Notable Actors/Actresses
Hou Ming Hao: Tian Yao
Zhou Ye: Yan Hui
Director:
Scriptwriter:
Jiu Lu Fei Xiang (Author), Wang Ruo Ke
Chinese Title
護心
護心
Protect the Heart
Recap Grade: A/B
First Impression: N/A
First Impression: N/A
Mini Recaps
[Ep1] Dun dun da-dunnn! Tian Yao's wedding! ...Is his funeral. They say weddings and funerals are alike because they both commemorate major milestones, and look at our Dragon Lord commemorating them on the same day! Su Ying stabs him in the heart – physically and emotionally. She never loved him. She only needed his body, especially his Heart Protecting Scale to save her true love. However, if Tian Yao dies, he won't let her win either. He rips the Scale from his chest and hurls it across the universe. It lands right inside a baby girl with a congenital heart defect. She's Yan Hui. Her mother gave her the name 雁回 so that she would be like a Goose (雁 Yan) flying to south and then returning (回 Hui) home. As for Tian Yao, without his Heart Protecting Scale, he's not a match against Su Ying. She doesn't kill him, but instead seals him and torments him forever. [A quote from Ep3:] She peeled his scales, gouged his heart, snapped his horns, ripped his tendons, fractured his bones, and imprisoned his soul. Scattering his dismembered parts [sealing them with the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water] across the world, tormenting him forever.
20 years later.
Yan Hui was adopted by her shifu, Ling Xiao, and now, she's banished by her shifu. Shifus. Always this → Let me punish you to protect you. Yan Hui is also a little different from the rest of the Xuanmen disciples. She still hasn't opened her Sea of Consciousness and she protects the "lowly" sprites.
Thesevenabsolutes of Qijue Hall:
1. Never have an outstanding balance.2. Never participate in overpriced transactions Because they determine the price.3. Never transfer false information. And never give useful information.4. Never let you focus on the end of an era (I dunno)5. Never let you be the first one to suffer. Doesn't mean you can't be the second one to suffer!6. Never let you be the last person to know the information. Therefore, there is no #7, lol. Only the boss knows that. Witty.
Yan Hui's goal is to catch a wanted snake sprite for the reward – not get caught. But she gets caught. Tian Yao ties her up in a hut, but hey, he's kind enough to feed her buns, (knowing it's) her favourite food. Meanwhile our hostage is quite entitled. She won't eat after him, and even bites the hand that's feeding her. However, for Tian Yao, the blood seeping from his thumb is nothing compared to Su Ying's searing betrayal.
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| Hou zi kinda imitating Yan Hui on his Weibo..? ^^ He replied to his fans that it's his cute chicken. |
[Ab alert!] Yan Hui catches Tian Yao showering in the yard. More than his abs (and scars), this was to show Tian Yao being economical by saving electricity logs. Who am I kidding? It's to show skin.
Why not tonight? Because it's the full moon. Arooo! Wait. Wrong animal noise. ...... But what does the dragon say? Nevermind. He → *Bites* Tian Yao is a savage dragon under the full moon. He bites Yan Hui's lips and her blood seems to ease his pain.
[Ep3] Y'all our Dragon doesn't just bite Yan Hui. He stabs! And he stabs twice! Right in the heart too. LMAO. Her "You doing it again?" made me chortle. I don't know whether the 2nd time was her fault or not, hahahaha. It's like Why can't you stand still and let him stab you?! xD. He needed her heart blood to break the seal on his Dragon Bones. While he's merging with his skeleton, our girl is swimming ashore for her life. Hahaha. Surprisingly, she can calmly listen to his heartbreaking story, and even sympathizes with him. She concludes the duel with Su Ying was fruitless. No one gained anything. Tian Yao disagrees, "It saved you."
Yan Hui says she's grateful, but after being bitten and stabbed and stabbed, their debt is cleared. Then she storms off. Where? To catch a chicken for Grandma. She remembers! Aw. But Grandma dies! T_T Awww. Sad, but I do love how our MCs bonded because of grandma. They're all so kind. Tian Yao and Yan Hui mourn and drink together. They bond even more. Inebriated, she promises to accompany him on his journey to recover his parts. I like this idea that she's making him whole metaphorically and physically. But that was all drunk talk. The moment she's sober, she runs away. Tian Yao is right on her heels though, and simultaneously in her face.
Yan Hui argues with him: When you need to unlock a seal, you stab me. When you need to unlock another seal, you stab me again. Not many can withstand all that!
Also in this episode: Su Ying finds her lover, Lu Mu Sheng, but it seems he's amnesiac, and presently married to the Nine Tailed Fox (Yun Xi).
[Ep4] Yan Hui successfully shakes off our silently clingy dragon, but when Tian Yao encounters danger, guess who's back! Yan Hui~ Love the awesome BGM, and that was a fun fight choreo. But she really didn't want to be back. Who told her to have a 良心 = good/moral heart. She meant that his Heart Protecting Scale was acting up in her heart. Show keeps making fun of our FL's conscience when there's no one purer than her ^^".
Tian Yao and Yan Hui hide in the water from their predators. He's injured and falls unconscious. Yan Hui slits her hand because she knows she's his blood bank her blood can heal him. When he regains consciousness, she's losing it, and so he gives her oxygen mouth-to-mouth. It is the law that lips turn magnetic under water. We just cannot escape an underwater kiss. However, I do like it that her first method to save him wasn't mouth-to-mouth.
As they escape on land, the beast latches onto Yan Hui's ankle. Tian Yao shouts, "Cut off your foot! Hurry!" LOL. Dragon boi, not everyone is like you ready to cut a part of yourself. With Yan Hui's foot intact, they chant a spell to defeat the Beast whose real form is actually quite harmless, as well as cute and ugly at the same time, lol I dunno.
Yan Hui is about to rip the sickle from her leg. Tian Yao stops her. "Do you want to rip your flesh off too?" Boi. Tell me who was it that told her to cut off her foot? xD We're caring about flesh now? Then she rips his robe for her bandage. He tuts her for not warning him first. She mutters that he's done way more (and way worse) things to her without permission. So true! LOL. She's even skeptical about him piggybacking her and warns him that if he dares to drop her, he's dead (dragon) meat.
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| Our Koi Fish has very soft cheeks |
[Ep5] Meanwhile Tian Yao is hanging out with these hotties (where leashes are involved):
It's because Qijue Hall has a "No Pets Familiars Allowed" rule. And there are even hidden fees! Yan Hui has to pay to unleash Tian Yao. I really love how protective Yan Hui is of Tian Yao and it's not exactly romantic. He's her team, her equal.
Clearly influenced, Yan Hui confesses, but Tian Yao rejects her. It's his problem. Not hers. Really. Su Ying left a scar too deep in our Dragon, and he knows that to her, his existence is nothing more than a mere fly. Yan Hui motivates our dragon despite being rejected moments ago. She believes he will become a dragon, admired by all. I love the piano BGM here. He's comforted, and smiles. *Tingles* But then he affectionately mutters, "真笨 (zhen bun; stupid)".
Xian Ge and Feng Qian Shuo are mutually in love, but their beliefs are different. To put it bluntly, he's racist and she's not.
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| How do we go from pixies to THIS |
There's no better sister than Xian Ge. She lends Yan Hui money when she needs it, but we're still missing 80%. Tian Yao is like Yan Hui will need to make four more true sisters. Pft. Gambling seems to be easier option compared to making true friends for Yan Hui. Plus who would lose 20 000 gold nuggets in one day? Her. She bet all her remaining money on a cricket named "Big Fu (福 = fortune)". It's a Big Loss. She blames it on Ah Fu, our Koi Fish Tian Yao.
Yan Hui, our blood-blank, needs a money-bank, and look who we have here: Guang Peng Yuan, a man with lots of assets in his bank and on his body. He's infatuated with Yan Hui and he's happy to share his wealth like his Horse (It's called a BMW (伯馬 → 寶馬)) and his Turtle (a Lamborghini (绿博基尼 → lanbojini)). Just when Yan Hui is about to gladly sell herself to him, Tian Yao pulls her wrist. *Insert K-drama-like OST* Romance! No. Tian Yao has no romantic feelings for Yan Hui. He empathizes with his bro being manipulated by a woman with ulterior motives. Hahaha. I was rolling my eyes at the BGM until I realized Show did it on purpose to make fun of the wrist-pull-romantic trope. But there isn't much to empathize with Guan Peng Yuan. He resorts to a love potion to make her fall in love with him. All he has to do is to be the first person to touch her. Despite being right in front of her, he still misses somehow. Tian Yao beats him to her and now she's head over heels for our Dragon Lord.
[Ep6] In the eyes of Yan Hui (representing all of us):
Xian Ge and Feng Qian Shuo are mutually in love, but their beliefs are different. To put it bluntly, he's racist and she's not.
Yan Hui gets her answer from Qijue Hall. A powerful force can cure her heart. No duh. And what's more powerful than the dragon? Our smart goose spent 100 000 gold nuggets on an answer she knew from the very beginning. Hey, at least she becomes their number one customer for spending 120 088 gold nuggets! Confetti! But wait. If 20 000 is included in there, this means the casino was theirs too. This place is a scam through and through, lol.
An entitled Bai Xiao Sheng randomly demands Yan Hui to leave Tian Yao for him.
Yan Hui (very seriously): 我離不開他 我試過了，我做不到! I can’t leave him. I tried. I can’t do it! LOL.
What Bai Xiao Sheng really wants is true love between two races. To Yan Hui's response, he's thrilled. He has found a genuinely fake couple!
[Ep7] Feng Qian Shuo wakes up and rejects the help from a lowly familiar like Tian Yao. Yan Hui sneers, "You woke up sure in time! [Tian Yao] just finished saving you." Pft. And it turns out he's the boss of Qijue Hall. For saving him, he gives Tian Yao and Yan Hui tickets to enter the Arena (where Tian Yao's horns are).
Yan Hui still can't control her horny heart and her nose-bleeding. She had ordered Tian Yao to cover his face with his silky sleeve, but that was even more lethal.
The Lamborghini guy gives Yan Hui the antidote. She's relieved her heart is no longer racing uncontrollably, but now Bai Xiao Sheng is livid for mistrusting our couple. Shadow, that's your fault?
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| I love how protective she is. |
Bai Xiao Sheng gives them one more chance when he sees them selflessly protecting each other. The shadow fight was fun! Yan Hui and Tian Yao continue their original mission, but first, Yan Hui hops back inside to retrieve her shoe (which she had thrown at the candle). What good memory! Why is she so logical! I'm not used to this, hahaha.
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| (✿˵•́ ૩•̀˵)৴♡* |
Unbeknownst to our couple, the tournament is a deadly one. I've never seen Hou Ming Hao this handsome. 😍 The tournament is awesome too. It's like she's playing a VR game with a console, and she's a noob controlling the most powerful video game character.
[Ep8] Tian Yao and Yan Hui defeat their opponent, except our Long ge ain't very happy being beaten up like that, though. Hehehe.
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| Our gentle dragon is mad! xD |
Yan Hui and Tian Yao locate the Dragon Horns, but to enter, they'll need more than just Yan Hui's puny fists. Tian Yao teaches her his incantation. He expects her to blast the door apart, and instinctively protects her with his body, but her blast was more like a burp. Their last choice is to open her Sea of Consciousness, but he's afraid his Scale will hurt her. She's like Shut up, just do it. Love her. And now she burns down the building. Love her more! LOL. And he looks so proud of her! Not burning down the building part, but how powerful she became. Men, this is how you empower your wifeys. Learn! I also like that instead of looking around for his horns after the explosion, he was checking if she's okay.
