Drama Recap & Review: FEUD

Synopsis & Character Breakdown

Title: 临江仙 | Lin Jiang Xian
Also known as: 衡门有狐 | Lament of the River Immortal
Genre: Romance, Xianxia
Episodes: 32
Episodes Length: 45 minutes
Where to watch: iQiyi (EN), Viki

Synopsis: Low-ranking disciple Li Qing Yue (Bai Lu) never expected to amount to much due to her low level of spiritual power. However, her life changes dramatically when Bai Jiu Si (Joseph Zeng), the powerful Supreme Lord of Da Cheng, descends from a heavenly realm and declares that she will be his cultivation partner and wife. Despite this turn of luck, a tragic misunderstanding pits Qing Yue and her new husband against each other, leading to her death. Upon her rebirth, she regains her memories of the past and resolves to get revenge against Jiu Si, believing that he was the mastermind behind her demise. She adopts the new name Hua Ru Yue and begins to plot his downfall – but does she have the right culprit? (Source: Viki)

Supporting Cast

Actor	Character	Relationship
He Rui Xian [何瑞贤]	Fan Ling Er	Fan Jiao Jiao’s daughter and likes Bai Jiu Si
Chen Xin Hai [陈鑫海]	Zhang Suan	Member of Jingyun Sect. Li Qing Yue’s senior and likes Li Qing Yue

Mini-Episode Recaps

heavy spoilers ahead

Episode 1: Losing One’s Head

While Zhang Suan and Li Qing Yue are guarding the gate of Jingyun Sect, Meng Chu is being punished by Sect Leader Ziyang due to accusations of colluding with the demon Qu Xing Man. During the fight, Li Qing Yue gets injured, and to heal her wounds, she heads to Xiaoqiu Mountain in search of Gold Marrow Grass. While on a cliff, she fights a monkey for the herb, falls off, and is saved by Bai Jiu Si. After helping him dodge a sneak attack from the monkey, Li Qing Yue accidentally kisses Bai Jiu Si on the cheek and boldly claims she’ll take responsibility for him. The next day, she gives him betrothal gifts, and Bai Jiu Si follows her back to her sect, where she tries to keep his presence a secret from the rest of the members.

Episode 2: Marry a Mortal

Li Qing Yue is locked up alongside Meng Chu and Lyu Su Guan after being seen “helping” them escape, while the sect searches for Li Qing Yue’s hidden guest. To avoid causing trouble, Li Qing Yue lets Bai Jiu Si leave. Even after she tells the sect leaders the truth about who her guest is, they try to punish her for claiming to know the Heavenly Lord of Da Cheng. During her punishment, Bai Jiu Si descends and rescues Li Qing Yue, revealing his true identity as the Heavenly Lord of Da Cheng. He announces that he is searching for his spiritual partner, who he believes is Li Qing Yue. With the wedding proposal set, Jingyun Sect begins preparing to send Li Qing Yue off.

Episode 3: Wedding Night

Upon arriving in the Heavenly Realm, Li Qing Yue is sent to her palace with no sign of Bai Jiu Si. While he remains at Canglei Palace, and wanting to spend her first night with him, Li Qing Yue sets out on a ten-day journey down Tianmu Peak to reach the southern palace. However, before she gets far, she’s injured in the Stone Forest. She wakes up in an unfamiliar palace and wanders into Chongwu Hall, where the morning meeting is held and where she’s finally introduced as the Heavenly Lord’s wife. Due to her resemblance to Hua Ru Yue, Bai Jiu Si treats her with indifference and sends her back to Tianmu Peak. On her way back, she gets lost and is mistaken for Fan Jiao Jiao’s runaway bride, and is captured to complete the wedding ceremony.

Episode 4: Hope

After saving Li Qing Yue, Bai Jiu Si allows her to stay at Yuewu House, a manor within Canglei Palace. However, he still insists on avoiding any meetings with her. Determined to get his attention, Li Qing Yue uses ideas from her romance novels to send him sweet, longing messages, prompting Bai Jiu Si to finally show up, only to burn her romance books. Later, Li Qing Yue sneaks into his room at night and manages to convince him to teach her magic. After a month of eating peaches for every meal, she challenges him to a chess match, proposing that if she wins, he must give her a kitchen. Although she doesn’t win, Bai Jiu Si agrees, and then leaves to greet Fan Ling Er, who has just returned from a mission.

Episode 5: Abnormality

Jealous of Li Qing Yue, Fan Ling Er sends her shadow to attack her, driving her off a cliff and into the Forbidden Pool, where the White Snake resides. Although Bai Jiu Si saves her, his suspicion that she is pretending to be innocent leads him to choke her.

Zhang Suan confronts his master, questioning why Bai Jiu Si receives so much respect. In response, his master reveals Bai Jiu Si’s true identity and the story of an ancient god, Si Ling, who was once as powerful as Bai Jiu Si. Three hundred years ago, Bai Jiu Si annihilated her at Canglei Palace.

Li Qing Yue is forbidden from leaving Yuwen Hall while Bai Jiu Si investigates the identity of the attacker. With help from Yin Tong Zi, he uncovers a clue. Later, Bai Jiu Si builds a kitchen for Li Qing Yue, and she responds in happiness by cooking him a meal.

