Could someone spoil the ending for me, I'm not in the mood for a tragedy at the moment, thanks in advance...
This will be VERY spoiler heavy for S2, which has not aired yet. This is based on information that is present in both the novel and the leaked script (which may or may not be legitimate) for S2.
Cang Xuan (the "first male lead" according to the author of the novel) lives. He achieves his goal of becoming Emperor but (more or less) loses Xiao Yao along the way so that she is no longer by his side at the end of the story.
Ye Shi Qi / Tushan Jing (the "second male lead") lives. Near the end of the story he disappears and is presumed dead, but returns and marries Xiao Yao. He does not return to his position of power, wealth, and responsibilities within the Tushan Clan after returning from the "dead", choosing to be with Xiao Yao without wealth, status, or responsibilities instead.
Wen Xiao Liu / Xiao Yao (the female lead) lives. She marries Tushan Jing, mourns Xiang Liu, and leaves Cang Xuan and her family behind.
Xiang Liu (the "third male lead" / the male character with white hair) dies along with the rest of the Chenrong remnant army in a final battle. As he told Xiao Yao earlier in the story, the best death for a general is dying on the battlefield. Before his death, Xiang Liu breaks the Lovers' Bug connection between him and Xiao Yao (so she will not be killed when he dies) and erases the memories of him that she saved in her mirror. He also sends her well-wishes, but in a way where they are hidden and she will never see them. Basically he does his best to shield her from the effects of his death.
It's a reverse-harem drama, so whether the drama feels like a tragedy to you will likely depend, at least in part, on which characters you like / care about, and which characters you don't.
The author of the novel takes the view that the novel's ending is not tragic because, in the end, each character got what they wanted most.
The paperback version of the novel is 1152 pages and the audiobook version of the novel is 54 hours. I assume the 1980 miniseries and this drama have both made some pretty significant cuts to the original story.
In what country is Hel and Hersin? I tried Google. Hersin in FRANCE and Hel in POLAND? My friends also ask me…
The city where the ML met the FL was Helsinki, Finland. The city where the ML went to university was filmed in another city in Finland (a city that, in reality, is much closer to Helsinki than the fictional city created for the drama). The place where the ML took the FL with the bridge of lovers’ locks is in France.
"Return this stone to its original spot. Convey these words to Mong Woo, "There is absolutely no meaning behind…
True, Sang Hwa wasn't shown in the scene where the King took the stone from the stream, gave it to Mong Woo, and had it returned to him for safe keeping until the next drizzle.
It's possible that he really wasn't there and the King never told him about the stone before, and Song Hwa just had to deduce that the King meant that he should return the stone to Mong Woo and never knew the location where the stone had been taken from. But I think it's more likely that the King told Song Hwa a bit about the stone at some point, so that Song Hwa knew that the stone came from the stream, that the King was holding on to it for Mong Woo, and perhaps the promise that they had made where Mong Woo would take the stone back the next time it drizzled. Or (less likely but still possible) that he was present when that scene happened, but kept himself out of sight.
"To me, a treacherous thought is loyalty." IMO, when the King said that he was referring to his plans to have his nephew take over the throne. Someone who tries to keep him in power and to keep his nephew away from the throne (people like his uncle and his mother) don't share his goal. But someone who plots to put his nephew on the throne shares his goal, so even if that person plots "treason" against him (e.g., assassinating him or plotting to make his nephew the crown prince), he actually views that "treachery" as loyalty.
When the King said that he might hurt her, I don't think he meant that he might hurt her directly. More like he would likely need to make more difficult decisions in the future (like the decision to accept the princess' arranged marriage) that would cause her pain. It also seemed like he might have been hinting that he plans to die (or to fake his death) at some point in order to transfer the throne to his nephew when he is old enough to take over / after the King has successfully punished his mother and uncle for murdering his brother.
"Return this stone to its original spot. Convey these words to Mong Woo, "There is absolutely no meaning behind…
Obviously the King indirectly ordered Sang Hwa to save Mong Woo. That was not my question. The fact that Sang Hwa tried to save Mong Woo based on the King's two orders does not fully confirm what the King meant by his first order (when he told Sang Hwa to return the stone to its original spot).
The King instructed Sang Hwa to do two things. First, to return the stone to where it came from. Second, to convey his message to Mong Woo.
It is possible that the first order (returning the stone to where it came from) could have meant that Sang Hwa should literally return the stone to the stream where it was taken from. The separate order to convey his message to Mong Woo was enough for Sang Hwa to know that he was being ordered to save Mong Woo.
That said, when the King told Sang Hwa to "Return this stone to its original spot." I personally think he was most likely telling Sang Hwa to give the stone to Mong Woo (and not telling him to literally return it to the stream where it came from), but not for the reason you mentioned Mad Marti.
I've reached that conclusion because, IMO, it just makes more logical sense for the two orders to be linked (for the King to tell Sang Hwa to return the stone to Mong Woo along with his message in order to emphasize it), rather than for the King to have ordered Sang Hwa to literally take the stone all the way back to the stream that it came from, in addition to separately ordering him to convey his message to Mong Woo (and, by implication, to save Mong Woo).
IMO, that meaning (giving the stone to Mong Woo) would have been fully confirmed if Sang Hwa had returned the stone to the King (because he was unable to give it to Mong Woo) when he reported that Mong Woo was dead. But since Sang Hwa did not do so, we can't be fully certain of which interpretation is correct.
Edit: Now that episode 12 has shown that the stone was back in the King's possession, I think we can safely conclude that when he ordered Sang Hwa to return the stone to where it came from, he was referring to returning it to Mong Woo.
"How can Xiao Yao poison Fang Feng Bei and not Xiang Liu?"This is not directly explained in the drama or the novel.…
I never thought about it before, but I suppose XL could have used the bug connection to make XY think of him at any time (it wasn't necessary for XY to be heartbroken first) if he wanted to. But he didn't use the connection that way.
In chapter 22 (after XY's assassination), XL was able to communicate directly with XY through the bug connection. He allowed XY to hear his thoughts so he could goad her into continuing to fight to live. He also used the bug connection at that time so that his heartbeat could guide XY's heartbeat to prevent it from stopping.
In the two instances covered in the excerpts I quoted from the novel in my last comment, he used the connection to help pull XY out of her intensely painful heartache. The point wasn't to make XY think of him, even though she did end up thinking of him on both occasions.
And there were times when XY thought of XL because of the bug connection without XL actively doing anything. For example, there were many times where XY felt heartbroken but was comforted by the fact that XL was feeling the same heartbreak with her. It made her feel like she wasn't alone and he was there keeping her company through her most painful moments.
XL and XY were also both able to use the bug connection to call each other. XL used the bug connection to call XY to him in chapter 8, and XY used the bug connection to call XL to her in chapter 46.
----- Chapter 22:
She could vividly sense her heart slowly weakening, but just as it was about to stop, she heard another heart beating. It was strong and powerful, leading her heart so that it wouldn’t completely stop. It was like a sole flame in the palms of the hand, seemingly about to be extinguished at any moment, but still flickering weakly with life.
Xiao Yao felt that she heard Xiang Liu snarking at her: Just this and you’re going to give up?
Xiao Yao retorted back at him: What do you mean just this? If you’ve been poked so many holes in like a sieve, air passing through both top and bottom, even if I don’t want to give up I have to give up.
----- Chapter 30:
Xiao Yao returned to her residence and laid down on her pallet but couldn’t sleep. When she lost Jing she felt that she still had Zhuan Xu and no matter what happened she would never lose him.
But tonight she felt for the first time that she was gradually losing Zhuan Xu. Years ago they held hands and walked up Cao Yun Peak, facing adversity that did not defeat them or make them give up on each other. But now they reached the end, there were so many things and people gradually forming between them that it naturally split them apart.
It wasn’t that one wanted to leave the other or the other stop caring, it was life being so merciless and unwittingly leading them to this point.
Xiao Yao felt her heart constricting tightly so she sat up and took deep breaths. It started with being sleepless but over time she seemed to have developed a heart problem. She knew Xiang Liu was being bothered by her right now.
All these years in the deep dark of the night, when she was at her most painful to endure moments, knowing someone was experiencing the same feeling made her feel she wasn’t alone. It made her feel like he was right there keeping her company and it comforted her a lot.
-----
Chapter 8:
Xiao Liu opened her eyes and they were walking along the edge of the cliff. To the right was the vast ocean, waves and waves were pounding the black rocks. Xiao Liu suddenly felt her heart sense, she sensed someone was calling her. She said to Shi Qi, “To the edge of the ocean.”
Shi Qi carried Xiao Liu down stone steps, through the forest, to the edge of the ocean. Standing on the cliff, Zhuan Xu didn’t stop them and instead silently followed behind.
Another set of waves rolled towards the cliff and as the blue waves rose higher and higher, at the top a white shadow rode the waves towards Xiao Liu. The white shadow stood steady on top of the wave, white robe and white hair, wearing a mask. He stood in the middle of the waves like a white lily, pure and untouched, extraordinary and beautiful.
All the servants rushed forward but Zhuan Xu stared in bemusement and asked, “Xiang Liu, you want to kill me that much that you chased me all the way to Five Gods Mountain?”
Xiang Liu laughed. “This time I’m not here for you, Prince.” He looked at Xiao Liu “You got your legs broken? What did you do that sent all the Gao Xing soldiers running around like headless chickens?”
Xiao Liu suddenly remembered that Xiang Liu had the bug in him so when her leg was broken, he must have felt it. Xiao Liu laughed. “With my little measly ability? Nothing, it’s just a misunderstanding.”