Ok, now we finally locate the Horns, but Su Ying is guarding it. Instead of moving her body, she summons her soul to attack them because she's busy cultivating an anti-amnesiac pill. She really is so cruel, using all his parts to do whatever she wants. Bai Xiao Sheng saves them, but even with the three of them, they're still not a match against her airy soul! Just how powerful is Su Ying? I kinda admire her. Only her powers tho. They escape, but Su Ying quarantines the entire city with a magical shield enforced by the Horns. No one can enter or exit. She's determined to capture Tian Yao and his Heart Protecting Scale.
[Ep9] Not our Yan Hui falling in love with Tian Yao ~ She's flustered by his proximity (without the pink bubbly shimmering filter, heh).
Bai Xiao Sheng makes his rounds on our genuinely fake couple so that "Yao Yao / Ah Long" (love his new nicknames) and Yan Hui will make babies ("under one blanket, and in the same bed!"). Lol, for this scene, HMH had no idea he had to strip. He looked so helplessly cute every time the director and Yan Hui took turns ripping his clothes apart. Oh, and it's also refreshing how they're not fighting for the bed.
Once Yan Hui falls asleep, Tian Yao helps her upgrade her Sea of Consciousness. The warmth makes her dream of her favourite buns. But then she's also dreaming of Tian Yao~~ Our Dragon Lord is second to her buns! Hurrah! xD
Bai Xiao Sheng pops in again and is overjoyed that Yan Hui and Tian Yao are practically superglued. It must be so comfortable lying on our Ah Long's lap that she forgets to get up until he tells her he's numb. Yan Hui quickly rises, but she's curious. Dragon legs can be numb too?
Tian Yao: 偶爾 (Ǒu'ěr). Occasionally. Hehe. What a cute response and what a cute episode. I almost forget they're imprisoned.
[Ep10] Feng Qian Shuo owns an overpowering device that knows all answers. It's called "Huawei" because his mother didn’t like the sound of "Ai Feng" (iPhone). Now this is propaganda I don't mind. Witty, lol.
Yan Hui is startled by Bai Xiao Sheng's unannounced entrance. She's like "Can you knock the door before entering?" And he's like "Your door…can I knock even?" Anyway, he's here to offer help, but Tian Yao doesn't trust him. Upset, Bai Xiao Sheng points at them both, calling them ingrates (白眼狼 bai yuan lang):
白眼龍 Bai Yan Long (= Ungrateful dragon = Tian Yao)白眼人 Bai Yan Ren (= Ungrateful human = Yan Hui)白曉生 Bai Xiao Sheng"Turns out we're all Bai!"
Yan Hui trusts Bai Xiao Sheng, though. Tian Yao angrily lectures her that one of these days she will suffer the consequences of believing someone too much. Oh man. He foreshadowed it. [This is from my Ep16 knowledge.]
Yan Hui: I can believe you, but I can’t believe someone else? I can let you lie to me, but I can’t let others lie to me? <3. She's so logical.
Su Ying has frozen the ground, forcing our team out of their lair. To conquer, our couple split up. Yan Hui will free his horns.
Yan Hui: This battle, even if I have to bet my life on the line, I will win it for you.
Meanwhile it's a showdown between Tian Yao and his ex!
[Ep11] Feng Qian Shuo avenges his parents by killing his uncle. He did it with the help of the Phoenix inside his Huawei. Feng Qian Shuo also resolves his hatred for sprites because this whole time, he misunderstood they killed his parents. Now that the Phoenix has completed his duty, he shall visit Father Feng in the underworld. Loyal! But I think your life is precious too, Phoenix....
Yan Hui never needed Bai Xiao Sheng's help with "Toady". Tian Yao had already taught her that Toady likes gold, but she does need a boost in her Sea of Consciousness to unseal the Horns. Bai Xiao Sheng can lend her energy. She's warned that it's dangerous, but she is willing to risk her life for Tian Yao. She's so brave :')
Yan Hui retrieves the horn, which dissolves the barrier (because it was made with the horn). Loving the drama's details and consistency. Yan Hui also satisfying elbows Su Ying in the face for kidnapping Tian Yao. But that's the only moment she's caught off guard. Well, except when Lu Mu Sheng's the hostage! Back at you, lady! And when the hostage is this cooperative with the enemy, it's looking very sad for you, Su Ying. He volunteered to be a hostage, and when he's free, he would rather be dead. Your taste in men, Su Ying, lol.
Meanwhile on our side, everyone's risking their lives to protect Tian Yao as he's fusing with his Horns. Yan Hui, who's already exhausted, gives him a little boost. The fusion is complete! He transforms into a dragon and takes everyone to safety, but only Yan Hui gets to sit on his head. Then they both pass out from fatigue. Their hands, though, remain stuck together. Aw. When Tian Yao wakes up first, he notices he's still holding hands with her ~ He just met Su Ying again, but look, he's not even thinking about her anymore ~
But why these horns! I agree with the mass. Long ge! Your horns aren't cool! They do look like green onions. Hahaha. Oh but HMH had pointed out that his green onion horns changed to that brown colour because Long ge is shy. But I don't think that makes it less un-cool, LOL. And my boi dragon! The floor is not where you should be after retrieving your horns xD. He's beaten by Yan Hui who's Sea of Consciousness has deviated because she absorbed Bai Xiao Sheng's forbidden powers.
Hou Ming Hao's Q&A with his fans:
Fan: Ah Long, didn’t you save a group of people with you in the end? Why did I only see Yan Hui riding on you? Is it only your wife who can ride you?HMH: Tian Yao's double standard can no longer be hidden…Fan: This dragon horn looks like a vegetable ah. Who understands this pain of mine! Dragon Lord, your Horns aren’t cool.HMH: Dad Jokes: Tian Yao is green-skinned (dragon)Fan: Ah Long’s horn. Why do they look like green onions (cong)?HMH: The dragon horn represents his “青蔥歲月green (onion) years”. [Pun with " 青春歲月 youthful years"]Fan: Why is TY still so weak after finding the dragon horn? And he’s beaten up by the FL. That’s so miserable! When can he level up?HMH: Official Response: Being beaten by the FL is willingness ≠ weak
[Ep12] Yan Hui has gone rabid. And our Tian Yao is with her every (manic) step of the way. If she needs a hand to bite, he'll silently endure her sinking teeth in his skin. Awww. If her senses are hyper-stimulated, he'll gently cover her eyes and softly whisper by her ear. She's burning up and we're all melting ~~ Yao Yao, you're so tender!!! <3
Feng Qian Shuo's Huawei is calling in sick (= updating) as it's unable to scan Yan Hui's condition. LOL. They try to satisfy Yan Hui's burning desires instead. She only has one: 自由自在，飛黃騰達! Free, and rich! Feng Qian Shuo fails at that too. Guy's poor. But he's no longer racist! Which means he can date Xian Ge now.
Yan Hui's madness is driving herself insane, but Tian Yao still hasn't left her side. While she's chopping logs to dispense her excess energy, he's sharpening her axes silently. New goal: every girl needs a man who will sharpen her axes when she's raging! Then she's crying over a fallen leaf. Later they realize fire can ease Yan Hui's erratic heart, but as the hours go by, the fire that she needs for internal peace far exceeds what our dragon can produce. Our poor dragon was made to be greater than a furnace! This cannot go on and finally, Tian Yao learns the source of her insanity is the contradicting forces in her body. He's angry that she lied to him (his trauma), but understands she meant well for him. He apologizes with her favourite buns.
Tian Yao also has the solution, but he'll need his Chiyan Sword, which can slay the dark energy in Yan Hui's Sea of Consciousness. He'll need to depart for a few days, but leaves Yan Hui a smart-watch. She just needs to tap three times, and it'll connect to his antenna onions horns. They test it out and he answers with “我在” (I'm here). Such an AI reply, hahaha. His horns are blushing too! What sensitive dragon parts ~
Bai Xiao Sheng babysits our rabid Yan Hui. He's suffering at her teeth and phones Tian Yao for help. The second his voice comes through, our girl is purring. The partial treatment, hahaha.
Zi Chen (Yan Hui's shixiong) has arrived to take her back. Tian Yao stops in his tracks.
Tian Yao: Don't go back. OuuYan Hui (purring): Yes, I don't want to go back.Tian Yao: Wait for me.Yan Hui : Mm!Bai Xiao Sheng sips his tea.
But Zi Chen won't stop nagging, and so Bai Xiao Sheng smacks him in the head. Finally, there's peace and quiet!
Fan: Ge, seeing the preview for Ep11, TY’s eyes when he’s feeling sorry for his wifey and afraid that his wifey is hurt, really, that’s tormenting [me].HMH: Long ge at that moment was also at a complete loss. He was worried and he was afraid that the dragon fire would hurt her and so he was extra gentle and cautious.Fan; At this stage, Tian Yao likes Yan Hui, right? It's just that he doesn't dare to admit it?
HMH: Tian Yao is the person who understands Yan Hui best, but he however does not understand himself. His emotion/love for Yan Hui was unknowingly planted in his heart like a seed. He avoids it (love) because of the missions he carries on his shoulder; he can’t help but protect her because he really cares about her.
[Ep13] Bai Xiao Sheng gives Yan Hui a death threat if she ever cheats on Tian Yao. He's harder on Yan Hui than us audiences are, lol.
Zi Chen's nagging continues. He's smacked in the head again by Yan Hui who had just (hideously) bandaged his head.
Yan Hui also smacks herself to sleep because she keeps thinking about Tian Yao. Hahaha. Bai Xiao Sheng shakes his head at her lengths to go to sleep, haha.
Tian Yao warns Bai Xiao Sheng from hurting Zi Chen because more than his jealousy, Tian Yao cares about Yan Hui's feelings. But Bai Xiao Sheng is naughty. He kidnaps Zi Chen, except no one expected that they'd all be swallowed into a fantasy realm. In there, Yan Hui meets Huan Xiao Yan who's the queen of funeral rites, and Bai Xiao Sheng plays a creepy game of hide and seek with his mother.
When Bai Xiao Sheng was a child, he was abandoned by his mother. He counted to a 100, countless 100s, but his mother never came back to look for him. But this time, Yan Hui finds him. Bai Xiao Sheng snaps out of the hypnosis. Is that love in his eyes? For our Yan Hui??? But he's the leader of our CP!
Swarms of demonic aura strike our team. Zi Chen arrives but he's knocked unconscious again. Geez. He can't stay standing for too long, can he? Tian Yao sweeps in to save Yan Hui. Immediately after dealing with the enemy, he enters Yan Hui's Sea of Consciousness to clear her demonic aura. Exhausted and spent, Tian Yao faints. Other dramas would have the leads say a bunch of romantic lines before he faints, but I think this way is more effective. Our Dragon Lord used up every bit of energy to get back in time :')
[Ep14] The moment Tian Yao is awake, he and Yan Hui are more concerned about each other's health than their own. Aw. Then he asks her about Bai Xiao Sheng. He ran away. What about Zi Chen? He walked away (i.e. he left). What about his sword? It flew away. LOL. What about the spell in that forest? Ah! The ring knows! Hahaha. If we didn't know better, Yan Hui sounds kinda crazy right now. Flying words and talking rings, LOL.
Tian Yao takes Yan Hui to the Dragon Valley. His home! He's taking her home! For business, though. He needs to convince his tooth (sword) to help him. Yan Hui is very amused. She keeps peeking at his mouth, making him smile. He's crazy too, persuading a tooth, haha.
