This is my most anticipated C-drama of 2020 (together with Love & Redemption) and when it was finally broadcasted on iQIYI, I was extremely thrilled. The excitement was unreal and I was counting down the days till the premiere. But the first few episodes left me dumb-founded and extremely disappointed. Managed to complete the 48-episode series 2.5mths after its premiere, and that was only because I am a die-hard fan of Chen Yuqi.

What is wrong with this series despite having the same producer as the ever popular “Ashes of Love” and even three (3) of their stars ? Everything. The title was cheesy. The film setting and location was average at best – nothing to shout about. The fighting scenes were below average. The story line was crappy with lots of holes. The acting was difficult to watch with the leading actor/actress looking sad most of the time. The music was passable. The rewatch value is zero as there are no scenes left indelible marks on me and worth rewatching. It was so bad that during the time I was watching this series, I managed to start and complete “The Twin Flower Legend”, “Novoland Eagle Flag” and “Oh My General”.

With so many negative aspects of this series, what was the one that stood out like a sore thumb? Definitely this series’ story-line. This is basically a love story between Yuqi and Yunxi, and the story about an evil guy who was trying to rule the martial arts world was just a filler to fill-up 48 episodes. It was love at first sight for both leading actor/actress, and it happened in the very first episode. They got married at the end but between the first and the last episodes, both of them looked like they were competing with one another for the pitiful, miserable and forlorn look. This couple should be happy. There were not any challenges or obstacles to their love story other than the simple misunderstanding caused by Lin Fengzi. Forty-some episodes of having to look at Chen Yuqi’s cheerless and downcast facial expression are too much even for a fan like me. Chong Xuezhi’s reminded me of Yuan Bingyan’s role as Shu Jingrong in “Listening Snow Tower” where she appeared sad for almost the entire 56 episodes. Both of their characters (Yuqi and Bingyan( were supposed to be strong and powerful, yet both had to be rescued by their male co-star almost every time they stepped foot in the Jianghu.

Then you have the 2 male leads in Luo Yunxi and Zou Tingwei – both of them looked depressed too most of the time. I don’t need to comment on Yunxi as he has made the sad looking character his trademark with his performance in “Ashes of Love” and “Princess Silver”. But he should not have carried such role into this series as his Shangguan Tou’s character was a perfect person. Shangguan was handsome, rich, of royal descent, adept in martial arts and got the girl whom he fancied. Anyone would be ecstatic if he/she is in his shoes. So why was he looking like crying most of the time? Zou Tingwei ‘s role as a bodyguard in this C-drama is similar to his MuCi character in “Ashes of Love” with the exception that in AOL he got the girl; while in this drama, he almost got the girl. He should be miserable, and miserable he was.

Not a single memorable scene, and don’t think it is worth a re-watch. That is why it took a Yuqi fan like me 2.5mth to complete the series. Only for hardcore Yuqi and Yunxi’s fans. The rest can give it a miss and the “the Winner will be You” for not wasting your valuable time.

6/10 overall rating.