mimi0108

Thank you for this detailed explanation of the novel. It does seem that the drama took liberties with her parents, all to have them end up in the same place, which feels a bit abrupt and strange.

Thanks for your answer.
I had the feeling all the angst and tension was used in the previous episodes and we'll not get that kind of thing in the finals, with all the fights... But at least they kissed.

While waiting to see the final episodes, can someone spoil for me if the leads will have a mutually consensual passionate kiss before the end?

Episode 33 was good. I just had a hard time with FL's parents' change of heart. I mean, the young leader of the demonic cult shows up at their house after they conspired to kill him and their daughter almost died saving him, and there's no tension. I would have liked a slightly more tense scene before the comic scene of the gift exchange. After all, just for welcoming him, they could be accused of collusion, so it was very strange to see them so relaxed.

1. I'm at episode 32 and they're still not officially together but they clearly in love with each other since early on and acted like a couple who aren't officials so for me it's as if they are together since episode 14.
2. Two real breakups : episode 18 & épisode 28
3. Not really. FL had suitors but she clearly only love ML and everyone know it so...
4. Apparently yes.
5. It's an epic true romance with many intense scenes between leads (affection, arguments, tragedy).
6. Yeah, there are some skinship and tension but only 3 "kisses" in 32 episodes but a lot of hug, holding hands, almost kisses and so on.

I’m having trouble remembering / understanding everything about the Mu & Nie.

The ML’s great-grandfather had one son and adopted two others (Nie Hengcheng, who was killed by the FL’s aunt, and the elder one who died in the snowy mountains).

Nie Hengcheng wanted power and started manipulating things during the grandfather’s time, even trying to separate him from the grandmother. After the grandfather died early, leaving the ML’s father an orphan, Nie took control of the sect as his guardian.

When the father came of age, Nie still kept the power and eventually became the official sect leader, with the father allowing it in order to protect his twin from Nie's anger.

Fifteen years ago Nie Hengcheng died. The ML’s father should have taken over the leader's position, but Nie Hengcheng's nephew, Nie Zhe, became the leader instead, again without opposition from ML's father (I don't know if at this time he was still missing or not since we know he was injured and missing for 5 years).

About a year before the drama starts, the father died. ML then learned more about what the Nie family had done to his family and attacked to take back power, but Nie injured him, thought he had killed him and fully secured his position as sect leader.

Is that correct?

Romance is really good, depending of what you want of course. For me, having the leads caring deeply for each other from very early on, becoming friends, allies and loving each other even if they can't become officials make a very good story.

Personally, I love romance. The leads become attached to each other very quickly, and they have many intense scenes together (affection, arguments, tragedy). It's one of the few dramas where I feel like I'm following a couple from the very beginning, even though they aren't officially together.
The drama has some editing issues (especially in the early episodes); there are a lot of character names and backstories mentioned very quickly, so you sometimes have to pause to catch everything. But just for the main plot and the connection between the leads, I recommend it to everyone.

Did qianqian was *aped years ago by her captor with a mask, resulting in a son? And this man is the new sinister guy in town but since it's been so many years and he had a mask and scars she's not sure it's him ?
I'm so scared for her, she seemed so traumatized by her past.

About people complaining about the push and pull between the leads and FL indecision.
The writers want to save the confrontations and plot twists for the final episodes. Consequently, as long as the cults' hypocrisy isn't openly exposed, FL will continue to turn a blind eye and tell herself that ML's methods are too radical and she can't be with him.
Only once everything is revealed will she realize that, ultimately, in this brutal world, his methods aren't the worst (and especially that he's trying to improve). But yeah, it could have been nice to see her investigate a bit more or rebel a bit more against her world. But the problem is that this would have gone against her main core: she desperately wants to avoid the fate of the women in her family and is willing to settle for a simple life (even marrying someone she didn't love in the beginning of the drama). This is what leads her to continue turning a blind eye to the problems in her world.
But little by little, as she learns more about her ancestors, about the world, about people, we see her come to terms with things and even sometimes oppose them. But she hasn't yet reached the point of questioning everything. It's already a good thing that she found the words to express her thoughts to ML and that she wants to be with him if he doesn't go too far.
Let's also not forget that unlike ML, who knew no love or trust outside of his father, FL grew up surrounded by loving relatives. Several cult leaders are like uncles to her, having watched her grow up and looked after her. It's difficult to go against loved ones who care for her, and even harder to see when they have bad intentions.