Episode 6: Sun Fruit 💋

Bai Jiu Si finds Li Qing Yue at the Forbidden Pool, attempting to attack the White Snake. He intervenes and severely injures her. Li Mo reveals that she is on the brink of death and that no divine medicine can save her – except for the Chiyang Fruit, which has the power to reconstruct bones and meridians, and even bring the dead back to life. When Li Qing Yue regains consciousness, she confesses that she wants to kill the White Snake because it caused the flood that killed her mother and devastated her hometown eleven years ago.

Meanwhile, in the mortal realm, the Jingyun Sect and Yinlin Sect are locked in a battle to obtain the Chiyang Fruit. After reaching its location, the two sects fight fiercely, only for Bai Jiu Si to steal the fruit away to save Li Qing Yue. However, his old wounds, still unhealed, flare up, forcing him into seclusion to recover. While in seclusion, he reminisces about the day he and Hua Ru Yue pledged their love to each other. But that sweet moment ended in betrayal. Through a tender kiss, Hua Ru Yue stabbed him in the heart, tied him up, and tormented him.

Episode 7: The Abyss

Fan Ling Er reveals the story of Bai Jiu Si and the Divine Lord Si Ling to Li Qing Yue. Realizing that Fan Ling Er is trying to sow discord between her and Bai Jiu Si, Li Qing Yue attempts to leave, only to see Fan Ling Er’s shadow and discover that she was the one who had tried to kill her. While fleeing, she ends up in the Hell Ruins and encounters Hong Lian.

Meanwhile, Ning Yan reports the situation to Cang Tu, and upon overhearing this, Bai Jiu Si halts his seclusion. Although he manages to save Li Qing Yue, Hong Lian escapes. As punishment for her actions, Fan Ling Er is banished to the Land of Ruins. Now aware that she was only able to marry Bai Jiu Si because of her appearance, the couple enters a cold war.

Bai Jiu Si invites Li Qing Yue to join him in the mortal realm to track down Hong Lian. There, they arrive at a town in distress by a heart-digging demon.

Episode 8: Missing

Li Qing Yue and Bai Jiu Si visit Lanyue House, a brothel frequently visited by Xu Ying, in search of Hong Lian. Disguised, they watch her perform. After the performance, Hong Lian unexpectedly chooses Li Qing Yue to accompany her back to her room. During their conversation, Li Qing Yue learns that Hong Lian is waiting for someone to visit her. Bai Jiu Si understands the subtle hint, that the person she’s waiting for is Li Mo, who has been resisting to see her.

Hong Lian then kidnaps Li Qing Yue to force Bai Jiu Si to make Li Mo show up. While waiting, Hong Lian shows Li Qing Yue the memories of the men who claimed to love her, revealing how she took their lives to heal the evil within her. Bai Jiu Si later confronts Hong Lian at Lanyue House, where she lures him into a trap: if he steps into the place where Li Qing Yue is being held, neither of them will be able to leave. Despite knowing this, Bai Jiu Si enters without hesitation.

Meanwhile, Zhang Suan visits the Yinlin Sect to seek Qu Xing Man’s help in ascending to the Nine Realms. She reveals to him the Sky-Reaching Ladder, a sacred object of the sect that defies the natural order. To climb it, one must endure intense trials. As a condition for using it, she tasks Zhang Yuan with helping Zhang Suan connect with Meng Chu and gives him the Heart-Devouring Pill.

Episode 9: Grave Mistake

Bai Jiu Si and Li Qing Yue witness Hong Lian’s memories, including her time with Li Mo. After burning the memories, they manage to escape. While Bai Jiu Si continues to pursue Hong Lian, Sun Ya approaches Li Qing Yue in distress, claiming that her husband has come back to life. However, after helping Sun Ya, Li Qing Yue discovers that they’ve been deceived, Sun Ya was the one who harmed her husband and now tries to kill Li Qing Yue.

Li Mo arrives just in time to save her. He and Bai Jiu Si hide with Li Qing Yue while Bai Jiu Si recovers from his injuries. During this time, Li Qing Yue takes the opportunity to ask Li Mo about his past with Hong Lian. After learning the full story, Hong Lian finds them and launches an attack. Seeing Bai Jiu Si frozen by her strike, Li Qing Yue uses the Blazing Fire to unfreeze him and attacking Hong Lian in the process.

Episode 10: Four Spirits Grandmistress

Defeated, Hong Lian begs Li Mo to kill her, and he is forced to face his tribulation. He stabs himself, and with his blood, purges the evil energy from Hong Lian, ultimately saving her. Meanwhile, Long Yuan locks up Li Qing Yue, believing she is actually Si Ling. Bai Jiu Si doesn’t deny the accusation, as Li Qing Yue possesses the Blazing Fire, Si Ling’s power.

Zhang Suan ascends the Sky-Reaching Ladder and encounters the ferryman, who takes him to the Land of Ruins. There, he meets Fan Ling Er, who, after confirming his identity, shows him the way out. He eventually meets Xiao Jing Shan, who passes on his cultivation to Zhang Suan.

Li Qing Yue is heartbroken that Bai Jiu Si refuses to believe she isn’t Si Ling and feels he has never truly seen her for who she is. Meanwhile, Long Yuan discovers that the White Snake has gone missing.

