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桃花债 #1
Peach Blossom Debt
“All predestined affinities are merely debts to be repaid.”
In his mortal life, Song Yao ate an elixir pill that dropped from the heavens by accident, and thus began his life as an immortal.
After millennia of living in idleness, the Jade Emperor orders Song Yao back to the mortal plane. His task is seemingly simple: to oversee the love trial between two immortal lords. Only when he bids his old friend Hengwen Qingjun farewell at the heavenly gates is he told of his true role on the mortal plane: to steal away the heart of one of the lords, Tianshu Xingjun.
Falling from the skies with no way back, Song Yao can only wonder, who’s really being put on trial here?
In his mortal life, Song Yao ate an elixir pill that dropped from the heavens by accident, and thus began his life as an immortal.
After millennia of living in idleness, the Jade Emperor orders Song Yao back to the mortal plane. His task is seemingly simple: to oversee the love trial between two immortal lords. Only when he bids his old friend Hengwen Qingjun farewell at the heavenly gates is he told of his true role on the mortal plane: to steal away the heart of one of the lords, Tianshu Xingjun.
Falling from the skies with no way back, Song Yao can only wonder, who’s really being put on trial here?
424 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
145 people are currently reading
3009 people want to read
About the author
Da Feng Gua Guo
29 books54 followersDa Feng Gua Guo is a genre-diverse novelist best known for her lighthearted writing in the Chinese historical and xianxia fantasy genres. Her works include Spring Once More, Peach Blossom Debt, The Egg of Wishes, The Imperial Uncle, The Zhang Gong Mystery, Those Years of Our Nation, and I Will No Longer Be a Jealous Woman, amongst others.
Associated Names:
* 大风刮过 (Wind), 大風颳過
* Da Feng Gua Guo
* ต้าเฟิงกวากั้ว (Thai Profile)
* Đại Phong Quát Quá (Vietnamese Profile)
Associated Names:
* 大风刮过 (Wind), 大風颳過
* Da Feng Gua Guo
* ต้าเฟิงกวากั้ว (Thai Profile)
* Đại Phong Quát Quá (Vietnamese Profile)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
October 4, 2023
After a long and somewhat frustrating journey to acquire a copy, I finally got my hands on this book, and let me tell you, it was worth every bit of the wait. The road to obtaining this one involved three canceled orders from two different retailers and missing out on two stock updates at Blackwells, but persistence pays off, right?
Now, let's talk about the story itself. At first, it starts off as a delightful and light-hearted narrative, the kind that makes you smile as you turn the pages. You'll find yourself chuckling through the initial three-quarters of the book, as it weaves a captivating comedy. However, what truly sets this book apart is its ability to shift gears seamlessly. Without giving away any spoilers, the story takes a turn that will tug at your heartstrings, leaving you emotionally invested in the characters and their journey.
While I'm not entirely certain if I'd categorize the ending as completely happy, I can tell you one thing: the overall experience is beautifully bittersweet. It's the kind of story that lingers in your thoughts long after you've turned the last page.
As someone who has a growing collection of danmei novels, I couldn't be happier to add this one to my shelf. "Imperial Uncle" is next on my reading list, and I can't wait to dive into another captivating adventure.
Now, let's talk about the story itself. At first, it starts off as a delightful and light-hearted narrative, the kind that makes you smile as you turn the pages. You'll find yourself chuckling through the initial three-quarters of the book, as it weaves a captivating comedy. However, what truly sets this book apart is its ability to shift gears seamlessly. Without giving away any spoilers, the story takes a turn that will tug at your heartstrings, leaving you emotionally invested in the characters and their journey.
While I'm not entirely certain if I'd categorize the ending as completely happy, I can tell you one thing: the overall experience is beautifully bittersweet. It's the kind of story that lingers in your thoughts long after you've turned the last page.
As someone who has a growing collection of danmei novels, I couldn't be happier to add this one to my shelf. "Imperial Uncle" is next on my reading list, and I can't wait to dive into another captivating adventure.
February 14, 2025
The ending was such a letdown.
This story had a promising start, and I genuinely enjoyed it until the last half of the book.
Song Yao serves as a decent protagonist, though he fails to evoke any strong feelings. Despite this, I found reading from his perspective enjoyable. The side characters, except Tian Shu, lack personality. Tian Shu stood out as one of my favorites in the novel—if only the story had centered on him, it would have vastly improved. His chemistry with Song Yao far surpassed that of Heng Wen.
The plot is straightforward and, after some effort to remember all the character names, becomes easy to follow. However, Heng Wen is a poorly developed character with no distinct personality—it's frustrating. I can’t identify a single detail about him, nor can I ascertain whether he genuinely loves the protagonist.
Romance takes a backseat until the last third of the book, and even then, I wouldn't classify it as romance. The dynamic between Song Yao and Heng Wen feels more like a friendship than anything romantic. The final act was nothing short of ridiculous.
Most of the story drags on with little happening, only to rush toward a chaotic conclusion. The arc, where Song Yao cared for Heng Wen and Tian Shu since they regressed to begin children, was filled with so many absurd scenes.
I do not understand why that arc even existed since we didn't even develop the romance.
In the final act, the romance is clumsily executed. Song Yao claims to have been in love with Heng Wen for a thousand years, but his actions don't support this assertion, especially in the last section. His musings about marrying some girl and questioning his destiny felt entirely unnecessary and added nothing to the plot, making it hard to believe in his love.
As for Heng Wen, his feelings are even murkier. It feels that he has more feelings for the demon fox than for Song Yao. Without Heng Wen’s perspective, his character remains elusive. We never discover when he fell for Song Yao or how he felt about key events involving both Song Yao and the demon fox.
The ending was so rushed that I found myself staring at my screen in disbelief, wondering if that was truly it. And the extra chapter? It was just the cherry on a ridiculous cake.
That said, this book could serve as an entry point if you’re new to Danmei. It’s concise, allowing for a one-sitting read, and the world-building is simplistic enough for easy comprehension.
But don't expect a romance for the ages.
This story had a promising start, and I genuinely enjoyed it until the last half of the book.
Song Yao serves as a decent protagonist, though he fails to evoke any strong feelings. Despite this, I found reading from his perspective enjoyable. The side characters, except Tian Shu, lack personality. Tian Shu stood out as one of my favorites in the novel—if only the story had centered on him, it would have vastly improved. His chemistry with Song Yao far surpassed that of Heng Wen.
The plot is straightforward and, after some effort to remember all the character names, becomes easy to follow. However, Heng Wen is a poorly developed character with no distinct personality—it's frustrating. I can’t identify a single detail about him, nor can I ascertain whether he genuinely loves the protagonist.
Romance takes a backseat until the last third of the book, and even then, I wouldn't classify it as romance. The dynamic between Song Yao and Heng Wen feels more like a friendship than anything romantic. The final act was nothing short of ridiculous.
Most of the story drags on with little happening, only to rush toward a chaotic conclusion. The arc, where Song Yao cared for Heng Wen and Tian Shu since they regressed to begin children, was filled with so many absurd scenes.
I do not understand why that arc even existed since we didn't even develop the romance.
In the final act, the romance is clumsily executed. Song Yao claims to have been in love with Heng Wen for a thousand years, but his actions don't support this assertion, especially in the last section. His musings about marrying some girl and questioning his destiny felt entirely unnecessary and added nothing to the plot, making it hard to believe in his love.