Tian Yao realizes it was Yan Hui who released his soul from the tree. Simultaneously, it was his Heart Protecting Scale that safeguarded her as a child. He saved her life and she saved his soul. Aw.. How could he ever repay her? Very seriously, she jokes that it's impossible to separate their debt and gratitude anymore, but as long as he pays what she's due, she's a happy gal. Our Dragon Lord is even more serious:
Tian Yao: If in my life there are days of peace, all my wealth will just be a pocket of yours. [In ep22, this comes true! So true. Awwww.]Yan Hui: The woman who possesses all your wealth can only be your wife though. So be it!
At the Dragon Valley, little pixie orphans guard the entrance. Tian Yao is reminded of how their parents sacrificed to save him. It's worse when tonight is the full moon. He had forgotten all about it until Yan Hui reminded him. He suffers the physical pain, and the emotional heartbreak. The little pixies wouldn't be orphans had it not been for him. He wants Yan Hui to leave him alone. He doesn't want her to see how ugly (and weak) he is. Hou Ming Hao had said this was his saddest moment in the show. [I want to say that his saddest moment will not be our saddest moment... There's so much more to cry about later on!!!].
Yan Hui comforts Tian Yao that the one who's ugly isn't him, but the human heart that hurt him. She hasn't left his side the whole night. When he wakes up, he's sleeping on Yan Hui's lap. As quickly as he's touched, his heart clenches up in pain at the memory of Su Ying. He retreats from her, but Yan Hui easily catches up (via her slide, sliding right into his heart).
Yan Hui brews medicine for Tian Yao's hand because his disobedient teeth injured (bit?) him. I kinda wanna see Yan Hui wield it. She fits the criteria for a pure heart and she has his heart protecting scale. I think there's a high chance his tooth will listen to her. Ya? From collecting herbs, she has leaf stuck in her. She yanks at her tangles. Tian Yao can't bear to see her hurt her own hair (awww!) and combs it for her. Without thinking it through, she tells him that the only man who can comb a woman's hair is her husband. All this married talk is traumatizing our Ah Long! But there is a clear difference between the two times she mentionned husband. At the tree, he was awkward. His hasn't realized he fell in love. Now he's anguished. He knows it that he's in love with her.
Meanwhile our Yan Hui acknowledges her feelings for Tian Yao. She's in love and she will confess, but she needs to prepare herself unlike last time. She studies everything he loves by asking the subject himself. He wants to apologize for his behaviour last night, but she's like it's fine! I love how chill she is. She has more important matters anyway like jotting down everything he loves. He says he likes dew (only because she forced an answer from him), and his favourite colour is whatever, but she thinks it's black because he likes wearing dark clothes.
The pixie kids are cute and perfect Bai-Xiao-Sheng substitutes until they ban Yan Hui because she's in love with Tian Yao.
The pixie kids finally realize Tian Yao is their lord. They're crying in tears of joy. Then at night they're having a slumber party.
After being tormented by the Demonic Lord, Bai Xiao Sheng returns. He's just in time to help Yan Hui pursue Tian Yao, but now Bai Xiao Sheng is in love with her too! Huan Xiao Yan is recruited too, but she doesn't know how to help because she has only ever prepared for funerals. Bai Xiao Sheng mumbles that weddings and funerals are the same for him, lol. Both commemorating major milestones! But it is the same for him. He saw hope, then it was dead. Why is our #1 CP Fan betraying us like this tho! Yan Hui is like Must we really prepare a wedding like a funeral. That will trigger Tian Yao's PTSD. Hahaha. Yan Hui has also bro-zoned Bai Xiao Sheng.
Tian Yao misunderstands that Yan Hui and Bai Xiao Sheng are affectionate with each other. He stews in jealousy and takes it out on his own tooth. He refuses to watch the play they're preparing, but when it’s right in front of your house…. Lol. During the show, Yan Hui brilliantly makes the kid defend their Dragon Lord. It was never his fault for falling in love Aw! Also, Tian Yao's name in the play is Bei Guo 北郭 which sounds like 貝果 = Bagel. It's not wrong that HMH is a bagel boy. Handsome pretty boy face with a hot body. :)
Yan Hui confesses her love for Tian Yao! But he's hesitant.
Tian Yao: You crossed my boundary.Yan Hui: I know, but the line you drew, I must cross over.Tian Yao: My past has nothing to do with you.Yan Hui: Your present has to do with me.Tian Yao: I am punishing myself. What does that have to do with you?Yan Hui: [Because] My heart hurts.
She hugs him! Go Yan Hui!
[Ep16] Tian Yao not only rejects Yan Hui's heart, and her hand heart, but he also stabs her heart! 啊龍, 我知道你是聾(龍)，但你不是啞! You heartless dragon hurting my girl's heart in every way possible. It's because he needs his Heart Protection Scale to save the kids who are kidnapped by Su Ying. I get it. It's urgent. And the fact that Su Ying returned to destroy his life again is destroying him on the inside, which he barely has anyway! But doesn't our lovely Yan Hui deserve just one sentence? Like, if you're going to stab my heart, tell me first please. Lol. But hey, he did give her a mysterious bright charm from a constellation in his Sea of Consciousness. Will that protect her?
[Ep17] It's the long awaited duel between Tian Yao and Su Ying! And she just dies. That's lame. Su Ying is frozen and news of her death circulates. There's one disciple (Ling Fei? Can't remember her name) who looks unsurprised and emotionless. Meanwhile the kids are safe, except for that one girl... With no time to spare, Tian Yao returns to save Yan Hui, but she's gone!
Bai Xiao Sheng is making everything worse when he takes Yan Hui to his master (Fu Yin) so that he can save her with his Demonic Aura. He agrees to save her because of her mutual love with Tian Yao, which will enable him to find his Hell-Note. Hey Yin Yin, I'm angry enough that I can write you a Hell-Note. But my anger dissolves into roaring laughter when she slaps him LOL. She slapped him in combos. Double Kill! Triple Kill! Overkill! Killtacular! Hahahaha. Nevermind how pathetic the master looked, he still has power over Yan Hui and he wants her to steal the Heart Protecting Scale from Tian Yao within three months.
Ling Xiao descends from his mountain to save Yan Hui. Yes Shifu. Wait until she's in danger then save her. But then he's defeated in a blink of an eye by Chen Yi / Chang Lan and is sealed in a tomb. Is this it from top gun #1 and top gun #2 of Xuanmen sect?! And you guys look down on others?!
Yan Hui has no intentions to take revenge on Tian Yao. Aw. It's not worth it. She will find another way to survive. She's a beautiful soul. I love her. It's interesting that her decision is so different from Tian Yao's when they experienced heart-stabbing betrayals. But it's also very different. Tian Yao was never as cruel as Su Ying. Ever.
[Ep18] Tian Yao finds Yan Hui! (Because of the Heart Protecting Scale.) But she fears him. She even hallucinates him smirking while attacking her. But Yan Hui, who was the one sharpening your knives when you went crazy! And who is it now chopping bamboo for you to get across the ocean without being asked. Ok, but I would also have difficulty forgiving him too, lol. However is Yan Hui actually scared of him or is it Fu Yin's dark energy controlling her to hate Tian Yao?
Yan Hui even betrays Tian Yao as the Dragon Lord in front of Ling Fei (Xuanmen shijie). He instantly understood she wanted to use him so that she could flee. He willingly steps up to be her shield. Aw. He also saves her from a blue hole. He does everything but speak. 急死我了. He's not anxious, I'm anxious! When Huan Xiao Yan finally speaks for our Dragon Lord (and it still took ages to get to the main point), it turns out Yan Hui was already aware there must have been a reason he had to take back his Heart Protecting Scale. Now that she learns it she hesitates if she should forgive him, but the problem is she can't even face Tian Yao anymore without fearing for her life. :(
Zhu Li leads our team towards the Nine Tailed Fox Kingdom. He's the lord's son. He also makes fun of our Dragon-Lord, thinking he's called Dragon-Cooked.
And I'm so sick of Bai Xiao Sheng taking credit for everything Tian Yao did for Yan Hui.
[Ep19] Xue Lin's (Zhu Li's mother) compass vacuums Bai Xiao Sheng! Justice is served! But it also sucks in Yan Hui and Tian Yao. The compass only absorbs demonic auras, and it was because Bai Xiao Sheng used his dark powers to incite Yan Hui into stealing the Heart Protecting Scale, which our girl has told him time and time again that she doesn't want!! Eventually, Bai Xiao Sheng finally understands that retrieving the scale for Fu Yin might not save Yan Hui anyway.
Other than the forced three-way mediation in pitch darkness, the compass might be related to the Hell-Note. Also who was it that Xue Lin sealed and how is Fu Yin related?
Bai Xiao Sheng asks who among the throuple should disappear. YOU. Tian Yao leaves without a word. It's his promise to Yan Hui. After he saves her from Fu Yin, they'll never meet again. Tian Yao's promissory note:
江湖不復見黃泉不相逢To never meet again in Jianghu. Just don't separate.To never reunite in the underworld. And don't die.
[Ep20] Chang Lan is Zhu Li's uncle and Tian Yao's friend. I don't know if it's because of his blind-acting that he looks suspicious or he just looks suspicious (e.g. when TY asks for the Hell Poem).
Yan Hui and Bai Xiao Sheng are the fools trying to fool Yan Bu Huo (the true-love examiner in the folding screen). They fail at the your-mother-and-your-girlfriend-fall-in-the-water-who-will-you-save-first type of question. Bai Xiao Sheng chose lover, and Yan Hui chose family. She was just betrayed by love, of course she's choosing family. But if she had a few more brain cells, she should have chosen lover because this is a love test after all. (I still love her +/- brain cells).
Tian Yao continues his SILENT compensation. Since Yan Hui won't see him, he teaches Bai Xiao Sheng how to gain Yan Hui's affection to pass the love test. For example, he reveals that Yan Hui loves watching people bathe, and so Bai Xiao Sheng, who's creepily excited, slowly strips in front of her. *Kick!* She shoves the pervert into the water. Oh, he didn't drown.
Bai Xiao Sheng is convinced that Tian Yao is messing with him. Tian Yao is confused too. She liked it when he was bathing. He innocently wonders what went wrong. LOL. Double blow. But honestly, I'm not having a lot of fun here watching Bai Xiao Sheng even if it's to show that Yan Hui will never love him.
[Ep21] After a confrontation between General Zhao Yu and Zhu Li, the compass is broken in half. Then the folding screen flickers. The VR matchmaking-game is disappearing. Allow me to translate. The folding screen is a monitor. The compass is the modem. Game is disconnecting because there's no wifi. Despite facing extinction, Yan Bu Huo still won't let our throuple through without answering this question: "If the other two are together, what would you do?" This question is a little awkward for Yan Hui, lol. The correct answer is neither to leave (Yan Hui's) nor to separate them (Bai Xiao Sheng's), but to wish them the best (Tian Yao's). I guess to Yan Bu Huo if you love that person, you want them happy with whoever they want to be with. They fail. However, there's no time to waste when we're losing valuable wifi, and so Tian Yao summons his "Tooth" to eliminate Yan Bu Huo. Level passed!
Our throuple is separated in the new map. They meet the same NPC though, who informs them of a dead end ahead and their partners have deserted. If they don't turn back now, they will be abandoned and die in this abyss. Tian Yao doesn't believe in the NPC because Yan Hui would never turn back. Then he's told that Yan Hui is unworthy of his trust.