Episode 11: Activating the Seal

Long Yuan refuses to release Li Qing Yue and imprisons her. Zhang Suan manages to reach Canglei Palace and breaks her out of prison. Meanwhile, Bai Jiu Si meets with the Four Venerables, who try to convince him to kill Li Qing Yue for the sins she committed in the past. Bai Jiu Si stalls, but is eventually forced to stop her from escaping. During his fight with Zhang Suan, both men are injured, and Long Yuan captures them and has them imprisoned.

No longer willing to wait, Long Yuan decides to take matters into his own hands and attempts to seal Li Qing Yue inside the Heaven-Turning Seal. Bai Jiu Si gives her one last chance to reveal her true identity, but she insists she is Li Qing Yue. Long Yuan then begins the punishment. At that moment, Fan Ling Er and White Snake break in, and Li Qing Yue takes control of the seal and mounts White Snake.

Episode 12: Dying Together 💋

The Jingyun Sect ascends to the divine realm to assist their master, Hua Ru Yue. During the ensuing battle, Hua Ru Yue uses her blood in an attempt to seal Bai Jiu Si within the Heaven-Turning Seal, but the power backfires and scatters them to Songhe County. Hua Ru Yue loses consciousness.

When she awakens, Bai Jiu Si confronts her, revealing that he had known her true identity all along and had been giving her chances to confess. He claims that the only reason he was trapped in the seal was because he allowed it, and that he let her be sealed as well, knowing he could undo the seal.

460 years earlier, Bai Jiu Si began to pursue Hua Ru Yue in hopes of resolving their differences and building a better relationship. To strengthen their cultivation, he proposed they undergo a love tribulation in the mortal realm, and the two gets married. When they met an adorable mortal boy named Meng Chi, Hua Ru Yue suggested they have a child to speed up the progress of their love tribulation.

Episode 13: A Life of Servitude

Still weakened, Hua Ru Yue is carefully nursed back to health by Bai Jiu Si. Though his tone is stern, his concern is clear, he warns her not to interfere with mortal karma again, if the Heavenly Emissary descend to punish her. Hua Ru Yue sincerely admits fault. The two set aside their differences and agree to focus fully on overcoming their love tribulation.

As time pass, they settle into a quiet, harmonious life. Bai Jiu Si and Hua Ru Yue support each other through the mundane rhythm of the mortal world, while Meng Chi remains faithfully at their side for twenty-two years, managing the manor as their devoted steward. Wishing to preserve her identity, Hua Ru Yue tries to send him away. But Meng Chi, grateful for everything she has done, refuses to leave, vowing to serve her for the rest of his life.

Reluctantly, Hua Ru Yue entrusts the manor to him as she leaves with Bai Jiu Si. Years later, a letter arrives: Meng Chi’s grandson, Meng Changqin, a county official, has been framed for embezzlement and is set to be executed. Meng Chi begs Hua Ru Yue to save him, but she refuses – interfering would violate divine law.

Episode 14: Help Meng Chang Qin

Hua Ru Yue sets out to help Meng Changqin, gradually learning about his past as a county official wrongfully accused of treason. After saving him and sustaining injuries in the process, Meng Changqin insists on calling her his master in gratitude.

When Hua Ru Yue prepares to return to Songhe County, she urges him to follow, but he refuses, fearing he’ll bring trouble to her and his grandfather’s memory. Before leaving, she uses a bamboo reed to draw a drop of his blood.

Upon returning, she discovers Bai Jiu Si has gone to meet someone else, believing Hua Ru Yue hasn’t taken their tribulation seriously. She finds him at a teahouse mid-matchmaking.

Episode 15: Killing the Drought Dragon

Bai Jiu Si warns that keeping Meng Chang Qin around will only bring Hua Ru Yue harm. She promises that after helping him one last time, she’ll no longer intervene in mortal affairs. Reassured, Bai Jiu Si cancels his matchmaking plans and the two reconcile.

Still, Bai Jiu Si later catches Hua Ru Yue using spirit magic to secretly watch over Meng Chang Qin’s safety. Though he doesn’t stop her, it leaves him conflicted.

Three years pass. When the bamboo she enchanted with Chang Qin’s blood withers, Hua Ru Yue immediately departs to find him. Though impoverished, Meng Chang Qin remains steadfast in his quest to slay the Drought Dragon and Hua Ru Yue decides to aid him.

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Emissary visits Bai Jiu Si, ordering him to stop Hua Ru Yue’s interference. From afar, the Emissary strikes Hua Ru Yue with divine thunder for breaking heavenly laws. Undeterred, she shields herself and urges Meng Chang Qin to successfully slay the dragon and restores rain to the barren land.

Episode 16: 10-Year Deal

Fan Jiao Jiao, imprisoned in Falling Blossom Grove, uses magic to enter Fan Ling Er’s dream to dissuade her from standing against Canglei Hall. But Fan Ling Er reveals she’s long known the truth, Hua Ru Yue once saved her and her mother centuries ago and taught her the art of magical forging. Everything she’s done since has been in secret support.

In her dream, she banishes her father in anger.

Elsewhere, Bai Jiu Si traps Hua Ru Yue in a barrier, determined to speak plainly. The two clash over their opposing beliefs, debating fate, justice, and their shared past. In the end, they make a ten-year pact: Bai Jiu Si will seal his divine powers and live as a mortal by her side to understand the world as she does.