Xiang Liu said, “Underneath you is the ocean.”
Xiao Liu understood what he was saying. If she jumped into the ocean then Xiang Liu would take her away.
"How can Xiao Yao poison Fang Feng Bei and not Xiang Liu?"This is not directly explained in the drama or the novel.…
Yes, she was referring to XL's ability to control her heartbeat through the bug connection. XY makes that comment shortly after XL speeds up her heartbeat through the bug connection for the second time.
There are two occasions where XL intentionally makes XY's heartbeat speed up to the point where it was beating as quickly as if she was physically exerting herself (e.g., as if she were running). On both occasions, he does it to snap her out of intense heartache that she is feeling because of TSJ. The first occasion occurs on the day of TSJ's wedding and the second occurs a year later, when XY sees TSJ for the first time since his wedding. On the second occasion, it seems like he also intentionally caused XY to stop pretending to be fine and intentionally caused her and TSJ to interact.
----- Chapter 25:
Xiao Yao stared at the water clock and the minute hand was getting closer to the time of the wedding. Right now Jing and Yi Yang must be standing in the ceremonial hall. The water dropped one by one and each drop was like a poison dropping on Xiao Yao’s heart. It pierced her through into hundreds and thousands of pockmarks. Xiao Yao knew she shouldn’t think about it, but it was like she was possessed and she stared at the water clock thinking of when Jing would say his vows.
The Tu Shan residence must be decked out and bustling with activity. Jing wearing a groom outfit, standing side-by-side with Yi Yang. The officiant calling out as Jing and Yi Yang started to go through the wedding rites. Yi Yang got her wish come true and she must be thrilled, but what about Jing? What was his expression….
Xiao Yao suddenly felt her heart beating wildly and was so unexpected she couldn’t catch her breath and it banished all the images in her mind. Zhuan Xu asked, “Are you feeling sick?”
Xiao Yao shook her head. “No! But a bit stuffy and suddenly want some fresh air.”
Xiao Yao rushed out the door and Zhuan Xu hurriedly draped a fur cloak around her. Xiao Yao stood in the courtyard staring up at the blue sky. Why did Xiang Liu suddenly make her feel his presence? Did he feel her pain? Or was it because he was currently in Qing Qiu watching Yi Yang and Jing get married and remembered she might not be happy about it? Was he mocking her? Or trying to console her?
Zhuan Xu asked, “What are you thinking about?”
Xiao Yao said, “I suddenly remembered the voodoo bug I planted in Xiang Liu. My body’s pain, he has to feel all of it. But what about my heartache? Does he also need to endure it? He said he has nine bodies so my pain isn’t too much for him to endure. But what about the heart? He only has one heart!”
Zhuan Xu grabbed Xiao Yao by the shoulders and harshly said, “I don’t care what your relationship with him was in Qing Shui Town. Do not remain close to him now!”
Xiao Yao smiled bitterly. “I know!”
Zhuan Xu said, “Even though you keep saying the bug has no ill effects, when you’re all better it’s best to find a way to remove it.”
“Yes!”
Xiao Yao stared at the blue sky and quietly felt her heart beating as one with another heart. The pressure and pain on her heart lessened, probably because another heart was taking some of the burden from her.
Xiao Yao got better and she started making poisons again.
----- Chapter 26:
Xiao Yao hadn’t seen Jing in over a year and seeing him like this, Xiao Yao maintained her smile and quietly stood next to the Xi Ling clan leader. She remembered in the ocean when he let his hair loose, the stirring in her heart. She remembered twining his hair around her fingers, each strand was a longing. Everything felt like yesterday but it was already black hair turned white and all longing severed.
Xiao Yao felt her heart was being clawed at by a large hand, so painful it was like being ripped apart. She could only keep smiling when suddenly she felt her heart violently beating. Xiao Yao couldn’t maintain her fake smile anymore, much like a person could endure severe pain without any change in expression yet couldn’t control exhibiting bodily reaction to intense exercise. Xiao Yao clutched her chest and took a few deep breaths.
Xing Yue hurriedly assisted her and asked in concern, “Are you okay?”
Xiao Yao smiled and shook her head. The Xi Ling clan leader saw her face flushed bright red and quickly said, “I remember your constitution is not strong. Hurry and sit down to rest.”
Xing Yue helped Xiao Yao to sit down at Jing’s table.
Jing anxiously put one hand on Xiao Yao’s wrist while his other clutched the wine cup and transformed the wine into a fog. Everyone knew the Tu Shan clan had the power to mystify which was very useful for taking away pain. No one thought it weird what Jing was doing.
Her heart continued to beat wildly and strongly, so much that she felt like all her blood was rushing into her head. Xiao Yao couldn’t control it and muttered under her breath, “Xiang Liu, will you cut it out already?”
Everyone only heard “cut it out already”, but Jing was sitting closest to her and he was completely familiar with Xiao Yao’s voice, so he heard every word she said.
Her heartbeat started to return to normal and Xiao Yao gently pulled her hand away from Jing. “Thank you, I’m fine now.”
Can someone who's read the prequel novel explain who xiao yao's parents are, as well as the significance of the…
In the novels, Xiao Yao's mother's official name was Xuan Yuan Ba. She went by Xiling Ba (taking her mother's family name) to wander the wilderness freely. Her nickname was Ah Heng (in the drama she is called Xiling Heng). She was the only daughter of the Yellow Emperor of Xuan Yuan (the King of Xiyan in the drama) and his official Empress, Xiling Lei Zhu (the Queen of Xiyan in the drama).
The Yellow Emperor did not come from a noble family, but he single-handedly led the small god tribe of Xuan Yuan (Xiyan) to grow in power enough to rival the two great kingdoms of Sheng Nong (Chenrong) and Gao Xing (Haoling). He married Xiling Lei Zhu (nicknamed Ah Lei). The Xiling Clan is extremely prestigious and, like the Tushan and Chishui clans, is one of the Four Great Clans. Before her marriage, Xiling Lei Zhu was sworn siblings with the woman who would go on to become the Royal Mother of Jade Mountain and the man who would go on to become the Flame Emperor / King of Chenrong.
In addition to her daughter, Empress Lei Zhu / the Queen of Xiyan had three sons: Qing Yang, Yun Zhe, and Chang Yi. Ah Heng referred to Qing Yang (the crown prince of Xiyan) as her Eldest Brother, to Yun Zhe as her Second Brother, and to Chang Yi as her Fourth Brother. Chang Yi was Cang Xuan's father. The Yellow Emperor / King of Xiyan had many more children through his consorts.
Shao Hao was a talented prince of Haoling who spent part of his life hiding his identity and living as a talented blacksmith. In that identity, he and Qing Yang became very close friends. When she had just learned to walk, and even before she could talk, Ah Heng was engaged to Shao Hao, who was about a thousand years older than her. The engagement was intended to be an alliance that would protect Shao Hao and Ah Heng's brothers. Shao Hao promised Qing Yang that he would look after Ah Heng and Chang Yi.
Qi Yo (Xiao Yao's biological father / Chi Chen in the drama) was a unique person who did not grow up among humans or deities. He was extremely in tune with nature, and also extremely powerful, with the ability to use powers that were based in all of the elements (instead of the usual one or atypical two). He also had the ability to control animals. Deities could control god beasts, but they could not control regular animals the way Qi Yo could. Qi Yo lived in the forests of Jiu Li, which was an oppressed part of Chenrong at the time. Its people were forced into slavery. Qi Yo protected the people of Jiu Li, and the people of Jiu Li called him the Beast King. Eventually Zhu Rong (a general of Chenrong and descendant of the Chenrong royal family / Feng Long and Xing Yue's grandfather) was sent to hunt down the Beast King. While running from Zhu Rong, Qi Yo saw Ah Heng for the first time and fell for her at first sight. Qi Yo ended up leading Zhu Rong into a trap and caught the attention of the Flame Emperor (the King of Chenrong). The Flame Emperor recognized Qi Yo's power and offered to teach him. Wanting to learn about Ah Heng's world, Qi Yo eventually agreed to become the Flame Emperor's one and only disciple. He eventually became a powerful general for Chenrong, and was like a brother to the Flame Emperor's son and heir.
Although Qi Yo was Xiao Yao's biological father, Ah Heng married Shao Hao as planned in order to protect her mother and brothers. They agreed to have a non-romantic marriage / political alliance, which Shao Hao ended up regretting because he fell in love with Ah Heng. When Xiao Yao was born, Ah Heng was in a coma for a year and Shao Hao was her only parental figure. Shao Hao came to truly love Xiao Yao and was determined to protect her and to treat her like his own daughter. Shao Hao and Ah Heng were the ones who placed the Face Forming Flower (which allows Xiao Yao to transform seamlessly even with low spiritual powers) in Xiao Yao when she was an infant so she would look like Shao Hao and not like Qi Yo.
Later on, when Chang Yi and Chang Pu (Cang Xuan's parents) were trapped in Ju Mountain by Zhu Rong, Ah Heng begged Shao Hao (who, by that point, had killed his own father and become the Grand Emperor / King of Haoling) to send help to save Chang Yi. She even cut off her pinky finger and swore a blood oath to Shao Hao. But he still rejected her request. From that point on, Shao Hao wore the bone from Ah Heng's severed pinky finger as a ring. Although Shao Hao could not send help from Haoling, he did write a letter to Qi Yo. Qi Yo (Xiao Yao's biological father) was a general for Chenrong. Qi Yo wanted to help Ah Heng but could not betray Chenrong. So he sealed half of his power. Chang Pu was saved, but Chang Yi chose to die with his comrades. Chang Pu ended up committing suicide not long after, as we see in the first episode of the drama.
