Cang Xuan ascend to the throne and Feng Long proposing to Xiao…
Have you ever read Shakespeare? Because if you did, you would understand what a tragedy is. TH meticulously wrote a tradegy, and disquised it as a "everyone gets what they wanted " kind of deal. Shakespeare comedies are dark commentaries about medival life and human nature. TH didn't write a comedy, but her novel delves into some deep thoughts about trauma and how it affects the human condition. It is only a happy ending those who think TH wrote a cheap romance novel/drama.
2 
1 
One of the most debated controversies about XL is his initial violence towards XY during the Qingshui Town arc, and to understand this, one must delve into the foundational construct upon which his character is built. Xiang Liu's characterization is rooted in Confucian and patriarchal values, drawing inspiration from the nine-headed snake demon portrayed in Classical Chinese literature such as 'The Classics of the Mountains and Seas' and 'Investiture of the Gods.' Tong Hua crafted him with strong antiheroic traits and snake-like instincts.
The Analects of Confucius emphasize the importance of fulfilling one's duties to family and state, including filial piety, which stresses respect and duty towards one's parents. These two fundamental values deeply ingrain themselves in Xiang Liu as the General of Chenrong and the adopted son of Hong Jiang (Gong Gong). Even though he is not unique in this aspect in the world of DaHuang, XL, who hatched from an egg without parents and the love that comes from family, and had only known the violence of the fighting cages, has a strong desire to fulfill this.
A fateful encounter with Fang Feng Bei leads Xiang Liu to fulfill FFB's dying wish to take care of his mother in exchange for FFB's spiritual powers. To XL, it was not such a bad trade-off. After XY remarked that perhaps XL got the short end of the stick, he didn't hesitate to correct her, thanking FFB for letting him experience a mother's love.
Upon XL's return, he finds that the man, General Hong Jiang (Gong Gong), who saved his life once upon a time when he was a young demon, is now a fugitive general of a rebel army. He returns to his savior to serve him; however, he gets adopted by Hong Jiang as his son and heir. While readers and drama audiences never meet his adopted father, the narrative strongly emphasizes XL's affection for him. To XL, the adoption gains him a father and a family that he must protect. It just so happens that his newfound family is also the state (a fallen one nonetheless) to which he must remain steadfastly loyal.
When XY, a deity disguised as a man, chances upon the Chenrong Territory, Xiang Liu has no choice but to act upon his suspicion. Her prowess in poisons makes her all the more dangerous to XL, his family (Hong Jiang), and his state (Chenrong Army). The ensuing encounter is subject to wide debate, with some asserting XL's inherent villainy and irredeemability; therefore, undeserving of XY's love. However, XL acted upon what was close to his heart and chose to protect it, even if it meant overlooking the mere life of a woman deity in disguise.
After hearing her plead 'I have no ability to take care of myself; no one to rely on, and nowhere to go,' XL ultimately offers XY the opportunity to save her own life by becoming his man. Even though XY continues to resist to the very end, XL eventually concedes to her one demand in exchange for XY making poisons for him. Yet, to become XL's man also meant that as long as his duty of state is concerned, XY ultimately gives him consent to be used to ensure the protection of the Chenrong Army.
If XL is truly heartless, why spare XY and TSJ's lives at all? Instead, XL uses XY's knowledge of poison as an excuse to spare their lives. In doing so, XL is able to preserve their lives without losing authority and respect from his soldiers and enables him to keep an eye on her to safeguard his duties.
As XY and XL continue their relationship over several years, exchanging poisons in Qingshui Town, subsequent encounters between them, where XY ends up injured, can be traced to his origins as the nine-headed demon and his snake-like instincts. In the Penguin Classics translation of 'The Classics of the Mountains and Seas' (p. 121-122), Xiang Liu is described as having nine heads, each with a human face that feeds from nine mountains and a snake body. Wherever he goes and bumps, he creates open landscapes, heathlands, patches of pine forests, and small valleys. In the 'Investiture of the Gods,' Xiang Liu is introduced as a powerful demon general. In the Classics, and upon his defeat by the God Yu, XL's blood emanated a strong rotting odor as it seeped into the soil, making it impossible for anything to grow. As a result, even after his death, people still wouldn't dare shoot arrows towards the north. In these literatures, Xiang Liu was indeed a formidable demon.
Additionally, XL exhibits snake-like behaviors like hissing or coiling when he feels threatened or mocked by XY, who unfortunately has a bad habit due to her past experience with a snake demon. XL also possesses a red spiritual technique that mimics the constriction some snake species use to subdue prey. Most importantly, in other species, males may even use their jaws to grasp the female's neck during mating. XL, whose personality is a mixture of sarcasm and jest, initially bites XY as a warning for mocking him. Discovering her special blood, XL would come to her for healing, and as their relationship deepens, so does the physical connection of the neck biting.
Xiang Liu also exhibits a strong patriarchal trait in his need to provide for the people he cares for, especially for XY. In traditional patriarchy, men are considered the breadwinners and providers for their families. To XL, he had to create a balance in fulfilling his filial piety to his adopted father, duty to his state, and providing for XY. To XL, XY was akin to his wife due to the lover's bug blood oath as well as the 37 years under the sea. Even knowing and accepting his own demise, XL doesn't hesitate to provide for XY, ensuring she has the skills to protect herself and her loved ones, spending time with her as a companion, and serving as her mentor in times of emotional distress. He even leaves her a protector, Left Ear, to stand in his place if one day the world would no longer be safe for her.
Plus, from what I've read, the questions and answers doesn't delve enough into her creative process. It's too surface level--which is understandable. No author wants to give away the details of thier best work.