As for Heng Wen, his feelings are even murkier. It feels that he has more feelings for the demon fox than for Song Yao. Without Heng Wen’s perspective, his character remains elusive. We never discover when he fell for Song Yao or how he felt about key events involving both Song Yao and the demon fox.
The ending was so rushed that I found myself staring at my screen in disbelief, wondering if that was truly it. And the extra chapter? It was just the cherry on a ridiculous cake.
That said, this book could serve as an entry point if you’re new to Danmei. It’s concise, allowing for a one-sitting read, and the world-building is simplistic enough for easy comprehension.
But don't expect a romance for the ages.
July 16, 2025
4 'no debt' stars
I have absolutley zero idea how to review this book. Reading it was such a unique experience. At first, I had no idea what's going on and all I have to say is 'just go with the flow, everything will eventually make sense (kind of 😅)'.
Before I started it, I was worried I won't like 1st POV narration but surprisingly I really liked Song Yao's voice. He's a very pleasent narrator, and even if he sometimes acts like a pretentious bastard, he's in reality a sweet and caring person. And more you learn about him, more you see how he's always ready to help others. I was so sad for him every time some of his fellow immortals treated him as if he's useless 🥺
I haven't expected for this book to be so funny. I laughed out loud many times, especially trying to imagine how this would look like as a live action drama. Also, there were so many cute moments. I know a lot of readers don't like de-aged thrope but for me, it was just so adorable watching Song Yao taking care of two little immortal lords 😊 (I think he deserves children of his own. Does Heavenly Court know of mpreg? Just asking 😄)
The only thing that was lacking was not enough romance. I know we actually had multiple love stories but I really wish the main romance wouldn't have been so subtle. But I was still swooning every time they slept in the same bed 🥰 seriously, this book was so set upon the only-one-bed trope, that it didn't matter at all how many beds were there - they always slept together 🤭 also, it took "Would you still love me if I was aworm cockroach?" to a whole new level 🥹 that had no business being so romantic 💝
And that one extra could really be more about them. However, I was still very satisfied with the ending, even if it was a little bittersweet 🥲
I tried very hard not to use any names other than Song Yao, because it's really better to go into the book blind and just let it see, where the story takes you.
For the end, that's how I imagined the charachters. It took me a long time to get, who exactly is on the cover beside Song Yao, and only then I realized I was even wrong about, which of the two he is 😆 anyway, without the help of any (fan)art (I couldn't find any), here they are:
🌸 my precious baby Song Yao, who deserves the world
Gif by theyilinglaozus
Gif by crouching-fandom
🌸 Tianshu Xingjun, who is cold on the outside but so warm on the inside
Gifs by dramashii
🌸 the miscevious troublemaker (and trouble saver) Hengwen Qingjun
Gif by Zoe
Gif by gravity
🌸 the ruthless (and sometimes annoying) general Nanming Xingjun
Gifs by movielosophy
🌸 and poor Xuan Ji, whos only crime to get dragged into this mess was admiring pretty men (I don't blame him at all)
Gif by his-catness-tchalla
Gif by wirwerdensiegen
I have absolutley zero idea how to review this book. Reading it was such a unique experience. At first, I had no idea what's going on and all I have to say is 'just go with the flow, everything will eventually make sense (kind of 😅)'.
Before I started it, I was worried I won't like 1st POV narration but surprisingly I really liked Song Yao's voice. He's a very pleasent narrator, and even if he sometimes acts like a pretentious bastard, he's in reality a sweet and caring person. And more you learn about him, more you see how he's always ready to help others. I was so sad for him every time some of his fellow immortals treated him as if he's useless 🥺
I haven't expected for this book to be so funny. I laughed out loud many times, especially trying to imagine how this would look like as a live action drama. Also, there were so many cute moments. I know a lot of readers don't like de-aged thrope but for me, it was just so adorable watching Song Yao taking care of two little immortal lords 😊 (I think he deserves children of his own. Does Heavenly Court know of mpreg? Just asking 😄)
The only thing that was lacking was not enough romance. I know we actually had multiple love stories but I really wish the main romance wouldn't have been so subtle. But I was still swooning every time they slept in the same bed 🥰 seriously, this book was so set upon the only-one-bed trope, that it didn't matter at all how many beds were there - they always slept together 🤭 also, it took "Would you still love me if I was a
And that one extra could really be more about them. However, I was still very satisfied with the ending, even if it was a little bittersweet 🥲
🌸 "You are mine, and I am yours. Between us, there is no such a thing as a debt." 🌸
I tried very hard not to use any names other than Song Yao, because it's really better to go into the book blind and just let it see, where the story takes you.
For the end, that's how I imagined the charachters. It took me a long time to get, who exactly is on the cover beside Song Yao, and only then I realized I was even wrong about, which of the two he is 😆 anyway, without the help of any (fan)art (I couldn't find any), here they are:
🌸 my precious baby Song Yao, who deserves the world
Gif by theyilinglaozus
Gif by crouching-fandom
🌸 Tianshu Xingjun, who is cold on the outside but so warm on the inside
Gifs by dramashii
🌸 the miscevious troublemaker (and trouble saver) Hengwen Qingjun
Gif by Zoe
Gif by gravity
🌸 the ruthless (and sometimes annoying) general Nanming Xingjun
Gifs by movielosophy
🌸 and poor Xuan Ji, whos only crime to get dragged into this mess was admiring pretty men (I don't blame him at all)
Gif by his-catness-tchalla
Gif by wirwerdensiegen
June 29, 2021
If it is a simple Xianxia book without that much detail, this is the perfect book to simply spend your time on. As it is a very busy period for me, I wanted to pick a book that really does not make me stop my work and think hardly upon. With the amount of books on Chinese Heavenly gods I've read the past year, I am pretty sure I can draw up my own thesis by now.
As many have mentioned, it is truly quite hard to find who is the true ML but as the story progresses we are indeed given small hints to who it can be. Even I was confused as we are given a hint as to another. I am truly looking forward as to who will come victorious. As for our MC, he is one of the most adorable MC's I've read about. He lives his life just passing the days but you cannot hate him for being lazy. As a matter of fact you can't call it him being lazy either. He accidentally stumbled upon and gained immortality and he's forever stumbling upon all his decisions. There seems to be small hints of yearning or a one-sided love but personally I felt as if it might not be one-sided completely. The romance is very slow burn. More than half the story in, we're not given a definite answer but the joy of reading this book is clearly unraveeling the layers to find it. Till then, adios.
As many have mentioned, it is truly quite hard to find who is the true ML but as the story progresses we are indeed given small hints to who it can be. Even I was confused as we are given a hint as to another. I am truly looking forward as to who will come victorious. As for our MC, he is one of the most adorable MC's I've read about. He lives his life just passing the days but you cannot hate him for being lazy. As a matter of fact you can't call it him being lazy either. He accidentally stumbled upon and gained immortality and he's forever stumbling upon all his decisions. There seems to be small hints of yearning or a one-sided love but personally I felt as if it might not be one-sided completely. The romance is very slow burn. More than half the story in, we're not given a definite answer but the joy of reading this book is clearly unraveeling the layers to find it. Till then, adios.
March 23, 2022
After falling asleep, I had a dream ..
I stood in a large area of peach blossoms, and the peach blossoms surpassed Yunxia, who was queuing up to the sky. In the depths of the cloud, a figure stood flexibly. When I approached, he turned around and I was stunned...
Song Yao, My pathetic Song Yao ..
People might don't know you. But don't be sad. Don't cry.
Henwen, I found you. Don't you feel left out.
Tianshu, Wherever you are Tianshu, I will find you...