Before the final battle between Xiyan and Chenrong, Ah Heng forgave Shao Hao and he fought in the final battle (in disguise) on her side / against Chenrong. In the final battle between Chenrong and Xiyan, Qi Yo led Chenrong's army and Ah Heng led Xiyan's army. They "died" together on the battlefield.
In the drama, Ah Heng (Xiling Heng) is described as the Queen of Xiyan's disciple rather than her daughter.
How can Xiao Yao poison Fang Feng Bei and not Xiang Liu? How come Xiao Yao cannot feel the bug in FFB?
"How can Xiao Yao poison Fang Feng Bei and not Xiang Liu?"
This is not directly explained in the drama or the novel. Among fans, there are two main theories.
(1) Perhaps Xiang Liu has the ability to pause his immunity to poison and chose to use that ability to allow Xiao Yao to poison him when he was Fang Feng Bei in order to convince her that Fang Feng Bei was not Xiang Liu.
(2) Perhaps Xiang Liu knew enough about poison that he was able to identify the poison that Xiao Yao gave him AND had the ability to fake the symptoms that that particular poison would cause so that Xiao Yao would believe that he had been poisoned.
Note: The original Fang Feng Bei was a deity, not a mortal human. When Xiang Liu is Fang Feng Bei, he does not become a deity or a human. He remains a demon. The only thing he changes is his hair, which he dyes black.
- - -
"How come Xiao Yao cannot feel the bug in FFB?"
Xiang Liu controls the bug connection between him and Xiao Yao.
For example, Xiao Yao does not feel Xiang Liu's heartbeat through the bug connection except when he wants her to (e.g., after her assassination, when he uses his heartbeat to guide her heart to keep beating) or when his control slips (e.g., as it briefly does in chapter 26). Xiao Yao also only feels pain through the bug connection when Xiang Liu wants her to (e.g., as she does at the end of chapter 32).
Xiang Liu also seems to use this control to prevent Xiao Yao from feeling the bug in him most of the time (e.g., when he is Fang Feng Bei), but not all of the time (e.g., she senses his bug calling her when he goes to Five Gods Mountain to offer to rescue her).
Although the reason that Xiang Liu is able to control the bug connection is not directly confirmed in the novel, Xiao Yao speculates that it is because Xiang Liu's level of spiritual power is much, much higher than Xiao Yao's level of spiritual power.
- - -
Chapter 26:
Fang Feng Bei, wearing a white embroidered robe, was standing there with a lazy smile.
Xiao Yao felt the voodoo bug in her body but got no response. Xiao Yao gave up. Was she the one who raised the bug or was it Xiang Liu? Xiang Liu could control her, but she couldn’t control Xiang Liu at all! Could it be that even voodoo bugs know how to fear the strong and sneer at the weak?
Thoughts on Ep 9Well I’m not sure she is happy or just a act towards revenge that they slept together? Thoughts…
"Return this stone to its original spot. Convey these words to Mong Woo, "There is absolutely no meaning behind saving you. Our bond has been severed and my regrets have faded away. I wish you a peaceful life." Go this instant."
When the King told Joo Sang Hwa to return the white stone to where it came from... was he telling Sang Hwa to literally return the stone to the stream where it came from (because his relationship with Mong Woo was over with no future)? Or was he telling Sang Hwa to give the stone to Mong Woo along with his message - as a way of telling Sang Hwa to save Mong Woo while also making it clear that their relationship was over, without actually saying to Sang Hwa word-for-word, "Save Mong Woo but make it clear that our relationship is over."?
When XL and TSJ were on the yacht while everyone else was swimming, and XY asked TSJ to feed her her drink……
Nicely spotted! But are those temporary moments of white in the ocean meant to depict a spark / light glowing from XL / XL himself or are they waves? If you keeping watching the scene, there are more flashes of white in the ocean that look more like waves.
For those that want to check for themselves, it’s in episode 20.
I wonder if part of the reason XY didn’t feel well right at that moment was because of the bug connection between her and XL, in addition to her being affected by all the alcohol she'd had?
The scene in the drama plays out a bit differently than it did in the novel. For example, XY falls asleep in this scene in the novel, but doesn't fall asleep in the drama.
- - -
Chapter 14:
Xiao Yao laughed as she drank her wine and sprawled on the boat thinking to herself that if it wasn’t for Xiang Liu that bastard demon tormenting her last night, she would have jumped in right now.
Jing silently walked behind her and she turned and sat down on the deck and scoffed “Now you dare get close to me?”
Jing said nothing and Xiao Yao raised her empty cup. Jing poured her another cup and she handed the cup to him. He thought she wanted him to drink and was about to when she lifted her veil and pointed to her lips.
Jing placed the cup of wine under her lips and she grabbed his hand to drink it slowly.
The alcohol rushed up and her head was splitting in pain as her stomach roiled. She knew she was really drunk this time so she pushed Jing aside and leaned against the ship to wait for the nausea to pass.
Jing took a few pills and placed it under Xiao Yao’s nose for her to sniff. She said, “You haven’t forgotten what I taught you.”
“I will never forget.”
...
Xiao Yao remembered when she saved Shi Qi, he would silently lay there and accept whatever Xiao Yao did to him. He didn’t express pain, or hunger, or thirst, and many times she thought Shi Qi was dead and touched his pulse to confirm he was still alive.
Xiao Yao felt her heart hurt and then she felt her stomach coming up so she leaned over the railing and threw up.
Jing patted her back until she was done, then handed her water to rinse her mouth. Xiao Yao’s head hurt and feet were like lead. Jing held her and gently helped her sit down.
Jing smoothed her hair back from her face when Xiao Yao suddenly grabbed him around the waist and murmured, “I did go see you this afternoon, if you don’t believe me go ask your guard. I couldn’t find you so I went shopping.”
Jing held Xiao Yao and rested his cheek on her head. It was just a short time, he sunk to the depths of despair and now vaulted back up to the clouds of happiness.
He felt Xiao Yao’s body sinking and looked down to see that she was fast asleep. He smiled and adjusted their positions so that she was sleeping in his arms.
You don't need to watch the prequel. The first episode sets up everything you need to know from the prequel.
I would actively recommend *not* watching the "prequel".
That drama was adapted from the novel that is the prequel to the novel that this drama is adapted from, but the two productions are not affiliated. Between the two dramas, different names are used for the same characters and places. The two dramas also use different actors to portray the same characters, and some of the relationships between the characters are different in ALTL vs. LYF. So rather than being helpful, watching ALTL before watching LYF might create more confusion for you.
IMO, the writing, acting and production quality of ALTL is also much lower than the writing, acting and production quality of LYF. I watched parts of ALTL, but ended up dropping it.
Hi :) Just finished the drama and was about to give the lowest rate then I saw its season 2 is coming :) no wonder…
"After rewatching it for the 2nd time I just don't get why demon would hurt Wen Xiaoliu every single time eventhough he knows the fact that he is actually a girl ??"
My thoughts on the first two instances where Xiang Liu hurts Wen Xiao Liu (the 40 lashes and the back-stepping) are set out below if you're interested. There are a lot of factors that play into it, so apologies in advance for the length of this comment. In the places where I use quotes, I'm quoting from Koala's translation of the novel, which lines up pretty closely with the drama for these scenes.
Note that these factors are intended to provide context for why Xiang Liu acted the way he did and are not intended to assess whether those actions were "right" or not.
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(1) At the time that Wen Xiao Liu and Xiang Liu first met, the war between Xiyan and the Chenrong remnant army no longer involved open battles. The primary threat that the Chenrong remnant army (and Xiang Liu specifically) faced came in the form of spies and assassins. As we see in the drama, Xuan had sent several spies to infiltrate the Chenrong remnant army around this time, and he definitely was not the first person to do so.
>>>
Chapter 3:
"General [Hong Jiang] and [Xiyan] had been fighting for a couple hundred years now.
...
The war gradually went from open battles to secret scuffles and underhanded schemes of assassination……..whatever Xiao Liu couldn’t even think of, someone already tried it.
[Xiyan] even announced a reward, and Xiang Liu was the number one bounty on the list, even higher than [Hong Jiang]. The reason was very odd – [Hong Jiang] was nobility from the [Chengron] royal family so if anyone killed him for the bounty that would incur the wrath of the entire world. But Xiang Liu was fine – he was just a demon, and a hideous freakish nine-headed demon at that. So to kill him for the money reward wouldn’t even cause anyone to have a sleepless thought."
>>>
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(2) Wen Xiao Liu knowingly trespassed on the Chenrong remnant army's territory. She told Lao Mu (who was a Xiyan army deserter) that if he trespassed on Chenrong remnant army territory, he would be asking to die. She also knew that someone "scouting for intelligence" would be in big trouble if the Chenrong remnant army caught them. She believed that someone who was clearly an innocent civilian would be safe if they were caught trespassing on Chenrong remnant army territory, but she knew that the same would not be true for someone that the Chenrong remnant army thought might be an enemy.
>>>
Chapter 2:
"Xiao Liu said, “The mountains are the territory of the [Chenrong] resistance army. You’re a [Xiyan] army deserter, going there would be asking to die. Plus you don’t know those herbs. I’ll go.”
Lao Mu replied, “The [Hong Jiang]-controlled resistance army is fair and principled, they won’t harm innocents and even ordinary humans aren’t scared of running into [Chenrong] soldiers. But that Lieutenant General Xiang Liu is very difficult. Rumors say he is a Nine-headed Demon. He has nine lives and his nickname is Nine Lives. He is vicious and brutal.”