Episode 17: Friends

Now living as a mortal, Bai Jiu Si begins to experience warmth from the common folk. Mr. Kong and Lin Fan treat him as a friend, and Bai Jiu Si takes their advice to heart in trying to mend his relationship with Hua Ru Yue. Shi Hua, Lin Fan’s wife, becomes close to Hua Ru Yue, further drawing the two couples together.

Meanwhile, Zhang Suan seeks out Qu Xingman for an antidote and informs her that Meng Chu has been released. Fan Ling Er joins him, correctly guessing his true motive is to find Hua Ru Yue. Qu Xingman wishes to visit Jingyun Sect to reunite with Meng Chu, but her mother stops her, warning that a man who can’t take initiative doesn’t deserve her love.

Episode 18: Like a Mortal

Disaster strikes when Lin Fan dies in a fire while rescuing an old man. The grief causes Shi Hua to collapse into difficult labor. Moved by their friendship, Bai Jiu Si breaks his vow and uses divine power to save Shi Hua and her newborn, suffering a harsh backlash as a result.

Zhang Suan and Fan Ling Er continue their search for Hua Ru Yue. During their journey, they hear reports of strange supernatural events in Songhe County and sparks Zhang Suan’s interest.

At the same time, young Lin Tao clings to Bai Jiu Si, idolizing him. Despite his cool demeanor, Bai Jiu Si grows increasingly fond of the boy. When Lin Tao’s life is later endangered, Bai Jiu Si again uses forbidden power to save him.

Episode 19: Barrier

When Bai Jiu Si awakens, he tells Hua Ru Yue the truth, the evil spirit had targeted Lin Tao. Hua Ru Yue decides to personally investigate the disturbance and tells Bai Jiu Si to rest.

Meanwhile, Zhang Suan and Fan Ling Er arrive at the crumbling border of Songhe County. As Hua Ru Yue prepares a meal, the two unknowingly step into the same courtyard, a surreal overlap of time and space.

Bai Jiu Si and Hua Ru Yue reach the outskirts of Songhe County, only to realize they are trapped in a powerful formation. With their sealed powers, escape seems impossible. Bai Jiu Si explains their only hope is to either destroy the core or slay the spirit that created it.

Back in town, townsfolk whisper about the evil spirit. Curious villagers ask Shi Hua how she and her child survived. She evades their questions. Just then, Bai Jiu Si arrives at a noodle shop, and Lin Tao excitedly asks to become his apprentice.

Episode 20: Battle Against the Evil Spirit

Bai Jiu Si reflects on his time in the mortal world. He tells Hua Ru Yue that while gods and mortals differ, both deserve equal dignity. He also acknowledges why gods often appear indifferent, perhaps detachment is their only shield from grief. He asks her again why she resents him so deeply. Hua Ru Yue, her emotions tightly held, says she’s endured much, but promises to reveal everything once the evil spirit is destroyed.

At Canglei Hall, Li Mo and others rush to save Bai Jiu Si, but his condition deteriorates. When Li Mo learns that Long Yuan has gone to Jingyun Sect to demand Bai Jiu Si’s surrender, he immediately departs to stop him.

Back in the mortal world, Xiao Yao Zi incites a mob to raid Bai Jiu Si and Hua Ru Yue’s home under the false belief that Bai Jiu Si is the evil spirit.

Episode 21: Shocking Truth

Understanding that there was something wrong, Bai Jiu Si calls out for the person behind the scheme to step out. Hua Ru Yue appears and admits her motive for setting the trap to kill Bai Jiu Si. Bai Jiu Si then realizes that Shi Hua was actually Hua Ru Yue from the mortal world, and that Lin Tao was the child they once had together. Shocked and devastated, Bai Jiu Si is overwhelmed with grief. Hua Ru Yue raises the Zhuri Sword and stabs toward Bai Jiu Si. Hua Ru Yue attempts to perish alongside Bai Jiu Si, whose spiritual energy surges wildly and breaks through the illusion.

Meanwhile, at the boundary marker of Songhe County in the real world, Zhang Suan accidentally shatters the monument. Outside the Jingyun Sect gates, Long Yuan engages the disciples in a fierce battle. Meng Chu fights desperately and is gravely wounded. At the critical moment, Hua Ru Yue arrives and repels Long Yuan.

Back in Canglei Hall, Bai Jiu Si’s soul returns to his body. He forbids the disciples from attacking Hua Ru Yue. Though Long Yuan still wishes to fight her, he reluctantly complies with Bai Jiu Si’s order.

Episode 22: The Battle of Immortals

After leaving the main hall, Bai Jiu Si heads to Xiaoqiu Mountain in an attempt to trace time and uncover the truth. He goes so far as to enter the formation with his soul, which alarms Xi’e, the ancient deity of time. Xi’e warns him of the danger, but seeing Bai Jiu Si’s resolve, she opens the gate of illusion to aid him.

At Canglei Hall, Long Yuan believes that Bai Jiu Si’s soul leaving his body again is Hua Ru Yue’s doing and plans to attack Jingyun Sect. He gathers his forces and seeks assistance from the lords of the four realms, preparing to spark a war between gods and mortals.

