After binging this show in 2 days, I am very much torn. Do I recommend watching it? Yes, definitely. However, because a lot of story needed to be crammed into 40 episodes, what could've been an exceptional show instead became only a good show. I want to note that I've never read the novel that this was adapted from, so I can't compare the two.

The entire time I was watching, I felt like I got a rough sketch instead of a final draft. The weakest part of the entire show for me was how the relationships were first developed (both platonic and romantic). The story/writing doesn't do a good job of conveying and pacing how these bonds formed. It felt like one moment they're strangers and then the next they'd die for each other. Unfortunately, since the entire show centers around these bonds, it was difficult for me to fully invest myself into the story. Because of that, emotional moments were hit or miss. (A small peeve of mine was also the weird choice and timing of music that jarred me out of the story at least once per episode.)

That's not to say that I didn't like the show. The actors really do the best they can with what they were given, and some shining moments redeem the flaw I mentioned above. Like I said earlier, I'd definitely recommend giving the show a watch. It has all the elements that I love to see in wuxia, and despite its short length, the plot was surprisingly well paced. When I finished, I found myself missing the characters.

It's just a pity that more time wasn't given to really flesh out and test the early bonds between our main characters. I truly believe that this show would've been legendary if it had been given that breathing room.