Xiao Liu laughed. “I’m not going to scout intelligence. I’m going to get spiritual plants. He may be vicious but he has to follow army rules. Plus I’ll never run into someone as powerful and lofty as General Xiang Liu.”"
>>>
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(3) 200 years before meeting Xiang Liu, Xiao Yao transformed into a male form and adopted the fake name "Wen Xiao Liu". In that form, she is physically male (it's not just an illusion or cross-dressing), and not even the most powerful demon or deity can tell that her form is a false form. Her transformation is seamless, so her male form seems like her true form.
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(4) Although Xiang Liu could not see through Xiao Yao / Wen Xiao Liu's transformation and her false form looked like it was her true form to him, Xiang Liu still knew that her male form was a false form from the moment he met her because only women could lure out a Fei Fei. So Xiang Liu knew that she was basically in disguise when she trespassed into the Chenrong remnant army's territory, and when she insisted that she was a man, he knew she was lying. The fact that he couldn't see through her transformation was also important, because it didn't make sense. Xiang Liu had very high spiritual power and Wen Xiao Liu had very low spiritual power (and claimed to just be a humble fertility doctor with no political connections), so if she changed her form, he should have been able to see through her transformation. The fact that he couldn't didn't add up and was suspicious.
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(5) Wen Xiao Liu poisoned Xiang Liu's cherished condor (Chubby) and tried to poison Xiang Liu twice. She struck first against both of them. When she succeeded in poisoning Chubby, Xiang Liu was shown to be concerned about him (imagine how you'd feel if someone poisoned your pet?). On top of that, Xiang Liu noted that, in doing so, Wen Xiao Liu had succeeded where the poison masters of Xiyan had failed - meaning that she was a world-class poison master. (Note: The first bit of knowledge about poisons that Xiao Yao gained was from a manual written by the King of Jiu Li, who was the world's greatest poison master, so her poison skills really were world class.) That was very suspicious and, again, did not match up with the identity she claimed (just a humble fertility doctor with no political affiliations).
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(6) Although Wen Xiao Liu deployed her poisons without hesitation, when she failed to poison Xiang Liu, she quickly switched to begging for her life and pretended to be a weak coward. From that moment on, with the exception of her rare moment of genuine vulnerability (which I'll get to below), Xiang Liu seems to view most of Wen Xiao Liu's pitiful behaviour for what it is: an act designed to manipulate him.
>>>
Chapter 2:
"Xiao Liu stopped immediately. The opponent was so powerful that poison and sleep powder were useless on him. He also couldn’t fight him, so that left only one other choice: get on his knees and beg.
Xiao Liu plopped down on his knees and with a copious amount of tears and snot he begged, “My lord, I’m just a little healer from Qing Shui Town come to the mountains to get some herbs to earn some money. My two brothers need it to marry wives!”
...
Xiao Liu had been acting a coward this entire time but this time he didn’t back down and looked at Xiang Liu straight back.
...
“You are as slippery as an eel: one moment of not paying attention and all that is left is mud. But my personality, you should go ask around.”"
>>>>
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(7) When Wen Xiao Liu was taken to the Chenrong remnant army's camp for questioning, she kept her eyes shut to avoid learning the path to it, as having that knowledge could get her killed and being seen taking that information in could make her look like a spy (even more so than she already did). Xiang Liu notices and comments, “A very good set of ears is often more useful than a set of eyes.” which indicates that her closed eyes weren't doing anything to convince him that she was not a spy.
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(8) When she was questioned, Wen Xiao Liu insisted that she was a man (which Xiang Liu knew was a lie) named Wen Xiao Liu and refused to reveal her true identity, even after she admitted that she was not "only" Wen Xiao Liu. It makes sense that Xiao Yao would not reveal her true identity even when she was at risk of being killed, since she was the granddaughter of the King of Xiyan (the man who ruled Xiyan and started the war with Chenrong - who was basically the Chengrong remnant army's #1 enemy) and the daughter of the woman whose victory in battle resulted in Chenrong being conquered by Xiyan. But the fact that she refused to reveal her true identity to establish her innocence in such circumstances (i.e., when her life was on the line) was, once again, highly suspicious.
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(9) Given all the factors above, there were many reasons for Xiang Liu to suspect that Wen Xiao Liu was a spy or an assassin, and she failed to give him compelling proof of her innocence. The fact that an investigation confirmed that she had been living in QS town for 20 years was not convincing evidence that she wasn't a spy. Xiang Liu spent 400+ years maintaining his false identity as Fang Feng Bei while also being a soldier in the Chengrong remnant army for 300+ years and also being a killer-for-hire on the side, so he was well aware of how easily a demon or deity could maintain a false identity over a long period of time. Wen Xiao Liu sensed that Xiang Liu would not have the patience to continue investigating this issue, and that he would deal with such a suspicious person swiftly and decisively with an execution. Fearing for her life, Wen Xiao Liu intentionally taps her own vulnerability to try and convince Xiang Liu to spare her life.
>>>
Chapter 2:
"Xiang Liu stared at him and tapped his fingers. Xiao Liu started shaking - the primitive instinct of a living being in fear of death. Xiao Liu knew that Xiang Liu had no patience to figure out why he seemed suspicious and would use the most efficient and effective way to solve the problem, which was to the same fate as the [Fei Fei].
When the aura of death came hurtling over, Xiao Liu tumbled and tried to avoid it while saying, “My lord, I really am Wen Xiao Liu. Maybe I’m not ONLY Wen Xiao Liu, but I have no intention to harm the resistance army under General [Hong Jiang]. I don’t belong to the Kingdom of [Xiyan], or the Kingdom of [Haoling], and not to the Kingdom of [Chenrong]. I am just…”
Xiao Liu paused and thought, “Who am I?”
He raised his head and allowed his entire expression to be seen by Xiang Liu. “I am just someone who has been discarded. I have no ability to protect myself, I have no one to rely on, I have nowhere to go. So that is why I chose to be Wen Xiao Liu in Qing Shui Town. If my lord will allow it, I wish to be Wen Xiao Liu for the rest of my life.”"
>>>
Her genuine vulnerability pays off. Xiang Liu decides to let her live, *if* she agrees to work for him.
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(10) Xiang Liu offered her a lifeline and gave her a night to think about it. When Xiang Liu asked for her decision in the morning, Wen Xiao Liu was not respectful when she responded (she answered him "lazily") and tried to stall / avoid answering. Xiang Liu was not going to tolerate that kind of behavior from a suspected spy / assassin after he already offered her a lifeline and gave her a night to think about the offer, so he orders his men to give her 20 lashes. Remember that she is a high-class deity and her body is physically male at this point.
>>>
Chapter 2:
"Dawn arrived and Xiang Liu dressed and asked, “Have you decided?”
Xiao Liu lazily said, “Still thinking. I’m so thirsty, I want some water first.”
Xiang Liu laughed coldly and said, “Take him outside.”
Two soldiers dragged Xiao Liu out and Xiang Liu calmly said, “Whip him. Twenty lashes.”"
>>>
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(11) After the first 20 lashes, Wen Xiao Liu says she has three conditions. This seems like more stalling / impudence. So Xiang Liu orders 20 more lashes.
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(12) After the second round of 20 lashes, Wen Xiao Liu stops "acting a coward" and makes it clear that if Xiang Liu will not agree to her one condition, then she will not agree to work for him, even if he kills her. At that point, Xiang Liu listens to her condition and agrees to it. By dropping her coward act, Wen Xiao Liu confirmed that her previous behavior was for show (I say "confirmed" because it wasn't much of a revelation, and Xiang Liu seemed well aware that it was an act). But (as we saw with her moment of vulnerability the night before) honesty seems to be more effective with Xiang Liu.
>>>
Chapter 2:
"Xiang Liu coldly looked at him and asked, “Any more conditions?”
Xiao Liu was covered in sweat and his mouth was bleeding so he couldn’t say a full sentence. “You… can kill me, but I… still… have one condition.”
Xiang Liu smiled with a corner of his mouth and said, “Say it!”
“I….I won’t leave Qing Shui Town.” Xiao Liu understood that Xiang Liu was interested in his ability to make poison and as long as he didn’t leave Qing Shui Town then Xiang Liu couldn’t send him to kill the [Xiyan] generals and officers. Nor could he send him to kill [Haoling] nobles and royals. Xiang Liu seemed to understand Xiao Liu’s thinking and just stared at him without any expression.
Xiao Liu had been acting a coward this entire time but this time he didn’t back down and looked at Xiang Liu straight back. The meaning was clear: if Xiang Liu didn’t agree to this condition, then kill him now.
After a moment, Xiang Liu said, “Fine!”"
>>>
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(13) Next, they discuss the terms of the work that Wen Xiao Liu will do for Xiang Liu. Xiang Liu says that Wen Xiao Liu must make the poisons he requests, and (rather than just agreeing) Wen Xiao Liu has to point out that she might not be able to make anything and everything that he requests. Xiang Liu says that if she can't make a poison that he requests, she can pay for it with her body, which Wen Xiao Liu misinterprets as suggestive. So her comment back is also suggestive, and Xiang Liu takes this apparent insolence as Wen Xiao Liu being "slippery", like an eel trying to slip out of his grasp. So he steps on the wounds on her back to emphasize that he is in charge and that he won't tolerate that kind of behavior.
>>>
Chapter 2:
"When the medicine was applied and everyone left, Xiang Liu said to Xiao Liu, “Make whatever concoction I ask of you. All other times you can continue being your healer in Qing Shui Town. But when I summon you, you must obey immediately.”