It's my pleasure to read this xianxia story. At first, it's quite hard for me to get into this story maybe because I'm not familiar with it, yet. I don't know any background and everything seems too fast. Until I read and read, then I can connect with the characters.
"I looked at Mu Ruoyan in front of me, and Tian Shu was reincarnated"
Song Yao our protagonist.. such a lonely character, but also easy-going and cute. He was sent by Jade Emperor from Heaven to ruin the lovebond between Nanming Emperor & Tianshu. Seriously, I was skeptical with the story that who is the Hero? Hahaha and I will not tell you guys *oops*
Romance.. very subtle, too subtle for me. lol! But when the cute time between the main leads happen, they made me blush :)) A Beautiful xianxia romance that include reincarnation, friendship and cute, cute boys. Simple at time, and yes Romantic at another time.
** LITTLE FUN FACT **
If mouth to mouth between M & F calls "kiss"
But if mouth to mouth between M & M calls "qi"
Oh my gosh, thank you for this fun information. lol!
'I hugged him in my arms under the peach blossoms of Yunxia and said that I actually liked him for thousands of years and actually thought of him for thousands of years. He leaned on my shoulder and whispered: “I also think about you for thousands of years.”
Lastly, say hi to Donghua Dijin in this book for me. *hehe*
I stood in a large area of peach blossoms, and the peach blossoms surpassed Yunxia, who was queuing up to the sky. In the depths of the cloud, a figure stood flexibly. When I approached, he turned around and I was stunned...
Song Yao, My pathetic Song Yao ..
People might don't know you. But don't be sad. Don't cry.
Henwen, I found you. Don't you feel left out.
Tianshu, Wherever you are Tianshu, I will find you...
It's my pleasure to read this xianxia story. At first, it's quite hard for me to get into this story maybe because I'm not familiar with it, yet. I don't know any background and everything seems too fast. Until I read and read, then I can connect with the characters.
"I looked at Mu Ruoyan in front of me, and Tian Shu was reincarnated"
Song Yao our protagonist.. such a lonely character, but also easy-going and cute. He was sent by Jade Emperor from Heaven to ruin the lovebond between Nanming Emperor & Tianshu. Seriously, I was skeptical with the story that who is the Hero? Hahaha and I will not tell you guys *oops*
Romance.. very subtle, too subtle for me. lol! But when the cute time between the main leads happen, they made me blush :)) A Beautiful xianxia romance that include reincarnation, friendship and cute, cute boys. Simple at time, and yes Romantic at another time.
** LITTLE FUN FACT **
If mouth to mouth between M & F calls "kiss"
But if mouth to mouth between M & M calls "qi"
Oh my gosh, thank you for this fun information. lol!
'I hugged him in my arms under the peach blossoms of Yunxia and said that I actually liked him for thousands of years and actually thought of him for thousands of years. He leaned on my shoulder and whispered: “I also think about you for thousands of years.”
Lastly, say hi to Donghua Dijin in this book for me. *hehe*
January 18, 2024
Song Yao, who became an immortal accidentally, has spent millenia in Heaven just enjoying his good life. Then one day the Emperor gives him an usual mission: he must go to the mortal realm and oversee the love tribulation between two gods who are being punished. Only when he's about to leave is Song Yao informed that he has to seduce one of the gods, Tianshu.
I found the beginning funny, Song Yao was clearly so reluctant to do this. He was literally the "my longest sigh ever" meme. XD He only perks up once his best friend from Heaven, Hengwen, joins him to help out with his strange task.
At first I didn't even realise Hengwen was the love interest - despite Song Yao being the first person narrator, he was definitely keeping his cards to himself. Only once he started talking about their friendship did I realise the depth of feelings between them.
There's a lot of things this book could have done better, but the ending was excellent. The plot twist was unexpected and it made me cry. I can't believe how much these two loved each other. It's a slowburn, and quite a muted, understated one at that, but I must say I enjoyed it a lot!
I found the beginning funny, Song Yao was clearly so reluctant to do this. He was literally the "my longest sigh ever" meme. XD He only perks up once his best friend from Heaven, Hengwen, joins him to help out with his strange task.
At first I didn't even realise Hengwen was the love interest - despite Song Yao being the first person narrator, he was definitely keeping his cards to himself. Only once he started talking about their friendship did I realise the depth of feelings between them.
There's a lot of things this book could have done better, but the ending was excellent. The plot twist was unexpected and it made me cry. I can't believe how much these two loved each other. It's a slowburn, and quite a muted, understated one at that, but I must say I enjoyed it a lot!
October 11, 2025
4.5* wow, I didn't expect to like it so much, to get so invested & so emotional about it, to end up crying at some point. The ending was just :')))))))))
The translation is amazing, kudos to Xia!
The translation is amazing, kudos to Xia!
July 26, 2025
''Let me first share an old story from the past with you.''
And what an interesting, slow, dramatic and funny story it was.
I got Peach Blossom Debt from Peach Flower House, just before it closed. The plot is pretty much straightforward, and you can pick up some predictions along the way (although, I did not guess the ending). I would say that this story can be read, when you want an easy, unhurried, chaotic vibe.
That unfortunate customer who ate the noodles— That was me.
Diabolical way to become an immortal haha. Song Yao is such unserious narrator :D He's a walking meme I tell ya. I was living for all the times, when he called out old geezer - The Jade Emperor and Mingge for his turbulations with the love trials. The side characters were interesting enough, but I wish we got more of Furball. Other than that, I was bit taken aback with the scene, where Song Yao .. umm.. embraced .. ''someone small'' in the bed. You know what I talk about, if you read it :D Even though I understand the immortal age aspect (and regressing to THAT stage), I still ... it made me pause, because Song Yao - you deviant! Anywhoo..
Just as Monique, I could not guess who on the cover was lol. And even after learning who is who, it did not make sense. Let me tell you why :
Anyways, they both look gorgeous af haha
And what an interesting, slow, dramatic and funny story it was.
I got Peach Blossom Debt from Peach Flower House, just before it closed. The plot is pretty much straightforward, and you can pick up some predictions along the way (although, I did not guess the ending). I would say that this story can be read, when you want an easy, unhurried, chaotic vibe.
That unfortunate customer who ate the noodles— That was me.
Diabolical way to become an immortal haha. Song Yao is such unserious narrator :D He's a walking meme I tell ya. I was living for all the times, when he called out old geezer - The Jade Emperor and Mingge for his turbulations with the love trials. The side characters were interesting enough, but I wish we got more of Furball. Other than that, I was bit taken aback with the scene, where Song Yao .. umm.. embraced .. ''someone small'' in the bed. You know what I talk about, if you read it :D Even though I understand the immortal age aspect (and regressing to THAT stage), I still ... it made me pause, because Song Yao - you deviant! Anywhoo..
Just as Monique, I could not guess who on the cover was lol. And even after learning who is who, it did not make sense. Let me tell you why :
Anyways, they both look gorgeous af haha
September 5, 2023
"I had originally been doomed to a fate of eternal solitude, unable to seek what I so willfully sought. But I got to see him often, and for that, I was content."
In case you are unaware, this work was plagiarized and turned into a popular het romance, and the author couldn't legally fight back due to danmei being frowned upon in China. You can read more about the incident here. So if you are the least bit interested in the premise of this novel, I urge you to try it out and buy it in support of the author. The digital edition is available on Peach Flower House's website and the usual online retailers (unlike some danmei works with only physical releases), so you can grab a copy wherever you may live.
