Reviews

Love is not the only thing that can break a heart

The acting of the entire cast in this episode is stellar. You cannot choose your parents, and their choices can affect your entire life, as seen in this drama which starts out in rural Shandong of the late 1920s. My grandmother was told by her father that a girl after the age of 12 does not need education, and that is what he took from her. He was also responsible for her marriage. When I look at the sisters, I find myself experiencing a myriad mixture of emotions for them, and for everyone else who has been affected by an abrupt twist of fate. Xing Fei and Zhang Tianyang are impossible to look away from, and this is the drama where Yang Mi truly blossoms. You will feel the cold, you will grimace at the cruelty of circumstances, and you cannot turn away from everyone on the screen. Get ready a bunch of tissues if you are soft-hearted. The grit and rawness of this episode will stay with you, even after the credits roll. And you might get hungry after watching this. Looking forward to the rest of the drama. The emotional impact has been building since the first three episodes, and this episode is unforgettable.

Read More

Infiltrating into the Imperial Palace

From my pov this has to be the most intense episode till now, it'll change as I will watch further episodes, but for now this was the best till now. Picking up where I left it before. Fan Xian deliberately got drunk, to the point he couldn't even stand straight. And when The Literary Giant from Beiqi, ZY tried to frame him, Fan Xian being drunk recited so many poems, and more than a 100 characters filled the scrolls, the Writers were tired from writing all the poems he recited non stop, they were all in awe seeing Fan Xian like this. Has to be the best reply for what ZY did, the Emperor was pleased. Since Nanqing was found with Military Forces, it was far behind in Civil Administration as compared to Beiqi. And they declared Fan Xian as a Poetry Genius. He passed out in front of everyone in the banquet hall, and was carried home and escorted by Imperial Guards. He did it all deliberately, and when he reached his room he ordered Ruoruo to keep watch and prevent anyone from entering his room since he'll be gone, infiltrating into the Imperial Harem, and Wuzhu told him to be careful of Yang Xiaoyi (yang or yan, I don't remember). Amazing to see the exchange of moves between Wuzhu and Eunuch Hong. While Fan Xian saw someone suspicious and was eavesdroping on ZM's and Princess Royal 's conversation. He heard that the dangerous Prisoner under the Investigation bureau, Xiao an, was ZY's brother. In the last few minutes, the tension was intense, Fan Xian had to escape while Yan Xiaoyi stood at the highest place with his bow and arrow 🏹 in position to shoot any intruder. And he did aimed towards Fan Xian, although I think he definitely had some armor, but he still might have felt the impact of his Arrow (since he's a Ninth Dan Archer). To be honest among all the weapon users, be it Spear users, Swordsman, Axe users, Whip Users, but Archers are the coolest, they got the Aura, especially the actor who's playing Yan Xiaoyi, that character suits him. Fangirling fine, he deserves the title of a "HOTTIE ARCHER".

Read More

Poison effects and escaping trial grounds

While harvesting from the water drake, they unleash a lust poison. Things get interesting for them. 😂When they wake they find themselves in a compromising position. She underestimates him wanting to push the matter aside as much as she does. She even considers killing him. What the end up doing is she gets the blood spirit flower for Yan clan and the gold chest and he gets to harvest as he chooses from the rest of the herbs. He funds his final herb for foundation pill and is happily harvesting other rare herbs when the sounding of last call to portal is hear. It is not shown how they escape the cave but everybody alive does make it out. Han Li gives a few of his precious herbs to the clan and it happens to be just enough for his leader to win the bet.😂 He makes up a story about how he got them and pretended to be a scavenger more than a forager. This humble response moves him to the head of the class to become leader’s disciple. He is given a new sword training technique as a welcome to his new status. The goal is to get to level 13 ASAP. Grandmaster returns to moon shadow clan and her leader is unhappy with her condition. The blood spirit flower has been sent by messenger to the Yan clan and she is told to cultivate and get her level back ASAP. I smirk as she keeps hearing Han Li try to introduce himself to her. I think she is changing her mind to never meet again.😂 The demon invaders have the flower for the Yan clan but also more in store. They greet the messenger arriving with flower by killing her. The Yan liaisons sent to greet messenger are forced to invite demonic group instead. This has been highly criticized by comments and I can’t disagree. This was completely preventable had the moon shadow group sent guards with her and treated as a higher priority with attacks possible en route. This is where the leadership of the seven sects failed because they did not share intel of sleeper invaders to avoid appearing weak. Each wanted to handle it privately when discovered. The aunt and nephew have a confrontation where she mocks him for trying to marry into the Yan clan. He is not dissuaded in his plan but is annoyed she is aware of it before it has been put into action. The drama is making the demon sect more humerous than expected.