“Fine, but it’s like not I will be able to make whatever my lord asks.”
“If you can’t, then you can exchange with your body.”
“Huh?” Xiao Liu never imagined Xiang Liu would like men and carefully said, “My lord is handsome beyond compare. It’s not that I don’t want to service you but…”
Xiang Liu smirked and lifted his foot and stepped on Xiao Liu’s wound slowly until blood started to seep out. “If you can’t make one, then use a part of your body in exchange. The first time, your ears. The second time, your nose…” Xiang Liu upped the pressure. “Don’t worry, I won’t cut off your hands. You need them to make the concoctions.”
Xiao Liu was in so much pain he writhed. “I….I understand.”
Xiang Liu pulled his foot back and wiped the blood away on Xiao Liu’s robe. “You are as slippery as an eel: one moment of not paying attention and all that is left is mud. But my personality, you should go ask around.”
Xiao Liu snarked, “I don’t need to ask around to figure it out.”"
3 
1 
1 
Cang Xuan (the "first male lead" according to the author of the novel) lives. He achieves his goal of becoming Emperor but (more or less) loses Xiao Yao along the way so that she is no longer by his side at the end of the story.
Ye Shi Qi / Tushan Jing (the "second male lead") lives. Near the end of the story he disappears and is presumed dead, but returns and marries Xiao Yao. He does not return to his position of power, wealth, and responsibilities within the Tushan Clan after returning from the "dead", choosing to be with Xiao Yao without wealth, status, or responsibilities instead.
Wen Xiao Liu / Xiao Yao (the female lead) lives. She marries Tushan Jing, mourns Xiang Liu, and leaves Cang Xuan and her family behind.
Xiang Liu (the "third male lead" / the male character with white hair) dies along with the rest of the Chenrong remnant army in a final battle. As he told Xiao Yao earlier in the story, the best death for a general is dying on the battlefield. Before his death, Xiang Liu breaks the Lovers' Bug connection between him and Xiao Yao (so she will not be killed when he dies) and erases the memories of him that she saved in her mirror. He also sends her well-wishes, but in a way where they are hidden and she will never see them. Basically he does his best to shield her from the effects of his death.
It's a reverse-harem drama, so whether the drama feels like a tragedy to you will likely depend, at least in part, on which characters you like / care about, and which characters you don't.
The author of the novel takes the view that the novel's ending is not tragic because, in the end, each character got what they wanted most.
It's possible that he really wasn't there and the King never told him about the stone before, and Song Hwa just had to deduce that the King meant that he should return the stone to Mong Woo and never knew the location where the stone had been taken from. But I think it's more likely that the King told Song Hwa a bit about the stone at some point, so that Song Hwa knew that the stone came from the stream, that the King was holding on to it for Mong Woo, and perhaps the promise that they had made where Mong Woo would take the stone back the next time it drizzled. Or (less likely but still possible) that he was present when that scene happened, but kept himself out of sight.
"To me, a treacherous thought is loyalty." IMO, when the King said that he was referring to his plans to have his nephew take over the throne. Someone who tries to keep him in power and to keep his nephew away from the throne (people like his uncle and his mother) don't share his goal. But someone who plots to put his nephew on the throne shares his goal, so even if that person plots "treason" against him (e.g., assassinating him or plotting to make his nephew the crown prince), he actually views that "treachery" as loyalty.
When the King said that he might hurt her, I don't think he meant that he might hurt her directly. More like he would likely need to make more difficult decisions in the future (like the decision to accept the princess' arranged marriage) that would cause her pain. It also seemed like he might have been hinting that he plans to die (or to fake his death) at some point in order to transfer the throne to his nephew when he is old enough to take over / after the King has successfully punished his mother and uncle for murdering his brother.
The King instructed Sang Hwa to do two things. First, to return the stone to where it came from. Second, to convey his message to Mong Woo.
It is possible that the first order (returning the stone to where it came from) could have meant that Sang Hwa should literally return the stone to the stream where it was taken from. The separate order to convey his message to Mong Woo was enough for Sang Hwa to know that he was being ordered to save Mong Woo.
That said, when the King told Sang Hwa to "Return this stone to its original spot." I personally think he was most likely telling Sang Hwa to give the stone to Mong Woo (and not telling him to literally return it to the stream where it came from), but not for the reason you mentioned Mad Marti.
I've reached that conclusion because, IMO, it just makes more logical sense for the two orders to be linked (for the King to tell Sang Hwa to return the stone to Mong Woo along with his message in order to emphasize it), rather than for the King to have ordered Sang Hwa to literally take the stone all the way back to the stream that it came from, in addition to separately ordering him to convey his message to Mong Woo (and, by implication, to save Mong Woo).
IMO, that meaning (giving the stone to Mong Woo) would have been fully confirmed if Sang Hwa had returned the stone to the King (because he was unable to give it to Mong Woo) when he reported that Mong Woo was dead. But since Sang Hwa did not do so, we can't be fully certain of which interpretation is correct.
Edit: Now that episode 12 has shown that the stone was back in the King's possession, I think we can safely conclude that when he ordered Sang Hwa to return the stone to where it came from, he was referring to returning it to Mong Woo.
In chapter 22 (after XY's assassination), XL was able to communicate directly with XY through the bug connection. He allowed XY to hear his thoughts so he could goad her into continuing to fight to live. He also used the bug connection at that time so that his heartbeat could guide XY's heartbeat to prevent it from stopping.
In the two instances covered in the excerpts I quoted from the novel in my last comment, he used the connection to help pull XY out of her intensely painful heartache. The point wasn't to make XY think of him, even though she did end up thinking of him on both occasions.
And there were times when XY thought of XL because of the bug connection without XL actively doing anything. For example, there were many times where XY felt heartbroken but was comforted by the fact that XL was feeling the same heartbreak with her. It made her feel like she wasn't alone and he was there keeping her company through her most painful moments.
XL and XY were also both able to use the bug connection to call each other. XL used the bug connection to call XY to him in chapter 8, and XY used the bug connection to call XL to her in chapter 46.
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Chapter 22:
She could vividly sense her heart slowly weakening, but just as it was about to stop, she heard another heart beating. It was strong and powerful, leading her heart so that it wouldn’t completely stop. It was like a sole flame in the palms of the hand, seemingly about to be extinguished at any moment, but still flickering weakly with life.
Xiao Yao felt that she heard Xiang Liu snarking at her: Just this and you’re going to give up?
Xiao Yao retorted back at him: What do you mean just this? If you’ve been poked so many holes in like a sieve, air passing through both top and bottom, even if I don’t want to give up I have to give up.
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Chapter 30:
Xiao Yao returned to her residence and laid down on her pallet but couldn’t sleep. When she lost Jing she felt that she still had Zhuan Xu and no matter what happened she would never lose him.
But tonight she felt for the first time that she was gradually losing Zhuan Xu.
Years ago they held hands and walked up Cao Yun Peak, facing adversity that did not defeat them or make them give up on each other. But now they reached the end, there were so many things and people gradually forming between them that it naturally split them apart.
It wasn’t that one wanted to leave the other or the other stop caring, it was life being so merciless and unwittingly leading them to this point.
Xiao Yao felt her heart constricting tightly so she sat up and took deep breaths. It started with being sleepless but over time she seemed to have developed a heart problem. She knew Xiang Liu was being bothered by her right now.
All these years in the deep dark of the night, when she was at her most painful to endure moments, knowing someone was experiencing the same feeling made her feel she wasn’t alone. It made her feel like he was right there keeping her company and it comforted her a lot.
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Chapter 8:
Xiao Liu opened her eyes and they were walking along the edge of the cliff. To the right was the vast ocean, waves and waves were pounding the black rocks. Xiao Liu suddenly felt her heart sense, she sensed someone was calling her. She said to Shi Qi, “To the edge of the ocean.”
Shi Qi carried Xiao Liu down stone steps, through the forest, to the edge of the ocean. Standing on the cliff, Zhuan Xu didn’t stop them and instead silently followed behind.
Another set of waves rolled towards the cliff and as the blue waves rose higher and higher, at the top a white shadow rode the waves towards Xiao Liu. The white shadow stood steady on top of the wave, white robe and white hair, wearing a mask. He stood in the middle of the waves like a white lily, pure and untouched, extraordinary and beautiful.
All the servants rushed forward but Zhuan Xu stared in bemusement and asked, “Xiang Liu, you want to kill me that much that you chased me all the way to Five Gods Mountain?”
Xiang Liu laughed. “This time I’m not here for you, Prince.” He looked at Xiao Liu “You got your legs broken? What did you do that sent all the Gao Xing soldiers running around like headless chickens?”
Xiao Liu suddenly remembered that Xiang Liu had the bug in him so when her leg was broken, he must have felt it. Xiao Liu laughed. “With my little measly ability? Nothing, it’s just a misunderstanding.”
Xiang Liu said, “Underneath you is the ocean.”
Xiao Liu understood what he was saying. If she jumped into the ocean then Xiang Liu would take her away.
There are two occasions where XL intentionally makes XY's heartbeat speed up to the point where it was beating as quickly as if she was physically exerting herself (e.g., as if she were running). On both occasions, he does it to snap her out of intense heartache that she is feeling because of TSJ. The first occasion occurs on the day of TSJ's wedding and the second occurs a year later, when XY sees TSJ for the first time since his wedding. On the second occasion, it seems like he also intentionally caused XY to stop pretending to be fine and intentionally caused her and TSJ to interact.