Now, to the actual review.
This book suffers from a slow and confusing start, wherein the reader may not necessarily be sure about the direction of the plot. And, furthermore, you might have the impression that Song Yao, our narrator, is actually just a side character in this whole thing. Is he really the main character? Other reviews from those who have read unofficial translations have also said that the identity of Song Yao's love interest initially confused them as well. I can assure you that these are not from poor planning, but rather are plot points that will eventually make sense. Because we are reading the story from Song Yao's perspective, and because a lot of things are being hidden from Song Yao himself, we are also left in the dark.
The comedic and somewhat ridiculous start to the book eventually does pave way to a more melancholic, serious, and even angsty final part. In particular, the last few chapters were especially strong in terms of writing and emotions, and I may have shed a few tears for Song Yao. You really learn to love Song Yao and appreciate his kindness, and when he is hurt, you end up hurting with him. He focuses too much on the happiness of others at, perhaps, the expense of his own, and you strongly wish for his own happy ending as well.
I wonder, however, if being an older work is the reason why Song Yao's own romance and the side romance between Tianshu and Nanming feel a little bit more understated; as far as I can remember, even for western works, there wasn't much in the way for LGBT romances back in 2007 (which is the year this book was initially published, according to the Novel Updates website). Nevertheless, I thought that, through exploring the themes of both debt and fate, this story conveyed the different types of love and friendship very well.
Yes, there is an emphasis on karmic debt as suggested by the book's title, but there is an equal exploration of fate - through vehicles such as fortune telling, and red threads, and the like - and what it means to love someone. Is a bond supposed to be inherently romantic? If something is said to be fated, do you just roll with the punches even if you truly desire a different outcome? With regards to not just Song Yao, but also Tianshu and Nanming and Hengwen, so many of these kinds of questions are raised.
Overall, I really enjoyed this work once I got through the first half. Of course, there are some things that feel a bit unsatisfying to me. For example, I would've loved more extras showing our main couple's quiet lives after their happy ending, or maybe we could've read about the last few chapters from Hengwen's own perspective. But ultimately these are just bonuses that I desire; I don't necessarily feel that the novel is incomplete without them.
(The author mentions another novel of theirs - The Egg of Wishes, which I believe is Bihua's story - in the afterword, stating that they feel that this novel is the "extra" for Peach Blossom Debt. So once again I am crossing my fingers that Peach Flower House can license that work so that it may be shared with the English-speaking audience as well.)
In case you are unaware, this work was plagiarized and turned into a popular het romance, and the author couldn't legally fight back due to danmei being frowned upon in China. You can read more about the incident here. So if you are the least bit interested in the premise of this novel, I urge you to try it out and buy it in support of the author. The digital edition is available on Peach Flower House's website and the usual online retailers (unlike some danmei works with only physical releases), so you can grab a copy wherever you may live.
Now, to the actual review.
This book suffers from a slow and confusing start, wherein the reader may not necessarily be sure about the direction of the plot. And, furthermore, you might have the impression that Song Yao, our narrator, is actually just a side character in this whole thing. Is he really the main character? Other reviews from those who have read unofficial translations have also said that the identity of Song Yao's love interest initially confused them as well. I can assure you that these are not from poor planning, but rather are plot points that will eventually make sense. Because we are reading the story from Song Yao's perspective, and because a lot of things are being hidden from Song Yao himself, we are also left in the dark.
The comedic and somewhat ridiculous start to the book eventually does pave way to a more melancholic, serious, and even angsty final part. In particular, the last few chapters were especially strong in terms of writing and emotions, and I may have shed a few tears for Song Yao. You really learn to love Song Yao and appreciate his kindness, and when he is hurt, you end up hurting with him. He focuses too much on the happiness of others at, perhaps, the expense of his own, and you strongly wish for his own happy ending as well.
I wonder, however, if being an older work is the reason why Song Yao's own romance and the side romance between Tianshu and Nanming feel a little bit more understated; as far as I can remember, even for western works, there wasn't much in the way for LGBT romances back in 2007 (which is the year this book was initially published, according to the Novel Updates website). Nevertheless, I thought that, through exploring the themes of both debt and fate, this story conveyed the different types of love and friendship very well.
Yes, there is an emphasis on karmic debt as suggested by the book's title, but there is an equal exploration of fate - through vehicles such as fortune telling, and red threads, and the like - and what it means to love someone. Is a bond supposed to be inherently romantic? If something is said to be fated, do you just roll with the punches even if you truly desire a different outcome? With regards to not just Song Yao, but also Tianshu and Nanming and Hengwen, so many of these kinds of questions are raised.
Overall, I really enjoyed this work once I got through the first half. Of course, there are some things that feel a bit unsatisfying to me. For example, I would've loved more extras showing our main couple's quiet lives after their happy ending, or maybe we could've read about the last few chapters from Hengwen's own perspective. But ultimately these are just bonuses that I desire; I don't necessarily feel that the novel is incomplete without them.
(The author mentions another novel of theirs - The Egg of Wishes, which I believe is Bihua's story - in the afterword, stating that they feel that this novel is the "extra" for Peach Blossom Debt. So once again I am crossing my fingers that Peach Flower House can license that work so that it may be shared with the English-speaking audience as well.)
Read
February 28, 2025A light, not overly complicated stand alone novel. This book was a lot of fun and quite different from the other historical danmei I’ve read. First person POV with a very slow burn that had me actually questioning who the couple was 🤣
One scene was kind of disturbing but redeemable (kinda?). I’m giving this five stars because I give 5* to books I really enjoy and reread (I don’t have a system- I give 5* to my favorites).
One scene was kind of disturbing but redeemable (kinda?). I’m giving this five stars because I give 5* to books I really enjoy and reread (I don’t have a system- I give 5* to my favorites).
December 2, 2024
3 stars. A little difficult to get into, and not quite as exciting as other danmei I've read, but still a decent story.
August 10, 2024
3/5stars
I'm a bit torn on this one because the overall premise was really interesting, there was a lot of humor and very funny parts, I really liked the MCs voice as well, he was a very interesting character to follow, but there were also some parts that were just WEIRD and hard to overlook.
I was confused about the romance for quite some time, and god i just HATE the "turned into a child" arc that is so common in danmei (especially in this one because ).
ALSO why was this kinda weirdly homophobic like the mc has so much internalized homophobia but there was also some homophobia from other people/the entire immortal realm as well idk it was weird
And then the last 50 pages kinda lost me but then the last like 10 pages really got me again. It also felt like there was a LOT of just... convenient things to explain things away. I feel like this entire book could be described as "convoluted" tbh (to quote my friend "it was very convoluted because we as the reader weren't brought along for the journey" - the entire "romance" was basically just info-dump explained at the very end)
I dunno, I feel like this review is very negative for a 3 star but I really did like it and I had a fun time reading it - I read it in like 24 hours! and I doubt i'll be forgetting about this one any time soon it definitely left a lasting impression lol
I'm a bit torn on this one because the overall premise was really interesting, there was a lot of humor and very funny parts, I really liked the MCs voice as well, he was a very interesting character to follow, but there were also some parts that were just WEIRD and hard to overlook.
I was confused about the romance for quite some time, and god i just HATE the "turned into a child" arc that is so common in danmei (especially in this one because ).