Long Yuan activates the Sky-Shielding Mirror, casting darkness over the mortal world. He accuses Jingyun Sect of defying the gods and gives them five days to disband voluntarily, threatening total annihilation of the sect and causes panic among the mortals.

Episode 23: The Sad Past

Guided by Xi’e, Bai Jiu Si enters the temporal tunnel. Xi’e first shows him memories of his past with Hua Ru Yue, then takes him back in time to witness the life he left behind. He sees Hua Ru Yue, abandoned in the mortal realm, drowning her sorrows in alcohol and looking haggard, with Meng Changqin quietly caring for her.

Bai Jiu Si discovers that Hua Ru Yue is pregnant. Under Xi’e’s guidance, he witnesses Hua Ru Yue giving birth to a child, whom she names Shi’an. Overwhelmed by shock and emotion, he watches as the child grows up facing constant bullying and is cruelly called a bastard. Bai Jiu Si tries to intervene, but is powerless to change anything.

He then sees scenes of devastation following a war. Desperate victims storm the residence to seize Hua Ru Yue’s possessions. In order to protect Shi’an, she uses her spiritual power to drive the ringleaders away but collapses from the backlash.

Soon after, Shi’an falls gravely ill. Amidst the chaos, they can’t find a doctor or medicine. Hua Ruyue and Meng Changqin are distraught, trying everything to help. Hua Ru Yue painstakingly feeds medicine to Shi’an, but his condition worsens. Eventually, he dies tragically at Hongmeng Temple. Devastated, Hua Ru Yue begs the Heavenly Father at the temple for forgiveness and pleads desperately for her son’s life. And in desperation, she cries out for Bai Jiu Si to help her.

Watching all this from beyond the veil, Bai Jiu Si tries to reach out, but is unable to cross the divide. Helpless and in agony, he is left to bear the weight of everything he has seen.

Episode 24: The Resurrection Formation

Branded a demon by the desperate villagers, Hua Ru Yue is tied to an execution platform and sentenced to death. As a shaman lights the pyre, Bai Jiu Si watches in anguish, powerless to intervene. Miraculously, Hua Ru Yue survives the burning, only to be buried alive outside the village on a stormy night.

She is later rescued from the muddy grave by the playful deity. Beside her, she finds a mysterious book called Record of Artifacts, and the page it opens to reveals the Resurrection Formation. Determined to bring Shi’an back to life, Hua Ru Yue begins planning to seal Bai Jiu Si and secretly enact the resurrection array.

At the plaza on Tianmu Peak, under Youlexian’s guidance, she gives her all to cast the resurrection formation. As Shi’an’s soul begins to take shape, a sudden sword strike shatters the formation, dispersing his spirit once again. Bai Jiu Si, who had arrived too late to stop it, is unaware that the sword strike came from his own past self.

Witnessing all of this, Bai Jiu Si is consumed by regret and pain, and his spiritual power spirals out of control. In the time tunnel, Bai Jiu Si’s soul nears collapse. Xi’e reappears and urges him to confront the karma he has created before disappearing.

Meanwhile, Fan Ling Er reveals to Zhang Suan that he is her destined match and can help her overcome her love tribulation. Zhang Suan firmly rejects the notion and tries to discard the jade pendant he has worn since childhood. Fan Ling Er casts a spell, tying a red string of fate to his wrist.

Episode 25: More Than Meets the Eye

After hearing Hua Ru Yue’s side of the story, Qing Yang tries to persuade Hua Ru Yue to reconcile with Bai Jiu Si by sharing his own experiences with love and heartbreak. Though unmoved, Hua Ru Yue is puzzled that if Bai Jiu Si truly hated her, why hasn’t he come to take revenge?

In the Celestial Realm’s Wenxuan Palace, Bai Jiu Si asks Immortal Lord Yu Ya to investigate the life records of both the disaster leader and the playful god You Le Xian. To his surprise, both had reportedly perished six hundred years ago in the Battle of the Blackbird. This anomaly raises Bai Jiu Si’s suspicions and realizes there may be a hidden mastermind manipulating events behind the scenes. Meanwhile, Hua Ru Yue begins to doubt the Record of Artifacts, realizing that someone may be using her to strike at Bai Jiu Si.

To ease tensions between Jingyun Sect and Canglei Hall, Qing Yang travels to the celestial hall to take to Bai Jiu Si. Instead, she is murdered, and the next day, her body is dumped at Jingyun Sect’s gates.

Episode 26: Ascend

Within Canglei Hall, suspicion grows that Long Yuan is responsible for Qing Yang’s death. Bai Jiu Si issues an order: the barrier will be lifted the next day, allowing Jingyun Sect to enter the hall.

With war looming, Hua Ru Yue dons a red robe and arranges affairs within her sect and leads her disciples to ascend to the Ninth Heaven. Cang Tang, under Bai Jiu Si’s command, greets her in a phoenix carriage.

Upon reaching Canglei Hall, they are stunned to find the hall decorated for a wedding. Bai Jiu Si, dressed in red ceremonial robes, announces he is holding a wedding feast to make up for what they never had. He makes Long Yuan swear not to harm Jingyun Sect again and Long Yuan reluctantly agrees.