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Chapter 25:
Xiao Yao stared at the water clock and the minute hand was getting closer to the time of the wedding. Right now Jing and Yi Yang must be standing in the ceremonial hall. The water dropped one by one and each drop was like a poison dropping on Xiao Yao’s heart. It pierced her through into hundreds and thousands of pockmarks. Xiao Yao knew she shouldn’t think about it, but it was like she was possessed and she stared at the water clock thinking of when Jing would say his vows.
The Tu Shan residence must be decked out and bustling with activity.
Jing wearing a groom outfit, standing side-by-side with Yi Yang.
The officiant calling out as Jing and Yi Yang started to go through the wedding rites. Yi Yang got her wish come true and she must be thrilled, but what about Jing? What was his expression….
Xiao Yao suddenly felt her heart beating wildly and was so unexpected she couldn’t catch her breath and it banished all the images in her mind.
Zhuan Xu asked, “Are you feeling sick?”
Xiao Yao shook her head. “No! But a bit stuffy and suddenly want some fresh air.”
Xiao Yao rushed out the door and Zhuan Xu hurriedly draped a fur cloak around her. Xiao Yao stood in the courtyard staring up at the blue sky. Why did Xiang Liu suddenly make her feel his presence? Did he feel her pain? Or was it because he was currently in Qing Qiu watching Yi Yang and Jing get married and remembered she might not be happy about it? Was he mocking her? Or trying to console her?
Zhuan Xu asked, “What are you thinking about?”
Xiao Yao said, “I suddenly remembered the voodoo bug I planted in Xiang Liu. My body’s pain, he has to feel all of it. But what about my heartache? Does he also need to endure it? He said he has nine bodies so my pain isn’t too much for him to endure. But what about the heart? He only has one heart!”
Zhuan Xu grabbed Xiao Yao by the shoulders and harshly said, “I don’t care what your relationship with him was in Qing Shui Town. Do not remain close to him now!”
Xiao Yao smiled bitterly. “I know!”
Zhuan Xu said, “Even though you keep saying the bug has no ill effects, when you’re all better it’s best to find a way to remove it.”
“Yes!”
Xiao Yao stared at the blue sky and quietly felt her heart beating as one with another heart. The pressure and pain on her heart lessened, probably because another heart was taking some of the burden from her.
Xiao Yao got better and she started making poisons again.
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Chapter 26:
Xiao Yao hadn’t seen Jing in over a year and seeing him like this, Xiao Yao maintained her smile and quietly stood next to the Xi Ling clan leader. She remembered in the ocean when he let his hair loose, the stirring in her heart. She remembered twining his hair around her fingers, each strand was a longing. Everything felt like yesterday but it was already black hair turned white and all longing severed.
Xiao Yao felt her heart was being clawed at by a large hand, so painful it was like being ripped apart. She could only keep smiling when suddenly she felt her heart violently beating. Xiao Yao couldn’t maintain her fake smile anymore, much like a person could endure severe pain without any change in expression yet couldn’t control exhibiting bodily reaction to intense exercise. Xiao Yao clutched her chest and took a few deep breaths.
Xing Yue hurriedly assisted her and asked in concern, “Are you okay?”
Xiao Yao smiled and shook her head. The Xi Ling clan leader saw her face flushed bright red and quickly said, “I remember your constitution is not strong. Hurry and sit down to rest.”
Xing Yue helped Xiao Yao to sit down at Jing’s table.
Jing anxiously put one hand on Xiao Yao’s wrist while his other clutched the wine cup and transformed the wine into a fog. Everyone knew the Tu Shan clan had the power to mystify which was very useful for taking away pain. No one thought it weird what Jing was doing.
Her heart continued to beat wildly and strongly, so much that she felt like all her blood was rushing into her head. Xiao Yao couldn’t control it and muttered under her breath, “Xiang Liu, will you cut it out already?”
Everyone only heard “cut it out already”, but Jing was sitting closest to her and he was completely familiar with Xiao Yao’s voice, so he heard every word she said.
Her heartbeat started to return to normal and Xiao Yao gently pulled her hand away from Jing. “Thank you, I’m fine now.”
The Yellow Emperor did not come from a noble family, but he single-handedly led the small god tribe of Xuan Yuan (Xiyan) to grow in power enough to rival the two great kingdoms of Sheng Nong (Chenrong) and Gao Xing (Haoling). He married Xiling Lei Zhu (nicknamed Ah Lei). The Xiling Clan is extremely prestigious and, like the Tushan and Chishui clans, is one of the Four Great Clans. Before her marriage, Xiling Lei Zhu was sworn siblings with the woman who would go on to become the Royal Mother of Jade Mountain and the man who would go on to become the Flame Emperor / King of Chenrong.
In addition to her daughter, Empress Lei Zhu / the Queen of Xiyan had three sons: Qing Yang, Yun Zhe, and Chang Yi. Ah Heng referred to Qing Yang (the crown prince of Xiyan) as her Eldest Brother, to Yun Zhe as her Second Brother, and to Chang Yi as her Fourth Brother. Chang Yi was Cang Xuan's father. The Yellow Emperor / King of Xiyan had many more children through his consorts.
Shao Hao was a talented prince of Haoling who spent part of his life hiding his identity and living as a talented blacksmith. In that identity, he and Qing Yang became very close friends. When she had just learned to walk, and even before she could talk, Ah Heng was engaged to Shao Hao, who was about a thousand years older than her. The engagement was intended to be an alliance that would protect Shao Hao and Ah Heng's brothers. Shao Hao promised Qing Yang that he would look after Ah Heng and Chang Yi.
Qi Yo (Xiao Yao's biological father / Chi Chen in the drama) was a unique person who did not grow up among humans or deities. He was extremely in tune with nature, and also extremely powerful, with the ability to use powers that were based in all of the elements (instead of the usual one or atypical two). He also had the ability to control animals. Deities could control god beasts, but they could not control regular animals the way Qi Yo could. Qi Yo lived in the forests of Jiu Li, which was an oppressed part of Chenrong at the time. Its people were forced into slavery. Qi Yo protected the people of Jiu Li, and the people of Jiu Li called him the Beast King. Eventually Zhu Rong (a general of Chenrong and descendant of the Chenrong royal family / Feng Long and Xing Yue's grandfather) was sent to hunt down the Beast King. While running from Zhu Rong, Qi Yo saw Ah Heng for the first time and fell for her at first sight. Qi Yo ended up leading Zhu Rong into a trap and caught the attention of the Flame Emperor (the King of Chenrong). The Flame Emperor recognized Qi Yo's power and offered to teach him. Wanting to learn about Ah Heng's world, Qi Yo eventually agreed to become the Flame Emperor's one and only disciple. He eventually became a powerful general for Chenrong, and was like a brother to the Flame Emperor's son and heir.
Although Qi Yo was Xiao Yao's biological father, Ah Heng married Shao Hao as planned in order to protect her mother and brothers. They agreed to have a non-romantic marriage / political alliance, which Shao Hao ended up regretting because he fell in love with Ah Heng. When Xiao Yao was born, Ah Heng was in a coma for a year and Shao Hao was her only parental figure. Shao Hao came to truly love Xiao Yao and was determined to protect her and to treat her like his own daughter. Shao Hao and Ah Heng were the ones who placed the Face Forming Flower (which allows Xiao Yao to transform seamlessly even with low spiritual powers) in Xiao Yao when she was an infant so she would look like Shao Hao and not like Qi Yo.
Later on, when Chang Yi and Chang Pu (Cang Xuan's parents) were trapped in Ju Mountain by Zhu Rong, Ah Heng begged Shao Hao (who, by that point, had killed his own father and become the Grand Emperor / King of Haoling) to send help to save Chang Yi. She even cut off her pinky finger and swore a blood oath to Shao Hao. But he still rejected her request. From that point on, Shao Hao wore the bone from Ah Heng's severed pinky finger as a ring. Although Shao Hao could not send help from Haoling, he did write a letter to Qi Yo. Qi Yo (Xiao Yao's biological father) was a general for Chenrong. Qi Yo wanted to help Ah Heng but could not betray Chenrong. So he sealed half of his power. Chang Pu was saved, but Chang Yi chose to die with his comrades. Chang Pu ended up committing suicide not long after, as we see in the first episode of the drama.
Before the final battle between Xiyan and Chenrong, Ah Heng forgave Shao Hao and he fought in the final battle (in disguise) on her side / against Chenrong. In the final battle between Chenrong and Xiyan, Qi Yo led Chenrong's army and Ah Heng led Xiyan's army. They "died" together on the battlefield.
In the drama, Ah Heng (Xiling Heng) is described as the Queen of Xiyan's disciple rather than her daughter.
In episode 1 of the drama (https://youtu.be/abf4qbeIrxc?si=C1GOGoPsaVKjnT8v&t=1534), we see that the pinky finger on Xiling Heng's left hand has been replaced with a false silver finger.
In episode 13 (https://youtu.be/3-8jeZtFOmM?si=bY7NndsYrtlVhfvN&t=2102) we can see the ring made from Xiling Heng's finger bone on the King of Haoling's finger.
This is not directly explained in the drama or the novel. Among fans, there are two main theories.
(1) Perhaps Xiang Liu has the ability to pause his immunity to poison and chose to use that ability to allow Xiao Yao to poison him when he was Fang Feng Bei in order to convince her that Fang Feng Bei was not Xiang Liu.
(2) Perhaps Xiang Liu knew enough about poison that he was able to identify the poison that Xiao Yao gave him AND had the ability to fake the symptoms that that particular poison would cause so that Xiao Yao would believe that he had been poisoned.