ALSO why was this kinda weirdly homophobic like the mc has so much internalized homophobia but there was also some homophobia from other people/the entire immortal realm as well idk it was weird
And then the last 50 pages kinda lost me but then the last like 10 pages really got me again. It also felt like there was a LOT of just... convenient things to explain things away. I feel like this entire book could be described as "convoluted" tbh (to quote my friend "it was very convoluted because we as the reader weren't brought along for the journey" - the entire "romance" was basically just info-dump explained at the very end)
I dunno, I feel like this review is very negative for a 3 star but I really did like it and I had a fun time reading it - I read it in like 24 hours! and I doubt i'll be forgetting about this one any time soon it definitely left a lasting impression lol
July 23, 2024
This was a four star book with a five star ending that was beautiful, heartbreaking, and hopeful. The romance in this is pretty subtle, as there are actually multiple love stories/connections occurring between side characters as well. In fact if I hadn't known before starting who the love interest would be, I might have assumed it was a different character. I'm definitely glad I knew before, because it made the little moments between the lead and the LI all the more meaningful.
Even with the subtlety though, I found this to be deeply romantic. The way Song Yao describes his longing and the joy of being with the person he loves is poetic and emotional. Plus as mentioned above, the ending was perfect for our main lovers (though sadly the fate of one side character is left unanswered).
There was lot of talk of fate and karmic debt in the actual story that was both confusing and infuriating at times. I'm not overly familiar with eastern philosophy, so I am able to admit that perhaps my ignorance affected my understanding. Though the author themselves, through the characters, does seem to question the fairness of it all.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this and would love to read more translated works by this author.
Even with the subtlety though, I found this to be deeply romantic. The way Song Yao describes his longing and the joy of being with the person he loves is poetic and emotional. Plus as mentioned above, the ending was perfect for our main lovers (though sadly the fate of one side character is left unanswered).
There was lot of talk of fate and karmic debt in the actual story that was both confusing and infuriating at times. I'm not overly familiar with eastern philosophy, so I am able to admit that perhaps my ignorance affected my understanding. Though the author themselves, through the characters, does seem to question the fairness of it all.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this and would love to read more translated works by this author.
January 17, 2026
“Never destined for each other and yet meeting; meeting though it was never meant to be. High is the bright moon in the sky; within sight but far beyond reach.”
Reading this again felt like giving it a fair second chance. I really wanted my feelings to change, especially since I understood the characters and the story better this time around. I could see the care behind the writing and the themes more clearly, but emotionally, it still didn’t land the way I hoped. The beginning pulled me in, and the ending worked for me, but the middle dragged hard. A big chunk of the story felt quiet in a way that wasn’t reflective or soothing, just flat. I don’t mind calm or slow sections, but for a one shot, it started to feel like too much waiting without enough emotional movement to keep me invested.
I have mixed feelings about the characters, which is part of why this was such a frustrating read. Song Yao is interesting and honestly kind of charming at first, but his habit of dodging real decisions gets tiring. It felt like watching someone almost grow and then pull back again and again. Hengwen balances him out, but he stays so restrained that I never fully connected with him. Their relationship has weight and history, but it often felt distant, like I was meant to feel something deeper than what was actually shown on the page.
The story clearly knows what it wants to be. It’s consistent, controlled, and intentional, and I respect that. But spending so much time in tension without much release made the reading experience feel heavy. I can see why others might love it, but for me, it demanded more patience than it rewarded.
Date Read: 2024.09.04
Re-Read: 2026.01.06
Reading this again felt like giving it a fair second chance. I really wanted my feelings to change, especially since I understood the characters and the story better this time around. I could see the care behind the writing and the themes more clearly, but emotionally, it still didn’t land the way I hoped. The beginning pulled me in, and the ending worked for me, but the middle dragged hard. A big chunk of the story felt quiet in a way that wasn’t reflective or soothing, just flat. I don’t mind calm or slow sections, but for a one shot, it started to feel like too much waiting without enough emotional movement to keep me invested.
I have mixed feelings about the characters, which is part of why this was such a frustrating read. Song Yao is interesting and honestly kind of charming at first, but his habit of dodging real decisions gets tiring. It felt like watching someone almost grow and then pull back again and again. Hengwen balances him out, but he stays so restrained that I never fully connected with him. Their relationship has weight and history, but it often felt distant, like I was meant to feel something deeper than what was actually shown on the page.
The story clearly knows what it wants to be. It’s consistent, controlled, and intentional, and I respect that. But spending so much time in tension without much release made the reading experience feel heavy. I can see why others might love it, but for me, it demanded more patience than it rewarded.
Date Read: 2024.09.04
Re-Read: 2026.01.06
February 27, 2024
This was a light read tbh... it was a bit emotional towards the end but I enjoyed the book for its plot❤️
Did I read this overnight and have trouble keeping quiet cuz I wanted to cackle? Yes. Yes, I did.
I didn't rate this a 5 cuz I didn't feel that connection with the two, it was confusing who liked whom until u saw Song Yao literally pining😂😭 ... I Just wish I could have seen more from them that showed me how whipped they were and what their bond was like after things settled down 🫠
Overall, def recommend it when u want a light read in Danmei (which is rare, I can't remember a single series where I didn't sob 😂)
Did I read this overnight and have trouble keeping quiet cuz I wanted to cackle? Yes. Yes, I did.
I didn't rate this a 5 cuz I didn't feel that connection with the two, it was confusing who liked whom until u saw Song Yao literally pining😂😭 ... I Just wish I could have seen more from them that showed me how whipped they were and what their bond was like after things settled down 🫠
Overall, def recommend it when u want a light read in Danmei (which is rare, I can't remember a single series where I didn't sob 😂)
April 27, 2024
DNF at 51%. Maybe i’ll finish it one day, but definitely not now.
What. A. Drag. If you’re wanting to read a fantasy romance, don’t bother with this books. I’m halfway through the book, and i still have no idea who the love interest is?? Also the pacing of this story?? It’s so bad and so incredibly BORING. It’s honestly a miracle that i got through half the book.
If you’re wanting to read a pretty lighthearted standalone novel, maybe you’ll enjoy this? But this definitely wasn’t it for me.
What. A. Drag. If you’re wanting to read a fantasy romance, don’t bother with this books. I’m halfway through the book, and i still have no idea who the love interest is?? Also the pacing of this story?? It’s so bad and so incredibly BORING. It’s honestly a miracle that i got through half the book.
If you’re wanting to read a pretty lighthearted standalone novel, maybe you’ll enjoy this? But this definitely wasn’t it for me.
September 9, 2024
4 stars
I can’t believe that this book took more than 350 pages (out of 408) to get to the gist of the story. I was asking myself why I was reading so much about these guys sharing a bed together and then those guys (one of them the same) sharing a bed together. Other occupations were drinking a lot of tea and wine and eating many steamed buns or noodles sometimes even to immortality.
I did like those last ~60 pages. To realise that there was actually a point to all this sleeping in beds and drinking together was fun. Song Yao was a sweet character and I could see why so many people in heaven wanted to help him. That he had abysmal and extraordinary luck at the same time was hilarious and it made me either laugh or snort out loud.
Yet, I think this book would have benefited from better pacing. Yes, I know the author writes online novels and those often are longer than is good for them, but when little happens over hundreds of pages it’s just too much. Anyway, I’m happy the book’s threads finally came together.
I can’t believe that this book took more than 350 pages (out of 408) to get to the gist of the story. I was asking myself why I was reading so much about these guys sharing a bed together and then those guys (one of them the same) sharing a bed together. Other occupations were drinking a lot of tea and wine and eating many steamed buns or noodles sometimes even to immortality.