Then, in a shocking turn, Bai Jiu Si takes Hua Ru Yue’s Zhuri Sword and stabs himself through the chest, offering his life in atonement for Qing Yang’s death. In Hua Ru Yue’s arms, Bai Jiu Si’s body dissolves into glowing light and scatters in the snowy winds. Just as grief overtakes Hua Ru Yue, Zhang Suan suddenly stabs Hua Ru Yue with the Qiyue Sword, seizes the Zhuri Sword, and vanishes in a swirl of black mist.

Now wielding both ancient divine swords, Zhang Suan heads to the Tianmu Peak plaza with a single goal: to destroy the Infinite Stele and erase the name of Lord Qingxu from existence.

Episode 27: The Real Objective

At Tianmu Peak, Bai Jiu Si and Hua Ru Yue appears and confronts Xiao Jing Shan. Calmly, Xiao Jing Shan admits that his true goal was to use Hua Ru Yue to kill Bai Jiu Si, so that he could destroy the Infinite Stele.

Just as Hua Ru Yue raises her sword to strike him down, Bai Jiu Si stops her, revealing that Zhang Suan is under a deadly life-curse tied to Xiao Jing Shan’s fate. Bai Jiu Si unravels the curse, urging Hua Ru Yueto kill Xiao Jing Shan.

But Xiao Jing Shan sees through the ploy and realizing Bai Jiu Si has taken the life-curse onto himself. Wanting to stop Hua Ru Yue from harming him, he reveals another devastating truth: four hundred years ago, when Hua Ru Yue killed the Drought Dragon and angered the heavens, it was Bai Jiu Si who took her punishment. While Hua Ru Yue spent ten years thinking that Bai Jiu Si has abandoned her, he was chained up and struck with 99 lightening strikes every day for 10 years. That was when Xiao Jing Shan first discovered Bai Jiu Si’s greatest weakness: his unwavering love for Hua Ru Yue. Shocked and torn by the revelation, Hua Ru Yue hesitates, giving Xiao Jing Shan the chance to escape.

Episode 28: Memory Loss

Fearful and fragile, the memory-lost Bai Jiu Si calls out for his “darling” as he wanders in search of Hua Ru Yue. He clings to her like a child, never straying far, but Hua Ru Yue remains cautious, suspecting he’s merely feigning madness.

Meanwhile, Fan Ling Er offers to help Hua Ru Yue repair the shattered stele, hoping it might reveal clues about Xiao Jing Shan. With Zhang Suan’s help, the stele is mended, allowing Hua Ru Yue to enter the illusion hidden within.

Inside the stele’s illusion, they find themselves in a tranquil bamboo courtyard, watching Xiao Jing Shanlive a blissful life with his family. But the day repeats again and again. Sensing something amiss, Hua Ru Yue begins searching for the truth behind the illusion.

After exiting the illusion, Hua Ru Yue brings Bai Jiu Si to Wensheng Palace, where she uncovers the truth: Xiao Jing Shan’s family perished six hundred years ago. An uncontrollable divine fire claimed the lives of several celestial soldiers and mortals.

Episode 29: Entering the Illusory Realm

Hua Ru Yue leads Bai Jiu Si, Fan Ling Er, and the others to investigate the strange phenomenon of villagers whose souls have been mysteriously taken. Meanwhile, Zi Yang, Meng Chu, and Lyu Su Guan escort Qu Xing Man back to Yinlian Sect; Cang Tu and Li Mo return to Canglei Hall to suppress a surge of demonic beasts; Xuan Wei remains behind to guard Jingyun Sect with the disciples.

Hua Ru Yue, Bai Jiu Si, Fan Ling Er, and Zhang Suan enters an eerie illusion. Inside, those who suffer in reality – sickly, impoverished, and weary – live seemingly perfect lives, thriving in health, wealth, and joy. Xiao Jing Shan emerges, revered as a divine savior by the people.

Episode 30: False Happiness

After Ziyang’s death, Xiao Jing Shan mercilessly kills Qu Ke. He then tempts Lyu Suguan with the blood bell, whispering promises that if she kills Qu Xingman, he will make Meng Chu fall for her and her alone. Shaken but vulnerable, Lyu Suguan hesitates, then finally takes the bell.

Hua Ru Yue casts a spell to gather the villagers onto the main street, revealing the truth: they are trapped in an illusion, and unless they leave, their real bodies will wither and die. Xiao Jing Shan appears, openly confirming the illusion, but argues that if the villagers leave, they will only return to a world of suffering and hunger. The villagers waver, torn between false joy and grim reality.

Xiao Jing Shan breaks another truth to Hua Ru Yue. Fan Ling Er has become the very core of the formation to save them all, and breaking the array means her soul will scatter. Moved by Fan Ling Er’s sacrifice, the villagers decides to finally make their decision and walk away from the illusion.

Xiao Jing Shan, enraged by the unraveling of his plan, lashes out. He gravely injures Bai Jiu Si and casts a binding spell, trapping both Bai Jiu Si and Hua Ru Yue once more.

Episode 31

Under Meng Chu’s command, the disciples form a chanting array to resist Xiao Jing Shan. Though fearless in spirit, they are no match for his strength and fall one after another. Left with no other choice, Xuanwei surrenders Bai Jiu Si’s sword to Xiao Jing Shan.