Read More

The Reinforcements arrived

He Yan was worried about the women, because she knows the reality of what happens to women who were violated by enemies. And Li Kuang did such a lowly tactic, he really lost his mind because of the battle, he wanted to send these women into the battlefield for diversion, but literally sending them to their death. He Yan heard about it and immediately mounted her horse and galloped towards the city gate to stop them. Even CZ was trying to stop them from opening the Gate. He Yan persuaded the women to value their lives and General Li that he should protect his people. Ahhhhhhh! Xiao Dudu finally arrived in Rundu. They used smokescreen, the city gate was blurred and couldn't be seen by the Wutuos, that was when they shot the arrows towards Wutuos. And led the Cavalry out. The battle was fierce and they fought majestically. He Yan was searching for Xiao Jue like crazy and later on when a wutuo was trying to sneak attack her, Xiao Jue appeared like "I'm here honey, why are you crying". He even called Yan He for reinforcements. When Yan He put his hand on her shoulder, both XJ and CZ reached their hands to remove his🤣. But XJ was fast (that's his wifey)🤣. Ah confessing!!! Ah dear Feinu, look at him, he's apologising to He Yan for his accusing behaviour🤣 our adorable Third wheel (and your friend Steeve)🤣. She'll be returning to Capital to collect evidence against He Rufei soon.

Read More

Here comes the cavalry

This Li is everything that is wrong with cowardly leadership. He hopes to eliminate two stones at once…the violated women and the Wutuo. Men would be accepted and honored and women a scourge and embarrassment.😝🤬 Chu actually tried to stand up for them. He has more spine than Li. There is a lot wrong with him, but he despises betrayers of the weak and colluding with Wutuo. In this, in spite of his grey character, he is a true patriot. When He Yan’s arrow hits the gate I cheered for her. She stepped in and forced them to do better and come up with a real plan. While she is in the middle of her sword speech and which direction it should be pointing Xiao Jue shows up to back her. The flashback to classroom and his ‘you’ve never changed’ confirmed everything. They are united in sword and spirit to win this. The battle is well done. You are riveted in your seat rooting for them to win. Her anguished cries when she thought Xiao Jue had fallen were so real. His swooping in to finish off the general and saying he can’t die because she still lives.🥰❤️and when their comrade ‘the punisher’ comes in with reinforcements. It brought their class full circle in victory. I will always believe that Li was the worst of the eight, (which is probably why he was the one spared by He RuFei😝) but I did respect his comment on how he said He Yan reminded him of how his general used to be. Maybe he will end up becoming a better man. Chu came through with provisions. He and Xiao Jue inadvertently worked together early to have reinforcements and provisions ready as early as possible even tho late for the battle. When Xiao Jue and Chu both grab He Yan’s arm to not be poached by new commander.😂Both let each other know that while in agreement that the choice is completely General Wu an’s, they will be watching her closely and personally.😂Xiao Jue’s hesitation at her door and her walking out to him. The meeting under the tree to discuss the meaning of message and pouch. He Yan being served by her men.🥰😂 The way they sit as both a couple and generals discussing their next plans. She wants her loving brother to know she is alive and she wants to head to the capitol to find evidence against him and magistrate Xu. She’s had enough of their crap and ready to take them down, no matter what and Xiao Jue will be at her side and covering her back while she does it. I love these two❤️ There has been a lot of justified (and not) criticism of this drama, but for me, I really appreciate and enjoy the efforts put into it. I am looking forward to how they bring down these traitorous asses, and expect to enjoy every minute of it.

Read More

Bloody trials days 2-5

I was surprised that this one from moon shadow sect was pure apex predator. She was out to kill immediately without hunting for herbs at all. Han Li saves his fellow disciple but it was quite a battle. I am liking his spider web weapon. It’s a very cool means of literally tying up enemy. She has hauled out a pearl and ready to finish him off when the lunatic cloud walker shows up to finish her off instead. The battle has now upped its level because he is far faster and more experienced. His lament when Han Li uses the pearl on him followed up by the thunder and lightning blast artifact. Nothing is left of the lunatic but his boots. The beast kingdom merchant is also there looking for solar flower for her brother. Han Li sees his little sister in her and helps her look for it. The beast kingdom is infiltrated by demon sect warriors. I am inclined to think the leader is well aware of what’s happening and allowing it. He acts cagey as well as loyal. The recruits are dropping like flies and only yellow leaf leader seems concerned with it. The beast leader counters that fighting will indeed be more fierce because 6o year wait til next harvest. Han Li and merchant girl come across a cagey beast guy in a cave offering maps. He trades with them but then sets them up to be killed. This plot with the two brainiacs that lost their rare mushroom to Han Li.😂 Beast girl has invisible cloak and needed herb so she is left to hide til last day and make him flatbreads. 😄 He continues to look for the last ingredient for foundation pill. He discovers that the cave is a dead end and as he makes his way to exit he sees a group of moon shadow disciples with the grandmaster as leader. He feels it is prudent to hide. There is a water beast that starts attacking when grandmaster tried opening the gold chest. The devious trader from last cave sealed them in and they now know it’s a kill or be killed scenario with water beast. Han Li continues to hide and observe the battle. The women learned it is a different beast than thought and this one can shed skin and evolve to level two. The battle s here really look like a living video game. It was quite well done. When the grandmaster is last ine left she chides Han Li to show himself and help or die. When he protests that she might kill him she reminds him he would die either way. He has one last trick up his sleeve, the golden brick talisman. They learn it is painfully slow to set up. When grandmaster almost gives up on it, it activates and kills off the monster. They have survived the battle by the skin of their teeth and the episode ends. These battles are quite exciting and well choreographed, whether between characters or characters and beasts. Production did a decent job with this. The actors depict the scene quite well and the fantastical comes off pretty real looking. These trials are exciting to watch and entertaining.