Note: The original Fang Feng Bei was a deity, not a mortal human. When Xiang Liu is Fang Feng Bei, he does not become a deity or a human. He remains a demon. The only thing he changes is his hair, which he dyes black.
- - -
"How come Xiao Yao cannot feel the bug in FFB?"
Xiang Liu controls the bug connection between him and Xiao Yao.
For example, Xiao Yao does not feel Xiang Liu's heartbeat through the bug connection except when he wants her to (e.g., after her assassination, when he uses his heartbeat to guide her heart to keep beating) or when his control slips (e.g., as it briefly does in chapter 26). Xiao Yao also only feels pain through the bug connection when Xiang Liu wants her to (e.g., as she does at the end of chapter 32).
Xiang Liu also seems to use this control to prevent Xiao Yao from feeling the bug in him most of the time (e.g., when he is Fang Feng Bei), but not all of the time (e.g., she senses his bug calling her when he goes to Five Gods Mountain to offer to rescue her).
Although the reason that Xiang Liu is able to control the bug connection is not directly confirmed in the novel, Xiao Yao speculates that it is because Xiang Liu's level of spiritual power is much, much higher than Xiao Yao's level of spiritual power.
- - -
Chapter 26:
Fang Feng Bei, wearing a white embroidered robe, was standing there with a lazy smile.
Xiao Yao felt the voodoo bug in her body but got no response. Xiao Yao gave up. Was she the one who raised the bug or was it Xiang Liu? Xiang Liu could control her, but she couldn’t control Xiang Liu at all! Could it be that even voodoo bugs know how to fear the strong and sneer at the weak?
When the King told Joo Sang Hwa to return the white stone to where it came from... was he telling Sang Hwa to literally return the stone to the stream where it came from (because his relationship with Mong Woo was over with no future)? Or was he telling Sang Hwa to give the stone to Mong Woo along with his message - as a way of telling Sang Hwa to save Mong Woo while also making it clear that their relationship was over, without actually saying to Sang Hwa word-for-word, "Save Mong Woo but make it clear that our relationship is over."?
For those that want to check for themselves, it’s in episode 20.
Timestamp for XY asking TSJ to feed the liquor to her (“How did it feel to be fed the liquor? I want to try it too.” … “Anyway, will you feed me or not?") - 26:54: https://youtu.be/EXWk3edKJMo?si=N02ehkA6v69SH9oG&t=1614
Timestamp for TSJ feeding the liquor to XY - 27:10: https://youtu.be/EXWk3edKJMo?si=A0CeXkhCZ2QYmi0n&t=1630
Timestamp for XY closing her eyes because she feels unwell - 27:23: https://youtu.be/EXWk3edKJMo?si=y7faO6W_LtdZP1q5&t=1643
Timestamp for the white flickering in the ocean behind XY (to the right of her) - 27:25: https://youtu.be/EXWk3edKJMo?si=i-O1Zr_ikyQ8vKUX&t=1645
Timestamp for the white flickering in the ocean behind XY (between her and TSJ) - 27:28: https://youtu.be/EXWk3edKJMo?si=rP3YFLF4kjGm1pNf&t=1648
Timestamp for XY saying that she felt a bit sea sick - 27:30: https://youtu.be/EXWk3edKJMo?si=1tqYfHGFh5_bGRdb&t=1650
- - -
I wonder if part of the reason XY didn’t feel well right at that moment was because of the bug connection between her and XL, in addition to her being affected by all the alcohol she'd had?
The scene in the drama plays out a bit differently than it did in the novel. For example, XY falls asleep in this scene in the novel, but doesn't fall asleep in the drama.
- - -
Chapter 14:
Xiao Yao laughed as she drank her wine and sprawled on the boat thinking to herself that if it wasn’t for Xiang Liu that bastard demon tormenting her last night, she would have jumped in right now.
Jing silently walked behind her and she turned and sat down on the deck and scoffed “Now you dare get close to me?”
Jing said nothing and Xiao Yao raised her empty cup. Jing poured her another cup and she handed the cup to him. He thought she wanted him to drink and was about to when she lifted her veil and pointed to her lips.
Jing placed the cup of wine under her lips and she grabbed his hand to drink it slowly.
The alcohol rushed up and her head was splitting in pain as her stomach roiled. She knew she was really drunk this time so she pushed Jing aside and leaned against the ship to wait for the nausea to pass.
Jing took a few pills and placed it under Xiao Yao’s nose for her to sniff. She said, “You haven’t forgotten what I taught you.”
“I will never forget.”
...
Xiao Yao remembered when she saved Shi Qi, he would silently lay there and accept whatever Xiao Yao did to him. He didn’t express pain, or hunger, or thirst, and many times she thought Shi Qi was dead and touched his pulse to confirm he was still alive.
Xiao Yao felt her heart hurt and then she felt her stomach coming up so she leaned over the railing and threw up.
Jing patted her back until she was done, then handed her water to rinse her mouth. Xiao Yao’s head hurt and feet were like lead. Jing held her and gently helped her sit down.
Jing smoothed her hair back from her face when Xiao Yao suddenly grabbed him around the waist and murmured, “I did go see you this afternoon, if you don’t believe me go ask your guard. I couldn’t find you so I went shopping.”
Jing held Xiao Yao and rested his cheek on her head. It was just a short time, he sunk to the depths of despair and now vaulted back up to the clouds of happiness.
He felt Xiao Yao’s body sinking and looked down to see that she was fast asleep. He smiled and adjusted their positions so that she was sleeping in his arms.
That drama was adapted from the novel that is the prequel to the novel that this drama is adapted from, but the two productions are not affiliated. Between the two dramas, different names are used for the same characters and places. The two dramas also use different actors to portray the same characters, and some of the relationships between the characters are different in ALTL vs. LYF. So rather than being helpful, watching ALTL before watching LYF might create more confusion for you.
IMO, the writing, acting and production quality of ALTL is also much lower than the writing, acting and production quality of LYF. I watched parts of ALTL, but ended up dropping it.
My thoughts on the first two instances where Xiang Liu hurts Wen Xiao Liu (the 40 lashes and the back-stepping) are set out below if you're interested. There are a lot of factors that play into it, so apologies in advance for the length of this comment. In the places where I use quotes, I'm quoting from Koala's translation of the novel, which lines up pretty closely with the drama for these scenes.
Note that these factors are intended to provide context for why Xiang Liu acted the way he did and are not intended to assess whether those actions were "right" or not.
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(1) At the time that Wen Xiao Liu and Xiang Liu first met, the war between Xiyan and the Chenrong remnant army no longer involved open battles. The primary threat that the Chenrong remnant army (and Xiang Liu specifically) faced came in the form of spies and assassins. As we see in the drama, Xuan had sent several spies to infiltrate the Chenrong remnant army around this time, and he definitely was not the first person to do so.
>>>
Chapter 3:
"General [Hong Jiang] and [Xiyan] had been fighting for a couple hundred years now.
...
The war gradually went from open battles to secret scuffles and underhanded schemes of assassination……..whatever Xiao Liu couldn’t even think of, someone already tried it.
[Xiyan] even announced a reward, and Xiang Liu was the number one bounty on the list, even higher than [Hong Jiang]. The reason was very odd – [Hong Jiang] was nobility from the [Chengron] royal family so if anyone killed him for the bounty that would incur the wrath of the entire world. But Xiang Liu was fine – he was just a demon, and a hideous freakish nine-headed demon at that. So to kill him for the money reward wouldn’t even cause anyone to have a sleepless thought."
>>>
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(2) Wen Xiao Liu knowingly trespassed on the Chenrong remnant army's territory. She told Lao Mu (who was a Xiyan army deserter) that if he trespassed on Chenrong remnant army territory, he would be asking to die. She also knew that someone "scouting for intelligence" would be in big trouble if the Chenrong remnant army caught them. She believed that someone who was clearly an innocent civilian would be safe if they were caught trespassing on Chenrong remnant army territory, but she knew that the same would not be true for someone that the Chenrong remnant army thought might be an enemy.
>>>
Chapter 2:
"Xiao Liu said, “The mountains are the territory of the [Chenrong] resistance army. You’re a [Xiyan] army deserter, going there would be asking to die. Plus you don’t know those herbs. I’ll go.”
Lao Mu replied, “The [Hong Jiang]-controlled resistance army is fair and principled, they won’t harm innocents and even ordinary humans aren’t scared of running into [Chenrong] soldiers. But that Lieutenant General Xiang Liu is very difficult. Rumors say he is a Nine-headed Demon. He has nine lives and his nickname is Nine Lives. He is vicious and brutal.”
Xiao Liu laughed. “I’m not going to scout intelligence. I’m going to get spiritual plants. He may be vicious but he has to follow army rules. Plus I’ll never run into someone as powerful and lofty as General Xiang Liu.”"
>>>
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(3) 200 years before meeting Xiang Liu, Xiao Yao transformed into a male form and adopted the fake name "Wen Xiao Liu". In that form, she is physically male (it's not just an illusion or cross-dressing), and not even the most powerful demon or deity can tell that her form is a false form. Her transformation is seamless, so her male form seems like her true form.
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(4) Although Xiang Liu could not see through Xiao Yao / Wen Xiao Liu's transformation and her false form looked like it was her true form to him, Xiang Liu still knew that her male form was a false form from the moment he met her because only women could lure out a Fei Fei. So Xiang Liu knew that she was basically in disguise when she trespassed into the Chenrong remnant army's territory, and when she insisted that she was a man, he knew she was lying. The fact that he couldn't see through her transformation was also important, because it didn't make sense. Xiang Liu had very high spiritual power and Wen Xiao Liu had very low spiritual power (and claimed to just be a humble fertility doctor with no political connections), so if she changed her form, he should have been able to see through her transformation. The fact that he couldn't didn't add up and was suspicious.