Outside Canglei Hall, Long Yuan and his forces battle fiercely against the rampaging beasts. The casualties are devastating. To prevent the creatures from escaping the Danxia Realm, Li Mo makes the ultimate sacrifice, sacrificing his own soul to seal the demons.

Fan Jiao Jiao he arrives to see Fan Ling Er is already on the brink of death. Fan Jiao Jiao pours all his strength into trying to pull her from the core of the array. Seeing her father so desperate, Fan Ling Er can only sneer bitterly, accusing him of being the root of her misfortune. Glancing at Zhang Suan, Fan Jiao Jiao recalls a conversation he once had with Immortal Lord Yuya about Fan Ling Er’s love tribulation, a fate that could only be undone by her destined partner.

Meanwhile, Bai Jiu Si knows his injuries are too severe to allow him to face Xiao Jing Shan again. He also understands that only Hua Ru Yue has the power to save the world from destruction. Resolute, he chooses to sacrifice himself. In his final moments, he asks only one thing of her: to let go of hatred, live on with courage, and protect the balance of this world they both once overlooked.

Episode 32

With the Time Reversal Dial in Hua Ru Yue’s hand, Xi’e appears and warns her that although the device holds immense power to rewrite the past, changing the past does not guarantee a changed future.

Still, Hua Ru Yue chooses to try. Carrying both hope and uncertainty, she activates the Time Reversal Dial and returns to the past. In the bamboo grove residence, she successfully saves Xiao Jing Shan’s family, averting the tragedy that once consumed him into vengeance. But when she returns to the present, the world remains unchanged, those who had perished are still gone.

Yet Hua Ru Yue continues to travel back in time, altering the fates of Hong Liang, Meng Changqin, and theirs in the mortal realm, giving them new futures in their respective timelines. In the end, she decides to return to the location she first met Bai Jiu Si and lies down upon the frozen lake.

Ending Explained

Li Mo sacrifices himself and promises to be with Hong Lian in their next life.

Xiao Jing Shan perishes and leaves behind the Time Reversal Dial that allows Hua Ru Yue to go back into specific timelines.

After the great battle, Meng Chu decides to return to Yinlian Sect with Qu Xingman, parting ways with Zhang Suan in a quiet farewell.

Fan Ling Er and Fan Jiao Jiao finally reconcile and she chooses to return to Jingyun Sect and continue following Hua Ru Yue.

Xuanwei had long foreseen Jingyun Sect’s inevitable defeat at the hands of Xiao Jing Shan. As a final gesture of gratitude to Hua Ru Yue, he chooses to sacrifice his mortal life to summon a divine phenomenon and end the drought.

Hua Ru Yue leaves Jingyun Sect and appoints Zhang Suan as the new sect leader. Fan Ling Er is left at the gates, while Zhang Suan returns alone.

While Hua Ru Yue lies on the frozen lake, Xi’e appears and pushes Hua Ru Yue’s primordial spirit into the ice, where it merges with the lake. A radiant light appears beneath her and when Hua Ru Yue opens her eyes, she falls into the lake and into Bai Jiu Si’s embrace.

Drama Review

★☆☆☆☆ Rating: 1.5/5

Flat Characters & Missed Potential

First off, I had a really hard time understanding the setup of the characters. From the main leads to the side characters, none of them stood out enough for me to fall in love with. I think that’s why it was so hard for me to latch on. The characters just didn’t have any real depth, backstory, or particularly likable traits. They felt extremely two-dimensional, and it was hard to connect with them or understand why they acted the way they did.

The two leads, in particular, were pretty static. Bai Jiu Si showed some minor growth when he began to understand the mortal realm and went against his earlier stance of not interfering with Heaven’s will. But that didn’t actually contribute to his development or impact the story, it just felt like a dramatic pause that reset shortly after.

The supporting characters were introduced as if they were significant, but most ended up irrelevant. The dynamics between them and the leads could’ve added emotional or narrative layers, but it all fell flat. I was especially disappointed they only started focusing more on the side characters near the end, just to make their deaths or sacrifices feel dramatic.

Repetitive Plot & Emotional Stalemates

So much of the plot revolves around the feud between the leads that there’s barely any sense of what’s happening outside their personal drama. They were created as yin and yang, supposedly opposites but equals meant to balance each other, but the story just fixates on their cycle of stabbing, healing, threatening, and doing it all over again.

Their fights lacked emotional or narrative weight. They claimed to want each other dead, but it was all empty threats and circular conflict. Nothing progressed. Even the supposed turning point, when they enter the mortal realm, didn’t deliver meaningful growth or change. Instead, they kept misunderstanding each other, holding grudges, and refusing to talk things out.

Time Jumps & Storytelling Choices

The drama relied heavily on time jumps to add mystery to the past, but they were often confusing and unnecessary. Instead of using flashbacks as emotional triggers or moments of revelation, we were mostly told what happened, like when the sect leader explained Bai Jiu Si’s origin story to Zhang Suan.

Hua Ru Yue’s feelings for Bai Jiu Si weren’t shown, instead she told us through revealing her past to Qing Yang that she fell for him at first sight, but we never really feel it during her time as Hua Ru Yue, even if it was apparent when she was Li Qing Yue. Their time in the mortal realm, which should’ve deepened their bond, focused more on her interfering with mortal fate than their actual relationship. An aspect I’m fine with, but again, did not add much to the overall story.