I did like those last ~60 pages. To realise that there was actually a point to all this sleeping in beds and drinking together was fun. Song Yao was a sweet character and I could see why so many people in heaven wanted to help him. That he had abysmal and extraordinary luck at the same time was hilarious and it made me either laugh or snort out loud.
Yet, I think this book would have benefited from better pacing. Yes, I know the author writes online novels and those often are longer than is good for them, but when little happens over hundreds of pages it’s just too much. Anyway, I’m happy the book’s threads finally came together.
January 7, 2024
"You are mine, and I am yours. Between us, there is no such thing as a debt."
3.75 stars - I liked Song Yao as a narrator quite a bit, since the first-person narration was quite unusual for a danmei and it really played into how he was an unreliable narrator (not in a bad way or anything) but more so that we didn't get the full picture of everything from him. He was also absolutely hilarious, which helped immensely through the first part of the book, since it was rather slow. The relationship between him and Hengwen developed well, although I was a little caught off-guard at first since I was convinced he would fall for Tianshu TvT.
"I was still doomed to a fate of eternal solitude [...] Each had their own predestined affinity, just now with me. I was doomed to play supporting roles in these tales."
So many of the quotes from the later half of the novel were so heartbreaking to read, especially as they undercut the light-heartedness that Song Yao usually carried. It turns even worse when we follow Song Yao in his reincarnations, unaware of how Hengwen is still watching over him. However, it was a good conclusion in letting Song Yao and Hengwen live their lives out together, undisturbed.
3.75 stars - I liked Song Yao as a narrator quite a bit, since the first-person narration was quite unusual for a danmei and it really played into how he was an unreliable narrator (not in a bad way or anything) but more so that we didn't get the full picture of everything from him. He was also absolutely hilarious, which helped immensely through the first part of the book, since it was rather slow. The relationship between him and Hengwen developed well, although I was a little caught off-guard at first since I was convinced he would fall for Tianshu TvT.
"I was still doomed to a fate of eternal solitude [...] Each had their own predestined affinity, just now with me. I was doomed to play supporting roles in these tales."
So many of the quotes from the later half of the novel were so heartbreaking to read, especially as they undercut the light-heartedness that Song Yao usually carried. It turns even worse when we follow Song Yao in his reincarnations, unaware of how Hengwen is still watching over him. However, it was a good conclusion in letting Song Yao and Hengwen live their lives out together, undisturbed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2023
The set-up was amusing: an immortal lord who chanced into his immortality descends back to the mortal realm to set up love trials between two other banished immortals for their violations of the immortal realm's rules. These immortals clearly have nothing better to do, as several others intervene in the scenario as well. The first arc was the strongest, but it began to drag after that, with the next arc repeating the previous one's patterns, and the one after that just getting a bit muddled and aimless with the de-aging trope. The main character didn't have a particularly vivid personality; he was just sort of floating through the plot. Not sure if it was just me, but for a solid while, I wasn't sure who the main character's love interest was, and indeed found his chemistry with another character more compelling. Nonetheless, that relationship does get some satisfying closure. The ending itself, while a bit convoluted and relying heavily on conveniently omitted information revealed at the last moment, is nicely bittersweet while still saving itself from a "bad ending" (as in the webnovel categorization, not a judgment).
September 26, 2023
3.5 stars- This was a silly little soap opera type read. Two immortal lords are found having an illicit love affair and sentenced to love trials in the mortal world in order to realize the error of secular love. The immortal Song Yao Yuanjun is tasked with taking part in their love trial- as a home wrecker. This was largely a goofy, light read with melodrama, love triangles, some unfortunate reincarnations, and a pretty dumb MC right up until the end when it turned into a touching love story. Not a super deep story but overall fun and enjoyable. The CWs make it seem a lot darker than it was.
CWs: suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, confinement and harassment, some homophobia, death, inappropriate kissing of a minor (technically an adult who got de-aged temporarily due to plot bullshit)
CWs: suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, confinement and harassment, some homophobia, death, inappropriate kissing of a minor (technically an adult who got de-aged temporarily due to plot bullshit)
July 20, 2024
'Never destined for each other and yet meeting; meeting though it was never meant to be. High is the bright moon in the sky; within sight but far beyond reach.'
july 20, 2024 - re-read update: with impulsive re-reads comes very tender feelings for this historical fantasy. with as much of a rush as i read it the first time, it’s no wonder i glossed over quite a bit. as a result, i felt a tad bit confused at the time, not sure if i fully understood the big twist that happens near the end.
thankfully, upon this second read, i ended up appreciating this story and its tales of fate & immortal strings so much more than i thought possible. despite any confusion that lingered in my first read, i still connected a lot to song yao, i was still engaged with the story, and i absolutely adored the dynamic between him & hengwen. but there was still that feeling of being a bit slow on the come-up…..and so to read this book again, it wasn’t enough of a relief getting to revisit this world, there was also the pleasant surprise of being able to digest the author’s reveals that read much more smoothly!! :D
i also came to find another favorite character in tianshu, who really just….has had some very bad luck in his time. but he does get to see the light for himself :’) another pro of re-reading this is that i got to see that light, too, and be more grateful for how much depth the author brought to him. his relationship with song yao always left a faint impression on me, and now, it’s even stronger. with how much better i was able to digest the latter half of the story, i know for sure that my eventual third read will be just as satisfying.
i love this story so much and am really glad for my mood reading tendencies. if not for that, it would’ve taken a bit longer to see song yao again; but thankfully, i got to see him & hengwen in all their immortal moments. and it was so so so good.
original (long-winded) review:
i was given the surprise of my entire reading year around the last quarter of this book, which has left a memorial impression on me. because of that sad twist, i genuinely cried (as a friend will know after an incoherent voice message), and for that, i will love this story forever.
the cover, as well, i have a soft spot for because it envisions two characters who i had been following all throughout many scenes in this story and it's so them. i feel stupid to have even questioned otherwise in this interesting portrayal of a romance that literally challenged the hands of fate.
what started out as pure comedy as we follow a very sqq!-like character, song yao—who ascended through very strange means—turned into a bittersweet tale of five characters who were caught in a confusing tangle that left song yao twisted in heartache.
before that arrow pointed at him, it honestly seemed that for most of the book, so much that was happening was affecting other characters who were caught in their own stories. with song yao's voice, he added a comedic twist in storytelling that made me smile, but there was an underlying tension. despite being tasked to thrust himself between two lovers, there were so many pieces of their story that felt missing. i found that his interactions with tianshu were some of my favorites, especially in the beginning, because there was a mystery to tianshu's character as he lived in illness in this reincarnated body the heavens have played a hand in. his love for shan shengling was something described in fleeting moments that painted song yao on the outside and it was so compelling because i just couldn't make sense of it.
if song yao was tasked to make tianshu fall in love with him, why is it that there was no development (within the context of the story!!) in that matter? why was it that felt like we were seeing different love stories playing out at once? what was this contrived plan of the gods trying to accomplish? that's a question song yao has to wonder because so much throws a wrench in the many plans he tries to follow through, the fates adding more loopholes than accounted for. and just to add another!! the yearning desire that had been described between tianshu and general shan mirrored the easy & charming rapport that song yao and his closest immortal friend, hengwen, shared and it threw me off soooooo hard.
i ended up falling in love with this ridiculous pair who find comfort in sleeping in each other's beds almost every night and preside over the mortal characters when song yao isn't in his designated body. this whole body switch matter is what added to the comedy i saw in this story as multiple instances will find song yao literally climbing out of his mortal skin and falling back to his true immortal form. with hengwen there as witness, he ended up having a more solid presence in the story that i wasn't expecting, so much so that it made me have to rewind a couple of scenes to get my bearings.