Tian Yao: 我疑心天下 但唯獨我信她. I doubt / My heart doubts this world. Only her, I believe in.
Our Yan Hui doesn't have deep thoughts like the boys because she has no other choice but to go forward. She either dies here or dies out there. She even chats up the NPC, thinking she's Lin Xue. I love how NPC our NPC is. She only has automated responses and is confused by YH's unrelated questions xD. As for Bai Xiao Sheng, he fails. Game over, noob! Yan Bu Huo (who was kicked out by our dragon in the first level) tuts at him for being the extra one.
On the third map, Tian Yao and Yan Hui witness each other killing their loved ones. Fortunately, they notice discrepancies from their reality. This is another test, but what is the answer? Tian Yao chooses to stop "Yan Hui's" killing spree by letting her stab his heart.
Tian Yao: It was I who forsake you. The consequences, let me suffer them.
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| Xianxia is the extremist of romance. Stabbing and then kissing. These sick people. |
Yan Hui chooses to embrace "Tian Yao's" vice.
Yan Hui: Tian Yao, no matter what, I'll face everything together with you.
As Yan Hui completes her level, she wonders about Tian Yao's choice. No need. He's already there waiting for her. The answer can't be more obvious. They both overcame their deepest fear at this level. For Tian Yao, he was traumatized by Su Ying, but he let Yan Hui stab him. For Yan Hui, she's traumatized by Tian Yao, but she hugged him in the midst of his killing spree. They know their hearts' answers. One just has to act on it and the other just has to say something, anything...............
Xue Lin NPC congratulates the winners with the Hell Poem as reward. She hopes that they can use the Poem to accomplish what she and Chen Yi failed at. Oh and we get the instructions revealed at the very end...... There were actually four levels. The first hidden level was embracing equality and that was demonstrated by their partnership (between a human and a sprite). The second level was showing mercy and compassion (= having someone/anyone in your heart, and not necessarily loving someone with your heart). Our examiner is incompetent or he's just a love junkie, LOL. Tian Yao passed because he was merciful towards Yan Bu Huo by not killing him, looool ok. The third level is unwavering trust. The fourth level is sacrifice: will you choose to save the world or one person? Xue Lin's correct answer is "one person" because if you can't save one person, how can you save the world? The LBFAD problem all over again. I'm glad it's condensed in one level. Also, I like Yan Hui's interpretation of this level too: it's about love and longing. It's why she saved Tian Yao.
Although Yan Hui no longer fears Tian Yao, their fate has been exhausted. This will be their end. Tian Yao, almost in tears, asks if her words at the Dragon Valley still count.
Yan Hui had said this: I'll lend you a heart [hers]. Then I'll find your real heart for you.
He'll be on his own to search for his heart, she says. She wishes him luck and to be freed from hate. Then she burns his promissory note.
Tian Yao: Then will you give me your heart once more?Yan Hui: I did. And dragon boi, you stabbed it. Lol. Sorry. I could not hold back.
[Ep22] When Tian Yao and Yan Hui are asked how they succeeded, she looks hesitant, and he's touching his lip. Lol! If we didn't know better and just saw this, it would've looked like YH took advantage of TY. Anyway, as much as Tian Yao wants to give Yan Hui the Hell Poem, our Dragon Lord doesn't have a say! Yan Bu Huo won't allow a Xuanmen disciple to own all of the Hell Poem. They have to marry in order for Yan Bu Huo to teach them the poem that's meant to be trained by two people anyway.
The moment Yan Bu Huo sees daylight, he announces the marriage to the world and that Tian Yao and Yan Hui are the inheritors of Hell Poem. Aren't inheritors safer when their identities are unknown?? Yan Hui wants to beat him up but Tian Yao holds her back, lol. Then when Bai Xiao Sheng wants to beat him up, Yan Hui and Tian Yao hold him back, haha. Finally, even "gentle" Chang Lan wants to beat him up, but he's repressing it. I totally see it. Yan Bu Huo is utterly disparaging towards Chang Lan because he is the unlucky twin. In their kingdom, if a pair of twins are born, the younger one is made blind and imprisoned forever. It is Chen Yi's mercy that Chang Lan is free.
The only guy who might like Yan Bu Huo is Tian Yao. Because. Marriage! Tian Yao agrees ~
Yan Hui: Marrying? What marrying? Don't you have a marriage-phobia?Tian Yao: Depends on the person.
Yan Hui, for the sake of her life, has no choice but to agree. Plus, methinks she can't refuse Tian Yao's cute eyes! Outside, the guards overhear about Yan Hui's unwillingness. They're like "As the saying goes, as long as the hoe is swung well, no wall can't be dug out. Let alone our Dragon Lord is a golden hoe! Pft.
Bai Xiao Sheng visits Chen Yi / Chang Lang in his lair. Apparently it was him who disconnected the wifi, which means General Zhao is working for him. I don't know if both twins are alive or one is pretending to be the other. If Chen Yi is still alive (of if he's fine), he wouldn't allow General Zhao to break the compass, and therefore the connection to the folding screen.
Yan Hui wants the marriage over as soon as possible. She forces our Dragon Lord into two hasty marriage bows. He's already smiling! Aw. But Yan Bu Huo wants everything slow and steady. There are formalities – six of them to be exact: 1) Meet, 2) Propose, 3) Present betrothal gift, 4) Wash impurities, 5) Invite guests, and 6) Celebrate at the ceremony. Exhausted, Yan Huis pleads, Can we please skip over the (1) "looking" and (2)"asking. Then she demands for a copper coin to check off #3. He gives her a gold nugget. She likes it! And he noticed ~ Onto #4: washing impurities. This means to bathe in a cold spring together. Ou. Seven days. Hahaha. Fine, make it three. Yan Bu Huo gives in since she's dying. Considerate of him, eh.
Our dragon is serious about the marriage and redoes the betrothal gifts. He instantly prepares chests and chests and chests of gold because there's nothing a dragon can't do except speak of course. He's only limited by the magical pouch to carry the gold. But Yan Hui rejects the little pouch! Girl, you wouldn't be rejecting it once you see what's inside! It's your dream come true: 自由自在，飛黃騰達 Free and rich! .
In the cold springs, Yan Hui swims around to warm herself, but actually it was Tian Yao, who half-transforms into a dragon to warm the water. Then she scores a warm spot to land on. Tian Yao blushes from afar. That's actually Tian Yao's scaly tail! AHHHH! Her naked feed is touching his faked feet. Skinship! I'm squealing. LMAO. Tian Yao quickly hides his blushing horns and lets her rest on him silently. Hou Ming Hao had said on a live stream that his horns were blushing in Ep11, but really, can people see anything beyond the green onions?? But we see it now, Hou Ming Hao! The green onions are blushing xD. Yan Hui's black spider lilies are healing too.
Spa's over, but Tian Yao is still dipping because legs are numb! HAHAHAHAHA. He'll be "frequently" numb now. HMH even comments on this.
Bai Xiao Sang wants to know what our engaged couple has been up to. Yan Hui says it's a long story. Very long. Tian Yao explains it in two sentences: "Went to the cold springs. One pool". Ha! Tian Yao is done with stepping back. Then Bai Xiao Sheng is all up in Tian Yao's face, provoking him, and when he's punched by him, he's the one who's pitiful. Hello?! What is this snob [Omg correction: BXS punched himself >______>]. Then he tells his weep story to Yan Hui to explain why he left at level 2. She didn't even ask... Our Yan Hui rejects him. But he won't give up.
[Ep23] Tian Yao patiently waits for Yan Hui to impatiently explain that he didn't punch Bai Xiao Sheng. It isn't like him at all to clarify but he's changing because our dragon boi doesn't want her to misunderstand him ever again. He's taking baby steps and improving his communication skills. Aw~ But time for big dragon steps now, ya?!
In the cold springs, Yan Hui looks around for her hard, hot rock to perch on for another two hours (no wonder he's numb). Clearly fatigued, Tian Yao still summons his tail. But Bai Xiao Sheng steps on it too! Get your dirty shoes off my Long ge's tail! Wait no, he’s hopping on our dragon’s magnificent being. Tian Yao grimaces but he doesn’t utter a sound. Karma is on our side and whips Bai Xiao Sheng from the inside. It’s Fu Yin telepathically punishing Bai Xiao Sheng for chilling when he has a mission, forcing him to leave in pain. This Fu Yin guy is very likeable.
Tian Yao faints! The springs’ water is the purest and the coldest and is meant to contain power, but he contended and exerted his powers. Furthermore, it's the full moon, the night that he's the weakest. No wonder our dragon boi is burnt out. Yan Hui learns everything and asks why he had to force himself.
Yan Hui: On the full moon, must you boil the water? The wording deliberately kept "boiled water" in there to show his 男友力 (boyfriend skills). It's a Chinese thing. Most (girl) problems can be solved with "hot water", lol.Tian Yao: I don't want you to be cold. Kyaa ~
Yan Hui's heart is a fluttering mess. She composes her heart by reminding herself she's logical. Déjà vu? xD.
And then our logical girl does this:
Yan Hui dons a protective raincoat. In a pool? Innovative. It's supposed to keep her warm. And it's supposed to be her anti-love armour, hahaha. She clarifies to Tian Yao that they're impossible. If he does love her, she asks him to restrain himself. He should be the magnificent dragon roaming the skies instead of encumbering himself with mortal matters. "Indulging in love will only impede your success."
Do you get it, dragon boi?
Yup. Tian Yao says he does. Then he boils the water. Gotta keep wifey warm! Haha. She says hers and he does his.
Huan Xiao Yan lectures Zhu Li for being rude to elders (= Yan Bu Huo). They're right in line to be buried. "Towards dying people, we should be tolerant." Rude without effort, hahaha. But really, who are they to be rude to Yan Bu Huo? Was he knocked out by one move? Was he hypnotized? No and no. That's Huan Xiao Yan and Zhu Li. Our "dying old man" defended and even countered General Zhao Yu (cloaked) with an Eternally Smelly Ink. Youngsters.
The wedding tomorrow might just be a pretence for Yan Hui or a trap for General Zhao Yu, but to Tian Yao, it's a meaningful union, an eternal promise with the one woman he cherishes. As Yan Bu Huo is handwriting the invitations (aw! That's so sweet. But the wedding is tomorrow. What are the invitations for?), Tian Yao humbly asks if he could use his Eternal (not smelly) Ink to write a marriage vow that lasts for eternity. Of course! You darlings! Have your forever <3 The marriage letter is everything opposite of the separation note :')
Yan Hui sleeps in on her big day. Nothing can wake her, nothing but gold! Her betrothal gifts fill the room. But where’s the pouch? While she's busy smelling her gold bars, she's leaving her face in the hands of our funeral girl, Huan Xiao Yan. Auspicious wedding ahead, uh oh, haha.
Of course, Huan Xiao Yan gives Yan Hui mortuary makeup. Are Tian Yao's weddings cursed? Lol.
[Ep24] It's the wedding ~ Yan Hui receives Tian Yao's eternal wedding vows. It's rolled up in a scroll. After they empty their wine cups, Yan Bu Huo announces that he'll be sharing the Hell Poem with all the guests, forcing General Zhao Yu to reveal himself (or he'll be dispelled by the Hell Poem?). He's captured. But this is a trap. The real mastermind is Chang Lan. Zhao Yu willingly dies to conceal Chang Lan's identity. Wow. Zhao Yu was like a father to Chang Lan and he killed him. I kind of hope Chang Lan managed to keep him alive...