Read More

Death duals

Jiao is a prankster. He found the cure for her by tasting a petal at a time to find antidote. This was actually a sweet gesture. However, it was followed up by placing her in an elaborate casket so she would be terrified when waking up.😂 His sense of humor needs improvement.😝 They find themselves the master of ceremonies in a tournament of disciple battles. What was good natured sparring turned into a gladiator survivor takes prize of a single flower petal of flame flower. A hundred were willing to kill or be killed to obtain it. As barbaric as Jiao seemed in this matter, it was the eight sects themselves that designed the actual kill duals for cultivation. It is also revealed that they are vampiric. They drove the Sima clan to almost extinction and fed off their corpses to gain healing and cultivation powers. Sima Jiao’s parents learned that they were imprisoned in their own home. His father burned the place to the ground when he realized they could not leave, and his mother asked the flame flower to use her sacrifice to bind with her son. It was the last desperate act of loving parents trying to keep their child alive and a legacy for their bloodlines. This was taken advantage of when the sect leaders took out self harm from an option and force fed a child his own family blood to strengthen the bloodline with flame flower. The Shi’s did nothing for concern of the boys welfare but used him to select cultivators to present literal veins for them to rise above the ranks literally gorging on the bodies of the Sima clan. They have not revealed their agenda yet, but they are as vile as the others that openly wanted him dead. Tingyan sees the living puppets as automatons that feel real. I think her viewing them as NPC’s in a game eliminates the horror of mind and soul being removed from a human. She has become a fairytale princess and is enjoying the wardrobe and jewelry upgrade. She really doesn’t want to go to the next round of duals, but is ‘gently’ persuaded by Jiao that it is in her best interest to go. They both are surprised when she asks to change clothes and she starts taking off her robe in front of him.😂 The second round is getting ready to begin. The others note the guardian’s lack of outrage at the deaths of the disciples. They have not quite put it together that he is as greedy as they are. He is just more prepared to play the long game. In this respect, so is Jiao. It will be very interesting to watch these two go head to head in strategizing.

Read More

Seal finally broken

It has been a long 500 year wait but Jiao has finally got the blood of all eight sects to undo the seals that have kept him from self harm and forced him to feed the flame. Tingyan is horrified that when she tried to swing the blade in opposite direction entirely he placed himself so that it went through his heart. The leaders except guardian showed up all ready to kill him off and change the status order among themselves. One of the girls sent had the blood he lacked from guardian and like he was chained too years ago, they were chained and the nails removed from him that bound him there. Ruling was an interesting aside. She was spurned by her clan, but seems to be direct bloodline to leader as she could absorb his core. She has now made herself clan leader that others may follow or not at their own risk. For all the power these leaders wield, their followers seem to be lemmings that follow casually or weasels that wait for their ambition to change current course. It was a striking thing to see those icy looking nails come out of him. So hidden amongst the eight was a group that did not want him bound. They just did not have a voice strong enough to make it prudent to let the others know. His family home has been rebuilt and he goes there. It is sad that the guardian thinks he wants to be surrounded by mindless puppets. Tingyan is relieved she has lived another day and pragmatically rests in a hammock she found. She truly just does want to eat and sleep and live another day. The flame flower has joined him and together thy are finally free. The snake can fly and the flower is now a phoenix of flame. While his release has brought satisfaction, he is not particularly happy to be home. There is no family or happy memories. It is cold and empty even tho quite beautiful aesthetically. He allows her to pick a flower that is either poison or antidote. Did he have her choose this specific one? It is the memory of his mother and Tingyan sees how the Sima clan was forced to favor specific bloodlines in marriage alliances for the “good” of them all. I am now curious to see what he will do with himself with no boundaries to force his hand in how to live or where he will die. He is bored without Tingyan’s modern speak and she is struck speechless with the current events searing her brain. She casts no judgment on anyone but curious why so much death was necessary. His mother’s flower seems to be the beginning of understanding.

Read More