hengwen's gentle & scholarly persona contrasted with the chaotic nature of song yao and yet they couldn't have fit any more perfectly. so many memories were recalled by song yao of the centuries they spent with each other as immortals, with hengwen being the first to make him feel like he does belong in the heavenly courts. all of them were being reconfigured with what i could see in the present, and it was just so......sigh.
i love them a lot. and so the way that everything unfolded near the end when song yao finally got to know what the implications really were of these "love trials" he was being tasked to handle just got kinda overwhelming. more memories of past lives were being slotted back into place that flipped the story on its head and i worry it could make or break it for some readers, but i still was having a great time.
it felt very different from the tone of the first half of the book, where you were meeting all these characters and reading some purely chaotic scenes (xuan li, you were a gem; i very much wish to know what happened to you after the final chapter); only to then reach this really tense atmosphere that put song yao at odds with almost everyone. it practically left him to feel as he has always felt, like someone on the outside looking, except this was worse.
seeing the way the author cycled through it all, it made their note for this re-released version of the story all the more meaningful. this is because we find out that this version is very close to its original, before there were any touch-ups or fix-its done in the years afterward (the original story came out in 2007 in taiwan).
again, some of the details near the end did feel like a lot, and probably could've been organized a little better, but the heart of the story was still there and the same, and i genuinely have to respect the author for the direction they chose to take it. it was something i didn't expect (maybe others will, who knows), and so it added a lot of pain and grief for song yao that made me appreciate him even more.
as someone who had been foretold that he would be doomed to live in "eternal solitude" by many fortune tellers (even with their conniving means, it came true), it dragged song yao all throughout the story, even with the positive front he pushed himself to have. to see the way it all added up near the conclusion felt like such utterly bad luck, hengwen's character shining a much brighter light that made me believe there had to be something to it and there was. it was executed in a way that spoke to a bittersweet fate that gradually fades with a hopeful lilt.
i have a very big connection to stories that involve soulmates; there's just something about the way some authors execute the trope that make it one i actively enjoy. when it's done well, it's done really well, and this story nailed it with its own twist.
again, i feel very soft towards the cover; the characters depicted in there have my heart for a lifetime. i'm relieved to have discovered this story by chance and hope many more can give it that same chance. it's a historical tale that has its own kinks and charm as seen in song yao's character, as well as characters like hengwen & tianshu.
content warnings:
moderate: multiple suicidal attempts by another character (in the first couple of chapters), grave descriptions of illness, scenes of violence, death, and war
july 20, 2024 - re-read update: with impulsive re-reads comes very tender feelings for this historical fantasy. with as much of a rush as i read it the first time, it’s no wonder i glossed over quite a bit. as a result, i felt a tad bit confused at the time, not sure if i fully understood the big twist that happens near the end.
thankfully, upon this second read, i ended up appreciating this story and its tales of fate & immortal strings so much more than i thought possible. despite any confusion that lingered in my first read, i still connected a lot to song yao, i was still engaged with the story, and i absolutely adored the dynamic between him & hengwen. but there was still that feeling of being a bit slow on the come-up…..and so to read this book again, it wasn’t enough of a relief getting to revisit this world, there was also the pleasant surprise of being able to digest the author’s reveals that read much more smoothly!! :D
i also came to find another favorite character in tianshu, who really just….has had some very bad luck in his time. but he does get to see the light for himself :’) another pro of re-reading this is that i got to see that light, too, and be more grateful for how much depth the author brought to him. his relationship with song yao always left a faint impression on me, and now, it’s even stronger. with how much better i was able to digest the latter half of the story, i know for sure that my eventual third read will be just as satisfying.
i love this story so much and am really glad for my mood reading tendencies. if not for that, it would’ve taken a bit longer to see song yao again; but thankfully, i got to see him & hengwen in all their immortal moments. and it was so so so good.
original (long-winded) review:
i was given the surprise of my entire reading year around the last quarter of this book, which has left a memorial impression on me. because of that sad twist, i genuinely cried (as a friend will know after an incoherent voice message), and for that, i will love this story forever.
the cover, as well, i have a soft spot for because it envisions two characters who i had been following all throughout many scenes in this story and it's so them. i feel stupid to have even questioned otherwise in this interesting portrayal of a romance that literally challenged the hands of fate.
what started out as pure comedy as we follow a very sqq!-like character, song yao—who ascended through very strange means—turned into a bittersweet tale of five characters who were caught in a confusing tangle that left song yao twisted in heartache.
before that arrow pointed at him, it honestly seemed that for most of the book, so much that was happening was affecting other characters who were caught in their own stories. with song yao's voice, he added a comedic twist in storytelling that made me smile, but there was an underlying tension. despite being tasked to thrust himself between two lovers, there were so many pieces of their story that felt missing. i found that his interactions with tianshu were some of my favorites, especially in the beginning, because there was a mystery to tianshu's character as he lived in illness in this reincarnated body the heavens have played a hand in. his love for shan shengling was something described in fleeting moments that painted song yao on the outside and it was so compelling because i just couldn't make sense of it.
if song yao was tasked to make tianshu fall in love with him, why is it that there was no development (within the context of the story!!) in that matter? why was it that felt like we were seeing different love stories playing out at once? what was this contrived plan of the gods trying to accomplish? that's a question song yao has to wonder because so much throws a wrench in the many plans he tries to follow through, the fates adding more loopholes than accounted for. and just to add another!! the yearning desire that had been described between tianshu and general shan mirrored the easy & charming rapport that song yao and his closest immortal friend, hengwen, shared and it threw me off soooooo hard.
i ended up falling in love with this ridiculous pair who find comfort in sleeping in each other's beds almost every night and preside over the mortal characters when song yao isn't in his designated body. this whole body switch matter is what added to the comedy i saw in this story as multiple instances will find song yao literally climbing out of his mortal skin and falling back to his true immortal form. with hengwen there as witness, he ended up having a more solid presence in the story that i wasn't expecting, so much so that it made me have to rewind a couple of scenes to get my bearings.
hengwen's gentle & scholarly persona contrasted with the chaotic nature of song yao and yet they couldn't have fit any more perfectly. so many memories were recalled by song yao of the centuries they spent with each other as immortals, with hengwen being the first to make him feel like he does belong in the heavenly courts. all of them were being reconfigured with what i could see in the present, and it was just so......sigh.
i love them a lot. and so the way that everything unfolded near the end when song yao finally got to know what the implications really were of these "love trials" he was being tasked to handle just got kinda overwhelming. more memories of past lives were being slotted back into place that flipped the story on its head and i worry it could make or break it for some readers, but i still was having a great time.
it felt very different from the tone of the first half of the book, where you were meeting all these characters and reading some purely chaotic scenes (xuan li, you were a gem; i very much wish to know what happened to you after the final chapter); only to then reach this really tense atmosphere that put song yao at odds with almost everyone. it practically left him to feel as he has always felt, like someone on the outside looking, except this was worse.
seeing the way the author cycled through it all, it made their note for this re-released version of the story all the more meaningful. this is because we find out that this version is very close to its original, before there were any touch-ups or fix-its done in the years afterward (the original story came out in 2007 in taiwan).
again, some of the details near the end did feel like a lot, and probably could've been organized a little better, but the heart of the story was still there and the same, and i genuinely have to respect the author for the direction they chose to take it. it was something i didn't expect (maybe others will, who knows), and so it added a lot of pain and grief for song yao that made me appreciate him even more.