Chang Lan spell wears off on Zhu Li, and now Tian Yao and Yan Hui realize Bai Xiao Sheng is in danger. Just leave him. Unfortunately, he's not dead yet. Tian Yao stores him in the pouch. Suffocate! While saving him, Yan Hui notes that Tian Yao is blunt with his force now.
Tian Yao: 近朱者赤 – Those who handle cinnabar are stained red [= You are the product of your environment]. Looking more and more like a married couple already.
Also, the marriage vows burned! OH NO. The ink is eternal, but the paper isn't! LOL. What a realistic problem. But hey the ink is jumping out! It imprints on everything it lands on: the wall, the stairs, etc. Cool!
Our couple don't realize Bai Xiao Sheng is a distraction so that Chang Lan can cast an illusion of Yan Hui killing Chen Yi in front of the citizens, who are already primed with his spell. He drugged the petals! How effective. I kinda like my villains. Generally, they're proving themselves to be smart (CL), powerful (~SY?), and hilarious (Fu Yin). The real Chen Yi, though, is alive. He escaped Chang Lan's prison.
When everyone accuses Yan Hui of murder, Tian Yao steps in front to protect his wifey. Our Yao Yao is back to being her Heart Protector! He takes her hand and leads her to safety. This puts him at odds with the entire Nine-Tailed Fox Kingdom, but Tian Yao chooses Yan Hui without a split second of hesitation.
As for Huan Xiao Yan and Zhu Li, they're hiding in the Fantasy Ring until it's safe.
[Ep25] The wanted posters are upsetting Yan Hui because she's the cheapest. Then they're surrounded by lettuce-throwing sprites. She whips her hat to deflect their attention and takes Tian Yao's hand to flee. Tian Yao, just holding hands is melting you? Aw. They don't want to hurt the innocent sprites, but there's one sticky pursuer who has been suspiciously tailing them from the beginning. It's a hideous pig-man. Just as Tian Yao summons his powers, the pig reveals the man underneath. He's Feng Qian Shuo!
Feng Qian Shuo and Yan Hui have a tit for tat over Xian Ge. He demands Tian Yao to control/tame her. Our Dragon Lord cannot control his wife. Because he will enable her to achieve everything she desires like investing in Feng Qian Shuo's business under Yan Hui's name so she can be 自由自在，飛黃騰達 (Free and rich)! Quietly fulfilling all of Yan Hui's wishes. Don't be so sweet, you!
Bai Xiao Sheng wakes up. He needs the Hell Poem or he'll die in three days. Well, isn't that perfect? Tian Yao refuses to hand it over because Yan Hui's life depends on it too. Yan Hui's like We can't watch him die, though. Tian Yao and everyone: "Why can't we?"
Yan Hui has a solution. She disperses copies of the Hell Poem so that the sprites can collect their reward and leave them alone. She keeps a copy for herself, while Bai Xiao Sheng gets the authentic one. He thanks her for all her efforts in saving his life. Yan Hui is like 不 No. "I did it to save myself." Pft. He just doesn't get the hint and attempts to give her a farewell kiss. Tian Yao shoves his face away. "It's time for you to leave." And never come back. The more I loved him in the beginning, the more I hate him now.
The old and wise (and stubborn) Yan Bu Huo realizes Yan Hui didn't kill Chen Yi, but it's too late. Chang Lan imprisons him.
Ying Huo drugs Yan Hui, Tian Yao, and Xian Ge who are mostly powerless near the Black River. Then she cocoons Tian Yao because she wants him as her husband, and she wants his Nine Main Stars, which he gave to Yan Hui. Ying Huo can't understand why he would give it to Yan Hui who's inferior to her beauty. Tian Yao stutters that he gave it to Yan Hui not because she's only pretty. Ying Huo comes to the conclusion that he pities Yan Hui's ugliness. Someone help this delulu lady. When Yan Hui considers giving up the stars, Tian Yao isn't budging. But isn't it just leftover spiritual energy from the sprites when they retrieved his Horns? Why does Tian Yao care so much eh? Hmmm (:
[Ep26] Ying Huo's lips are about to steal Tian Yao's innocence. Oh no! But did he never kiss Su Ying? He's that chaste? Lol.
Yan Hui (hollers): If you dare kiss him, I'll tear apart your lips. If you dare touch him, I'll chop off your hand. If you dare look at him, I'll dig out your colourful glazed eyes. Yan Hui's a scary wife, haha.
She also has orders for Tian Yao: look away and turn away! He obeys like a good hubby. Then she starts a fire with his Chiyan Sword. The toothache, lol! I wonder if HMH laughed at all during this scene. Ying Huo, being a moth, is attracted to the fire. In her last ditch effort, she hypnotizes Yan Hui. Fortunately, they're saved by Chen Yi (who had also saved Xian Ge).
When Yan Hui is awake, Tian Yao arrives with medicine. He has candy for the bitterness, but more importantly, he has a sweet, sweet question.
Tian Yao: Are you perhaps moved* by me again? [*動心 = heart has moved = fallen in love]Yan Hui: Why-why are you suddenly asking this?Tian Yao: Because of you last night. What you said.Slowly, and dreadfully, Yan Hui remembers.Yan Hui (comes up with her best lie): I was afraid she’d hit you. With her lips. Phew, that would have impaired him.Tian Yao: Since you say so, I will believe so. Smiles. Hehehe
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| Her face is so small. It's gone in that smoll bowl! |
Yan Hui is so embarrassed she wishes she could hide in her bowl. Or be the bowl, lol. She reminds herself to be logical. Then he's like this ↓
Tian Yao: There are times I always wonder if twenty years ago, the one I met was you, what would have happened?Yan Hui: Twenty years ago, I still haven't rolled* out of my mother's womb. She's still got her logic. [*滾 (gǔn; roll) is the same word we use for "Get out!"]Tian Yao (smiles): To be able to meet you is already a miracle, and yet here I am unreasonably requesting for the right timing, it is I who is too greedy. Looks like our Dragon Lord is embracing his past (the good and the bad) because it allowed him to meet Yan Hui.
Her logic? Knocked out of her orbit. Yan Hui's heart is throbbing from his overflowing affection. She swallows her medication in one gulp. Forgetting the bitterness from all the sweetness and fuzziness? xD
Chen Yi translates the Hall Poem, and apparently it doesn't require a training partner. LOL, that old man. And apparently it can and cannot defeat the Demonic Aura. This stupid talk. Get to the point! The dark energy can never reach absolute zero. Therefore the only way to defeat Fu Yin is to overtake Fu Yin and be the new Dark Lord. But! Our Dragon Lord can slay Fu Yin.
Fu Yin imprisons Bai Xiao Sheng after retrieving the Hell Poem. Fu Yin wanted to see if there were any messages from Xue Lin whom he calls jie (sister), but more than siblings it looks like love and obsession. Fu Yin and Su Ying, don't they kinda rhyme? These two obsessed freaks.
Chen Yi asks Tian Yao to leave while Yan Hui practices the Hell Poem. Chen Yi knows better than anyone of the agony in watching the person he loves suffer pain and yet there's nothing he can do. Tian Yao stays. It's not even a choice. There's only that option in Tian Yao's heart.
[Ep27] Fu Yin overrides Yan Hui's consciousness to attack Tian Yao for his Heart Protecting Scale. Yan Hui isn't completely gone though. She begs Tian Yao to sever her flower despite knowing it's her vitality. His eyes well up with tears and then he slices it off in one fell swoop. She compliments him, but then she notices he's in more pain. What happened! The Nine Stars was a Life-Swapping Spell. He will die in her stead. From the very beginning, he never risked Yan Hui's life. He had used his own life to duel with Su Ying. And this is why Tian Yao knew Yan Hui was alive. He tied his life with hers. And this is why the Chiyan Sword returned to him that night. Because of the pure heart that wanted to protect Yan Hui. Tian Yao comforts her that death isn't scary to him, and that he isn't suffering. Sure. Say that when you're not breathless and grimacing in pain! :( She knows he's lying. How could there be no pain? And why did he act so fast!
Tian Yao: For it is after that strike did it exchange this moment's embrace. :( Tian Yao, the dragon who gives up the most and asks for the least.
He pleads with her not to blame him. His last words. His only regret. Once he hears that she doesn't, he closes his eyes. T_T.
Then a dark energy strikes her!
And then they're fine! Yan Hui thinks it's a dream, though. She cries over and over again that she loves Tian Yao. She always did. Before he stabbed her, she loved him. After he stabbed her, and although she was afraid of him, she still loves him. After they left Qingqiu, she knew her love was already too deep. There is no turning back. Awwww.
And Bai Xiao Sheng is here! Yan Hui bites herself for a reality check. The way Tian Yao is anxious, he must rather she bite him. Once she realizes he's real, she hugs him even tighter.
And Yan Hui has a bald spot! LOL. Bai Xiao Sheng kept blowing her head to see if she could feel the draft up there, hahahaha. Her hair was burned off with the flower. Yan Hui eyes Tian Yao, and timidly asks if love will disappear (if her hair disappears). He fails to stifle a laugh. Of course not.
The dark energy that saved them was Bai Xiao Sheng's Cupid's arrow. It struck the Heart Protecting Scale from Tian Yao's body into Yan Hui's heart. By saving her, he saved Tian Yao. Bai Xiao Sheng! You're back! You're finally back. Gawd, did I hate you, lol. Ok, but how did he escape Fu Yin's water prison? I assume it's when Tian Yao weakened him??
Bai Xiao Sheng wants revenge on Fu Yin. He had manipulated his town and his mother to abandon him. He detains his physical body to supply his armour (as a protection against Tian Yao, the only being who could harm him). Does that make the Shadow Clan a formidable opponent to our Dragon Lord?
Team meeting. As our gang is discussing, Tian Yao is gently fixing Yan Hui's gigantic scarf for her tiny bald spot, lol. Here are the meeting notes:
- Fu Yin is currently sealed inside Qing Guang's body (Xuanmen's grandmaster) with the help of Xue Lin and Chen Yi. Ever since then, Qing Guang has lived the life of a hermit.
- Chang Lan was released the moment Chen Yi realized he existed. He arrived at the Dragon Valley and befriended Tian Yao but left after Tian Yao wouldn't listen to him to be wary of Su Ying.
- Conclusion: to stop Fu Yin, they first have to stop Chang Lan from inciting war between Xuan and Sprites because dying energy will invigorate Fu Yin.
Bai Xiao Sheng jokes around with his love confession. Yan Hui isn't laughing nor is she talking. He gets it too, but he tells her he'll leave his empress spot for her [in his harem, heh]. He has plans to leave soon because he wants to disconnect all the communication channels between Fu Yin and Chang Lan. And he really did mean soon, like now. Blink and he's gone. Then Tian Yao arrives shortly. He made a crown for Yan Hui. AWWW. I want my man to make me a crown too! See here's the difference between Tian Yao and Bai Xiao Sheng. One is all talk (e.g. "I'll let you be my empress"), and the other is all action (e.g. makes her a crown). Bai Xiao Sheng watches with a smile. He didn't leave. He was just making room for Tian Yao.
Tian Yao combs Yan Hui's hair to put the crown on for her.
Yan Hui: Tian Yao, At Xuanmen –Tian Yao: Only a husband can comb the wife's hair.Yan Hui: Then you...Tian Yao: Aren't we already married? Under the hazy moonlight at Tongluo Village, we informed our family (the grandma is their family! Aww.). In the majestic Qingjiu Palace, we proclaimed to the world. Yan Hui, do you know? When I gave you my marriage vows, you were already my wife.Yan Hui: Then you better keep your word!Tian Yao: Mm. I will keep my word.