The drama also dropped major reveals, like Bai Jiu Si unknowingly killing his child, way too late. If viewers had known that earlier, we could’ve felt more for both characters. Instead, the emotional impact was dulled by bad timing and forced exposition.

And the villain plot was full of holes. Xiao Jingshan said he was imprisoned with Bai Jiu Si for ten years, yet somehow manipulated events in the mortal realm? When he returned from his punishment to sow discord wasn’t made clear. And honestly, he wasn’t even the reason these two characters fell apart, they did that all by themselves.

Worldbuilding That Goes Nowhere

The show spent a lot of time explaining celestial rules, sect politics, and Bai Jiu Si’s divine role, but it all felt pointless. For example, Cang Tu emphasized how crucial Fang Jiao Jiao’s marriage was for balance, but after he got punished and locked away, no one seemed to care.

Everyone stopped doing their jobs just to revolve around Bai Jiu Si. The show hinted at big-picture conflicts, like good vs. evil and Bai Jiu Si guarding the gateway between realms, but never developed them. Bai Jiu Si was literally just fishing most of the time and doing nothing.

And honestly, what do the Four Heavenly Reverends even do? Why do the Jingyun Sect members involve themselves in a fight that’s not theirs? Why is Ru Yue dragging her disciples into her personal revenge? The Heaven Emissary’s role also made no sense as he only enforced consequences when it was convenient to the plot.

Not My Kind of Romance

The romance, if you can call it that, was the biggest disappointment. There was angst, longing, trauma, resentment, but no warmth, no sweetness, and definitely no chemistry.

We were told they loved each other, but never shown it in a way that made us believe it. Despite supposedly caring deeply, they constantly doubted each other and never communicated. Their entire conflict could’ve been resolved with one honest conversation, but instead, we got endless cycles of blood-spitting, fake threats, and hollow power plays to make the other bend.

Second-chance romance is one of my favorite tropes, and I stuck around hoping their time in the mortal realm would offer that. But even that arc didn’t deliver anything new, it just circled back to the same toxicity.

Overhyped & Underwhelming

I expected a romantic fantasy with emotional depth and a satisfying love story. Instead, I got relentless angst and a sprinkle of shallow romance that never hit home. I honestly think this show is overhyped. Bai Lu and Joseph Zeng both have solid fanbases, and that seems to be driving most of the buzz, not the quality of the drama itself.

Bai Lu gave the kind of performance I’ve come to expect from her. She plays younger characters naturally, without overacting or trying to be cute, which made her easy to watch. She’s also reliably strong in emotional scenes. But this role didn’t challenge her or offer anything new that I haven’t seen from her.

Joseph Zeng, on the other hand, left me wanting more. I haven’t seen much of his work, but based on this and a few others, I’m still not sure whether it’s his acting or the flat character writing that’s the problem. Either way, I felt no spark between him and Bai Lu.

Pacing Problems & A Desire to Drop

The pacing made it hard to stay engaged. I paused at episode 12 for the longest time, and when I finally returned, I had to speed-watch most of the rest, mainly just to finish a Bai Lu and Joseph Zeng drama.

My rule is: if the plot and characters are weak, a good romance can save it and escalate my ratings. But this show didn’t even have that. There wasn’t a single genuinely sweet or heartwarming moment between the leads, past or present.

Even now, I’m not sure what the drama was trying to say. The only things I could gather were:

Don’t date your coworker.
If you’re unhappy, leave the relationship.
Communicate before you burn down your emotional life.

That’s all the leads did, stay stuck in a toxic mess instead of growing or healing. Watching them cling to their pain without progress was emotionally exhausting.

Final Thoughts

I wouldn’t call this a romantic drama and I definitely wouldn’t recommend it as one. There were interesting ideas, a few character arcs, some compelling lore, and moral dilemmas sprinkled throughout, but none were developed in a truly satisfying way.

For instance, I really appreciated Li Mo and Hong Lian’s storyline. Though brief, it managed to establish a clear motive for their actions, rooted in their personalities, and provided a resolution that showed meaningful growth both individually and as a pair.

I was most moved by Fan Ling Er’s sacrifice, especially the moment her father tried to save her. That scene had the potential to be devastatingly emotional, but the father-daughter dynamic wasn’t explored in enough depth for the full impact to land. Still, I found myself filling in the emotional gaps on my own. Fan Ling Er’s story wasn’t overtly tragic, but it made sense as she never felt truly loved by her father, resented his many wives, and never believed his concern for her was genuine. Through Hua Ru Yue, she found purpose and a sense of belonging. She wasn’t in love with Zhang Suan, but rather the idea of someone loving so deeply and selflessly, something she longed for but had never received. Realizing she might never have that kind of love herself, she chose to repay Hua Ru Yue with her life. Her story could have been incredibly powerful, but it was up to the viewer to piece together that emotional depth.

There were kiss scenes, sure, but no real romance, only angst and chaos, all wrapped in a beautiful xianxia aesthetic with little emotional payoff. I don’t understand the hype around toxic relationships like this, and I wouldn’t recommend this drama to anyone seeking genuine romance or meaningful character growth.

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