as someone who had been foretold that he would be doomed to live in "eternal solitude" by many fortune tellers (even with their conniving means, it came true), it dragged song yao all throughout the story, even with the positive front he pushed himself to have. to see the way it all added up near the conclusion felt like such utterly bad luck, hengwen's character shining a much brighter light that made me believe there had to be something to it and there was. it was executed in a way that spoke to a bittersweet fate that gradually fades with a hopeful lilt.
i have a very big connection to stories that involve soulmates; there's just something about the way some authors execute the trope that make it one i actively enjoy. when it's done well, it's done really well, and this story nailed it with its own twist.
again, i feel very soft towards the cover; the characters depicted in there have my heart for a lifetime. i'm relieved to have discovered this story by chance and hope many more can give it that same chance. it's a historical tale that has its own kinks and charm as seen in song yao's character, as well as characters like hengwen & tianshu.
content warnings:
moderate: multiple suicidal attempts by another character (in the first couple of chapters), grave descriptions of illness, scenes of violence, death, and war
July 11, 2024
Well, that sure was something. The main reason I enjoyed this book so much was all thanks to Song Yao’s hilarious comments. He reminds me of Shen Quingqiu from SVSSS in a way. Nothing seems to work out for him however everything ends up working out for him. I had a hard time figuring out who our ML was going to be for some reason and although the romantic scenes between the main couple were very quick and short, I still enjoyed every second of it. The ending felt quite rushed but I was expecting just as much from a one shot. I nonetheless felt satisfied with how things ended and I wish Song Yao the peaceful eternity (or retirement) he very much deserves.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2023
4 freaking hilarious stars
Ahh it has been so long since I have laughed this hard while reading, and also equally long since a story made me stay up all night just to see it through. Song Yao is an immortal by pure luck, who then proceeds to live the next thousands of years drinking and playing around with best-friend (>ᴗ•) Hengwen; until the day he is given a mission to essentially go to the mortal plane and break up the relation between incarnations of two other deities. And when I say break up, I mean our boy has to seduce the sick and fragile beauty away from the arms of the gallant general, when all he truly wants to do is drink and sleep in Hengwen's bed. I'm not going to spoil it for anybody, but I will only say this that this book is so freaking funny that you won't be able to hold yourself back from bursting out into loud peals of laughter as you read through the tale. The only reason I didn't give this a full rating is because I wish so desperately that there was more relationship development between the MC and the ML, and that the ending didn't feel so abrupt. Because I really really need more (T_T)
Ahh it has been so long since I have laughed this hard while reading, and also equally long since a story made me stay up all night just to see it through. Song Yao is an immortal by pure luck, who then proceeds to live the next thousands of years drinking and playing around with best-friend (>ᴗ•) Hengwen; until the day he is given a mission to essentially go to the mortal plane and break up the relation between incarnations of two other deities. And when I say break up, I mean our boy has to seduce the sick and fragile beauty away from the arms of the gallant general, when all he truly wants to do is drink and sleep in Hengwen's bed. I'm not going to spoil it for anybody, but I will only say this that this book is so freaking funny that you won't be able to hold yourself back from bursting out into loud peals of laughter as you read through the tale. The only reason I didn't give this a full rating is because I wish so desperately that there was more relationship development between the MC and the ML, and that the ending didn't feel so abrupt. Because I really really need more (T_T)
December 26, 2023
Something about the third act in Chinese media…. They really always leave a deep impression on me no matter their brevity or pacing
I thought it was just going to be very silly and a little mindless but I appreciated what it had to say about it’s themes and there were points made that resonated with me
Also song Yao kills me bisexual silly and bitchless
I thought it was just going to be very silly and a little mindless but I appreciated what it had to say about it’s themes and there were points made that resonated with me
Also song Yao kills me bisexual silly and bitchless
December 3, 2024
I gave it 5 stars because there's no 4.5 stars lol.
I had heard different opinions about the book, so I didn't know what to expect... And well, I finished the book in a day and a half, and honestly, it has been one of my best reads of the year. It really is very entertaining and worth reading.
I feel that the character development was a bit lacking, and that there were some gaps in certain parts of the story. But everything else complements it in such a way that the above could not be considered fatal errors that damage all aspects of the novel.
In other words, do yourself a favor and read it ♥️😌✨
I had heard different opinions about the book, so I didn't know what to expect... And well, I finished the book in a day and a half, and honestly, it has been one of my best reads of the year. It really is very entertaining and worth reading.
I feel that the character development was a bit lacking, and that there were some gaps in certain parts of the story. But everything else complements it in such a way that the above could not be considered fatal errors that damage all aspects of the novel.
In other words, do yourself a favor and read it ♥️😌✨
January 22, 2019
Trên thiên đình khung cảnh vẫn như xưa, dường như mấy kiếp luân hồi dưới nhân gian của ta chẳng qua chỉ là một giấc mộng dài hoang hoải."
such a page turner, đọc liền tù tì. nếu câu chuyện kết thúc ở phiên ngoại thần tiên sống thì chắc đã thích nó hơn một xíu. i love pains mà. "một đời cô loan" is so relatable man. mà thôi dù sao thì nợ cũng phải trả, kết thúc vậy ok, viên mãn.
April 12, 2022
4/5 สนุกแบบแปลกๆ อ่านรวดเดียวจบเลย สไตล์งานเขียนของนักเขีบนมีเอกลักษณ์มากๆ
September 20, 2024
There is a reason why it took me this long to finish this book. I had to force myself to finish it because it was just that boring and convoluted
January 17, 2025
3.5 //
I did enjoy this but not really many thoughts tbh, probably one of the more lacklustre danmeis I've read but that being said this is a standalone and not a series like the others
Quite chill for a xianxia novel though which is good, and the author kept it more simple with given/courtesy names/titles which would probably make it a good read for starting the genre
Really didn't know if it was gonna go Hengwen or Tianshu route for a good bit but I like how this actually had a reason
Anyway I do like Hangwen but honestly poor lil Tianshu
☆
"I thanked my lucky stars for attaining the Dao and ascending in my youth. Had I gotten married and sired such a child, I would have lost ten years off my life just from how much he pissed me off." I feel you Song Yao
I did enjoy this but not really many thoughts tbh, probably one of the more lacklustre danmeis I've read but that being said this is a standalone and not a series like the others
Quite chill for a xianxia novel though which is good, and the author kept it more simple with given/courtesy names/titles which would probably make it a good read for starting the genre
Really didn't know if it was gonna go Hengwen or Tianshu route for a good bit but I like how this actually had a reason
Anyway I do like Hangwen but honestly poor lil Tianshu
☆
"I thanked my lucky stars for attaining the Dao and ascending in my youth. Had I gotten married and sired such a child, I would have lost ten years off my life just from how much he pissed me off." I feel you Song Yao
December 9, 2024
3.5 ⭐
Took me so long to finish 😭
It was a long ride despite being such a short book. I think it's an enjoyable read and is suitable for danmei beginners ! However , my personal preference differs. I mostly like being an omniscient reader so I enjoy third person 😀 plus this book was confusing at times. I still can't figure out who is who in the cover 😞
Took me so long to finish 😭
It was a long ride despite being such a short book. I think it's an enjoyable read and is suitable for danmei beginners ! However , my personal preference differs. I mostly like being an omniscient reader so I enjoy third person 😀 plus this book was confusing at times. I still can't figure out who is who in the cover 😞
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