At the beginning of episode 32, a mysterious shadow passes by the window of FL's fellow disciple. But there's no follow-up. I wonder what it was.

Too much spoilers for later episodes in this synopsis. There was other way to talk about the plot without so much secrets revealed.

I really enjoy the story of this drama, especially the intensity of some scenes and the romance between the leads. The atmosphere and their relationship are definitely the strongest aspects of the show.

That said, the editing and narrative structure make the viewing experience less smooth than it could have been. With so many characters, frequent flashbacks, cut scenes, and past subplots introduced all at once, there is a lot to process and it sometimes feels overwhelming.

Some storylines also drag on while others are strangely ignored. For example, something as serious as the man in black is forgotten for several episodes, and no adult seems particularly concerned about him or the issues related to the Li sect. Yet when it comes to punishing a teenager for the crimes of his ancestors, suddenly everyone is present and involved.

It’s a bit frustrating and sometimes hard to accept, especially since the drama never really made them addresse this imbalance. Still, I genuinely enjoy the emotional intensity of the story and hope the final episodes will wrap everything up properly.

ML expresses jealousy and possessiveness towards FL very quickly (episode 4), and by episode 8 there's a clear sexual tension between them. From then on, it's implied by they have feelings for each other, but given the circumstances, they can't make their relationship official. So, personally, even if they're not officially a couple yet, I think it's great because there's clearly romance between them from the start, and it intensifies over time.
I even find that there are more tensions and romantic moments between them than in some couples who were officially together earlier.

This is actually a great opposite parallel with ML. He has every reason to judge her and be harsh towards her (his accident happened because he was visiting her; she never checked on him and acted as if nothing had happened when they saw each other again). But he learns to overcome his prejudices, see who she really is, and realize he was wrong to blame her since she didn't know him actually.

Whereas SML never tried to see beyond his prejudices and chose to believe other people's opinions rather than what his own eyes told him about how sweet and pure FL is.

This. He never confessed to FL, never even gave her hope. He always scolded her about her wealthy background & let Ye Rong treat her badly. He also never try to keep in touch with her and now acts like if he was the one she had wronged.

Can someone who has read the book tell me whether the FL will finally free herself from this stupid group of college classmates? They are not friends. They have no backbone, never protect FL, never stand up for her, and always let Rong get away with all her underhanded behavior and negative comments.

And I’m not even going to get started on the SML, who acts like a silent, misunderstood victim while allowing everyone, especially his childhood friend, to mistreat the girl he claims to love. He himself treats FL badly, speaks to her in a mean way, never makes it clear that he loves her too, and then acts all offended when she finally decides to give up on him. I honestly want FL to punch him and yell that she is the victim here, not him. I really hope we stop seeing these people altogether, or that someone finally tells them some hard truths, because it’s incredibly frustrating to watch FL be so uncomfortable, surrounded by people who pretend to be close to her while mistreating her, and being demonized by someone who thinks he loves her.

I started my 4 rewatch of this drama so if you want to talk about it or ask questions, I'm here x)

It's unfair and not right to blame her.
Her justification for not helping Wei, even if it was unfair to her cousin, was still understandable. She wasn't a leader or the wife of a head of state. As a pregnant ordinary woman, she didn't want to risk her husband's life. It was selfish but understandable.
Her getting angry at her father was also completely logical and deserved.

Let's not diminish her father's responsibility by saying if his daughter hadn't yelled at him, he wouldn't have been a traitor.

He was narrow-minded, easily manipulated, a head of state who didn't think about his people, and very stupid. He chose to ally himself with enemies who massacred his own people out of fear his brother would be more popular than him.
Anyone with two brain cells could see this alliance only served to eliminate Wei and then turn on him and his state. Furthermore, his nephew was supposed to succeed him; being so paranoid his brother might want to succeed him was truly stupid.

This man was narrow-minded, with an oversized ego, incapable of thinking of the good of his clan and his people, and he ruined his family. He had no qualms about having his own daughter and grandson captured and their lives used to threaten his son-in-law.
He is fully responsible for everything.

There were a translation error. He's his younger brother.