Yan Hui kisses him! ~~
Yan Hui: I stamped. This [marriage] is sealed. Forever!
Tian Yao timidly savours the kiss. I love how our Dragon Lord is smitten with the smallest things.
[Ep28] Tian Yao and Yan Hui train. This is as sexy as they'll be eh. After that peck, they're training I see. He teaches her his Dragon Cultivation: "靈龍心訣". Very common title for a mantra but I like the double entendre: "The ways to the heart of a Dragon" :D. Yes, teach her everything. He will also give her his Chiyan Sword if she wants it. This is on top of his Life-Swapping Spell and Heart Protecting Scale that she already has. She wants him to take back the Stars because her life should be her responsibility, furthermore she likes him now. She wouldn't want him to die for her. But the Stars are permanent. Permanent! Waaaaa~ From Ep16! Dragon boi really knows how to dote on his wife! All his assets, all his life, all his heart, all of it is Yan Hui's. He said that in Ep15, didn't he? Everything that he could give her, he would ~~<3. And there's more! His Heart Protecting Scale is a BOGO with his "Inner Core", which takes a thousand years to train. She thinks it's a pity that it's with her.
Tian Yao: My Inner Core can be trained for another thousand years.Yan Hui: But it's a thousand years!Tian Yao: You, I may not meet for another thousand years. To Tian Yao, nothing is more valuable than Yan Hui. Not his money. Not his powers. Not his life. Not even time.
Yan Hui teasingly promises to work hard and train so that she can live up to the two lives in her. This type of line is usually said by pregnant women LOL. Now if she is ever pregnant, she will have to say three lives are in her, hahaha. Tian Yao smiles and thanks her for the trouble he gave her.
The Inner Core is fused with the Heart Protecting Scale because 20 years ago someone else wanted his Inner Core. That's Qing Guang. He allied with Su Ying....?
Chang Lan is defeated by our team of six (Huan Xiao Yan, Zhu Li, Yan Bu Huo, Tian Yao, Yan Hui, and Chen Yi). Huan Xiao Yan got her revenge and her sect's power back in her ring. I was surprised it was that hard for our Dragon Lord to defeat Chang Lan, but I forgot it's like fighting an entire Sect since he absorbed the Fantasy clan's powers. Now Chang Lan is imprisoned in the place he was born in. Apparently he pledged his allegiance to Fu Yin (and incited war) because Chang Lan wanted world peace... OK. He commits suicide. War is also prevented.
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| Protect the bald spot! |
Yan Bu Huo motions everyone to apologize to Tian Yao and Yan Hui. As she tries to get everyone to stop kneeling, a little girl has found her bald spot. "So smooth". LOL! Yan Bu Huo rallies the crowd that Yan Hui must have stressed herself out to help them. That bald spot is her glorious sacrifice!
Pu Fang gives Yan Hui a black sesame concoction for her hair, and before she's done listing the ingredients, Yan Hui has gulped it down. Anything for hair, hahaha. Pu Fang also reveals the person she loves is Xi Feng from Xuanmen. If she didn't expose who she liked, I was wary of her since she did work for Chang Lan.
Bai Xiao Sheng is captured by Fu Yin! Subsequently, Ling Xiao's gravestone is wiped clean.
[Ep29] In a virtual space said to be Fu Yin's Sea of Consciousness, Ling Xiao meets Qing Guang. He orders Ling Xiao to destroy the Heart Protecting Scale in order to stop Fu Yin. This has to be a lie, an illusion. Don't fall for it Ling Xiao!
Lu Mu Sheng visits. All is normal until you realize (1) he's Chen Yi's son-in-law (Lu Mu Sheng looks way older than Chen Yi, hahahaha. I guess Lu Mu Sheng ages like a regular human? xD Poor humans), and (2) he's Tian Yao's ex-love-rival (how to even compare). Lu Mu Sheng returns Tian Yao his Scales (Armour). Without the armour though, Lu Mu Sheng will not live long, but that is what he wishes.
Tian Yao plans to leave and Feng Qian Shuo thinks he wants him to take care of Yan Hui, who's staying. Gongzi, you're overthinking it. Tian Yao assures him that Yan Hui can take care of herself fine. Our Dragon Lord's wife shall not be underestimated! xD Tian Yao just wants him to split the profits with Yan Hui accordingly. Hahahaha. Internet is saying Feng Qian Shuo is our couple's Smart-ATM.
Zhu Li proposes to Huan Xiao Yan. These two kids. Have they gone through puberty even. Her response: Slap! When she tells the girls about the proposal, Pu Fang is so shocked, she drops the hair loss medication. Yan Hui gasps too. "My hair!" Priorities, lol. Nothing will distract our girl from treating her hair, but when she realizes Tian Yao's marriage vows were his own wishes, she stops her hair treatment and spends the whole night lifting the ink and piecing together his vows. Awwww. But the way she's doing it, won't the text be reversed?
Yan Hui receives her betrothal pouch too ~ Tian Yao also tells her that Feng Qian Shuo will give her money while he's gone. She's almost blinded by the gold, but catches on that Tian Yao is leaving to recover his body. She turns around to leave without another word. He's disheartened, but she's packing her bags to go with him! If it's dangerous, then that's more of a reason she needs to go. He's shocked and elated. Are our Dragon Lord's eyes moist or are my eyes moist? I'm shocked though that he didn't think Yan Hui would go with him. He's never been on the receiving end of love (from a woman) eh. Yao Yao, you deserve all the love in this world!
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| Yan Hui has porcupine hair, lol. Did HMH mention that Yan Hui is like a porcupine or am I imagining this? [Nope. I wasn't imagining it] |
Pu Fang has Yan Hui's hair hostage. Ha. Yan Hui is forced to listen to her love story for her needle treatment. The things girls will do for their hair. Pu Fang also wants Yan Hui to take her across the Black River to meet her Xi Feng. Yan Hui rejects. It's dangerous. Guess who goes? Pu Fang. And now she's captured by Ling Fei.
Also in this episode: Yan Hui learns that Tian Yao invested in Feng Qian Shui's business with her name (after she made fun of his failing business that's now hers too, lol). She tells Tian Yao that from now he doesn't have to be discreet about being nice to her. Yes. You're married! Show off your love!
[Ep30] To save Pu Fang, Yan Hui stealthily sneaks into the crowd in red and no one notices her, lol. Then Tian Yao slashes Ling Fei's face. They escape, but it's too late for Pu Fang. She dies. When Xi Feng arrives at her gravesite, our couple tells him that Pu Fang never mentioned him, but Yan Hui knew Pu Fang was thinking of him. She died looking at his direction, waiting for him. Xi Feng might have made it in time had it not been for Ling Fei blocking every step of the way. He had to slit his wrist and risk losing his cultivation to leave. Ultimately, at her gravesite, he dies with her (from the wrist slit that he didn't bother treating). That scene of them hugging is totally imagined, but it's what I needed. *Sniffles* Why must this tragic love story happen!
Everyone abandons Ling Fei. I'm just mad that it took THAT long for them to walk away. Even her powers abandon her. Technically, she was fooled by Yun Meng into reviving Su Ying. She thought it was a bit of her blood, but it was her entire cultivation. Look at her wailing about her powers. Isn't that your favourite precious, Ling Fei? Yun Meng was always Fu Yin's spy/puppet/vessel. S/he had told Su Ying about Tian Yao's Heart Protecting Scale. S/he was the one disguised as Qing Guang in the battle with Tian Yao. Su Ying promptly kills Yun Meng, but Fu Yin's dark aura remains. Nefariously, he laughs at Su Ying when she's already converted to his side. Dark energy in her too?
Yan Hui and Tian Yao are about to recover his tendons! It's cooked with gold and looks like a hotpot. Yan Hui jokes that it's Braised Dragon Tendon (紅燒龍筋). It's a tad inappropriate, but hey, the owner of the Dragon Meat joins in on the joke. She calls him a bad dragon. He blames it on her: 近朱者赤.
Joke's over when Su Ying descends in that tragic dress. When she notices his Scales, Tian Yao lies that he killed Lu Mu Sheng. Yan Hui knew the lie was so Su Ying would give up her search for Lu Mu Sheng. I love how logical Yan Hui is and I also love the stability of their relationship even when the ex is here. However, without the Heart Protecting Scale, Tian Yao is weaker than Su Ying. He drops into the lava broth. Yan Hui scrambles to keep the opening just long enough so that he makes it through safely. But now Yan Hui is left alone with Su Ying.
Ling Xiao rescues Yan Hui! Except he discovers the Heart Protecting Scale is inside Yan Hui. He struggles with himself. That's Yan Hui, the little girl he saved, but there's his shifu's orders and now Su Ying pressures him to destroy the Heart Protecting Scale. Doesn't she want it anymore? Does she actually believe Tian Yao that Lu Mu Sheng died? Ling Xiao summons his whip and strikes Yan Hui 9 times. After a total of (9x9) 81 slashes, Yan Hui will never be able to cultivate. Despite the lacerating pain, our girl refuses to surrender. 8x9 more whippings to go....
[Ep31] Yan Hui wonders if Tian Yao is hurt in the boiling lava broth, but she is covered with lacerations herself. She begs Ling Xiao to let her save Tian Yao. He gave her this life. She can't forsake him. She promises to return to receive her due punishment. But the whipping continues. 7x9 more to go... (Ling Xiao is spacing out the punishment to keep her alive.)
The disciples do everything they can to help Yan Hui. Zi Yue secretly gives Yan Hui food – her favourite buns! Yan Hui wills herself to eat for Tian Yao. Even if her muscles and tendons are ripping apart, even her Sea of Consciousness is drying up, she must survive. Then Zi Chen attempts to break the chains despite the pain and despite the consequences.
Elsewhere Su Ying visits Qing Guang and confirms her suspicions. He's swallowed by Fu Yin, which she tells Ling Xiao, who doesn't look like he gets it!! He's dense, she's obsessed, and the other guy is possessed. Can we elect new leaders please?! While the grandmasters are distracted, Ling Fei, driven by hate, and empowered by the demonic aura, summons hell upon Yan Hui. Zi Chen refuses to abandon Yan Hui until she blasts him away with her fire breath to keep him safe. Awwww T_T.
Tian Yao can sense Yan Hui's impending death.
Tian Yao (with tears in his eyes): Fortunate. I can still protect you once more.
Yan Hui, who never once surrendered, desperately begs Ling Fei to stop. But it's too late. Tian Yao's soul has separated from his body. He has arrived next to Yan Hui. He embraces her.
Tian Yao: Don't be afraid.
Tian Yao bursts into flame, taking the form of the majestic dragon. It's also the night of the full moon when he's in the most pain. He blasts Ling Fei away. Please let this be the last episode I have to hear this woman go "Wo nai blah blah blah". Then he flies Yan Hui to safety (to another timezone? Because it's daytime now). He's anguished, but keeps a smile on. He tells her he doesn't want to die now. They still haven't lived the days she dreams of. Then he disappears. His body dies. But where's the lava? What happened there?
Ling Xiao and Su Ying find Yan Hui. She jumps into the Black River to escape. They think she'll die there. Please. Tian Yao would never leave her in danger like that. She must have Chen Yi's seal.
