This is my first chinese drama that I follow on going after I encountered Dongfang Qingcang (LBFAD is my first ever CDrama). While waiting for it to air, I watched Dylan's past dramas, and I can say his acting becomes so much richer and more versatile in every drama, start from Meteor Garden, Evernight 2 and so on. While DFQC is his most iconic role, Xiao Duo is his richest character with so many layers and I can say he gave XD justice. XD is much more than badass and cool domineering character, he is also the softest sweetheart, the most romantic lover, the best friend and the best leader for his men, cunning, smart yet silly sometimes, etc. so many layers of his characters yet Dylan played them all very well. I can't sense any DFQC left in him beside the badass and domineering side.

I really enjoyed this drama, its story is fresh and unique, the acting skills of most main actors are superb and supporting roles are great too (except Tongyun). I love how it was directed, fighting scenes are awesome and the drama set is beautiful. Even the ship set when they went to west shu is beautiful too.

But this drama has its flaws too. The flow of the story is sometimes choppy due to censorship, FL charachter is sometimes unconsistent, a few scene doesnt make sense, but it's drama anyway... the murder of XD brother plot is overused, they should make Prince Nanyuan the real culprit and Bu Yu Lu still be the traitor IMO.

The ending felt unreal since it was just it, they just showed the CP escaped together. They didnt give us any extended scene to show that they really live happily ever after! BUT, I think the drama did not really have to tell us about that moment, it already showed how it ends, not properly, but they showed us. The main protagonists got what they want freedom, free to be with whoever they want to be. The villains got what they deserved. Murong Gaogong was showed falling down to the ground, its his falling. They stopped it there. It wouldve been better if there was a naration of what happened to him, but no. But they showed us how he got his karma. He got badly injured thus he can have any child! He became eunuch himself literally. And he was slowly being crazy and lost his mind, mentally sick. And the kingdom would never accept that kind of King. They didnt show us, but it was implied. So, tho I want more for the ending, but the drama said just it. They already gave us the closure, dont asked more since it will need more effort, more episodes lol.

As for romance, tho it was cut every here and there, but I assure you, just by looking at XD lustfull gaze, you'll get to know that they're quite wild couple, lol. And IMO, even with all of those cut, their chemistry is still on fire!