RedPhoenix

A 28-episode drama done right!
I took back my earlier comment before starting the drama that I couldn't imagine HMH romancing 17-year old Ai Mi before starting the drama. I mean, the age gap is obviously visible but their character portrayals convinced me. This series proves that a love story doesn’t need kissing or bed scenes to win over its audience. All it needs is real chemistry, and two actors who know how to deliver lines and convey emotion without saying a word.

HMH slayed Xiao Wu Yi’s character portrayal. Xiao Wu Yi stayed true to his character until the end, sticking to his goals even if it meant sacrificing his life and leaving his loved ones behind. His fighting scenes are so well choreographed.

Ai Mi has a bright future ahead of her. She was only 17 years old when filming this drama, but her acting skills have surpassed a lot of actors much older than her.

I didn’t like Li Mao’s character in the earlier episodes, but I started to like him once he took control and exerted his authority and power. What a character growth! Riley Wang has been playing supporting characters for quite some time. This drama will be his breakthrough. He will definitely secure lead roles after this.

Worth watching!

I meant the drama didn’t tell us why Tian Yao fell for Suying to the point of marrying her in the first place.

I have just finished this drama. I'd hoped they would explain why Tian Yao fell for Suying in the first place.

The only complaint that I have about the drama is that why they never explain why Tian Yao fell for Suying in the first place. She and her sister's characters are so entitled and mighty. They get on my nerves every time. So it would be nice if they had explained how Tian Yao fell for her in the first place.

I thought I was never going to finish his dramas as well. But now I started to think that I might have started with a wrong one. I started with Fangs of Fortune as soon as it aired, but could not get into it, put it on hold. Only recently I picked Love in the Cloud, oh my…that drama was epic! HMH had sizzling chemistry with LYX. That drama allowed me to discover how expressive HMH’s eyes are. I’d recommend you watch that drama, if you have not. After Love in the Cloud, I tried rewatching Fangs of Fortune, I made some progress there. The drama is surprisingly comedic but it still doesn’t excite me as much. I think it has something to do with the female lead as I feel something is lacking. Then while waiting for new episodes of Key to the Phoenix Heart, I started binging Back from the Brink and managed to finish it. I liked the premise of the story about Tianyao’s body dismemberment by his bride-to-be on his wedding day and on his fateful encounter with the female lead. Though I’d love them to explain why he’d fall in love with the girl who dismembered him in the first place. It’s still a good watch. Now, I am enjoying this one as well. HMH’s expressive eyes and micro expressions work very well here to counter the intimate skinship restrictions due to FL’s age,

This drama is so good. XJY is so clever, Ai Mi is doing a great job.
Ngl I was holding my breath when XWY was leaning closer to want to kiss her. I was internally screaming stoooppppp 😱 . Fortunately it didn’t happen. I’m ok for this drama not having any kiss scene at all. They have great chemistry even without kissing. HMH is so good at showing his longing and pent up desires through his eyes and micro expressions.

Omg..wasn't the female lead used to play a child / teenager character in a few dramas not long ago? How old was she when filming this drama? I have not started watching this one, but I can't imagine Hou Ming Hau romanticising her. 🙈

I lowkey was expecting Commander Wang to betray XHA’s faction. Let’s be real, based on my years of experience watching Chinese historical dramas, a character like him is typically portrayed as an opportunist and tends to switch to the side that benefits him the most. This drama has proved me wrong! Huge respect to him for staying loyal until the end and even sacrificing himself. I wonder what’s his backstory as to why he’s so loyal to Chancellor Gao.

No doubt that QT and FG truly care for each other. But as long as QT still calls Fugui “Young Master Fugui” and Fugui still lets her, it’s hard to see them as a couple. QT pretty much still sees herself as being inferior to FG. So these two need to tear the wall down before they can truly be a couple. So I hope they show us this soon as we don’t have many episodes left and they still have to deal with Quan Yiting and Madam Black Fox.

As long as QT still calls Fugui “Young Master Fugui” and Fugui still lets her, I don’t think they’re going anywhere with the romance department. QT pretty much still sees herself as being inferior to FG. So these two need to get rid of this wall before they can truly be together romantically.

Oh he’s definitely more than annoying. I can’t stand him. I want to punch him every time he says something. 😡

I’m struggling not to drop this show. I have been fast forwarding for the last few episodes. QC’s character is so unbearable. I really want to smack his head 🤦‍♀️. QT’s character has changed so much and somehow become not so smart. Why can’t she see that QC is obsessed with her?

A bit out of topic, may I ask from what drama the gif in your pp is from? The kiss scene is hot 🔥

Agree with the previous comments that you don’t need to watch the other two to understand this one. LIP is Fugui’s parents’s story. There are some flashbacks of LIP scenes in SaB. If you have time, you might want to check it out as it a good drama despite the ending .

You need to watch him in Mysterious Lotus Casebook. He’s so good there!
He’s great in Love and Redemption as well. The only drama of his that I didn’t enjoy as much would be The Journey of Legend and I blamed it on the editing and storytelling.

I really appreciate that this drama was produced by the same company that produced LIP. They legally and openly reference the LIP scenes in this one. When they did that it brought back all those memories from LIP whenever there’s a flashback to Fugui’s parents’ story. It made LIP audience feel the connection. I adored the Wangquan Hongye in LIP. He’s definitely traumatised for life due to the events and losses in LIP. It’s sad to see how horrible he has become in SaB.

I feel so sad for Fugui, everyone except Qingtong addresses him as Soldier instead of his name. They’re seeing him as a demon slaying tool, not a human being. 😭😭😢😢😟😟Qingtong is definitely perfect for him. She’s chatty, brave, kind hearted and cares about him.

Hope they have a better ending than Fugui’s parents.

I was lowkey worried SCH being impulsive and hot headed again with him attacking Prince Langya. It looks like he had plans. What a relief. This is getting better and more interesting
Love SMY & SCH’s bromance!

GJ’s voice acting for SMY is too low for me. I ‘d love him to speak a little bit stronger and enunciate the words clearer.

That sentence hit so hard. He’s so calm even when facing death. He must have had enough of the life he’s leading.

Li Daikun. He’s the actor that plays Scorpion King in WOH.