[Ep32] Ling Xiao disowns Ling Fei from his sect. But not fast enough! She still got to introduce herself ("Wo nai @$%&$")!. We all wish Ling Xiao could kill her faster too, but Su Ying saves her. Ling Xiao cannot be any slower as he's told by Fu Yin that Qing Guang is already dead, and he's been dead for ten years! Ling Xiao, what have you been doing! Qing Guang's body is nothing but a shell. There's nothing stopping Fu Yin from escaping. But there is! Su Ying left a barrier. Phew. At least we have one smart one in this "good" sect. But Su Ying is also not smart enough (or cruel enough) to doubt her sister, Ling Fei / Su E. She's killing Guangmen disciples for what she thinks is beauty and power when Fu Yin is just using her to gain his freedom.
While the grandmasters are taking their sweet time and ruining everything, Yan Hui has crawled back from the hellish Black River, trained the Hell Poem at the brink of death, became the Dark Lordess, recovered Tian Yao's body, fused his tendons, laid a dragon egg, made a dragon egg, and collected all of Tian Yao's soul to revive his body. I was wrong about Tian Yao leaving Yan Hui the seal for her to cross the Black River. But really, why have the seal anyway! And how knew she could do that underwater. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
[Ep33] Nobody move. We're waiting for the egg to hatch. Our Yan Hui incubates the egg with a blanket. We have a Chinese mother of dragons! Feng Qian Shuo suggests she knocks the egg a few times. It's not fragile like a chicken egg, he says *Craaaaacks* Our ferocious mother hen erupts in black fury. Feng Qian Shuo lips whiten, but thankfully Yao Yao is okay and it even grew horns! Awww. I love the consistency. Tian Yao's horns can always receive her signal.
The egg hatches! Tian Yao is back! Yan Hui peeks under the blanket and smiles. It's his "legs" making her smile, yes? ;) Feng Qian Shuo had prepared human baby clothes and dragon baby clothes, but who knew such a tiny egg can incubate an 8-(Chinese-)foot manly baby. Hahahaha. (Also, I don't get Chinese-foot, and apparently Mandarin-foot and Cantonese-foot are different sizes too).
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| Certified Dragon Baby Pacifier ^ |
Amber alert! Baby Yao Yao has escaped from his Hui Hui Mommy, lol. And poor Yan Hui, no one is helping her search for her 8-Chinese-foot baby. They're either busy celebrating their engagement (Huan Xiao Yan and Zhu Li) or their pregnancy (Xian Ge and Feng Qian Shuo). These friends are no better than the stranger Lu Mu Sheng, lol.
Yan Hui finds Tian Yao. Despite the scorching pain from the touch of his dragon skin, Yan Hui applies ointment to his scratches. For each other, he'll have numb legs and she'll have burnt hands. He slowly warms up to her (while giving her first degree burns), and even has memories of her from their past!
[Ep34] Tian Yao is really taking baby steps. He just learned to talk! His first words are 指日可待 = Anytime now. Really, grow up anytime now, yeah Tian Yao? I don't want you to learn to speak ("communicate") anymore, hahaha. He's repeating Yan Hui's words that his potential will be awakened anytime now. He's also copying Feng Qian Shuo's "I'm going to be a dad!" 指日可待! Yeah? xD Meanwhile the girls retreat to listen to Xian Ge's fetus "talk". Tian Yao, what are you doing man. Even a human fetus is beating you!
Su Ying kills Ling Fei (or Su E, whatever)! Kinda laughable that she dies immediately after saying "No one can stop me!". At her death, Ling Fei tells Su Ying she would rather never have a sister like her. Same same.
Ling Xiao wants to escort Yan Hui and Tian Yao to Tongluo Village, but he's not welcomed. Yan Hui holds her rightful grudge while Tian Yao is jealous. Still, Ling Xiao trails them. Then Yan Hui fails at teaching Tian Yao cultivation in front of her shifu. Lol! It's cute how Shifu is ignoring her. Despite Yan Hui being a terrible teacher/student, she's a great role model. She hates her shifu, but she knows it's not entirely his fault and teaches Tian Yao so.
Yan Hui pacifies a jealous Tian Yao. She assures him that Ling Xiao is only her shifu whereas she is his (Tian Yao's) shifu plus wife. Tian Yao summarizes that she's someone he can 又親又愛 = love like family and love romantically, but Yan Hui is shocked because it sounds like = kiss and love. He's not wrong.
Yan Hui's hand! Dragon skin burns her but if Tian Yao wants to hold her hand, she's not letting go. Her powers can't seem to make the pain go away either.
[Ep35] A reluctant Tian Yao politely asks Ling Xiao to train him. Hehe. He wants to save Qi Yun (Ah Cha / Snake Sprite's lover) with his fire. It's for Yan Hui and it's to do something Ling Xiao cannot. Boys. In a matter of days (hours?), Tian Yao's Sea of Consciousness expands. It has no limits! Then he accidentally injures Ling Xiao. Yan Hui is proud of Tian Yao and shows no concern towards Ling Xiao, but later on, she returns with medicine and apologizes on behalf of Tian Yao. However, this doesn't mean she can forgive him. Ling Xiao doesn't expect to be forgiven either though. Aww.
Tian Yao is jealous of Ling Xiao. He hugs Yan Hui from the back and whines that he wants ointment too. She coaxes him like a baby, but hugs him like a man. I can't ship this, guys. LOL. He's underage! Child protection!
Fu Yin's demonic aura devours the villagers. Tian Yao's fire can eliminate the demonic source. I love his roar!! But he can't do anything about the dark aura that's already controlling the villagers or he'll risk killing the innocent. Then Ah Cha attacks Yan Hui. Instinctively, Tian Yao summons his Chiyan Sword to protect her. That's what his sword is for. Protection.
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| Imagine standing like this without special effects ^^" |
While Tian Yao can repel, Yan Hui can absorb the aura from the villagers. A power duo! But the villagers are afraid of Yan Hui now and want Ling Xiao to kill her. I love how auntie is shushing the crowd for Yan Hui!
Ling Xiao: If she's a demon, then I am a demon's shifu. If you don't need her protection then Chenxingshan will not protect you either.
Yan Hui is moved, but confused at his protection. She didn't know that Ling Xiao spread the 81 whips into 9 days to keep her alive. Yan Hui muses that he wants everything. But what can he forsake? His sect? The world? Their loyalty? Yan Hui understands Ling Xiao better now. Protecting one person is hard enough for her, and he has to protect an entire sect. Ling Xiao admits it's hard, but it's worth it.
[Ep36] Tian Yao takes a long nap and (I think) he's a teenager now! Tian Yao can rectify Qing Guang's spell on Qi Yun, but it turns out that spell was suppressing Fu Yin's curse, and now the demonic aura is devouring her. Good thing we have Yan Hui. She's a tank. However, this tank can suffer indigestion too. She's puking. LOL. This demonic aura is Yan Hui's mortal enemy. For this, she went rabid, almost died, and not she's puking xD
Ling Xiao examines Yan Hui's Sea of Consciousness. His expression is grave. Is our Yan Hui dying?! Don't look like that Ling Xiao! No, he's just surprised at the utter boringness peace. He has one tiny streak and it's wreaking havoc in his consciousness and yet Yan Hui's is tranquil.
Tian Yao: My Yan Hui is naturally strong.
And our Yan Hui is kind too. She immediately sponges up Ling Xiao's demonic aura. It's just a bit more puking, that's all.
The new plan to defeat Fu Yin: 1) Tian Yao needs to complete himself, and he's only missing his Heart, which is at Guanghanmen; 2) Ling Xiao needs to guard Fu Yin; 3) Qi Yun will recruit for more help. Ling Xiao asks Tian Yao for a fire emblem to reinforce the anti-FuYin shield. Our couple is astonished because Ling Xiao has been preparing for this all along when he was training Tian Yao. Who could blame him for being greedy in wanting to protect everything? No one. Yan Hui almost blurts out "shifu", but stops mid-word.
Yan Hui asks Ling Xiao to apologize to Zi Chen for her. Ling Xiao refuses. When she goes back she can do it herself. Before he leaves, Tian Yao acknowledges Ling Xiao as a good shifu, and "shifu" is at the tip of Yan Hui's tongue too, but she holds back once again. "Take care" is all she can muster.
Ah Yun and Ah Cha are happy. I'm happy too that there's finally one happy secondary interracial couple (between a human and a sprite). All the previous ones are tragic: Lu Mu Sheng and Fox Princess, Chen Yi and his wife, Pu Fang and Xi Feng...
Tian Yao is scared of recovering his memories because of his lies and hatred, but Yan Hui assures him that his hatred never tainted his beautiful, pure heart.
[Ep37] Via Bai Xiao Sheng, Fu Yin informs Su Ying of Lu Mu Sheng's whereabouts (his wife's grave). Su Ying stops mourning for her sister's corpse, to kidnap her widowed boo. He's protected by Chen Yi, who ultimately sacrifices himself! He did it for his wife and his promise to protect their children. He exerts the last of his soul to shoot an arrow at Su Ying. It can't hurt her, but it will curse her so that she can never harm his children (and the people they love?). And at least Chen Yi is reunited with his wife...? :( But Su Ying can still hurt Zhu Li, and kidnap Lu Mu Sheng and Huan Xiao Yan! Hey, Daddy Fox, your arrow doesn't work! Su Ying tells Lu Mu Sheng the haunting truth that he had saved her when he dropped the jade bracelet by her frozen body. Now she's using Huan Xiao Yan's ability to crystallize Lu Mu Sheng's memory. All Su Ying has to do is remodel his physical model every few years to keep him immortal.
Age and death will never separate them again. The torutre.
But not if he kills her first! He plunges a sword through her. I wish he plunged her heart so she gets a taste of that heartbreaking betrayal.
In Su Ying's long dying breath, she reminds Lu Mu Sheng that he had saved her first and that he said he loved her. I was waiting for this reveal this whole time! He did say it. She wasn't completely delusional before. Also I just realized that Su Ying is the first love of both men........ lol. His voice is laborious as he tells her, "Never meeting you would have been better." Oof. Su Ying, everyone you love hates you. He had actually remembered all of his past, but he hid the truth from her. It's a double blow to Su Ying's already bleeding heart. This poltroon. Had he told her the truth from the beginning and admitted he loved her but doesn't love her anymore, Su Ying might not be this psycho. Things wouldn't have escalated like this. Lu Mu Sheng dies. Good riddance. Can we undo Chen Yi's death?
Su Ying throws Tian Yao's heart back into his heart socket, completing our dragon. He's stronger, but this also means a stronger repulsion to Yan Hui. He blasts her away! Su Ying curses Tian Yao to never fulfill his love. In her FINAL dying breath (maybe that's why she wasn't struck at the heart so that her dying breath can be prolonged like this), she wishes for the same: "Never meeting you (Lu Mu Sheng) would have been better." But even after she dies, she isn't completely gone because somehow her black aura contributes to Fu Yin's zombie minions?!
Adult Tian Yao is back! But Yan Hui is gone. They're like magnets, repelling each other, unable to exist in the same space. Tian Yao suspects her black aura has retreated to Fu Yin's Sea of Consciousness where there's a hub of dark energy to nourish her.
[Ep38] In Fu Yin's Sea of Consciousness, Yan Hui witnesses all of Fu Yin's past (e.g. being psychotically in love with Xue Lin, injuring Lu Mu Sheng to manipulate Su Ying, etc.). He is the source of everyone's tragedy, and nothing will stop him from destroying this world.