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(5) Wen Xiao Liu poisoned Xiang Liu's cherished condor (Chubby) and tried to poison Xiang Liu twice. She struck first against both of them. When she succeeded in poisoning Chubby, Xiang Liu was shown to be concerned about him (imagine how you'd feel if someone poisoned your pet?). On top of that, Xiang Liu noted that, in doing so, Wen Xiao Liu had succeeded where the poison masters of Xiyan had failed - meaning that she was a world-class poison master. (Note: The first bit of knowledge about poisons that Xiao Yao gained was from a manual written by the King of Jiu Li, who was the world's greatest poison master, so her poison skills really were world class.) That was very suspicious and, again, did not match up with the identity she claimed (just a humble fertility doctor with no political affiliations).
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(6) Although Wen Xiao Liu deployed her poisons without hesitation, when she failed to poison Xiang Liu, she quickly switched to begging for her life and pretended to be a weak coward. From that moment on, with the exception of her rare moment of genuine vulnerability (which I'll get to below), Xiang Liu seems to view most of Wen Xiao Liu's pitiful behaviour for what it is: an act designed to manipulate him.
>>>
Chapter 2:
"Xiao Liu stopped immediately. The opponent was so powerful that poison and sleep powder were useless on him. He also couldn’t fight him, so that left only one other choice: get on his knees and beg.
Xiao Liu plopped down on his knees and with a copious amount of tears and snot he begged, “My lord, I’m just a little healer from Qing Shui Town come to the mountains to get some herbs to earn some money. My two brothers need it to marry wives!”
...
Xiao Liu had been acting a coward this entire time but this time he didn’t back down and looked at Xiang Liu straight back.
...
“You are as slippery as an eel: one moment of not paying attention and all that is left is mud. But my personality, you should go ask around.”"
>>>>
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(7) When Wen Xiao Liu was taken to the Chenrong remnant army's camp for questioning, she kept her eyes shut to avoid learning the path to it, as having that knowledge could get her killed and being seen taking that information in could make her look like a spy (even more so than she already did). Xiang Liu notices and comments, “A very good set of ears is often more useful than a set of eyes.” which indicates that her closed eyes weren't doing anything to convince him that she was not a spy.
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(8) When she was questioned, Wen Xiao Liu insisted that she was a man (which Xiang Liu knew was a lie) named Wen Xiao Liu and refused to reveal her true identity, even after she admitted that she was not "only" Wen Xiao Liu. It makes sense that Xiao Yao would not reveal her true identity even when she was at risk of being killed, since she was the granddaughter of the King of Xiyan (the man who ruled Xiyan and started the war with Chenrong - who was basically the Chengrong remnant army's #1 enemy) and the daughter of the woman whose victory in battle resulted in Chenrong being conquered by Xiyan. But the fact that she refused to reveal her true identity to establish her innocence in such circumstances (i.e., when her life was on the line) was, once again, highly suspicious.
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(9) Given all the factors above, there were many reasons for Xiang Liu to suspect that Wen Xiao Liu was a spy or an assassin, and she failed to give him compelling proof of her innocence. The fact that an investigation confirmed that she had been living in QS town for 20 years was not convincing evidence that she wasn't a spy. Xiang Liu spent 400+ years maintaining his false identity as Fang Feng Bei while also being a soldier in the Chengrong remnant army for 300+ years and also being a killer-for-hire on the side, so he was well aware of how easily a demon or deity could maintain a false identity over a long period of time. Wen Xiao Liu sensed that Xiang Liu would not have the patience to continue investigating this issue, and that he would deal with such a suspicious person swiftly and decisively with an execution. Fearing for her life, Wen Xiao Liu intentionally taps her own vulnerability to try and convince Xiang Liu to spare her life.
>>>
Chapter 2:
"Xiang Liu stared at him and tapped his fingers. Xiao Liu started shaking - the primitive instinct of a living being in fear of death. Xiao Liu knew that Xiang Liu had no patience to figure out why he seemed suspicious and would use the most efficient and effective way to solve the problem, which was to the same fate as the [Fei Fei].
When the aura of death came hurtling over, Xiao Liu tumbled and tried to avoid it while saying, “My lord, I really am Wen Xiao Liu. Maybe I’m not ONLY Wen Xiao Liu, but I have no intention to harm the resistance army under General [Hong Jiang]. I don’t belong to the Kingdom of [Xiyan], or the Kingdom of [Haoling], and not to the Kingdom of [Chenrong]. I am just…”
Xiao Liu paused and thought, “Who am I?”
He raised his head and allowed his entire expression to be seen by Xiang Liu. “I am just someone who has been discarded. I have no ability to protect myself, I have no one to rely on, I have nowhere to go. So that is why I chose to be Wen Xiao Liu in Qing Shui Town. If my lord will allow it, I wish to be Wen Xiao Liu for the rest of my life.”"
>>>
Her genuine vulnerability pays off. Xiang Liu decides to let her live, *if* she agrees to work for him.
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(10) Xiang Liu offered her a lifeline and gave her a night to think about it. When Xiang Liu asked for her decision in the morning, Wen Xiao Liu was not respectful when she responded (she answered him "lazily") and tried to stall / avoid answering. Xiang Liu was not going to tolerate that kind of behavior from a suspected spy / assassin after he already offered her a lifeline and gave her a night to think about the offer, so he orders his men to give her 20 lashes. Remember that she is a high-class deity and her body is physically male at this point.
>>>
Chapter 2:
"Dawn arrived and Xiang Liu dressed and asked, “Have you decided?”
Xiao Liu lazily said, “Still thinking. I’m so thirsty, I want some water first.”
Xiang Liu laughed coldly and said, “Take him outside.”
Two soldiers dragged Xiao Liu out and Xiang Liu calmly said, “Whip him. Twenty lashes.”"
>>>
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(11) After the first 20 lashes, Wen Xiao Liu says she has three conditions. This seems like more stalling / impudence. So Xiang Liu orders 20 more lashes.
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(12) After the second round of 20 lashes, Wen Xiao Liu stops "acting a coward" and makes it clear that if Xiang Liu will not agree to her one condition, then she will not agree to work for him, even if he kills her. At that point, Xiang Liu listens to her condition and agrees to it. By dropping her coward act, Wen Xiao Liu confirmed that her previous behavior was for show (I say "confirmed" because it wasn't much of a revelation, and Xiang Liu seemed well aware that it was an act). But (as we saw with her moment of vulnerability the night before) honesty seems to be more effective with Xiang Liu.
>>>
Chapter 2:
"Xiang Liu coldly looked at him and asked, “Any more conditions?”
Xiao Liu was covered in sweat and his mouth was bleeding so he couldn’t say a full sentence. “You… can kill me, but I… still… have one condition.”
Xiang Liu smiled with a corner of his mouth and said, “Say it!”
“I….I won’t leave Qing Shui Town.” Xiao Liu understood that Xiang Liu was interested in his ability to make poison and as long as he didn’t leave Qing Shui Town then Xiang Liu couldn’t send him to kill the [Xiyan] generals and officers. Nor could he send him to kill [Haoling] nobles and royals. Xiang Liu seemed to understand Xiao Liu’s thinking and just stared at him without any expression.
Xiao Liu had been acting a coward this entire time but this time he didn’t back down and looked at Xiang Liu straight back. The meaning was clear: if Xiang Liu didn’t agree to this condition, then kill him now.
After a moment, Xiang Liu said, “Fine!”"
>>>
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(13) Next, they discuss the terms of the work that Wen Xiao Liu will do for Xiang Liu. Xiang Liu says that Wen Xiao Liu must make the poisons he requests, and (rather than just agreeing) Wen Xiao Liu has to point out that she might not be able to make anything and everything that he requests. Xiang Liu says that if she can't make a poison that he requests, she can pay for it with her body, which Wen Xiao Liu misinterprets as suggestive. So her comment back is also suggestive, and Xiang Liu takes this apparent insolence as Wen Xiao Liu being "slippery", like an eel trying to slip out of his grasp. So he steps on the wounds on her back to emphasize that he is in charge and that he won't tolerate that kind of behavior.
>>>
Chapter 2:
"When the medicine was applied and everyone left, Xiang Liu said to Xiao Liu, “Make whatever concoction I ask of you. All other times you can continue being your healer in Qing Shui Town. But when I summon you, you must obey immediately.”
“Fine, but it’s like not I will be able to make whatever my lord asks.”
“If you can’t, then you can exchange with your body.”
“Huh?” Xiao Liu never imagined Xiang Liu would like men and carefully said, “My lord is handsome beyond compare. It’s not that I don’t want to service you but…”
Xiang Liu smirked and lifted his foot and stepped on Xiao Liu’s wound slowly until blood started to seep out. “If you can’t make one, then use a part of your body in exchange. The first time, your ears. The second time, your nose…” Xiang Liu upped the pressure. “Don’t worry, I won’t cut off your hands. You need them to make the concoctions.”
Xiao Liu was in so much pain he writhed. “I….I understand.”
Xiang Liu pulled his foot back and wiped the blood away on Xiao Liu’s robe. “You are as slippery as an eel: one moment of not paying attention and all that is left is mud. But my personality, you should go ask around.”
Xiao Liu snarked, “I don’t need to ask around to figure it out.”"