Fu Yin is the stronger vacuum as he sucks up Yan Hui's dark energy. But our girl's the invincible face-slapper! LOL. Then she rips his Shadow Cloak, which is exactly what Tian Yao needed. She puts on the cloak to protect herself while Tian Yao uses his Dragon powers to attack Fu Yin. When Tian Yao can catch a break, he quickly and tightly hugs Yan Hui. Aw. Finally, Tian Yao defeats Fu Yin with the help of Yan Hui's clever wits and Bai Xiao Sheng's random ability to shuttle anyone anywhere.
Tian Yao clutches onto Yan Hui's hand and smiles, grateful at the simplest touch of her. KISS WILL YA. They hug. And then they kiss! But Bai Xiao Sheng pops in with his portal. Bai Xiao Sheng! You're not supposed to be interrupting again, but you know what, I'm not too mad at BXS. That kiss wasn't anything amazing anyway. It was frozen. My cuties should just stick to hand-holding and hugging. Also, Bai Xiao Sheng lets Yan Hui keep half of his body so that Tian Yao can touch Yan Hui without burning her.
An embarrassed Tian Yao lies that he forgot all about his "childhood" memories. Yan Hui excitedly fills him in on every (shameful) detail from the bed to the blanket. When she realizes he's ashamed, she reminds him they're married. What is there to be ashamed of? *Poof* Bai Xiao Sheng appears from nowhe– uh portal. Since his body is on her, wherever they are, whatever they say, and whatever they do, Bai Xiao Sheng will know it all. This shadow cloak is incredibly inconvenient and annoyingly necessary. Human couples have "lightbulbs" in the room. Our Dragon lord and his wife have a shadow.
[Ep39] The evaporation of Fu Yin's physical body has polluted the atmosphere. Air quality index is soaring. He's ubiquitous with the sky. Ling Xiao perishes in order to stop Fu Yin even if it's just for a moment. Shifu! He'll never get to hear Yan Hui call him "shifu"! And why shifu are you doing something useless just like Chen Yi! Alive yourself and fight, geez!
All of Yan Hui's sect is obliterated. Fu Yin manipulates Yan Hui so that her hatred devours her too. Fortunately, Bai Xiao Sheng appears from nowhere (at least he's consistent with this) to break the immersion. She's able to recall happy thoughts of her shifu, and then when Bai Xiao Sheng is in danger, she can actually summon Dragon Power! Is it because she wanted to protect? But hatred consumes her again. Thankfully, Tian Yao arrives to console our heartbroken Yan Hui. He reminds her that none of the disciples surrendered to Fu Yin. She cannot forsake them. Then a flower grows in the crevice of some cement. What does this mean? At 18:45.
Yan Hui and Tian Yao divide and conquer. (They also can't exist together in the same space because Bai Xiao Sheng is too weak to protect her from Tian Yao's touches.) Tian Yao will slay Fu Yin and Yan Hui will absorb the black energy. But our Yan Hui is struggling. Then she sees Zi Yue and Zi Chen! I forgot they weren't there at the mountain. Awwww!! They're Yan Hui's hope T____T. What shifu wanted to protect is still here: the sect, his disciples, the world, his loyalty. It's still there. With her fighting spirit activated, Yan Hui saves her shige and shijie.
Zi Yue apologizes to Yan Hui (for bullying her). Zi Yue had tattled to Ling Xiao on the day Yan Hui left Xunmen that she won't even turn her head to look back.
Zi Yue (recalling Ling Xiao's words): This is Yan Hui. [...] Even if she's all alone, she will always stand tall, stand strong, unbendingly strong, and walk forward gracefully.
Day 5 of the war, and nothing has changed. Fu Yin is still ubiquitously polluting every inch of the atmosphere with the exception of the Dragon Valley. The people saved by Yan Hui are taking refuge here. Now they're taking yoga meditation classes because they realize greed, hatred, and negative emotions are fuelling Fu Yin. As therapy, they share their regrets. Bai Xiao Sheng only has one: he pushed the woman he loves onto another man's bed. LOL. We are forever grateful.
The best invention ever has been fixed: it's the Huawei. Tian Yao and Yan Hui can communicate and right in time when Tian Yao is drained. But actually, they're both desolate. He's fighting a never ending battle with a vapourish Fu Yin. He can't die. Yan Hui has never ending lives to save. There's more who die than those she can save. Although Tian Yao is uncertain if they can win, he consoles her that every time he can stop Fu Yin, he knows everyone else can be safer, and every time Yan Hui saves someone, that's one more life. Everything they do is worth it. Yan Hui feels hope burn in her heart.
Yan Hui: In my life, the moment I felt the luckiest was when I felt hopeless and had nothing, I still had you. Like right now.Tian Yao: Whether it's hell or the underworld, I will accompany you.
Zhou Shen's OST is on. And we're fighting on! Look forward. Stand strong, unbendingly strong.
[Ep40] Yan Hui calls for a meeting. She reveals the bleak truth: she and Tian Yao cannot beat Fu Yin. This world will be swallowed with the Dragon Valley being the only haven. However, even if there's no hope, she will fight with her all. She loves this world, and if Fu Yin takes over, she doesn't want to be alive to see this future. Yan Hui isn't alone in this thought. Everyone's fired up. They will join her and fight with their all too. The Dragon Valley lights up with fire emblems. It's as if Tian Yao can feel their fighting spirit.
Yan Hui: Everyone, this path, succeed, and the sky and sea will be boundless. Lose, and we'll return to its roots [and soil].
Every one of them departs the Dragon Valley to face the pollution together. Their tomb is prepared. They're determined to battle for this world or die with this world.
Yan Hui's tomb: In the face of abyss, never change [our sincere devotion]
Huan Xiao Yan's tomb: The Lord of Fantasy Clan. The tomb of Qingqiu's Queen.Xian Ge and Feng Qian Shuo: Never surrender.The pixie kids voiceover: Yue Yue is our best friend. Awww. But what does Yue Yue have to do with this? ^^"
Tian Yao is tattered and defeated, regressed to his dragon form. He isn't a match against Fu Yin because he's without his Heart Protecting Scale and Inner Core. Everyone heals our dragon lord with the fire emblem. With his own fire? Lol. Show only needed everyone to transport the fire. Meanwhile Yan Hui takes on Fu Yin by herself. It's her black versus his black, but because Fu Yin is completely devoured by his demonic energy, he overpowers her, and ossifies everyone else. He's successfully swallowing this world. There will be no happiness, no sadness, only eternal silence and obedience.
But wait, Yan Hui hasn't vanished. She returns to the bottom of the Black River where she trained the Hell Poem with her Heart Protecting Scale. She realizes the interchangeable relationship between the two and masters the Dragon Fire with her Hell Poem. LBFAD fans. She has mastered the Hell-Fire! Yan Hui is like buddha as she speaks to Fu Yin: "Evil and good are a choice. Xue Lin saved you and gave you a choice, but you never chose kindness."
With Yan Hui's powerful positive, mind-opening, and free flowing energy, she defeats Fu Yin. Then she gently ambles towards our dragon. She's dazzling... Is she alive?! She tells him she should have died already. She had a dream that he became a true majestic dragon, free, no longer bound by mortal desires. He asks, "What about you?" She laughs and cries.
Yan Hui (pointing to his heart): 我在你這裡. I am here with/in you.Tian Yao: You were already there.Yan Hui: And I will be at more places.
Yan Hui evaporates.
As she disappears, everyone recovers. Yan Hui didn't lie. She is at more places. She uses her entire body to dissolve the dark energy within everyone. Finally, the heart protecting scale returns to Tian Yao.
Yan Hui('s voiceover): Tian Yao. I'm over here. From now on, everyone who passes by you has a bit of me.
Many years later (like 15).
An interspecies couple struggles with their family's disapproval. Bai Xiao Sheng smacks them. That's so speciesist! He introduces Yan Bu Huo's book, "Hu Xin" (drama/novel title) to motivate them with Tian Yao and Yan Hui's love story.
It's been fifteen years, and our Dragon Lord continues his search for Yan Hui. His hair is all white because he's been depleting his dragon powers to pass them down to everyone.
As for everyone else, Yan Bu Huo is teaching the pixie kids who will forever stay kids. It's been 35 years, Zhu Li and Huan Xiao Yan will be new parents, Xian Ge and Feng Qian Shuo have a not so 15-year old looking son and a little daughter together, (Tian Yao! When will you be a father D:) and Zi Chen is the new grandmaster.
As Tian Yao visits everyone, he's looking for Yan Hui, but he's also not looking for her. That's because she is everywhere. Everyone he meets carries a bit of her (the gold dust). Zi Chen asks Tian Yao how long he plans to look for her. Forever if needed. That's not a question he even needs to answer.
Tian Yao could give Yan Hui everything. If she was in love with someone else and wanted to take his Heart Protecting Scale, she could have it. Pissing off Su Ying, are we? Lol. However, Yan Hui never wanted anything from him.
The crowd cheers for them. They kiss. Her white hat matches his white hair. It's a blessing for their married life: 白頭偕老 = to live until their hair is white (i.e. old age) in conjugal bliss.
The end. And omg, how daring were they to include the ending right at the beginning of the ending song!!
Remarks
[First Impression (Not Really)] Too late for a first impression when I've already watched 17 episodes. I gradually fell in love with their relationship in the first 15. They were growing into a power couple who were there for each other thick and thin. However, their relationship drastically changes in episodes 16/17, which actually has me excited for what's to come.
As I see it, general points fans can agree on:
- Drama picks up between Ep4-Ep7.
- CGI is inspired by children's cartoons, Star Wars, Pokemon, Peter Pan, and Harry Potter. Honestly, it's a mess.
- Comedy comes unexpectedly and it's awesome.
- Most tender ML ever except when he's stabby.
- Drama is different from its novel, but the author is one of the scriptwriters.
- We hate Youku.
[Actors/Actresses] I have never seen Hou Ming Hao this handsome and this expressive with his eyes. I have also never seen an actor this invested in his/her drama the way he is. He's actively replying to fan comments as each episode airs. In his answers, he's making puns left and right, or he's so absorbed in his description/analysis that it's more emotional than the drama itself. I promise you there is no man who loves Tian Yao more than Hou Ming Hao.
Compilation of the replies I've translated:
- Weibo posts: "The Glory", "Sword at Every Love-Brained", "Stop looking at my pants", "I was Wu Xie (not Zhang Qi Ling)"
- Replies (spoilers for Ep10/11): Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
HMH's thoughts on Ep14: Original text / Translated
[Behind the Scenes]
[Gossip/News]
Because of a disappointing turn of events at Ep16, some crap happens between the old vs. new scriptwriters on Weibo. Do not ask me for details, thank you very much. It’s too much drama outside of a drama for me to sort through who said what and what is true. All I want to say is that it sucks, really sucks to not be credited for your work. But (if the old scriptwriter spoke the truth), what she also did was chalk up all the compliments for the first 15 episodes as if she did it all by herself, and sank the drama and everyone else who put effort into making it. That’s not fair either. At the end of the day, I just want to watch my drama. These sort of fights should be happening backstage.
[Glossary]
近朱者赤近墨者黑 Jìn zhū zhě chì jìn mò zhě hēi – Those who handle cinnabar are stained red; those who work with ink are stained black. You are the product of your environment. [23]
白頭偕老 Bái tóu xié lǎo – Live to an old age in conjugal bliss. [40]
[Ending] Happy!
[A Highlight] For whatever reason my memorable scene is..... Ep12 when Tian Yao is at his tenderest. He'll never leave his raging wifey short of sharp blades.
[Review & Rating]
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